The Writing Retreat By Julia Bartz

The Writing Retreat is a wonderfully deranged page-turning psychological thriller with horror, supernatural and sexual elements tantalizingly sprinkled in throughout.  Suspenseful, haunting and enslaving, it gripped me early like a demonic possession and refused to let go until the final page – and figurative exorcism – were concluded.  

Alex is having a rough go of things.  Her job is unfulfilling, she’s battling a long bout of writer’s block and she’s having trouble getting over her best friend severing their relationship.  But things seem to be looking up when she is given an opportunity of a lifetime to join a writing retreat run by her literary hero, Roza Vallo.  Jumping on the opportunity, she arrives at Roza’s estate where she will work with and live alongside with 4 other women – including her ex-best friend Wren – as they all compete to win a million-dollar publishing deal.  However, this writing retreat is anything but normal.  Roza plays weird games with the women, Wren is messing with Alex’s head, strange things occur on the estate and then one of the writers goes missing.  Sensing malevolent forces at play, Alex goes on the offensive to figure out what’s happening.  But she may have bitten off more than she can chew and by the time she realizes what she’s up against, it might be too late.

It’s a bold move to write a novel about…writing a novel.  But it works exceedingly well in The Writing Retreat because of the character-driven nature of the story.  Yes, there are parts of this book that highlight the writing process and excerpts from the book that Alex is writing (which are well done to move the story forward).  But the focus of the book is on the relationships between various characters.  Alex and Wren’s complicated backstory and the uneasy state of their present proximity provide a good deal of captivating drama, but it doesn’t end there.  Putting 5 women in close quarters, having them compete against one another for a publishing deal and the admiration of their god-like hero Roza, and having Roza’s “process” for the writers be anything but conventional, ensures there’s never a dull moment and propels the story forward with various subplots, relationship theatrics, jealous moments and desperate situations.  Add in hidden agendas, dangerous secrets, terrorizing actions and a sexual encounter with a supernatural being and you get a novel that is as unique as it is entrancing.  

I promise that you’ve never read anything quite like The Writing Retreat.  It’s got me shook in the best of ways.  Julia Bartz’s debut novel is incredibly well done and one that I won’t soon forget.  

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Writing Retreat
(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

The Last Orphan By Gregg Hurwitz

What’s sure to be the perfect Valentine’s Day present for the thriller fan in your life, The Last Orphan is a magnificent novel that exceptionally blends full-throttle action with an epic battle of wits and a healthy dose of emotional awakenings.  Gregg Hurwitz’s eighth Orphan X novel is absolutely special and possibly my favorite in the series to date. 

The unthinkable happens when Evan Smoak, aka Orphan X, is unable to evade and escape an army of federal agents hellbent on capturing him and holding him accountable for his extrajudicial activities as The Nowhere Man.  After rendition to a black site, he comes face to face via video chat with the President of the United States who offers Evan a deal to maintain his freedom.  All he must do is kill a billionaire genius who might be the most powerful and dangerous man on the planet.  Accept and execute the mission, and he’s a free man with the caveat that he must stop being The Nowhere Man.  Decline the mission, and the full weight and power of the United States government will be brought down upon him.  But Evan takes orders from no one, and he lives by a code that compels him to only use his skills against those harming others and getting away with egregious breaches of the law.  Now Evan must decide if this person fits that profile and should be killed, or if not, stick to his personal ideology and face the wrath of the President.

Evan Smoak’s continued personal evolution is on full display in The Last Orphan, adding depth and development to an already amazing protagonist and giving this novel a ton of heart.  Evan’s lethal skillset has not once been in question, but he’s also never been accused of having a high EQ.  However, over the past few novels in the series, readers have gotten glimpses of Evan developing feelings and attachments to individuals like Joey, Mia and Peter.  In The Last Orphan, those emotions grow at an exponential rate as we see Evan act in ways that don’t always line up with the Ten Commandments drilled into him by his handler/father figure Jack Johns.  He shows increasing vulnerability, caring and empathy towards others, including people he just met on this latest mission.  Will this emotional development hold him back or make him a better operator?  Time will tell, but Jack would be proud as he always said the hard part wasn’t turning Evan into a killer but keeping his humanity in the process.  

Beyond Evan’s growth as a human, The Last Orphan contains the hallmarks of a tremendous Orphan X thriller - amazing action sequences with shootouts, knife fights and martial arts beat downs, truly unlikeable bad guys deserving of an ass whooping, and the moral ambiguity of Evan’s actions.  Throw in an intriguing and enigmatic filthy rich megalomaniac and this novel has it all.  

Rarely do thrillers feature non-stop badassery while making you think and giving you the feels. The Last Orphan not only achieves this but does so in spectacular fashion.  It’s an astoundingly brilliant thriller.  A book that is tons of fun to read and stimulates your brain and heart.  It’s not to be missed!

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Last Orphan
(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

The Drift By C.J. Tudor

Captivating, provocative, and uber-tense, The Drift puts the reader in the middle of a realistic and vivid virus-ravaged humanity to ask tough questions that require introspection about moral codes, acceptable actions and if the ends justify the means.  CJ Tudor has constructed a foreboding and sober story that tunnels into your brain and sets up shop for the foreseeable future to make you confront inconvenient hypotheticals about how you’d act if put into these untenable situations.  

The Drift is told from the perspective of three individuals.  Hannah is trapped in a bus after it crashes in a snowstorm, tending to the wounded and banding together with several others to find a way out.  Meg is stuck in a cable car suspended high in the air with several strangers, little recollection of how she got there…and a dead body.  Carter resides in a ski chalet with a sketchy power situation and an even more fragile detente with the other inhabitants.  And each one of them is a piece of a larger puzzle where people will do anything – and I mean anything – necessary to survive in a dystopian pandemic-altered world.

The Drift is a fascinating tale about the breakdown of societal norms and the fight for survival.  It’s an exploration into individual motivations and how decision making is impacted when every moment delivers a new life-or-death crisis.  It raises the question of the sanctity of life and whether it’s worth continuing to exist when you and/or the world around you has irreparably changed and everything you care about is gone.  It also studies different reactions to grief and profound loss.  And all of this is wrapped up in a fast-moving psychological story with intriguing characters, a plot that keeps you guessing, and a body count that rivals any action thriller.  

It’s a truly thought-provoking, mentally stimulating, and gripping novel.  Give it a shot if you like to be challenged and entertained at the same time.

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Drift
(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

The Devil's Ransom By Brad Taylor

A blisteringly fast-paced, ferociously intense and violent thriller, The Devil’s Ransom is Pike Logan at his absolute world-saving best.  Brad Taylor has gifted readers a classic Pike mission within a timely and modern storyline that will leave readers sweaty and trying to catch their breath.

With the United States pulling out of Afghanistan, a valuable local CIA asset is on the run and in need of assistance.  Luckily, Pike and Jennifer are in nearby Tajikistan as part of their cover as owners of Grolier Recovery Services and can support the extraction.  However, things go sideways quickly – as they usually do when Pike is involved.  The extraction is intercepted by a foreign adversary while at the same time the Taskforce’s technology is down as a result of a ransomware attack.  Now tasked with saving the asset and finding out who’s behind the cyberattack, Pike and his team dive headfirst into a situation that’s much larger and more critical than they initially understood.  With the clock ticking down, the United States desperately needs another dose of that famous Pike Logan magic to save the day before catastrophe strikes.  

The Devil’s Ransom doesn’t let up for a single second.  The chase is on from the very beginning and has several twists and turns along the way.  It features well-timed subjects such as cybersecurity, the US exit of Afghanistan, political divisiveness and the privatization of space travel, all interwoven into a compelling storyline with global ramifications that keeps you engaged and enraged.  And while there is an abundance of ass kicking and an anxiety-inducing race against time, this book has it’s share of emotional moments that remind us that these amazing tier one operators are human too.  

Brad Taylor has delivered another hit in this long-running amazing series.  After 17 books, this doesn’t come as a surprise but it’s still great to see.  Because there’s no better way to kick off each new year than with Pike, Jennifer, Knuckles and crew taking the fight to the enemy and protecting the United States from those who would do us harm.  

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Devil’s Ransom
(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

The Bullet Garden By Stephen Hunter

An intense and mysterious historical thriller that keeps you guessing, The Bullet Garden is the perfect origin story for Earl Swagger.  Stephen Hunter puts you in the middle of a crucial WWII sniper hunt to witness Swagger’s genius on full display.

In the thick of WWII, shortly after D-Day, American soldiers are getting picked off one by one as enemy snipers ply their trade in France.  Knowing how critical it is to the war effort and to troop morale to put a stop to the killings, the OSS is tasked with figuring out what’s happening and putting and end to it.  Enter Earl Swagger, legendary war hero on loan from the Marines with orders to track down and kill the snipers.  Using his powerful observation skills, his experience and his leadership abilities, Earl will do anything and everything to successfully complete this critical mission.

The Bullet Garden combines several things I appreciate – WWII stories, historical fiction, and military thrillers – bringing all 3 together to form a brilliant story featuring an iconic character.  It’s multilayered with parallel plotlines, has characters you’ll love and others you’ll hate, has its share of emotional moments, doesn’t give anything away prematurely, and includes all the technical aspects of shooting and the weapons that go bang that you expect from a Stephen Hunter novel.  It’s smart and entertaining.  A true treat to long time fans but also a fantastic standalone novel for people to enjoy.   

Stephen Hunter is one of the best to ever do it and he brings the heat once again in The Bullet Garden. It’s a perfect blend of action, investigation, politics, military operations and espionage. A surefire hit with thriller fans young and old!

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Bullet Garden
(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

Killer Story By Matt Witten

A no holds barred look at the current state of media and reporting in modern times, Killer Story is an engaging whodunit novel that will intrigue and infuriate you.  A car crash of a story that you can’t look away from as the investigation to find the killer unfolds.  

Petra Kovach is a newspaper reporter in Boston, trying to make a name for herself and find stability in a tough industry.  However, the paper is struggling and desperate to keep from being laid off yet again, she pitches a true crime story idea to her editor about an unsolved murder of Olivia “Livvy” Anderson, a young woman she knew and cared for until she was killed.  This being a very personal story for Petra, she will stop at nothing to find new clues, conduct an investigation and find the killer.  Fighting office politics, apathetic law enforcement, multiple suspects and her own code of ethics, Petra must constantly make decisions on how far she’s willing to go and how many people she’s willing to burn to get justice for Livvy…and to become famous for her reporting while driving millions of clicks to her written stories and podcast.

Matt Witten has achieved quite an interesting feat by making unlikeable characters sympathetic.  The main characters in this book are not good people.  They are constantly exercising poor judgment that show them to be unethical, conniving, self-centered and criminal, all while deluding themselves into thinking the ends justify the means as long as they solve Livvy’s murder.  However, despite wanting to smack some sense into these people, you still can find a way to understand their desperate behavior because we all know what it’s like to be ambitious about your career and/or struggle to deal with the loss of someone close to you.  So while the decisions these characters make – Petra, Natalie and Dave in particular – are frustrating at best and unforgivably despicable at worst, you keep reading with at least a little understanding of their predicament and a smidge of sympathetic hope that they will see the light, turn it around and do the right thing before they become completely unredeemable.  And if not, you want to be there to see them get what’s coming to them for their terrible actions.  

If you like true crime podcasts and books, then you need to pick up a copy of Killer Story.  This is right smack in the middle of your wheelhouse.  And if that’s not your jam, it’s still a compelling read for the suspense and spectacle of a solid murder mystery.  

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Killer Story
(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

Everybody Knows By Jordan Harper

Explosive, powerful and darker than a black hole in deep space, Everybody Knows will put you in a choke hold and not let go until it’s probed the far reaches of your soul.  It’s a haunting, gritty, immaculately written tale that will leave you completely breathless and utterly thunderstruck.  Jordan Harper has crafted a brilliant masterpiece of crime noir that promises to live rent free in your brain for months after completion.  

Mae Pruett is a black-bag publicist, working to own the narrative and win in the court of public opinion for her rich and famous clients when they do something unsavory.  Chris Tamburro is a dirty ex-cop – and Mae’s ex-lover – who is a fixer/investigator for a lawyer who represents the same wealthy clientele as Mae’s PR firm.  They are just two of the many individuals who make up “The Beast,” the dark underbelly of Los Angeles that exists to serve and protect the interests and debauchery of the wealthy and powerful.  When Mae’s boss is gunned down in the streets of Beverly Hills on the eve of sharing a huge and potentially lucrative secret with her, Mae hooks up with Chris to investigate and unravel the mystery with the hopes of hitting it big.  But secrets like this are dangerous, with very influential people willing to do anything to keep them in the dark.  Mae and Chris might be in over their heads but if they play it smart, they just might find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  Maybe even some redemption.  But only if they can survive “The Beast.”

Everybody Knows contains a sadly realistic storyline that not only feels ripped from the headlines, but also taps into the innate nature of humans to desire fame and fortune.  It’s these two features that make it relatable and allows the reader to make connections with characters with whom they wouldn’t normally associate or come into contact.  Which leads to what makes this novel special.  Mae and Chris are employed by the dark side of the celebrity industry with responsibilities that are slimy at best and despicable at worst, which should make them inherently loathsome and unredeemable.  In fact, the investigation they undertake is derived from hatching a get rich quick scheme that includes morally bankrupt motivations and possibly illegal activity. But as the story progresses, they are forced to face their actions and the people they have become, searching their souls to determine if they are so far gone and self-centered that it’s just about the money or if they can eschew a big payday in the name of doing what’s honorable and righteous.  And it’s through this self-reflection and their resulting behavior that Mae and Chris worm their way into your heart and have you hopeful for a happy ending you don’t think is possible, but think they probably deserve.  Because everyone loves a redemption story.  And that’s a big part why Everybody Knows is so phenomenal. 

This was my first Jordan Harper book, but on the basis of this story alone he has entered “must read” territory whenever he publishes a new novel.  It’s so damn good it’s ridiculous.  Do yourself a favor and kick off 2023 in style by getting a copy of Everybody Knows, finding a quiet spot and diving into this magnificent piece of literature.

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Everybody Knows
(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

My Darkest Prayer By S.A. Cosby

Dark yet vivid.  Beautiful yet violent.  Powerful yet vulnerable.  My Darkest Prayer is a spectacularly constructed debut novel by the amazing S.A. Cosby. In a brilliant move by Flatiron to re-publish this wonderful debut novel after the critically acclaimed and universally loved Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears have taken the thriller genre by storm over the last few years, it provides S.A. Cosby fans – new and old alike – an opportunity to see where his literary genius all began.  

Whether down range as a Marine, serving his town as a sheriff’s deputy, or working at his cousin’s funeral home, Nathan Waymaker has been around bodies his whole adult life.  And given his service to this country and his hometown, Nathan is known as someone who can be relied on to help those in need.  So when a local minister is found dead and the church’s parishioners don’t feel like local law enforcement appropriately view the circumstances as suspicious, they ask Nathan to conduct an investigation.  Having firsthand experience as to the ineptitude of the local sheriff’s department, Nathan dives headfirst into the case and quickly finds himself immersed in a world of crime, corruption, gangsters, preachers and porn stars.  Using his experience, training, wits and well-honed skill set to maneuver through the dark underbelly of this small southern town, Nathan seeks to bring justice to those who deserve it, peace to those who seek it and maybe even find some redemption for himself along the way.  

My Darkest Prayer takes the reader on an emotional journey with a protagonist that you not only root for to be successful in the current investigation, but that you desperately hope will triumph in life.  It is filled with incredibly well-crafted characters – from the corrupt, to the criminals, to the holy, to the righteous to the ones just trying to get through life.  Some of whom check more than one of those boxes.  Combining these striking characters with exquisite prose, magnificent descriptions and impeccable storytelling results in one hell of a phenomenal novel. 

At this point if S.A. Cosby wrote and published a menu for Cracker Barrel, I’d be first in line to purchase a copy.  Everything he writes is pure gold and My Darkest Prayer is no exception.  A glorious novel by a master of his craft.

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase My Darkest Prayer
(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

A History Of Fear By Luke Dumas

Devilishly dark and fiendishly ferocious, A History Of Fear is a psychological/horror tale that immediately seizes your attention and takes you on a ride to hell and back.  Luke Dumas has crafted a killer debut novel that is one hell of a fascinating and unforgettable story. 

Grayson Hale, a young American pursuing his PhD in Scotland, was convicted of murdering one of his classmates and was serving a life sentence in prison.  While that is enough content to keep the tabloids going for months, his claim that the devil made him do it added fuel to the fire.  And when he’s found dead, hanging in his cell with strange markings on his body, the thirst for more info becomes insatiable.  Lucky for the public, a manuscript containing Grayson’s life story is found in his cell and promises to shed light on his childhood, his mental state, the crime he committed and his relationship with the so-called devil.  Now it’s up to one reporter to add context to the manuscript and publish the story for all to consume.  Then maybe the question of whether Grayson was insane or if he was telling the truth can finally be answered.  Regardless of the answer, one thing is for certain…the devil is front and center in the consciousness of the Scottish people.  

The way A History Of Fear is structured as a book within a book is incredibly well done and is what makes it so excellent.  It’s captivating to read the first-person account from Grayson Hale on his experience, with editorial notes added to share court proceedings, interview transcripts, psychological evaluations and academic research as a mechanism to provide context and other points of view.  This framework allows the reader to view the whole picture from various angles, rather than just take the convicted murderer’s word on what happened.  It adds credibility to a story that might be easy to dismiss initially as the ravings of a lunatic, making it – and Grayson – seem more rational and his actions more conceivable the more you read.  A clever approach by the author to explore the topic of the devil’s existence in an intelligent, contemplative and a realistic non-fantasy manner.

And one last thing – the ending of this book has me shook.  Like mouth agape muttering “holy shit!” several times kind of shook.  A blindsiding moment of pure genius that adds a whole other layer to the story.  A haymaker delivered with the last few keystrokes.  Bravo Luke Dumas!

A History Of Fear is the perfect novel for those who crave murder mysteries, psychological thrillers and horror stories. It blends all three into a phenomenal story that will burrow into your brain and set up shop for a few months. Which means maybe the greatest trick the devil ever pulled wasn’t convincing the world he didn’t exist, rather it was making sure we remember and fear his existence for all eternity.

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase A History Of Fear
BUY A SIGNED FIRST EDITION FROM VJ BOOKS

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Red Winter By Marc Cameron

Intense, brutal and fast-paced, Red Winter is a stone-cold Cold War spy classic.  Marc Cameron has delivered his most Clancy-esque novel to date in this realistic, brilliantly designed and executed story from the heyday of democracy vs. communism.

Flashback to 1985.  An East German wants to defect and offers the CIA vital secrets in return, while one of his compatriots in deep cover within the US is attempting to steal innovative technology and bring it home for research and development.  Enter the old stalwarts we know and love.  Dan Murray is tasked with leading the manhunt for the spy on the run in the US.  James Greer sends Mary Pat Foley and Jack Ryan to venture into East Berlin to vet the would-be defector.  And John Clark does what John Clark does best – stay in the shadows until his particular set of lethal skills are needed then strike hard, fast and without remorse.  Tensions could not be higher during this high-stakes cat and mouse game with massive implications at the height of the Cold War.

Huge thanks to Marc Cameron for dropping a throwback Clancy espionage thriller into our laps.  For those of us who grew up on Tom Clancy novels, this one is both fresh and nostalgic at the same time.  It brings back beloved characters in a way that adds to their backstories, which is honestly not something I ever expected or thought I needed.  But after reading Red Winter, I can say with 100% certainty that it is a brilliant choice that adds tremendously to the Jack Ryan universe.  To see a young Mary Pat Foley completely in her element behind enemy lines while mentoring an inexperienced Jack Ryan is breathtaking given what we know about her importance and their relationship through the years.  Then to witness Dan Murray’s investigative skills and John Clark’s baddassery on full display is a treat.  Not to mention James Greer’s genius intuition and growing influence within the CIA.  Whoa baby!  And the best part is if you’re not familiar with these characters, this book provides the perfect entry point into this world that’s been around for decades.  

Just a masterful job by Marc Cameron.  Red Winter is an absolute treat!

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Red Winter
BUY A SIGNED FIRST EDITION FROM VJ BOOKS

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Rebellious Son By Joe Goldberg

The Spy Devils are back!  Packed full of action, sarcasm, duplicity and strategic maneuvering, Rebellious Son is a wonderfully amusing, suspenseful, smart and fun thriller.  Joe Goldberg once again delivers a layered and nuanced, yet in your face, twisting and highly entertaining story.

Specter, the infamous bomb-maker presumed dead, appears to be very much alive and back in action as explosions rock Europe.  CIA legend Wes Henslow will stop at nothing to finally capture and kill this terrorist who happens to be his “white whale.”  So he enlists Bridger and the Spy Devils to help, despite the objections of Bridger’s mom and handler, May.  Tracking down Specter will bring them in conflict with a Chinese drug enterprise, the Israeli Mossad, and even some folks within the CIA.  With danger around every corner and the inability to trust anyone, it’s up to Bridger and his crew to outwit the enemy and bring justice to the bad guys before more people wind up dead.

Three things stand out in Rebellious Son and highlight why it’s a highly enjoyable and engaging spy novel.  First, the characters are fantastic.  Whether it’s an old cuss like Demon, a drug cartel CEO like Charlie Ho, or Bridger the mastermind spy, every character brings something unique to the table and adds perfectly to the story.  Second, the plot is fantastic.  Without giving anything away, there is twist upon twist upon twist within a well-designed storyline that connects the drug trade, a terrorist bomb-maker, multiple intelligence agencies, and the Spy Devils themselves.  Just when you think you know what’s going to happen next…BAM!  You’re hit with a new development.  Third, everybody involved is trying to outthink their opponent(s) to get a step ahead and gain an advantage.  And since the characters are constantly calculating and strategizing, it’s an epic battle of wits with life and death stakes.  Which makes it fun to see who will come out on top when the outcomes are not a given.

If you’re in the mood for a thriller filled with ass kicking, cunning characters, twists and turns, humor and an old dude who just wants to torture and/or kill bad guys, then Rebellious Son is the book for you! Get your copy, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Rebellious Son
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Amazon
Signed Editions

Blue Like Me By Aaron Philip Clark

Blue Like Me is a gritty, dark and gripping crime thriller featuring flawed characters, complex relationships and facing your past head-on.  Aaron Philip Clark has delivered a second straight compelling novel in this series that will appeal to fans of Michael Connelly and Raymond Chandler.

Trevor “Finn” Finnegan is now a private investigator, working with a law firm to catch dirty cops in the act.  As a former LAPD detective who separated from the department under less than friendly terms, he’s perfectly suited for the role.  While conducting surveillance on his latest job, he comes across his ex-partner Sally Munoz and another detective doing something potentially shady.  All doubt is erased when gunfire erupts, wounding Finn’s ex-partner and killing the other detective.  Meanwhile, Finn’s dear friend and ex-LAPD detective turns up dead.  Needing, but not wanting, each other’s help, Finn and Sally band together to investigate possible connections between the murders.  What they uncover, the secrets that come to light, and the past actions they must reckon with, will change their lives forever.  

While the main crime being investigated is powerful, intriguing and disturbing, it’s the intricacies of Finn’s interpersonal relationships and his personal struggle to be a better man that makes Blue Like Me stand out.  He seems to have a problematic relationship with everyone - his aging and alcoholic father, his concerned girlfriend, his re-emerging ex-girlfriend, his enigmatic business partner, his hostile ex-partner and, frankly, the entire LAPD.  But Finn is aware of his shortcomings and his contribution to the difficult nature of his interactions with these individuals, and he’s shown to care about actively working to repair the damage.  The only questions are whether the job will always get in the way and if it’ll make him emotionally unavailable to those who he cares about.  Questions that will be fascinating to see him attempt to answer in subsequent editions of this budding series.

If you like crime noir, then this Blue Like Me is for you and I recommend going back and reading the first book in the series as well (Under Color Of Law), though you don’t have to have read the previous novel to enjoy this book.  It stands up on its own merit, providing an absorbing ride through the dirty streets of LA and a deep dive into the psyche of an imperfect but hopeful man.  Looking forward to seeing how Finn continues to develop going forward. 

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Blue Like Me
(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

No Plan B By Lee Child & Andrew Child

Combativeness and fisticuffs abound in No Plan B, a viscous novel chock full of bad guys in need of Reacher’s trademark type of justice…the skull cracking kind. Kudos to Lee and Andrew Child for crafting a classic Reacher story that will appeal to die-hard fans and general thriller enthusiasts alike.  

Reacher is in Gerradsville, Colorado when he witnesses a man push a woman under a bus.  He chases the killer and gets involved in a violent encounter, but the perpetrator gets away.  So when the police officially deem the woman’s death a suicide, Reacher can’t sit idly by and starts to investigate on his own.  Which puts him on the trail of an evil clandestine operation involving money, power and illegal activities.  But Reacher is Reacher, with a sound moral compass and anvils for hands.  As he doggedly pursues justice, he leaves a mountain of unconscious lowlifes in his wake and will stop at nothing until the powers that be pay for their actions.

The best part of No Plan B is clearly Reacher’s aggressiveness and truculence, beating the ever-loving crap out of every miscreant and thug with whom he comes into contact.  He embodies the philosophy of hitting hard and fast, meeting out unadulterated brutality with velocity and violence to those who stand in his way or earned it due to their malevolent behavior.  It’s quite breathtaking to witness and the volume of reprobates he dispatches is beyond impressive.  It’s simply Reacher at his best.

However, don’t be fooled into thinking this is just Reacher kicking ass and taking names for 300+ pages.  No Plan B has multiple plot lines – a runaway in search of his birth father and a grieving dad looking for those who are responsible for his son’s death – that are seemingly random at first, but serve to keep you guessing until they merge in the end to add depth, intrigue and an emotional connection to the case Reacher is investigating.  It’s quite well done.

If No Plan B points to the direction that the Reacher series is heading, then sign me up!  I’m ready for more stories like this with Reacher outwitting evildoers while caving in their craniums.  Grab your popcorn because it’s about to get real!

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase No Plan B
BUY A SIGNED FIRST EDITION FROM VJ BOOKS

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

The Other Side Of Night By Adam Hamdy

The Other Side Of Night.  Wow!  It broke my brain.  I literally don’t believe I can formulate a coherent thought or produce the necessary words to do justice to what I just read.  But I will try.  It’s a brilliant, genre-busting, inconceivable piece of literature that one does not just read.  You experience and consume it with the entirety of your existence while contemplating the meaning of life and your place in the universe.

I’m not going to summarize the plot for two reasons – (1) it’s best to go into The Other Side Of Night with limited or zero knowledge of the story and (2) to reduce the risk of providing even the slightest of spoilers.  Because a fresh and pure approach as you flip through the pages is assuredly the way to go.  It will enhance your experience and allow this book to thrill and delight you before completely blowing your mind.

The story is crafted and conceived in a way that maximizes mystery within what seems to be a relatively straightforward crime investigation, compelling you to flip pages faster and faster to find out what’ll occur next because you know there is more than meets the eye.  The characters are wonderfully developed and contain depth that is exposed slowly throughout the story through various perspectives, as told through a unique blend of written narrative, transcripts, letters, journals and recordings.  Which combined with the raw emotion that leaps off every page, forces you to visualize and feel everything the characters are experiencing in a way that creates an unbreakable connection with the reader.  And then there’s the moment when every piece suddenly falls into place and leaves you completely stunned and astonished with your jaw on the floor.  It’s at this instant you realize how special The Other Side Of Night truly is.  It’s a masterpiece that will rock your world.

A gorgeous, legacy-defining, genius work of art that Adam Hamdy will long be remembered and revered for creating and gifting to readers.  The Other Side Of Night is astoundingly breathtaking and one of the most memorable, thought-provoking novels I have ever read.  Destined to be included in any conversation about the best books of 2022. 

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Other Side Of Night
(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

The Maze By Nelson DeMille

Brilliant, impetuous, arrogant, sexual, and sarcastic-as-all-hell Detective Corey is back in all his splendor after an interminable 7-year absence.  And what a return it is!  Nelson DeMille’s The Maze delivers a classic John Corey thriller filled with intrigue, romantic entanglements, impulsive actions, exceptional detective work and pulse-pounding action.  And sarcasm.  Tons and tons of trademark Corey sarcasm.  Making it, page for page, perhaps the most sarcastic thriller ever written.  It’s glorious!

John Corey is back on Long Island to recover from wounds received in the line of duty, when two old friends step back into his life.  Police Chief Sylvester Maxwell and Detective Beth Penrose would like Corey to take a position as a private investigator for Security Solutions, a local firm run by and staffed with former detectives.  Looking for some action – both professionally and romantically – Corey agrees and begins a PI consultancy trial period.  However, Corey is a brilliant detective and knows there’s more to this than a couple of friends wanting to help him find a fulfilling outlet for his energy and skill set.  So he goes along with it and isn’t surprised to find out Security Solutions is into some shady business.  Agreeing to be the inside man to help Chief Maxwell and Detective Penrose build and solve a case that is being stonewalled by the powers that be, he will invariably do things his way, leading to hurt feelings, sexual encounters, shootouts and criminals brought to justice.  In other words, John Corey at his finest and in his natural habitat.

As a loudmouth, wise-cracking native New Yorker myself, I can more than relate to John Corey.  He’s my kindred spirit.  My role model.  Someone most men want to be and many women want to be with.   An inspiring individual that speaks my language and exemplifies what I aspire to be when I finally grow up.  And since it’s likely not in the cards at my advancing middle-age to become a world-class detective and ladies man, having John Corey novels to read is the next best thing.  A literary hero and fictional mentor through whom we can live vicariously.  And while I may be fanboying a bit much here, it’s no exaggeration to objectively say that John Corey is one of the all-time great characters in the crime novel genre.  If you know, you know.  And if you don’t know, then I challenge you to sprint to your favorite bookstore and get a copy of Plum Island right freakin’ now.  Seriously, get off your ass and go buy that book immediately.  Guarantee you’ll be hooked and will proceed to read the next seven novels in the series, or your money back.  

(Disclaimer: Best Thriller Books and Steve Netter will in no way, shape or form reimburse you for their free and brilliant recommendations.  So don’t even think about it.)

While John Corey is undeniably the star of the show, don’t let that distract you from the fact that The Maze is an excellent crime thriller written by one of the all-time greats.  The story is methodical, realistic, and a perfect balance of fun and anxiety-inducing.  The characters are impeccably developed in a way that evokes strong feelings about what should happen to them.  And the writing is tremendous, proving once again that Nelson DeMille must be at the forefront of any conversation about the Mount Rushmore of crime novel writers.  

Simply put, The Maze is fantastic!  It’s everything I was hoping it would be and more.  I just ask Mr. DeMille to please not wait another seven years for John Corey to reemerge into our lives.  The thriller genre is much better off with Detective Corey in our lives, solving mysteries, bedding women and exhibiting his trademark New York wit.    

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase The Maze
BUY A SIGNED FIRST EDITION FROM VJ BOOKS

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

High Crimes By Montana Kane

Humorous and gripping with plenty of ass-kicking by a strong female protagonist, High Crimes is an intriguing tale of drugs, money, fresh starts and friendship.  Montana Kane delivers a balanced novel featuring equal helpings of deadly situations and lighthearted moments that will entertain you while giving you a contact high, the munchies and a strong desire to go for a hike in the woods.  

After being shot in the line of duty as a detective in Chicago, Brandy Martini moves to Boomville, Colorado to start a new life.  Setting up shop as a private investigator, work is hard to come by until she gets thrown in the slammer and meets her first client who needs help finding her missing first-class weed growing son.  As the investigation proceeds, Brandy finds herself dodging attacks on her life, hanging with skateboarding stoners, cozying up to the locals, fighting her lustful feelings for the local police lieutenant, and dealing with the surprise appearance of her sister.  As clues emerge and the big picture becomes clearer, Brandy will have to rely on everything she learned as a big city detective to outwit and outlast the bad guys, save the missing weed genius, and survive everyone – and everything – that would do her harm.

High Crimes is a wonderful character driven book with the characters being…well…characters.  Some are quirky, carefree and charming.  Others are resourceful and mysterious.  Some are sexy and alluring while others are mischievous and devious.  And at least one is high maintenance and dramatic.  They all come together to form an ensemble cast that plays perfectly off one another.  Creating moments of laughter and danger, friendship and hostility, love and loathing.  It all comes together in a fast-paced, enjoyable and thrilling story that will make you gasp and smile in equal measure.  

Kudos to Montana Kane for crafting this irreverent, spirited and dark story. It’s amusing, engaging and will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Hopefully, this is the start of a series so we can get more Brandy Martini and the other crazy coots of Boomville, Colorado.  And if it is, I recommend getting onboard early to fully enjoy the ride.  

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase High Crimes
(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

Treasure State By C.J. Box

Murder, fraud and treasure hunting take center stage in Treasure State, a fast-paced and entertaining novel focused on exploring the lengths people will go to in the quest to obtain a financial windfall.  C.J. Box has crafted another intriguing and enjoyable story sure to please fans of the Cassie Dewell/Big Sky universe.

Cassie Dewell receives a mysterious call from an individual with an unusual request - they want to hire her to see if she can find them.  You see, this person is responsible for the biggest treasure hunt in the United States and wants to ensure his identity is protected to make sure whomever finds the treasure does so on their own merits by figuring out the clues in the poem that started it all.  So if Cassie, an excellent private investigator, can’t find them then they will rest easy knowing their identity will remain secret.  Meanwhile Cassie takes on another case to track down an accused con artist who loved and left a wealthy widow, disappearing with millions of her money and leaving her heartbroken.  A case made dangerous by the fact the prior PI hired by the woman has gone missing.  Which means Cassie will need to be extra vigilant to avoid the same fate.

The dichotomy of the two main plotlines is very well-done and makes for a compelling read. By having two simultaneous cases for Cassie to explore and switching back and forth between the amusing treasure hunt investigation and the treacherous search for the confidence man, Treasure State expertly balances moments of lightheartedness with tension.  Which seems like a proper way to highlight the variability of cases undertaken by a private investigator and is a breath of fresh air from thrillers that solely focus on ratcheting up the tension from start to finish.  

The big question is…will the storylines from Treasure State make their way into the television series Big Sky?  There’s a lot of good stuff in this novel that would adapt well to the small screen and hopefully we’ll see it happen in a future season.  But for now, enjoy it in book form because it’s another stellar and engaging book from C.J. Box.

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Treasure State
BUY A SIGNED FIRST EDITION FROM VJ BOOKS

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Landslide By Adam Sikes

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. 

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Landslide
(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

They Come At Knight By Yasmin Angoe

A story pitting unconditional loyalty versus blindsiding betrayal, They Come At Knight delivers a thriller that balances violence of action with heart wrenching moments offset by psychological healing.  Yasmin Angoe has crafted a second consecutive stellar thriller featuring perhaps the strongest female protagonist in the thriller-verse, proving she’s a rising star in the genre.

Nena Knight is a deadly assassin for a syndicate called The Tribe, an organization in the shadows with the purpose of lifting up Africa and its people through philanthropic, economic and sometimes lethal means. All of which can create enemies as you try to upset the established world order. So after Nena’s latest mission doesn’t go according to plan, it’s clear The Tribe is being targeted and must answer the question of who’s got the means and methods to attack them.  Even more, it seems an insider is aiding and abetting the enemy.  Needing to put a stop to this treachery, Nena will have to be at her very best to save the organization, not to mention her family and friends, before she loses everything important in her life…again.

Two thrillers in, Nena and her personal relationships are the heart and soul of this series.  Her story is powerful, her skillset enviable and her allegiance to her family and friends is exemplary.  Her background and actions stir feelings in readers that builds a fierce connection.  However, duplicating the intense emotions that Her Name Is Knight invoked was always going to be an unenviable and near impossible task given the deep dive into Nena’s horrific past in the first novel.  I’m happy to report Yasmin Angoe rises to the challenge in this second book and does an admirable job infusing emotionally rousing moments throughout They Come At Knight.  These moments might not rise to the exact same level of the successively devastating gut punches as experienced in the first book (thankfully!), but they’re more than sufficient to pull at your heart strings, build an unbreakable bond with the characters and root hard for a successful outcome with the good guys/gals coming out on top.

This series is unlike any other I’ve come across in the thriller genre and it seems to have an unlimited supply of unique storyline opportunities, especially with how They Come At Knight concludes. Which means it goes without saying that I’m very excited to see what direction Yasmin Angoe choses to take Nena and the Tribe next.  Count me as one of the people who will be awaiting the next installment with bated breath.  

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase They Come At Knight
(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

Oath Of Loyalty By Kyle Mills

I read Oath Of Loyalty in a day, unable to be released from its gravitational pull of excellence for even a moment.  It’s fucking fantastic!  Spectacular from start to finish.  Sensational, astonishing and magnificent.  In the dictionary next to the word “awesome” there should be a picture of the Oath Of Loyalty cover.  In fact, just take every superlative you can think of and apply it to this book.  It’s that damn good.

With Anthony Cook in the White House, things are changing in Washington and not for the better.  With the help of his calculating wife, he’s amassing unprecedented power and surrounding himself with people loyal to him, which does not include Irene Kennedy or Mitch Rapp.  And to keep the peace, Kennedy is forced to negotiate a truce between Cook and Rapp to alleviate the President’s concerns that Rapp is a threat to him.  All Rapp must do is stay visible and out of the country as long as Cook is president.  However, one of President Cook’s most loyal advisors gets into Cook’s head that Mitch won’t honor the truce and sets in motion a plot with contracted killers to go after Rapp’s partner Claudia Gould, in a way to keep Rapp occupied and away from the President.  And if Rapp takes a bullet in the process, even better.  But Rapp is still the world’s most elite covert operative and assassin, and he will do everything it takes to protect Claudia and make sure those responsible pay for their actions.  

Oath Of Loyalty’s plot is adeptly crafted with a focus on intensity, intelligence and ingenuity.  The pressure that Rapp is under to protect the people and the country he cares deeply about creates a high level of tension that doesn’t let up for a second.  All the while, Rapp leverages the collective brainpower of those around him to devise plans that he hopes will outwit the President and his team who believe they are a step ahead.  Which leads to a world-class level of creativity and cunning on the part of Rapp and Kennedy – and the inclusion of a few, shall we say, idiosyncratic characters – to ensure they turn the tables on those who mean them harm.  Put together, these pieces create a cerebral thriller with action, humor and pacing as fast as a speeding bullet homing in on its intended target.

The stories Kyle Mills continues to write for the Mitch Rapp series are nothing short of staggering greatness.  With the brilliance of Oath Of Loyalty, there’s now enough statistically relevant evidence to state that Kyle is on one hell of a heater.  He’s producing hit after hit like he’s on a legendary roll in Vegas with no signs of crapping out anytime soon.  He has proven, yet again, that he was the perfect choice to continue this beloved series, taking it to new heights and doing Vince Flynn proud.

Whether you’re a long time Mitch Rapp fan or new to the series, do yourself a favor and purchase this book ASAP, then immediately put it at the top of your TBR pile.  You need to read this book.  It’s phenomenal and easily one of the best books you’ll read this year!

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Oath Of Loyalty
BUY A SIGNED FIRST EDITION FROM VJ BOOKS

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Meet The Review Team