I tend to read from the same genre in which I write…Action & Adventure, Thrillers. Most, if not all, of the books below fall into those categories and would receive a 5-star rating from me.
Many of these recommendations share similar qualities; qualities I appreciate in a good story…
- Fast-paced action.
- Good character development and character interaction.
- Minimal foul language.
- No graphic sex.
So, while I’m not a professional book reviewer, I do know what I like and don’t like. And, if you enjoy the action & adventure stories that I write, then there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy these too.
Sorted by author, each book has a short synopsis and/or my personal take (in italics).
Happy Reading,
Alex
David Baldacci
Bullseye – Protagonists from two different series (Will Robie & Oliver Stone) become hostages during a bank robbery. A good short story, especially for fans of both series.
The Innocent (Robie & Reel #1) – U.S. Government assassin Will Robie protects a runaway teen while trying to get a target off his own back. I loved this book!
The Hit (Robie & Reel #2) – Two U.S. Government assassins square off in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Another great book in the Will Robie series. The back and forth sequences, shifting from Robie to Reel, were terrific.
The Target (Robie & Reel #3) – Robie and Reel team up for an assignment, working directly for the President. Good book with Robie and Reel getting to know each other better.
End Game (Robie & Reel #5) – In their search to find a missing Blue Man, Robie and Reel end up in a small town in the middle of nowhere. But, the town has a secret that’s worth killing to protect. A good action thriller that has Robie and Reel together for most of the story. A little more foul language than I would have preferred, but not too bad. Definitely recommended, especially if you’ve read the first four in the series.
Split Second (King & Maxwell #1) – Two Secret Service agents, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, discover they have something in common (they both lost their protectees) and team up to find redemption. I loved this book. The characters were great, especially the interaction between to two main characters. I’ll definitely be reading the second in the series. Very little foul language. No sex scenes.
Hour Game (King & Maxwell #2) – Having started a private investigation company, King and Maxwell are called on to stop a serial killer. I liked this book. Good dialogue. Humor between Sean and Michelle sprinkled in. This second installment in the King and Maxwell saga had limited foul language and no sex scenes. And I can highly recommend this book for those who enjoy the murder mystery genre. For action thriller fans, just know there’s more talking than shooting. Still a good book though.
Simple Genius (King & Maxwell #3) – Enjoyed this book even more than the previous one in the series. Once I realized this series is more of a mystery/whodunit versus an action thriller, I settled in and just kept reading. Great story with a deeper look into Michelle Maxwell’s personality/childhood/background. I really liked that aspect. Simple Genius is highly recommended.
First Family (King & Maxwell #4) – A really good, good story and fine edition in the King and Maxwell series. The main characters get closer as partners, questions raised in previous books are answered, and the ending sets the stage for an interesting book #5.
The Sixth Man (King & Maxwell #5) – Great Baldacci read as usual. The Sixth Man was much like the previous four in the series. King and Maxwell work well together, and this story had a couple of twists…one I saw coming and another that surprised me.
King and Maxwell (King & Maxwell #6) – A very good book and a very good series. First time I’ve read a series from book one to the end with no breaks. Too bad this appears to be the last one. King and Maxwell get along well, and you can really see how they get closer and closer as the series progresses. Top notch and highly recommended.
Marc Cameron
Open Carry (Arliss Cutter #1) – U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter has his work cut out for him in Alaska when people start disappearing and bodies start showing up. Open Carry had a good balance between action scenes and all the talky-talk (is that a term?) that’s necessary to further the plot. I’m not sure why, but as I read this book, my mind was taken back to David Baldacci’s King and Maxwell series. And I loved those novels. Having read a couple of Cameron’s Jericho Quinn books, I’m very impressed with his work. No vulgarity or sex scenes. There are mid-level cuss words littered here and there, but overall a fairly clean read. This author highly recommends Open Carry for fans of action thrillers.
Stone Cross (Arliss Cutter #2) – Marc Cameron is fast-becoming one of my go-to authors. His books are action-packed with limited foul language and no graphic sex scenes. Stone Cross started out a little slow, as the characters were introduced and the story threads were being established. But after a few chapters, everything started building, and I found myself eager to sneak in another chapter or two between writing my own novel. In this thriller, Arliss Cutter is sent to a remote Alaskan village to protect a judge. While there, he must balance his protective duties with investigating a local homicide and the disappearance of two people. A lot of little things going on at all times in this story to keep your attention. All in all, a fun read that this author highly recommends. Five stars.
National Security (Jericho Quinn #1) – With the help of Dr. Megan Mahoney, Jericho Quinn and Jacques Thibodaux race to stop terrorists bent on releasing a deadly contagion into the U.S. population. My first Marc Cameron book, National Security had good pacing, a believable plot, likeable characters, and mild foul language (less than other books in this genre). Recommended for action & adventure/thriller readers.
Act of Terror (Jericho Quinn #2) – Jericho and Jacques team up with a CIA officer to stop a multi-phase terror attack that could send world markets plummeting. This book was even better than the first. I’ve quickly grown to like the main characters, and I appreciate the lack of vulgarity in Mr. Cameron’s stories. He writes good books for action & adventure fans. Recommended.
State of Emergency (Jericho Quinn #3) – In this exciting third book in the Jericho Quinn series, Jericho and Jacques Thibodaux race to stop a madman from detonating a decades-old Russian nuke.
State of Emergency takes the reader on a globe-spanning journey. Just when I thought the ending was coming…nope. Everything changed, and the adventure moved to another part of the world. In addition to Jericho’s brother making an appearance, a new character arrives on the scene, and together, she and Quinn team up and press on together toward the goal. I love reading books with a male/female dynamic going on. The two sexes play off each other (one compensating for the weaknesses of the other, etc.), and the overall story is so much more interesting. As usual, Marc Cameron keeps the infrequent foul language to mild cuss words. If my recollection is correct, not one F-bomb was dropped. Awesome. And awesome writing, too, proving one does not have to use profanity to tell a great story. You could read this book without having read any others in the series, but I’d recommend starting with the first novel, so you have the backstory on how Jericho and Jacques become friends. The author does a good job of not leaving you in the dark on things, but starting with book #1 is still the best way to go.
This author give State of Emergency 5 stars and two 👍👍 up! Happy reading.
Time of Attack (Jericho Quinn #4) – Time of Attack is a great edition in the Jericho Quinn series. It’s full of fast-paced action scenes coupled with chapters that allow you to catch your breath. Foul language is minimal, and there is no graphic sex. Always a ‘plus.’ 👍 While the ending of the book MAY be considered a “non-ending” by some, my personal opinion is there were two big plots and a couple secondary threads. The bigger ones were resolved, and the ancillary ones will most likely become the central theme in the next book. I’m okay with that. Overall, I enjoyed the story and did not feel cheated. And that’s what matters most to me. There is a twist at the end that I did not see coming. I was all geared up for what I thought would happen, and then what took place was … … Sorry. You didn’t think I was going to spoil it for you, did you? 🙂 This author gives Time of Attack five stars. I highly recommend it as an entertaining, action-packed read, especially if you’ve read the previous books in the series. Best wishes.
Day Zero (Jericho Quinn #5) – Marc Cameron’s Day Zero is another terrific book in the Jericho Quinn series. The plot was solid, and the action kept me turning pages. As usual, it had limited foul language and no sex scenes. If you’ve read the earlier Jericho Quinn books, this one is a must read, too. I will say, however, that the ending has the hint of a cliffhanger. While the main challenges for the character are wrapped up, the overarching theme that was started in the last book seems to be carrying over into the next story. Since I already own the next book in the series, and can dive into it whenever I want, Day Zero’s ending was not a negative for me. I LOVED the action and adventure and still give this edition five stars.
John Gilstrap
No Mercy (Jonathan Grave #1) – A covert rescue specialist and his team uncover a deadly scheme while saving a college student. “A good book that starts off a little rough. I almost stopped reading. Glad I didn’t.”
Hostage Zero (Jonathan Grave #2) – One man is shot. Two people are missing. Enter hostage rescue specialist Jonathan Grave. “Another good book in this series.”
Threat Warning (Jonathan Grave #3) – A mother and son are kidnapped. To rescue them, Jonathan Grave will have to dismantle a nationwide conspiracy. “Great book with nice back-and-forth scenes between the protagonist’s actions and those of the victims. I love stories that stay focused on the hero and the good people. Threat Warning did NOT disappoint.”
Damage Control (Jonathan Grave #4) – A plot that threatens national security kicks off with a bus full of teenage hostages. “This was a rolling action story that kept on the move from one location to the next.”
High Treason (Jonathan Grave #5) – The President’s wife is kidnapped. As Jonathan searches for the First Lady, he finds a devious scheme that could cripple the nation. “Good story with a twist.”
End Game (Jonathan Grave #6) – Jonathan Grave must find a teenage boy, before assassins do, and prevent a nuclear war in the process. “The teen has a female bodyguard, who adds an interesting element to the story. Good book.”
Against All Enemies (Jonathan Grave #7) – Jonathan tries to figure out why a fellow combat veteran is killing members of the CIA. His search for the truth leads him to a conspiracy that could send the country into chaos. “While this one started out a little slow, it picks up steam and finishes with a bang…and a boom…and an explosion or two. A must read for fans of Gilstrap’s Jonathan Grave character.”
Friendly Fire (Jonathan Grave #8) – Jonathan finds himself caught between a looming terror attack on U.S. soil and saving a hostage he’s already saved before. One of the better books in the Jonathan Grave series. Hooked me from the first chapter. The action was great. And, the blending of Ethan Falk’s backstory kept me wondering how the different story strands were going to come together. Strongly recommended.
Final Target (Jonathan Grave #9) – Infiltrating a drug cartel’s compound in Mexico to rescue a kidnapped DEA agent, Jonathan and Boxers quickly discover this isn’t going to be an easy mission.
Scorpion Strike (Jonathan Grave #10) – On vacation on an island, Jonathan Grave and Gail Bonneville find themselves in the middle of an assault with no escape. The action begins on page one and never lets up. With the usual level of foul language (which isn’t as much as most books in this genre), Scorpion Strike is a cover-to-cover 5-star action thriller. I usually end up skipping through those parts of books that dole out excessive information or focus too much on secondary characters. Not so with this novel. I read every single word. Great story. Great main character. Great series. This author highly recommends Scorpion Strike.
Total Mayhem (Jonathan Grave #11) – Terror attacks around the U.S. leave citizens on edge. Jonathan Grave is called in to go undercover and stop the bloodshed. Total Mayhem was a ‘Total Hit.’ Superb story. Page-one action. If you’ve read the others in this series, don’t miss this one. Same level of foul language, but still no graphic sex scenes. Just like previous installments in the Jonathan Grave series, I read this entire book. No skipping dull scenes/chapters…because there weren’t any. Five stars. Highly recommended by this author.
Hellfire (Jonathan Grave #12) – What can I say that I haven’t already said about books in the Jonathan Grave series? I’ve read them all (through this one). Great action. Great character interaction. Foul language was limited to mild cuss words, spaced throughout the story, so you didn’t feel inundated. And I don’t believe there was a single F-bomb in the whole book. John Gilstrap is a top-notch author. Love this series. Have one more to go before his new book (Lethal Game) comes out this year. This action thriller author highly recommends Hellfire for fans of action adventure thrillers. Two 👍🏻👍🏻 up. Best wishes.
Soft Targets – Hostage rescuer Jonathan Grave is back to save the lives of four children. “A shorter novel that is long on action and excitement. I also enjoyed the deeper look into FBI Director Irene Rivers’ background.”
Mark Greaney
The Gray Man (#1) – Court Gentry seamlessly moves from one covert operation to the next until he finds himself the center of unwanted attention, attention that comes with many guns pointed in his direction. AWESOME BOOK! I loved The Gray Man. With a ton of action and excitement, this story is a solid, cover-to-cover thrill ride. So, if you love action and adventure, and don’t mind vulgarity (there is a bit more foul language in this story than I’m used to), then you’ll love Court Gentry as The Gray Man. Highly recommended by this author.
Brad Thor
I’ve really enjoyed Thor’s Scot Harvath series; a series featuring a former Navy Seal, turned covert operator, who battles terrorism. Since I’d give them all 4 or 5 stars and would recommend them all to thriller fans, I’m simply listing the books (in order) with a brief description.
- The Lions of Lucerne – The President is kidnapped, and it is up to Harvath to save him.
- Path of the Assassin – Harvath goes after a ruthless terrorist bent on bringing down Israel and America.
- State of the Union – Soviet sleeper agents, suitcase nuclear weapons, a missing FBI Director. An old enemy resurfaces.
- Blowback – Forced to go underground after a covert operation goes south, Harvath must dismantle a shadowy organization while staying out of the cross hairs of his own government.
- Takedown – A domestic terror attack is perpetrated by highly trained foreign soldiers on the Fourth of July weekend.
- The First Commandment – An assassin unleashes a personal terror campaign against those closest to Harvath.
- The Last Patriot – The past and the present collide to uncover an ancient secret that could topple militant Islam.
- The Apostle – A new President and a new policy on terrorism leaves Scot Harvath jobless. That is, until…
- Foreign Influence – A bombing in Rome and a hit-and-run accident in Chicago are linked to an audacious plot.
- Full Black – Intrigue, espionage, betrayal…a clandestine mission that goes beyond a black operation.
- Black List – Scot Harvath’s name has been added to a list that only the President and a secret team of advisers get to see. And, there’s only one way to get off that list.
- Hidden Order – A secret organization with no accountability lurks in the dark recesses of America and poses the greatest threat to the nation.
- Act of War – The new President must call on Harvath to conduct counter-terror operations that, if discovered, could start a war.
- Code of Conduct – Traveling the globe, Harvath goes up against a secret committee with a devastating agenda.
- Foreign Agent – Terrorism in Europe is on the rise. The U.S. has a dramatic response. All it needs is a highly trained covert operator.
- Use of Force – Harvath is tapped to stop an ISIS-led plot to destroy the Vatican.
- Spymaster – The torch of leadership passes to Scot Harvath; however, as with everything else he’s done in the past, he’ll do things his way.
- Backlash – Alone in a harsh environment, Scot Harvath must battle the elements and his enemies if he wants to reach his goal…Revenge. Great book! An adventure of lots and lots of super action scenes of varying types. And much like David Baldacci’s writing, the focus stayed on the main character chapter after chapter. Just a few were devoted to other characters. I loved that. Good solid finish with no loose ends. Backlash is one of the better stories in the Scot Harvath series. And I’ve read them all up to this one. As usual, there is a moderate amount of foul language in this edition, but no sex scenes. Overall, I highly recommend this book (and the series) to readers who enjoy thrillers in the spy, covert agent, clandestine action genres.
The Athena Project – A four-person team of highly trained, female counter-terror operatives must thwart a plot of unimaginable proportions.
Tim Tigner
Betrayal – After a terrorist attack, an FBI agent must find the people who set him up. “The only book I’ve read by the author, but I really enjoyed the story. It kept me turning pages.”