| | |  | Books | Home » » Certain Jeopardy | | | | | | | Description: | | Six American men live behind a protective façade, their real work hidden from neighbors and friends. Different in countless ways, they are intimately the same in one: at any moment their lives can be altered with a phone call, and their actions may change the world.They are Special Ops. And one team’s mission is about to hit certain jeopardy status when the discovery of an Al Qaeda base in Venezuela becomes secondary to thwarting the transport of a nuclear weapons expert from that training camp to Iran.Informed by the true combat experience of Captain Jeff Struecker and finessed by award-winning novelist Alton Gansky, Certain Jeopardy is an immersing and pulsating fictional account of what really happens at every level of a stealth engagement: the physical enemy encounter, the spiritual war fought within a soldier, and the emotional battles in families back at home. Endorsements:Certain Jeopardy by Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky is like the TV show The Unit on steroids! A group of six men appear to live normal American lives, but at any time they can be called to report to a Special Operations group performing actions for the safety of their country at the risk of their lives. The men are called to Venezuela to investigate rumors of a Al-Qaeda training camp. Instead they stumble into the kidnapping of a nuclear scientist who can empower Iran to create their own nuclear weapons. To rescue him and his family that is being held hostage for his cooperation will force them to use every skill they know and may cost them their lives. I'm not usually a fan of military thrillers, but this book grabbed me on page one and didn't let go until I finally remembered to breathe again at the end. Struecker has served several tours of duty himself, so the writing gives an inside look at secret military operations and the incredible amount of skill and fortitude needed by its members. The action is written so that every scene is almost cinematic; I could see it play out in my head. Interspersed are scenes of the families at home coping with never knowing where their loved ones are or if they will come home. Together they create a powerful look at Army life. I hope that the authors will revisit this team, because I would love to read more! --Christy's book blog
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Jeff Struecker | | Paperback:
| 381 pages | | Publisher:
| B&H Books | | Publication Date:
| May 01, 2009 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0805448535 | | Product Length:
| 8.3 inches | | Product Width:
| 5.4 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.9 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.83 pounds | | Package Length:
| 8.4 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.5 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.85 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 12 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 12 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 Exciting, suspenseful novelApr 28, 2009
By Debbie
This book is a military thriller. The story was written in short, quick chapters from rotating point of views--and there were a fairly large number of point of view characters. At the beginning, I sometimes got confused as to how everyone was related to each other, but that didn't last long.
The prose felt a little unrefined, but that fit the character of the story.
The book was fast-paced. The author clearly explained the equipment and jargon used in the story without bogging down the pace with too many details. Every moment was full of tension and conflict, both at home with the team's families and on mission with the team. The conflict and reactions all felt realistic and plausible.
Characters were varied and engaging. Several of the characters were Christian. Their faith mattered to them and made a difference in how they reacted in difficulties, but the Christian content was never preachy.
There is no sex in this book and all the swearing is of the "he swore" variety rather than actual printed cuss words. Overall, I'd highly recommend this book as a "good, clean fun" novel.
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5 of 6 found the following review helpful:
 Fast PacedMay 14, 2009
By C. Weller
I was a little hesitant about this book after reading other reviews and noting the religious overtones that were called out. After reading it however, I can say that the religious aspects were well presented and fit nicely into the story line.
The book starts off quickly and keeps going. Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky do a wonderful job of developing the characters in the story.The inclusion of the character's families make them feel real.
While the characters are well developed, I feel the authors fell short in the descriptions of the world around them. I did not feel immersed in their surroundings as with other authors of this genre.
Overall, I feel this was a great book and look forward to reading other books by this author.
4 of 5 found the following review helpful:
5 Star Read!!Jun 22, 2009
By Julie E. Sines
The writing team of Captain Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky should be congratulated for their outstanding Christian novel. The story line follows an Army Ranger Team who finds themselves in "Certain Jeopardy" on one of their missions. From the first page until the very last page, this book is riveting. I certainly hope this writing team is working on a sequel. This book is truly a 5 Star Read!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Military Thriller with Christian Overtones - Well Done!Nov 19, 2010
By Andrea Schultz
"Ponderings by Andrea"
I am normally not a reader of military-themed books. However, the latest book in my `to read' list is `Certain Jeopardy' by Captain Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky.
Here is the synopsis of this amazing novel:
Six American men live behind a protective façade; their real work hidden from neighbors and friends. Different in countless ways, they are intimately the same in one; at any moment their lives can be altered with a phone call, and their actions may change the world. They are Special Ops. And one team's mission is about to hit certain jeopardy status when the discovery of an Al Qaeda base in Venezuela becomes secondary to thwarting the transport of a nuclear weapons expert from that training camp to Iran. Informed by the true combat experience on Captain Jeff Struecker and finessed by award-winning novelist Alton Gansky, Certain Jeopardy is an immersing and pulsating fictional account of what really happens at every level of a stealth engagement; the physical enemy encounter, the spiritual war fought within a soldier, and the emotional battles in families back at home.
Here are the biographies of these two authors:
Chaplain (Captain) Jeff Struecker ([...]) is a decorated member of the United States Army's most elite fighting corps whose personal experiences in Mogadishu, Somalia, were written about in the New York Times bestseller and major motion picture Black Hawk Down. In thirteen years of active duty, he also fought in Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Iris Gold in Kuwait. As a chaplain Jeff has done multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He uses his personal story of survival on the battlefield to tell others how they, too, can be prepared for any circumstance life may bring.
Alton Gansky ([...]) is a Christy Award-nominated and Angel Award-winning author who writes to stimulate thinking about spiritual matters. He served as a pulpit minister for twenty years and has published nearly thirty books. Alton and his wife, Becky, have three children and five grandchildren and live in the High Desert area of Southern California.
Here is the book trailer for this action-packed novel:
[...].
The Prologue gives us an idea of what the book will provide - a little bit of humor and a lot of action. Here is a scene in Afghanistan introducing us to the six main characters:
Sgt. First Class J.J. "Colt" Bartley and Master Sgt. Richard "Shaq" Harbison were paired a dozen yards away, almost invisible in their white camouflage and hunkered in a shallow trench. A few yards beyond them were Jose Medina, the team medic, and Martin Caraway. Caraway was the cause of all of this - Caraway and the goats.
Moyer wondered at the irony of it all. Years of training, the best intelligence, the finest equipment, a score of missions under their belts, and they get upended by goats. He could see the writing on his tombstone: TRAINED BY THE ARMY. BETRAYED BY A GOAT. KILLED BY THE TALIBAN. (p. 2)
Here's another example of the humor and humanity of the men in this book. Here's an exchange during a precarious predicament:
"I don't recall reading about this in the recruitment brochure, Boss."
It's in the fine print, Caraway. You with us, Doc?"
"Shaken and stirred but still in one piece."
Relief flooded Moyer. "Injuries?"
"I could use a nurse, Boss."
"You're hurt, Caraway?"
"No, I just like nurses." (p. 10)
I really appreciated the fact that the authors focused on not only the six main characters, but their families back in the States. That made the book more appealing to me; I had more empathy for them. Here is an example of including the family in the story, as St. Major Eric Moyer thinks about his loved ones:
He saw his wife, strawberry blonde hair tickling the tops of her shoulders when she wore that yellow sundress he liked so much. Her image faded, replaced by Gina, his twelve-year old daughter. He had no free will with her. She could ask for the moon to be painted pink and Moyer would grab a ladder and have a go at it. Rob was a different matter. Sixteen years old and pushing every border and pressing every button Moyer had. They had argued just the night before, and Moyer lowered the boom. Odd, he was having trouble remembering what the argument had been about. (p. 17)
Despite that, I still am surprised how men who join the military, especially in a career Special Operations capacity, marry and have a family. The women (and men) who marry these people have to have a special constitution; it is not a situation in which I would be comfortable. I am not selfless enough to allow my husband to risk his life like that. It is a good thing Fred was in the Navy long before we met!
One of the primary characters, J.J. Bartley is a strong Christian. He has gotten a lot of grief from his colleagues for his faith. Here's a conversation between him and his commanding officer, Moyer; Moyer:
"I don't know how you do it. I couldn't do this work and be a Christian. I'd have to give up one."
The words soured J.J. "I couldn't do this without being a Christian. It's how I keep my sanity. It keeps me human." He studies Moyer's expression. "I'm talking about me and no one else, you understand."
"Yeah, I got it." After a moment, Moyer said, "You had me worried. I thought the team was going to lose you."
"Lose me? Why would you think...oh, Afghanistan."
"You looked pretty shook - no, not shook - troubled. You looked troubled at the end."
... "I won't lie to you, Boss. It bothered me. Still does. I helped kill a couple of men who did nothing more than follow their sheep into the wrong place at the wrong time. Still, we made the world a slightly better place by defeating a terrorist cell. No worries. I'm not going anyplace the Army doesn't send me."
"That's good. The Army spent a ton of money training you. I'd hate to think my hard-earned tax dollars went for nothing."
"Hey, I pay taxes too." (p. 75)
The majority of the action in this action-packed book takes place in Venezuela. The main protagonist is Antonio Santi. Here is a peek into his mindset:
Antonio Santi had headed home for the day. Although the day's activities would have tired most men, Santi felt energized. Juggling his duties as foreign minister with business dealings even President Chavez didn't know about provided him the intellectual thrill he longed for. Younger men might bungee jump, ride a kayak over churning rapids, hunt big game in the jungle or cheat with other men's wives. Santi got his adrenaline rush from working behind the scenes. The danger he faced was discovery, pure and simple. Chavez was not a man of scrupulous honesty, but he was a priest compared to his own foreign minister. (p. 177)
Fortunately, I like all different types of books; I am not strictly a `chick lit' kind of gal! This book will probably be enjoyed more by men than by women. Having said that, I really liked it! It kept me riveted throughout, and I was interested in finding out what was going to happen to these six men and the people who love them. This is the first book I have read from either of these authors. I am assuming it was a real collaboration, with Captain Struecker writing from his military experience, and Mr. Gansky tweaking the book and giving it more finesse. However it was done, they did a great job with it! Since the release of this book, there has been a second novel by these two authors, `Blaze of Glory.' I trust that that one is just as suspenseful and riveting as is this one. If you like Christian suspense and are a fan of the military, these books are right up your alley!
The book was published by B&H Publishing Group and provided by the Suspense Zone for review purposes. The copy I have is an Advance Reader's Copy; the page numbers included with the quotes in this review may not correspond with the page numbers in the final printed version.
Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...].
Will keep you up all nightOct 25, 2011
By SapulpaBaptist
A great story with outstanding characters. The right blend of action and a well-developed story line. If you enjoy this genre of book, you should thoroughly enjoy Certain Jeopardy.
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