Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsA first in a new Tier One Origins series following young John Dempsey, I mean John Kemper!
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2020
Navy Veterans and Tier One authors Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson are back with SCARS, their first installment in a new series of novellas called TIER ONE ORIGINS. Each short will feature a different Tier One character during a pivotal event in their past before they joined Task Force Ember. SCARS follow’s John Kemper. For long time fans of the series, you know who John Kemper is. For those readers new to the series, spoiler alert. John Kemper becomes John Dempsey.
SCARS see’s John when he’s still green in 2006. A Special Operator First Class or for my military readers from all branches, an E6. He’s getting off an Air Force C-17 as his team got deployment orders for Iraq or as some of us that have been there in real life call it, “The Suck.” As I’ve mentioned, these two authors are both veterans and their writing shows it. I read many thrillers and Iraq just isn’t a hot spot anymore, but I love reading about it, since I’ve been there myself. So, reading about John’s entry into the country brought back a lot of memories for me. When an author does that, it makes me appreciate the writing that much more. The last time I had an experience of that magnitude while reading was when Marine veteran Matthew Betley came out with Overwatch (2016). Somewhere towards the end of that thriller, I turn the page and all the sudden the author took it back to a spot in Iraq in November of 2008 and I was shocked, because at that specific time I was in Iraq. It made me connect with the characters that much more and SCARS gave me the same feeling.
SCARS is a very short read, but so much happens. Many future characters are mentioned, and others straight up make an appearance, including Jarvis. John and his team are briefed on a HVT, Mahmood Bin Jabbar and their mission is to capture him alive. Jabbar however has other plans and sets contingencies incase he’s ambushed. John, being who he is and following the Navy SEAL Creed, does everything he can to accomplish his mission.
If you’re a fan of the Tier One series, SCARS is an absolute must read. Getting to know John Kemper before he becomes John Dempsey, a little bit of Tier One style action and other fan favorite characters make an appearance in different roles than what we’re use to seeing them in the current Tier One world, as I’ve mentioned this takes place in 2006.
