Kilo Class

Written by Patrick Robinson

Narrated by Stephen Lang

It's one of the stealthiest, most dangerous underwater warships ever built . . . silent at under five knots, and capable of a massive nuclear warhead punch. It's the weapon every Third World dictator covets. It's the 240-foot long Russian Kilo Class submarine and Russia seems perfectly willing to sell it to anyone - including China.

The U.S. Defense Department knows full well of China's intentions to use submarines to shut the U.S. Carrier Battle Groups out of the Taiwan Strait. And then to reclaim, by military force if necessary, the rich independent island which sits only one hundred miles off her eastern coastline. A strike force of patrolling Kilos could achieve that objective for Beijing. Two of the 10 Kilos have already been delivered.

The President's new National Security Adviser, the irascible Texan Admiral Arnold Morgan, prepares to send the U.S. Navy's most deadly Black Ops hit-squads deep into dark Russian waters. Their mission - to foil delivery of the other eight Kilos - is undertaken under the most crushing code of secrecy. One mistake could literally start World War III. As Moscow brings in an iron cordon of an escort for the submarine deliveries, Commander Boomer Dunning, the Black Ops Captain, races his 7,000-ton nuclear boat beneath the polar ice-cap to head them off.

Kilo Class is a taut techno-thriller of the highest quality, grounded in fact, and ringing with unmistakable authenticity. It is the story of a breathtaking race against time. Peppered with unforgettable characters, it takes the listener into the heart of the control room of a hunter-killer submarine.

Performed by Stephen Lang.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Nov 23, 2004
• ISBN: 9780060818333

Patrick Robinson

Patrick Robinson is the author of seven international bestselling suspense thrillers, including Nimitz Class and Hunter Killer, as well as several nonfiction bestsellers. He divides his time between Ireland and Cape Cod.

Reviews for Kilo Class

[ponsonby_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Follows on from Nimitz Class. Interesting but some rather improbable scenarios used and a slight feeling of formula. Not as good as Nimitz class. Really only for fans of submarine techno-thrillers.

[buffalogr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kilo Class' by all means is a very specific military (Navy) action-thriller that catered to that very reader(ship) group. As the title suggests, it's about submarines. I listened to the 2.5 hour version instead of the 16.5 hour version and enjoyed it very much. I imagine that I obviated all the submarine detail and clutter that obfuscates the plot with minutiae. Looking forward to continuing the story.

[henrimoreaux · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Whilst initially a little slow to begin, once started this was an excellent story. Some people may classify it as a "techno thriller" however in my mind it is merely a modern novel about submarine warfare.The premise is rather straight forward, China intends to purchase a number of Kilo class submarines from Russia and the United States view is that this would destabilise the region and as such decides to put a stop to the transaction. Commence undersea submarine shenanigans.Overall, good plot, within the realm of realism for the most part and well written.

[rw_flyer · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

An interesting story, but the quality of the writing and the character development are both poor which considerably lowered my enjoyment.