Cover Image: Hard Way

Hard Way

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

John Resnick is amazing, one of my favourite characters to date. Definitely recommend.
The series as a whole is definitely worth reading.

Was this review helpful?

I have really enjoyed this series so far, and it seems to be a tried and tested story formula that works. This latest book is no different although this wasn’t as good as book 2! Jon is a great and very readable character although not entirely original, however the fact the he seems to work only on caffeine, adrenaline and illegal drugs is something that I find quite amusing! Although Jon has never worked for the FBI, he has contracted with them to help his friend and Assistant Director of the FBI Martha Meyerstein. When she goes missing, Martha’s ex-husband contacts Jon as he is desperate to find her.
Jon ploughs in like a bull in a china shop as usual with absolutely no regard for rules or protocol. His aim is to find Martha and to find her alive and well and nobody will stop him. Put some rogue CIA agents, corrupt FBI people and throw in some Russian mobsters and you have yourself a rather engaging Reznick read. These sorts of books and Turner’s in particular speed along with cracking pace and are pure escapism with a capital E. This series is a joy to read and shows no signs of slowing down.
I admit I was surprised by the people who were playing against the FBI (!) but I guess you never can tell with a series like this who plays on the right side of the field. The only thing lacking for me was that extra special something and at times it felt like it was a safe bet (if that makes sense). That aside another cracking read and means I can’t wait to get my hands-on book 5 (due out Feb 2018)

Was this review helpful?

A SUCCESSOR TO MITCH RAPP

There are several great story tellers around these days when it comes to political thrillers featuring men of action. Daniel Silva’s character Gabriel Allon comes to mind as does the late Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp. J.B. Turner’s character John Reznick has more in common with Rapp than Allon and that’s a good thing. His fourth outing with the character is as good as his previous efforts.

Beginning with HARD ROAD we were introduced to this character, a black ops professional a secret government organization uses to take out potential threats to the country. Brought into the fold after the death of his wife on 9/11 he has little to lose. But it turns out things are not what they seem and he soon finds himself on the run with a potential target. FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein is the woman assigned to track him down. By the end of the book and into the next two, Reznick and Meyerstein find a common ground to work from as he assist her on several cases.

HARD WAY finds Meyerstein kidnapped by an unknown group. The FBI doesn’t want Reznick in on the case but this is someone he trusts, a rare commodity in his world, and now a friend. There is no way that Reznick will remain on the sidelines here no matter who wants him there. He soon discovers, as is often the case, that there is more going on here than a simple kidnapping. There is a threat to society as we know it. The only man who stands in the way of that taking place is Reznick.

The book is an easy read with a steady flow to it that begs the reader to continue from one page to the next. Rather than a tome filled with wasted words each one reads smoothly and gives you the information you need rather than just filling a page. As each chapter ends you find yourself looking at the clock, realizing you have to get up in the morning but thinking you can maybe get by with staying up long enough to read the next chapter…and then finding it later than you realized.

Reznick is that hard guy character that many of us pray is out there protecting our country. We thrill at the exploits of characters like this from the aforementioned Rapp to TV heroes like Jack Bauer, characters who are willing to go take that extra step needed to accomplish their goals without having to follow the rules that cripple a world of far too tolerant a system that seems to protect the guilty at a costs to the innocent. If you enjoy reading about those types of characters I would suggest reading all of the Reznick books.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very fast paced book from the beginning to the end. With lots of action and intrigue. Jon Reznick has special skills and they don’t fit into the FBI’S rule book and that is where he is at right now because the assistant Director Martha Meyerstein is missing. She actually was kidnapped. You the reader know who but not the why? When Jon goes to the FBI to help look for her it is because she went to bat for him years before in saving his daughter, now he is returning or trying to if he can find her. The story takes you through many different agencies and the people with their agendas are looking for something totally different. What they were not expecting was Reznick, and even when they think they have him down and out he is only back stronger and more determined for a fight. This is a fantastic book and I am going to need to make time to go back and read the books before this one because it feels like they would be just as good. A really good book with good characters, liked it all around.

Was this review helpful?

Fourth in the series, this Jon Reznick action packed thriller brings out the best of all characters. An important FBI official was kidnapped, and this unveils deeper corruption in the system. Not without a gap, the book meanders quickly through different scenes and situations. Even though this book is the best in the series, the foreign connection is as weak as before. All the evil international terrorists brought in do not have any credibility. Apart from this flaw, the book is a good read.

Was this review helpful?

Good heart-pounding escapist read. Characters were decently developed while the plot meandered over into incredulity from time to time.

Was this review helpful?

Page turning thriller that's occasionally implausible- but it is topical. It might be hard to jump into most series at the 4th book but I think you'd be ok with this as a standalone because the backstory is quickly and succintly explained. Reznick is a dynamic character who is just the person to untangle the plot and rescue Martha. I'm curious where this series will go next. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book, always look forward to reading books by this author! Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

Was this review helpful?

An exciting action thriller that sticks to a winning formula

When FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein is kidnapped on her way home from work, the FBI are at a loss as to how it could’ve been pulled off. Enter Jon Reznick, a maverick ex-assassin, who doesn’t always play by the rules but gets results. Reznick offers to help the FBI find Meyerstein and quickly uncovers links to the Russian mafia and its mysterious leader, Vladimir Merkov. When a tape appears showing their hostage injured with demands that Merkov’s son, Dmitri, be released from prison where Meyerstein put him years ago, the FBI have to act fast to save her life. However, Reznick believes that there may be more to the Russian plot than just revenge, and with enemies and double-agents in all corners, he will need to use every trick in the book to uncover what’s really going on before it is too late.

This was an easy-to-read novel with a fast-paced plot. Turner is obviously a seasoned writer of these kinds of thrillers and knows his formula well – plenty of adrenaline-rushing action scenes, gun fights and car chases, with Reznick and the FBI always one step behind the enemy. The streets and buildings of New York City worked well as a setting for this kind of story and there were very few chapters where there wasn’t something dramatic or life-threatening happening. The clever links made by Reznick from tiny pieces of evidence were just about plausible and the seemingly endless betrayals and double-crossings by many of the characters worked well to create an atmosphere of a dangerous world where greed is the main motivator and loyalty is a rare commodity.

However, very little about the story was original and although it was a good thriller, it was almost exactly the same as the hundreds of good thrillers that have come before it. Reznick comes across as a stereotypical rebel who always errs on the wrong side of the law, but gets things done far better than the other FBI agents who work within the rules. Beyond that and a fairly weak backstory about a tragically dead wife, there didn’t seem to be much more to his character and he could have been one of many extremely similar action heroes. I also found that some of the big twists packed less of a punch than I expected them to, and the ending seemed almost an anti-climax due to how everything was resolved. The stakes were admittedly constantly high, but due to the fairly two-dimensional nature of many of the characters, I never felt too invested in their fates.

Overall, whilst I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to die-hard action fans, I found it a little clichéd and didn’t really feel that it added anything new to the literary world. Despite this it was entertaining and well-written and will go down a storm with anyone who enjoys these sorts of books.

Daenerys

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Was this review helpful?

It was well written. I didn't expect the plot twist in the book. The plot is very believable.

Was this review helpful?

HARD WAY a Jon Rezneck thriller by J B Turner, 4th in the series
An FBI agent is brought down in a very cleaver way, and once again you are hooked into another great thriller by Turner. Martha Assistant Director for the FBI is missing, her ex comes for help. Jon wants into the FBI investigation, he owes her one, they say no. He is an assassin, doesn't play by the rules. Seems like the mafia maybe behind it, and it's pay back time. A picture of a double headed eagle, what is the meaning, and what mafia group is behind taking her. Another great plot, that holds you captive to the end. Each book in this series are great reading for all. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion. Release date May 11

Was this review helpful?

Another winner in this series by J.B. Turner. Great writing, plot and characters always make these enjoyable, thrilling books to read. Look forward to more by J.B. Turner in the future.

Was this review helpful?