Takedown was published by Atria Books in 2006. A coordinated terrorist attack on New York City — bridges blown, tunnels collapsed, communications jammed — traps millions of people in Manhattan. Within the chaos, a smaller team is executing a precision operation: the theft of a weapon from a secure location. Scot Harvath, in New York when the attacks begin, must fight his way through a city descending into anarchy to prevent the weapon from being deployed.
The novel is Thor’s most action-intensive: essentially a running battle through the streets of Manhattan, with Harvath operating without backup, communications, or institutional support. The post-9/11 anxiety about urban infrastructure vulnerability drives the premise.
The Die Hard Structure
Thor acknowledged the Die Hard influence: a single operative, isolated in a hostile environment, fighting his way through increasingly dangerous opposition. The confined urban setting — Manhattan with its exits sealed — creates a pressure-cooker intensity that distinguishes this from the globe-trotting earlier entries.
Collecting Takedown
First edition (Atria Books, New York, 2006): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $20–$40
- Signed first edition: $40–$120
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Takedown a good starting point for the series? Its self-contained Die Hard structure makes it one of the most accessible entry points, though readers will miss the backstory established in the first four novels.