Veil of Civility is a spectacular and unbarred action thriller that presents a brutal story with superb action sequences and a grounded protagonist that is developed extremely well throughout the story for a debut. If you’re searching for a well-balanced thriller with elements of good ol’ political conspiracy with shady and despicable characters in power picking a battle against an unconventional protagonist with roots to IRA and a dark past that turned him into a lethal weapon, this is a must-read thriller that will hook you with utter conviction through sleepless nights.
The plot picks off with a mysterious and animalistic terrorist, Ruslan Baktayev, being released from a grim Russian prison for a nefarious mission. Back in the USA, Declan McIver, a real estate developer living with his loving wife, is invited by an ex-Mossad agent to an event for a nebulous discussion about a potential terrorist attack. As a devastating attack takes place, framing Declan for it, Declan has to use his wits and training from a dark past to get to the bottom of a conspiracy involving a Senator and the special agent in Charge of FBI’s counterterrorism division at Richmond Field Office, with the potential to cause another extremely devastating attack. The story globetrots to USA, Ireland, UK, and then back as Declan feverishly works to gain the upper hand when all the cards are stacked against him. With fantastic twists and turns that you will not be ready for, the book is electric!
The vast intrigue of conspiracy and fast-paced setting are complimented by visceral shootouts, hand-to-hand combat sequences, and car and bike chases written with visceral and cinematic flavor to keep the reader in the driver’s seat with high stakes as Declan has to constantly deal with assassins who wish to silence him before he can blow open the big conspiracy. I loved the authentic and descriptive tactical and technical details during the action sequences which made the sequences fun and easy to visualize.
With this being the first novel in the Declan McIver series, I loved the focus on Declan’s character. He is established immediately as grounded and likable, but his development continues to grow as we find out more about his dark and violent past. When it comes to sheer badasses with a strong moral compass and balanced emotions, the author quickly cements Declan McIver as a protagonist to root for and to want more of. As with all characters in the book, there is a sense of realism when it comes to the conversations and interactions of the characters that stems from the talented writing of the author.
Veil of Civility is a bold action-packed conspiracy thriller that debuts a spectacular protagonist. From start to finish, there isn’t even a single moment of boredom. I particularly loved how the author kept a consistent pace throughout the novel, wrapping up properly but not too abruptly, with a big showdown, an emotional change in Declan’s life, and the hint of a bigger organization at play that has sinister plans for Declan McIver. I cannot wait for more of this series. It is a must-read for hardcore action thriller fans.
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