The Missing Piece By John Lescroart

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An absorbing, page turning legal/investigative thriller with multiple unanticipated twists. The Missing Piece is another winner by bestselling author John Lescroart.  

Paul Riley is out of prison after being sent away 10 years ago for the rape and murder of a young woman.  Freed after the work of The Exoneration Initiative overturned the conviction, Paul has been on the outside for several months when he’s found dead, shot in the head in his own place. The obvious suspect is the woman’s still-grieving father, Doug Rush.  But as former San Francisco DA and now defense attorney Wes Farrell and PI Abe Glitsky investigate after taking on Rush as a client, the list of potential suspects grows…as does the body count.  Love triangles, biker gangs, and vigilante justice all play a part in unravelling the mystery that poses a danger to all involved.

This series is quite entertaining and right up there among the best legal thrillers in the genre, with The Missing Piece being no exception.  Although this book focuses mostly on Wes Farrell and Abe Glitsky with only a cameo from Dismas Hardy, it’s a compelling story that keeps you guessing throughout on not only who the true murderer is, but also on Farrell’s future as a defense attorney and Glitsky’s ability to stay among the living as he pokes the hornet’s nest.  The Missing Piece combines a fast-paced and intriguing storyline that stands on its own with further development of the regular characters to keep the series moving forward in an effective manner.  

I arrived late to this series, picking up my first Dismas Hardy novel 3 years ago. But I’ve been a big fan since and highly recommend it for engaging plots and charming characters. If you’re already engaged in this series, then you know what I’m talking about and you should definitely pick up a copy of The Missing Piece. But if you’re not already reading about Dismas Hardy and his friends, then I’ve got good news for you. There are 19 entertaining books in the series to add to your TBR pile.

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Wild Card By Stephen England

Realistic, dramatic and containing an intense race-to-the-finish, Wild Card is a perfect blend of an old-school spy novel combined with a modern-day terrorist threat.  With this book, Stephen England continues to show he’s a force to be reckoned with in the thriller genre.

Michael Hignett, CIA Chief of Base-Istanbul, has tracked an escaped asset to Germany and is joined by CIA paramilitary operator Harry Nichols to have a little chat with this individual.  The asset, Mehmet Ecevit, has tried to join Islamic jihad against Americans before, so there is concern from Michael and Harry that Mehmet is up to no good.  Taking point, Harry commences digging and starts suspecting there’s more than meets the eye and a potential terror plot is in the works against US forces on Ramstein Air Base.  Expertly navigating around red tape on both sides of the ocean, Harry uses every tool in his toolkit to uncover evidence to back up his suspicions, engaging in a game of cat and mouse with lives hanging in the balance.  He just hopes it’s not too late.

While Wild Card has plenty of action, the beauty of this book is in it’s slow-burning, cerebral flow from start to finish.  It sets the stage, builds intensity, throws in a twist or two, and then explodes with violence at the end.  A great approach for engaging the reader and not letting go, propelling them forward as if they are Harry Nichols and are personally responsible for saving the lives of those in the crosshairs.  In fact, this book seems incredibly realistic and makes you wonder if it’s actually historical fiction, we just haven’t heard of the story because the CIA and paramilitary operators thwarted the plot before any damage could be done.  

A well-written and highly entertaining story, Wild Card is a strong entry point into the vast military and spy universe Stephen England has created.  Furthermore, this novel has elements that seem to be a hat tip towards some of the best to ever do it in the thriller genre, including John le Carré and Brad Thor.  Which makes this a book that thriller fans should certainly add to their TBR pile.

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Like A Sister By Kellye Garrett

Featuring rap music moguls, Instagram influencers, reality TV stars, and a black woman in search for the truth, Like A Sister is a tale of fame, death and redemption.  Kellye Garrett has delivered an impressive whodunit novel that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Desiree Pierce, a 25-year-old black woman, is found dead in the Bronx and the police’s indifferent investigation leads them to quickly rule it an accidental overdose for the former reality TV star with a history of drug abuse.  But Desiree’s sister Lena, despite it being two years since they last talked, suspects foul play, believing her sister could never have killed herself.  So Lena starts to investigate, diving deep into Desiree’s life and talking to her friends in an attempt to find the truth…and maybe also assuage any guilt she has for not being there for her sister.  Along the way, Lena is forced to figure out who she can trust while also confronting her bitterness towards her father Mel, a music mogul who left her and her mom when she was young.  Nothing is as it seems and danger lurks in the shadows, but Lena will stop at nothing to get justice for her sister.

Like any great thriller, Like A Sister features numerous twists and turns and great character development that provides tidbits of game-changing information along the way.  It makes you question who you can trust and leads you to constantly change your hypothesis as to whether it was suicide or murder and, if it was a homicide, who killed Desiree Pierce and why.  And while on the surface this is a straight mystery novel, a closer look shows that’s not the case.  That this book, at its heart, is about family and the lengths you will go to in support of them no matter what complicated history or bad blood you share.  Family is family.  You can’t choose them.  But you can choose to be there for them when they most need you.

This focus on family dynamics seems personal for the author and adds tremendous perspective to the story because everyone has experienced challenging relationships in their lives.  Additionally, her love for these characters bursts off the page and has you rooting for a redemptive and reconciliatory denouement.  Maybe because we see a little of ourselves in these characters…even though we probably live very different lives.  Bravo to Kellye Garret for this wonderfully well-written, heartfelt and twisting novel.  

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The Lightning Rod By Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer continues to show his talents know no bounds.  Whether it’s a page-turning thriller, a stimulating nonfiction account of historical events or a children’s book depicting real life heroes, Brad simply delivers awe inspiring work for all to enjoy.  And that’s no different with The Lightning Rod, the second installment in the Zig and Nola series.

That’s right!  Zig and Nola are back and thrust right into a game of cat and mouse with danger at every turn, deep US government secrets, and a frustrating inability to know who they can trust.  It starts innocuous enough, with Zig being asked to prepare the body of now deceased Army veteran Archie Mint.  Sticking around to witness the funeral, he spies not only Nola in the crowd but government operatives who seem to be there to do Nola harm.  Zig, the nice guy he is with a sound moral compass, gets involved and kicks off events that put him square in the middle of an investigation into a theft involving a secret Cold War era US military facility.  To complicate matters, Nola’s long-lost brother shows up with a dubious past and a hidden agenda while at the same time Zig is digging up the past as he helps his ex-wife unravel a mystery involving their dead daughter.  It all comes together in a twisting, turning high-velocity ride with the safety of everyone involved, as well as the United States itself, at stake. 

Readers will thoroughly enjoy the continuation of Nola’s Yin to Zig’s Yang.  Nola is mysterious, somewhat dangerous and marches to a beat only she can hear but ultimately is intended to result in doing good for others.  Meanwhile Zig still feels the need to solve mysteries and save others despite putting himself in untenable situations.  This unlikely pair is like oil and water at times, but in the end they need each other.  Which highlights one of the beautiful aspects of The Lightning Rod – the journey of personal discovery each of them undertakes, adding depth via developing them as characters throughout their trials and tribulations…and dare we say finding a closer relationship despite Nola’s propensity to be a lone wolf.

Well-written and action-packed with witty dialogue, intriguing characters and secrets hidden in every shadow, The Lightning Rod is an entertaining thrill ride that’s not to be missed.

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Persian Tomcats By Mitchell Boling

Persian Tomcats is a love letter to military aviation and all that goes into successful operations, from the pilots who fly missions to the maintainers who ensure the air worthiness of the fighter jets.  Using the early days of the war on terror as a backdrop, the story follows the US Air Force 55th Fighter Squadron “Shooters” from training in the US to the battlefield in the sky above Iraq and Iran.  And if you think this is just another book about hotshot fighter jocks ala Top Gun, then you’ve got another thing coming because it’s way more than that.  It’s a story that’s part F-16 flight and maintenance instruction manual, part love story and part dogfighting that comes together with a flourish of deadly action in the end.  

Perhaps the most apt way to describe Persian Tomcats is that after reading it you feel like you’ve gone through a multi-layered accelerated course of study in flying and maintaining the F-16 Viper.  A large chunk of this book is dedicated to depicting, in exquisite and intricate detail, two key aspects of military aviation: the intense training and unforgiving standards required to become and remain a fighter pilot, and the devotion, enthusiasm and problem-solving abilities of aircraft maintainers.  The pilot and the maintainer. One cannot exist without the other and through their partnership and mutual respect is born a competitive advantage for the United States against their adversaries.

Author Mitchell Boling’s clear love for the Air Force, its pilots, and especially its maintainers is evident throughout Persian Tomcats.  I’ve never read a novel that focuses on the operations and maintenance parts of fighter jets, and while different than your typical thriller’s content I found it fascinating to get a peek behind that curtain.  Airplane maintenance might not be the most exhilarating topic at first glance, but on closer inspection there’s plenty of excitement in trying to troubleshoot issues with a F-16 and get the pilot into the fight in a timely manner when every second could be the difference between victory and defeat.  And once the maintenance is complete, the aerial battle that consumes the latter part of the book is edge-of-your-seat stuff that leaves you breathless.  

If you’re looking for a military thriller that provides a unique perspective on everything surrounding fighter jet missions, look no further than Persian Tomcats.  I promise you haven’t read anything like it.

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Sisters Of Night And Fog By Erika Robuck

Courage and bravery are on full display in Sisters Of Night And Fog, a historical fiction account of two extraordinary women eschewing personal safety to join the resistance against the Nazis during WWII.  Erika Robuck has crafted a thrilling tale full of intensity and emotional suspense, balancing the depiction of beautifully heroic actions against gut-wrenching deplorable events in a way that leaves you breathless and tearful, but appreciative that this story has been told.

It’s the early 1940’s and WWII is underway.  Virginia D’Albert Lake is an American married to a French man living in Occupied France.  Violette Szabo is a woman living in the UK, soon to be married to a French solider involved in fighting the Nazi’s.  The two women have not met but are tied together by their deep desire to join the fight rather than sit on the sidelines hoping they make it through the war.  So, Virginia joins a French underground resistance movement to help downed piolets escape their Nazi pursuers.  And Violette enlists in a British clandestine organization that inserts her into France to subvert and sabotage the enemy.  Their individual valor is on full display, but they also know the risks involved with this incredibly dangerous work, leading to their paths crossing in heartbreaking fashion.

While Sisters Of Night And Fog is technically classified as historical fiction, this book is every bit a thriller due to brilliant storytelling of the amazing actions Virginia and Violette undertake against the Nazis.  Their drive to resist the enemy, the missions they voluntarily sign up for, the fearlessness that they display again and again, the ability to move on from loss and overcome the odds – all of this stacks up against, and even exceeds, the exploits of the greatest thriller characters ever created.  Remember, these women are real and their daring actions have been recorded in the annals of history.  Which makes this book more than just a compelling story.  By reading Sisters Of Night and Fog, you keep Virginia and Violette’s memories alive and learn incredibly important lessons about selfless service and resisting tyranny and oppression to make this world a better place.

At times, this book will make you smile and stand up and cheer. Other times it’ll make you cry and seethe with anger. And some of it is very difficult to read due to the sensitive nature of the content. But in the end, you are rewarded with an incredible story that will stick with you long after you put the book back on the shelf. It’s an emotional experience that will leave you speechless. And that’s what makes Sisters Of Night And Fog truly special.

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Girl In Ice By Erica Ferencik

Mysterious, anxiety-inducing and with a touch of magic, Girl in Ice is a wonderfully unique thriller that’s literally bone chilling.  Erica Ferencik has delivered a nerve-wracking thriller that will have you shivering on the edge of your seat.

High up in the Arctic on an island off the coast of Greenland, climate scientists make the amazing discovery of a young girl frozen in ice.  Even more astonishing, when thawed out the young girl is alive and talking in a language no one can understand.  Enter Val, a renowned linguist who’s summoned to decipher what the girl is saying.  Battling severe anxiety and leaving the comfort of her sheltered life in the US, she travels to the Arctic not only as a linguist, but as the twin sister of a man who perished at this very station of an apparent suicide.  Val is suspicious of the circumstances surrounding her brother’s death and tries to get to the truth of what really happened.  Meanwhile, Val builds a strong personal connection with the thawed-out girl and must quickly figure out her language while watching the girl get sicker and sicker, trying to understand what she needs in order to save her from death.  It’s a race against the clock, and the setting sun, to solve multiple mysteries surrounding those she cares about.

There are a couple of aspects of Girl in Ice that are quite intriguing and not typical of a traditional thriller.  First is the setting of the unforgiving Arctic.  It’s not a common location to find in a novel, but it works brilliantly in multiple ways – harsh climate that acts as another character in the story, focuses the story on a few people who are forced into close quarters with nowhere to hide, and the coming darkness of winter provides a deadline to figure everything out before they need to leave the location.  Second, Val’s struggle with anxiety is something distinctive that provides a way to connect with her.  Most thriller protagonists are strong, highly capable individuals with no fear.  And while Val is highly capable in her career and possesses a strength beyond what she is cognizant of, her vulnerability and fear of the world around her make her relatable and someone worth rooting for.

Girl in Ice is part mystery and part science fiction with a side helping of overcoming your fears.  It’s a tale of leaving your comfort zone and finding your inner strength.  A unique story for those who appreciate a journey rooted in reality but with a mystical twist.

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No Second Chances By Rio Youers

No Second Chances is an exceptional, cinematic literary masterpiece that moves at ludicrous speed with a brilliant combination of extraordinary violence and undying hopefulness.  Rio Youers has created something unbelievably special that will go down as one of the best modern thrillers ever published.  Straight up, this book is required and essential reading for anyone who considers themselves a thriller fan.  

Kitty Rae is an aspiring actor who moved from Kentucky to Los Angeles to chase her show business dream.  While working towards her big break she makes a decent living as a drug courier, starting by making meth drops in public garbage cans before moving up to transporting a designer drug to the homes of the Hollywood Elite for her boss Johan Fly, a drug dealer with a modern legitimate front as a famous YouTuber and Instagram influencer.  But when she’s caught stealing some of the expensive product she’s supposed to be delivering, Johan, who fancies himself a descendant of Vikings, vows to kill her in an excruciatingly slow and most sadistic manner.  Enter Luke Kingsley – a disgraced actor, alleged wife-killer and neighbor Kitty has befriended – who cooks up a scheme to keep Kitty safe from the deranged Cali Viking.  Meanwhile, Luke, who has maintained his innocence for 3 years, is on a mission to find out what happened to his wife while under the watchful eye of a persistent former LAPD-detective turned private investigator whose singular purpose in life is putting Luke in jail for the rest of his life.  Together, the unlikely pair of Luke and Kitty will go through hell in an attempt to find answers for Luke while trying to escape Johan’s quest for vengeance with their lives.  Survival is not guaranteed, but “when you don’t got nothin’, you got nothin’ to lose.”

The brilliance of No Second Chances knows no bounds.  It’s an emotional roller coaster that will have you gasping at the unadulterated brutality one moment before having you in tears the next.  The action is unrelenting, building tension so high that you feel it in your bones before a final vicious eruption leaves you in desperate need of a cigarette.  The characters are sublimely created, with complicated histories that provide real depth and increased appreciation for their journey as they level up in real time to find strength and purpose they never thought possible.  And while Kitty and Luke are beyond fantastic, and the supporting characters are all outstanding, the showstopper/scene stealer is undoubtedly Johan Fly.  This Viking villain is one of the most malicious, deranged, all-time great bad guys ever to grace the pages of a novel.  He will haunt your dreams.  Enough said.  

Holy crap! Have I mentioned how much I love No Second Chances? I want to scream it from a mountain top because it’s simply incredible. A flawless piece of work. A surefire hit. Hang it in the Louvre. It’s impossible to overstate how amazing this book is. It’s just that insanely good. Bravo Rio Youers! I can’t wait for No Second Chances to hit shelves and see the reactions of readers far and wide, watching it pile up awards and plaudits as it rockets its way up bestseller lists and finds itself included in “best of” posts for 2022. Preorder it now and thank me later.

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Blue Fire By John Gilstrap

Set in a dystopian post-nuclear apocalyptic world, Blue Fire is a tale of overcoming adversity, necessity as the mother of invention, and coming together as a community.  It forces you to ask uncomfortable questions and face inconvenient truths about how far you’d go to ensure your own survival in a severely resource constrained environment.  In doing so, John Gilstrap has delivered a novel that is equal parts entertainment, survival guide and an introspective thought exercise.  

Blue Fire picks up several weeks after Hell Day, a nuclear world war that came and went with just enough warning to sequester the United States Congress in a secret government facility.  Former West Virginian congressional representative and doomsday prepper Victoria Emerson, who refused to enter that facility without her kids, is now the de facto mayor of a town called Ortho where she is doing her best to rebuild a fair and just civilization.  As word spreads about this town’s enviable resources and organized society, they become a target of a group of Army National Guardsmen and the violent recruits they pick up along the way.  As a result, Vicky and this small town are put to the test to see if their training and resolve will hold up under the onslaught of an armed attack by a determined and well-organized enemy.  Nothing less than the survival of all citizens of Ortho hangs in the balance.  Failure is not an option.  

Blue Fire offers a bevy of intense moments, uncertain outcomes, and fierce action sure to please any thriller fan.  It’s full of suspense and every single character faces mortal danger.  And the development of each character is fantastic, allowing you to feel the emotional toll of what everyone is going through and understand the difficult choices they face at every turn…even if you thankfully don’t have the personal experience of what it’s like to live in the Stone Age-like environment that follows a nuclear war. 

Additionally, while you don’t have to read Crimson Phoenix, the first book in this series, to understand and enjoy Blue Fire, it does help to read this young series in order if you want to get the full picture of Hell Day and the immediate aftermath of the war.  But don’t let that deter you from jumping into the series with Blue Fire because it stands on its own merit by providing enough backstory to get caught up and fully engaged in these characters' struggle for survival and attempt to rebuild society.  

If you’re a fan of dystopian novels, action packed thrillers or just plain old good writing, then Blue Fire is for you. John Gilstrap is onto something great with this series and it’s the perfect time to get stuck in.

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Beneath The Stairs By Jennifer Fawcett

A creepy and frightening debut by Jennifer Fawcett, Beneath The Stairs is a classic horror tale guaranteed to freak you the hell out.  If you can sleep after reading this book, you’re a braver person than I.  

As kids, Clare and Abby find the Octagon House, an old, dilapidated house in the woods of their hometown in Upstate New York.  The site of a gruesome murder that took the lives of a woman and her two daughters, this house is the stuff of rumor and legend and best left alone.  However, the two best friends can’t help themselves and enter the premises, only to run from the house screaming after seeing and hearing something in the basement that changes them forever.  20 years later, Clare finds out Abby has returned to the Octagon House to attempt suicide and is now in a coma.  Clare, who has been experiencing nightmares and is still inexplicably drawn to the house, returns to her hometown to help Abby and maybe in the process get over her own trauma so that she can finally find peace and live the life she has long desired.  

Beneath The Stairs brilliantly plays upon the fears that many people have growing up – dark woods, unnerving basements, haunted homes and scary local folklore tales.  It bounces around from present day to different points in the past to give the reader a glimpse into all relevant events, slowly revealing historical pieces of information critical to unraveling the mystery.  And it continuously ratchets up the nail-biting tension until the terrifying pants-pissing dénouement that will have you seeking the comfort of a well-lit and highly populated space.  In fact, I may or may not have run up the stairs from my basement at one point while reading this book.  

Which leads me to this statement of caution.  Do not read Beneath The Stairs alone, in the dark, in the woods, in a basement, or in an old and/or possibly haunted house.  That’ll only amp up the terror to horrific levels given reading it in broad daylight and around other people will already scare the bejeezus out of you.  You have been warned!  Good luck.

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The Paradox Hotel By Rob Hart

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Blending greed and murder with the specter and consequences of time travel, The Paradox Hotel is a pulse-pounding, mind-twisting Sci-Fi thriller of the first order.  Rob Hart delivers a compelling and cerebral story that probes several deep topics – the moral ambiguity and governance of time travel, the intersection of money and politics, and a person’s journey through the stages of grief and self-introspection. 

The year is 2072 and January Cole, a former agent of the Time Enforcement Agency, is in charge of security at The Paradox Hotel.  Yet this is no traditional hotel.  Guests are dressed in the garb of bygone time periods and awaiting their flights at the nearby Einstein Intercentury Timeport, a time travel port that sends those with means back to witness historic events.  And if keeping the time traveling guests safe wasn’t hard enough, the US government has made the controversial decision to sell the Timeport and hotel to help with rising financial issues, making the facilities and the trillionaires who have come to bid on them major targets.  On top of this, January is suffering from a condition that gives her flashes of the future and reliving moments from her past that randomly occur while she’s trying to keep everyone safe.  Oh, and there’s one other little thing – she’s investigating a murder in the hotel but no one else can see the body or the crime scene.  Time is of the essence to find the murderer and figure out who’s trying to sabotage the sale…or reality as we know it might be irreparably changed. 

There are 3 aspects of The Paradox Hotel that hooked me and wouldn’t let me put the book down. First is the time travel aspect.  Rob Hart does a fantastic job of creating a world in which time travel exists, explains the technical aspects in a way that even a dummy like me can understand, makes it a critical aspect of the story from multiple angles and does all this while making it seem completely realistic and plausible.  Second is the crime and investigation aspect.  Looking beyond the time travel, we have an old-fashioned story of disgustingly rich people with hidden agendas vying to buy an extremely valuable property and they will do anything and everything to win…including sabotage and murder.  Which creates the main plotline of an investigation with multiple twists and turns with danger around every corner, not knowing who you can trust and an outcome that is most certainly in doubt until the end.  All hallmarks of a great detective thriller.

But the third aspect is possibly my favorite, which is the curious case of January Cole.  She is an exceptional, yet deeply flawed hero that you want to root for while also wanting to wring her neck.  She is fighting her own demons while trying to do her job and solve complex problems.  She lashes out at people who want to help her, using dark humor as a defense mechanism which serves to push these people away just when she needs them the most.  She’s trying to process her own grief and figure out how to become a better person while trying to not lose a grip on the good memories she had before tragedy befell her.  And she’s facing declining health that doesn’t look to have a happy ending.   All these things are incredibly relatable, make her human and easy to connect with despite her extraordinary intellect and talents.  

Simply put, I loved this book! It’s a fascinating and possibly realistic look at the future of our society. You don’t have to be a sci-fi wonk to enjoy The Paradox Hotel. If you like good murder mysteries and detective stories, then The Paradox Hotel is right in your wheelhouse. I wouldn’t call myself a big sci-fi reader, but this book really hit the spot. I got the same feeling of contentment after finishing it as I did after reading Andy Weir’s books. As such, I expect The Paradox Hotel will be a huge hit with both sci-fi fans and thriller fans alike.

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Sierra Six By Mark Greaney

Sierra Six is the early leader in the clubhouse for the best thriller of 2022 and it will take something incredibly special to surpass it.  Mark Greaney has delivered one hell of a book that instantly becomes my all-time favorite in the already magnificent Gray Man series.  It’s perfection!

Fans of the series already know that Court Gentry is a bad ass mofo with an unmatched, somewhat superhuman skillset that allows him to operate solo and dispatch bad guys as if it’s a walk in the park.  And while readers have been given glimpses into his past throughout the prior ten books, we’ve never heard the complete story of how Gentry became Sierra Six and operated as part of an elite CIA Ground Branch paramilitary team.  Until now.  And holy hell is it a spectacular story. 

Court Gentry is hired to do a simple job – infiltrate the Turkish embassy in Algeria and plant a small device that will allow his client to eavesdrop on cell phone calls made in the vicinity.  However, nothing is ever easy for the Gray Man and as the operation goes sideways, Court comes face to face with a ghost, someone he thought has been dead for 12 years.  Cue the flashback to a dozen years ago, when Gentry was being integrated into Golf Sierra, a CIA action team on the hunt for a terrorist mastermind with visions of changing the political and military landscape of South Asia.  The events of that time left an indelible mark on Gentry and now that this long-thought dead terrorist has reappeared, the Grey Man will do whatever it takes to finally put this son-of-a-bitch six feet underground where he belongs.

The brilliance of Sierra Six is that it’s like 2 amazing novels under one cover.  Mark Greaney flawlessly switches back and forth between present day and flashbacks to 12 years ago in a way that does multiple things at the same time.  First, it provides insight into Court Gentry’s past and his evolution as an operator.  Second, it seamlessly draws parallels and connections between events a dozen years apart that enhance both storylines and provide depth that a single timeline wouldn’t be able to achieve.  Third, it provides tremendous character development for Gentry by allowing us to witness a journey that makes him a little more human through mistakes and emotions that we didn’t know were possible for him.  And finally, it reminds us how lethally awesome and relentless the Gray Man truly is. 

When I read a book, I’m looking for three things – entertainment, something fresh and to feel an emotional connection to the characters.  This book nails all three. Sierra Six is simply stupendous!  It’s so freaking unbelievably great.  And while it’s been obvious for a long time that Mark Greaney is inarguably one of the best authors in the genre, Sierra Six elevates him to a higher plane of thriller existence that few authors are able to achieve in their lifetimes.  

Bravo Mr. Greaney.  Thank you for the gift of this incredible novel.

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Dark Horse By Gregg Hurwitz

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An emotionally complicated story interspersed with amazing bursts of incredible violence, Dark Horse is a dramatic soul searching, ass kicking journey with depth, heart, and lots of dead bodies.  Simply put…this book is my jam!

When Evan Smoak was taken from the orphanage and turned into Orphan X, his mentor Jack Johns taught Evan many critical lessons.  But maybe the most important was that the hard part wasn’t being a killer.  The hard part is staying human.  And that has never been more evident than in the pages of Dark Horse, where Evan takes on a mission unlike any other that tests his humanity and moral compass.  

A teenage girl has been kidnapped by a brutal Mexican drug cartel and her father begs The Nowhere Man to help get her back.  However, this father is no saint.  In fact, he’s a bad man who runs his own drug operation in Texas, though bad is relative and as Isaac Hayes once sang, “he’s a complicated man.”  But the daughter is an innocent who is in mortal danger at the hands of a psychopath and his band of murderous men.  So Evan accepts the mission and must figure out a way to infiltrate the cartel to save the girl.  Meanwhile Evan’s personal life is in disarray – he’s rebuilding his penthouse, fighting with Joey and things get even complicated with Mia.  All which challenge the seventh commandment: One mission at a time.  If he’s able to survive the physical and emotional danger swirling around him, he will become the poster child for the old saying “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

The central theme of this book is a deep dive into self-exploration in search of redemption.  For a drug lord, it’s figuring out how far he’s willing to go to save his daughter.  Is he willing to burn his empire to the ground to save his own flesh and blood?  And for Evan, it’s the continuation of a journey to make amends for all the killing he’s done in the past, seeking to determine if he’s worthy of, and able to have, meaningful personal relationships.  Can he operate if he allows himself to connect with other people and therefore has something to lose?  But conversely if he eschews those relationships, will he be able to remain human?  It’s an emotional roller coaster with depth that will have you alternating between tears and fist pumps.

As much as I enjoyed Dark Horse and love the entire Orphan X series, I have a bone to pick with Gregg Hurwitz.  These cliffhangers are killing me!  I was hoping that the explosive ending of Prodigal Son allowed him to scratch that cliffhanger itch and this time the book would finish with everything cleanly wrapped up.  Wrong!  Boy, I was so terribly misguided to believe that would be the case.  Because this time, the diabolical Mr. Hurwitz leaves us with multiple cliffhangers.  That’s right.  Not one, not two, but three huge storylines for which we now must wait another year to find out what happens.  Which reminds me of a couple of quotes:

“Life is pain.” – Dread Pirate Roberts

“The waiting.  Always the waiting.” – Gabriel Allon

Of course, I say all this tongue in cheek.  I will gladly wait as long as it takes to find out what happens next.  Because it means we’re getting more Evan Smoak and whatever Gregg Hurwitz has in store for him and the other characters promises to be glorious.  

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Undermoney By Jay Newman

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Yes!  A story for us few and proud financial wonks.  A book that actually allows me to leverage my Finance MBA for more than just building spreadsheets.  Thank you, Jay Newman!  Undermoney is an elaborately detailed, ambitious financial and political thriller the likes we haven’t seen before despite it being about something as old as time itself – the pursuit of money and power.  

It’s impossible to sum up Undermoney’s intricate plotlines and international intrigue in a simple paragraph.  There’s a lot going on, starting with a group of American soldiers who steal a couple of billion dollars during the Iraq war as part of a long game to eventually install one of their own in the Oval Office and reshape American politics.  Then there’s an insanely and inexplicably successful trillion-dollar hedge fund led by an enigmatic genius financial mind that is not only getting insider information but actually manipulating world events and profiting from the global financial market responses.  Oh, and there’s the private Russian military company that has its hands in everything from money laundering to fighting Putin’s wars by proxy.  And if that wasn’t enough, there’s an organization behind the scenes that seems to be pulling all the strings without consequence.  Throw in a little money laundering, kompromat and death and this book has a little bit of everything that you could possibly want in a thriller with no less than the future of the world at stake.  

While there’s a healthy dose of financial operations and market maneuvering that will appeal to those working on Wall Street and/or those in possession of an advanced degree in finance, Jay Newman does a good job keeping it simple for all to follow.  And thankfully that stuff isn’t the main focus of the book.  Instead, Undermoney spends the majority of time providing an infuriating look at the rich and powerful not only playing by a different set of rules, but manipulating momentous world events for their own personal financial profit.  The big question you have to ask yourself as you read Undermoney is whether this is really fiction or actually a non-fiction account of a secret cabal of billionaires, politicians and financiers who are influencing the world order and getting rich at the expense of the rest of us suckers.  Because everything in this book feels incredibly realistic to the point that if it’s not already happening then it’s just a matter of time.

I’m fascinated to see where Jay Newman takes this story next as it has the makings of an epic trilogy that blurs the lines between fact and fiction.  Undermoney isn’t to be missed, especially by fans of highly detailed, realistic thrillers the likes of Jason Matthews and Don Winslow.  It has the potential to be that special. 

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The Runaway By Nick Petrie

Peter Ash is back in a big way!  Nick Petrie delivers another brilliant character-driven novel in The Runaway, a modern tale of genuine altruism vs. unadulterated malevolence violently battling for the soul of a young woman on the brink.  This excellent thriller sucks you in early and never lets up, continuing one of the best and most underrated series in the thriller genre today.  

Peter Ash is driving his old green 1968 Chevy pickup from Oregon to Wisconsin when he comes across a damsel in distress on a gravel road in the middle of Nebraska.  Being the kind of guy he is, Peter doesn’t hesitate to offer a ride to the young pregnant woman.  However, he learns the situation is more complex than just a broken-down vehicle and quickly finds himself trapped between two cars of armed men with his only means of escape diving off a bluff and into the ice-cold river below.  After the harrowing escape, Peter can’t just go on his merry way.  Drawn to danger like a moth to a flame, Peter continuously – and willingly, almost gleefully – puts himself in harm's way to rescue the woman from the clutches of a brilliantly evil man.  Even with help from June and Lewis, it’s a fight Peter might not survive but one his moral compass and propensity for violence will not let him shy away from.

The Runaway is bursting with all the things that fans love about Nick Petrie’s books.  First, Peter Ash is once again driven to do the right thing, attempting to save someone stuck in a threatening circumstance while simultaneously engaging in perilous conflict with a cunning foe just to feel alive.  Next, the antagonist is one bad hombre with genius tendencies that allow him to outsmart his opponent and set traps left and right, creating one difficult test after another for our hero to overcome.  Then there’s June Cassidy and Lewis.  While they don’t feature prominently in the entirety of the book, they arrive with no questions asked and a flourish of expletives to help Peter do what he needs to do.  Which is why they are two of my favorite supporting characters of all time!  Lastly, this novel is superbly written and an absolute joy to read due to pacing that continually ratchets up the intensity and puts every single character in the crosshairs.  You can barely catch your breath, let alone put this book down. 

Seven books into this special series, The Runaway confirms what we already knew: Nick Petrie is one of the best in the business at developing compelling characters and delivering exhilarating stories that resonate with readers.  He’s got a gift with the pen and we’re all the lucky recipients.  Long live Peter Ash, June Cassidy and Lewis.  May they wreak havoc and save the day for many years to come.  

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Targeted By Stephen Hunter

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Stephen Hunter once again shows why he’s revered by other thriller writers and why his books are automatic must reads.  Targeted is well-written with pacing that continuously builds tension before the pressure becomes too much and explodes in an action-packed, satisfyingly violent conclusion.  

Targeted features 3 storylines that converge into a singular novel.  First, there’s the political grandstanding storyline that subpoenas Bob Lee Swagger to testify and defend his actions in front of a congressional committee hellbent on making him the bad guy.  Second, there’s the Chechen crime family storyline that starts by trying to rip off the Russians and turns into a hostage situation with the congressional committee mentioned previously.  And third, there’s the Revolutionary War flashback storyline that provides insight into Swagger’s lineage and ties into the political nonsense he’s forced to deal with.  Rest assured that while this might have you scratching your head in confusion, it works quite well, especially once the storylines come together about halfway through the book.  At that point of convergence, everything becomes clear and the book really accelerates in pace, setting up a race to the finish that puts everyone in the crosshairs.

One aspect of Targeted that should be celebrated is the fact that despite Bob Lee Swagger being in his mid-70’s, he’s still sharp as a tack and taking the fight to the enemy both physically and mentally.  He’s forced to play political mind games during this traveshamockery of a hearing and then go kinetic when the timing is right to go after the hostage takers.  We can debate how realistic this is, but that’s not the point.  It’s just cool to have a thriller that features an old dude kicking ass.  In most instances, long running series are trying to figure out how to transition tier one operators from the field to a supervisory/planning/consulting type of role.  But not here.  Not in this series.  Bob Lee Swagger is going to keep swinging until death finally calls his number.  And that’s awesomely unique in the genre. 

Oh yeah, one last thing.  The bad guys are equal parts terrifying and hilarious in an 80’s action movie kind of way. I’m not sure how Stephen Hunter pulls that off, but it’s spectacular.  Really adds to the entertainment level of an already fun, fast-paced read.

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End Of Days By Brad Taylor

Brad Taylor continues his hot streak of compelling geopolitical thrillers with End of Days, an all too realistic story that combines theology, history and Middle Eastern politics with crazy bad guys and bursts of violent action.  

Pike and Jennifer are a week away from getting married when their preparation is interrupted by a plea from their friends Aaron and Shoshana to help them track down the killer of the former head of Mossad.  In fact, there’s a string of murders being claimed by an Iranian backed terrorist group called Keta’ib Hezbollah that has the hawks in Israel and the United States ready to go to war with Iran.  But Shoshana’s eerily accurate sixth sense tells her there’s more to the story and someone else is behind the killings with an end game that’s bigger than they realize.  Pushing the Taskforce charter to the limits and beyond, Pike and Jennifer team up with their Israeli counterparts to chase leads in the Middle East, ultimately attempting to track down and thwart a group of rogue operators calling themselves “The Turtles” before they start World War III.

End of Days is chock full of international intrigue and a captivating plot that constantly builds tension, propelling the story forward with enough doubt to the outcome to make it anxiety-inducing for the reader.  And while there’s not as much pure action as some of the early books in the series, it’s more than made up for with a suspenseful race-to-the finish storyline that grabs you early and doesn’t let go.  On top of that, the character development of both the new and old characters is top notch, providing interesting backstories for the bad guys while showing the maturation of those we’ve come to know and love…Pike and Shoshana in particular.  All of which shows Brad Taylor’s continued growth and development into a complete, world class thriller author who seamlessly blends spy, military and political plotlines into one gripping novel. 

Fans of the genre know that Brad Taylor always delivers, and End of Days is no exception. This is a must read that will help you properly kick off 2022 in style. Pick up a copy in January and join Pike, Jennifer and team race to save the world from starting a catastrophic war.

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Insurrection Day By Chris Hauty

Fast-paced, action-packed and including trademark game-changing twists, Insurrection Day is a hard-hitting Hayley Chill novella from the creative mind of Chris Hauty.

Insurrection Day is a fictionalized account of what happened on January 6, 2020 at the United States Capitol.  It takes real events, adjusts the timing to happen after Savage Road, and thrusts Hayley Chill in the middle of the action.  Her never ending sense of duty leads her to take on those who breached the Capitol, to protect and evacuate the Senate majority leader, and to chase down stolen congressional property taken by a trio of insurrectionists, who seem to be on a different level than the others roaming the halls.  The action is unrelenting and fierce as Hayley literally shoots it out with the thieves in an attempt to reclaim what was stolen in a failure-is-not-an-option effort to protect important secrets of the United States government.  

It’s important to go into this novella understanding that it takes the very public events of January 6 and turns them into a Hayley Chill story with a twist.  Which is to say that your mindset will significantly impact your perspective of this novel.  If you can put that aside and focus on the story itself, you will find this is an unputdownable thriller that doesn’t let you catch your breath for a second and further increases your admiration for Hayley Chill’s exceptional courage and abilities.  

Insurrection Day proves yet again that Chris Hauty is one hell of a storyteller and that Hayley Chill is one of the best, toughest and smartest protagonists in the genre.

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Reckless Girls By Rachel Hawkins

A tale of hidden agendas, devious behavior and complicated relationships set on a mysterious island paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Reckless Girls is a suspense-filled thriller as sharp as a machete.  Rachel Hawkins delivers a compelling tale filled with intrigue and mayhem that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Lux McAllister has had a rough go of things in her young life.  Her parents divorced, her mother got sick, and she had to drop out of college to wait tables in a restaurant to support her mom.  But just when she’s at her lowest she meets gorgeous and wealthy Nico, who invites her to move to Maui with him before they set off on a sailing adventure.  However, things don’t quite go as planned until Brittany and Amma come into their lives and pay them to charter their boat on an adventure to Meroe Island.  Upon arrival at this isolated island, they find they’re not alone but quickly strike up a friendship with Jake and Eliza, a couple who also wanted to travel off the beaten path.  But things get complicated when a sketchy individual arrives on the island.  All of a sudden, the mood shifts.  Bad choices are made, motives are questioned, hard truths come to the surface and paradise suddenly doesn’t look and feel that great.  Now, it’s a question of survival for the inhabitants of Meroe Island and it’s not guaranteed everyone will leave alive. 

Reckless Girls hooks you from the very first sentence and doesn’t let go until you mutter “oh shit” at the end.  Rachel Hawkins does a brilliant job of storytelling by interspersing flashbacks in between present-day events, which results in revealing one puzzle piece at a time of background information until the full picture reveals itself with a big bang.  It’s an ambitious novel, with twists and turns and a slow drip of critical realizations at just the right times, that keeps the reader engaged and obsessed with finding out what happens next.  It’s unputdownable and easy to devour in one sitting.

Do yourselves a favor and pick up a copy of Reckless Girls upon release in January 2022.  Then find a comfortable spot for 4-5 hours and dive in.  It’s a fantastic thriller with which to kick off the new year.

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The Maid By Nita Prose

The Maid is a special, emotional murder mystery that must be included in any discussion about the best debut thrillers in 2022. It's a fantastic unputdownable novel, featuring an amazing main character, that sets up long term residency in your brain and refuses to leave. 

This story told from the perspective of Molly Gray, a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel.  Molly the Maid is peculiar, socially awkward and, while the book never explicitly states it, probably somewhere on the Autism spectrum and a case of obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Which makes her a target of ridicule from other employees despite her complete dedication to the hotel and her job.  But Molly just keeps making her rounds cleaning rooms better than anyone and trying to be the best employee she can. Until one day she goes to clean the room of a VIP and finds that man lying dead in the bed.  Suddenly Molly is accused of a host of unsavory charges, including murder. Is she being set up as a patsy by her unscrupulous coworkers? Or could she have actually done the deed and is more than meets the eye?

The Maid, like many of the best books out there, brings out a host of emotions while making the reader think about life beyond the pages.  This is primarily due to the uniqueness of Molly, a main character the likes of which we've never seen in a Thriller.  She's poor, on her own, likely special needs and yet highly functional.  But because of her differences she is victimized and taken advantage of by others who see her as less than them. However, they couldn't be more wrong as Molly is the best of us and is more than others give her credit for. Which makes her incredibly empathetic and fills you with a raging desire to reach through the pages and beat the crap out of these bullying assholes who manipulate her before then enveloping her in a tight embrace and telling her everything will be ok. Because there's very few things more disgusting in life than people making fun of those who are different. F*ck those people!

Then again, there's an air of mystery surrounding Molly which makes you wonder if you really know her at all to the point that you must consider until the end if she is capable of nefarious intent.  And if she is - if she did something bad - will you be able to confront your feelings and determine that she be held responsible?  Or will you justify her actions due to the protective feelings you've built for Molly and hope she finds a happy ending?

I absolutely loved The Maid and urge fans of crime and psychological thrillers to pick up a copy when it becomes available. I promise that you have never read anything quite like this book. It's phenomenal!

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