The Shaman: Book Two in the Dan Stone Assassin Series

David Nees, rather uniquely, has added a human being's sense of intuition to the fiction genre of life and death situational awareness. Many people who have been in that type of situation are extremely aware of this aspect of our existence. Because it has saved their lives.

Very impressed with this book, and the whole series. Couldn't put it down. The author does a great job with plot, and with his research of all kinds of different locations and countries. Plenty of action but also a human story that really builds out the characters.Highly recommended.

Excellent series in the Mitch Rapp genre. Good character development with fast paced storyline. An enjoyable read. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series

This is a marvelous story that adds an unexpected supernatural element. It helps that I agree with this world view. Good and evil on a vast plain doing battle amidst the clueless humans.

Finally a twist to the sad formula of revenge killing by a spec ops veteran after someone kills his family. This could have been too formulaic to succeed, but Nees pulled it off in the first book, Payback. At least well enough for me to buy book two in the series, Shaman. I’m glad I did. For those of us old enough to have read the wonderful Carlos Castaneda series about the Sonoran Desert Yaqui shaman Don Juan, this will be a welcome addition to the genre. Protagonist Dan Stone, a two tour Iraqi War veteran as an Army sniper, is rescued after his vendetta against the mob in Brooklyn by a fledgling CIA Special Action Directorate group and trained as their first assassin. His first mission is against a Sinaloa Cartel boss in his Chihuahua Desert retreat in Mexico. He pulls off the hit, but his exfil goes sideways, and he collapses lost in the desert where he is rescued by an ancient shaman who teaches him to use spiritual vision to succeed in his war against evil forces. It’s not science fiction, but it is a welcome twist to an overused action formula. Thanks to author David Nees for giving us something new and exciting to read. To critics of this series I would say they should remember that fiction is fiction and be grateful when someone injects real imagination and novelty to the genre. The entire first five book series is available together on Kindle, and you’ll save some money by buying it because you’re going to want to read it, as I am going. I absolutely love this series.

I usually stick to sci-fi/fantasy/occult fiction, and I found the Dan Stone series via Nees’s apocalyptic fiction writings. While I might cringe a bit about the popular appropriation of the word “shaman,” it’s a word that is, nonetheless, evocative. This book was an absolutely great read, filled with subterfuge and cunning. Much death happens in this book via Stone, a trained assassin, directed toward the drug cartels and Islamic terrorists. Nees’s shaman is a “Watcher,” one who can see, via spirit flight assisted by peyote, the intersections of Fate where change can be effected. The shaman finds the assassin nearly dead in the desert; the shaman saves Stone’s life and then sets him on the path of impeccability. Characters committed to selfish and violent gain die; those with questionable ethics are given a chance at redemption. Sometimes, the innocent die as collateral damage; in this tale, you always understand how evil is never just after you alone—it manipulates you by also threatening the people you hold dear. As an animist and student of the hidden things myself, I found the role the shaman played in this tale to be believable and interesting. This read was made even more pleasurable for me by the evidence of careful editing as well as capable proofreading of the final text. I had to put it down so I could sleep and couldn’t wait to get back to the story. Well done, Mr. Nees!

David Nees writes in straightforward style that makes for fast interesting reading. In The Shaman he mixes standard black ops with Carlos Castaneda.

A great action packed feel good novel. A stay up late pages on fire read. Loveable and terrible characters you will love and hate.

Really? I was so looking forward to this book after reading the first one. What total, unbelievable nonsense!......... So a man lost and dying in the desert is rescued by a raven and a cayote that are governed by an old man, and then the spirit of the man and the old man ride on the back of the raven across the desert to Chuachua City to determine the man's next mission...... For goodness sake! What a disappointment.....

Interesting throughout with twist, turns, some unexpected spiritual elements and plenty of action.A couple of inconsistencies, but generally a riveting read.Thank you David Nees

Having read the first book I was looking forward to this one.. The plots were poor and Dan Stone seems to have powers Superman would be glad to have.

Thoroughly enjoyed this read

The first book I gave up on before half way,utter rubbish.