Wow! This was an unexpected read! I was not familiar with either of these authors, but based off my interest in fast-paced thrillers with some military / vigilante / covert ops pieces, this was recommended, and it did not disappoint! There was a masterful blend of character development, while the actions starts and takes off. I was also impressed with some of the twists and turns of the narrative that I was not expecting. If you want a well thought out, action thriller, I highly recommend! Thank you for my ARC! I will look into past books by Simon Gervais and Ryan Steck.

Wow, can't wait to see more in this series featuring these characters! Ryan Steck is a favorite of mine, and he and Simon have built a strong story of non stop action and suspense with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the last page.

Review: I had reservations about this genre as it is drenched in copious amounts of author's claiming experience in the field to lend legitimacy to their product. This authors bio reads like a CJ Box preface where there are only so many lines you can stuff an ego into. We could have a great game of bullshjt bingo with buzzwords like "Federal Agent" "Military", "Middle East", "Counter Terrorism" and um, er "Europe". Yeah Europe, cuz that is where all the spy stuff ends up. Asia is not sexy enough yet or is it too sexy? MEOW!. Can you write, is the true denominator.

Well these fukers can write dang it. All you need to do is wade past Biggus Dickus' being a former Team Delta psyops operator, MIT grad, a sommelier, expert boxer, wealthy (with mommy issues), lethal while unarmed and all the hot chicks want to mount him kinda rigarmarole. Much like the authors bio, only BIGGUS-ER!

How did I get trapped in fantasy land with Biggus? The novel just flows baby. Scene transitions are smooth and move into prior scenes with alacrity. Only a few master this type of writing. Do I want Dickus to die? Of course I do. He is an asshole that plays poor wittle me with violent retribution while all the chicks sniff his butt like dogs at a hydrant. He is Mr. Dudley Dooright in a Mercedes (but he doesnt really want it, as it was his Dads and it is easier to get to work on the train and he has Vaucheron and Rolex watch, that he doesn't need but wears, but he forgot he's wearing it, but it was his dads and...). You get me? Having nice shjt and talking about it, then dismissing it does not a pious character make. You just want to constantly punch him in the face. Why not make him a foster kid, that scraped through high school and joined the Army? What about being average in the Army until he had a cathartic event that changed his focus? Maybe girls find him mousy looking with crooked teeth and poor posture? Perhaps his closest brush with a Mercedes was as a Valet driver. Maybe his mom loves him and that is all the difference it made in his life. Perhaps he is kind to others without an awareness that he is doing it. Maybe when good things come his way, he accepts it with gratitude. Maybe he forgives his enemies and only seeks justice for those he loves. Maybe write in greater than one dimension.

What I do hope is that you read this, despite the patterned story line. The writing is good enough to get past the grinding of your teeth as you suffer Biggus Dickus' roll through another impossible scenario while reminiscing about how much he gives to people in a tough spot and his brilliant investment choices.

Great collaborative effort byte of my favorite authors has produced an excellent novell. It stands alone quite well, but I'm so happy that it is just he start of, what promises to be, a great series.

Wow! Two of my favorite authors so I am not surprised, but what a book. Great characters, ton of twists, and awesome set up for the next chapter of this new series. I cannot wait to read many more in this series. Highly recommend this book!!!

Usually I am leery of a novel which takes two authors to compose it. But Simon Gervais and Ryan Steck have done a masterful job in The Second Son of creating a thrilling and compelling novel that kept me reading all day. I really enjoyed Chase Burke as a llead and was astonished when the facts were fully developed. Yes, there was a flaw or two, but not bad enough to keep me from giving a rave review.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Second Son marks an exhilarating start to a new thriller series, showcasing a stellar collaboration between Simon Gervais and Ryan Steck. This novel delivers a gripping tale with unforgettable characters, led by the compelling Chase Burke, a man wrestling with personal grief who is unexpectedly drawn into a high-stakes conspiracy.

Chase, a Master Sommelier with a military and PSYOPS background, is called into work one night and heroically saves a Congresswoman from a deadly assassination and kidnapping attempt. Instead of praise, he’s branded a suspect, forced into hiding to clear his name. With multiple factions pursuing him and trust in short supply, Chase navigates this treacherous landscape alone, unraveling the mystery behind his sudden entanglement. The authors craft a tightly woven plot that unfolds logically, with character decisions that feel authentic and grounded.

The writing shines with vivid, immersive descriptions of settings that transport readers directly into the story’s world. Tense, action-packed scenes are balanced by Chase’s personal struggles, creating a protagonist who is both relatable and resilient. The narrative flows smoothly, avoiding jarring leaps, and keeps you hooked with its relentless pace and intricate conspiracy.

A thrilling blend of heart-pounding action, rich character development, and evocative scenery, The Second Son is a standout thriller. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment in this promising series.

I am grateful for an early copy of The Second Son from NetGalley to read and review.

I am new to Simon Gervais, having just found his Elias novels. I have read all of Steck's Matthew Redd novels and was excited to read this novel.

The Second Son is a great collaboration between these two authors and gives us some memorable characters. Chase Burke is a grieving man, asked to come in to work one night and ends up saving the life of a congresswoman.
Instead of being hailed as a hero, he is vilified and goes into hiding, forced to clear his name on his own. With multiple parties after him, unsure who he can trust, he essentially goes it alone to learn what is happening and why he was suddenly thrust into the middle of it all.

With great writing we have come to expect and tense scenes, this book does not disappoint. I enjoy novels that have their scenery described in such a way that I am taken to those places. The way the characters are written, the things that they are put through, all combine to give us a great story.

The main protaganist, Chase, has his own struggles, but is able to work to clear his name. The story progresses nicely without huge leaps and the decisions of the characters make sense.

I look forward to the next in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for allowing me to review The Second Son. Simon Gervais and Ryan Steck put out another great read. The new series follows Chase Burke, a hard luck sommelier who seems to always find trouble. The story takes lots of twist and turns and conspiracies. Following the attempted abduction and assassination attempt of a congresswoman Chase must prove his innocence and uncover a conspiracy.

Simon Gervais has turned into a favorite author and all of his books are must reads. The Second Son is no different. Ryan Steck is also a must read. A great book and story and look forward to more in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review The Second Son, the first book in a new series by Simon Gervais and Ryan Steck. And thank you to the authors for causing my heart to race - over and over and over again.
This one left me breathless on more than one occasion. (I'm a big fan of Simon Gervais, having read a lot of his thrillers over the years; I don't know Ryan Steck as an author, but this was a great intro.)
Plots within plots within plots... that's the premise of this book, and you never really know just who is plotting and why (possibly until the end, but I'm still not sure).
Chase Burke was born into money, but he really doesn't live that life. Right now, he's a Master Sommelier at a trendy New York restaurant, but in his previous life he was military and PSYOPS. In his current job, he's become friendly with a celebrity Congresswoman, and on this night he's hoping to get closer. And then suddenly, he's embroiled in what looks like both an assassination attempt AND a kidnapping attempt which - in the grand tradition of heroes everywhere - he manages to foil. But not before the Congresswoman in gravely injured and Chase himself becomes a 'person of interest' (read, suspect). And it seems that he's being pursued not only by the police but also by the perpetrators!
I don't want to give anything away, and I won't. But let's just say the action never lets up, and Chase leads a pinball-like existence for the next days while simultaneously trying to clear his name and get to the bottom of the plot(s).
Highly recommended.

Suspenseful with on stop action.
Chase thought he was through with dangerous spy days is and loving the easy days of being a sommelier where
his biggest problem was which wine to promote this week.
And then he finds out his brother Michael, a black ops guy, was presumed dead and being considered a traitor,
working undercover as a foreign agent.
Chase gets drawn into the nefarious local gang life when Alice, a local detective looking into a multiple murder at the restaurant Chase is employed at, looks for cracks in Chase's background.
He becomes the hunted as he hints for clues into what the killings were all about and what really happened to his brother who he knows is absolutely no traitor.
Goid story and interesting characters along the way.
One surprise after another.

4,5 stars for The Second Son by Simon Gervais and Ryan Steck, published by Thoms & Mercer is a complex espionage thriller, suspenseful, literally unputdownable.
Chase Burke is the last living member of his family, his interest in Congresswoman Tanya brings danger to her doorstep. A pulse-pounding read, 4,5 stars.