I've been wondering when Luke Daniels was going to get to take center stage in a Steve Berry novel. Especially after his major supporting turn (almost a co-starring role) in Berry's last Cotton Malone book, The Last Kingdom. Well, here it is, Cotton getting a very small cameo in an adventure devoted to the younger agent, his protégé, nephew of former president Danny Daniels.

In The 9th Man, Luke gets drawn into a trademark Steve Berry historical mystery by an old flame and immediately finds himself under fire from the mercenaries serving a shadowy figure controlling much of the black ops around the world. The mystery is one that will fascinate almost every reader -- who really shot JFK?

Berry explains two things in detail in the afterword that he customarily supplies his readers. He always tells us what in his book is fact, what is speculation, and what is his own fictional invention. The JFK story at the heart of this mystery is actually drawn from a real life investigation published in the 1990s. I'll leave it at that rather than spoil it, even though a quick Google search can tell you all about it.

The other thing he tells us is why he chose to co-write this book, his first collaboration on a full length novel (he has co-written Cassiopeia Vitt novellas in the past) -- to meet the demand for his books in a world where his research typically takes him 18 months between releases. He tells us that the two authors worked together on the story line, but that Grant Blackwood wrote the entire first draft, after which the authors alternated working on subsequent drafts.

So that explains why this is not a typical 5-star Steve Berry read for me, a big fan who has read all of his novels (all 20-something of them): too much action, probably coming from Blackwood. The first act and third act are pretty much all action. The problem is, you know that Luke is going to survive it all, so there's no suspense, only potential interest in the details. Not my thing. Maybe your thing, so you may like it more than me.

Also problematic, and I haven't encountered this in a Berry novel before -- extensive talking villain in the end, explaining everything, including the big surprise reveal (which BTW is telegraphed earlier). Berry is usually all about the McGuffin. In this case, the JFK story is an excellent McGuffin that dominates the middle act, as Luke and his pals uncover the mystery. Uncovering the mystery suffices to explain the mystery, so there's little need for more explanation by a talking villain.

What's left in the end in this case is the villains' explanation of why they did what they did, and frankly, I didn't really care -- a one-line explanation would have been fine, and it didn't even have to make sense, insanity would have been sufficient motivation, and that's where it seems to start anyway, so why not end it there?

Nevertheless, for fans of Berry, there will be no disappointment -- this is what you expect from him, with an extra heaping helping of action, if that's your thing. For those interested in the JFK assassination and possible explanations, this is an excellent fictionalization of a credible real life theory of what might have happened (as opposed to a crackpot conspiracy theory). Either way, go for it -- good stuff!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for advance reading copy. Apologies for not getting the review in before publication -- sometimes life intervenes.

The 9th Man by Steve Berry and Grant Blackwood is a Luke Daniels book. Luke is a member of the Magellan Billet. He is sort of an apprentice to Cotton Malone and his uncle was the ex-President of the United States. But Luke had made it on his own. It hadn’t been easy. This particular “caper” started of as a favor for a friend but quickly morphed into so much more. He got a text from Jillian Stein, a former colleague and one time almost girlfriend. She was frightened and she had started it all herself. She was in Belgium with her dying grandfather. When Luke got there she had run but her grandfather had a bullet through his head. Thus began several weeks of a chase more complex than many, and got them involved in one of the most talked about conspiracy theories of all time. It was an exciting ride. I like Luke almost as much was I like Cotton.

Luke is Cotton, but younger. He is clever, quick, very bright, and fearless. They are not even sure who they are chasing at the outset, but it seems to make sense so he keeps going in what seems to be an endless mission. Jillian was a good character, although not as fleshed out as Luke. He had once thought maybe she was “the one,” and had rushed to help her when she called. It was an exciting read, full of tech as well as old school research, interesting characters, and thrilling conjecture. They two did a brilliant job of co-writing a book, which has got to be a nightmare. The plot was good, especially when they got to the conspiracy, which someone was trying to tamp down. Interestingly, not the government. Well plotted and well written, this will work for those of us waiting on Steve Berry for a new Cotton thriller. Very satisfying.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The 9th Man by Grand Central Publishing, through Netgalley.
All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #The9thMan #SteveBerry #GrantBlackwood #The9thMan

First, thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I have been hoping and hoping, since we first met Luke Daniels, that he would be getting his own series! Berry+ Blackwood do not disappoint in this regard. It has all the amazing pacing of a regular Cotton Malone novel, with the added bonus of it being Luke! I don't want to give too much away in terms of content, but it was a fast-paced, engaging, thrilling adventure. I love how Berry takes well-known moments or things from history and turns them on their head. This was no different, and I fully enjoyed it. Looking forward to many, many more installments in the series!

This book starts out like we’re in the middle of something & it’s confusing. As usual with Steve Berry books the battle/fight scenes are written well & the action is almost constant. I wanted more of the JFK story which didn’t even start until 51% into the book. It felt like one long fight scene

"The 9th Man" by Steve Berry is an enthralling page-turner that combines history, espionage, and conspiracy into a captivating narrative. With its well-crafted plot, memorable characters, and relentless pacing, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. Prepare to be taken on a rollercoaster ride that will challenge your perception of the past and keep you eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

The 9th Man centers on Luke Daniels. This is a stand alone novel. The 9th Man tackles the JFK assassination. As Luke and his friend Jillian race around the world following bread crumbs their lives are seriously on the line trying to find out what happened to Jillian's grandfather.

Theories presented regarding the JFK assassination had plenty for me to think about when I finished the book. If you like historical fiction with a mix of action/adventure you will enjoy this book. This book is a great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of co-author Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series, I was delighted to see Malone's protoge Luke Daniels, a U.S. Department of Justice Magellan Billet agent, get a book all his own. Joining forces with co-author Grant Blackwood, Berry says in the Acknowledgements, meant he'd have the time he needs to get 'er done and still work on the Malone books. Count me as one who's delighted (and for the record, looking forward to the next books in both series).

If action is your "thing," you won't go wrong with this one. It kicks in from the beginning - when old friend Jillian Stein calls to say she's in serious trouble - and he zips to Belgium to see how he can help. There, he finds a death which, apparently, isn't sufficient for a few determined killers - apparently, he and Jillian are next up. Keeping his assistance off the company books, Luke sets out with Jillian to find what her elderly grandfather and a couple of his friends were secretly working on for many years. That, in turn, leads him to nonegenarian and Washington, D.C., "fixer" Thomas Rowland, who continues to wield power (but definitely not in a good way). That, in turn, puts the hunt - by now a collision course between Luke and Thomas, a former CIA agent - back on the official Magellan Billet books and takes him and Jillian back in time to the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

It's a battle of not only of wits, but firepower; Thomas's is virtually unlimited; but once Luke's boss, Stephanie Nelle, gets involved, the playing field levels off a bit. Still, how many battles can Luke win when he's outnumbered at every turn? Can he get to the truth - and then to Thomas - before Thomas and his for-hire goons get to him? Of course, I won't spill the beans; suffice it to say I had trouble putting the book down until I knew the outcome (which, BTW, includes a rather big, and unwelcome, surprise). Terrific book, for which I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for a pre-release copy to read and review.

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Ninth Man by Steve Berry and Grant Blackwood from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

The Ninth Man by Steve Berry and Grant Blackwood is part of the Cotton Malone universe of books but centers on Luke Daniels. For anyone waiting for Luke to get his own book, here it is! You could read this as a standalone. Nothing in here hinges on having read the Cotton Malone series. If you like your mystery/thrillers with a good dose of real history, check this out!

Luke is off duty when he gets contacted by an old friend for help. He finds himself entangled in a web to cover up one of the greatest mysteries of all time, who really killed John F. Kennedy? I know you are probably thinking you already know the answer. But do you? I thought I had read all the theories and yet, this book postulates something I hadn't really considered. Even better, they didn't just make up this idea. There is actually research that supports it! Very intriguing.

Luke gets a frantic call from his old friend Jillian, who after sending an email is afraid a powerful entity is after her. Jillian's grandfather was killed and so Luke and Jillian are on the run as they try to escape the people chasing while also trying to figure out what they want. On the other side is Thomas Rowland, a well-connected ex-CIA agent who lets nothing stop him in achieving his aims. In this case, he wants the evidence Jillian's grandfather had, which all links back to Thomas's involvement in the Kennedy assassination. Overall, a fast-paced thriller mixed with the usual historical elements that readers of the Cotton Malone series will enjoy.

I really loved this one! I'm excited for the new series and this one started off with a bang. I thought it was well-written and exciting. I couldn't put it down. The characters are great and I can't wait to see more from them.

This was a terrific collaboration between Berry and Blackwood. The pace was fast, the plot was engaging, and Luke Daniels is a compelling character. The only problem for me, and it was a big problem, came in the last few pages. The ultimate resolution of Rowlands I found totally wanting. After a great game of chase, it ends with a non-credible whimper. The cagey Rowlands would never have fallen for a turncoat Daniels as portrayed. Still, I am already looking forward to reading the next installment and heartily recommend the read.

Berry and Blackwood have created a fast paced well thought out story with a surprise ending. The characters are engaging and the locations are described in vivid detail so you feel part of the story as it is unfolding. Their theory has a lot of details including maps, ballistics notations and reference to historical documents. The authors separate fact from fiction at the end in the author notes which always adds credence to the story.

Steve Berry along with his co-author Grant Blackwood bring us a new adventure, “The 9th Man”, this time featuring Luke Daniels, Cotton Malone’s sidekick from the Magellan Billet. And other than some brief appearances and timely interventions, we don’t see much of Stephanie Nelle or the Magellan Billet at all, this (at first) is a strictly off the books adventure.

We start out with Luke in London, where he gets a frantic call from his old comrade/ friend/ romantic interest Jillian Stein. She is with her grandfather Benjii in Belgium, and she might have accidently sent some bad guys on his trail. Luke rushes over there just in time to realize that Jillian was indeed correct, that assassins were after Benji and whatever secrets he held, that he had to be silenced.

And so begins our round-the-globe game of cat-and-mouse. This time the cat is played by Thomas Rowland, a powerful Washington insider who has dirt on just about anyone and uses this power to make himself extremely wealthy. Thomas has a secret of his own, a secret that goes back to Dallas, Texas, specifically to November 22, 1963, a secret that he is willing to kill to keep. Benjii was one threat to that secret, but there are several more, and Luke and Jillian are beginning to pull on that thread and unravel the truth about the death of President Kennedy.

Belgium, Luxembourg, Louisiana, Wyoming, Bahamas – the clues lead our heroes around to try and piece together what Rowland is trying to hide, the secret that must be protected at all costs. We have all of the thriller elements we have come to expect: exotic locales, ruthless mercenaries that are always one step ahead/behind, secret histories, bits and pieces coming together slowly, personal revenge, greed, and finally betrayal. Through it all Luke keeps chugging along, with Malone’s advice playing in his head, trying to do the right thing.

A decent thriller in line with all of Mr. Berry’s books, a lot of action, quite a bit of actual history, and a “what if?” scenario or two that shows us we don’t know all that we think we do. A nice quick read, perfect to keep us interested until the next Cotton Malone adventure comes riding in.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

Hold on to your hats because Steve Berry and Grant Blackwood are going to blow your mind with this book and what is insinuates. Great to meet up with Luke Daniels flying solo but with Cotton Malone’s words circling his brain “Slow down. You don’t know the area. Sit for a bit, get a feel for things.” Great advice but but hard to follow for this Army Ranger. How could you not love Luke Daniels? How could you not race through the pages trying to see how he was going to negotiate the next obstacle?

Action, detail, more action, lots more detail, and a history lesson that explores Kennedy’s assassination from every angle. The story travels from Belgium to the Chesapeake Bay to Luxembourg to the Bayou to Wyoming to ….. pick a place, any place and they are most likely going there. And murder and mayhem is going with them.

If you are talking about a Steve Berry book, it is superfluous to say that it is well written, extremely well researched, interesting, perplexing and all the best things that draw the reader and keep them invested. The 9th Man is no exception. Another hard to put down thriller from Steve Berry and now his Luke Daniels writing compatriot, Grant Blackwood.

Many, many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy.

The first of a spinoff series with Luke Daniels as the main character. Luke receives a call from an old friend and rushes to her aid. Murder and a mystery surrounding the death of President Kennedy lands in his lap. Fast paced, twists and turns, the book moves quickly. Well written by both Mr Berry & Mr Blackwood. The book can be read as a stand alone (or do read the Cotton Malone series by Mr Berry). Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley, both authors and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Everyone knows what happened on November 22, 1963, when Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed John F. Kennedy. Right? Not so fast.

Luke Daniels is in London, between assignments with the Magellan Billet, when he receives a frantic call from an old friend. Jillian Stein is in trouble. She made a mistake and now her life may be in danger. She needs Luke’s help. Immediately. Racing to Belgium Luke quickly finds that she was right. A shadow team of highly-trained operatives are there on the hunt. Intervening, he finds himself embroiled in a war between two determined sides — one seeking the truth, the other trying to escape the past — a war that has already claimed one life and is about to claim more.

Thomas Rowland is a Washington insider, a kingmaker, but also a man with a past. For him everything turns with what happened on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. What history has recorded is wrong. There is more to the story, much more, and Thomas Rowland is at the center of that terrible reality. He will do anything to keep the past buried, even killing Luke and jillian, Highly recommended. #The9thMan #Netgalley #SaltMarshAuthors

What a story! I have to say, some of my favorite books are historical fiction and this is how this book felt. Seemed to have a real meaning behind it. While the storyline was fictitious, I still couldn’t help thinking “why couldn’t this be true knowing the ongoing uncertainty on this issue. The twists and turns were good and something I didn’t see until they happened (or afterwards) which I loved. Overall a fantastic book,

Thanks to NetGalley, Steve Berry and Grant Blackwood, and Grand Central Publishing for providing me an advanced reading copy.

First, let me thank the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge Steve Berry fan and have always held a strong fascination with the JFK assassination. I was so excited to read this, and it didn’t disappoint. The action in this book grabs you from the start and doesn’t let go. I kept telling myself to set the book down when there was a break in the action and it never came. Excellent story. I can’t wait for the next books in the Luke Daniels series.

Definitely recommend.

Everyone knows that Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated JFK. A conspiratorialist, Oswald took the young president’s life on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. But what if that’s not what happened?

Luke Daniels, Magellan Billet agent, is in London on leave when he receives a call from a friend and former marine, Jillian Stein. Her panicked message spurs Luke into action, traveling to Belgium to lend his assistance. Thus begins a whirlwind journey from Belgium to Louisiana to Wyoming to the Bahamas. Luke finds himself in the middle of two warring factions – both of which know the truth behind the JFK assassination, and one of which will stop at nothing to keep that truth hidden.

This standalone Luke Daniels novel is a first for author Steve Berry, and his first foray into co-writing with Grant Blackwood. While there are nods to individuals in the Cotton Malone series, readers will be easily able to enjoy this novel without having any background on that series (although I highly recommend reading all of them!). This book starts off fast and doesn’t let up. Perfect for lovers of history, mystery solving, and thrilling action. Having read all of Mr. Berry’s books, the co-authorship was seamless. The story has the same twists and turns readers have come to expect from Mr. Berry, and I was excited to see that Luke Daniels was getting his own book. Can’t wait to read more of his adventures!

I loved this! Luke Daniels is such a great character, I have loved him in the Cotton Malone series, and I am so glad he has gotten his own. As always with Steve Berry, there is a historical mystery along with a lot of action, mysterious people, and fabulous locations. I added a few more to my travel wishlist!