The Target will be made available for download on Kindle and other eReaders (including iTunes, etc.) on November 8, 2016, and will follow Israeli operatives Aaron and Shoshana, both of whom are supporting characters and fan favorites from Taylor’s long-running Pike Logan franchise. 

Speaking of Pike Logan, Taylor’s next novel, Ring of Fire, is scheduled to hit bookstores on January 10th, making it the first must-read book of 2017!

Both The Target and Ring of Fire are available for pre-order wherever books are sold. Taylor is one of the best authors in the genre today. If you’re not reading his stuff already, now in the perfect time to start! 

From the publisher: 

“Retired Delta Force officer Brad Taylor’s thrilling new short story takes us back to before the Taskforce was created, revealing the origins of Israeli agents Aaron and Shoshana as they are tasked with eliminating a former Nazi officer hiding in plain sight.
 
Includes an exclusive preview of Brad Taylor’s eleventh Pike Logan thriller, Ring of Fire, coming December 27, 2016.
 
1998. A year after a disastrous mission in Amman, Jordan, Israeli operative Aaron Bergman and his Samson team feel more like outcasts than ever. Fearful that his team is about to be disbanded, Aaron is thrown another curve: a cast-off operative named Shoshana, who nobody in the Mossad trusts, and who all feel is a traitor. When the new commander of the Mossad summons them immediately after being sworn in, Aaron’s fears are confirmed. The team is cut free from the Mossad but not from serving their new leader.
 
Unsanctioned by the Israeli government, their mission is to assassinate a Nazi murderer from Auschwitz: a man who stood guard on the wall of death and has since escaped to Argentina, and who is running a lucrative business with his sons. When Aaron and Shoshana accept the mission, it sets them on a collision course with an active operation involving a reborn Nazi web intertwined with Iran, forcing the pair to trust each other as the evil they were tasked with destroying sets its sights on one last strike against Israel no one sees coming.”

Click here to pre-order The Target today! 

The post Brad Taylor’s All-New​ Short Story, ‘The Target,’ Set To Hit eReaders On November 8th (With Plot Details) first appeared on The Real Book Spy.

They can also serve as the perfect appetizer story to a full-course novel, a tactic many of today’s most famous authors use to keep their readers’ hunger in check. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of twenty short stories (broken down into two separate articles) that I personally recommend thriller fans check out.

Start with these ten awesome mini-reads, and check back for the second part of the list in July!

1.) The Athens Solution – Brad Thor

The Athens Solution is Brad Thor’s first ever short story and was originally part of the International Thriller Writers anthology, titled Thriller. Thor released an updated version of the short story on Kindle back in December of last year, which also includes an exclusive afterword.

So why does The Athens Solution come in at #1 on our list? Simply put, nobody packs as much action into fifty pages as Brad Thor!

When a new type of super-weapon falls into the wrong hands, the U.S. Ambassador to Greece is tasked with recovering it. Things take a shadowy turn, making The Athens Solution heavy on conspiracy–which is why Scot Harvath is brought into the fold. As a traitor emerges, Harvath takes him on in pulse-pounding, high-octane fashion.

Soon, bullets are flying and pages are turning as readers race to see how this story comes to a close. Trust me, it’s well worth the $0.99 price tag, and then some.

Click here to purchase!

2.) White Death – Ted Bell

I’ve been saying for a long time that Ted Bell (along with Daniel Silva) is one of the best pure writers penning thrillers today. Bell’s Alex Hawke series is as good as any, and a must-read for fans of political thrillers.

The majority of Bell’s novels are a little on the long side (hey, I’m not complaining, I’ll take all that I can get!) and feature his mesmerizing writing style intertwined with action. A true wordsmith, Bell writes with a unique cadence to his  dialogue and sentence structure. For this reason, it’s easy to read his books slowly, savoring each and every page.

While Bell’s novels are a savory treat, his short stories pack a quick knockout punch that will thrill readers and leave them begging for more. This is especially true with White Death, Bell’s second novella about a conspiracy involving a Swiss banker who is found dead high up in the Alps.

When concerns rise over the banker’s connection to the British royal family, the Chief of British Intelligence calls on MI6 officer Alex Hawke to collect the pieces and solve the puzzle. But to do that, Hawke must make the dangerous climb up a portion of the Swiss Alps that is essentially a sheet of ice, in less than favorable conditions–and that’s only the beginning.

Coming in at just over two hundred pages, Ted Bell packs a stunning amount of substance into White Death. Plus, he brings the action–and plenty of it.

Click here to purchase!

3.) Plan B – Joseph Finder

Joseph Finder is a master novelist, known primarily for penning standalone stories–which he did for years before finally settling on a series protagonist named Nick Heller. 

Heller, a private spy for hire, is a brilliantly crafted character. He’s introduced in Vanished (2009) and returned for Buried Secrets (2011). The third novel in the series, Guilty Minds, comes out this July and is one of my very favorite books of the year. 

Plan B takes place between Vanished and Buried Secrets and features an action-packed kidnapping plot that will keep readers guessing until the final page. 

On a job in Barcelona, Nick Heller is tasked with rescuing a girl who is being held inside a secure compound against her will. Plan A is to get inside, grab the girl, and then get back out without setting off the alarm or alerting any guards. Things, though, don’t go according to plan, so Heller is forced to switch to Plan B. 

I feel like I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t warn you that this story ends pretty abruptly. Just as you’re settling in, ready to spend the day following Nick around, it’s over. It will definitely leave you jonesing for more, which is okay since your fix is right around the corner with Guilty Minds. 

Click here to purchase!

4.) Gut Instinct – Brad Taylor

Gut Instinct takes place between Brad Taylor’s full-length novels All Necessary Force and Enemy of Mine, which are the second and third books in his Pike Logan series. 

In Gut Instinct, Pike Logan is recovering from injuries he previously sustained. In fact, Pike isn’t of much use, nor is he the main character here. Jennifer Cahil is, taking the lead when another Taskforce team needs a female operative for a specific mission. 

Earlier in the series, Jennifer runs into her ex-husband, Chase, who is a real piece of work. After being physically abused by him for years, Jennifer finally unleashes on Chase–delivering him a thorough beating from head to toe.  Beyond that, the story revolves around a terrorist plot and Jennifer’s “gut instinct” that Taskforce leaders are zeroing in on the wrong targets. Following her own intuition, she and Pike take matters into their own hands.

This short story is a real treat for fans of Taylor’s Pike Logan series and anyone else looking for a quick, awesome read. 

Click here to purchase!

5.) Tracker – James Rollins

Falling between The Devil Colony (2011) and Bloodline (2012), this Sigma Force short story follows Tucker Wayne and his war dog, Kane, as they attempt to help a woman in search of her father. 

Set on the streets of Budapest, Tucker and Kane find themselves mixed up in some trouble when they observe an attractive young woman, Aliza, being followed. Stepping in to save her, they discover that she’s searching for her father, who was kidnapped while searching for Jewish treasures that had been confiscated from the Nazis many years prior. 

Upon learning that the men following Aliza are actually NSZ (Hungary’s equivalent of America’s FBI), Tucker forms a plan and takes action–using Kane, a Belgian Malinois Shepherd, as his secret weapon. 

The only drawback to this short story is that it’s a tad too short and left more to be desired. In the long run, that’s fine, as Rollins has since teamed with Grant Blackwood to write two full-length Tucker Wayne (and Kane) spinoff novels: The Killswitch and War Hawk.  

Click here to purchase!

6.) Soft Targets – John Gilstrap

John Gilstrap writes one of the most underrated series in the thriller genre. His Jonathan Grave franchise is the real deal, and Gilstrap keeps getting better and better with each new book.

Soft Targets is essentially an introduction to the entire series, going back and showing a glimpse of Grave during his younger days–and how he got into the hostage and rescuing business in the first place.

When FBI Agent Irene Rivers’ (who later on in the series becomes the Director) daughters are kidnapped by a man who is both a murderer and a child molester, she becomes desperate to get them back. The problem is that Irene has sworn to follow the law at all times, and the law isn’t getting her anywhere. Therefore, she turns to a man who operates outside of the law.

Jonathan Grave works in the shadows, willing to break whatever laws necessary to help his clients. Especially this time! 

Coming in at just over a hundred pages, Soft Targets is a fun, action-packed read that provides much-needed insight into Gilstrap’s main hero.

Click here to purchase!

7.) Bullseye – David Baldacci 

With multiple hit series to his name, David Baldacci is one of the most famous–and best-selling–authors on the planet. This novella marks the first time Baldacci merged two of his franchises, mixing super assassin Will Robie with Oliver Stone from The Camel Club. 

Oliver and Robie just happen to be among those present during a bank robbery and are both taken hostage along with the rest of the innocent bystanders. It doesn’t take long, though, for both men to realize there is more than just a heist at play.

The fun starts when the duo decides to team up to stop the bad guys, mixing in old school tactics (Oliver) with younger, brute force (Robie). The two characters, with so vastly different personalities, are a real treat to read together. Their flaws come out, making Bullseye one of the few novellas or short stories that actually add depth to a leading, series-starring character–and in this case, two of them!

Note: This short story was originally written to hold off readers’ appetites leading up to the release of Baldacci’s third novel in his Will Robie series, The Hit. There’s been another full-length novel added to the franchise since then called The Guilty. Bullseye can be read out of order or by new readers of the series, as it’s a standalone story.

Click here to purchase! 

8.) Switchblade – Michael Connelly 

Written and released just before Michael Connelly’s twenty-third Harry Bosch novel, The Crossing, this short story features Connelly’s fictional LAPD detective following up an anonymous tip about a crime that’s remained unsolved for decades. 

The cold case that needs solving revolves around a teenage prostitute who was murdered in the early 1990s. When a well-informed tip comes in, Bosch has to find a way to prove it without the benefit of a body, DNA, or a crime scene to analyze. Fear not, though, because he has a few tricks up his sleeve and immediately gets busy looking for answers. 

Switchblade, released on Kindle, is only a tick over twenty pages long, but what it lacks in length, it more than makes up for with a surprising twist at the end. Connelly’s short story is a fun, easy read for anyone on the hunt for a good, quick mystery story. 

Click here to purchase!

9.) The Master Falconer – C.J. Box

C.J. Box’s most famous character, without question, is Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett. Joe, the protagonist of sixteen novels, including this year’s Off The Grid (one of my personal favorites so far in 2016), is loved by fans because he is so relatable. Your average hard-working family man just busting his hump to make ends meet, Joe Pickett is just like the rest of us. 

So while Joe is the affable, everyday red-blooded American, Box’s most mysterious (and lethal) character is Nate Romanowski–who was first introduced in the third Pickett novel, Winterkill. 

Nate is a master falconer who, before hunting with his birds, was an elite Special Forces soldier. While Joe is a lousy shot with his state-issued pistol and anything but a tough-guy, Nate is the total opposite. Packing one of the world’s most powerful handguns, which he shoots with incredible accuracy, Romanowski is the type of larger-than-life character you’d expect to see starring in this particular genre. 

This short story, which sees Nate taking on a shadowy figure who comes looking for some trouble, does a terrific job filling in some of the holes from Romanowski’s past. If you’re a fan of this series, you simply have to read this eBook special! 

Click here to purchase! 

10.) Deep Down – Lee Child

In this exhilarating short story, released as an eBook special on Kindle, Jack Reacher must find a way to expose a mole who is leaking classified information. 

Someone is whispering secrets about a new state-of-the-art, high-powered sniper rifle designed for the United States Special Forces. The government, in an effort to make sure this information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, tabs Reacher to plug the leak. 

In Washington, Reacher is tasked with meeting and having drinks with four officers, during which he is to try and expose one of them as the mole in question. This mission, which is supposed to be quick and easy, turns into anything but, as Reacher once again finds himself in a situation that is more dangerous than he originally thought possible.

Click here to purchase!

The post Twenty Short Stories That Pack a Full-Size Punch: Part 1 first appeared on The Real Book Spy.

Mark Greaney–who released Back Blast, the latest entry in his Gray Man series, this past February–has another Jack Ryan novel coming out on December 6. Titled Tom Clancy: True Faith and Allegiance, this is Greaney’s seventh time lending a hand to the late Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan universe. 

#1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins will follow up last year’s The Bone Labyrinth with The Seventh Plague. Coming out December 13th, The Seventh Plague is the twelfth novel in Rollins’ popular Sigma Force series. 

And finally, Brad Taylor, whose tenth Pike Logan novel (Ghosts of War) comes out on June 28, will also release Ring of Fire on December 27. Taylor also has a new short story, which will be released on eBook, coming out sometime this year–though we don’t have all the details quite yet.  

To check out a weekly breakdown of all this year’s scheduled releases, with links for pre-ordering, click here. 

Which of these books are you most excited to check out? Leave me a comment and let me know! 

The post Three New Thrillers Announced for December! first appeared on The Real Book Spy.

During the fourteen second clip, Taylor can be seen riding shotgun (and manning the GPS?) while working away on his laptop while traveling to his daughters volleyball tournament. Gesturing to his computer, Taylor says he is “in the car, typing the next short story, Dark Angel…” 

And there you have it, just like that Brad Taylor causally announced he is writing a Pike Logan short story titled Dark Angel! 

Now, it’s unclear whether Dark Angel will take place between Taylor’s last novel, The Forgotten Soldier, and his upcoming book, Ghosts of War, or if it will take place after both and come out later this year. I’ll update this article when more information becomes available. 

In the meantime, Ghosts of War, which comes out on June 28th, is already available for pre-order by clicking here. Purchase your copy today, and stay tuned for more info about Dark Angel! 

The post Brad Taylor Teases new Pike Logan Short Story first appeared on The Real Book Spy.

Taylor’s tenth Pike Logan thriller, titled Ghosts of War, is scheduled to come out on June 28th, 2016–so it’s a darn good thing the bestselling author just recently finished it! Check out some of the posts from Brad’s official Facebook page below. 

Taylor, who is personally one of my favorite authors, is also one of the most engaging big-name authors in the genre when it comes to fan interaction on social media. If you aren’t reading his books, you’re missing out on some of the most thrilling, action-packed and authentic novels in the game today. Change than by ordering his first book, One Rough Man, by clicking here. 

If you’re already a big fan of Brad Taylor and his Pike Logan series, then click here to pre-order Ghosts of War today! 

The post Brad Taylor has completed ‘Ghosts of War,’ due out June 28th first appeared on The Real Book Spy.

Author Vince Flynn first introduced the world to CIA operative Mitch Rapp with his 1999 novel Transfer of Power. Since then, Rapp has gone on to star in thirteen more novels, with the fifteenth (currently untitled) due out later this fall. Throughout his illustrious career, Rapp has earned the nickname “The Angel of Death” from his enemies–as Mitch will stop at nothing to protect his country and countrymen.

Once a world-class athlete, Mitch is remembered as one of the greatest lacrosse players to ever play at the collegiate level. He’s also won the world-famous Iron Man competition in Hawaii and placed several other top-five finishes to go along with it. Since his days as an athlete, Rapp has become America’s greatest defense against terrorism. He’s big, strong, hot-headed, ruthless, and the absolute last person you’d want to come face-to-face with in a dark alley.

Mitch Rapp isn’t just America’s most effect weapon against terrorism, he’s also one of the country’s greatest patriots–and he’s spilled enough blood to keep the red of our flag bright and bold for many years to come.

First book in the series: American Assassin

2.) Scot Harvath

Ever since his first novel, The Lions of Lucerne, Brad Thor has churned out Scot Harvath novels at a blistering pace. Harvath, an ex-SEAL who joined the Secret Service before heading up a top secret program designed to take the fight against terrorists straight to their doorstep, is now working with for a private black-ops firm called the Carlton Group.

During his career, Harvath has saved countless lives and doled out some serious punishment to numerous bad guys around the globe. He’s also prevented world wars and stopped several nuclear and EMP attacks aimed at America. Even African Hemorrhagic Fever is no match for Scot, who managed to torpedo a sinister plot from radical progressives who believed the world’s population must be dramatically reduced.

Bottom line: Harvath isn’t just a super agent, he’s freaking Superman!

First novel in the series: The Lions of Lucerne 

3.) Gabriel Allon

Gabriel Allon, the legendary wayward son of Israeli intelligence, is a master of two crafts–restoring famous paintings and killing people. As one of the world’s most prestigious art restorers, Gabriel has touched up some of the most famous paintings the world has ever known. As a spy, he’s protected Israel at all costs, and it has cost him plenty.

While not big in stature, Gabriel relies on his intellect and foresight to outsmart opponents and enemies alike. He’s protected millions throughout his career and lost some of his closest loved ones in the process. His story is sad, action-packed, and compelling beyond words. Silva has written one of the best series the genre has ever seen. 

No matter how many famous paintings are restored, the greatest masterpiece of all will belong to Daniel Silva–for creating the beloved Gabriel Allon. 

First book of the series: The Kill Artist 

4.) Alex Hawke

Oh, to be a handsome billionaire known for your wit and charm… hey, a guy can dream right? Babes, cars, incredible mansions, and a knack for war–Alex Hawke is the most Bond-like character since Ian Fleming first introduced the world to 007. In fact, some could argue (and I will!) that Hawke is a far better character than Bond for a number of reasons. 

Lord Alex has a tragic but fascinating past. He’s descended from pirates, which readers of Ted Bell’s series know all about. No spoilers here, but if you’re not reading Bell’s Hawke series, you’re missing out in a big way. 

Bell’s novels are over-the-top fun, with a side dish of mystery and nonstop action for dessert! Hawke is truly fantastic and showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

First book in the series: Hawke 

5.) Pike Logan

Nephilim “Pike” Logan (yes, Pike is a far better name than Nephilim) is one of the baddest dudes in the genre today. I can’t help but picture Brad Taylor, Pike’s creator, when I read the Logan series. Taylor, the former Delta Force operator, brings knowledge and experience that few others can provide–and his writing skills and storytelling ability are outstanding. 

Pike is a member of the Taskforce, a blacker-than-black-ops unit that answers to a small group of people headlined by the president. They operate outside of the law, doing whatever it takes to keep America safe. Pike is ruthless and capable of stunning violence when he deems it necessary to national security–but that’s just one side to him. He also has a great sense of humor and many other good qualities, loyalty being one of them. 

Taylor is the only author in this genre that consistently releases two books a year. Incredibly, he seems to be getting better with each book–which should scare his competition. If you’re not reading the Pike Logan books, then you’re missing out on the best pure military thriller series currently in print. 

First book in the series: One Rough Man

6.) Dewey Andreas 

I’ll be honest and admit that when I first heard of Dewey Andreas, “Dewey” didn’t seem like a tough-guy name. But don’t let the name fool you, Andreas is a former Delta Force operator who is highly skilled in the art of killing bad guys–which he does a lot.

Ben Coes’ first novel (Power Down) came out in 2010 and was instantly one of the best books in the genre that year, a trend that’s continued each year with each new novel. Coes is a superb writer and crafts his stories so the plot builds with excitement and suspense, leading to action-packed endings that will most certainly get your blood pumping. 

First Strike, the sixth novel to star Dewey Andreas, comes out on June 28th and might be Coes’ best novel yet. Say it with me, In Dewey we trust!

First book in the series: Power Down

7.) Will Robie

When the Unites States government needs someone killed, they call Will Robie. He’s the best there is, and he has the resumé to prove it.

Robie is known for following orders without question and never missing a target. That is, of course, until he begins to question things in David Baldacci’s The Innocent. In doing so, Robie put a target on himself and was forced to slip away into the shadows. Eventually, he returns to his old violent ways, but only when he’s forced to. 

Far too many men learned the hard way that the absolute last place you want to put one of the baddest dudes on the planet is with his back up against a wall and a weapon in his hand. Robie is a compelling protagonist and a ton of fun to follow and root for. This is Baldacci’s best series by far, and maybe the best character he’s ever created. 

First book in the series: The Innocent

8.) John Wells

Bestselling author Alex Berenson has created a hero like no other in John Wells, his series protagonist who has starred in ten novels to date. What makes Wells unique from the other characters in this genre, other than his wise-cracking responses and sarcastic tendencies, is that he’s a devout and practicing member of Islam. 

Wells was first intrigued by the religion when he was working for the CIA and went underground to infiltrate al Qaeda. However, he believes in peace, rather than killing and waging war against infidels. For that reason, he’s still willing to help stop the terror group and anyone else that poses a threat to national security. 

Not only is Wells one of the baddest dudes in the genre, but Berenson oozes talent and has been remarkably consistent in churning out high-octane thrillers. If you haven’t tried this series yet, start at the beginning with The Faithful Spy–which is one of the best spy novels written in the last fifteen years.

First book in the series: The Faithful Spy

9.) Jack Reacher

Jack Reacher is a former Major in the United States Army Military Police Corps, turned mysterious drifter. Reacher, who at 6’5″ is an intimidating presence, is a man who owns nothing and has no place to call home. He has no luggage, no vehicle to drive himself around it, and no cell phone. But don’t feel bad for Reacher, this is exactly how he wants it. 

Reacher is impossible to locate, as he travels mostly by bus from various locations. Often times he arrives in a town, spends a fee nights, then makes his way to the next stop on his never-ending journey. While he often chooses his destinations at random, he has a knack for finding trouble. Reacher, you see, hates bad guys–and not just big-time criminals, but even the petty thugs and purse-snatchers. When he see’s injustice, he deals with it–usually in brutal, devastating fashion. 

Reacher is also a brilliant detective and has an eye for seeing things that others routinely miss. Over the course of twenty novels, most of them best-sellers, author Lee Child has earned a loyal following. His next Reacher novel, Night School, comes out on November 8, 2016. 

First book in the series: Killing Floor

10.) Victor the Assassin

Victor the Assassin is a chillingly brilliant creation by author Tom Wood. Victor has no past, no record of anything, and no last name to go by. He’s a contract killer working for whoever can afford him, and he’s a master of his craft. He’s also skilled in the arts of deception and blending in–changing his appearance when necessary–and is versatile with a variety of weapons. 

If someone takes out a hit on you and they hire Victor to complete the job, well, it’s been nice knowing you. 

Victor is mysterious, and the truest killer on the list–meaning he doesn’t care about the target, law enforcement, innocent lives, nothing… He’s a total anti-hero, which can make it hard to root for him. That’s where Wood’s skilled writing comes into play, sucking the reader in until they can’t help but follow Victor around as he does what he does best. 

First book in the series: The Hunter 

Honorable Mentions: 

Cotton Malone (by Steve Berry), Court Gentry (by Mark Greaney), Kolt Raynor (by Dalton Fury), John Corey (by Nelson DeMille), Scott Coleman (by Vince Flynn), Mason Kane (by Joshua Hood), Logan West (by Matthew Betley), Sam Capra (by Jeff Abbott), Jericho Quinn (by Marc Cameron), Jonathan Grave (by John Gilstrap) and Gil Shannon (by Scott McEwen). 

The post The Ten Baddest Dudes in the Spy Genre Right Now! first appeared on The Real Book Spy.