Showing posts with label spy fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spy fiction. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Read full post: 'Monarch': Alex Hawke's Newest Spy Thriller Leaves Mixed Feelings

'Monarch': Alex Hawke's Newest Spy Thriller Leaves Mixed Feelings

Cover to "Ted Bell's Monarch" by Ryan Steck, Alex Hawke #13, published by Berkley in 2025

Following a successful but costly mission to destroy an enemy outpost in Antarctica, Alex Hawke is looking forward to some quiet time at Teakettle Cottage, his home in Bermuda, along with his family. But he's not a man who can avoid trouble.

Former Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard Ambrose Congreve calls him with stunning news. Just days away from a controversial vote threatening to tear the United Kingdom apart at the seams, King Charles has disappeared while vacationing at Balmoral Castle. The prime minister believes she can keep the news quiet for no more than 72 hours. After that, Britain will be plunged into chaos.

With the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance, it's up to Lord Hawke to find and rescue the missing monarch before it's too late.

Ted Bell's
MONARCH
Alex Hawke, #13
by Ryan Steck
Berkley, 2025
★★½☆☆

Monarch, the newest Alex Hawke spy thriller, has left me feeling ambivalent. On one hand, I'm excited to see the series continue with its thirteenth installment. Then on the other hand, it appears to have strayed off course in ways that are difficult to ignore. This uneasiness has a tragic explanation: Ted Bell, the creative force behind the series, sadly passed away in 2023. However, his legacy will continue on with author Ryan Steck. It isn't exactly ghostwriting, as Steck's name is prominently featured on the cover. However, I must mention that the cover image is strikingly generic—what happened there, Berkley? 

I've never read any of Ryan Steck's work before. I cannot tell you he has the talent to write an engaging story. His pacing is efficient; however, he struggles to convey Alex Hawke's personality effectively. Hawke feels slightly off—the character's usual nuance and sharpness are nowhere to be seen. Some scenes are superfluous, adding little more than filler to the plot. It’s tough to pinpoint exactly what went wrong. The characters are unconvincing, and the absurd plot often overshadows the thrilling potential of a classic spy story. 

Don't get me wrong—Monarch isn't completely terrible. I've read significantly worse thrillers. I just had high hopes for this book and was inevitably disappointed with the execution. Even the most loyal Alex Hawke fans are unlikely to be pleased with it.

⁓B.J. Burgess


Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Read full post: [Review] — Tom Clancy's DEFENSE PROTOCOL by Andrews & Wilson (★★★★★)

[Review] — Tom Clancy's DEFENSE PROTOCOL by Andrews & Wilson (★★★★★)


Tom Clancy's military thrillers have electrified readers for generations, and the excitement continues to buzz even after his passing. His estate, in collaboration with publisher Putnam, has ensured that his legacy lives on by bringing in exciting new voices to expand his universe. A standout is last year’s explosive release of DEFENSE PROTOCOL, the thrilling 25th installment in the Jack Ryan series, co-penned by the dynamic duo, Andrews & Wilson—Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Read full post: [Review] — Brad Thor's SHADOW OF DOUBT is a Riveting Thriller

[Review] — Brad Thor's SHADOW OF DOUBT is a Riveting Thriller


A while ago, fueled by my passion for military thrillers, a reader recommended the works of author Brad Thor. Although I was familiar with Thor's name—having seen his books displayed in various bookstores—I had never taken the plunge to read any of them. However, after that recommendation, a curious phenomenon began to occur; I started discovering Brad Thor's novels in thrift stores and even encountered several titles available for free at my local library. Naturally, I couldn't resist adding these finds to my ever-growing home library, which now boasts byzantine of his works. Nevertheless, despite having amassed a collection of his novels, I had yet to delve into them until I finally picked up his latest release, SHADOW OF DOUBT, which was published earlier this year by Emily Bestler Books / Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC.

Monday, November 25, 2024

Read full post: [Review] — Tom Clancy's SHADOW STATE is Technical-Less Jack Ryan, Jr. Outing

[Review] — Tom Clancy's SHADOW STATE is Technical-Less Jack Ryan, Jr. Outing


What is it about the striking image of a military boat on a book cover that instantly sends a rush of adrenaline through me? There's something inherently thrilling about the connotations of power, strategy, and high-stakes conflict that draws me in.

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Read full post: [Review] — The Gray Man is back in the Pulse-Pounding Thriller, THE CHAOS AGENT

[Review] — The Gray Man is back in the Pulse-Pounding Thriller, THE CHAOS AGENT


Mark Greaney's highly anticipated 13th installment in the Gray Man series, titled THE CHAOS AGENT, is set to grace bookstore shelves in paperback on November 26th, courtesy of the Berkley Publishing Group. This announcement sparked a memory of the hardback sitting on a shelf; lingering there, waiting for a review. In the spirit of honesty, I must admit that I read the book several months back; however, to refresh my thoughts and dive deep into the narrative, I decided to reread it.
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