An excellent thriller with twists that I didn't foresee. The mix between spy thriller and survival story was really intriguing and made for an intense plot.

Hope there is more of this character!

I enjoyed the military survival training in this suspenseful story.

Derek is a retired expert teaching the basics of serious wilderness survival. At the end of the most recent class, one man offers him a significant fee to come train his team. Derek goes reluctantly because he has to leave behind his ailing father and his son who expects him to attend his games. Derek has some concerns about the training when he is delivered blind folded to a compound that raises lots of questions. Especially when he is offered another significant sum for extended training.

On a very brief break from the compound training, Derek reaches out to a friend in the FBI. His friend agrees convinces Derek to go back undercover to gain more information. Derek has to do the training and increase the skills of the compound team over the weeks, or it would be suspicious, even though Derek fears that he may be training terrorists. He finds another undercover agent and they try to plan an exit before they are exposed. But things aren’t quite as they seem, and Derek really hasn’t managed to shelter those he should be protecting.

The story has a good bit of Rambo action. It is filled with wilderness training that I did find interesting. The full-on action and suspense are a great element. Unfortunately, there were some obvious flaws as Derek fails to take some protective steps and falls into some obvious traps. Overall, I did enjoy the action and I would try the next book. I recommend this to fans of military action.

Audio Notes: Jay Snyder does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and emotional feelings to fit the text. I appreciate getting to listen to this audiobook.

Source: 2023 NetGalley.

𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯-𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨!

Buckle up and prepare for a non-stop wild ride, it’s thrilling, tense and pulse-pounding from start to finish.

Thank you Forge Books for this gifted copy.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 released April 11, 2023.

Derek Harrington, former Marine and now a SERE instructor, never has a dull moment in his life. His job teaching wilderness survival isn’t quite making ends meet. Will he accept a job that will pay him $20,000 for 30 days work? Derek has his doubts, especially as he grows closer to the purpose and the people behind the mission. Going undercover working for the FBI soon becomes Derek’s only recourse.

What an exceptional debut novel! Action packed from beginning to end, T. R. Hendricks doesn’t miss a beat. Action novels are not my goto genre, but boy am I thrilled that I received a print copy of this for review. Then, after reading the description, I was even more excited to have also having received this book as an audiobook, which was expertly narrated by Jay Snyder. What then happened? A one-sitting listen that had me on the edge of my seat. This remarkable experience has got me eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Many thanks to Forge Books, MacMillan Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I forayed into a different book journey with this one. The cover is ok, nothing that draws my eye, and you know I didn't read a book description. I read the little snippets of categories which I believe were mystery, thriller, and suspense. Yay, I'm starting to really enjoy those categories. So, I went out on a limb and requested this one.

I'm glad I did. At first I wasn't so sure there was a lot of military talk and outdoorsy stuff. I come from none of those backgrounds. I mean I have no desire to be outside, except in my garden and I used to go fishing back in the day. I wasn't so sure how much this book was going to appeal to me at first.

The first many chapters are a set up to understand who Derek was, what his skill set was, and what his personal life looked like. Derek is a retired Marine who worked counterintelligence. He now teaches people basics to survive in the woods, like where to find food/water. How to start fires, stuff like that. He has some PTSD from his service which led to anger issues and the ultimate divorce from his wife. He also has a father that he cares for with the onset of dementia. Basically, he is nearly at rock bottom after everything happens at the beginning of the story.

When the story really picks up for me was in the camp, once he is trying to figure things out and is just getting no where. Then insert the character that is kind of the catalyst to all hell breaking loose, but he doesn't know and, and we don't know it. Not until it's too late. Oh and the poor little boy in the camp, ugh, can't do kids getting hurt (even on accident) my mom soul pictures my kids climbing trees and breaking there legs. That big fight scene in the end was amazing and that ending! My heart was racing all through the final act.

Overall, the writing was fantastic, you really felt like you were there with Derek (or the other random POVs that got sprinkled in). You felt the stress of the situation and how dire everything was for everyone involved.

The narrator also did a great job, he was able to portray the intensity of each character, vulnerability, and all the emotions. The biggest issue was toward the ending, I don't know if it was just the sound mixing, splicing of different edits, but from sentence to sentence it almost sounded like a different narrator. It wasn't always the gruff and rumbly. It kept taking me out of the story, checking my headset to see if it was me or the recording. It wasn't me.

If you like a good suspense book with a slow-build and a great heart pounding action sequence, give this a shot. I have high hopes for future Derek Harrington books as well.

9 hr 45 m

Thank you @forgereads for my advanced copy and @macmillan.audio for my ALC (advanced listening copy).

I have discovered I enjoy fast-based, action-packed survivalist thrillers! When you consider the challenge of nature and knowing how to survive in extreme circumstances, and then add to that the eminent threat of man, the danger intensifies!

Derek Harrington is a retired Marine Force Recon and SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) instructor. When one of his students, offers him $20,000 in exchange for teaching survivalist skills to a small group for 2 weeks, Derek accepts. At the end of that period, he meets Marshal, the elderly charismatic leader of a survivalist group. Marshal offers Derek even more money to teach SERE skills to his defense team. Derek suspects Marshal is leading a group of drug or arms dealers and he refuses the job. He tells an FBI contact about his concerns; and soon, Derek finds himself working undercover in a job that will require every one of his survivalist skills!

I could NOT put this book down. I found the story to be thoroughly engaging as Derek dramatically brings a group of men under control, gradually wins their respect, and then (reluctantly) teaches them the skills they need. The drama intensifies as Derek grows closer to determining what is really going on in the deep woods of upper New York State. Soon, Derek is in over his head!

I seriously wondered if Derek would survive and I had to keep reminding myself that this is book ONE in a new series! I can’t wait until book 2 comes out! This is definitely going to be a binge-worthy series!

If you enjoy audio books, this one is expertly narrated by Jay Snyder. He has the perfect voice for the tough guys in this one!

Read (or listen to) this if you enjoy:
⭐️INTENSE thrillers
⭐️Action-Packed Drama/Gory Deaths
⭐️Survivalist Tales
⭐️Flawed (but likable) Main Characters
⭐️Books in a Series

(Did you catch how many stars I used?)

Former Marine, Derek Harrington, is getting by but at a low point in his life, separated from his wife and son after PTSD and anger issues came between them. Now he’s working on getting them back, seeing a therapist and teaching wilderness survival courses. He’s approached by what appears to be an extremist anti-government group to teach their men to deal with threats and aggression for a hefty amount of money. His alarm bells go off and so Derek initially refuses the offer. Just to be on the safe side Derek tells an FBI buddy his concerns and that buddy has a proposal of his own. Go back and agree to train this group and find out if they’re something the FBI needs to worry about.

The training methods Derek uses sounded harrowing, and if that’s what marines actually go through my heart goes out to them! I guess it would be necessary when going up against the monsters out there in the world.

The Instructor was action-packed, gripping and suspenseful! I was worried for Derek. He was up against some formidable foes, but he was clever, resourceful, and determined! Kind of like a Jason Bourne character! I’ve backpacked and camped in the past and found the survival techniques mentioned interesting and useful. The story wraps up mostly, but there were threads left open for more stories to come. I look forward to the next one!

I listened to the audio version of the story. Jay Snyder had a deep, masculine voice that I thought was perfect for Derek. He performed the female voices well, too. I definitely recommend the story and the audio version! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

What a jam packed audiobook!!
This is a fast paced book about survivalist, and action packed. Great pacing that kept me on the edge while listening to Jay Snyder.
Jay did a fantastic job portraying Derek Harrington who is a wilderness instructor. The variety of tones, and inflections used were great. I felt like was there alongside and I literally hung on every word that was spoken. Very impressive for a debut novel. Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers! I highly recommend this one.

A very special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

This was exciting! I was hoping that this would be an action-filled story and I was not disappointed. Derek was a great character. He is flawed but he wants to do what is right and cares deeply about his family. He’s the guy that you want in your corner when things take a turn for the worse. This retired Marine finds himself dealing with a group and he is unsure of their motives. He turns to his friend at the FBI and goes undercover to find out what is really going on. He thinks that he has everything under control but it may be more dangerous than he first believes.

This book had all of the action that I had hoped it would. I loved the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into the story that made it hard to put down. I loved just how capable Derek proved to be even when he found himself in situations that appeared to be impossible. Derek was a great character and I really wanted to see things work out for him.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Jay Snyder did a fabulous job with the story. I believe that this is the first time that I have had a chance to listen to this narrator’s work and I was impressed. He did a great job of bringing this action-packed story to life. I found his voice to be very pleasant and was able to listen to this book for hours at a time.

I would recommend this book to fans of military thrillers. This book was incredibly exciting with great characters and plenty of situations that kept me guessing. I was very impressed by T. R. Hendricks’s debut novel and look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

I received a review copy of this book from Forge Books and Macmillan Audio.

Thought I would try a new author and I am so glad I did. This book is filled with great characters, an interesting plot and really good twists. I didn't care for the beginning and almost didn't keep going because it really dragged. Once you get through that part it takes off and doesn't slow down. I feel like it sets up for another book and I really hope it does!

Retired Marine Finds More Than Just Nature on Upstate New York Adventure…..

Book Information

The Instructor, written by T.R. Hendricks, was published on April 11, 2023. The book spans 320 pages and is also available in audiobook format, narrated by Jay Snyder, with a running time of 10 hours and 30 minutes. T.R. Hendricks is a former United States Army Captain who served as a tank platoon leader, and then as a military intelligence officer, where he was an advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Interior's National Information and Intelligence Agency. This is his debut novel. Thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me an advanced reader copy for review.

Summary

Derek Harrington, a retired Marine Force Recon and SERE instructor, is struggling to make ends meet. His wilderness survival school is on the verge of collapse, and he's barely able to support his family and take care of his ailing father. That's when a student offers him a tantalizing opportunity to instruct a private group for 30 days in upstate New York, promising him $20,000 for the job. But as the training progresses, Derek realizes something is not quite right.

Derek's instincts prove to be correct when he receives a new, ominous offer from the group's leader, Marshal. Suspecting that there's more to the group's activities than meets the eye, Derek reaches out to an FBI contact and goes undercover to investigate. What he discovers is a fringe group with a dangerous agenda, led by a charismatic but manipulative leader who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

As Derek delves deeper into the group's activities, he realizes he's in a race against time to prevent a potential domestic terrorist attack. With his own life on the line, Derek must confront his students and unravel the group's plans before it's too late.

My Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot and writing style is gripping and sucked me in from the first page until the final paragraph. The novel strikes just the right amount of detail and paints vivid accounts of wilderness survival, punishing training exercises, and military tactics/weapons.

The author's storytelling skills are superior (especially for a first-time novelist) and on full display. Hendricks does a fantastic job of balancing the darker and more intense aspects of the novel with the mystery of the group being trained and Derek's devotion to his family. He also delivers several twists and surprises along the way.

Hendricks delivers a stunning, action-packed, gritty, heart-pounding suspense-filled ride—one that also has a lot of heart.

Jay Snyder's narration of The Instructor is fantastic and transports listeners into the heart of the action. With his skillful vocal differentiation of a multitude of characters, Snyder brings the story to life whether in a tense moment in a backwoods bog or the laid-back atmosphere of a little league game. His delivery is engaging and makes the listener feel like a participant in the story, rather than a mere observer.

Recommendation

The Instructor is a compelling page-turner with excellent world-building details and intense, realistic tension. This debut novel by T.R. Hendricks is a must-read for fans of military thrillers. Highly recommended.

Rating

5 Survival School Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Forge Books for the ARC audio book.

This story about Derek Harrington, a retired Marine Force Recon and SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) instructor who suffers from PTSD. He’s an expert in wilderness survival basics. Kim (ex-wife), Michael (son), and his ailing father are important parts of his life.

His business is barely making it and he has an opportunity to make some money teaching a private group who, Derek suspects, are up to no good. He teaches them what they want to know and the tide turns, now the teacher is being hunted. This story has some great twists and plays out like an action packed movie from the start. It ends with a hint at a series and I look forward to and will be picking up the next book from T.R. Hendricks.

In the book The Instructor, author T. R. Hendricks follows Derek Harrington, a retired Marine Recon and SERE instructor. He is struggling to survive outside the military and is close to losing everything when a private group asks him to train them for 30 days. But the group seems a bit off. Harrington reaches out to an FBI friend with his concerns, and things begin get even crazier. Will he survive it all? Will his wife and son become a pawn in this struggle of life and death?
I would highly recommend this book and hope that this is the beginning of a series. The audio-book narration was very good. I would recommend this book. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ TW: physical violence and torture, some very graphic scenes
Read this if you like: cult fiction, action, wilderness survival

Derek Harrington runs a basic wilderness survival school in Upstate New York. He traded his days of action and violence in when he retired as a Warrant Officer from the Marine Corps where he served in Recon and as a SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) instructor so he could live out his days in the wilderness teaching softies the bare minimum on how to survive. Or so he thought. After a routine outing with some customers, Derek is approached by a man with an opportunity he can’t refuse due to piling child support obligations and an ailing father. $20k to privately train a group in the middle of the woods in Upstate NY. But training this group of misfits comes with a few caveats: they are out of comms with the rest of the outside world, they are armed like a militia, and they expect Derek not to ask any questions and to keep their secrets.

I went into this one completely blind. It’s definitely an action-packed page-turner. The audio narrator was fantastic for Derek (done by Jay Snyder). Only complaint was him making female voices - it was kinda cringey. The story left off well for the next in the series. I know more in this series are in the pipe from Hendricks. Can’t wait to read about DH’s next adventures!

Thank you so much to the author, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance listener’s copy!

Posting a review on pub day (4/11) on my book instagram page @tirwinreads!

I rarely do a happy dance when I finish a book. So goood!💃💓

I'm pinching myself right now. Stellar storytelling, fast and even pacing, outstanding action, and a well-developed lead. You've gotta be kidding me this is a debut novel? I looked up the author to make sure T.R. Hendricks is not a pen name... This is going to be a HUGE series!🚨

Derek Harrington will win you over. He's a former Marine, a father, and a wilderness survival instructor. Derek's down on his luck, trying to make ends meet with an ailing father who needs full-time care, an ex-wife Kim, and a young son Michael. He's trying to do the right thing but seems to find a way to mess things up. He suffers from PTSD after years of service in Afghanistan.

A group asks Derek for a month-long private session in woodland survivalist training in upstate New York. They are very discreet and will pay very good money. Derek senses something is off and reaches out to his old buddy Kelly who's with the FBI. Derek agrees to accept the offer and become an unofficial informant for Kelly.

I didn't know what to expect going in. I love watching survival shows on TV and this audiobook has one of the best narrators, Jay Snyder so I thought why not give it a try? I still have the rush after I finished it yesterday, it's like a GOOD hangover! The characters both good and bad make a huge difference. Also, I was ready to hate the ex-wife but I'm glad the author took a different approach. I enjoy the "training" aspect. Honestly, there was never a dull moment plus there was a shocking turn of events and a surprise reveal. Needless to say, I'm adding "The Instructor" to my favorite shelf.

I'm buckled up and ready for book #2!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my ALC.

I very much enjoy Jack Reacher books and wilderness survival shows like "Alone." So when I saw this book was about a former Army intelligence officer with PTSD who is now running a wilderness survival school, I thought I'd give it a try. I'm so glad I did!

I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Jay Snyder and he was excellent. He brought vivid personality to each and every character.

Derek is a haunted character with faults, but he is easy to like. If you like descriptive fight scenes and characters who use their wits and weapons to get out of sticky situations, I say this give this book a read. I look forward to the second book in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Forge Books for an audio copy of this book in return for a review.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book. Military thriller is not normally my genre of choice but thriller certainly is and WOW did this book pack a punch right in the first chapter. Vivid imagery with complex characters that you can't help but cling to with both hands, 'the Instructor' is not only a fantastic beginning for what is sure to be a riveting series.. This author's talent is splayed across the pages. He writes with poise and sophistication but holds the military knowledge and toughness from his own experience in service. This book proves with obvious brilliance that T.R Hendrick's is an author we are going to hear about for years to come.
The story was made more intense with the narration. The narrator did a great job keeping me on the edge of my seat. I could feel the tension in his voice. I’d definitely recommend the audiobook!

I received a audio copy of this book in return for a review.

The narrator was great. The different tones and inflections in his voice was great. When the storyline changed pace so did the narrator!

This is Book #1 of the Derrick Herrington series. Fast paced, packed with action and intensity. I enjoyed that #1, the author is from upstate New York which is where the story takes place and #2, the background that the author TR Hendricks has with his former training in the US Army shines through to make this story real and believable. He is able to pull thoughts actions and emotions through his characters that only someone with that kind of experience can.

I CANNOT wait for the next book to come out. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy!

✨ RATING: 5⭐️

✨REVIEW: Thank you to NetGalley, Forge Books, and T.R. Hendricks for my ARC audiobook because he knocked this one out of the park. After reading the authors background, it’s no wonder I was caught in Derek’s web from the start. The way he described his survival course made me feel like I was heading out to the wilderness to meet him and I most certainly would! Derek was a likable character from the beginning and showed his capabilities and strength very early on. The way the author made this story come to life was *chefs kiss* I couldn’t believe how much was happening until the literal last page. It stopped and I shouted out loud (no joke ask my daughter) “NO! I want more!!” Well thankfully this is the first in a SERIES so I will get that wish! I cannot wait to read more from this author as he has a true way with words and came out with a BANG for his debut!

🚨WARNING: Potential triggers include gun violence and survival techniques (if you didn’t read synopsis)

Retired Marine Force Recon and SERE instructor, Derek Harrington, appears in this action-packed debut. Despite D.H.’s impressive credentials, he is barely making ends meet. He is divorced and facing a custody battle for his son while caring for his challenging father who needs full-time care. When D. H. gets a lucrative offer to teach what he knows best to a group living in the wilderness, he uses his connections to express his concerns and safeguard the venture. First, I want to mention, I am not fond of tropes highlighting religious and/or political zealots, so this was a bit disappointing for me, however, this was more than balanced out by other aspects of the book. What made me want to pick this book up was the wilderness/survival angle and the author really delivers here. Hendricks is a solid writer and the setting and pacing is excellent. The action scenes are detailed and propulsive. As a military veteran, I recognize the authenticity of the author’s writing. There is graphic violence and swearing which I would expect in a book like this, but want to warn other readers. The best part? D. H. is a fantastic character—definitely someone you can root for and build a series on. He is so capable and makes an incredible effort to remain honorable while facing unscrupulous people and situations. The secondary characters could have been fleshed out a bit more—at times it was difficult to distinguish each member of the unit during the training sequences. Amazing debut! Definitely interested in reading more by this author!