About the Book...
Geopolitical and military thriller
Diana Gabaldon, the author of Outlander, has expressed that her most anticipated book is The Starless Crown by #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins, who called Status-6 the best book he’s read this year.
"Status-6 is my vote for Thriller of the Year. The protagonist embodies a blend of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher," says Grant Blackwood, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tom Clancy Under Fire.
"Status-6 is the best book I’ve encountered this year—a gripping military technothriller ripped from today’s headlines that kept me awake at night, worrying about our future as a nation and a species. What comes next after the nightmare of the coronavirus pandemic? Don’t overlook this first book in the NCIS Special Ops series that aims to redefine the thriller genre," remarks James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Demon Crown (Sigma Force).
"Status-6 grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. The global security crisis unveiled in this geopolitical thriller is far too real and could easily appear in tomorrow’s news. The characters are well-drawn and evoke a compelling desire to root for or against them. Avoid reading this thriller before bedtime—you’ll find yourself awake all night!" – George Galdorisi, New York Times bestselling author of the Tom Clancy Op Center series.
Status-6: An NCIS Special Ops Thriller is the inaugural book in a series by the New York Times bestselling author of Red November, delving deep into the inner workings of NCIS, along with the U.S., Russian, and Chinese navies, as well as SEAL Team Two—the only Arctic-trained unit undertaking missions as perilous and daring as those of SEAL Team Six. W. Craig Reed, leveraging his experience as a U.S. Navy Diver and submariner, delivers a taut military technothriller filled with unexpected twists. With insights drawn from high-level contacts, Reed provides intricate details about AI and state-of-the-art military platforms with the intrigue and precision reminiscent of Tom Clancy.
Deep beneath the Arctic Ocean, a covert team of Chinese operatives employs stolen U.S. technology to capture Russia’s latest attack submarine. Armed with 100-megaton nuclear torpedoes, the submarine is moving westward. The Americans aim to sink her, the Russians want her returned, while the Chinese deny any involvement.
NCIS agent Jon Shay, a former SEAL Team Two operator, is still reeling from the murder of his wife a year prior. In a moment of despair, he places a revolver against his temple, spins the cylinder, and pulls the trigger. Hearing only a click and the chime of his phone, he is activated for a mission in the Arctic. Teaming up with British scientist Kate Barrett, Jon races against time, trained operatives, and high-level government officials. Together, they must locate and neutralize the world's most dangerous submarine. The stakes escalate when they discover that the Russian sub is controlled by an infected AI system determined to fulfill its mission of initiating a nuclear winter.
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Readers' Favorite 5-Star Review
Reviewed by Barbara Harper for Readers' Favorite
Status–6 by W. Craig Reed is a gripping geopolitical thriller that follows Jon Shay, a widower engaged in a perilous cat and mouse game of Russian roulette, still burdened by grief and self-reproach one year after the tragic drowning of his late wife, Annelia. Unwilling to accept comfort and plagued by irrational thoughts, Jon finds himself at a crossroads, with his work at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service being his only lifeline. His mission takes him to Alaska, where temperatures plunge to minus twenty-three degrees during the day and drop to minus thirty at night, demanding toughness to survive in such a harsh environment. Agent Shay’s assignment is to conduct a meticulous criminal investigation within a limited time frame to determine if the sudden and untimely death of a Petty Officer aboard the USS Connecticut submarine was linked to nefarious activities. As the plot thickens and Agent Shay becomes entangled in a web of intrigue, will he manage to keep his wits about him and rely on his past Seal training to navigate the dangers ahead?
Status–6 by W. Craig Reed is a crisp and articulate military technothriller centered on Jon Shay—a guilt-ridden, remorseful widower with a death wish—and Agent Shay, the highly skilled NCIS operative and embodiment of masculinity. The author employs clever metaphors like 'Three geriatric bulbs lit the way' and euphemisms such as 'he had cast off from the shores of life.' Agent Shay must piece together a complex jigsaw puzzle while battling an Arctic ice storm, the inner turmoil of his grief, and external pressures from those around him. The nail-biting action was fast-paced and kept me riveted as the author painted a dark portrait of Jon Shay and the perilous world inhabited by Agent Shay, the NCIS operative. This Status-6 book is a suspense-filled roller coaster ride that captivated me with its numerous twists and turns right up to the last page!
Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal
Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal
Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal
Spies of the Deep, a gripping military technothriller, won the coveted Readers Favorite Bronze Medal for Best Military Non-Fiction Book of the Year, showcasing its compelling narrative akin to a geopolitical thriller, much like the acclaimed Status-6 book.
Amazon Bestseller
Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal
Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal
Spies of the Deep was a #1 Bestseller on Amazon in three book categories, including the popular geopolitical thriller and military technothriller genres, as well as the exciting Status-6 book.
Readers' Favorite Award
Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal
Readers' Favorite Award
Status-6, a gripping military technothriller, has won the prestigious Readers Favorite Honorable Mention Award for Best Military Fiction Book of the Year.