Finally catching up on some winter reading during the summer. Yep, that’s me, the procrastination king. While the world basked in sunshine, enjoying picnics and fireworks, I dove into Cold Zero, a military thriller by Brad Thor and Ward Larsen, published by Atria/Emily Bestler Books back in February. It had been languishing in a pile of ARCs, gathering dust, until I decided to blow off the grime, sit down, and read the damn thing.

So, what’s it all about? It unfolds like a MacGuffin story, starting with the audacious disappearance of Hemisphere Airlines Flight 777, the most advanced jetliner ever built. The aircraft vanishes without a trace over the North Pole, succumbing to sabotage and crash-landing on the icy wasteland. The surviving passengers find themselves in a chaotic, frigid landscape, but the real tempest is yet to come. Hidden in the wreckage is the prototype of a groundbreaking technology capable of tipping the scales of global power. Now, Washington, Moscow, and Beijing are racing against one another to seize it—whatever the cost. Caught in the eye of this storm are CIA operative Kasey Sheridan and Brett Sharpe, a former fighter pilot turned first officer. With enemy forces closing in, they must navigate the perilous Arctic terrain, escorting both the device and its creator to safety before rival superpowers turn the frozen expanse into a war zone. As the clock ticks and temperatures plunge, the fate of the free world hangs in the balance at the top of the globe.

What is it about submarines that ignites my obsession? Ever since I caught a glimpse of Hunt for the Red October in 1990—my nine-year-old self glued to the screen—I’ve been hopelessly captivated by these underwater giants. I may not have donned a Navy uniform, but my respect for our service members runs deep. I’m a voracious reader, gravitating toward any book adorned with a submarine on the cover, seldom bothering to read the blurb before diving in. And don’t get me started on submarine movies; I’ll brave even the corniest plots just for a taste of that underwater thrill. So, once again, I find myself pondering, "What is it about submarines that fascinates me so?" Is it the intriguing elements of a spy thriller? The claustrophobic entrapment of deep-sea existence? These musings flooded my mind as I devoured Bloodline of Redemption by Brian Dickinson, which just launched today. If you’re intrigued at all, do yourself a favor and grab a copy ^[*] to support this inspiring debut.

Now, let’s roll into the plot: We have a rogue Russian submarine lurking in the depths, a buried Cold War grudge resurfacing, and a hunted American aircrew fighting tooth and nail for redemption, all while navigating treacherous waters across the Pacific and scaling the snowy peaks of the Cascades.