That’s one of the hardest parts of leaving the close-knit world of special operations; finding purpose. I was fortunate in that I knew exactly what I wanted to do next—I wanted to write. Taking care of my family gives me purpose and writing thrillers is a calling in the same way that serving in the military was a calling. I feel extremely fortunate. My favorite difference in book one from the show, the ending. Book is WAY better. Curious how the second two will compare. A horrible beeping sound grew louder and louder, jolting Reece awake. He sat up, drenched in sweat, blinking his eyes and looking at the unfamiliar surroundings. It took him a few moments to get his bearings. He swung his feet to the floor and ran the fingers of both hands through his hair. It won’t be long, girls. I’ll be with you soon. Maybe today. Incredible country up there, but it’s not really known for its rugby. Where were you from before that? I’ve never read anything an author didn’t edit out “redacted”. For me, this is gold. Given my clearance and experience appreciate the gap of information.

Well, we might as well do this right, then. Finish that beer, he said, pulling out a bottle of whiskey with a label Reece was unfamiliar with and pouring them both a couple of fingers. Even though I liked book one better enjoyed it more with the blend of seeing the screen part first. Plus, knowing the author thoughts on creating the stories shared at the end of the book in his words on audio. What’s past is prologue. Written by William Shakespeare in The Tempest, it is also inscribed on a monument outside of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. I want to thank David Brown and Simon & Schuster press for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Living a purposeful life, like those at the tip of the spear, you depended not only on yourself but on a team. Who is your team now?That’s just what they call themselves. They have nothing to do with the war. Mugabe and his people keep up the revolutionary rhetoric, so no one notices they’re stealing the country blind. They’re a gang of thieves, plain and simple. Extortionists." With nothing more to lose, Reece set out for revenge. After compiling a lengthy list of everyone and anyone who had a hand in the death of his family and his team, the highly trained, highly lethal commando went to work—crossing off every name on his list in the process. His closest friend had recently come through when Reece needed him most, aiding Reece’s escape from New York and inserting him on his over-the-beach mission onto Fishers Island to kill the last conspirators on his list. Raife Hastings hadn’t hesitated when Reece requested assistance, risking everything for his former teammate without asking for anything in return. In 1876, professor Edward Cope takes a group of students to the unforgiving American West to hunt for dinosaur fossils, and they make a tremendous discovery. Finally, in this “badass, high velocity round of reading” (Marc Cameron, New York Times bestselling author), Savage Son follows Reece as he recovers in the Montana wilderness, unaware that the Russian mafia has him in their crosshairs.

The omissions makes the story more believable. It did or could have really happened. Considering how crazy the action is in the first book and show I’m now wondering … could someone in the military actually pull off each one of those tactically wildly sometimes unbelievable missions? For me, listening to this adds to the literary action. Adding a faster audio speed vibes intensity. Feels like I’m reading at a sprint through the bullets and explosions. Stephen King books have similar impact ramped up.

Beware a very very detailed look at all the players involved, their history, their connection to Reece - from bad guys to past allies and how it all ties together - CIA betrayals, government disruptions, economic manulputions - so one greedy power hungry man can bring to fruition a decades in the making takeover. Borrowing what audio are available from the library. Using audible tokens for the others. Ray Porter does a wonderful job adjusting his voice for various characters. Adding to the action. If you’re a life long civilian could imagine these bits of missing pieces. Absence adds excitement of speculation. I get it. As he states in the preface, he writes in part to deal with his own demons - but where were his editors? So much of the irritating stuff is unnecessary to the story and should have been caught by anyone reading for style and content.

Now a reluctant tool of the United States government, Reece must travel the globe, targeting terrorist leaders and unravelling a geopolitical conspiracy that will have worldwide repercussions . This is where the story really takes off.

Table of Contents

It’s been quoted that there are “only two basic stories in the entire world: the hero’s journey, and a stranger walks into town.” What drew you to the hero’ s journey? Now a reluctant tool of the United States government, Reece travels the globe, targeting terrorist leaders, unraveling a geopolitical conspiracy that exposes a traitorous CIA officer, and uncovering a sinister assassination plot with worldwide repercussions. Guessing, redacted zones give the creative visual team for Prime a wide breath of interpretive options. The Terminal List ended with James Reece on a voyage after having exacted his vengeance on those who had killed his family and his team. True Believer starts off with James Reece still at sea, unaware of the miracle that his tumor, as a result of illegal experiments done on him and his team, is in fact operable. While the beginning of the book is a slow burn, it is in keeping with Reece coming to terms with his death by the tumor, not knowing that it is operable. The sea voyage takes him to the wilderness of Mozambique, Africa, where he reunites with an old acquaintance who offers Reece shelter. Reece finds a new purpose in fending off illegal poachers on the Niassa Game Reserve. It is crystal clear from the descriptive writing of Mr. Carr that he spent considerable amount of time researching the fundamentals of how the game reserve works and the intricacies that come along with it. It is a calming experience being inside Reece’s head as he slowly but gradually finds a reason to hold onto life after his violent tragedy of losing his family. Mr. Carr writes this aspect beautifully, invoking strong emotions within readers as they read through the book.