The Hidden Vector By Mathew Snyder

When a jet is hijacked by Chechen militants, it is the job of Ethan Pierce to investigate. Little does he know, that it is just a ploy to kidnap an Iranian with incredible skills and the ability to bring the Earth to its knees.

 Snyder introduces us to his protagonist Ethan Pierce in The Hidden Vector. He is dynamic, brutal, intelligent, and everything a great character should be. I think the part about Pierce that I enjoyed the most was that he was human. All too often, we see these “can’t be touched” characters who rarely ever slip or make mistakes. The humanness of Pierce is a refreshing change and makes him all the more interesting. He is multi-dimensional with my nuanced aspects of his personality and character. He is dunked into this interesting plot where the action is continuous and the twists & turns are plentiful. 

Snyder is a fresh face in the genre, and he’s woven a novel complete with action, adventure, and entertainment. This was a terrific novel that thriller readers everywhere will love. I highly recommend checking it out.

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Total Power By Kyle Mills (Vince Flynn)

This book was incredible. It took an interesting, yet scary look at what America could be if the power infrastructure was to go under. Mitch Rapp has to handle it in typical Rapp fashion.

A few things that are worth noting - this book has a technical side to it, and Mills is spot-on when discussing computers, malware, the infrastructure, and tech in general. Mills also injects his usual humor into his novels. Some people are saying that Mills’ writing is straying further and further from Vince’s, but they say it like it’s a bad thing. I love that Mills has made Rapp his own. Yes, Vince Flynn wrote and created Rapp, but for six years, Rapp has belonged to Mills. I love what Kyle has done with the character and the series. Mills also touched on political topics, but unlike some other authors, he didn’t go overboard in discussing his own political views through the eyes of his characters. I really respect Mills for this.

I’m so happy that Mills has frozen Rapp in age, and I’m excited to see that Mills signed on for three more. I’m interested to where he takes Rapp next. I would personally love to see Mills do whatever he sees best for Rapp next, as opposed to feeling the need to appeal fans of Transfer of Power Rapp. I’d love to see Rapp transform, and I think Total Power was a great start. Thank you for the amazing thriller Kyle.

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The Dirty South By John Connolly

Wow, this book was amazing.

I think it was a great idea for John Connolly to go back and write a prequel. I was extremely interested when I heard that he was exploring Charlie Parker before the first book in the series. This book was loaded with excitement, mystery, and intrigue. Connolly's Shakespearean prose always knocks me off of my feet. He can weave a sentence together like no one else. The Charlie Parker books are always fantastic, and this one was no exception.

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Assassin's Strike By Ward Larsen

I loved this book! David Slaton has developed into an incredible character. I finished this book very quickly, as the fast-paced action was nonstop. Larsen's ability to speak to some in-depth technological aviation aspects which just assists to make it that much more interesting.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller!

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The Grim Alliance By Angela R. Watts

Set in the not-so-distant future, 2027, to be exact, the United States is no more. It is now the Second Civil War between the ConFeds and the Union.

This dystopian thriller comes out of the gates with blazing speed. Watts weaves in prose and action in nonstop sequences, intriguing dialogue, and an all too believable plot. This plot has seemed to become a nearing reality over the past year. The writing and pace of this novel reminded me of a Brad Thor read and is a jolt of lightning from start to finish.

The Grim Alliance, book number two in The Infidel Series, is a fantastic novel. I highly recommend reading the prequel. This book is chalked full of interesting, dynamic characters, but remembering who is who can be difficult without getting context from book one, especially with the different narratives happening. Fortunately, the cast of characters is listed in the front of the novel, so you can still read this as a standalone.

This novel is wracked with emotion and action simultaneously. Characters are thrown through a seemingly impossible gauntlet, and it’s not whether or not they come out unscathed, but instead if they make it out at all. This book has you fist-pumping for a multitude of characters that take you through an emotional rollercoaster.

I highly recommend this book. It is packed with everything a good thriller should have - action, memorable characters, a plot that flies by, emotion, light & darkness, and more action.

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Near Dark By Brad Thor

Brad Thor continues to rock the thriller world with great book after great book. Near Dark was highly anticipated and received much praise prior to publishing. I went into this book with bizarrely high hopes of the best Thor book I'd ever read.

I did feel that this book fell a little short. It seemed to be a lot of Scot Harvath's self-loathing, which even Thor admitted was a through line in this novel, but it seemed like a little too much for me. I've seen Harvath in so many great novels, and this one is no different, so if comparing this book to the rest of the thriller community, it's 5-stars, however, Thor has set a high bar, and I felt like this one slightly missed his mark.

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Blacktop Wasteland By S.A. Cosby

I don't know if it's accurate to call Blacktop Wasteland S.A. Cosby's a debut, but if so, this is one of the best debut novels I've ever read. I haven't enjoyed a new author like this since I read Jack Carr's The Terminal List.

Beauregard "Bug" is an amazing character. He's not only incredibly dynamic, but it feels like you literally see the character develop right before your eyes. This book felt like a biography or memoir, and it was so real.

This novel kept the pedal to the floor - figuratively and literally. I steered through this book in one day. It flew by just like the asphalt underneath Bug. This book has accelerated to then top of my 2020 Reading List as one of my favorites, and it will be one of those books I plan to revisit again and again. It was captivating and was a non-stop thrill ride. Okay, enough with the puns.

Fantastic novel! Highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers!

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The Lincoln Conspiracy By Brad Meltzer And Josh Mensch

This is a riveting book with such amazing detail. From the assassination attempt to the beard, this book covers it all. It reads so much like a novel or fiction. It's beautifully written. I loved the writing style, and the way Meltzer was able to weave in "journal entries" to make them sound just like part of the story. Fantastic!

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Savage Son By Jack Carr

This is the third book by Jack Carr starring protagonist James Reece. After The Terminal List, which was nominated for many awards, both in print and audio, Carr knocked it out of the park with his follow up novel, True Believer.

Now comes Savage Son - first, I would highly recommend reading the first two books of the series if you haven't yet. It truly sets up for this third book. Savage Son is a brilliant piece of writing. The plot is nonstop and riveting, with Reece developing more and more with each book. Carr's writing continues to get better and better - creating vivid scenes, his in-depth knowledge of weaponry, knives, and combat. It's obvious how well his books are researched. The fiber of details from these locations is woven so well into each scene, if truly feels as if you're standing there. I won't go too deep into the plot, as you can read many reviews which talk about it. My main focus is how good of a novel this is overall.

A lot of authors get solidified in history from one or two books which seem to encapsulate their career. For authors like Vince Flynn, it was Transfer of Power and Consent to Kill. For Tom Clancy, it was The Hunt for Red October and Without Remorse. Stephen Hunter, it was Point of Impact. I think that this novel, Savage Son, will go down as one of Jack Carr's greatest novels, and I truly believe that this, without a doubt, will propel Carr to the hallways of thriller fame and emblazon him into the thriller Mount Rushmore.

With the details of Clancy, guns of Hunter, writing and characters of Flynn, depth and realism of Morrell, field knowledge and research of Thor, and poetical writing style of Silva, it's easy to say that Jack Carr has written one of the finest novels of the modern era.

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Broken By Don Winslow

This is an interesting collection of short stories. Winslow created, arguably, one of my favorite novels of all-time, The Force. This collection, however, fell short for me. I couldn't get into the stories, and they all seemed forced, almost like the author was racing for a deadline. I'm a huge fan of some of Winslow's other works, like the Cartel trilogy, but this one just didn't do it for me.

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Without Sanction By Don Bentley

I've seen a few reviews talking about how this is the best debut novel of 2020 thus far. I have to disagree. Although I really enjoyed this book, it didn't blow me away. There was a ton of research obviously, but there were a few things about this book that I didn't care for. For starters, there was one sentence that was repeated over and over throughout the book, which I can imagine was supposed to be a through-line for the book, but after the third time, I got tired of it.

This book also transitions between first-person POV and third-person. I really do like and enjoy first-person, third-person, and a combination like this one. I did find, however, that there didn't seem to be near as much first-person chapters as the other. This somewhat detracted from the story, as you were able to see what was happening outside of the protagonists POV. I've found that first-person novels need to be more of a protagonist finding things out along with the reader.

I did think this novel was great, but I can't say it is in my top for the year, but I applaud this great debut novel.

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One Minute Out By Mark Greaney

This book was Greaney's best!

I read through lots of the other reviews, and it appears that some did not like the fact that Mark Greaney decided to tell this book in both third and first person. We finally get to see inside the mind of The Gray Man. I thought this was, not only a brilliant idea, but flawlessly executed. Greaney has developed this character to be one of the best in the genre, and being able to see the thoughts running through Court Gentry's mind was both scary and hilarious. Greaney injects humor into the wild action, and this book does not disappoint. I highly recommend this rollercoaster ride!

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Cities Of The Plain By Cormac McCarthy

Cormac McCarthy's Cities of the Plain is an extraordinary journey into the heart of the American Southwest, a landscape painted with such vividness and intensity that it leaves an indelible mark on the reader's psyche. This final installment of McCarthy's Border Trilogy is a testament to his unmatched skill in crafting prose that transcends mere storytelling and becomes an immersive experience.

Set against the backdrop of the vast and unforgiving plains of New Mexico, the novel follows the lives of John Grady Cole and Billy Parham - who we met in the previous two installments of the Border Trilogy, All The Pretty Horses and The Crossing respectively - two ranch hands whose destinies become intertwined in a world where honor, loyalty, and love collide with the harsh realities of existence. McCarthy's descriptions are nothing short of breathtaking; every word is carefully chosen to evoke the raw beauty and brutality of the landscape, from the scorching sunsets to the bone-chilling cold of the desert nights.

What sets Cities of the Plain apart is McCarthy's ability to make the setting a character in its own right. The land itself is alive, pulsating with a sense of mystery and danger that mirrors the inner turmoil of the protagonists. As John Grady and Billy navigate the complexities of their relationships and the challenges of their environment, the reader is drawn deeper into a world that feels simultaneously familiar and alien.

But it is not just the physical landscape that McCarthy brings to life; his characters are equally vivid and compelling. John Grady and Billy are men of few words, speaking rarely, but their actions speak volumes about their values and convictions. Their interactions with fellow ranch hands, Mexican prostitutes, and wealthy landowners are filled with tension and nuance, painting a rich tapestry of human emotion and experience.

Cities of the Plain is not a book for the faint of heart, as with any McCarthy novel. His prose is as unflinching as it is poetic, confronting the reader with the harsh realities of life on the frontier: violence, loss, and the inexorable passage of time. Yet amidst the darkness, there is also beauty to be found – in the simple acts of kindness, the fleeting moments of connection, and the enduring power of love.

Cities of the Plain is a masterful work of literature that will linger in the mind long after the final page is turned. Cormac McCarthy's unparalleled talent for vivid description elevates this novel to a level of artistry that few writers can hope to achieve. For anyone seeking an immersive and unforgettable reading experience, look no further than Cities of the Plain.

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The Crossing By Cormac McCarthy

In the second installment of The Border trilogy, Cormac McCarthy weaves a beautiful and dark "follow up" with The Crossing. Fueled with adventure and spirituality, we embark on McCarthy's newest journey. 

Billy Parham is a sixteen-year-old son-of-a-rancher in New Mexico when he captures a she-wolf in a trap. Bound by mystical obligation and desire, he makes an effort to return the wolf to Mexico. Billy and the wolf traverse over the terrain towards Mexico, encountering many stark and harsh conditions along the way.  

I could dive deeper into the synopsis of the novel, but I think in doing so, I would overshadow the main thrust and theme of the novel. I found this novel incredibly intriguing, as it shows an intense but visceral relationship between animal and man. Parham's unique bond with the wolf is palpable through the pages, and it's not necessarily what you would view as a common relationship between human and dog, but instead it is strained, fueled by both anger and love.  

The Crossing is a brilliant adventure, yet simultaneously explores the human condition, existentialism, and the meaning of life, with musings on philosophy and nature. Told with McCarthy's seemingly trademark prose, which includes vivid descriptions and colorful use of our lexicon, he paints a picture more elegant than a burnt orange sunrise that lights up the sky like a wildfire.

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All The Pretty Horses By Cormac McCarthy

In the wake of WWII, in the late 1940s, 16-year-old John Grady Cole is living on his grandfather's rapidly declining ranch in San Angelo, Texas. When his grandfather dies, and the ranch is sold, John Grady and his friend Lacey Rawlins decide to head south to Mexico, on a harrowing adventure across the plains. 

Let's start with the fact that All the Pretty Horses is outside of my typical genre for reading. I enjoy western / western adventures, but I generally lean toward thrillers and mysteries. That being said, I had heard and read resounding praise and acclaim for McCarthy's writings, hence the idea to kickstart a book club devoted to his novels. With all of that in mind, let's get into the book itself. 

John Grady is a fascinating character, trying to navigate his way in the South. He is oh so fallible, but he holds promise. And drive. He lives a morally ambiguous life, but even so, he muses on life, death, and where he lives in that grand scheme. He is sparse with words, which I think is atypical of how protagonists in novels are, and overall, this lends itself to McCarthy's writing style -- a style I've never read. 

The writing has very little punctuation, and more generally leans toward the use of 'and' to connect thoughts and sentences. I think this slows down the pace of the novel, which may as well be the intent. McCarthy weaves sparse punctuation and in many ways sparse words, with stark, enrapturing descriptions. Every word feels like it's put on the page for a very specific, singular purpose. All the Pretty Horses leveraged every word to its full capability, no fluff. Every word was placed for maximum impact. The descriptions of the settings, the horses, and even the violence is beautifully written, creating vivid images that span the course of a paragraph. 

All the Pretty Horses is a stunningly beautiful novel that touches on many aspects of the human condition. For anyone interested in dipping their toes into the world of Cormac McCarthy, I believe it's a great place to start.  

If you're interested in joining the Cormac McCarthy Book Club, you can either start with All the Pretty Horses or jump straight in with the second book in the Border trilogy, The Crossing, which will be the read for February.

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The Orchard Keeper By Cormac McCarthy

In Cormac McCarthy's first penned novel, The Orchard Keeper takes a sharp departure from his Border trilogy, which included the masterpieces All the Pretty Horses and The Crossing. He delivers a haunting and mesmerizing novel that, although it imbibes McCarthy's evocative prose, it strays from its grammatical stylings. Whereas the Border trilogy contains long running sentences, rarely broken by punctuation, The Orchard Keeper keeps more to "traditional" grammatical convention. It delves into a new landscape of rural Tennessee with the same evocative prose and profound insights that have become his signature.

Since my induction into McCarthy's universe began with the Border trilogy, I think it only makes sense to contrast the two, as The Orchard Keeper was quite different, because as the Border trilogy immerses readers in the sweeping landscapes and rugged adventures of the American Southwest, The Orchard Keeper transports us to the lush, green hills and dense forests of Tennessee, offering a stark contrast to the arid plains and desert vistas of McCarthy's previous works. Yet, despite the change in setting, McCarthy's unparalleled ability to capture the essence of a place remains unchanged, as he paints a vivid and immersive portrait of a world that is both familiar and mysterious.

What truly sets The Orchard Keeper apart from the Border trilogy, however, is its focus on the intricacies of human relationships and the quiet dramas of everyday life. While the Border trilogy is epic in scope, spanning vast distances and encompassing grand adventures, The Orchard Keeper is a more intimate and introspective work, delving deep into the lives of its characters and exploring the complexities of their emotions and motivations.

In place of cowboys and outlaws that render the pages of the Border trilogy, The Orchard Keeper introduces us to a cast of characters who are ordinary yet utterly compelling in their own right. From the enigmatic Marion Sylder to the solitary Arthur Ownby to the young and impressionable John Wesley Rattner, each character is created with such depth and humanity that you feel as if you know them personally by the last page.

Despite these differences, however, The Orchard Keeper shares the same lyrical prose, rich imagery, and profound insights that have made McCarthy one of the most revered writers of our time. With its haunting beauty and timeless themes, this novel is a testament to McCarthy's enduring talent and a must-read for fans of his work. You can see where McCarthy's books started and where they are now.

In conclusion, The Orchard Keeper is a five-star masterpiece that showcases Cormac McCarthy out of the gate, offering a fresh and compelling perspective on the human condition that is sure to resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page.

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