Book Review

Targets West

If you like your thrillers filled with transatlantic terrorist plots; damsels in distress; spy-slick shootouts; and psychopathic antagonistic assassins, then “Targets West” by Scott McCrea is most definitely the adrenaline-packed, action-adventure for you.

Here’s the blurb:
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Lucas Wheeler is having a bad day when he leaves his beloved Wyoming for the concrete canyons of New York. But he has no idea how rapidly things will turn for the worse. En route to London, where his ranch hands will be performing at the largest international rodeo in the world, Lucas is contacted by the State Department with an unusual request: to report back all observations and significant data on Sheikh Kashif Rashid Al Marltaum. Lucas will be traveling to Dubai to sell several hundred purebred Arabians to the Sheikh, who he learns is deeply involved in terror cells located throughout the U.S.

Before Lucas can even begin his assignment, he is kidnapped by student radicals, chased while handcuffed through Central Park by on-the-take New York cops and nearly shot in London’s poshest restaurant. It is only when Lucas is lured to Sheikh Kashif’s outlandish Summer Palace hidden in the Dubai desert that he learns of a daring and brazen terrorist plot that will have devastating consequences for the entire Western world.

With a shocking conclusion set in London’s crowded O2 arena, Lucas must overcome incredible odds before a multinational cabal of terrorists can hit…targets west.

Hopping through three continents, filled with memorable and very human characters, and energized by pulse-pounding suspense, Targets West is a thriller for people hungry for stories of American heroism and international intrigue.

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As the blurb highlights, Lucas Wheeler is a down-to-earth, principled and practical man – now widowed – who loves nothing more than enjoying the life he’s built for himself on the Bar 11 Ranch in Wyoming.
However, his success is a burden in disguise, for the prize horses and staff of the Bar 11 are invited to the largest international rodeo in the world. An event that will take place at the O2 Arena in London, and a location that Wheeler will use as a stopover point while traveling to Dubai to seal a huge deal: The sale of several hundred purebred Arabian horses to Sheikh Kashif Rashid Al Marltaum.
It’s while he’s on the way to those events that he’s contacted by furtive members of the State Department who ask him to do something that, on the face of it, should be quite straightforward: To report back on his dealings with the Sheikh, and especially on any movement or behavior that might be – out of the ordinary. (For as Wheeler later learns, the Sheikh is anything but a collector of thoroughbred horses).

No spoilers – as that’s something I never do – but what starts out as a simple request turns into a rollercoaster ride of political intrigue; mishap & mayhem; and hair-raising, brutal encounters. You’ll meet corrupt bureaucrats, bent cops, Walter Mitty wannabes, and slimy, sticklers. All of them seemingly intent on making every hurdle Wheeler faces THAT much harder to overcome.

In a nutshell, “Targets West” is a definite page-turner. It’s sharp. It’s slick. It’s vividly detailed and exciting. And it’s the most fun I’ve had reading in a while.
If you like stories with elements of “Have Gun – Will Travel” from the 50s & 60s, mixed in with “Yellowstone” and “Justified”, then this is the book for you.
Hold onto your hats and dive in. You won’t regret it.

(And yes – an Amazon review will follow!)

 

 Review

The Bound Worlds

I have to say, I was relieved to delve into The Bound Worlds – the final installment of the Devoured Worlds trilogy, as I was itching to discover how O’Keefe would round this epic adventure off. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Here's the blurb to pique your interest:

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Naira and Tarquin have found a new home on Seventh Cradle. But the peace they’ve built is short-lived as mysterious assailants ambush the settlement and Naira is haunted by visions of a monstrous future. Catastrophe strikes when Tarquin uncovers a plot to bring about the end of the universe. As humanity races against the clock to prevent their extinction, old secrets come to light and loyalties fracture, and Naira realizes she may be the key to saving the world—or ending it.

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If superb character development and the artful evolution of her plotline wasn’t enough, O'Keefe goes one step further by skillfully exploiting the perils faced by our intrepid heroes and heroines when the ‘printing’ process goes wrong. Yes, there’s only so much the human psyche can withstand before insanity beckons. And if a person is ‘cracked’ by their enemies deliberately? Ah then things get very interesting indeed, and the mayhem that ensues can threaten the very existence of mankind, especially when the universe is literally tearing itself apart at the seams.

A most satisfying, intensely compelling conclusion to a great trilogy, and one that isn’t afraid to explore the ethical dilemmas that ensue when fanatical despots face off against those bolstered by world-moving, all-consuming love.

Amazon Review

(But what new series will O'Keefe release next to keep up the tempo?)

Personally, I can't wait. So, if YOU want to find out more, keep an eye out for my in-depth review of the entire series, due out later this month in Amazing Stories.

 Review

Sword of Justice

It’s often said that the recipe of a good western incorporates a ‘salt of the earth’ element.  Something that connects to the reader from the outset by invoking their sense of camaraderie and integrity. And you can appreciate why. Frontier living was hard. It involved conflict and change that often triggered contention between folks from widely different backgrounds. So, those who knew where to draw the line often stood out. They were tough but fair. They did what needed to be done, despite the sacrifices they might have to make.

So, you’ll be glad to know such elements abound in Sword of Justice, a brand new western adventure by Jibril Stevenson. . . As the blurb highlights:

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Syrian immigrant Zulfiqar Jaffery is on a train from his homestead in the remotest corner of North Dakota to New York City, where he’s to marry the girl he’s been dreaming about for decades. His plans are derailed when an Indian uprising occurs and hostiles—or is it bandits?—attack the train and kidnap a young boy. The kid’s mother thinks Zulfiqar is just the man to bring back her son, and after a taste of bounty-hunting in Deadwood the previous year, Zulfiqar thinks she might be right. With money on the table and a young boy’s life at stake, his blushing bride will have to wait. Zulfiqar straps on his Colt and his grandfather’s Ottoman scimitar and sets off in pursuit of the kidnappers, little knowing that the job will take him all over the northern plains and pit him against some of the most dangerous men in the country. The distraught mother is more than she seems, going to the law is not an option, and it’s up to Zulfiqar to wield the Sword of Justice.

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I have to say, I rather enjoyed the premise on which Stevenson built his adventure. That of a man on the way to his wedding, who is forced to adjust his travel-plans at the last second to answer a desperate call for justice. What follows is a round-robin of action and reaction; chasing down clues from county to county, state to state and even across the border into Canada; shootouts and brawling. Forget planes, trains and automobiles. In this story you get horses, trains and canoes, until the inevitable showdown where everything comes together in a profoundly satisfying way.
I found the pacing comfortable, the narrative engaging, and the characters relatable. Even better, the sprinkling of certain aspects of Syrian culture into the story arc added a spicy zest to the usual fare presented in many western novels. A most enjoyable read.

 My Latest Review

The Fractured Dark

Having just completed the second book in Megan O'keefe's The Devoured Worlds Series, I was eager to share what I thought. Here's my Amazon review:

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The Fractured Dark is another gripping story by O’Keefe, which once again takes the topics referred to in shows like Altered Carbon and Orphan Black – Echoes, and expanding them to include the dark and sinister peril covered in stories like The Genius Plague by David Walton.
In fact, the tagline to that book – The contagion is in your mind – is expounded wonderfully within the Devoured World series, because the threat mankind is facing really is that insidious.

After all, could you imagine trying to fight an enemy you didn’t realize was there? One that could subliminally influence your very moods and goals into something more akin to its liking? And if that wasn’t disturbing enough, don’t forget the printing technology this series incorporates as its central theme. Technology that villains might abuse in their lust for power?

Oh yes. We get all this and more in a superb sequel that continues the momentum established in the first book, before accelerating away at warp speed.

An excellent read that you won’t want to miss.

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So, there you go.

Amazon Link

And don't forget. If this deliberately spoiler-free review piques your interest, then keep your eyes peeled for my full spread and very detailed review of the entire series, coming some time next month in Amazing Stories.

 New Release!

Operation Holdfast

A WWII Commando Adventure

Hot on the heels of my first review for The Battle of Port-en-Bessin, I'm very pleased to announce the release of the second WWII Commando Adventure in the series:

Operation Holdfast

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In one of the most decisive battles to take place following the D-Day Landings, 47 (Royal Marine) Commando were successful in ousting the resident German artillery and infantry regiments still dug in at the heavily fortified fishing harbor of Port-en-Bessin, to take control of the region. Having done so, they were expected to hold the ground they’d fought so hard to win.

No easy task, for not only had 47’s strength been drastically reduced during that offensive, but they—like all the other Allied units to arrive in Normandy following the opening stages of Operation Overlord—were introduced to a new style of combat: Boscage warfare.

Averaging out at well over fifteen feet in height and bolstered by a thick girdle of nettles and brambles—torturous to navigate along their base—the hedgerows of France were verdant fortresses, providing both protection and cover for the defenders, and an assault course of thorns and thistles and booby-traps for those trying to attack.

And, as Company Sergeant Major Richard—Lion—Hart, CGM, knew only too well. . .

The longer fighting in such a claustrophobic environment was allowed to continue, then the more his men would bleed. No matter how well trained they were.

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If this sounds like something you could lose yourself in, then please

just click the link and enjoy. . .

Amazon Link

 First Review
The Battle of Port-en-Bessin

It's always nice when someone takes the time to read your work and leave a review. And even better, when your work 'hits the spot' in all the right ways. That's why I'm rather chuffed to share this first review for the Battle of Port-en-Bessin, because as you know, this genre is still rather new to me. So, it's nice to know I might be on the right track.

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5.0 out of 5 stars This is by far the best book this author has ever written!

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025

I have had the pleasure of reading many books by Andrew Weston. This is by far the best book he has ever written. That it is the first book of a new series fills me with excitement to see what is to come.

Brilliantly written to the point I personally find this book flawless. For context, I have an M.A. in Military History (WW2) and have been reading war books since I was about six years old. Two of my all-time favorite fictional war series are by Herman Wouk The Winds of War and War and Remembrance and W.E.B. Griffin's 9 novel series The Brotherhood of War. I read all nine of those back-to-back in the course of one week at one time.

The story of Sergeant Hart and the 47 Commando is so accurately presented, you would think you are reading a unit history. That this is fictional disappears within a couple of pages of reading. The story flows in a fashion that makes it hard to stop reading. The battle scenes are so realistic you can smell the cordite and feel the sweat in your eyes.

I read D-Day by Stephen E. Ambrose every year around the anniversary of June 6. This book takes the true tales of the 47 Commando and puts a human face to them that you don't often find in history books. This is small unit combat at its finest. These super troops are able to overcome vast obstacles through their own capabilities.

If I am raving about this book, it is because I love this book and cannot wait to read book two. There is a very, very good chance I will be purchasing the entire series in printed book form so I can place them on my Military History bookshelf alongside W.E.B. Griffin's series.

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So there you go - And you can read the verified review here:

Stay tuned for more WWII Commando Adventures.

There will be at least 3, before I revert back to my usual Science Fiction - Fantasy genre.

 Have YOU viewed

The Blighted Stars?

Back in the March of 2023, some of you might remember I completed a review of Velocity Weapon, the first of three books – Velocity Weapon, Catalyst Gate and Chaos Vector – in the Protectorate Series by Megan O’ Keefe, a new writer who made quite an impact with her debut offering. So much so, that I kept an eye out since then, waiting for something fresh.

And here it is. The Blighted Stars - the first book in The Devoured Worlds space opera that’s sure to please.

Here’s the blurb to give you a taster:

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When a spy and her mortal enemy crash-land on a dying planet, she must figure out how to survive long enough to uncover the deadly, galaxy-spanning conspiracy that landed them there. The Blighted Stars is the first book in an epic new space-opera trilogy from the author of the Philip K. Dick-nominated Velocity Weapon.

She's a revolutionary. Humanity is running out of options. Habitable planets are being destroyed as quickly as they're found, and Naira Sharp thinks she knows the reason why. The all-powerful Mercator family has been controlling the exploration of the universe for decades, and exploiting any materials they find along the way under the guise of helping humanity's expansion. But Naira knows the truth, and she plans to bring the whole family down from the inside.

He's the heir to the dynasty. Tarquin Mercator never wanted to run a galaxy-spanning business empire. He just wanted to study geology and read books. But Tarquin's father has tasked him with monitoring the settlement of a new planet, and he doesn't really have a choice in the matter.

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So, what did I think? Here’s a copy of my verified review on Amazon (Because yes – I do buy my own copies of those books I read and review, as I feel it’s important to show authors – everywhere – I support their hard work:

An absolutely thrilling story, taking the concepts found in shows like Altered Carbon and Orphan Black – Echoes, one step further and expanding them into a whole new universe. A place where Earth is dying, and mankind is spreading out into the stars, and where human life – for the elite and their lackeys – is extended by printing. (A facility whereby a person’s personality and consciousness can be downloaded into a matrix and stored against the time of their passing. And when death occurs, they can then be uploaded into a newly-printed replica of their body, thereby continuing their life as before. (A superb concept).

But, as you can imagine, things are not what they seem. An insidious threat emerges from the unlikeliest of sources that not only jeopardizes mankind's ability to extend life, but their very existence too.

I loved it. The story has a steady pace throughout. There's great character development - and then some - and a poignant poke-in-the-eye about what it really means to be human. It's bittersweet too - just the way the best stories should be.

Can't wait for what comes next.

If you like, you can also read the review of Amazon itself

Verified Review

Here.

 

And finally, if you think the story might appeal, then stay tuned for more, as I will be completing an in-depth review of the entire series for Amazing Stories (Once I get through the other two books – The Fractured Dark and The Bound Worlds), sometime over the next month or so.

Until then. . .

Happy reading.