Watch Dogs: Stars & Stripes By Sean Grigsby & Stewart Hotston

Watch Dogs: Stars & Stripes is a fun-spirited adventurous thriller balanced skillfully with a serious subject matter and grave consequences. Aiden Pearce exudes a lot of Jack Reacher vibes as a deliverer of justice but with a mastery of technology that makes for some riveting action sequences and crafty moments.

Aiden Pearce, more popularly known as The Vigilante, prowls the shadows with his 1911 pistol and his smartphone with the power to hack into almost any software and use it to teach the corrupt individuals a smacking lesson. A secretive branch of US government enlists Pearce’s help, albeit reluctantly, to investigate the recent thefts of human-augmentation tools and put an end to the white supremacist group behind the attacks. Unable to say no to a righteous cause, Pearce and his handler/old friend Jordi Chin follow the clues all the way to the Oval Office where the leader of the white supremacist group aims to unleash the final horrific step of a diabolical plan.

Watch Dogs: Stars & Stripes is a continuation of Aiden Pearce’s origin story from the Watch Dogs video game. However, the authors ensure that even readers unfamiliar with the video game will be able to step into this tech-oriented narrative with a strong foundation of the past events and an even stronger anticipation of the unveiling of the smart and engaging new storyline. That being said, it is absolutely a huge treat for the video game fans as we read Aiden Pearce control cranes, vehicles, and all sorts of electronics in quick-witted fashion during shootouts with shotgun-arms against bulletproof chest augmentations and rpm-revving car chases to gain the upper hand in a show of cinematic and stunning action sequences on a grand scale. By the end, you’ll wish for a big budget movie to incorporate these scenes.

Aiden Pearce is a force to be reckoned with. His sly wittiness is matched evenly by his strong moral and emotional center which adds arresting gravitas to his personality. His allegiance to ethics above any institution makes him the kind of inspiring character that’s sorely needed today. The authors have done a splendid work of mapping his video game personality to an even more expansive and exhaustive platform in this thriller. 

Watch Dogs: Stars & Stripes is pure entertainment in the most exciting way possible. From ingenious and bizarre tech to a mind-boggling plot, this thriller is going to rock you on the highest setting.

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Wild Card By Stephen England

Wild Card belongs in the VIP portfolio of the thriller genre that exclusively caters to the most terrifying stories, made so by the uber-realistic story and characters that make you pause and wonder if you’re actually reading a factual account rather than fiction. Stephen England brings his A-game with a flashback story of Harry Nichols as he begins his descent into the pit of darkness that comes with the territory of fighting monsters in the abyss.

It’s 2007 in Germany and Harry Nichols is assigned to aid the capture and rendition of an asset who has fled from Turkey. What should have been a simple snatch and grab operation blows up into a much bigger mission as a terrorist plot is unveiled to strike at Americans. Against the ticking countdown to impending doom, Nichols must work with his German allies to stop the attack. Before the end of the plot, Nichols is further molded into the dark rule-breaking blue-eyed operator who we’ve come to love and fear.

While most of Stephen England’s stories pack copious amounts of hard-hitting action, Wild Card dials down on the combat and instead tunes into the desperation and tension of uncovering the full scope of the terrorist plot in a highly believable turn of events that will have you biting your nails to the stub while you wrack your brain in overdrive to predict the unpredictable; one of the trademark elements of a Stephen England story. Harry Nichols’s evolution is one of the most impactful and Wild Card indulges intriguing insights into his character as a relatively less weathered paramilitary officer hardened by the brutality and frustrated by the political bureaucracy that clogs the well-oiled machinery of operations. The despair and panic seep clean through the pages into the hearts and minds of the readers for a truly immersive read without pushing any bigoted or racist agendas, rather presenting thoroughly and respectfully researched characters and situations.

Wild Card is utterly brilliant and gripping to the very end, presenting itself as an excellent gateway into the riveting Shadow Warriors series. One of 2022’s most highly awaited books, standing up to high expectations and even surpassing them.

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Shadow War By A.M. Adair

A.M. Adair is back with another hot action ride, kicking off the narrative with a tense and adrenaline-pumping action sequence and setting a violent and gripping tone for the latest Elle Anderson thriller, Shadow War.

Set only a few minutes after the events of The Deeper Shadow, Elle Anderson is targeted by a hit squad on orders of a renegade former CIA officer with a vendetta against Elle. Cut off from official resources, she has only her team to rely on as she takes the fight to her enemy. Outgunned and outnumbered, Elle and her team have to utilize every bit of their training and skillset to come out on top in this suicide mission.

Elle Anderson is a certified badass and there’s no denying her profound impact in the thriller genre. A.M. Adair writes with an experienced hand of someone who has persevered through a plethora of tough situations as her protagonist does, both physically and emotionally. Elle Anderson’s journey as a weathered spy is not without the realistic depiction of the toll of violence on the human psyche regardless of how necessary it may be. Never during any part of the story did I feel Elle to be superhuman. That’s not to say the action sequences were anything less than fantastic. A.M. Adair elevates both the quality and quantity of cinematic and tactically impressive shootouts with cutting edge weaponry.

Shadow War is highly entertaining and utterly captivating with its smart plot and awesome characters, balancing fun with grounded emotional depth to create a memorable read. You’ll be hard pressed to keep your jaw from dropping.

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Shadows Reel By C.J. Box

C.J. Box’s latest Joe Pickett novel wades into the territory of abhorrent Nazi secrets paving a violent path for some unpalatable characters on a mission to contain those secrets. 

The Pickett family is getting ready to host their thanksgiving dinner when a brutal murder shakes up their quiet town once again. Joe Pickett’s tenacious nature to step out of his employment boundaries as Game Warden to investigate the murder pays off when Marybeth Pickett receives an anonymous donation of a Nazi memorabilia with photographs exposing a hidden conspiracy. Meanwhile, Nate Romanowski is hot on the trail of the man who attacked his wife and child and took his falcons from the events of the previous book. 

C.J. Box maintains the admirably relatable approach to writing Joe Pickett and his family. As Game Warden, Joe is not neither a spy nor an assassin; he has undoubtedly matured from his previous experiences but still retains the very human element that has made Joe Pickett an iconic and charming protagonist. Arguably the bigger star of this thriller is Marybeth as she plays the most prominent role in solving the murderous mystery, an unexpected but welcoming change. 

While Joe and his wife take up the cerebral aspect of the thriller, Nate’s hunt for his nemesis takes care of the action as he closes in on his nemesis who has a diabolical plan to cause chaos and unrest throughout the country by utilizing political rallies and divisions. 

Shadows Reel is a character-driven narrative with a simmering pace that develops the story gradually through character interactions, leading to a realistic final showdown that wraps up the plot neatly.

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The Baja Directive By Craig Hooper

Craig Hooper’s highly relatable and badass protagonist, Garrison Chase, leads an entrancing conspiracy tale where he faces off against a violent cartel leader as well as the President of the United States.

After saving the White House administration from the politically devastating events of the previous book, Garrison Chase is taking some well-deserved time off when he receives a personal off-the-books visit from POTUS, imploring Chase to quietly take out a vicious criminal who is running a sex-trafficking ring within a legalized immigration program between US and Mexico. Right off the bat, there are ill-omens for this unofficial operation but it isn’t until too late that Chase realizes the gravity of the murky situation he has dived face first into. Unable to trust official channels, Chase must fight for his life and uncover the truth before the trouble reaches home.

Craig Hooper lays down subtle clues and observations for astute minds to take notice of as he drives the story forward with a first person POV. The attention to detail pays off for the final revelation as readers uncover the mystery clue by clue in the front row seat with Garrison Chase. There is no straight forward predictable path to the heart of the conspiracy, an aspect that makes for a delightfully attention-grabbing experience.

The Baja Directive also doubles down on the action as Garrison Chase takes on highly trained adversaries gun running through the jungles of Mexico. The shootouts are described with a sharp visualization akin to actually being in the heat of the battle with Chase. The personal stakes hammer home an intense desperation for Chase to see the mission through and that intensity seeps into the high adrenaline sequences that grip you on the edge of your seats.

Treat your mind to a twisting and churning narrative and revel in the exotic dangers of battling a dangerous cartel with Garrison Chase. Craig Hooper does not disappoint in the slightest.

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Splinter Cell: Firewall By James Swallow

James Swallow brings back the legendary spy and assassin Sam Fisher with every bit of charisma and awesomeness of the Splinter Cell video games and books. As a huge fan of both, I was enthralled beyond words to see such exquisite rendition of the clandestine world of Splinter Cell universe with cool gadgets, cinematic-smooth action, and an audacious plot of a villain reminiscent of Bond baddies with a new take on weapon of mass destruction.

Set two years after the events of Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Sam Fisher is training and evaluating the next potential group of Splinter Cell operatives when he finds his next trainee is none other than his daughter, Sarah Fisher. He has to put his reservations on hold when his supposedly dead nemesis is found working for an evil mastermind with a plan to plunge the whole world into panic and carnage using state of the art quantum computing to breach any firewalls in all sorts of essential infrastructure around the world. Sam Fisher must face his demons while guiding his daughter to embrace her own demons that come with the dangerous job of a Splinter Cell agent.

Splinter Cell games have some of the finest combat sequences and truly deserve just as fantastic action on paper. Luckily, James Swallow is well-versed in writing pulse-pounding action sequences and he brings his craft to Splinter Cell: Firewall with authentic and exquisitely creative shootouts and hand-to-hand combat with a multitude of fascinating gadgets and weapons from the games. Even James Bond would be jealous of Fisher’s toolbox. 

The grand scope of the narrative is augmented by a personal stake for Sam Fisher to see this mission through. Even though Fisher has been around for a while, his foundation as a protagonist is explored and built upon even further to highlight his unique personality that makes him stand out between so many other action heroes. Avoiding cliche pitfalls, James Swallow writes emotionally satisfying moments between father and daughter in such an unorthodox situation. Sarah Fisher as a Splinter Cell trainee has a wonderfully developed character arc that aptly sets her up for future stories without taking away any focus from Sam Fisher.  The deeply personal rivalry between Fisher and his nemesis adds a gritty edge to the story, resulting in a fulfilling and spectacular finale. 

Splinter Cell: Firewall was one of my most awaited books for the upcoming year and even with such high expectations I was mesmerized with the stellar storytelling. It’s everything a top-notch action-packed novel should be.

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The Night Shift By Alex Finlay

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Alex Finlay’s The Night Shift is the personification of “all thriller and no filler “. I started the first chapter in the afternoon and before I knew it, it was midnight and I was flipping the last page. 

The narrative opens up with the grisly murders of Blockbuster store employees on New Year’s Eve 1999. Only one girl survives the massacre. 10 years later, young girls working at an ice cream store are brutally murdered and yet again only one girl survives. The crime scene details are eerily identical, begging the question if it’s the same murderer as the one from 10 years ago. The mystique runs high throughout the narrative with awe-striking plot twists hurdling at you like meteoroids that keep you hooked on to watch the disturbing secrets unearthed in most spectacular fashion through good old sleuthing and killer instincts of the characters.

What makes The Night Shift such a unique experience is the brilliant character development coupled with a pedal to the metal plot. There are no grand action sequences as befitting the grounded murder investigation situation, putting the entire weight of keeping the story gripping and exciting on its believable characters and a breakneck pace. Luckily, Alex Finlay excels at mastering both in The Night Shift.

The Night Shift is a perfect crime-mystery thriller for fans, reminiscent of Meg Gardiner’s UNSUB series, but adding its own flair.

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Those Who Hunt Wolves By Harrison Taylor

Those Who Hunt Wolves caught my eye with its unique offerings. Genetically enhanced soldiers, corrupt financial institutions behind the most powerful heads of states, and a vengeful batch of mysterious characters on a mission to expose a dark conspiracy.  The book lives up to its promise, and then some. 

An unconventional thriller surely, but one that’s written with the supreme confidence and finesse of a skilled writer who knows how to keep the reader captivated without fail. Harrison Taylor expertly juggles numerous concepts from political intrigue to science-fiction. The narrative flows smoothly and purposefully through the pages, ensuring no sentence is wasted. Powerful dialogues build unforgettable characters, and jaw-dropping twists keep your mind running to calculate all the possibilities.

Adding sweet cherry on top, Harrison Taylor delivers some stupendous action sequences that pack the right punch for super-powered characters battling to the death in awe-inspiring scenes of gruesome combat. Taking advantage of the science-fiction angle, the author introduces cool weaponry and gadgets that elicit an audible WOAH when you read them in action. More importantly, the action is fueled by emotional ammunition to deliver a truly impactful cinematic sequence. 

Those Who Hunt Wolves is incontestably one of the top choices for the break-out thriller of 2022. As hard as I tried to read it at a casual pace, the charm of this neo-noir thriller had me laser-focused on it and nothing besides it. Full disclaimer: the femme-fatale is disturbing enough to keep you up a few nights afterwards. That’s how you write a deeply sinister character.

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Grim Measures By David Darling

David Darling’s crime thrillers hit you right in the gut with unrestrained brutality and grittiness. Grim Measures is a poignant story powered by terrifying emotions and a thought-provoking question of what lengths a doting father will go to in order to save his child.

John is a single parent, working hard to raise his daughter Ava on his own. His world is turned upside down when Ava is kidnapped from her room. With no leads in the investigation, John takes it upon himself to save her when the kidnapper orders John to kill the lead FBI agent on the kidnapping case in exchange for his daughter’s life, forcing John to choose between his morals and his duties as a family man.

Such an emotional topic would normally necessitate a full-length novel to properly explore the harrowing ramifications. However, David Darling remarkably paints an immersive and uncompromising portrait of John’s distress and his descent into despair in a short length. He also packs an impressive amount of realistic and cinematic action as John becomes quite the marksman with his wife’s Sig M18 and goes on the dark path of vigilantism. 

If you feel like refreshing your mind with a fine dark thriller that is guaranteed to be the pick-me-up on a dull day, I urge you to read Grim Measures. The ending will definitely catch you off-guard.

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No Second Chances By Rio Youres

No Second Chances cuts through all the competition in the vast ocean of thrillers with a sharp plot and larger than life characters wrapped in a stylized narrative that feels real and current.

Rio Youres writes a beautifully compelling story with all the bling and darkness of Hollywood we have come to love from Michael Connolly’s Bosch series. Luke Kingsley, a down on his luck actor after being accused of murdering his wife, crosses paths with a kind and wild young spirited woman, Kitty Rae, when she saves him from a suicide attempt. Kitty dreams of becoming a Hollywood icon when she is not working as a drug courier. When she runs afoul of a Nordic crime boss and social media celebrity, she has no one but Luke to help her escape from dangerous killers hellbent on punishing Kitty for her transgressions. For Luke, this offers a purpose in his life again as well as an opportunity to find out what happened to his wife. 

This is not your usual run-of-the-mill thriller. It ticks all the right boxes; riveting pacing, edge-of-your-seat action, and shocking twists that flip the narrative on its head. At the same time, it’s supercharged to convey the gut-wrenching emotions in a realistic tone that resonates with readers. The characters feel like they might be your next-door neighbors. The protagonists are given their due diligence in setting up rich histories that pave the way for their well-conceived choices, good and bad. 

The action is perhaps one of the finest and most realistic depictions of combat in a civilian capacity. Luke Kingsley’s weapons training for action movies gives him the advantage of knowing his way around weapons but doesn’t make him invincible. The shootouts, car chases, and fisticuffs cater to the physicality and backgrounds of the characters and are written with the cinematic flair of going the extra mile in visualization that elevates the reading experience for thriller aficionados.

Besides the fantastic heroes, the spotlight also shines on the distinctive villain. Johan Fly, an ambitious criminal with a strong social media following and a secret violent streak. His Nordic ancestry comes out in his proclivity to use a special axe in taking out his victims. Rio Youres’s bone-chilling descriptions of Johan Fly strike fear deep into readers and Luke and Kitty alike. Having a well-established and frightening villain is hard to achieve in a thriller but Youres makes it happen.

This is a once-in-a-year reading experience that actually nails every single aspect ranging from emotional depth to brutal action and transcends genres to appeal to all readers. Rio Youres’s No Second Chances is a phenomenal book from cover to cover and there aren’t many books like it. A must-read!

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Beneath The Stairs By Jennifer Fawcett

Beneath the Stairs is one of the creepiest thrillers I’ve read. Bone-chilling, haunting and addictive from the very first page when the author introduces a mysterious basement door in a house visited by brutal horrors, a door that leads to undeniable terror for the young kids who explore it on a dare but come out changed for life.

One of the best aspects of this spooky tale is the sustained mystique of what haunts the characters from their experiences in the basement. The buildup to the reveal is phenomenal, with multiple interweaving timelines and characters whose collective discoveries unveil the mystery only after the reader is thoroughly spooked by the supernatural horror elements yet not entirely certain about its true nature.

At the heart of the story lies a web of grounded human interactions between realistically formed characters with severe emotional baggage. As you read through the transformative journeys of the characters from teenage years to adulthood, you form meaningful attachments to them and become heavily invested in their survival as the story dives into perilous grounds. With complex and flawed character psyches, an intriguing question begins to take shape; what’s scarier? Ghosts, or the potential for humans to be disturbingly terrifying?

For readers who like to test their limits by staying up late with a truly scary story, Beneath the Stairs is the perfect choice to keep you awake past bedtime and peering over at the bedroom door periodically as your brain starts visualizing the strikingly eerie events courtesy of the author’s immersive writing.

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Mickey 7 By Edward Ashton

Mickey7 is a special story. It’s not entirely sci-fi, it’s not entirely thriller, but it’s a fascinating fusion of philosophical conundrums in a science-fiction setting with a machine-gun pace of a solid thriller.

Mickey Barnes is expendable; he has signed up to be the cannon fodder in scientific planetary explorations where the human touch is needed. He has died 6 times so far but wakes up in a new clone each time engineered from his body tissue. When an incursion with an alien species goes bad, he is rumored to be dead. He makes it out alive only to realize he has already been cloned. Mickey7, meet Mickey8. Only one can actually survive. Edward Ashton takes readers on an enriching journey with fantastic characters and exciting dilemmas with one big question; what makes you YOU?

Edward Ashton’s prose is beautifully elegant. The narrative digs deep into the feelings of Mickey Barnes and his unshakable circumstances that made him sign up to be an expendable. Even with interstellar travel and far too futuristic elements, Ashton explains every single detail in layman’s terms with vivid and familiar descriptions for every reader to visualize in the highest mental resolution possible. The first-person POV is fun and regal, establishing a strong connection between Mickey Barnes and readers where it naturally feels as if Mickey is talking to us.

I went in without knowing the nitty gritty of what to expect and perhaps this is the best way to dive into this book to be completely surprised by the sheer scale of the poignant storytelling with nuanced messages and parallels that hit you late at night and keep you in a perpetual state of marveling at the brilliance and ingenuity of this exquisite world that Edward Ashton has created and filled with life.  No wonder Hollywood has already started the process of bringing this book to the big screen.

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Margaret Truman's Murder At The CDC By Jon Land

Jon Land writes a terrifically suspenseful story in Margaret Truman’s Murder at the CDC, one that is sure to make you think twice about getting coupons in the mail. 

During a tour for high school students at The Capitol, a gunman opens fire with an automatic rifle and claims the lives of many young souls before being gunned down. Kelly Loftus of the Department of Protective Services, formerly a detective of Baltimore PD, comes across a trove of clues that hint at a less straightforward theory than that of a deranged gunman. Following her instincts, she pairs up with Robert Brixton, a man of many talents of the espionage persuasion. With a personal incentive for Brixton to get involved, they uncover and follow the clues all the way to a senator with an audacious and morbid plan in the works. 

The narrative twists and turns at a fantastic pace while developing its characters with a steady hand. The sleuthing/mystery elements of the story keep you hooked in as the Brixton and Loftus work the crime scenes and peek behind the curtains through intelligent curiosity that is perfectly in-line with the discoveries and conclusions of their investigation. There is heavy focus on establishing the main baddie of the story, diving into the makings of a man that could concoct such a twisted, deadly plan for his personal gains. While I would have loved to see Brixton and the bad guy interact more, the final confrontation still satisfied my appetite for a personal conflict between the two. 

Murder at the CDC grips you from the chilling first chapter and doesn’t let go until the resolution of the story as you try to crack the conspiracy from different angles alongside the protagonists. An ideal choice for readers looking to give their inquisitive brains a workout.

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Sierra Six By Mark Greaney

Sierra Six is an explosive entry in Mark Greaney’s Gray Man saga with a deeper than ever insight into Court Gentry’s psyche and roots. Testament to the outstanding writing found in these books, Mark Greaney brilliantly circumvents the traditional linear narration for an unconventional route this time as the narrative moves forward in two parallel chains of events, one for current timeline, and one for Court Gentry’s first ever mission with the infamous Goon Squad twelve years ago. 

After being branded persona non grata once again following the events of Relentless, Courtland Gentry is operating in the shadows as a hitman with strong moral codes. During a straightforward mission to plant surveillance bugs in the Turkish embassy in Algiers, Gentry gets more than he bargained for when he comes across a man who was supposedly killed twelve years ago. When Gentry takes a shot at his target, his cover is blown and his tech support for this particular mission, an Indian college grad, is captured. Racing against time, he follows the trail to India where he finds out his past isn’t done with him just yet. 

There’s no denying the appeal of vivid and breathtakingly awesome action sequences in the Gray Man books. Sierra Six pushes the envelop of realistic and cinematic shootouts and hand-to-hand combat without tipping into the unbelievable. Whether Gentry’s taking out his adversaries with lightning quick headshots or jumping from one building to another in a wild foot pursuit in the urban sprawls of India, the beautifully descriptive narration keeps you on the edge of your seat with its WOW factor.

Gray Man has always been an enigma for readers. Mark Greaney reveals trickles of Gentry’s past but never the complete picture. It comes as a huge game-changer that Sierra Six dives deep into the makings of Gentry as the withdrawn and relentless assassin with a penchant for undertaking the most dangerous contracts and missions. We see Gentry as a young singleton operator in his mid-20’s who has grown comfortable in operating on his own. Against the wishes of his handler, he is added to the Golf Sierra team, led by Zack Hightower, after the team loses a member during a time sensitive mission in Pakistan. This book is undoubtedly one of the lengthier Gray Man books, but for great reason as we get to see Gentry’s uneasy interactions with his team and his makings as a fluid and adaptive team-player with wisdom imparted on him by his experiences from his first mission with the Golf Sierra team, a mission that heartbreakingly molds him into an even more ruthless killing machine.

I noticed some inconsistencies with regards to location research and cultural and linguistic nuances. The story takes place predominantly in South East Asia, particularly India and Pakistan. Research on India was laudably extensive despite the COVID travel restrictions. However, descriptions of Pakistan and the spoken languages (Hindi-Urdu) felt a bit alien based on my exhaustive experiences in the region. This could have simply been a fluke due to aforementioned COVID restrictions but came as a slight shock as Mark Greaney’s writings have always captured and reflected realistic descriptions of environments and situations. 

Sierra Six fuels the readers with dangerously high doses of adrenaline from its rapidly evolving plot and escalating action sequences while grounding the story with pragmatic characters and unnerving threats of the modern world. Not only is this one of the best Gray Man thrillers so far, but will also undoubtedly be one of the most talked about thrillers for 2022. Buckle in for a reading frenzy because the Gray Man is back with a bang!

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City Of The Dead By Jonathan Kellerman

City of the Dead is an unconventional thriller, but certainly one of the most grounded and classiest police procedurals of the decade. With the charismatic LA backdrop for a slew of murders that may or may not be connected, the narrative is a slow burn but deeply insightful and irresistible.

When a woman is brutally murdered in her apartment along with an unidentifiable young man, Detective Milo Sturgis calls upon the brilliant expertise of Psychologist Alex Delaware to aid the investigation due to the disturbing nature of the crime scene. Starting from scratch, Alex and Milo unearth clues through logical and reasonable deductions that exhibit a true-crime investigation vibe as opposed to a pure fictional one. Both leading characters balance out the proper crime solving essentials, with Milo taking up the charge of hardcore door to door police-work while Alex calls upon his instincts to psychoanalyze the suspects and the crimes, marking a dynamic and memorable crime-solving duo.

Johnathan Kellerman writes an easy-to-follow prose with a kindred sense of relatability that works in perfect harmony with Alex’s first person POV. This is one of the rare few narratives where the setting takes a life of its own. LA’s vibrant and sometimes sinister aura is elegantly described with simple but effective words along with complimenting characters that seem so real and plausible that we begin to truly care for them. The dogged determination of the leads keeps you gripped with the anticipation of the big reveal that hits you like a freight train from the least expected direction.

If you’re yearning for something besides an ordinary thriller with cool tidbits about solving crimes the old-fashioned way and a surprisingly uplifting message, you can’t go wrong with City of the Dead.

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Dark Horse By Gregg Hurwitz

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Get ready for Orphan X’s darkest mission yet as he finds himself in a situation that tests him and his humanity like never before. Gregg Hurwitz never shies away from exploring the moral complexities of Evan Smoak’s struggle to keep a grip on his sanity in a world of unfiltered violence, but Dark Horse ratchets up the darkness inside the formidable assassin when he has no choice but to go over to the dark side.

Reeling over from the explosive cliffhanger of Prodigal Son with bombshell revelations, Evan Smoak is sought out by an unorthodox businessman who dabbles in the illegal drug industry. A far point from Smoak’s moral compass, Evan reluctantly steps in to help because a teenage girl’s life hangs in balance. From the get-go, there is a strong feeling reverberating from the pages that nothing is what it seems and sure enough, the truth rocks Orphan X’s mission from difficult to darn-near impossible. Perfect odds to showcase Smoak’s ingenuity and action acumen.  

Orphan X thrillers pack some of the best action sequences in recent thrillers and Dark Horse keeps that tradition going with realistic hand-to-hand combat and kinetic shootouts. Gregg Hurwitz also puts Evan Smoak in the spotlight as he goes through serious emotional dilemmas that put him through the wringer, giving an insight into his vulnerability like never before. The culmination is a big milestone in Evan’s extraordinary character development, one that will surely change things going forward.

Dark Horse is an incredibly meaningful story of self-exploration and what it takes to be humane against all odds, packed in a barrage of uppercuts, knife jabs, and hot lead flying in all directions. In typical Gregg Hurwitz fashion, the tense cliffhanger makes it barely humanly possible to wait until the next book!

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Restitution By John A. Daly

Restitution offers hard-hitting action spearheaded by a badass protagonist who talks the talk and walks the walk in a brutal story of surviving an unforgiving territory.

Sean Coleman is on a bachelor party run to Vegas with his brother-in-law, and the groom-to-be buddy. A chance encounter reunites Coleman with an old flame. What starts off as an innocent night with emotions running high, turns sinister as Coleman and his old flame are taken captive by a crime syndicate who believe Coleman to have come into money recently that belonged to the crime boss he helped put away. Coleman has to fight his way out of the desolate Nevada desert when he finds out his captor is a vile man on the path for restitution with a personal agenda against Coleman and his brother-in-law. The narrative takes place over the course of one night as Coleman uses all his wits and prowess with weapons and hand to hand combat to get the upper hand on his enemies in the harsh environment of rocky and dangerously slippery terrain with no time for caution.  

Even as I jumped in without prior knowledge of the previous books in the series, John A. Daly’s attention to familiarizing the readers with the characters through meaningful interactions and essential past-books-knowledge went a long way to get me hooked in quickly. As soon as the characters are established, the narrative cranks up the action to the maximum level throughout the remainder of the story with explosive and stellar shootouts that capture the frightening essence of realistic action sequences where the ammunition is numbered and each shot counts. Every kick, punch, and gunshot are written vividly and as clearly as an HD resolution for a truly impressive experience without getting in its own way.

Topping off the constant action is a beautifully simple and linear story that keeps you on your toes with its unpredictability without venturing out into improbability. Keeping the locale fixed and grounded in this story prompted an emphatic focus on well-developed and enjoyable characters you actually care about. John A. Daly brings a charmingly vulnerable protagonist to the thrillerverse table without letting him be overshadowed by any other identical character.

Written in the vein of old-school stories of revenge, familial bonds, and relentless action, Restitution is a definite must-read.

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The Moscow Protocol By Terrence McCauley

The Moscow Protocol is an excellent addition to the pulpy adrenaline-soaked techno-thriller espionage series that Terrance McCauley has created and enchanted with unparalleled freshness and ingenuity. 

Following the events of the previous book very closely, The University, a secret US-based spy organization, is geared up for a war against its evil twin, The Vanguard, that aims to spread fear and chaos through acts of terrorism of the direst consequences. James Hicks, Dean of The University, plans a full-frontal offensive with intricate attacks on those that murdered his love. Recovering from his previous ordeal, Hicks guides his agents in the most conniving of ways to settle the score once and for all.

More often than not, thrillers focus solely on the protagonist and the antagonist and leave the rest of the characters to wither out. Terrance McCauley sidesteps this landmine and maintains an engaging atmosphere and personality for each asset in the University, resulting in a diverse bunch of characters that beckon you to care and root for them in their missions. While James Hicks is very much the main character of this series, you can’t help but admire his underlings as they impress you their distinctively captivating personas, courtesy of McCauley’s brilliance with writing a palatial roster of guys and gals for whom you would love to read any and all spin-off stories.

With the hostile nature of the plot nature comes knuckle-busting action. Terrance McCauley’s action sequences are exquisite in their lightening-pace and unbridled bloodshed with technical and tactical authenticity without going overboard with any of the equipment. The focus is on the kinetic and fluid situation with a healthy dose of chaos and adrenaline. 

With a direct connection to the previous books in the series, I highly recommend that you read The Moscow Protocol after having read the previous 3 books for the perfect emotional action-packed payoff to a smart and wildly unpredictable story arc.

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Code Green By Andrew Warren

Code Green is one of the best crosses between classic neo-noir storytelling and modern fast-paced action-fest thrillers. From underwater cave-diving harpoon shootouts to cinematic vehicular chases with blazing guns all around, Andrew Warren writes an excellent global and exotic spy thriller that is every bit as poignant as it is enthralling. 

Thomas Caine is back with a vengeance as he continues to dismantle a dangerous syndicate run by disgruntled intelligence gurus with an agenda to blackmail the most powerful heads of states. When a mysterious asset reaches out with promising and time-sensitive information, Caine must go out in the field once again and confront his haunting past, a mission that concludes with an emotionally empowering and fiery finale. 

Andrew Warren’s prose reads like beautiful poetry with vivid descriptions of the exotic locales and awe-inspiring action sequences that hold you in the hot seat. Globetrotting from Virginia to Singapore, all the way to Vietnam, Andrew Warren truly captures the unique and vibrant wavelengths of each setting as he catapults his protagonist into the line of fire with ingenious and unbarred shootouts, fisticuffs, and adrenaline-pumping pursuits that elicit a loud applause even at 3 in the morning. 

With a mostly Thomas Caine centric narrative, Andrew Warren makes full use of exploring the evolving psyche of his protagonist. Long time fans of this series are in for a treat as Caine’s characterization evolves in a meaningful realistic fashion, considering the harsh events he has been through in the previous books. Yet with all the emotional baggage, Caine still retains his spunky and somewhat dark charisma that will have readers following him wherever he goes. 

Code Green has enough smart twists and turns to keep you flipping through the pages long into the night with no intention of closing the book. By the time you figure out it’s already the next day, you’re so close to the resolution that you risk it all just to find out what happens next. Only a handful of authors can balance engrossing storytelling with high octane action, and Code Green is concrete proof that Andrew Warren is one of these authors.

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Road Of Bones By Christopher Golden

Road of Bones is truly a bone-chilling memorable horror tale set in the harsh and vastly unexplored setting of Siberia in a whole new atmosphere. It took me less than a day to finish it, despite my best intentions to take my time with it. Once the narrative picks up, it doesn’t let go of your attention until the haunting climax.

Felix Teigland, an American documentary producer, takes a road trip along with his friend and investor to a town in Siberia known to be the coldest place on Earth in the hopes of making a brand-new documentary capturing its spooky history and local folktales. The journey takes them on a lengthy highway connecting the desolate town to the rest of the civilization, a highway that serves as a burial ground for prisoners of the Russian Gulag. Once they reach the town, they observe no presence at all; Home-cooked meals left untouched, belongings left behind, and footsteps leading to the dark forest nearby. Only a little girl is left behind who remains in catatonic state. Quickly, the visitors are exposed to a horror unlike any they’ve experienced before, a horror borne of supernatural elements that will stop at nothing to get to them. 

Christopher Golden’s Road of Bones rivals the best of the horror genre. The powerfully vivid descriptions of the extremely cold terrain fill you with a deep-rooted sense of gratitude for the warmth radiating from a sunny forecast. There is an eerie awareness of impending doom from the very first sentence of the story. As the story progresses, the characters become more relatable, the situation more immersive, and the fear more palpable. Ordinarily, supernatural horror thrillers can feel disconnected from reality. However, the behavior of the characters in the tense situations make you question what would you do in such a predicament in a manner that pushes away the disbelief.

Road of Bones thrills and scares with no bounds. The fact that the highway known as Road of Bones actually exists with a horrible backstory lends credence to the storyline. You’ll be thinking about this haunted fable long after you’ve finished it. A surprising but undoubtedly stunning read from start to finish.

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Purchase Road Of Bones
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

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