No Tomorrow By Tom Wood

Craving an outstanding fast-paced action thriller to get me back in the zone after a number of slow burn thrillers with minimal action, I sought out Tom Wood’s work. I dove into the first couple of chapters to read a meticulously authentic surveillance of an unspecified target by a team of hardened killers. What should have been an easy kill turns out to be a nightmare for the assassins as their prey turns the tables on them in a scenario that seems to be straight out of a bone-chillingly horror story. That’s because their target was none other than Victor, arguably the most lethal cold-blooded assassin in the genre. Just like that, I was hooked in for a 500 page story that took me merely a day to finish because I couldn’t bring myself to put it down for anything. 

Victor is the best at what he does, killing without remorse. This time, he has to do more than just kill, he has to protect the daughter of a woman he once knew, a woman he liked and respected. The daughter is targeted for an unknown reason that remains a mind-boggling mystery until the very last act. However, there is no time to think too much about the “why” when the pace is constantly ramping up with awe-striking tactical gunfights and close quarters combat in which Victor excels as he turns anything he can get his hands on into a deadly weapon. I’ve read bullets shot through eyes before but I’ve never read a protagonist kill a bad guy by pushing the barrel of a sig sauer through the eye socket before. The action is perfect for keen visualization by hardcore fans and just as pleasing for casual action readers. 

As much as I love the action, the main reason I enjoyed this book so much was because of the characterization of Victor. From the very first impression, it’s evident he isn’t the nicest guy you’ll meet. He isn’t motivated by patriotism nor by a willing desire to help those less fortunate. He is the main character but you’ll be hard pressed to see him as a good guy. He is more of an anti-hero in the truest sense of the word and all the more interesting with his unpredictable but extremely logical actions. Tom Wood ensures that Victor doesn’t cross the fine line of completely switching over to the dark side but keeps him suspended in a limbo where he is neither the bad guy nor the hero.  While this is a bit taxing on the reader with heavy emotions and somewhat destructive thoughts, it’s equally fun to read these traits in an assassin who truly lives up to the hype of being ultimately feared.

The main takeaway is that No Tomorrow is an extraordinarily phenomenal action-packed narrative with an unconventionally bold take on an assassin who is one of the best and most complex characters you’ll ever read. Even if you haven’t read the other books in the series, No Tomorrow is still the perfect choice if you’re in need of a spectacular read to get you energized.  

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The Son By Jo Nesbo

The Son is my foray into the highly praised work of Jo Nesbo, and I was unprepared for what turned out to be one of the finest, emotionally-moving, addictively impressive books I have read to date. Every aspect of this brilliant crime thriller is written with the acute finesse of an author who brings the characters to life and makes them relatable to every reader who picks up this book. This is a stellar story of crime, tragedy, drugs, brutal violence, retribution, and love with an extremely likable protagonist who will leave you shocked as he commits brutal acts of violence but you will cheer him on as he does so, because that is the magic of Jo Nesbo as he creates the proper circumstances for the validity of bloody vengeance.

The Son takes readers on a dark and emotional ride with Sonny as a young convict in prison in Oslo who is approached by the corrupt assistant prison governor time and time again to take blame for various crimes committed by rich and elite in return for a supply of drugs in prison. His struggle is one of personal connection to his father who had committed suicide with a confession that he had been a rotten apple in the police force. One of the prison inmates informs Sonny that his father was not a corrupt policeman and had not committed suicide, but rather he was murdered to protect his son and wife. This revelation sets Sonny, The Son, on the path to clear his head of the drugs and put in motion a set of ingenious steps to exact vengeance for those who had wronged him and others, somewhat of an avenger of those who had been preyed upon. The ingenuity of his plan stems for the seemingly random encounters and actions on Sonny’s part, only to make clear sense down the line leaving the reader to scream out WOW when his plan suddenly makes perfect sense. 

The characters are written delicately and fleshed out with rich personalities so much so that they feel like real and flawed people. Each character in the mix has multiple layers of personality drawn to perfection through imperfections, backstories, and actions of the characters. Each character wittingly becomes an essential part of the story, working in tandem to develop Sonny’s likable personality through interactions with Sonny, reminiscent of the writing style of Don Winslow in his The Cartel series. Sonny is one of the most compelling characters I have read. Unlike most protagonists in similar stories who give off a violent and dark vibe, Sonny radiates an innocent and almost boyish friendliness and ease, which creates an exciting paradox when he commits brutal but arguably righteous acts of violence against the wicked.

I was not expecting this crime thriller to have much action, which is why I was surprised to read well-executed shootouts with necessary weaponry details to flow with the grounded vibe of the story.  An avenging angel cannot shy away from using a pistol or an Uzi when occasion calls for it. It also helps that Sonny used to wrestle in his high school years, giving him some credence in hand to hand combat.

The heart of The Son is undoubtedly the superb writing and character development that gives an intriguing insight into the underworld of Oslo, showing benevolence in the most unexpected of places by the most unexpected of people. I admire Mr. Nesbo’s ability to create a relatable and exciting story with the finesse of highly believable characters and mystical intrigue, packed with twists until the very last twist on the very last page. An absolute must-read by all readers, unencumbered by the limitations of genres. Hats off to superb translation from Norwegian to English with little to no grammatical mistakes. I will definitely be reading more of Jo Nesbo!

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The Cleaner By Mark Dawson

After reading consecutive slow-burn thrillers, I craved a strong dose of aggressive adrenaline rush more than anything else. I came across Mark Dawson’s The Cleaner in my local bookstore and I immediately felt this would be the right book for me.

John Milton is a black ops MI6 assassin tasked with carrying out assignments for Queen and Country, particularly missions deemed morally ambiguous or outright unethical. When a mission results in Milton taking out an innocent police officer and almost shooting a child, he decides to call it quits and seek redemption if at all possible. Control, Milton’s handler in the black ops group colloquially known as Group 15, is unhappy with his decision and puts in a plan to retire Milton with extreme measures. Meanwhile, Milton crosses paths with a young mother whose son is falling in with the wrong bunch. Desperate for atonement, Milton decides to help the family. What Milton will realize soon enough is that violence is not done with him yet. Not by a long shot.

The Cleaner is surprisingly compared to the Jack Reacher books by many readers, a comparison I do not agree with. John Milton is vastly different from Jack Reacher and more suited for the modern world especially with an espionage backdrop. Underneath the layers of espionage and action lies a beautifully expressed emotional core where Mark Dawson explores the hardships of characters of varying ages and dilemmas without error. From the confused feelings of a teenager being manipulated into joining a gang to the haunted cries of salvation from a weathered hitman, Dawson hits all the right strings to invoke the strongest emotions as you flip through the pages. The emotional center is guided by an easy-to-follow character driven narrative with realistic turns of events. John Milton is not a heartless killing machine even if inclined to do some damage. Using his head, he tries to avoid starting fights for which the repercussions will fall on the innocents. When a vicious gang boss crosses the line, the simmering energy explodes in a brutally realistic shootout where Milton goes much darker than Jack Reacher ever has. The attention to detail in the action sequences is a fantastic treat for action thriller fans and undoubtedly worth the price of admission.

The Cleaner kept me awake and active long past my bedtime with its hard-hitting story and a protagonist who captivated my thoughts with his darker than dark introduction. If a thriller has you buying its sequel even before you’re finished with the first one, it’s a special one. 

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Veil of Civility By Ian Graham

Veil of Civility is a spectacular and unbarred action thriller that presents a brutal story with superb action sequences and a grounded protagonist that is developed extremely well throughout the story for a debut. If you’re searching for a well-balanced thriller with elements of good ol’ political conspiracy with shady and despicable characters in power picking a battle against an unconventional protagonist with roots to IRA and a dark past that turned him into a lethal weapon, this is a must-read thriller that will hook you with utter conviction through sleepless nights. 

The plot picks off with a mysterious and animalistic terrorist, Ruslan Baktayev, being released from a grim Russian prison for a nefarious mission. Back in the USA, Declan McIver, a real estate developer living with his loving wife, is invited by an ex-Mossad agent to an event for a nebulous discussion about a potential terrorist attack. As a devastating attack takes place, framing Declan for it, Declan has to use his wits and training from a dark past to get to the bottom of a conspiracy involving a Senator and the special agent in Charge of FBI’s counterterrorism division at Richmond Field Office, with the potential to cause another extremely devastating attack. The story globetrots to USA, Ireland, UK, and then back as Declan feverishly works to gain the upper hand when all the cards are stacked against him. With fantastic twists and turns that you will not be ready for, the book is electric!

The vast intrigue of conspiracy and fast-paced setting are complimented by visceral shootouts, hand-to-hand combat sequences, and car and bike chases written with visceral and cinematic flavor to keep the reader in the driver’s seat with high stakes as Declan has to constantly deal with assassins who wish to silence him before he can blow open the big conspiracy. I loved the authentic and descriptive tactical and technical details during the action sequences which made the sequences fun and easy to visualize. 

With this being the first novel in the Declan McIver series, I loved the focus on Declan’s character. He is established immediately as grounded and likable, but his development continues to grow as we find out more about his dark and violent past. When it comes to sheer badasses with a strong moral compass and balanced emotions, the author quickly cements Declan McIver as a protagonist to root for and to want more of. As with all characters in the book, there is a sense of realism when it comes to the conversations and interactions of the characters that stems from the talented writing of the author. 

Veil of Civility is a bold action-packed conspiracy thriller that debuts a spectacular protagonist. From start to finish, there isn’t even a single moment of boredom. I particularly loved how the author kept a consistent pace throughout the novel, wrapping up properly but not too abruptly, with a big showdown, an emotional change in Declan’s life, and the hint of a bigger organization at play that has sinister plans for Declan McIver. I cannot wait for more of this series. It is a must-read for hardcore action thriller fans. 

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Threat Vector By Tom Clancy-Mark Greaney

I had been putting Threat Vector off for months because it seemed like such a daunting read at over 700 pages. I chide myself for it now because every single page of this electrifying grand scale adventure is worth the challenge. It’s classic Tom Clancy with the perfect adrenaline boost we’ve come to love from Mark Greaney’s fast-paced writing style. 

The thriller came out in 2012 but if I hadn’t looked it up, I’d be hard pressed to say it didn’t come out any earlier than a year ago based on its prophetic storyline. When members of the Chinese government decide to strengthen the nation’s economy with a high-risk audacious plan involving a systematic attack on America’s cybersecurity before kickstarting a full-blown war with its allies, it’s up to President Jack Ryan and the operatives of The Campus to navigate the tricky waters of global politics and shadowy espionage in order to prevent World War 3. If that’s not dangerous enough, The Campus is in big trouble from a mysterious syndicate that just might be the biggest threat vector (pun-intended) they’ve faced yet.  

Tom Clancy’s famous attention to details and technical knowledge of the weapons systems and equipment plays a heavy and warranted role in setting up an authentic experience to satisfy even the most hardcore of action thriller fans, while steering an epic politics and espionage laden narrative the likes of which are associated with the Clancy name. Adding to Tom Clancy’s firepower is Mark Greaney’s stellar on-location research and the cinematic action vibe that goes hand in hand with Clancy’s technical combat sequences. The major highlights in the action department for me were the aviation sequences, involving F/A-18 Super Hornets in beautifully realistic dogfights that strap you in the cockpit to face the tight and hard-hitting G-force turns.

The combat takes place on land, at sea, in air, and uniquely on a new battlefield; cyberspace. China’s cyber warfare skills are described with spectacular realism that spoke to the computer scientist in me about coding viruses and hacking measures that feel horrifyingly in tune with what I’ve learned in the classrooms. 

If you’ve read the most recent Target Acquired by Don Bentley, you’ll want to go back and take a look at the previous escapades of Jack Ryan Jr., for which Threat Vector is the perfect choice. A finely crafted geopolitical story with wonderfully written fan favorite characters from older Clancy works and a big stepping stone for Jack Ryan Jr. into the superb protagonist we have seen in the latest books of the long running series. Threat Vector is the genius result of two masters of the espionage action thriller genre coming together to churn out brilliant stories of stellar caliber.  

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Pandora's Grave By Stephen England

Pandora’s Grave is the perfect treat for thriller aficionados. Vivid storytelling, cinematic action sequences, grounded and multidimensional heroes and villains, and meticulous authenticity when it comes to cultures and religions; even this does not do enough justice to Stephen England’s epic narrative.

Enter Harry Nichols, a blue-eyed CIA operator with a friendly demeanor that can change in the blink of an eye when facing an enemy combatant. Facing demons of his own from his past along with a hard-hitting betrayal in the story, his character is a darker version of the likes of Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath, but profoundly unique. He leads his team of just as intriguingly multilayered characters on dangerous missions, specializing in the Middle East. When an archeological dig team comprised of American, Australian, and Israeli members is captured in Iran after unearthing a bubonic plague, Nichols and his team are sent to recover the team where we come to know there is a mole in the team working for a faction of the Iranian government that wants to use the plague against Israelis in an unconventional way. There is no time to catch a breath in the chaos with non-stop action sequences while dealing with a constant whodunnit vibe where the team is constantly trying to sniff out the traitor. 

It’s not every thriller that handles Middle Eastern religions and cultures so respectfully. Stephen England thoughtfully writes characters of differing religions without demeaning one or another. The religious aspect plays an important role to show what drives both the good and the bad guys, mirroring reality and allowing for beautiful locations with religious significance to be used as backdrops for pivotal plot points and action sequences.

The action sequences are incredibly smooth and cinematic in nature, flowing naturally with accurate tactics and weapons in explosive shootouts that are on par with the best in the genre when it comes to being detailed without compromising the fast-paced thrills. 

This is a beautifully dark and violent story, encompassing the trademark elements of an excellent spy action packed thriller but with a deeper insight into the human psyche behind the curtain that makes the narrative profoundly powerful and emotional. The ending is a mind-blowing cliffhanger reveal that only adds more fuel to the raging fire that is, Pandora’s Grave.  One of the finest books ever written.

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The Ghosts Of Belfast By Stuart Neville

The Ghosts of Belfast is an extraordinary crime thriller tinged with dark supernatural elements that fit in beautifully with the nitty gritty world of unrelenting pain that ultimately gives rise to hope. Stuart Neville has crafted a masterclass of writing a protagonist that’s more flawed than most but still makes you want to root for him with all your heart.

Gerry Fegan, a former paramilitary killer in Northern Ireland, spends his days drinking his mind numb as he is tormented by twelve ghosts, all those whom he had wronged and killed. One fateful night, the voices in his head make it clear what they want from him: exacting vengeance on those who had ordered him to commit the atrocities. Armed with a purpose and his deadly skills, Fegan goes to work on his targets, leading him down a path of further darkness and pain before he can see the light, if he can see the light at all.

The Ghosts of Belfast is a story of resounding hope and forgiveness. It’s a narrative that highlights humanity above all else, above all agendas, religions, and politics. Gerry Fegan’s struggle to seek penance for his sins yields wonderful insights and lessons that readers can embody and apply for better living. 

At the same time, this is very much a knuckle-cracking thriller. Stuart Neville keeps the heat blazing as the action comes in burst with brutal combat, crisp shootouts, and nail-biting twists that pretty much cement that you can and should finish this book in one sitting as I did.

If you’re in the mood to read a gritty atmospheric thriller with acts of bloody vengeance, The Ghosts of Belfast is the book for you. 

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Veterans Day By Jack Stewart

Veterans Day is unlike any action thriller I have read. It has all the elements of a dark exciting vigilante thriller with a damaged but intriguing protagonist who will remind you of a feral Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, grounded and gritty plot, and well executed action sequences that have a cinematic quality to them. Taking the best characteristics of a captivating dark story, Jack Stewart fuses them with theological elements to create an exciting take on the genre. This is a character-driven action-packed narrative that puts you in the front seat of a broken man’s violent journey to salvation from his inner demons.

The story revolves around Ronan Doyle, a badass Combat Controller who blames himself for a tragedy that leads to the deaths of his teammates in the field. We see Ronan’s fall into despair and darkness as his guilt eats away at him, until he finds purpose when a mysterious voice talks to him in his head. This voice seems to be stronger than simple instinct and propels Ronan into situations to save lives. When the voice pushes Ronan to go to New Orleans, he stumbles across a human trafficking ring, only to realize it is not a chance encounter, but the work of a higher power that is guiding Ronan towards saving lives of those who need saving. Teaming up with a New Orleans Detective Kashm, Ronan is exposed to a whole new world that he didn’t believe existed.  

Along with brutal descriptions of severe guilt taking over Ronan’s life, readers are also treated to fantastic action sequences described in wonderful detail that bring the action to life. Ronan is a bonafide badass with both his fists and his weapons, as he engages his opponents in spectacular display of bone crunching and headbutting violence. Think Jack Reacher, but more violent and feral. That is not to say there aren’t shootouts; Ronan shreds bad guys with his Glock and rifle in fast-paced shootouts that evoke feelings of authenticity with the tactical movements and descriptions of the shootouts. To top this off, there is a WOW sequence involving flaming swords and armor and inhuman entities that is sure to blow you out of your seats!

What I found most intriguing was the unfiltered focus on Ronan’s POV as we resonate with him on his journey from rock bottom to having a sense of purpose. With the challenges he faces, the surprises he comes across, the unfathomable twists and turns, I felt deeply connected to Ronan on his journey with such great character development. Ronan’s personal journey sets up a great platform to introduce a theological component into the story, with the idea of good vs bad taking form not only in humans but also with angels and demons. 

I immensely enjoyed Veterans Day and found it to be a unique take on the thriller genre with the fusion of theology with hardcore thriller that readers of the genre love to get into. The nonlinear story builds the mystique while revealing the necessary developments of the story without detracting from the fast-paced narrative. I am very excited for the next adventures of Ronan and Kashm. Think of a more vicious version of Jack Reacher’s vigilante vibe infused with theological elements of Constantine, and you have Veterans Day! A must-read introduction to Ronan Doyle who will be an instant fan favorite.

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Desperate Pursuit By Kerry Frey

Desperate Pursuit is a strong entertainer with a golden protagonist you’ll be rooting for immediately as he puts everything at stake to save his daughter from a horrible fate. 

Spike Robinson is living the dream life as an Aerospace & Defense executive in Texas when his daughter is diagnosed with a rare blood disease that’s slowly and painfully killing her. Her only hope lies with a scientist who was recently abducted by Russians. With official channels at dead ends, Robinson finds himself allied with a mysterious group of clandestine operatives, the JARIUS group, working outside bureaucracy and red tape to subvert a nefarious plan to kickstart world war 3 with a biological agent.

Kerry Frey strikes a fantastic balance between first person and third person POVs as he switches seamlessly between Robinson-centric narration and the POVs of the antagonists to keep the momentum bursting with energy and unpredictability. The narrative is easy to follow and captures your attention fully from the start. The ingenious biological threat as explored in the book blends reality and fiction for a riveting mix without falling out of touch with the much-appreciated realism of modern thrillers. Spike Robinson blossoms more and more into a relatable character by each chapter, with the strong and raw essence of familial bonds driving him in his quest to save his daughter in the face of prevailing danger. 

Giving Spike Robinson a decorated past as a Navy Corpsman pays off big time as he gets pulled into fast-paced and crisp shootouts, car chases, and hand-to-hand combat sequences with sharp and necessary details to help you visualize the pulse-pounding action with utmost ease. 

Desperate Pursuit packs a lot of potential for future stories to unfold and explore in terms of exciting characters and invigorating plots involving Spike and the JARIUS group working together. Be sure to keep your eyes open for the twists and turns Kerry Frey sends your way in this constantly engaging thriller; you won’t want to miss it.

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