Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team
by Christopher Whitcomb

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Book Reviews of Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team

Book Review: Good, but not as exciting as I'd hoped
Summary: 4 Stars

In this book, Special Agent Whitcomb provides a very informative and engaging look at his life in the FBI. The reader follows him on some of his more interesting assignments doing casework out of a satellite office in Missouri and when Whitcomb feels the need to do more in his life, he takes the reader through his selection process into the HRT. From his description, I imagine the HRT selection process to be somewhat similar to the Navy BUD/S (SEAL) selection process. Anyone familiar with BUD/S (or if you've seen some of Hollywood's bastardized film versions like G.I. Jane), knows that the process is amazingly taxing--both physically and psychologically--and there is a very high drop out rate.

Obviously, Whitcomb managed to get through selection and becomes a sniper on the HRT. He was present and accounted for the standoff on Ruby Ridge and in Waco, Texas during the Branch Davidians crisis. Though both situations were tense and Whitcomb manages to portray that mood in his writing, there isn't much excitement involved (for the reader).

I imagine most of Whitcomb's missions are still classified and that's unfortunate. Though Whitcomb provides his experience during some of the most famous current events of the past 15 years or so (like Ruby Ridge and Waco), there isn't much to get excited about. With a book about an elite unit like the Hostage Rescue Team, one would expect (and presumably want) a lot of action. Sadly, there wasn't much to speak of. Also, I would recommend skipping the last three chapters because they don't really seem relevant to the primary function of HRT.

Although the book doesn't provide as much action and excitement as I would have liked, Whitcomb is a good writer and the book is a very good read. Perhaps some of Whitcomb's more exciting missions will be declassified in the future and he can write a follow-up with some more meat to it, especially since this book was written and published prior to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. I'd be extremely interested in reading what role HRT played immediately following 9/11 and what they are doing now.

Still, I would recommend this book to people interested in the FBI and especially to potential candidates to HRT.

Lastly, Special Agent Whitcomb if you get a chance to read this: Thank you for your service to this great country.

Summary of Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team

Federal Government Books

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