Vortex One

by J.A. Layton

The discovery of a world-changing technological advancement sends two people on the run-because they know the devastation the technology could wreak. And that means they know too much. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0515132047
• ISBN13: 9780515132045
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: Jove Books
• Length: 405 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Fun Reading

As the owner of a small business and the father of two very active children, I generally do not have much time for pleasure reading. A year or so ago, I found J. Layton's first two books at a used book store. I read them during a vacation and became hooked. His latest book, Vortex One, is his best to-date. It is very fast paced involving several subplots. The settings are familiar to anyone who has ever been to the Pacific Northwest. The characters are believable and interesting but the continual, high speed action kept me glued to the book. This book has parts where it develops technical concepts and explanations without becoming a college engineering textbook. The book is simply fun reading.

Vortex One

Jeff Layton weaves a fast paced thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. In this day of unusual alliances and industrial espionage, the reader is taken on an all to real journey into the world of the next generation of remotely piloted vehicles. With reminders of the security breeches at Los Alamos fresh in the memory bank, we are asked to imagine to what level will the security of our defense systems be taken. Having spent two thirds of a military career in the intelligence field, Jeff's world is not that far removed. Hard to put down.

Hooked from Page One

Vortex One by J.A. Layton is the third book written by Layton. The first was Blowout, then Warhead, and now Vortex One. I didnt know if Layton could do it a third time, but he did: once you read the first page of Vortex One, you will not be able to put the book down, I was hooked. Layton doesn't let up for a minute, with his exciting writing style. The novel grabbed me right from the start, it kept me on the edge of my seat. It was thrilling to read what was occurring in the book. The anticipation as to what was going to happen next, and how the story would end up, makes this a great novel to read. The meticulous detail of each event makes the novel very realistic and plausible. If it was made into a movie, it would be a hit. Like watching the "Indiana Jones & Raiders of the Lost Ark" series, it would be an adventure of non-stop fun. Its an "E" ticket-ride to read. I dont want to give the plot away, but its interesting to read Vortex One, and see how it coincides with the methods employed with our military in Afghanistan for the last few months. And how our methods of travel could change for all of us in the future.I highly recommend Vortex One. Now I can't wait for Laytons next novel to read, I know its going to be great. Read Vortex One, you'll enjoy it.

Great Thriller

VORTEX ONE's protagonist, Tim Carpenter, is a private investigator trying to protect his friend and client from Chinese commandos while US agents contribute little but trouble due to a mole at the CIA. The fast moving plot travels from a Nevada desert proving grounds, to a Cascade mountain safe house, to the San Juan Islands, to Vancouver, and finally to a high jacked cruise ship offshore of SE Alaska. The reader is taken from one thrill to another as Carpenter attempts to keep his client and her father's invention out of the hands of both the Chinese and the Americans. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Finding a good new author is always a hit and miss process. Layton is a hit. VORTEX ONE is fast paced and intriguing. With the events of the last year it is highly believable. The United States' determination to limit damage from its enemies and ultimately to seek justice is timely. Once I picked up VORTEX ONE I barely put it down. This is a well-written novel. Highly recommended.

The ultimate techno-thriller

Jenny Richmond?s father created, through a freak set of circumstances, a device called Merlin that when hooked up with artificial intelligence would make drivers of airplanes, cars, and boats obsolete. There was a small glitch in replicating the device so Jenny?s father took it to the federal government who for a price was willing to spend billions to make the device operational. When her dad was killed, Jenny was placed into protective custody but agents of the People?s Republic of China raided her safe house. She eluded them and contacted private investigator Tim Carpenter. They retrieved her father?s notes and Merlin before going on the run. The enemy agents were always one step behind them even tracking them down on a cruise ship where the ultimate cat and mouse game was being played out. VORTEX ONE is the ultimate techno-thriller that clearly delineates the good guys from the bad agents. This is a very fast paced action packed novel so the characterizations are not as developed as much as they could be. Still, J.A Layton has written escapist work that is fun to read on wintry night.Harriet Klausner