Editor’s Note: Today’s guest review was written by D.A. Roll, a retired CIA Operations Officer and retired Army Officer. During his twenty-year CIA career, Roll served in various overseas locations in Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, and Washington D.C. Roll’s career focused on a variety of strategic issues—including, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and weapons of mass destruction—and included leadership assignments overseas and in headquarters. Roll also served over 23 years in the U.S. Army, including command assignments in both conventional and special operations forces. As a writer, he is focused on thrillers that blend genres with mystery and suspense, and more than a healthy dose of authentic espionage. For more on D.A. Roll, follow him on X.
Prepare yourself for an authentic thrill ride, a harrowing story where every choice will define the future . . .
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The wilderness of mirrors is hard to navigate… even at altitude.
That’s what comes to mind when I read Jack Stewart’s latest installment in the Battle Born series, BOGEY SPADES. It’s more than a complex web of intrigue that covers undulating terrain and the skies above—it’s a multi-dimensional thriller with action to spare. Strap in and get ready for a thrill ride at 300+ knots.
The Battle Born saga stands out in the genre for more than it’s driving narrative and tactile characters, all of whom feel layered and real after only a few pages. It’s a timely story that hits the right notes, highlighting true intelligence threats that are frequently lost in the chatter, while delivering a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. BOGEY SPADES is an artful blend of espionage, counterintelligence, military aviation and special operations. More than all of that, it’s the author and what he brings to the table that makes the story unique and a true page turner—a former Top Gun Naval Aviator whose spent time on the ground with his special operations brethren. It’s a detail that shows.
The action kicks off with the first sentence. A traitor and a clandestine meeting that goes sideways before it starts. Two foreign adversaries colliding in the world of shadows and NCIS Special Agent Emmy King doggedly pursuing the traitor, putting the pieces together. In parallel, TOPGUN Naval Aviator Colt Bancroft is directed to turn in his F-35C Joint Strike Fighter and partner with Navy SEAL Master Chief Dave White to standup a new capability that the Naval Special Warfare community direly needs—the resurrection of VAL-4 “Black Ponies”, a storied Light Attack Squadron from the Vietnam era that in its new incarnation will provide special operators on the ground with a dedicated light attack aircraft configured for ISR.
All of this is just the beginning, merely setting the stage for the action to come. Foreign adversaries clash on American soil and a gunfight kicks off outside the famed Tailhook convention. A foreign intelligence officer gambles with her life to find her child. A game changing, next-gen weapon system is stolen, and the life of the United States Vice President is at risk. And if all of this doesn’t whet your appetite, there’s a final twist that brings threats from the beginning of the series together in a way that will rock your world.
Stewart’s writing is a joy to read. Layered and driving, with a deep authenticity. He strikes the balance between talented prose and driving action in a way few others have mastered. The action is visceral to the extent that it feels like you’re in the cockpit, behind the stick of a fighter aircraft. Assuming you have a pulse, the intrigue will leave you breathless as Stewart’s research into the world of shadows shows with aplomb. The underlying threats that drive this narrative—foreign intelligence operations on American soil and a potential compromise at the highest levels of our government—is all too timely, such that one might wonder if it’s real. It’s the sort of thing that will keep you reading well past your bedtime.
In summary, prepare yourself for an authentic thrill ride, a harrowing story where every choice will define the future. Find yourself a comfortable chair and brew a pot of coffee; you’re going to be up all night.
Book Details
Author: Jack Stewart
Series: Battle Born #3
Pages: 346 (Paperback)
ISBN: 1648756093
Publisher: Severn River Publishing
Release Date: November 19, 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 in addition to running TRBS. He is the author of FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” LETHAL RANGE, OUT FOR BLOOD, and TED BELL’S MONARCH. For more information, follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and BookBub. To interact with other readers and talk about your favorite books and authors, join The Real Book Spy’s Discord server.