Thunder in the Morning Calm

Pacific Rim Series, Book 1

By: Don Brown

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Lieutenant Commander "Gunner" McCormick is assigned as an intelligence officer to Carrier Strike Force 10, being deployed to the Yellow Sea at the invitation of South Korea for joint exercises with the US Navy. During his pre-deployment briefing, he discovers a top-secret memo revealing rumors that the North Koreans may still be holding a handful of elderly Americans from the Korean War in secret prison camps. As it happens, Gunner's grandfather, who was a young marine officer in the Korean War, disappeared at Chosin Reservoir over 60 years ago and is still listed as MIA in North Korea.

Sworn to silence about what he has read, the top-secret memo eats at him. Gunner decides to spend all his inheritance and break every military regulation in the book to finance his own three-man commando squad on a suicide mission north of the DMZ to search for clues about the fate of his grandfather. Risking his career, his fortune, and his life, Gunner will get his answers, or he will die trying.

Don Brown is building a loyal fan base by writing what he knows best: thrillers with heart. A former Navy JAG officer and action officer in the Pentagon, Brown pens action-packed plots and finely-drawn characters that are credible and compelling. Thunder in the Morning Calm is a novel of bravery, duty, and family love that will keep listeners of all ages fascinated straight through to the last second.

©2011 Don Brown (P)2011 Zondervan

good plot

really kept my my interest. had some twists and turns I didn't expect. I would recommend.

Great story and great narration!

I'm a big fan of listening to Dick Hill from all the W.E.B. Griffin books that he's done. He did a fantastic job on this book, the first of Don Brown's I've listened to. I loved the character development, the action, the explanations. It wasn't dry, we didn't get bogged down in any of the technical or military terms. The ending was so emotional and so heartfelt. I highly recommend this book, and anything narrated by Dick Hill!

Great story that keeps moving

had no idea at first that Christian faith is woven into characters of story, a definite good surprise.

exciting, timely .

Chuckles to Tears, this is such a good story.

Don Brown has my vote for writing this book. It moves quick and holds the readers interest. The characters are well done. The narrator is perfect.for the characters. Well done.

Action Packed

Good read/listen. It's plot is a private snatch of 80 year old Korean War POWs...makes you think. The adventure is non-stop even if the plot is a little far fetched; two white guys in "dear leader's" Korea? I liked DeMille's "Charm School" a little better; it's a similar plot in Russia.

Thunder in the Morning Calm

This book was engaging from the beginning. I absolutely loved it. The narrator also gave an outstanding performance. Of course, I'm looking forward to more by this author.

This is an awesome book.

What did you love best about Thunder in the Morning Calm?

I am an avid reader but this is honestly one of the best books I have ever read. I highly recommend this to everyone.

Very moving and powerful

Any additional comments?

Amazing book - the whole narrative was engaging, but the last hour with the rescue and the revelation that one of the rescued prisoners WAS the grandfather the lead character hoped to find and the Christmas Carols - how beautiful they must have sounded after 60 years of imprisonment - and patriotic songs. VERY powerful. Who cares if it's entirely realistic - it deals with important issues and MIA's int he Asian wars (Korea, Vietnam) great courage. I'm about to order book 2 of the series.

Narrator Makes the Difference

This book requires some major suspension of belief of American POW's being alive 60 years in the harsh conditions of a country like North Korea that can't even feed it's own people.

The author has a right wing political agenda occasionally beating his readers/listeners over the head while proselytizing a consistent hard-line Southern Baptist take on a Supreme being that would make any mullah proud . Mr. Brown also gets some of the technical details mixed up with the Aegis weapons system. The SM-3 missile noted in the story is designed as an anti ballistic missile - missile, not a surface to air missile.

The narrator, Dick Hill, is one of the best in the business and makes the best of what is often stunted ideological dialog and sophmoric sound effects. Mr. Hill manages to make what is at best a mediocre book, a better than average escapist techno-thriller.

Foray into North Korea - 3.5 stars!

This is my first Don Brown novel and likely be my last. The publisher's summary tells far too much about Thunder in the Morning Calm, so I will not add to it. Audible classifies the genre incorrectly; it is a suspense thriller. On the positive side, Dick Hill's narration is superb.