The Last One By Will Dean

Will Dean takes you on a devilish cruise of epic proportions in The Last One. Caz Ripley is in for a trip that will leave her questioning everything and just as fearful and confused.

Carolina ‘Caz’ Ripley boards a majestic cruise ship in Southampton to experience a once-in-a-lifetime excursion with her beau Pete. After an evening of living it up on the open ocean, Ripley awakes to an empty bed, Pete nowhere to be found. Exiting her room to try and track him down, she immediately realizes that there is more amiss than she originally thought. Traversing every deck and location possible, she continues to come up empty until she’s rewarded with a random noise that leads to a gentleman who is also on his own.

What is he doing by himself? Is there anyone else still on the ship? More importantly, where did everyone else go? Why is there no one driving the ship? These are all questions you’re going to ask yourself and most likely the book itself. I found myself more than once, attempting to speak to Dean through the pages and ask him what the heck he was thinking.

Will Dean delivers an alluring and mind-altering adventure that will leave you exhausted. This is one of the most exhilarating adventures I’ve been on in some time, as you have no idea how Dean keeps one-upping himself. His creativity and unique storytelling ability cleverly come to a crescendo when he’s ready. There’s no divulging the ending quickly, he continually leaves fragments that will and will not help you with your sleuthing skills as you work your way to the ending.

This is an extremely detailed adventure that you don’t want to miss. In the game of life, you only get one chance, no mulligans. Will Caz Ripley survive hers and what will come from her nightmare journey?

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None Of This Is True By Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell has delivered another terrifying trip filled with lies, love, and utter devastation in None of This is True. If you’re in the mood for a dark and mentally twisting adventure fraught with non-stop deception, this will leave you contemplating life’s choices.

Josie Fair is a complicated and dangerous woman. You wouldn’t know it at first, but her life has seemed to bloom from nothing but terrible and misguided decisions. Growing up in a single-parent household doesn’t last long as she journeys to adulthood much faster than anticipated.

Out to dinner with Walter, her much older husband, celebrating her 45th birthday Josie casually meets Alix Summer who is also celebrating her birthday. As the introduction lasts mere minutes, Josie is on a path to redemption through the help of Alix, a budding podcaster with her own problems. Intrigued by a mundane offer from Josie, Alix quietly befriends her as there is a story of epic proportions to be told that would be vivid and more than entertaining to her listeners. What ensues is a mind-bending and brokenhearted journey that covers untold lies, mysterious deaths, and an ending that will leave you breathless.

Jewell highlights the daring mental capacity of one strong-willed yet confused woman and her staunch for power. I was mesmerized by how she delivers the story; a blend of Netflix documentary blended with a true crime feel will leave you watching the story unfold and not wanting to stop. Her ability to create such vibrant devastation in such a calm manner is impeccable and underrated for sure. I was unsure of where the storyline was going to go after the first few chapters, but Jewell laid out a path that leads to an ending with the victim and villain all rolled into one.

Character building is one of her best attributes in None of This is True as she takes common issues and problems a lot of married couples navigate and turns them into dangerous hurdles. I can honestly say I was scared for one of the characters throughout and can tell that Jewell put a ton of time and effort into ensuring the emotions felt are nail-biting. This is nothing short of a psychological trip through hell for one family at the expense of a maniacal person.

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Valiant Women By Lena Andrews

World War II was a huge turning point in the American way of life. The war machine was just about to get fired up and with the Japanese forcing America into the war quicker than initially thought, there were going to be a lot of needs foreign and domestic.

Lena Andrews highlights the heroic actions of the women of the United States and their sacrifices by leaving industrial and academia sectors to build women-led branches of military service. The questions of when and why women were introduced into the military complex have been answered time and time again, but the how, that’s very intriguing. How vital were Oveta Culp Hobby and Ann Baumgartner in the performance and selection of women into a men’s only league at the time? They were just two women who had but a small part during their time.

From the needs of the Army and Navy to the uniforms that were being worn, to where basic training for women was based, Valiant Women by Lena Andrews answers all of that and more. Andrews elegantly written history shows the true courage of the women of the United States during one of its most dangerous times.

I am a Navy veteran of 14 years and got to see firsthand the excellence of female submariners during their implementation onto submarines after decades of not being allowed. I feel like I was a part of something special and unique that can’t be overshadowed. The smart and faithful women that devoted their lives to helping the United States during World War II can’t be thanked enough and Andrews highlights just a moment in time and how they broached the surface of a culture shift decades ago. Those changes laid the framework for the continued integration of men and women into mathematical, scientific, and other engineering and combat careers that couldn’t have been thought of years before. Do yourself a favor and reflect on the stories of such courageousness and selflessness that the women of the United States Armed Services have endured and how thankful we are that they have given their blood, sweat, and tears.

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Dead Fall By Brad Thor

Scot Harvath is back in Dead Fall; a white knuckled battlefield experience where innocent lives hang in the balance. Brad Thor is a mainstay on bestseller lists around the globe and this will surely be his next!

Anna Royko is leaving her law firm and the comfort of her home in America to go volunteer in war torn Ukraine. Filling in where needed as an aid worker at a rundown orphanage leads to the worst nightmare imaginable. Harvath is called upon to streamline a rescue operation far from home that is classic action-packed Thor.

Battling through a train wreck ambush and demon possessed men with no regard for life, Harvath must make do with minimal supplies and support to free Anna from the horrible situation she faces. While Harvath is running through faux checkpoints and untold amounts of lead and fire, the Ravens are wreaking havoc and looting cultural artifacts for themselves. With treachery and death surrounding the borders of Ukraine, a former U.S. Senator is being bought and controlled by a Russian intermediary in the heart of the American government.

Scot Harvath has always been on the hunt for the next bad guy so he can start his annual ass kicking contest. Now Thor brandishes Harvath as the fiercest battle weapon America can deliver and it’s great. We don’t typically see Harvath in the trenches as two countries are battling for one’s sovereign status, but this is a unique look into Thor’s creativity and brilliance. Capturing such a small piece of the larger transgression allows for supreme emotion to grow into hatred to those who have started their ‘Special Military Operation.’ Sølvi and Nicholas make their presence known and get you thinking about where Thor wants to take them in future adventures as Harvath continues to cheat death to save American lives.

I was really impressed with this down and dirty, even gritty, journey to hell and back. Thor brings glimpses of Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan while highlighting the value that spy-like treachery affects operational security in Scot Harvath’s extremely dangerous mission.

Don’t miss this summer blockbuster and make sure you prepare yourself for all-out war!

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The Block Party By Jamie Day

Centered around Memorial Day, The Block Party highlights the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Alton Road families. Spicing up this hot summer read, Jamie Day mixes cocktails and pills with a splash of death in The Block Party.

Alton Road is in a premier neighborhood and one that people remember for the epic Memorial Day bashes that are thrown. But this year, the festivities get way out of hand as the community social media forum acts like every other in the county, allowing speculation and embellishment to rule the day. Alex Fox and her husband Nick live on the block with their daughter Lettie, and boy is there an alcohol problem there. Alex’s sister Emily, and her husband Ken Adair, live just a few houses away with their son Dylan but boy is there a deep dark secret that one of them is harboring. Emily is a well-respected real estate agent who just happens to sell a home on the street to Samir and Mandy Kumar, along with their troubled college aged son Jay.

Day throws it back to the previous year’s Memorial Day bash, to when the Kumar family was touring a home for sale on the street and things were better left unsaid. There is a whole other host of characters that come in to make a statement, including the Only Fans model who was recently widowed. As the neighborhood races towards another extraordinary summer kickoff blowout, the tempers come to lare at a boiling hot pace. Not knowing who has secrets and who doesn’t blood spills as everyone in this tight knit community is tied into something that they really didn’t even know they were.

Jamie Day gets this summer blockbuster cooking with real housewife vibes tossed into an episode of big Brother. There is no shortage of carnage and backstabbing in this mind-twisting journey. Love is stolen and given free of charge as “get out of here” and “nuh-uh'' become your favorite phrases while bebopping your way through this neighborhood trainwreck. Comical at times, downright scary at others, Day highlights the do’s and do nots of the classical neighborhood mixer while attempting to throw you off her tail at every opportunity. This is a bit of a step out of my normal military action thriller, but it went fast and crazy and had me so jumbled up, I didn’t know what she was going to do next. I believe the phrase the kids use these days is “never let them know your next move” and Day took this to heart and absolutely will keep you guessing until the end.

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The Guardian By Joshua Hood

Joshua Hood is back, and he will wow you with some of the best action scenes in his latest The Guardian. Starring a new protagonist in Staff Sergeant Travis Lane, Hood takes you on a journey that highlights those who are damned if they do, damned if they don’t.

Staff Sergeant Travis Lane is serving in a Special Forces capacity on of the Air Forces premier tactical teams when his brother-in-law, TJ Owens, takes his last breath while the two are deployed. Lane is forced to do some soul searching afterwards and decides to hang up his door-kicking boots. What awaits him when he returns home to Tennessee is the opportunity to keep the family’s property from foreclosure, but it means risking his life.

Lane auditions himself for a spot on the Broadside Solutions recovery team at the same time FBI Special Agent Mia Webb finds a notorious criminal working a mine sight in the Republic of Congo. As things turn upside down for Mia, Lane and the team find themselves barreling to the southern hemisphere to save the lives of those who contract their services.

Hood captures timely news headlines in this epic adventure that features some seriously bad dudes. Drawing on his personal combat experience, Hood stands out amongst the crowd with vicious action and premier storytelling. He draws you in with clever intrigue and hair-raising situations involving antagonists that are Vince-Flynn level bad guys. I believe that Hood really shines with his ability to bring a fresh plot to the thriller genre while sticking to the core of what he knows best, action. The Guardian gives off fast paced and enthusiastic vibes while still allowing you to get to know the characters on a bit of a more personal level. There is still plenty to unpack as he doesn’t unwrap everything in this, which I hope means we get a sequel.

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Tournament Of Shadows By Andrew Watts & Dale Nelson

Andrew Watts and Dale Nelson have teamed up again for the latest Colt McShane adventure in Tournament of Shadows. This bold spy thriller in the Firewall series is another daring journey involving some of the most dangerous skills while utilizing some of the most unlikely assets.

McShane and team are in Israel trying to undermine the secretive Chinese government, who have their hands in everything. As far as the plan goes, the team inserts themselves into the Bay of Haifa shipping terminal complex, upload some software to exploit data the Chinese are stealing, then bounce. Of course, as every great plan comes together, there is an inevitability that it will just fall apart. All the while, hackers are turning an American dam into a flood zone, then another intrusion forces the grounding of all planes in American airspace.

While the plan didn’t come together perfectly, the United States did get one of their men, Liu Che, Chinese government official who turned an Admiral in the US Navy previously. Che is a very cunning and smart individual who might play well into the hands of McShane and team. While PAX AI and owner Jeff Kim have been recovering from their misfortunes, thief Guy Hawkinson has been attempting to upgrade his business since his previous AI island ended up as a parking lot. Hawkinson has been in deliberate meetings with the Chinese government for some type of affiliation.

McShane and Che come to an agreement that if Che wants his freedom back and his incarcerated wife back with him, he must play ball. The journey slowly unwinds through interrogation rooms and AI office buildings until the opportunity comes to travel to Buenos Aires to put Hawkinson out of business for good.

Watts and Nelson have finely crafted the Colt McShane legacy while leaning heavy into the world of AI competition. The storyline follows what you would see in any newspaper around the world with the ever-recurring threat of the abilities of rival governments. McShane has been through the ringer too, battling the legalities of a former flame who happens to be a Mossad operative. The journey builds slowly from Israel to Argentina, but it follows a more conventional timeline of action and then reaction. Watts and Nelson creatively deliver a story of good versus evil while combining the two at just the right time.

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Zero Days By Ruth Ware

This was my first Ruth Ware thriller, and I am very certain that it won’t be my last. After reading the book description it was clear that Ware has extreme creativity, and I couldn’t wait to dive into Zero Days. I certainly hope that his one grabs you and allows you to be amazed just like I was.

Jack Cross and Gabe Medway are one of the most unique husband-wife combos you’ll ever read about. The duo form one of the more formidable penetration testing companies in the greater London area. Gabe handles the digital (hacking) portions of the company while Jack is what would emulate the grease man from Ocean’s Eleven. That is until one test leaves her world shattered with nowhere to turn but into herself.

Battling demons from the past and dodging new dangers from the present, Jack is on the hunt for the truth in what must be the single worst moment of her life. On the run from the police, as their lead suspect, Jack turns to her sister Helena for a cold shoulder and a listening ear. Piecing together the facts and slowly succumbing to injuries sustained in a high stakes escape, Jack is in for the most heartbreaking ride of her life.

Zero Days is filled with perilous intensity as one woman tries to find truth in a world full of lies. Ware has found something mesmerizing in Jack Cross using her creativity and ability to deliver some of the most traumatizing scenes with compassion. The twists and turns are top-notch as she lays out the obstacle course of danger Cross must navigate to find the truth. The career field that Ware puts both Cross and Medway in is one of the most interesting things I’ve ever read about and something I was never aware of. One of my favorite things about this one is the opening sequence as Ware lays out the foundation for the story but easily sets the standard as high as possible.

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Inside Threat By Matthew Quirk

From the talented and well-known writer of The Night Agent (now an all-time top-5 Netflix streaming series) Matthew Quirk, comes an all new terrifyingly original story in Inside Threat. Building off of his immense storytelling ability, Quirk places you at the forefront of an action-packed underground race for survival with the most powerful man in the world.

Eric Hill has a troubled past, but his career as a United States Secret Service Agent is something he’s been dedicated to for years. Now on desk duty because of his decision-making ability, Hill is busy coordinating agent scheduling and administrative tasks when the White House becomes the starting point for one of the greatest coups ever attempted. Security cameras improperly functioning lead to a call for Secret Service members to respond appropriately which then leads to the death of a good agent.

Following a huge break in protocol and normal operation on the grounds of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the team decides to take the President and a small contingent to Raven Rock Mountain Complex in southern Pennsylvania. Armed with only the weapons they brought and a small skeleton crew running the site, Eric Hill, Amber Cody, and the rest of the Secret Service agents are tasked with preventing the assassination or capture of the President.

Keenly observant to everything that is going on, Hill sees the Presidential Emergency Action Documents being toted around while rumors spread of the President himself enacting powerful measures to silence the opposition. What follows is a battle royale of epic proportions in the caverns of the Raven Rock Complex. Death frequents often in the dark while explosives and automatic weapons lead the way in a fight for who carries the biggest stick. Will Hill and team keep the President safe, or will tragedy strike the most powerful position in the United States for the first time in decades?

Quirk does a fantastic job of creating a gripping and deceptive story of resilience and dedication as seen through the eyes of a troubled Secret Service agent. Eric Hill is just like any other person, except he’s taken a bullet for the President, which puts him on a short list of heroes that everyone knows. He’s the kind of character that you read and slowly peel back the layers on, in which I thought Quirk did a great job presenting his past. Quirk also delves into the past of Amber Cody which makes you question her commitment and whether her intentions are pure. Invigorating throughout, Quirk quickly makes this a must read for fans of political intrigue and terrifying action.

One thing I love about these books is the author’s intention to bring to life a real place or location that most people have never heard about. I have heard of the Cheyenne Mountain location, and the Greenbrier Government bunker, but I had never heard of Raven Rock, and this was a brilliant piece to learn about and do my own research on. The historical influence of the location and the importance it plays in the longevity of the US Government is a very neat addition to an already great catalog of stories from Quirk.

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All The Sinners Bleed By S.A. Cosby

In the world of writing, some of the most popular heavyweights have captured their readers’ attention with one amazing protagonist, who goes on a journey to save the world or solve a crime. S.A. Cosby has bucked that trend by creating fresh characters, full of life and energy, in Blacktop Wasteland, Razorblade Tears, and now All the Sinners Bleed. He has absolutely captured lightning in the bottle yet again, with Sheriff Titus Crown and his team of deputy sheriffs in Charon County, Virginia.

Charon County is one of those small towns where most people grow-up in and don’t leave, but the few who make it out are the lucky ones. Cosby hits the ground running with Crown and crew as there is a call out at the local high school. With one of the most revered teachers, Mr. Spearman, is shot dead by a strung out young black man, tensions in Charon County start to rise as they are also battling a confederate statue that half of the county doesn’t want anymore. Investigating the shooting leads to some of the most dark and murky secrets that people could ever keep, and they are sure to only get darker.

Battling his own demons and fighting the nonsense that comes with an old flame rolling into his stomping grounds, all while trying to hunt down a madman turned serial killer, Crown must find the truth in what is no easy task. A rough family dynamic between Titus, his father, and his always missing brother, creates a strenuous situation that needs to be dealt with before it makes Crown lose it. Bit by bit, piece by piece, Crown and his team slowly wear away the façade that the masked man continues to display in hopes that he will slip up. Charon County is on the edge of its seat, and it won’t be safe until Sheriff Crown brings deliverance.

Cosby is one of the most talented and jaw-dropping writers I have read in my life. He doesn’t tip-toe around social issues and the enormity of those that plague the southern communities that highlight the tremendous writing he has blessed us with. He puts it in your face, the feelings and emotions that bleed from every page are truly overwhelming. Cosby brings to life the determined and somewhat refined Titus Crown, a man who has a past, one that probably doesn’t need to see the light of day. He also fights through unimaginable sights and sounds as the gruesome discoveries made by the Charon County Sheriff's Office while trying to be the epitome of equality and justice in a land ruled with so much hate and greed. The blending of fiction with hard hitting issues that Americans face every single day is top-notch. You’re going to want to give this a read, and if you haven’t read his previous works, go read those as well. Cosby is striking gold with each and every page, character, and adventure and All the Sinners Bleed continues to raise the standard.

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A Killer's Game By Isabella Maldonado

If you’re looking for a fast paced and engaging adventure that blends the FBI with a little Squid Game (Netflix) touch, Isabella Maldonado’s A Killer’s Game is the one for you. When a politically motivated hit takes place right in front of one of the FBI’s most dedicated agents, the tables will turn like you’ve never seen them before.

FBI Special Agent Daniela Vega has a front row seat to a vicious murder involving one of the more obscure ways to kill. After putting eyes on the potential suspect, Vega takes off on a mad dash to deliver justice. After many twists and turns and preset getaway points, the suspect gets away without a problem. Things get weird as the murder victim isn’t just some Joe Schmoe, but the Chief of Staff for a prominent New York Senator. 

Using the tools of their trade, Vega, Special Agent in Charge Steve Wu and the rest of the team find out who the perp is. The conclusion is Gustavo “Bull” Toro, a skilled professional with a previous murder charge dropped on a technicality. They go play his game and best him with Vega’s badass persona and intuition. Following a nice interrogation session, Wu and Vega talk Toro into some semblance of a deal: get one of the FBI’s people into the inner circle of the professional group of heavy hitters that employ Toro and others.  

This is where things go absolutely bonkers. Vega teams up with Toro as a girlfriend to help infiltrate the inner workings of the people who run the professional hit squad. They are taken on a mission to help support a seemingly good cause and get a nice paycheck when they land somewhere and are placed into a literal fight for their life scenario. 

Maldonado showcases a battle tested woman that has faced adversity her entire life. FBI Special Agent Daniela Vega is a champion of justice in A Killer’s Game. From the very first page to the end, Vega is a firecracker of a character, as she has a past that is slowly built upon, allowing you to see the cracks in her demeanor.  Maldonado highlights her creativity with bloodied action, a tragic past, and a deceptive story telling ability that will leave you ready for the next adventure. This one had everything I could have wanted in a thriller. The characters were complex enough to heighten the plot’s impact, while also delivering well timed adrenaline kicks. This one should definitely be on your to-be-read list!

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Vengeance Flight By TR Matson

Navy Pilot Jack ‘Rattler’ Owen is taking his talents to South Beach. Not really. But he is taking them from the Hawkeye community to the fighter pilot community after the skills and bravery that he showed in Treason Flight. Bravado aside, Rattler is dedicated to serving his country and being the best that he can be. 

Having paid his dues with the Wallbangers of VAW-117(Navy Terminology, no worries), Owen completes his F/A-18/C Hornet qualifications to head to Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. Upon arriving, he is immediately put on guard as LCDR Troy ‘Toad’ Kilby puts him in his place because of his actions from Treason Flight. Rattler also has a budding romance blooming with a sweet Australian blonde by the name of Sandy. 

Prepping for deployment, Rattler and his squadron must devote countless hours to testing, qualifications, and getting everything straight at home prior to departing on a deployment that would change his life. The deployment starts to get a little hairy as things that you train for, and hope don't start happening. A very scary and eye-opening night launch followed up by the need to take a breather from a near death experience scrub a combat mission that Rattler was looking forward too. Matson continues to build the intensity as that life changing situation finally comes to fruition and Rattler finds out that there is a group of people that are determined to keep peace and prevent the violent actions of those power hungry and evil people ruining the world. Will Rattler have the courage to stand and fight when he has lost everything? 

Matson drives this fight and flight packed adventure with supreme creativity and a solid plot. Jack ‘Rattler’ Owen is a humble person that does well to embrace the amount of grief and violence thrown his way. Vengeance Flight has an Old Guard vibe while focusing on the perseverance and faithful mentality that a simple-minded group who defends the world against evil continues to implore. Matson also leverages his time behind the sticks of E-2 Hawkeyes and the Hornet, as the cockpit scenes have the most authentic and vibrant feelings you could imagine. I really enjoyed that the story doesn’t spend every minute flying a plane, enabling you to get a real feeling that the characters also have a life when not up in the air. 

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Citizen Orlov By Jonathan Payne

Payne paints an amusing and exciting cloak-and-dagger adventure with the lowest key and humble protagonist of all time. Citizen Orlov is not just the title; it is the most lost and confused man just doing what he thinks is right.

Citizen Orlov, a simple fishmonger, is just minding his own business on the streets of this central European landscape when an answer telephone call changes the path of his life tremendously. Given the simple but mindless task of delivering information to someone, Orlov is led down a path he can’t unsee and one that forces him to keep his head on a swivel. As he attempts to carry out his duties delivered by a no-named man, an assassination attempt takes place right in front of him. Now bearing even more secrets than he ever thought he knew; he must adapt his skills (there are none) to keep himself alive.

Infiltration into a rival political group who intends to undermine the governance of the incumbent administration is put at his feet. While Orlov wants to assist, he is adamant about continuing to help and serve the plaza stall where he works and maintain his usual life. He is the most unassuming agent you could ever find in the Ministry of Security, or was it Intelligence, you be the judge. Orlov continues to find inventive ways to not take his last breath while helping those he does not know. Then Orlovs family becomes involved, and he must make best of the information he has so as to not alert his suitors to his lackluster knowledge. Utilizing the parties in play against each other, Orlov can fly under the radar until he slowly elevates to a position of authority no one could ever see possible.

Payne delivers an extremely bright and refreshing thriller with the most unknowingly clever main character ever. Citizen Orlov is a comedy of errors and mistakes that always leave the story jumping down a path of redemption just to be upended once again. His undetailed detail is therapeutic and exhilarating at the same time while wondering how this one man made so many correct decisions. I really enjoyed this one as there aren’t any of the modern-day gear references and locations. Payne limits the number of superfluous items and characteristics that will enable you to use your imagination to make what you want. I also get a slight bit of anti-political/political vibe that shows the true undermining of government while blending the nonsense that we hear about leadership worldwide.

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The Devil You Know By Chris Hauty

Hailey Chill is back in Chris Hauty’s latest adventure The Devil You Know. Fighting against an unknown enemy, Chill must battle herself and evil to keep the sanctity of American democracy safe.

Just south of the District of Columbia, a Supreme Court Justice is brutally murdered in what is mounting to be the start of a seditious plot. Chill has been having one hell of a day, previously losing her father, best friend, and now her sister, Hailey takes a trip down whiskey avenue with another woman’s man. Following a sit down with Andrew Wilde, her deep state handler, Chill is on a quick flight to Hawaii to help with Supreme Court Justice Anita Fischer’s security detail.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Terry Shaw, who runs Fischers detail, is dragged into a situation where he must assassinate the justice or have the blood of a school bus full of kids on his hands. Not only does Chill take a few wrong steps as soon as she hits the island, but she’s also battling an internal demon as she’s attempting to cut alcohol.

As Mexican mercenaries continue their savagery through the Hawaiian Islands, multiple deaths and mistakes lead to the deeper state and fellow groups tracking the criminals at large. The crescendo towards disaster builds and builds until a plan finally comes together as Chill must ensure the safety of one of the most highly appointed officials in America.

Hauty has another fantastic adventure as he shows the torment that Chill deals with day in and day out. The mystery and suspense that follows Hailey Chill is the perfect amount of grace with a splash of crazy. With her rejuvenating and sparkling personality. The political climate in America is mirrored throughout while leaving a large portion of the book narrative non-political. The creative storyline is great while we still get to learn who Chill is as she grows as an operative for the deeper state.

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Dead Drop By MP Woodward

Dead Drop is a sinister follow up to The Handler where MP Woodward introduced us to ex’s John and Meredith Dale. The ‘not together’ couple takes all the wrong turns while trying to avoid one terror organization's sadistic plan of death and destruction. 

Woodward builds off his amazing debut as John Dale is forced into action again while ATLAS is on American soil being milked for all the information he has. The Mossad is busy causing havoc on an international scale as they’re destroying city blocks while hunting Quds forces who are arming Hezbollah soldiers. While CIA Officer Meredith Dale is trying to figure her personal life out, her ex-husband John, who also happens to be a CIA Case Officer, is just trying to get his retirement settled and leave the agency. On the heels of The Handler, Meredith is busy getting dragged back to D.C. to handle the ATLAS situation which just might keep rockets from landing in Israel. 

Meredith takes a huge chance on finding out if the rockets are designed to hold radiological material when her non-official cover fails and she’s taken into a situation where most wouldn’t survive. John Dale then finds himself trying to protect and save his ex-wife while trying to ensure that he finishes the mission while being seduced by an Israeli bombshell. 

Woodward smashes this out of the park. It’s the perfect sequel to watch John Dale battle to uphold his oath and dedication to the CIA. He does want to just relax on his janky ass boat though, who wouldn’t want to just chill on the water. Woodward expertly builds the lore of John and Meredith Dale with cinematic quality and primo storytelling. 

His characters are all worth getting to know as they all have reasons to be rooted for. From Legos to the fascination with a decrepit barely afloat boat, he takes time to ensure you enjoy each and every one of them. The story couldn’t have been any better as Woodward kept me guessing and amazed at how imaginatively he connects the dots. This is a great sequel and a very good submission for book of the year!

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Only The Dead By Jack Carr

After the year-long hiatus that all Jack Carr fans dread, James Reece is back in Only the Dead, and he’s got some explaining to do. If you don’t remember where In the Blood left off, Carr reminds you rapidly of why things aren’t going so well for Reece. 

Reece finds himself in a federal penitentiary where he’s surrounded by nothing except cold dark concrete and his own mind. The mind is a seriously dark place to get lost in unless you know how to combat and turn the lonely and miserable emotions into something that can be used for good. Reece battles through memories and harsh conditions to seek resolve for his current situation. Hoping that he will one day see the outside again, Reece receives a visit and news that help alleviate the dire consequences in which he currently resides. 

On the outside there is a group of people that are on the precipice of creating one of the most catastrophic events the world could imagine while trying to draw the United States into World War III. The ‘Collective’ is about to put into motion a very deadly and heinous act that might have connections to Tom Reece. You may also recall that Reece had found a letter from his father involving a security deposit box and a key that might hold some of the world’s most damning information. As Reece tries to navigate the threat to his life and his friends and family, Thomas Reece’s words ring over and over in his head to “trust no one.” 

Fighting his way through the opposition, Reece must methodically and precisely plan his next steps to prevent falling victim to a hit or falling short of his goals. His dedication to finding the truth never waivers and is paramount in ensuring that the string is pulled to find the people behind the curtain of the ‘Collective’. The fate of millions of people is on the line as Reece tries to figure out how the murder of a congressman decades ago is related to the haunted words from his father and the impending doom from Russian officials. 

The fate of the free world relies on James Reece and the generations of warrior mentality that the Reece bloodline has built. James Reece has become more than just a door kicker through Carr’s creative and imaginative writing as he builds a violent and menacing tale that James Reece doesn’t back down from. Harnessing untold potential from a checkered past and countless lessons learned from his father, Reece continues to find ways to beat the odds and challenge the establishment. The adversaries are worthy foes, but their stature and relational status create some extreme controversy that only add to the gravity of Carr’s storyline.

Carr finds new and inventive ways to blend nuggets from books past and headline grabbing news into the fictional Reece world, while also adding in some of the sorrowful headlines from decades past. James Reece is in great hands as Carr has become the standard for bestsellers and Only the Dead will absolutely add to his success. 

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(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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Murder By The Book
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The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Drowning By TJ Newman

If you’re in need of an emotional and nerve rattling adventure, TJ Newman has just the one for you. Drowning tells the harrowing and deadly story of the soul’s onboard flight fourteen twenty-one who are in for the ride of their lives.

Will Kent and his daughter Shannon are on flight fourteen twenty-one, departing Honolulu headed for San Francisco, when one of the engines on the Airbus A321 disintegrates right after takeoff. Then after one of the scariest things you can imagine on an airplane happens, you’re headed straight for a crash in the ocean. As Will, Shannon, and a bunch of others who survive the landing attempt to deplane, the evacuation faces a serious hurdle that doesn’t bode well for most. As flight fourteen twenty-one slowly graces the depths off the Hawaiian coast, a whole host of emergency teams along with the Navy and Coast Guard gear up for a huge rescue attempt. 

Time and time again plans change as the situation in the depths of the ocean grows more perilous and the chance of survival continues to diminish. Plans are made then altered as the plane comes to rest on a cliff edge, as the balancing act of rescue becomes a tight rope walk by the dive teams. Who survives and who perishes may just be a thing of luck.

Newman has clearly found a golden horseshoe as this is another frightening and intrigue-saturated thriller. She smartly uses details as needed to avoid leading readers down unnecessary technical paths. The storyline is delicately balanced between the main thread and the characters that support it. I really enjoyed Drowning and the effort Newman put into her sophomore release, as any person could make a connection with the humanity in her characters. There is a certain grace that she exudes from her writing, that when combined with the fear that she doesn’t hold back on, creates a vivid and wild journey you won’t be able to put down.

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

Beast Three Six By Jason Kasper

Jason Kasper is bringing the heat in Beast Three Six. Kasper has no lack of imagination or ammunition in crafting another great Shadow Strike adventure.  

On the heels of Narco Assassins, David Rivers and team are on the hunt for the lost VX that left Columbia not long ago. Rivers and the group of other ‘expendable assholes’ are busy sniffing out the trail that leads to one of the world's most dangerous chemical compounds, when one prominent U.S. Senator’s daughter is kidnapped. 

Rivers and the team are forced headfirst into the lion’s den in Libya to negotiate a transfer of Olivia Gossweiler while they place the hunt for the volatile VX on the backburner. River is forced to leave the team as ground force commander as Khalil Noureddin wants to meet with the one and only ‘Suicide’. While Rivers is slowly meeting the commands of Khalil, one of the worst terrorist attacks ever to occur hits the streets of Egypt that puts the team on full alert. 

Using assets to help locate Olivia, the Shadow Strike team is left as the only advance team around to execute a mission that no one should come home alive from. Teaming up with some veteran aviators and shooters are well versed at delivering dirt naps, Rivers and team gear up for something next to impossible. 

I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but Jason Kasper’s storytelling ability is some of the best I’ve read. The Shadow Strike series has been phenomenal, and the characters just keep getting better. The team is made up of some superstar military professionals while they all have some unique charisma. He is continuously building on stories and blending plot lines to keep the story worthy of current headlines. You don’t have to take my word for it. Give The Enemies of My Country a try, you will be pleased. 

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City Of Dreams By Don Winslow

Don Winslows follow up in The City trilogy, City of Dreams, hits punishingly hard as you follow Danny Ryan to America’s west coast. Navigating life as an Irish crime boss who has chosen to do life his way, Ryan learns that your past is always around the next corner. 

Ryan is a faithful and religious man, always choosing to do bad things the right way, no lives taken. Then the unthinkable happens, losing his own wife to cancer thinking life isn’t fair. He’s got people after him, the cops, feds, the Moretti’s. He’s also got an ass ton of heroin to move, but he makes one decision that is either the smartest thing he’s ever done, or the last thing he’s ever done.

With an 18-month-old toddler all on your own life must be tough, but even tougher when you are out of your comfort zone and attempting to lay low. Ryan ends up on the FBI’s radar as agent Reggie Moneta has a hard-on for tying him to the murder of fellow agent Phil Jardine, while an agent with the DEA has plans for a smash on a Mexican cartel stash house. With the help of his team, Ryan makes one of the biggest scores he’s ever heard of. While rekindling a relationship with his mother, Ryan begins dating one of Hollywood’s finest actresses and dodging hurdles left and right. Keeping his head on a swivel Ryan is up against some dangerous territory trying to stay alive. 

Winslow rivetingly brings to life sensational characters in this emotionally rich and power-hungry adventure. He highlights the highs and lows of criminal life and those orbiting around them. Winslow transitions scenes from violent to refreshing with such ease, as the characters are putting another day in at the office. Sex, drugs, and money drive bad decision making among Danny Ryan’s crew, while Danny himself wants a straight and narrow life. Don Winslow just keeps stoking the fire and creates a world where no one is safe and your next step might be your last.  

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

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

The Instructor By TR Hendricks

T.R. Hendricks brilliantly announces himself by championing Derek Harrington in this action packed slugfest. 

Harrington, a former Marine Corps Intelligence Officer turned outdoor survivalist guide, is working his way through life with nothing going his way. Harrington is busy teaching a class when one of his students, an out of touch with reality country bumpkin, is doing nothing but screwing up things at a high rate of speed. Harrington continues on through the course and when the trip is complete, he is presented with a quick way to make some cash; a private training session for the country bumpkin and his redneck friends. 

Harrington is a bit cash strapped as he’s going through a rough time with his wife, while also dealing with the deterioration of this fathers health. Harrington makes the immediate decision to see what the deal is worth for him and makes a trip to upstate New York to evaluate the potential contract. What develops is a precarious situation in which Harrington initially chooses to distance himself from but following a little league baseball fiasco and being served some papers, Harrington must take the gig.

Beginning what is sure to be the worst decision of his life, Harrington begins to train the brigade of rednecks in all things survival and tactical. Starting at $5,000 a week isn’t too bad but when he starts to see what is really going on in the hidden hills camp, Harrington begins to think of his own safety and how to ensure the proper authorities are getting important information. That is until the charade is up and people must start fighting for their lives. What will become of the camp of society deprived thugs and the people unknowingly training them for war?

Hendricks does a phenomenal job setting the story up with tremendous attention to detail and overwhelmingly great violence. I really enjoyed the secondary plot lines and issues that Derek Harrington must battle through all while fighting for his life and continuing to protect the United States. Hendricks seems like a genre veteran, as he hooks you right from the start with one of those situations that is almost cringeworthy but wonderfully delivered. Dynamic action scenes spiced up with impending doom create hair raising scenes throughout and will undoubtedly have you loving The Instructor.  

Follow Chris on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Instructor
(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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