The Third Target: J. B. Collins, Book 1

I am never disappointed in anything I read by this writer. One of the things I love is that I can read a "fictional' book that has all of the drama of a number one TV series or movie but still LEARN real history and current events! I love how he rips news from the headlines and even anticipates upcoming headlines and writes them into life. I find Rosenberg to be a thoughtful and extremely talented writer who actually has a vast understanding of history and current events and does the research and interviews to make his books as close to non-fiction as fiction can get. This writer #1. Interests and entertains his reader, #2. Educates his reader and brings current event awareness to them and last but MOST IMPORTANTLY he seeks to spread the Gospel in that he allows his reader to follow his characters through a real to life struggle with sin and our need of The Savior. I love Joel Rosenberg- and this book is amazing like all of his others. I ... NEED ... more Joel Rosenberg books to read!!!!

J. B. Collins is a very successful foreign war correspondent working for the New York Times. He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather who did some pretty foolish things. However, J.B. may have just trumped anything his grandfather could have ever done by taking an invitation to meet in person with one of the leaders of ISIS in Syria. Already a torn country ravaged by its civil war, Syria has become a stronghold for many followers of the Al-Qaeda split off and are very dangerous. J. B. gets his interview and manages to safely get away, but not before he can confirm that ISIS has procured chemical weapons. But will his interview put a target on his back once his story goes public? Or will ISIS keep him around as long as they can use him? Rosenberg is well known for his end times novels and this is no exception. He keeps the novel on a fast pace with lots of action in a very realistic current events setting. J.B. embodies everything that Rosenberg typically has for a main character. He is successful. He has a job that puts him in the line of fire for current events. And he is not a Christian, yet. But he has people in his life that urge him to give his life to Christ. I really enjoyed this book. The current events make you think about what could happen today. The tension keeps you moving through the book at a fast pace. And the potential love interest makes you root for the romance within the suspense. I can’t wait to read the next one!

By the end, this story had my interest. The beginning almost lost me. I didn't see the point of starting in the past. The pay off for reading all of that scene setting and characterization didn't pay off and added little to the overall story. Once the story progressed to current time, and after Collins gets to his interview with Ramzy,then the pacing picked up considerably. I could have done without the long narrative of how Collins had come to know the various people he interacts with. I skimmed just about all of that. I disliked killing all of the kids in the last scene. I know it happens, but if an author is going to off kids, then I think it can get over the top. The kid's deaths didn't propel Collins to any great acts of heroism, nor did it serve to make me more afraid of the terrorists. But over all, this is a good read. Terrifying to contemplate. It will make you think.

I've read several of Joel C. Rosenberg's books and am a fan -- although some times I feel he goes a little overboard in his books describing his religious viewpoint towards End Times prophesies. However, while the topic is touched on briefly in this book, it is definitely not a cause for concern! My review won't provide a summary of The Third Target as this can be read about in the Amazon Book Description above; but rather will provide my opinion as to why I'd highly recommend this book. All I'll say is that the premise of the book is built around these "What if" questions: 1) What if Radical Islamist extremists were able to seize control of a cache of chemical weapons in Syria that were overlooked or not reported to the U.S. disarmament teams?; and 2) What if these Radical Islamist extremists chose to use the threat of these weapons to seize control of a key Middle East country and to establish a violent caliphate? In my opinion, The Third Target is one of the most exciting, edge-of-the seat plot-driven thrillers I've read in quite awhile for several reasons, with four of the most major reasons being that: 1) the author has (as usual) done his homework regarding the subject matter of this book; 2) the subject matter is so topical that you might expect one day to read about it in the headlines of your favorite newspaper (although let's hope the book's subject and plot remain a work of fiction) 3) Rosenberg writes in a style that results in the reader feeling that he/she is not just a "reader" but an actual "participant" in the middle of all the plot, and 4) the book is filled with enough action and twists and turns that, by the time you finish it, you'll need to sit for awhile to catch your breath. Having said all of the above, before deciding to read this book, readers must understand that some suspension of disbelief is required and, more than that, that the end of this book is NOT the end of the story. By this I mean the ending is a "cliffhanger" and that you'll have to -- feel compelled to -- read Rosenberg's sequel to The Third Target, called The First Hostage. I've already obtained my copy and will be reading it very soon!

It takes a special book to grab your attention in this fast paced world we live in and insist that any other menial task must be put to on side until it is finished. But the Third Target can be blamed for doing just that. After a solid if slightly slower start for a thriller - the action top gear and never dropped off the pace until the last page and without giving out spoilers, beyond!! J B Collins is a prestigious correspondent for the New York Times and while used to reporting in some pretty hairy situations, noting has prepared him for a harrowing trip over the boarder of Syria to interview one of the leaders of the much feared and ruthless ISIS. Has the Terrorist organisation obtained chemical weapons and what is their next target? The story moves around many of the Middle East countries that have become household names in the last few years thanks to the emergence of Islamic State (ISIS) and their murderous and sickening acts. The story at times feels like reading a non fiction account by a journalist just arrived back from this volatile area of the world. And it could well be ripped from headlines to come. The ending is both unbelievably tense and riveting, but also terrifyingly possible. And the ending is about as cliffhanger as a book can deliver. Thank goodness the sequel is already available as if I had read this without the ability to jump into the continuing story, it would have been much harder to get to sleep at night. Forget intense television serial drama, this will get the blood pumping and adrenaline surging. Take a deep breath . . . .

I wasn't sure at first if I liked a first person point of view book written by Rosenberg. It isn't my favorite writing style, and it seemed odd coming from him, but the more I got into the story, the more it worked, and the result is one of his best books. I really liked the main character in this book. Daring, committed to his job, imperfect in ways, and constantly in bad situations. The idea of ISIS getting WMD is scary, but is a very real possibility. Rosenberg brings current events and possible future events to life in this book. In a very interesting way, he explains through character thought and dialogue what is going on in the Middle East and what the holdups are to having peace in that region. The US president in the book sounds a lot like ours - useless, blind to the dangers of ISIS and other radical Muslim groups. This is, to use an over-used word, an awesome book. It held my attention, and I didn't want to put it down once I started it. It should come with a warning that it is not a stand alone book and has a cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. Definitely worth reading, and a book Rosenberg can be proud of. I just hope it stays fiction and does not become real.

The Third Target is a spell-binding, adrenaline-building, climactic and suspenseful novel that brings various components of reality into the fictional realm! At first, the novel jumps off the page with a flashback to what a journalist witnessed firsthand before moving to the current timeframe in the book. Now, the grandson of that journalist wants to carry the mantle in his day with reporting the most elusive and dangerous terrorist group leader to date. In order to do so, J. B. sets out on a mission that may just be the death of him to interview the terrorist leader himself. Through many pages of the tale readers will wind their way through the Middle East and more as journalist J. B. Collins faces not just danger head on, but pure evil. One aspect of J. B.’s life is the fact that while having grown up in a Christian home, he distances himself from those beliefs as well as his older brother who is a pastor. One of the threads in the story is how the enemy knows aspects of a proposed peace treaty between two nations that was said to be top secret and classified. When J. B. learns just how much the terrorists know of the peace plans, he is afraid. When he learns they know details about his family, he now knows he must expose the threat. Though this is fictional, I was really impressed with the amount of research Joel Rosenberg pursued; it is simply astounding. When J.B.’s life is under constant threat and when he is captured a couple of times, one might think he would quit or at least question where he is at spiritually. Yet, J. B. is not easily swayed to make a profession of faith even when he recognizes God’s hand in his recent life threatening experiences. I hope you take time to read, consider what is presented, and thank the Lord for the many people who stay vigilant to keep many lives from many nations safe.

Great story. Well written with one exception. I did not enjoy the internal struggle and many conversations on his pact with God. The idea of having a fiction novel from the viewpoint of a journalist in the same vein as Cussler, Berry and the like is a good one. And having his brother as a religious symbol in his life works for me when the brother is introduced. Maybe spend time with the internal struggle of the afterlife. I'm sure we have all been there once or twice. But then it is mentioned over and over and I begin to lose sight of the enjoyment the book is giving because I began to feel as if Rosenberg decided the most important part of his book was to ensure my soul was being saved by accepting Christ into my soul. Important part on one's life for some, not so much for others, and really not what I want when I am trying to enjoy a well written fiction novel. I will give Rosenberg's next book a try. I'm sure I will be able to tell whether this has been left behind (yes, pun intended) in his future novels or if I will no longer be spending my dollars on other novelist's