Meet BTB Reviewer Kashif Hussain

 
 

Background: Reading has morphed from a hobby into an addiction - no complaints there. When I'm not reading, I'm usually wondering what next cool thing I can try in the world of advancing technology. But I'm always thinking about what's my next book. Thriller is my favorite genre, but I dabble in other genres too.

Go-To Author: Mark Greaney - there's no doubt that if you're itching for a great story that packs supreme action and high stakes, you can’t go wrong with Greaney. His Gray Man books are some of the most phenomenal action thrillers you’ll read and he continues to outdo himself and stay with the new trends in the thrillerverse.

Author People Should Discover: Jethro Wegener - he made his debut splash quite recently with a black protagonist in the racial tensions of 60's and 70's who embodies the physicality of Reacher with a lot more violence and witty one-liners. Wegener knows how to keep you hooked and entertained and sometimes, that's the best thing you need after a long hard day.


Book You Would Recommend From 2024: Burn Out by Joshua Hood - an epic and grounded story of a smokejumper who comes upon a devious conspiracy in the heat of a dangerous fire spreading across the mountains of California’s notorious Emerald Triangle. It’s a thrilling experience to dive into the shoes of the protagonist as he battles man and nature!

Most-Anticipated Book Of 2025: Famous by Blake Crouch. Crouch's mind-bending tales are riveting to say the least and I am ready to have my reality shattered by his latest take on how we perceive our world vs how it actually may be.

Favorite Local Bookstore: Barnes and Noble at Firewheel Town Center; great selection of books and delicious cookies.

Favorite Charities: Miracle Foundation is an international nonprofit organization for children. Focused on orphans in need and partnered with over 300 orphanages in India.

Follow Kashif on Twitter Facebook and Instagram or contact him via the site.

View Kashif’s Latest Reviews (book pub. dates)

The Survivor by Andrew Reid (3/24/26)
The Second Son by Simon Gervais & Ryan Steck (11/11/25)
The Tin Men by Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille (10/28/25)
Sidewinder by Andrew Warren & Ross Sidor (9/15/25)
Kill Code by Alex Shaw (8/9/25)
The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (8/5/25)
Departure 37 by Scott Carson (8/5/25)
Last Chance by Stephen Leather (7/31/25)
Fade In by Kyle Mills (7/29/25)
The Confessions by Paul Bradley Carr (7/22/25)
An Even Chance of Violence by Jethro Wegener (7/18/25)
The Twilight Town By Terrence McCauley (7/15/25)
Supreme Justice by Eric Bishop (7/15/25)
Ghost Cell by Zac Topping (7/15/25)
The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos (7/8/25)
The Elias Enigma by Simon Gervais (7/8/25)
Welcome to Cottonmouth by Jay S. Bell (7/8/25)
Edge of Honor by Brad Thor (7/1/25)
The Medusa Protocol by Rob Hart (6/24/25)
Dead Reckoning by Rob Sinclair (6/23/25)
Blunt Force by Aiden Bailey (6/15/25)
Blood Feud by Martin Rooney (6/3/25)
The Palace of Sinners and Saints by Ammar Merchant (5/20/25)
Tom Clancy's Line of Demarcation by M.P. Woodward (5/20/25)
Tokyo Black by Andrew Warren (5/6/25)
Shot Clock by Andrew Bourelle (5/6/25)
A Thousand Natural Shocks by Omar Hussain (5/6/25)
Nightshade by Michael Connelly (4/28/25)
Rogue Frontier by Jason Kasper (4/15/25)
Senseless by Ronald Malfi (4/15/25)
The Price of Everything by Jon McGoran (4/8/25)
Hard Town by Adam Plantinga (4/8/25)
The Memory Ward by Jon Bassoff (3/4/25)
Where the Bones Lie by Nick Kolakowski (3/11/25)
Don't Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp (3/4/25)
Wolf Six by Alex Shaw (2/27/25)
Midnight Black by Mark Greaney (2/18/25)
Cold Hit by Cole Chase (2/14/25)
The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey (2/11/25)
Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz (2/11/25)
Blood Ties by Jo Nesbø (2/11/25)
All The Time by Lincoln James (2/1/25)
The Oligarch's Daughter by Joseph Finder (1/28/25)
The Mailman by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (1/28/25)
Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (1/28/25)
Shock Front by Aiden L. Bailey (1/19/25)
Caribbean Harvest by Steve Stratton (1/14/25)
Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Vendetta by Brian Freeman (1/14/25)
Babylon Will Rise by Eric Bishop (12/5/24)
Deadbeat by Adam Hamdy (12/3/24)
Nobody's Hero by M.W. Craven (12/3/24)
New Beginning by Lukas Walker (11/19/24)
Hotel Lucky Seven by Kōtarō Isaka (11/19/24)
The Collaborators by Michael Idov (11/19/24)
Tokyo Swindlers by Ko Shinjo (11/12/24)
Origin Story by A.M. Adair (10/22/24)
Run by Blake Crouch (10/22/24)
Warlord Actual by Aiden Bailey (10/6/24)
The Elias Network by Simon Gervais (10/1/24)
Break Every Rule by Brian Freeman (9/10/24)
Capture or Kill by Don Bentley`(9/3/24)
The Accomplice by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Aaron Philip Clark (9/3/24)
An Honorable Assassin by Steve Hamilton (8/27/24)
Enemy of the State by Robert Swartwood (8/20/24)
Worth Killing For by Max Luther (8/15/24)
Burn Out by Joshua Hood (8/13/24)
Shadow of Doubt by Brad Thor (8/6/24)
Double Threat by Patrick Weill (8/1/24)
In Any Lifetime by Marc Guggenheim (8/1/24)
The Recruiter by Gregg Podolski (7/23/24)
Shades of Mercy By Bruce Borgos (7/16/24)
The Bang Bang Sisters by Rio Youers (7/16/24)
The Bourne Shadow by Brian Freeman (7/16/24)
Cage of Traitors By Aiden L Bailey (7/11/24)
The Tennessee Killers by Jethro Wegener (7/2/24)
Sentinel by Mark Greaney (6/25/24)
Standing Strong by Stephen Leather (6/20/24)
Red Sky Mourning by Jack Carr (6/18/24)
Breach of Trust by Eric P. Bishop (6/18/24)
Ghost Jumper by A. A. Warren (6/11/24)
A Warrior's Path by Steve Stratton (6/11/24)
A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson (6/11/24)
Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart (6/11/24)
The Devil's Fortress by Dale Brown (5/28/24)
If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay (05/28/24)
Act of Defiance by Andrews and Wilson (5/21/24)
A Spy Like Me by Kim Sherwood (4/23/24)
Catchpenny by Charlie Huston (4/9/24)
Mal Goes to War by Edward Ashton (4/9/24)
Day of Wrath by Matthew Cricchio (4/8/24)
Deep Cover by Aiden Bailey (4/7/24)
Guns and Almond Milk by Mustafa Marwan (4/2/24)
4 Minutes by Andrews & Wilson (4/2/24)
City in Ruins by Don Winslow (04/2/24)
Lethal Horizon by Jason Kasper (3/26/24)
Lethal Action by Andrew Warren & Aiden Bailey (3/19/24)
Cape Rage by Ron Corbett (3/19/24)
On the Run by Max Luther (3/14/24)
To Kill a Shadow By Julia Castleton (3/2/24)
Outlaw by Jack Stewart (2/20/24)
The Chaos Agent by Mark Greaney (2/20/24)
Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz (2/13/24)
Crosshairs by James Patterson and James O. Born (2/12/24)
Black Cordite, White Snow by Nate Granzow (2/11/24)
The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes (2/6/24)
The Price You Pay by Nick Petrie (2/6/24)
The Trigger Man by Aiden Bailey (1/31/24)
The Mountain King by Anders de la Motte (1/30/24)
The Ascent by Adam Plantinga (1/2/24)
The Girl Beyond Forever by Adam Loxwood (12/12/23)
Shadowfast Trilogy (Metal Lies) by Cole Chase (12/12/23)
Night Owl by Andrew Mayne (12/1/23)
Assassin's Mark by Ward Larsen (11/28/23)
Unknown Rider by Jack Stewart (11/21/23)
The Warmaker by Benjamin Spada (11/15/23)
The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak (11/14/23)
The Doomsday Code by Sara Yager (11/14/23)
Devil's Own Day by Joe Goldberg (11/14/23)
Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi (11/14/23)
A New Game by A.M. Adair (10/27/23)
Baltic Black Ops By Stephen Leather (10/26/23)
The Secret by Lee Child and Andrew Child (10/24/23)
The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett (10/24/23)
Blood Lines by Nelson DeMille & Alex DeMille (10/10/23)
The Defector by Chris Hadfield (10/10/23)
Ransomed Daughter by Eric Bishop (10/10/23)
The Last Guardian by Simon Gervais (10/10/23)
Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver (10/5/23)
The Night House by Jo Nesbo (10/3/23)
Moscow X by David McCloskey (10/3/23)
Dead Hand by James Stejskal (9/21/23)
The Traitor by Ava Glass (9/19/23)
The Exploit by Daniel Scanlon (9/14/23)
The Belgrade Conspiracy by Jason Kasper (9/12/23)
Code Red by Kyle Mills (9/12/23)
77 North by D. L. Marshall (9/7/23)
Tom Clancy's Weapons Grade by Don Bentley (9/5/23)
White Fire by Adam Hamdy (8/31/23)
Shadow Sanction by Steve Stratton (8/30/23)
The Killing Room by Robert Swartwood (8/22/23)
Fadeaway Joe by Hugh Lessig (8/22/23)
What Still Burns by Elle Grawl (8/15/23)
The Last One by Will Dean (8/8/23)
Deadlock by James Byrne (8/8/23)
The Sandbox by Andrews and Wilson (7/25/23)
The Bourne Defiance by Brian Freeman (7/25/23)
Dead Fall by Brad Thor (7/25/23)
Clean Kill by Stephen Leather (7/20/23)
The Bitter Past by Bruce Borgos (7/18/23)
Sleepless City by Reed Farrel Coleman (7/11/23)
Fearless by M. W. Craven (7/11/23)
Soon Dies the Day by Stephen England (6/30/23)
The Guardian by Joshua Hood (6/27/23)
Disarm by Lukas Walker (6/23/23)
Shrouded in Darkness by Charles Hack (6/23/23)
The Eden Initiative by David Scott (6/15/23)
Inside Threat by Matthew Quirk (6/13/23)
What Remains by Wendy Walker (6/13/23)
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby (6/6/23)
Endless Vessel by Charles Soule (6/6/23)
Six Bullets to a Man by Jethro Wegener (6/2/23)
The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S. Berry (5/30/23)
Weapons of Opportunity by Dale Brown (5/30/23)
Triggers by Stephen Leather (5/28/23)
Dark Horizon by James Swallow (5/25/23)
Flash Point by Don Bentley (5/23/23)
The Last Songbird by Daniel Weizmann (5/23/23)
The Devil You Know by Chris Hauty (5/23/23)
Dead Drop by M.P Woodward (5/23/23)
Only the Dead by Jack Carr (5/16/23)
Forgotten War by Don Bentley (4/25/23)
City of Dreams by Don Winslow (4/18/23)
The Instructor by T.R. Hendricks (4/11/23)
Double or Nothing by Kim Sherwood (4/11/23)
Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen (4/4/23)
The Guilty One by Bill Schweigart (3/21/23)
Robert Ludlum's The Treadstone Rendition by Joshua Hood (3/16/23)
Wolf Trap by Connor Sullivan (3/14/23)
Deep Fake by Ward Larsen (3/14/23)
Beast Three Six by Jason Kasper (3/14/23)
Red London by Alma Katsu (3/14/23)
Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton (3/14/23)
The Mazatlan Showdown by Patrick Weill (3/13/23)
What Have We Done by Alex Finlay (3/7/23)
Death Watch by Stona Fitch (3/2/23)
The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson (2/28/23)
Net Force: Moving Target by Jerome Preisler (2/21/23)
Dempsey by Andrews & Wilson (2/21/23)
Burner by Mark Greaney (2/21/23)
Black Wolf by Kathleen Kent (2/14/23)
The Last Orphan by Gregg Hurwitz (2/14/23)
The Bullet Garden by Stephen Hunter (1/24/23)
Shadow State by Andy McNab (1/5/23)
Still Standing by Stephen Leather (1/5/23)
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Dragonfire by James Swallow (1/3/23)
Murder Book By Thomas Perry (1/3/23)
Amok by Barry Eisler (12/6/22)
Red Winter by Marc Cameron (12/6/22)
Judas 62 by Charles Cumming (12/6/22)
One of Those Faces by Elle Grawl (12/1/22)
Rio Grande Night by Stephen Leather (11/27/22)
NYPD Red 7: Murder Sorority by Marshall Karp (11/22/22)
Little Black Crimes by Nathaniel Blackhelm (11/20/22)
Whispers of a Gypsy by JT Patten (11/18/22)
Rebellious Son by Joe Goldberg (11/15/22)
The Survivor by Simon Conway (11/3/22)
No Plan B by Lee Child and Andrew Child (10/25/22)
The Blackbriar Genesis by Simon Gervais (10/18/22)
The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy (10/11/22)
The Furies by John Connolly (9/27/22)
Oath of Loyalty by Kyle Mills (9/13/22)
Blowback by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois (9/12/22)
The Hacker by Daniel Scanlan (9/1/22)
Kingdom of Spies by Bevan G. Roberts (9/1/22)
Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger (8/23/22)
Narco Assassins by Jason Kasper (8/23/22)
Out of the Blue by M.M. Harrold 8/20/22
Firestorm by Taylor Moore (8/16/22)
Dark Harvest by Will Jordan (8/16/22)
The Titan Protocol by David Scott (8/16/22)
Heat 2 by Meg Gardiner & Michael Mann (8/9/22)
The Last Sentinel by Simon Gervais (8/9/22)
The Neighborhood by Matthew Betley (8/9/22)
I Will Kill You by Halo Scot (8/8/22)
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (8/6/22)
A Simple Choice by David Pepper (8/2/22)
Alias Emma by Ava Glass (8/2/22)
FNG by Benjamin Spada (7/31/22)
The Bourne Sacrifice by Brian Freeman (7/26/22)
The Nameless Height by J.D. Narramore (7/21/22)
Dirty War by Stephen Leather (7/21/22)
The It Girl by Ruth Ware (7/12/22)
The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci (7/12/22)
Dark Objects by Simon Toyne (7/12/22)
Upgrade by Blake Crouch (7/12/22)
Into the Darkness by Charles Hack (7/8/22)
Rising Tiger by Brad Thor (7/5/22)
Armored by Mark Greaney (7/5/22)
Outside by Ragnar Jonasson (6/28/22)
China Hand by Scott Spacek (6/21/22)
Shadow Tier by Steve Stratton (6/14/22)
Cold Fear by Brandon Webb & John David Mann (6/7/22)
Zero Hour by Don Bentley (6/7/22)
Snowstorm in August by Marshall Karp (6/7/22)
Sons of Valor II: Violence of Action by Andrews and Wilson (6/7/22)
The Gatekeeper by James Byrne (6/7/22)
It Dies with You by Scott Blackburn (6/7/22)
The Handler by M.P. Woodward (5/31/22)
Airside James Swallow by (5/26/22)
In the Blood by Jack Carr (5/17/22)
The Island by Adrian McKinty (5/17/22)
With Prejudice by Robin Peguero (5/17/22)
Countdown To Midnight By Dale Brown (5/17/22)
Child Zero by Chris Holm, out on (5/10/22)
Robert B. Parker's Revenge Tour by Mike Lupica (5/3/22)
The 13th Hour: Chaos by Richard Doetsch (5/3/22)
Storm Rising by Chris Hauty (5/3/22)
Hostile Intent by Don Bentley (5/3/22)
City on Fire by Don Winslow (4/26/22)
Cold Snap by Marc Cameron (4/26/22)
The Sweet Goodbye By Ron Corbett (4/19/22)
The Investigator by John Sanford (4/12/22)
Assassin's Edge by Ward Larsen (4/12/22)
Standing Alone by Stephen Leather (4/5/22)
Dark Angel by Andrews & Wilson (4/5/22)
The Treadstone Transgression by Joshua Hood (4/5/22)
Watch Dogs: Stars & Stripes by Sean Grigsby & Stewart Hotston (4/1/22)
Wild Card by Stephen England (3/18/22)
Shadow War by A.M. Adair (3/15/22)
Shadows Reel by C.J. Box (3/8/22)
The Baja Directive by Craig Hooper (3/4/22)
Splinter Cell: Firewall by James Swallow (3/1/22)
The Night Shift by Alex Finlay (3/01/22)
Grim Measures by David Darling (2/27/22)
Those Who Hunt Wolves by Harrison Taylor (2/22/22)
No Second Chances by Rio Youres (2/22/22)
Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett (2/22/22)
Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton (2/15/22)
Margaret Truman's Murder at the CDC by Jon Land (2/15/22)
Sierra Six by Mark Greaney (2/15/22)
City of the Dead by Jonathan Kellerman (2/8/22)
Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz (2/8/22)
Restitution by John A. Daly (2/8/22)
The Moscow Protocol by Terrance McCauley (2/2/22)
Code Green by Andrew Warren (1/25/22)
Road of Bones by Christopher Golden (1/25/22)
Undermoney by Jay Newman (1/25/22)
Targeted by Stephen Hunter (1/18/22)
The Runaway by Nick Petrie (1/18/22)
End of Days by Brad Taylor (1/11/22)
Bye Bye Baby by Ace Atkins (1/11/22)
Box 88 by Charles Cumming (1/11/22)
Insurrection Day by Chris Hauty (1/4/22)
Covert Kill by Jason Kasper (12/21/21)
Rogue Asset by Brian Andrews and Jeffery Wilson (12/7/21)
48 Hours to Kill by Andrew Bourelle (12/07/21)
Sea Hawke by Ted Bell (12/7/21)
Sympathy for the Devil by Terrence McCauley 12/01/21
A Time to Kill by Kronos Ananthsimha (11/23/21)
Twentymile by C. Matthew Smith (11/19/21)
Project Icarus by RD Shah (11/18/21)
A Shot to Kill by Kronos Ananthsimha (11/16/21)
Chain of Command by Marc Cameron (11/16/21)
The Body Man by Eric P. Bishop (11/11/21)
Game On by Janet Evanovich (11/02/21)
The Last Protector by Simon Gervais (11/1/21)
Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe (11/1/21)
The Nameless Ones by John Connolly (10/26/21)
Better Off Dead by Lee Child and Andrew Child (10/26/2021)
Security Day by Matt Cricchio (10/17/21)
The Lion's Paw by Stephen England (10/15/21)
The Kill Box by Rip Rawlings (10/5/21)
Appointment in Tehran by James Stejskal (10/01/21)
A Time for Monsters by Gareth Worthington (9/28/21)
Whitesands by Johann Thorsson (9/26/21)
Enemy at the Gates by Kyle Mills (9/14/21)
Last Target Standing by Jason Kasper (9/14/21)
KGB Banker by William McCormick (9/10/21)
Pantheon 2: Ares & Athena by K. R. Paul (9/9/21)
Left for Dead by Sean Parnell (9/7/21)
The Island by Ben Coes (8/17/21)
Down Range by Taylor Moore (8/3/21)
Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka (8/3/21)
Assassin's Dawn by Ward Larsen (8/2/21)
The Bourne Treachery by Brian Freeman (7/27/21)
Traitors by Alex Shaw (7/23/21)
Black Ice by Brad Thor (7/20/21)
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (7/6/21)
Falling by T.J. Newman (7/6/21)
Sleeping Bear by Connor Sullivan (7/6/21)
Shadow Masters by J.T. Patten (7/4/21)
The Impostor by David Temple (7/1/21)
Stealth Attack by John Gilstrap (6/29/21)
Cthulhu Reloaded by David Conyers (6/24/21)
Shadow Target by David Ricciardi (6/15/21)
The Tipping Point by David Darling (6/15/21)
Sons of Valor by Andrews & Wilson (6/8/21)
Target Acquired by Don Bentley (6/8/21)
The Spy Devils by Joe Goldberg (5/26/21)
Warshot by Don Keith and George Wallace (5/25/21)
A Hostile State by Adrian Magson (5/4/21)
Bone Rattle by Marc Cameron (4/27/21)
Red Wolves by Adam Hamdy (4/15/2021)
The Devil’s Hand by Jack Carr (4/13/21)
A Dangerous Freedom by John Ruane (3/31/21)
Renegade by Rob Sinclair (3/30/21)
The Bounty by Janet Evanovich (3/23/21)
Red Widow by Alma Katsu (3/23/21)
Nemesis by Anthony Riches (3/4/21)
Czar of England by Ian Kharitonov (3/3/21)
The Outside Man by Don Bentley (3/2/21)
Family Business by J.J. Fauser (2/28/2021)
All Fall Down by James Brabazon (2/18/21)
Relentless by Mark Greaney (2/16/21)
The Treadstone Exile by Joshua Hood (2/2/21)
Prodigal Son by Gregg Hurwitz (1/26/21)
The Enemies Of My Country by Jason Kasper (1/15/21)
Savage Road by Chris Hauty (1/5/21)
The Deeper Shadow by A.M. Adair (11/30/20)
Drone Strike by David Austin (11/25/20)
Time to Hunt by Simon Gervais (11/10/20)
The Sentinel by Andrew Child (10/27/20)
Get Idiota by Nate Granzow (10/1/20)
The Hidden Vector by Matthew Snyder (9/28/20)
Total Power by Kyle Mills (9/15/20)
Rogue State by Ross Sidor (8/24/20)
The Buffalo Pilot by Lawrence A. Colby (8/21/20)
Assassin's Strike by Ward Larsen (8/18/20)
The Stranger by Simon Conway (8/13/20)
The Bourne Evolution by Brian Freeman (7/28/20)
Near Dark by Brad Thor (7/21/20)
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby (7/14/20)
All The Good Men by Craig N. Hooper (6/17/20)
Rogue by James Swallow (5/28/20)
Broken by Don Winslow (4/7/2020)
Curse the Day by Judith O'Reilly (4/2/20)
One Minute Out by Mark Greaney (2/18/20)
Black 13 by Adam Hamdy (1/23/20)
The Treadstone Resurrection by Joshua Hood (9/17/19)
Presence of Mine Enemies by Stephen England (8/15/2019)
Shadow by James Swallow (5/3/19)
The Break Line by James Brabazon (1/29/19)
Fault Lines by Steven Hildreth Jr. (1/7/19)
Kill for Me by Tom Wood (11/6/18)
Into The Black Nowhere By Meg Gardiner (1/30/18)
Freefall by Adam Hamdy (11/2/17)
The Pendulum by Adam Handy (11/3/16)
Rules for Revenge by Ian Graham (10/2/16)
Raven One by Kevin Miller (8/15/15)
No Tomorrow by Tom Wood (9/02/14)
The Son by Jo Nesbo (5/13/14)
The Cleaner by Mark Dawson (1/3/14)
Veil Of Civility by Ian Graham (4/17/13)
Threat Vector by Tom Clancy-Mark Greaney (12/04/12)
Pandora's Grave by Stephen England (7/29/11)
The Ghosts of Belfast By Stuart Neville (10/1/09)
Veterans Day by Jack Stewart (querying author)
Desperate Pursuit by Kerry Frey (querying author)

The Survivor By Andrew Reid

Andrew Reid’s The Survivor is a fast-paced twisty adventure with an intensity that rivals the best of the race-against-time stories.

A seemingly ordinary day in the subway goes horrendously wrong as a man’s past catches up to him. With an invisible but very real adversary threatening the safety of the others, the man must do whatever he’s told to do in order to keep his fellow passengers safe, realizing that the person on the other end of the line has something very sinister planned for him. Can he outwit the police and the nameless threat before he forfeits his life?

I am thoroughly impressed with how Reid sets this narrative almost completely in a single setting of a subway train yet never loses momentum in keeping readers engaged with a relentless barrage of oh-crap jaw-dropping reveals and an aura of terror that something wild and crazy might happen in the next page, which somehow ends up to be quite the prophecy as you read through the suspenseful story. Reid smartly weaves past and present day storylines together such that each chapter reveals a secret that makes you look at the characters differently. You could be rooting for a character one moment and then questioning all of their actions the next, and then swinging back and forth as the narrative peels off its layers for the final twist that really flips the story on its head. 

The Survivor is a delightfully engaging and intense thriller that delivers copious amounts of adrenaline straight to your bloodstream for a midnight hour reading rampage. Andrew Reid knows how to keep readers thoroughly engaged. 

Follow Kashif on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Survivor
(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

The Second Son By Simon Gervais & Ryan Steck

The Second Son took me by surprise. With names like Simon Gervais and Ryan Steck, I knew it was going to be a blast, but I didn’t realize it would end up in the running for my top thrillers of the year.

Chase Burke isn’t your average sommelier. He’s a great one, but he’s also a former soldier. Thinking he has left that life behind, he sticks to the wine, until an ambush at his restaurant puts him in the crosshairs of some nasty and dangerous individuals who now want their pound of flesh after Burke interrupts a carefully planned attack on a congresswoman. His life unravels as he finds close threads linking to his brother who died in a covert operation and branded a traitor in death. With all points converging, it’s up to Chase Burke to clear his family name and unmask the sinister forces behind the scenes orchestrating terror on a global scale. 

Firstly, I love the action sequences in The Second Son. They’re so crisp and tactically resilient that you find yourself re-reading the execution of the scenes multiple times just by how cool and cinematic they read off. The awesome action compliments the suspense-filled atmosphere of the story that keeps the momentum bustling at a steady pace with some great shocks in between when you least expect it.

The Second Son is an emotionally charged narrative at its core, dealing with themes of family and neglect in the midst of the fast-paced storytelling. The strong character arc for Chase Burke took me back to the time I first read The Terminal List by Jack Carr and was just as moved by its emotionally resonant themes.

Make sure you’ve got The Second Son on your radar for must-reads this year. The cliffhanger ending took my breath away!

Follow Kashif on Twitter or contact him via the site.

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

Barrington Books
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The Tin Men By Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille

The Tin Men is a fascinating old-school investigative thriller that combines the old-school sleuthing-style narrative with the modern atmosphere of artificial intelligence in armed forces. It does a fantastic job at both entertaining as well as educating the general reader on the intricacies and challenges of incorporating the fast-paced developments without compromising safety and security.

Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor face their most perplexing investigation yet when they’re dispatched to a highly secure installation on US soil that’s working on the next generation of combat, that is autonomous killer robots. When a routine inspection results in a gruesome murder, Brodie and Taylor must go into the heart of the darkness to root out the problem, whether it be a ghost in the machine or a human-backed monster. 

Nelson and Alex DeMille masterfully craft this suspenseful story that simmers at the perfect pace, not too fast and not too slow. The investigation unfurls at an engaging pace, filled with deceit, horror, and uncertainty regarding who you can trust in the roster of new characters, if you can trust any at all. This aura of paranoia is utilized to the maximum effect such that you just have to know if it panned out the way you imagine it does. Most likely, it’s going to surprise you. It helps that we get fantastic insights into the topic of autonomous weapons through the differing viewpoints of Brodie and Taylor, who are both trying to get to the truth but share beliefs you’d find on both sides of the spectrum, helping you think through the larger picture.

The Tin Men is an excellent timely thriller with a fascinating subject matter and a killer execution by the DeMille duo. The legacy of Nelson DeMille is in safe hands with Alex DeMille as clearly exhibited in The Tin Men.

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Sidewinder By Andrew Warren & Ross Sidor

Andrew Warren and Ross Sidor pack a tremendous amount of breathtaking action sequences with peak cinematic qualities in Sidewinder.

Paramilitary Officer Thomas Caine is one of the best operatives the country has to offer. That’s why he gets assigned to the most important and almost impossible missions. Operation Sidewinder is his latest assignment where he’s sent to thwart a terrorist attack led by a man from Caine’s past, who’s now in cahoots with a dangerous cartel. He steps into the badlands of narcos and he soon realizes he can only trust himself, especially when it comes to his own superiors.

Warren and Sidor teaming up wasn’t on my bingo list but their collaboration is pure gold. They’re masters of action and it is clearly articulated in copious amounts of tactical and strategic action that plays out in a beautiful fast paced symphony of violence and gunshots. Caine takes no prisoners in this one.

What also caught my immense interest in this narrative is how human Caine is. Despite the large swaths of death he deals, he’s a vulnerable underdog who is super easy to root for. His character continues to evolve as a deeply layered protagonist with a heart of gold. You feel for him despite being caught up in waves of high octane action sequences and the narrative makes it super easy to flow through it all while enjoying the ride.

Sidewinder is a wild ride that reads as smooth as a hot knife through butter. Whether it’s the larger than life characters or the gritty action, it hits the bullseye on all marks. 

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Kill Code By Alex Shaw

Alex Shaw brings back the deadly Ukrainian assassin that we loved in Wolf Six with some great insights into the character while keeping the pace revving on all cylinders. 

Ruslan Akulov finds himself in a plane, not sure how he got there. When the plane crashes, he washes ashore in a small town where he’s detained by shady town officials. If that wasn’t enough, he’s hunted by a face from his past, someone he wants to kill as badly. With new adversaries in play and old friends in danger, Akulov must navigate the threats and put an end to them before they can take him out first. 

Alex Shaw elevates the narrative with a very human touch to Akulov as a man who eats death for breakfast but still holds onto his moral code of exacting justice in a world where very rare amounts are dished out. Shaw concocts a grand storyline that weaves together the past and the present on a global scale as we not only see Akulov fight his way in the present but also get an excellent action-packed glimpse into his past that builds his character for much-appreciated resonance. If Akulov wasn’t one of your favorite assassins so far, he’s bound to become one as soon as you begin your journey with Kill Code. Whether you’re following Akulov on his quest for the truth, his thirst for vengeance, or his desire for penance, you’re in for a memorable read.

Kill Code is a winner, offering an engrossing and entertaining reading experience that combines cinematic action with fast-paced non-linear storytelling executed with finesse. 

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The Art Of A Lie By Laura Shepherd-Robinson

The Art of a Lie is a beautifully-haunting tale of love and violence by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. You’re going to finish it with a broken heart and a thoughtful mind that ponders over the intricacies of what makes us tick.

Set in the 18th Century, we’re introduced to Hannah Cole, a confectioner who’s dealing with the murder of her husband as part of a supposed robbery gone wrong. Barely able to make ends meet, all hope feels lost as the police investigation drains more and more of her lifeline, until she meets William Devereux. Sophisticated and charming, he pledges to help Hannah with her struggles by helping her with the mysterious circumstances around her husband’s death so the police can unfreeze her assets. But is he really the charming person he appears to be? Moreover, is she the unwitting lady she wants the police to think she is?

Even though I’m not one for romantic crime dramas, let alone historical, Laura Shepherd-Robinson won me over. Before I knew it, I was flying through the pages, mesmerized by how 18th century England came to life in my mind through the eloquent descriptions of the author. I found myself deeply invested in seeing the characters meet their fate, almost heartbreakingly. It helps that the story is shrouded in mystery, layering the narrative between well-timed and gut-wrenching twists that flip the narrative on its head repeatedly in the best possible ways.  You’re drawn to the characters in their plights and pain as much as their potential for good, and it’s all conveyed through the characters themselves, with the way they feel and behave that make them all the more real and meaningful for you to invest your emotions in. Even as I finished the book, I was shell-shocked to reel it all in, the enormity of the emotional complexity surrounding the characters’ actions as well as the nuanced nature of the ending.

The Art of a Lie is a fascinating crime drama that burrows into your brain and sits with you as you think back to the entire length of the book, finally unwinding from the suspense and thrills of the narrative. 

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Departure 37 By Scott Carson

Departure 37 is timely, terrifying, and builds upon the best of sci-fi horror genres resulting in one of the most-engaging books I have read this year.

How would the nation react if commercial pilots all over the country got an eerie call from their mothers with one message: “Do not fly today”? That’s the question Scott Carson, a sneaky pseudonym for Michael Koryta, poses in this narrative. Around the same time, a curious sixteen year old Charlie finds a mysterious balloon-like object crash landing near her place. What’s the connection, and how does it all trace back to a 1960’s top secret experiment that would have revolutionized warfare as much as Oppenheimer did, if not more?  These are the burning questions that you’re in store for with this terrific thriller.

This book succeeds at both piquing your curiosity as well as terrifying you past your bedtime. But instead of ghosts or creatures, Carson gives you reasons to fear mankind’s propensity for risking it all in the name of territorial squabbles when unexplained phenomena and scientific discoveries have the power to change the entire world. Seamlessly switching between the present day and the historical context, Carson propels this story to warrant your full attention, dangerously so because you won’t be paying attention to anything else until you get to the final page.

Departure 37 is the perfect read for folks who like their thrillers brimming with relevant topics, historical settings, simmering mystery, and relentless suspense.

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Last Chance By Stephen Leather

Stephen Leather is back with a Dan Shepherd aka Spider headlined thriller that pits the legendary spy against a syndicate of assassins operating on behalf of nation states to silence dissidents in the United Kingdom.

When opponents of the Iranian government are assassinated across the country, MI5 bequeaths the assignment of following the trail of bodies to the responsible parties to none other than Dan Shepherd who is known for getting results no matter what odds are stacked against him. The only question remains, how high must he go up the food chain to ferret out the problem and will that hit closer to home than anyone anticipates?

Last Chance shines with tactical authenticity, pragmatic characters and realistic tradecraft that focuses more on intelligence than brawn. Leather gives the narrative ample space to grow and evolve towards a rational conclusion, very much in-line with his propensity of keeping his Dan Shepherd series as close to tactical and espionage authenticity as possible. I immensely enjoyed the slow-burn nature of the investigation, with the natural flow of conversations and standoffs that pack the gritty rush of action when the time comes to take the gloves off.

Last Chance is an excellent addition to the Dan Shepherd series with a plethora of cool and nerdy insights into the world of intelligence gathering and covert operations. You’ll walk away satisfied yet craving for the next Stephen Leather book.

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Fade In By Kyle Mills

I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Kyle Mills. He rejuvenated Mitch Rapp and kept a powerful legacy motoring full steam ahead. I was quite saddened when Mills’ departed from the series, but now I’m glad that he did because Fade In is the most fun I’ve had reading a thriller in a while. It’s creative, unorthodox and just what the doctor recommends if you’re looking for something new in the genre.

Ex-navy SEAL Salam al-Fayed, a.k.a. Fade, wakes up in a hospital, cheating death for yet another time after he stepped in the path of a sniper’s bullet to save a woman. He has dwindling prospects as a wanted man, until a shadowy organization reaches out to him with a new lease on life - rehabilitating him with mysterious science before unleashing him on his first mission: dealing with the power vacuum stemming from governments being rendered all but useless in the face of a handful of powerful entities controlling global interests. It’s a tall order, but for a man like Fade, it’s just another day at work.

Kyle Mills utilizes a completely distinctive writing style from his days with Mitch Rapp. Where he was previously writing legacy characters, he sets off on his own with Fade: an invigorating, witty, and highly-likable protagonist who you want in your corner when the going gets tough. He’s a sarcastic killing machine and he achieves his goals with a healthy blend of efficiency and style. His ethnicity enhances the narrative - adding some flavor to this fresh experience. 

The action sequences are fast paced and wonderfully succinct in conveying Fade as a force to be reckoned with, providing readers with all the necessary information in tactics and technical aspects while creating a cinematic and immersive experience without bogging down the pace. Very Kyle Mills indeed!

I believe a great thriller balances cool action with a fresh and exciting narrative that doesn’t feel like a rehash of something you’ve read way too many times. Fade In embodies that energy with cool twists and morally-gray character motivations that add a charismatic dimension to the story, ensuring you're invested all that much more. Kyle Mills’ take on a shadowy cabal with somewhat noble and highly pragmatic intentions hits you in the gut and will make you think a little harder about how this world has evolved over the recent years. 

The global stakes make me super excited for all the possible adventures Kyle Mills can pursue in his future Fade adventures, and if there’s anything I can say with certainty after reading Fade In, it’s that he’s creating one of the most fascinating protagonists in the thrillerverse.

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The Confessions By Paul Bradley Carr

The Confessions is a riveting, timely, and educational thriller that is perhaps the most powerful narrative I’ve read in the past year. Paul Bradley Carr’s take on AI and its influence on our day-to-day life is incredibly realistic and one of the most-interesting I have encountered.

In a world where everyone is dependent on AI to chart a course for their lives on a day to day basis, what’s the worst thing that can happen? Paul Bradley Carr answers the question in this story of such an AI inexplicably going offline and unresponsive. The sheer panic and unrest is matched only by the mystery of an assortment of letters being delivered around the world with supposedly each person’s sins that they must atone for. The CEO of the parent company overseeing this AI must pair up with an ex-nun who was there at the beginning to help the AI understand the true meaning of life. Can they get to the bottom of the mystery before the veiled devious plan fully executes? 

It’s impossible to read this narrative and not find stark similarities in our daily life. ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Bard are just a few examples of how ubiquitous AI is becoming for our society. We ask it to plan our day, our travels, our meals, and so much more. This realization makes The Confessions even scarier and more eerie with how it’s not so much of a far-fetched concept as one thought a decade ago. 

On top of mirroring our world, Carr infuses the story with a fast-pace that keeps your interest at maximum levels with one big twist after another. It’s thoroughly thrilling, superbly thought-provoking, and overall an absolutely engaging experience that will have you finishing it in two sittings if not just one prolonged session. The impact however is a long-lasting one as you find yourself pondering over the well-crafted ideas that Carr conveys through his taut writing. 

Hard to believe The Confessions is Carr’s debut in the thrillerverse because it feels like the work of a veteran who balances gritty and grounded human emotions, actions, and the grand stakes so adroitly without the slightest hiccup.

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An Even Chance Of Violence By Jethro Wegener

Jethro Wegener brings back 70’s pulpy action-packed fiestas in retro awesomeness with An Even Chance of Violence.

Hard-Hitting Straight-Talking Duke Gibbs can’t stand bullies. So naturally when he sees some picking on someone, Gibbs dispenses justice with a hard iron fist. That’s when he gets caught up in a cycle of violence aimed at a small community deemed hippie by the unruly racist folks occupying the nearby area. With disappearances racking up and innocent people getting murdered, Gibbs steps in because no one else will.

Wegener veers deep into the mystery and intrigue with this latest thriller, taking readers on a suspense-filled adventure through a historical and dark time in US history. That’s where Duke Gibbs shines more than ever in this environment as he grapples with his propensity for violence while understanding the need to balance out the scales of justice with an even chance of violence (wink-wink). Adding to the suspense-heavy narrative of Gibbs trying to figure out what the fuss is all about are some killer action sequences, particularly one where Gibbs wreaks havoc on the bad guys with his Colt Python and a classic M-14. The gritty and cinematic action sequences alone are worth the cost of admission. 

With such a larger than life protagonist, it’s easy to lose track of what makes such a character tick. However, Wegener maintains a laser-focus on further fleshing out Duke Gibbs as a resonating and engaging hero, despite his almost invincibility, and he does this by showing readers what makes Duke the man he is, through trials of kindness, compassion, and a thirst for justice when all seems to be hopeless.

An Even Chance of Violence is a fast-hitting thriller that pumps you full of adrenaline and excitement with its cool action and sublime storytelling.

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The Twilight Town By Terrence McCauley

Terrence McCauley writes a lean and compelling thriller taken straight from the history books but made so much more alive and tangible. You’ll be bound to look at certain events very differently after reading The Twilight Town.

It’s 1963 in Dallas and Dan Wilson, a Dallas PD Detective, is working undercover with the FBI to uncover a dirty captain in cahoots with the Dallas mob. With growing evidence of corruption that spans the biggest names in history, Dan must navigate a labyrinth of danger and misdirection before he himself becomes a target.

What stands out most in McCauley’s stellar writing is how real The Twilight Town feels. It becomes less like reading a story and more like reliving events of the past that were so beyond our initial comprehension. The lifelike and engaging characters each have their moment in the spotlight that make for a devastating spiral into destitute, or a motivational rise from the bottom. At its heart, The Twilight Town is a crime thriller that is filled to the brim with twists and turns that guarantee a riveting read.

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Supreme Justice By Eric Bishop

Supreme Justice is an enthralling ride through unbridled violence and high-tier suspense that’ll have you finishing this book in a single sitting.

Merci de Atta makes her triumphant return as a highly skilled and unrelenting assassin. Her latest contract puts her right in the crosshairs of a conspiracy involving the possible blackmail of a Supreme Court Associate Justice whose vote on a landmark case would have rippling consequences for all powers. At the same time, Nick Jordan, the current Body Man serving the office of the US President, contends with a haunting discovery of a list of names tied to a powerful secret. As both parties work to solve their crises, they’re bound to cross paths once again, in very unexpected ways.

Eric Bishop rages forward with timely stories, impressive characters, and a pacing that makes it almost impossible to find a good point in the narrative to take a breather. The story advances at lightning speed with gritty action and taut plot twists and turns that feel right at home in this political and espionage thriller. Bishop continues to outshine himself with each book and this one is by far my favorite one in his series. Merci de Atta is easily one of the most distinguished and intriguing assassins I’ve read in recent literature. The balance between her vulnerability in solvent moments and her icy-demeanor in the face of trauma and danger make for a compelling combo to dive into. She stole the spotlight in this one and rightfully so.

Eric Bishop cooks with his signature recipe of unyielding thrills in Supreme Justice. Be warned, the ending will make the wait quite unbearable until Bishop comes up with the next book. 

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Ghost Cell By Zac Topping

Ghost Cell is an action spectacle that throttles ahead with cinematic sequences of sheer mayhem and beautifully grim neo-noir setting of a maybe not so distant future. 

Ander Rade is a super soldier on the run from his previous employers after a rogue operation. He’s slumming it with the Russian Mafia when he gets roped back into the field by an old friend to go undercover with a new outfit that’s sprung up, calling itself Ghost Cell. It’s composed of rogue individuals like Rade, making him the perfect operative to slip in and find out what the cell’s enigmatic leader is up to. Further propelled by the fact that one of Rade’s former comrades is part of the Cell, he sets off on a mission to right some wrongs. Not only must he stay safe from dangerous operatives but he must also outwit a grand scheme of politics and genetic manipulation to uncover the dangerous secret of the Ghost Cell.

It’s my first time reading Zac Topping’s work but I’m convinced I’ll read whatever he puts out next, because Ghost Cell is my kind of thriller. The scale of the action sequences is insanely impressive. He spares no expense at highlighting Rade’s modified abilities as a killer with well-crafted and high adrenaline skirmishes that will have you at the edge of your seat with grand shootouts and brutal close quarters combat. The action works in tandem with stellar characterization of Ander Rade as a protagonist you easily gel with. Even if you haven’t read the first book, you’re able to get a great feel for Rade as a man with a haunted past who wishes nothing more than to reconnect with his people. It’s this simple yet powerful desire that forms the crux of his character arc.

Come for the futuristic action, stay for the wild and addictive ride through awesome twists and thrilling escapades of enhanced human beings and cutthroat politics. Ghost Cell is an incredibly fun and exciting thriller that gives you all that you want to read in a fast-paced twister of a read.

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The Blue Horse By Bruce Borgos

The Blue Horse is Bruce Borgos’s hat trick in the Porter Beck thrillers. He continues to evolve not just the characters but the writing in general to a cohesive and dynamic third installment that feels like the best one of them all.

Porter Beck has his work cut out for him when he witnesses a helicopter crash into the mountains. The situation worsens when the cause is a bullet found lodged in the pilot. Then comes the gnawing politics and scrupulous double crosses, but more than that, it’s a threat that hits close to home for Beck in ways he could never anticipate.

Bruce Borgos takes the best of both slow-burn and fast-paced thrillers and finds the sweet spot in between where investigative thrillers thrive. He starts the narrative on a slope, rounds off as the story gets fleshed out with more clues and twists and keeps a steady pace to ensure readers have ample time to both appreciate and prepare themselves for the discoveries, and then picks up the momentum again at the end for a highly satisfying conclusion. Throughout this all, he never leaves a moment to fall off course; every page feels vital to the narrative and every character plays an interesting role to advance the story with surprise revelations that catch you off-guard.

The Blue Horse is an excellent thriller that hits all the right notes for the most avid thriller aficionados and then some. If you like your modern stories with a touch of western and a lot of thrills, The Blue Horse is a must-read.

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The Elias Enigma By Simon Gervais

Simon Gervais dials up the high-octane adrenaline rush in The Elias Enigma that reads at the breakneck pace of a tomahawk missile.

Caspian Anderson, the venerable assassin codenamed Elias, is coming to grips with the realization that he was used as a pawn in a nefarious game of deception where his handler was effectively using Caspian on unjustified hits. On a personal mission to tie up loose ends, he catches a glimpse of his partner, Liesel Bergmann, where she shouldn’t have been. Before he can find a good answer to his gnawing suspicion, he finds himself facing another global conspiracy, one that involves his own parents. With little time and heavy consequences, it’s showtime for Caspian to put his skills as Elias to lethal use once again.

Simon Gervais hits all the correct notes in the symphony of fast-paced action and a scintillating story that evolves superbly with each chapter. The action sequences are ripe for a big screen adaptation, catering to that sweet blend of cinematic visuals and tactical gravitas to get your hearts racing. It’s all the more better because the action compliments the high-thrills story with an emotional drive for the protagonists and an international presence with descriptions that’ll make you forget you’re reading and not actually experiencing the high-stakes thrills and twists of the conspiracy. 

It’s evident that Caspian Anderson is here to stay as a remarkable protagonist who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Be careful you don’t sit too close to the edge of your seat because The Elias Enigma brings you to the precipice with its non-stop excellence and high quality storytelling where you’re pressed to keep flipping the pages to uncover one suspenseful plot after another.

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Welcome To Cottonmouth By Jay S. Bell

Welcome to Cottonmouth is the kind of thriller you dive into when you’re looking for a killer weekend read: something hardcore and enthralling with an old-school approach to kick-assery.

Welcome to Cottonmouth, a secluded town in Texas. The folks here may seem harmless on the surface, but if you look at their redacted and classified rap sheet, you’ll find they’re no strangers to the world of espionage and violence. In fact, they are retired agents relocated for their own safety under the watchful eyes of the US government. This group is led by Devlin Mahoney, a man with his fair share of secrets. When he runs across two women running from dangerous criminals, Devin must choose between securing his team and saving the women from a very unfortunate fate.

Jay S Bell packs a lot of firepower centered around an impressive emotional core that adds gravitas to the fun thriller. There’s darkness to the core as well as a sense of urgency and intensity that make for a page-turning read. Devlin and his team are a delight to root for, flawed in their ways but nevertheless inspiring and determined to fight for justice. The small-town setting works great to help readers get familiar with the characters in a close-proximity setting before taking the finale to grander locales. 

I found myself easily hooked in and catapulted into the fray with the characters, feeling the adrenaline coursing in me during the gritty and intense action sequences that align with the realistic setting and fast-paced storytelling. The dynamic between the characters is fun and compelling, with intrigue and tension that infuse the story with great momentum.

This seems like a promising start of a new series and I am so excited to get onboard at the very beginning of the ride. Welcome To Cottonmouth is a thriller’s thriller.

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Edge Of Honor By Brad Thor

Brad Thor kicks up the perfect storm with his nail-bitingly intense new thriller that jolts you stronger than a double shot of caffeine. 

When Harvath comes back to the US after a blissful few months of honeymoon with his wife, he expects to leave his old life behind. But trouble has a way of finding him. Caught straight in the crosshairs of growing dissent among the public and the newest administration, Harvath must quickly navigate the quagmire of turning loyalties and dangerous threats to the country that are more internal than external. With the clock ticking, Harvath must fight his way to the truth.

Thor leaves no stone unturned in his mission to entertain readers as the intensity skyrockets from 0 to a 100 within just the first few pages. The action flows smooth like a hot knife through butter, both tactical and cinematic in its execution as Thor nails the chaotic but controlled energy of the action sequences. The action neatly compliments the crisp and fast-paced storytelling as Harvath unravels a conspiracy-laden thread of political maneuvering and violations, the likes of which beckon that we have people like Harvath at the frontlines of fighting for justice and truth. Like a heat-seeking missile, the narrative doesn’t lose momentum in its build-up towards a wild and unpredictable finale.

Edge of Honor stands tall in the sea of thrillers as a worthy addition to the Scot Harvath saga and keeps you coming back for more.

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The Medusa Protocol By Rob Hart

Rob Hart dishes out another great round of kickass philosophical conundrums in the form of an action-packed high octane thriller that not only lives up to its predecessor but exceeds it in a lot of ways. 

The Medusa Protocol sees Astrid (formerly known as the assassin called Azrael) caught up in a mysterious experiment where the group that took her begins to unravel her carefully hidden past. At the same time, her sponsor for Assassins Anonymous, Mark, worries for her abrupt disappearance. The clock’s ticking for Astrid, Mark, and his group of former assassins-turned friends to get to the bottom of the mystery while evading trained killers on their trail.

Rob Hart punches straight in the gut with heavy emotions and fast-paced writing that gel together for a riveting experience without compromising the heart of the narrative. How do killers survive in their world of kill or be killed if they shall no longer kill? That’s the question Rob Hart answers once more in The Medusa Protocol with ingenuity and class. Even as a form of entertainment, the question of the value of a human life and what it means to take one is explored with beautiful subtlety and nuance throughout the story. 

If you’re worried that the emphasis on non-lethal combat may dim the action, you needn’t be concerned. Hart finds fun ways to amp up the action and there are some cool hand-to-hand combat sequences that will immensely please readers craving some hardcore action.

The Medusa Protocol is philosophy and fun-filled action and suspense all-in-one packaging meant to deliver the most out of your reading experience. I love that the story stands on its own with fresh ideas and clever execution.

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