Fresh and incredibly relevant to today’s geopolitical landscape, Fade In is a slow-burn thriller that meticulously sets the scene and challenges your view of global power before exploding with violence that leaves you stunned. Kyle Mills has delivered a powerful novel with a unique protagonist that will keep you riveted while asking you to ponder moral quandaries between bursts of action.
Salam al-Fayed, aka Fade, wakes up in the hospital after taking a sniper bullet to the spine. Unable to move and a shadow of the formidable Navy SEAL he used to be, he wishes for death. But then he’s resurrected, receiving the best rehabilitation money and technology can provide, as long as he signs on to the paramilitary unit of a shadowy organization run by a billionaire with designs on changing the world order. Now recovered, Fade joins a team hunting a reclusive Chinese scientist who has announced the imminent release of a virus that will wipe out over 10% of the population. Up against the clock and facing an unknown enemy force, Fade locks in and gets down to what he’s best at – succeeding at impossible missions where others will certainly fail.
Fade is a tremendous character, matching an elite tier one skillset with a nihilistic attitude that allows him to operate with freedom and a lack of concern for personal consequences because of coming back from near death on multiple occasions. He has a moral compass that seems to have some flexibility to it. He’s an independent thinker who doesn’t blindly follow orders and he’s also unafraid to challenge those in who sign his paychecks. So, while a powerful entity will want to use him as a tool to further their agendas, Fade will not do so without serious consideration first.
Additionally, this novel makes you think about significant topics in today’s world. Things like the vulnerabilities of an aging population and the desires/frustrations of younger generations who inherit the world for better or worse from their elders, the traditional power of sovereign nations vs. the emerging power of wealthy and influential individuals, and the grand possibilities of technological advancements in the field of human performance and lifespan elongation in relation to the ethical usage of such technology. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of bullets flying, hand to hand combat, and explosions contained within the pages of this book to excite an action junkie. But it’s a thinking man’s/woman’s thriller. Pensive and exhilarating. The best of both worlds.
Thriller fans will enjoy Fade In on its own merits but will also be excited for the potential of where this series can go in the future. It’s set up for more intriguing plots, ethical inquiries and exhilarating action. Can’t wait to see what Kyle Mills delivers next.
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