I found this latest installment in the Jonathan Grave series very disappointing. The usual formula was there, with "Security Solutions" taking on a dangerous mission that the government couldn't. There really was nothing new in that, as it's the usual routine of these exceptional killers fighting bad guys to try to save the day. The problem is, this book was chock full of political diatribes. Rather than being entertainment, it was a polemic against the left, the government, the FBI, and everything you might expect from someone who holds such views. Also, newspapers are the enemy.

From the book:

"It's the legacy [news]papers that get it wrong. It's because they don't report news anymore. They make up shit their readers want to hear."

"Tell President Asshat. It's like he's shilling for them. The cartels and the Chi-Coms."

"Open border makes kiddie prostitution easy while keeping the cartels rich. All of that adds to murder."

Regarding the FBI Director, "Wolverine," "It'd be tough being the only honest person in a place as sprawling as the Hoover Building."

There's plenty more like that, making clear that the author thinks everyone is Washington, DC, is corrupt, from the President to FBI agents, etc., as well as demonizing anyone who isn't as politically hard-core as he is. We have problems in this country, but this isn't going to help. More to the point, this is supposed to be a work of entertainment.

It's his right to say what he wants, but I hate when an author fills a story with this kind of disparagement. He may have many fans who will agree and even enjoy that, but I don't think it belongs in a work of entertainment.

Christian missionaries have been kidnapped in Venezuela. Digger and his team have been asked to rescue one of the missionaries, but they won’t accept the mission unless they rescue all of them. Politics are behind the rescue mission and the rescuers aren’t given all the information. There is way more to the mission than they expect and one thing after another goes wrong. This book is action packed from the beginning with dirty politicians in the background. The book will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what will happen next. Thank you to net galley for an advanced copy.

There is something comforting about John Gilstrap's writing and this series in particular. Which is an odd feeling considering the violence and mayhem held within it's pages. Twelve Christian missionaries have been kidnapped in Venezuela. Among them, but not known by the kidnappers nor the other missionaries, is the President's son-in-law. FBI Director Irene Rivers has asked Digger and team to rescue the son-in-law as a personal favor at the behest of the President. Other than the goodness of her heart, Rivers has another reason to rescue the missionaries. Strictly off the books, their mission parameters are get the precious cargo and don't start a war. Yeah, ok. Good luck. What the team stumble into is way bigger than kidnapped missionaries and they are basically on their own.

Gilstrap knows how to hook you early on and not let go. The entire cast of characters is flawless and they each make their mark on the story in distinct ways. I recommend this series constantly and Gilstrap continues to not make me look like a liar.

Thank you to Pinnacle and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of Harm's Way!

John Gilstrap fires up another electrifying, action-packed, smash-and-grab mission with bullets flying and explosions rocking the night sky. Harm’s Way will get your adrenaline pumping and have your heart in your throat as you follow a risky mission to its messy and deadly conclusion.

Jonathan Graves and his crew are asked by the FBI director to undertake an off the books and extremely sensitive mission to rescue American missionaries who have been kidnapped in Venezuela. But what starts as a hostage rescue pitting them against a vicious drug cartel quickly turns into something much bigger with the discovery of a Russian FSB agent on the scene. Now the team is faced with increased complexity and mission creep with the revelation of what the Russians are up to. Can they save the hostages and thwart the Russians' plans? Because if they can’t, the balance of world power will change forever.

The intensity level from start to finish in Harm’s Way is incredibly high. From mission planning to execution, there’s a constant ratcheting up of tensions that’s felt in a very palpable way. And once the guns start blazing and bodies start dropping, all the reader can do is hold on for the ride and wish for the best. Because anything and everything is in play, and we have no control over the outcome. And, oh man, those action sequences are exhilarating and anxiety-inducing as all hell.

Compelling and well-crafted, Harm’s Way is the latest in a long string of fantastic novels that constitute the Jonathan Grave series. And the best part is this installment opens a new storyline to continue into the future. So Digger, Big Guy, Gunslinger, and Mother Hen are set to be with us for a while longer. Which is great news for fans of this somewhat underrated and highly entertaining series.

Harm’s Way by John Gilstrap is a very vivid story of government, vigilantes, drugs, revenge, deception and justice. The book moves very quickly through the exciting drama of an international hostage rescue.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

We now live in the era of political expediency and the rule of law are interchangeable.

A political thriller that puts a Christian missions team in harms way when they are kidnapped. Graves team mission is to rescue one key political figure however, his team cannot leave the others behind for politics. Their mission in spite of Washington is to rescue the whole group. They also question the underlying questions as to why one particular victim is targeted. What political gain is there.

This is a fast action pact thriller that you can easily wonder if it could happen or is happening in todays political world. Graves team has picked up a father/son team member that have an interesting contrasting look on life. One is "for the common good" and the other is more individualistic. They make up the rescue team that Graves heads. Will they be the downfall of the whole mission because of their relationship problems? Or will the father/son become an asset.

I like how the team gels and problem solves. You are right there with them as they know their targets. Their strengths and weakness. A great read in todays political climate.

A special thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Harm's Way - John Gilstrap

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

John Gilstrap returns with his 15th entry to his Black Ops series, as Jonathan Graves, calls on his specialists to rescue a group of Baptist missionaries being held for ransom in Venezuela. The missionary group of nine includes one member who is a stepson of the United States president, who has a hidden agenda which gives the book an exciting dual storyline that almost makes the rescue an almost impossible challenge.

A taut, exciting thriller, perfect for fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher series.

Until next time, keep your powder dry and your weapons loaded!

I'd like to thanks NetGalley and Pinnacle Books for an opportunity to read the ARC of Harm's Way, by John Gilstrap. I've read the entire series, and the books just keep getting better and better. It's interesting that Gilstrap has found so many scenarios that need hostage rescue, and they've not been repetitive so far. Digger, Big Guy, Slinger, Ven-eee-chay, Wolfie, and Father Dom are some of my favorite book-series characters, and over the 15 novels have had their personalities fully developed. The action scenes are, of course, very exciting and well written, and the technical details are accurate, I'm sure. I really love this series (as well as his recent Victoria Emerson series). Most highly recommended!! Get this book and read it ASAP!

John Gilstrap has been a favorite of mine since Nathan's Run, still one of the best books he's done in my opinion. However, moving on, its wonderful to watch him grow and develop, just an amazing read!

Another strong instalment in this great series. I love the way John Gilstrap writes and how quickly you get sucked into the story. Highly recommend this book and the complete series.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the copy.

Another nonstop action in this series. Good characters and their interactions continue. For escapist entertainment this book is good

The newest Jonathan Grave story does not disappoint.
Jonathan and his off the books hostage retrieval team are quickly on the move to Venezuela to bring back a confidential informant who was taken hostage by the cartel. But he learns there are more people and he plans to get them all. Ten is as easy as one, usually, maybe, not today though.
Let’s see what they blow up on this mission.
Great story as usual.
If you haven’t read any of the series, you’re missing an explosive ride.

Thank you #NetGalley #HarmsWay #JonathanGraveseries for this ARC

As soon as I saw that this latest installment in the Jonathan Grave series was avaiable, I couldn't hit request quick enough! This one did not disappoint. A kidnapping plot, a side plot that adds a twist to the story add in Big Guy, Gunslinger and the rest of the crew and it's a winner. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

I always enjoy John Gilstrap's Jonathan Grave Thriller series. #15, Harm's Way (Pinnacle Books 2023), quickly becomes the series usual high octane non-stop action on an international stage with more bad guys than it’s fair to count, prose that is always fresh and original.

"Jonathan felt that twinge on the back of his neck that usually meant that he’d learned something significant.

In this one, Jonathan's security team is hired to rescue missionaries kidnapped in Venezuela by drug lords, ostensibly for ransom, but Jonathan quickly figures out it's less to do with money and more about politics and paybacks.

“It wasn’t that long ago that Venezuela was fat with cash and a prosperous place. Then the Leftists took over and everything went to shit. Ever notice that every oppressive, failed regime in modern history has the word socialist in the title?”

"The Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration had both been thoroughly neutered by President Darmond’s political henchmen, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had neutered itself with political infighting..."

Parts feel that they are ripped from the headlines, but don’t prejudge what you think that means. I awarded this an easy 5/5 and recommend it to those who love geopolitical thrillers that can’t be predicted.

Many thanks to both Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Harm's Way.

Talk about high-speed entertainment!! Ruthless kidnappers! High stakes! Drug Cartel! Off-the-books mission! Impossible odds!

Twelve missionaries have been snatched in a remote area of Venezuela and are being held for ransom. The high-priority rescue mission comes as a personal plea from FBI director Irene Rivers. Just get in, get out ...and keep the precious cargo safe.

It's been a year since I read Lethal Game so my who's who memory was rather rusty. It felt as though a whole lot of names were being tossed around at the beginning. In addition to real names, there were also call sign names to keep track of. It all finally started making sense to me and once I got into the meat of the story, I definitely enjoyed the book.

There is not a doubt in my mind that readers who love books where those inside the corridors of power need help outside the law, they know who to call!

Scorpion is back, so is Big guy and Gunslinger and the rest of the crew. Harm's Way by John Gilstrap is another great action packed suspensefilled story.and there is apparently more coming. I really do like this gang and there adventures all in the name of good with some swift justice. The world seems to have shifted back to some kind of 80s scenario again with the big bad red bear the villain again. This means that not all thrillers are about bearded terrorists from the middle east. This will give us readers more variation in the years to come. Gilstrap has once again made up a story that is great and some complications with the power hungry crowd that is almost believable. Highly recommended. A big thank you to Kensington books and Netgalley for supplying me with this book.

I really like how Gilstrap approaches this series.
He's having fun writing and let's us read his work and have fun, too.
Unlike other series that take themselves too seriously, I consider writing by Gilstrap and James Hall as more comic-booky-books. Full of near impossible situations, cleverly written through with seemingly-impossible results. Happy ending.
#15 in the series continues that fun!

In this volume the Good Gus (and Big Guy) travel south of the border again on a trek to salvage one, but, of course, there is far more to salvage and a near-war to get through to do it.

I recognize the silliness in so much of this, but Gilstrap writes with that in mind and succeeds.
I look forward to the next Grave tale.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of ten points.

I'm always up for a new Digger and Big Guy book, so I jumped right in when I received an early copy. There is the usual amount of banter and action around this mission though I felt the set up was a bit rushed with one meeting and everyone out the door for some mayhem. The wrench in the story was an additional surprise mission that drew a bit away from the original one that I never fully invested in, but led to an excellent setup for the next book. I will happily recommend this book to those who already follow the series, but may recommend they start with another title as an entry point to Jonathan Graves since there's a lot going on here. Thank you to Pinnacle Books and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 3.5 stars rounded to a 4 for the shoutout to librarians and public libraries at the end!

When I say that as soon as I see this series offered as an ARC I jump on it, I mean it!

Scorpion, Big Guy, and Mother Hen and the other characters have taken me on journeys across the world and I'm there for every second, excluding all other activities until the journey is over. Sometimes I can breathe as I read and sometimes I hold my breath but ever single one is full of action, angst and for me, sometimes tears. This one was not different.

This one you'll follow the crew to place they were not and since they weren't there they certainly didn't see what they saw. But the journey was an important one and thank God they went. Once you read this book you'll understand all of the above and if this is your first book in the series I sincerely hope you get as hooked as I am and read them all.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The novel "Harm's Way" is a thriller that begins questing the loyality of some of the American officials including reaching to the top. Like many stories there is a question of the commitment of the government, especially the bureaucrats, to put the welfare of the country ahead of personal gain.

The story is about a group of missionaries that get kidnapped by a local cartel in Venezuela. As usual the cartel is looking for money and tries to ransom the captives. One family does come up with the money and this freed captive tells the authorities about what is going on. This is enough to mount a rescue operation for the rest of the captives.

With the highly qualified rescue squad being independent contractors, there is a certain freedom of engagement enjoyed by the team. And when the team arrives on site they discover another story altogether. Do they continue with their original plan that they have been tasked with or take on the secondary target which has presented itself? The secondary one has now, perhaps, become the most important one. A third option is to do them both...but this course of action will be very hard to accomplish.

The story evolves into a major firefight and the good guys take on a huge number of bad guys intent on shifting the balance of world power. A number of folks become casualties. It is an entertaining read and at the same time though-provoking about whether things like this actually happen or even if they could happen?

A most enjoyable read with characters who seem to leap off the pages and become very real to the reader. Definitely would recommend this story to anyone who loves a good action plot but is not repulsed with some of the violence that is described in explicit detail.