After a disastrous fourth tour overseas, Army Colonel Vernon Matheson is forced into civilian life with a barely honorable discharge and a fractured mind. Hoping to rebuild, he returns to Charleston, only to walk into a nightmare his house trashed, a dead woman on his bedroom floor, and his wife and five-year-old daughter gone without a trace! Good book and series! I definitely enjoyed reading this one! This book had gripping suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, action, and some shocking twists! The storyline was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book and series! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

R. S. Hampton’s Malevolent Intent is a gripping thriller that balances high-stakes suspense with deeply human emotion. At its heart is Army Colonel Vernon Matheson, a man scarred by war and thrust into civilian life only to find himself at the centre of a nightmare—his home destroyed, his family missing, and suspicion closing in from every direction.

What makes this story so compelling is not just the mystery, but the way Hampton layers Vern’s fractured psyche with the relentless pace of the plot. The arrival of Lee Danforth, a sharp attorney who becomes both ally and irritant, adds a dynamic push-and-pull that keeps the tension alive. Their uneasy partnership evolves into something richer as they uncover secrets, betrayals, and a calculating predator who has been orchestrating the family’s downfall.

The Charleston setting, with a hurricane looming on the horizon, heightens the atmosphere—nature itself becomes a ticking clock against which Vern and Lee must race. Hampton’s prose is taut yet vivid, painting both the chaos of Vern’s unraveling world and the fragile hope that drives him forward.

This is a thriller that doesn’t just deliver twists; it asks what happens when trust is shattered, when family is endangered, and when survival depends on confronting both external enemies and inner demons. Malevolent Intent is fast-paced, emotionally charged, and perfect for readers who love their suspense with a touch of grit and heart.

With thanks to RS Hampton, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC