Steve Thomas

Meet BTB Reviewer Steve Thomas

Background: I live in Orlando and am happily married to my wonderful wife Mia. Sons Andrew and Jonathan are both in college (but graduating soon) and our daughter Samantha is married to Nick and they have our one and only (so far) granddaughter, Madison (just over 1 year old). I am a retired U.S. Army Colonel after serving as an Armor officer for 30 years. I am now the director of sales for a large import company that specializes in bringing tasty food from the UK. I love to golf and try to swing my clubs at least once a week. But my all-time favorite hobby is reading. I have been a voracious reader since I was a child and have shelves filled with Thrillers and Historical Fiction.

Go-To Author: Extremely difficult to pin this to just one but Don Bentley has to be it for me. His Matt Drake series is superb and the work he has done with the Vince Flynn Mitch and Tom Clancy Jack Ryan Jr series found me unable to put them down (I bought the audiobooks books as to enjoy them a second time). As much as I love Don’s work, it was hard to pick him over other favorites like Brad Taylor, Jack Carr, Mark Greaney, Mark Cameron, Ben Coes, Barry Eisler, Simon Gervais, Andrews & Wilson, Gregg Hurwitz and Brad Thor. I pre-order all of their books.

Author People Should Discover: Ward Larsen. His David Slaton series is just superb, and he is easily one of my favorite authors. If you haven't read Ward's books, you are just missing out!!

Book You Would Recommend From 2024: I grew up on Tom Clancy books and was thrilled by Act of Defiance by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. Absolutely love their books and Act of Defiance not only takes you back to the beginning (with echoes of Clancy's classic - The Hunt for Red October) but also introduces Jack Ryan's daughter, Katie Ryan, as a new protagonist in the Clancy realm with the same chops as her dad. Highly recommend you add this book to your shelf!

Most-Anticipated Book Of 2025: For me, I anticipate every book on my TBR pile next to my bedstand. But I couldn’t wait to read the latest in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz - Nemesis. Evan Smoak/Orphan X is a protagonist that answers the call with “do you need my help”… and Joey brings a chuckle regardless of the stress of the situation that Orphan X finds himself immersed in. And two of my other favorite authors that I have been waiting too long for are Ben Coes and Barry Eisler. Hope to see you both in the new releases soon!

Favorite Local/Indie Bookstore: The Book Dragon Shop. Fantastic service and selection. My go to when I need to find an autographed selection.

Favorite Charities: INUA Partners in Hope. My wife Mia and I sponsor and lead a golf tournament here in Orlando every year to raise money for this charity. Reach out to me if you want to play in our tournament this September! You too can make a difference.

Follow Steve on Twitter or Instagram.


View Steve’s Latest Reviews (book pub. dates)

The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer (4/8/25)
Dark Rising by Andrews & Wilson (4/6/25)
To Catch a Spy by Mark ONeill (4/1/25)
The Keeper by Charles Martin (4/1/25)
White King by Juan Gómez-Jurado (3/11/25)
Another Try by Gene Koon (3/10/25)
Leo by Deon Meyer (2/18/25)
Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz (2/11/25)
Dark Vector by Ward Larsen (2/4/25)
The Department by Jaqueline Faber (2/4/25)
The Enigma Girl by Henry Porter (1/28/25)
Head Cases by John McMahon (1/28/25)
Silent Evidence by Clea Koff (1/21/25)
The Dragon, the Eagle and the Jaguar by Rodger Carlyle (1/14/25)
Cold Storage by Michael C. Grumley (1/7/2025)
Assume Nothing by Joshua Corin (12/10/24)
Tom Clancy Defense Protocol by Andrews & Wilson (12/3/24)
Deadbeat by Adam Hamdy (12/3/24)
Nobody's Hero by M.W. Craven (12/3/24)
The Egyptian Enigma by David Darling (11/26/24)
Midnight in Delhi by A.C. Frieden (11/1/24)
King of the Night by DJ Williams (11/9/24)
In Too Deep by Lee Child & Andrew Child (10/22/24)
Break Every Rule by Brian Freeman (10/10/24)
The President's Lawyer by Lawrence Robbins (10/8/24)
Heroic Measures By Joel Shulkin (9/17/24)
Capture or Kill by Don Bentley (9/3/24)
Tom Clancy Shadow State by M.P. Woodward (8/20/24)
Love You Till Tuesday by M.E. Proctor (8/13/24)
The Queen's Lies by Oliver Clements (8/13/24)
I Need You to Read This By Jessa Maxwell (8/13/24)
Shadow of Doubt By Brad Thor (8/6/24)
The Rule of Three by Sam Ripley (8/6/24)
Tempest North by Rodger Carlyle (7/16/24)
Ember by Andrews and Wilson (7/2/24)
Webb by Mike Mason (6/30/24)
Midnight Rambler by Don Carr (6/20/24)
Red Sky Mourning by Jack Carr (6/18/24)
Out for Blood By Ryan Steck (6/4/24)
Code of Arms By Jack Slater (5/21/24)
Tom Clancy Act of Defiance by Andrews and Wilson (5/21/24)
One of Four by Travis Davis (5/1/24)
Assassin's Edge by Ward Larsen (4/12/22)
A Better World by Sarah Langan (4/9/24)
Four Minutes by Andrews & Wilson (4/2/24)
The Auctioneer by D.J. Williams (2/25/19)

The Impossible Thing By Belinda Bauer

You will be hard pressed to find a more uniquely enjoyable read than Belinda Bauer's The Impossible Thing. Readers seeking a thriller that ventures beyond the conventional will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in Bauer's exploration of a world few likely know exists: the intense and often secretively obsessive realm of bird egg collecting. The award-winning author demonstrates her storytelling prowess by crafting a narrative that is both historically fascinating and pulse-poundingly suspenseful.

Set against the backdrop of the United Kingdom, the novel delves into the peculiar obsession that drives oologists – individuals dedicated to collecting bird eggs. Bauer draws a compelling parallel between their fervent pursuit of rare shells and the pride other collectors find in acquiring coveted coins or stamps. This seemingly niche interest becomes the surprising anchor for a gripping thriller, as the narrative expertly flashes back and forth between the 1920s and the present day. This dual timeline allows Bauer to masterfully thread together the historical context of egg collecting with a contemporary mystery surrounding the collection and, more importantly, the audacious theft of exceptionally rare scarlet eggs. The way Bauer interweaves these timelines not only provides rich historical texture but also cleverly lays the groundwork for the present-day intrigue.

I highly recommend The Impossible Thing. Belinda Bauer has expertly woven together historical intrigue, suspenseful mystery, and moments of unexpected humor into a truly original and captivating novel. The book's unique premise, well-developed characters, and skillful narrative structure make it a standout in the thriller genre, leaving the reader thoroughly satisfied and perhaps with a newfound appreciation for the unusual passions that can drive human behavior. This is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.


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Purchase The Impossible Thing
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