The Outside Man is the much-anticipated sequel to Don Bentley’s superb debut action novel, Without Sanction, and a must read in 2021! This book is an all gas, no breaks, high octane thriller with a “Ludicrous Speed” pace like a bat out of hell. It unapologetically propels the reader forward from one insane action sequence to the next if for no other reason than to see if Matt Drake can survive, let alone save the day. Do yourself a favor and set aside March 2, 2021 to dive into this book and get lost in the thrilling adventure.
The Outside Man picks up with Matt Drake on a “leave of absence” about a year after the trials and tribulations he endured in Without Sanction. He’s working through some stuff, licking his proverbial wounds and trying to figure out what to do with his life when someone tries to assassinate him on the streets of Austin, TX. This pulls Matt back into the DIA and sets of a chain of events that compels him to attempt saving a sex trafficking victim in the Middle East while simultaneously trying to take out those who would do him harm. As the operation unfolds, Matt comes face to face with The Devil, the leader of an evil terror conglomerate, who previously condemned Matt to death only for him to escape. Now The Devil wants to finish the job, but first tries to use Matt to take care of a little business for him, compelling him to comply through nefarious means. Will Matt Drake’s resourcefulness and indefatigable drive lead to a successful mission outcome? You’ll just have to read to find out.
Beyond the gritty action, and there is plenty of it, this book does a great job of introducing emotional plot twists at key inflection points. This gives the reader a reason to not only root for the good guys to win, but permission to root for them to annihilate every bad guy in their path without mercy. Simply put, it gives the reader “the feels”, something you don’t normally expect from a military/spy thriller that features a deadly, sarcastic protagonist who gets blown up more times than a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloon.
On that last point I will call out that, in my opinion, this book leaves reality in the rear-view mirror at some point and the reader needs to suspend disbelief to truly appreciate the book. But who gives a damn when the ride is insanely fun? Just strap in, hold on tight and enjoy the ride! Trust me, The Outside Man kicks ass and will be a crowd pleaser for sure.
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