Review: Operation Storm’s Eye by E.S. Benton

An elite group of soldiers is on the hunt for a secret cabal of inhumane terrorists in Operation Storm’s Eye by E.S. Benton, a relentless rush of espionage and adrenaline.

In this first book of the Silent Codename series, Alpha Squad is deep on the hunt for a mysterious global organization responsible for savage attacks against aid efforts in the wake of natural disasters. Bizarrely, the villains appear almost immediately, as though they know exactly when and where each cyclone, tsunami, or flood is going to strike.

To counter this sinister manipulation of trauma and chaos, Alpha One and his trusted team embark on a spiraling series of deadly missions to unravel the secrets of M.N.G.W.A., the Night Vipers, and the still darker puppet master pulling their strings. They aren’t the only good guys in this lethal chase, but the loyalty of clandestine allies is hard to measure, or trust. From rogue satellites and sinister submarines to pitched battles and silent assassinations, the daring agents of Alpha Squad are the last line of defense against an existential weapon that could wreak havoc across the world.

Unlike other military fiction that overflows with typical protagonists, the members of the Alpha Squad aren’t traditional soldiers. They came to the elite group by different paths – a chemist, a computer whiz, and a pair of intelligence agents, among others, which makes for interesting dialogue and dynamics in those scenes that fall outside a mission or moment of combat.

The depth of detail during military operations is immersive, but it can sometimes drag the pace of an otherwise dramatic or action-packed scene, with a consistent habit of over-explaining, rather than organically sharing information within a scene. Sprawling paragraphs of narration about positioning, flanking, perimeters, and squad maneuvering aren’t entirely necessary, nor are the superfluous blow-by-blows of every hand-to-hand combat sequence. While this heart-pounding story would look great on the big screen, it moves fairly slowly as a fictional narrative, with some relatively simple fight scenes taking up a half-dozen pages. There is room for more character development as well – the author’s use of alphanumeric names during mission settings makes it harder to appreciate the individuality of key characters in tense moments.

That said, the action of this story is centered on gunfire and battlefield tactics, with the prose rattling rapidly over codenames and call signs and graphic descriptions of merciless warfare, not the interpersonal relationships of squad members. This is not a story that is fully grounded in realism, as Alpha Team is either the most skilled or downright luckiest squad on the battlefield, with a life-saving solution, makeshift weapon, or last-moment escape always seems conveniently within grasp, so once one suspends disbelief and dives into the military heroics, there is a core story here that is original and entertaining.

Despite the issues with pacing and occasionally superficial character development, this hard-knuckled action thriller is a compelling introduction to a new series, and readers of adrenaline-fueled military fiction will appreciate the gritty backdrops and warrior-focused edge in this first installment.