Leave No Trace by A. J. Landau (pseudonym for authors Jon Land and Jeff Ayers) starts with an explosion that topples the Statue of Liberty and maiLeave No Trace by A. J. Landau (pseudonym for authors Jon Land and Jeff Ayers) starts with an explosion that topples the Statue of Liberty and maintains a relentless pace. Special Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service is awakened by his boss with the news and sent to New York as the agent-in-charge. However, upon arrival he quickly learns that Gina Delgado of the FBI will be overseeing the investigation. Due to Michael’s lack of a security clearance, he is barred from meetings of the Joint Task Force so he scours the grounds and finds a witness with key information on the attackers.
Michael and Gina are likeable characters and readers get to see their points of view as well as that of a key supporting character and two antagonists. The multi-angled view of the characters allows readers to see how each character connects to the story; adding depth and complexity that is effective.
The authors kept me rapidly turning the pages with gripping scenes, plenty of action and danger, a superb plot, and excellent writing. Along the way, readers also learn a bit about several national parks making this an educational as well as an exceptional thriller read. Despite the short chapters and switching scenes and characters, the flow worked well for me. A constant sense of urgency, a state of uneasiness, and lots of action combined with great characters and a well-written plot make this suspenseful novel a must read.
Overall, this is a gritty, intense, and chilling story with complex characters. It’s intense and dramatic and kept this reader rapidly turning the pages. This is the first book in the National Parks Thriller series and I can’t wait for the next one. I recommend it to those who like political, action, and military thrillers.
St. Martin’s Press and A. J. Landau (Jon Land and Jeff Ayers) provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 27, 2024. --------------------------------------- My 4.5 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon....more
A powerful and shocking start to The Last Guardian by Simon Gervais gets readers immediate attention. Action, suspense, intrigue, and danger keep thisA powerful and shocking start to The Last Guardian by Simon Gervais gets readers immediate attention. Action, suspense, intrigue, and danger keep this novel moving at fast pace. President Alexander Hammond has set fighting the drug epidemic in the United States as a priority and the man he trusts to lead the fight is Clayton White. Assassinations, secret identities, and betrayals are only the beginning.
Clayton is a former air force combat rescue officer and former Secret Service agent who is now a special assistant to the president for the Office of Special Projects. He’s courageous, loyal, treats others fairly, and he’s a great shot. His biggest flaw seems to be getting irritated quickly when forced to wait. He’s a man of action. His character has seen growth during the series. The secondary characters have differing levels of depth, but it was sufficient for their roles.
The novel has aspects of espionage and political thrillers and has diverse settings that include southern California, Washington D. C., Florida, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Macau, Monaco, and Switzerland. While most of the story is from Clayton’s point of view, it switches to other characters as well. The plot is multi-layered and complex with a narrative that is suspenseful and action-filled throughout. The author’s military and federal experiences are reflected in the well-crafted action scenes that felt genuine.
There is a strong sense of good versus evil throughout the novel. My biggest quibble is that most of the settings could have been almost anywhere. I only occasionally get a strong sense of place. Despite this, the story kept me engaged from the first chapter to its conclusion. The story line is gripping and keeps your attention throughout the novel. The author does a great job of bringing together the various aspects of the story into a cohesive tale. Geopolitical conflicts that help enable drug, human, and weapons trafficking are highlighted in this book. The mixture of international politics and domestic problems works well in this novel. There are ever-present threats looming that kept me rapidly turning the pages. Readers should be aware that there are some violent scenes depicted.
Overall, this book was suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced, and entertaining. If you enjoy political and action thrillers with a strong lead character, then this may be the series for you. The combination of an entertaining story line and lots of action makes this an intoxicating novel. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. These novels are hard to put down.
Thomas & Mercer and Simon Gervais provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for October 10, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
----------------------------------------- My 4.19 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon....more
Breathtaking and electrifying are two of the words that come to mind as I think about Harm’s Way by John Gilstrap. This political thriller is the Breathtaking and electrifying are two of the words that come to mind as I think about Harm’s Way by John Gilstrap. This political thriller is the fifteenth book in the Jonathan Grave covert series. Twelve missionaries were abducted in a remote area of Venezuela and are being held for ransom. In a secret meeting, FBI Director Irene Rivers pleas with Jonathan Grave to mount a rescue mission with his team. While Jonathan, Boxers, and Gunslinger plan to infiltrate the enemy camp and rescue the hostages, Venice will be working from their company office as support. However, the mission changes as a world threat is revealed.
Grave loves his country. He’s great at making connections, planning, and adjusting as situations change. Political intrigue excites him. Readers can easily connect with him and root for the success of him and his team. Boxers, Gunslinger, and Venice do not show as much depth in this novel. However, I loved how the team connected to each other and their dialogue. Their chemistry added to my enjoyment of the novel. They have a strong sense of justice and a determination to succeed against overwhelming odds.
Gilstrap has a way of writing thrillers that immediately grab your attention. He’s an excellent storyteller who combines a creative plot with gripping scenes and plenty of action and suspense. The writing is fluid and has a few twists and turns. As danger became imminent, the suspense intensified. The unnerving and over-the-top conclusion will get readers’ hearts racing as they find out who survives. The final chapter wraps up some loose ends and hints that more adventures will be coming.
This high-octane novel was also very atmospheric. The author did a great job of painting the scenes and giving readers the ability to easily picture the scenes without slowing the pace. From the first chapter to the last, events come with a hectic and wild pace. There was a strong sense of urgency throughout the novel. While the novel switches points of view occasionally, it is mainly from that of Grave. Themes include abduction for ransom, corruption, influence peddling, betrayal, political maneuvering and intrigue, and more.
Overall, this briskly paced and explosive novel was tense, fast-paced, action-oriented, and scary to think about. While there are references to past missions, this novel can be read as a standalone. However, readers will be missing out on some background and character growth and changes over time. I recommend this to those who enjoy fantastic action novels.
Kensington Books, Pinnacle and John Gilstrap provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for August 22, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine. --------------------------------------- My 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon....more
Steven Konkoly brings together diverse characters and an alarming scenario like few authors can. His third book in the Devin Gray series, Wide AwakSteven Konkoly brings together diverse characters and an alarming scenario like few authors can. His third book in the Devin Gray series, Wide Awake, kept me reading late into the night. Devin Gray and Marnie Young are trying to return to a normal life after taking out a sleeper network. However, violence and a potential for another sleeper network has them back at work. A plan to start a civil war in the United States is underway. Threats and violence escalate. Who is behind it and can it be stopped?
As always, this author brings characters to life, especially Devin and Marnie. They’re intelligent, patriotic, self-confident, strong, and bold. However, they also have some shortcomings that readers find as the story progresses and their natures and backstories become known to readers. It was also great to visit with old friends from the Black Flagged series.
The initial chapters introduce the various characters and situations from a border patrol incident to the protagonists to various antagonists and supporting characters. However, it took a while to determine how everyone fits into the story, which takes readers from Washington DC to multiple US states to a foreign country. This novel kept me captivated from the first page to its astonishing conclusion.
Konkoly is an outstanding storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat with gripping scenes, action, a superb plot, and fantastic writing. His military background brings an authenticity to his thrillers. He does a great job of balancing the shocking action scenes against the intrigue of the conspiracy plot and the planning of countermeasures. The dynamic plot came alive and felt all too possible with real-world issues incorporated into the story highlighting the societal and political differences between individuals and countries.
Plenty of suspense, a constant sense of urgency, a state of disquietude, and lots of action combined with great characters and a well-written plot make this novel a must read for those who enjoy thrillers. Themes include conspiracy, violence, differing political and social ideologies, duty, leadership, organization, and coordination.
Overall, this was a gripping, gritty, and chilling story with complex characters. It’s intense and dramatic and kept this reader turning the pages. It’s also my favorite of the series. I would recommend it to those who enjoy political and military thrillers. This book works well as a standalone novel. However, the background and relationship dynamics are best fully understood by reading earlier novels in the series.
Thomas and Mercer and Steven Konkoly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for August 15, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
---------------------------------------- My 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon....more
Don Bentley has created another action-packed and suspenseful novel, Forgotten War. This fourth book in the Matt Drake thriller series has an inteDon Bentley has created another action-packed and suspenseful novel, Forgotten War. This fourth book in the Matt Drake thriller series has an intensity that few writers can achieve. This book, which can be categorized as a political thriller, technothriller, and a military thriller has aspects of all three and is mainly set in Afghanistan and Texas. Matt Drake, Frodo Cates, and Frodo’s girlfriend Katherine are waiting on Matt’s wife Laila to arrive at a restaurant when Frodo is arrested by two members of the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division for a murder that took place 10 years ago in Afghanistan in 2011. Matt is determined to prove his friend innocent, but Frodo isn’t talking. At the same time, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is occurring.
Matt is full of wit and sarcasm, and has an aptitude for languages. He wants to make the world safer and often sacrifices his own well-being to achieve this. He shows character growth despite the large amount of action in this novel, which I’ve come to expect from this author. The other characters have a variety of depths in their supporting or opposing roles. Some are new to the series and others provide the reader continuity with the prior books in the series.
Fluid writing, great characterization, and fantastic world building, as well as an excellent, fast-paced plot will keep readers engaged. It takes a little while for readers to understand how the strong prologue fits in with the rest of the story. However, pay close attention to it. There is also some shifting in time between 2021 and 2011. Despite this, the action and drama are compelling . While there are descriptions of weapons and gear, it is only enough to engage the reader. I believe this approach makes Bentley’s novels appeal to a wider audience.
Overall, this fantastic novel is shocking, emotionally-charged, and riveting. Be aware that there is plenty of danger, death, intrigue, and violence in this story. Additionally, with the current situation and the actual 2021 events in Afghanistan, this one seemed very realistic. There are a few threads that were left open for the next book in the series, but the main plot line is fully resolved. Themes include political maneuvering, teamwork, friendship, bravery, patriotism, war, honor, differences in operational philosophies, murder, and much more.
This is the second book that I have read by this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series as well as going back and reading the first two. I believe those readers who enjoy action thrillers and military thrillers will want to read this book. The author’s note at the end of the novel provided some additional insight on the fall of Afghanistan and where the book diverges from actual events.
Berkley Publishing Group and Don Bentley provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for April 25, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
---------------------------------------------- My 4.66 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon....more
Simon Gervais has a way of starting his novels with a shocking and powerful opening scene. His first novel in the Blackbriar series, Robert Ludlum’Simon Gervais has a way of starting his novels with a shocking and powerful opening scene. His first novel in the Blackbriar series, Robert Ludlum’s The Blackbriar Genesis is no different. Action, suspense, treachery, and intrigue keep this novel moving at a terrific pace. It has aspects of espionage, political, and military thrillers. While set mostly in the Czech Republic and Egypt, readers also travel to Greece, North Macedonia, Mexico, and the United States. This series is within the Jason Bourne universe.
A car explosion in Prague causes the death of an undercover Treadstone agent. While this can happen agents in the field, none of his superiors know why he was in Prague instead of Switzerland. Two Blackbriar operatives, Helen Jouvert and Donovan Wade, are in the region and are sent to investigate. While Treadstone is a covert clandestine assassination group, Blackbriar focuses on covert counterintelligence, counterespionage, and intelligence gathering activities.
While there are several characters in this novel, the focus is on Helen, Donovan, and their boss, Oliver Manton. While all the main characters had depth, I felt Helen was the most dynamic. She’s the team leader, multi-lingual, has great investigating skills and hand-to-hand fighting skills. She’s also competitive and his good instincts, but lacks the experience Donovan has in a firefight. Donovan is a good partner, thinks fast, and keeps his past private, but can be tough to read. Oliver is still adjusting to his new role. Readers get some insights into how he got the position as well as how he treats those reporting to him.
This suspenseful and action-filled story moves at a blistering pace. The author’s military and federal experiences are reflected in well-crafted action situations and counter-surveillance activities that felt authentic. Each rapidly turned page provided new thrills and danger. The ultimate threat to be thwarted felt extremely realistic in today’s world. My one quibble with the story was the multiple missions Helen and Donovan experienced back-to-back. I felt their lack of downtime would have made them less effective than they actually were.
Overall, this is novel was riveting, fast-paced, and engaging. If you enjoy espionage or military thrillers with strong lead characters, then this may be the series for you. The combination of a thought-provoking and convincing story line, pulse-activating action, breakneck speed, and terrific global settings makes this an intoxicating novel. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was October 18, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine. -------------------------------------------- My 4.02 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon....more
A Simple Choice by David Pepper is a political thriller that is very believable. It has plenty of suspense, some action, lots of investigation, anA Simple Choice by David Pepper is a political thriller that is very believable. It has plenty of suspense, some action, lots of investigation, and an intensity that kept me fully engaged throughout the novel. The setting moves frequently and includes stops in Maine, Ohio, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.
One of the nation’s oldest and most respected senators jumps from a cliff in his hometown in Maine. Politicians and the media inundate the town, determined to find out if foul play played a role. Palmer Knight, a television news correspondent covers the death and eventually uncovers a plot that goes beyond the Senate. Meanwhile, Army veteran and former Supreme Court clerk Amity Jones moved to Ohio to care for her cancer-afflicted mother. Her investigation into a local medical mystery brings her back into the political world. Eventually, she and Palmer connect and, working together, find a political conspiracy that places their lives and others in danger.
Palmer comes from a family with political connections. This has helped him get scoops in the past, but it also causes others to underestimate his investigative skills. Amity has been the caregiver in her family for much of her life. It started when her father died when she was eleven and her mother did not cope well for years. Now that her mother has cancer, she is once again taking on the role of caregiver and works for a boutique appellate law firm in Columbus, Ohio. Readers slowly get a feeling for both of their personalities, and both are likeable. Both show character growth as the story unfolds.
A gripping storyline will grab readers’ attention in the first chapter and continues throughout the book. Plenty of suspense interspersed with exciting scenes pulled this reader into the conflicts in the novel. The author captures the characters, as well as the political situation, and brings them to life. Fluid writing and an excellent, fast-paced plot will keep readers engaged. The well-plotted story stays at a high level of intensity throughout most of the novel. Despite frequent changes in points of view and settings, this story flowed well. Danger, assaults, deaths, teamwork, politics, grief, family, medical conditions, and much more are woven into the story line.
Overall, this was an intense novel with suspense and intrigue. This story felt very realistic and like it could occur at any time in several countries. If you enjoy political thrillers, then I recommend that you check out this one. Will this be the start of a series featuring Amity and/or Palmer? Whatever it is, I am looking forward to reading this author’s next political thriller.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and David Pepper provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 02, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine. ...more
Don Bentley infuses Hostile Intent, the third book in the Matt Drake thriller series, with action, travel, suspense, and an intensity like few othDon Bentley infuses Hostile Intent, the third book in the Matt Drake thriller series, with action, travel, suspense, and an intensity like few others can achieve. This book, which can be categorized as an espionage thriller, a political thriller, and a military thriller as it has aspects of all three, is set largely in Ukraine and Austria, but there are key scenes in Washington D.C. and Russia as well. Matthew Drake and his wife Laila are at a shooting range when his boss calls. Matt is a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) case officer who runs and recruits assets all over the world. A walk-in to the US embassy in Vienna, Austria claims he has critical information about a Russian intelligence operation. He asks for Matt by name, not by one of his aliases. Before he can debrief Nolan Burke, a Russian team kidnaps Nolan.
Matt is full of wit and sarcasm, but he has a serious side. He wants to make the world safer and often sacrifices his own well-being to achieve this. He shows character growth despite the large amount of action in this novel, which pleasantly surprised me. The other characters have a variety of depths in their supporting or opposing roles. Some are new to the series and others provide the reader continuity with the prior books in the series.
Fluid writing and fantastic world building, as well as an excellent, fast-paced plot will keep readers engaged. The first three chapters pique your interest while chapter four grabs readers and immerses them in the story. At this point, the action and drama are so compelling the pages nearly turn themselves. I was on a rollercoaster of action and emotion. While there are descriptions of weapons and gear, it is only enough to engage the reader. I believe this approach will make this novel appeal to a wider audience.
Overall, this novel is a shockingly dark, disturbing, suspenseful, and emotional ride. Be aware that there is plenty of danger, intrigue, and violence in this story. Additionally, with the current situation in Ukraine, this one seemed all too realistic. Themes include bureaucratic wars, teamwork, spies, political maneuvering, corruption, graft, differences in operational philosophies, friendship, loss of face, the impact of social media, and much more.
This is the first book that I have read by this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series as well as going back and reading the first two. I believe those readers who enjoy action thrillers and military thrillers will want to read this book.
Berkley Publishing Group and Don Bentley provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 3, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
-------------- Review to be posted in the week prior to publication per publisher guidelines....more
Steven Konkoly’s first book in the Devin Gray series is disconcerting, suspenseful, and action-packed. It has aspects of both political and military tSteven Konkoly’s first book in the Devin Gray series is disconcerting, suspenseful, and action-packed. It has aspects of both political and military thrillers as well as a conspiracy thriller. Devin Gray is a counter surveillance expert and a former FBI agent. When his mother, Helen Gray dies, she’s a disgraced former CIA officer and viewed as paranoid and unstable, even by Devin. However, when he finds what she has left behind, he enlists help from a long-time friend, Marnie Young, and a team of covert operatives. They need hard evidence before taking this shocking information to others. Devin’s mission becomes searching for a way to destroy a covert network in the United States and to prove his mother’s claims and clear her name.
As always, this author brings characters to life, especially Devin and Marnie. They’re intelligent, patriotic, self-confident, strong, and bold. However, they also have some shortcomings that readers find as the story progresses and their natures and backstories become known to readers. It was also great to visit with old friends from the Black Flagged series.
The prologue is a strong start to the novel with action, strength, and heartbreak. However, it took a while to determine how it fit into the rest of the story, which takes readers from Washington DC to multiple US states. This novel kept me captivated from the first page to its astonishing conclusion, which sets up the next book in the series but leaves several threads open that left me wanting more. The plot is deeply involved with several twists to the story, although many of the activities are over-the-top. It was so full of action and excitement that it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. I was kept fully invested in the mission becoming a success. But is that what happens?
Konkoly continues to bring great characters, entertaining story lines, and lots of action together in exhilarating novels. Certain aspects of Devin’s character were especially gratifying when compared to some of the covert operatives. The gripping scenes and great plot kept me on the edge of my seat. Konkoly has become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more from him.
Overall, this book was suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced, action-oriented, and highly entertaining. It was an exhilarating first book in the series and I’m looking forward to reading the next book soon. If you enjoy intriguing action, military, and espionage thrillers that have strong male and female characters, then this may be the series for you.
Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was February 1, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
------------------------------------------- My 4.5 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon....more
Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson were asked to carry on W.E.B. Griffin’s Presidential Agent series. With Rogue Agent, the ninth in the series, theBrian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson were asked to carry on W.E.B. Griffin’s Presidential Agent series. With Rogue Agent, the ninth in the series, they bring the suspense and stimulation to action adventure that a reader would expect in a political and military thriller. However, there’s more happening than immediately meets the eyes.
President Natalie Cohen doesn’t have any good options when Secretary of State Frank Malone is kidnapped in Cairo and his security detail killed. Working with her Director of National Intelligence, Marty Fleiss, they decide to resurrect the Presidential Agent program and want Charley Castillo to come out of retirement to recruit, mentor, and manage the next presidential agent. This resource would report to Fleiss and Cohen only. Charley didn’t know they had already selected the candidate, Captain P. K. “Pick” McCoy. With this shaky start, the search for Malone gets underway.
This is a book that grabs your attention and fully hooks a reader before the first chapter ends. The thriller is mainly set in Africa and features Charley and Pick and their team as they learn to work together as they go up against terrorists. It’s exactly what you would expect from a well-written military action thriller with political nuances.
There was more character development than I expected in this novel for both Charley and Pick. They each have depth and some faults that play into the story line. However, each showed a tremendous amount of growth. What a reader doesn’t get is what they are truly like in the down time between missions and what their hopes and dreams are for the future. Likely readers will gain more insight as the series continues.
The authors brought a strong sense of place to the events in the book allowing me to easily visualize the settings. The action somehow managed to seem plausible even though it was definitely extreme. The writing style kept me engaged throughout the novel. The sub-plots tie together well. The story does include some of the weapons and gear discussions that are typical of this type of book, but it is not overdone. For those that need to know, there is a great deal of violence in the book. There is also some discussion of politics in Africa and between intelligence agencies. Other themes focus on teamwork, honor, courage, commitment, integrity, respect, and much more that doesn’t detract from the story, but adds depth.
Overall, this book was an action-filled, heart-pounding thriller that is entertaining, fast-paced, and thought-provoking. The high stakes made it a page turner. It’s the second novel that I have read in the series. If you enjoy military thrillers, action adventure thrillers, this series, or other novels by these authors, then you may enjoy this one as much as I did.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G. P. Putnam’s Sons and the authors provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 7, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine....more
The Elimination Threat by Michael Laurence is a well-written, engrossing, and scary-to-think-about technothriller with a conspiracy angle, some scThe Elimination Threat by Michael Laurence is a well-written, engrossing, and scary-to-think-about technothriller with a conspiracy angle, some science, and a dash of history. It is the third book in the Extinction Agenda series and picks up soon after the end of book two, The Annihilation Protocol. FBI Special Agent James Mason is meeting with his partner Special Agent Jessica Layne, an old friend, Gunnar Backstrom who is a computer and hacking expert, and Ramses Donovan, owner of a private night club with a lot of international connections.
A syndicate known only as the Thirteen has been infiltrating governments and businesses for centuries. After narrowly preventing a major disaster in book two, Mason and his friends are now facing a mass murderer known as the Dragon. Facing a mysterious weapon and the additional threat of nuclear destruction, can the team make the necessary connections in time to prevent more deaths? Who are the Thirteen and will the team find them?
There wasn’t a lot of time to see the private side of Mason, but there were a few glimpses that added depth and warmth to his character. However, I would like a little more insight. The supporting characters were an odd assortment that enhanced the story line and the partnership with Layne added a needed dimension to the book. The unique personalities provided balance and interplay.
A very complex story line with several sub-plots kept me turning the pages. Enough was at stake to keep me engaged throughout the book. Depth in the science and financial part of the tale gives it extra realism. The world-building was absolutely fantastic and gave a clear sense of time and place. While the main mystery and issues were resolved in the book, there are several open threads for future books in the series. Will you be able to make the necessary connections to determine what is going on before Mason and his team?
Readers should be aware that there are also several detailed technical discussions of innovative weapons as well as financial and energy related topics and some very graphic, horrifying scenes. Additional themes include cults, revenge, family, friendship, international politics, and monetary policies.
Overall, the plot was chilling, dramatic, electrifying, and well-paced with lots of action and a twist at the end that I didn’t expect. I would recommend it to those that enjoy complex conspiracy-driven techno-thrillers. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Michael Laurence for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 24, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine. ...more
THE VOTER FILE by David Pepper is the third book in the Jack Sharpe political thriller series. Jack Sharpe is an investigative reporter that has exposTHE VOTER FILE by David Pepper is the third book in the Jack Sharpe political thriller series. Jack Sharpe is an investigative reporter that has exposed several political scandals. However, when he and his national news channel collide, he is out of a job and doing freelance reporting for his old newspaper. Tori Justice worked on a campaign for a judge that should have won, but didn’t. Her data gathering and analysis skills point to a problem. When the two finally connect and decide to work together, they never knew where it would lead.
Jack and Tori are strong main characters with some depth and someone you can root for. I believe that reading the first two books in the series first would provide even more dimension to Jack. Their goals were clear and definitely influenced the plot with believable motivations. The prose was well-written and thought-provoking. The plot was suspenseful, complex and fast-paced. The ending was impactful.
Overall, this book was unforgettable due to the timeliness of the topics covered and the excellent prose. Themes included everything from murder, election meddling, the loss of family farms, the acquisition of small local or regional banks to national or global institutions, the rise of media and tech giants, and great investigative journalism. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and David Pepper for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. ...more
THE WARSAW PROTOCOL by Steve Berry is the fifteenth book in the Cotton Malone series. While it works well as a standalone, you will get better insightTHE WARSAW PROTOCOL by Steve Berry is the fifteenth book in the Cotton Malone series. While it works well as a standalone, you will get better insight into Cotton’s character if you have read prior books in the series.
Cotton Malone is a former Justice Department intelligence agent who now owns a rare book shop in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is in Belgium to attend Europe’s largest antiquarian book fair. While there, he decides to go to the Basilica of the Holy Blood, a 12th-century building that is more to one of Europe’s most sacred reliquaries, the Holy Blood, one of the relics comprising the Arma Christi. When three men steal the relic, the thriller accelerates in pace and Cotton is pulled into another adventure.
This is a well written novel with action taking place in Belgium, Poland, and Slovakia. As a reader we learn about history, religion and politics at the same time as we experience lots of thrills, action, adventure and suspense. The characters and situation are memorable and the story line is exciting and entertaining. Berry’s descriptions bring the places and characters to life better than most writers today without detracting or slowing down the action.
He always does a great job at the end of each book sharing what was fiction versus reality for events, places and people. The amount of research that went into this book is extraordinary. This was my fifth book by this author that I have read in 2019 and I can’t seem to get enough of the series. I am looking forward to reading more of them. I highly recommend this book and the series to those that like political and historical thrillers.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Steve Berry for a digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. ...more
DEEP STATE by Chris Hauty is the best political thriller that I have read in a long time. It is hard to believe that it is Hauty’s debut novel. The stDEEP STATE by Chris Hauty is the best political thriller that I have read in a long time. It is hard to believe that it is Hauty’s debut novel. The story takes place mostly in Washington D.C., but starts out in Texas.
Our protagonist, Hayley Chill is an ex-Army boxing champion and has become a White House intern. The new President is Richard Monroe who is controversial and divisive making for a polarized political situation. When the White House Chief of Staff is found dead in his home by Hayley, she finds a clue that suggests he may have been murdered. With this scenario the author’s story line progresses at a rapid pace.
We get to know Hayley well. Her character has depth and is extremely likeable. I became emotionally invested in seeing her succeed in life. She is a patriot above all else. Additionally, the secondary characters were well fleshed out. The author portrayed the right atmosphere for the story line. There are several twists and turns in the plot, but the twist near the end caught me completely by surprise. Wow! I did not see that coming.
The author lets us know what happens in the future to some of the secondary characters throughout the course of the book. Some readers may not like this. Some of this could have been done later in the book. However, it worked okay for me.
I can’t wait to read this author’s next book. Overall, it was action-packed, engaging, thought-provoking, suspenseful and compulsively readable. It contained the elements that I look for in a political thriller. Will this become a series focused around Hayley? I sincerely hope so.
Many thanks to Atria Books and Chris Hauty for a digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
LETHAL SAVAGE by Dave Edlund is a well-written and fast-paced thriller. This is the sixth book in the Peter Savage series, but it works well as a stanLETHAL SAVAGE by Dave Edlund is a well-written and fast-paced thriller. This is the sixth book in the Peter Savage series, but it works well as a standalone novel. However, I would like to read the first five in order as soon as I can.
The story takes place in Oregon mainly in or near the cities of Bend and Eugene. Two men conspire to address the population explosion. When men on the Warn Springs Reservation in Oregon start showing up at the medical clinic with similar problems and no one seems to be willing to help, Peter Savage is called to investigate. I won’t say anything else about the plot in order to avoid spoilers.
The plot was suspenseful and paced well. The story line was thought-provoking and action packed. Peter’s character is well-developed. The prose is expressive and proficient. Additionally, a large part of the story line is very plausible in the 21st century. Trigger warnings include animal cruelty, kidnapping, bioterrorism, murder and lots of shoot outs.
The author also has notes at the beginning of the book that talks about global climate change and global population. While this was good information, I felt it should have been placed at the end of the book and possibly combined with the Author’s postscript.
While this is the first book that I have read by Dave Edlund, I look forward to reading more of his novels. If readers enjoy thrillers with a lot of action, then they may enjoy this novel as much as I did.
Many thanks to Inscribe Digital/Light Messages Publishing, Dave Edlund and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
Goodbye Paris by Mike Bond is a political thriller filled with tension, action, and a fast romance. Special Forces veteran Pono Hawkins is called Goodbye Paris by Mike Bond is a political thriller filled with tension, action, and a fast romance. Special Forces veteran Pono Hawkins is called by his buddy Mack who is in Paris and working for the Central Intelligence Agency. A terrorist they thought was dead is alive and plans to destroy Paris. Pono and Mack were once prisoners of this terrorist and are the only ones alive who can identify him.
Upon reaching Paris, Pono finds Mack has been kidnapped and that the destruction of Paris is only a few days away. He joins forces with US and French intelligence and is partnered with French agent Anne Ronsard. Can they identify and stop the terrorist? Can they find and rescue Mack? These are just a few of the questions that quickly arise.
While the story is action packed, I never truly connected with the main character. It also takes place over two weeks. Therefore, the romance was more of the instant love variety. Additionally, there are flashbacks to events in Pono’s life that distracted from the main story line. However, the descriptive writing did transport me to Paris and the surrounding cities and countryside. A sense of urgency was always present. The narrative spent a large amount of time discussing politics, immigration, cultural differences, and corruption.
Overall, this was an interesting thriller that kept me entertained.
I received a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
-------------------------------------- My 3.01 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon....more
This was a near-future political thriller. I down-graded this novel to two stars from three stars due to Bova's portrayal of women. Overall, there areThis was a near-future political thriller. I down-graded this novel to two stars from three stars due to Bova's portrayal of women. Overall, there are some interesting twists on corruption, politics, and science. The book flowed well and was well written. I wanted to like it. However, the author's portrayal of the two main women characters ruined the book for me....more
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