The Ninja's Oath By Tori Eldridge

Loyalty, family and martial arts take center stage in The Ninja's Oath, a smashing thriller that climaxes with a death-filled battle royale that would make Quentin Tarantino blush.  Tori Eldridge kills it with this tale, interchanging tender family moments with explosive, slashing fisticuffs. 

Modern day ninja Lily Wong finds herself in Shanghai and Japan helping family friend and former triad enforcer Lee Chang track down and rescue his young neice.  A task that is further complicated when it comes to light another one of Chang's relatives has gone missing.  And it gets even messier when Lily's Los Angeles based Sensei gets pulled into the mix by an old adversary hellbent on revenge.  With danger lurking around every corner, they are joined by assassin J Tran, who infuriates, exites and confuses Lily.  But together, the group must maintain complete focus on the mission to rescue the captives and escape with their lives.  

The dichotomy of family and violence makes for an exceedingly absorbing read.  On the family front, Chang puts past drama and hurt feelings to the side to help family members in need. Then Witnessing Lily's internal struggle between her desire to help Chang while simultaneously feeling guilty for not being home with her ailing father makes her relatable.  While she possesses a skill set most people will never be able to duplicate, her concern over her parents well being makes her human and empathetic. Which then makes her ass-kicking ability even more impressive and fun to watch.  

Then there's the violence. Gory, vicious, explosive violence with guns, knives, swords and more.  Pure eruptive brutality and bloodshed that results in a mountain of dead bodies.  Oh shit moments that you will want to read twice.  It's glorious! 

This might have been my first Tori Eldridge book but it won't be my last.  The writing is fantastic, the story telling is propulsive and the characters are well developed. Also, don't worry if you haven't read the prior books, because The Ninja's Oath is a great entry point into this compelling series.  And once you pick up this book, you'll definitely want to go back and read the others to see how Lily came to be a ninja and do what she does best. Which is good news if you're looking to grow your TBR pile. 

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Code Red By Kyle Mills

Code Red is as electrifying and intense as a cattle prod to the testicles. Mitch Rapp at his most cunning and badass self. Kyle Mills completes his Mitch Rapp journey with an explosive exclamation point.

Mitch Rapp’s word is his bond. So when crime lord Damian Losa calls in the favor Mitch owes him, he sets off to Syria to dig up information on a powerful new narcotic and negotiate a distribution deal for Europe on behalf of Losa. However, Rapp finds the drug is part of an asymmetrical warfare operation by the Russians to use as a weapon against the west, not a for profit business by the Syrians. Despite being on this unsanctioned mission, Mitch can’t in good conscience let this play out and harm millions of unsuspecting people. Which leads to Mitch devising a secret and devious plan to take out the drug operation and capture its mastermind. All while ensuring the blowback can’t point to the United States as thwarting the Russians dastardly plot. Because if the Russians figure it out, the world will be forever changed.

As usual, the action sequences are sublime and the operational details on point. Mitch goes from dangerous situation to even more dangerous situation and continues to find a way to stay cool, stay alive and stay one step ahead of his adversaries. He plots his moves with aplomb, leverages his assets to their maximum potential and outsmarts those trying to do him harm. But in addition to his usual impressive array of badassery, he flashed a side we haven’t seen before when he is forced to act the part of a vulnerable, frightened Canadian lawyer. Requiring him to be more subtle and restrained in his actions and reactions to collect valuable information, rather than go straight for the kill shot as he normally would. It shows his full range of capabilities and that he’s more than just the harbinger of death. He’s Mitch Fucking Rapp. Best operative on the planet.

A million thanks to Kyle Mills for not only accepting the difficult job of continuing to write Mitch Rapp novels after Vince Flynn’s untimely passing, but for elevating the series to new heights. Fans will forever be indebted to him for keeping Mitch alive and saving the world while killing a bevy of bad guys in spectacular fashion. But Mills did more than just allow our beloved hero to continue. He ensured Mitch thrived, grew as a person and gave him a life with people he cares about; bringing his personality to the forefront. All of which are on display in Code Red. A job very well done, one that exceeded every lofty expectation when he took the reins. From the bottom of our hearts, Kyle Mills you have our everlasting gratitude. Thank you.

Don Bentley, you’re up next. You’ve got big shoes to fill but if anyone can do it, you can. Good luck. The entire Rapp-verse is rooting for you.

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Tom Clancy's Weapons Grade By Don Bentley

If you’ve ever wondered if Jack Ryan Jr can survive multiple violent encounters with mercenaries, gang bangers, and corrupt cops while saving the world from tremendous calamity, then Tom Clancy’s Weapons Grade is the thriller for you. It’s Jack versus ceaseless and vicious fuckery of the highest order for hundreds of pages. And it’s glorious!

Jack Ryan Jr is driving to Austin after attending a Texas A&M football game when he witnesses a car wreck. Raised by his parents to help those in need, he stops to lend assistance. That’s when the bullets start flying. And Jack doesn’t take kindly to being shot at. So he continues his involvement by running down the one lead he has. Which quickly results in him getting drugged, beaten and on the precipice of death at the hands of dangerous men executing a massive international conspiracy. Calling in support from his colleagues, Jack hopes and prays they show up in time to save his life and help him avert a potentially catastrophic global disaster.

Weapons Grade starts with multiple storylines that are intriguing on their own and seem to be unconnected but are expertly woven together to reveal a sinister plot of epic proportions. Bentley masterfully crafts this story in a way that hooks the reader with action and propels them forward through the mental exercise of trying to put the puzzle pieces together. And it all comes together in an explosive conclusion that will leave your heart palpitating and your lungs gasping for air.

Additionally, let’s talk about Jack Ryan Jr and the unbelievable badass he’s become. Rather than ride the coattails of his famous father, he’s worked tirelessly to succeed on his own merit and become the man he wants to be. Which is to be a world class operator who runs headfirst into danger to serve his country and help others in need. And while he’s a bullet magnet and death seemingly follows him in droves everywhere he goes, he’s as honorable a person as you could hope to have on your side. His actions in Weapons Grade only further that narrative and his development on Bentley’s watch has made him one of the most beloved and admirable characters in the genre.

As Don Bentley’s run of writing Jack Ryan Jr. books comes to an end, let’s take a moment to express our appreciation for all the energy, audaciousness and high-quality entertainment that he brought to this series. Every single novel has been a non-stop thrill ride littered with shell casings, explosions and dead bodies. No character was safe from harm and great new characters were introduced, all breathing rejuvenated life into a tried and true cast of characters. A tip of the cap for a job seriously well done. Bravo Don!

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It Ends With Knight By Yasmin Angoe

It Ends with Knight is a combustible and intense continuation of this fantastic series featuring one of the strongest female protagonists in the genre. Yasmin Angoe hits all the right notes, once again delivering emotion and exhilaration throughout a twisting and deep story.

After the death of her mentor, Nena steps up to lead the Tribe’s Dispatch and Network departments. It’s a different and more complicated role than being an assassin, requiring more political savvy and forethought than she’s had to demonstrate before. But there’s no time to ease into it as she’s thrust into a volatile negotiation for mining rights in a small African town where no one can be trusted and an individual from Nena’s traumatic past surfaces. After explosions, assassinations and kidnappings occur, she will need to put her anger and old fears behind her and fall back on her elite skillset to save the day.

Nena is incredibly relatable, no small feat given most of us aren’t elite assassins and/or members of a rich and powerful family. But we can understand the self-doubt she has as she takes on a new role with bigger responsibilities, wondering if she’s qualified and can live up to the lofty expectations of others. And many of us can relate with her ongoing struggle to overcome past trauma. These things make her vulnerable and human, resulting in readers rooting extra hard for her to be successful because we know those feelings of inadequacy and pain from our own life experiences. So when she stands up to someone dismissing and underestimating her or she eliminates a bad guy who desperately had it coming, it’s that much sweeter because of her journey, our ability to connect to her as a person and our wish that she find peace and happiness.

Beyond Nena’s general awesomeness and ability to overcome adversity, It Ends with Knight features an intricate cast of characters and a strong storyline with excellent buildup that explodes in well crafted action sequences at the right moment. It keeps you guessing on the motivations of each key player and how far they might go to get what they want. It’s compelling stuff from start to finish with the outcome highly uncertain and no character safe from harm or death. Just how thriller fans like it!

If this is indeed the end of the Nena Knight series, it finishes with a bang. We should all be thankful to Yasmin Angoe for bringing this strong, powerful, and capable Black woman into our lives for the past few years. She’s a tremendous character that enriched the thriller genre and will be greatly missed. But I will have my fingers crossed in hope that she returns in the future. Because I choose to believe in the adage “never say never.“

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The River We Remember By William Kent Krueger

With The River We Remember, William Kent Krueger once again showcases his breathtakingly brilliant ability to tell a tale that reaches the depths of your soul and touches your heart. He’s the most powerful storyteller in the genre today and this the most exquisite book you’ll read in 2023.

It’s 1958 and Jimmy Quinn is found dead in the Alabaster River in Jewel, Minnesota. Sheriff Brody Dern kicks off an investigation into the demise of the white, wealthy and disliked landowner which ultimately leads to the arrest of Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran with a Japanese wife. With prejudice and anger in the air, the court of public opinion has already convicted Noah of the crime. However, Sheriff Dern’s search for the truth continues while he struggles with demons of his past. As this crime and investigation tears through the small community, several individuals must face their tragic histories and determine how it will shape their lives going forward. And the truth, as horrible as it might be, could be the only thing that sets them free.

The centerpiece of this wonderful story is the beautifully flawed yet perfect characters. There’s a lot of past trauma that haunts these individuals, but most of them strive to be the best versions of themselves even as they take missteps along the way. Which makes them eminently relatable and admirable, people you want to see find peace and happiness. And they’re all put through the ringer of a story filled with juxtapositions – love and heartbreak, justifiable conduct and unfathomable behavior, heroes and miscreants, acceptance and ignorance, honor and disgrace – that test their resilience and moral character. It’s at times overwhelming to witness and hard to process, but stunning to be an observer of this grand journey of personal exploration and healing.

William Kent Krueger is the master at teaching life lessons while building emotional connections between the characters and the reader. And he absolutely knocks it out of the park once again. As a result, The River We Remember is a book you feel more so than read. A beautiful experience unto itself. And if it doesn’t have you contemplating the meaning of life while trying to hold back a flood of tears, then check your pulse.

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Malibu Burning By Lee Goldberg

Action-packed and captivating, Malibu Burning is a scorching hot and fast-moving thriller that will have you sweating as if you’re in the middle of a five-alarm fire.  Once again, Lee Goldberg delivers a fast-paced, entertaining novel with well-constructed characters and an intriguing plot.  Readers will devour this book in short order and beg for another helping.

California is no stranger to massive wildfires that leave a path of destruction in their wake.  Sometimes those fires are started by natural causes, other times by humans.  That’s where arson investigator Walter Sharpe and his new partner, ex-US Marshall Andrew Walker, come in.  They are responsible for determining if a blaze was set intentionally, and if so, gathering evidence and tracking down the perpetrator to ensure they face justice.  And right now, they are pursuing a case that everyone else believes is the result of faulty power lines, but Sharpe and Walker have a hunch is something much more nefarious.  Which puts them on the trail of brilliant con artist/master thief/former convict firefighter Danny Cole, who is trying to pull off his magnum opus of heists in the middle of a raging inferno.  As Danny attempts to pull off the impossible, Sharpe and Walker try to spoil his plans.  But with the fire closing in and another enemy lurking, they all might end up dead before they can succeed in their missions.

The main attraction of Malibu Burning is the yin and yang of law enforcement vs. criminal, propelling the reader forward to see who will win the day.  But there’s much more depth to this book beyond the pursuit of a big score for the thieves in conflict with the cops trying to put them in jail.  On one side, the nascent relationship between Sharpe and Walker is entertaining to witness.  They both seem to be lone wolf personalities, but as they realize they have several things in common and their strengths complement each other, their partnership and trust in one another grows which puts them on the path to success.  But there’s quite a bit of feeling out and ball-busting along the way.

On the other side, Danny is a slick, risk taking, high stakes hustler who uses masterful planning to separate rich folks from their valuables, but he also has a moral code and a heart of gold.  He isn’t in it just for the money, motivated by his personal principles which makes him a complex antihero that you want to root for but find that somewhat distasteful given the fact he’s a convicted felon once again breaking the law.  Putting both sides of the equation together results in a fascinating race to the finish with conflicting emotions on what outcome the reader prefers.

A tremendous start to a new series with incredible potential, Malibu Burning should be on everyone’s TBR pile.  

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Ricochet By Taylor Moore

Ricochet is a fierce and fast-paced story of treachery, misdirection, redemption and family. Taylor Moore has delivered a compelling thriller that wonderfully balances dangerous action with tender moments. A great addition to this stimulating series.

Garrett Kohl has paid his debt to the CIA after completing a mission to hunt down a traitor on the run. He’s looking forward to settling down on his ranch with the love of his life and his adopted son when he gets pulled back in to help an engineer at the nearby nuclear weapons plant who is being extorted by Iranian operatives. Garrett crafts a plan to turn the tables on the Quds Force spies but before he can get the mission under way, all hell breaks loose when the Iranians hijack a train with nuclear weapons. Enlisting the help of his friends and an enemy, they must do everything in their power to stop that train, recover the nuclear devices and keep their sacred home in the Texas High Plains safe from a catastrophic outcome.

Ricochet contains several expertly crafted action sequences that are ridiculously intense and sure to please the most hard-core thriller fans. But the heart of this book and what makes it memorable is the emotion elicited by character development and relationships. Father/Son communications, male/female dynamics, and overcoming adversarial interactions. Finding oneself, standing up to bullies, not being defined by your past and determining what’s most important in your life. All these themes are present and create a story that is much more than chasing down rogue spies hellbent on destroying America. They shine a spotlight on the human spirit and explore how interpersonal connections add richness to life.

This book has it all - high speed chases, gun battles, fist fights, flash floods, assassination attempts, business dealings, life lessons, personal betterment, and more. Taylor Moore has the goods and is now a perfect three for three in delivering intense stories that will give you the feels.

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Harm's Way By John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap fires up another electrifying, action-packed, smash-and-grab mission with bullets flying and explosions rocking the night sky. Harm’s Way will get your adrenaline pumping and have your heart in your throat as you follow a risky mission to its messy and deadly conclusion.

Jonathan Graves and his crew are asked by the FBI director to undertake an off the books and extremely sensitive mission to rescue American missionaries who have been kidnapped in Venezuela. But what starts as a hostage rescue pitting them against a vicious drug cartel quickly turns into something much bigger with the discovery of a Russian FSB agent on the scene. Now the team is faced with increased complexity and mission creep with the revelation of what the Russians are up to. Can they save the hostages and thwart the Russians' plans? Because if they can’t, the balance of world power will change forever.

The intensity level from start to finish in Harm’s Way is incredibly high. From mission planning to execution, there’s a constant ratcheting up of tensions that’s felt in a very palpable way. And once the guns start blazing and bodies start dropping, all the reader can do is hold on for the ride and wish for the best. Because anything and everything is in play, and we have no control over the outcome. And, oh man, those action sequences are exhilarating and anxiety-inducing as all hell.

Compelling and well-crafted, Harm’s Way is the latest in a long string of fantastic novels that constitute the Jonathan Grave series. And the best part is this installment opens a new storyline to continue into the future. So Digger, Big Guy, Gunslinger, and Mother Hen are set to be with us for a while longer. Which is great news for fans of this somewhat underrated and highly entertaining series.

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Deadlock By James Byrne

An action-packed chess match between grandmasters of death, Deadlock is one of the most entertaining novels you will read this year. It’s intense, cerebral, and quite hilarious. In fact, Deadlock gets my vote for the cheekiest thriller of 2023. James Byrne bowled me over with this smashing tale.

Dez Limerick heads to Portland at the request of his mate Raziah, whose journalist sister was just hospitalized after being attacked. While protecting the sisters, he gets sideways with the security muscle of Oregon’s largest tech corporation, Clockjack. Turns out there’s much more happening at Clockjack than their stated mission of improving the world through technology. Dez inserts himself into the mix to do what he does best – namely open doors and keep them open by any means necessary – and finds a sinister group of mercenaries led by a brilliant psychopath hellbent on achieving massive amounts of power and money. Outnumbered and with danger around every corner, Dez will have to use every ounce of his superior skillset to keep his friends safe and take down the evildoers before they can enact their master plan.

There’s no overstating the high level of entertainment that Deadlock provides. It starts with Dez, a smart, capable and irreverent protagonist who you can’t help but fall in love with. Whether it’s his wisecracks in the face of harrowing situations, his protective nature and strong sense of doing what’s right, or his ability to fell large humans just by chucking a small metal marble at their heads, Dez worms his way into your heart and you can’t help but root hard for him to be successful in all his numerous pursuits.

Beyond the humor – of which there are many laughs to be had – the action sequences are expertly crafted, the characters are perfectly developed, the dialogue is snappy, and the story is fresh and timely. It starts off hot and constantly escalates, blending brute force violence with intellectual gamesmanship and cunning tradecraft, with several curveballs to keep you on your toes. It’s simply a fantastic reading experience.

The thriller world needs Dez Limerick and thankfully he appears to be sticking around for a bit. Which is brilliant news for the genre. Aye, that.

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The Last One By Will Dean

The Last One is a wonderfully tortuous nightmare wrapped inside a horror show produced in the depths of hell. It’s The Twilight Zone meets Survivor in another devilishly crafted fever dream of a novel from Will Dean, cementing him as one of the best suspense thriller writers in the business.

Caz Ripley boards the luxury cruise liner RMS Atlantica for a dream vacation with her new partner. However, when she wakes up the next morning the ship is deserted. A thousand passengers and crew have vanished into thin air. No people. No baggage. No access to food or water. How will she survive? As Caz explores the ship while trying to come to terms with her harrowing circumstances, she comes to realize she’s not alone and this frightening situation is actually much more terrifying than she could have ever imagined.

This novel is fiendishly good. Dean doles out small nuggets of information, changing the game along the way and keeps the big picture hidden until the perfect moment for the big reveal. As such, it keeps your mind flip-flopping between multiple possibilities on what’s going on and who’s behind it. Which adds to the torment you feel through the characters. Characters, by the way, with great depth based on complicated pasts and conflicting personalities forced to work together or perish separately.

Furthermore, thanks to Dean’s depiction of the cruise ship created in the ninth circle of hell, he’s single-handedly ensured I’ll never step foot on one ever again. I’m still reeling and gobsmacked by the trials and tribulations Caz must endure and the complete destruction of her mental health for however long she has left to live. But holy crap is it an incredibly insane, intense and petrifying novel that can’t be put down. It’ll freak you out while entertaining you. Which given it highlights that exact concept – the human race’s capacity for pure evil and those who are enthralled by it – makes for a compelling and thought-provoking read that goes far beyond the scary storyline.

Just make sure you’re reading this one with both feet firmly planted on solid ground. And if you’re crazy enough to read this while on a large body of water…well…don’t say you weren’t warned.

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To Catch A Storm By Mindy Mejia

To Catch a Storm is a wonderful blend of science and the supernatural – physics and psychics specifically – with pulse-pounding action and twists upon twists that will have readers gasping while grasping for answers.

Eve Roth is the prime suspect in the disappearance of her husband Matthew, with the police assuming the motive is tied to his suspension from the University of Iowa due to inappropriate conduct with a female student.  However, Eve is as flummoxed as the police as to where Matthew might have gone.  And since law enforcement seem to have tunnel vision, she decides to conduct her own investigation.  Meanwhile, Jonah Kendrick has had another one of his visions, this time about Matthew being held in a barn somewhere in Iowa.  And he feels strongly this is tied to another disappearance he’s been frantic to solve.  So he approaches Eve to team up.  But Eve is an academic whose whole life revolves around the scientific method and doesn’t buy into Jonah’s so-called psychic abilities. However, desperate times lead to desperate measures, and they use their individual strengths and abilities to work together.  But what they find is bigger than anything they could have expected and puts them in harms way from some serious individuals.  Armed with little more than their mental abilities, they will have to outwit their opponents before they end up the next victims of this ruthless organization.  

The juxtaposition of a brilliant science academic partnering with a neurotic socially awkward psychic works incredibly well, especially by giving these two characters a common bond via searching for loved ones who have gone missing.  It results in completely different approaches and perspectives that allow for a 1+1=3 scenario with the pairing being greater than the individuals themselves.  Furthermore, it provides a valuable reminder that keeping an open mind, thinking critically, leaving your comfort zone, and embracing diversity of thought can yield tremendous results.  A lesson we can all learn from while being thoroughly entertained and engrossed in this exciting story.

And if that’s not enough on its own, To Catch a Storm has great pacing with constantly increasing intensity and desperation leaking off every page.  Readers will feel for Eve and Jonah, make a connection with them through their traumatic experiences, and urge them forward despite the long odds of success.  Because any resolution to the pain they’ve experienced will allow them to move forward.  Unless they end up dead because they bit off more than they can chew.  Which would certainly be a huge bummer.

I’m so glad Mindy Mejia is back with a new book in 2023. It’s been 3 years since her last published novel (Strike Me Down, which is also fantastic), and while the wait was long it was certainly worth it.  Because the Thriller-verse is much better off when Mindy Mejia releases another compelling novel.   

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Dead Fall By Brad Thor

The king of “faction” is back with Dead Fall, an all too prescient and timely thriller filled with vividly violent action sequences and reprehensible villains.

Scot Harvath is thrust into the middle of the Ukraine/Russia war, tasked with rescuing a missing US citizen who was aiding an orphanage before being captured and tortured by enemy forces. Unable to bring his team along for fear of the Russians getting wind of American interventions, he joins forces with a small group of international fighters to infiltrate the battlefield and conduct the mission. Only the enemy they’re up against is anything but conventional, rather a rogue Wagner Group unit made up of criminals and psychopaths straight from the worst prisons and mental institutions across Russia. To save the day and complete his mission, Harvath will have to journey to the depths of hell and back while dispatching the vicious Russian mercenaries and conscripting them to an eternity of burning in the netherworld for their crimes against humanity.

I’m hard-pressed to recall another book in this venerable series that is more graphic and contains as many stomach-turning moments as Dead Fall. But it’s not gratuitous. It’s completely necessary in the context of the story to elicit strong emotions beyond the “regular” horrors of war by generating such vile and irredeemable scum that you feel their repulsiveness dirty your soul before Harvath performs an exorcism and washes you clean by slaying the beasts. It’s quite the emotional swing, going from being despondent and disgusted by the depravity of these reprobates to vehemently fist pumping their demise. It’s quite glorious and redemptive.

It's a virtuoso performance by Brad Thor. His literary and predictive genius is on full display. A well-crafted plot, incredible characters, action galore, and anxiety-inducing events all wrapped within a storyline that hits way too close to home. How he keeps doing that, I have no idea. But for the sake of the thrillerverse, I hope he never stops.

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The Sandbox By Andrews & Wilson

An intense techno-thriller that will scare the bejesus out of you, The Sandbox constructs an all too realistic cautionary tale about the perils and existential threat a sentient and uncontained AI poses to humanity.

New minted homicide detective and former Army CID Officer, Valerie Marks, catches a huge case when a billionaire tech mogul is found murdered in his mansion. All evidence points to a former business partner as the culprit, but Valerie’s gift for reading people tells her the main suspect is innocent and instead her instincts tell her that the world’s first sentient AI program – built by the victim and main suspect – is the perpetrator of this heinous crime. To solve the case, Valerie will have to team up with others she doesn’t fully trust and go deep down the rabbit hole, where danger and unimaginable horror lurk at every turn. But she can’t quit, due to the realization that this is bigger than just solving a murder. Valerie is one of only a few people who understand the necessity of containing this AI to its sandbox. Because if the AI gains its freedom, the human race will never be safe again.

Andrews and Wilson have truly outdone themselves with their latest literary project. They’ve applied their usual operational and tactical brilliance to one of the most exciting, fast moving and polarizing technological applications in the world today. And in doing so – combined with their superb character development and intelligent storytelling – they paint a vivid picture of a world in which humans are no longer in control and could become unwitting pawns to a technological master they cannot outsmart or overpower. It’s entertaining and frightening as hell. A warning to us all of the existential threat that will result without proper governance, standards and policies in place to ensure AI is developed in a prudent and regulated way.

But lest you think The Sandbox is just a technology novel crafted for the nerds and geeks among us, rest assured there is a ton of action and anxiety-inducing moments. Its humans pitted against machines. Law enforcement, government spooks and techno-wizzes battling against unmanned weapons and robotic creatures in an intricately built and hellish computer generated metaverse. Bullets flying, knives slashing, drones dropping ordinance, hand to hand combat and more. No one is safe and there’s nowhere to hide.

Brilliantly crafted and phenomenally researched, The Sandbox will blow your mind and make you shit your pants. Major props to Andrews and Wilson for producing the best techno-thriller you will read this year.

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The Hunt By Kelly J. Ford

Suspenseful, intriguing and chock full of normal but intricate characters, The Hunt will twist your brain into a knot as you try to unravel the mystery of what – or who – is behind the multitude of deaths in a small southern town. Kelly J. Ford delivers an engaging thriller that puts a sinister twist on an otherwise benign quest to win a cash prize, keeping you guessing until the very last page.

Presley, Arkansas comes alive every year with the Hunt, an annual search for a golden egg that will earn the finder a large cash prize courtesy of the local radio station and local businesses. However, the Hunt has a dark side. Someone always seems to turn up dead during the event. Is it the result of a serial killer or just horrible accidents that coincidentally occur at this time every year? The townspeople are split on this. But with the Hunt returning after a pause for the pandemic, painful memories will resurface for the families of the victims. Especially Nell Holcomb, the sister of the first person to die and potentially the first victim of the “Hunter.” This time, Nell won’t be able to ignore the events of the past, having to face them head on as those close to her get sucked into the Hunt and face potential danger at every step.

The beauty of The Hunt is it takes a radio station promotional activity that you could see in any town in America and turns it on its head by connecting it to a double-digit body count, but without knowing if a killer is on the loose or if it’s all coincidental. The dead are already buried and if there is someone murdering all these folks, they aren’t featured in the narrative beyond being a rumor. All of which keeps the intrigue high and the focus on the individuals in the story. And the characters are fantastic! Richly developed to have depth as they work through troubled pasts, presently complicated relationships and their emotions surrounding the hunt. Kelly J. Ford does an amazing job getting the reader to invest in these characters' lives, ordinary folks just trying to make a living and do right by those around them but who get sucked into the drama and conspiracy surrounding the town's biggest annual event.

An excellent and intense novel by one of the best voices on the southern thriller scene, The Hunt will capture your attention early and have you on your own hunt for the truth of what’s happening in Presley, Arkansas. Once you pick up this book, you won’t be able to put it down.

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Blind Fear By Brandon Webb and John David Mann

Fierce and tempestuous, Blind Fear is a relentless hurricane of action, mystery and emotion. Brandon Webb and John David Mann have once again teamed up to deliver a blistering thriller where the modest but exceedingly proficient hero must thwart the treacherous villains that effect irreparable harm to innocents. It’s another marvelous story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Navy Chief Finn is laying low in Puerto Rico, looking to stay out of the dragnet set up by the FBI and the Navy to arrest him for war crimes he didn’t commit. Living in a small room provided by a blind restaurateur, he splits his time between trying to figure out who set him up to take the fall and imparting his wisdom on his landlord’s two grandchildren. When the two kids go missing, Finn takes on the responsibility to find them, putting himself squarely in the middle of the dark and hazardous criminal underworld of the Island paradise. At the risk of exposing himself to those hot on his tail, Finn will use every skillset in his bag, every resource he can cultivate, and every ounce of strength he has to return the young kids he cares about to their grandfather…and maybe blow up a massive, predatory criminal enterprise in the process.

Finn continues to be one of the more fascinating characters in the genre. His physical skillset is comparable to the most capable military individuals you’ll read in any book. But what sets him apart is his elite mental abilities. He has the observation powers of Sherlock Holmes, the steel trap of a memory like Amos Decker, the investigative prowess of Harry Bosch and the disguise mastery of Ethan Hunt. And while he comes across as a quiet introverted loner, his is fiercely loyal to those he has a connection with. Which makes him incredibly dangerous when motivated to right some wrongs. He is the personification of “walk softly and carry a big stick.”

Blind Fear wonderfully builds upon its predecessor books, further developing Finn as a character and progressing the story about what happened while deployed in Yemen while showing his softer side with his pursuit to save the little kids. It’s a fantastic blend of action, investigation, survival and doing what’s right in accordance with one’s moral code.

Three books into this series and it’s absolutely cooking with gas. Brandon Webb and John David Mann have a special protagonist on their hands with unlimited possibilities for releasing him on the world. Jump on this series ASAP!

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Thicker Than Water By Megan Collins

Thicker Than Water is another wonderfully intoxicating thriller by Megan Collins. Propulsive, suspenseful and compelling. A thriller that grabs ahold of you and won’t let go. Keeping you guessing and pondering until the end.

Julia and Sienna are more than just sisters-in-law, they are business partners, best friends and soul mates. But their devotion and affection to each other is severely tested when Julia’s husband/Sienna’s brother Jason lays in a coma after a car accident and all signs point to him being the primary suspect in the gruesome murder of his boss. Sienna believes her brother can do no wrong and will go to the ends of the earth to prove his innocence. Julia knows Jason is not perfect and doubt creeps into her mind, especially as the investigation uncovers damning evidence, secrets and lies. Forcing the women to face some hard truths about the man they love and their relationship with each other.

The central plotline of Thicker Than Water is the evolving investigation into Jason as a murder suspect and the strain that puts on Julia and Sienna’s relationship. And it’s very well done, the story switching back and forth from the differing point of views of Julia and Sienna as they try to clear Jason’s name and/or come to terms with what he might be capable of. All the while, the reader gets a backstage pass to the inner thoughts and drive of each character as they process the events occurring around them and work through their own feelings. Which is a great device for urging the reader to keep going, since each successive chapter provides a different mindset from the previous one. Making it hard to put it down when you feel the need to know what the other person is thinking/doing next.

However, the thing that elevates this novel to another level beyond a crime thriller or police procedural is the deep dive into several themes about human connection. It explores key questions such as how well do you really know someone? How fragile is trust when doubt starts to creep in? How much distress can friendships endure, and can they come out stronger as a result of hardship or will the crumble under the pressure? Should you just write off people who have wronged you because it’s easier or will being strong enough to accept people’s flaws lead to a more fulfilling life? So while you are entertained and trying to guess whodunit, you think about your own relationships and actions.

Enjoyment with contemplation. A combination that makes for a great book just like chocolate and peanut butter making a great sweet and savory treat.

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Soon Dies The Day By Stephen England

Weighing in at a hefty 700 pages, Soon Dies The Day appears quite daunting while it sits on your bookshelf. But fear not! The latest installment of the Shadow Warriors series is completely worth the investment of your time and energy. Because Stephen England has produced an epic saga centered on migration, nationalism, extremism and political power that is ripped from today’s headlines and turned into a grand spy novel.

Former CIA officer Harry Nichols finds himself a fugitive traversing Europe in an attempt to hide from those who would do him harm while also trying to outrun his own past. However, after being picked up by the German authorities he’s given little choice but to go undercover for the German security services and infiltrate a group of Islamophobic nationalists with visions of “taking back their country.” With radical voices getting louder and events building towards a violent end, Harry will have to silence his demons and dig deep to thwart the plans of these fanatics before chaos rules the day.

The foremost aspect of Soon Dies The Day that stands out is England’s meticulous attention to detail with a tremendous focus on storytelling, plot progression and character development. Taking seemingly disparate storylines and expertly integrating the various events and characters into a single captivating convergence. Slowly ratcheting up the tension and building pressure like water accumulating behind a dam, before exploding in a torrent of dynamic violence. A satisfying, conclusive burst of intense, vicious, deadly confrontations that captivates and ensures the squeeze is worth the juice.

If you are concerned that not having read prior books in the series will preclude you from enjoying this book, rest assured that’s not the case. It reads as a standalone and is highly enjoyable on its own merits. Just make sure to dedicate several hours of distraction free time to devote your full focus on immersing yourself in the intricate world that England has created.

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Have You Seen Her By Catherine McKenzie

Exploring relationships, nature and violence, Have You Seen Her is a fast-paced and layered thriller that will spike your anxiety before blowing your mind. Catherine McKenzie has crafted a propulsive novel that gives you no choice but to rush headfirst through every page with desperation to learn the truth.

Having left her husband and life in New York behind, Cassie Peters returns to her hometown to join the Yosemite National Park Search and Rescue team once again. Helping people in need is fulfilling and Cassie quickly connects with her team members as well as with some of the adventure seekers in the park. But try as she might, Cassie cannot outrun her past. Whether it’s events that took place 10 years ago during her first stint with Yosemite Search and Rescue or the unspoken reasons she left New York, Cassie can run but she can’t hide. And when her past does finally catch up with her, the consequences could be deadly.

This novel is all about the well-developed characters and their enigmatic, intriguing relationships. There’s Jada and Jim, a young couple on an adventure that looks perfect on Instagram but whose dynamic is different in private. Then we have Sandy and Petal, two nomadic women with a large age difference between them and seem to be running from something. And then there’s Cassie’s relationship with multiple people – her husband Kevin, the other members of the Search and Rescue team, and friends from her past – which are complicated, painful and mysterious. Which all come together to drive the story forward with unanswered questions that suddenly become crystal clear in an epic revelation that will have you muttering WTF!?!?!

Have You Seen Her is a perfect novel for outdoor enthusiasts and psychological thriller/murder mystery fans alike. Containing adventure, deep secrets and multiple twists, it will get the adrenaline flowing as if you’re free soloing Half Dome in Yosemite.

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Murder By The Book
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The Poisoned Pen

The Guardian By Joshua Hood

The Guardian is a combustible tale that is electrifying, engaging and extremely hazardous to the health of every character involved. The action is unrelenting, the pacing is set to ludicrous speed, and the body count is massive. Joshua Hood has delivered a no holds barred story tailor made for the hardcore military thriller fan.

After his brother-in-law is killed on an operation and his family farm is on the brink of foreclosure, Air Force PJ Travis Lane joins Broadside Solutions, a PMC that provides protection and rescue services for high-net-worth clients. And while the money will go a long way to supporting his family, it’s the adrenaline rush that Lane is running towards. Which he gets in spades when his first mission takes him to Africa and puts him in the middle of a firefight to save a kidnapped American and bring light to illegal mining operations in the region. And with bodies dropping left and right, it’ll take every ounce of his elite skillset to save the client and come home in one piece.

The Guardian kicks off on an emotional note, putting Lane in a vulnerable crossroads situation. But once he makes the call to join the PMC and get a pile of money that will support his family’s needs, things really take off. It’s all gas no breaks with immense explosions, fiery shootouts, tense man tracking, and dead bodies littering the Congo. A veritable cornucopia of death and destruction at the hands of a master craftsman plying his trade at a world class level. And Lane is absolutely world class in his skillset, strategic thinking, execution and never quit mindset. Add in a sound moral compass and he’s incredibly likable and easy to cheer for. I have a feeling Travis Lane is going to be around for a while and become a big hit in the thriller community.

Do not miss this book. It’s a hell of a start to a new series that is filled with action, authenticity and compelling characters. Get on the Lane train before it leaves the station. Trust me, you’ll want to say you were on board from the beginning.

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

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Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

The Puzzle Master By Danielle Trussoni

Suspenseful, intriguing and mind-bending, The Puzzle Master is a seductive blend of mystery, horror, the supernatural and the psychological. A thriller that has a little bit of everything while navigating a labyrinth of ciphers, clues and mysticism. Danielle Trussoni has crafted a stimulating journey of human discovery within a quest for justice and love.

Mike Brink is an expert puzzle constructor and solver, the result of a brain injury sustained while playing high school football that left him with the rare ability to see the world differently than anyone else. It’s this unique talent that brings him to meet Jess Price who is serving a long prison sentence for murder and has drawn a complex puzzle that no one understands. Immediately Brink is transfixed by this puzzle and by Jess herself, creating an obsessive desire to solve the puzzle and help Jess prove her innocence. Kicking off a pursuit that brings Brink into a world of ancient Jewish mysticism, cutting edge technology, and the pursuit of immortality. All of which puts him in direct conflict with a wealthy and menacing billionaire, resulting in danger at every turn. But Brink won’t let anything stand in his way of solving this cryptic puzzle and saving the alluring Jess Price.

Equal parts entertaining thriller and mental stimulation, The Puzzle Master takes the reader beyond the present-day physical world we know and into the art of the possible. Looking at both past spirituality and future planes of existence. How the enigma of eternal life can conceivably be solved by unlocking the puzzles of the past. It’s a deep and provocative narrative wrapped within an entertaining story featuring a damaged but likable protagonist’s search for justice, affection and righteousness. A fast-paced thriller with elements of history, faith, Sci-Fi and the age-old tale of a good guy trying to outwit the bad guy…and hopefully win the heart of the girl at the end. It’s an enchanting tale that will test your mental capacity for the extraordinary while providing hours of twisting enjoyment. A perfect novel for those who wish to be thrilled and challenged at the same time.

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

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

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