Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Die Every Day: For the Rest of Your Life is a work of thriller fiction featuring espionage, action, and conspiracy, and was penned by author Gordon Bickerstaff. The work is best suited for the mature adult reading audience due to the presence of explicit language, scenes of graphic violence, and some references to sexual violence. Zoe Tampsin, an agent working for the Lambeth Group, is called in to convince a murder suspect to plead guilty when it seems like the suspect is threatening to reveal secrets that could topple the government to secure his own freedom. But when Zoe actually gets into the details of the conspiracy herself, she becomes the next target and faces an unimaginable dilemma.

Author Gordon Bickerstaff has crafted a masterpiece of conspiracy thriller fiction with tons of thrills and spills to entertain readers from cover to cover. Zoe was a useful and well-developed central protagonist who made decisions rooted in both logical and emotional reasoning, which made it easy to relate to her. I also found the dialogue particularly engaging and helpful in explaining many of the exposition details of the plot without the need for huge blocks of complex prose. This allowed the story to move at a fast pace which is sure to keep readers engrossed and wanting to see what happens next. Overall, I would definitely recommend Die Every Day to fans of well-penned thrillers with engrossing characters and for anyone looking for an excellent series of espionage books to delve into.

Reviewed By Risah Salazar for Readers' Favorite

When Gunnar Lind, a Swedish cryptologist working for MI6, goes missing, highly classified intelligence is compromised. Britain wants Lind back at their office right away for the safety of Ultra and the rest of the world. But, of course, countries like Germany are now going after him and what he knows too. OSS Agent Conor Thorn has been tasked to find Lind while in the middle of a personal crisis. While he’s sorting out his feelings for fellow agent Emily Bright, he finds out that his late wife had been raped and kept quiet about it. To say that he wants revenge is an understatement. Superpowers take each other down, agents kill and betray one another, and families fall out in Glenn Dyer’s World War II espionage thriller, The Ultra Betrayal.

As expected in books with this kind of setting, the story is fast-paced, action-packed, and mystery-filled. The chapter headings help in following the order of events; without them, the flow will be hard to grasp as events take place simultaneously in different locations. Although a lot of things are happening, they are not overwhelming because the writing is careful and cohesive. As complexities unfold, Glenn Dyer keeps the audience engaged with detailed story-telling. The characters are diverse and are craftily written but from my point of view there are too many players in the court; it can be hard to keep track of everyone and their roles. The Ultra Betrayal is the second installment in the Connor Thorn series but it can be read as a standalone.

Reviewed By Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci is a beautiful historical novel about the German occupation of France. Between 1943 and 1944, the Nazis occupied France, inflicting varying degrees of hardship on the French in the name of Hitler. England stepped in to save France by sending its best SOE agent, Guy Maxwell, to join forces with the local Resistance in driving the Germans out. One fateful night, while Guy and his team waited for airdropped supplies at a discreet location, something terrible happened which sabotaged their mission. Someone had sold them out, and no one knew Guy’s whereabouts. His wife, Agent Elizabeth, was sent to France on a mission; find Guy and fish out the traitor. The opponents will soon realize that behind a beautiful face lies a lethal mind.

The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci is an exceptional novel. It will appeal to lovers of espionage, war, and historical novels. I enjoyed reading this book, as it felt like I was in an action movie. Kathryn perfectly blurred the lines between fact and fiction, creating a thorough blend of literary enjoyment. The characters of the star females, Elizabeth, Amelie, Odette, and Madame Sophie, were so well developed that I fell in love with them. They were formidable characters whose contribution to the freedom of France will never be forgotten. The story is one of war and based on true events, but it also incorporates love, deceit, determination, hope, and bravery in the face of danger. I appreciate the stylistic writing and clean editing, which made for a beautiful reading experience. Thank you, Kathryn! Give us more.

Reviewed By Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Voyage of the Stingray by Richard Steinitz is a fascinating look inside a new prototype submarine for the U.S. Navy. It is ultra-stealthy and intended for use in the infiltration and extraction of special forces combatants who are sent into dangerous zones for a specific task. Commander Jeff Woodbridge is a career submariner. He has been waiting patiently for his chance to gain his first command and when he is offered command of the Stingray, still under construction, he is more than excited. The Commander's job is to oversee the final construction of what has been a project plagued by delays and tragedy, then to take the Stingray out for sea trials before deploying the new submarine in its most important role of silently and stealthily delivering and extracting special forces combatants from dangerous zones. The submarine's first mission will take them to the Middle East, along with a SEAL team whose job it is to extract an agent from Iran and deliver him safely back to the States. A civilian contractor is accidentally left aboard the Stingray when she sets sail and there is no possibility of dropping him off anywhere due to the urgency of the mission. Commander Woodbridge must call on all his experience and that of his crack crew to successfully carry out the task set by the Admiralty.

The Voyage of the Stingray is interesting and enthralling not just because of the clandestine spy missions that the submarine will undertake but also because of the wonderful descriptions of life on a U.S. naval submarine and the futuristic design capabilities of the Stingray. Richard Steinitz has produced an exciting tale of modern spying and submarine operations, which appears both accurate and extremely fascinating to the layman. The inclusion of both a civilian contractor and a woman officer on an operational, armed U.S. submarine gave the story that extra touch of spice that it needed. I particularly enjoyed the discussions of the technical capabilities of the Stingray and how she could do things no other submarine was capable of. Clearly, the author is well researched and extremely knowledgeable of naval protocol, equipment, traditions, and hierarchy. I was impressed with the delicate balance between an exciting plot and the thrill of exploring the possibilities for submarines of the future and stretching the bounds of their capabilities. The author achieved this balance extremely well. This is an easy-to-read book that can easily be accomplished in one sitting and definitely opened up my interest in reading more from this author. I can highly recommend this read.

Reviewed By Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

In the lightning-moving Satan’s Gold, author Michael Ray Ewing plops us down into the action in the very first line and doesn’t stop until the surprising but gratifying ending. Tyler Jackson is a Quantico graduate now using his training to track down his rival Daemon’s stolen Russian money for a commission, getting shot at, crawling through sewers and falling apart Chicago brownstones, waking up from recurring nightmares of being shot, and traversing complicated computer transactions through a network of hackers. Yet, besides all this mind-boggling action, Jackson is trying to reunite with Suzanne, his disillusioned fiancée. Yes, mind-boggling, so before you open this amazing novel, prepare your brain with coffee and fasten your seatbelt. If you don’t have a degree in computer science, be ready to get your diploma in this book.

With my limited knowledge of digital electronics, I was nevertheless swept away immediately by Mr. Ewing’s action-oriented prose. Though I had to Google a few things along the way, like ‘who is Jean Valjean,’ everyone likes a book from which you learn a few things while reading. Besides the tech framework of the narrative, there’s the endearing character of Tyler Jackson, his wry wit, his aversion to using illegal methodology to avert a monumental heist, and his affection for Suzanne which opens the book. Then, there’s the writing itself. Despite the complexities of hacking and decrypting passwords of financial accounts, Ewing’s style (short, declarative sentences, realistic dialogue, gritty violence, emotive locale images, and excellent character descriptions) keeps the pace at a furious speed. I not only read this novel but felt it. Get ready for a mind-bending and ultimately satisfying read.

Reviewed By K T Bowes for Readers' Favorite

I loved Ten Seconds to Dead by L.A. Clayton. I whipped through it in about twenty-four hours. There seem to be two types of women in action novels; the wimp and the badass. Kate Edison lands firmly in the center, the perfect happy medium. She’s vulnerable but capable and the novel puts her in a really testing environment. I loved the twists and turns in the storyline because, trust me, nothing is the way it seems. L. A. Clayton takes a huge amount of trouble laying out the stakes and then smashing them to pieces.

Ten Seconds to Dead moves the reader through a startling range of emotions, from excitement to devastation. It’s handled with such slick precision that you find yourself on the precipice of disaster without acknowledging any part of the journey that led you there. When Kate Edison is recruited into the secret government department as a spy, she has no idea what she’s stepping into and nor does the reader. The missions, the urgency, all just feel relevant and patriotic. I kept reading late into the night because I needed to know what happened next. Her new life and the gutsy way she approaches it seemed so engaging. The tension was perfect, a fast pace propelling you at speed to the unexpectedness of the cataclysmic discovery which changes everything.

I spent a lot of my reading time in doubt, not liking certain characters, such as Cave, but carried along by their plausible role in the story. At the end, I wished I’d trusted my instincts. At one point - which I won’t spoil - I was left genuinely devastated. Spy novels are ten a penny, but this one stands out as different. It’s engaging right until the final word. I was as taken in by the AGI as Kate, right up until the moment I wasn’t. It's a great read and I really enjoyed it.

Reviewed By K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite

Zoe's own tactics had been used against her with precision execution. Captured, shamed, and manipulated into silence, it seems her only option is to accept death in order to protect those she loves. The people who thought that obviously didn't know her, or her allies, well at all. But her liberation just serves to throw fuel onto an already raging fire. Given the choices that await her, perhaps the hangman's noose would have been preferable. Gavin Shawlens has been recruited to investigate an insurance fraud, but he had not been given all the details. Behind a seemingly innocent front, murderers hide in the shadows, seeking revenge, and that revenge is now within their grasp and they will stop anyone who gets in their way, or threatens to expose them. Unfortunately, Gavin's investigation does just that, and he has already made some powerful enemies, but this time he doesn't have Zoe at his side to protect him. The clock is ticking before they up their game.

Gordon Bickerstaff was born to write this genre. Tears of Fire is the latest instalment in his Lambeth Group thrillers and to date I have read every book in this immersive and tension-filled series, and they just keep getting better and better. They read as stand alone and yet also reward the frequent reader. Twists and turns don't do justice to the complexities of the masterful plot, and it is so involved that revenge, murder, questions, betrayal, and suspense are just the tip of the iceberg. Gordon Bickerstaff achieves the perfect balance between a character and an event driven plot. You'll be hooked from the first page to the last, wondering how things will turn out. This is one hell of an involved plot, and a word to the wise as you navigate through the dangerous tale; remember to breathe. A truly masterful and amazing book, written with flair, style, and an intensity that will leave you wanting more. Tears of Fire is, without question, a five star and highly recommended read.

Reviewed By Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite

Fallout is a fast-paced spy thriller with roots in the partitioned Berlin of the 1980s and a joint operation that went badly wrong. Today, a former high-ranking officer has put together a team of highly professional killers to wipe out those responsible. The team includes one of the victims of the failed operation who had been brutally tortured and was thought to be dead. The narrative moves from locations in the USA, Canada, England, Russia and an extensive number of European settings, including of course Berlin. Using short succinct chapters, author William Hunter weaves a complex tale of double-dealing and deceit. After the death of an innocent victim in the USA, the deputy head of the British secret service, MI6, realizes that he was the intended target and the race to stop the killers becomes personal. Working through layers of old intelligence and tracking down those involved in covert operations during this period, he pieces together an incredible plot to protect an important ‘asset’ at the time. Many blameless operatives lost their lives and the killing is continuing to this day. Can the oddly-named Banastre Montjoy identify the ‘mole’ behind the current killing spree and put an end to the bloodshed?

It is difficult reviewing a book like Fallout as the twists in the plot and slowly revealed mysteries in the narrative need to be protected. That having been said, I can confirm that William Hunter has produced a brilliantly thought-out, well-researched thriller, the detail of which quite takes the reader's breath away. He handles a large cast of characters with skill, ensuring that their positions and backgrounds are clearly understood and the many locations in which the action takes place are brought to life with lucid, accurate descriptions. The central characters are well-drawn and if there are some graphic scenes of violence, they are nothing that would not be expected in this type of novel. An astounding achievement and a worthy addition to the genre. A great read for the spy thriller enthusiast.

Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Directive One is an espionage thriller work of fiction for adults and was penned by author Scott Shinberg. The book is the second installment in the Michelle Reagan series of spy thriller novels and follows the heroine in her mission to rescue the CIA Director as part of a dangerous plan. But with a fully prepared and well protected military base standing between her and her objective, Michelle Reagan may be forced to enact the closely guarded secret instructions of the titular Directive One. What results is a high octane tale with plenty of intrigue, high stakes action, and military hijinks.

Author Scott Shinberg presents an excellent addition to the action and military genres along the lines of those who enjoy Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, and Andy McNab, but with a distinct twist in the central figure of a powerful and capable heroine. Michelle Reagan is a powerhouse of a woman who still retains a truly feminine narrative quality, without pandering to any particular trope of the genre. With this core strength, the novel takes shape in both the plot and the atmosphere around her. The elite soldiers and operatives of the team are well-drawn characters with realistic behavior and dialogue, which adds to the heart-in-mouth feel of the action, as though we are rooting for real people when we read about them. When this is coupled with the tense descriptive power of the action scenes, it results in a well-paced thriller not to be missed. Overall, Directive One is a highly recommended read for thriller and spy novel fans everywhere.

Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Secret Brokers is a work of thriller fiction with plenty of intrigue and was penned by author Alexandrea Weis. Written for adults but highly accessible to all readers due to low levels of graphic content, this mystifying and engaging read takes the world of spies and espionage to dangerous new heights. We find ourselves embroiled in an investigation into the mafia, where protagonist Dallas August puts his organization of elite spies to the task, and charges in headfirst to lead them by going undercover. His target is Gwen Marsh, a beautiful but reclusive character who will give nothing away, no matter how close he tries to get. What follows is a fascinating mystery with plenty of dangerous twists and turns.

Readers who love action novels, as well as spy thrillers, will get plenty of bang for their buck out of reading this excellent and engaging Secret Brokers Series novel. Author Alexandrea Weis has a real talent for keeping her audience guessing right until the very last chapters of the novel, which maintains intrigue and tantalizes readers with clues throughout. Gwen and Dallas make for an interesting pair with strong personalities that clash, but when they come together the sparks do fly. As a series opener, the novel does a great job of setting up Dallas as a central figure in his own right, and fans of the previous Nicci Beauvoir series will also find flashes from the past here and there too. Overall, The Secret Brokers is a highly entertaining and recommended read.