Upgrade By Blake Crouch

Following a string of hard-hitting action thrillers by some of the genre’s best authors, I have given my mind a break and took on a new style thriller that I typically don’t read. I chose Upgrade by Blake Crouch in what I thought was a techno-futuristic thriller, but what I came away with was much more than that. If you have never heard of Crouch, he’s the author of the Wayward Pines Trilogy that was adapted for television on Fox in recent years. Along with that, his more recent Dark Matter is being turned into an Apple+ streaming series soon. 

Logan Ramsay has an extremely demoralizing past, but he has atoned for it by joining the Gene Protection Agency (GPA) and removing gene editing criminals from the streets. Logan Ramsay is the son of one of the world’s most notorious criminals. She was an accidental criminal though, as she engineered an insect to combat a crop infection, she ended up creating the world’s worst famine. After killing over 200 million people, the son of Miriam Ramsay has a bit of a past that follows him everywhere.  

After a simple arrest in Denver, CO, the team from the GPA goes on a door kicking adventure, where Logan's life changes forever. What Logan thought he knew about life is changing, inside of his head, and in the world in front of him. The people that he thought he knew are no longer the same. His mind begins to change as he becomes aware of what happened on a fateful night in Denver. Along with his mind changing, physical attributes are starting to be a cause of concern.

The life that Logan lives changes as the fight for humanity starts to rest on his shoulders. The human evolution over decades and centuries that Earth is accustomed to is about to get trashed by gene altering infusion and for the world to survive Logan Ramsay must let go of the past and the future. The legacy that he thought his mother left changes, the family he has is left behind, and the family that left him behind is out to kill him. Logan is on a path that he can’t break away from because is he does, humanity might just end. Lies and deception are just the beginning as the family that caused the world to hurt is about to make history again. 

Crouch delivers a science project on steroids that will leave you gasping for breath. This was an extremely fun and well-organized thriller that has plenty of action, great characters, and one of the most refreshing storylines I’ve read in a while. Logan Ramsay isn’t the hero that you want him to be, but he is the hero that most of the world needs him to be at just the right moment. 

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Fatal Witness By Robert Bryndza

There have been a few years between The Girl in the Ice and Fatal Witness, but Erika Foster is back. 

Fatal Witness’ dark and terrifying beginning leaves a family torn and blood everywhere. Detective Chief Inspector Erika Foster of the London Metropolitan Police is tasked with catching a killer. Foster has been battered and bruised before and she’s lost a husband to the crimes that she still battles day in and day out, but she doesn’t quit. 

Bryndza brings horror and reality together into a twisted and dark story of survival. The battles the characters face are no different than anyone else in this world, but by intertwining those with the brutal murders of young women, Bryndza creates drama at every turn. The characters are complex enough that you don’t know who is guilty and who isn’t, and there is no shortage of misdirection while Foster and team unravel the truth. The word gritty has been used in a ton of reviews that I read for Bryndza’s thrillers, and it more than personifies the style of storytelling that he brings to the table.

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Rising Tiger By Brad Thor

Scot Harvath has been one of the most adventurous and hardened characters that the thriller genre has been privileged to have of recent years. Gracing the top of the New York Times Bestseller list numerous times, Brad Thor has been instrumental in bringing superb content to the fiction industry. His ability to command your attention and bring life to the pages have been a couple of the reasons that I have always looked forward to his work. 

Miles apart from normal everyday life, the Ladakh scouts, one of India’s most prized regiments is attacked with savagery and brutality that the world has never seen. A friendship of years between Scot Harvath and a former brother in arms is cut short by a bullet. While the start is hair raising and mind blowing, Harvath is in the thick of it. Fighting alongside a team of Special Operators in Afghanistan to extract an Afghan intelligence asset, Harvath must make a daring escape to find out why the world is turning into chaos all around him. 

While India is a large country with an enormous population, there are always some very bright stars that stand out and you meet one of those in the character of Asha Patel. As part of India’s federal intelligence service, Asha is part detective, part vengeance while she is dedicated to finding the truth to what happened to the Ladakh scouts. While Harvath is teaming up with Vijay Chabra, one of the best sidekicks you wish you ever had, to hunt down a killer, the insanity ratchets up even more. Nicholas, the Troll, is attacked and now the man responsible for helping Harvath catch those responsible is in the crosshairs of an unknown enemy. 

Asha and Scot happen to frequent an establishment around the same time and what blossoms is the partnership needed to right wrongs. Along with Vijay’s incredible acting skills, the perseverance of Asha, and the don’t mess with me attitude of Scot, the list of people at fault are now standing in front of a speeding truck. 

Brad Thor is back diving deep into a fresh locale with real geopolitical implications, leading Scot Harvath on a trip of resolve and retribution. Gritty action scenes, teamed up with real world problems faced head on by a cast of remarkable characters are just a small glimpse of Thor’s great writing. Rising Tiger is another Thor standout and should definitely be on your to be read list. 

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Movieland By Lee Goldberg

Goldberg is back and he’s going to put you into submission. No, not Bill Goldberg, but his younger and not as strong little brother, Lee Goldberg. Okay that’s a lie too, they are in no way related. But Lee can certainly write. After I found Eve Ronin, his young cheeseburger-eating hot-shot detective, she was hunting down criminals in the gated communities of Los Angeles in what was her third adventure. She’s still slugging away at her day job though, and at the Lost Hills Sheriff's station there is no guessing what the next emergency is that will come up in the 4th book, Movieland.

Ronin is a unique character, she comes from a father that was non-existent, a mother who thought she was something far grander than she really was, and with a law enforcement career that has rocketed off to a start. She is not a very likable amongst other precincts as she helped tackle the crooked cop issues plaguing the greater Los Angeles area. They also don’t like that she has shot to unreachable heights in no time at all and even has her own television show in the works. 

Eve is about to be on her own soon. Duncan Pavone, her husky buffet loving sidekick, is only two weeks away from retirement from the sheriff’s department. As for their sunset case, it is as wild and crazy as one could ever guess. A random shooting in Malibu Creek State Park turns deadly and it starts to unravel a long deceptive story of hate, corruption, and crime. The political landscape in California is no stranger to drama and Ronin’s job is to sift through the garbage to get to the truth. The truth involves sex, money, and lies along with a dead local political figure, crooked cops, and one of the largest cover ups known to the area. The insanity follows from LA to Las Vegas and back, through hilltop mansions, to trailer park hideaways. 

Ronin is a no-nonsense dedicated detective that must fight for her own life again as she attempts to expose the betrayal surrounding her. Eve has been dependent on her donut loving partner for years and with his retirement right around the corner she has some decisions to make. Can she handle the near-death experience that Goldberg throws her way? Eve has become a far better detective due to the trials she has faced, and this is just another trip that will test the perseverance and tenacity in one of LA most fierce detectives. 

Goldberg crafts another story of hard-nosed resolve while showing just how vulnerable Eve Ronin can be. She is a mighty strong independent character with a whirlwind past of emotions. Goldberg continues to write easy, fun, fast-paced thrillers that have you cheering from the sidelines the whole way.

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Zero Hour By Don Bentley

Bentley is no stranger to the thriller scene after the phenomenal start to his career with his Matt Drake series, and because of that, his stint as a Clancy estate writer has the highest of expectations from me. Following up the hair-raising Jack Ryan Jr. adventure Target Acquired, he brings a deadly battle on a peninsula that has been primed for explosion for years. Pull those belts tight, Zero Hour is going to get crazy. 

Jack Ryan Jr. would be one of the most polarizing figures in the United States if people knew who he was. As the son of the President, you would think he has media following him everywhere, when in fact, Jack Ryan Jr. is a mythical ‘Campus’ operator/analyst roaming the world over keeping his country safe. While overseas with Lisanne Robertson, his something more than a girlfriend but not yet affirmed with the status conversation, South Korea turns deadly in an instant. While sightseeing in Seoul following a long flight, the heat picks up as Ryan sees what is either a flash mob or a riot starting. Police and EMS personnel arriving on scene seem to show that this is going to be a rowdy bunch until the world unexpectedly turns upside down. 

Ryan does what any one from ‘The Campus’ would do, he acts, saving people and variably changing the lives of those around him. As his adventure is just beginning, ODA 555 is conducting real life training scenarios in South Korea as well. ODA members Jad Mustafa and Cary Marks are specialists in dealing death when they run  into funny business that plagues the Korean peninsula. By doing what they are all trained to do, they unwillingly link up as terror strikes everywhere in downtown Seoul. 

As the story unwinds you meet another host of special operators with an endless amount of witty rhetoric and timely firefights. The story continues to build and build and there is a point where you believe puppet hands are in play but that the North Koreans are the aggressors in every single way. While you are struggling to play this out in your mind and help the team decide what they need to do, Ryan, ODA 555, and the other operators are attempting to stop one of the most egregious acts of violence seen in recent times. If they do not execute a flawless mission of redemption the Korean peninsula will never be the same. Is it World War III or the complete inexistence of a neighboring country?

The battle takes on new fronts with terrifying helicopter combat, infiltration to areas that typically do not like Americans, and the race to save the most unlikely captive. I cannot stress that last point enough, the creativity that Bentley drops on every page is unmatched and relentless and Jack Ryan Jr. is at the top of his game right now. Bentley lures you in with his perfected balance of detail and drama, delivering treacherous territory for Ryan and Robertson to navigate and a world full of unknowns for you to enjoy!

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Red Warning By Matthew Quirk

Matthew Quirk sets up a very desirable spy thriller with some of the most fascinating story telling I’ve read in quite a while. After having been hooked by Quirks previous works, The Night Agent with Peter Sutherland, and Hour of the Assassin starring Nick Averose, I was ecstatic to get my hands on this one, and it does not disappoint. 

We find Sam Hudson doing what he does as a spy when his world is turned upside down in Geneva. Prior to serving in the CIA, Hudson was an Army Ranger, so he is no stranger to death. While being trained to deliver death and probably deal with loss is common amongst the type of people he works with, the breakdown of expectations in Geneva have left a long-lasting feeling of dread and failure. Failures of epic proportions and those that lose agents are typically career enders, that’s why Hudson is kicking at home for a while. But then a phone call changes everything. 

White hot heat, blood and human limbs, and the call that changed the life of one man. It changes him, it forces action that was maturing inside of him. Sam Hudson is a changed man after he sees innocent people killed because of the mysterious man that others have tried to catch. Innocent Americans are now suffering because he couldn’t do his job properly. 

In what seems like a ghost hunt that those before him have risked career and life for, Hudson succeeds at becoming an outcast. If not for the friendship of Emily Pierce, and the lone night the two partook in months ago, he would be a man on an island. The dedication to preserving life and ensuring safety of Americans is not for the faint of heart and Sam Hudson is the epitome of the word ‘hero’. Who is in charge of the destruction that could potentially cause World War 3? Who wants America to pay? There is so much misdirection, you don’t know who is good and who is bad. 

Death follows Hudson and Pierce throughout, but this isn’t your classic action flick. There are plenty of spy type adventures going on. Not your classic Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd ‘Spies Like Us’ spy stuff, but more of the early Bourne style, dark web of lies kind of stuff. The little things that Quirk does to draw you in are remarkable, little tidbits that are useful but don’t tell the full story. He continually gives you moments where you think the whole case is going to be blown up, but he drags you a little further. This one doesn’t have an overarching amount of action and I am okay with that. Quirk does everything right in creating an authentic spy story that risks the lives of millions.

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Sons of Valor II: Violence of Action By Andrews and Wilson

Brian Andrews and Jeffery Wilson have been steadily writing great books that have kept fans in the thriller world satisfied for years. Knocking out pulse pounding thrillers time after time, I find myself waiting for those A&W release dates. In Sons of Valor 2: Violence of Action, the follow up to the terrorist operated Chinese drone adventure, we follow Lieutenant Commander Keith ‘Chunk’ Redman and his band of merry men/kick ass operators doing what they do best, hunt. 

Chunk and team are back on the grind for the bad guys as Navy SEALs are being targeted overseas while conducting missions. Mysterious conditions surround fatal operations as snipers are present conducting ambushes that lead to the team of Chunk and Whitney ‘Heels’ Watts scratching their heads. While the retaliation continues against the SEALs, interrogations of a high-level terrorist turn the whole story upside down. 

Utilizing contacts across numerous alphabet agencies in the American government, Watts finds a seemingly quiet British group willing to help after they realize that they are after the same things. Tracking numerous subjects who have been jet setting across the globe, Watts and Chunk find out that some attacks are probable and are forced into action. After a debacle in one of the most luxurious cities on the planet, the team makes their way home only to run into trouble again on their own doorsteps. This gets personal, and no one is immune.

Andrews and Wilson have been producing NYT Bestseller worthy thrillers year after year and this one should be a solid contender. They have the talent and whit to compete with all the big-name authors that grace bestseller lists year after year. Incredible action scenes, gut check decision making, and incredible character development drive this mind-blowing ass kicking tour brought to you by America’s finest. The tact and ability to emotionalize their stories make them hard to put down. Do not miss this.

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The Handler By MP Woodward

In a career that saw duties in Naval Intelligence, followed by US Intelligence operations, M.P.Woodward has seen a lot, probably more than he can talk about. But this, this was insane. This was a debut of epic proportions that is clearly pacing the field and will be sure to leave you amazed. Woodward defies logic of most debuts by creating cinematic quality on every page, and I hope this is the first of many knockout stories he gifts us.

Following the Iranian desire to increase production of ‘yellowcake’ to hold the necessary materials to create a nuclear weapon, Meredith Dale and former husband John are thrust into action. Meredith is recovering from the unfortunate failure of losing an asset in Dubai when the past comes calling. The man once run by John Dale, the supposed mole in Iranian centrifuge operations has reestablished communication and wants the one thing the CIA doesn’t, John.

John and Meredith have a meeting to discuss that his services are being requested, he doesn’t want to help. Case closed right? Wrong. As if his permanent vacation from the CIA couldn’t have been ruined anymore, he’s attacked on American soil by a foreign intelligence service. Things start to spin up quickly and you get to meet the not so smart team players that Meredith works with. Unbeknownst to the group, there are multiple spy agencies running operations against each other trying to find the suspected mole. The people that John and Meredith are trying to stay away from are always one step ahead which could lead to a potential all-out war between non-friendly countries. The United States, Iran, and Russia are all in a covert game of cat and mouse and it couldn’t be any better.

John Dale must fight for his life on the road to redemption with the CIA while trying to recover a former asset who is in the world's largest pickle. The amount of character background and development is perfect and the timeline and setup for the finale are brilliantly paced. The Dale’s face constant Jason Bourne style action and deceit with lives on the line. Woodward brings the heat in The Handler and will put a check in every box that you would expect from an experienced veteran author. Do not miss out on this one.

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Countdown To Midnight By Dale Brown

Dale Brown follows up the sensational Arctic Storm Rising adventure with a spy like history lesson on how to save the world. Brown is no slouch when it comes to writing great books, as his series have been hitting best seller lists since the early 90’s. I couldn’t pass up the chance at a second Nick Flynn journey as the first was a gripping tale of survival. 

Countdown to Midnight follows Nick Flynn, one of my favorite characters following his jaunt in the Alaskan wilderness combating the Russian Spetsnaz, doing things that most people would not dare want to do. After a dark meeting with a contact at a ski resort, blood is spilled on the slopes and Flynn is left on the run vowing not to take a bullet himself. The link to the next mystery that plagues the world rests in one of the most hostile areas on Earth, but Flynn is not scared, he lives life dangerously, or else he would not be doing what he does for a career. Nor would he have joined the Quartet Directorate and made himself one of the shadowy figures the world depends on.

Flynn teams up with Laura Van Horn to place himself quietly and precisely in the confines of a country that no American would date want to be, Iran. It is not a place that most people dare to visit, much less sneak into, to find who is behind the plan to bring MIDNIGHT to fruition. Finding out why Moscow has connections to the vilified country and why they are retrofitting large commercial naval vessels to launch weapons is on the to-do list while on his foreign country vacation. The depth of deception and treachery grows deep while Flynn is tasked with risking life and limb to serve the greater good in lands far from home. 

Brown delivers a sky bounding adventure with unmatched imagination. Nick Flynn is one of the characters that you feel like you have known forever but you are waiting to learn so much more about. Precise character development, a great supporting cast, and a plot that bleeds like a big screen flick keep you glued the whole time. The pace slows a bit to help set up the kickoff into violating airspace of a sovereign nation, but Nick Flynn is a damn fine character, and this was a fun read. 

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In The Blood By Jack Carr

Jack Carr has come out of the gates extremely hot. I’m talking complete fire. He has not only set the literary world on fire by continuously working his way to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Podcasts, beach living, gun shows and competitions, not to mention gracing the pages of Vickers Guide to SIG Sauer, he’s literally everywhere. Now he’s about to have one of the world’s most famous actors in Chris Pratt playing his beloved James Reece on Amazon Prime. You can’t stop him. By the way, In The Blood is here. Enjoy.

Life has been changing for James Reece. You’ve probably followed him for a few years now. It hasn’t been easy, and he has been challenged time and time again to prove his worth. He’s succeeded in every way in proving how bad ass and determined he is. No one should ever bet against him. He has a mission though, one that has not changed in some time. Nizar Kattan, Syrian death dealer, sniper extraordinaire, a huge pain in the ass. It’s been Reece’s mission to find and eliminate the person responsible for the death of Navy SEAL brother Freddy Strain.

A nondescript airplane in Africa is on its way to Paris is about to find its final resting place, at the hands of the man that Reece wants to find more than anyone else. As Reece, Katie, and brother in arms Raife Hastings are enjoying their normal banter before a meal, they are brought back to the importance of the moment as they find out that one of the people aboard that plane ensures that it was no accident. Reece begins his journey to find out what happened and find the man that is most likely responsible for the murder of over 100 people in Africa. After stopping through Langley with Vic Rodriguez and Camp David to have a drink with the President, Reece is introduced to one of the coolest things I hope the United States Government is honestly working on. It involves Artificial Intelligence and would be a total game changer.

Any who, James Reece doesn’t quit. Never does, never will. Can’t stop, won’t stop. He’s jet setting around the globe doing his thing, finding the dirtbag responsible, and the devil comes a knocking. After Kattan is captured, things heat up as Reece is dealt a few curveballs. Cheating death is no easy feat, but Reece is no ordinary man, he can tell the devil to kick rocks. Joining with one of the best wing men you could probably have ever, Reece ensures that if you cross him, you’ll be taking a dirt nap. Utilizing the strengths and weaknesses of him and those around him, Reece carefully crafts a plan to finish what should have never started. 

The story flows smoothly and you can see Carr’s writing ability growing in the series. Gun battles, sniper hides, and double crosses continue throughout, as expected. Carr shows professorial authority in his historical lessons, allowing Reece to continue his hunt for truth and justice. Carr delivers another chart-topping adventure that is worthy of the death and destruction that Reece leaves in his wake. BZ Jack.

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Short Mission By D.J. Scott

Thrillers today are written in many different forms with a single lead or a team of characters that are doing their jobs that force them into dangerous situations. DJ Scott had captured two of the most riveting characters who bring a whole new meaning to the word team. Scott brings back reservists lt. Commander Michael McGregor, Naval doctor, and U.S. Marine Corps captain Kelli Moore to help with solving a problem of epic proportions. As reservists, McGregor and Moore are doing life in their normal civilian jobs as an ER doctor and Detective for a local enforcement when summoned. 

McGregor and Moore are two upstanding citizens who the world owes a debt of gratitude after their mission to track down stolen nuclear weapons. Americans watching the news have seen that there are potential chemical weapons going off domestically that are inciting panic. Offenders of the terrorism happening in their own backyard are only known by one man, and he has reached out to help escape from Europe, while British intelligence and another group are trying to prevent that. McGregor and Moore are sent on a super-secret adventure to locate and extract Maxim Korshkin, the arms dealer responsible for the death of American service men and women in an almost botched covert operation overseas. As McGregor and Moore make their way to a new assignment overseas, CIA Officer Jennifer Kim is presented their unlikely handler, as her past is marked as hazardous it couldn’t be anymore tedious. 

Roadblocks and hurdles are cast in front of the duo quickly, forcing them to realize that they have targets on their backs. Following the trail of Korshkin is no easy feat as they are hunted, but immediately brings out the incredible woman in Moore and forces the hand of the methodical McGregor. But they have an ace up their sleeve, Moore is the daughter of a well renowned grandfather, Sir Charles Moore, with all the gadgets and gizmos that one could ever dream about. The trail to Korshkin involves one of huge geopolitical proportions and must be dealt with delicately. 

Scott brings these larger-than-life characters down to a level that is extremely likable and easily identifiable with. McGregor and Moore are more than just partners as you come to find out that near death experiences make life more passionate. The challenge of stopping terrorism is not an easy task,  but McGregor and Moore are two fascinating individuals that just happen to make a badass team. 

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Storm Rising By Chris Hauty

Hauty brings Chill back in Storm Rising to a place that no man or woman would ever want to be. Alone. Chill is tasked with preserving the sanctity of the democracy of the United States while dealing with overwhelming emotions.

Hayley Chill is an instrument of peace, a tool afforded to the shadowy group Publius, to prevent anarchy and mayhem. What happens when that mayhem is not only happening in the United States but in Chill’s life as well? After the insanely perfect ending to Savage Road, Chill is dealing with the eye-opening revelation about her father with how she knows best, alone. We visit Chill back in West Virginia fighting to find some normalcy in her life. She has reverted to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts training to regain some of her old self. Called back to D.C. by her Publius handler Andrew Wilde, she is tasked for an overseas assignment when information surfaces that redirects her attention. Fast forward to Texas where events deemed terrorististic are requiring the Army National Guard to intervene.

While clues are slowly starting to be pieced together, you get a glimpse of an overreach involving a white supremacist ideology plaguing the nation from the top down. Numerous incidents which require interdiction lead Hayley to a crucial crossroads where she must make the most vital decisions to protect innocent people. Chill uses her training and intuition to gather intelligence and investigate the growing dread that has the potential to kill hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Hauty delivers another tenacious edge of your seat thriller that has Chill fighting for the lives of herself and every American. Hayley Chill is full of strength and honor, along with dedication to country and self. Chill is the charismatic and strong-willed character that defines the true meaning of selflessness in this upbeat adventure that bleeds unity and kindness.

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Cold Snap By Marc Cameron

Marc Cameron can produce some of the most outstanding and heart pounding thrillers in the game. I have seen a lot of his work including the Jericho Quinn Series, his solid Tom Clancy novels, and of more recent his great work in the Arliss Cutter series. 

Cameron has really grown the mystique and intrigue of such a hard-nosed and dedicated US Marshall in Arliss Cutter. Cutter has a set of rules that he lives by that not everyone agrees with but can completely understand why he does the things he does. Cutter has always been about the non-flashy and grinding day to day work of bringing prisoners in to pay their dues. In Cold Snap, Cutter teams up with Lola Teariki and a whole host of others for what seems to be another day in treacherous Alaska. Cutter isn’t one to complain so when he needs to help a fellow Marshall, he readies himself and gets to work. On a quick up and back to one of the north oil locations to grab some prisoners for processing, things get dicey. The unforgivable Alaskan storms and cold weather present a challenge all to themselves but when you put violent criminals and the devastating animal kingdom on edge, they get even hairier. 

With such dedication to the job and the craft that he has been performing for years, Cutter seems to put everyone else first at times and forgets about his own past. He’s been a great family man, his brothers’ children and widow and to those that know Cutter’s past, he doesn’t have the best of luck with women. When this unfortunate trip turns personal, how will Cutter hold up to the accusations of days gone by?

Cameron continues to deliver brilliant action and untouched landscapes, as the Alaskan wilderness is always painted with such vibrance and peril. Cutter is cut from a cloth that is not too prevalent in America anymore. The steadfast devotion and skill that he lends to his career make him one of the finest law enforcement characters ever. The hard charging and sometimes young at heart Teariki are a formidable team that can accomplish anything and are always in the most dangerous of situations. This is another top-notch thriller that includes everything you could ask for. 

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Assassin's Edge By Ward Larsen

Ward Larsen is nothing short of a phenomenal author and his latest just goes to prove that. His main character David Slaton has been a staple in my annual reading and after seeing what Slaton was up to in Assassin's Strike and Assassins Revenge, this was a must read for sure.

David Slaton, former Mossad assassin, is under CIA protection near the Montana-Idaho border when two simultaneous tragedies end his vacation. Raven 44, a United States spy plane, is shot down in murky circumstances in Russian airspace. Over three thousand miles away, the daughter of a close Israeli friend is mysteriously kidnapped while running down Mossad leads in Kazakhstan. Slaton is called into action to determine who the people are who are causing trouble across the world. As David is placed into perilous action, three decrepit freighters are setting up to cause even more trouble while attempting to start the mother of all wars. 

Rescue attempts are thwarted by bad actors, gun runners are mercilessly interrogated, and the world is on the brink of collapse as Slaton tries to find answers. The weapons used might seem far-fetched but in fact, they are not. Directed energy weapons, electromagnetic pulsing weapons, and hypersonic death raining from above are all achievable and are being tested in real life. Does David Slaton have the tenacity and dedication to ensure the world doesn’t come crashing down? 

Larsen delivers an unending amount of realism that is conceivable and terrifying at the same time. Slaton’s practicality and persistence in this man-on-a-mission adventure is incredible. Saving lives and enacting revenge are only part of what Slaton is capable of, and Larsen time and time again shows his tenacity and capability in Assassins Edge. This is not a book to miss as it will have you on the edge of the seat throughout. 

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Blood On The Trail By Terrence McCauley

I don’t normally read too many westerns, but they are by far some of my favorite stories from a time long gone. I enjoy the camaraderie and the pace of life that was present back in the day, which was a Tuesday by the way, it always is. To think that people lived life with death surrounding them from all sides without the simple necessities that we have today is amazing, which makes the authentic western feel that McCauley captures that more impressive. 

In the first of a new series, McCauley brings to life a complex yet charismatic deputy U.S. Marshall Jeremiah Halstead. Halstead if on the dusty Montana trail running from Rock Creek to Helena, by way of Silver Cloud. After capturing the infamous Hudson gang leader, John Hudson, Halstead uses his wit and intrepidness to end one of the most businesslike standoffs I’ve ever seen. Halstead is doing what is right and always thinking about the implications of the actions he takes, yet at no point is he able to rest as his body count starts to pile up.

In what should have been a welcoming, Halstead meets the lazy and overconfident sheriff with his cronies and bones are broken along with pride. As he learns who really runs the town, his time in Silver Cloud is plagued by inconsistent management from his boss, the death of one of the promiscuous saloon gals, and bad intentions from the town’s banker and so-called owner. Halstead’s past defines his current state of mind and how he operates, but McCauley doesn’t give up too much, heightening the intrigue. Hudson’s gang is trying to spring their former leader from jail, and the hanging that is likely back in Helena and use all kinds of trickery to try and kill Halstead. Will Halstead succeed in getting his catch back to Helena for prosecution, or will the scorned group of outlaws get their man back? Whatever the outcome, there will have been plenty of shots fired. 

McCauley crafts an exciting western adventure flush with unending action while bringing authentic emotion to an era exhausted by time. Jeremiah Halstead is a remarkable character that is not immune to the flaws that plague his foes as well. His devotion to his mission while being a lone wolf leads to incredible gunfights in the unending battle for the life of John Hudson.  If you enjoy westerns, this one will definitely quench your thirst. 

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Wild Card By Stephen England

Stephen England has continued to impress with his work. The thrillers Lodestone and The Lions Paw were two of my recent favorites and they were loaded with action. Having done extensive research on the Middle East and the groups and factions that roam that area, his work is authentic and fast paced.

Harry Nichols is a bad ass man. He has got the gusto. But there must be a little bit of crazy built in as things in this are dark and twisted. Nichols is homebound for a quick R&R trip but gets rerouted. Landing in Germany, he meets with Michael Hignett, the CIA’s Chief of Base in Istanbul, Turkey. Mehmet Ecevit, an auto shop mechanic is just trying to live a more normal life after fleeing Turkey for Germany. As things progress, Ecevit’s past comes to haunt him as the man who he once feared shows himself. Working with German GSG-9 and BfV, both Federal Police units, Hignett and Nichols are trying to figure out why terror continues to plague the Middle East and less war-torn areas of Europe. Did I mention Mehmet use to be a CIA asset? Would that be alarming? What happens next will leave families torn apart and miles of steps to retrace. The past that has come to haunt Mehmet, turns him into the man that Islamic terrorists are trying to free while Harry and his group of hunters are prowling.

England brings a thriller to the table that would be terrifying on the big screen. The teamwork from GSG-9 and BfV along with Harry's steadfast service pushes the pedal to the floor, while dark secrets long buried return to the present where one would think they would be able to hide. Dedication and adventure are two clear requirements for the CIA and Harry Nichols defines every bit of it. England gives you a front row seat to the nitty gritty side of counterterrorism operations that keep the world safe.

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The Lightning Rod By Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer has been busy over the last decade, writing fiction and non-fiction and hosting multiple different television shows. His devotion to providing incredible content is second to none and his writing is always outperforming the field. In this latest Zig and Nola adventure, The Lightning Rod, Meltzer leaves no twist or turn behind and creates one of the most satisfying reads I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. 

Archie Mint is a former military investigator with personal flaws that are known by a select few. Mint is brutally murdered in one of the best opening scenes I have enjoyed. After the actions of a struggling steakhouse valet turns Mint’s world upside down, we start the journey of finding out what lead to his demise. Insert Jim ‘Zig’ Zigarowski, a long tenured mortician who used to work at Dover Air Force base, ensuring fallen heroes of Americas military are peacefully and delicately prepared for burial. Zig is mysteriously asked for an encore to help prepare Archie Mint for his funeral when he sees unfriendly faces and one important person he hasn’t seen in quite some time. Nola brown, an amazing artist, and former Air Force artist-in-residence with a torturous background, shows her face briefly at Mint’s funeral and starts the march for truth and justice.

What transpires is a race to find the group that once was on the scene of one of the United States most secretive and valuable collections. While Zig attempts to figure out why Nola was at the funeral, a whole host of bad actors come into play. The trail follows Nola’s family’s past, an uneasy finding for Zig about his daughter, the Mint family’s unstable atmosphere, and the actions of the team that found the smoking gun at Grandma’s Pantry years ago. Not only do things not come easily for Zig and Nola, but a deadly kill team known simply as ‘The Reds’ are on the hunt for answers but more importantly, blood. When the dust settles and the story ends, no one is left unscathed. 

The cast list is long but easily managed through Meltzer’s detailed storytelling. There is no shortage of intrigue as the plot follows many angles and provides readers many suspects to consider. You’ll be absolutely stunned by the amazing substory that follows Zig and his family, as well as the bomb shell that has followed Nola to this day. Meltzer writes the perfect story about imperfect people and will test the limits of your imagination.  

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The Night Shift By Alex Finlay

Alex Finlay – The Night Shift

As of recently I have been trying to open myself up to genres or subgenres that I have been avoiding. One of the main ones is the crime and mystery thrillers that are extremely prevalent in the book world. There are many talented authors writing some of these and after reading The Night Shift by Alex Finlay, I will be reading more.

Finlay starts off a dynamic story of who, what, where, when and WOW. After a gruesome set of murders at a movie rental store in Linden, New Jersey, the suspect is unfortunately released prior to crucial evidence coming to light. The years have somewhat softened the terror and fear that have plagued Ella Monroe, the lone survivor of that tragic New Year’s Eve from years ago. Fast forward to where Ella is now a productive therapist helping others when a nearly imperceptible copycat set of murders occurs at a local ice cream shop. In eerie similarity, there is one survivor, Jesse Duvall. And as the story continues, you will learn that there is more to those murders that she is connected too.

Covering the recent case as a local public defender, we get to learn a little about Chris Ford, who also has a very haunting and connected past. Teaming up with Julia, another up and coming lawyer at the Union County Public Defender’s office, they are about to tackle this case head on. While leading the public defense for an unlikely suspect, the team learns quickly that everyone has dark secrets, and they could be a conflict of interest. The local police force teams with a FBI field office where we meet Special Agent Sarah Keller, a veteran agent who is super pregnant. While Keller and Atticus Singh, another Union County investigator, attempt to link the two cases, the nasty reality of life comes to a head and shows that not all skeletons in your closet are gone forever. 

The buildup to the finale is frightening and everyone has problems that they must battle while trying to fight for others. The imperfect characters in this twist filled debacle of a case only ass to the fascination that bleeds from every page. Finlay effortlessly blends the best and worst of humanity in one of the best stories I’ve ever read. If you haven’t given this one a thought, then check it out and you’ll be pleased. 

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Beneath The Stairs By Jennifer Fawcett

Jennifer Fawcett drops her debut into the thriller world, and it should come paired with a psychiatrist. Beneath the Stairs is creepily dark, giving me chills right out of the gate. 

Exploring and adventuring out for hours as a kid is something that none of us are unfamiliar with. Beneath the Stairs brings you back to your childhood and allows you to immediately connect with the characters as they head out discovering the haunted past of the Octagon house in Sumner’s Mills. The home is the thing of nightmares. Ones that do more than just haunt your dreams. As you follow Clare with her friends Abby, Monica, and Lori, they stumble upon dark secrets that continue to draw them back to the house. A house that has more secrets than believable.

Following freaky circumstances between the friends they do what kids do, they tell their parents they are staying at each other’s homes so they can spend a night partying with older kids. Clare meets her crush and is in progress of becoming vulnerable when things get messy, and the course of their lives are changed forever. Abby becomes traumatized after a spine-chilling encounter that same night that ruins a friendship and forces a family to move.

Years later, Clare receives unwanted emails from Abby concerning their past and the Octagon house. Abby obsesses over the home and then is found unresponsive after a spooky suicide attempt. While trying to deal with the fallout of losing her job and a failed Chicago area relationship, Clare makes the trip to Sumner’s Mills to see what is happening. 

Fawcett brings everything in this debut from lost love and redemption to the dark pasts and secrets that homes can contain. I easily pictured myself walking around the Octagon house and imagining every bit of the detail that Fawcett describes. The story is delivered amazingly, seemingly from a season veteran. Fawcett coordinates the timeline flawlessly, and it plays out great. The amount of creepiness in this book is phenomenal, not the kind of creepiness where you’re like I can’t read this, it’s too much. But the kind where you’re like no kid, don’t do it, don’t put your hand on the hot stove. You just know something bad is going to happen, but Fawcett throws some great curve balls.

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Blue Fire By John Gilstrap

I have never read any John Gilstrap work until Blue Fire came across my NetGalley.com feed and I immediately jumped on the opportunity. Blue Fire has a post-apocalyptic vibe while it also draws on the consistent ability of the government to screw things up. With the political back and forth seen in the news every day, this shows the aftermath of bad decisions and how they can affect the people that they represent.

One of the main locations in this adventure is Ortho, West Virginia, where former congresswoman Victoria Emerson has taken refuge. After choosing not to hide away in a bunker with the rest of the surviving branches of the federal government, Victoria has become the pseudo mayor of this shanty town. She also requires all capable members of this community to be fully committed to serving, not a hard bargain if you ask me. After the bombs have dropped all over America in Gilstrap’s first, Crimson Phoenix, we start to see the lawlessness. An unfortunate meeting occurs as a neighboring town comes to speak with Victoria and a gun fight ends the chat and riles up the tension. For those that are stuck in the wilderness and unsettled areas surrounding these dangerous towns, they must make their own safety or become just another body in the ground. 

As Victoria and Ortho continue to be receptive to random people walking into town, the inhabitants of the government facility are trying to determine what is happening outside the safety of their bunker. In a brave mission, one of the people attempts to go out to record the findings and meets an untimely demise. Emerson is seemingly keeping herself inundated with a broad list of keep busy items to not focus on the fact that her husband was overseas when the war started, and her oldest son was at military school which is now not standing. 

Gilstrap does an amazing job of bringing together another modern-day Red Dawn while showing that humanity can have a chance at survival with the right people involved. Though no one is immune in the aftermath of the nuclear war that was unleashed all over earth, the bloody and fierce battle between neighboring towns continue as people are literally fighting for their lives. A harsh reality and unnerving emotion highlight the hellish landscape in which few survive but maybe staying alive isn’t surviving.

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