The Neighborhood By Matthew Betley

The Neighborhood is a relentless ride full of danger and dastardly deeds set in the most unlikely of locations. If you ever wondered what urban warfare would look like on the streets of Suburbia, well… Matthew Betley crafts a compelling story to give you a glimpse of just such a scenario.

Looking to secure a massive payday, a group of ruthless mercenaries lock down a suburban oasis to search for a laptop containing classified information. Expecting minimal resistance from the well-to-do residents, Hidden Refuge quickly becomes a battlefield as Zack Chambers, former operator within the CIA’s Special Activities Division, takes it upon himself to defend his neighbors. As events unfold and the laptops origins come to light, the violent actions of the past and present collide to ensure that karma has its say in the end.

Betley’s books are known to read like blockbuster summer movies, with over the top action sequences and all the sarcastic dialogue readers can handle. This one has a bit more realism to it compared to his previous books, but that only increases the tension and anxiety as the chapters zip by.

The Neighborhood also has an increase in the emotional and psychological aspects than Betley’s previous books. He really takes time to examine a variety of relationships and their impacts on the characters. With the relatability of his protagonists increased, despite the vast majority of us not being former SAC operators, the danger is that much more real and that much more terrifying.

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The Last Sentinel by Simon Gervais

Simon Gervais brings together blood, bullets, and betrayal in his latest Clayton White novel. The Last Sentinel propels readers through the pages faster than a RPG headed towards its target. This is a story that proves no target is fully protected from those who mean to do them harm, given enough time, resources, and motivation.

When previously unthinkable attacks occur simultaneously in southern Florida, Ex-Secret Service agent Clayton White’s vacation is cut short by a barrage of gunfire, thrusting him into action to save the love of his life, who also just happens to be the daughter of the Vice President of the United States. The VP, a man with his own violent past, does not escape the day's events unscathed. Despite the tension and animosity between Clayton and the VP, revenge is a powerful incentive to put the past behind them. While the Americans are busy trying to identify who is responsible for the attacks, their enemy is seeking his own vengeance for the murder of his father at the hands of Clayton and his former commander. The only question is the amount of collateral damage each party is willing to tolerate to complete their mission.

Gervais continues to utilize his past professional experience to enhance his storylines and that extensive knowledge is on full display in this book. Fans, both new and old, will appreciate the fact that the writing and storytelling somehow continue to get better and better each book. Any action or adrenaline junkies out there should pick up this book to help satisfy that addiction.

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The Devil Takes You Home By Gabino Iglesias

The Devil Takes You Home is a tormenting tale exploring the essence of evil. With a mixture of mysticism, money, and Santa Muerte, Gabino Iglesias crafts a genre blurring story about the happenings along our southern border. Initially this book asks the reader to contemplate the lengths they would go for their family, but quickly delves into the propensity for violence and cruelty inherent in us all, bubbling under the surface, just waiting for the right circumstances to explode upon the world.

Mario is an average man, dealing with a scenario no one in this life wants to face. A grave diagnosis for his young daughter buries him under a mountain of hospital bills and the inability to pay them off strains his marriage to the breaking point. With no alternative, he reaches out to an acquaintance with questionable morals and sinister connections. Willing to do anything for the right price, Mario takes a job as a hitman, finding that he enjoyed the work more than he should. As his new career takes off, Mario is brought in on a job that will clear him a couple hundred grand for one night of work… if he can survive it.

What makes this such an interesting book is that Iglesias just dips his toes into the paranormal, making the unfolding events that much more believable and terrifying. The cruelty within the pages is haunting, the motives are duplicitous, and the action is heart pounding. I often found myself wondering how I would react in similar scenarios. Contemplating how I would behave when the imaginary societal protections suddenly disappear and we are left dealing with nothing, but the raw animal instincts of our species.

While I will never claim to be smart enough to decipher what story belongs in what fictional subgenre, I don’t see The Devil Takes You Home as a Southern Crime novel as I’ve heard it described. While the underlying themes of class, race, and cultural norms are discussed, this book deserves to be separated and appreciated on its own. If I could, I’d establish a specific category called ‘Southern Border Crime’ and use Iglesias’ writing as the definitive work to compare future novels to. There may already be a particular place within the spectrum of fiction for this book, but no matter where it falls, it deserves to be read and any acclaim it receives.

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Kismet By Amina Akhtar

After reading the first few chapters of Kismet I knew two things with absolute cosmic certainty; the muscles in my face responsible for cringing were going to be tested to their limits and that I was going to love every second of it.

Ronnie Khan needed something in her life to change. What she didn’t expect was to find that the catalyst would end up being a wellness guru by the name of Marley Dewhurst. With a newly founded confidence, buoyed by a budding friendship with the blond socialite, Ronnie has decided to leave her tired existence in Queen and start fresh with Marley in the mountains of Sedona, Arizona.

Upon entering her new life, Ronnie was expecting things like the endless hikes, tasteless health shakes, or tortuous beauty routines to be the death of her, but when she begins having prophetic dreams and actual bodies start appearing in the picturesque landscapes… the banality of the wellness culture will be the least of her worries.

Anyone who follows my reviews knows that a novel based around the wellness industry and rich white ladies in the desert is not really something to be considered as part of my “usual” reads… and they would be absolutely right. The fact that Kismet is pretty far afield from my normal reading habits makes my love for this book that much stronger.

Only a handful of pages in, Amina Akhtar had me chuckling out loud as a person burying a body uttered the most relatable phrase I've ever read in a book. That takes skill. The biting criticisms, hilarious dialogue, and ridiculous events in the story gave me a serious case of fremdschämen in almost every chapter.

Another phenomenal attribute of this book is that I often found myself so caught up in the personal and emotional drama that I almost forgot about the mutilated bodies popping up around town. The interpersonal dynamics, socio economic critiques, and plot twists are just brilliant. You can’t help but root for this New Yorker in a new land. Ronnie may be a fish out of water, but we’re all right there with her. As someone who mainly reads espionage, military, and violent crime books, this was an absolutely perfect changeup in my reading habits and I cannot wait to read more from Amina. Much like the protagonist in this story, sometimes you have to get outside of your comfort zone to find something truly remarkable.

On a personal note… having grown up around kids from all over the world, being married to an immigrant, and having lived abroad, I have experienced similar scenarios as those described in Kismet. I like to think the hilarity of those memories enhanced my reading experience. And if you read this book, which you absolutely should, and you don’t feel some form of embarrassment on behalf of the ladies running around looking for energy vortexes in the hills, you might be part of the problem.

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Disturbing The Peace By Terrance McCauley

Disturbing the Peace is a sensational sequel in the Jeremiah Halstead series. With a character driven narrative, descriptive writing, and fantastic pacing… anyone who is a fan of drama and action should pick this book up immediately. McCauley definitely caught me off guard with the final twist and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Jeremiah Halstead is not a man accustomed to danger and gunplay. Though usually he’s dealing with criminals and outlaws. After the unfortunate events in Silver Cloud, Halstead finds himself swapping lead with everyday people looking to collect on an irresistible bounty put on the Deputy’s head. If keeping the peace wasn’t a hard enough occupation in the best of times, Halstead definitely has his hands full as he is ordered out to the edge of the territory to the town of Battle Brook where the local sheriff needs assistance handling a new group of criminals raising hell in the surrounding hills. The Deputy’s next fight will require every bit of brain as it will brawn if he is to survive.

Every good book needs a great villain and McCauley has crafted one of my favorites in Ed Zimmerman. Ruthlessness, cunning, and creative thinking in an outlaw is a deadly combination. Zimmerman helps push the story every bit as much as the protagonist. Half of the fun is seeing what traps and pitfalls Ed can come up with for Jeremiah. This book ends with an eye opening development and leaves one hell of a scenario going into book #3. I can only hope that McCauley writes as quickly as Halstead can draw his pistols.

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Portrait Of An Unknown Woman By Daniel Silva

Whenever I open the cover of a Daniel Silva book, something magical transpires. I give myself wholly over to the impending experience and immerse myself in the universe I’m fortunate enough to visit from time to time. I am transported to another time and place, finding myself wrapped in the comforting embrace of my favorite fictional characters. To open the latest Silva story, for me, is akin to the feeling of coming home for the holidays. There is a sense of relaxation, of calm, of certitude, of togetherness, and of stress melting away. Of the twenty two novels in the Gabriel Allon series, Portrait of an Unknown Woman evokes this sensation more than any other. In my opinion, this the purest distillation of what a Gabriel Allon book “is” and what first captivated me over two decades ago.

Finally untethered from his roles and responsibilities to The Office and Israel, Gabriel and his family have begun a new chapter in their lives. Back in Venice amongst friends and family, the Allons have settled into what passes for normalcy for a former spymaster. When life seems to have found a rhythm, fate has another idea. Julian Isherwood, an old and loyal friend, comes to Venice to request Gabriel’s assistance surrounding the provenance of a recently rediscovered painting he has sold for a hefty sum. Strange deaths, an elaborate investment scheme, and one or two brushes with death has Gabriel committed quickly to solving the mystery. If Gabriel’s instincts are correct, the fallout could be the downfall of Isherwood’s professional life, which is inextricably tied to the gallery owner’s sense of self. Never one to turn his back on a friend, Gabriel begins an investigation that will shock the art world to its core.

While this book leaves The Office and the geopolitical components firmly to the side, this is probably my favorite book since The Kill Artist. This book renewed and rejuvenated that initial rush I felt when starting this series all those years ago. While I absolutely love the espionage and political aspects of the previous twenty one books, Gabriel’s current station in life has opened up a world of possibilities for Silva to take this series in. The future is certainly bright for Allon and those of us devoted fans who are along for the ride.

A note of appreciation for his writing skills, I was having a conversation with an author and we were discussing what makes Silva such a unique talent. In the end, I feel that what sets him apart from every other author on the planet is his mastery of creating drama in the mundane. Unlike the vast majority of thriller writers, Silva does not describe action sequences in explicit detail, rather he cuts away at the pivotal point ending the scene at the moment you’d least expect. As the reader charges forward into the next chapter, we are allowed to reverse engineer the chain of events, piecing together the mystery through various viewpoints and evidence we’re presented.

It’s these little gifts that wrap themselves around a reader and keep us engaged in the story to the point of distraction. As someone who reads over a hundred books a year, I pride myself on being able to sort out plotlines, yet somehow time and again, Silva writing mesmerizes me and I always see the plot twist come too late. Each time it happens I smile, chuckle a little, and tip my imaginary hat to the master. It is these small, but profound details that reinforce my strong belief that Daniel Silva is the greatest storyteller alive.

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The 6:20 Man By David Baldacci

A spectacular mix of cinematic overtures and a grittiness only the written word can convey, The 6:20 Man is sure to be another bestselling hit for David Baldacci as he continues to solidify his ‘Must Read Author’ status. This is a taught and streamlined thriller that moves faster than high frequency traders on Wall Street.

After leaving the Army under a cloud of mystery, Travis Devine has taken a job as a financial analyst in one of the fastest growing investment companies. His position is more of a means of serving self-imposed penance rather than chasing the almighty dollar. Devine is a man whose morals and modus operandi fly in the face of his new career, yet he is determined to climb his way to the top.

Like the countless hordes of commuters around him, Travis takes the 6:20 train into the city each morning. His only small joy on the ride is the chance to gawk out the window at the mansions he hopes to own one day and, more specifically, a blonde bombshell who makes frequent poolside appearances. Everything about his life is a bland cycle put on repeat. That is until the body of his former flame is found hanging in an office storage closet where they work, a supposed suicide. With the discovery, Devine’s entire world is thrown into chaos as the darker side of his company's founding begins to come to the surface.

The 6:20 Man is a masterfully paced story with chapters that move at a breakneck speed. Each character draws you in, no matter how secondary to the main storyline they might be, and you become quickly and heavily invested in the outcome of their particular journey.

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Rising Tiger By Brad Thor

It’s not easy to pick the best of an iconic series, but Rising Tiger will definitely have some people making a case. With interesting locales, phenomenal characters, and action scenes hotter than the food Scot Harvath tries, this one is going to blow fans away. Brad Thor is at his very best and I can only hope we see more of the new characters in future books.

When a shadowy US diplomat is assassinated in India, the president tasks the only man he can trust to find those responsible and make them pay. On his own and in a part of the world he’s never really operated in, Scot Harvath is forced to rely on a new set of allies.

The pitfalls of the larger geopolitical game could not be more precarious. As each side ratchets up the stakes, Harvath is unable to overtly mete out justice without setting off a world changing war. Working his way from the street level to the very top of the conspiracy will take all the cunning and craft he can muster.

Back on the home front, a mysterious weapon connected to Scot’s investigation has been used on one of The Carleton Group’s own, and with Harvath a world away, The Troll and his faithful companions have to handle business on the homefront. 

Thor crafts a riveting story that sees Harvath do more dogged detective work, rather than dodging bullets. While long time fans are used to seeing Scot in full battle rattle, and there is plenty of that, I really enjoyed the heavier investigative angle in this one. Adrenaline junkies will definitely get their fix, but the added psychological aspect was very welcomed. 

While I will probably always have a particular favorite in this series, Rising Tiger is my favorite since that one. I really enjoyed this one and know thriller fans of all stripes will devour this book.

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Movieland by Lee Goldberg

Movieland is an energetic, enticing, and entertaining read. Even Ronin is back and life is hitting our favorite Lost Hills detective as hard as ever. There are few, if any, police procedurals I look forward to more each year than this one from Lee Goldberg. Well written, page turning pacing, and relatable characters make this a must read series.

With her partner Duncan Pavone only two weeks away from retirement, the pair find themselves on the hunt for a serial sniper in the Malibu Creek State Park. With political elements to be handled, public safety to be enforced, and personal entanglements, this may be the toughest case Eve has had to deal with.

While her work life isn’t all rainbow and sunshine, Eve would likely rather tangle with a maniac killer than deal with the trials and tribulations of the TV show based on her life and family drama that comes with it. 

The fact that this is based off of real events that Goldberg himself has attended community meetings on makes it even crazier. When I read that in the Author’s Notes section I was blown away. I definitely did some follow up research after I read the book.

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Shadow Tier By Steve Stratton

When former Army Ranger Lance Wolf's Mexican vacation takes a tragic turn, he is propelled down a path of revenge and retribution against a major drug cartel and it's brutal leaders. What had been a wrong place, wrong time situation turns into an all out war spanning from Tampa to Los Angeles and into the heart of Sinaloan controlled territory. With the help of his family and friends, Wolf takes the fight directly to the cartel. The incredible toll and personal cost will be the deciding factor in this battle of wills.

Steve Stratton has created a highly unique and interesting protagonist that reminds me of a young Painter Crowe. With his special skill set, upbringing, and personality... no enemy is safe from Lance Wolf's wrath. I cannot wait to see how this character develops over the course of what will be a fantastic series. The asymmetrical warfare and guerrilla style tactics are also welcome additions to the story and keep readers on their toes as they try to predict Lance's next move. Thriller fans will want to pick this one up ASAP.

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The Gatekeeper By James Byrne

James Byrne introduces a new challenger for “most hilarious” protagonist in the thriller genre. Dez Limerick is every bit as cheeky as he is deadly. The Gatekeeper is a witty, action packed, and utterly enjoyable read.

With a past as cloudy as tea from a dirty kettle, Dez is trying to put career as a “gatekeeper” behind him. Fancying himself a guitarist, he heads to find the sun and fun in southern California. While playing a gig, the skills and instincts he spent a lifetime cultivating come in handy when a team of operators infiltrate his hotel, attempting to abduct the woman he’d just been flirting with. 

When he thwarts the attack with a brutal rescue, Dez cannot possibly know how deep his decision will force him down the rabbit hole of an insane white supremacist conspiracy within the US Military and the large scale plans they have. 

A British Isle man by birth, Dez’s time globetrotting has produced a vocabulary and vernacular as unique as his professional skill set. His quick wit and charming personality are as persuasive and endearing to the characters in the story as it is to the readers fortunate enough to be reading the story.  

What makes this book so great is besides a fun, intelligent, and well rounded cast of characters, the action and storylines are every bit as engaging. While you may think the Neo-Nazi plot in the military is enough to carry the book, Byrne adds in additional layers of intrigue and misdirection that make this book fly by. It really is everything you’d want in a lighter, entertaining read.

The Gatekeeper will definitely be on one of my “Best of” lists for 2022.

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It Dies with You By Scott Blackburn

It Dies with You is a smooth, slow burn of a novel that won’t let you put it down until you’ve unraveled everything. This debut from Scott Blackburn should be on every crime fiction fan’s list. 

Hudson Miller, a down and out boxer, is working as a bouncer and bartender at a bar when he gets news of his estranged father’s murder. Forced to head back to his childhood hometown of Flint Creek, NC to take over the salvage yard his old man ran, the reality of who his father was and what he was into becomes clearer. With the assistance of the only employee at the yard, a grumpy Vietnam vet, and a tenacious teenager, who is hell bent on finding her missing brother, Hudson is compelled by his moral duty to uncover the secrets in this small town. Not an easy task for anyone, let alone three outsiders.

Blackburn teases out clues and information deftly as you get to know each character within the book. The larger themes of moral duty, right and wrong, and perseverance are not thrown in the face of the reader, but skillfully discussed and developed from chapter to chapter. If this is Blackburn’s debut, I can’t wait to see what comes next.

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Red Warning By Matthew Quirk

Red Warning is a Cold War throwback with a modern twist. Matthew Quirk crafts a high paced story full of intrigue and suspicion. 

After a disastrous end to a recruitment mission in Geneva, CIA officer Sam Hudson is recuperating from his injuries while on an indefinite suspension. While out for a run near the Lincoln Memorial, Sam receives a mysterious call. The caller just happens to be the deep cover Russian agent he had been close to uncovering in Switzerland. An explosion happens moments later and sets off a full throttle manhunt. 

The only problem is that executives back at Langley believe the Russian to be a myth. Enlisting the help of dangerous contacts and fellow officer Emily Pierce, the pair uncover a long dormant plot to decapitate the power structures in Washington DC, aided by a potential mole in their own section. 

This book has a steady pace that teases out a complex and interesting story. The final reveal of the attack is as devastating as it is believable. The characters are not overly developed, but that never took away from the story for me. Anyone with a passing interest in Cold War espionage and ponders on the ‘what ifs’ of that era will definitely enjoy this read.

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Zero Hour By Don Bentley

Tom Clancy Zero Hour is a high intensity thrill ride that ratchets up the action exponentially as the chapters fly by. I was in a constant state of agitation and apprehension while reading, unsure if Jack Ryan, Jr. was going to come out of each scenario (relatively) unscathed. With Don Bentley at the helm, the series could not be in better hands and the younger Ryan is quickly becoming my new favorite campus character.

As North Korea seeks to hide the fact that it’s leader has been incapacitated after a catastrophic accident, the dictator’s precarious physical state triggers a series of attacks by sleeper agents across South Korea. With blood in the water, some amongst the Politburo see an opportunity to seize power for themselves.

Being a magnet for trouble, Jack Jr. happens to get a front row seat to the opening salvo of this operation. In Seoul to interview a potential recruit for the Campus, Jack is forced to pivot to full operational status in order to neutralize the immediate threat in South Korea’s capital. A cryptic phone call, offering a path to help stave off a full scale war on the peninsula, sends Jack and his hodgepodge team of operators deep behind enemy lines. The only question is whether or not they’ll make it there before time runs out.

Bentley has never been shy about putting the hurt on his protagonists while they deal out pain and suffering amongst their enemies. This book is no different. Jack Jr. must overcome a series of both physically and mentally challenging obstacles to accomplish his goals. You’ll have to read the book to see how much it costs him to do so.

As an added bonus, Bentley utilizes his personal military experience to help put readers directly into the cockpit of an Apache. That type of authenticity cannot be faked and I found those scenes to be both fascinating and terrifying. The additional description of the comradery amongst the operators, despite interbranch rivalries, was also a joy to read. Regardless of which series he is working on, Bentley should be at the top of every one’s “to read” list.

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The Omega Factor By Steve Berry

The Omega Factor is a twisting tale of duty, danger, and dogma. Steve Berry blurs the lines of fact and fiction like no one else in the genre. This standalone book is no different. Berry had me second guessing what I thought I knew about the most stolen piece of art in the world, as well as the history of the Catholic church. 

When UNESCO investigator Nicholas Lee finds himself present during an attack on a panel from The Ghent Altarpiece, he instinctively follows the suspect as they flee the scene of the crime. The chase takes an unexpected turn and the mystery surrounding the attack and assailants only grows.

Working for the United Nations’ Cultural Liaison and Investigative Office (CLIO), Nick’s job is to protect the world’s cultural artifacts. While this would be enough for him to insert himself into the investigation, the restorer working on the Altarpiece when it was attacked just happens to be a woman from his past.

Now squarely involved in a two centuries old battle between the Vatican and a secret order of nuns who guard one of the greatest secrets in Christendom, Nick has no choice but to follow the clues to the south of France into the lands once occupied by Cathars. The Albigensian Crusade is still alive and well and the only question is… will Rome finally finish the job they started in the 13th century?

There are few, if any, authors that do a better job of intertwining intricate plotlines into a single cohesive story. Berry’s ability to both inform and entertain is unrivaled. As an individual who possesses both a Religious Studies degree and a more than passing interest in Catharism, Berry has the uncanny ability to simplify incredibly complex tenets of faith and dogma into an easy to understand format that does not simply support, but actually propels the storyline forward.

While this is currently billed as a ‘standalone’ novel, we have to hope that this is not the last we’ll see of Nick Lee and the Maidens of Saint-Michael.

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Sons of Valor II: Violence of Action By Andrews and Wilson

Sons of Valor 2: Violence of Action more than lives up to its title. With every turn of the page the intensity and sacrifice increases. While the operation depictions are brimming with danger, it is our connection and admiration for the men and women in those situations that drive their stories. Andrews & Wilson once again prove why they are amongst the finest thriller writers on the planet. The greatest writing duo makes you feel every physical and emotional wound their characters must endure.

In the second installment of this series, the newly assembled Tier One Navy SEAL team must contend with enemies new and old. Still working on unravelingl the full capacity of the highly evolved terror cell they had thrawrted on a previous mission, a targeted assassination of a SEAL in Iraq spurs rumours that an infamous sniper that has returned to the battlefield. The fact that the man killed was a former teammate of Lieutenant Commander Keith ‘Chunk’ Redman ensures Chunk and his team will be involved.

When the attacks escalate exponentially, it will take every bit of creative thinking to take down this terrorist cell. Radical in both belief and tactical innovation, the terrorists have a new type of target in mind; the heads of defense contractors, as well as the SEALs themselves. Used to being at least one step ahead, Chunk must adapt rapidly as he finds himself in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. One wrong decision could cost the lives of those closest to him.

Anyone who has ever read one of my A&W reviews knows that ‘huge fan’ doesn’t begin to cover my feelings towards their various series. The Tier One Universe is one of the series that I judge all other thrillers against, this goes for the Sons of Valor offshoot as well. The second installment stands up against any of the previous books in this universe and fans will absolutely love the team dynamics, battle tactics, and outside the box scenarios that Andrews & Wilson dream up.

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Storm Rising By Chris Hauty

In Storm Rising we find Hayley Chill on the hunt and heading West. Like a tornado blowing across the Texas plains, she will leave a path of destruction through anything or anyone that gets in her way. With Chris Hauty’s rapid pacing, high intensity sequences, and plot twists that will break your brain, this is one hell of a read.

With her time as a former White House intern having come to an end and her deeper state superiors sidelining her, Hayley has retreated back to her old stomping grounds in West Virginia. Turning to MMA training to help get her back to the level of physical conditioning she had during her Army days, Hayley can feel something is different. When not sharpening her fighting skills, Hayley is left to ponder the events surrounding her father’s death at the end of Savage Road.

Convinced she’s missed something last time, she decides to head back to his old residence. After finding a document with a mysterious cipher, she pieces together other clues and finally Hayley has a starting point.

With the blessing and cover from her ‘Deeper State’ handler, she begins an investigation into the subculture of white supremacy within the United States military. As things heat up and the body count rises, she uncovers an expansive conspiracy with the aim of forcing the secession of several states and forming a new country. It’s up to Hayley to stop a second Civil War before it starts, while also confronting the ultimate truth about her own father’s role in this harrowing chapter of American history.

To me, Storm Rising also marks a decided shift in the series. The cold, detached operative of the first two books has now begun to show glimpses of thaw in her core. While I never expect Hayley’s innate drive to ensure the completion of the mission and protect the US, I do expect to see her struggle more against the toll her professional life will have on the beginnings of the personal life she is trying to build. There is a lot of room to work in going forward and I can’t wait to see what Chris does.

Hauty’s distinct and unique writing style is evident in all it’s glory in this book. I would describe his style as a wonderful blend of his screenwriting past with the traditional literary omniscient narrator. It’s engaging, entertaining, and enlightening. I’ve mentioned this before in previous reviews of Hauty’s work, but his unique method of expounding on the future of seemingly minor characters is something I will always look forward to in his books.

And let’s not forget what Chris Hauty has quickly become known for… his plot twists. The twists this time around hit me so hard that I had to immediately reach out to another reviewer to console me. It still hurts to think about. There was an earlier twist that hit me in the feels, but the one at the end absolutely crushed me. Eliciting that type of emotion can only come from creating a deep and lasting bond between the reader and a character. This is a skill that Hauty has mastered.

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The Handler By M.P. Woodward

There are any number of thrillers based on the sensational idea of the fates of nations being determined by a single individual battling impossible odds. Never before have I read an espionage book that has made me believe such a fantasy was not only possible, but logically probable. In The Handler, M.P. Woodward has fused authentic tradecraft, riveting plotlines, plausible motives, and a cast of characters that will elicit strong emotional responses the further along the journey you go.

CIA agent Meredith Morris-Dale finds herself recalled to Langley after a botched operation in Dubai. Waiting to hear the words that will end her career, she’s taken aback when a priority mission is thrust into her hands. Instead of running assets in foreign lands, she has been tasked with an infinitely more challenging task… handling a disgraced agent, who also happens to be her ex husband.

A strategically placed mole in Iran's uranium enrichment program has kept thwarted the efforts to build a bomb by sabotaging their centrifuge's performance. After a tragic event reshapes his life, the mole wants out, leaving the world teetering on the edge of a nuclear Iran. His extraction is the highest priority for the CIA, the only catch is that he will only meet with his former handler… John Dale.

Meredith and John would be forgiven for thinking their greatest challenge would be getting the mole out of the country, but with the Russians on the hunt and a crippling bureaucracy back in Virginia, there is no telling when or from where the kill shot will come. 

Woodward’s personal experience in the Intelligence Community is obvious on every page. Each interaction, altercation, and assassination seemed grounded in an undeniable reality. With a constant level of intensity, combined with just the right dose of violence, The Handler puts you on edge as if you were the one sticking out your neck, just waiting for the ax to drop. It is one of the most efficient stories I’ve read in years. That this is his first novel is mindblowing. This will definitely be on my best debuts of the year list.

With a fictional universe primed to keep this family of spies in the action for years to come, I am hoping that a deal for a longer series is in the works. The Dales could be a multigenerational force on the international stage for years to come.

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Murder By The Book
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The Poisoned Pen

In The Blood By Jack Carr

In the Blood is the best book in the series since The Terminal List. With a plotline focused on revenge and retribution, James Reece is on the hunt and hell bent on fulfilling the promises he’s made. With hints of a techno thriller thrown in, Jack Carr sets up a final twist so shocking that I’m already plotting on how I can get my hands on an early copy of the next one.

After a successful assassination in Burkina Faso, a Mossad agent and the rest of the passengers on the commercial flight are shot down by a small band of mercenaries. In the comfort of his Montana home, James Reece watches the victims’ names as faces cross his television screen. When he recognizes a face from his days in the sandbox, memories of a particular Mossad agent attached to the CIA fill his head. Her connection between the two countries and direct ties to Reece will send the former Navy Seal on a global manhunt for those responsible.

What makes this book so good, in my personal opinion, is the combination of simplicity and mystery. It is simple in that James Reece is not the type of man who leaves a promise unfulfilled. When his word is given, it’s a matter of “if, not when” the task will be completed. He has vowed to avenge his friend Freddy’s death at the hands of a Syrian sniper and long time fans of the series have a good idea of the violence and action that will come of that. 

The mystery is actually on two levels; what is in this current story and what may come next. While Reece is unaware that he is a pawn in a decades-long geopolitical chess match, that doesn’t change the immediate danger he finds himself in. As that story unfolds, more of his father’s past is revealed and I cannot wait to see where that storyline goes. What I also hope Carr explores in the 6th installment of the series is the role my new favorite “character” Alice will play. I initially thought the book was going one direction with Alice, but that thread was never fully developed. I’m VERY MUCH crossing my fingers that Carr includes a healthy dose of the techno side of this story in the next book. I would be very interested in his take on the future of cyber warfare.

And I cannot say enough about how floored I was at the shocking finale, which I’m sure would make fellow Atria author Chris Hauty proud. The immediate and future of the series are at a pivotal point and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

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Countdown To Midnight By Dale Brown

Countdown to Midnight is an audacious blend of tradecraft, tactics, and thermonuclear warfare. Dale Brown brings his crisp writing style back to this action packed series that sees Nick Flynn battling foes, new and old. 

Now in the full time employ of a shadowy intelligence organization, Nick Flynn sees a routine meetup with a high-ranking Iranian official in the Austrian Alps go sideways in all the worst ways. Barely avoiding taking a bullet himself, Flynn learns that Russia and Iran are working on a secret project together codenamed MIDNIGHT.

In order to uncover the truth behind the project, Flynn and his team must root out who is truly pulling the levers of power in Moscow and to what end. With a flurry of misdirection, limited resources, and minimal cooperation from the American intelligence community, Flynn is determined to stop MIDNIGHT before it is too late.

This is not a gritty, hyper realistic action adventure book so popular in today’s market. Rather it feels more like a throwback to the golden age of Bond movies. Solid storylines, clever espionage encounters, and an entertaining level of combat makes this a fun read for any thriller fan.

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Purchase Countdown To Midnight
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Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

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

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