Intense, fast-moving, timely and with major twists, Landslide is an inspired debut espionage thriller by former Marine and CIA operative Adam Sikes that shows promise as a potential long running series with a strong, likeable and capable protagonist.
Mason Hackett is a former United States Marine who now works for a financial firm in London. While on a business trip, a report on television catches his eye about an American reporter named Henry Delgado who was kidnapped in Ukraine by what appears to be pro-Russian separatists. This stops Hackett cold in his tracks, because he believes that reporter is really Kevin Gomez, his best friend and fellow Marine who he saw die in action over 15 years ago in Iraq. And any thoughts that it’s just a doppelgänger are put to bed when Hackett gets an email with a code word that only Gomez would know that dates back to a pact the two made to always be there for each other. Which means Hackett has only one option – to drop everything, jump feet first into a situation he knows nothing about and isn’t prepared for, and attempt to find the truth while saving Gomez from excruciating torture and death.
Landslide will capture your attention with Mason Hackett’s backstory, the images and actions that still haunt him and his absolute loyalty to those around him. Despite being out of the military for over a decade and appearing to be just another corporate guy sporting a suit, he is willing to put himself in grave danger and go to the ends of the earth in the pursuit of truth and upholding the oath he made to his fellow soldier. Very noble pursuits that are the hallmarks of great thriller heroes.
But Landslide will also capture your heart through Hackett’s unconditional devotion to his friend, his boss, the people he meets on his journey through eastern Europe, and even his ex-girlfriend. Leading to establishing an emotional connection at multiple points, some through righteous actions and others through devastating setbacks and loss. However, in all cases it makes you root that much harder for him to succeed.
Throw in the timely Ukraine/Russia plotline, cunning villains, devious intelligence operatives and multiple twists that make it impossible to know who to trust or what will happen next, and you have the makings of a first-class thriller. One that is certain to appeal to fans of military and espionage thrillers, especially those who enjoy novels by authors such as Don Bentley and Brad Thor. Get in on this book now because I have a feeling it’s going to serve as the launching point of a series that will have everyone in the thriller genre talking.
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