Eagles of the Empire

 Under the Eagle

Eagles of the Empire #1

by

Simon Scarrow

AD 42, Germany. Tough, brutal and unforgiving. That's how new recruit Cato is finding life in the Roman Second Legion. He may have contacts in high places, but he could really use a friend amongst his fellow soldiers right now.

Cato has been promoted above his comrades at the order of the Emperor and is deeply resented by the other men. But he quickly earns the respect of his Centurion, Macro, a battle-hardened veteran as rough and ready as Cato is quick-witted and well-educated. They are poles apart, but soon realise they have a lot to learn from one another.

On a campaign to Britannia - a land of utter barbarity - an enduring friendship begins. But as they undertake a special mission to thwart a conspiracy against the Emperor they rapidly find themselves in a desperate fight to survive...

Where it all begins: Cato, newly freed from slavery, is thrust into the ranks of the Roman legions. Macro, a battle‑hardened veteran just promoted to centurion, takes the young recruit under his wing. Together they serve in the 2nd Legion under Vespasian.

Cato is only sixteen, barely a man, yet old enough to stand in the Roman shield wall. Macro must shape him into a soldier before they sail for Britain, following in the path Julius Caesar carved almost a century earlier.

From the moment they land, the pace never lets up. The story drives relentlessly toward a brutal climax, with the 2nd Legion forced to fight outnumbered against a fierce enemy defending its homeland.

I first read this book years ago and decided it was time to return to it. Scarrow remains one of the masters of historical military fiction, pulling the reader so deeply into the chaos of battle that you feel the clash of shields, smell the blood in the air, and hear the screams of the dying.

It’s superbly written and impossible to put down.

I’m very glad I revisited it. 5/5

Herne the Hunter #1

White Death

by

John J. McLaglen 

The sun was getting well up, and its warmth was melting the snow fast. Its rays broke through the open doorway, striking across towards Louise, and as she moved through them, Jed saw her face properly for the first time.

It took all his self-discipline to stop himself jumping up and grabbing her. There was a great bruise under her right eye, and her nose had been bleeding. A thread of black blood crept drily from the corner of her mouth, down across her chin, on her neck. And there were deep scratches around her throat.

He realized that Yates had also seen it at the same moment, hearing the strangled gasp, and feeling the man’s body tense in the chair beside him, ready to leap up. Herne reached across and seized his arm, squeezing it with all his strength …

What was done to Herne’s wife—and to his neighbors—defied all decency. Now the two men were united in their thirst for vengeance, and nothing would stand in their way. Herne pursued his retribution with a cold, deliberate precision, while his neighbor Yates slipped into outright cruelty, leaving a trail that might as well have been marked in blood. Revenge is supposed to be served cold, but was it meant to be this brutal?

This is classic Piccadilly Cowboy territory: raw, relentless, and unapologetically violent. All the hallmarks that defined the genre are here. I read only a handful of these years ago, so I’m finally committing to the full ride—from book one straight through to the finale.

It’s gripping and well-crafted, but if excessive violence isn’t your thing, this series won’t win you over.

John J. McLaglen is the pseudonym for the writing team of Laurence James and John Harvey.

Piccadilly Publishing Edition.

Lee Floren

 Gunslammer

by

Lee Floren

The Cottonwood Stage carrying Len Drummond was ambushed by vicious killers who ended up shooting the wrong man. They had a name but no description, and instead of Drummond, a whiskey‑soaked salesman took the bullets. Now the question is: who ordered the killing, and why did they want Drummond dead?

The trail leads back to his uncle, Web. Once an outlaw and now on the right side of the law, Web has enemies who covet his ranch. And the one behind the gunmen is a different breed entirely.

Was it Elaine Jordan, the hard‑driving boss of the C‑Bar? Her brutal foreman, Jib Weldon? Or Tod Lambert, whose pretty sister Julia happened to be riding that same stage?

Whoever set the trap, Drummond intended to learn the truth and find out why he had suddenly become the target of blazing gunfire.

Lee Floren delivers another hard-edged Western that pits grit against malice. Drummond stands out as a relentless, no‑nonsense hero, while Weldon embodies the icy brutality of a born killer. The story brings together all the classic frontier figures—the innocent woman who stirs the heart, the weather‑scarred sheriff who’s seen too much, and a landscape thick with tension, treachery, and shifting loyalties.

The pace never lets up and, true to Floren’s style, you find yourself locked in, turning pages to see how the dust finally settles.

I'd give it 4/5.

 

The First Mountain Man

 Preacher's Hell

by 

William W. Johnstone

&

J.A. Johnstone

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. For Preacher, that road begins at a remote trading post in the Bitterroot Mountains. At first, it’s a friendly reunion with his old buddies Audie and Nighthawk. But then, a young Indian woman and her grandfather are attacked by a vicious gang of thieves—and all hell breaks loose. When the smoke clears, the gang’s leader, who goes by the name Mack Ozark, .has escaped, the grandfather is dead, and the woman is mortally wounded. Before she dies, she begs Preacher to look after a bundle she is carrying. Inside, wrapped in a blanket, are two blond-haired, blue-eyed babies. They’re clearly twins—and clearly not hers . . .

Who do the babies belong to? And what is a man like Preacher supposed to do with them? The only clue is a pair of gemstone necklaces around the babies’ necks. Preacher’s friend Audie recognizes the stones as star garnets from a nearby valley, where they head off to find the twins’ mother. Along the way, they realize they’re being followed by Mack Ozark.. He knows the babies’ father stole a fortune in jewels. He knows the babies’ blanket contains a map to the hidden gems. But he doesn’t know just how far a man like Preacher will go to protect those little angels—and send a devil like Ozark straight to hell . . .

The last thing Preacher and his friends, Audie and Nighthawk, are looking for is trouble. But trouble finds them anyway—twice over—in the form of twin babies. Harmless, you’d think.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Mack Ozark is determined to get his hands on these children and will kill anyone who stands in his way. He’s already murdered their father and is holding their mother captive. Preacher decides this is one damsel who needs rescuing, and soon he’s neck‑deep in danger. As if that weren’t enough, Preacher has made an enemy of an Indian brave to add yet another layer of peril.

It’s another well‑crafted adventure packed with action, keeping the pages turning right up to the explosive finale. I thoroughly enjoyed this story—fresh, unexpected, and built on an exciting premise.

This story will be published on  Feb. 24. 

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC of this story. 

Jason Bourne

The Bourne Revenge

 by

Brian Freeman

The identity of a deadly Chinese spy lies hidden in Jason Bourne’s lost memory in this latest entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Shadow – the head of Treadstone – has found evidence of massive Chinese espionage activity in the U.S. The spy running the operations is a shadowy American known only by the codename Bai Ze. No one knows who he is, but when Shadow consults the Files – the hacked AI database she stole from the Chinese – she discovers that Jason Bourne encountered Bai Ze during an operation eight years earlier.

The trouble is, Bourne doesn’t remember him.

As Bourne hunts for the elusive spy, he meets a reporter named Laney Reese who shares his strange affliction: eight years ago, Laney lost her entire memory, too. For Bourne, that can’t be a coincidence. He’s convinced that whatever happened to both of them is at the heart of the Chinese espionage operation.

With Laney at his side, Bourne follows a zigzagging trail of clues to a quirky billionaire and his ex-wife, both of whom may have ties to Bai Ze. As he gets closer to his shadowy adversary, Bourne begins to suspect that he’s walking into a trap. But it’s a trap with an almost irresistible bait – the chance to recover his forgotten memories.

Now Bourne must decide how far he’ll go to get his life back.

A taut, fast‑moving thriller packed with intrigue and tension. Bourne is sent to track down the elusive spy Bai Ze, a mission complicated by a mysterious encounter eight years earlier—one he can’t remember. In a world where allies turn out to be enemies and trust is a dangerous luxury, Bourne follows a twisting trail of clues all the way to a brutal, explosive finale, capped by a revelation that hits with real force.

The story is sharply written, populated by a vivid cast, with Shadow—Bourne’s superior and occasional lover—stealing more than a few scenes. Freeman delivers a tightly crafted narrative that never drags, maintaining a smooth, engaging pace from start to finish.

Thanks to Net Galley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of this great read.  

Kane #10

Kane: Rogue Creek

by
Brent Towns
Kane #10

 Get your copy here!

Some places swallow the lost…and Kane is about to walk straight into hell.

John “Reaper” Kane has seen the darkest corners of Australia—but nothing like this. When the Australian Federal Police tap him for a quiet recon job, it sounds simple enough: investigate a stretch of northern desert where people vanish without a trace. Locals call it the Bermuda Triangle of the Outback. A place even seasoned officers refuse to enter. A place called Rogue Creek.

What Kane finds is a ghost town buried under sand, secrets, and something far deadlier than any outlaw he’s faced. Rogue Creek isn’t abandoned…it’s waiting. And those who control it will do anything to keep their empire hidden.

Cut off from support and surrounded by enemies who strike like phantoms, Kane must fight through a nightmare landscape where every shadow holds a threat and every step could be his last.

In Rogue Creek, the only law is survival…and the Reaper is ready to collect.

Preview: The Plane

It came out of the clear blue sky at a low altitude. Below it, in a blur of color, passed the harsh West Australian desert. Marcus Haines glanced at his instruments to make sure his height and heading were still correct. The flight itself had originated from Indonesia, where twenty passengers had climbed aboard for the last leg of their journey.

Haines had been paid fifty grand to make the trip. It was enough to keep the bank at bay from taking his charter business. He knew what he was doing was highly illegal, but desperate times and all that.

Going by his calculations, he was ten minutes from his destination. The plane hit some turbulence and Haines held his breath. To drop any height whatsoever from the altitude the plane was at meant certain death. And out here, no one would know anything about it.

From the cabin, one of the passengers came forward. “How much longer?”

“Just under ten minutes. You’d better take your seat. This could be a little dicey.”

The man disappeared back to his seat and Haines breathed a little easier. There was something about these guys that put him on edge. The sooner they were off his plane, the better. 

The man who organized the flight said there would be someone there to meet him when he landed. 

Off to his left, an orange-faced escarpment rose from the desert. It was topped with acacia and eucalyptus. From among the rocks, a wallaby watched curiously as the big white bird roared past.

The plane bounced again. Up ahead, a small dot came into view. Then he saw the strip. At least his navigation was right.

Haines called over his shoulder, “We’ve made it.”

He passed low over the gravel strip. Below, there was a small bus just off the runway. Haines put the plane into a tight turn and lined it up with the center of the landing strip. He put the wheels and flaps down and put the plane on the deck.

It shuddered as the wheels touched down. The runway felt good for what it was. By the time the plane had reached the bus, it had slowed down completely, and then it stopped. 

Haines cut the engines and the propellers slowed as the sound fell away. Then, when they stopped, Haines moved to open the door. 

Soon the steps were down and he waited at the bottom for his passengers to climb out.

“Any trouble?” a voice asked from behind him.

Haines turned. The man who asked the question was solid built, running to fat. He had a beard and tattoos and wore a leather jacket. “No, nothing. I came in low all the way from Indonesia. Fucking hairy at that height.”

“You were paid for it.”

“I was paid half. I was told I was to get the rest when I landed.”

The man nodded. “That’s right.”

There was movement behind the pilot, and suddenly he felt his head being tipped back. Then came the searing pain across his throat, and warm fluid exploded forward. It never really occurred to Haines that he was dying. Even when he fell to his knees. Soon, he was on his face in the dirt, the harsh West Australian desert drank deeply. 

 

Jack Ryan #24

Tom Clancy's 

Act of Defiance

by

Andrews & Wilson

US intelligence is reporting turmoil in the Russian navy. Their deadliest submarine, the Belgorod, has unexpectedly launched, and taken along with it a long list of questions. Who authorized the departure? What mission is it on? And, most disturbing of all, what weapons do the giant doors on the sub’s bow hide?

It's been four decades since a similar incident with the Soviet sub, Red October, ended happily, thanks to a young CIA analyst named Jack Ryan.

Now, President Jack Ryan finds himself with fleets of ships, squadrons of jets, and teams of SEALs at his command, but what he doesn’t have is insight into the plans of the Belgorod’s commander. It falls to a younger generation of Ryans to do the dangerous work that will reveal that information.

But there’s always a price to be paid. When the final moments tick away, will Jack Ryan have to choose between the safety of his country and the safety of his child?

Act of Defiance feels like a full‑circle moment in the Jack Ryan universe. What began with The Hunt for Red October returns to its submarine roots, but this time the stakes are twisted in a new direction. Instead of a defection, we’re dealing with a terminally ill commander entangled in a larger plot to strike the United States with a next‑generation, nuclear‑tipped torpedo.

Adding to that sense of symmetry, we follow Katie Ryan—Jack’s daughter—who is now walking a path remarkably similar to her father’s. She heads to the Atlantic Fleet and boards a submarine, echoing Jack’s journey to the Red October.

From there, the tension escalates quickly, and fans are treated to a couple of great cameos: Sonar Technician First Class Ronald “Jonesy” Jones and legendary Russian skipper Marko Ramius, the former commander of the Red October.

I had a fantastic time with this story. Andrews & Wilson really know how to deliver, and I’m excited to dive into the other two Clancy novels of theirs waiting on my shelf.

Dark Desert Road

Dark Desert Road

by

 Tim Ayliffe 

Kit McCarthy hasn't seen her identical twin sister, Billie, in more than a decade.

The sisters don't see eye to eye, which is understandable, considering Kit's a police officer and Billie followed their violent father into a life of crime.

Kit is no angel. Burnt out by years working in child protection, she has been accused of using excessive force in the arrest of a violent drunk. Kit has just been ordered to take time off work when she gets a frantic message from Billie, telling her she has a young son and that somebody is trying to kill her.

And then Billie disappears.

Determined to find her estranged sister, Kit's only lead comes after visiting their father in prison. Malcolm McCarthy claims Billie married a former United States Marine and has been living with a group of sovereign citizens in the desert country of the New South Wales Riverina.

Kit's journey to find Billie takes her through shuttered towns destroyed by drought, where everybody owns guns, nobody talks to cops, and people get lost for a reason.

Out here a war is brewing between a ruthless bikie gang and a separatist community that is re-engaging with society in the most violent way.

Kit will risk everything to find her sister and the nephew she never knew she had.

But does Billie really want to be saved?

This was my first Tim Ayliffe novel, and it definitely won’t be my last. It delivers all the excitement and tension you’d expect from a sharp, fast‑paced crime thriller.

The story dives into the dangerous world of sovereign citizens and bikie gangs—an explosive mix plotting violent action to broadcast their message. At the heart of it all are twin sisters: one a police officer, the other drawn into a life of crime. When a desperate call for help forces their paths to cross, the collision is intense.

The writing is strong, the pacing tight, and the narrative kept me fully engaged right to the final page.

Thank you to Echo Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC.

Chimney Rock Burial

 Chimney Rock Burial

Trailsman #207

by 

Jon Sharpe

(Robert Randisi)

Hired to locate the grave of a woman's son, Skye Fargo leads her through the Nebraska territory towards Chimney Rock. But the dim-witted Lacy brothers are not far behind, reckoning they'll be led to some hidden loot. And, as the Trailsman closes in on his quarry, he must decide if he's aiding a grieving mother or abetting a cunning con woman. With time running short, Fargo has no one to trust, except the irons strapped to his legs.

Skye Fargo is hired by a woman searching for the burial site of her child who died twelve years earlier. The setup hints at deeper secrets, but the story never really delivers on that promise. Honestly, I’m struggling to find much to say about it. The pacing drags, and Fargo spends more time between the sheets than in the saddle. Action is scarce until the final 20–30 pages, which is unusual for the series.

The writing itself is solid, but my verdict is simple: skip it—unless you’re a completist who needs every entry on the shelf.