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Bob Burke Action Thriller #8
Burke's Double Down
It’s "Ocean's Eleven" meets "Man on Fire." In Vegas, the house always wins, unless Bob Burke's at the table. Then, it’s Double Down, all bets are off, and bodies start falling. This is Book #8 in the Bob Burke action-thriller series, with 4.6 Stars on Amazon and 4.6 Stars in Goodreads.
When a Vegas casino mogul's daughter is brutally kidnapped off the streets of San Francisco, he makes three phone calls— first, to the head of the FBI; second, to his contact with the Gambino crime family in New York, and third to the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. The FBI immediately dispatches a mobile lab and strike force to the scene. The Mob puts out the word to all their contacts, “Let her go now, unharmed, and we won’t kill you.” The General is an old friend and calls Bob Burke.
“Get the Merry Men and get out there!” “Me?” “You… Because you have a reputation for finding lost people, for not taking crap from the bad guys, and blowing holes through people who try. He’ll pay you $20 mil and expenses for trying. So go.”
Do you like a good action-adventure series? Binge read Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, and Lee Child? If you’re a fan of Mitch Rapp, Scot Harvath, Jack Ryan, the Grayman, Jack Reacher, or Mark Dawson’s Milton, you’ll love the Bob Burke Series. 10 Books with this former Delta Force commander taking on the New York and Chicago mobs, the Kremlin, Beijing, kidnappers, and international terrorists.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—even the bodies. The kidnappers thought Sin City and the vast Nevada desert around it was their hunting ground. They’re wrong. Burke's about to show them what happens when Delta makes a house call. Bright neon lights can’t hide them. The desert isn’t vast enough to escape. And no amount of money can buy them out of what's coming. The Geek Squad back on the 3rd floor is hacking into bank accounts, financial records, even NSA and DoD satellites. “The Ghost” has a squadron of Apache gunships on call up the road. And no one can outrun a well-aimed .50-caliber bullet.
This isn't Burke's first kidnapping. From Mexico to Moscow and back to Sherwood Forest, he's been relentless, leaving a trail of bodies and blown-up buildings wherever someone's taken someone or something that doesn't belong to them. But Vegas is different. Everyone's playing an angle out there—the FBI, the Brooklyn mob, the pit bosses, even the local cops —and no one can be trusted.
This fast-moving Delta Force thriller is another military best seller from the author of Burke's War, Burke's Gamble, Burke's Revenge, Burke's Samovar, Burke's Mandarin, Burke's Rescue, Burke's Machete, Burke's Laser, and Burke's Justice; The Undertaker, Amongst My Enemies, Thursday at Noon, Aim True, My Brothers, Winner Lose All, and The Payback Action Trilogies. Just the thing for a long plane flight, to take the chill off a cold winter night, or the beach. Grab a copy and see for yourself.
When a Vegas casino mogul's daughter is brutally kidnapped off the streets of San Francisco, he makes three phone calls— first, to the head of the FBI; second, to his contact with the Gambino crime family in New York, and third to the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. The FBI immediately dispatches a mobile lab and strike force to the scene. The Mob puts out the word to all their contacts, “Let her go now, unharmed, and we won’t kill you.” The General is an old friend and calls Bob Burke.
“Get the Merry Men and get out there!” “Me?” “You… Because you have a reputation for finding lost people, for not taking crap from the bad guys, and blowing holes through people who try. He’ll pay you $20 mil and expenses for trying. So go.”
Do you like a good action-adventure series? Binge read Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, and Lee Child? If you’re a fan of Mitch Rapp, Scot Harvath, Jack Ryan, the Grayman, Jack Reacher, or Mark Dawson’s Milton, you’ll love the Bob Burke Series. 10 Books with this former Delta Force commander taking on the New York and Chicago mobs, the Kremlin, Beijing, kidnappers, and international terrorists.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—even the bodies. The kidnappers thought Sin City and the vast Nevada desert around it was their hunting ground. They’re wrong. Burke's about to show them what happens when Delta makes a house call. Bright neon lights can’t hide them. The desert isn’t vast enough to escape. And no amount of money can buy them out of what's coming. The Geek Squad back on the 3rd floor is hacking into bank accounts, financial records, even NSA and DoD satellites. “The Ghost” has a squadron of Apache gunships on call up the road. And no one can outrun a well-aimed .50-caliber bullet.
This isn't Burke's first kidnapping. From Mexico to Moscow and back to Sherwood Forest, he's been relentless, leaving a trail of bodies and blown-up buildings wherever someone's taken someone or something that doesn't belong to them. But Vegas is different. Everyone's playing an angle out there—the FBI, the Brooklyn mob, the pit bosses, even the local cops —and no one can be trusted.
This fast-moving Delta Force thriller is another military best seller from the author of Burke's War, Burke's Gamble, Burke's Revenge, Burke's Samovar, Burke's Mandarin, Burke's Rescue, Burke's Machete, Burke's Laser, and Burke's Justice; The Undertaker, Amongst My Enemies, Thursday at Noon, Aim True, My Brothers, Winner Lose All, and The Payback Action Trilogies. Just the thing for a long plane flight, to take the chill off a cold winter night, or the beach. Grab a copy and see for yourself.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2024
151 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
William F. Brown
27 books89 followersI live in Florida. As a Vice President of the real estate subsidiary of a Fortune 500 corporation, I traveled widely in the US and abroad. A native of Chicago, I earned a BA in History and Russian Area Studies and a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Illinois. (Go Illini!) I’ve been active in politics (I had the stupidity to run and the misfortune to win a -year seat on a County Board of Supervisors) (more hard time than you’d get for armed robbery, car theft, or embezzlement in most states!) and active in numerous civic organizations. I served in the US Army and was a company commander and drug counselor. (The only two places in the country that teach leadership and organizational management are the Boy Scouts and the Army) When I’m not writing, I like to play golf (usually poorly) paint landscapes in oil or acrylics and running 5Ks. (slower every year) .
My wife and I have traveled extensively in Germany, Russia, the Caribbean, England, Ireland, Scotland, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, Mexico, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Egypt, and Israel.
My wife and I have traveled extensively in Germany, Russia, the Caribbean, England, Ireland, Scotland, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, Mexico, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Egypt, and Israel.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 29, 2024
As his car made a U-turn and headed back to the Astra, he saw the sun peeking over the mountains to the east, staining the sky a bloody red. A new day was dawning in Sin City.
And for some, it would be their last.
Ginny Wanderly, the daughter of billionaire Las Vegas casino owner Larry Wanderly, has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. After calling the FBI, and his friends in the Brooklyn mafia, Larry calls Bob Burke, aka “The Ghost,” and his band of Merry Men. Can Burke find and rescue Ginny before it’s too late?
Bob Burke remains a great character. Physically reminiscent of Chuck Norris, he’s an absolutely lethal force in the body of an unassuming, normal-looking man. In temperament, he’s like Patrick Swayze from Roadhouse: cool, calculating, and nice, until it's time to not be nice. And after several books with a collection of international villains, the villains here are creepy, homegrown trash somewhere between Helter Skelter and Deliverance.
Just as all the earlier books in the series, Burke’s Double Down is fast-paced, funny, and never boring. Highly recommended.
September 1, 2025
For you action junkies, it doesn't stop. Bob Burke is pedal to the metal as usual. He does pull in additional team member to the Merry Men.
This one is a brutal kidnapping which will turn your stomach. For Bob, he is "beginning to believe this whole kidnapping thing is a setup." As he and the Geeks work their way through the facts he realizes what he has become "That’s the nature of evil and of my profession." Doesn't mean he's going to stop any time soon.
Expect some "mano a mano" which he encourages "I smiled and blew him a kiss. “Dream on, old man.” " Ace described the action well "But it’s what I would call a real double down,” and thus the name of the book is obvious. Of course you will have to read the story to get a full understanding.
A firefight -and it is dramatic- is never the end "the Op would never be truly complete until we had the full picture."
Enjoy Colonel Dad and the rest of the crew in Vegas, baby!
This one is a brutal kidnapping which will turn your stomach. For Bob, he is "beginning to believe this whole kidnapping thing is a setup." As he and the Geeks work their way through the facts he realizes what he has become "That’s the nature of evil and of my profession." Doesn't mean he's going to stop any time soon.
Expect some "mano a mano" which he encourages "I smiled and blew him a kiss. “Dream on, old man.” " Ace described the action well "But it’s what I would call a real double down,” and thus the name of the book is obvious. Of course you will have to read the story to get a full understanding.
A firefight -and it is dramatic- is never the end "the Op would never be truly complete until we had the full picture."
Enjoy Colonel Dad and the rest of the crew in Vegas, baby!
July 18, 2024
I turned to the left where their bedrooms, entertainment center, and play pen were located, fully expecting to go into full Drill Instructor Mode, pounding on a trash can and screaming to wake them up like R. Lee Ermey playing Gunny Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, but to my astonishment, the Geeks were already up and standing in the Rec Room, vertical, their morning expresso, green tea, hand-squeezed orange juice, or Red Bull in hand, waiting for me…I said, looking around at their bleary eyes. “This will be quick. A nineteen-year-old student at the University of San Francisco, Ginny Wanderly, was kidnapped from campus the night before last. She’s the daughter of billionaire Larry Wanderly, who owns half of Las Vegas and casinos in a few other places. Wanderly has now received two very graphic videos with the girl. The last one has a ransom demand. In the process of taking her, the kidnappers brutally murdered her boyfriend and her two bodyguards. Pretty nasty stuff with baseball bats and an ax, and the clock’s now running. The kidnappers want $100 million in bitcoin, or they’ll kill her.”
June 29, 2024
Burke's Double Down, by author Bill Brown, is one of the best of the Burke stories yet. Adventure always comes first. This time his Geek daughter has a major role to play. Friendship is tested, will it survive?
So many different twists, but will Burke be able to solve the problem in time.
I do not want to give anything away, but suffice it to say, I really enjoyed the story.
So many different twists, but will Burke be able to solve the problem in time.
I do not want to give anything away, but suffice it to say, I really enjoyed the story.
August 9, 2024
Don’t anger Burke
Burke is asked by a General friend to help find a kidnapped daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Las Vegas. The kidnappers are a bunch of toked up rednecks working for an unknown mastermind. The group are keeping the girl in an old farm located in the Nevada desert. Burke and his group of Merry Men find the farm with the help of his hacker team. ENJOY!
Burke is asked by a General friend to help find a kidnapped daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Las Vegas. The kidnappers are a bunch of toked up rednecks working for an unknown mastermind. The group are keeping the girl in an old farm located in the Nevada desert. Burke and his group of Merry Men find the farm with the help of his hacker team. ENJOY!
August 9, 2024
No where near as good
Book 8 and I had such high expectations. Unfortunately it failed to deliver
This was much more about the bad guys, what they were up to and how they did it, rather than about Ghost, Ace and the merry men
There's one fire fight, that lasted about 30secs and 50 rounds and the rest of the book is about investigating and political manauvering.
It's not a bad book, just not what you expect from a Burke book and thereon lies the disappointment
Book 8 and I had such high expectations. Unfortunately it failed to deliver
This was much more about the bad guys, what they were up to and how they did it, rather than about Ghost, Ace and the merry men
There's one fire fight, that lasted about 30secs and 50 rounds and the rest of the book is about investigating and political manauvering.
It's not a bad book, just not what you expect from a Burke book and thereon lies the disappointment
July 3, 2024
BURKE’S DOUBLE DOWN is a great story! It feels fuller, more fleshed out somehow than previous books in this series; I like it a lot. I really enjoyed the opening chapter of how Burke and Ace met as well as all the other meticulous, interesting set-ups to this tale.
Bob Burke, the Merry Men, and the third floor Geeks are all uniquely awesome as they try to find and rescue an innocent, teenaged kidnapping victim. The character interaction and dialogue are on point, and there are plots within plots to keep you turning pages. This is a fast paced action novel with brains!
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book with no strings attached.
Bob Burke, the Merry Men, and the third floor Geeks are all uniquely awesome as they try to find and rescue an innocent, teenaged kidnapping victim. The character interaction and dialogue are on point, and there are plots within plots to keep you turning pages. This is a fast paced action novel with brains!
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book with no strings attached.
July 11, 2024
Burke#8
Another very entertaining book in the world of Burke and Ace.Very enjoyable, characters continue their interactions and the bad guys get their due.Thanks Mr Brown for another installment.
Another very entertaining book in the world of Burke and Ace.Very enjoyable, characters continue their interactions and the bad guys get their due.Thanks Mr Brown for another installment.
July 12, 2024
Another action packed adventure for the Ghost & his Merry Men
The latest chapter in this series does not disappoint. The Ghost & his band of Merry Men along with the Geeks on the 3rd floor do what they do best. Rid the world of the bad guys & have fun doing it.
The latest chapter in this series does not disappoint. The Ghost & his band of Merry Men along with the Geeks on the 3rd floor do what they do best. Rid the world of the bad guys & have fun doing it.
September 26, 2024
Entertaining, Fun to Read
As usual, this latest book in the Burke Series was action packed and great fun to read. Also, the addition of all the new technology and incorporating the Geeks makes the story more interesting.
As usual, this latest book in the Burke Series was action packed and great fun to read. Also, the addition of all the new technology and incorporating the Geeks makes the story more interesting.
July 8, 2024
A favorite book!
First of all I love Bob Burke and the merry men books they are so good with the action and the family and barbecue s if you haven't tried them I suggest you do!
First of all I love Bob Burke and the merry men books they are so good with the action and the family and barbecue s if you haven't tried them I suggest you do!
July 10, 2024
Woohoo! Great read!
The Ghost is back! So are the goombahs! I've missed them, well written, suspenceful, full of action! Where's number 9?
The Ghost is back! So are the goombahs! I've missed them, well written, suspenceful, full of action! Where's number 9?
July 10, 2024
Outstanding Local Faire!
The familiarity of the local Geography of Vegas and NevAda, added greatly to an exciting and tense story!
I highly recommend this book and series!
The familiarity of the local Geography of Vegas and NevAda, added greatly to an exciting and tense story!
I highly recommend this book and series!
April 2, 2025
Another great book in the Bob Burke series. As always fast paced action filled thriller with great plot and characters. Never a dull moment from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews