The Libyan Diversion By Joel C. Rosenberg

Teeming with dynamic, ferocious, no holds barred action, The Libyan Diversion is one of the most tense and titillating thrillers you will encounter in 2023.  Joel C. Rosenberg delivers yet another engaging and captivating novel that will leave you sweaty, breathless and stunned.

After Marcus Ryker presents evidence that convinces the President to bomb the supposed location of terrorist mastermind Abu Nakba, all signs point to a successful outcome with the Kairos leader dead and Ryker tasked with mopping up the rest of the terror organization.  However, days later alarming images are shown on CNN purporting the bombing location wasn’t filled with terrorists, but of innocents.  Setting in motion a firestorm in the United States that impacts the president, his administration, Ryker’s employment, and the planned visit of the Pope.  Now an attack on American soil by Kairos seems imminent with little knowledge of where to start.  Which means Ryker will have to quickly clear his name and do what he does best – figure out what the terrorists are planning then stop the attack before tens of thousands of his compatriots are murdered.  

Did I mention this book is action packed?  Because that’s an understatement.  Bombings, gun battles, and missile strikes intertwined with kidnappings, crossing hostile borders, and intelligence gathering wrapped around a global manhunt with the clock ticking down towards doomsday…oh my!  There is hardly a moment to catch your breath as the story goes from one intense situation to the next.

And while the action is relentless, The Libyan Diversion also runs the gamut of emotions.  Elation, adoration and excitement give way to despondency, horror and anxiety before pivoting to awe, relief and love.  And in the middle of it all is Marcus Ryker, singularly focused on his purpose despite all the turbulence around him, tracking down those who would do us harm and stopping at nothing to achieve success.  His resiliency and effectiveness are impressive, all while remaining humble and overcoming adversity.  Something we can all admire and learn from.  

Are you in need of a gripping, balls-to-the-wall, nail-biting thriller?  If so, look no further than The Libyan Diversion.  It’s tremendous and needs to be on every thriller reader’s TBR pile in 2023.  

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The Ferryman By Justin Cronin

The offspring of an acid-laced union between The Matrix and WALL-E, The Ferryman is a sci-fi mindfuck of the first order.  A cautionary tale about a future reality that is perhaps only slightly exaggerated, wrapped inside a vastly creative but alarmingly nightmarish world created by Justin Cronin.

Welcome to the island paradise of Prospera, where a small but lucky populace enjoy extended and gratifying lives within a beautifully cultivated and seemingly perfect environment.  The best part?  As individuals' physical and mental health start to deteriorate, they retire themselves to the nursery, where they are reborn and reinserted to start a brand-new life with no memory of their prior one.  Proctor Bennett is in the middle of this circle of life, employed as a ferryman who guides people through their retirement.  Lately though, Proctor has been dreaming, which is concerning given that’s not something that is supposed to happen in Prospera.  Combined with some strange behaviors he’s witnessed lead Proctor to become paranoid and believing something is drastically wrong, with his subsequent questions and investigation putting him at odds with the powerful leadership of the island.  Concurrently, unrest is building within the population of the Annex, a separate island that houses those who provide the working-class labor for Prospera’s wealthy citizens.  It all comes to a head in a big clash with massive implications…and the realization that absolutely nothing is as it seems.

The Ferryman will repeatedly mess with your head.  At first it seems like normal life events and personal drama.  But then it kicks up to another level as strange things happen, kind of like glitches that would happen in a video game rather than real life.  And just when you’re trying to wrap your mind around what’s happening…BAM!  The weird shit meter pegs all the way to the right and you start to mutter WTF repeatedly as you try to figure out what’s real and what’s not.  Oh, but wait there’s more.  Because next on the agenda is something so completely wild and unhinged that your frontal cortex becomes scrambled eggs.  However, the craziest thing of all isn’t this insane story that Justin Cronin has thrust into your skull.  It’s that after completing this novel and pontificating the events that have unfolded, you conclude that it’s actually not as outlandish and improbable as you first thought.  Which is the precise moment your brain explodes. 

If you’re into Sci-Fi, dystopian worlds and novels that make you question your psychological fitness, then don’t miss The Ferryman.  And if you’re just looking for a creative, well-written story to escape the mundane and make you ponder the meaning of life, then this book is also for you.  It’s guaranteed to make a strong impression with everyone who reads it.  

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Something Bad Wrong By Eryk Pruitt

Something Bad Wrong will hit you with multiple “oh shit” moments, elicit strong reactions to the behaviors of each character, and will twist your brain as you try to figure out who perpetrated the heinous crime and who is complicit by their actions.  Eryk Pruitt has crafted a compelling thriller highlighting how small-town life isn’t always pink houses and apple pie, as it can sometimes be the perfect home for corruption, depravity and dark secrets.

Jess Keeler has visions of producing a true-crime podcast around the unsolved murders of a young couple in her hometown from 50 years ago.  Her grandfather was one of the sheriff’s deputies on the case, but no one will talk to her about him or the investigation.  After finding her grandfather’s notepad, she’s more determined than ever to get answers.  Teaming up with a formerly respected, now disgraced newscaster, Jess conducts a thorough and relentless investigation to produce killer content for the podcast.  However, the more they dig, the more dirt comes to light and paints a picture of misconduct, corruption, hubris, derangement, and deterioration that will shock a community that’s been awaiting answers for a very long time.

The beauty of Something Bad Wrong is that it’s fictitious but reads like true crime.  You’re riding along during the investigation, sharing the excitement when a new lead is unearthed as well as in the frustration when a dead end is reached.  You’re participating in the research and are in the room for interviews, trying to solve this double murder as if you’re personally involved.  You get so invested that you forget this didn’t really happen, that it’s all out of the imaginative mind of Eryk Pruitt.  And that’s what makes this such a good book.  Getting so into it that you lose yourself in the action.

Great characters, great plot twists and great writing make Something Bad Wrong an intriguing and entertaining novel that thriller fans and true crime junkies will all love.  It’s expertly crafted, deep and dark.  Quite an enjoyable reading experience. 

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Breakneck By Marc Cameron

The sheer intensity and excitement of Marc Cameron’s Breakneck is best illustrated using a simple formula: US Marshall Arliss Cutter + the Alaskan wilderness + the Russian Bratva hellbent on revenge = an epic battle on a speeding train.  The fervent action is unrelenting, the death toll extensive and the odds for survival slim.  Strap in and hang on because it’s one hell of a ride.  

Arliss and his partner Lola Teariki are assigned to the protection detail of Supreme Court Justice Charlotte Morehouse as she attends a judicial conference in Alaska.  Guarding the justice and her daughter seems routine until an uninvited guest shows up at the conference and is shot dead by law enforcement.  Eschewing advice to cut the trip short and return to DC, Morehouse and her daughter go through with plans to ride a sightseeing train into the Alaskan wilderness.  But they are unaware there are members of the Russian mafia on board with plans to kill her – in retribution for the role she played in the death of the Russian boss’ wife – and livestream it to the world.  Now it’s up to Arliss, Lola and the full protection team to repel the attack and keep the justice and her daughter alive.  Even if it means putting themselves in the crosshairs.

Breakneck builds the tension from the beginning, continuing to ratchet up anxiety levels until it explodes in a monumental gun battle and fisticuffs in and on top of a train traversing the Alaskan back country.   The Russian mobsters are incredibly brutal and unrepentant, singularly focused on their objective with no qualms about taking out anyone in their way.  But Arliss and Lola are resolute and undaunted, mission success the only thing they will accept.  Which makes for a classic engagement between good vs. evil.  The unstoppable force vs. the immovable object.  A fight to the death with neither side willing to entertain failure.  It’s glorious.

However, there’s more to this book than the Russian revenge storyline and it’s all in the name of character and series development.  First, Lola’s character gains more depth, emotion and respect through her actions and growing confidence…and the blossoming of her relationship with Joe Bill Bracket is sweet to witness. Next, the pursuit of the truth in the death of Ethan Cutter is ongoing, with Arliss and Mim chasing down leads and growing in their suspicions that his death was no accident.  And maybe most intriguing is that Arliss and Mim finally start addressing their repressed but obvious feelings, making it possible they will act on their sexual tension despite Ethan’s ghost looming over them.  Will they or won’t they?  You’ll just have to keep reading to find out.

The Arliss Cutter series is now five books in and has no indications of slowing down anytime soon, which is excellent news for thriller fans.  Breakneck is fantastic on its own, but also does a tremendous job of moving ongoing storylines forward, primes the pump for more adventures and provides opportunities for personal relationships to grow.  Marc Cameron continues to impress, and he has endless possibilities with where to take the series next.  So make sure you are on board the Arliss train.  It’s going to continue to be an entertaining journey.  

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Forgotten War By Don Bentley

Forgotten War blasts you right in the face with violent action in the relentless pursuit of truth and honor, burning bright and hot with the intensity of exploding rounds of white phosphorus juxtaposed with the emotional warm embrace of a beautiful friendship forged in combat.  

Matt Drake’s steadfast partner Frodo has been arrested and accused of murder, stemming from an operation in Afghanistan back in 2011.  Always having his best friend’s back, Matt dives headfirst into proving the charges are bogus but quickly realizes the situation is quite complex and fraught with danger.  Undeterred, Matt will do whatever it takes to help his friend, including an unsanctioned trip to Afghanistan during the chaos of the United States withdrawal where he will hook up with an unlikely group of individuals to track down and extract the one person who might be able to prove Frodo’s innocence.  But the Taliban is after the same individual, making it a treacherous race with guns blazing and bombs bursting.  But Matt Drake will stop at nothing to succeed in his mission and it would be foolish to bet against him, even when the odds of survival drop precipitously as the enemy closes in.    

Unsurprisingly, Matt Drake is put through the ringer once again as he voluntarily puts himself in harms way with little regard to his own safety in order to help his best friend, a woman he’s never met, and an interpreter he served with for one night over a decade ago.  He joins forces with an unlikely and somewhat quirky, but highly capable group of co-collaborators to take on this risky mission deep in Taliban-held country with little-to-no hope of backup from the mighty US military.  Each of these individuals is driven by a sense of duty, honor and commitment to a cause greater than themselves.  Which makes them a formidable unit capable of accomplishing this dangerous, potentially suicidal mission.  But undaunted, they march ahead singularly focused on success and taking the fight to the enemy.  

While there is a ton of action to make this an incredibly entertaining thriller, the thing that stands out most in Forgotten War is how Matt Drake works through his feelings as the war in Afghanistan comes to an end.  In this way, Don Bentley has written what comes across as a deeply personal – and possibly/hopefully cathartic – novel leveraging his experience serving in Afghanistan and the emotions experienced by himself and all veterans surrounding the United States withdrawal in 2021.  Combining this powerful and moving theme with Matt Drake’s trademark of heroically running headfirst into an untenable situation with his only thoughts being to help those he cares about, and you have one hell of a thought-provoking and satisfying novel.  

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Beast Three Six By Jason Kasper

Savagely violent and exceptionally inspirational with a delicious side of retribution, Beast Three Six is a tale of good vs. evil with the good guys putting it all on the line against the odds to save a hostage – and perhaps countless innocents – from gruesome and undeserving death.  Jason Kasper delivers another balls-to-the-wall, nonstop action covert operations thriller that gets your heart pumping and your forehead sweaty from substantial anxiety and anticipation.

Olivia Gossweiler, the daughter of a US senator and chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has been kidnapped by terrorists and is being held captive in Benghazi, Libya.  The leader of this terrorist group, Khalil, has an interesting first demand – he will only negotiate with David Rivers, with whom he tangled with in the past.  David agrees and is sent over to negotiate while his Project Longwing teammates prep the area of operations for the Navy SEALs in case a hostage rescue is needed.  And it is needed because Khalil is the real deal and has no intentions of letting Olivia or David live through this ordeal…not to mention he has grander aspirations of launching additional terror attacks soon.  But when the timetable is suddenly moved up and the SEALs not yet on target, it’s up to the 5 men of this disposable unit – plus a willing and highly capable Combat Controller – to go up against insurmountable odds by attacking a fortified position defended by an overwhelming force to attempt a rescue.  It’s what Suicide Actual and his team live for.  Though living through this will take all the skill and luck they can muster.

While Beast Three Six is a ceaseless thrill ride with relentless action and an incredibly high body count that will please even the most hardcore military thriller fan, what stands out from the viciousness and terrorism is an inspirational story of doing what is necessary to succeed in your mission.  The men of Project Longwing know the deal.  They are a deniable and expendable unit that are sent into untenable situations with low likelihood of success.  Yet they continue to thrive and win the day, with this operation hopefully no different.  They are constantly adapting to the changing landscape, equally able to think strategically and sling lead downrange, and put the wellbeing of others ahead of their own.  They don’t complain or sulk that the original plans change or that the bad guys don’t play fair.  They just tie their boots, grab their gear and sprint headfirst towards the danger.  They are admirable, selfless, tough men who never quit.  And if that isn’t inspiring as all hell, then I don’t know what is.  

The whole series is fantastic, but Beast Three Six raises the bar to another level.  It’s a killer story with emotion.  Fast paced and ferocious.  Merciless and uplifting.  Exhilarating and gripping from the first page to the last.  Jason Kasper writes phenomenal thrillers and is a must read anytime he publishes a new book.  Don’t miss this one!

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Simply Lies By David Baldacci

Riveting, emotional and suspenseful, Simply Lies is a layered and twisting journey through the intersection of criminal enterprises and law & order.  David Baldacci launches this compelling new series with smart female leads, despicable villains, heinous crimes and enormous treasure.

Mickey Gibson is a former detective now employed in the private sector as an expert financial sleuth, tracking down hidden assets by some of the world's richest crooks, cheats and evaders. Balancing this rewarding yet adrenaline-lacking work with being a single mom of two has worked well for her, until her world is turned upside down by discovering a dead body at an abandoned mansion while on an assignment that turns out to be bogus. Even more concerning is the phone calls from a mysterious and manipulative woman who not only sent Mickey to find the body but is now forcing her to conduct an investigation that puts her – and her family – in the crosshairs of some seriously nasty individuals.  As the situation keeps getting more dangerous, Mickey realizes the only way out is through and that she will have to team up with the untrustworthy voice on the phone to take down the bad guys and ensure her family’s safety and security for years to come.

Baldacci’s trademark storytelling and character development are once again brilliantly on display in Simply Lies.  Mickey and her anonymous cellular puppet master are both exceptionally skilled but also incredibly relatable and sympathetic figures that readers can easily connect with as the story unfolds.  And the way it unfolds with twists & turns, the slow drip release of deep rooted secrets, and characters with uncertain motives all keep the conclusion in doubt until the explosive and shocking reveal.

David Baldacci is one of the most bankable authors in the genre today and he once again delivers with Simply Lies.  It’s got everything readers love about his other books, wrapped in a fresh plot with intriguing characters and tons of future potential.  Sure to be a bestseller, it’ll be fun to see where this series goes after a thrilling beginning.  

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City Of Dreams By Don Winslow

Propulsive, explosive and emotive, City of Dreams is a gritty yet beautiful tale of second chances, making deals and controlling your destiny.  Don Winslow strikes gold once again with an absorbing novel that explores the intoxicating allure of power, fame, influence, control and money as well as the gravitational pull of loyalty, family and love.

Following the events of City on Fire, Danny Ryan and his Irish crew are making a run west to evade retribution from the rival Italian mob, the feds and anyone else who wishes them harm after a bloody gang war on the streets of Providence.  Recently widowed and with a young son to care for, Danny has plans to go legit and start a new life in California.  But the old life is hard to shake, either because he needs to pull a job to make peace with the feds or because it’s in his blood and he only feels alive when he’s got a piece of the action.  And there’s plenty of action in Los Angeles where he and his crew get involved in a Hollywood production, hook up with beautiful women and get sideways with the west coast mob.  But with death following Danny wherever he goes, will he and his crew be able to survive long enough to reap the benefits of their second act?

Being the second installment in a trilogy, City of Dreams has the critical job of being a bridge from the first book to the last and it doesn’t disappoint.  In fact, it thrives on its own.  It builds upon the backstories and unadulterated violence provided in City on Fire and moves Danny Ryan’s journey forward in both expected and unexpected ways.  Expected in the way that his thought process and actions are still grounded in what he learned back in Providence, leading to making both shady and legitimate deals that benefit him and his devoted crew.  Proving the adage that you can take the man out of the mob, but you can’t take the mob out of the man.  And unexpected in the way he rebounds from the loss of his wife and all the bloodshed he experienced to be a good father, to find a way to forgive his estranged mother, to find someone to love and fulfill his potential.  

City of Dreams is tremendous!  Filled in equal measure with moving moments and “oh-shit” events, it’s emotional and stirring while also being vicious and calculating.  It’s a brilliant follow up to City on Fire that perfectly sets up the final installment in the trilogy, promising to be entertaining as hell…either as a triumphant success or an ignominious end to the Danny Ryan saga.  Regardless, it’ll be a final gift to readers from the genius pen of Don Winslow.  And I can’t wait to find out how this epic story ends. 

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The Instructor By T.R. Hendricks

Filled with intense and all-consuming action, The Instructor is an emotional roller coaster that induces serious heart palpitations, heavy perspiration and adrenaline spikes.  T.R. Hendricks bursts onto the thriller scene with a wonderfully outstanding debut novel featuring a protagonist that is as resourceful and patriotic as any in the genre.

Derek Harrington is a retired Marine who is struggling with civilian life.  He’s recently divorced, behind on child support payments, running a barely solvent wilderness survival school, caring for his aging and ailing father and battling PTSD – all of which keep him busy that he’s missing out on important moments for his only son.  So when he’s offered thousands of dollars to impart his survival and tactical wisdom on a security force for a private group living off the grid in update New York, he has little choice but to accept despite his reservations about who he will be working for.  However, he views this as a potential mission and reaches out to a friend in the FBI to build an undercover operation to determine what this group is up to and stop them from doing any harm.  But Derek will soon find that infiltrating this organization is the easy part.  Staying alive, figuring out who he can trust, keeping his sanity and stopping a sinister plot will take every ounce of his strength and elite skill set to emerge victorious and protect the country and the individuals he loves so much. 

Two things stand out in The Instructor.  First, it’s dripping with operational authenticity.  The level of detail provided in the survival and tactical training portions of the novel are of the highest quality.  Everything Derek Harrington teaches feels like it’s straight from a real Recon Marine/SERE instructor, making it abundantly clear the author has first-rate experience in this area that is enhanced with superior research to ensure everything is flawless.  Second, Harrington’s actions and thoughts are those of a person who’s flawed but persistent in the pursuit of personal growth.  There are times when he’s easy to root for and feel bad for what he’s experiencing, and other times where you wonder if he’s just a huge adrenaline seeking asshole.  But it’s all a part of the character development journey, fitting perfectly into the arc of the story and resulting in the creation of a protagonist who will run through a wall of bullets to successfully complete the mission and defend the country from all enemies, foreign or domestic.  

Take my unsolicited advice and jump onto the Derek Harrington train early.  Because this series is going to take off like a rocket ship with no inclination to slow down anytime soon.  And big congrats to T.R. Hendricks for crafting a novel and protagonist that will stand out in the crowded and excellent thriller genre.  Can’t wait to see what comes next!

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Hollow Beasts By Alisa Lynn Valdés

Hollow Beasts is a moving yet disturbing novel that takes dead aim at the current state of this country’s political divisiveness, racism, xenophobia, and threat of domestic terrorism.  Alisa Lynn Valdés has constructed a compelling novel that is part commentary on today’s society and part emotional seesaw, switching back and forth seamlessly between touching and enraging moments.

After the untimely death of her husband, Jodi Luna leaves behind her life as a poetry professor in Boston to return home to Northern New Mexico with her teenage daughter for a fresh start.  Now a rookie game warden taking over for her beloved uncle, Jodi is barely into her first solo week on the job when she is thrust into investigating the discovery of a severed hand with a weird symbol branded on it.  When another severed body part with the same symbol is discovered by sheriff’s deputy Ashley Romero, they join forces to fight what they determine to be a white supremacist terrorist organization living in the San Isidro National Forest, kidnapping women of color and hunting them for sport.  As the situation unfolds, it gets extremely personal for Jodi in more ways than one, calling on every ounce of mental, emotional, and physical strength she possesses to take down these evil people and kick start the next phase of her life.

It’d be an understatement to say that Hollow Beasts will make you feel your feelings.  It is quite stirring, crafted in a way to touch all points of the emotional spectrum.  You’ll feel sympathy and concern one moment, anger and disgust the next, then fear and stress, followed by admiration and contentment.  Through this cyclone of emotion, the characters’ depth is displayed, and their motivations made clear, which creates a connection with the reader.  Some in a way that makes you want to give them a hug or a high five, others in a way that makes you pray they get a one-way ticket to hell.  Kudos to Ms. Valdés for creating a story with captivating characters and gripping plotlines that pull on your heart strings while simultaneously putting a fire in your belly.

On a personal note, having lived in New Mexico for ~6 years, the descriptions of the terrain, the people and the cuisine brought back many fond memories of my time in the Land of Enchantment.  It’s a wonderful place with a beautiful culture and delicious food.  In fact, the inclusion of posole, carne asada burritos, rellenos, red and green chile, and more in the story made my mouth water and have stoked an already growing yearning to return on a visit to relive those delightful years and satisfy this craving for the outrageously tasty food the state has to offer.  All of this is to say that Ms. Valdés descriptions of all things New Mexico are spot on and will resonate with anyone who has had the pleasure to spend time there.

Hollow Beasts is the start of a series worth keeping an eye on.  Jodi Luna is a strong female protagonist with a sound moral compass, but with a new line of work to learn and emotional wounds in need of healing.  And with the inclusion of several interesting supporting characters, a gorgeous and spacious setting, and an unlimited number of potential storylines, it’ll be intriguing to see what comes next.  

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The Guilty One By Bill Schweigart

Featuring gruesome murders, a high body count and a serial killer on the loose, The Guilty One is one hell of a suspenseful, dark and twisty story.  Just the way I like it!  Bill Schweigart’s evil genius is on full display in this book, one that captures your attention early and keeps a tight death grip on you throughout.

Detective Cal Farrell is a hero in Alexandria, Virginia for his role in thwarting an active shooter situation 6 months ago.  Only he doesn’t remember everything from that day and that leads to others questioning his actions and his rapid ascent from patrol officer to detective.  However, while out on a run he discovers a dead body hanging incredibly high in a tree over the trail, soon followed by other victims of what appears to be a serial killer.  Cal gets involved in the investigation as the bodies pile up, sharing insights and angles that others aren’t thinking of, resulting in suspicions being cast in his direction.  With his history of missing memories, could he be involved in these grisly murders in some way and not know it?  Or is someone setting him up to be the patsy?  If Cal can’t figure out the truth and who he can trust, he will swiftly go from hero to goat…and a maximum-security prison cell for life.   

The Guilty One represents a departure from Bill’s monster-laden Fatal Folklore Trilogy and his humorous, melodious and uplifting serialized novel Running Light, but one he pulls off with aplomb due to his superior intelligence and sexual magnetism.  Ok maybe that last part is a bit of a stretch, but regardless of your take on the state of Bill’s mental capacity and physical attractiveness (and I know people are lining up around the block to weigh in on this topic), The Guilty One is undeniably superb. It contains a flawed but willing protagonist that you want to believe in and root for.  The story is crafted to sow enough doubt to keep readers guessing on who’s behind the murders deep into the book.  The conduct of several characters will engage readers at an emotional level by eliciting a strong, passionate response to their behavior.  And if that’s not enough, it concludes with a wonderfully psychotic flourish that will have you exclaiming, “Oh shit!”  

On a more serious note, The Guilty One takes on complex topics by exploring mental health and the human response to traumatic experiences through the events and characters in the story.  As a result, this book has depth that goes beyond entertainment and into the realm of realism and relatability.  Because we’ve all faced challenges in our lives and/or know people close to us who have had to overcome difficult situations.  Which means we understand that everyone responds differently and therefore it puts the actions of these characters into a context that we can empathize with. Except for the serial killer.  Hopefully we all don’t have the type of experience that allows us to empathize with that person.  

All of which goes to say that of all the thrillers I’ve read this year, The Guilty One is definitely one of them.  I kid, I kid.  It’s a thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Dark and twisted but with enough humor – and a little love – to strike a good balance that keeps readers engrossed and entertained.  Additionally, it left me wanting more (in a good way) with Cal being a character that people will rally behind and whose development has just begun with a limitless number of stories that can be told with him as the lead protagonist.  So if Bill can please hurry up and write a sequel to turn this into a series, I would be greatly appreciative.  Because I would love to see what happens next.

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I Will Find You By Harlan Coben

Pulse-pounding, heart-thumping and anxiety-inducing, I Will Find You takes you on a thrilling journey with an escaped convict hellbent on proving his innocence and regaining the life he has lost.  Harlen Coben has crafted a supremely exciting and entertaining novel that starts with a parent's worst nightmare, continues with a parent's love as the driving force to achieve the impossible, and ends with a parent’s satisfaction of succeeding in doing anything for your child. 

David Burroughs is serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of his three-year-old son Matthew.  Convicted despite protestations of his innocence, he accepts his incarceration as punishment for not protecting his son.  Five years into his imprisonment he gets a surprise visit from Rachel, his former sister-in-law, with a shocking revelation that Matthew might in fact still be alive.  She shows a picture of an eight-year-old boy at an amusement park that has the same distinctive birthmark that Matthew had.  

Now David is convinced his son is alive – as crazy as that sounds – and another boy was murdered in his place to frame him.  Which kicks off a hasty plan to escape from prison and stop at nothing to get his son back.

I Will Find You propels forward with an unrelenting storyline that twists and turns multiple times, compelling the reader to continue at a lightning-fast pace in order to find out what happens next.  Is David really innocent?  Is Matthew really alive?  If the answer is yes to those two questions, who is behind this dastardly plot to kidnap a kid and frame his father for murder?  And will we get a resolution to these questions or will law enforcement catch David before he can get to the truth?  These questions burrow in your brain, with the writing of Harlan Coben sowing doubt into your thoughts throughout but forcing you onward because you just must know how this will end.

Additionally, what makes this book so damn enjoyable are the fabulous characters.  Beyond David’s despair and then desperation, there’s Rachel’s quest for redemption, Cheryl’s (David’s ex-wife) struggle to rebuild her life, the FBI agent's quirky yet incredibly competent approach to tracking down David, and more.  Every character brings depth and value to the story, engaging the reader further and dragging them into this world where you’re rooting for a convicted killer to succeed in his mission for truth.

I Will Find You is a fantastic character-driven novel with a killer plot that sinks its hooks into the reader early and does not let go.  Harlan Coben is one of the best in the business and he proves it once again with this absorbing, exhilarating and intriguing story.

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Deep Fake By Ward Larsen

The love child of the film The Manchurian Candidate and Nelson DeMille’s novel The Charm School, Deep Fake is a psychological thriller born of classic espionage infiltration operations from the cold war era.  Ward Larsen delivers a fabulous novel featuring a blisteringly fast pace, strong female characters, invasive government technology, and an enduring covert operation audaciously attempting to rewrite the established world order.  It’s fantastic, edge of your seat, make you sweat stuff that will have you screaming at the characters to move quicker to save the day, save themselves and save the country.

Bryce Ridgeway is an Army Ranger vet who now serves the people of Virginia as their congressman.  But his military training has never left him and when he witnesses suspicious behavior by an individual at a Veterans Day political event, he acts fast and stops a terrorist attack from taking out several members of Congress.  Hailed as a hero and with video of the incident going viral, Bryce’s life changes instantly and the Republican party seizes his rising star by kicking off a campaign to make him the next President of the United States.  But his wife Sarah starts noticing little things that seem off about Bryce.  He’s more forgetful than usual, doesn’t recognize a few people right away and in general isn’t acting like his normal self.  At first, she thinks it’s a result of the combat trauma he’s experienced.  Then she thinks he’s having an affair.  But only after enlisting the help of her brilliant tech friend Claire to dig into Bryce’s recent movements does something more diabolical seem to be at play.  Now it’s up to Sarah and Claire to uncover the truth and save the nation from unimaginable harm.

As a child of the cold war era, Deep Fake evoked deep nostalgic feelings from growing up in the 80’s during the tension-filled years before the fall of the Iron Curtain.  It brought back memories of reading stories in the newspaper about the US and Russia constantly trying to outmaneuver each other.  And it reminded me of reading The Charm School, a literary espionage masterpiece that forever hooked me on thrillers.  Which all goes to say that if a novel can stir up all these feelings and experiences from years ago, it is nothing short of an expertly crafted thriller that is firing on all cylinders and connecting with readers on a deep level.  Grade A stuff from Ward Larsen that should be on every thriller fan’s TBR pile.

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Red London By Alma Katsu

An intense and engaging edge-of-your-seat thriller, Red London is an uber-realistic espionage tale that feels ripped from the headlines.  Alma Katsu leverages her extraordinary national security experience to deliver a spy novel that puts you in the middle of an operation with vital global implications.  It’ll have you sweating out every action, every conversation and every move until the final page is turned.  

CIA agent Lyndsey Duncan is in London on a new assignment to handle Russian asset and war criminal Dmitri Tarasenko, when MI6 (and an old flame) asks for her help on another case involving Russian Oligarch Mikhail Rotenberg whose home was just attacked.  Lyndsey goes undercover to befriend Rotenberg’s wife Emily to find out who might be behind this suspicious attack and what they are after.  Entering a den of mistrust, subterfuge and danger, Lyndsey has her hands full successfully completing her mission and not blowing her cover.  With time running out and Mikhail in the Kremlin’s crosshairs, Lyndsey will have to go all-in and take necessary but perilous risks to ensure the CIA and MI6 get come out ahead in this battle between geopolitical superpowers.  

Crafted with extreme care for details big and small, Red London isn’t about non-stop violence with guns blazing in the streets for 300 pages (though it has its share of heart-pounding action).  Rather, this book takes the time to properly set up the operation, to cultivate sources, to conduct proper research, and to establish critical decision points before taking the next step…presumably like a real-life espionage operation.  It puts you in the head of an undercover agent, giving a glimpse into the crucial moments and split-second judgment calls they need to make while in stressful situations.  And there’s no rulebook or certainty of outcome to guide them.  All in all, it’s quite fascinating!

Espionage thriller fans will want to get their hands on this book ASAP upon release.  Kudos to Alma Katsu for a stellar story that is captivating, exciting and mentally stimulating from start to finish.  

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Wolf Trap By Connor Sullivan

Wolf Trap is fucking spectacular!  It’s wonderfully written with pacing that ratchets up the intensity and anxiety to near unbearable levels until it quite literally explodes with violence and the big reveal.  Barry Award winner Connor Sullivan has struck gold again, delivering an incredibly brilliant thriller that will make your jaw drop while muttering “holy shit” over and over.

President Angela Buchanan is on the precipice of realizing a lifelong dream with the monumental Global Green Accord days away from being signed by leaders around the world, which would pledge to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and world powers become carbon neutral in short order.  With unlikely allies by her side, everything she believes in and has sacrificed for is within reach…until the world’s newest clean-energy reactors melt down in a cataclysmic event broadcast live for all to see.  With sabotage the likely culprit and a wide-sweeping conspiracy threatening to kick start World War III, it’s up to a secret faction of leaders, analysts and operators to identify the culprits and put a stop to the diabolical scheme before it’s too late.  

Filled with intricate deceptions, secretive plots and conniving cabalists, this book has all the makings of a conspiracy theorists’ wet dream.  On the flip side, it contains men and women who buck the bureaucracy and won’t rest until they thwart the evildoers' plans.  It’s powerful conspiratorial efforts vs. formidable clandestine operations going head-to-head, with nothing short of the established global world order and the fate of the planet at stake.  Throw in a stirring redemption story for good measure and Wolf Trap cements itself as THE espionage thriller of 2022. 

Connor Sullivan is only two thrillers into his young career, yet he is already loudly and definitively announcing his arrival on the scene as someone who threatens to be mentioned with the all-time greats.  It’s early days, but if he continues to deliver books as brilliant as Sleeping Bear and Wolf Trap for the next decade, he’ll be poised to threaten the likes of Le Carré, Clancy, Silva and Flynn for a spot on the Mount Rushmore of espionage thriller authors.  

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The Golden Spoon By Jessa Maxwell

The Golden Spoon is a captivating character-driven story that will make your mouth water and your heart shudder.  Jessa Maxwell has perfectly combined a dash of reality cooking show, a pinch of murder mystery and a smidgen of eccentric personalities to deliver a scrumptious tale sure to please every palate.  

Six new contestants arrive at Grafton Manor, ancestral home of celebrity chef Betsy Martin, to start filming the latest season of the hit show Bake Week.  The beloved competition is known as fun, uplifting and entertaining, but everything is not as it seems on TV.  Betsy is chagrined to share hosting duties for the first time with another television chef with whom she doesn’t get along.  The contestants make suspicious mistakes with their bakes, bringing sabotage into question.  The grounds of this venerable estate hold dark secrets from the past that can’t stay hidden forever.  And to top it off, a dead body is discovered before the competition can conclude.  With everyone a suspect and hidden agendas coming to light, this season of Bake Week will serve up more than delectable pies and cakes…it’ll dish up a delicious murder mystery. 

While The Golden Spoon can hold its own just based on the twists and turns of the murder mystery and the competitive nature of the baking contest, it’s the characters that really make the book sizzle.  Each member of the diverse cast brings something unique to the table and, as you would expect from people entering a television reality show, they have an agenda they wish to pursue that goes beyond just being named the best baker.  Whether they are trying to find themselves, seeking closure from events long ago, want to become a celebrity, need to satisfy their OCD or are attempting to gain/retain power, each person’s actions will put them either in conflict with or in alignment with others.  Which leads to intriguing storylines that keep you guessing throughout.  And as an added bonus, it demonstrates that people of different backgrounds and dispositions, who might not normally get along, can find common ground in the right setting.

It’s not often that a murder mystery can be described as delightful, but it’s an apt description of The Golden Spoon.  It has more than its fair share of dark and anxiety-inducing moments, but in the end there’s something uplifting and satisfying about the journey these characters go through and the destination at which they arrive.  In fact, it’s a bit like a beautiful and tasty cake.  The process may be messy, frustrating and require hard work, but it’s totally worth it when finished and you savor the lusciousness on your tastebuds.   

Kudos to Jess Maxwell for crafting a thriller that is entertaining to read while making you salivate for baked goods.  I recommend at least a muffin, donut or tart be within arms reach when you pick up this book.  It would make for a pleasant paring.  

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It's One Of Us By J.T. Ellison

It’s One of Us is a suspenseful, emotional, and twisting roller coaster murder mystery wrapped within the sensitive – and potentially triggering – topic of infertility.  JT Ellison has smashed a home run with her latest thriller, expertly blending her usual brilliant storytelling and tremendous pacing with her own personal experience to craft one hell of a memorable novel. 

The body of a missing woman is found in a Nashville area lake, with DNA evidence pointing to the son of Park Bender.  However, his wife Olivia has been unable to get pregnant, suffering through multiple rounds of IVF and subsequent miscarriages.  This starts a cascade of secrets coming to light, starting with Park’s confession that he donated to a sperm bank years ago.  As the murder investigation continues, Park’s past is put under the microscope and each revelation is more shocking than the last.  Olivia is furious, heartbroken and trying to come to terms with the likely end of their marriage.  But Park isn’t the only one with a dark past…

It’s One of Us is a complex tapestry featuring intriguing and cagey characters within a multi-layered story, yet it’s simple to follow and seamlessly comes together to deliver quite a powerful punch.  Every character is hiding something, every relationship is complicated, and every action is steeped in self-serving motivations.  And each chapter completed increases the drama, introduces a new twist and sends the reader deeper down the rabbit hole.  Making it near impossible to stop reading, detesting the idea of delaying the satisfaction of learning the full truth.  Which, by the way, isn’t fully revealed until the very last page.

It's impossible to overstate how much I enjoyed this book.  I’ve been a fan of JT Ellison’s prior work, but It’s One of Us reaches a whole new level.  There’s a level of subject matter authority and emotional authenticity in this story that is hard to achieve but brings so much depth and quality to the characters and story. Which is likely a result of the personal nature of the infertility storyline (which is addressed in the author’s note at the end).  To that, I say thank you to JT Ellison for pulling from her painful experiences to deliver such a captivating and stirring story.

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Dempsey By Andrews & Wilson

Audacious, tenacious, dramatic and tense, Dempsey has everything readers could ever want in a military/spy thriller.  Andrews & Wilson demonstrate once again why they are the best tandem writing team in the business, crafting a timely, action-packed and anxiety-inducing novel that tests the hero in incredible ways.

John Dempsey is performing a deep cover operation in the heart of Russia that will take him from a notorious prison to the Bolshoi theatre and require him to collaborate with his most hated enemy to pull off a brazen mission.  Meanwhile his Ember teammates believe Dempsey is dead and are mourning the loss of their leader while still being tasked with critical operations.  The latest of which is to hunt down a suspected Zeta member, which turns into much more than initially expected.  Both Dempsey and his Ember team are unaware of what the other is up to, but their interests will eventually converge and culminate in either a world changing action or the beginning of World War III.

This novel shows Dempsey in a way that we’ve never seen before and severely tests the old adage “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”  Dempsey commits to going through hell to properly set up this mission that only the US Vice President knows about, meaning he’s without a safety net and must rely on his wits and training to pull this off in enemy territory.  And then when he’s got all the proper individuals lined up to support this ridiculous and potentially suicidal operation, he then must trust and rely on the head of the Zetas organization – his sworn enemy who’s killed fellow Ember operators – to be his ally and co-conspirator.  All of which tests Dempsey’s limits for suffering, operating, and willingness to do everything and anything necessary to prevail in his assignment.  As a result, Dempsey puts everything on the line for the greater good with less support than he’s ever had and no guarantees of a positive result.  He will either triumph or perish based on his abilities alone.  But if he is successful, he will become larger than life and secure a more peaceful world for those who inhabit it.  

Andrews & Wilson keep churning out winner after winner and Dempsey is no exception.  It’s a fantastic edition to their Tier One universe and one that ties up a major storyline while setting up the series for a bright future.

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White Smoke By John Gilstrap

What happens when the world is turned upside down overnight, technology no longer works, and every thought and action is all about simply surviving?  White Smoke delves into these questions in a novel with action, death and intrigue around every corner.  John Gilstrap delivers another thoughtful novel in this blossoming series that simultaneously feels distant to reality yet too close to comfort given the state of today’s world.

The surviving citizens of the United States are still adjusting to nuclear Armageddon.  Looking for blood from those who led to this catastrophic event, congressional politicians and the President of the United States are imprisoned and awaiting trial for their actions.  Held captive by a merciless group of men that have seized power, the President sends a messenger for Victoria Emerson, a former congresswoman who is doing her small part to pull society back together.  The request is anything but simple: travel to where her former colleagues are being held and preside over a fair trial.  Despite living within and leading a safe, burgeoning, functioning society, Victoria will risk everything to rise to the call of duty.  Why would she leave the safe haven she’s helped create, travel through dangerous lands where people are desperate and trigger happy, and arrive at a location where people will likely want her dead?  Because she might be the only person left who can bring peace, law and order back to the country.   

White Smoke is another compelling and thought-provoking novel, the third in this series.  It forces you to contemplate your preparedness for a catastrophic event that removes all comforts of modern life and eliminates the functionality of electronic devices.  It shows how quickly society can devolve, ushering in a panicked desperation for people whose only concern is survival and changing behavioral norms overnight to adapt to a new reality.  How would you fare in this instance?  Would you be willing to kill for food?  Shelter?  Weapons?  Could you do it if your life depended on it?

Additionally, there’s a lot of great leadership lessons in this book.  Victoria role models good leadership and Roger Parsons, the head of the murderous band holding the politicians for trial, is a cautionary tale on the impact of poor leadership.  Victoria shoulders the burden of leadership, understands the impact she has on others, and makes decisions that are intended for the greater good.  In fact, she’s put in conflict several times between her commitment and sense of duty to the community versus the safety and well-being of her own family.  And Roger learns that ruling by fear with an iron fist can backfire and put you in a perilous position.  Witnessing this dichotomy certainly makes you reflect on your values, how you would respond in these situations and the importance of good leadership.

For those looking for a book about a post-apocalyptic world that contains plenty of action and makes you think, White Smoke is right in your wheelhouse.  Kudos to John Gilstrap on another well-crafted novel!

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Burner By Mark Greaney

Celebrate!  The Gray Man is back in another action-packed, smashing adventure that moves with the rapid pace and tension of an out-of-control high-speed train.  Mark Greaney’s Burner is another reminder of the sheer awesomeness and lethality the Gray Man exudes and perpetrates.  

Alex Velesky, a Ukrainian employed at a Swiss bank, is on the run.  He’s being hunted by the Russians and the CIA for what’s in his possession – financial transaction information that highlights dirty money flowing from Russia to the west.  This data has the potential to do tremendous harm to Russian leadership…as well as American recipients of these funds.  Overmatched and on the precipice of capture, he needs all the help he can get to remain among the living.  Enter Zoya Zakharova and Court Gentry, each involved in the action but from different sides, unaware of the other’s involvement.  But when they come together with different agendas, they’ll have to figure out how to work together to keep this asset alive long enough to unveil a massive conspiracy and bring down some powerful individuals.  

There are a few things that really stand out and make Burner the latest home run in the Gray Man series.  First, the story is timely with a Ukraine vs. Russia plotline.  There’s a tremendous contrast between a nightmare scenario with the world being willing to overlook Russia’s horrendous transgressions in the name of financial greed versus a dream scenario where the Russians financial apparatus is brought to light and holds them accountable for the evil they have wrought.  Second, all the settings are fantastic but none more brilliant than on a speeding train through Europe with killers all over the place.  The confined space with nowhere to go ratchets up the intensity and action to near unbearable levels and will leave you shook.  Third, the mental states and relationship between Court and Zoya shows that even the most hardcore covert operatives have feelings and a desire for something more out of life.  And maybe, just maybe, they can find some peace and happiness on their own terms.  At least until more bad guys need killing.

A blockbuster of a thriller, Burner will leave you breathless, alternating between fist pumping and pounding your fist on the table in anger, and ultimately rooting for love.  Because nothing says love like financial transactions and shootouts with a high body count.

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