Consipiracy of Silence

GIVEAWAY

KENDIG, RONIE
CONSIPIRACY OF SILENCE

This is the way the world ends.

Four years after a tragic mission decimated his team, Cole "Tox" Russell has been disavowed by the United States. And that's fine -- he just wants to be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed. Tox is lured back into action.

Tox and his former Special Forces team regroup to work with FBI deception expert, Kasey Cortes, and fiery archaeologist, Tzivia Khalon, to search the globe for answers -- and a cure. As the mission leads them from one continent to another, it becomes clear they're not just fighting a plague but battling an ancient secret society whose true goals remain hidden.

With time running out and the threat of a global pandemic rising. Tox and his team realize their sole chance might be to reach back through centuries of silence to find the only answer that can save them all.

My Review:

Wow. Intense. Action-packed. Complex. This is a blockbuster thriller that could easily play out on the big screen. Has a Bourne Identity/Indiana Jones/ NCIS kind of vibe. Mind you, I always close my eyes in the fight scenes when I view a show but you can't do that when you're reading them so be prepared for some armchair cringing and wincing when those action-filled scenarios crop up...which is about every couple of pages. LOL  Compelling reading but my whole body is sore in sympathy with Tox and his crew.

This is the first book in a series -- The Tox Files -- and a free ebook novella (The Warrior's Seal) provides the backstory to Conspiracy of Silence, I didn't read the novella and had no trouble diving into this first book, but it's so complex, I think it might be a good idea to read the novella before cracking this one open.

Rife with intrigue, political corruption and secrets too many to mention Tox is reluctantly pushed into the center of it all. The story is told mainly from his point of view and all the more raw and gritty because of it.  Kendig writes a believable military scenario and the dynamics between the team -- the banter, support and wisecracks -- provide a bit of relief from the never-ending heart-in-throat action scenes. And I love the diversity of the team as well. Am eager to read their stories in future books.

The intricacies of a plot centered around biblical history and archeology makes for a fascinating twist to the typical suspense plot. And, while that suspense definitely takes center-stage, there is a thread of romance running through this tale as well.  And since Tox is involved, it's just as complicated as their mission. A mesmerizing read from start to finish. Eagerly waiting for book two. Crown of Souls which releases later this year.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Conspiracy of Silence leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post your comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday January 22 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Nightshade

KENDIG, RONIE
NIGHTSHADE

Soldiers all across the globe are returning home to their families after brutal tours of duty. They are discharged from the service. . .and on their own. Meet Max Jacobs, one of these discarded heroes, as he faces a wall of failure—in his career, his friendships, and his marriage. Failing again—this time to end his life—he is offered a thread of hope. Are covert government operations the answer for him, or will they only bring more danger and dissension upon his broken family?

My Review:

First published in 2010, Nightshade began the popular Discarded Heroes series and, yes, I'm just getting around to reading it now. So many books so little time!

Nightshade is the tough and uncompromising story of a man who has lost everything that has meaning for him. That loss of purpose leaves him adrift while fueling a destructive anger he can't always control. It isn't a pretty story, but it is a real one. Kudos to Kendig for baring true to life experiences that are all too common for many of our returning heroes.

But this is a work of fiction after all, and Max is recruited to serve in a covert group made up of like-minded men. Global missions, brutal combat scenes and a tense plot kept me cringing. Nightshade missions are not for the faint of heart. I found it to be a pretty intense read from beginning to end leaving me in a quandary. I couldn't put it down, but I wanted to read a lot of it with my eyes closed. LOL.

 There is a secondary romantic thread -- not enough for me to identify this book as a romantic suspense though, It too is as gritty and raw as the relentless danger dogging their heels. In the midst of all the strife, Kendig weaves an incredible redemptive thread. Such a contrast to the circumstances surrounding Max. A difficult message for him to grasp which made it even more touching.  All in all, a pretty compelling read, though it was a bit too graphic for my personal taste.