On June 25th, Scot Harvath returns to action in Backlash, the latest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor, who is treating readers to a free three-chapter excerpt, available on his website.
First up, we know what you’re thinking, and no, the excerpt—a full fourteen pages—does not answer the heart-thumping cliffhanger that Thor ended with on his last book, Spymaster.
*Spoilers ahead* Stop reading if you haven’t finished Spymaster.
Read the excerpt here.
Okay, so those who did read Spymaster know that it ends with Harvath’s girlfriend, Laura, heading out to get some air in New Hampshire just as Scot realizes he’s being double-crossed and ambushed. Harvath yells for her to get down and, we assume, lead starts flying.
Laura’s fate is left up in the air, something Thor has done before back in Full Black (2011)—except that was with Riley Turner, and he left things hanging just as bullets sprayed the door frame of the apartment building they met at. Turner’s fate was answered quickly as Thor’s next book, Black List (2012), literally opened seconds from where Full Black left off, so readers might have expected something similar with Backlash. However, that’s not the case here—though Thor is giving readers one heck of a riveting opening, which does pack at least one emotional surprise for longtime fans of his series.
14 awesome pages should be more than enough to wet readers’ appetites, and frankly, so should the mysterious nature of the plot details. Check ’em out below.
#1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and #1 Publishers Weekly bestselling author Brad Thor is back with his most gripping thriller yet!
In ancient texts, there are stories about men who struck from the shadows, seemingly beyond the reach of death itself. These men were considered part angel, part demon. Their loyalty was to their families, their friends, and their kings. You crossed these men at your peril. And once crossed, there was no crossing back.
They were fearless; men of honor who have been known throughout history by different names: Spartan, Viking, Samurai.
Today, men like these still strike from the shadows. They are highly prized intelligence agents, military operatives, and assassins.
One man is all three.
Two days ago, that man was crossed—badly.
Now, far from home and surrounded by his enemy, Scot Harvath must battle his way out.
With no support, no cavalry coming, and no one even aware of where he is, it will take everything he has ever learned to survive.
But survival isn’t enough. Harvath wants revenge.
In the most explosive novel Brad Thor has ever written, page after captivating page of action, intrigue, loyalty, and betrayal will keep you hooked until the very last sentence and a revelation that will take your breath away
Here’s why that product description is brilliant. Much like the recent movie trailer for Avengers: Endgame, Thor knows how to get his readers pumped up, but without offering any spoilers for the actual story.
Truth is, we have no idea if Laura survives, where Harvath is at, or what his status is. We don’t even know what, exactly, Backlash is about—other than the fact that Scot wants revenge. Which, once again, begs the question: why does he want revenge so badly?
Bottom line: Thor has set things up perfectly, and there’s a real chance his next novel could be his best yet . . . but the only way to actually find out what’s going down, and who lives, is to pick up Backlash (pre-order your copy here) the second it comes out this summer.
Praised as “one of today’s finest book reviewers” by New York Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds, Ryan Steck (“The Godfather of the thriller genre” — Ben Coes) has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor and pens a monthly thriller column for CrimeReads. For more information, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He currently lives in Southwest Michigan with his wife and their six children.