M.P Woodward follows up his raging debut with a banger sequel that escalates both the action and the global stakes while tackling the dangerous game of espionage with a distinctive and grounded twist in Dead Drop.
When nuclear talks between US and Iran gain steam towards a possibly peaceful negotiation, both parties are determined to see it through. However, Mossad believes the negotiation to render a moot point and continues pursuing an aggressive game plan against Iran. When the Israeli intelligence agency seeks to locate an Iranian rocket scientist, they must turn to John and Meredith Dale to gain access to an Iranian captive who was captured by the husband-and-wife pair of spies. But with nerves shot to hell, there is no time for niceties and in addition to finding the Iranian scientist, John and Meredith must put aside their marital issues and face off against a blood-lusting Mossad official who wants his targets without any regard for innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
M.P Woodward creates an intriguing dynamic around the common running theme in the genre by subtly casting individual characters as good and not-so-good as opposed to painting the whole canvas with a generic brush. It beckons you to invest your time and emotions into the flawed characters with their relatable predicaments, especially with how wildly unpredictable the chain of events gets at certain moments. While it’s almost a given that Dale would get into fisticuffs with Iranian assassins, squaring off against the Mossad adds that tinge of freshness that thriller readers don’t ordinarily get to read. This is where M.P Woodward’s characters really shine as they, for the most part, defy the stereotypes in their motivations.
Speaking of interesting characters, John Dale’s character development continues to be stellar and captivating as he is very much a vulnerable and human protagonist who feels both the punches he takes and those he inflicts. The action sequences capitalize on the unwilling nature of John who doesn’t want to get embroiled in the shadow of death anymore but he can’t escape it. As such, the action is written with an emphasis on realistic combat that emphasizes smart and dirty battle moves in the path to survival with lasting trauma at the cost of living.
Dead Drop is a genuine spy thriller akin to a deadly game of chess that takes place on a global board with the added complexity of both sides playing for and against each other, making it harder for readers and characters alike to distinguish friends from foes. M.P Woodward continues to impress and dazzle with his budding series and I can’t wait to see where he takes John and Meredith next.
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