Note from Ryan Steck, The Real Book Spy: For obvious reasons, I couldn’t review my own book, Ted Bell’s Monarch, here on TRBS. Thankfully, I haven’t needed to after receiving incredible support from #1 New York Times bestselling authors James Patterson (“Monarch is that rarity in thrillers: first-class writng, wit, and suspense. This is one of the best Alex Hawke thrillers, and I’ve read all of them all”) and the late Nelson DeMille (“Hawke has never flown higher!”). However, just as I’ve done in the past, when other talented authors stepped in to review my books, I again reached out to another writer I really admire to see if they might be willing to do a guest post for me. Thankfully, not only was Ryan Pote—author of the forthcoming novel, Blood and Treasure—willing to give Monarch a read, but he also took the time to write an in-depth and thoughtful review. Read what he had to say below, but then please keep scrolling to learn more about him and his book, which comes out this summer.
Ryan Steck takes the baton from the late, great Ted Bell and runs with it, delivering a yarn that’s as twisty as a Cornish Lane and packed with enough action to keep even James Bond glued to the edge of his seat. Lord Hawke is tasked with tracking down the missing monarch while dodging a scheme to gut London—its past, present, and future. Like a game of Clue, the wow of an ending is a brazen collision course of Sherlock Holmes and Mission Impossible. The prose crackles like a fire in a country manor, sharp and swift, effortlessly propelling you through the chaos. Steck’s managed to channel Hawke’s voice—Byrdie Bell herself, Ted’s daughter, says it’s “my dad’s Alex Hawke,” and I would have to agree. There’s a freshness to it though, a bit more modern, but the soul remains unmistakably Hawke. The action is dazzling. The supporting cast—Ambrose, Pelham, Stokely—shine as always, their loyalty and quirks ground the book in the well-known world fans have come to adore. I won’t spoil the nervy twists—they’re worth the shock and awe. It’s a triumph, plain and simple. It’s got everything Steck says Ted always championed—”bullets, babes, and bad guys”—in spades, wrapped in a package that’s both a nod to Hawke’s prior exploits and yet a bold new step forward for the series. The late master himself Nelson DeMille called it “packed with twisting surprises and a double dose of action,” and I’d say he was underselling it.
Ted Bell’s Monarch hits the shelves on March 25, 2025, and if you’re a fan of swashbuckling thrillers with a dash of British vaunt, you’d be a fool to miss it. Steck’s done Lord Hawke proud, and I envision old Ted’s up there, grinning through the cigar smoke, giving his seal of approval. Fans rejoice. Lord Alex Hawke indeed has returned. This stack of printed paper is worth the read, my dear friends. Worth it indeed. And I’ll drink to that, old boy.
Book Details
Author: Ryan Steck
Series: Alex Hawke #13
Pages: 464 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0593817230
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: March 25, 2025
Ryan Pote is a veteran Navy pilot and the author of the highly anticipated debut BLOOD AND TREASURE (Berkley, July 2025). Mark Greaney says it’s “the must-read debut thriller of 2025” and FirstClue reviews calls it “mandatory” reading. Follow Ryan on IG/Facebook/X/Goodreads @ryanpotebooks. Ryanpote.com. BLOOD AND TREASURE is out now for pre-order everywhere books are sold.
From Ryan Pote comes “the must-read debut thriller of 2025” (Mark Greaney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Midnight Black), in stores July 22nd!
