Deadbeat By Adam Hamdy

Dark, tragic and unsettling, Deadbeat is a soul-searching tale of love, loss, and living with the consequences of your actions.  A tense and anguishing story that makes you contemplate good vs. evil and reflect on how far you’d go to take care of your family.  Adam Hamdy has delivered another thought-provoking and devastatingly powerful novel that will linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading.

Peyton Collard’s life was shattered after a drunk driving car accident left a young woman dead, leaving him broken, estranged from his wife and daughter, and drowning in alcohol.  After his latest transgression, an anonymous benefactor bails him out and makes Peyton a lucrative offer he is unable to refuse… life changing money if he agrees to kill specific malevolent individuals.  As Peyton sets out on a violent spree across California, he starts to question the motives of the unseen figure pulling the strings and wonders about the true identities of those he’s executed.  Now finding himself investigating the very murders he committed, he is determined to unmask the identity of the person behind the contracts and the dark reasons behind the killings he’s committed.

The pages of Deadbeat are filled with desperation, violence and regret.  But they are also packed with hope, sacrifice and determination.  Which is why it’s so hard to determine if Peyton is likeable or loathsome.  He does some absolutely abhorrent and morally corrupt things, but his motivation can be seen as pure and in the name of seeking redemption.  In the end, it’s up to the reader to make up their own mind on where Peyton stands with them.  But there’s no middle ground.  Either you will be understanding of his ends-justify-the-means approach and find him worthy of your support, or you will gleefully root for him to rot in prison for the rest of his days. 

That there’s even a choice to make given the Peyton’s actions speaks to the brilliance of Adam Hamdy’s storytelling.  He finds humanity in the darkest corners of even the most hopeless of souls.  Using his brilliant and flowing prose to suck you into a debate about virtue vs. vileness.  Requiring reflective contemplation that may not have a satisfying conclusion in the end.  Regardless, you will be entertained while reading this powerful story and its impact won’t end for quite some time, as the angel and devil in your head will continue the conversation for many days after putting the book down.

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Robert B. Parker's Hot Property By Mike Lupica

Spenser’s back with a vengeance in Robert B. Parker’s Hot Property, a thrilling story filled with suspense, violence, corruption and witty one-liners.  Mike Lupica delivers a new Spenser tale with a classic feel containing heart, virtue and an abundance of Hawk.  Everything a long-time fan of this series could ever want.

Rita Fiore, one of Boston’s top defense attorneys and Spenser’s long-time flirtatious friend, has been shot and left fighting for her life.  Spenser is infuriated that someone would take a shot at someone he considers family and won’t rest until those behind this plot are brought to justice…or put six feet under.  Along with Hawk, their friends in the Boston Police Department and a few other old acquaintances, Spenser conducts an investigation that puts him, his colleagues and his sources in the crosshairs of powerful people who will do anything to avoid their secrets being exposed.

Hot Property is a modern story with a nostalgic feel.  The case involving politics, gun violence and urban development feels like something we would read in today’s news.  But the nostalgia hits you in waves as Spenser and his old pals use old-fashioned sleuthing, dogged determination and a bevy of sarcastic quips to get to the bottom of things.  They show unapologetic toughness and a whatever it takes attitude balanced with unconditional caring and protectiveness for the ones they love.  The story is engaging, the characters perfectly depicted, and the dialogue is on point.  Robert B. Parker would be proud to include this book in his impressive canon. 

I am grateful to Mike Lupica for keeping these characters alive and thriving.  The Spenser series is a big reason I love reading thrillers, having read and enjoyed these books for decades.  Keeping Spenser, Hawk, Susan, Rita and the others in our lives is something for which I will be forever grateful.  Here’s to more adventures for this esteemed crew.

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Bogey Spades By Jack Stewart

Seamlessly melding espionage and military elements into one thrilling package, Bogey Spades will have you flying through the pages before dropping the hammer and leaving you stunned.  Jack Stewart’s third book in the Battle Born series deftly continues this engaging saga and sets up what is sure to be an explosive fourth edition in 2025.

Emmy “Punky” King is surveilling a Marine who is suspected of spying for the Chinese.  Colt Bancroft is asked to join a secret squadron with history back to the Vietnam War.  And their paths cross again when the Marine is abducted in broad daylight by an unknown adversary, with both of them there to witness the kidnapping.  Teaming up, they follow the trail to the area surrounding Naval Air Station Fallon, where the trail goes cold but maybe not coincidentally the US Vice President is en route for a visit and a top-secret weapon has gone missing.  With threats coming from all angles and time of the essence, Punky and Colt are running out of time to put the pieces together and stop a potentially catastrophic plot from becoming a reality.

With Bogey Spades, Jack Stewart continues his streak of delivering captivating novels with a “been there, done that, got the TOPGUN t-shirt” knowledge that adds a level of authenticity beyond what most thrillers can even dream about containing.  As a layperson, the lingo and dialogue are fascinating to consume even if you don’t understand every term and phrase. Because it still makes you feel like you’re in the cockpit with Colt or on the chase with Punky, providing a backstage pass to an exclusive club of badasses.  Throw in a twisty plot with multiple adversaries, an uncertain outcome and a bombshell reveal cliffhanger, and you have a novel that hits all the right notes and leaves you begging for more.

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The Last King Of California By Jordan Harper

Dark, gritty and filled with relentless tension, The Last King of California is the rare book that violently assaults all five senses.  You don’t just hold the book and read it.  You hear, smell and taste it.  A complete sensory experience you won’t soon forget.  Providing another proof point that Jordan Harper is at the top of his game and one of the best authors in the business.

Luke Crosswhite comes to the realization that he’s not cut out for college and returns home, a place he has complicated feelings about.  It’s the location of The Combine, a gang his father founded and manages from prison through Luke’s uncle on the outside.  Luke tried to run away from The Combine, but as he reengages with the crew, he realizes this is his family and exactly where he needs to be.  When another brutal gang demands they join up or be destroyed, Luke embraces his destiny and leads the fight to save The Combine and the people he cares about.  Resulting in a violent encounter where everything and everyone could be destroyed.  But there’s no stopping the inevitable.  And Luke will fight to the end for his family.  Blood is love. 

This is a book you feel with your entire being.  A barrage of body shots that leave you weak in the knees.  No gimmicks, no major twists, just a straight descent into hell where hope and dreams go to die, and pain is all that’s left.  It’s also a brilliant study in human behavior – how people evolve (or don’t) over time, how their sense of loyalty will drive their decision making even if it might be self-destructive, and how the environment you’re living in can significantly impact and drive your conduct.  It also explores group versus self, asking great questions about the power of the collective versus the will of the individual. 

And yes, there’s tons of violence.  Guns, drugs, explosions, knives, fire, torture and death.  Nothing and no one will be left unscathed.  Leaving you sweaty and completely spent like you’ve just gone 12 rounds with a heavyweight boxer.  Feeling the effects of this literary tour de force for days and weeks afterwards.  Intriguing, contemplative and haunting.  That’s the powerful gift The Last King of California will leave you with. 

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Double Barrel Bluff By Lou Berney

Witty, duplicitous and teeming with lurking danger, Double Barrel Bluff is a captivating thriller that balances violence and opportunistic maneuverings with matters of the heart and emotional moments.  Lou Berney delivers yet another highly engaging and suspenseful novel sure to entertain the masses.

Shake Bouchon is a former wheelman for the Armenian mob, now blissfully married to the love of his life and living a quiet, hidden existence in Bloomington, Indiana.  But that all comes crashing down when an Armenian thug, who vowed to kill Shake the next time he sees him, shows up at Shake’s home.  But the real surprise is he’s not there to kill him, rather he’s hoping to enlist Shake’s help to find Alexandra Ilandryan, the boss of the Armenian mob who has gone missing in Cambodia and a woman Shake had a prior romantic relationship with.  Against his and his wife’s better judgement, Shake agrees to get involved and finds himself in a position where he cannot trust anyone, violence waits around every corner, and the relationship with his wife is on the rocks.  But the only way out is through, and Shake is highly capable of bringing this fraught situation to a (mostly) positive conclusion.

Double Barrel Bluff is an intense and fun read.  The plot is intriguing, the pacing is brilliant, the dialogue is clever, and the outcome is uncertain.  All of which grab your attention and force you to turn the pages as quickly as possible.  But the main stars of this show are the characters.  Wonderfully developed personalities that fit the story perfectly.  From an Armenian mob enforcer to a clairvoyant hippie to the double-crossing mob boss wannabe and his sidekick to the over-their-head kidnappers and laid-back mastermind and more, each character has been flawlessly and memorably crafted to fit the narrative and propel the book forward.  Throw in an exotic locale and you have a thriller that checks all the boxes. 

Enjoyable, vivid and absorbing, Double Barrel Bluff draws you into its richly detailed world and keeps you enthralled from start to finish.

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A Very Bad Thing By JT Ellison

Brimming with intrigue, dark secrets and drama, A Very Bad Thing is an intense page-turning thriller that implores you to race through it with a burning desire to consume every last sordid detail.  J.T. Ellison has delivered an expertly crafted, twisty tale that provides hours of indulgent entertainment.

Celebrity novelist Columbia Jones is riding high, finishing up a lengthy tour for her latest book.  But on the last night of the tour, she collapses onstage after a mysterious individual stands up during her talk.  And the next morning, she’s found dead in her hotel room.  With the literary world reeling, investigations commence by both the police and a tenacious reporter who was accompanying Columbia on tour.  Soon details of Columbia’s past start to emerge and they paint a much different picture about the beloved author’s past that provide insight into her murder.  And the details uncovered guarantee that everyone involved will see their lives changed forever.

A Very Bad Thing is well-conceived and executed featuring a twisty plot with a slow drip of information that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end.  There’s intrigue, violence, emotion and massive world-rocking revelations.  The character development is superb, delivering complex individuals who are more than they seem and whose past actions don’t necessarily define them.  And the drama…oh boy is it thick and juicy.  It’s a lifetime movie on steroids.  But it’s also way more than a guilty pleasure.  It’s a banger of a book.  A fascinating and voyeuristic tale for all to thoroughly enjoy.

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Once Upon A Time In Boomville By Montana Kane

Witty, playful, explosive and absorbing, Once Upon A Time in Boomville combines alluring and provocative affairs of the heart with a deadly serious race against the clock to stop murderous intentions.  Montana Kane’s third book in Brandy Martini series once again brings the heat with her trademark flirtations, suspense and satisfying endings.

A bigtime Hollywood production with the hottest director in the business has picked Boomville as the location for a blockbuster film filled with A-list celebrities and locals as extras.  But a string of escalating mishaps is putting the safety of the cast and crew, not to mention the entire movie, at risk.  Enter local private investigator Brandy Martini, given an ambiguous producer title and the charter to quietly investigate these incidents to find the person or persons responsible so, as they say, the show can go on.  But Brandy herself becomes a target and must navigate movie star eccentricities, Hollywood hopefuls, romantic entanglements and increasingly violent events to catch the saboteur before someone ends up dead.

This book is a hell of a good time.  From an intriguing investigation with more questions than answers to the underlying current of sexuality that permeates the entire story, there isn’t a single dull moment.  Readers are riding shotgun throughout – rubbing elbows (and other body parts) with celebrities, chasing down leads, and trying to stop a catastrophic disaster from occurring on set.  Throw in a town full of quirky locals with Hollywood dreams, an old gumshoe providing support, the “will they/won’t they” between Brandy and Lieutenant Pritzky, and a Malibu hot tub make out session, and Once Upon A Time in Boomville has more than enough action, “ACTION!” and “action” (if you know what I mean – wink wink) to keep readers riveted from start to finish. 

If you haven’t discovered the Brandy Martini series yet, what are you waiting for?  It’s a supremely underrated trilogy (so far) that screams fun, flirty and fascinating.  No time like the present to jump on this train and enjoy the ride.

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The President's Lawyer By Lawrence Robbins

A fast-paced legal thriller with twists, kinks and complicated relationships, The President’s Lawyer will suck you in, engage your brain and satisfy its thirst for high drama.  Lawrence Robins delivers a juicy and alluring story that compels you to soak up every single sordid element and race to the finish to learn the shocking truth.  Fans of legal thrillers by the likes of John Grisham and Michael Connelly will devour this novel.

Rob Jacobson takes on the biggest case of his career defending the former President of the United States against a murder charge.  Complicating things is the President is Rob’s best friend and the murder victim is a woman with whom Rob had a past romantic relationship.  However, Rob knows he’s the best lawyer for this case and crafts a strategy that casts aspersions on other people he cares about, all in the name of getting an acquittal for his client.  As the trial unfolds and more information comes to light, Rob wrestles with the claimed innocence of his client and his own demons from the past.  And the only thing that’s certain is that however the case concludes, the participants will never be the same.

The President’s Lawyer is a legal procedural novel at its finest and is written by someone who clearly knows the inner workings of the justice system.  From trial prep, to jury selection, to the cat-and-mouse game between the prosecution and the defense, to the direct and cross examinations, to the judge’s approach for the trial – everything feels authentic and is structured in an engaging and linear manner to provide bits of critical information along the way, so you never know exactly what’s coming next but can’t help but try to predict what you think will happen next.  And at the point when you figure out the truth, you can’t stop your mouth from uttering several expletives in surprise and delight at how things turn out.  It’s very well constructed and entertaining as hell.

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Dark Space By Rob Hart & Alex Segura

Dark Space is a captivating interstellar espionage thriller filled with deception, intrigue and heart.  A story that’s equal parts science fiction entertainment and cautionary glimpse into our future.  A stellar novel that has emerged with a big bang from the creative minds of Rob Hart and Alex Segura.

The Mosaic is a spaceship manned by a half American, half Chinese crew that’s on a critical mission to ascertain the habitability of a planet outside our solar system.  But when the ship experiences malfunctions, and the distress call and systems checks are wiped from the system, former best friends – pilot Jose Carriles and spy Corin Timony – independently realize this mission isn’t what it seems.  As they seek answers and attempt to determine the true nature of the mission, they become entangled in a conspiracy and intergalactic conflict that threatens the very existence of humanity. 

Dark Space is a wonderfully engrossing story with characters worthy of the investment of your time and emotional capital.  It’s a well-written book that checks all the boxes of a traditional espionage novel, filled with suspense, political maneuvering, hidden agendas, misdirection, and trying to outwit your opponents.  But the sci-fi aspect adds an extraordinary dimension, painting an incredible picture of the possibilities the universe possesses that we might one day be able to realize – for better or for worse. 

There are also many lessons to be learned from this book.  Starting with an acknowledgement that human nature and the trajectory of our current world will need to be reckoned with at some point in the future.  But the lessons that really resonate, and my favorite part of the book, are the stories of redemption and hope.  Falling down but picking yourself up.  Stepping up and making difficult decisions when the need arises. And being part of something bigger than yourself, selflessly putting it all on the line for the benefit of the collective.  Beautiful stuff intertwined in an enjoyably tense yet fun novel.

This book is fantastic!  Kudos to Hart and Segura for teaming up to deliver this cosmic tale.  Hopefully there’s more to come.  Because I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters and the worlds they inhabit. 

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The Seventh Floor By David McCloskey

Dark, gritty and teeming with authenticity, The Seventh Floor is a classic US vs. Russia espionage tale from the pen of David McCloskey that’s filled with deceit, betrayal and honor.

An operation goes bad in Singapore with the CIA losing the asset and their agent ending up in a Russian torture chamber.  Operations chief Artemis Proctor is made the scapegoat by the new leaders of the CIA, one of which holds a grudge against Artemis for past transgressions.  Months later the missing agent, Sam Joseph, shows up at Proctor’s trailer in Florida with an explosive revelation:  there’s a Russian mole high within the CIA.  They start an off the books investigation that puts every one of Proctor’s closest friends on a shortlist of suspects.  Putting her personal feelings aside, Proctor will do her duty to root out the mole in service the country she has sworn to protect.  But what she finds will haunt her and she may never be the same again.

This is a story about a good old fashioned espionage mole hunt harkening to the days of the cold war where the US and Russia were focused on recruiting and running spies deep within each other’s intelligence organizations.  Paranoia reigns supreme, literally no one can be trusted, and each side is pushing the envelope on what they can get away with.  Unwritten rules are broken, spies are captured and swapped, sleepers are activated, and people who know too much are in danger of elimination.  It’s violent, intense and heart wrenching, but highly engaging and absorbing.  A novel that fans of old-school spy stories will devour.

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The Elias Network By Simon Gervais

Filled with secrets, shootouts and spies, The Elias Network is an absorbing edge-of-your-seat espionage thriller that increases your heart rate, makes you sweat and gives you one hell of a ride.  Simon Gervais delivers yet again…and this one might be his best novel to date.

Caspian Anderson, code name Elias, is an elite assassin for a clandestine organization deep within the Department of Homeland Security.  While on a mission to prosecute a target tied to a human trafficking ring, he identifies another team of operators in play and is further confused when they try to abduct the wife and daughters of his target.  What he learns from that point onward will make Caspian question everything he thought he knew about the organization he works for, the people he interacts with in his cover job as a UN translator, and even if his girlfriend is who he thought she was.  But one thing is certain. Caspian’s lethal skillset will be put to the test and result in the death of anyone who gets in his way.

Gervais has crafted an intricate and engaging story that puts multiple spies and operators in the same theater and watches them gorge themselves on a smorgasbord of violence.  From Switzerland to Italy to France to the US, bodies drop and blood spills at a high rate.  Which is awesome and entertaining if you’re into that kind of thing (in the pages of a novel at least).  However, this book has much more going for it, traversing a tangled web of relationships, operations and organizations that keeps everyone on their toes trying to figure out who’s in cahoots with who and ultimately how everything is going to play out.  Plus, there’s a love story wrapped inside it all with career spies seemingly willing to give it all up to live happily ever after.  What more could you possibly want?

The Elias Network is coming in hot this fall!  Don’t miss out on this entertaining, spicy, fast-paced thriller that kicks off the next great series by the fabulous Simon Gervais. 

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Ashes Never Lie By Lee Goldberg

Lee Goldberg’s smooth and alluring storytelling talent is on fill display in Ashes Never Lie, an irresistible tale of arson, murder and fraud that locks you in early and keeps you riveted to the end.    

Newly constructed homes in a housing development are catching fire with no obvious cause but thankfully with no fatalities.  Miles away another home burns to the ground, but this one contains a dead body and lots of questions.  In the pursuit of answers to the seemingly unrelated cases, arson investigators Walter Sharpe and Andrew Walker team up with homicide detectives Even Ronin and Duncan “Donuts” Pavone.  What follows is a series of eye-opening revelations and undercover operations to catch an arsonist, stop a long-running scam, and save thousands from unbearable pain and certain death.

This book is all-gas, no breaks. Including multiple events and dangerous situations that propel the story forward at high speeds with the heat of a five-alarm fire.  And containing investigations that twist, turn, and require every bit of skill, creative thinking and unsanctioned initiative from the venerable law enforcement team of Sharpe, Walker, Ronin and Pavone.  A partnership that is a brilliant combination of personalities and capabilities that effortlessly leverages the strengths of each member and is entertaining as hell to witness.  Especially as they go after incredibly well-devised characters with complex criminal personas that would excite and fascinate any psychologist, let alone a thriller enthusiast.  In other words, this book has everything you could want in an unputdownable action/mystery novel.

Lee Goldberg is an automatic must read and Ashes Never Lie is just the latest example of why.  He yet again delivers an exhilarating plot filled with intriguing, well-developed characters contained within a smooth-flowing, well-written and enthralling story.  Not to be missed by anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

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

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson teams up with the fantastic Aaron Philip Clark to deliver a dark, gritty and propulsive thriller that packs a vicious punch.  Once you pick up The Accomplice, you won’t be able to put it down and it’ll stick with you long after completion.

Nia Adams is the first Black female Texas Ranger who not only has to catch dangerous criminals, but also must navigate the complicated politics of her organization.  Her latest case takes her to a bank robbery where nothing seems to be missing.  The vault is untouched and the tellers not asked to empty their registers, but a hidden safe in a small room has been breached.  Turns out a Vietnam vet turned master thief has removed the contents of that safe, which threatens to expose a wealthy family’s dirty secrets.  A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.  Resulting in a pile of dead bodies, Nia’s career in jeopardy and, most importantly, her life in grave danger.

This book will smack you upside the head with crisp, gruesome action sequences and gallons of bloodshed.  Seriously, the violence is no joke.  Brutal and lurid, intense and evoking a powerful reaction.  But whether you enjoy that kind of maliciousness or not, you’ll find you’re sticking around for the well-crafted nuances of the characters.  These are complex individuals with very different pasts, motivations, and proclivities.  It’s not as simple as cops vs. robbers.  And that’s what makes this book so compelling and entertaining.  Well…that along with the relentless action and blind siding twists. 

The Accomplice is an exhilarating read.  All gas, no breaks.  Looking forward to more collaborations between 50 Cent and APC.  Have a feeling they have more in store for thriller fans.

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Capture Or Kill By Don Bentley

A gripping story that will leave you breathless, Capture of Kill is an unyielding adrenaline rush of fierce kinetic action delivered at breakneck speed.  Don Bentley enters the Rapp-verse throwing haymakers in a full-throttle adventure of bullets, beatdowns and brinkmanship. 

It’s 2011 and Mitch Rapp is called upon to do what he does best.   Namely kill a bunch of bad guys.  Starting with a mission to take out a terrorist financier in Pakistan and expanding from there to chase down a Quds Force leader who’s high on the CIA hit list and an Afghanistan jihadi leader of a splinter group called Hiz-i-Islami, both of whom are in possession of new missile technology that threatens the safety of American service members.  But wait, there’s more.  Rapp is also tasked with getting definitive proof that Osama Bin Laden is in a Pakistani compound, permitting the US President to send in Seal Team 6 to take out the most wanted man on the planet before he disappears again.  Big asks of one man to stop more American bloodshed and avenge those who perished on 9/11.  Good thing for the good guys – and a nightmare for the bad guys – that Mitch Rapp is the one on these critical missions.

From the first word onward, Capture of Kill never stops picking up steam and delivers high-octane thrills until the very end.  Rapp is constantly on the move, having to balance different objectives across kill orders, clandestine meetings, rescue missions and just plain saving the day in general.  Sometimes on his own, other times with highly capable agents and operators both new and old, Rapp displays his trademark adaptability, relentless determination, intelligence bordering on clairvoyance, leadership capabilities and lethal skillset to get the job done once again for the country he loves. 

Don Bentley does a stellar job with the daunting task of picking this beloved series from Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills.  His first entry is heart-pounding stuff and endlessly entertaining.  Fans should look forward to watching him grow into this series, further finding Mitch’s voice and sending Rapp on hair-raising, anxiety-inducing operations.  Our beloved character is in good hands. 

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Fatal Intrusion By Jeffrey Dever & Isabella Maldonado

Chilling and thrilling, Fatal Intrusion is a harrowing tale filled with twists and turns, investigations and technology, and dogged determination by the righteous versus sociopathic motivations by the malevolent.  The partnership of Deaver and Maldonado comes out of the gates swinging hard and landing haymakers to kick off this exciting new series.

Homeland Security Investigations Agent Carmen Sanchez gets involved in a case outside her scope and jurisdiction when her sister is attacked in Southern California.  As she digs into the case, she realizes it’s more than just a random act of violence.  As she makes her case to her boss and the local law enforcement agencies to allow her continued participation, more connected crimes occur.  With time of the essence to stop the perpetrator, she turns to Professor Jake Herron, an intrusion security expert who colors outside the lines and is known to cross a legal line or two.  Putting aside their complicated past, Sanchez and Herron work the case, finding clues and chasing down every little lead to locate and stop the man they’ve nicknamed Spider.  But they’d better hurry.  Because the violence isn’t going to slow down anytime soon and the driving forces behind this deadly spree are much larger than they could have possibly imagined.

Fatal Intrusion will grab ahold of you quickly and sink it’s hooks into you for the duration.  The plot is fast and suspenseful, and the intensity of the investigative chase is unrelenting.  But it’s the compelling and intriguing characters that make this story so scintillating.  The bad guys are diabolical, meticulous and depraved.  Easy to hate but hard to look away from, worried about what tricks they have up their sleeves next and knowing they must be stopped.  Which is where the wonderful yin and yang of Sanchez and Herron come in.  Sanchez the rule following career law enforcement officer teaming up with an academic, law-breaking hacker.  An unlikely pair that need each other’s strengths and different approaches to progress the investigation farther than either could do on their own.  It’s a brilliant match of personalities teaming up to stop the evil spreading in their community.

This is a really fun, exhilarating and captivating novel.  Looking forward to seeing where these fantastic authors take this series next.

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An Honorable Assassin By Steve Hamilton

Dynamic, tumultuous and explosive, An Honorable Assassin is a thrilling quest through Indonesia in pursuit of a shadowy terrorist.   Steve Hamilton welcomes Nick Mason back after a long hiatus with a heart-pounding story filled with peril and intrigue.  

Nick Mason finds himself in Jakarta, employed as an assassin by a shadow organization holding the well-being of his family over his head to get him to do their bidding.  Namely, kill Hashim Baya, an elusive terrorist financier known as the Crocodile.   But Mason isn’t the only one hunting him.  Interpol agent Martin Sauvage is on a personal crusade to avenge his family who died in a terrorist bombing funded by Baya.  The two are on a collision course with similar agendas towards different outcomes, competing to complete their mission before the other.  Regardless, they better hurry.  Because if they miss their opportunity, Baya will disappear, the world will still be at risk and Mason’s family will be squarely in the crosshairs of the very organization he’s working for. 

Even though it’s seven years since the last book in this series, Nick Mason picks up right where he left off.  He’s still an indentured servant, but instead of reporting to the head of a Chicago crime syndicate he’s now beholden to an ambiguous global cabal who will kill his family if he doesn’t play ball and complete the missions assigned to him.  And this mission is a doozy – chasing a terrorist in a country he has no knowledge of, experiencing a culture he doesn’t understand, working with people he doesn’t know and can’t trust, and if he fails he loses the only people he loves.  Which leads to Mason leaving no stone unturned and no roadblock decimated in pursuit of a successful assassination.  But the one thing he won’t do is compromise his principles.  Even if it divides his focus and makes the mission more difficult.  Which increases Mason’s likeability and invites the reader to root for him despite his nefarious occupation.

An Honorable Assassin is fast paced, takes place in an uncommon location, and flirts with maintaining morality while steeped in a dark underworld of death and destruction.  A fine resurrection of a series and a character that hopefully has a bright future ahead.

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Spirit Crossing By William By Kent Krueger

Poignant, spiritual and riveting, Spirit Crossing is an emotional story of love, loss, standing up for what you believe in and giving a voice to marginalized communities.  William Kent Krueger delivers once again, adding this reflective and touching story to the exquisite Cork O’Connor catalog.

Cork O’Connor’s seven-year-old grandson Waaboo finds a shallow grave containing a young Ojibwe woman.  But with the hunt for the missing teenage daughter of a local white politician capturing the attention of federal and state law enforcement, no one is willing to prioritize this case.  Except Cork, local sheriff Marsha Dross and the new Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police, which includes Waaboo’s father/Cork’s son-in-law.  As the investigation unfolds, a bigger plot comes into focus that connects the two cases as well as those of other missing young women.  Putting Cork and his family in the crosshairs of some very dangerous and desperate individuals who won’t hesitate to kill those who stand in their way. 

This 20th edition to the beautiful Cork O’Connor series is yet another masterclass in storytelling by William Kent Krueger.  He shines a spotlight on critical issues facing the Native community through the telling of a suspenseful fictional tale with beloved characters as the conduit.  Giving this novel a gravitas that many thrillers and mysteries cannot attain.  Because this isn’t just an entertaining book.  It’s an important story that draws attention to real problems facing an underrepresented community in this country. 

Spirit Crossing is also one hell of an engrossing story.  It’s got mystery, death, politics, legal maneuverings, visions, spiritual guidance, and blueberries.  It continues to highlight the wonderfully caring and action-oriented attributes of key characters like Cork and Henry Meloux, but it brings added focus to the development of others in Cork’s world, namely his family.  And as with every prior novel in this series, it will enlighten, infuriate and satisfy in equal measure.  You may also shed a tear or two or fifty.  All of which make for another beautiful reading experience in this phenomenal series. 

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I Need You To Read This By Jessa Maxwell

Suspenseful and engrossing, I Need You to Read This is a creepy yet satisfying murder mystery.  One that tackles difficult subjects while also eliciting nostalgia for newspapers and famous advice columnists.   A gripping and intense, yet easy to read and entertaining novel by Jessa Maxwell. 

Alex Marks lives in New York City and has a steady but boring job writing copy for a pharmaceutical company.  But after her hero, Dear Constance advice columnist Francis Keen, is murdered, she applies for and is hired to take over the weekly column.  As she dives into her dream job, she starts receiving threatening letters and noticing the strange behavior of the paper’s editor-in-chief as well as her assistant.  As she starts to investigate, she worries what she will find about her heroes and fears her own dark past will finally catch up with her, leading to a deadly outcome much like her predecessor.

The murder mystery on its own is engaging, grabbing your attention and propelling you through this book.  But the more intriguing aspect of I Need You to Read This are the themes of mistakes people make, how we avoid moving on from mistakes in a timely manner and therefore let them control our behavior, and that sometimes you need to reinvent yourself to find happiness.  This is what gives the characters in this story depth, especially Alex, and has you rooting for a successful outcome. 

Additionally, with the book centered around an advice column with the purpose to help people who are struggling, it’s a good reminder that everyone has something going on in their lives and that having empathy for others is a critical skill that we all need to exhibit on a more regular basis to make the world a better place. 

A mystery that entertains while also making you think about life.  Can’t go wrong with that combo. 

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase I Need You To Read This
(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

The Rule Of Three By Sam Ripley

Suspenseful and unsettling, The Rule of Three will bend your mind into a plethora of shapes as you try to piece together this perplexing, mysterious and deadly puzzle.  Sam Ripley has crafted an intricate and completely engrossing tale that keeps you guessing until the very last page. 

Do you believe there is truth behind urban legends?  You might after reading this story, told from the perspective of three young women who believe with their entire being that they are going to die, having already buried their parents and lone siblings in prior three-year increments.  Now it’s their turn.  Is it a curse?  Is it a prophesy?  Is it something more sinister?  Is it just a coincidence?  You’ll have to read the first-person accounts of these women’s experiences to figure it out for yourself. 

The Rule of Three unapologetically fucks with your head for 320 pages.  It starts with the unique structure of each section sharing the unfiltered journal entries of the different women caught up in the deaths of their families and what it means for them.  But as the next woman picks up the thread to try to stop the chain of events that seem inevitable, doubt is sown about the veracity of events and individuals contained in the prior woman’s account.  Then various game changing occurrences and connections start showing up to throw a wrench in what you think you knew.  And just when it seems like everything has been figured out and wrapped up in an untidy bow…surprise!  You know nothing and learn there were clues all along that you missed.  Compelling you to go back and look again with mind blowing results.  It’s an exceptionally well thought-out and executed concept that provides hours of brain busting thrills and entertainment.

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

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(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

Burn Out By Joshua Hood

Intense and explosive, Burn Out is a fiery, balls-to-the-wall action thriller that turns up the heat and gets your adrenaline pumping.  Josh Hood has delivered a heart-racing, harrowing and stimulating tale filled with danger, violence and perseverance.

Mikey Boone is on the run from a Mexican drug cartel after being found to be a confidential informant for the DEA.  Despite a falling out years ago with his buddy Jake Slade, he has no one else to turn to and reaches out for help.  Slade is now a smokejumper and is in the middle of fighting a wildfire, intending to ignore his former friend’s call when the DEA agent running Boone explains the situation and asks for his help.  Slade agrees and sets off to find Boone, kicking off a deadly game of cat and mouse with a cartel hitman and his team of mercenaries who will eliminate anyone in their path.  Not knowing who to trust, Slade falls back on his considerable skillset and his moral code to see this through to the end.  Even if it kills him.

The non-stop action in Burn Out is enough to satisfy even the most hardcore of thriller junkies.  But there’s much more to this book than stalking enemies, gunfights, and fisticuffs.  It’s about redemption.  Finding a way to not have your sordid past define you, rather finding a new calling that does good for the world and starting fresh.  It’s about persistence.  Never quitting despite the odds against you, pushing your body to it’s physical and mental limits and staying in the fight.  It’s about following a code.  Never leaving a man behind, even if it’s a former friend who you haven’t talked to in years.  And yes, it’s also about vengeance.  Putting everything else to the side and raining down violence on those who would do unspeakable, viscous things to you and your friends. 

Exceedingly entertaining and jam packed with uncontainable energy, Burn Out is the high-octane, edge of your seat summer blockbuster you’ve been waiting for.  A cinematic story that’s easy to picture gracing the silver screen one day.

Follow Steve on Twitter or contact him via the site.

Purchase Burn Out
(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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