An absolutely epic read that is destined to be counted amongst the greatest spy novels of our time. The intricately woven tapestry of ever shifting alAn absolutely epic read that is destined to be counted amongst the greatest spy novels of our time. The intricately woven tapestry of ever shifting alliances and agendas, affiliations and ambitions, is expertly crafted and breathlessly presented in flowing, mesmerizing prose. Your only questions upon finish this book will be 1) what will I.S. Berry give us next, and 2) how soon can we get our hands on it?...more
BURN OUT shows us yet again that Joshua Hood’s talent is as indomitable as his characters. There’s seemingly no premise he can’t master and no limit tBURN OUT shows us yet again that Joshua Hood’s talent is as indomitable as his characters. There’s seemingly no premise he can’t master and no limit to the action he relentlessly delivers....more
A relentlessly paced action adventure, Mark Greaney shows once again why he is king of the hill. This story will leave you perilously clinging to the A relentlessly paced action adventure, Mark Greaney shows once again why he is king of the hill. This story will leave you perilously clinging to the edge of a cliff by your fingertips. Appropriate given the setting of the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico. With as many twists and turns as a goat path, Armored is a brilliant story that pulls the curtain back on the dangerous world of private military contracting. Eagerly awaiting his next venture into this arena. ...more
The only book in recent memory that has caused a legit dream/nightmare of remote controlled planes falling out of the sky. Wow, just wow. The only thiThe only book in recent memory that has caused a legit dream/nightmare of remote controlled planes falling out of the sky. Wow, just wow. The only thing more amazing than Jack's brilliant delivery of the story is the fact that this is his debut!
Like many, I enjoy a good steak, and my go to cut of choice is a healthy sized sirloin. That's not to say I would turn down a porterhouse, just that it's not necessarily my first choice. Whereas Tom Clancy's novels were akin to the marbled slab for two, UNKNOWN RIDER "trims the fat" in it's technical presentation. Jack's qualifications as a TOPGUN instructor are apparent, but it is the smooth delivery and integration of the F-35's immense capabilities that makes this read so good. You're not inundated with pages of the fighter's inner workings or lost in the terminology. To the contrary, I was left marveling at the technological achievements of the jet, how it blends man and machine, and how Jack wove all of it together through an intriguing plot.
Five stars, deservedly so, and cannot wait for the next in a series that is sure to be a hit!...more
I once had a movie described to me as, "an injection of adrenaline straight into your eyeballs" and I can't think of a more appropriate description foI once had a movie described to me as, "an injection of adrenaline straight into your eyeballs" and I can't think of a more appropriate description for Don Bentley's sophomore Matt Drake novel. This story is an unrelenting, unapologetic, take no prisoners thriller, with action from the very first pages in Austin, TX to the very last in the deserts of Iraq. Don continues to deliver pulse-pounding, edge of your seat excitement that keeps you ignoring things like sleep and sustenance in favor of getting to the next chapter. My only regret is waiting this long to read it. Don't follow in my footsteps, go out at get THE OUTSIDE MAN now!...more
I often equate being an author to being a professional athlete, typically using the NFL for my analogy. Each year there are hundreds of players in theI often equate being an author to being a professional athlete, typically using the NFL for my analogy. Each year there are hundreds of players in the league, every single one of which has come up through the ranks by being at the top of their game. All of their talent, dedication, the proverbial blood, sweat, and tears, is displayed week in and week out. Their standing as the best performers in their sport is evident by the sheer fact that they are in the league and take the field every Sunday.
Still out of all those players, there is yet another tier. The elite of the elite. The smallest percentage of players that differentiate themselves with their otherworldly abilities from even the most exceptional of athletes who are their peers. They're the Pro-Bowlers. The household names. The ones who put asses in seats, have fans wearing their jerseys, and can move us to levels of utter joy or heartbreak with their performance.
Reading S.A. Cosby is the equivalent of watching a Pro-Bowler go to work. His talent is such that it inspires this author to reach for even greater heights, while being in awe of his mastery of the craft. In ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, he expertly and exquisitely weaves hard hitting topics such as race, religion, town politics, and modern day law enforcement seamlessly into a gripping serial killer mystery that leaves readers guessing until the very end. Poignant and prescient, it is the literary equivalent of those remarkable plays the best of the best make look easy. The ones that defy physics, comprehension, and belief while leaving fans cheering, jaws dropped open, and clamoring for more.
I was fortunate enough to be in the room this year when ALL THE SINNERS BLEED won the award for Best Hardcover Novel at the International Thriller Writer's annual banquet. Having finished the book this morning, I can see why. There's no doubt in my mind. From now on, whatever S.A. Cosby writes I will be reading. ...more
I'm telling you right now, Jack Stewart is legit beyond belief. OUTLAW, the follow-up to his breakout debut UNKNOWN RIDER, absolutely decimates even tI'm telling you right now, Jack Stewart is legit beyond belief. OUTLAW, the follow-up to his breakout debut UNKNOWN RIDER, absolutely decimates even the slightest, most obscure notion that author's experience a, "sophomore slump" with their second book. Jack annihilates this premise with his full-throttle pace and synchronous delivery of both technical components and good old fashioned edge of your seat suspense. The SEAL Team scene in particular was my favorite in this one, a multifaceted cinematic action experience that not only had me flipping through pages, but may be one of the best sequences I've ever read. As if that wasn't enough, Jack absolutely lays you out like an Army linebacker sacking a Navy quarterback with a twist I never saw coming. Get in on this series now, because rest assured, you'll be clamoring to say you read Jack's stuff from the very beginning when he's got 30 novels under his belt. Can't wait for his next installment, BOGEY SPADES!...more
Imagine Die Hard. Except John McClane is Secret Service instead of NYPD. And Nakatomi Plaza is an underground Presidential doomsday bunker instead of Imagine Die Hard. Except John McClane is Secret Service instead of NYPD. And Nakatomi Plaza is an underground Presidential doomsday bunker instead of a Los Angeles skyscraper. If that doesn't convince you to pick up this one, then I don't know what else will. ...more
Andrews & Wilson absolutely crushed it with this latest adventure in the Jack Ryan universe. Act of Defiance is a perfect blend of everything you coulAndrews & Wilson absolutely crushed it with this latest adventure in the Jack Ryan universe. Act of Defiance is a perfect blend of everything you could want and everything you'd expect from a Tom Clancy novel, and an A&W novel for that matter. Action, adventure, high stakes, laugh out loud quips, and ever evolving plotlines that ratchet up the tension with every page turned.
Beyond these givens though, the dynamic duo also deliver a seamless, modern take on the one that started them all, The Hunt for Red October. What you have in Act of Defiance is the emergence of new heroes blended perfectly with the nostalgia of familiar characters you've come to know and love. A&W raise the bar on the techno-thriller genre Clancy perfected, giving us a detailed yet accessible view of modern submarine technology, tactics, and tenacity. The book struck all the right chords with me, so much so that I had to re-watch Sean Connery in his iconic role as Marko Ramius for the thousandth time during the process of reading it.
If you grew up with Clancy like I did, then run, don't walk to this outstanding addition to his legacy. You won't be disappointed....more
After I finished reading this I thought I was qualified to recruit and run sources for the CIA. That's how authentic McCloskey's writing is. DAMASCUS After I finished reading this I thought I was qualified to recruit and run sources for the CIA. That's how authentic McCloskey's writing is. DAMASCUS STATION is so detailed that at times it seems like you're reading a how-to guide for conducting clandestine operations. Except field manuals are as boring and dry as staring at sawdust, and this book is anything but that. McCloskey's tale is full of high stakes intrigue that keeps you riveted page after page, with anxiety inducing twists and turns guaranteed to jack up your heart rate while you guess what will happen next. The intricate weaving of the story's espionage, amplified by the conflicts, desires, and ambitions of fully-formed and well-rounded characters is a game of chess played at the highest level of reality, with no less than countless lives hanging in the balance. I thoroughly enjoyed the maneuvering between the adversaries as each delved further into their arsenal of tradecraft in order to outsmart and gain supremacy over the other. If you are a fan of spy novels, then DAMASCUS STATION is an absolute must. ...more
I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of Gregg Podolski's debut thriller, and then humbled and grateful when asked to provide a blurb. ItI was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of Gregg Podolski's debut thriller, and then humbled and grateful when asked to provide a blurb. It is no easy thing bringing a fresh new take into the thriller world, so I appreciated what The Recruiter accomplishes in this regard even more than it being just a fantastic read. I loved the unique premise - job placement for contract killers - and the delivery of Rick Carter's wit and humor had me laughing harder than any book I can remember reading. As soon as this book drops, you have to get it. Run, don't walk.
"Rick Carter is cunning and capable with a sarcastic wit and hilarious one liners. It feels like the heir apparent to Nelson DeMille's John Corey has just burst onto the scene in a big way."...more
Look up "Master of Action" in the dictionary and you'll find an entry telling you to stop reading the dictionary and pick up another Joshua Hood book.Look up "Master of Action" in the dictionary and you'll find an entry telling you to stop reading the dictionary and pick up another Joshua Hood book. Seriously, who are you trying to impress Webster's? Get moving!...more
Let me frame this rating with a compliment that should hit home. I'm from Long Island originally and frequently return there to visit. The island's hiLet me frame this rating with a compliment that should hit home. I'm from Long Island originally and frequently return there to visit. The island's highways are notoriously clogged with vehicles, and as such-and I would assert what a majority of us feel on the topic-I absolutely detest traffic. Listening to Lauren Nossett's debut is one of a very few novels that I found myself actually wishing for MORE traffic so that I could listen to the audiobook longer during my commutes. I was that engrossed.
THE RESEMBLANCE is an articulately written and intriguing police procedural that kept me guessing. I was drawn into the protagonist's mindset and found her continuous dissection and reevaluation of potential avenues and motives for the crime absolutely compelling. I also greatly enjoyed the fact that Lauren wrote Detective Marlitt Kaplan as someone with obvious bias toward fraternities and Greek life in general, and that these biases clearly impacted her judgment and decision making with regards to her investigation.
The simple fact of the matter is that there is all too often an expectation of a, "white knight" at times in stories, and I found it refreshing and even daring that Marlitt was the antithesis to this. Inept, corrupt, biased, and those police officers and detectives working their own agendas unfortunately do exist. Yes, her intentions to solve the crime might be grounded in the pursuit of justice her profession requires, but the way in which her pursuit gets convoluted-to the point that you don't know where or who is the culpable perpetrator-had me hanging on to the very end.
An incredible first novel with the promise of Lauren's stardom being assured. After reading (listening), I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of her second novel, THE PROFESSOR, this November....more
An epic race against time story. The finale will leave your pulse pounding and gasping for air as if you're the one trapped underwater. T.J. Newman doAn epic race against time story. The finale will leave your pulse pounding and gasping for air as if you're the one trapped underwater. T.J. Newman does it again!...more
Another great tale of post-apocalyptic survival with a slightly different take that keeps this vision of life after societal collapse (if you want to Another great tale of post-apocalyptic survival with a slightly different take that keeps this vision of life after societal collapse (if you want to call that life) fresh and engaging. Although I felt a bit mired in the early pre-pandemic scenes, they were well worth the patient set up that coalesces brilliantly in the story's conclusion. A dual timeline plot is no easy feat to accomplish, especially when the beginning of the separate timelines seemingly have barely a connection to one another at all, but the author weaves her telling with precision.
Beyond this, I loved the author's interludes into what the ill-fated survivors face and what would be left in the wake of such a global disaster. Her illustration of the multitude of layers in manufacturing - of all things, snow globes - showed how everything and everyone from artists, to machinists, to accountants, to truck drivers and glass makers would be needed again just to get that miniscule item back into pre-pandemic production, demonstrating the fragile codependency we currently rely on. There's also an exceptional venting session about cliche corporate jargon (the bane of my existence) where executives converse through nonsensical terms like, "low hanging fruit," "silos," and "synergies."
These glimpses into the frivolity of our current state of affairs through the author's eyes, combined with the hard scrabble fight for survival propelled by a post-apocalyptic cult is definitely worth the read. I'm looking forward to watching the HBO limited series now to see how the story translated to the screen. ...more
Intriguing and inventive, NINTH HOUSE is a perfect blend of magical realism. Steeped in the lore of the mysterious societies at Yale University while Intriguing and inventive, NINTH HOUSE is a perfect blend of magical realism. Steeped in the lore of the mysterious societies at Yale University while surrounded by the ominous history of New Haven, Connecticut, I loved how the past mixed with the present. How the reality between worlds was blurred. How the pages kept you guessing at the endgame, motivations, and perpetrators of the story's seemingly endless roster of competing agendas. Above all else, I loved the scrappiness, take-no-shit persona that is Alex Stern. I'm looking forward to jumping into the next book in this series. ...more
Explosive in detail and stunning when you realize this is a true story. REDNECKS has the factual density of a non-fiction account delivered with a comExplosive in detail and stunning when you realize this is a true story. REDNECKS has the factual density of a non-fiction account delivered with a compelling style that reads like the historical fiction novel that it is. The entire story would translate well to the big screen and I hope to see it up there someday. ...more
What can I say about Don Winslow’s mastery that hasn’t already been said thousands of times over? City on Fire is an instant classic. A brilliant reteWhat can I say about Don Winslow’s mastery that hasn’t already been said thousands of times over? City on Fire is an instant classic. A brilliant retelling of The Iliad through warring factions of the Irish and Italian mobs in Providence, Rhode Island in the late 80’s. I finished it and immediately started the sequel, City of Dreams. That should tell you all you need to know....more
A phenomenal debut by Adam Plantinga, a man in the know and an author on the rise. His expertise is evident on every page, but beyond the technical prA phenomenal debut by Adam Plantinga, a man in the know and an author on the rise. His expertise is evident on every page, but beyond the technical precision, Adam weaves a gripping, intense, and action packed thriller that has you racing to the finish. Simply put, Kurt Argento is a bad, bad man that you don't want to mess with. His martial prowess is only surpassed by his sheer will and determination. His journey is Dante's Inferno in reverse, with Argento fighting tooth and nail to extricate himself and his compatriots from the depths of hell, one level at a time, while beating back the devil's hordes. Fans of The Raid: Redemption movies will be completely engrossed by this story. Stop reading this review and start reading this book!...more