DON RILEY

Full Name:	Don Riley
Nationality:	American
Organization:	CIA
Occupation	Agent

Creator:	David Bruns, J. R. Olson
Time Span:	2015 - 2023

ABOUT THE SERIES

Don Riley is an agent with the CIA.

It is important to point out here that the selection of Riley as the centerpiece of these exciting military/espionage adventures is mine and is admittedly open to argument. I give Riley that starring role because of how the sequence of events will lead to his playing what I consider the lead for most of the stories. He is not that at the beginning, though; that position will be filled by Brendan McHugh (more on him later).

I mention that Riley is works for Langley. He will, eventually, a few years after we are introduced to him in the first recorded adventure. At that time, in 2003, he is a plebe at the U.S. Naval Academy trying the best he can to survive the seniors there and their constant downbeating of the newbies. He is sort of rescued, as it were, by two who befriended him and who will much later come back into his life, one of those being the aforementioned McHugh.

We next see Riley several years later as he was working as an analyst/field operative in war-torn Iraq in 2007. At that time we learn that an abdominal medical issue had racked his body in his sophomore year at Annapolis and ended his career in the Navy. But before any depression could set in, a representative from the Agency showed up at his door and offered him a different way to serve his country in its fight against terrorism.

From that start we will learn of his rapid advancement in authority as well as a shifting of employers (apparently). We watch as he moves over to the U.S. Cyber Command for a time before he is picked to head up the newly formed team inside the CIA's Operations Directorate called the Emerging Threats. "We get the stuff that falls between the cracks, the cases that don't fit neatly into anyone's portfolio. New terrorist groups, cyberattacks with no attribution, proliferation of WMDs, coups d'état, regional conflicts-if it's weird and new, we get first crack at it. And once we find the next threat, I'll have the authority to run field operations on that threat."

Riley, a red-head, is described as being around 5'8 and apparently prone to be a bit heavy, at least when we meet him but what more than made up for his physical issue, at least at the Academy, was his 'skills': "Riley consumed information like most people breathed air, and some claimed his computer skills were hacker level".

The adventures detailed in these books and shorter works showcase really an ensemble cast.

Leading that group is, as previously mention, Brendan McHugh, a U.S. SEAL who will rise to the rank of Captain in the Navy and becomes head of the CIA Trident program. McHugh is a natural leader and very much a man of action who would prefer to be out in the thick of things than lead from the backroom.

Also of considerable importance in nearly every adventure is Liz Soroush, a former Naval officer who joins the FBI after her required time in service. She would marry McHugh and while he was pursuing his career, she was advancing in the Bureau and will eventually become Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division.

Younger members of the cast would include Janet Everett, Andrea 'Dre' Ramirez, and whiz kid Michael Goodwin.

BOOKS

Number of Books:	8
First Appearance:	2015
Last Appearance:	2023


1			Weapons of Mass Deception Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2015 1st book in the WMD Files sub-series. "When Navy SEAL Lieutenant Brendan McHugh captures an Iranian diplomat on an anti-insurgency raid, it just feels all wrong. The rules of engagement say he must let the diplomat go, but that doesn't stop McHugh from asking questions. With an FBI linguist and a CIA analyst on his team, he chases clues across the globe to uncover a terrifying plot. Iraqi weapons of mass destruction are real and in the hands of an Iranian splinter group. The threat to the United States heartland is bigger--and closer to home--than anyone dreamed possible."

2			Jihadi Apprentice Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2016 2nd book in the WMD Files sub-series. "When FBI Special Agent Liz Soroush leads a raid on a local Minneapolis night club to capture a suspected terrorist recruiter, she ends up with a dead suspect and a community up in arms. But instead of a reprimand, she gets promoted to run a brand-new Joint Terrorism Task Force. The new threat is “jihadist mobilization,” young people in Minneapolis being radicalized to fight for terrorist groups like Al-Shabab and ISIS. As Liz digs deeper into the shadowy world of homegrown radicalism, she realizes the real threat has been in plain sight all along. But knowing about an attack and stopping one are two different things."

3			Rules of Engagement Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2019 3rd book in the WMD Files sub-series. "Rafiq Roshed is one of the most wanted men in the world. A terrorist with a virulent grudge against the West, he’s disappeared into North Korea where he quietly launches cyber sneak attacks in service of Kim Jong-un. Penetrating the Chinese, he has their war machine launch a series of attacks on the U.S. Pacific forces. Don Riley, head of U.S. Cyber Command, discovers that not only have the Chinese lost control of their military, but the same virus has infected the American network."

4			The Pandora Deception Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2020 4th book in the WMD Files sub-series. "Don Riley of the U.S. Cyber Command is given charge of a brand new effort: a new team in the CIA Operations Directorate called Emerging Threats. The group is going under the name of the Mahdi, a messiah figure of Islamic mythology, and is operating in the geopolitical tinderbox that is the Nile River basin. But the Mahdi is no ordinary terrorist group. Their stock in trade is not the usual suicide bombings and surprise attacks. In fact, the Mahdi has created and is about to release the worst kind of weapon: a hugely destructive bioweapon, known as Pandora, with a devastating fatality rate."

5			Command and Control Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2022 1st book in the Command and Control sub-series. "As a string of unexplained attacks push superpowers to the brink, the clock is ticking toward the start of World War III. Don Riley, head of the CIA’s Emerging Threats Group, has never seen anything like this. Riley and his team are tasked with identifying national security threats before they become tomorrow’s bad news. But shortly after an Iranian vessel delivers a surprise attack to a US Navy Warship in the Arabian Gulf, a series of seemingly unrelated attacks crop up around the globe."

6			Counter Strike Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2022 2nd book in the Command and Control sub-series. "When China launches a blitz attack on the island of Taiwan, the world order hangs in the balance and the CIA must mobilize all forces to prevent the start of World War III. The operation by the People’s Liberation Army is airtight, with a high-tech battle network that guarantees total occupation within ten days. The United States rallies every available asset on land, sea, and air to launch a desperate counter strike against the occupying forces. As the head of the CIA’s Emerging Threats Group, Don Riley has seen his share of crises, but nothing has prepared him for the choices ahead. "

7			Order of Battle Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2022 3rd book in the Command and Control sub-series. "A conflict in Ukraine threatens to escalate into a global power struggle between the United States and Russia. When mercenaries attack in eastern Ukraine, the world is thrust into turmoil. Russian President Luchnik is quick to respond, launching a full-scale military invasion to quell this "national emergency" in the former Soviet country. Don Riley, head of the CIA's Emerging Threats Group, sees trouble ahead. The Russian President is hungry for power, and he's got the military might to back up his grand ambitions. The Russian attack in Ukraine is the first move in a much larger campaign that will redraw the map of Europe."

8			Threat Axis Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2023 4th book in the Command and Control sub-series. "In the midst of a global manhunt, the leader of the world's largest private army sees his opportunity to upset the international order. Ian Thomas is supposed to be dead. An international terrorist responsible for the bombing of the US Naval War College, he's been deceased for three years. But Don Riley, head of the CIA's Emerging Threats Group, is staring at a social media post showing him to be very much alive and on the run in South America. The video of Thomas sparks a global hunt: The Americans want to bring him to justice. The Chinese want him to disappear. And the Russians want to kill him very, very slowly."

NOVELLAS AND SHORT STORIES

Number of Stories:	4
First Appearance:	2015
Last Appearance:	2020

While the events of the first two novelettes take place (as far as I can discern from reading them) before the first two books, I would personally recommend reading them after the books to give you a better feel for this 'universe'.

The third and fourth entries below should be read after Rules of Engagement and before The Pandora Deception. Again, just IMHO.


1			Death Of A Pawn novelette Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2015 "Sunday, January 18, 2015: Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman is found dead in his Buenos Aires apartment. Scheduled to reveal his findings on the worst terrorist attack in Argentine history in mere hours, Nisman was prepared to name current members of the political elite as complicit with the Iranian-directed attack. First ruled a suicide, then a homicide, Nisman's death remains unsolved to this day. But one man—a Hezbollah operative—knows what really happened. He knows because he was ordered to murder Nisman—and someone beat him to it."

2			Battle Djinni novelette Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2016 "On July 13, 1982, the first day of Ramadan, Iran and Iraq engaged in the largest land battle since WWII. Iranian Army Captain Reza Sanjabi, survivor of five bloody battles, knows this one will be different. Thousands of human shields, rumors of chemical weapons, and the false hope of a populist uprising all point to a mutual bloodbath. His men call him the Battle Djinni, named for the medallion of a Persian deity he wears into combat. A family heirloom or magical protection? All Reza knows is it gives him the kind of courage that wins battles. Now, wounded and trapped behind enemy lines, it looks like his luck has finally run out. Or has it?"

3			The Athens Job novella Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2019 "When Rafiq Roshed, the most wanted man in the world, receives a covert communique from a North Korean operative, it could be a trap…or an opportunity. The North Korean wants Roshed’s special talents for an inside high-profile job: assassinate his chief rival and make it look like the Americans were involved. There’s a handsome payment offered, but Roshed has another price in mind—a no-questions-asked favor. After Athens, every security agency in the world is hot on Roshed’s trail. But when he tries to cash in his favor with the North Koreans, Roshed finds out Athens was just a down payment. And their next job will take all his considerable skills as an assassin."

4			Assassin's Vow novella Written by David Bruns, J. R. Olson Copyright: 2020 "Her first vow was “I do.” Her second vow was to hunt down her husband’s killer. Rachel Jaeger planned to become a linguist, not an assassin, but it works for her. For the first time in her life, she has true love, meaningful work, and a bright future. That bright future explodes when her husband is captured on a mission. Heartbroken and lost, Rachel throws herself into her work, becoming the angel of Death to those unlucky enough to cross her path. Finally, Rachel has a chance to go after her husband’s killer. But first she must face a much more formidable opponent. Herself."

MY COMMENTS

If you are looking for an exciting series filled with lots of different players, some of who have quite interesting background and motivations, this is definitely a should-read. Be careful, though, because these adventures pull you into their world and time passes without you noticing. Have to go to work the next day - too bad!

I am not sure how the pair of authors, David Bruns and J.R. Olson, will feel about my giving Don Riley star position, assuming they ever find out about this compendium. Hopefully, if they do have an issue, they will let me know. In the meantime, I hope you will check out these tales as they are worth your time.

GRADE

My Grade: A-

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