Tag: Thriller

Waiting on Wednesday – Burn to Shine by Jonathan Maberry

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Science Fiction, Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday6 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of my most anticipated books of 2025 with the new Rogue Team International novel from Jonathan Maberry, Burn to Shine.

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Readers of this blog will probably have noticed that I have been talking about author Jonathan Maberry a lot this week.  Between the fact that I am currently reading his awesome fantasy novel, The Dragon in Winter, and I am just about to publish a review for his other 2024 novel, NecroTek, Maberry has really been on my mind lately.  As such, to keep this ball rolling I am going to take this opportunity to highlight Maberry’s new book coming out in 2025, the awesome thriller novel Burn to Shine.

Burn to Shine is an interesting upcoming book that forms part of Maberry’s long-running Joe Ledger series.  This series, which started back in 2009 with Patient Zero, follows the titular character of Joe Ledger, a government agent who seeks to save the world from various unnatural scientific threats and sinister schemes.  A brutal, complex and addictively dark series, the Joe Ledger books are deeply entertaining, and I love all the intense action, elaborate plots, and fantastic over-the-top figures within.  Highlights include The Dragon Factory, Assassin’s Code, Code Zero, Predator One and Dogs of War just to name a few, and I have had an exceptional time with all the epic entries in this series.

Since 2019, the new Joe Ledger books have all fallen within the Rogue Team International sub-series, which continues the adventures of the protagonist and his team, while also setting the characters up as a more independent organisation.  The Rogue Team International books are just as awesome as the previous entries in the overall series, and Maberry has presented some cool ideas and grim scenarios in these latest novels.  These books include Rage (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2019), Relentless (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), and Cave 13. (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023), all of which were extremely impressive five-star reads.  As such, I am understandably very eager to see how this series continues, and luckily it doesn’t look like I have too much longer to wait.

The fourth Rogue Team International novel will be the upcoming Burn to Shine, which is set for release in March 2025.  Another epic entry in the series, Burn to Shine will force Ledger and his team to deal with a new world-destroying threat, as old enemies once again rise looking for revenge.

 

Plot Synopsis:

Rogue Team International joins Joe Ledger in a new, tension-filled mission to stop a wave of bioterrorism from devastating the country.

A covert group is infiltrating the world’s most secure bio-weapons research sites. All across the country, people are acting as human ‘disease bombs’ by infecting themselves and walking into public places. And heavily-armed groups of illegal private soldiers are massing for some unknown strike.

Joe Ledger and the members of Rogue Team International, still reeling from the devastation and heartbreaking losses of their last mission, are forced into relentless action to try and save the country, if not the entire world.

Old enemies are rising and joining forces to hit Joe and his team with one devastating blow after another. What is the end game for all of this madness and terror? Outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and outgunned, Joe Ledger has to find a way back from the fires of grief in order to make a stand between these enemies and millions of potential innocent lives. But Joe has allies, too. His team, the vicious fighters of Arklight, and friends who may or may not be entirely human.

A war of darkness and light is coming. Who will stand? Who will fall? And how will anyone ever survive?


Burn to Shine sounds like another excellent addition to this long-running series, and I cannot wait to dive into it next year.  Featuring another intriguing plot of bioterrorism, it sounds like this is going to be a major entry in the series, especially as Maberry spent a good chunk of Cave 13 building up the plot for this fourth book.  Thanks to some of the hints in Cave 13, as well as the above plot synopsis and even the title of this book, it appears that Burn to Shine is going to feature a familiar array of enemies, with antagonists from previous books set to return.  I have a pretty good idea about who some of these antagonists are going to be, although it will be interesting to see how Maberry brings them back and utilises them in this latest novel.  I am excited to dive into this new plot, and I hope that the author has come up with a particularly dark and complex villainous plan that we get to untangle.

Another aspect of Burn to Shine mentioned in the synopsis that I am really looking forward to is exploring is the continued trauma and damage that the various protagonists of Burn to Shine will no doubt be feeling.  Ledger and his team have gone through all manner of loss and suffering in the Rogue Team International books, and it will be interesting to see how that impacts their ability to fight back, especially when they are once again assailed by the ghosts of their past in the potential returning antagonists.  I have no doubt that Maberry will play this trauma aspect of the plot perfectly throughout Burn to Shine, and I always appreciate how well written and human the author’s characters feel during their unnatural adventures.

Honestly, due to how much I love the Joe Ledger books, there is no way in hell that I am not grabbing Burn to Shine next year the first chance I get.  Jonathan Maberry has been on a brilliant roll with this series for years and I always get so damn engrossed with their elaborate narratives and brutal inclusions.  This next book sounds particularly impressive, and I cannot wait to see how Burn to Shine fits into the larger series, especially as there are some very intriguing hints about who is plaguing the protagonists this time.  There is no way this won’t end up being one of my favourite novels of 2025, and I look forward to enjoying the audiobook version of it, especially as it will be once again voiced by the impeccable Ray Porter.  Until then, keep your eyes peeled for my review of NecroTek which will be out in the next day or two.

Quick Review – The Chilling by Riley James

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Quick Review, Thriller3 Comments

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Australia (ebook – 3 September 2024)

Series: Standalone

Length: 312 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

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Australian author Riley James presents a captivating and amazing debut novel with The Chilling, a distinctive debut novel that I had an outstanding time getting through.

Plot Synopsis:

An unputdownable thriller set in the pressure-cooker environment of an Antarctic winter.

An isolated research station. A storm approaching.

There’s nowhere to run. But so much to hide.

Keen to flee the wreckage of her marriage, Australian scientist Kit Bitterfeld accepts a coveted winter research position at Macpherson Station in Antarctica. On the way there, Kit and her fellow researchers field a distress call from a nearby ship.

By the time they reach the vessel it is on fire and the crew has vanished. A lone survivor is found, but he can’t remember who he is or what has happened.

They bring the survivor, identified as geophysicist Nick Coltheart, to Macpherson but it’s clear that something is wrong. More and more of Kit’s colleagues are acting strangely. And she can’t shake the suspicion that Nick knows more than he’s letting on. With the winter darkness setting in, Kit must figure out the truth before they are completely cut off from the outside world. But is the danger lurking out on the ice, or is it closer than she thinks?

The Chilling offers a compellingly icy twist on the winter thriller setting, transplanting the most haunting elements of Scandi noir to the southern hemisphere, and announces Riley James as a brilliant new talent writing in a fresh corner of Australian crime fiction.


The Chilling was a great novel from Riley James that features a fascinating story of survival, identity and secrets.  Set on and around Antarctica, the story initially focuses on damaged protagonist, Kit Bitterfeld, who attempts to escape her failed marriage by volunteering for a lengthy expedition.  Things get interesting very quickly when the protagonist attempts to assist another research ship in distress, but instead finds it abandoned and on fire, with one mysterious and seemingly amnesiac survivor hidden aboard.  While this injured survivor, Nick Coltheart, appears to have no knowledge of what happened aboard the ship or his past life, Kit soon becomes suspicious of him and the behaviour of her fellow scientists, especially when mysterious deaths and disappearances occur around the research compound.  At the same time, a separate storyline follows the survivors of the damaged ship, who are attempting to cross the treacherous ice on foot and encounter danger, death and despair, especially as some of the survivors consider the lies and crimes that led them there.  The separate storylines come together in an impressive manner as the book continues, and the converging secrets lead to some excellent reveals and moving moments.

This ended up being a deep and intriguing novel that blended a cool thriller storyline with a compelling and moving character-focused plot line.  I loved the blend of mystery, drama and intrigue that emerges as James dives further into her narrative, and the resulting twists and swerves are well set up and have a satisfying impact.  I felt that the reveals about who was responsible for the various crimes where quite clever, and the slow-burn dive into each of the figures in question allowed for great plot.  While some thriller fans may not enjoy how much character drama was contained within The Chilling, I felt that the protagonist’s powerful arc about trauma, lack of trust and finding herself was particularly heartfelt, and it will no doubt resonate with many readers.  Other character storylines have some interesting focus on guilt, as the sins of the past come back to haunt them, and it proves very moving to see the various lines of this unravel to discover who did what.

I can’t finish this review without highlighting the way that James featured Antarctica throughout The Chilling, as the continent served as a haunting background to her story.  Not only does the author provide some vivid and powerful descriptions of the setting through her writing, but she also describes the impacts of the isolation and desolation of the ice continent on the people who visit it.  I loved the complex sense of duality you get from the author’s depictions of Antarctica, as there is both hope and despair hidden within it, and it was fascinating to see some of the characters find themselves there for good or for ill.  James also did an excellent job incorporating the aspects and features of Antarctica into the overarching plot, and the problems caused by the remoteness, the weather, and other complicating factors really amps up the thriller aspect of the plot in some fantastic ways.  This was such a cool (ha ha) background setting, and it made James first book really striking and memorable.

Riley James really impresses with her debut novel, and I felt that The Chilling was one of the stronger Australian novels I read in 2024.  Featuring a complex and multi-layered story of survival, intrigue and deep characters, The Chilling was an outstanding read which is worth checking out, especially if you are interested in something distinctive from a fresh Australian author.

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Waiting on Wednesday – The Bluff, Pacific Heights and Vanish

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday11 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s post, the name of the game is Australian crime fiction as I check out three outstanding upcoming novels set for release in 2025.

I have mentioned a few times on this blog that I have become a major fan of crime fiction in the last several years, ever since I started reviewing across the genres.  During this time, I have had the pleasure of reading an array of awesome crime fiction reads, although one sub-genre I get a ton of books of is Australian crime fiction.  There are so many great murder mysteries and thrillers released each year that make excellent use of the gritty Australian setting, whether its an outback thriller or a more complex murder mystery set within one of Australia’s urban settings.  Australian’s have proven quite adapt at producing epic and mysterious reads, and I tend to receive quite a few Australian focused books from local publishers as a result.

Naturally, after reading a ton of these great reads over the years, I have become skilled at picking out upcoming Australian crime fiction novels that I think are going to be excellent.  I have already recently identified a few upcoming 2025 Australian debuts that have a lot of potential, so in this post I am going to look at a series of sequels and releases from established authors that are coming out in the new year.  There are three amazing books I want to highlight in this post, and I have a lot of faith that all of them are going to be outstanding.

The first book that I want to talk about is The Bluff by Joanna Jenkins.  Jenkins is an excellent novel, whose debut, How to Kill a Client, was a ton of fun.  A clever and addictive novel that saw the members of an Australian law firm become suspects in a murder after one of the most important, and distasteful, clients dies suspiciously.  I really enjoyed How to Kill a Client, especially as Jenkins created some vivid and compelling characters, and it ended up being one of my favourite debuts of 2023.  As such, I have been curious to see what Jenkin’s would write next, and I was very excited to find out details about her upcoming book, The Bluff, especially it is a sequel to How to Kill a Client.  Set for release in March 2025, The Bluff places Jenkin’s previous big-city lawyer protagonist in a dangerous small-town setting for another intriguing read.

Plot Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of How to Kill a Client comes a page-turning rural thriller of loyalties and lies, murder and greed.

People like Dash didn’t die. He was only what? Mid-thirties? Well off. Adored. By some anyway. World at his feet. Well, Myddle at his feet, which was his world.

Ruth Dawson has taken a break from big city law to fill in for a few months at a mate’s small-town legal practice in Myddle. It’s not what she’s used to . . .

So when she hears the front door of her office open she’s expecting a weird demand, or a question she doesn’t know the answer to. But it’s Bea Baulderstone’s mum, worried that she hasn’t seen her seventeen-year-old daughter for five days, and Constable Gazza Parker is refusing to report the girl missing.

Ruth tries to find Bea, but Myddle is a wall of indifference. Then Dash Rogers is found at his farm gate, dead from a gunshot wound, and suddenly the town is very interested in Bea’s whereabouts.

An unputdownable thriller of deception and greed, The Bluff reveals an enmeshed web of family and community loyalties, set in the lush rural hinterland of east coast Australia.

I really like the sound of The Bluff and it should be an interesting change of pace from Jenkins’ first book.  Forcing the protagonist to deal with small town politics and loyalties while she attempts to find out the truth should result in a great read, and I am intrigued by the mystery that seems to be developing.  I’m also curious to see how Jenkins deals with another seemingly adored figure who dies suddenly, as the last one of those the author featured was a brilliant character study in bad behaviour.  I honestly think that The Bluff has a ton of potential and I cannot wait to dive into as soon as I can.

The next book that I want to highlight in this post is the deeply intriguing novel, Pacific Heights by S. R. White.  White is an exceptional author who has left an impression on the Australian outback thriller scene the last few years.  Known for his Detective Dana Russo series (Prisoner, Red Dirt Road and White Ash Ridge), White has produced some gripping reads that focus more on personalities and character motivations rather than evidence.  This has resulted in some outstanding mysteries, and I really get caught up in his excellent writing.

Due to this, I am always eager for a new book from White and it is generally one of the better Australian novels released at the start of the year.  The author’s next book sounds particularly awesome, as White is releasing a standalone novel outside of his main series with Pacific Heights.  Coming out in late March, Pacific Heights once again dives into human nature as the author brings together another distinctive crime fiction scenario.

Plot Synopsis:

FIVE WITNESSES. FIVE DIFFERENT STORIES. WHO IS THE KILLER?

In the courtyard of the Pacific Heights building, a local waitress is found dead.

Five apartments overlook the murder scene. Five people witnessed a crime take place.
Finding the killer should be simple.

Except none of the witnesses’ stories match.
They all saw something – from a different angle, at a different time.
None of them saw everything. Anyone could be the killer.

Detectives Carl “Bluey” Blueson and Lachlan Dyson, each with their own careers in peril, must solve what others assume is a straightforward case. But to unmask a killer they must unpick a complex puzzle – where the motivations of the witnesses are as mystifying as the crime itself.

How can you solve a crime if anyone could be lying?

Now this is another very cool and captivating scenario from White and it is one that I am really drawn to.  Forcing the protagonists to work out which of the five conflicting eyewitnesses is lying is going to require a deep dive into each of their characters, and I am very interested to see how the detectives unwind the complex motivations, histories and personality traits to determine which of them is telling the truth and which of them is keeping secrets.  As such, this should be a very deep, character-driven crime fiction read, which White really excels at.  Based on the plot synopsis alone, I believe that Pacific Heights is going to be a very exceptional read and I cannot wait to find out who is lying and why.

The final book I want to discuss in this Waiting on Wednesday is Vanish by Shelley Burr.  Burr is another rising Australian author who I have become very attached to.  Her debut novel, Wake, presented a complex and moving story of small-town mystery and the scars it leaves behind when an investigator with his own agenda attempts to uncover the long-hidden fate of a missing girl.  Wake was a very impressive read and it ended up being one of my favourite debuts of 2022.  Burr made sure to continue her story the next year, as she presented an outstanding sequel in 2023 with Ripper (also released as Murder Town).  This book also focused on small town crime, as a new mystery emerges in a picturesque community made infamous by the actions of a serial killer.  Ripper was a very worthy follow-up to Wake, and I loved the outstanding narrative that Burr featured in this awesome sequel.

Due to how impressive and clever Burr’s first two novels were, I have been keen to see what she releases next, and we luckily don’t have too much longer to wait for her third novel, Vanish.  Coming out in April 2025, Vanish will continue to follow the author’s protagonist, Lane Holland, as attempts to uncover long-hidden killers and their victims.  This new novel will take Holland on his darkest adventure yet, as dangerous personalities strike at the protagonist’s deepest desires.

Plot Synopsis:

People go to the isolated Karpathy farm looking for a new life – and are never seen again. A chilling thriller from the award-winning and bestselling author of Australian noir, Shelley Burr.

Lane Holland’s crime-solving career ended the day he went to prison. With his parole hearing approaching, he faces the grim reality that an ex-con can never work as a private eye. Yet one unsolved case continues to haunt him: the disappearance of Matilda Carver two decades ago.

Never one to follow the rules, Lane finds a lead – a mysterious farm community led by the enigmatic Samuel Karpathy. His farm attracts lost souls. People who want a more meaningful life. People who are hiding from their pasts. People with nowhere else to go.

But those who go to the farm seem to vanish without a trace.

Is it a commune? Is it a cult? Is it something even more dangerous? Lane goes undercover at the farm to find its dark secret – but could he too find himself intoxicated by the prospect of a new life on the land?

Inspired by a real-life criminal case, VANISH is a nail-biting novel of suspense by the Number One-selling author of WAKE and RIPPER.


Vanish sounds like another particularly amazing novel from Burr and I am very excited to see how it turns out.  Continuing her protagonist’s attempts to needlessly redeem himself by solving missing persons cases should result in a powerful read, and I am curious to see what dark secrets lie within this mysterious and sinister farm.  Forcing the protagonist to uncover truth amongst a band of lost souls, and a no doubt manipulative leader, should result in a very complex and intense story, and it is one I am very keen to dive into.  Based on Burr’s previous captivating novels, I am very sure that Vanish will be an excellent book that will keep me in suspense right to the very end.

It looks like 2025 is going to be a very good year for Australian crime fiction, especially with new releases from these three very talented authors.  Jenkins, White and Burr have all produced exceptional crime fiction novels in the past, and I have no doubt whatsoever that their new books are going to be just as impressive, especially as all of them feature incredible and unique plot ideas.  I look forward to exploring all these brilliant crime novels, and the new year is really looking up when it comes to awesome Australian fiction.

Quick Review – The Wrong Hands by Mark Billingham

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Murder Mystery, Quick Review, Thriller2 Comments

Publisher: Sphere (Trade Paperback – 25 June 2024)

Series: DS Declan Miller – Book Two

Length: 405 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

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Bestselling crime fiction author Mark Billingham continues his DS Declan Miller series with the highly entertaining read, The Wrong Hands.

Billingham is an intriguing British crime fiction author who has an impressive catalogue of books to his name.  Best known for his long running DI Tom Thorne series, Billingham has also written an array of compelling standalone novels and audiobook exclusives.  His latest body of work is his DS Declan Miller series, which is a light-hearted crime fiction series focusing on an array of over-the-top characters.  Starting with The Last Dance, the DS Declan Miller books follow an eccentric police detective as he investigates unusual crimes in Blackpool, including the murder of his own wife.  The Wrong Hands is the second book in the series, and it proved to be another cooky investigation with a highly entertaining plot behind it.

Plot Synopsis:

This is one case Detective Miller won’t want to open . . .

The second rip-roaring mystery from multi-award-winning number international bestseller Mark Billingham starring Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated…

Unconventional Detective Declan Miller has a problem. Well, two problems. First, there’s his dead wife and her yet-to-be-solved murder. He really should stop talking to her ghosts…

Second, and most pressing, a young man has just appeared on his doorstep with a briefcase . . . containing a pair of severed hands. Miller knows this case is proof of a contract killing commissioned by local ne’er do well Wayne Cutler—a man he suspects might also be responsible for his wife’s death. Now Miller has leverage, but unfortunately, he also has something that both Cutler and a villainous fast-food kingpin are desperate to get hold of.

Sprinkle in a Midsomer Murders-obsessed hitman, a psychotic welder, and a woman driven over the edge by a wayward Crème Egg, and Miller is in a mess that even he might not be able to dance his way out of.


The Wrong Hands was a highly entertaining and slightly outrageous crime fiction read that sets the author’s distinctive police detective protagonist against an unlikely assortment of criminals in a wacky, fast-paced plot.  Starting off with a very entertaining opening sequence that sees a world-class assassin and a local crime boss severely embarrassed by two local youths who managed to steal vital evidence, the book only gets even more fun from there as DS Declan Miller comes into possession of a pair of hands that could prove the key to locking up his rival and solving the murder of his dead wife.  However, to get there, Miller must first catch a dangerous killer, determine who the hands belong to, and protect anyone associated with the thieves responsible for the whole debacle.

I had an amazing time with this story, as Billingham loaded his plot with a huge array of over-the-top characters, each of whom proved fun to follow.  The plot moves at a very fast pace, and the author loads up some interesting clues and set-ups that result in some fantastic twists.  Much of the plot turns into an unlikely game of cat and mouse as Miller and his colleagues try to find the assassin before he strikes down everyone involved with the case.  I liked the captivating tension and unique story moments that led up to the big confrontation and the eventual solution to the book’s main plot proves to be quite enjoyable, especially as the villains are brought down from an unexpected source.  However, I must admit that I felt the author’s solution to the big crime of the series, the murder of the protagonist’s wife, didn’t get the epic solution it deserves, especially as the culprit kind of comes out of nowhere.  Still, this was an overall fantastic read and you really get wrapped up in the clever story.

Billingham utilises a distinctive stye that combines humour with compelling crime fiction scenarios.  While slightly derivative of the current craze around comedic murder mystery novels, The Wrong Hands still proved to be extremely entertaining, and I found the entire oddball scenario to be very compelling.  The quick change in focus between the various memorable figures involved in the case helped to give the novel some additional depth and comedic power, and I loved seeing the different angles to this entertaining narrative.  In addition, I felt that Billingham did a great job making The Wrong Hands a very accessible and easy to read book.  While The Wrong Hands does serve as a sequel to The Last Dance, new readers can easily dive into this latest book from Billingham without any issue, and the author ensures all the key plot points are expertly rehashed, allowing anyone to come in and have a great time with this fantastic novel.

While I loved the plot of The Wrong Hands and the way it was presented, the real fun lies in the unique characters themselves, as Billingham brings together an amazing and varied cast of niche crooks, crazed killers and troubled cops.  While I did think that Billingham may have tried a little too hard to make his protagonist, the dance-loving, unusual fact-spouting, rat-owning DS Declan Miller seem as quirky as possible, he still proved to be a great character to follow, and I felt that the author perfectly captured his grief, guilt and obsession with finding his wife’s killer.  His partner, DS Sara Xiu, proved to be an excellent foil to Miller, and even with her issues she worked as an enjoyable straight figure to Miller’s eccentric persona.  However, it is Billingham’s villains that really make The Wrong Hands stand out, as the author utilises an excellent collection of outrageous rogues.  This includes two crime bosses with alternate product focuses, whose neglectful family life proves to be their downfall, an elite assassin with a less-than-perfect naming convention and a love for Midsomer Murders, and a psychotic welder with some major issues.  These fantastically dark characters added a lot of impact to The Wrong Hands, and I loved seeing how their entertaining and often ironic storylines came together.

Overall, The Wrong Hands was an awesome and very fun new book from Mark Billingham, who let his ridiculous side loose to produce a fantastic crime fiction read.  Fast, funny, and loaded with outrageously complicated characters, The Wrong Hands is an easy book to get lost in, and I am glad I decided to pick it up.

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Quick Review – Capture or Kill by Don Bentley (based on the series by Vince Flynn)

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Quick Review, Thriller1 Comment

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia (ebook – 4 September 2024)

Series: Mitch Rapp – Book 23

Length: 464 pages

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Those in the mood for an intense, action-packed spy thriller should check out the latest book in the long-running Mitch Rapp series, Capture or Kill, written by new author Don Bentley.

Over the last few years, I have become a massive fan of the classic Mitch Rapp thriller series.  Following a dark and deadly operative who specialises in killing America’s enemies, the Mitch Rapp books are an exciting and compelling series that always scratch my action itch each year.  Originally written by Vince Flynn, since his death, the series has been taken over by other talented authors continuing his story.  I personally have only read some of the books written by Kyle Mills, which includes Red War, Lethal Agent, Total Power, Enemy at the Gates, Oath of Loyalty and Code Red, and I appreciated the cool scenarios that Mills pitted the protagonist against.  This year saw an interesting change to the series with the introduction of new author Don Bentley.  Bentley, an established thriller writer himself, is the third author to contribute to the Mitch Rapp series, and his new novel, Capture or Kill, was an excellent throwback to some of Flynn’s original storylines.

Plot Synopsis:

April 2011: On a remote mountaintop overlooking the remains of the Iranian nuclear weapons program, Azad Ashani witnesses a Quds Force demonstration of a capability meant to upend America’s war in the Middle East. Ashani, director of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security and Irene Kennedy’s former back channel to the Iranian government, recognizes the demonstration’s true significance, and the nation-ending conflict it will provoke. Alone, Ashani stands no chance of preventing this rush to madness.

But with the help of one man, he just might.

In Washington, DC, CIA director Irene Kennedy briefs the president that the operational window to kill or capture Osama bin Laden at his recently discovered compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan is rapidly closing. But before he’ll authorize a commando raid on Pakistani soil, the president demands irrefutable proof of bin Laden’s presence.

Proof he trusts just one man to provide.

Preventing a looming war in the Middle East while delivering justice for the nearly 3,000 Americans killed on 9/11 would be a big ask for anyone.

Mitch Rapp isn’t just anyone.


Capture or Kill was an awesome and action-packed read that took the series protagonist back to basics by setting him against an array of Middle Eastern foes in a compelling thriller narrative.  Bentley weaves together an ambitious plot that seeks to continue storylines from the classic Vince Flynn novel, Protect and Defend, while the protagonist also gathers intel for the raid on bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan.  This results in a great array of intense scenes, as Rapp tries to counteract a dangerous collection of Iranian assets and plots, as well as help to recover a missing American soldier in Afghanistan.  There is some great back and forth as Rapp and the antagonists try to unravel their respective plans, and I loved the fantastic overarching plot of the book’s antagonists.  At the same time, Bentley cleverly works in real-life details of the events leading up to the bin Laden raid, which helped to give the story a much-needed sense of realism and higher stakes.  This proved to be a gripping Mitch Rapp narrative and readers will find themselves getting drawn into the compelling and fascinating plot.

I liked the writing in Capture or Kill, especially as Bentley did an amazing job of emulating the over-the-top style of the Mitch Rapp series.  The narrative is a lot more grounded than some of the Kyle Mills narratives I previously read, which I felt brought it back to Flynn’s original style a bit better (although I honestly loved some of Mills’s outrageous scenarios).  Moving the scenario back to the early 2010s was also a sensible move from Bentley, as it allowed him to fit his narrative amongst existing series story threads, while also putting the protagonist in a unique position to impact an historically important espionage event.  Bentley continues to set the tone perfectly by ensuring that the well-known excessive action and badassery of the protagonists is on full display, and those readers who love a ton of combat and exciting espionage escapades are in for a great time with Capture or Kill.  As such, there was a very classic feel to Capture or Kill that I think long-term fans of the series will appreciate, and I felt it captured the flow of some of the other Mitch Rapp books extremely well.

Aside from ensuring that Capture or Kill matched the typical tone of the series, Bentley also did a really good job of portraying many of the classic Mitch Rapp cast.  I felt that the author successfully captured the best parts of many of the protagonists in this new book, and I liked the fantastic storylines that he wove around them.  Series protagonist Mitch Rapp was his over-the-top self as always, and Bentley really ensured that the readers got the full blast of his intense aura and savagery.  It was a little jarring to see how intense Rapp got at times, mainly because I’m more familiar with the Mills version of the character, who is older and more family orientated, but I appreciated how Bentley was trying to get the rugged, active agent version of the protagonist down.  Other recurring characters came across in a similar manner, and I particularly enjoyed seeing more of CIA director Irene Kenedy, especially as much of this book deals with the aftermath of her kidnapping in Protect and Defend.  I also enjoyed seeing Mike Nash trying to fit into his new role as a CIA executive, especially when you consider where his character is going in the extended canon.  All this, and more, proved to be an awesome take on these established characters, and fans of the series will appreciate the care and attention Bentley took with them.

Don Bentley is off to a very strong start as the new author of the Mitch Rapp series.  Capture or Kill is an awesome addition to the series that presents readers with a dark and powerful action-packed narrative.  I look forward to seeing how the Bentley continues the Mitch Rapp books in the future, but it appears that this series is in safe hands going forward.

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Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller4 Comments

Publisher: Constable (Trade Paperback – 8 October 2024)

Series: Ben Koenig series – Book Two

Length: 443 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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The always-entertaining M. W. Craven returns with another outrageous and over-the-top action thriller with the outstanding novel Nobody’s Hero.

Over the last year I have found myself reading several books from veteran thriller author M. W. Craven.  A very talented writer with an interesting array of crime fiction to his name, Craven has impressed me with his outstanding range, as well as some of the elaborate scenarios he comes up with.  His other 2024 novel, The Mercy Chair, was one of the best crime fiction reads of the year, presenting readers with a dark and twisty tale that proved near impossible to turn away from.  As such, I was very eager to get my hands on his other book of the year, Nobody’s Hero, which has been on my radar for a while.

Nobody’s Hero is the second book in Craven’s exciting Ben Koenig series, which started last year with the awesome novel Fearless.  Following a reckless and intense US marshal on the run due to a mobster’s bounty, Fearless was a great read that set the literally fearless protagonist on a bloody revenge mission.  This was an outstanding first entry in the series from Craven, and I have been looking forward to the sequel for a while, especially as Craven came up for another intriguing plot for this second Ben Koenig book.

Ben Koenig is a ghost.  Formerly a decorated US marshal, Koenig is now a drifter, wandering around America trying to outrun the massive bounty placed on his head by a vengeful Russian mobster.  However, Koenig is still a valuable asset to the US government thanks to his specialised training and unique mind, especially as he has a rare condition that makes him utterly fearless.  But even Koenig isn’t immune to dangerous secrets from the past.

Ten years ago, Koenig was recruited to convincingly fake the death of a mysterious woman who needed to disappear to safeguard America’s safety.  However, when the woman reappears in London, gunning down two muggers in broad daylight and kidnapping their intended target, an elderly academic, it sends shockwaves throughout the CIA, and see’s Koenig antagonistic handler, Jen Draper, bring him in.

The only person who knows anything about the mysterious woman, Koenig is tasked with finding her and discovering what dark secret she is hiding.  Travelling to England with Draper, Koenig attempt to find a target who has successfully concealed themselves from the entire world for a decade.  If he fails, a dangerous attack will be unleashed upon America, one that no-one will see coming until it’s too late.  Can Koenig succeed and get the heart of this nation-killing plan, or has he met a threat even more ruthless than him?

Caven continues to highlight his ability to craft together ultra-exciting and slightly insane plots with Nobody’s Hero.  A fast-paced, highly entertaining read loaded with action, twists and lots of shock-value, Nobody’s Hero was one hell of an electrifying read, and one that I had such a great time getting through.

At the heart of Nobody’s Hero lies an intriguing story that is both very clever and nicely absurd.  Despite being a sequel to Fearless, Nobody’s Hero stands on its own and requires no prior knowledge of the series, which allows new readers to jump in without any issue.  Craven starts the story off very strong, especially when it comes to reintroducing his protagonist, Ben Koenig, and readers quickly remember why he is such a badass (you will never look at credit cards the same way again).  From there, the author crafts together an excellent overarching plot, which sees a multi-layered evil plan to destroy America unfold across several different perspectives.  When the start of this plan becomes apparent, a secret government protocol forces Koenig to investigate, especially once his connection to one of the players in question comes to light.  Following up the only lead they have; Koenig and his allies begin violently working their way through a variety of obstacles in both England and the United States.  This leads to several outstandingly over-the-top sequences, which continues to showcase the unusual, and highly violent, nature of the protagonist.

The plot continues as a great pace throughout the entirety of Nobody’s Hero, and you really get caught up in the intense action and intrigue.  The multiple alternate perspectives, especially those showing the various antagonists at work, blend well with the main storyline around Koenig, and you end up with a particularly elaborate spy thriller narrative.  Koenig throws in some brilliant twists along the way, especially one major one just before the final third that really throws you entire perspective of the prior events off and changes the entire tone of the book.  This all leads up to the final big set piece, which honestly is so damn excessive and insane but which fits the rest of the book perfectly and is frankly a great way to end this entire thrilling book.  Craven never slows down with the excessive violence and unlikely character moments, and the reader is constantly on the edge of their seats as they wait to see how the big confrontation will conclude.  I felt that Craven ended it all extremely well, and in a way that only he could pull off, and you come away from Nobody’s Hero exhilarated, satisfied, and just a little grossed out.  Throw in a few intriguing reveals at the end that hint at big things to come, as well as some loose ends tied up in a fitting way, and this was an outstanding narrative that really went out of its way to entertain.

Craven uses a fast-paced, action-laden and all-round exciting writing style in Nobody’s Hero, which really works for the ultra-intense and over-the-top narrative.  Definitely inspired by the Jack Reacher books (there are a few coy references to them) and standing in a bit of an interesting contrast to his style I saw in The Mercy Chair, Nobody’s Hero runs out the gate hard and fast and doesn’t slow down to the very end.  Thanks to the quickfire chapters and great changes to perspective, you really move through Nobody’s Hero fast, and I honestly couldn’t stop reading the book at times once I got into the zone.  The excellent changes in perspective to several other antagonist characters in the book, as well as a few clever time shifts, allowed for a multi-layered narrative, and I loved how Craven allowed for a larger narrative here with some distinctive characters.  Of course, the real highlight of this book is the excessive action and highly violent sequences that emerged, which were both exciting and morbidly entertaining.  Craven designs multiple massive combat set pieces that really pop, especially as they showcase just how deadly, and occasionally suicidal, his protagonist turns out to be.  The author also pumps out several scenes that are extremely entertaining, just because they are so excessive with their violence or the insane actions of the protagonist.  Highlights include a unique interrogation cleverly using a swollen finger, a brazen charge towards villains with stupid body armour and sub-machineguns, and the protagonist’s final plan to get to grips with the enemy.  All this is wrapped up with several outstanding plot twists, each of which is cleverly thought out and well hinted at, which help to turn this into something very special.  An exceptionally fun thriller story, if perhaps a tad too violent for some potential readers.

As with the previous book in the series, a lot of Nobody’s Hero’s appeal lies in its eccentric cast of spies, assassins, and shadowy government agents, all of whom bring a certain entertaining zest to the plot.  This is especially true in the case of the book’s protagonist, Ben Koenig, a former US marshal on the run who suffers from a rare condition that ensures he can feel no fear.  In some ways an even more violent and remorseless version of Jack Reacher, Koenig is a great character to follow, especially as the reader is treated to so many scenes of his unique thinking and unconventional plans.  A lot of the book’s humour is derived from Koenig’s inappropriate jokes and borderline insane ideas, which really amps up just how crazy Nobody’s Hero is at times.  Despite this lack of fear and seeming inability to take things seriously, Koenig proves to be a great central protagonist for this thriller novel, and his lateral thinking allows for some intriguing thoughts on the current situation.  There are also some interesting additional looks at Koenig’s inability to feel fear, which he worries may lead to more problematic and potentially immoral behaviour in the future.  While there isn’t an excessive amount of character development for the protagonist in this book, I still really enjoyed following Koenig in Nobody’s Hero, and I look forward to Craven’s next novel featuring him, especially as there seems to be some major drama coming Koenig’s way.

Aside from Koenig, Nobody’s Hero also features a range of great supporting characters and antagonists, each of whom proves to be more entertaining than the last.  This includes Koenig’s handler, Jen Draper, a former CIA agent turned private contractor who has been assigned to watch over Koenig and turn him into a potential government asset.  Despite their need to work together, there is some clear antagonism between Draper and Koenig, and the two spend most of the book sniping at each other.  While this will probably lead to romance in the future (or not; you never know with Craven), their constant bickering proves to be quite entertaining and there is a certain respect between the two, especially when the chips are down.  I really enjoyed the scenes when Koenig and Draper are of the same mind, mainly because it means the bad guys are going to suffer.  This book also featured a range of very entertaining and memorable antagonists, who fit very well into the story.  These include a murderous father-daughter team with some distinctive characteristics, a group of corrupt cops who get in way over their heads, and a deadly mercenary with something on his chest and a certain kinship with Koenig.  All these characters fit into the narrative perfectly, and I loved the entertaining interactions that they ended up having with the protagonist.

Overall, Nobody’s Hero proved to be an amazing and captivating new book from M. W. Craven, who is swiftly becoming one of my favourite new thriller authors.  Beautifully violent, crazy and all-round entertaining, I had such a brilliant time with Nobody’s Hero, and it was definitely one of the more exciting and addictive thrillers of 2024.  Highly recommended, especially if you are a fan of exceptionally excessive action thrillers.

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Waiting on Wednesday – Never Flinch by Stephen King

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday8 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight a book that is probably going to be one of the best things I read in 2025 with Never Flinch by Stephen King.

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Stephen King is an author who honestly needs no introduction, considering how much he has shaped our cultural landscape over the last 50 years (Carrie literally came out in 1974 people).  Despite his impact on the world of fiction, I’ve only started getting into King quite recently, although I have been making up for lost time by getting through some of his intriguing new releases.  This includes exceptional books like Later, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers (one of my favourite books of 2021) and the short story collection You Like It Darker (one of my favourite books from the first half of 2024), all of which have greatly impressed me and I’m barely scratching the surface of King’s many, many books.

Out of all the novels I have so far enjoyed from King, my favourites have been some of the author’s distinctive crime fiction novels, as King examines elaborate dark thrillers and murder mysteries primarily through the eyes of a truly unique protagonist.  This protagonist is the quirky and brilliant investigator Holly Gibney, who has emerged as one of King’s more distinctive and loveable long-term characters.  Holly made her debut in the awesome novel, Mr. Mercedes, where she served as a compelling supporting character to protagonist Bill Hodges.  King expanded the roll of Holly throughout the Bill Hodges series, before eventually spinning her off on her own adventures.  This included the gripping book, The Outsider, which I had the great pleasure of reading earlier this year.  The Outsider was a particularly impressive and dark novel that saw a man with an unimpeachable alibi framed for a terrible murder.  I deeply enjoyed the initial concept of The Outsider and King expanded it out into a powerful horror read that brought Holly in for its gripping second half.

I cannot emphasise how much I enjoyed The Outsider, and it turns out that King was only just starting with Holly Gibney.  That’s because last year King published an exceptional read simply titled Holly, that set the titular character on her first solo adventure.  Holly was a gripping and complex novel that saw the protagonist investigate a series of disappearances around town, only to discover a horrifying and disturbing secret in the most unlikely of places.  Holly was such an incredible book, and I still have chills from some of the big reveals that came out of it.  Due to its addictive plot, brilliant characters, and incredibly dark moments, Holly got an easy five start rating from me, and it ended up being one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023, as well as being one of my favourite horror novels of all time.

Due to how much fun I have been having with King’s books I am always eager to see what he’s releasing next, and that is why I was so happy to find out some details about his next book, Never Flinch.  A fascinating and awesome novel coming out in late May 2025, Never Flinch sounds extremely cool as King spins together another elaborate mystery.  I was also particularly excited to see that Never Flinch was another Holly Gibney novel, which frankly is all I needed to become completely obsessed with this awesome upcoming book.

Plot Synopsis:

From master storyteller Stephen King comes an extraordinary new novel with intertwining storylines—one about a killer on a diabolical revenge mission, and another about a vigilante targeting a feminist celebrity speaker—featuring the beloved Holly Gibney and a dynamic new cast of characters.

When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help.

Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard—a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.

Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off.

Thrilling, wildly fun, and outrageously engrossing, Never Flinch is one of King’s richest and most propulsive novels.

Wow, I am so damn excited for this upcoming novel.  It looks like King has come up with another epic and enticing story concept for Never Flinch with two separate gripping cases that his protagonist becomes involved with.  The first case of the fourteen citizens about to be murdered is very interesting, and I am curious to see how that unfolds what twisted motivations lay behind it.  At the same time, the threat to the women’s rights activist should add some intense social commentary to Never Flinch, and a determined and ‘righteous’ stalker should make for a fascinating opponent.  While both cases sound extremely awesome on their own, I am very curious to see how King brings them all together and in what way the two distinctive crimes converge.  I feel that if King manages to combine the storylines in a particularly ingenious way, which is something King is perfectly capable of doing, then Never Flinch is going to be extremely impressive.  As such, I look forward to seeing how this new story unfolds, and I have no doubt that King is going to turn this upcoming novel into something very special.

In addition to these two complex cases, a key part of Never Flinch that I am keen on are the compelling and damaged characters that will no doubt fill the pages.  King has always excelled at creating captivating figures with unique life stories, and I have enjoyed seeing these characters used to their full potential in some of his previous novels.  I am especially keen to see more of Holly Gibney, who has really stood out as a protagonist to me in recent years.  An unusual and socially awkward figure who also proves to be a skilled investigator and a surprisingly effective monster killer, Holly has been expertly used as both a supporting character and the main protagonist, and I have appreciated seeing her continued growth as she grows more confident in herself.  It will be very interesting to see what happens to her in Never Flinch, especially after the chaotic events of Holly and the various secrets about her mother that came to light.

In addition to Holly, I am keen to see how some of the recurring characters from the previous Holly Gibney books will be utilised.  This includes siblings Jerome and Barbara Robinson, Holly’s younger friends and assistants who have been such a key part of the previous novels.  Both Jerome and Barbara have had compelling ongoing storylines throughout their previous inclusions, and it will be interesting to see how their lives have continued to change.  In addition, I will be very keen to see what sort of antagonists that King will feature in Never Flinch.  So many Stephen King books rise on the backs of their brilliant antagonists, and I know that I deeply enjoyed the outstanding and often disturbing villains of Mr. Mercedes, The Outsider and Holly.  As such, King has some big villainous shoes to fill with Never Flinch, and I cannot wait to see what complex and memorable antagonists appear in this next cool book.

Honestly, there is no way in hell I am missing out on Never Flinch next year and it is already firmly at the top of my to-read list for 2025.  Indeed, thanks to how I loved The Outsider and Holly, and the fact that it’s Stephen King writing this book, Never Flinch is one of my most anticipated book for next year at this point, and I think the only book I am currently as excited for in 2025 is The Devils by Joe Abercrombie.  I honestly believe that Never Flinch will be one of, if not the absolute best, novels I will read next year, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Medici Return by Steve Berry

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday5 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I look at an awesome upcoming thriller with the historical conspiracy laden novel, The Medici Return by Steve Berry.

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As we near 2025, I have been looking ahead to see how several long-running series I routinely enjoy are likely to continue.  One of these series are the brilliant Cotton Malone thriller books by impressive author Steve Berry.  A deeply entertaining series of spy thriller novels, the Cotton Malone books follow titular government agent, Cotton Malone, as he uncovers a continuous series of hidden conspiracies and plots that have their roots in various periods of history.  This fantastic overall theme of the Cotton Malone books has produced some excellent novels over the years, and I have had a wonderful time diving into elaborate stories loaded with historical detail, such as The Malta Exchange, The Warsaw Protocol, The Kaiser’s Web, The Last Kingdom and The Atlas Maneuver.  Each of these has been extremely fun and addictive to me, and I always eagerly await to see what unique adventure Berry will produce next.

As such, one of my most anticipated thrillers coming out in the first half of 2025 is the intriguing novel, The Medici Return.  The 19th book in the Cotton Malone series, The Medici Return will see Berry dive into yet another intriguing period of history that will result in an intense and world-altering plot.

Plot Synopsis:

Former Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, has been asked to assist the Swiss guard with determining whether Cardinal Jason Richter has engaged in bribery and theft. It’s a favor for Stephanie Nelle, once his boss at the Magellan Billet, who is doing a favor for the Vatican. But nothing is as it seems. Four hundred thousand euros are found, a Swiss Guardsman is murdered, and a killer sets his sights on both Cotton and the cardinal.

Together they are thrust into a search for a forgotten document, a 16th century Pledge of Christ executed by Pope Julius II that reveals a debt owed by the Vatican, still valid after five centuries, now worth in the trillions of dollars. But when the trail to collecting that debt leads Cotton to the famed Medici of Florence—a family that history says died out, without heirs, centuries ago—he realizes that two more things also hang in the balance. Who will be the next prime minister of Italy, and who will become the next pope.

From a quiet hilltop village in central Germany, to the ancient city of Siena with its famed Palio horse race, and finally to the historic piazzas, churches, and crypts of Florence, Cotton Malone uncovers the answers, one by one, everything hinging on when, and if, the Medici return.

This upcoming Cotton Malone book sounds particularly awesome and intriguing, and I love the main plot revolving around an ancient Vatican debt and the potential implications if the church is forced to pay it off.  I am also very curious about the inclusion of the Medici family of Florence, and it will be interesting to see how Berry works them into the main plot.  Based on how the previous Cotton Malone books have turned out, I am expecting that Berry will do a deep dive into the history and legacy of the Medici family in The Medici Return, and I am for one am eager to learn more about them.  I also love the sound of the various locations that Berry is planning to take the reader in The Medici Return.  Berry always does an amazing job vividly describing the elaborate landscapes and historical sites that the protagonists of his books end up visiting, and I am excited to see what cool new locations will be explored in this new book.

Honestly, I was going to read The Medici Return next year no matter what, as I have really grown to enjoy Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series.  However, the above synopsis has gotten me extra excited, and I am now deeply intrigued to see what sort of elaborate thriller adventure Berry will come up with for The Medici Return.  The Medici Return will likely be one of the top thriller novels I enjoy in 2024, and I cannot wait to see how Berry utilises the unique history of the Medici family for his latest awesome book.

Quick Review – Confessions of the Dead by James Patterson and J. D. Barker

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Horror, Quick Review, Thriller1 Comment

Publisher: Century (Trade Paperback – 2 July 2024)

Series: Standalone

Length: 454 pages

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

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One of the weirder and more compelling thrillers of 2024 so far has to be the unique Confessions of the Dead by the superstar team of James Patterson and J. D. Barker.

2024 has been an excellent year for both Patterson and Barker, as both authors have produced some excellent books.  Barker wrote the engrossing and highly adult thriller, Behind a Closed Door, while Patterson has continued to release a raft of compelling thrillers cowritten with talented authors, including The No. 1 Lawyer with Nancy Allen and The Murder Inn with Candice Fox.  As such it is unsurprising that the two would come together again this year with another collaboration, this time with the intriguing novel, Confessions of the Dead.  Their last collaboration, Death of the Black Widow, was one of my favourite books of 2022, so I was very excited to read Confessions of the Dead, especially as it featured a particularly interesting plot.

Plot Synopsis:

The smallest towns hide the darkest secrets . . . Drawing elements from the horror genre, this eerie standalone suspense thriller is perfect for fans of Stephen King.

The dead tell no tales . . .

Hollows Bend is a picture-perfect New England town. The crime rate – zero – is a point of pride for Sheriff Ellie Pritchett.

The day the stranger shows up is when the trouble starts.

The sheriff and her deputy investigate the mysterious teenage girl. None of the locals can place her. She can’t – or won’t – answer any questions. She won’t even tell them her name.

While the girl is in protective custody, the officers are called to multiple crime scenes leading them closer and closer to a lake outside of town that doesn’t appear on any map . . .


Confessions of the Dead proved to be an intense and captivating horror/thriller hybrid as Patterson and Barker make the full use of their inventive narrative to unleash death, destruction and horror onto a seemingly innocent small town.  Starting off with a rain of suicidal birds hitting main street, and only getting darker and weirder from there, Confessions of the Dead follows several intriguing characters as they witness their fellow townspeople descend into madness and begin to enact dark and violent acts against each other, all while a mysterious teenage girl silently witnesses their hatred and crimes.  Things get even weirder, when it becomes clear that their town has become fully isolated from the outside world, with shadowy soldiers holding watch from the outskirts of town.  The various storylines soon reveal the dark secrets of Hollows Bend and the young girl seemingly causing the chaos, and you will not be prepared for the full truth that is revealed, and the terrifying implications.

This proved to be a rather interesting and horror-laden story that takes the readers in some surprising directions.  The narrative within Confessions of the Dead is spooky, deeply personal, and occasionally outrageous, as dark deeds slowly begin to sweep the town, turning the innocent townspeople against each other.  Patterson and Barker do a really good job of building up the mystery in the first half of the book.  There are so many intriguing secrets and mysteries lurking in this first part of the book, which are well matched by scenes of horror and human violence.  The fast-paced chapter changes that are such a distinctive part of Patterson’s writing style work wonders in conveying the unusual situation, and I loved how well the plot switched between multiple unique characters, all of whom have some dark secret they are hiding, even if they don’t know what it is.  The authors also add in some intriguing wrinkles to the plot through the use of multiple well-placed interludes that show a point in the future where one of the book’s protagonists is being interviewed by a member of the mysterious organisation keeping the town.  These inclusions really helped to build up tension as they hinted at events to come, while the elaborate setup surrounding the interviews, gave some idea of how serious the situation really was.

Everything leads up to a very intense second half of the book, as Confessions of the Dead’s story gets darker and darker.  Indeed, the authors build together a real horror/thriller vibe for Confessions of the Dead, which I honestly enjoyed, and it was great to see a more unusual and inventive thriller come out of the Patterson production machine.  There is an interesting combination of storylines in the second half of the book, from vigilante townspeople, monstrous killers, and even a Stranger Things/Goonies inspired sideline following a group of the town’s younger residents as they try to investigate the chaos engulfing the lives of their parents.  The authors set up a big and intriguing conclusion to the story, that provides a particularly unique ending that will stick in the reader’s mind.  I did think that Patterson and Barker did perhaps make the ending a little too complicated and meta for its own good, and that certain aspects of the crazy conclusions impacted my overall enjoyment of the book.  Still, this was for the most part a great story, and I had fun getting through it.

Confessions of the Dead was a particularly fascinating and memorable 2024 thriller that I was glad I checked out.  Written by the brilliant team of James Patterson and J. D. Barker, Confessions of the Dead had a wonderfully dark and brutal plot behind it, that allowed for quite the outrageous read.  Grim, intense, and featuring some interesting concepts, Confessions of the Dead proved very hard to put down and it will be interesting to see where these two authors go the future.

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