Strike Swiftly

Rating:
Summary: Midwest Book Review - chilling sequel to Strike Hard
Review: Kevin Grover surpassed himself with this sequel to Strike Hard. He's learned a thing or two since writing his first book, and has put it all to good use in Strike Swiftly.

Hans Reinhardt and his Hitler Youth sidekick Heinrich are still very much in evidence. Hans is in his 80s, but no doddering old man by any stretch of the imagination. He is "soft spoken with full bodied white hair, still well-muscled despite advanced age, with bright blue eyes that stalk their way from under white eyebrows". Despite that kindly description of the evil genius, Hans, his plan in this book is sinister and horrifying. He's plotted his revenge on Tony Wilson for several years and everything is firmly underway as this book begins. Age and an obsessive hatred of our hero has warped Hans' mind to a frightening degree. Neither his loyalty to the Nazi party nor his friendships of a lifetime mean much anymore compared to his drive to punish Tony Wilson. This time nothing is left to chance. Tony's demise is planned around detonating an SS-20 Ballistic Missile Warhead packing a 50 megaton whallop.

Tony is now an F.B.I. agent, but tragedy has given him a harder edge this time around. The calm and methodical Tony of Strike Hard has turned reckless, with a coldly cynical streak he didn't have before. Tony doesn't much give a damn if he lives or dies, long before Hans resurfaces. His old friend, Nathan Hooks, joins the fray once again as Tony battles wits with Hans in a hair raising countdown to nuclear calamity. His cat and mouse game with Hans holds special meaning, because the personal stakes involved are broader reaching. This time, if Hans has his way, Tony will die along with everyone he loves and tens of thousands more.

Just like with his first book, Kevin Grover did his research, producing fascinating tidbits gleaned directly from the Los Alamos National Laboratory staff. And the author threw in a couple unexpected twists that caught me totally off guard.

Strike Swiftly is well written. The tension builds to a thought provoking climax, and the ending gave me chills. Mr. Grover has me eagerly anticipating a third book in this series!

Rating:
Summary: Simmers, should have boiled
Review: Not having read the first installment in Mr. Grover's series, I found the going a bit rough in the beginning, not knowing much about the characters. I'm also not a big fan of the "techno-thriller," but found this one to be fairly easy to follow. Sadly, where it falls apart is where it shouldn't, namely the big climax. Disarming a nuclear warhead in a page-and-a-half without the hero breaking a sweat? I don't think so. There are also a couple of plot twists alluded to early on, but never delivered. Not bad overall, but maybe the next one will be better.

Rating:
Summary: Kevin Grover produces another winner...
Review: Strike Swiftly, Grover's second novel, catches you from the first page and doesn't let you go! I recommend this fast read for anyone who loves a good thriller. Expect page after page of surprises. Just when you think you have it figured out Grover throws you another curve. Don't forget to pick up the first book Strike Hard for Tony and Nathan's first adventure! You will be glad you did.