The Treadstone Rendition By Joshua Hood

Joshua Hood is back with the hard-hitting knuckle dragger Adam Hayes in The Treadstone Rendition. This Ludlum universe adventure is nothing short of the violent and battle driven standard that Hood has been accustomed to delivering. Hayes is in for the fight of his life as he is called to redeem a favor with drastic consequences. 

Adam Hayes is a man of war, modified by those running Treadstone to be the point end of the spear, bring lives to an end. Currently, he’s a soon to be father again and needs a job; insert Blackrock Limited. Blackrock has Hayes in India evaluating a corporate issue while a team of CIA clowns is kicking over a hornets nest to pocket a little green. Captain Abdul Nassim of the Afghani National Army has found proof of negligent activities that are putting American and Afghani lives at risk. 

Knowing he needs to find a way into Afghanistan to help save the man who did the same for him, Hayes turns to a State Department contact for assistance. After a long and treacherous journey into the land that the Taliban will soon own, Hayes is on the hunt to find his friend. Not only will he have to attempt to find and save his friend, Hayes will have to fight against the Taliban and the CIA goons that are attempting to stifle the information that Nassim is in possession of from getting out. The fate of one of America's greatest allies and his family sits in Hayes’ hands and time is running out. 

Joshua Hood is no stranger to producing pulse pounding and authentic books that put you in the driver's seat the entire time. He continues to impress and force readers to indulge in such cleverly written stories with so much ease. Hayes is battle tested and daring while being dedicated to something so dangerous. I find a very vibrant and resourceful character like his to be very enjoyable to read as they aren’t always dealt the easiest hand. Hood ensures you have plenty to chew on as the characters are all deeply detailed while he never lets up on the gas at all. The Treadstone Rendition does not disappoint as Adam Hayes has a debt to repay, hoping that it doesn’t cost him his life. 

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Total Empire By AJ Tata

General Garrett Sinclair is back in a violent and provocative escalation that has the United States and China on the precipice of World War III. 

Sinclair is no stranger to being the ultimate ‘tip of the spear,’ as he has recently defended the U.S. and her allies against a notorious terrorist and his deadly biochemical weapon. This outing, Sinclair and his firestorm of talented operators from the Joint Special Operations Command are in the Sahara with the task of rescuing a kidnapped missionary. Like any good plan, it all goes to hell in a handbasket as the team takes numerous casualties while retrieving their mark with the ultimate loss of Task Force Daggers Command Sergeant Major, Sly Morgan. 

Back stateside, Sinclair and team are retooling as the intensity ratchets up in the Inspector General’s investigation into the death of the Secretary of State (in which Sinclair is implicated). Grieving with his team and his goddaughter Zoey Morgan, Sinclair and team come up with a plan for vengeance. As they prepare for a war against ‘The Executioner,’ a deep-rooted plan involving high ranking politicians and the Chinese Communist Party, comes to light that force the hand of Task Force Dagger. 

Back in action on the African continent for another round of combat with disastrous consequences, Sinclair and team are forced to call audibles left and right. Exceedingly dangerous technology makes an introduction as warheads start to fall and the U.S. is being handcuffed into immediate decision making. To prevent a massive escalation to World War III and an all-out nuclear battle, Sinclair and team must succeed, no matter the costs.

A.J. Tata is back with a gripping page-turner that highlights modern day headlines with the world on the brink of collapse. Hypersonic weapons, elite D.C. politicians lining their own pockets, and questionable reporting from news outlets all blend easily with the political divide facing the communities in Total Empire and in current times. Tata builds on the aura surrounding General Sinclair from Chasing the Lion to showcase the talents and leadership abilities, while bringing in the human aspect with relationships and the camaraderie built between those serving in uniform.

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Red London By Alma Katsu

Red London is a vibrant spy thriller with endless mystery. Lyndsey Duncan delicately balances life and lies in this throat crushing adventure. 

Lyndsey Duncan has been through the wringer, surviving a potentially career ending mistake in Red Widow. In Red London, we meet up with Lyndsey on a case for her CIA bosses, trying to earn the trust of a Russian asset. That asset, Dmitri Tarasenko, could lead them to Russian General Evgeni Morozov who is responsible for an Agency Chief of Station. While Duncan is just getting settled into her new cover, reports hit the airwaves of a vicious attack at the home of Mikhail Rotenberg, Russian Oligarch turned British based businessman. 

Mikhail Rotenberg is no stranger to the spotlight as he’s one of the richest men in the world, who also happens to be tied to the Russian government on the heels of the illegitimate Ukrainian war.  As Lyndsey is forced into the realm of her former lover, one that almost cost her everything she’s worked for, she’s back into Davis Ranford’s home turf. Asked to help with an MI6 job, CIA agent Lyndsey transforms herself into Lynn Prescott, former Philadelphia resident now traveling through England. 

Being forced to navigate the MI6 mission while still running her own mission for the CIA, Duncan is placed in numerous precarious decisions trying to not blow her cover. Emily Rotenberg is a torn and tormented individual just trying to keep herself together when she meets Lynn, and they start a budding relationship. What Lynn must faithfully execute is a dangerous mission that could lead to a handful of deaths, and potentially another world war. Will Duncan survive this assignment, or will she be another casualty of a brutally dishonest Russian plot?

This was my first Alma Katsu thriller and while I was anticipating a fun and energetic read, I got way more than I was expecting. Katsu creates one of the most down to earth characters who is loyal and fearless. Lyndsey Duncan is a tranquilizing and not to be underestimated intelligence professional who will enjoy pastries and tea one minute, and the next she’s pulling the trigger.  She allows you in and from the the start you become a fan of Duncan, only to have her utilize her CIA training to accomplish the mission under a different ruse. This is a great story on the Russian oligarchy structure and the battles that accompany those surrounding them.  

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Deep Fake By Ward Larsen

Ward Larsen – Deep Fake

In a power-hungry world, people will stop at nothing to rise to the top, nothing. Ward Larsen’s Deep Fake is a gripping and unique tale of deception, as the fate of the free world hangs in the balance. 

Bryce Ridgeway has served his country honorably and faithfully, serving countless years in the Army’s pride and proud Ranger battalions. The path for him changes as a roadside bomb in Mali derails his career as it prevents him from performing at the highest possible level. In keeping with his need to continue to serve the United States of America, Bryce immediately makes an impact as a congressman from the state of Virginia. 

Sarah Ridgeway, dedicated wife of Bryce, is always willing to sacrifice to support her husband, but things turn awkward when one of his morning runs ends with a seemingly inconsequential cut on his leg. While attending a major party event at a local hotel later, Bryce takes one of the most heroic actions any person could, as he independently stops a terrorist attack of epic proportions. With the terrorist attack stopped, and his life literally hanging on the edge, Bryce and the party committee capitalize quickly by introducing him as the newest presidential candidate. 

His quick rise to stardom happens all too quickly, as Sarah Ridgeway and her friend Dr. Claire Hall start to see minor changes in Bryce’s demeanor. If they don’t utilize some of the most high-tech cybersecurity measures available in the world and press the inconsistencies that Bryce has presented, the world may be in trouble. If they just write it off the United States of America could be on the cusp of the largest conspiracy coverup to ever walk the earth. 

Ward Larsen has been producing some high-quality books with ease it seems, but this is a change from his main protagonist David Slaton. Deep Fake is an exhilarating and adventurous story. Larsen lures you in with emotion and sense of validation due to service, then slowly destroys your thought process. He lines up a clear-cut response for the reader and methodically blows it away through misdirection. The characters are not superhuman and overly powerful, they are dealt a hand that they are forced to play with and works effortlessly. I’ve been a Larsen fan for years now and this is just one more reason to love his writing. 

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Wolf Trap By Connor Sullivan

Connor Sullivan is back, and he is writing like a seasoned vet after the phenomenal 2022 debut in Sleeping Bear. Wolf Trap is balls to the wall satisfying adventure involving the likes of Iran, the Saudis, and a handful of American spy agencies. 

Brian Rhome is a ski slope groomer, like the kind of job you use as an off the wall bar conversation starter. But he really is. He’s got a past too; one that causes Brian to fall into just a shadow of his former self, where it is almost too difficult to live anymore. While he’s busy avoiding the people that led him into an ambush, the one that cost the lives of his CIA ground branch teammates, he’s being silently pulled into a conspiracy that threatens global war in a no-win situation. 

President Angela Buchanan has been a torchbearer for a generational change and turning the world’s attention to newer green initiatives. The Global Green Accord will be her crowning achievement in pushing for a longer cleaner future for the world. As the momentous occasion approaches, an absolute catastrophe railroads her hopes. 

As the Saudi kingdom has pledged support for the American initiative, Rhome is on the prowl for the man responsible for his team’s demise. Did I mention that there’s a conspiracy going on? Dark Sun is just the tip of some very dark and disingenuous people pulling strings behind the curtain to continue to keep the accord from being signed. Ferocious fighting and death follow the journey at every turn while you’re trying to keep up with Sullivan’s extreme pace! 

Sullivan delivers a terrifyingly treacherous and violent second novel. The emotions and history of Brian Rhome really drives the story as you find yourself rooting for vicious payback and steadfast loyalty. What you’ll really enjoy is the extremely aggressive hostility that has creeped into the Saudi Royal Family. Sullivan adds plenty of prominent supporting characters, creative locales, and a deep pulsating energy that drives the uncertainty of the finale. 

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The Sniper By Jim Lindsay

Chuck Mawhinney was just a small town kid in Lakeview, Oregon, making the same mistakes that a lot of the young men in the United States make. He was adventurous, wild, and dedicated to learning all that he could. Little did he know that his past would shape him into the United States Marine Corps most deadly sniper. 

Growing up in a small community in Oregon afforded Chuck plenty of freedoms, many that involved the outdoors and love of family. It all began in the slow-paced town where young Chuck grew up on barstools, the boardwalk buying candy, and hanging out with his grandfather on the farm protecting the cherry trees from the blackbirds. He didn’t have a problem with a hard day’s work and putting traditional blue color work ethic to the test. What he didn’t have was a path forward to growing into a man. Enter the U.S.M.C. They are a fierce bunch of tough men and Mawhinney was given the chance to clear his juvenile record when he signed on to become a Marine. 

Chuck Mawhinney was a licensed pilot, a crack shot with a rifle, and also a very mature man once he entered the service. What he wanted was to succeed at whatever he chose to do and you can tell he was very determined. Lindsay proudly shows how Mawhinney dedicated his life to becoming the best version of himself, not intent on becoming the Marine Corps most deadly sniper, but becoming the epitome of the U.S.M.C. motte, Semper Fidelis (“Always Faithful”). 

Through numerous nighttime sniper interdictions, daytime patrols, and some questionable women and drug scenarios, Mawhinney’s time in Vietnam is portrayed admirably. In keeping with tradition of the men and women that were forced to endure the dark and gloomy days abroad, only to come home and be chastised by the American brethren, many of the people close to Chuck didn’t even know what he had to do to stay alive. As time heals most things, those people began to see what the Vietnam war had done to America's sons and daughters and move forward. Mawhinney is just one man in the many that had to bear the brunt of war in that God forsaken land, but with Lindsay at the helm you will greatly enjoy this one. 

Jim Lindsay delicately navigates Chuck Mawhinney’s journey from small town troublemaker to the United States Marine Corps deadliest sniper. An adventure Mawhinney wasn’t planning for, but one that he didn’t back down from through three tours in Vietnam. Lindsay, with Mawhinney’s permission and exorbitant knowledge, shows the violent side of Vietnam, and the war that many soldiers and marines couldn’t escape. Accepting that the battlefield was his place to shine, Mawhinney performed his job to the fullest extent possible to keep the American warfighter alive.

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What Have We Done By Alex Finlay

In a world where truth is a character trait that many strive for, a group of foster kids hold on to something that has already altered their lives and they don’t even know it. What Have We Done is a riveting story about how the past can haunt and those skeletons don’t lie still forever. 

The Savior House is where it all started for Jenna, Nico, Donnie, and Ben. All have seemingly random events happen to them in their later years, while what happened 25 years prior is what defines them. Jenna is minding her own business when she is tasked to dive back into her previous life and target someone that used to be close to her. As she begins to contemplate if she’s capable of returning to a dealer of death, she finds out she’s been the target all along. 

Donnie is in a former platinum selling band “Tracer’s Bullet”, and on a rock and roll cruise ship jamming every night, when he is forced to make a decision that will most likely cost him his life. Nico is a television show executive producer in the foothills of coal mining country. His life flashes in front of him as explosions trap him in after a late night meeting goes sideways. 

As those affected are trying to figure out what is happening to them, there is a most-sinister plot being developed by one of the most unlikely people. As the group begins their journey back to Chestertown, PA, the place where their worlds all collided decades ago, they walk right into the lion's den. Each individual story is being torn and frayed as the puppet master pulls the strings of all involved as lives start to come to end. What have they done? What will they do? How will they survive? 

Alex Finlay flawlessly blends the lives of the Savior House foster kids into a spider web of lies and death. The home turned nightmare haunts them even more as the past comes roaring back into their lives and tortures them even more.  Finlay takes and molds five separate lives through long forgotten tension and budding violence. Finlay leads you into a firestorm of emotions in trying to figure out what happened to the kids decades ago, while creating a tortuous path that the reader must navigate to find the truth behind the lies.

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Sea Castle By Andrew Mayne

Sloan McPherson has been a controversial and effective character since her introduction, but in Sea Castle she is dealt one of the most difficult hands ever. The Underwater Investigative Unit (UIU) is part of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, but being as divisive as they are puts them on the edge of extinction.

McPherson is a dedicated public servant who is light years ahead of everyone else in her field, but that doesn’t keep her from answering light night calls when a body is involved. Sloan responds to a mysterious death on a beach locally that has law enforcement scrambling for answers. Because of McPhersons brashness and sometimes unorthodox techniques, no one wants her UIU team working under their banner. This leads to Sloan teaming up with a unique and serious Miami Detective by the name of Gwen Wylder.

As the team of Wylder and McPherson are on the hunt for clues, another young woman goes missing in North Carolina. The mysterious surroundings of Carla Burgh’s disappearance and magical reappearance lead Sloan and Gwen on a road trip that changes the entire outlook of the story. Pulling all the stops out, Gwen and Sloan track down another woman who was mentally ‘kidnapped’ only to have their case stalled and misdirected many different ways. McPherson must weather the storm and team up with one of the most dynamic personalities on the force to bring those responsible for the murder of another young woman. 

Sloan McPherson is tenacious and unwavering, leaving worry behind to find justice in Sea Castle. Andrew Mayne keeps you glued to the pages with lives at risk and psychopaths on the loose. The buildup to the final run is very tame and tempered while the answers to your questions are seemingly in front of you the whole time. Mayne also shows the selflessness and unwavering dedication that local law enforcement emulates day after day in our respective communities. Bleeding fierceness and truth, Mayne has another great book on his hands. 

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White Smoke By John Gilstrap

In a world far from normal, former West Virginia U.S. Representative Victoria Emerson, is the glue that holds Eden and broken people together. Following the cataclysmic events in Crimson Phoenix and Blue Fire, Emerson is tasked with keeping peace in a war town world following all out nuclear holocaust.

White Smoke is where Emerson and her rag tag group of survivors from Ortho, a small town in West Virginia, are minding their own business when a soldier from the Annex at the Government Relocation Center (GRC) rolls in with urgent news. Roger Parson and his crew of misfits running the hilltop manor at the GRC have taken it upon themselves to charge the remaining Senators and Representatives in the annex with treason. Treason is a serious charge, but coming from Parson’s boy band gives credence to the clown show that they are trying to uphold while kicking everyone while they’re down. 

As Emerson receives news that now President Penn Glendale and fellow constituents are about to stand trial in a cockamamie court, run by a former entertainment wrestler, she is trying to maintain calm and order in her own community. As Glendale prepares for the gallows, Major Joseph McCrea helps lead the Emerson to Hilltop journey to help preside over what should be a ‘fair’ trial for the new President and Congress. While the horse and buggy armada makes their way, they are challenged tactically and mentally time and time again. The outlaws and hooligans that run the robbery and crime trails don’t make it easy on Victoria’s crew and this is when the blood begins to flow in this adventure. 

Gilstrap champions Victoria Emerson through grace and grit. She defies post-apocalyptic America expectations by delivering hope and unity in uncertain times. On the outside she’s the epitome of what every person should look up to and garner their strength from, while on the inside things are probably not the same. She is the model citizen as she forces everyone to come to a realization that the old world is gone and it is up to them to make the best of the future. She is rock solid while leading from the front and you can tell the character development has been a pained one for her, but something that the people of Ortho have come to depend on. 

Victoria Emerson is a leader for a reason, and she doesn’t sugarcoat the truth. The equity that she puts into Ortho and its people is just the same that she puts into her kids and their responsibilities. This is nothing short of what kind of people we hope come to lead our country in rough times, while the real world still has a say in things. White Smoke has action, emotion, and every bit of unease you could ask for. 

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Dempsey By Andrews and Wilson

Revenge and justice are two of the most common words to describe the level of execution of hardened Tier One operators. But those that leave everything behind to answer a higher calling, so dedicated to the mission that the only thing that matters is completing the goal. John Dempsey, a man amongst boys, is locked away in a desolate Russian prison with almost no hope of getting out, and he might just be okay with that. While his whereabouts are unknown to the team, they are tasked with capturing a cartel officer so they can wring him for intel. 

Oceans away, Dempsey is busy keeping a low profile and getting in the graces of some of the most vicious Russian mob members that just happened to be locked away with him. An unexpected agreement between Russian and American patriots forces the Ember team to play ball in a court they’ve never known before all while Dempsey is forced to complete his most dangerous mission. As if the Zetas weren’t an already formidable group that has wreaked havoc and death on Ember, they have tasking that involves bringing one to safety and rescuing the family of a Russian criminal. 

Andrews & Wilson bring the heat in the most dangerous game of political chess ever played out on the world's stage. Well placed action and intrigue blend well with the murderous and psychotic dictator that needs to be removed from power. This might sound like current headline news, and it seamlessly fulfills that narrative, but Dempsey hits it in all the right ways. The dynamic between characters is fun to catch on to along with the hair raising action but there are some really dark scenes that show how truly dedicated John Dempsey is. 

One of my favorite subplots in this Tier One adventure is how former Navy SEAL Captain Kelso Jarvis, now the Vice President of the United States, is helping run the country and learn to live with a girlfriend all while simultaneously running the single most deadly covert operations program. There are so many great aspects of this book and the characters have great style while the plot is detailed and thorough. Nothing is lacking in this adventure, and it is an instant classic added to the Tier One series. 

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Burner By Mark Greaney

Court Gentry is a man without a country. Now the country that has hunted him needs his help. Data from a bank in Switzerland covering Russian money and where it is going, has been taken, and it might just take down some of the United States most prominent people. Gentry is on the hunt for truth while after years of running has him looking over his shoulder every bit of the way. 

On the run and attempting to stay out of the crosshairs of the American CIA, The Gray Man is busy sinking mega million dollar yachts owned by Russian Oligarchs. Minding his own business in the Caribbean, Court is interrupted by a young and dashing CIA officer with a lead from Suzanne Brewer. What ensues is a job offer to one of the disowned assets that she’s spent years trying to hunt down while potential damning Russian money funneling schemes are about to be broadcasted to the world.

While the world awaits a potential ceasefire from the war in Ukraine, Gentry takes the offer from Brewer and aligns himself with the interests of the United States to not be hunted during the time of the mission. Gentry, back in the temporary graces of the CIA, heads to a beautiful island getaway. There is a saying that ‘No plan survives first contact with the enemy’ and Court is challenged immediately by the never forgiving Luka Rudenko, Codename Matador. If you’ve never heard of or experienced the viciousness of Matador, you’re in for a treat. 

Jet setting from the Caribbean to Switzerland, Court and CIA officer Angela Lacy are primed for a head to head with the Russian GRU while trying to find the information that Alex Velesky stole. As the pursuit continues to even more dangerous territory, a woman who is also a treasure from the past unknowingly stares right into Gentry’s eyes for the first time in forever. How the battle is won is a full-fledged knockout fight.

Greaney continues to impress every single time a book hits the shelf. Burner is an action flick on steroids that they’ve stamped inside of a book. The political environment that the world is dealing with every single day is on display but not in a manner that would force you to be tired of. Greaney has been there and done that to provide true authenticity to his books. His travel and attention to detail clearly have provided him the ability to create true environments in his stories.  

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The Last Orphan By Greg Hurwitz

In a life altering adventure, Orphan X is challenged in ways he’s never been challenged before. With traumatizing lives that people live, is the sole survivor of a dark sanctioned government assassination program going to be the person to help deliver restitution?

At one of the most magnificent homes in the world, Luke Devine is hosting the party for the ages. One that will fulfill every fantasy and necessity one could imagine. But it just might be the party that prevents some from never aging again. Across the pond, Smoak is in Iceland enjoying one of the most desired glacial vodkas ever created and where the ass whoopings begin. 

I don’t know what it feels like, but I imagine being on the run from the feds can’t be a great feeling. Never a good moment to get rolled up by Naomi Templeton, someone who you know has been trying to keep tabs on you. As Smoak is forced to comply with law enforcement to prevent breaking his code, he’s been summoned by the most powerful person on the face of the earth. After being cornered and locked down, Smoak gets direction from the President of the United States to execute or face the cancellation of his immunity. What ensues is a journey that will force Evan to evaluate who he is and why he is doing the things he has done. His moral compass has been true to course over the years, but there is always insider information that could sway the actions or help him understand why those actions are being taken. 

Orphan X is a unique example of what can go right and go wrong with the governments putting their hand on everything. X drives a hard-hitting Mack truck through any and everything that stops him but what happens when he is forced to dive deep into a situation and understand what is really going on? Driven by a quest for helping the little guy, X gets himself into the dark realm of the bad guys only to find more than meets the eye. 

Vicious action, sprinkled with a deep rooted need-for-truth drive this Hurwitz masterpiece. Evan Smoak is a complicated person, that’s easy to see and absolutely understandable. But when life starts throwing him curveballs that force him to re-evaluate, you might wonder if X has lost his edge. Orphan X has been a pulse pounding punch delivering tool for years, but has the time come to become a more methodical instrument of war?

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Scavenger Hunt By Chad Boudreaux

In a well delivered debut, Chad Boudreaux weaves a daunting story of treachery and puppeteering in this finely crafted race for survival. As terror and history come to bear, it will be through grit and determination that justice is delivered, and wrongs are made right in one giant Scavenger Hunt. 

Following one of the most heinous terrorist attacks on American soil, a team is put together in the shadows of the Justice Department to help combat terrorism, foreign and domestic. You have your classic hot shot special operator, a former agency guy with a mysterious past, the grease man with spy skills like no other who is a woman, and the lawyer. Which one of these sticks out to you? Justice is always served but when Attorney Blake Hudson joins Operation Scavenger Hunt, things will never be the same. 

Hudson, along with the team put together by John Smith from the CIA is out for vengeance. Globe trotting with the intent to put those responsible for American deaths 6 ft under, terror strikes home time after time and the team itself is turned on its head. As laws begin to stall the pace things quickly turn to something that any law-abiding citizen wouldn’t appreciate, much less a Justice Department representative, the team quickly disintegrates. 

As Hudson attempts to piece together where the team has disappeared too, it is evident that the time spent working on a hushed project is going to lead to a massive amount of running. That is, if Blake wants to live to find out the truth of what is really happening.

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Particles In The Air By Jenna Podjasek

Jenna Podjasek, M.D., hits the scene with her debut character Dr. Mallory Hayes with death and carnage in Particles in the Air.  Hayes dashingly introduces herself in this high intensity bio-terror thriller as a great physician/researcher from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, working with the deadliest viruses the earth has ever seen. 

While one of the most tragic natural disasters strikes on the west coast of the United States, an already full-fledged operation of terroristic proportions is ongoing in Sweden, about to cause unkempt chaos and disorder. Gene Therapist, Dr. Erik Lindgren, is advancing his work rapidly in the Northern European country when his personal debts start to escalate past the point of coming back. As if his research isn’t stressful enough, Lindgren watches his woman walk away after an unfortunate domestic violence situation. Now with no job, no woman, and no income, Lindgren is forced to make a decision that will cost him everything. 

Hayes links up with the Army National Guard to assist in the care and comfort of the refugees and displaced people after the earthquake and tsunami unfortunately cause havoc on California’s coastline. As people start showing up with minor injuries and common issues, Hayes helps support and boost the physician’s staff as the Army’s Medical Corps when anomalies start becoming more and more frequent and carrying death in tow. 

Hayes utilizes her extensive experience in the CDC to help pinpoint what issues are more than just the common cold as more and more people are showing up dead with immunosuppressed symptoms. Battling an already violent situation with an unfaithful man, an extraordinary disease spreading like wildfire, and herself potentially being infected, Hayes must fight through to help find a cure and stop one of the worst bioterrorism attacks the world has ever seen. 

Jenna Podjasek turns to her immunology and doctoral background to give a very detailed and frightening tale of terror that has America falling apart. Her intense and extensive level of knowledge of viral and bacterial diseases fearfully creates an uneasiness that will leave you breathless. With a host of animated characters to help support the main plot, Podjasek also shows just how easily the spread of something so inconsequential and invisible can cause such drastic consequences. Knowing just a small portion of what she has seen and researched, you are sure to be easily terrified as the martyrdom of some very anti-American cohorts create chaos on a global scale.

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The Devil's Ransom By Brad Taylor

Pike Logan is back in one of the most hair-raising thrill rides to date. Against all odds, the Taskforce must battle against countless enemies on the hunt to find who is behind The Devil’s Ransom! 

Logan and team are doing their due diligence in maintaining the Grolier Recovery Services front, as an archeological support team in Tajikistan. While camping out in the middle of the forest they are called into action to support a former Afghani CIA asset Jahn Amizi, who has fled the country amid the lightning-fast Taliban takeover. 

Along with Amizi is his niece, and something else of great value, that the Badr 313 Battalion from Afghanistan is on the hunt for. Pike and team are always willing to put themselves on the line for those who support the United States, and this is exactly what they do, help. Leading the way to find and provide safe passage back to the U.S. was only supposed to be a quick job when blood is spilled, and another star is awarded on the Langley wall. 

Following multiple side street and back alley attempts to find a lead to who has been holding American Technology hostage, the race is on to find a workaround to prevent the death of Americans and the loss of crucial space equipment. They always say that the insider threat is one of most consequence and it is evident as the team is placed in dire circumstances half a world away from their headquarters. 

Brad Taylor blends a unique writing style with creative detail in The Devil’s Ransom. With the fall of Afghanistan being so recent, he is able to match current headlines with some of the best writing you can find today. As you try to find your way through the story on the side of those who are good, Taylor flawlessly shows the dark side of lawlessness that wreaks havoc on a global level. He also builds on the relational foundation that Pike and Koko have established while bringing you into the eyes of Pike and team, using unmatched research techniques to bring you a thriller with unmatched authenticity. 

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Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
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The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

The Bullet Garden By Stephen Hunter

The Bullet Garden is timeless Swagger lore in a game of battlefield chess.  Expertly blending espionage and warfighting, Hunter draws you in with the larger-than-life Earl Swagger and his love for country. 

The year is 1944 and on the heels of island warfighting in the Pacific, Earl Swagger is a legend teaching marksmanship to all the new Marine recruits at Parris Island. As the war continues to rage on overseas Swagger and his expertise are called upon to assist one of the most devastating death machines plaguing the Americans. Snipers. 

Swagger teams up with some remarkable and bloodied characters to help draft a plan to combat the issue at hand. Working hand in hand with Army officers and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), Swagger has a non-celebrated field promotion to help navigate tricky politics. While the OSS is the premier spy agency in the United States, they aren’t the only country utilizing dark intelligence gathering techniques which leads to unnecessary blood being spilled. 

While there is a whole host of back-alley secrets being passed to inhibit progress in the war-ravaged European continent, Swagger does what Swaggers do, they use their cunning ability to hunt and become the predator that they are so accustomed to being. Through unnavigable hedgerows and death fields, Swagger and team must find a way to end the sniper threat to allied soldiers, while attempting to find out why their plans seem to be known to the enemy. 

Stephen Hunter has always wowed me with his creativity in storytelling and I was curious how he was going to follow up last years Targeted. Well, he absolutely nailed it. With the delivery of this historical war time thriller, you’ll notice a poetic and emotional tour of the Allied war efforts from the rifles of some of the most talented warfighters. Savagery and political needs are common hurdles thrown in the way, but Hunter shows how Swagger leads from the front and pursues truth and justice at all costs.

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

The Hunter By Jennifer Herrera

In the electrifying debut by Jennifer Herrera, Detective Leigh O’Donnell is on the hunt for the truth of a heinous crime. What she doesn’t realize is she is also on the hunt for the truth in her own life, and that everything she’s been going through is not as it seems.  

O’Donnell, a NYPD homicide detective, is suspended from the force after a life altering moment. As she’s evaluating her radical decision and the mistake that has most likely cost her everything, including her career, a triple homicide in her hometown of Copper Falls, Ohio, calls her home. Copper Falls is a small town that hides many secrets. Some that hold the key to why those wanting to leave wind up six feet down instead. O’Donnell tries to right the ship that is her well jacked up life, she’s a steady rock for her daughter Simone, but a downright disaster in being able to focus on the task at hand. While navigating a harrowing near-death experience, O’Donnell slowly begins to piece together the puzzle that has troubled her at every step.

As Leigh works with her brother Ronan, a Copper Falls Police officer, she starts the dreadful journey of trying to solve the murders of three young men. It isn’t a coincidence either that the past in Copper Falls is one of epic proportions. The Copper Falls lore isn’t just one of quaint and quiet, but one of multiple mysterious deaths throughout the years and some of the most profound corruption ever known. O’Donnell fights through lies and untold 

Herrera eloquently delivers a mystery with unmatched emotion and strategically placed demons. Not all twists and turns are intended to confuse people and Herrera expertly mixes truth and coincidence to bring to life a story of one small town and those that are living there, just waiting to die. The blend of characters from Leigh O’Donnell and her family, the families in Copper Falls, and those that are left battling in the sticks is extremely neat. I think some of my favorite things in this were the inconsequential scenes that really drive the story late and keep you guessing non-stop. Herrera is on track to the best sellers lists with phenomenal creativity, don’t miss out on The Hunter.  

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Murder By The Book
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City Under One Roof By Iris Yamashita

A story of heartache, violence, and immeasurable lies all woven into the fabric of one small town hideaway. Some secrets stay hidden, while others come to the light of day and wreak havoc in Iris Yamashita’s City Under One Roof.

As body parts start washing ashore in one small community on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska, people start watching their backs as Detective Cara Kennedy rolls into town unannounced. Kennedy is conducting her own investigation into the body parts, which could lead to information in the disappearance of people that are close to her. Aside from the cozy local police chief and his lone officer, the town is really a group of misfits all poured into the same building while winter rages outside.

The investigation grows and the mystery of how an unknown man is butchered and why no one cares continues to plague Kennedy? As life continues in Point Mettier, the hooligans from the local Native American village roll into town with an unspoken score to settle. As Kennedy and the locals search for the truth, more people turn up missing and the hunt for the truth becomes deadly. 

Yamashita delivers a heart pounding adventure with characters with dark secrets beyond belief. This isn’t your classic hallmark movie in the snow, this is an eerily tragic experience that will set Cara Kennedy free or possibly drag her down a rabbit hole that may not even exist. The characters give you everything you could possibly want from redemption, disaster, love, and hate. There is a specific emotion that Yamashita delivers, and I can’t tell if I’m feeling the redemptive qualities of solving a brutally violent case, or the horror of being shown death firsthand and knowing that the past could haunt you forever.

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Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

The Den By Cara Reinard

Cara Reinard hooks you from the start with breathtaking and heart pounding scenes bound tight, where fleeting passion and nightmarish memories take centerstage. 

Stefan Fox is hosting a party for the matriarch of the Fox family when one seemingly inconsequential tryst ruins everything. Siblings Christian, Valerie, Jeremy, and Lucinda Fox have all grown up and gone their separate ways, but life has conveniently brought them together through a series of unfortunate events that leave them changed forever. The family isn’t the most down to earth as Stefan has turned Fox Wealth Management into a billion-dollar organization with an embattled future. As disaster strikes Stefan, the children are left trying to decide how to move forward with The Den when they seemingly become targets themselves.

Christian Fox hails as his father’s favorite while Valerie is weathering a potential legal storm due to her ex-husband’s false bravado. Jeremy Fox has been an off and on druggie and attempting to turn his life around while sister Lucy is trying to land funding as a playwright for her latest creation. The Fox family trust has a large payout to each surviving member of the family that could potentially be worth millions, but each child must survive. As the story continues, death visits and demons from the path rear their heads in a dynamic fashion. Who will come out alive and who will become the sole owner of the Fox family wealth is in jeopardy as the past comes back to haunt them. 

Reinard delivers an outstanding psychological trip based on the ups and downs of an extremely wealthy family where nothing seems to go as planned. The Den brings to light sibling rivalries where past transgressions encourage looking over your shoulder. A true family dynamic bred from a distant father might be relatable to some but the fight to stay alive will keep you turning the pages and the ending will leave you extremely satisfied.

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Purchase The Den
(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

Prime Target By Forrest Waide

Forrest Waide brings to life one of the most fun and energetic characters in a hard-hitting game of chess in Prime Target. Lucas Ramsey is as dedicated as they come and he’s not some larger-than-life superhero, he has been crafted to be the epitome of perseverance. Waide shows the human aspect of all his characters and the grim reality that war is never over for this resilient team through great action, delicate weaving of timelines, and an emphasis placed on family and friends.

Luke Ramsey is a decorated war hero with a beautiful wife, a fighter pilot daughter, and some of the most powerful friends a person could have. After a chance encounter with one of the world’s most high sought-after terrorists, Ramseys life carries on with the thought that the threat from Ali Assad Ahmani is over. Ramsey and his team of Navy SEALS are put to the test to determine who is behind a daring terrorist attack on one of Americas nuclear powered aircraft carriers while training overseas. Despite being one of the most prepared and well-trained weapons of war that the United States utilizes, Ramsey and crew are also challenged time and time again, as a menacing face from 0the past rears its head. 

Teaming up with Ramsey and his Special Operations team is one of the most daring and highly talented hunters of men in Natalie Gray and Ramsey's daughter Ryan, who happens to be a world class Marine pilot. While a clever terroristic organization with deep pockets and attainable goals attempts to reshape the world's power structure, the United States President becomes the center of attention and death is beckoning. What ensues is a time sensitive operation to prevent World War 3 and save the most powerful man in the free world.

Follow Chris on Twitter or contact him via the site.

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

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

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