First published 2016
The brutal Afghan winter has descended on the Bala Murghab valley, but the 22 Marines of Special Operations Team 8222 refuse to let the Taliban rest. While enemy fighters expect the usual seasonal lull in combat, Dagger 22 has different plans. The Marines push through the unforgiving cold alongside Afghan forces and NATO allies, tightening their grip around the Taliban stronghold of Daneh Pasab. Each firefight brings them closer to their target as they work to dismantle the enemy command structure before spring arrives. The campaign builds toward April 6, 2010, when Army Special Forces, Afghan Commandos, and Marine special operations launch a night assault against the heavily fortified Taliban position. The operators of Dagger 22 must rely on each other to survive one of the most punishing environments on earth while completing a mission that will determine the fate of the entire valley.
Genres: military-fiction, adventure, action, military-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, survival
Setting: Bala Murghab Valley, Daneh Pasab
Period: 2010
320 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Content warnings: graphic-violence, war