Q.R.F.: A Novel of the Iraq War by Craig DiLouie Review
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A former military vet makes a desperate plan with his old team to rescue their old squad leader, who is being held by ISIS after a mission of humanitarian work has gone wrong in Craig DiLouie’s “Q.R.F.”.
The Synopsis
QRF: military term meaning quick reaction force. When a unit in trouble hears, The cavalry is coming, they’re talking about these guys.
Eleven years after coming home from Iraq, Jim Cooper lives a quiet civilian life of wandering. When he hears his old squad leader has been captured by ISIS while doing humanitarian work in an embattled Mosul, he reconnects with comrades from his old unit to reflect and mourn the execution they know is coming.
Reminiscing deep into the night, an unlikely, wild plan to rescue Sergeant Ramos takes shape. The war-torn Iraq to which Coop and his comrades plan to return, however, is a very different place than where they’d fought back in ’04. In 2016, Mosul is now controlled by the ruthless Islamic State and under attack by the Iraqi Army in the largest and bloodiest urban battle since World War Two.
Rescuing Ramos appears impossible. Coop’s comrades have gone soft in the years since they left the service. They’re not the same men they were when they wore the uniform. But they swore an oath to each other as sacred as the one they gave their country, and it is never ending.
This was a compelling and gripping military thriller. The gritty nature of life in the military, as well as life in war-torn countries like Iraq, were greatly explored in this narrative, and the detailed writing style really brought these settings to life naturally. The culture and politics were so important to this narrative, and the way the author explored the struggles of the people living in these areas of the world really brought an emotional and grounded feel to the overall story.
To me, the heart of this narrative rested in the character development. Not only was Cooper a great protagonist, but the relationships he held with each and every one of his teammates, as well as the individual struggles they all had to confront from their first tour of Iraq over a decade before, made this a memorable read.
The Verdict
Harrowing, engaging, and captivating, author Craig DiLouie’s “Q.R.F.” is a must-read military thriller novel. The twists and turns in the narrative, the heart-pounding action and suspense, and the gripping character arcs made this a thrilling novel you won’t be able to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Craig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
At www.CraigDiLouie.com, you can find all of Craig’s major works, interviews, and hundreds of interesting blog posts. Be sure to sign up for Craig’s mailing list so you can stay tuned on new releases.
