And Pawns of the Pacific - The War Planners

I was a bit “uninterested” when I started reading book one. I almost put it away but I thought I would give it a go. I am glad I did! I could not put it down. I have read the whole series. I was hoping and still am hoping that Mr. Watts continues the planner series to find the evil woman (sorry if I gave away som of the book). I also have read all his books and cannot wait for another. I give thumbs up on the Max Fend series as well.

Many action/adventure, military action books move to the realm of the fantastic. In these books you can expect to hear an authentic voice of experience. Well done! The dialogue flows in natural rhythms, the characters are sufficiently flawed as to be recognizable as people you have met. The action sequences are well choreographed and injuries take respectable times to recover from. All of these elements are served up as though the work was easy. My hat is off to the author.

What a great read. A page-turner plus. Not only is the technical information presented accurate, the pace is excellent, the plot, while exposed fairly early, has many twists and turns toward the resolution...which may or may not be resolved. Not only that, but there are many humorous bits that have you chuckling out loud as you keep,reading. Highly recommend this as an enjoyable thriller worthy of your time!!

Holy Cow Mr Watts. Thanks to my son Bill's father's day gift I was introduced to You with this Masterpiece of intrigue treachery and red blood flowing. At first I was confused going from one book to the next but I was overwhelmed by the plot and the heroism of so many. And the final actions were so Gripping and the final question of the future of Lena or Lisa. Keep writing Andrew.

This a very good well thought our war series. I leaves you hanging at the end but the series continues with book four, The Elephant Game; however this is where the problem arises as it still leaves you hanging just as the war breaks out without a date for an expected finale. If you want an excellent story without a conclusion then this is for you; otherwise stay away.

Andrew is writing the genre that I read most. I always am tentative when selecting a new writer but in this case the storylines looked right up my alley of preference. The development of the story started slow - primarily since I knew none of the characters. Very quickly I became engrossed in the story and did not want to stop listening when I needed to do something else. The War Planners series needs to be listened to in total to fully enjoy the story and characters. Worth the listen. Great reader as well as great story.

I wasn't sure where the author was going when he started the Red Cell call out. But he pulled a tight line throughout the book (s) . A very exciting story (though some if his "back story " explanations were a bit too detailed for a reader cognizant of these facts. For a " beginner" in these financial, political and tactical areas he taught a lot. ( I even learned a lot about the bit-coin and cyber finance)
WELL Worth The Money!

Not only is this book (and the series), superbly written but everything is from an expert who has "been there and done that" which gives the reader a feel for actually what it's like the do things like land a helocopter on a destroyers deck in raging seas for example.
Add a really well done edge of your seat plot and you've got something special.

I thoroughly enjoyed The War Planners Series, including the just-released 3rd in the series: "Pawns of the Pacific." I'm not an accomplished reviewer of books that I've read so forgive my rather simple review. I loved the plot development of the 1st book, "The War Planners," as it slowly developed and became more evident with each page turned. While the premise is improbable, I would say it's quite possible in today's world and the author's term of military service as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot lends credence to that possibility in the level of detail he includes. In any case, upon finishing the 2nd book, "The War Stage," I quite eagerly awaited the 3rd, "Pawns of the Pacific." I was not disappointed in my anticipation, which was richly rewarded; and, I am happy to note that the 3rd book leaves open the possibility for further thrills. I now add Andrew Watts to my favorite authors list: Vince Flynn (r.i.p.), Brad Thor, and David Baldacci, as well as Robin Cook, James Patterson, and Michael Crichton (also r.i.p.). Highly recommended!

I'm retired military and there are 2 things I look for in military fiction: technical accuracy and plot believability. The War Planners series hits both targets squarely. The series is a fast paced thriller that takes you through navy flight ops, anti-submarine warfare, and political maneuvers. The first part of the series does a good job developing the main characters and giving the reader a sense of what is motivating the antagonizers. It really is a good read and Andrew Watts is now among my top 5 favorite authors.

It's always great to discover a new author who actually knows what he's doing.This series is only the second I've found in quite some time that I wanted to read to the end.A different member of the same family is the protagonist in each book,but the storyline is easy to follow,the characters are believable,and you actually care about them.That's not an easy task for any author,especially one writing his first series.
Buy the whole series,you're going to want it.And you don't have to wait for the next book like I did!

I am so happy that I discovered Andrew Watts and this series. The writing is top-notch, the characters are amazingly developed, and the story moves so fast that you just can't put them down. I just finished the 3rd book in the series, and I honestly don't remember a storyline that has so completely captured me in this genre before. Very well-done, full of great detail for the technical sticklers, but not overly technical so those that just want to enjoy the story can... A most excellent read!

This a a great, well constructed trilogy. It should be read by our real war planners. I very much enjoyed the integration of the family in the stories. The one nit to pick is you really need to read the whole trilogy together as one story. They don’t work as well as stand alone books. As a voracious reader and former naval aviator I was glad to read all three as one continuous book

This War Planners - 3 Books - begins with a plot by by a rogue group of Chinese planners who kidnap American strategists to help them plan a war against America - - first by trying to pull us into a war with Iran. Given the climate in the world today - this series of books are surreal. Great characters, twists and excitement. Two of the kidnapped Americans escape but our own Government doesn't believe them and of course the Chinese Government deny knowledge of any of this. It is obvious that Mr. Watts is well versed in the machinery of war, the ships and helicopters, as they play an important role in how this all plays out.

WE had penned (3) novels that are directly related in scope to a subversive clandestine stratagey where two rogue leaders escalate troubles between the United States and China. The Chinese form a group with designs to control the military to control of the U.S. Government from within. The (3) novels are an excellent read for the genre......DEHS

If you are a Tom Clancy fan then the War Planner series should be on the top of your reading list. Andrew Watt has created a very timely story that will keep you engaged from the first to last page. With everything going on in the world today, this series is very plausible.

Grab a copy of the box set and buckle in you are in for a ride filled with numerous unseen twists and turns.

This review is based on reading the separate books in this series.

Wonderful Reads!!! Be aware that these books do contain “Military” language, but as a former sailor I was ready for it. I’ve read all four of the books in this series and I’m anxiously awaiting book five (Coming out later this year). Military fans, especially Naval warfare lovers will truly enjoy this series!!!!

Andrew Watts does a great job with this series. The characters are believable and the relationships make it very interesting. He does a great job with realistic descriptions of the tech involved in the stories. When I started the first one I found myself a bit confused by some of the navy tech and acronyms, but he explained it all in a way that fit within the storyline and now I feel like an ole' hand! You should definitely check this series out.

For the reviews that said this series was too long and drags out, you probably don't enjoy Tom Clancy or J.R.Tolkien or Robert Jordon, etc. This was a well written series written by a guy that knows his subject. I have known many Navy and Air Force pilots and more than a little about undersea sonar surveillance. Thoroughly enjoyed the 3 book series and am currently enjoying "The Elephant Game ".

Be sure to block out several periods of time to really enjoy this series. There is no slack time. If you love mystery, well-executed multiple plot lines ,not to mention some fun and accurate international settings, you will want to read this

All in all a good read. There are some spots in it that you get a little confused in the time line but he does cover a few things again in the next book. When you get to the second book you realize that while things were happening in book one there was things that are revealed in book two that happened in the same time frame as things were happening in book one.

I haven't been as excited in reading the WAR PLAN SERIES, since I got hooked on TOM CLANCY Novels. I LOVED the characters, the main plot ,as well as the twisting narrative.
It hits the mark with our current geo-political narrative with the rest of the world. It is almost spooky to think something like this could happen, even remotely. Wow!

it was just not my cup of tea.

The plot moved slowly so if you are expecting a page turner with lots of action (like some of the other reviewers claimed) you may be disappointed like I was. I found myself skipping whole chunks of geopolitical and strategical dialogue. I also found the protagonist whiney and weak while the rest of the characters were not any more likeable.

I don't want to risk spilling any spoilers but the author's rationale for abduction just made no sense.

I finally bounced to the end of the first book and I can say that if I had bought just the first book and not the 3 volume set, I'd have been pretty upset because the story just stopped. Even with the second book before me, I just decided there are too many great thrillers out there to continue.

To each their own though.

Author Watts has the background to write about espionage, China, international threats, and spies. A Red Cell could anticipate what China could do to invade the USA or help the USA to defend itself. In the end, trust, morality, intrigue, motivation, power, and control tangled into a shocking outcome. I do not want to read any more of this series.

As a retired Navy captain, I relish military fiction that gets the technology, procedures and -- most important-- the people right. The War Planners series does that. Recently I've been getting my Tom Clancy fix with some of the Clancy franchise novels by other authors. This books are okay and some are pretty good, but the War Planners series is better.

I just finished reading Book 3, Pawns of the Pacific, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The closer I got to the end, the harder it was to interrupt my reading. The military engagement sequences are well written and as compelling as anything by Larry Bond or Tom Clancy's! The scenarios in this trilogy are not as far-fetched as you might imagine, and chilling in their plausibility, particularly in light of current geo-political events. I highly recommend this series to anyone with an interest in international politics, military tactics and strategy, and good, old-fashioned American resourcefulness, coupled with a well crafted and engaging story!

I downloaded the first War Planners book, started it, got detracted, bored, whatever, and put it aside. A few weeks later I went back to it and...WOW. I was hooked. I binged the whole series, superb read. Then I looked up everything else Andrew Watts has written and binged that. All have to say to the author is, "Stay busy son! I'm looking forward to the next ones."

good series of adventure and action. Plenty of plots and sub-plots keep you interested. You really should read the books in order so you maintain a perspective of the story. My only complaint is that book four ends right in the middle of the action with no idea of when the story (book 5) will be available.

I have read all three books , I loved them so much I read all three twice now. I don't know if I can rate these books fair, I am biased, I love them, I could not put them down. Once again he nailed it. I can't wait for book 4. Thanks for the ride. I was so wrapped in these books. I think I have a serious crush on the air Boss. Great Job Mr. Watts. I love your writing. Good Luck and God Speed.

I love aviation and military thrillers but I am quite particular about the authors I select. I will only read those written by authors who were true airline or military pilots. This is a fabulous series with truly authentic feel thanks to the author's career as a Navy helo pilot. The premise in the first book seemed bizarre, but as I read further I started to realize this could actually happen. The third book was the best and the author's knowledge of weaponry, piloting and military tactics made the scenes at sea very believable. I'm glad the fourth book is available so I don't have to wait for it.

I read the first book and enjoyed the suspense and action that is constantly there throughout the book. The second and third books were every bit as great as the first and well worth a reader's time to read. Highly recommend this author.

Andrew Watts brings his life experiences to life by building a character and story line in this series. I bought the set to take on a Caribbean cruise and completed all three books during the 7 day voyage. If you're looking to move into a new character and series, buy this and enjoy. It's action packed with several plot twists that marvel the reader. I'm looking forward to his future work.

Once again Andrew Watts has shown why he is great story teller. In his third book he linked all people and brought them together for a page turner of a book. His description of Navy ship board life give the reader a feeling of true to life conditions on a ship in a combat role. As the book closes he leaves you wanting to go to the next in the series. Great read

All the action and technical stuff portrayed in the books kept me well entertained. The author's military background and his use of current events helped to give the plot a sense of realism. Thank you for these enjoyable books. Keep them comming!!

I have read these books one at a time. I would definitely recommend the boxed set. The story line is clear and well set. The narrative is easy to follow, and the author throws in details as needed to help the reader fully comprehend the drama and tension needed to fully enjoy the books. You won't go wrong with this promising new author.

I enjoyed these books and look forward to additional books in the series. Author brings up what are likely our biggest vulnerabilities - cyber attacks and EMP attacks. Very plausible plot, a lot of action and well written.

Edge of my seat, Couldn't put it down, Gripping! These are all well worn descriptions of great novels, and they are perfect in describing this one. I couldn't wait to read the rest of page so I could get onto another.
This is an excellent addition to a great book series. Be assured, I'll be looking for the next one!!

More than interesting because my husband served in the Navy aboard the USS Stickell stationed in Norforlk, Va. They often served with the Enterprise, also stationed in Norfolk, when it was called to action. I loved being able to recognize some of the Naval terms used and the areas where the ships in this series served. Thanks for a spot on series!
Sarah Hudgens

Wow, how can Watts maintain the pace of these stories for over 700 pages? Scary to think of the consequences of these ideas in the books of the scenarios were true.

Starting book 4 as soon as the Kindle cools off.

Great story with very strong character development of each participant in the story. Technically accurate at all levels. Considering recent world events, the story is very timely and frankly very plausible. Looking forward to future stories and adventures from this author. Thanks also to the store for supporting this series on Kindle Unlimited. DAM

Such an amazing series!!! The three books flow seamlessly. The character development starts in the first book, but continues until the very end! Of you like excitement, drama, suspense, military accuracy, and a wild literary ride, this series is for you because it has all of that and more!

Not a fan of these. Seem to be written for young adults or something? Way too much filler. Which I don't mind if it's done in an engaging and clever way, but just stating simple facts and recounting useless conversations, waste of words.

These audiobooks are awesome! I have spent a lot of time in my driveway listening to the end of a chapter. Fans of thrillers and fans of military action will love these books. As good as anything out there today and better. These books as much as they are technical thrillers are VERY character driven and hook you in.

I like the stories very much. However, I was under the impression there would be a conclusion at the 3rd book. No, the story never ends..it’s a gimmick to get you to buy another book. Just finished the 4th book...no conclusion to the war with China...never will be...

Although these are novels, Andrew Watts brings to life in these thrillers what could really happen given the ambitions of China that we are witnessing on an unprecedented scale, which makes them truly a great thriller. It makes one wonder if he has a sixth sense. Beware, these books are hard to put down once you start reading. Highly recommended!

I liked the unusual setting and the plot. It is rare to read a book set in the Eastern Pacific or featuring helicopters. The characters are interesting and well developed. The involvement of China as the antagonistic nation is interesting also. Russia is a threat but in spite of Putin I think that it is less so with each passing year. China is a present and future challenge.

This is great military fiction. I am former military and I want accurate jargon and technical details in my books. The author provides these in spades. The series is timely and thought provoking as well as very exciting. I can't wait for future installments. More please.

The War Planners series is like reading the headlines from today's paper. Andrew Watts skillfully weaves a compelling story throughout the 3 volumn series. He provides drama, intrigue, mystery and fact-based technology with an unfolding storyline that keeps you engaged and wanting more. So looking forward to the next set of books!

I loved the books, the first book got off to a slow start for me but as I read on it was difficult to put down. I love the details on piloting helicopters and the military details, truly first person writing. I plan on reading all the books you write Andrew, thank you for a job well done.

Just finished the third book in this thrilling and timely series. Interesting characters and a plot that is rather disconcerting in it's timeliness. Stayed up too late quite a few nights in order to finish just one more chapter!!

This is an entertaining, well written series. I enjoyed each of the books in this package, as well as the most recent (The Elephant Game). Together they remind me of Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys military thrillers.

I enjoyed the three books very much. Figured out the "secret" fairly quickly, but was a great read. The characters were developed well. I recommend the books to all to read.

As a veteran i am very impressed with the author's military background. I look forward to his continued writing.

I bought the first book in this War Planners series about 1 month ago and have now read all 4 books in the series. I have always enjoyed books written by people who have practical knowledge of their subject and Andrew Watts is certainly one of those authors. I highly recommend this series and can’t wait for the next book to come out.

The best compliment I can give the first 4 books in this series is that I felt I might have been reading the current news events of our world. I worried that if I checked the evening world news I might find fiction had become fact. My only disappointment was that I could not yet read book #5 in the series. Please finish that one asap.

This 3 part series is a highly entertaining read. Fast paced non stop action, with a plausible underlying plot that causes one to ponder the possibilities in today's world wide political climate. For those of you just discovering this author and series, I recon you buy all 3 so can read the books back to back. If you're into War and spy stories, I definitely recommend you try this series.

Well written and coherent storyline throughout the 3 books. Nicely finished and tied together at the end completing the series. If there was anything left hanging, I didn't notice it. Looking forward to the next project from Andrew Watts.

Very good read. Some of the helicopter activities were a little drawn out and repeated reviews of past happenings seem to be book lengtheners. But an unusual plot. One wouldn't think that rogue operatives in any military could get away with deploying large numbers of assets without detection. But still a good read.

He has done it again! Andrew Watts is a mastermind of storytelling with the warplanner series. The action and suspense that he brings to a story is comparable to the greatest! Cannot wait to see what he has in store next!

Great package deal 3 books in one, kept my attention throughout the whole novel. Definitely has some mind blowing moments whilst hearing it. I’m new to audiobooks and glad this was one of my first few keeps me coming back for more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series. The author knows his stuff and I liked how he inserted some biographical insight to his characters. It gives them a human element that sometimes is lacking in other books. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series.

As a retired US Navy Chief Weapons Tech with aviation experience I was dubious about this series, I am happy to say that my concern disappeared quickly. This is a very well written and suspense filled story that I had to make myself put down at bedtime. I found that Andrew Watts has done his homework in all the areas this story touched. Be ready to doubt me through the first half of book one, but don't stop reading. This would make a great and long movie, but Hollywood couldn't do it justice, so read the set.

Just enough technical detail without bogging down the reader. Super plot somewhere between apocalyptic and mystery, but both. Very patriotic. I look forward to the next part. I must say that piloting a helicopter is much more involved than I would have thought.

This story was long, but was well written. Scary to think that it could happen. Thank God for our military. I pray no other country tries to invade the United States of America. If one does, let them face the mighty force of America.

This set of books was just great. It had all the required and expected factors of a military/espionage thriller... international tensions, mistaken intentions, strong heroes, action, romance and a very up-to-date commentary on the affairs of our government. It had all the classic ideas from books by stories Dale Brown, Clive Cussler, and John Ringo, without the long, drawn-out Tom Clancy-esque explanations. When a nuke goes off, it goes off...big boom and lots of destruction rather than a Clancy version which takes 15 pages of minutia to explain what happens in a micro-second in reality. Thanks for the good read Andrew, and I look forward to the up-coming sequel.

This three book series took me longer to read than normal because after the first book I stopped to read two other books from different authors and when I went back and I was glad because the last two books were far better. So see what you think.

Great subject matter, also a great flow introducing the characters. Can't wait to read more from Mr watts

Gave it a five because I enjoyed the subject matter, and liked how the characters were introduced to the reader. Can't wait to read more from Mr watts

The War Planners series: 1-3, by Andrew Watts.

This is a horrifying but plausible series about possible Chinese invasion of the US by rogue elements of the Chinese navy and military. What makes it so plausible is the creation of a Red Cell, ostensibly by the CIA, lo create a scenario of China winning, all to help the US military plot a defence strategy.

In better times I would have scoffed at this whole scenario, but given what is happening in the US right now with the Russians influencing the election of President Trump, somehow the plot rings true. It is also a scary look at how dependent we have become on the Internet, electronic communications and high-tech weaponry to defend ourselves, never mind the vulnerability of the world banking system to electronic interference.

At various points in the book I had to quit reading because it became too realistic a picture of what is actually happening today. There is no doubt that Andrew Watts is plugged in to the US military in various ways, and the sequence of events he sets out in these three books is entirely believable.

From a story point of view we follow the exploits of the Manning family, all of whom and involved with the military in one way or another. The father is an admiral, the commander of a US carrier strike group. His daughter Victoria is a helicopter pilot, the Air boss on a US destroyer. His son Chase is involved with Special Operations and the CIA and his youngest son David, is involved with a group developing high-tech defences in the telecommunications field.

Watt uses their experiences to develop his thesis: that the US is in danger from a first-strike invasion from China which is using a US war in Iran to divert US attention from its real motives. All in all this is a riveting story that comes too close to home for comfort, given the current US president's actions towards China and Russia.

At the heart of this story lies money and power, the very two ingredients that lie at the heart of the current US situation. If these ingredients are allowed to triumph, I fear for the entire democratic rule of law in the United States and the future of the free world.

It is all too easy to slip into autocracy and tyranny when the only thing representatives care about is power and money. Not to mention the fact that in this story, as in the US today, the system seems riddled with foreign sympathizers and spies who are working covertly to destroy it.

(Kindle Unlimited.)3* for book 1. If I'd just bought the first book in this series, I doubt that I'd have purchased the next in the series. To me the first moved too slowly, had too much thinking of the past. However as I had downloaded the three together and not purchased under KU, I continued to read. Each successive book was, to me, better than the previous one so 4* for book 2 and 5* for book 3, hence the overall rating of 4*. I'll look at the next books in the series to see how things develop.

Be sure to block out several periods of time to really enjoy this series. There is no slack time. If you love mystery, well-executed multiple plot lines ,not to mention some fun and accurate international settings, you will want to read this

Author Watts has the background to write about espionage, China, international threats, and spies. A Red Cell could anticipate what China could do to invade the USA or help the USA to defend itself. In the end, trust, morality, intrigue, motivation, power, and control tangled into a shocking outcome. I do not want to read any more of this series.

The story is really well thought, quite realistic and exciting. It is very easy to read, I read each book in the series in less than 24 hours. Andrew definitely have the talent to be reborn Tom Clancy.