Khaybar, Minnesota

Nobody thinks it can happen here, until it does happen here, and then everyone wonders why nobody warned us it could happen here. This book is your wake-up call. It could happen here. Specifically, "it" is a terrorist attack in Minnesota. Seems unlikely, no? Why strike in the middle of no-where? But that's why it's believable and also disturbing: because an attack in safe, insular, fly-over America would show the world that nowhere is safe, everyone is at risk, all the time, and therefore we should submit to Islam now, to save ourselves and our children. It would produce terror precisely because it's not Israel or New York or even Minneapolis, it's sleepy little St. Paul where people don't lock their doors, they don't even remember where they put the key. Yes, yes, the usual disclaimers, not every religious person is a terrorist, blah, blah, blah. They don't all have to be: a single dedicated believer is enough to slash shoppers in a mall or set fire to a campus daycare or travel overseas to join a holy war. It's not hateful bigotry to notice acts of religious terror already have occurred and wonder if there could be more to come. As for this book, it's fast-paced and also fun. The author has perfect pitch for Diversity-Speak. The main character has enough ordinary human flaws to make him likable and enough capable friends to keep him alive. And thanks for reminding me to update my Go Bag, it's not just for tornadoes anymore. Looking forward to the next book.

As others have noted, this is an engaging and interesting book that is fast-paced. The basics are in the blurb that goes with the book. I'll add that the main character has extremely good fortune throughout the story. Yes, things go bad but so many things go so right at just the right times that he is able to do a lot in a very short period of time...thus the fast pace of the story. The setting is interesting, and events play out in a variety of areas--a bar, a liberal arts college campus, an isolated forest, and several venues in St. Paul. There are a few plot developments that seem improbable (even above the serendipitous aspect noted above). The cable news channel is a caricature of reality, though perhaps not by much. There are some proofreading-level errors (is it laptop or lap top?), but overall they're pretty minimal. I would buy more from this author.

I've now read two of Cossack's books--this one and The Grifter. Cossack likes to do a well deserved skewering of political correctness, intersectionality, diversity and HR Departments. And that's just for a start. No one is going to confuse these books with great literature. But if want to pass a pleasant afternoon or so (or a long boring cross country flight) while reading an enjoyable book, you can't go wrong with Cossack. The action (and the humorous snarky asides) comes thick and fast. I read these two books on my Kindle. I take an annual trip to England to visit my grandchildren and their family. I only regret that I can't load up three new Cossack books to pass the time on the long flight.

Khaybar, Minnesota is an outstanding book, definitely the best I’ve read all year. It states that it’s fictional but I believe it could be based on an actual series of events, past or future. The characters are very believable and I think some of them could be my or your neighbor(s). It’s easy to read and very compelling, so don’t start it planning to just read a few pages at a time. The plot moves along quickly, with some realistic events and actions of normal people, but surprises exist around the corner. The writing is very descriptive when needed but does not overwhelm the story. The word pictures developed in my mind throughout the book make me want to know some of the people, not so much for others. You’ll be glad you read it.

The first in what appears to destined to become a series, Khaybar Minnesota gallops along at a nifty pace among settings familiar to Minnesotans. Protagonist Hack is a depressed Everyman suddenly caught up in a terrorist plot, and it is much to author Cossack's credit that Hack doesn't suddenly turn in to James Bond; he remains believably human throughout. Cossack has created an intriguing and original plot (Terrorists in St. Paul!) and despite a ludicrously caricatured rendering of a left-wing news channel, creates a fun and involving story with relatable characters. Here's to seeing more of Hack soon!

What would happen if Muslim terrorists in America started doing what they've been doing in other countries? How might ordinary Americans respond? This novel follows Hack, a man sleepwalking through life, who accidentally stumbles into terrorist activities. He doesn't know anything about who they are or what they want, but he needs to learn fast. This is a great story; I couldn't put it down. I give it four stars because of a couple of rough spots. For a writer's first novel, it's very good indeed. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy!

I normally don’t enjoy reading books dealing about terrorist threats, but this was a fun read! An unhappily divorced, somewhat lackadaisical musician-cum-computer repairman obtains a used computer on which is stored some writing in Arabic. Using a translator program, he suspects some ill-doings afoot, and hands the obscure passages over to his Muslim neighbor and friend, who agrees to research it for him. When Hack’s friend is next found murdered in Hack’s basement, Hack finds himself on the run from police and the FBI, as well as the circling media vultures who have quickly presented him to the world as a serial-killing Islamaphobe. Add in some truly nefarious Muslim terrorists, a few slightly-or-definitely quirky friends to aid him, and a plot to bring “khaybar “ to a small Minnesota city, and you’re on your way in this quick but exciting read!

I enjoyed this fast-paced book on a topic of interest to all. The characters were credible and engaging, and, though I had to put it down a couple of times, I found myself thinking about it and hastening to get back to it. The author was successful in fleshing out the characters and fairly portraying varying points of view. (I would like to know that a Gus or LG had my back.) I hope the author will continue, with these characters or others.

Tremendous first novel. Well done Max. Glad AG recommended it. Written with thought about the current world and a few potshots at political figures, the news media, and 'political pundits' and their 'experts'. I believe I saw Mark D and a certain "Fake News" media organization in there, and the potshots were dead on. There might even have been a shot at a media panel on said media organization, but not sure as I don't waste my time watching the organization. Anyway, an easy and fast read and pretty believable. I highly recommend grabbing this one up and enjoying the read. And I believe I detected another story with the same characters to come. I certainly hope so!

I really enjoyed reading this action thriller novel based on the recommendation from one of my favorite weekly PL columnist. The story moved along briskly and even enhanced my knowledge and understanding of some traditions and history of two of the worlds older religions. Parallel plot threads stayed tightly meshed and avoided running down dead end rabbit holes. I also appreciated some of the main characters dislike and mistrust of certain government agencies and particular news media outlets. There are several humorous passages that brought a smile to my face and a chuckle to my heart. I look forward to future stories from this author. Power on Max and AG.

Nobody thinks it can happen here, until it does happen here, and then everyone wonders why nobody warned us it could happen here. This book is your wake-up call. It could happen here. Specifically, "it" is a terrorist attack in Minnesota. Seems unlikely, no? Why strike in the middle of no-where? But that's why it's believable and also disturbing: because an attack in safe, insular, fly-over America would show the world that nowhere is safe, everyone is at risk, all the time, and therefore we should submit to Islam now, to save ourselves and our children. It would produce terror precisely because it's not Israel or New York or even Minneapolis, it's sleepy little St. Paul where people don't lock their doors, they don't even remember where they put the key. Yes, yes, the usual disclaimers, not every religious person is a terrorist, blah, blah, blah. They don't all have to be: a single dedicated believer is enough to slash shoppers in a mall or set fire to a campus daycare or travel overseas to join a holy war. It's not hateful bigotry to notice acts of religious terror already have occurred and wonder if there could be more to come. As for this book, it's fast-paced and also fun. The author has perfect pitch for Diversity-Speak. The main character has enough ordinary human flaws to make him likable and enough capable friends to keep him alive. And thanks for reminding me to update my Go Bag, it's not just for tornadoes anymore. Looking forward to the next book.

As others have noted, this is an engaging and interesting book that is fast-paced. The basics are in the blurb that goes with the book. I'll add that the main character has extremely good fortune throughout the story. Yes, things go bad but so many things go so right at just the right times that he is able to do a lot in a very short period of time...thus the fast pace of the story. The setting is interesting, and events play out in a variety of areas--a bar, a liberal arts college campus, an isolated forest, and several venues in St. Paul. There are a few plot developments that seem improbable (even above the serendipitous aspect noted above). The cable news channel is a caricature of reality, though perhaps not by much. There are some proofreading-level errors (is it laptop or lap top?), but overall they're pretty minimal. I would buy more from this author.

I've now read two of Cossack's books--this one and The Grifter. Cossack likes to do a well deserved skewering of political correctness, intersectionality, diversity and HR Departments. And that's just for a start. No one is going to confuse these books with great literature. But if want to pass a pleasant afternoon or so (or a long boring cross country flight) while reading an enjoyable book, you can't go wrong with Cossack. The action (and the humorous snarky asides) comes thick and fast. I read these two books on my Kindle. I take an annual trip to England to visit my grandchildren and their family. I only regret that I can't load up three new Cossack books to pass the time on the long flight.

Khaybar, Minnesota is an outstanding book, definitely the best I’ve read all year. It states that it’s fictional but I believe it could be based on an actual series of events, past or future. The characters are very believable and I think some of them could be my or your neighbor(s). It’s easy to read and very compelling, so don’t start it planning to just read a few pages at a time. The plot moves along quickly, with some realistic events and actions of normal people, but surprises exist around the corner. The writing is very descriptive when needed but does not overwhelm the story. The word pictures developed in my mind throughout the book make me want to know some of the people, not so much for others. You’ll be glad you read it.

The first in what appears to destined to become a series, Khaybar Minnesota gallops along at a nifty pace among settings familiar to Minnesotans. Protagonist Hack is a depressed Everyman suddenly caught up in a terrorist plot, and it is much to author Cossack's credit that Hack doesn't suddenly turn in to James Bond; he remains believably human throughout. Cossack has created an intriguing and original plot (Terrorists in St. Paul!) and despite a ludicrously caricatured rendering of a left-wing news channel, creates a fun and involving story with relatable characters. Here's to seeing more of Hack soon!

What would happen if Muslim terrorists in America started doing what they've been doing in other countries? How might ordinary Americans respond? This novel follows Hack, a man sleepwalking through life, who accidentally stumbles into terrorist activities. He doesn't know anything about who they are or what they want, but he needs to learn fast. This is a great story; I couldn't put it down. I give it four stars because of a couple of rough spots. For a writer's first novel, it's very good indeed. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy!

I normally don’t enjoy reading books dealing about terrorist threats, but this was a fun read! An unhappily divorced, somewhat lackadaisical musician-cum-computer repairman obtains a used computer on which is stored some writing in Arabic. Using a translator program, he suspects some ill-doings afoot, and hands the obscure passages over to his Muslim neighbor and friend, who agrees to research it for him. When Hack’s friend is next found murdered in Hack’s basement, Hack finds himself on the run from police and the FBI, as well as the circling media vultures who have quickly presented him to the world as a serial-killing Islamaphobe. Add in some truly nefarious Muslim terrorists, a few slightly-or-definitely quirky friends to aid him, and a plot to bring “khaybar “ to a small Minnesota city, and you’re on your way in this quick but exciting read!

I enjoyed this fast-paced book on a topic of interest to all. The characters were credible and engaging, and, though I had to put it down a couple of times, I found myself thinking about it and hastening to get back to it. The author was successful in fleshing out the characters and fairly portraying varying points of view. (I would like to know that a Gus or LG had my back.) I hope the author will continue, with these characters or others.

Tremendous first novel. Well done Max. Glad AG recommended it. Written with thought about the current world and a few potshots at political figures, the news media, and 'political pundits' and their 'experts'. I believe I saw Mark D and a certain "Fake News" media organization in there, and the potshots were dead on. There might even have been a shot at a media panel on said media organization, but not sure as I don't waste my time watching the organization. Anyway, an easy and fast read and pretty believable. I highly recommend grabbing this one up and enjoying the read. And I believe I detected another story with the same characters to come. I certainly hope so!

I really enjoyed reading this action thriller novel based on the recommendation from one of my favorite weekly PL columnist. The story moved along briskly and even enhanced my knowledge and understanding of some traditions and history of two of the worlds older religions. Parallel plot threads stayed tightly meshed and avoided running down dead end rabbit holes. I also appreciated some of the main characters dislike and mistrust of certain government agencies and particular news media outlets. There are several humorous passages that brought a smile to my face and a chuckle to my heart. I look forward to future stories from this author. Power on Max and AG.

Max Cossack (pseudonym, I believe) was recommended to me by his amazing wife, Ammo Grrrrlll and boy am I glad she did! This is a fantastic read that I greatly enjoyed. I really appreciated the clear-eyed assessment the current state of groupthink related to the fact that there are people out there from a faith-system that tells them to kill the infidels. We should take them at their word. Way to go Max! Looking forward to the next one!

Absolutely the best novel I have read in a long time. I confess I only ordered it as a way to say thank you to the author’s wife, Ammo Grrrll. She writes a weekly blog on Powerlineblog.com and it is hilarious. When she mentioned his novel in her column, I ordered it and put it in my “Read Later” bin. I finally had some spare time and picked it up this week. I couldn’t put it down. It was great! It shows just how dangerous political correctness can be. I’m sorry I didn’t read it sooner. He has two other novels out and I’m ordering them as soon as I finish this review. I’ll read them as soon as they arrive this time! Ammo Grrrll also has books on Amazon that I highly recommend.

I enjoyed this book from the very first page. The characters are believable and the "good guys" are likeable and often very funny. The protagonist Hack's circumstances make him an unlikely hero, but he's a pretty cool dude, and I suspect he has a lot in common with the author. I particularly enjoy the digs at current social justice culture, which is spot on without a trace of bigotry. My own circumstances did not allow me to read this book quickly, and at one point I had to go back and re-read the first few chapters. They were even better the second time around, and I found myself warming much more to the characters. It also gave me many nights of drifting to sleep wondering how the characters would fare in the next pages. I hope to hear more about Hack in future books by this author.

This was a good story, fast-paced and a good read. The situation with the terrorists is eerily possible considering the politically correct attitude present in many locales. The action and local color contains shades of John Sandford (minus Lucas showing up and saving the day). I'll be looking forward to more from Max Cossack!

Max Cossack is a funny, brilliant writer. I bought this after reading a later book in the series and enjoyed it thoroughly. Max has that rare ability to keep each book as a stand alone while still making it part of a series. Well done. Now, let's get together and maybe Hack can meet Bobby Kurtz and form a formidable team.

A writer, who contributes articles that are all at once pithy, insightful, provocative AND humorous to a blog that I regularly read, highly recommended this book. So, I bought it and read it, and I am happy I did. This is an exciting I-better-prove-I'm-innocent-of-these-murders story that along the way skewers deserving-to-be-skewered lazy news media and too-often-untrustworty government agencies. Max Cossack generously sprinkled humor throughout this quick-reading adventure. I look forward to Max Cossack's next book!

I read for pleasure, mostly action/adventure books. I have found authors like Brown, Cusler, Grisham, Follett, Coonts, Ludum, Stephenson, Wouk,....and so on to be so compelling that I end up reading everything that they write. Max Cossack has now joined that group. I'm not a literary critic, but I can identify a page turner and this author knows how to create one. Highly recommended.

I loved this book. It has action, intrigue and plot twists to keep you interested and turning pages. Looking forward to author's next book. pphanger

I read this in one day and did not get much else done. Couldn't put it down. Excellent sequel to Simple Grifts. I now see that there is a sequel to this and bought it. Probably won't get much sleep tonight. I hope Max Cossack writes dozens of books. Fantastic author. This looks like it will be a great series.

A very enjoyable read with believable characters, both good and evil. I lived in northern Wisconsin for years, and found the descriptions of the area and how small towns work up there to be both enjoyably and accurately described. I recently read a novel set in northern Wisconsin, and while it was a good tale the fact that the author got so much of the area wrong diminished my enjoyment of it. But from the small town relationships to the blind virtue signaling of Lilly, if you pick up Khaybar Minnesota you will remember the Midwest if you’re familiar, and learn about it if you never been. Either way you'll enjoy the ride.

Good , quick read. It held my interest from beginning to end. Some of the plot devices to advance the narrative were slightly unrealistic to me but did NOT throw me out of the narrative. I'd highly recommend this book.

I've read most of Lee Child (Jack Reacher) and many others. This book is truly thrilling, and on top of it ... the characters are so realistic! None of them are only-in-movies kind of people. Particularly the "hero"! My expectations were high because of the recommendation by Ammo Grrrrll ... and they were fulfilled! Thanks, Ammo Grrrll! and Mr. AG!

As a loyal follower of Max's wife, Ammo Grrrll, I took her suggestion and bought his book. Gotta say, I'm glad I did. Not only will the story keep you turning pages, long after you should have called it an evening, the story speaks to all of us that have the distinct feeling that "the wool is being pulled over our eyes" by politicians and most of the media. I don't think you'll regret buying this book... in fact, buy two. One for you and one as a gift.

Really enjoyed the character Hack as well as his friend Gus. Hacks new girl friend Mattie is a real hoot! I really hope this will be an on going series. My one problem is at the very end Hacks daughter ask him to find his murdered friend Amir’s daughter. But I was left hanging!! What’s up with that?

Very engaging story; I read it in two extended sittings! The characters are likeable, smart, and funny. The main protagonist reminds me a little of Myron Bolitar from the Harlan Coben series because of his self-deprecating wit and solid core of goodness.

I really liked the protagonist. He is believably imperfect and therefore interesting. He has strong talents and skills and discovers new strengths as he goes; but he also learns to recognize more deeply who his allies are and why, when the moment comes, they stand with him. The plot is suitably twisting for a thriller and the action is good. Bonus points for compelling descriptions of severe winter survival conditions and the lyrical pleasure of cross-country skiing. I want to see a sequel from this very promising new author.

Max's motto: "Today's headlines are ripped from the pages of my novels!" Written tongue in cheek but much closer to reality than most Americans want to believe. Anyone who reads this book as fiction is not paying attention, or is reading the NYT/WaPo. Semper fi, Max.

Bad guys have no redeeming qualities. Likable side characters,especially the homeless man. Protagonist is ordinary guy, no superhero by any means, who gets by with the help of his friends and tight-knit community. MSN shown sticking to its agenda and narrative past all reason to the point of a banal sort of evil.

Well written work, immersed in today's academia/politics where the characters overcome life threatening events while searching/learning about the powerful antagonist who seek to exploit those who do not understand! First of a great trilogy.

Great job, Max. I like how you wove in current events to bring the characters to life. Your snow-scenes descriptions were vivid enough to make me want to move to someplace like... Oh, I don't know, maybe Arizona. Seriously best wishes and howdy to your roommate. I just bought her book. The Retired Geezer from Idaho

Realistic characters, an exciting plot and a well told story. What more could anyone ask for in a can't-put-it-down book?

Loved this book!! The characters were so real, I felt like I knew them. It was a total page turner and I couldn’t set it down!!

Max Cossack writes like a seasoned novelist. Maybe he is. Well, he must be. This story has great characters, a sure and smooth writing style, the plot kept surprising me, and I enjoyed the heck out of the realistic dialog and unexpected setbacks and frustrations faced by Hack, the main character. How is he going to get out of this one, I kept asking myself about Hack's series of roadblocks, and each one had a believable, and interesting, and clever (not only on Hack's part but also for the author's figuring out a nifty change of cirucumstance) way past the obstacle. Max Cossack: wotta find!

An entertaining tale which I enjoyed enough to read twice - I look forward to the author's next book!

I really enjoyed reading this book - fast read and kept my interest to the end! I loved reading about Minnesota and the outdoor scenes. As well as reading about things I really know nothing about. I will look for this author again!

I picked this up and after many hours of non-stop reading enjoyment, had to stop for bed. Not many books do that for me. Thanks for the story!

Hard to believe that this is the first book by this author. He hit all the high notes with a timely, believable plot, interesting characters, and authentic dialogue. It ended quite satisfactorily, yet hinted at the possibility of a sequel. I will watch hopefully for a sequel. Get this book, you won't be disappointed.

This was a great summer beach read! A fast pace page turner! I've order the next book.

A really incredible fun read. Needs trigger warnings for SJWs: they will not be happy with their portrayals. Amusing for everyone else.

This is a well written story with an appealing main character. A man discovers a terrorist plot and is forced to solve it on his own as the police mistakenly target him. Good read.

Very suspenseful and enjoyable mystery tale. I will buy more of his work.

Enjoyed this book greatly. As a Minnesotan, I found the “local flavor” added to the story, but it would be an entertaining read to a non-Minnesotan as well. I like to read a chapter of a book each evening and each chapter in this book is easily separable and readable. I look forward to more books from this author.

Very entertaining. The story unfolds at a good pace, believable and with never a dull moment. Also, subtle humor when you least expect it! Keeps the mood from getting too intense and suspenseful. Addresses tensions in today's world without resorting to the stereotypes popular with too many authors.

A very exciting book. I read the whole book without putting it down. 100% satisfied and would always recommend this book.

Easy to follow with a few twists and turns.

I couldn't put this book down. As a story, it was a page turner. The back story involving complicated human emotions and the sometimes messy and challenging interactions that affect us all, was also gripping. Sometimes humorous and sometimes heart warming.

I’ve just finished reading Khaybar Minnesota. It was a fun read...quirky and fun with authentic American characters, a suspenseful plot, and a touch of humor. Can’t wait to move onto Zarah’s Fire!

What a great read. You will get through this one quickly and easily. Interesting plot and characters. For $3.99 on Kindle you cannot miss with this one. Hope this author is not finished writing.

I live in MN so, I was drawn to it as it is my kind of book. Try it, you will like it.

A well-plotted, suspenseful page-turner with interesting characters and a canny political perspective. Highly recommended.

A taut story that takes place in brittle cold Minnesota. This could easily be a script, very chatty with dialogue that moves the characters through some tense scenes. The laid-back protagonist, Hack, cleverly plays it his way to bring down a nasty nest of terrorists. Bravo, Hack!

I read this during a long airplane flight. I found myself engaged within several pages and couldn't put it down till I finished the last page. I hope Cossack continues to write and look forward to his next novel.

Enjoyed the book, the characters, all. Kept my interest from beginning to end. Good writing. Hope that there is a sequel.

Fast paced with good characters.!

Who dun it set in snowy Minnesota. Book includes winter survival tips and handy info on bug out bags. Vivid characters and interesting twists and turns in the plot.

Action-packed, fast-paced, quick read. Looking forward to the next installment!

Great story, engaging characters and very topical. Looking forward to more from this guy!

Stories about supermen like Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath make for exciting reading, but you can’t really identify with them. Occasionally it is nice to read about a guy who, when faced with Muslim terrorists out to kill him, is just as in over his head as I would be. Poor old “Hack” Wilder’s life is falling apart and just when it seems like it couldn’t get any worse, he suddenly finds himself running from both the police and the terrorists. Author Max Cossack has written a quick paced story that draws you in and keeps you turning the pages (figuratively if you have the Kindle version). Over theThanksgiving holiday, I kept slipping away to read it and I really enjoy my family. If you like thrillers, you will love this.

This is Tammie's husband writing this review. I'm given to understand this is the author's first novel, which makes this even more impressive. A real page-turner, believable, topical, engaging, action-packed. Sure to offend those who think 'Islamophobia' is a real thing (well, it is, if you're a Christian, animist, or Jew living in a Muslim-controlled area; it's wise to fear those who are free to abuse, oppress, and kill you; in the USA, not so much, at least not in areas with a 'shall-issue' concealed carry...). However over and against the jihadis, it also had a sympathetic Muslim character, so there's that. For those who care about such things as I do: I don't remember much in the way of 'bad language', and there's one extremely brief 'sex' scene, part of a (sadly) out-of-wedlock affair; so brief he might as well have written 'and then they had sex', it had about that much detail.

In my never ending search for new and interesting authors, I finally succumbed to suggestions of my favorite humor columnist, Ammo Grrrll, published Fridays on Power Line. She keeps pushing her novelist wannabee husband, Max Cossack. It appears Cossack has now published two novels on Kindle so I downloaded Khaybar, Minnesota. The cover blurb reads Terrorism comes to the heartland—can one man stop it. Considering the age of Ammo Girl, I assume Cossack is more than retirement age. Though Khaybar deals with a terrorist plot, it is not of the special ops or covert operations genre. It is more a who “done” it murder mystery with a finely woven plot that would make any experienced writer proud. Hack, the main character, is being sued for divorce. His wife has moved on to life in the big city with their daughter, and he was chosen to stay in the boring little town of Ojibwa and run his little computer repair shop. He has recently been fired from his tech job with a large firm for political incorrectness. His best friend, a Muslim, has been murdered and he and his other good friend Gus, a survivalist, are prime suspects. Gus is in jail and Hack is evading police attempts to find him. He spends his time desperately trying to solve the mystery. He is not very competent when it comes to evading police as well as those who want to kill him. He finds accomplices in the lady who sings in his band which plays Saturday nights at a local club and in the teenage son of Gus. It is a short novel, only 215 pages, but well enough written that it kept pulling me through to a satisfactory end. So, I guess I’ll read the second one to see if he can hit two home runs.

I found the book through the Powerline blog. I have had mixed results reading first books from blogs and am happy to say this is one of the winners. The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is because I am a picky critic and reserve 5 stars just for the very best. This book suffered from some slight flaws in set up, plotting and pace as would be expected with a first novel. Never the less I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to others. The characters were well developed and interesting with the exception of Gus. He was integral to much of the plot but we never really meet him to understand why he sets up the many items that save the hero, Hack from doom. It was nice to have bad guys that were not rouge agents or mega business men. The bad guys were in fact enemies of America.

Within a relatively limited number of pages, Max Cossack has believably created a small and memorable world set in motion by terror operating among actual people. Quite the accomplishment, quite the high-wire balancing act: "Khaybar" thrills, yet tickles. The breakneck plot does not rush out of control but includes moments of respite and engagement among swiftly drawn characters. Resting on intricate details, the story avoids becoming fussy. Spiced with intriguing information worth learning, the narrative races along without bogging down. Peppered with lively, sometimes droll, dialog, the characters nevertheless remain distinct -- and engaging. Leavened with a few culture-centered potshots, the narrating comes from a voice that can involve us readers as an actual person himself. Hats off to the writer who can delight us even as heads come off.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If I didn't know better, I would not have thought it was a first novel. It's tightly written and flows so smoothly that it's a breeze to read. The author did what I wish more authors would do: He writes about what he knows. He knows music, he knows St. Paul (and Minnesota generally), and he's spent time in the state's outdoors and small towns, among other things. The character development is so unobtrusive that I had to consciously go back and LOOK for it. And by the way, the weather is one of the characters. (C'mon, it's Minnesota.) Hack is someone I could identify with immediately, and his thoughts and feelings rang true to me. I have said that the book flows smoothly, and it isn't just because of the writing style but because I was captivated by the plot: Ordinary guy with some, kinda ordinary, emotional issues finds himself in a situation we've all had nightmares about: Terrorism comes home. Not just to America, but to his home, his town, his friends -- his PEOPLE. He'd like to avoid it in the safe little place he has created out of snow and ingenuity. But people he cares about need help, and then he's accused of a crime he didn't commit. I won't spoil it any further, but you'll like it as much as I do. It's fun, it's witty, it's intelligent, and you'll feel good at the end. Who could ask for more? (I can: Please write more Hack books!)

I was really looking forward to reading this book given the outstanding ratings it had received. I've read many action novels by many different authors, and this was by far the least enjoyable. The story was very shallow with characters whom were not well developed at all, and a plot that was extremely simple minded. What a complete waste of money. I'm now very suspicious of all the stellar ratings and that there were no bad ratings. Terrible book.

Very good for a first book. A little slow going at first, but eventually you hate to put the book down. The story is complete in itself, but you can also envision many more adventures of Hack, Gus, LG, etc. Spot-on description of the main stream media as Democrat operatives. Referred to the book by AG of Powerline. A great read. Keep the tales of Hack and company coming.

I do not usually read fiction but decided to read this on the basis of a recommendation. It unfolds in the setting of a terrorist plot in the unlikeliest of places and is more than plausible. I couldn’t put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thriller and despite the fact that it is light fictional reading, there is much to think about because the threat is all too real. It is also very entertaining like a Tom Clancy story.