Origin Story By A.M. Adair

A.M. Adair’s espionage action thrillers are already renowned in the thrillerverse but now she’s made a great splash in the vigilante-justice genre with her new thriller, Origin Story.

Elyse Tyson wakes up in prison, confused and scared because she can’t remember anything. A woman who lost her memory in a violent assault by other prisoners. Her history suggests that she’s a serial killer who has hunted down the scum of the earth. Not only does she now have to convince those running the show that she’s not faking her amnesia, she must quickly understand why she did what she did before she’s sentenced to death, by law or by criminals sharing space with her in prison. 

Adair paints a harrowing picture of a woman who crosses all barriers to get her revenge. This picture is beautifully obscured under layers of suspense, psychology, paranoia, and wild twists that keep this story firing on all cylinders, shaking with energy about who Elyse really is and all that she has done. It’s not often we get a protagonist who’s deemed a psychopath but Adair weaves a fascinating yarn with Elyse as an unhinged woman on a killing spree. We get glimpses of her past but it’s not until the finale that we get sucker-punched by a reveal that finally connects the dots.  It’s brutal, raw, and powerful in its aggression-filled essence.

If you’re seeking an escape into a violent story filled with action and constant twists that make it impossible to turn yourself away from the book, A.M. Adair’s Origin Story is the best choice you can make and it will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book at least twice. 

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Run By Blake Crouch

Blake Crouch packs a powerhouse haymaker of suspense, action, and bone-chilling horror all in a fast-paced narrative that sinks its talons into you from the very first page.

Imagine seeing a natural phenomenon in the sky, and the next thing you know, you’re consumed by a force you can’t comprehend that’s trying to get you to kill those around you. Imagine being trapped in that hell, trying to rescue your family from the horrors and violence spilling around, targeting you. That’s the hell Jack Colclough tries to escape with his family. The question is, how far can he make it when he’s put on the targeted list by the rage-fueled public consumed by the phenomenon?

True to the Crouch trademark style of crafting adrenaline-soaking thrillers, Run takes you on a dangerous journey across America as Jake and his family try to find safe haven. The narrative never lets up its streamlined pace as the Colclough family runs into one armed skirmish after another, with some really awesome gunplay and chase sequences that add a new dimension to the sci-fi horror thriller.

The most exciting part of Run however is the horror and trepidation that seeps out of the pages as Crouch reveals bit by bit through world-building elements how such a terrifying event came to pass, and you’re left with chills in the middle of the night, but you still won’t put the book down because the story keeps evolving into grander exploration until the breathtaking finale that forces you to finally put the book down for a second and think of all that’s happened, before you conclude with the epilogue.

It’s one of my favorite thrillers by Blake Crouch with an emotionally charged core augmented by high-stakes high-stress narrative, gritty action, and a WTF plot that seems more and more plausible given how much we don’t know about what the universe holds and what our minds perceive deep within the hidden psyches.

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Warlord Actual By Aiden Bailey

Warlord Actual reads like a dark and gritty Mission Impossible movie packed with just as much action and thrills if not more. Aiden Bailey keeps his aim true and straight on the bullseye.

Mark Pierce lives his life dangerously on the brink of chaos as he battles terrorists, spymasters, and powerful cabals. He can trust only a handful of people, particularly his handler, Mackenzie Summerfield. But when she’s kidnapped by a sinister organization with global reach, Pierce is caught between a rock and a hard place; save Mackenzie by handing over the locations of four nuclear suitcase bombs and plunge the world into chaos, or subject his handler to a world of pain and gruesome torture. The Trigger Man has his work cut out for him, but he’s CIA’s top operative for good reason.

Bailey fleshes out this narrative masterfully to give the readers a genuine sense of dread and panic at Pierce’s predicament. Not only is Bailey’s rendition of a shadowy sinister organization creepy and disturbing but it also creates that need for Pierce to be the hero he is, creating somewhat of a philosophical cycle of good folks needing to step up to battle evil. As Pierce battles his adversaries with guns and fists, the action ramps up with both high-quality cinematic depictions of said-combat and the emotional stakes that bring a somber taste of reality in between the chaos of gunfights. The twists are deft and classy enough to make you push back your clocks just so you can squeeze in more reading time to see how Pierce gets through these challenges. 

Warlord Actual is a terrific entry in the Trigger Man series and it not only encapsulates all that made Trigger Man stand out in the first place but also builds upon how he continues to be a distinctive hero in the modern thrillerverse.

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The Elias Network By Simon Gervais

Simon Gervais is one of the most prolific authors in the thrillerverse with a lot of great thrillers under his belt, but The Elias Network is my favorite work of his by far. If you want a sophisticated and cool-as-cucumber espionage thriller with lots and lots of shootouts, then rest assured, Gervais hits the bullseye with this awesome beginning of a new series.

Caspian Anderson leads a double life. To most, he’s a boring translator for the United Nations. But underneath this carefully constructed facade is his reality as an elite assassin tasked to eradicate all threats to American interests as part of Onyx, a black program within the Department of Homeland Security. Not a stranger to taking out hits on individuals across the globe, he’s sent on a mission to Switzerland where he stumbles upon a web of conspiracies that trace back to high level political officials, people he had sworn to kill for. Shaken by this new reality, Caspian must hit back hard and fast to push his new foes back on the rope, while his girlfriend, who’s beginning to slowly see through his boring cover, shocks Caspian with some nifty secrets of her own.

Gervais doesn’t waste any time getting to the hard-boiled action in this narrative, one of the many things that instantly hooked me onto this incredible thriller. It’s a fast-paced spy thriller that takes the age-old adage of a spy burned by his own, and adds spicy new twists and turns to the story with a memorable roster of characters and engaging descriptions of exciting spycraft and action set to the backdrop of exotic locations. It certainly invokes a little bit of Mr and Mrs Smith vibe as neither Caspian nor his girlfriend, Liesel Bergmann, have the slightest bit of clue about each other’s personal lives, until it all comes together with shocking turns and bullet casings. The fact that you have no clear indication of where the story’s leading and how Caspian’s next encounter will turn out means you’re at the Gervais’ mercy as he takes you for a splendid adventure.

The Elias Network is a refreshing tale in that it does not simply take stereotypes as facts in painting friends and enemies, but rather dissects individuals to paint them as realistic beings with character developments and underlying values and motivations that lead to intriguing plot points as opposed to cliched good guys and bad guys. The core concept of a lone operative operating in the shadows still holds a certain charm to it and Gervais puts his own cool spin on the narrative for a highly entertaining narrative. The Elias Network is fun, sexy, and spurred on by breakneck pacing as it introduces a charismatic protagonist who you’ll want more as soon as you hit the final page. I sure can’t wait to read more of Caspian Anderson take on his opponents like a total badass. 

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Break Every Rule By Brian Freeman

Break Every Rule is by far Brian Freeman’s finest work. His attention to crafting a supremely compelling thriller with high levels of energy is one that can’t be underestimated, and this may be his darkest thriller yet.

Tommy Miller is a married man living out a quiet life in Florida with his wife and young daughter. He’s happy to be away from a life of violence where he excelled at killing. He’s done everything to ensure his past can’t catch up to him, but he doesn’t realize his wife has a complicated past too, one that may have caught up to her and brought to port the storms of his past as well. To save his family, Tommy must step once again into the world of darkness and violence as he hunts down those who kidnapped his wife and daughter. Can he survive the twists and turns in addition to the constant danger of running into vicious enemies and the police officers searching for him? That’s for you to find out in this incredibly addictive narrative as Tommy realizes he must break every rule to save his family.

Brian Freeman adds a little bit of all his previous works in this thriller, blending them together with a novel protagonist and a gritty storyline that’s part espionage, part crime, and all-awesome. Tommy Miller is a fascinating protagonist whose vulnerability is matched by his badass-ness as he employs his trade of violence on his personal mission for justice. Freeman takes a steady approach in unspooling Miller’s past throughout the narrative, keeping the pace brisk and engaging as the story zooms forward with well-placed breakpoints to help readers absorb all that happens, and at the same time, keeping them hooked with a frenzy of racing thoughts and mind-boggling twists. The entire narrative packs a mean punch of high suspense as Miller digs into the mysterious circumstances regarding his family’s disappearance, spiraling down a dangerous rabbit hole where you feel for Miller’s plight as uncomfortable truths come to light. Freeman excels at sowing discord in the reader’s mind with each revelation, all plotted intricately with the purpose of keeping everyone on their toes.

In addition to the fast-paced narrative, Freeman keeps the thriller rife with action set-pieces that are cinematically appealing and tactically appeasing. There are plenty of shootouts and fisticuffs to keep the action-seeking folks happy with a keen sense of authentic weaponry and combat sequences. 

Break Every Rule is a terrific action and suspenseful thriller that beckons every bit of your emotional investment in the outcome and characters you genuinely care.  With an ambitious story, unrelenting plot twists, fast-paced action, and a resonating protagonist, you’d do well to keep this thriller at the top of your TBR pile. 

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Capture Or Kill By Don Bentley

Mitch Rapp has come a long way over the decades, evolved through the years along with the readers as the political dynamics of the world changed hands and control. Now it’s Don Bentley’s turn at the helm as he takes a crack at embodying Rapp and all that has become iconic in the Mitch Rapp saga and it’s an interesting take.

Capture or Kill sees Mitch Rapp in 2011, juggling two vital roles as a reconnaissance agent for confirming Bin Laden’s presence in his Abbottabad compound as well as being lead on uncovering an Iranian plot to undermine American interests. It may seem a tad bit too much for one person but not for the legendary Mitch Rapp.

Don Bentley adds his own flair to the Mitch Rapp series with a focus on military/special operations operators’ banters and military-grade action sequences that we’ve enjoyed immensely in Bentley’s Matt Drake and Jack Ryan Jr. stories. Rapp and his trusty Glock rock the pages right out of the hardcover spine, along with Bentley trademarked helicopter sequences that put you right in the cockpits in low terrains covered by gunfire.

It’s a smart move to have Capture or Kill set in between previous books to help Bentley get his grip on such an iconic character. Rapp in Capture or Kill is badass and undeterred in his mission to kill bad guys. It’s not as much of an espionage novel as one might expect but it works as an extremely exciting standalone story of sorts with familiar faces and a monumental plot that stems right from our memories and news headlines fresh in our minds from a decade ago. I am excited to see Bentley’s integration with Rapp as a family man and an intelligence operative, which I am confident will be a delight to read.

Capture or Kill is an extremely entertaining Mitch Rapp story and Bentley certainly nails the high-octane nature of an action-packed extravaganza. Rapp is certainly back fresher than ever with his tough guy persona and don’t-mess-with-me attitude that reflects the days of Vince Flynn’s writings.

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The Accomplice By Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson & Aaron Philip Clark

It wasn’t on my bingo card to experience a terrific collaboration between Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and award-winning mystery writer Aaron Philip Clark, but it’s always nice to be surprised with early Christmas. The Accomplice packs fresh blood and an energy that you can’t get enough of.

Texas Ranger Nia Adams is no stranger to guns blazing and bullets blazing over her head as she takes down bad guys. But Nia is butting heads against Desmond Bell this time. Desmond is a Vietnam vet turned thief who has his eyes on stealing the secrets of the wealthy family in the country, Duchamps, secrets they would prefer to remain buried. As the bodies start piling, Nia must quickly realize that this investigation requires her to step outside the bounds of political influence and work her way to the heart of the conspiracy as Desmond works his way through deplorable skeletons hiding in Duchamps’ closet.

Just from the way Jackson and Clark open up the narrative to the readers in the first few pages, one can’t help but enjoy the novel execution of a hard-boiled tale with characters that leap right out of the pages to play out their parts right in front of you, propelled by vivid sceneries, whether it’s the blood-pumping action sequences or the dramatic revelations that give you pause in this thriller. Nia and Desmond don’t form the typical duo of cop and criminal but their paths entwine in the most interesting of ways that have long-lasting impact for an ambitious narrative that spans decades. It’s a supercharged narrative that balances outburst of emotions, violence of action, and thoughtful twists in the story that helps the book stand out from others in the same genre. 

There’s an intriguing perspective towards world-building in this thriller, imbuing the narrative with a historical context that not only makes for a fascinating background but also adds another dimension to Desmond’s character that’s not just a cocky thief. Similar developments occur for Nia throughout the story as we’re not told why she’s a badass but we are shown through acts of determination and courage in the face of adversity how Nia Adams truly is one Texas Ranger you do not want to mess with.

The Accomplice is one of the most intriguing and well-rounded thrillers you’ll read this year. You’ve got pulse-pounding shootouts, incredible protagonists you’ll miss parting ways with, and a conspiracy that keeps you flipping the pages until the last one where you’re left flabbergasted at the WTF ending. If you’re keen to read a crime thriller with generous servings of action and suspense in a riveting execution. 

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An Honorable Assassin By Steve Hamilton

An Honorable Assassin is a sophisticated assassin-centric thriller packing suave action and glamorous set pieces in exotic locations not explored much in thrillers today.

Nick Mason is a man of lethal talents and a conscience. After leaving prison, his new-found freedom from the law and a Chicago crime boss seems to be cut short as he’s spirited by a shadowy organization to Jakarta as part of a team to assassinate an international fugitive, Hashim Baya—otherwise known as the Crocodile. What Mason doesn’t know is that there’s an Interpol agent also hot on the trail of Baya, seeking to settle a personal score against the criminal. When the two worlds collide, it’s one riveting chapter after another.

Steve Hamilton evokes such vivid strokes of imaginations when he describes the beautiful and exuberant settings in South East Asia, Singapore in particular where a breathtaking sequence in casino feels straight out of a Bond novel, followed by break-neck action on land and sea that’s both tactically and technically fulfilling for thriller fans who admire weaponry in proper form and execution. It’s a genuine action thriller that packs both brawn and heart.

Speaking of heart, what helps An Honorable Assassin live up to its name is its star, Nick Mason. Even when wrapped up in a dangerous mission in a foreign land, Mason finds himself in a precarious position to save a young girl he doesn’t even know properly from a life of abuse and servitude. His noble quest that continues in between the violent and gruesome hunt for his target goes a long way in establishing Mason as a hitman you’d love to have on your side. 

The story is grand, immersive, with characters dressed to the nines and adrenaline pumping action. Even though I hadn’t read the previous Nick Mason thrillers beforehand, I was easily hooked onto Hamilton’s prose that makes all that happens in this narrative palpable with energy and enthusiasm. You’re going to zoom to the ending even as you try to slow down, but the action and twists keep beckoning you to read just one more page and then you’re down the rabbit hole. The ending certainly opens the floor for great follow-up stories with Mason and a new ally trying to uncover who is behind the scenes pulling the strings on a horrifyingly global level.

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Enemy Of The State by Robert Swartwood

Enemy of the State is a stunning and dark follow-up to a memorable debut by Robert Swartwood, doubling down on the twists as well as the action-packed intensity of the narrative. Strap in and hold on to your seats.

Daniel Burke is just about to get on a plane when he’s contacted by a voice from his past. His old teammates from an elite black ops program have tracked him down after the carnage in Las Vegas from the previous events and are now hot on his trail. Running no longer an option, Burke must fight his way through old friends and new foes alike to find out who had framed Burke as a traitor. With CIA taking aggressive steps towards neutralizing Burke, he must use all his skills and wits to swiftly take out his targets and get to the bottom of the conspiracy.

Robert Swartwood shows no signs of slowing down his roll of action montages and gripping twists and turns that keep the story pumping at full steam. We get even more insights into Daniel Burke and the darkness he struggles to contain and make up for. Swartwood doesn’t shy away from showing the vulnerabilities in Burke’s character, further emboldening him as a memorable hero with unique conflicts and challenges to overcome. Not only does it make the story more intriguing but it makes the action more satisfying as you root for Burke to make it out of the sticky situations, shootouts, chases, deadly hand-to-hand combat, and betrayals despite his checkered past. Swartwood navigates the pacing smartly, adding unexpected hurdles to keep readers on their toes as they flip the pages unsure of what to expect might be awaiting Daniel Burke on the next page. 

There’s no dull moment in Enemy of the State, even in the final moments where what you thought you knew for sure turns upside down for a dangerous reveal and ending that beckons to be explored in follow-ups. This supercharged action-packed thriller is the perfect pick to satisfy that deep-seated itch you have for hardcore action thrillers with a superb blend of realistic and cinematic sequences along with great characters you will passionately love and/or hate.

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Worth Killing For By Max Luther

Max Luther writes a lean and mean revenge thriller with panache and powerfully gritty energy, the likes of which I haven’t come across in quite some time.

Worth Killing For sees Alex Dryace back in London after his escapades in America. Returning to the trauma of his wife being murdered on the job, Alex finally sees a break in the case, a lead on who was behind the gruesome crime that stole his joy. When a man like Alex realizes some things are worth killing for, no force on Earth can get in the way of his righteous mission. 

Packed with heart-thumping, bones-crunching action, Worth Killing For is every bit the enthralling ride that makes for a memorable reading experience. Luther knows his craft of describing and executing authentic close quarter combat sequences whether with firearms or fisticuffs. Before you know it, you’re shooting across the pages with Alex as he gets into intense skirmishes with London’s underworld and shadowy elements that will stop at nothing to achieve their nefarious goals. Luckily, Alex has the same mindset about exacting some well-needed justice.

Even though the action is a major highlight of the story, it’s the emotional core of the narrative that gels most with you. Alex’s troubled soul is rife with stormy emotions that won’t let him rest until he finds the truth about his wife’s killers. There’s a chilling moment where Alex asks his in-laws for permission to do what needs to be done. The crisp and dangerous dialogue seeps deep into your bones and motivates you as much as Alex to get his hands on the bad guys. 

One of the most entertaining thrillers I’ve read that never lost my focus and interest, Worth Killing For  is an extraordinary treat for thriller fans. Unapologetically British, suave, and stylish, this crime thriller gets you hooked in like a high that you just can’t get anywhere else.

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Burn Out By Joshua Hood

Burn Out is an adrenaline roller coaster of the highest magnitude with action and violence tightly packed into a lean narrative that neither stumbles nor drags. Joshua Hood once again reminds readers of his prowess as a writer intimately familiar with all things action.

Over the years, Hood has catapulted readers into the hearts and minds of soldiers and spies, and now he introduces us to the world of US Forest Service’s elite smokejumpers via a new protagonist, Jake Slade. Smokejumpers are a different breed of rockstars as they parachute into the path of a raging fire and beat it into submission, an idea that would give goosebumps to most if not all of the readers. What starts off as a mission to beat the wildfire flaming up the mountains of California’s notorious Emerald Triangle turns into a murderous nightmare when Slade steps into a volatile situation in the fiery wilderness putting him in the crosshairs of a DEA agent hellbent on solving his final case before retirement and a team of cartel assassins who will stop at nothing to kill Slade. If fighting fires wasn’t enough, Slade must dodge the heavy rains of bullets and explosives in his path.

What I admire most about Burn Out is that it’s a thriller’s thriller. There’s no wasted moment in setting up the landscape for the non-stop action. From the very first page, we’re pulsed with generous doses of high-octane energy, first as Hood gives readers vivid insights into the work of Smokejumpers, not by narration, but by putting his protagonist in the line of fire as smokejumpers do, quite literally. That later translates into tactically-engaging close quarters combat and shootouts with healthy doses of realistic engagements that have a cinematic shine to them along with that gritty metallic taste of blood-pumping intensity. The action has a visceral quality that ties directly into how alive the characters feel.

Jake Slade is a vulnerable character whose strength comes not just from brute force but through empathy and willingness to do the right thing. Hood does Slade a solid in establishing him as a strong protagonist who has lived a hard life but isn’t a trained operative, elevating the stakes and intensity of the combat sequences. You’re brought to the edge of your seats as you read Slade do his best with the scarce resources on hand to turn the tables on his predators and it’s a glorious moment when he accomplishes that.

Burn Out is a one-sitting-read thriller that packs unrelenting action into a smart narrative with characters you’ll get a kick out of as you read along Hood’s lean and engaging prose. You’ll finish the book with your adrenaline-high satisfied and a healthy respect for smokejumpers. I bet you’ll be googling their adventures even before you’ve reached the halfway point, if you can pull yourself away from the enchanting thriller. 

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Shadow Of Doubt By Brad Thor

Brad Thor takes on Russian moles, mysterious cargos directed by state of the art Russian fighter jets, and Russian defectors, all with Scot Harvath at the helm to steer the ship through dangerous waters.

Harvath is recuperating from his battles in Ukraine when he’s pulled in by a CIA Station Chief in Norway to spy on a Russian defector being debriefed by Harvath’s fiancée. The powers that be wish to know about what mysterious cargo Russia’s smuggling and where it’s going. Ringing alarm bells all the way to the White House. Stuck between damaging his relationship with his fiancée and serving his country, Harvath must navigate the corners like a spymaster as he races with his team to put a stop to Russia’s attempts for a global power grab.

Brad Thor has an eerie sense for predicting conflicts and situations second to none other. His narrative feels less like fiction and more like a slightly dramatized telling of real events that just haven’t happened yet. Not only does that make Shadow of Doubt a compelling read but also a highly enjoyable one with hardcore action and a riveting plot. Not only does the narrative allow for Harvath’s growth as an operator, a spy, and a soon-to-be family man again, but it emphasizes the focus on characters as the driving force of the action and drama. That’s on top of the structured and superbly researched cutting-edge military strategies, technology, and weaponry that help Shadow of Doubt and all Scot Harvath stories stand out as top-notch spy/military action thrillers. 

Shadow of Doubt is an audacious action-packed story that feels too close to reality for comfort and that’s where Brad Thor shines the brightest. Harvath continues to entertain as a formidable leading force against the tyranny of evil and I can’t wait to read where Thor takes Harvath next in his missions.

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Double Threat By Patrick Weill

Patrick Weill’s third book in the Park and Walker series is undoubtedly his best and indicative of how he continues to elevate the standard of storytelling in his action-packed books.

Harbor Police detectives Park and Walker are no strangers to dangerous missions. This time however they’re split up between two different objectives. While Park heads up a team undercover to identify and apprehend a serial killer operating on rough seas, Walker wades into a plot centered around political assassination, white supremacy, and narcotics trafficking. On paper, these seem like vastly different issues. However, the truth is stranger and much more entertaining as we see just how wild and unpredictable the chain of events lead to an enthralling conclusion, weaving the story across different parts of the world without losing momentum.

Weill crafts adrenaline-pumping action sequences that put you in the hot seat with bullets thumping all around you. Even the lead ups to the multiple action sequences are packed with tingling energy that help to maintain a steady pace meticulously designed to keep you turning the pages as each new chapter offers an exciting development that you don’t always see coming. It’s this bundle of energy that catapults you racing to the finale before you even realize you’ve zoomed past half the book in the blink of an eye. The closest such dynamic between the characters and the kinetic propulsion of action I can relate this new chapter to would be the latest Bad Boys movie. Weill keeps the situations current, the atmosphere tense, and the payoff stupendously worth it. 

Double Threat is an extremely entertaining action-packed adventure through the seas to the coastal city with everything you’d want to read in a one-sitting thriller. I can’t wait to read where Weill takes his badass heroes next.

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In Any Lifetime By Marc Guggenheim

Marc Guggenheim’s fascinating tale of resilience and love in the face of incomprehensible horrors and fantastical elements is incredibly compelling. It packs a solid punch right to the heart. I could never have expected such a powerful story.

Dr Jonas Cullen’s life is upended in a tragic accident that claims the life of his loving wife. Distraught over this twist of fate, Jonas can’t bring himself to accept it. A Nobel Laureate specializing in the theory of Many Worlds, Jonas figures out a way to hop across various worlds in the multiverse in the hopes of finding his wife alive in one of them. As Jonas sets on this dangerous path, he soon realizes the universe also has a say in what happens and he finds himself fighting on all fronts against fate, mercenaries, and an old friend turned foe, all to get to his love.

In Any Lifetime reads like a splendid blend of science fiction, romance, and thriller all swirling around in the pages at high-octane pacing. There are philosophical conundrums in the narrative that Jonas undergoes that not only serve the narrative but also the reader as it makes you ponder about how often we take things as coincidences or flukes but may very well be an inherent design of the universe. It may very well have been just a sci-fi drama if not for the inclusion of chaotic shootouts and dirty brawls with characters going at each other, each propelled by an unstoppable belief that they are justified in their actions. This makes for a highly riveting showdown that beautifully encapsulates Jonas’ journey through the worlds that ultimately change him more than he affects them. 

In Any Lifetime was a surprise pick as I perused through my list of upcoming books and I finished it a different man than I had started it. Perhaps, that’s the best we can hope for when we pick up a book: to lose ourselves in it. Maybe in some other world in this multiverse I don’t pick up this book, but that would be a dull world.

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The Recruiter By Gregg Podolski

The Recruiter kicks off a storm in the thrillerverse as a debut with a charismatic protagonist who is more relatable than you might be comfortable with, given his dangerous and less than legal role as a criminal recruiter. Gregg Podolski knows how the game is played and writes it really intriguingly, especially for a debut.

Rick Carter is a man who deals with the most dangerous and lucrative killers. The caveat is that he only accepts the contracting responsibility for targets he deems would bring some semblance of justice to the society at large. When his hand is forced by a client to recruit killers for a job to monopolize the black market by dragging those he’s spent years trying to protect into the crosshairs, he must outsmart not only his new clients but also the most lethal assassins he has ever had to connect with clients in his career. He’s gonna have to step into the action himself this time.

Gregg Podolski kicks the high-octane storytelling off with a first-person perspective that helps to quickly and swiftly familiarize the readers with Rick Carter, the seemingly suave but tormented protagonist who lives a lonely existence. As he is forced to step up as a hero for his family, he goes from a guy you don’t know how to really feel about, to a guy you want to root for and embrace relating to. Action isn’t his forte but he must get his hands dirty this time. Carter gets into well-crafted skirmishes with allies he picks up on the way, adding a cinematic action flavor to the whole experience that fits well into the narrative of Carter picking up a few skills in hand-to-hand combat and firearms to fend off any double crosses in his line of business. Carter’s main weapon though is his intellect as a man who can discern patterns and read people well. His ingenuity in cracking down the leads as to the true identity and mission of his client are what is ultimately needed to bring the house of cards tumbling down. 

Podolski creates a rich new world of assassins and underworld in his debut, setting up a sequel with a cliffhanger that will hit you like a full bucket of frozen water. What captivated and enthralled me above all else is that ultimately, The Recruiter is a resonating narrative about how a man, plunged head first into a world of first-hand violence and chaos, must stay afloat to protect his family against all odds. By the ending, Carter will win your heart and your desire to keep reading more of his stories. I can’t wait to read what troubles Podolski puts him up against next. 

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Shades Of Mercy By Bruce Borgos

Bruce Borgos follows up his debut with yet another zinger of a thriller that thrusts his protagonist into the world of cartels and automated weapons in the usually quiet high desert of Nevada. It’s fast-paced, twisty, and highly entertaining.

Sheriff Porter Beck, leading his small cadre of police department, is faced with terrible tragedies as a growing number of people, including a childhood friend, is afflicted by a new strain of strong illegal opioids in his town. At the same time, another one of his friends is targeted by a military drone hacked by a skilled individual. As Porter investigates the two cases, he’s led to a teenager who may have had a hand in the hacking of the military drone. Only issue is, she’s locked up in the juvenile detention center with no access to computers. Digging deeper into the incongruity of the situation, Porter soon realizes there’s more sinister things at play and that it all ties together like nothing he could have expected.

For those who’ve read Borgos’ debut, The Bitter Past, Shades of Mercy has high expectations riding on it, rightfully so given how excellent the debut was. I can confirm that the expectations are indeed met in this riveting thriller with plenty of gunfire to go around and a lot of intriguing twists that keep readers and characters on their toes. Porter along with his sheriff department and his gung-ho sister make for a terrific combo in this great mixture of cutting-edge techno thriller, small-town crime-solving mystery, and a contemporary depiction of the war on drugs that continue to rage today. Borgos takes his time in developing the characters with each decision and action his characters engage in, elevating the relatability of the characters and making them come to life through vivid sceneries and descriptions. The suspense is wonderfully woven into the tapestry of violence and threat of impending doom. Whatever you do, you’ll find your mind wandering to the narrative, just compelled to finally see how it all comes together.

Shades of Mercy serves as concrete evidence that Borgos is here to stay in the thrillerverse with awesome stories that vividly capture life in a desert town with cool new scenarios and dangerous threats to keep the good guys and gals busy with action and suspense. 

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The Bang Bang Sisters By Rio Youers

Rio Youers rocks and rolls in this high-powered action-packed ride through grimy streets and hallways filled with dead bodies and bullets. The Bang Bang Sisters is what you get when you combine kickass characters with an equally badass setting all put on the stove at maximum heat to get all that kinetic energy zooming past you like angry hornets at a rave.

Brea, Jessie, and Flo spend their public lives in bars and stages rocking hard in their band. But what they don’t reveal is that they are skilled at more than just musical instruments. Each possesses unique skillsets in utilizing firearms, melee weapons, and even their bare fists and feet to clean the scum of the Earth. After a close call, they decide to take some time off, but the presence of a serial killer making headlines takes them to Reedsville, Alabama. However, it turns out to be a trap set by a dangerous sadistic mobster who has a personal ax to grind with the Bang Bang Sisters. Soon, they are caught in a dangerous game where the only way to live may be to kill each other.

Youers sets up an enthralling gauntlet for the heroines to battle, ramping up the anxiety, terror, and bloodshed as the sisters quickly get caught up in one twist after another. With a whole city as their playing ground, there is no shortage of gripping events and bolstering action as sisters have to fend off each other. What truly sets the dark and gritty tone of the narrative is the feeling of despair and helplessness that leaves the sisters open to desperate measures. It’s a thrilling adventure as we follow each of the three heroines try to outmaneuver not only each other but the vicious killers on their trail goading them on to kill each other for sport. The action sequences are vicious and breathtaking with a heavy toll on both the characters and readers, brilliantly showcasing Youers’ ability to evoke powerful emotions in his deeply personal storytelling.

The Bang Bang Sisters is an adrenaline-fueled battle royale tour de force with captivating protagonists who reflect the best of us in a twisted world. It is everything you want in a fast-paced thriller that sinks its talons into you for the whole intense ride.

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The Bourne Shadow By Brian Freeman

After the explosive finale of The Bourne Sacrifice, I was supremely excited for how Brian Freeman would continue the story of Jason Bourne in keeping with the high bar he set in his take on the character. I’m so happy to say that The Bourne Shadow not only matches up to the aforementioned high expectations but sets a new standard in the series for subsequent chapters to follow. If you think you know all there is about Jason Bourne, you really don’t.

Long before Bourne lost his memory, he was a talented but disaffected young man who went by the name of David Webb. When Bourne runs into a woman who recognizes him by his real name, he’s pulled into the far depths of his past, retracing his first ever mission as part of Treadstone. Fighting the pull of his memories along with numerous assassination attempts by a cabal of supremacists keen on silencing Bourne before he can work his way up the food chain and his memories, Bourne certainly has his work cut out for him.

Brian Freeman’s Bourne thrillers are packed with great action, and The Bourne Shadow continues that tradition with superb bone-crunching fisticuffs and thrilling shootouts. This time however we get a sense of Bourne’s vulnerabilities as we see him challenged like never before. It sets a more dangerous tone for the narrative as Bourne is caught in the headlights and barely manages to escape, often with help of new-found allies. While it doesn’t discredit Bourne’s prowess at handling combat, it does acknowledge his humanity and mortality with growing threats that catch both him and the readers off-guard.

I love how The Bourne Shadow feels like a smart cross between old-school pulpy thrillers and modern espionage and political thrillers. From exotic dangers and action to characters throwing us off with hidden agendas and twists that shake the whole narrative, it’s every bit as captivating as one would expect from a high caliber thriller with a fast pace and an interesting insight into Bourne’s past that shines an important light into his behaviors in the present. That’s some impressive character evolution by Brian Freeman.

If you’re keen to get your socks knocked off by a hardcore action thriller with one twist after another and incredible characters you won’t soon get your mind off of, The Bourne Shadow is a terrific choice. Of course, it’ll be infuriating to wait for the sequel after that intense climax that opens a whole Pandora’s Box for future stories featuring Jason Bourne.   

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Cage Of Traitors By Aiden L Bailey

Aiden Bailey takes his fan-favorite protagonist down a dark and violent rabbit hole of conspiracies, betrayal, and aggressive confusion that brings with it tinges of old-school Bourne but with all the fast-paced action-packed shenanigans that fans love to read in today‘s action thrillers.

Mark Pierce, codenamed Trigger Man, wakes up dazed in the driver’s seat of a beat up vehicle, pulse pounding, and bullets swirling all around. As strange as it sounds, it’s the least of his worries as he backpacks through Brazil with a woman he doesn’t know, and with a big target on his back that he can’t remember why is on him in the first place. Chaos ensues as Pierce battles in his most vulnerable state yet, but it’s Trigger Man after all and he’s gonna kick ass.

Bailey really hits the mark with Cage of Traitors as he writes his most violent, gruesome, and twisty thriller yet. The action’s bonkers in the best way with Pierce taking headshots and dodging bullets in one awesome action sequence after another, keeping the engine pumping with high revs. It’s not easy to craft a highly suspenseful narrative with a steady stream of gunfights and explosions as pacing usually becomes an issue, but Aiden Bailey superbly threads the needle and the result is a relentless action-packed espionage adventure that tackles all the necessary challenges for an extremely satisfying adrenaline-dose for thriller fans.

With the grand narrative constantly evolving through dark and unpredictable twists and turns, Aiden Bailey continues to morph the Trigger Man saga into one of the best espionage action series. Cage of Traitors ramps up the stakes for the protagonist and the series, taking it to higher and darker levels of awesomeness with moments that you won’t soon forget.

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The Tennessee Killers By Jethro Wegener

The Tennessee Killers is a wonderful reminder of how fun pulpy action thrillers can be with the right balance of action and dialogue in a swift execution by an author who gets the kind of buzz thriller fans crave on a Friday night.

Duke Gibbs is a force to be reckoned with. He has survived the killer jungles of Vietnam and he’s back home now. When he’s ambushed by two massive men, he finds himself catapulted into a web of chaos and destruction with shadowy webs weaving dangerous truths. In his quest for answers, he’s paired up with Friday Jones, a face from the past whose private investigation into her brother’s disappearance ties right into the heart of the mystery that Gibbs is delving deep into. Tearing apart Oldfield, Gibbs must uncover a despicable secret that traces all the way back to Washington.

Jethro Wegener capitalizes on the addictive adrenaline-rush of seeing a muscular protagonist tear down bad guys with bare hands, muscle cars, and all sorts of firearms. Gibbs resembles the free-spirited ass-kicking nature of Jack Reacher and similar characters, but is undoubtedly more gangster in his own right. He’s all for beating the crap out of racists and criminals and Jethro makes him look supremely cool with awesome and crisp action sequences that are sprinkled throughout the narrative, ensuring there’s no dull moment at all in the entire book. From start to finish, Jethro keeps you hooked with one bloody action sequence after another. All the action however serves to feed the story that’s dark, ambitious, and pulpy with a genuine 70’s vibe to it. You’re easily enchanted with the lively and engaging characters of Duke Gibbs and Friday Jones as they make a formidable duo with brawn and brain in uncovering the mystery while shooting whichever bad guy looks their way. It’s darn fun.

The Tennessee Killers is an action-ride that easily gets you into the groove of hardcore beatdowns and vicious villains that are matched by memorable protagonists in a grim tale with high stakes. Duke Gibbs continues to be a compelling protagonist and his kickass charisma is one to beat.

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

Barrington Books
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Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
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