In Fury Born

In Fury Born by David Weber is a thrilling ride through space, special ops and Greek mythology. A space opera for the ages.

Alicia DeVries is a marine like her grandfather. She is sent to far off planets who are part of the Earth empire. Tapped for an elite squad of drop commandos called the Cadre, she is a killing machine.

Follow Alicia through this store that was originally two novellas and a novel. Readers will encounter pirates, revenge, voices in their heads, artificial intelligence and more.

Weber is a master of science fiction story telling. This stand alone novel is a great introduction to him and his kick ass female characters set in world where men and women are treated as equals.

Weber, David. (2006). In Fury Born. New York: Baen

Personal (Jack Reacher #19)

Personal by Lee Child is the nineteenth book in his Jack Reacher series - Reacher is a retired Army MP who wanders the United States and steps in to solve crimes or inflict justice when he feels necessary.

Though Reacher has been out of the Army for years, you are never really out of the Army. On a bus near Seattle, Reacher finds a copy of the Army Times and sees his name in a personal ad. It says to call General Shoemaker - he is calling in a favor.

Reacher calls from Seattle and is put through to General Shoemaker. He is told to wait in the coffee shop across the street. A half hour later Reacher is on his way to a base to be flown across the country to North Carolina.

There has been an attempt on the President of France. The shot was from almost three quarters of a mile. As there are only a couple dozen people in the world who could make that shot, Shoemaker has brought Reacher in because one of the potential suspects is someone he arrested sixteen years before.

Reacher will be partnered with Casey Nice of the State Department to investigate the few Americans on the suspect list. They will travel to the mid-West, France and England before the case is solved - and the time limit put on the case is running out. They have to find the sniper before the G8 meeting in London.

Child has created a great character in Jack Reacher. Fans will continue to follow his through his travels and adventures.

Child, Lee. (2014). Personal. New York: Delacourte Press.

Show of Force

Show of Force by AJ Quinn is the story an a Navy pilot and a foreign correspondent who fall in love.

Tate McKenna is a US journalist living in Bahrain. She is currently covering the Secretary of State's tour of the Middle East.

Commander Evan Kane, US Navy pilot of the F-18A is stationed on the USS Nimitz currently in the Middle East. She will be attending a US Embassy event scheduled for the Secretary of State's visit.

When Tate sees Evan across the room she is instantly intrigued. When she sees her ask the Secretary of State to dance and they waltz like dance instructors, she is amazed. What woman would have chutzpah to ask the highest ranking woman in the US to dance - and in a region not known for its gay rights.

It isn't until she is completely hooked that Tate finds out that Evan is the Secretary's daughter. And while it could make her job uncomfortable, she has to take a chance.

Quinn has written a suspense novel with military action, two great characters, a homicidal terrorist in a fast-paced read that fans will devour.

Quinn, A.J. (2013). Show of Force. New York: Bold Strokes Books.

Talker 25

Talker 25 by Joshua McCune is a book about a war between dragons and humans.

Years ago dragons appeared. At first there was war between them and the humans. Now they are mostly under control - or in territories humans to not visit. The blue dragons, being less likely to attack are on a reservation in the middle of the United States, surrounded mostly by corn fields. The Blues did tunnels and are rarely seen. They have been fitted with collars that restrict their ability to breathe fire.

Melissa Callahan lives in the military town next to the dragon reservation. She is a senior in high school and is scared but fascinated by the dragons. As a prank Melissa and her friends break into the reservation to take pictures of themselves with Old Man Blue - a dragon who sleeps all of the time. But when Melissa discovers she can talk to dragons her world changes.

The military has been collecting talkers to use to lure out dragons to kill them. And there are various rebel groups trying to save the dragons from the military. Melissa is caught in the middle and must choose sides.

Talker 25 is a read alike for Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn - but when humans take a different  path to how to live with dragons.

McCune, Joshua. (2014). Talker 25. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Never Go Back (Jack Reacher #18)

Never Go Back by Lee Child is the eighteen book in his Jack Reacher series. Reacher is ex-Army and was the head of the MP Special Unit, the 110th. Since retirement he has been traveling around the United States and both getting into trouble and solving problems he finds along the way.

Reacher just arrived in Virginia from North Dakota. He is back at the 110th headquarters in Rock Creek, just outside of Washington, D.C. He came all this way because he spoke to the current commander, Major Susan Turner and wanted to meet her in person.

But when he arrives, it is not Major Turner in the office. Major Turner has been replaced by a temporary officer because she has been arrested for taking a bribe. And Reacher is told not to leave, that there are two cases pending against him.

Child's series just gets better. Fans will read any adventure involving Jack Reacher, and this one includes a jail break, a manhunt including the FBI, Army, DC police and four unknown thugs, and a conspiracy that reaches up the military command chain.

Child, Lee. (2013). Never Go Back. New York: Delacourte Press.

A Wanted Man (Jack Reacher #17)

A Wanted Man by Lee Child is the seventeenth book in his Jack Reacher series about an ex-military cop who is wandering the United States and keeps stumbling upon scenes where his training and detective skills can be of use.

In Nebraska a man is murdered by two men in black suits. Roadblocks are set up looking for them in a red car. FBI Agent Julia Sorenson is sent to the town where the murder occurred to begin an investigation.

Also in Nebraska, Jack Reacher is dropped off by a driver whose direction is going the opposite of where Reacher is headed. After some time in the cold on the side of a highway, he is picked up by two men and a woman who are headed East. While Reacher is glad of the ride, he thinks that all three of the people in the car are lying about something.

Child has written another exciting thrill ride in this series featuring a great character who makes his own rules to bring people to his sense of justice.

Child, Lee. (2012). A Wanted Man. New York: Delacourte Press.

Triple Cross

Triple Cross by Mark T. Sullivan is a thriller that combines a beautiful mountain setting, some of the wealthiest people on Earth, a terrorist group and the economy and will keep readers on the edge of their seats with every page.

Mickey Hennessy, a former US Special Agent, is now the head of security for the Jefferson Club - the most exclusive club on the planet. Members pay millions of dollars for a lifetime membership and get the luxury and security that goes with the price tag. The Jefferson Club land in Montana offers Olympic quality skiing and Michelin quality dining along with the company of others of the upper echelon.


Hennessy has his work cut out for him on a normal day due to the people who are club members, but this New Years Eve gathering has more of the world's elite than any other event so far at the Jefferson Club. Luckily, the Club has the best security technology money can buy - including a laser fence at the edges of the property that can distinguish between moose, horse and human trespassers.

In spite of the security measures, just before midnight a military force dressed in snow camouflage and wearing masks bursts into the lodge and takes everyone hostage. Since Hennessy was outside during the breach, he sees what is going on before they spot him. If he can get to the road and get help the people inside might have a chance - including Hennessy's fourteen-year-old triples Hailey, Connor, and Bridger.

Sullivan is a master of the thriller and Triple Cross is no exception. Weaving a complex plot with military action, heroic characters, and more, Sullivan has written a great read.

Sullivan, Mark T. (2009). Triple Cross. New York: St. Martin's Paperbacks.

Bloodline (Sigma Force #8)

Bloodline by James Rollins is the eighth book in his Sigma Force series that began with Sandstorm. Sigma Force is a group with in DARPA made up of elite soldiers with advanced science or technology degrees - the idea being that a small team can go into any situation with knowledge than any other. One of Sigma's main goals is to stop a shadow organization that seems to be behind most major power grabs around the world, known only as the Guild.

The latest mission for Grey Pierce and his team involves the daughter of the President of the United States. Amanda and her husband were sent a letter warning them that their unborn child was in danger. They reacted by traveling halfway around the world on false papers and renting a yacht in the Seychelles. Unfortunately, they are found by Somali pirates.

Sigma must track Amanda into Somalia - a country almost entirely run by bands of pirates - and find her in the jungle. For this special mission, they need to recruit two new team members. Retired Captain Tucker Wayne and his war dog, Kane, are the perfect team to track anything with a scent.

Rollins is a master of the genre that Dan Brown got famous for with the DaVinci Code - but James Rollins is the best in the genre. His books will keep readers on their toes, staying up late due to adrenalin and a need to know what happens next!

Rollins, James. (2012). Bloodline. New York: William Morrow.

The Rook

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley is a novel about a secret intelligence service in Britain, the Checquy Group. It is like the Men in Black movies met author Jasper Fforde - pure brilliance.

The book opens with a letter that begins, "Dear You, The body you are wearing used to be mine..." The woman reading the letter found it in her jacket pocket after she came to in a park surrounded by a ring of dead people all wearing latex gloves. The letter goes on to tell her how to cover her tracks and find her wait to safety.

Now Myfanwy (rhymes with Tiffany) Thomas - or the woman currently in her body - has a decision to make. Based on the information in the letter, written by Thomas, she can study fast and take over Myfanwy's life or she can run.

If she takes over Myfanwy's life and job she will be in for a surprise - she will be working as a Rook in the Checquy Group. But within a group of people, many of whom have supernatural powers of some kind, all of whom are taught to look for the out of the ordinary - how will she pull off becoming someone who has been part of the group all of her life - using just a few letters and a binder of information on the Checquy?

O'Malley has created an espionage thriller with a twist. It has the creativity of a Jasper Fforde book and is brilliantly crafted and written. It will suck reader in and hold their attention until long after the last page. It is not clear if there will be a sequel, but if there is I will be first in line to read it!

O'Malley, Daniel. (2012). The Rook. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Those in Peril

Those in Peril by Wilbur Smith is like two thrillers in one.

Hazel Bannock is the head of the Bannock Oil Corporation. She inherited the title from her husband when he died, but she is more than up to the task. She has been increasing the size and power of the company. Each year, she and her daughter take the yacht from South Africa to a small island in the Seychelles for Christmas.

This year, the yacht will be taken over by pirates. But Hazel is not on it. She is at one of the oil fields and planned to met her daughter on the island. Now Cayla Bannock, 19 years old, is being held captive by one of the most ruthless bands of Somali pirates. They plan to get a lot of money out of Hazel Bannock, but not necessarily return her daughter.

Head of security at the oil field, Hector Cross, has become the most important man in Hazel's life - because he has the skills and the men to rescue Cayla once they figure out where she is being held.

With any American author this would be two books - the first a kidnapping and rescue attempt, and the sequel and all-out war between Bannock oil and the pirates. Because Smith created the perfect tension builder in the middle of the book. He showed a family trying to get back to its normal life after a kidnapping. Everything is going along like the troubles are over. But readers can see that there are many pages left in the book and their brain begins to worry.

The second half of the book is a battle to destroy the pirate lair and insure that the pirates leave the Bannock family alone forever. The illogical blood feud that the pirate, Tippoo Tip, imagines will not end if any of his male relatives is alive to continue the campaign. These are not the sailing-ship pirates of yore, but radical Islamic terrorists who happen to have fast boats and do not stop to "right" a wrong against them.

Smith is a thriller author who will suck readers in and keep them engaged until the last page. Look for more of his books to be reviewed in the future.

Smith, Wilbur. (2011). Those in Peril. New York: St. Martin's Press.

The Affair (Jack Reacher #16)

The Affair by Lee Child is the sixteenth book in his Jack Reacher series. This book takes place just before the first book in the series - The Killing Floor.

It is 1997 and Jack Reacher is still an MP in the US Army. He is assigned to undercover as a second detective in the murder of a woman outside a military base in Mississippi.

From the start the case does not feel right to Reacher. The facts he was given are not what happened - and the woman is the third victim of a similar crime in the small town next to the base.

Though on site as much to cover the military as any other reason, Reacher cannot let a murder go unsolved. Technically, if the murderer in from the town and not the base, it is not his jurisdiction.

Child's flashback into Reacher's past - his last case as an MP - will thrill fans. We finally know why he quit the military. Child's writing and character have just become better over the series. Anyone looking for a good mystery would do well to start the Reacher series.

Child, Lee. (2011). The Affair. New York: Delacorte Press.

The Hostage (Stratton #1)

The Hostage by Duncan Falconer is his first book featuring Stratton - a British SBS (like our Navy SEALs) undercover officer who is stationed in Northern Ireland fighting the IRA.

When an undercover operation goes wrong and an SBS agent is captured, SBS pulls out all of the stops to get him back. Stratton, who has never lost an agent on his watch, will do whatever he can to recover the agent before he can be transported across the border.

The battles in Northern Ireland between the British and various configurations of the Irish Republican Army have been ongoing since the 1800s. But now, the IRA may have a mole in British Intelligence who is helping plan their next moves.

At the same time, US Navy SEAL Hank Monroe has been assigned to SBS for a cross-training / good relations tour of duty. His wife is not happy about moving the family to England. She has been taught by her family in Boston to hate the British because of their occupation of Ireland.

When Monroe joins Stratton on a job that goes wrong it could lead to an international incident. Between the many players and sides trying to recover Monroe it could be all out war.

Falconer has created an engaging political/military thriller that will keep readers fascinated. There are currently seven book in the Stratton series. They will appeal to fans of Jack Higgins' Sean Dillon series or anyone interested in the Ireland-England situation.

Falconer, Duncan. (2003). The Hostage. New York: Time Warner Paperbacks.

61 Hours (Jack Reacher #14)

61 Hours is the fourteenth Jack Reacher book by Lee Child. Reacher is an ex-military cop who keeps finding situations that need his expertise.

Reacher is passing through South Dakota when the bus his on breaks down outside of the town of Bolton. Because there is a storm coming in that will shut down the highway, the 22 people on the bus - 20 seniors on a tour, the driver, and Reacher who paid for a ride to the Rapid City - will stay in town until a new bus can be delivered.

When Reacher sees that the Bolton police department has a situation, he asks about it. Reluctantly, Deputy Chief Peterson fills Reacher in on the facts. He also explains that in order to get the new prison on the edge of town, the Police department has some rules to follow. Now Peterson is worried about protecting a witness if the prison siren goes off - and all police officers are required to report to a security perimeter.

Reacher figures since he is stuck in town anyway he may as well meet the witness so he can guard her if anything happens at the prison. And what follows is Reacher -style justice for the bad guys.

Child has created a compelling, likable character with a firm sense of right and wrong, and the muscle to hold others up to his standards. He is the cop you want on your side in a fights. Fans of mystery and suspense novels should read the books from the beginning and get sucked into an addictive series.


Child, Lee. (2010). 61 Hours. New York: Dell Books.

Threshold (Chess Team #3)

Threshold is the third Chess Team novel by Jeremy Robinson. The Chess Team is a Delta team used for military actions related to strange science and historical phenomenon. Members' code names are after chess pieces.

A year after a terrorist attack on a Native American reservation that left only one survivor, the Chess Team is studying for upcoming assignments. The lone survivor of the attack, twelve year-old Fiona, is in the care of team leader King.

While King is away from Fort Bragg where they are stationed, the base is attacked - apparently by the same group that attacked the reservation. Fiona is kidnapped.

Now the team must find Fiona and deal with a supernatural terrorist attack on American soil.

What follows is a fast-paced thrill ride that will keep readers up all night finishing the book. Robinson's series includes history and science with some crazy creatures and a team of five elite warriors who are charged with keeping the planet on track and safe for human life.

Robinson, Jeremy. (2011). Threshold. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Barracuda 945 (Arnold Morgan #6)

Barracuda 945 by Patrick Robinson is the sixth book in his Arnold Morgan series.

Major RayKerman is a well-thought of SAS Major in charge of the special forces unit sent to Israel to assists the Israeli IDF. They are there as observers and advisers.

During a systematic inspection of a neighborhood thought to harbor anti-Israeli terrorists, tensions run high when a few people begin to shoot at the soldiers. When Major Kerman witnesses the killing of two young children, his instincts kick in to protect their mother.

Now Kerman finds himself on the run. Though his past has been buried, and the British think he is missing in action, the US military analysts - namely Vice Admiral Arnold Morgan and his close advisors - think he may have defected. They have turned up evidence that Ray Kerman was born Ravi Rashood. He was born in Iran and may have returned to his roots.

What follows is a high energy, well-planned attempt by the now General Rashood, to help Hamas get rid of Israel. While there is little proof that Kerman/Rashood is behind the latest incidents in Israel, never before have raids by Hamas been carried out with special forces planning. And never before have the plans been on so grand a scale...

Robinson knows how to write military thrillers. His characters are smart, capable, and compelling. However, I have to comment on the other part of his books. I am not sure if Robinson (and a few other military thriller writers) do not realize the range of readers their book have or not, but the sidetracking of the story in order to verbally bash Democrats and liberals as stupid, anti-military people is shortsighted (not to mention that the president in the book who is Republican, has to be told what to do because he is not a military strategist). I love reading military thrillers - and I am not a political conservative. I like the stories, the weapons, the gadgets. But people are multi-faceted. To make the assumption that all readers are one type of person and do not vary is ridiculous. I now find myself wanting to know what happens in the next book, but wondering if I have to skip the sections when the author tells me that I am stupid because I am not a Republican...

Robinson, Patrick. (2003). Barracuda 945. New York: HarperCollins.

Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher #11)

Bad Luck and Trouble is the eleventh book in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child.

Reacher is in Portland, Oregon when he checks his bank account and finds too much money. Someone has deposited 1,030 dollars into his account.

Reacher was the head of a special investigations unit in the Army - made up of eight MPs. One of them, Frances Neagly, has sent a ten-thirty code - urgent assistance required.

Now Reacher is using some of that $1030 to fly to Los Angeles to meet Neagly. One of their old team has been killed. Neagly has been trying to contact the rest to bring them together to find out why.

This new element of bringing Reacher's old friends into the story will be a treat for fans. Child's series a great place for mystery and suspense fans to lose themselves.

Child, Lee. (2007). Bad Luck and Trouble. New York: Dell Books.

The Hard Way (Jack Reacher #10)

The Hard Way is the tenth book in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series about an ex-Army cop who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Or possible it is the wrong place at the wrong time. Reacher is back in New York.

While he enjoys wandering the empty countryside of the US, New York City is one of his favorite destinations. And though he rarely spends more than one night in the same place, he decides that the cafe on Sixth between Bleeker and Houston has coffee that is worth another visit.

When a man who is obviously an ex-special forces soldier comes into the cafe and the waiter points to him, Reacher is pulled into a kidnapping investigation. The wife of a wealthy soldiers-for-hire company has been kidnapped. She and her daughter were taken sometime after they left for Bloomingdales. Reacher, at the cafe, was witness to the ransom money being picked up.

Now, for the mother and daughter, as well as a large payout, Reacher will use his skills of detection and do what he can to find them before it is too late. This may be my favorite Jack Reacher book to date.

Child, Lee. (2006). The Hard Way. New York: Dell Books.

The Enemy (Jack Reacher #8)

The Enemy by Lee Child is the eighth book in his Jack Reacher series and a flashback to Reacher's life in the Army.

A great change was taking place in the world around New Years of 1990. The Berlin Wall was coming down and the USSR was on its way out. In the Army, Reacher was suddenly transferred from Panama to Fort Bird, North Carolina.

When a two-star general dies in a sleazy motel, Reacher goes - not to investigate, but as a sign of respect for the man's rank. From a simple heart attack, the plot twists and turns in a way only Child can do.

Fans will be grateful for chance to get to know Reacher's brother Joe and even their mother. Readers who haven't yet started the Jack Reacher series - what are you waiting for?

Child, Lee. (2004). The Enemy. New York: Dell Books.

Jackdaws

Jackdaws by Ken Follett tells the story of an all-female group of British spies who helped change the outcome of World War II.

Felicity "Flick" Clairet is an agent with the Special Operations Executive. She is responsible for helping the French Resistance fight the Nazis by sabotage.

With the Bollinger group Flick attacks a building that house most of the phone lines the Nazis are using to communicate through out France. But MI6 intelligence underestimated the number of gestapo in the building.

Not only did they fail to take out communications, but most of her team is either killed or captured.

The Resistance members who were captured are to be questioned by Franck Dieter - the man Rommel put in charge of stopping the sabotage.

When Flick gets back to England, she will not let her friends' death be for naught. She proposes taking the same building with an all female team. They can sneak in because no one pays attention to women. If they succeed it will give the Allies the advantage they need as they invade France to push the Nazis back to Germany and maybe win the war.

Follett is the master of taking one line of fact and creating a plausible, thrilling story around it. This is a must read for any WWII, espionage, or political thriller fans. It is the best WWII espionage novel I have read since The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva.

Follett, Ken (2001). Jackdaws. New York: Dutton Books.

Tripwire (Jack Reacher #3)

Tripwire is the third Jack Reacher book by Lee Child. Reacher is an ex-military police who has been traveling the United States since he was discharged.

When Reacher is in Key West, Florida digging swimming pools to refund his savings account, a stranger shows up asking questions about him. Reacher tells the man he has never heard of anyone by the name of Jack Reacher.

The next day two more men are asking about him. When he goes to question the first man, Reacher finds him dead. Now he feels responsible for finding out why the man was killed. He heads to New York to track down the guy's office and find out who sent him.

Soon Reacher is following the trail of a man no one has seen since the Vietnam war. A plan set in motion thirty years ago is about to be discovered and the man who put it in place will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Child's Reacher series are nail-biting adventures that will keep readers wanting more.

Child, Lee. (1999). Tripwire. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.