Book Review: HAWKE, by Ted Bell

Ted Bell
HAWKE (Alex Hawke #1)
Atria, 2003
438 pages
Suspense / Thriller / Military / Espionage

I love when I discover new-to-me writers. Stumbled across HAWKE accidentally. Read the synopsis. Bought the book. It introduces a new series character, billionaire, ex-Royal Navy man Alexander Hawke. The book gets the action going on page one, and literally keeps a ferocious pace until the last page.

Hawke, because of his past, because of his reach, because of his contacts, because of his unlimited resources is contacted by the authorities for help on a serious matter. One of two Russian submarines have gone missing. These are not ordinary subs. The V shaped machines are equipped with forty armed nukes, twenty per wing. The vessel also has a state-of-the-art cloaking device, making it virtually invisible in the ocean. Once delivery of the war machine is made, stopping any attack would be nearly impossible.

Cubans are the believed buyers. Fidel Castro's reign is in danger. The Telarana are planning a coup. The three de Herreras brothers pose a serious threat to an already unstable country. If they are successful with overthrowing Castro, and get their hands on the submarine, all hell will break lose in America.

Subliminally, Hawke does not realize his path with the de Herrerars crossed once before. The memories of their "meeting" are buried within the subconscious mind. Glimpses of pirates, and hidden treasures are all that remain at the forefront. The details --horrific as they are-- remain buried, and are maybe just too painful to excavate!

Putting together a team of his own, one of trusted friends, and new allies, Hawke embarks on a trek to stop the sale of the submarine and settle old debts. Plans, however, are only as good as the paper they are written on. Variables come from all different directions. With a biochemical bomb hidden on US soil, set to detonate, and the kidnapping of a close friend, Hawke and his band of partners are facing impossible odds. Beating the ticking clock, and an ensuring everyone's safety is just not possible!

Hawke is determined, and will not give up! But will that be enough?

A fantastic novel, with great characters, exotic locations, and a timeless plot! I loved every chapter, and am so thankful there are like eight more Hawke novels in the series.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series,
and The Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: LEGACIES, by F. Paul Wilson

F. Paul Wilson
LEGACIES (Repairman Jack #2)
Forge, 1998
381 pages
Suspense / Thriller

It was a long, long time ago when I first read F. Paul Wilson's THE TOMB. And while I have read more books by this author, I never revisited the Repairman Jack series. Recently, I bought them all. So, readers, be prepared for a string of Repairman Jack reviews.

LEGACIES was the second in the ever-popular series. It brought me right back into the melee as I remember it. Plenty going on. And Jack is as busy as ever!

What starts out as a simple job for Jack, blossoms (explodes?) into so much more. A heartless soul has broken into the Center for Children with AIDS and stolen all of the donated Christmas gifts meant for the sick kids. Hired to find out who was behind the theft, Jack is determined to track down the thief.

Alicia Clayton, for the most part, runs the Center. When she is introduced to Jack, she realizes he may be the best person to help her out of a tough situation. Her father has died. He left everything he had to her. The will is being contested by her half-brother, who was deprived of any inheritance.

Full of secrets, and a dark, dark, past, their father was on the brink of something big. Before his revelation was brought to light he'd perished in a plane crash. Now, two separate entities have an interest in digging up what the man had left behind. They will stop at nothing to discover what the late Mr. Clayton created. Even if it comes down to murder, or countless murders . . .

That is, until Jack enters the picture. At that point, all bets are off!

A truly exciting, fast, and nail-biting read. Wow, F. Paul Wilson can tell a tale. (While I may go back and re-read The Tomb), I felt very comfortable jumping back in some fifteen, twenty years later. It's like I never stopped. This was a great novel. And I am anxious to progress through the rest of the series!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series,
and The Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: MERITROPOLIS, by Joel Ohman

Joel Ohman
MERITROPOLIS
CreateSpace, 214
226 pages
Dystopian / Thriller

A friend bought me a copy of this book. Thought I would enjoy it. I appreciate him introducing me to a new author worth following. I would be remiss if I then, in return, didn't try and do the same for all of you! Please, let me take a few minutes and tell you about Joel Ohman's MERITROPOLIS.

In the self-contained city of Meritropolis population is limited to exactly fifty-thousand. A body more and the balance could be upset. The balance, otherwise, is maintained by the System. People earn a number. The higher the number the better. Through inking, the number is displayed on one's forearm, unhideable. The lower the number the more in-danger one's continued existence within the city becomes.

Lower numbers are not killed. They are banished, forced to live outside the fortress walls. Those banished tend to be the sick, the young, and the elderly --those less likely contributing the better of the society, the better of the System. Raised to believe only vicious creatures live beyond the surrounding walls it is obvious anyone surviving more than a night or two is unlikely.

Building on the loss of his own little brother, Charley (a high number), is revolts before witnessing the banishment of a young crippled girl. He intervenes, regardless of the consequences he may face. Only thing is, his bravery is rewarded instead of punished.

The Commander of Meritropolis promotes Charley to a Hunter. During Charley's training more truths are revealed. There is more to the city than meets the eye, and more beyond their city than everyone has been lead to believe. Additionally, there are more people against the System than initially suspected. This means, Charley is not alone. It also means that the time is NOW to start a revolution.

Ohman has dragged me into his MERITROPOLIS world, and I am enjoying myself. There is a second book in this series, and a whispered-about third on the way. I will be ordering the second book today. I need to see what happens next. The world building Ohman did was taut, and compelling, believable, and probable. I enjoyed the artwork beginning each chapter giving us a visual starting point for the mass of new, introduced creatures found outside the MERITROPOLIS walls. Looking for the next YA dystopian adventure --the next Hunger Games, or Divergent-- worth reading? This book just might scratch your itch!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series,
and The Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: AGENT G, INFILTRATOR, by C.T. Phipps

C.T. Phipps
AGENT G: INFILTRATOR
Amber Cove Publishing, 2017
193 pages
Science Fiction / Thriller

Agent G is a man with no state, no ideology, or creed. He is an assassin for the International Refugee Society. The twenty-six agents are called Letters. (Think alphabet, twenty-six, and all). Someone on the inside is a mole. Information on Letters is being fed to Carnevale --the only other Assassin-for-hire business. Competition is murder!

Letters volunteer for a ten year position with the Society. Their memories are wiped, and stored. Once they have successfully completed their time, the memories are restored, and a high-life retirement will ensue. A paradise is the dangling carrot offered for the sacrifices assassins are forced to make.

Now, Agent G is tasked with going undercover. The Society has plans for him. Once inside Carnevale, he is to tear them apart. Divide and conquer. Although expected to go it alone, he has his loyal assistant, and lover, Marissa, radioed in. Their communication is the key to his success. Only problem is --with an unidentified mole in the Society, Agent G has no idea who he can trust. With the promise of his missing past hanging in the balance, his freedom . . . it becomes a race against time to figure out what is what and escape with not just his life, but his sanity!

C.T. Phipps has put out an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Read this in two sittings. Hated putting it down the first time. With geneticists, cybernetics, cloning, political plots, and high-tension suspense, AGENT G: INFILTRATOR is non-stop action. The characters are well-crafted, the dialogue crisp, and witty, and the plot plausible! Trust me, this is not a book you want to miss. Do yourself a favor. Add it to your to-be-read list today!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series,
and The Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: THE FORSAKEN, by Ace Atkins

Ace Atkins
THE FORSAKEN (Quinn Colson #4)
G.P. Putnam's Sons, July 2015
416 pages
Crime / Suspense / Thriller

I thing the latest installment in the Quinn Colson saga, THE FORSAKEN, was by far the most gripping, and emotional.

After a brutal shoot out that left the sheriff of a border county dead, both Sheriff Quinn Colson, and his Deputy Lillie, are in hot water. The DA is talking about a Grand Jury, and a possible indictment, confident the shooting was less than justified.

Additionally, Diana Tully has come forward, and needs Colson's help. Nearly thirty years ago she was raped, shot, left for dead . . . and her friend was murdered. The murderer was never officially caught.

Officially.

The town rallied against the violent crime. They had a baseline description of the suspect. Male, black. Seemed like all they needed. The town covered up the hanging, and burning of a body, but assured the families justice had been served. The problem is, after the town murdered the man they though responsible for the henious crimes, Diana saw the rapist/murderer again.

Could the town have lynched the wrong man?

Colson's digging for truth unearths unwanted answers about his own past. He learns far more about his father than perhaps he ever wanted, or was ever ready to know.

A tight, compelling read. THE FORSAKEN was about as intense as a book can be. I couldn't find out what happens next fast enough. If you enjoy Lee Child's Jack Reacher books, or Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire tales . . . You. Will. Love. Ace Atkins!

Phillip Tomasso,
Author of the Severed Empire Saga,
and The Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: PLUM ISLAND, by Nelson Demille

Nelson Demille
PLUM ISLAND
Warner Books, 1997
679 pages
Crime / Suspense / Thriller

John Corey is a New York Homicide Detective. He's recently been shot. Multiple times. While healing from wounds sustained on the job, John holes up at his uncle's place. It is an ideal summer home on the water of Long Island. His recovery is brought up short when the local law calls on Corey for assistance in a double murder. A young couple just down the way was found shot to death on their back patio. Since there are not many murders in the area, much less two, local law enforcement is looking for all the help they can get.

The murders become something of a spectacle since the young couple killed were scientists who worked on Plum Island. Plum Island is notoriously whispered about. Rumors are the place researches germ warfare, housing the most deadly and dangerous bugs of all time. With two dead scientists everyone is thinking a deal concerning the viruses gone bad is what happened.

Corey's personal investigation into the murders turns up more questions that answers. Did the young couple sneak a virus out of Plum Island with a brokered plan to sell to the highest bidder? Had he been friends with terrorists? Could something else be going on?

Initially, I did not like Demille's John Corey. But I don't think we're supposed to. I have the sneaky suspicion that is exactly how Demille wanted things. The main character takes some getting used to. He is not friendly. He is not nice. And he does not play well with others. Halfway through the book, I was loving John Corey.

I may be a bit behind the times (seeing as this book was initially released in 1997), but I look forward to catching up on the John Corey saga! PLUM ISLAND was a twisting, turning, and unexpected suspense novel that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series
and The Vaccination Trilogy

Book Review: THE BROKEN PLACE, by Ace Atkins

Ace Atkins
THE BROKEN PLACE (Quinn Colson #3)
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2014
384 Pages
Suspense / Thriller / Crime

THE BROKEN PLACE just might be my favorite Ace Atkins book to date. Overall, I am enjoying the terse writing style, the depth of each and every character, and the steady pacing of each Quinn Colson thriller.

In THE BROKEN PLACE Sheriff Colson has his hands full. Three convicts have escaped prison. They have unsettled business in Tibbehah County. Money from a heist gone south should be waiting for them. If not, there was going to be hell to pay.

A new preacher in town has won the heart of Colson's sister, Caddy. Thing is, Jamey Dixon hit rock bottom before finding the Lord. Sent to prison for the murder of a young woman, Dixon was looking at life behind bars. That is until he was granted a pardon, and found himself a free man. Caddy loves the man Dixon is now. The family of Dixon's victim --not so much.

With a forced hand, Colson finds himself in the middle of investigations that have a direct effect on his family. If he's not careful, he and his deputy, Lillie, could find themselves on the wrong side of the law, and possible arrested for murder.

Hate to say this each time I review an Ace Atkins novel, but Quinn Colson is the perfect combination of Jack Reacher and Walt Longmire. His Quinn Colson series has that bad-ass military feel, and that small town everyone-knows-everyone handicap. Absolutely love the plots, the characters, and where Ace Atkins is taking the series!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series,
and The Vaccination Trilogy