The sequel is better than the first book which was half murder mystery and half family drama. The book started on an interesting note wherein a girl hThe sequel is better than the first book which was half murder mystery and half family drama. The book started on an interesting note wherein a girl hears a gunshot but no evidence of a murder is found. However, the fact wasn't really relevant later on. Looks like the author portrayed such incident only to grab the attention through blurb. Having said that there were multiple suspects and everyone had the motive which kept the story interesting. The end was a drag though....more
While first book was a brilliant fast paced action thriller, both in terms of action sequences, characters and plot, this one is a substandard follow While first book was a brilliant fast paced action thriller, both in terms of action sequences, characters and plot, this one is a substandard follow up. The author just picked 2 random villains from the previous book and unconvincingly tried to make them menacing. The plot itself wasn't clear. Sometimes the villains wanted revenge on Adrian Hell while a while later they wanted to destroy the US. Not the kind of sequel I had expected. Let's see if I make up my mind to go for the 3rd one....more
Typical Venezuela based thriller. CIA protagonists against Venezuelan dictator. The heroes with the help of rebel forces uproot the dictatorial regimeTypical Venezuela based thriller. CIA protagonists against Venezuelan dictator. The heroes with the help of rebel forces uproot the dictatorial regime. Seen such stories in every military fiction/ espionage books and web series. Scott Stiletto, a former CIA officer and now working with a shadowy organization called the Trust is entrusted with taking supplies to Venezuela, a facade for his true job, which is extracting CIA officers imprisoned in a Venezuelan jail. While the story itself was very predictable, I loved the portion involving the Trust. Also good to see some characters returning from previous books. I must say this is the weakest after The Termination Protocol. Will pick up the next sometime later....more
Last 2 Black Force shorts are pretty average and it seems the author is losing his interest in this series. I was rooting for this one as it involves Last 2 Black Force shorts are pretty average and it seems the author is losing his interest in this series. I was rooting for this one as it involves the main protagonist of Matt Rogers universe, Jason King. But the storyline was very weak. King is sent to Mali so that he can be kept away from the US. The thing for which he was kept away eventually didn't turn out to be anything catastrophic....more
Pierce Hunt joins hands with the CIA in the second book to tie up the loose ends of Black Tosca cartel. A Venezuelan General is eying the US market thPierce Hunt joins hands with the CIA in the second book to tie up the loose ends of Black Tosca cartel. A Venezuelan General is eying the US market through a new drug using Gracia cartel which is headed by Pierce's love interest Anna Gracia and is shutting down its illegal operation. To make matter worse, the boyfriend of Hunt's daughter dies due to the same drug and every finger is now pointing to Anna Gracia. Like previous book, there are multiple parallel plots and pulse pounding action breaks in every chapter. Hunt travels from Paraguay to Afghanistan to Venezuela to crack the mystery of the drug. The story runs at a breakneck speed and you won't feel bored at any point. Though the entire Afghanistan op made no sense to me. Will pick up the 3rd one soon....more
The book is full of gritty, blood-soaked action. Starts with protagonist Pierce Hunt in the middle of an op but fails due to intervention by a reporteThe book is full of gritty, blood-soaked action. Starts with protagonist Pierce Hunt in the middle of an op but fails due to intervention by a reporter who compromises the mission by going live on social media. Hunt gets a second chance 6 months ago but this operation hits close to home as his own daughter gets embroiled in the case. Now Hunt has to save his daughter and the granddaughter of a cartel boss. He races across the US and ends up in Mexico in the final showdown. The story races through one action scene after another and you'll never feel bored for once. There are a bunch of interesting characters - both on good side and bad side. Going to the next book right away....more
While I love Black Force shorts, for they are no nonsense high octane thrillers, this one was pretty average. Not sure but I still can't connect to WiWhile I love Black Force shorts, for they are no nonsense high octane thrillers, this one was pretty average. Not sure but I still can't connect to Will Slater. I love all other Black Force operatives, Sam and King in particular, but Slater is just superficial. I didn't like him in Jason King Book 3 Reloaded as well. Coming to the story, Slater has to get a man from a Mexican cartel, Malvado, also known as the Wicked, for he knows things about US black ops. Though I couldn't understand for sure what Slater wants to do with him - whether to kill him, or to know something from him, or take him to the US government. Until the end, Slater kept oscillating between different options. When the protagonist's motive isn't clear to readers, they're gonna lose interest in his journey. That exactly happened with this book. Though for the love of the author's writing style, I'll continue with the series and also Jason King series....more
Best thing about Chase Austin's books is lack of padding. He didn't waste any time in artistry. This one is better than Wicked Deceit wherein the authBest thing about Chase Austin's books is lack of padding. He didn't waste any time in artistry. This one is better than Wicked Deceit wherein the author was trying to do too many things at once. Also the plot is better in this one though quite straightforward. The usual elements of an edge of seat thrillers were there and the author didn't waste any time in fluff. However, the protagonist Sam Wick makes appearance only in the second half. The first half is just about the Senator's daughter's abduction and aftermath. Still it's worth the time given the book of only 200 odd pages long. Will pick the next one soon....more
This one has comparatively simple plot. Tom Rollins again got embroiled in someone else's trouble. This time it's a fourteen year old girl running awaThis one has comparatively simple plot. Tom Rollins again got embroiled in someone else's trouble. This time it's a fourteen year old girl running away from her stepfather. While saving the girl and a pissing off bunch of bad guys, Rollins finds a dirty business going on in an institution. The story doesn't have much depth. Loved the character of teenager Taylor. There are other good books in the series but this one isn't that strong....more
The story was short and crisp, the major portion of it set across a period of a few hours and at one place. Sam Wick is an operative of an off the recThe story was short and crisp, the major portion of it set across a period of a few hours and at one place. Sam Wick is an operative of an off the record agency called TF77. He's united with a team whose job is extracting an exiled Venezuela journalist from Austrian embassy. At the same time, the Venezuela intelligence too want the journalist. The rest is about the tussle between the two teams. What let me down is the writing style. Very immature. Lots of head hopping - which means the pov character changes frequently and in the matter of lines. So you never get to read the story from a particular character's perspective and it keeps confusing you throughout the book. There are hints of Wick's past and about parties who'll have a major role to play in the series....more
Very James Bond style story and action. There was high octane adrenaline pumping action on every page. To be honest there was little story and the actVery James Bond style story and action. There was high octane adrenaline pumping action on every page. To be honest there was little story and the action scenes at places felt like page fillers but overall the book delivers what it claims in the blurb. Jason King is back from his premature retirement after the events of previous book. This one was a pure black ops thriller. King is in Egypt to investigate the disappearance of two Black Force operative, finds himself caught between an American businessman and a fanatic terrorist. After the last 2 books which were a let down. I'm hoping the series to pickup from here. Will surely grab the next one soon....more
There was action on every page but little in terms of storyline. The protagonist who's just returned home gets caught between two mobsters - one beingThere was action on every page but little in terms of storyline. The protagonist who's just returned home gets caught between two mobsters - one being his uncle who is all good and other the Russians who are pure evil. Once the war breaks out, the story is nothing but you killed mind I killed yours. And this is how the story ends finally with the hero coming at top. I expected a better storyline but was disappointed in the end. Not sure if I'll try another book in the series....more
Too long for my liking. Each scene is explained more that it should, just loosening the tautness required for an action thriller. The plot was simple.Too long for my liking. Each scene is explained more that it should, just loosening the tautness required for an action thriller. The plot was simple. The assassin for hire, Reed, fell in love with a girl. The next assignment is the girl's Godfather. Reed refuses and pisses off his employers. That's it. Not sure if I go for the next book in the series....more
The best thing about Paul Heatley is that his writing isn't pretentious. He puts telling a good story at the topmost priority. The story gets going frThe best thing about Paul Heatley is that his writing isn't pretentious. He puts telling a good story at the topmost priority. The story gets going from the first page. Like previous ones in this series, the writing style is fluid. There are many characters and everyone's got high stakes, which keep you at the edge of your seat all the time. The story is set in Alaska as opposed to the previous 3 settings which were to the south. Rollins unwillingly gets embroiled with the Russian Bratva who are in Alaska to sabotage trans Alaska pipeline. Fast paced story with action in every chapter. Picking the next one straight away after this....more
Romantic mysteries are a nice blend of murder mystery and family drama. I've read Rita Herron's Graveyard Falls series and loved all books. Expected tRomantic mysteries are a nice blend of murder mystery and family drama. I've read Rita Herron's Graveyard Falls series and loved all books. Expected the same from Ellie Reeves as well. And it exceeded my expectations as in this one there is more police investigation but right amount of family drama as well. Someone is kidnapping girls in the small town of Crooked Creek and Bluff County and the disappearance connects to Detective Ellie's own past. The story is fast paced, the chapters short and crisp....more
Jason King is in Corsica, owned an affluent bunglow and a bar. But his peaceful life turns awry when his former employer sends their top operative, WiJason King is in Corsica, owned an affluent bunglow and a bar. But his peaceful life turns awry when his former employer sends their top operative, Will Slater, to kill him. It's followed by pages and pages of action which I keep skipping because they weren't adding anything to the story. Then like Batman vs Superman they become friends and fight a common enemy, a local criminal who's doing something sinister in the island. Won't name it here as it might turn into a spoiler but it's something very unimaginative and has been done a lot. The first book in the series, Isolated, was really good but it's all downhill from there. I'm not going to give up on the series yet though and might try next after some time....more
Having read Morgan Dane and Widow's Island, I've a fair idea about how Melinda Leigh goes about her story. The chapters alternate between solving the Having read Morgan Dane and Widow's Island, I've a fair idea about how Melinda Leigh goes about her story. The chapters alternate between solving the mystery and dealing with the personal life of the protagonist which is affected by the murder. Though the personal life/family drama part didn't really contribute much to the overall and so I end up skimming through those chapters. The mystery unfold slowly where the protagonists Bree Taggert and Matt investigate each suspect. The climax wasn't something shocking which you expect in crime thrillers, probably because it was a romantic suspense. Will try next book after some time....more
John Milton's books are supposed to be espionage thriller as the protagonist is an ex agent and ex assassin. However, I haven't really seen any spy esJohn Milton's books are supposed to be espionage thriller as the protagonist is an ex agent and ex assassin. However, I haven't really seen any spy espionage theme in any of the previous books until this one. Milton is blackmailed into saving an old friend who's a part of the shadowy organization Group 15 and now captured by the Russians. The Russians want information which is with Beatrix Rose, an ex agent who'd hired Milton into Group 15 eight years ago and now is on the run, like Milton. Milton moves from Russia to Hong Kong to London to get the data and Rose. The story that started in The Cleaner about Milton's rivalry with the group resolves in this book....more
It's a good old police procedural and criminal investigation. Whitney Walker isn't in the good books of her chief due to an earlier goof up. Now is thIt's a good old police procedural and criminal investigation. Whitney Walker isn't in the good books of her chief due to an earlier goof up. Now is the incharge of a murder case of a young student of the local uni. More bodies turn up and soon the cops realise it's the work of a serial killer, probably a fellow student or teacher. Dr Georgina Cavendish is a professor of forensic psychology in the same uni and wants tk help the police in the investigation. Both Whitney and Cavendish are struggling in their personal lives and find solace in solving the case along with each other. I like the way the author concentrates only on solving the crime with no unnecessary (sometimes cringeworthy) social commentary or underlying themes. They go about solving the case, collecting the evidence and connecting the dots. They make mistakes in between but stay determined. The revelation of killer wasn't something expected in the start and full marks to the author....more
I loved the first book in the series- A Killing Truth - which was a no nonsense thriller with action and conspiracy. This one, for some strange reasonI loved the first book in the series- A Killing Truth - which was a no nonsense thriller with action and conspiracy. This one, for some strange reason, tries to be a whodunit. And then it isn't completely an investigation thriller either. Leine Basso, an ex assassin, is hired as a new security in charge of a reality show where the girl contestants are being killed. As it turns out, the killer is someone from Leine's past. The killer's motive was not very clear - sometimes it feels he admires Leine, then it seems he's obsessed with the contestants. Even the climax doesn't explain much about the killer. Below par book from an author from whom I had a lot of expectations after the first book....more
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