The Secret By Lee Child And Andrew Child

The Secret takes readers back into the nostalgic blast of the 90’s as we meet Jack Reacher this time as a newly demoted Captain. He may be younger than we’re accustomed to reading him, but Lee and Andrew Child ensure he’s still kicking ass in sheer badass form and racking his inquisitive mind to uncover a dark secret.

After a handful of American citizens, inexplicably connected to a secret, start dying, the secretary of defense decides to form an interagency task force to uncover those responsible. Jack Reacher is one of the chosen few picked. While the task force is created with a bureaucratic approach towards casting scapegoats in case of a possible disaster, Reacher doesn’t stand for it. He’ll do what needs to be done, nothing more, nothing less. Maybe something more in the name of justice. He just doesn’t like sinister secrets.

I finished The Secret in a matter of a few hours and I thoroughly enjoyed every single page. It felt like a great blend of old-school pulpy thrillers crossed with modern twists and swifter pacing. Even with the narrative focusing back and forth between the antagonists and Reacher along with some other characters, the narrative never gets bogged down in unneeded drama. Reacher is better than ever as he takes down mean guys and bullies with almost effortless attack and defensive moves. Keeping his strengths in mind, the authors present a morally ambiguous conflict for him to process through, which balances out the action marvelously. It has the right tone and number of twists and turns to keep you engaged and motivated to uncover the secret at the end. It’s not that you won’t have a clear picture of the twists but you won’t expect them to go down the way you imagine. That’s the brilliance of The Secret.

You can’t go wrong with The Secret. Whether you’re looking for brutal action, suspense, twisty thrillers, or all of the above, you’re in luck!

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On The Run By Max Luther

Max Luther is a booming new voice in the thrillerverse with a killer action-packed can’t-miss narrative that cements him as an author you can’t miss.

On The Run takes private bodyguard Alex Drayce US where he’s guarding a wealthy businessman living under an active threat. After the job winds down following a spectacular action sequence, Drayce is asked by a teammate to help a father search for his lost daughter in Las Vegas. Keen to avoid the inquiries following the shootout, he takes the job with the silver lining of easy money. However, the moment he thinks his task is finished, a trap is sprung on him and he finds himself on the run hunted by authorities and powerful gang members. But what they don’t know is Drayce isn’t a newbie. He knows how to get answers and he won’t stop at any cost to exact justice. 

I loved On the Run immensely. It promises a sharp, entertaining, and an engaging narrative where the protagonist isn’t an all-knowing indestructible character. Alex Drayce deals with the ugliness in the world but still manages to hold onto some sliver of hope. When that’s attacked, his guilt and hesitation lead him down a dangerous path of violence and retribution. For nothing can undo his mistake but he can surely avenge. The story picks up heat as he not only evades the cartel but also a tenacious cop, DI Naomi Ocean, finding himself in precarious situations navigating the shadowy world of crime and corruption. Luckily for us, most of his predicaments require him to beat up and shoot bad guys in badass action sequences. The action is furious with copious amounts of shootouts and chases. Luther writes each sequence with high kinetic energy that slingshots the narrative even farther from the opening salvo of intrigue and trouble.

On the Run is a propulsive action-packed thriller that includes one twist after another with a good ol’ badass protagonist who goes to extreme lengths to seek justice for those who have been wronged. Alex Drayce is not a man to be trifled with and by the end of this book, you’re going to be trembling with anticipation of what’s to come.

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The Christmas Appeal By Janice Hallett

Christmas is around the corner, and one can’t deny it has a certain appeal. Janice Hallett captures the wintry vibe of Christmas in a small tight knit community with a little bit of twist to it; there’s a murder and one of the seemingly do-gooders is responsible.

Janice Hallett’s medium of conveying the narrative is a fun and engaging mechanism; all of it told through text messages, emails, and interview-styled discourses. While I had my reservations at first about how such a style could retain attention and keep readers hooked, I needn’t have worried. In fact, Hallett’s distinctive style makes for a much more engrossing storytelling experience as readers are encouraged to peek behind the curtains of words and feel, putting on their own detective hats to figure out the case along with the investigators in the story itself.

I wouldn’t want to give away more, for it is best to go into the book without knowing much about it. What I will say is that prepare to be delightfully surprised and shocked as the story goes from slow-burn to hot-seat in a matter of a few pages and that change is quite mesmerizing. Read the first 30 pages and you’ll know what I mean.

The Christmas Appeal is an invigorating and comforting crime thriller, an adjective I wouldn’t have thought would go with this genre but strangely enough, Hallett finds a way to fuse the light-hearted holiday spirit with a plausibly dangerous narrative. You’ll be wanting to solve more cases by the time you’ve hit the last page.

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Blood Lines By Nelson DeMille & Alex DeMille

Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille are a force to be reckoned with as they author a narrative that’s both highly intriguing and disturbing. If you’re looking to get lost in the dark world of criminal investigation that’s entwined with exciting twists at every major turn, Blood Lines is for you.

Army Criminal Investigation Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are brought together once again after their last traumatic adventure, this time when one of their very own is found murdered in Berlin. Initially suspected of as an act of terrorism, the investigation quickly delves into shadier corners, forcing Brodie and Taylor to not only navigate the turbulent waters of German politics but also the dark legacy of the Cold War and the Stasi secret police, all connected to a rising neo-Nazi movement. There’s a lot to unpack for the duo, and they do unravel the mystery in kickass fashion.

Nelson and Alex DeMille create a tense environment pulsing with palpable excitement and terror as Brodie and Taylor work through the investigation. The diplomatic aspect of the narrative puts an interesting spin as the investigators must work their way through grim and potentially violent situations unarmed except for their wits and courage. The cerebral focus keeps the cogs spinning on high gear as the DeMille duo imbue a strong sense of believability through vivid descriptions of situations, environments, and characters that form the complete package.

That’s not to say there isn’t a satisfyingly gruesome showdown at the end. All the lack of weaponry in most of the narrative is offset very well by an action-packed finale that packs heart with gunshots and shocking reveals that are no less impactful than bullets.

Blood Lines is a superb thriller that stands just as well on its own as it does as a sequel. Even unfamiliar readers will get a huge kick out of this time-crunching mystery thriller that puts you in the shoes of badass Army Criminal Investigation agents who, through some relentless and unorthodox legwork, break open a case that you as a reader wouldn’t see coming from a mile away.

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The Defector By Chris Hadfield

Chris Hadfield’s The Defector is a terrific blend of high-speed dogfights, cutthroat espionage, and historical insights into an era that fans of Top Gun will appreciate tremendously. You’ll feel the high-G turns in this thriller as deeply as you’ll feel that gnawing feeling in your stomach when you realize this feels too authentic to be just fiction.

When a state-of-the-art Soviet MiG Foxbat" MiG-25 with superior speed and altitude capabilities makes an emergency landing in Israel at the height of the Yom Kippur War, NASA Flight Controller and former US test pilot Kaz Zemeckis finds himself in a high stakes game of espionage when the Russian pilot wishes to defect to America. Under the guise of communicating details about his training and fighter jet to the Israelis and Americans, he’s planning to enact a sinister mission and it’s one that Kaz must sniff out before the plan comes to fruition.

Hadfield delightfully sets up a slow-burn narrative that takes its sweet time getting to the climax but it never feels like a drag. The story is driven forward through multiple POVs to emphasize a realistic vision of espionage on such a grand scale while seeming so innocuous. The gentle pacing in the middle evokes a sense of uneasiness as to what troubles the final act would bring, and rest assured the final act is an explosive resolution with a beautifully and deeply captivating and satisfying dogfight in high-speed fighter jets. Even with the glimpse of Hadfield’s superior depiction of aerial combat in the superb opening of the book, the finale just took my breath away just like watching a showdown out of Top Gun.

Packed with historical references that further bolster the plausibility of all events that take place in this thriller, The Defector is an intriguing story that reads more like non-fiction in an uber-grounded tone that resonates with reality as we’ve come to read about it.

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Ransomed Daughter By Eric Bishop

Fresh off his debut hit, The Body Man, Eric Bishop takes readers on a fast-paced journey featuring Captain Troy Evans, a kickass operative and team leader who’s tasked with leading an operation to rescue an American woman from captivity.

When an influential businessman reaches out to the Omega Group to help secure his daughter, Troy Evans must navigate the demands of the kidnappers by playing with his gloves off. When Troy gets a whiff of something off about his mission, his gut instinct will lead him to a disturbing truth that changes the entire nature of the mission.

Even in a novella, Bishop skillfully cements a solid foundation for the Omega Group and their leader, almost as if we’re reconnecting with lost friends rather than meeting them for the first time. With a bit of witty banter and character background conveyed through naturally flowing dialogue, the narrative quickly picks up steam for gritty and tactical action sequences that are backed by genuinely gut-wrenching emotions all packed in a taut and crisp story that doesn’t leave any room for wandering. It’s a stone-cold thriller with intriguing new characters and an enticingly dangerous vibe that you can’t get enough of. There’s a whole world to be explored with the Omega Group and Ransomed Daughter is a brilliant entry point into this exciting new series.

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The Last Guardian By Simon Gervais

Simon Gervais doubles down on breathtaking action and misdirection as he takes Clayton White on a mission like nothing before, battling Chinese Red Dragon Triad in cahoots with Mexican drug dealers for a nefarious end goal.

Even though President Alexander Hammond and Clayton White have been on rocky waters, tethered begrudgingly by White’s fiancée who happens to be the President’s daughter, there’s no one Hammond trusts more to uncover a startling conspiracy behind the fentanyl epidemic than Clayton White, especially when the conspiracy involves assassinating the FBI Director. White must put aside his reservations for Hammond and his own future as a soon-to-be-father and dive into a risky mission where the scope is unrivaled to any of his prior escapades.

Gervais breathes new life into the series with a change of storytelling, pulling in international politics on a grander scale and infusing it with timely domestic issues that elicit a darker side to Clayton White than what we’ve read prior. Not only must he grapple with his inner demons, he must also contend with the change of circumstances as a future father and husband. Gervais utilizes this dilemma marvelously as he prods inside White’s psyche to paint a stronger yet vulnerable persona, making him an even more remarkable and relatable protagonist.

The Last Guardian has no shortage of head-popping action and it’s rife with gritty moments that give pause to readers in the middle of the explosive fast-paced narrative. Simon Gervais just doesn’t miss.

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Artificial Wisdom By Thomas R. Weaver

Artificial Wisdom is a jaw-dropping debut that feels like a blaring wake-up call for the audience to appreciate the potential dire consequences of climate change and Artificial Intelligence. At first both subject matters seem to have their own gravitas but it’s the brilliance with which Thomas R. Weaver has connected the two trending topics to create a narrative that may seem to be some decades into the future but whose seeds are very well planted as you read this review. Throw in a murder mystery in the mix and you get a mind-boggling thriller that leaves you unsettled.

Journalist Marcus Tully is out to expose the truth wherever it may be. When a whistleblower reveals a sinister reason for the devastating heatwave that kills millions across the Persian Gulf, including Marcus’s wife, Tully goes digging for what really happened. When the investigation points at the heatwave having been geo-engineered by the then-President of United States who’s now running for the dictator of nation states to solve the climate issue, the stakes have never been direr. But it gets more complicated when the President’s opponent is the world’s first AI politician with skeletons of its own tied to the investigation.

I am pleasantly surprised by Weaver’s ability for speculative fiction. It’s no doubt an ingenious and constantly twisting thriller with machine-gun pacing that doesn’t need explosions or shootouts to keep you gripped but rather the turn of events that make it feel like every other chapter ends on a revelation that keeps you in the spiral of “just one more chapter before I put the book down.” Before you know it, you’re halfway done with the book.

Yet it’s more than a thriller. It’s a highly plausible future given the headlines of the world today. From people dying of intense heat waves to humanity’s propensity for meddling with dangerous technology without fully plotting out the consequences, Weaver capitalizes on each element to the fullest. It mesmerized me the same way 2001: A Space Odyssey did when I first read it, thinking of how fascinated the readers must have been to imagine the near future as Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick presented. Thinking of the future as Weaver writes it fills me with awe as much as dread.

Artificial Wisdom is a must-read that transcends the barriers of genres to relate to different readers whatever their preference may be. It’s a thriller with a philosophical conundrum. The ending isn’t what one would expect and I sincerely hope we get a follow-up because the cliffhanger is too exciting to not be explored further.

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The Night House By Jo Nesbo

The Night House is one of the most mind-boggling, hair-raising, scintillating horror-thrillers and Jo Nesbo perfectly obscures the big twists that completely flip the narrative on its head for a finale that will shock you just as intensely as 10 electric prods, but in a much more pleasant manner.

Fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved lives with his aunt and uncle in the remote, insular town of Ballantyne after the tragic and mysterious death of his parents. A troublemaker, he finds it hard to get along with others. His predicaments take a turn for the worse when he swears he saw a boy get sucked into a phone receiver in a booth out by the edge of the woods. With no one to believe him, the suspicion falls solely on the troublemaker but he knows there’s evil at play that he can’t explain in conventional terms and he must dig deep into the town’s history. A quick thing to keep in mind, Richard may not be the most reliable narrator of his own story.

Jo Nesbo masterfully creates a disturbing environment where readers feel a palpable anxiety in their bones as Richard explores some dark and mysterious happenings buried under secrets and explanations that feel just a bit off as they do to Richard. In that regard, Richard and readers are together exploring the mystique that surely feels supernatural but yet there’s something even more sinister afoot that rears its ugly head in without fully revealing itself. It’s this aspect that’s perhaps the most horrifying once you become so emotionally invested in the narrative. The payoff is immensely satisfying because it’s only at the end you understand just how everything clicked and you’re left shook and trembling with chills.

It deviates from typical Jo Nesbo thrillers, at first, but hang in there for a truly memorable read that’s nothing like what you’d expect even half way in. Jo Nesbo is a master of misdirection and no matter what genre you’re attuned to the most, The Night House will find you and claim you.

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Moscow X By David McCloskey

David McCloskey paints a stylish and gritty depiction of espionage in the modern era running on disinformation, coercion, and brutal wanton acts taking place behind the scenes as much as out in the open. If you enjoyed Jason Matthews’ Red Sparrow series, then you’re undoubtedly going to devour Moscow X.

After running amok of Russian operatives in Tajikistan, the CIA Station Chief of Dushanbe hatches a daring plot to deal a devastating blow against the Russian President. Pulling CIA officers Sia and Max into a dangerous mission of recruiting Putin’s money man. There, they’re introduced to the moneyman’s wife and what was already quite difficult becomes even more dastardly daunting as Anna seems to be on a mission of her own. With conflicting and volatile allegiances, taut wire-walking of undercover work, and nerve-racking mind games, Moscow X is one of the most intense and authentic spy thrillers I’ve read. You will think twice before believing it is actually fiction.

Whether it’s money laundering, dirty politics, gut-wrenching consequences of shadowy espionage, or horse racing, every element in this thriller is laced with concentrated doses of realism that translates into sheer excitement for readers. McCloskey paints his characters with a flawed brush that exhibits their vulnerabilities in unsettling colors and later turned into strengths for them to fight their way out of the most dangerous situations. It’s perhaps because of this reason that we can’t fully put our trust in the characters, wanting to believe in their inane goodness but wary of the cold calculated nature of spies that darkly appeals to fans of cerebral spy thrillers. In the midst of ideological warfare, McCloskey sows just enough seeds for quiet contemplation that ultimately boils down to the individuals.

With paranoia plaguing every move the characters make, the narrative keeps the flow riveting and enjoyable even during the slower moments that are indeed important to advance the story. The ending leaves room for a future with these characters and I really hope McCloskey brings them back in the future.

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Dead Hand By James Stejskal

James Stejskal presents a marvelous blend of cerebral and kinetic espionage thriller set against the backdrop of a possible WW3 against Russia. The situations presented are deeply troubling and powerful to consider even before the added complexities of head-on conflict resolutions.

It's the Cold War all over but with even more dire consequences. Russia is eager to take over the Baltics after their incursion into Ukraine. When a source deep inside the Kremlin reaches out with word of an audacious plan by Russia to start and win a nuclear war, former Special Forces and CIA operator Joshua Devlin is brought out of retirement to aid a CIA officer behind enemy lines to run the source and promptly take the Russian plan out of commission. With multiple cogs working in tandem to unravel the dangerous plot while simultaneously preparing the US allies in the Baltics, Devlin father-son duo have their work cut out for them.

Packing immersive pacing with heart-thumping and gritty action, Stejskal takes readers on a cutthroat espionage mission across dangerous territory with realistic tradecraft that feels genuinely enthralling with the hint of danger at every turn, sometimes more than just a hint. Stejskal takes a new spin on the classic US vs. Russia conflict and bundles it in the modern flavor of asymmetrical warfare that makes you wonder if this story hasn’t already played out in real life.

Dead Hand is ultimately an uplifting tale of bravery and courage in the face of danger with the right ratio of action to spycraft to please both the action aficionados and the more cerebral-enthusiasts of espionage thrillers. Stejskal writes with an informed hand and an experienced mind.

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The Exploit By Daniel Scanlan

The Exploit sees Daniel Scanlan frighteningly highlighting the growing dangers of cyberspace warfare in the hands of a megalomaniac with the tools to start entire wars.

After missing out on capturing the infamous and deadly hacker Dantalion, FBI Special Agent Ericka Blackwood has gone off the grid to take him down. When Dantalion resurfaces, this time with an audacious hack that involves US drones invading Pakistani airspace, Ericka must come back in from the cold and finish the job once and for all before he can trick volatile nations into a nuclear war.

Building up on the lore of hacking and hackers from the first book, Daniel Scanlan continues to both impress and scare readers with brilliant technologies that make it possible to create a more dangerous and exploitative world today. Both Ericka and Dandelion employ cutting edge and ingenious techniques to trap the other, almost like a cutthroat game of chess in cyberspace. Each feels like the perfect nemesis for the other, hungry to strike at each other with the most brutal computational moves at hand.

The action is carved out not in the conventional weapons but through computer code that looks for disastrous vulnerabilities in supposedly secured systems. There are some superbly crafted aerial combat sequences that stand out in the execution and details which put you in front and center of the rip-roaring action.

The Exploit is an awe-striking heat-seeking missile of a thriller with a compelling narrative supercharged by memorable main characters and timely warnings about a future where everything can be manipulated at the touch of a button. Daniel Scanlan is playing in the big leagues!

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The Belgrade Conspiracy By Jason Kasper

Jason Kasper brings the heat in The Belgrade Conspiracy, sending hot lead downrange in pulse-pounding action sequences and mixing it up with a game-changer for the series.

When David Rivers and his team of hardened killers target a man behind the transfer of high-level military hardware to an international terrorist syndicate, they presume the mission to be one of the most straight-forward encounters. However, double crosses and ambushes set by a dangerous adversary throw the team in disarray with more than one element of the team thrust in mortal danger like never before. Running and gunning across Serbia, the team must fight their way to survival and accomplish a mission with chances of success plummeting by the chapter. But if there’s any hope, it’s with Rivers and his team.

Kasper doesn’t pull punches in this one, shaking things up with some truly shocking moments. While we’ve read David Rivers and the Shadow Strike team take on some truly catastrophic odds, it’s in The Belgrade Conspiracy that the threat hits much closer to home than in the previous few books. The action feels more frantic and lethal, the consequences more personal, and the adversary eviler than ever before. The combat sequences are top-notch with an emphasis on tactical and technical authenticity that brings each gunshot to life in 4K resolution. You can’t ask for better combat sequences.

The Belgrade Conspiracy is my favorite pick of the Shadow Strike series as Kasper kicks up the action, humor, intensity, and camaraderie to a higher gear and keeps the series fresh and engaging by directing emotional engagement of readers to a promising pay off in the future.

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Code Red By Kyle Mills

Kyle Mills culminates his journey with Mitch Rapp on a terrific note that feels bittersweet; on one hand Mitch Rapp will undoubtedly be in good hands with Don Bentley, but at the same time Code Red is a stark reminder of how phenomenally Kyle Mills has evolved Rapp over the years with spectacularly- stylish action sequences and spine-chilling stories that tend to make you paranoid and calm at the same time. Code Red is the perfect sendoff for Kyle Mills.

When Damian Losa, world’s most powerful crime lord, calls in his marker with Mitch Rapp, Rapp has no choice but to settle his debt. In conflict with the Syrian government which is producing a highly addictive narcotic with plans to distribute it throughout Europe, Losa’s territory is threatened and who better to send to a war-ravaged country to deal with unsavory characters than CIA’s most formidable assassin. Without knowing the full picture, Rapp ventures into the hostile country and soon finds himself swallowing a bitter pill; the drug is produced by none other than Russia’s asymmetrical warfare unit with side effects that are aimed at destabilizing the Western world in the most horrifying manner. With so much more at stake than Damien’s image, Rapp must find a way to survive long enough to get his team in-country to stop the diabolical plan from bearing fruit. Backstabbing killers, lack of resources, and broken spirits are all in store for Mitch Rapp but he doesn’t need much, does he?

Code Red packs spectacular action as Rapp gets into armed skirmishes all over Syria. The action sequences carry tremendous waves of energy and enthusiasm for fans to lose themselves in the symphony of gunpowder and unbridled violence. The kinetic flow makes the narrative super smooth to cruise through. At the same time, there’s a side to Rapp I wouldn’t have imagined seeing during his mission, a less brutal one. His cover as a lawyer for Damian Losa requires him to play the part of someone for whom breaking necks isn’t the first thought in negotiations. It’s an intriguing development in his character progression as we’ve seen him be slightly vulnerable with his family but his operational demeanor has always been more unforgiving. This time however we get to see some subtlety to his interactions which add a new layer to his character and to the overall narrative as Rapp demonstrates restraint when we’d least expect him to. Kyle Mills skillfully dissuades the notion of this being any sort of weakness, rather it becomes a source of strength and courage for him and those who follow him into the hellfire of warfare. Fret not, there’s still a great amount of carnage that Rapp causes, with one particular scene seeing him enter a room through the window in a badass roll before he snaps a headshot with his suppressed pistol. Like I said, badass.

I’m quite emotional about this being Kyle Mills’ final Mitch Rapp thriller, but I’m truly grateful for him ending his run on such a high note and leaving Rapp in a truly exciting place for Don Bentley to continue from. Code Red speaks to all that readers have come to revere about Mitch Rapp as a man, hero, warrior, and a kickass inspiration. Not only is the story timely in the motivations of both good and evil characters but it’s also charming enough to break away from straightforward plot devices to give readers a distinctive reading experience with an adventure that entertains as much as it educates. Every time I’ve read a Mitch Rapp book by Kyle Mills, it has been an instant favorite immediately and Code Red does it once again.

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77 North By D. L. Marshall

Wrap up in warm layers for a chilly adventure through Siberia as CIA Agent John Tyler is brought back into the fold for a mission where friends and foes do a Freaky Friday swap and all hell breaks loose. One thing’s for certain: the extravagant moments of guns-blazing cinematic action only add to the old-school adventure vibe of the narrative that feels as grand and compelling as you’d expect.

John Tyler wants to wipe his slate clean with the Agency. He can do that if he undertakes a perilous mission involving a journey to an old Soviet-era hotel on an ice-locked island in the frozen wastes of Siberia to obtain information from a Russian scientist about a double agent within NATO. If only it would be that simple for Tyler. With strange events occurring lending their heritage to the KGB’s Cold war experiments into psychic phenomena, Tyler must form reluctant bonds with mysterious strangers and trained killers to not only keep the scientist alive but also himself as an unhinged killer roams loose in the midst of other formidable opponents.

Even though this is the third book in the series, D.L. Marshall makes it delightfully easy for new readers like myself to get acquainted with the characters like old friends. It’s a two-pronged narrative, one half taking place in the past and one uncovering in the present day, both alternating in captivating fashion to retain your attention. Not only is the protagonist charismatic and witty, but he’s a formidable action-oriented fellow with an old-school charm that one would relate most to icons like Dirk Pitt and similar highly adventurous heroes.

77 North is rife with gruesome violence balanced wonderfully with grand action sequences. Helicopter chases across frozen wastelands with gunfire lightning up the night is just one example of the numerous enthralling kinetic moments in the story that fill you up with enthusiasm for the whole experience.

At the heart of the story, 77 North is a gritty murder mystery that dips into action, espionage, and a bit of paranormal but it’s still a compelling suspenseful mystery that keeps the ball rolling until the last few moments where everything comes full circle for an awesome reveal and showdown. There’s no one who can be trusted in this narrative and that’s what D.L. Marshall nails as the essential recipe of creating a true spy adventure that has all the adrenaline-pumping excitement of danger and thrills but also the nagging paranoia that no one is as they seem. This leads to an emotionally satisfying resolution.

77 North is the right blend of classic blazing adventure, intrigue, and triple crosses. You’re gonna want to read this whole series after you finish this terrific gem.

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The Traitor By Ava Glass

Ava Glass brings back the badass British Spy Emma Makepeace in an espionage thriller that has something for all spy-thriller fans, whether you prefer your spy stories to cater more to the cerebral nature of spying or if you want your spies to kick butts.

When an MI6 operative is murdered with all signs pointing to a targeted assassination, British spy Emma Makepeace is assigned the task of uncovering the assailants and working the trail back to the source. Emma goes undercover on a Russian oligarch’s million-dollar yacht as part of the infiltration. If being undercover miles and miles away from the closest support element isn’t enthralling enough, Emma has to work out the identity of someone who seems to be in cahoots with those behind the assassination, a traitor in the ranks who can compromise Emma and sentence her to brutal death.

The Traitor stands out tall in an ocean of spy thrillers, owing this distinction to Ava Glass’s brilliant creation that is Emma Makepeace. She’s a pistol. Not only does she dive headfirst into danger, she does so with the hint of a wicked smile. It’s not often we read a spy in the thrillerverse have fun spying. That’s not to say Emma doesn’t have her work cut out for her as she faces danger and betrayal at extremes, weaving varying tones of fun, excitement, and danger into the mix.

If you’re itching for a fast-paced espionage-laden read with fancy yachts, suspicious Russian oligarchs, and a heavy dose of frightening brushes with violent death, The Traitor is the easiest choice you’ll make.

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Tom Clancy's Weapons Grade By Don Bentley

Don Bentley shakes things up in the Clancyverse with a narrative unlike anything I was expecting. With parallel storylines running in seemingly completely independent paths until a surprising convergence, Weapons Grade is aptly named for a machine-gun-paced thriller that kicks off with a loud bang and walks the rounds to a terrific bullseye.

On a quiet Texas night, Jack Ryan Jr. is cornered into an ambush, or so he thinks. It’s a hit indeed but not for Ryan Jr. With a scintillating curiosity and a burning desire to make the assailants pay for the murder of an innocent man, Ryan Jr. sets off on an unsanctioned mission to find out what’s what. His investigation points him to a cold case of a college student and a team of South African hitters. It’s a bizarre conundrum but it’s one that will have profound implications for international politics.

Where we’ve recently read Ryan Jr. get caught up in dangerous situations alongside his Campus teammates, Weapons Grade paints Ryan Jr. in a rather different light as he plays more detective this time around than a spy, working leads old fashioned style and going solo. It’s a definitive moment in his evolution and it’s one that has been cultivating from Flash Point. Where Ryan Jr. has motivated mostly by the seat of his pants, his engagement to Lisanne Robertson sees him grappling with decisions that impact more than just him and that’s a fantastic interjection by Don Bentley to keep Ryan Jr. evolving.

It’s a given that Ryan Jr. stirs up a lot of trouble and he undoubtedly requires backup. Luckily, fan-favorite Cary Marks and Jad Mustafa, new bloods to the Campus, are more than prepared for the job as they provide every bit of firepower to take out heavy hitters in the most effective and badass manner, whether stationary or hanging from a chopper.

What really made Weapons Grade a clear winner is how Bentley kept a lid on the full picture, carefully sowing seeds but keeping the reveal a closely guarded secret so all readers can do is speculate and get lost in the slowly unveiling threat that ultimately reveals itself as a far nefarious and dangerous threat than anticipated. How seemingly parallel and separate plotlines finally intersect for a pulse-pounding finale is an art that Bentley has mastered in Weapons Grade.

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White Fire By Adam Hamdy

After branching out into different genres, Adam Hamdy comes back to spy thrillers with a genuine masterpiece. Packed with almost non-stop cinematic action sequences situated in a timely narrative with allies and adversaries constantly switching roles, White Fire cuts through to you like a knife through butter. It demands and rewards your complete attention with the no lulls in the rhythm.

Picking up on the dark mission of Scott Pearce, we find him on a vengeful mission to stop an old adversary back from the cold. When Pearce works the leads to a radical environmental group known as White Fire, his mission complicates tenfold. Not only does he have to contend with a thirst for vengeance but he also must locate the bigger picture with his team to stop the radical group from unleashing a new terror on the world, even if they’re being manipulated by Pearce’s enemies.

Hamdy’s thrillers can be best described as a mesh of brilliance, sheer violence, and overwhelming emotions that give you pause for the struggles of the protagonists. Scott Pearce and his team are memorable because their past and present circumstances are worked into the action to make a lasting impression. This makes for a wonderful blend of character-driven and story-driven narrative that pushes the best of both worlds. Whether it’s Pearce himself, his mentor, or his kickass Syrian techie, there’s heavy emotional baggage that is associated with every character and it’s this emotional resonance that feels inviting to readers seeking to form strong bonds with the heroes they’re reading about.

I picked up White Fire right after I came back from a showing of Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One, so naturally I had high hopes for my next thriller. It may sound unfair at first but White Fire genuinely lived up to the hype I had created in my mind. Boisterous action lined the pages with fantastic execution of shootouts, hand-to-hand combat, and chaotic merriment in general. Pearce performs a symphony of carnage with MP7s and HK45s that is impossible to not visualize in crisp mental imagery. The final fight is a showdown the narrative builds up heavily towards and it pays off big time with spent emotions and bruised nerves.

White Fire is a guaranteed A-Lister when it comes to extraordinary espionage thrillers and it was all I wished to read in this highly-awaited book. Its propulsive pace leaves no room for winding down until the last page where you’ll feel a tinge of resentment that you must now wait for the sequel to answer the burning questions raised expertly by Hamdy in the closing moments. White Fire is guaranteed to scratch that deep itch for reading something truly fantastic!

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Shadow Sanction By Steve Stratton

Steve Stratton ups his game big-time with Shadow Sanction. It’s not just a thriller, but it’s one on a grand-scale with multiple plots unraveling at once, akin to old-school Tom Clancy thrillers. You’re in for a wild, action-packed ride.

The book literally kicks off with a thumping action sequence that sets the high-octane tone for the narrative. The shootouts and hand-to-hand combat sequences all pack the brawling energy of a high-speed bullet train. Combined with technical and tactical descriptions dazzling in gritty authenticity, the action keeps you pumped up and eager to read more.

The lifeline of this thriller however is the far-reaching scope of the story. Stretching beyond Mexico and the US, the narrative feels exotic and larger than life. There is no doubt excellent inspiration from Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, but Shadow Tier II: Shadow Sanction is its own beast. Stratton cleverly situates the playing field with distinctive characters, each of whom drive the story ahead with realistic divisions of authorities and operating theaters even in unorthodox warfare. Between rooting for characters and being scared for their well-being, we realize the gripping nature of Stratton’s writing that resonates with us not just as thriller fans but voracious readers looking to engage in thoughtful and tactile experiences.

Shadow Sanction is concrete proof that there is much more to come from Stratton in terms of stellar action and engaging global storylines with high expectations for his next adventure with Lance Bear Wolf, a protagonist whose familial and moral values are ideals all can look up to."

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The Killing Room By Robert Swartwood

Robert Swartwood’s The Killing Room is one of the most exhilarating action thrillers you’re going to read. It’s packed with raw emotions and wild twists that you just can’t seem to shake off even after you’ve put down the book for a breather.

A businessman wakes up after a night of drinks and fun to see a woman murdered in his room. With no recollection of how it all happened, he tries to run but is quickly captured by the detectives assigned to the case. The detectives offer him a way out of his troubles, but they’re kicking up a hornet’s nest even if they don’t know it.

If this synopsis seems vague, it’s supposed to. It would be a grave injustice to spoil the jaw-dropping earth-shattering twists and turns are unpacked by Swartwood with so much elegance and panache that you’ll take a breath to say WOAH. The suspense is a killer (pun-intended) and you won’t even recover from the first twist before you hit the next one like a freight train one after another. The stylized breakneck pacing leaves nothing more to be desired.

Speaking of breaking necks, this thriller packs terrific and detailed action sequences and high-speed pursuits that get you hyped up faster than any caffeine hit. From cool fisticuffs to brutal shootouts with technical details laid out in just the right flavor, the entire narrative flows like a well-oiled machinery designed to keep you on your toes.

Do yourself a favor and dig into The Killing Room without further ado. It’s a genuine surprise-read that will take you for a great ride. There is no denying the final page sets up a spectacular sequel and I am looking forward to it fervently.

Follow Kashif on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Killing Room
(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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