[Review] — Taylor Moore's "RICOCHET" is a Solid, Thrilling Read

It's been about two years since I first stumbled upon Taylor Moore's Down Range on paperback. I'm always skeptical about new authors—especially when I've heard nothing about their debut novel—but I put aside my doubts, and read Down Range and enjoyed it. I must not be the only reader who liked because the third sequel, Cold Trail, is coming out in September. A review copy of RICOCHET, the third book in the series, was sent to me many months ago—last fall. Yeah, I know. I need to work on my procrastination issues. Technically, I did read the book twice, if that means anything.

The series follows DEA Special Agent Garret Kohl, who always seems to find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yes, it's a cliche, but the character is interesting. He went back home to Texas to protect a young boy, Asadi Saleem Kohl, and there he reconnects with his brother, father, and a long-lost love.

In RIOCHET (Available to buy on *Amazon.com), Garrett is once again thrust into a risky situation when he gets called by a nuclear weapons facility engineer requesting his assistance. Iranian operatives appear to be blackmailing weapons facility personnel and may be plotting a terrorist assault.

Garrett's CIA team, who are already fighting an intensive shadow war with Tehran and its Quds Force operatives, band together to take down the extortionists and demolish their enterprise. But before they can begin their operation, enemy commandos kidnap a train carrying nuclear weapons and dispatch a lone wolf assassin to kill the visiting US Secretary of Defense.

Garrett is caught off guard by the surprise onslaught and musters the only aid he can find: a ragged gang of outcasts and criminals, some of whom he has previously imprisoned. Although they come from diverse backgrounds and are on opposing sides of the law, they have a strong desire to safeguard their homes, families, and way of life on the isolated, untamed, and enticing Texas High Plains.

RICOCHET is slightly improved over its predecessor, Firestorm, which I thought lacked suspense compared to the first book. The third outing works well with its quick pacing and an overload of intense characters. The plot is predictable, and like Lee Child's Jack Reacher, C.J. Box's Joe Pickett, and any James Patterson thriller, Taylor Moore uses a plot formula, and it does work for the most part. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story; there were plenty of twists and turns, but I figured out the outcomes too easily. Nevertheless, despite some faults, RICOCHET is still a solid, thrilling read. ╌★★★½✰

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