Man of War: A Novel

“Bristling with intrigue, deceit, power, and treason—once you pick this book up, you will NOT be able to put it down.”
   —Brad Thor, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

“A completely gripping story.”
   —Clive Cussler, New York Times Bestselling Author

Eric Steele is the best of the best—an Alpha—an operative in a unit known simply as “the Program.” A highly-trained U.S. Special Forces soldier who spent his career fighting radical Islamic militants in Afghanistan, Steele uses a deadly combination of espionage and brute strength to root out his targets and neutralize them. But sometimes the enemy gets a vote, and Steele knows all too well that every mission may be his last.

Steele is in Beirut when a CIA convoy is attacked and a nuclear weapon stolen. The strategic implications are bad enough, but when he and his colleagues in Washington investigate, it becomes clear that none of this was by chance—the perpetrator is a shadowy figure from Steele’s past. Once a valued ally, he is now a formidable enemy who will stop at nothing to rain havoc down on those he believes have wronged him.

Sean Parnell uses his combat experience to recreate the adrenaline-fueled excitement and sheer terror of war.

Eric Steele is the best of the best—​an Alpha—an operative in a unit known simply as “the Program.” A highly trained U.S. Special Forces soldier who spent his career fighting radical Islamic militants in Afghanistan, Steele uses a deadly combination of espionage and brute strength to root out his targets and neutralize them. But sometimes the enemy gets a vote, and Steele knows all too well that every mission may be his last.

Steele is in Beirut when a CIA convoy is attacked and a nuclear weapon stolen. The strategic implications are bad enough, but when he and his colleagues in Washington investigate, it becomes clear that none of this was by chance—the perpetrator is a shadowy figure from Steele’s past. Once a valued ally, he is now a formidable enemy who will stop at nothing to rain havoc down on those he believes have wronged him.

“The range of emotions that Sean Parnell summons in Outlaw Platoon [is] stunning. A nuanced, compelling memoir . . . Parnell shows he’s a gifted, brave storyteller.” - Pittsburgh Tribune

“Man of War is an international thriller that delivers.  Well written, tightly plotted, fast paced, and full of mind-twisting conspiracies and surprises.  Parnell’s combat experience shines through the pages.” - Nelson DeMille, author of The Cuban Affair

“Parnell brings his combat experience as a U.S. Army infantry officer in Afghanistan to his impressive first novel and series launch (after memoir Outlaw Platoon)… Thriller fans will be eager to see more of Steele.” - Publishers Weekly

“Falling somewhere between Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath and Brad Taylor’s Pike Logan, Eric Steele is a formidable new protagonist whom readers will love... If you like conspiracies and bold, larger-than-life characters, Man of War hits fast, hard, and never lets up for a second.” - CrimeReads.com

“Another amazing work of art from Sean Parnell. Every page I turned of this masterful thriller gripped me with intrigue and emotion. Sean now lives among the greats such as Brad Thor and Vince Flynn.” - Brent Gleeson, author of Talking Point: A Navy SEAL’s 10 Fail Safe Principles

“A great tale that rivals the exciting military fiction writers of our time like Clancy and Thor.  Pulling from real world experience, Parnell crafts a story with Man of War that is realistic, entertaining and suspenseful… Look out Jason Bourne, Eric Steele has arrived!” - Jason Redman, author of The Trident and former Navy SEAL Lt.

“Man of War is nonstop action from the first page, a jolt of pure adrenaline. Parnell deploys the full arsenal in this high-stakes thriller.” - Joseph Finder, author of The Switch

“A completely gripping story.” - Clive Cussler, New York Times bestselling author

“A definite winner... In developing his plot and main character, Parnell writes like a veteran… The main story line here, involving friends turned mortal enemies, is a grabber and will certainly please fans of Brad Thor, Brad Taylor, and Vince Flynn.” - Booklist (starred review)

“Man of War is a breakneck-speed thriller with enough action and combat to satisfy any reader.  Eric Steele is a one-man army, and Sean Parnell uses his background in tactics and weapons to bust into the ranks of the best thriller writers out there.” - C.J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Disappeared

“A heartfelt story that shows how very different people can be thrown together in combat and find a way to make it work. Parnell and the soldiers who fought beside him are all courageous heroes—real bad asses. I really enjoyed the book.” - Chris Kyle, bestselling author of American Sniper on Outlaw Platoon

“Man of War is a relentless, adrenaline-pumping thriller, bristling with nonstop action and suspense. Parnell … knows the sting of battle, physically and psychologically... His action hero Eric Steele is as authentic as it gets. This is one hell of a debut book.” - Rorke Denver, former SEAL Commander and author of Damn Few: Making The Modern SEAL Warrior

“Outlaw Platoon is an exceptional look into the mind of a platoon leader in Afghanistan; Captain Parnell shares his experiences of leadership, loss, and aggressive military tactics. You can really feel the bonds forged between these brothers in arms as the battle plays out” - Marcus Luttrell, author of Lone Survivor

“Bristling with intrigue, deceit, power and treason—once you pick this book up, you will NOT be able to put it down.” - Brad Thor #1 New York Times bestselling author of Spymaster

“Fast, hard, and effortlessly authentic—both lead character Eric Steele and author Sean Parnell are the real deal.” - Lee Child, author of The Midnight Line

“Setting, dialogue, and details create the ideal backdrop for the tension and intensity...  It’s a marvelous debut from a talented writer to keep a watch on.” - Steve Berry, author of The Last Order

“At times, I forgot I was reading about a war as I was drawn up in the drama the same way you [are] when reading Krakauer’s Into Thin Air . . . This is a book of probing honesty, wrenching drama and courage.” - Doug Stanton, author of Horse Soldiers on Outlaw Platoon