Sierra Six By Mark Greaney

In 2020, I mentioned Mark Greaney’s Relentless as one of my most anticipated books of 2021. I did the same this year, listing his next Court Gentry novel, Sierra Six, as one of my most anticipated novels of 2022. And I was right.

Mark Greaney is the best living thriller writer in the world. He delivers hit after hit, and Sierra Six is a two-for-one, emotional, heart-pounding thriller. Greaney weaves two stories together, one from Court’s past, one from the present. From the outset, it’s obvious that these two stories are on a collision course.

Gentry is on a mission to find and kill a terrorist, but it’s a man that, according to the government, is already dead. It’s another action-packed Gentry novel, in the same vein that we’ve come to expect from Greaney’s superb writing. He has the supreme ability to weave stories that never lull in action. It is an emotional story that tugs at your heart. I literally felt my pulse quicken throughout different parts of the story, and I was even fighting back tears at times (no joke). Greaney has figured out how to draw emotion out of these characters that makes them feel so real.

Greaney combines these realistic characters with these plots, stories, and action sequences that seems so plausible and possible. It does make me wonder, is Mark Greaney actually Court Gentry in real life? I’ve never seen them in the same room together…

Sierra Six is a quick contender for one of my favorite books of 2022. It is hard to imagine anything could compare. It’s like having Usain Bolt running your first leg of a relay. He’s so far ahead, that it seems impossible that anyone will be able to catch him. Greaney delivers over and over, and Sierra Six should be a book that all thriller-lovers will enjoy.

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Dark Horse By Gregg Hurwitz

I always get excited when the New Year rolls around, and one of the reasons for that is it’s time for a new Orphan X novel.

Dark Horse, the seventh installment in the Orphan X series, features The Nowhere Man, Evan Smoak. After being left with a cliffhanger at the end of the last novel, Prodigal Son, Evan is thrust right back into action, fighting (and falling) for his life.

When Evan’s RoamZone rings, he answers, “Do you need my help?”, he never expects the voice on the other end of the line to be a pseudo-cartel boss. As Evan starts traipsing across the country looking for the daughter of drug kingpin Aragon Urrea. Attempting to live by his Commandment which tells him, “One mission at a time,” Evan simultaneously finds himself in an emotional tug-of-war, between wanting to complete his mission, and wanting to be there when neighbor, and possibly lover, Mia Hall, needs him most.

This is yet another classic Orphan X tale, wrought with some of the most elegant, Shakespearean prose I ever read. Hurwitz is arguably the best pure-writer of the thriller genre. He can weave a story and sentence like none other. This novel is packed with so much action, you’ll need rehab after you finish. Another fantastic book from one of the best thriller writers out there.

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The Violin Conspiracy By Brendan Slocumb

As Ray McMillian is preparing for the international Tchaikovsky Competition, his beloved violin goes missing. But it’s not just any violin, in fact, it’s a Stradivarius, which are the most well-known, top-of-the-line, priceless violins out there. The book is a trek for Ray, attempting to get his violin back, or paying the ransom, before the competition.

In a book infused with intrigue, mystery, and personal and societal obstacles, McMillian is an interesting, dynamic character who we get to see grow throughout the novel. This book is Ray’s journey to retrieve this irreplaceable violin that once belonged to his great-grandfather, a slave. Ray must also fight against the descendants of the man who enslaved his great-grandfather, who believe they are heir to this violin.

I found this book to be an entertaining, fun, and interesting read. This book has a large focus on racism, especially in the classical music world. Classical music is relatively obscure in the current climate of pop culture and nonstop news reels, and a book that revolved around it was fascinating. At times, I did feel confused about the timeline of events, and I did wish that some of the nuances of the plot could’ve come together sooner in the novel, but this very well could be due to my primary background in thriller novels, which typically sets the scene much earlier, if not in the prologue, of the novel.

Overall, a great novel. I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for anything Brendan Slocumb writes in the future. I also found that on the author’s website, there was a music playlist which accompanied the book, and I thought this was a great touch. 

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Targeted By Stephen Hunter

Bob “The Nailer” Swagger is back in the next installment in one of the all-time greatest series. Picking up shortly after Swagger’s killing of Juba the Sniper, Swagger gets called before Congress, but when terrorists take over the hearing, Bob Lee must take action and protect even those in Congress trying to take him down.

Stephen Hunter is a master of writing. He has a great pace to the story and always has some of the deepest dives into firearms. I found it to be an interesting story idea, and I always love Swagger.

If you’ve read Hunter’s novels in the past, you’ll likely know that they aren’t quite the guns-blazing books that you’ll find elsewhere in the thriller genre. I’d say they’re more of a slow-burn, which typically allows for much more character and story development. Swagger still has is kick-ass moments and almost perfect precision shooting, but this book was definitely built more around the politics of the plot. There were some loose-ends I wish could’ve been tied up at the end of the book, but overall, it was another fun, entertaining read. Hunter is one of the best, and Targeted is no exception. 

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Insurrection Day By Chris Hauty

Hayley Chill is back in the latest adventure of the deep state operative. This novella is saddled between Savage Road and the forthcoming Storm Rising.

It is set on January 6, 2021, when a group of protestors turned rioters stormed the United States Capitol. The idea behind this novel is interjecting Chill into that action, while more nefarious things happen behind the scenes.

Hauty’s prose was fantastic, as usual, and his books always tend to read like a movie script. I feel like I’m there in the action with the characters. I’m excited to see what the future holds for Hayley Chill and the operatives in the deep state looks like.

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Armored By Mark Greaney

Armored by Mark Greaney is an Audible Original, only (currently) available in the audiobook format. It is a fast-paced, action-packed, full-cast recording of a great story!

It stars a new Greaney character called Josh Duffy, or “Duff”, to his teammates. He is down on his luck, after being forced to retire from the armed services after losing a leg in action. With bill collectors knocking at his door, Duff takes a job with “Armored Saints”, the only civilian contractor that will hire him. It is one of the more reviled companies, but he needs the money. This mission promises big money for only a few weeks work. But as Duff heads to Mexico for his mission, he realizes it is much more than he bargained for.

As I mentioned earlier, this is a full-cast recording, meaning that each performer narrates for only one, or possibly two characters in total. In the majority of audiobooks, one, or occasionally two narrators, will do the entire book, and all of the characters involved. It makes Armored feel more like a radio drama than just another reading of a book.

The readers really bring this book to life, and Greaney is a master at writing stories that seem to come to life all on their own. Plus, this recording features the narration of Jay Snyder, who is the narrator of Greaney’s Court Gentry series. He is fantastic, and it was a fun addition. This book is a fun adventure that would be great for readers who want to dip their toes into the audiobook world. I can’t recommend it enough!

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The Runaway By Nick Petrie

One of the most interesting faces of the thriller genre is that of Nick Petrie’s main character, Peter Ash, and he is back in the latest installment of one of my favorite series with The Runaway.

As Peter Ash drives through rural Nebraska, he stumbles upon a very pregnant teenager named Helene. On the run from her psychotic husband, Peter offers his help. It turns out to be a decision that will change the trajectory of his trip drastically. Peter Ash desperately tries to save the woman, and uses his PTSD to work in his favor.

It’s another amazingly fun, character-driven plot. Peter Ash continues to be one of the most interesting characters in the genre. His PTSD brings on an incredible amount of claustrophobia, or as he calls it, the white static. I find this series such an enjoyable read, especially during this pandemic. With Peter’s PTSD, almost all of Petrie’s novels take place outside, in the wilderness, as his character moves across the country. With Petrie’s spectacular writing ability, he transports the reader into the novel, sitting next to Peter Ash under the stars, in his truck next to him, or side-by-side on another bold adventure.

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The Body Man By Eric P. Bishop

(The Body Man is written by querying author Eric. P. Bishop. Learn more about him.)

It took maybe a paragraph for the action to start, and the action pedal was to the floor for the remainder of the novel. The Body Man was a riveting read that I highly recommend. We’re introduced to The Body Man, who is a little like Court Gentry mixed with Orphan X - a realistic badass that has a tendency for kicking ass and taking names.

The writing was packed full of action, but the dialogue was woven in nicely to advance the story. With a whole cavalcade of characters, many likable, some deplorable, this book had everything a good thriller should contain.

I’ve noticed that in many novels, the dialogue starts to become unbelievable. I find it hard to visualize characters saying the things that the authors put down on the page, but I didn’t get that with this book. The back-and-forth was believable and was spoken in a parlance that was relatable. My only wish is that there could have been more of it, so we could’ve gotten to know some of the characters a little more. Regardless, I’m excited for whatever Bishop pens next. This was a great story that deserves a part 2.

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Final Spin By Jocko Willink

I must admit that when I opened up Final Spin, the only knowledge I had about it was the author himself. I’d heard Jocko on podcasts, including his own, and I’ve read his numerous books. My first thought when seeing that Jocko was making his foray into fiction was, “I bet this is going to be an awesome military thriller.” Nope, it was not that. It was still awesome, but a military thriller it was not. 

Jocko writes a poetic thriller novel, although “novella” might be a more accurate description. It’s a short story revolving around a few main characters, but it is told in a poetic style. It has certain meter to certain lines, a rhythm that one must read with. It was fascinating and completely unexpected. I would’ve been less surprised if I read “You better check yo self before you wreck yo self” in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. 

In a similar vein to when I first read J.B. Stevens’s All the Violent Memories, it took time to allow the rhythm of the story to sink in, but once it did, I was hooked. It was an interesting read, chalked with lots of action. I highly recommend this if you’re a fan of Stevens or thrillers in general. But when you say, “That’s not what I was expecting,” remember, I told you so.

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The Last Protector By Simon Gervais

Gervais is one of the best authors out there right now, and his newest novel The Last Protector is a confirmation of that. His newest installment follows Special Agent Clayton White after his departure out of the military and into the Secret Service. Not only is he tasked with protecting some of the most powerful people in the country, he also must protect someone he loves, the daughter of the Vice President-elect.

Gervais has crafted one of my favorite series, his series starring protagonist Pierce Hunt. He continues to deliver awesome, thrilling books that continue to push the envelope of action in the thriller genre. With the way this series debut has gone with his new lead character, Clayton White, I’m excited to see where he takes the rest of the series.

Gervais is known for his superb characters, fun and interesting setting locations, and timely, action-packed plots. The Last Protector is no exception. He has already cemented himself as one of the supreme writers in the genre, and this newest novel only adds to it. This is a book that thriller fans won’t want to miss.

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The Nameless Ones By John Connolly

It’s been barely six months since John Connolly graced us with his Charlie Parker series prequel, The Dirty South, and now he’s back with a terrific novel, The Nameless Ones.

This book, although part of the Charlie Parker series, turns its focus away from Parker and toward two incredibly interesting characters, in Louis and Angel. 

The book opens with a brief introduction, reminding the reader of the series of conflicts that occurred in the Balkans during the 1990’s after the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia. It’s a great reminder that helps set up the plot of the story. 

In Amsterdam, multiple people are butchered with their remains scattered around their crucified patriarch, De Jaager. Louis is tasked with hunting down the killers before they can escape back east.

John Connolly delivers a novel that we’ve grown to expect from him. I constantly have to remind myself to not take his writing for granted, as it’s so well done. His ability to paint a vivid picture makes his writing come across as poetry. He has his usual large cast of characters that you have to track, but he makes them so interesting, that they become unforgettable. Connolly’s attention to detail is astounding, and it seems that his research is some of the best in the business. He injects a level of the supernatural into his writing that keeps the plot scary and a little creepy.

It took no time for the action and mystery to start, and I was hooked into the story.  I flew through the remainder of the book, and I was sad when it was over. Like other great books and great writing, turning the last pages leaves a wake of sadness, knowing that the story is over, and you can’t ever experience it for the first time again. I look forward to hearing what other readers think of this novel. It was great and should be on every mystery and thriller lover’s to-be-read list.

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Appointment In Tehran By James Stejskal

What a truly intriguing, fascinating, fun read.

When the U.S. Embassy in Tehran is taken over and the location of a nuclear bomb hidden in Tehran is revealed, a specialized group called Snake Eater is tasked with retrieving and recovering the bomb before America’s opponents can get to it and launch an attack against the U.S.

This back has faction written all over it, where I had trouble knowing when or where the facts of actual operational training and combat ended and where the fiction began. The anticipation and all-out action builds throughout the story, culminating in a guns-blazing firefight. It was a well-crafted thriller written by someone who obviously knows what they’re writing about. I found the book somewhat separated into the training aspect, followed by the execution of it in the second half. This was a new type of writing style that I haven’t really seen before, and I found it very intriguing.

Appointment in Tehran is the second novel in the Snake Eater Chronicles. I went back and read his first installment in the series, A Question of Time, before reading this one. I did find it helped inform the story a little more, but it is definitely not a requirement to enjoy this novel. Stejskal’s experience in writing non-fiction novels definitely shone through in this realistic, pulse-pounding thriller that I believe fans of political thrillers will love.

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Enemy At The Gates By Kyle Mills

Mitch Rapp is back!

In the newest installment of the Mitch Rapp saga, a man with the ability to craft a world-changing vaccine goes missing deep in the heart of Uganda. Rapp, settling in to his new life in South Africa, is tasked with the retrieval. 

In the seventh novel written by Kyle Mills in the universe that the late Vince Flynn created,  he has woven worldly events, an ever-changing politics system, and all of the badass, incredible characters we’ve come to love. With the action stretching from Washington DC to the Middle East to Africa, Rapp is as awesome as he’s ever been. Teamed up with his friend Scott Coleman, the two are tasked with a different challenge. Packed with the hilarious banter and sarcasm, the two make, arguably, one of the best duo’s in the entire genre. 

Mills continues to absolutely crush these novels. He’s taken the series to a different level with his characters, action-filled stories, and intense violence. These books are something I look forward to each year, and Mills did not disappoint!

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You Can Run By Karen Cleveland

Karen Cleveland’s novels are known for their twists and turns, and You Can Run was no exception. 

Jill Bailey, a CIA analyst, has to make a split-second decision after she receives a phone call with instructions. If she doesn’t follow those instructions, someone close to her will die. Struggling to find out who and why, it’s a race against the clock.

When Cleveland released her debut a few years ago, I was hooked on the novels. It spun me around like a Harlan Coben novel. This one was no different. Complete with nonstop action and a cast of unforgettable characters, this novel is a fun, fast-paced, and sometimes scary read. 

This book is told from the first-person POV of Jill, as the primary character, but chapters are broken up and also told from the first-person POV of one of the, albeit important, secondary characters. First-person is a difficult task, and Cleveland does it well. At some points though, I wish we could’ve stepped slightly out of the characters mind to get a better idea of the setting. Overall, it was a job well done!

You Can Run is a solid thriller and mystery. It will keep you thinking and guessing until the end and is a nonstop roller coaster. 

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The Island By Ben Coes

Dewey Andreas is back, and he’s better than ever! I missed reading a full Dewey novel last year, and the much anticipated installment in the Dewey Andreas series, The Island, is the ninth in the series, Coes’s tenth book in all. Last year we got to have a fun spin-off starring Rob Tacoma, who fans of this series will know well. And this year, we get another Andreas novel packed with all of the thrilling, action-packed adventures we’ve come to expect out of Coes.  

This can be read as a standalone, although going back and reading the series will give the reader much more clarity. However, one of the things I appreciate so greatly about Coes’s writing, is his way of summarizing previous books. It has been some time since I read his debut novel, but in The Island, Coes catches the reader up, allowing you to have much knowledge of the previous novels.  

A pre-emptive attack against Andreas fails, as Iranian terrorists plan a plot to destroy Manhattan. After the failed attempt on Dewey’s life, he sneaks into Manhattan in an attempt to take down the enemy. 

Once again, Coes has created a nonstop thriller, but Coes’s incredible writing doesn’t stop there. He creates an emotional rollercoaster. I remember four years ago, I was listening the the audiobook of Trap the Devil, book number 6 in the series, as I went for a run. There is an incredibly difficult, emotional part in that novel, and I actually stopped running so I could ingest what I was hearing. Coes is unparalleled in the industry in this way. He not only created an amazing, dynamic character in Andreas, but he’s able to make him human, and he guides you along the way, forcing you to feel each and every feeling Dewey feels. He is shadowed by much tragedy, which makes him all the more interesting. This is one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite series, and *The Island* is such an awesome addition. It’s another wild ride, but you’ll love every second of it.  

If you’ve been around the thriller genre for some time, it should be no surprise to you that this book is phenomenal. If you haven’t read the series, there’s no better time to start than now. Coes delivers a pulse-pounding, gut-wrenching drag race of a thriller. It’s currently one of my favorites in the series, and it’s a must-read for this summer.

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The Family Plot By Megan Collins

Over the years, I have tried to enjoy more and more different types of thrillers. I would consider The Family Plot a different type of thriller. It was a terrifying, exciting, and thrilling psychological novel that left my brain twisted in a knot.

When family members, the Lighthouse’s, meet on Blackburn Island for a memorial, things start taking a turn for the worse. Blackburn Island has been known for suspicious murders by a serial killing that is still on the loose. This begins spiraling out of control for Dahlia Lighthouse who starts searching for clues for a brother that went missing when she was younger.

I found The Family Plot a fun, entertaining read. At some points, I did find myself with a confused look on my face, as I can’t really relate to a family who could own an island if they desired. It definitely had a strong resemblance to the movie Knives Out, which was based around a rich family trying to solve a crime. I did, however, still find this an enjoyable read, and I look forward to whatever this author writes next.

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The Mercenary’s Deception By Angela R. Watts

Set in an all-too-realistic 2027, Angela Watts’s newest installment in The Infidel series, The Mercenary’s Deception is another whirlwind of a dystopian thriller.  

Closely following the second novel in the series, The Grim Alliance, this novel doesn’t waste any time dunking you head-first into the action. With the unforgettable cast of characters that we’ve come to know and love, Watts puts them through a gauntlet of chaos in the shadows of the Second Civil War. Rene​' Fisher, who readers will remember from her last adventure, battles the forces of evil, figuratively and literally. 

Watts has proven over and over that she is a writing-force to be reckoned with. The Mercenary’s Deception weaves classic, pure prose with rip-roaring action, side-chained by intrigued and a futuristic realism. Watts continually impresses with her ability to write - with in-depth, complex plots and a fun crew of actors. This all-too-timely plot, which runs over the course of a month, will keep readers up late into the night trying to squeeze in yet another page before turning out the lights. It’s virtually impossible, as The Mercenary’s Deception is a nonstop thrill ride from one of the best, new voices in the thriller genre.

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Razorblade Tears By S.A. Cosby

Wow! All I can say is Wow!

Last year, I read SA Cosby’s Blacktop Wasteland, and I absolutely loved it. I didn’t think that he could top himself, but Razorblade Tears is phenomenal. This book features two men, one black and one white, named Ike and Buddy Lee, looking to find out how their sons, who were married to one another, were murdered. 

This book is gritty, raw, and real. Cosby doesn’t inflate his novels with extra fluff. It’s not Clancy length with never-ending descriptions. Instead, it’s to the point. It has beautifully woven sentences that form a picturesque, vivid painting of the novel. It has characters that, regardless of the pitfalls and struggles, are some of, if not the lost, unforgettable characters I’ve read about it years. Ike and Buddy Lee will forever be cemented as these two completely opposite characters thrust into this extraordinary situation. This book is timely and touches on some of the most difficult topics society is faced with right now. I knew after reading Blacktop Wasteland that my expectations were going to be high with this one, but I never dreamed it could be this good. 

This book needs to be a bestseller. It is the best book I’ve ever read, and I mean that honestly. I’ve read thousands of books over my lifetime, and this one has become the best in mere days. I don’t think there is a higher praise I could give a thriller than saying it’s my favorite book, so there it is. It’s a must-read that will be the best book in 2021.

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Sleeping Bear By Connor Sullivan

Wow, what a stellar debut. 

As I sat in my house heated to 74-degrees, I shivered until my molars snapped reading this thriller. The fracturing sounds of branches outside jolted me out of my comfort, and the Alaskan solitude surrounded me with each turning of the page. The vibrant imagery that Sullivan conjures is unparalleled in his first thriller. There’s something about a plot set in the most desolate, northern parts of the planet. The cold air seeps into your bones, and the frigid air dives dee into your lungs while the sun kisses your face. 

The pages of Sleeping Bear whisked themselves from right to left, and before I knew it, I was coming to the final sentences. Cassie Gale is a character unlike I’ve seen before. The character is not just interesting and bad ass, but timely to our current world climate. As she battles forces beyond her control, you see the character grow and develop. I don’t know if this would be possible without the tragedy that she’s trying to endure along the entire journey. 

This book was like a boulder rolling down a hill. The action was not going to stop until it was all over. Sullivan crushed this debut novel and follows the path of other stellar debut thrillers like Chris Hauty, Matthew Betley, Don Bentley, and Jack Carr. I can’t wait to see what Sullivan does in the future. 

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Shadow Target By David Ricciardi

In some books, the action starts after the prologue. Some, chapter one. Some, a paragraph. In Shadow Target, the action started the first sentence. I can’t recall the last thriller I read that started with this much force and action. I was sucked in immediately, and this book took me along for quite a ride.

In 2014, we were introduced to Jake Keller, the protagonist. I immediately fell in love with this series with book one. In Shadow Target, Keller is immediately on defense, fighting for his life. With CIA paramilitary officers dying at an alarming rate, Keller starts asking questions, and some people don’t like that. With a whole band of badass bad guys, Keller is fighting an uphill battle. What I love about Keller is that he feels like an ordinary man being put in extraordinary situations.

We see Keller develop a lot in this book; more than any of the former books. Because of this, in between chapters chalked full of action, there are chapters that are primarily dialogue between characters. This helps move the story forward and gives you insight into the characters, but with how intense the book started, I found myself missing the action during these, more dialogue heavy, chapters.

I also need to mention that, as this is the fourth book in the series, it should probably be read that way. Although this book can stand on its own, I think readers will have lots of question, and it may leave them scratching their heads during certain parts. That being said, I highly recommend checking out the first three novels in this series. They’re all fantastic

This book was a thriller fan’s dream. I’m not sure what the proper formula for a thriller is, but if it’s ((action + dynamic characters) * magnificent story), you get Shadow Target. 

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