In Targeted: Beirut, Jack Carr and James M. Scott unravel the devastating 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, the deadliest day for the Corps since Iwo Jima. This meticulously researched book sheds light on the attack’s role in shaping U.S. foreign policy and its harrowing impact on the Marines stationed in Lebanon. Carr and Scott immerse the reader in the events through gripping firsthand accounts from survivors, military personnel, and policymakers.

The narrative delivers both historical depth and emotional resonance, capturing the raw courage of American forces caught in a non-winnable situation. Through vivid storytelling, the authors highlight not only the bravery of the Marines but the tragic cost of flawed political decisions that constrained their ability to fight. This book is essential reading for those seeking to understand the roots of modern terrorism and the lasting scars of the Beirut bombing on American power and policy.

Carr’s first nonfiction is as sharp and engrossing as his fiction, reading like a thriller with real-life stakes. More than just a recounting of a tragic moment in history, Targeted: Beirut serves as a cautionary tale for policymakers and a memorial to the 241 heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.

How disappointing. First and foremost, this is marketed as a non-fiction book and listed under “Middle East history” on Amazon. The author is not a war correspondent, a journalist or a historian. I don’t see any middle eastern historian/expert consulted in the notes/source list. This is made clear by the omissions and revisions made throughout this book.

The first part attempts to give a backstory leading up to the 1983 bombing. It glosses over the Israel-Palestine conflict and only frames the Lebanese civil war through the Phalangist lens. Both are pivotal oversights for any credible historical analysis of the region.

The second part does highlight that McFarlane and Washington national security advisors are to share blame for the attack. American forces were mandated by President Regan to be a peace-keeping force, not a combative one. The author does correctly point out that because the marines were pressured by Washington security advisers to engage, it put a target on their back. However, this is forgotten a few chapters later when this attack is framed as “Arabs hate America”, which is borderline racist.

The author should have stuck with honoring the lives of those who were killed in the attack. For objective historical analysis of the region, I’d recommend you skip this and read Robert Fisk or Thomas Friedman.

Free ARC from Net Galley

NOT a fan of the terminal 'superhero' series but this book takes the tragedy of 1983 and reminds us of the complexities that always accompany such a disaster. Victims and villains are given fair space for a complete dissection of a terrible event.

There is a special kind of worry specific to history nerds. What happens when one of your favorite authors teams up with an author from another genre? In this case, a personal favorite of mine, James M. Scott, is partnering with Jack Carr, author of the wildly popular Terminal List and other thrillers to produce Targeted: Beirut. What will result when history meets thriller? Will I throw the book across the room?

No, I shouldn't have worried and no, I didn't throw the book. To quote what my 9-year-old told me last week, "You worry too much."

Targeted: Beirut tells the story of the 1983 Marine barracks bombing. The bombing is an example of a strange oxymoron in history. It is often referenced whenever terrorism is discussed, but this is the first book I have seen on the subject. For those unfamiliar, the U.S. under Ronald Reagan decided to involve itself in the affairs of Lebanon in the 1980s. To say it did not go well is a massive understatement. The entire episode is complicated, ripe for second guessing, and contains a large amount of finger pointing. The good news is that Carr and Scott are up to the challenge. The book deftly handles the political, military, and humanitarian sides of the story and the narrative never slows. The sourcing and research are top notch, and I felt like it was handled with clear-eyed discernment.

The book is so good that I was tempted to actually read fiction for once and pick up a Jack Carr book. For those of you who know my aversion to fiction, this is the best compliment I can give.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Atria Books.)