Harvath rejects the report and starts his own search. He believes the snow slide was a trap, not an act of nature. Even after he is framed for a killing and hunted by the law, his will does not break. He trusts his gut and tracks every clue through the cold to find where the President was taken. As he searches, Harvath finds a scheme that goes well past the Utah peaks. A group of hidden men across the world stole the President to grab power and cash. Harvath sees he is fighting a trained, deadly team. Time is running out, and he must move now to stop a total wreck.
Harvath rejects the report and starts his own search. He believes the snow slide was a trap, not an act of nature. Even after he is framed for a killing and hunted by the law, his will does not break. He trusts his gut and tracks every clue through the cold to find where the President was taken. As he searches, Harvath finds a scheme that goes well past the Utah peaks. A group of hidden men across the world stole the President to grab power and cash. Harvath sees he is fighting a trained, deadly team. Time is running out, and he must move now to stop a total wreck.
Harvath’s search brings him to a lonely house in Midway. Inside, he finds an elderly man and woman murdered. The sight shows just how heartless his enemies are. As he looks around, he sees that the killers used this house to get away. Finding them like this only makes him want to catch the murderers and free the President even more. Harvath’s hunt is full of lies. He hits many blocks, including a device used to block radio signals during the snow slide. As he looks closer, he sees the lies are piled high to keep the truth hidden. Harvath relies on his gut to get through the traps and stay ahead of the killers.
Harvath’s search brings him to a lonely house in Midway. Inside, he finds an elderly man and woman murdered. The sight shows just how his enemies are. As he looks around, he sees that the killers used this house to get away. Finding them like this only makes him want to catch the murderers and free the President even more. Harvath’s hunt is full of lies. He hits many blocks, a device used to block radio signals during the snow slide. As he looks closer, he sees the lies are piled high to keep the truth hidden. Harvath relies on his gut to get through the traps and stay ahead of the killers.
==Characters==
==Characters==
2002 novel by Brad Thor
The Lions of Lucerne is a 2002 spy novel by Brad Thor.
Thor’s first novel with the character of Scot Harvath, an ex-Navy SEAL and current U.S. Secret Service agent, The Lions of Lucerne relates how Harvath survives an attack which leaves 30 of his fellow agents dead and the president of the United States kidnapped. Harvath then begins a search for those responsible and attempts to rescue the president.[1]
Plot
On the snowy slopes of Utah, a wall of snow crashes down, burying the President of the United States. The Secret Service team is wiped out, leaving only Scot Harvath, an ex-Navy SEAL, alive. Harvath does not believe the report that Middle Eastern groups are to blame. He starts his own hunt for the truth. Moving through the mountain peaks and deep snow, Harvath is pushed by his job and a thirst for payback. He fights to find the President and hunt down the men who caused the slide.
Harvath rejects the report and starts his own search. He believes the snow slide was a trap, not an act of nature. Even after he is framed for a killing and hunted by the law, his will does not break. He trusts his gut and tracks every clue through the cold to find where the President was taken. As he searches, Harvath finds a scheme that goes well past the Utah peaks. A group of hidden men across the world stole the President to grab power and cash. Harvath sees he is fighting a trained, deadly team. Time is running out, and he must move now to stop a total wreck.
Harvath’s search brings him to a lonely house in Midway. Inside, he finds an elderly man and woman murdered. The sight shows just how cruel his enemies are. As he looks around, he sees that the killers used this house to get away. Finding them like this only makes him want to catch the murderers and free the President even more. Harvath’s hunt is full of lies. He hits many blocks, such as a device used to block radio signals during the snow slide. As he looks closer, he sees the lies are piled high to keep the truth hidden. Harvath relies on his gut to get through the traps and stay ahead of the killers.
Characters
- Scot Harvath: The main protagonist, a former Navy SEAL and Secret Service agent who is the protagonist of the story.
- Donald Fawcett: A high-ranking government official who is involved in a conspiracy.
- Russell Rolander: A wealthy businessman who is part of a shadowy coalition.
- David Snyder: A Secret Service agent who is killed in the attack on the President.
- Mitchell Conti: A Secret Service agent who is killed in the attack on the President.
- Gerhard Miner, also known as Henk Van DenHuevel: A member of the Lions, a group of professional killers.
- Claudia Mueller: A Swiss Federal Attorney who assists Scot Harvath in his investigation.
- Arianne Kuess: Claudia’s boss at the Federal Attorney’s Office.
- Urs Schnell: Deputy Federal Attorney at the Federal Attorney’s Office.
- Wilhelm Schroeppel: Gerhard Miner’s cousin.
- Jack Rutledge: President of the United States.
- Amanda Rutledge: First Daughter of the United States.
- Sam Harper, also known as Sound: The head of president’s protective detail.
- William Shaw, also known as Fury: Director of Secret Service Operations for the White House.
- Agent Maxwell: A Secret Service agent on First Daughter’s protective detail.
- Agent Ahern: A Secret Service agent on President’s protective detail.
- Agent Houchins: A Secret Service agent on President’s protective detail.
- Hassan Useff: A member of the Lions.
- Klaus Dryer: A member of the Lions.
- Tom Hollenbeck: A Secret Service agent on protective detail.
- Chris Longo: A Secret Service agent on protective detail, Tom Hollenbeck’s assistant.
- Agent Palmer: A Secret Service agent on protective detail, attractive, young female agent.
- Anton Schebel: A member of the Lions.
- Joe Maddux: Harvath’s eldest son.
- Mary Maddux: Harvath’s lawyer.
- Dr. Skip Trawick: Harvath’s brother.
- Dr. John Paulos: Harvath’s cousin.
- Gary Lawlor: Deputy Director of FBI.
- Agent Zuschnitt: FBI Agent.
- André Martin: A friend of Scot Harvath.
- Vance Boyson: A friend of Scot Harvath.
- Nick Slattery: A friend of Scot Harvath.
- Deputy MacIntyre: A deputy of Wasatch County Sheriff’s Department, member of Church of Latter Day Saints.
- Jody Burnis: A CNN reporter.
- Agent Patrasso: An FBI Agent.
- Agent Sprecher: An FBI Agent.
- Dr. Sarah Helsabeck: Claudia Mueller’s sister.
- Stan Jameson: Director of Secret Service.
- General Paul Venrick: Commander of Joint Special Operations Command.
- Adam Marshfield, also known as Star Gazer: Vice-President of the United States.
- Edward DeFina: Vice-President Marshfield’s chief of staff.
- Director Vaile: Director of CIA.
- Director Sorce: Director of FBI.
- Nataile Sperando: Assistant to the Social Secretary of the White House, friend of Scot Harvath and André Martin.
- Herman Toffle, also known as Herman the German: A friend of Scot Harvath, wife is Diana.
- Diana Toffle: Herman Toffle’s wife.
- Jackie Kreppler: A friend of Scot Harvath and Claudia Mueller.
- Rolf Kreppler: A husband of Jackie Kreppler, jealous of Scot Harvath.
- Johanus Schepp: Food and Beverage manager of Hotel des Balances’.
Reception
Publishers Weekly wrote “it’s hard to get past the novel’s many graceless shortcomings, clichéd language […], cartoonish scenes and a protagonist whose superhero character desperately needs fleshing out.”[2] A reviewer for Kirkus Reviews called Thor’s prose “tangled” at times.[1][3] Library Journal, however, highly recommended the novel, calling it “an assured debut” and concluding that “this international thriller will delight readers with its nonstop action, relentless suspense, strong protagonist, and wintry settings in Utah, D.C., and Switzerland. Well researched, high-voltage entertainment reminiscent of Robert Ludlum and David Morrell […].”[4]
Other media, notably regional titles, were just as positive. The Anniston Star wrote that Thor had recreated “a genre that has been firmly in the grasp of Tom Clancy for so long is not an easy feat. Fortunately for military intrigue devotees, Brad Thor has done just that — and on his first time out too.” The Tacoma Reporter wrote “this book is one of the best entries into the military thriller genre since the early works of Tom Clancy” and that Harvath “will definitely take a place beside Cussler’s Dirk Pitt and Clancy’s Jack Ryan.”
Named one of the 10 of The Best Political Thrillers Ever[5] by Barnes and Noble
