By Order of the President

Written by W.E.B. Griffin

Narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris

Over the years, W.E.B. Griffin's stories of the military and police, told with crackling realism and rich characters, have won him millions of fans and acclaim as "the dean of the American war adventure" (Publishers Weekly). Now he vaults into the present day with a series as exciting as anything he has ever written.

At an airfield in Angola, two men board a leased Boeing 727; then, once it is in the air, slit the pilot's throat and fly to parts unknown. The consternation is immediate, as the CIA, FBI, FAA, and other agencies race to find out what has happened, in the process elbowing each other in the sides a little too vigorously.

Fed up, the President of the United States turns to an outside investigator to determine the truth, an Army intelligence officer serving as special assistant to the Director of Homeland Security. Major Carlos Guillermo Castillo, known as Charley, is the son of a German mother and a Tex-Mex father, a Medal of Honor winner who died in Vietnam. A pilot, West Point graduate, and veteran of Desert Storm and the Special Forces, Castillo has a sharp eye for the facts—and the reality behind the facts. Traveling undercover, he flies to Africa, and there, helped and hindered by unexpected allies and determined enemies, begins to untangle a story of frightening dimensions—a story that, unless he can do something about it, will end very, very badly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release date: Dec 1, 2004
• ISBN: 9780786555055

W.E.B. Griffin

W.E.B. Griffin is the author of six bestselling series—and now Clandestine Operations.   William E. Butterworth IV has worked closely with his father for more than a decade, and is the coauthor with him of many books, most recently Hazardous Duty and Top Secret.  

Reviews for By Order of the President

[donaldbuehler · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

No more W.E.B. Griffin

I love the military - I love war novels. And I am a sucker for serialized novels.

A few years ago I finally picked up a W.E.B. Griffin book (do not remember the title). I was excited - read it. but really struggled with the fact that there was almost no action in the book. So I put him off.

Recently I have picked up 3 of his novels from the "Presidential Agent" Series - and am now 450 pages into "By Order of the President." No way am I going to clog thru the next 150 pages. In the beginning of the book - a pilot and his co-pilot get their throats slit - and then the action stops. The President and a bunch pif his minions (Secy Defense, etc.) fumble around - talk in cryptic language (they all were buddies in a past life) - and generally just engage in office politics, until I want too blow my head off!

No more best buddy - past relationships which are called upon - no more "rules be damned" I'm going to do what I know is best (that worked for Jack Bauer, but not for the characters in W.E.B.'s world) - no more of the endless flying around, commandeering military planes - or using your rich families planes to do the government's business. I have had it. W.E.B. Griffin (or your son, whoever is writing this stuff) - you will not steal another hour of my precious life.

I am giving up on "By the Order .." and giving away my unread books (about 5 of them) because I do not want to be bored out of my mind. NOTE: I have NEVER given books away!!!!

This must be someone(s) out there that likes this drivel. But NOT MEEEEEEE!

DonB

[buffalogr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Exciting book that was a fun listen. The characters were very well (over) developed, probably because this was the first of a series. I'll read #2.

[nursewidener · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have enjoy many of WEB Griffin's books. I loved this book and have quickly finished the series and currently waiting impatiently until the next book comes out in December. If like action adventures with military special ops thrown in you will love this book and series. This guys do what needs to be done when and how it needs done.

[readafew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Carlos "Charlie" Castillo is many things to many people and he sometimes has a hard time keeping them all straight. He's an Army Major, ex-Delta Force, pilot, secret Service Agent, spy, aid to the Secretary of Homeland security. as well as a mulit-linguist, is independently wealthy and is an all around nice guy. Makes Jack Ryan look like a second rate wammabe.

Someone has stolen a 727 in Angola and no one seems to no by who, why, where is going or what it is to be used for. The president decides he wants to do a little test on his intelligence corps. Our poster boy Carlos, who is working for the Homeland Security Secretary is picked to do the snooping. Carlos uncovers a few things among them a plot to crash the plane into Philadelphia. Carlos becomes the lead man in trying to stop the terrorist plot.

Overall a fun book to listen to and Griffin is a great story teller. We keep doing flashbacks with Carlos to find out how he became the man we see today. The writing decent and as long as you don't mind that Carlos seems to be near perfect and Generals seems to be common as house flies and just go along for the ride you'll have fun.

[amacmillen_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Charlie Castillo is a new hero in this series. He is ordered by the president to find a Boeing 727 that is stolen in Africa and is being fitted and diverted to crash into the liberty bell in Philadelphia. A Russian mob leader is helping with information.

[romonko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was so excited to begin this new W.E.B. Griffin series, and this book didn't disappoint. Charley Castillo I think will be a force to be reckoned with. In this book Griffin touches on terrorism and life in a post-911 America. We have a wonderful bunch of new characters that I can't wait to get to read more about. As usual Griffin can write a story! He does go into a lot of detail about the military, and about some of the military gadgets that are out there, but I didn't find this upsetting because it is all told as part of the story. The suspense throughout the book kept me turning pages, and I can't wait to read other books in this series. I love W.E.B. Griffin books.