summer 2024 Book List

These books are all turning up the heat this summer.

Tom Clancy

By Andrews & Wilson

Act of Defiance (May 21, 2024)

In a bold move that I absolutely respect them for, the duo of Brian Andrews and Jeff Wilson chose to craft a sequel to the beloved Hunt for Red October for their first Clancy offering, and I tell you what… they nailed it.

This is not just a sequel. It’s a throwback to the glory days of Tom Clancy in his prime. Not that the other authors haven’t captured the essence of the series, but Andrews & Wilson did it like Clancy was sitting right beside them reviewing every word. Like they had secret notes from Clancy himself on how to craft the sequel to the book that launched him to fame. And they did it while juggling their existing series of Tier One, The Shepherds Series, and releasing The Sandbox, Four Minutes, and cuing up more new releases for 2024 and beyond.

If you pictured a sequel to Clancy’s first book that made him the legendary figure in the fiction world that he is today, you will picture this book. It’s classic. It’s memorable. It drops hints of Red October left and right that made me feel nostalgia unlike any book has done in a long time. It took me back to my younger years of reading Clancy’s books and learning how a nuclear bomb works, how to think analytically, and how strategy is such an important and central aspect of warfare, global politics, and so much more. All in under 600 pages.

 The stakes are higher in this one, and for good reason. The world has changed in the 40 years since Red October, from politics to technology. Andrews & Wilson weave both into the storyline beautifully while giving you no choice but to smile and gasp at the turn of every page.

I have to say this is one of, if not the best, offering in the Clancy series since Clancy’s unfortunate passing years ago. And Andrews & Wilson are contracted for two more books. If the second and third are anything like Act of Defiance, not only will they be call-backs to the legendary books that started the military-thriller, techno-thriller revolution, but they will be mandatory reads for thriller fans as well.

Michael Crichton

With James Patterson

Eruption (June 3, 2024)

The master of techno-thrillers joins forces with the master of modern thrillers to create the thriller of the year.

Crichton, one of my all-time favorite authors, passed in 2008 and had been pursuing this book as a passion project. Knowing how special it was, his wife Sherri held on to his notes and the partial manuscript until she found the right author to complete it.

Enter, James Patterson, one of the world’s most popular storytellers tasked with taking the partial manuscript, Crichton’s notes, and his own appeal and completing it.

What we get is a story about a history-making volcanic eruption that is about to destroy the Big Island of Hawaii, but a secret held for decades by the military is more terrifying than the volcano itself.

 Get ready for June 3^rd, 2024. Things are going to be explosive!

Ryan Steck

Out For Blood (June 4, 2024)

Matthew Redd is back in this third installment from Ryan Steck, who many of you know as The Real Book Spy. I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy of this book way back in December and read it over Christmas break. It’s incredible.

The FBI is performing a high-value prisoner transport when the plane comes under attack and Gavin Kline, the executive assistant director of the FBI’s Intelligence Directorate and his team are hit. Kline survives but turns his attention towards the one man responsible for capturing their high-value prisoner and foiling their plans: Matthew Redd.

When Redd learns he’s in the crosshairs, he sends his family into hiding and he heads to the mountains. Outnumbered, he forces the hit squad after him to fight on his home turf, while also fighting off a snowstorm, questionable allies, and odds that keep stacking up against him.

Steck ups the action, suspense, and the grit on this one. Redd is up against foes this time that put his back against the wall, and the world-building Steck crafts in this one is masterful. From Oklahoma City to the snowy hills of Montana, Redd treks through and does what he does best—bring the action.

I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see what he does next with Matty Red, and of course the Ted Bell books he’s signed on to do as well!

Zac Topping

Rogue Sequence (June 11, 2024)

Have I mentioned that I get advanced copies all the time? This is another one of them (Sorry to rub it in).

Zac Topping jumps into the future to give us a thriller like it’s an updated Demolition Man combined with Robocop (and I say that with high praise!). A genetically modified soldier is on the loose, wreaking havoc with a devastating plan to deliver some much-needed payback in his eyes, and the only one who can stop him is another genetically modified soldier currently jailed for being simply that—a genetically modified soldier trained to kill and deliver violence.

Topping cranks up the intrigue and action in this one which should make it a must-read for action and sci-fi fans. Order below!

Jack Carr

Red Sky Mourning (June 18, 2024)

Is this the last James Reece novel? It’s something Carr has teased during promos of Red Sky Mourning. It’s hard to believe this is Carr’s seventh novel, and we are about to get the second season of The Terminal List, as well as a spinoff called Dark Wolf.

Three seemingly disconnected events are on a collision course to ignite a power grab unlike anything the world has ever seen, and now Reece is right in the middle of it all. The only solution is a quantum computer named Alice that has gone dark and unresponsive, retreating to the deepest levels of the internet, and taking on information faster than ever believed possible.

Mark Greaney

Sentinel (June 25, 2024)

In Sentinel, Mark Greaney goes for round two with Joshua Duffy, throwing him right in the middle of an African coup, forcing Duffy to choose between his mission and his family. Greaney really found an interesting new gig when he crafted Joshua Duffy, and now we expect him to deliver two books a year. For a guy like Mark Greaney, who is an absolute master at what he does, and a guy who really dives into his research and time behind the keyboard, it’s hard to believe he can crank out two books a year. Mark is just that deep into the words on every single page.

Bottom line–Josh Duffy is back.

Andrews & Wilson

Ember (July 2, 2024)

Am I ready for more Tier One? The answer is yes (always).

In Andrews & Wilson’s third book in seven months, we find John Dempsey back in action. And right before America’s birthday.

The world is in chaos and Russia is on the verge of a collapse or civil war. Dempsey is home in Florida with his Ember teammates recovering from his mission and previous incarceration in Russia. On the outside he’s the same old Dempsey, but on the inside he’s changed.

As India-Pakistan relations take a turn for the worse, Ember is called into action and Dempsey comes face to face with someone he believed to be long dead…

Brad Thor

Shadow of Doubt (July 23, 2024)

Nobody crafts a thriller like Thor does. And his 24th novel is expected to deliver big time. 

This is Scot Harvath number 23, and Thor’s 24th full-length story.

From the synopsis on Amazon:

A shadowy Russian defector. A beautiful Norwegian intelligence officer. A deadly American spy. An ingenious plot to collapse the United States has been uncovered. But can the highly suspect intelligence be trusted? In the fog of war, when friends can appear as enemies and enemies as friends, only one thing is certain—when in doubt, there is NO doubt.

Bring it on! Make sure you sign up for Brad’s newsletter and watch his social media accounts. He does monthly giveaways for his past books and I’m sure will do something special leading up to his big summer release.

Joshua Hood

Burn Out (Aug 13, 2024)

The “master of action” is back in Burn Out, his latest action-packed thriller.

I’m a big fan of Hood, and I hope to get him on the podcast this year. If you haven’t read one of his books, go now and order Burn Out ASAP.

Jake Slade always wanted to become a US Forest Service elite smokejumper, and after completing the grueling 6-week course, he thinks he’s ready for anything. But an old friend turned CI is wanted and a DEA Special Agent is determined to hunt him down. Slade is offered a chance to lay demons of his past to rest once and for all, but at what cost?

Joshua Hood is a mandatory pre-order every year. Stop reading and click below to order.

Gregg Podolski

The Recruiter (July 23, 2024)

Here I go again rubbing it in. I got this one from Gregg and his team at the turn of the year with a request to see if I’d have Greg on the Course of Action Podcast (Of course I said yes!). Yes, there are perks to having a podcast centered around books, veterans, and businesses. I get some cool swag and gifts. To say I’m eternally thankful would be an understatement, especially when you get handed seriously good books like this one!

 In his debut, Greg Podolski gives us a comical, action-packed novel that packs Deadpool-style sarcasm and jokes, with John Wick action and strategy in main character Rick Carter who is just trying to do his job and protect his family. However, his talents find himself at a crossroads when one of the targets he’s asked to recruit a hitman for turns out to be the hated soon-to-be stepfather of his kids who has a deep global secret to hide. From there, the drama cranks up and Carter must navigate behind the scenes of the underworld he’s caught up in to save his family from the organization that hired him while uncovering the truth.

Robert Swartwood

Enemy of the State (Aug 20, 2024)

Last year’s The Killing Room by Swartwood was one of my favorite books. I was honored to get to read it ahead of time thanks to Robert and his PR team, and I was honored again to check out Enemy of the State this spring as well before the August release.

Enemy of the State is the much-anticipated follow-up landing this August. The world believed Daniel Burke was dead. Select members of the government that knew about his existence believed it as well. Burke faked his death to avenge his brother, and now he’s fleeing the country to start a new life after justice has been served.

That is, until his old team tracks him down. Now the CIA believes he’s a traitor, and the government wants him dead.

Tom Clancy

By M.P. Woodward

Shadow State (Aug 20, 2024)

I was wondering who would take over the Ryan Jr. series when I heard Don Bentley was done with his Jr. books.

Enter, M.P. Woodward, author of The Handler, and Dead Drop, two great spy thrillers. Woodward is an excellent surprise to take over the Jack Ryan Jr. series and I’m excited to see what he does with Shadow State.

In this one Ryan Jr. finds himself cut off from his comrades just when he needs them most, and smack dab in the middle of an international conspiracy, maybe even too much for him to handle.

Sounds like Woodward is putting Jack Jr. up against a wall, with a flare of dark-corner espionage at the core.