This story is a bit more technical or scientific than I like. And I usually love the science parts of books. But this one was long and drawn out in places. It is a unique story with some pretty intense sections. So, read this for your self and let me know your thoughts.

DNF. I tried twice to read this one. Got a little further on the 2nd read, but still stopped by 25%. I get the impression that it was part of a series and it didn't work as a standalone.

Just like the first book in this series - Laurence does a great job building the intrigued and the power. I thoroughly enjoyed this and honestly forgot that I even had it out for review. I loved this book and flew through it.

This is a thriller mixed with science fiction and leans a bit too much sci fi for my tastes. Didn't finish it,

From page 1 of the THE ANNIHILATION PROTOCOL, FBI Special Agent James Mason is racing against the clock to keep US citizens safe. His team has turned from the release of a global pandemic in the 1st book to the spread of lethal nerve gas in all major American cities. Mason's team is not your usual group of law enforcement officers. These are the people he trusts to help save the day. They walk very close to the legal line, sometimes on the wrong side of the line but always with the same goal in mind. The tension does not let up, it's always a race to the end with Michael Laurence behind the pen.

A group called The Thirteen, set on world domination, was foiled in the first book of the series by FBI Special Agent Mason and his friends by stopping a global pandemic. Now the group has manufactured a chemical nerve gas that can wipe out entire cities. Millions of lives are at stake as Mason, his friends and his new partner race to stop this centuries old group.
As full of action and pulse-pounding excitement as the first book, and I'm hoping the series continues.
Thank you to Michael Laurence and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The Annihilation Protocol by Michael Laurence
This is the follow up to The Extinction Agenda. Special Agent James Mason is back and he has a serious ax to grind base on the events in the previous book. The Novichok agent is in play and the Thirteen (a global cabal) are feuding.
There is action galore. Mason is not sure who to trust besides his known cohorts, Ramses and Gunnar. His newest partner may or may not be tasked with killing him. The plot is complex with historic context. The development of The Novichok agent is based on the historic precedents of the Nazi and Japanese war criminals of WWII. That fact and the fact that a Russian dissent was recently poisoned and a Novichok agent was mentioned in some of the news articles provides a truly chilling reality to this work of fiction.
My own father was stationed at both Edgewood Arsenal and Camp Siebert for training on the retaliatory use of chemical agents if the Nazis had used it on our troops. This is a thought-provoking book and although I enjoyed reading it, I can’t say I’m thrilled with some of the potential premises.

"The Annihilation Protocol" was thoroughly enjoyable. I liked how the author utilized both historical events and current world issues to help craft and advance the conspiracy that is at the center of this book (and series) and has been persisting for a hundred year. The Thirteen is a cabal that plans to utilize its resources and supporters, some of whom are highly placed in government agencies or businesses, to reduce the world population to a more "manageable" level which it can then control, and which will view the rule of The Thirteen as their salvation.

This is the second book in the series and it would be beneficial for the reader to have read the first book; I have not read the first book yet, but plan to go back and do so. The second book picks up after events that occurred in the first book. While there is enough information in the second book to allow the reader to understand basically what happened in the first book, especially the events that have shaped and changed FBI Special Agent James Mason, the main character, and made the hunt for The Thirteen deeply personal.

While The Thirteen plan to take over the world, there is dissension and infighting among some of The Thirteen, with efforts by some members to eliminate other members and rise up in the ranks. The over-arching plotline in this book is that a sizeable quantity of the Russian nerve agent Novichok may have been secretly produced in Colorado and then transported to locations unknown, from where it could be used to kill large numbers of people. The author utilizes Operation Paperclip, a US scheme to smuggle Nazi scientists into the US and give them new identities in order to gain access to their technology, which was more advanced than US science/technology at the time, and keep the information out of Russian hands. One advantage of sneaking Nazi and Japanese scientists into the US is that these scientists had been conducting research on the effects of biological and chemical weapons on humans, research that would not legally or ethically be allowed to occur in the US; although that will not stop the US military from secretly conducting such research.

That research is the key to understanding The Scarecrow, the main villain in this book. Even though the villain is not supposed to be the favorite, The Scarecrow was my favorite character in the book (which is not to say I agreed with the Scarecrow's actions or methods). The Scarecrow is an enigma for most of the book, but the Scarecrow creates some ingenious traps for its victims and investigators and also creates some rather clever puzzles to help the investigators, if they are clever and resourceful enough, discover the information that The Scarecrow wants publicly revealed before its endgame is set into motion and which explains the Scarecrow's motivations. The book ends with new villains identified and new plots hinted at. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Tremendous follow up and conclusion of the Extinction Agenda series. After stopping the release of a deadly pathogen in the first book, James Mason continues his hunt to locate, expose, and stop the mysterious group known as the Thirteen. As part of the investigation, he stumbles upon a killer known as the Scarecrow who intends to unleash a biological weapon attack. Little does Mason know that their paths crossed briefly in the first book.

The story is rooted again in conspiracy theories and history. The story moved at a good pace as the onion of mystery was peeled one layer at a time.

I started reading this book without first having read the first book, and it quickly became apparent that I was missing out on a ton of information and back story. So many of the series that I read are all stand alone books within a greater story arch. That is not that case with the Annihilation Protocol. You need to first read the Extinction Agenda. I went back and read the first book, and was able to read, understand, and appreciate this book much more as a result.

I recommend the two part series for anyone looking for a good manhunt, FBI procedural, which is overlaid with conspiracy theories on the level of Dan Brown.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my thoughts and feelings. All feedback is mine.

The Annihilation Protocol by Michael Lawrence is one thrilling ride. You follow Mason and his team as they attempt to thwart the newest threat from the Thirteen.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. After Extinction Agenda, I was eager for Mason to deliver the justice that the Thirteen deserved. If you have not read Extinction Agenda, I would highly suggest it. Annihilation Protocol can stand alone, but the background found in the first book of the series provides motivation and solidifies relationships.

The multiple mysteries of Annihilation Protocol keep the reader invested. I was on the edge of my seat in several instances. By the conclusion, I was excited by the prospect that I had not figured out the entire story midway. The author does an excellent job of keeping you guessing.

One thing I will say is there is a ton of moving pieces going on in this story. A lot of investigating. A lot of exposition. It is wonderful that we get all of the information relevant to the goings-on, but boy was it a lot. I'll be honest I tuned out quite a few times. And you know what? I still followed along. Some people will appreciate the abundance of facts, but for me, it was a bit much. Despite that, I would still recommend The Annihilation Protocol by Michael Laurence.

(See all my Book Reviews and author Interviews) – Author Michael Laurence (https://michaellaurence.com) published the novel “The Annihilation Protocol” in 2020. This is the first of his “Extinction Agenda” series and his second novel.

I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in the contemporary US. It picks up where the first novel in the series “The Extinction Agenda” leaves off.

FBI Special Agent James Mason and his childhood friends continue to combat the mysterious syndicate. This dark agency known as the Thirteen are out for wold dominance. This time using lethal nerve gas.

Not only are Mason and his team facing the potential death of millions, but hems work around his new partner. He can’t be sure if he can trust her. Will they be able to find the nerve gas and stop the next attack?

I thoroughly enjoyed the 16.5 hours I spent reading this 433-page thriller. This was a good follow-on thriller. I look forward to more in the series. I do like the selected cover art. I give this novel a 4.8 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

FBI agent James Mason has lost his wife. She was killed by a syndicate known as the Thirteen. It has caused the death of his partner as the Thirteen has turned him into a “bad guy.” The Thirteen has its “fingers” in the FBI and the U.S. government. Mason knows that they have a deadly lethal gas. He is given a new FBI partner who he doesn’t know if she is “clean” or has been influenced by the Thirteen. Mason decides to have his friends help him while he decides if his new partner is safe to work with. Mason has been assigned to a case who is killing people and the murderer has been called Scarecrow. Why is the murderer called Scarecrow? As Mason and his partner investigate the case, they find Scarecrow has the lethal gas and may be a member of the Thirteen. Homeland Security tells Mason’s boss to remove Mason and his partner from the case. Mason thinks that Homeland Security is influenced by the Thirteen so he keeps investigating unofficially. Why does Mason think that? Will Mason be able to solve this case?

This is a follow up from the the previous novel that the author wrote. I did not read it. The author includes in this novel an excellent” backstory” so you understand why Mason Is so involved in this case. The novel has a combination of history and science in it. It’s a story that has amazing chills going throughout it. There are some unexpected moments that made me wonder how Mason didn’t give up on finding Scarecrow. It’s a nonstop thrilling mystery!

mysterious syndicate known as the Thirteen has staged a silent coup, infiltrating governments and manipulating the course of world events, can they be stop.

My thoughts

Rating: 5

Genre: thriller

Series: The Extinction Agenda #2

Would I recommend it? Yes

Would I read more of this series? Yes in fact I can't wait to see what happens next.

Would I read more by this author? Yes

First off I want to thank the publisher St. Martin's Press for inviting me to read and review this because there was no way I was going to say to no to it once I found out it was the second book to The Extinction Agenda which I actually read 2 times now and loved, as well as a big thanks to NetGalley for letting me read it as well. Now have a problem because I can't decided which of this author's series I love the most , because under this one he writes the Extinction Agenda while under Michael McBride he writes the Unit 51 Series ( which have book 3 to read )both a really good and action packed from the very started,and will have you hooked in no time .Now that I think about I don't have to pick or choose because they can both be favorites of mine. I do know one thing and its why I love this series and its because it reminds of books writing by James Rollins and Michael Crichton. As for the story its self like I said it will pull you in and have you hooked in time , so much so that you won't want to stop reading until you got to the every end, it will have you asking yourself can that trust that person, and it wall also have you stopping and think wow those things can happen today and in fact dose so that there was times I was creeped out but that what I wanted right now. With that said I can't wait to read more of this series and see what happens next.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Michael Laurence and Netgalley.
So, I didn't get too far into this story. I didn't realise that this book was very much dependant on the book #1.
Homey don't play dat! I am guilty of being greedy with my money when it comes down to "spy" stuff! I loved Robert Ludlum! I didn't even know that he had died "way back in the day." I bought the newest Ludlum book, so I thought! Within a very few pages I thought that he had gotten old and stunk! Nope! I said something to my mom, and she told me that Robert Ludlum had been dead for some time!
I was a young single mother. I couldn't afford t.v. Not even a phone. I went from M.T.V. to no T.V!
I do spend money on Raymond Khoury books. He rocks! "Mostly."
I didn't finish this because it is part of a series.
That's it!
I'm being fairly generous with my 3 stars!

This follow-up to THE EXTINCTION AGENDA was another action-packed thrill ride that combined a complicated conspiracy, detailed science, and history going back generations in a story that is utterly engrossing. I found it extremely hard to put down and was happy to be able to read it immediately following the first in the series. My immediate reaction after shutting down the kindle after I finished was to lament the fact that the third volume is probably a year away!

The synopsis provided by the publisher gives a great description of the premise and the author fulfilled all my expectations. I urge you to read the initial book before tackling this one in order to have the full background and understanding about the cabal behind these heinous plans to kill off a large part of the world's population. Money and power are often in the hands of really evil people and the motive of revenge can create the life mission of someone who has been wronged. Pure entertainment even if it hits a high on the "you've gotta be kidding" meter! I enjoyed the interaction between the 3 main characters continued from the first book and can't wait to see what is next for them. Lots of description and detail to satisfy anyone's curiosity and the writing is great.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I only wish this would be optioned for a Netflix series or a major motion picture! And, Mr. Laurence, please get busy on book #3.

This is another action packed novel from Laurence and sequel to The Extinction Agenda. In order to fully understand this novel you would have to read the first one.

This novel seemed darker to me than the first one. There is a very evil villain who has some kind of a plan to kill millions of people with a lethal nerve agent. There is a secret society who wants to rule the world and has infiltrated many U.S. government law agencies. Mason is again the man who must save the world almost by himself. The villain gets pleasure out of torturing people so there are some unpleasant and quite gruesome deaths in this novel.

The plot is very complex. The villain is playing Mason, making him pursue lead after lead and avoid getting killed time after time. Trying to find out who the villain is and where the deadly nerve agent is stored requires lots of trudging through shell companies, people in the military, scientists. I felt the plot in this novel moved more slowly than the first in the series. I have to admit, I skimmed through much of the descriptions in the latter part of the book.

This is a book for readers who like consistent, if repetitive action with a complex conspiracy plot and lots of history and background material.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

The Annihilation Protocol by Michael Laurence is book two in his The Extinction Agenda series.

FBI Special Agent James Mason is once again investigating the shadow group known as The Thirteen. The plan has changed from global pandemic (scary in the time of COVID-19) to chemical annihilation, still with the intent to decimate the world’s population. The Thirteen have been bent on world domination for centuries; their thirst for power knows no bounds. Mason and his group of talented friends stopped them the last time. Can they do it again, in the face of an enemy that always seems to be one step ahead?

The Annihilation Protocol proves that Michael Laurence is still in the business of writing masterful thrillers. The characters are well-rounded with complete backstories. The scenery and background details are vividly described and seamlessly incorporated. In fact, I felt like I was there, scarily. The plot is complex but brilliantly compelling. There is some violence and gore that may be inappropriate for sensitive readers. This is still a 5 out of 5 star read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Th Annihilation Protocol is the second installment to The Extinction Agenda and continues the storyline from the first book. Special Agent James Mason along with old friends Gunnar Backstrom and Ramses Donovan, are in a race against time to stop a secret society from releasing a nerve agent that will kill thousands of Americans. Mason is assigned a new partner, Special Agent Jessica Layne, who he is reluctant to trust, but look at what happened with his last two partners. She will have to prove to Mason that she is trustworthy and not on the payroll of the Thirteen.
This is a story with a lot of details told in a extremely fast paced storyline so be sure to pay attention to everything. Your heart will be pounding without ever leaving the comfort of your cozy reading nook.
Can't wait for this adventure to continue!

In the second book in the Extinction Agenda series, Special Agent James Mason is still on the trail of 'the Thirteen' and an engineered virus that could kill millions of people if it is ever released. But it becomes obvious that the departments of government involved, including the FBI, have been infiltrated by people who want to make sure he doesn't succeed in his mission. It's impossible for Mason to tell his friends from his enemies, or just whom he can trust, including his new partner, SA Jessica Layne. Mason wishes the bad guys still wore black hats.

This is a very exciting thriller that is timely in its topic. But what sets it apart is the monster at the heart of the story who seems to have a personal agenda apart from causing the mass destruction of most of the world's population. Thankfully Mace has close friends with considerable skills who help him by digging deep for clues from the past. Always look for the motive as well as 'who benefits.'

Oh sure, Michael Laurence occasionally makes use of some trite thriller scenarios to help build the dramatic tension in the story but the book is still quite entertaining so I'll overlook them. We hear so much about conspiracy theories these days...what if some are true?? Ha! Good luck sleeping tonight!

I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

Deadly nerve gas, far reaching conspiracies, and a lethal countdown to a new year... That's what you can expect in this follow up to The Extinction Agenda. I truly thought this was a great sequel and continued many of the elements from the first one. I love Mason and seeing his growth, along with his cast of supporting characters. Definitely an action packed page turner and not for the faint of heart.

ARC given from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.