Reflexive Fire

By: Jack Murphy

Narrated by: Don Hoeksema

As a freelance assassin, Deckard is no stranger to the shadow world of covert operations, but when he is summoned to Bohemian Grove and hired to train and lead a battalion of Kazakh mercenaries, he soon discovers his employer's real agenda: a doomsday plot decades in the making.

Now, free humanity's only chance for survival rests with Deckard's renegade private military company. From Afghanistan to Burma and beyond, the clock is ticking down to global extinction.

©2011 Jack Murphy (P)2015 Beacon Audiobooks

5 start worthy but PLEASE find a new narrator.

This is a great story and writing by Jack. I'll be the first to admit I don't usually write reviews. However, I can't stand for the injustice I feel about the narrator. He needs to learn how to pronounce words correctly and read jokes in text as they are supposed to sound. Seriously ruined the experience.

Not a bad story, but

The director and producer need to make sure the narrator can pronounce the words. It was very distracting. You see this in every book but WTF!

Keep going Jack.

Great military thriller marred by terrible perform

What made the experience of listening to Reflexive Fire the most enjoyable?

Mr. Murphy shows extreme attention to detail when it comes to military equipment use and description and military tactics.

What didn’t you like about Don Hoeksema’s performance?

The performer doesn't use punctuation, mispronounces common words and misreads ( I had the kindle version to compare it to). Overall, terrible.

Any additional comments?

It would be great if the audio book could be performed by George Guidall or Scott Brick and re-released.

Good listen!

I enjoyed the story, however I found the narration to be slightly distracting. I believe it was a combination of technical thoroughness of the writing and strict pronunciations of the written content. Additionally the narrative was slightly monotone for the first half of the book. Again this might be due to the technical writing aspects, but near the end it seemed the story, writing and narration began to flow.
Overall I enjoyed the story, looking forward to the other books!

Ok book.

It is an interesting thriller but was not what I was thinking. Definitely have to pay attention or you will miss things even for a second because it is so fast paced.

Great action, bad narration

I purchased this book due to its recommendations for being a good military action thriller. My first experience was bad because I could not get over the narrator, I then returned the book for a refund on my credit. After thinking on it for a bit and enjoying the story I had heard so far I decided to purchase the book again and tough it out.

I am glad I listened to the whole book because it was a action packed mercenary thriller that seemed to be well researched even though it read like a Michael Bay movie. I would recommended the story for those wanting decent gritty action.

The narrator though is pretty bad. I am not certain if English is his first language, but he constantly mis pronounces common words throughout the book. It took me away from the story at times. He also sounds like a sports announcer and does not pace well or pause for effect. Overall it was not a deal breaker, but I wish they used someone different.

If you can get past the narrator, I think you will enjoy this book.

Great book!

I've been a longtime fan of Jack Murphy's work on SOFREP, a media outlet consisting of special operations veterans. This is the first of Murphy's fiction that I've read.

I normally don't read much fiction in this vein. I was a Tom Clancy and Vince Flynn fan when I was younger, and the last thing close to this that I read was by DJ Molles (another great writer).

I'll get the bad out of the way first. The narrator was subpar. At first, I wasn't sure I could finish the audio version. Even allowing for different pronunciations, this narrator needs to go back to school. Words like platoon, ranging, and Kazakh are not difficult. The only one I gave him a pass on was SIGINT... frustrating and distracting.

As far as the story -- I loved it! I couldn't stop listening, especially as the conspiracy dominoes began to fall.

I'll definitely be checking out more!

Great Story - terrible narration.

It's a crying shame the narration is downright unlistenable (seems like a made up word to me) considering the story itself is a great military thriller.

I had gotten the audiobook to listen to while driving and failed to make it through the prologue due to the narrator. I then bought the book and read it basically in a night, then read the rest of the series.

so, save your ears and just buy the book.

Was this text to speech?

A great story ruined by narration. There seemed to be speed reading at some point. Sentence periods were ran right through. And what is a "plat-toon"? This really wreaked of a text to speech platform in many parts. Couldn't continue to listen to it. Wish I could get my money back.

Unexpected, not your usual plot.

What made the experience of listening to Reflexive Fire the most enjoyable?

Did not expect such an interesting storyline, it kept me on the edge of my seat. Very eye opening. The narrator was awesome, he did an interesting job in bringing the characters to life, without overdoing it.. The book was not hard to stay in tuned with, a pleasant voice, easy on the ears.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Deckard, he turns the tables and leads his private army against the men against those who have it coming to them. I was swept away by the action on the ship, where he has been exposed and all hell breaks loose, and then in the end how the government, sweeps mostly everything under the rug, with ridiculous explanations, so true to real life in so many ways.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where Cabal is wanting to end life as we all know it, the progressive utopia, is talking in a cult setting. The scene is similar to a Satan Cult, except it is worse, as you find out later.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, it really makes you wonder who you can trust. The book was given a good name, because it really will leave you reflexive as to any of this is possible.

Any additional comments?

I don't know if this should be considered courage , but Jack Murphy isn't afraid to let important characters get snuffed in all the spray of shrapnel and deluge of full-auto fire. The body count is high. What an exciting adventure!