Code Red By Kyle Mills

Code Red is as electrifying and intense as a cattle prod to the testicles. Mitch Rapp at his most cunning and badass self. Kyle Mills completes his Mitch Rapp journey with an explosive exclamation point.

Mitch Rapp’s word is his bond. So when crime lord Damian Losa calls in the favor Mitch owes him, he sets off to Syria to dig up information on a powerful new narcotic and negotiate a distribution deal for Europe on behalf of Losa. However, Rapp finds the drug is part of an asymmetrical warfare operation by the Russians to use as a weapon against the west, not a for profit business by the Syrians. Despite being on this unsanctioned mission, Mitch can’t in good conscience let this play out and harm millions of unsuspecting people. Which leads to Mitch devising a secret and devious plan to take out the drug operation and capture its mastermind. All while ensuring the blowback can’t point to the United States as thwarting the Russians dastardly plot. Because if the Russians figure it out, the world will be forever changed.

As usual, the action sequences are sublime and the operational details on point. Mitch goes from dangerous situation to even more dangerous situation and continues to find a way to stay cool, stay alive and stay one step ahead of his adversaries. He plots his moves with aplomb, leverages his assets to their maximum potential and outsmarts those trying to do him harm. But in addition to his usual impressive array of badassery, he flashed a side we haven’t seen before when he is forced to act the part of a vulnerable, frightened Canadian lawyer. Requiring him to be more subtle and restrained in his actions and reactions to collect valuable information, rather than go straight for the kill shot as he normally would. It shows his full range of capabilities and that he’s more than just the harbinger of death. He’s Mitch Fucking Rapp. Best operative on the planet.

A million thanks to Kyle Mills for not only accepting the difficult job of continuing to write Mitch Rapp novels after Vince Flynn’s untimely passing, but for elevating the series to new heights. Fans will forever be indebted to him for keeping Mitch alive and saving the world while killing a bevy of bad guys in spectacular fashion. But Mills did more than just allow our beloved hero to continue. He ensured Mitch thrived, grew as a person and gave him a life with people he cares about; bringing his personality to the forefront. All of which are on display in Code Red. A job very well done, one that exceeded every lofty expectation when he took the reins. From the bottom of our hearts, Kyle Mills you have our everlasting gratitude. Thank you.

Don Bentley, you’re up next. You’ve got big shoes to fill but if anyone can do it, you can. Good luck. The entire Rapp-verse is rooting for you.

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Purchase Code Red
(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

Lightning Strike By William Kent Krueger

A perfect entry into the Cork O’Connor series for fans of William Kent Krueger‘s standalone novels, Lightning Strike is an exquisitely written prequel with heart, violence and historical context.  A solid detective story with twists and turns headed towards an uncertain conclusion, wrapped inside a coming of age story about early adolescent boys within the historical setting of early 1960’s Middle America, featuring conflict between abysmally-treated Native Americans and their white neighbors.

It’s the summer of 1963 in Aurora, Minnesota and 12-year old Cork O’Connor and his friend Jorge are hiking to a sacred site called Lightning Strike when they happen upon a grizzly scene –Big John Manydeeds, an esteemed member of the Ojibwe tribe and venerable wilderness guide, hanging from a tree of an apparent suicide.  Enter Cork’s father and sheriff of Tamarack County, Liam O’Connor, to process the scene and start an investigation.  As it becomes apparent that Big John’s death was under suspicious circumstances, tensions rise due to simmering mistrust by the Ojibwe with the Sheriff’s department and a history that more than suggests this revered Native American will not get the justice he deserves due to years of prejudicial treatment.  Feeling the need to be helpful, young Cork O’Connor takes on his own investigation, sometimes against the direct orders of his father, with the goal to do right by Big John.  Finding invaluable clues and evidence along the way, Cork is forced to grow up quickly in the face of a complicated world that he straddles as part Irish/part Native American, learning that doing the right thing can sometimes have dreadful consequences.

Despite the conflict, death and shining a light on the frustratingly awful treatment of Native Americans, Lightning Strike at its core is a beautiful story that makes you feel warm inside.  It focuses on relationships that we can all relate to – father and son, mother and son, friendships between people of different races, the young and their elders, and childhood buddies.  It explores the time in life where you start transitioning from being a kid to an adult via having your eyes opened to the world around you that was previously hidden through childhood innocence.  It also dives into doing the right thing and being able to live with yourself, even if it’s hard and could cause difficulties along the way that would be easier to avoid.  Finally, it highlights the beauty of diverse communities and friendships, and overcoming the horribly divisive nature of small-minded prejudicial thinking.  These are all wonderful things that come together perfectly in this novel via the skillful pen of an American treasure, William Kent Krueger.

If you’re not reading WKK’s books, you’re missing out on a resplendent experience.  And if you’ve read his standalones, but like me hadn’t yet been introduced to the Cork O’Connor series, then Lighting Strike is an absolute must read.  You’ll be hooked and then be delighted to find out there are 17 more books in the series.  Watch that TBR pile grow.  Happy reading!

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Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Lightning Strike
(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