Following the events of Unknown Rider (2023), Jack Stewart’s electrifying debut, TOPGUN pilot Colt Bancroft returns for another full-throttle thriller that starts fast and reaches supersonic speeds in the blink of an eye, proving Stewart is a name to keep a close eye on moving forward, and the heir apparent to the throne held by Dale Brown.
Emmy “Punky” King, a brilliant NCIS Special Agent who has a chip on her shoulder and an ax to grind, not to mention a taste for fast cars (she might be the only character with a need for speed that outpaces even Colt Bancroft), continues her investigation into the Chinese’s latest spy tactics and espionage advancements. A professor named Dr. Tan Lily is speaking nearby in San Diego, and Punky, using all of her Challenger’s 305 horsepower, races to see the woman in person. An expert on next-gen bioweapons, specifically “genetically engineered pathogens and how they pose the greatest risk to global security,” working with the Global Health Institute, Lily could help provide the missing piece of the overall puzzle Punky is trying to solve after her latest intel suggests that a mysterious individual known only as SUBLIME received a coded message referencing “the Reagan.” Whether that means one of a half-dozen or so schools bearing the former president’s name, the presidential library, or, far more concerning, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is yet to be seen.
Meanwhile, sitting on the flight deck aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, somewhere in the East China Sea, Colt “Mother” Bancroft—strapped to the armed ejection seat of his FA-18E Super Hornet, his oxygen mask cloaking his face—waits for the green light to take off. This time around, Colt’s task is relatively straightforward, though that doesn’t mean it’s easy by any means. A Rogue military group in China has kidnapped a CIA agent, and in response, the United States is sending in a team of Navy SEALS to rescue the case officer and exfil them back to safety. The ground team will only have one fighter jet providing air cover, but lucky for them, Colt is that lone pilot. Initially, things go according to plan, at least until a fleet of Chinese fighters engage Colt, followed by an attack on his aircraft carrier. Suddenly, all hell breaks loose, and Colt realizes that he’s not only in a fight for his life but staring down the very real possibility of a third World War, one that might unleash a weapon that could cause a global catastrophe unlike mankind has never seen before.
Jack Stewart’s Battle Born series is easily one of the best new franchises to come along since the arrival of another Jack, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jack Carr, who is now dominating the thriller scene in a big way. While Stewart’s books are far more Top Gun: Maverick meets Dale Brown’s Patrick McLanahan series than Carr’s blend of Vince Flynn-like action, the argument could be made that Stewart’s debut, Unknown Rider, was the best thriller to feature fighter jets and high-flying aerial battles in the last two decades, maybe even since Brown’s 1987 hit, Flight Of The Old Dog. Much like Tom Clancy, Stewart knows where to draw the line between writing realism and entertaining readers. There’s fighter pilot jargon and technical details galore, but Stewart stops short of writing the equivalent of pornography for aviation fanatics. Outlaw puts you squarely in the cockpit, but rather than throw enough details at you to make you believe you could land an FA-18E in a pinch, Stewart does the flying, taking readers along for an epic, thrilling ride. Throw in a terrifying plot about an all-too-plausible bioweapon threat, with just enough humor to periodically cut the tension and keep readers engaged from start to finish, and you’ve got all the makings of a top-shelf, must-read thriller.
Mixing heart-pounding action and compelling characters with a well-crafted threat scenario, Jack Stewart soars to new heights with Outlaw, the kind of adrenaline-fueled cinematic experience that’s rarely been captured on the page, making his series a can’t-miss experience for anyone in search of a high-octane adventure they won’t soon forget. If you’re looking for a new series to jump into, here it is.
Book Details
Author: Jack Stewart
Series: Colt Bancroft #2
Pages: 332 (Paperback)
ISBN: 1648754953
Publisher: Severn River Publishing
Release Date: March 4, 2024
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor and is building a growing community on Twitch. His debut thriller, FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” is now available. His second novel, LETHAL RANGE, is also in bookstores, and his third book, OUT FOR BLOOD, comes out on June 4th. For more information, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook. To interact with other readers and talk about your favorite books and authors, join The Real Book Spy’s Discord server.