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Sam Raven #1
Terminal Memory
SAM RAVEN BATTLES THE ENEMIES JACK REACHER’S AFRAID OF. . .
Three years after a daring escape from a jihadists' camp, ex-CIA officer Mara Cole is a target once more. She's alone, on the run, and in need of a friend.
Sam Raven is tracking Mara's hunters for a different reason – he's on a mission of vengeance. A man with dark secrets, bound to Mara by shared history, they join forces to fight back. Together, they play a deadly game of chess through the back alleys of London, to the bright lights of Marseille, and the desert hell of Afghanistan opium fields, risking everything as they move closer to the truth.
With each feign and attack, they find the answers they seek lie deep in Mara’s memories of captivity, torture, and betrayal – secrets to a conspiracy at the heart of the US Intelligence community, and men who will do anything to protect their power.
From the author of the Scott Stiletto series comes an exciting new hero! Sam Raven is grittier, deadlier, and you better not stand in his way.
Three years after a daring escape from a jihadists' camp, ex-CIA officer Mara Cole is a target once more. She's alone, on the run, and in need of a friend.
Sam Raven is tracking Mara's hunters for a different reason – he's on a mission of vengeance. A man with dark secrets, bound to Mara by shared history, they join forces to fight back. Together, they play a deadly game of chess through the back alleys of London, to the bright lights of Marseille, and the desert hell of Afghanistan opium fields, risking everything as they move closer to the truth.
With each feign and attack, they find the answers they seek lie deep in Mara’s memories of captivity, torture, and betrayal – secrets to a conspiracy at the heart of the US Intelligence community, and men who will do anything to protect their power.
From the author of the Scott Stiletto series comes an exciting new hero! Sam Raven is grittier, deadlier, and you better not stand in his way.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2021
567 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Brian Drake
69 books39 followersBrian Drake has been a writer of mystery, crime and adventure fiction since his first publication at age 25. As a troublemaker in high school, Drake was once accused of contributing to the delinquency of his classmates; now, as an internationally-selling thriller writer, he can contribute to the delinquency of the whole earth. He is lifelong resident of California, but keeps running out of reasons to stay. In his spare time, Drake can be found racing through Sacramento County in a bright red hot rod. Someday he may get a dog.
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August 2, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/2/2021)! 🎁
August 9, 2021
Brian Drake – Sam Raven Thriller Bk 1 – Terminal Memory – Reviewed 8/8/21 – Read 8/2-3/21
Helping a friend is a race to save the last two members of the team, Sam and Mara are under attack.
Three years earlier Sam Raven led a five-member team as part of the CIA’s counterterrorism efforts. Unfortunately, with bad luck, the jihadists were able to capture the team, but they all were able to escape from the camp. One of his ex-team members contacts Sam explaining that he thinks someone is trying to kill him. He showed him reports that two of the other members are already dead, so Sam takes him seriously. While he and Vic are trying to get out of Madrid, they spot a tail and try evasive action, unfortunately, Vic did not move fast enough and took a deadly hit, he did not make it.
Now there is only one member left and that is Mara Cole, only problem is that the last time they saw each other it did not end well, and he had no idea where she was. With a little help from a friend, he tracked her down to a flower shop in London. Arriving in town he checks into his hotel; another hitter tries to take him out. After the battle, he found their cell phone and read the text message: “Target: Mara Cole. Place: Flowers by the Bridge. Deadline: Thursday night when the shop closes at 8 pm! Preferably a robbery.” His blood runs cold, it was 7:45 pm and he was a block away.
Join Sam and Mara as they fight for their lives while searching for the answer as to “WHY?”…
What did I like? Wow, this has so much that happens, along with a very emotional undertone. These two have walked away from the Company with Mara trying to deal with her pain and striving for a normal life, all the while Sam is still battling his losses tied to the locket that he wears around his neck. It’s not enough to say how addictive this series is and how hard it is to stop reading even for a moment, but it is!
What will you like? Intense action, frequent gun battles, emotional stress, friendship, traitors, terrorism, assassinations, killers, and friends. More than anything was how the unique way they forged their friendship while surviving through the battles of war and terror. Sam Raven is one remarkable character that everyone would want as their friend, he won’t walk away from the needs of his friends, will give his life to protect or save you, and still loves his country. The author created this storyline with the most impeccable research and every detail shows it. Brian knows his subjects and displays this on every page of this incredible thriller adventure. Brian Drake, a twenty-five-year veteran of radio and television broadcasting, has spent his career in San Francisco where he’s filled writing, producing, and reporting duties with stations such as KPIX-TV, KCBS, KQED, among many others. Currently carrying out sports and traffic reporting duties for Bloomberg 960. Brian spends time between reports and carefully guarded morning and evening hours cranking out action/adventure tales. A love of reading when he was younger inspired him to create his own stories, and he sold his first short story, “The Desperate Minutes,” to an obscure webzine when he was 25 (more years ago than he cares to remember, so don’t ask). Many more short story sales followed before he expanded to novels, entering the self-publishing field in 2010, and quickly building enough of a following to attract eh attention of serval publishers and other writing professionals. Brian Drake lives in California with his wife and two cats, and when he’s not writing he is usually blasting along the back roads in his Corvette with his wife telling him not to drive so fast, but the engine is so loud he usually can’t hear her.
You will find him regularly blogging at www.briandrake88.blogspot.com
• ASIN: B08XW49JQF
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 3/31/2021
• File Size: 3790 KB
• Print Length: 290 pages
• Genre: Assassination Thrillers, Terrorism Thrillers
Helping a friend is a race to save the last two members of the team, Sam and Mara are under attack.
Three years earlier Sam Raven led a five-member team as part of the CIA’s counterterrorism efforts. Unfortunately, with bad luck, the jihadists were able to capture the team, but they all were able to escape from the camp. One of his ex-team members contacts Sam explaining that he thinks someone is trying to kill him. He showed him reports that two of the other members are already dead, so Sam takes him seriously. While he and Vic are trying to get out of Madrid, they spot a tail and try evasive action, unfortunately, Vic did not move fast enough and took a deadly hit, he did not make it.
Now there is only one member left and that is Mara Cole, only problem is that the last time they saw each other it did not end well, and he had no idea where she was. With a little help from a friend, he tracked her down to a flower shop in London. Arriving in town he checks into his hotel; another hitter tries to take him out. After the battle, he found their cell phone and read the text message: “Target: Mara Cole. Place: Flowers by the Bridge. Deadline: Thursday night when the shop closes at 8 pm! Preferably a robbery.” His blood runs cold, it was 7:45 pm and he was a block away.
Join Sam and Mara as they fight for their lives while searching for the answer as to “WHY?”…
What did I like? Wow, this has so much that happens, along with a very emotional undertone. These two have walked away from the Company with Mara trying to deal with her pain and striving for a normal life, all the while Sam is still battling his losses tied to the locket that he wears around his neck. It’s not enough to say how addictive this series is and how hard it is to stop reading even for a moment, but it is!
What will you like? Intense action, frequent gun battles, emotional stress, friendship, traitors, terrorism, assassinations, killers, and friends. More than anything was how the unique way they forged their friendship while surviving through the battles of war and terror. Sam Raven is one remarkable character that everyone would want as their friend, he won’t walk away from the needs of his friends, will give his life to protect or save you, and still loves his country. The author created this storyline with the most impeccable research and every detail shows it. Brian knows his subjects and displays this on every page of this incredible thriller adventure. Brian Drake, a twenty-five-year veteran of radio and television broadcasting, has spent his career in San Francisco where he’s filled writing, producing, and reporting duties with stations such as KPIX-TV, KCBS, KQED, among many others. Currently carrying out sports and traffic reporting duties for Bloomberg 960. Brian spends time between reports and carefully guarded morning and evening hours cranking out action/adventure tales. A love of reading when he was younger inspired him to create his own stories, and he sold his first short story, “The Desperate Minutes,” to an obscure webzine when he was 25 (more years ago than he cares to remember, so don’t ask). Many more short story sales followed before he expanded to novels, entering the self-publishing field in 2010, and quickly building enough of a following to attract eh attention of serval publishers and other writing professionals. Brian Drake lives in California with his wife and two cats, and when he’s not writing he is usually blasting along the back roads in his Corvette with his wife telling him not to drive so fast, but the engine is so loud he usually can’t hear her.
You will find him regularly blogging at www.briandrake88.blogspot.com
• ASIN: B08XW49JQF
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 3/31/2021
• File Size: 3790 KB
• Print Length: 290 pages
• Genre: Assassination Thrillers, Terrorism Thrillers
August 12, 2022
It’s been more than three years since Sam Raven barely escaped from his final mission with the CIA. His team all went their own way, each of them doing their best to find some measure of peace away from the crazy world they’d known for so long. When Sam is contacted by one of his old teammates and informed that two of their number had died in recent weeks and an attempt had been made on another, Sam knows he needs to discover what is really going on before he’s blindsided.
I’m usually a sucker for spy thrillers, especially with this sort of beginning – an agent who had just barely managed to get out being sucked back into the dangerous life and world they’d escaped. I found this book to be a really good example of that sort of story. The pacing was really good to my mind, a fast and steady clip but not so crazy I couldn’t take in all the details. Sam was a hard but still interesting character, and I enjoyed his character’s voice and perspective. I felt there was a little too much (for my personal tastes) in describing the various guns and weapons that were used, but I totally understand many readers, especially those crossing over from military thrillers or more blokey action orientated genres would find this extra time and descriptions to be a really good thing.
I was pleased that while the level of action and slightly heavy focus on weapons catered to one side of the readership, there was clearly plenty of characterization and an attempt at making Sam’s character relatable and interesting in an emotional way. I found this really helped me connect and respond to him and this really added to my enjoyment of the story itself. The plot was also really well thought out and I felt a lot of more mystery/suspense based readers will find this is what grabs them and keeps them turning the pages.
I really enjoyed the complexity of the plot – while in many ways it seems a re-run of many other stories, I loved how the author managed to make it feel fresh and with the characters and setting it felt interesting and gripping to me, not just another book I’d read various different combinations of many times before.
With a small cast of very interesting and layered characters as well as a gripping and interesting plot this was a really good book, and I am definitely interested in picking up the second in this series.
I’m usually a sucker for spy thrillers, especially with this sort of beginning – an agent who had just barely managed to get out being sucked back into the dangerous life and world they’d escaped. I found this book to be a really good example of that sort of story. The pacing was really good to my mind, a fast and steady clip but not so crazy I couldn’t take in all the details. Sam was a hard but still interesting character, and I enjoyed his character’s voice and perspective. I felt there was a little too much (for my personal tastes) in describing the various guns and weapons that were used, but I totally understand many readers, especially those crossing over from military thrillers or more blokey action orientated genres would find this extra time and descriptions to be a really good thing.
I was pleased that while the level of action and slightly heavy focus on weapons catered to one side of the readership, there was clearly plenty of characterization and an attempt at making Sam’s character relatable and interesting in an emotional way. I found this really helped me connect and respond to him and this really added to my enjoyment of the story itself. The plot was also really well thought out and I felt a lot of more mystery/suspense based readers will find this is what grabs them and keeps them turning the pages.
I really enjoyed the complexity of the plot – while in many ways it seems a re-run of many other stories, I loved how the author managed to make it feel fresh and with the characters and setting it felt interesting and gripping to me, not just another book I’d read various different combinations of many times before.
With a small cast of very interesting and layered characters as well as a gripping and interesting plot this was a really good book, and I am definitely interested in picking up the second in this series.
April 1, 2021
What a great start for a new series by Brian Drake
This book starts out when Sam Raven rescues a kidnapped young lady. Then it gets really exciting!
Heroes: Former CIA agents Sam Raven and Mara Cole; their three teammates; Clark Wilson, a current CIA agent; and a host of Sam's comrades.
Anti-heroes: Basheer el-Dowd, a opium kingpin in Afghanistan; a host of jihadist killers; and are there traitors in the U.S.
The story: Sam and his four teammates were formerly captured by el-Dowd but eventually escaped. Now three of Sam's former teammates have been assassinated and it appears Sam and Mara are next on the list. The two of them are doing their best to ensure they survive the hit teams that come after them.
Follow the story as Sam, Mara, and their friends as they do their best to solve the mystery as why are the killers on their trail and who sent them?
Heads-up: there is so much action going on that is it very hard to put the book down once you've started reading it.
This book starts out when Sam Raven rescues a kidnapped young lady. Then it gets really exciting!
Heroes: Former CIA agents Sam Raven and Mara Cole; their three teammates; Clark Wilson, a current CIA agent; and a host of Sam's comrades.
Anti-heroes: Basheer el-Dowd, a opium kingpin in Afghanistan; a host of jihadist killers; and are there traitors in the U.S.
The story: Sam and his four teammates were formerly captured by el-Dowd but eventually escaped. Now three of Sam's former teammates have been assassinated and it appears Sam and Mara are next on the list. The two of them are doing their best to ensure they survive the hit teams that come after them.
Follow the story as Sam, Mara, and their friends as they do their best to solve the mystery as why are the killers on their trail and who sent them?
Heads-up: there is so much action going on that is it very hard to put the book down once you've started reading it.
August 19, 2021
You Just Gotta Love Sam Raven!
What if you worked for the government for a clandestine organization and were captured, tortured and worse? And what if that person who did the worse is but a fragmented memory? Plus you know someone could help but you're too traumatized to ask. Your life is one big stress fracture of emotions and pain and terrible memories. What can you do? Then you find that all of your associates from "back in the day" are dying. There is only one who can help but you're not in the right place mentally to make that call. That's what friends are for. They'll help you make a clean break. Enter Raven's Raiders!
What if you worked for the government for a clandestine organization and were captured, tortured and worse? And what if that person who did the worse is but a fragmented memory? Plus you know someone could help but you're too traumatized to ask. Your life is one big stress fracture of emotions and pain and terrible memories. What can you do? Then you find that all of your associates from "back in the day" are dying. There is only one who can help but you're not in the right place mentally to make that call. That's what friends are for. They'll help you make a clean break. Enter Raven's Raiders!
April 13, 2021
Interesting Lead Character
Sam Raven makes an interesting bow in Terminal Memory. This book has plenty of action and violence. I hope to find out more about Raven in the future. Why does he put himself through all of this? The reason is hinted at in Terminal Memory. I think it is interesting that Raven lives on a houseboat in Stockholm of all places. The houseboat makes a brief appearance. I am looking forward to reading the next Sam Raven adventure, Wicked City, which will be out at the end of April. 2021.
Sam Raven makes an interesting bow in Terminal Memory. This book has plenty of action and violence. I hope to find out more about Raven in the future. Why does he put himself through all of this? The reason is hinted at in Terminal Memory. I think it is interesting that Raven lives on a houseboat in Stockholm of all places. The houseboat makes a brief appearance. I am looking forward to reading the next Sam Raven adventure, Wicked City, which will be out at the end of April. 2021.
February 11, 2023
I'm already a fan of Scott Stiletto series. Sam Raven is on the similar lines with more fast paced action. Raven is an ex CIA and now private contractor. The members of the old unit are being targeted one after the other, the last 2 being Raven and Mara. It has something to do with their last operation wherein they had been captured, tortured but managed to escape. Raven and Mara have to now escape the assassins and find why they are being hunted. The pace never slows and it's mostly plot based. The story doesn't waver and remains focused with little fluff.
July 26, 2021
Lots of action, but lots of errors too...
Good action reading but interrupted with typos and improper word choices. And references to starting cars, vans and SUVs by pushing the "starter button!" Really? At least the author did his homework on all the armament in this book. Tons of it and quite a variety too! Will hope next book has an editor who can proofread?
Good action reading but interrupted with typos and improper word choices. And references to starting cars, vans and SUVs by pushing the "starter button!" Really? At least the author did his homework on all the armament in this book. Tons of it and quite a variety too! Will hope next book has an editor who can proofread?
July 31, 2022
Lots of action
I found this book by accident. I read the whole book and found it interesting. It did board on unbelievable, it kind of had me saying to myself can this really happen? Then I HAD to remind myself that it is a book. It really did suck me in. I did enjoy the book and I might buy the next one.
I found this book by accident. I read the whole book and found it interesting. It did board on unbelievable, it kind of had me saying to myself can this really happen? Then I HAD to remind myself that it is a book. It really did suck me in. I did enjoy the book and I might buy the next one.
October 8, 2023
While I'm not particularly fond of stories featuring an all-powerful Superman excelling at everything, the book, with its swift-paced plot and numerous unexpected twists, managed to capture my interest. In sum, I would rate it 3.5 stars. I might consider exploring more works by this author in the future.
September 9, 2021
Nightmares of Afghanistan
Sam Raven used to work for the CIA but a failed mission led to his leaving his employment. Now two of the men on his team were dead and he was trying to save a third. Why had that mission failed? Who was killing his team and why?
Sam Raven used to work for the CIA but a failed mission led to his leaving his employment. Now two of the men on his team were dead and he was trying to save a third. Why had that mission failed? Who was killing his team and why?
December 1, 2021
Terrific read
I enjoyed this action book so much that I took a small chance and bought the next three .If these are anything like the first book I’ll be totally pleased.Great interesting writing…
I enjoyed this action book so much that I took a small chance and bought the next three .If these are anything like the first book I’ll be totally pleased.Great interesting writing…
February 26, 2022
Terminal Memory A Sam Raven Thriller.
Another fast-paced book by Brian Drake. A great read, especially if your into full on gunfire, explosions and revenge. Not usually my type, but I am enjoying his story lines, would recommend if you like this type of thing.
Another fast-paced book by Brian Drake. A great read, especially if your into full on gunfire, explosions and revenge. Not usually my type, but I am enjoying his story lines, would recommend if you like this type of thing.
August 29, 2023
This reads like it was written by Xander Cage. It includes copious violence and minimal character development. It also requires so much suspension of disbelief that I'd only enjoy it after a handle of vodka.
December 18, 2023
I did enjoy this book. It moved right along with not a lot of extra verbiage to prolong suspense. We know who are the bad guys relatively early on. The suspense being how quickly can one side outwit and overcome the other. The romantic endeavor left me pretty much wanting to ignore those parts.
January 5, 2024
Good book. Lots of action and things moved along quickly. Like Sam Raven, a good guy. First time reading this author and thought the writing was good. Already downloaded the second in this series and will try others by this author.
May 21, 2021
Ridiculously Corny
Couldn't get past chapter 5. Reads like a rejected TV plot. Pure drivel and totally unbelievable. Please make this the last of the series.
Couldn't get past chapter 5. Reads like a rejected TV plot. Pure drivel and totally unbelievable. Please make this the last of the series.
June 14, 2021
A good book
Thank you Brain Drake for a great book I hadn't read any of his books before but I will be reading them now!
Thank you Brain Drake for a great book I hadn't read any of his books before but I will be reading them now!
October 11, 2021
Blood thirsty
Liked the main characters story was good hope their is more to come from Sam and Mara recommend it thoroughly
Liked the main characters story was good hope their is more to come from Sam and Mara recommend it thoroughly
January 15, 2022
Great book
Loads of action and a good story with plenty of travel to other countries and time to relax after the firefight
Loads of action and a good story with plenty of travel to other countries and time to relax after the firefight
April 24, 2022
A great thriller!!
Mr. Drake needs to get a few more Sam Raven books started as I don't want to run out of good books to read !!
Mr. Drake needs to get a few more Sam Raven books started as I don't want to run out of good books to read !!
November 17, 2022
Good Read
Lots of action and well written. Not too much fluff, but to the point of the story. I’ll read the next book in the series.
Lots of action and well written. Not too much fluff, but to the point of the story. I’ll read the next book in the series.
March 20, 2023
Really liked it
More 4 1/2 star. Love the complexity of the story with many moving parts. I was cheering for the good guys. Will definitely follow Sam Raven into book 2.
More 4 1/2 star. Love the complexity of the story with many moving parts. I was cheering for the good guys. Will definitely follow Sam Raven into book 2.
September 18, 2023
It was a good read however the odds they overcome was a little over the top.
June 17, 2024
Raven swoops in!
Sam Raven is committed to doling out his gritty vigilante justice to quiet the nightmares that took away what was dear to him. Reminds me of The Executioner series.
Sam Raven is committed to doling out his gritty vigilante justice to quiet the nightmares that took away what was dear to him. Reminds me of The Executioner series.
June 22, 2024
Did not finish
January 16, 2022
I like this first book in the series about Sam Raven looking forward to reading the next book in this series!!!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews