Tripwire by Lee Child

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review on Goodreads

Gosh. I read this almost a year ago. I still remember some things very well. The villain is really, really horrible. He's a cruel person, but also a sociopath. I think the two things in life he really enjoys is making money and hurting people. Lee Child has a way of incorporating some very brutal people into his work. His work feels very noir to me.

The mystery is very good. Jack Reacher is very Jack Reacher. He's a down to business kind of hero who knows what he does well. He is a huge guy and might give the impression of being a thug, but he's also intelligent and an excellent detective. I found it quite interesting that Jack was working as a ditch digger when the book begins. He's that kind of guy who has no problem with taking a job that is very "menial". I like that people often underestimate him. I haven't made my mind up about the romance yet (yeah, I know, a year later). I think it's because I've read some of the books out of order, and my brain doesn't see the happy ending between Jack and Jodie. I am a romance fan, but the romance angle was my least favorite part of the story. I did like seeing the softer side of Jack (if he has one).

My favorite thing about this book was the twisty mystery. I am the kind of reader who likes to guess what's going on the whole time. I thought this one was a gimme, but I was wrong. Very well plotted.

Just a note on the narrator. He was really good. He seems to have a very good time reading this book. He nailed all the characters.

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The Ten Plagues of Egypt

 

The King of Plagues (Joe Ledger #3) by Jonathan Maberry

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Review on Goodreads

Wow, this is such a good series. I love how fast-paced these books are. Despite the extremely fast pace, there's also character development and exploration. Joe left the DMS after tragic circumstances he couldn't deal with. I honestly don't blame him. I don't understand how his adrenal glands don't just shut down because these books are non-stop and they take place in what I would consider real time. He was just drifting, but Mr. Church needs him back. The world needs him. It seems as though the bad guys just keep getting worse. Now there's a matermind who is enacting the ten plagues of Egypt. Joe and Team Echo needs to find them and shut them down, because a lot of people are going to die otherwise.

These books take place on a time clock, and the reader feels the tension as the hours and minutes count down. The stakes get higher with each book. It's surprising that the culprits are so willing to murder so many people, and when you find out why, it's always compelling. Lots of surprises and some really cool new characters get introduced. There are also some really mind-blowing twists that I didn't see coming. I did predict one huge revelation, but it was closer to the end of the book. I love seeing old favorite characters pop up as well. There's always a lot of risk and these books have quite a body count. If you have fears of contagion and bioterrorism, this book will trigger you for sure.

I won't be a broken record, but man this series is a must read for me. Pick up a Joe Ledger book if you want a book that will keep your pulse pounding.

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The Drifter (Peter Ash #1) by Nick Petrie

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review on Goodreads

I think this one would be good for fans of Jack Reacher, but who love a slightly more tortured hero. Peter came home from the war with severe PTSD. He cannot stand being inside for longer periods of time because it activates his anxiety. As a result, he's become what the title implies. Peter has gotten really good at subsisting off the land and living outdoors. However, when his commander and friend dies, he has to go home and see that his widow and children are cared for. He finds a case with $500,000 in case and a bunch of explosives under the porch he is fixing for her, and ends up taking on some nasty bad guys who want their explosives back.

I liked this book. What started out as a simple premise builds into something more complex. But there is still a simplicity about the story. It goes back to Peter's relationship with his deceased friend and the loyalty he has to him. Also the bond that forms between his widow and children and Peter. And there's a huge dog that spends a good portion of the book badly in need of a bath. The book has some really good humorous moments, excellent action, some very effective emotionally moments, all within a tightly plotted book. The ending is not unpredictable, which is another thing I liked about this book. The author has a heart for veterans, and that comes out in an organic, non-preachy way. It's surprisingly non-sentimental, with some casual and shocking moments of brutality, despite the themes of friendship and family, trauma and loss. If you find yourself rooting for tough characters who protect the vulnerable against really nasty foes, you'll probably like this book. I loved how although he's gone, Jimmy, Peter's friend, is such an important character, and his legacy is so prominent to this story. Dinah, Jimmy's widow, is a cool customer. She's smart, calm, ladylike, and surprisingly badass. Again, the character work in this book is so good.

I thought the narrator did a great job of bringing the characters to life. It was an engrossing listen. I'll keep reading this series.

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Rollercoaster Ride, With Zombies

Patient Zero (Joe Ledger #1) by Jonathan Maberry

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Review on Goodreads

 Reread completed in October to November 2021 on Audiobook

I have been listening to these on audiobook, narrated by the excellent Ray Porter, and I decided to go back to and listen to the first book in the series, because I wanted to experience it audibly. I loved listening to it. Honestly, the audiobook upgrades this to a five star. I really love this series.

I love how over the top it is. I love the characterization. I love the action. I love the science mixed with the James Bond type villains. I especially love how highstakes the plots are, and how there's very little slowdown of the story. Yet, the writing still allows for character development and emotional resonance. I would love to see these as a tv series one day!

I could go on and on about things, but I'll keep it simple. I'm really glad I took the time to reread/listen to this one. I think I might go ahead and listen to Extinction Machine since it's been a minute. Jonathan Maberry really knows what this action reader craves, because when I pick up a Joe Ledger book, it keeps me on my toes and I know I'm in for a wild ride.

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