Break Every Rule packs a punch from page one. Tommy Miller hides in Florida, hoping his old life remains buried. That hope vanishes when kidnappers snatch his wife, Teresa, and infant daughter, Rosalita. Tommy taps his old skills as a soldier and member of a secret group called the Outsiders. Violence waits at every turn. He learns Teresa carries secrets of her own, tied to the murder of a British Royal tangled in a sex ring. Detective Lindy Jax investigates the abduction and suspects Tommy holds back key details. She has her own reasons: years ago she lost her brother without a trace. Brian Freeman, known for continuing Robert Ludlum’s […]
Read more...Tag Archives: thriller
Power, Corruption, and Suspense: A Review of Thriller Absolute Power
I always enjoy Baldacci’s thrillers, so I went back and read one I missed from 1996. Some may find it far-fetched, but with today’s politics, who knows? Absolute Power grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go. It’s gritty, clever, and full of twists that make you question everyone’s motives. The story begins with Luther Whitney, a career thief, witnessing a crime while robbing a billionaire’s mansion. But this isn’t a typical break-in gone wrong—it’s a murder that implicates none other than the President of the United States. Luther is a flawed but fascinating protagonist. Despite his criminal past, he’s a man trying to do the right thing in […]
Read more...
A Gripping Mystery in the Heart of the Northwoods
Figure Eight hooked me from the start with its vivid portrayal of small-town life and a haunting mystery set in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. John Cabrelli, a former cop grappling with the loss of his career, inherits his uncle’s cabin and stumbles into a tangled web of secrets. As he digs deeper into his uncle’s suspicious death, Cabrelli faces danger and uncovers truths that could change everything about the place he once called home. Jeff Nania’s background as a law enforcement officer and conservationist shines through. The details about the land and the characters’ interactions with their environment feel authentic. The town’s culture—the festivals, quirky personalities, and close-knit community—reminded me of my […]
Read more...
Revenge and Redemption in Ancient Egypt
Wilbur Smith, the legendary master of historical adventure, immerses readers in ancient Egypt with The New Kingdom. Known for his vivid storytelling, Smith’s novels span continents and eras, and this book certainly adds to his impressive legacy. Hui, a young scribe, sees his life shattered when betrayal and murder tear his family apart. Cast out by a conniving stepmother and brother, Hui’s journey takes him from the comforts of Lahun to the harsh realities of exile. Along the way, he joins the Hyksos—a formidable army of outlaws—and transforms into a fierce warrior. His quest for vengeance becomes intertwined with the fate of Egypt itself, as gods and mortals collide in […]
Read more...
A Heart-Pounding Wilderness Thriller
Allen Eskens delivers another standout suspense novel with Forsaken Country, an intense, heartbreaking story set against the wild beauty of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This latest installment in the Max Rupert series works seamlessly as a standalone, blending emotional depth with pulse-pounding action. Max Rupert, a former homicide detective, has retreated into isolation after the tragic loss of his wife. But his friend Lyle breaks through his solitude when he begs for help. Lyle’s daughter Sandy and grandson Pip have vanished, and the local authorities refuse to investigate. Max reluctantly agrees to dig deeper, uncovering a dangerous trail that leads to Sandy’s ex-husband Reed. Eskens crafts a riveting cat-and-mouse […]
Read more...
Here One Moment Keeps You Guessing
Imagine you are sitting on an airplane minding your own business when a sweet little old lady comes up and tells you when and how you are going to kick the bucket. Is she a crackpot or let her prognostication change everything? That’s the unique premise of Liane Moriarty’s brilliantly constructed recent novel, Here One Moment. Set aboard a delayed flight from Hobart to Sydney, Australia, this inventive tale introduces a vivid cast of characters: a newlywed couple still glowing from their vows, a tired mom wrangling two kids, a pregnant woman, and a brooding hipster. No one notices the unassuming elderly woman in the aisle seat. Dubbed “The Death […]
Read more...
A Slow-Burn Tale with Sparks of Suspense: A Review of Johnston’s Latest
Johnston’s latest literary suspense novel paints a vivid picture of a small Wisconsin town haunted by the mysterious disappearance of three boys in the 1970s. The story centers on Sean Courtland, a drifter who ends up working for Marion Devereaux, a man shrouded in suspicion. Alongside Sean is Dan Young, another wanderer with his own secrets, and Denise Givens, a local waitress whose life becomes entwined with Sean’s after a bar altercation. Detective Corrine Viegas, determined to uncover long-buried truths, watches as these lives intersect and set off a chain of events leading to devastating consequences. While the premise holds promise, the execution is slow. The first half drags with […]
Read more...
Espionage Meets Art: Gabriel Allon Returns in Portrait of an Unknown Woman
Daniel Silva’s 22nd Gabriel Allon installment returns the legendary spy to his original passion: art restoration. Now retired, Allon’s peaceful life in Venice with his wife and children gets upended when he’s drawn into the high-stakes world of art forgery. His old friend Julian Isherwood faces ruin over a dubious Van Dyck painting, pushing Allon back into the game. What follows is a skillful blend of art and espionage as Allon crafts forgeries of his own to ensnare a shadowy forgery syndicate and its financial backer. Silva’s sharp storytelling and insight into the art world shine, giving readers an inside look at the craft and deception of forgery. The plot […]
Read more...
A High-Octane Battle Between Good and Evil
Dark Angel, the second entry in Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson’s Shepherds series, delivers a gripping and intense military thriller with a unique faith-based twist. Former Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson is back, now training with the Shepherds, an elite organization of warriors tasked with confronting spiritual threats. But the challenge of stepping into his role as the rookie leader of a new team is just the beginning. Jed’s visions of an imminent overseas attack force him into action, and what follows is a pulse-pounding mission that blurs the line between the seen and the unseen. Andrews and Wilson skillfully weave together elements of counterterrorism, faith, and supernatural warfare, creating a […]
Read more...
Friendship and Corruption in Biloxi
In The Boys from Biloxi, John Grisham masterfully weaves a tale of friendship, betrayal, and the complex interplay of law and crime set against the backdrop of 1960s Biloxi, Mississippi. The story follows two boys, Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco, whose childhood camaraderie devolves into a fierce rivalry as the circumstances of their lives draw them onto opposing paths. Keith, the son of a determined anti-crime prosecutor, dedicates himself to the law, while Hugh slips into the seedy underbelly of organized crime, following in the footsteps of his father, a notable crime figure in Biloxi. Grisham’s narrative is both engaging and informative, shedding light on the historical context of Biloxi’s […]
Read more...