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Sunrise-Side Mystery Series #3
The Blue Hour Sanction
***WINNER, 2023 Action Thriller of the Year — BestThrillers.com Book Awards***
"With its gripping premise and non-stop action, The Blue Hour Sanction delivers a thrilling narrative that will captivate fans of both The Hunger Games and James Bond. Prepare for a wild ride through a world of deadly secrets and high-stakes missions—you'll be hooked from the first page."
—Andrew Watts, USA Today bestselling author of the Firewall Spies series
HOW DID A YOUNG WOMAN FROM A SMALL TOWN IN MICHIGAN BECOME THE MOST LETHAL ASSASSIN THAT THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN? YOU ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
College heptathlete Margaret Crandall is invited to compete for a spot with a secret company to become an elite assassin. While still in the training pipeline, her mentor is murdered attempting to kill the billionaire shipping tycoon, Victor Lars Junius, who is a member of a global criminal empire and attempting to transform himself into the legendary actor Richard Burton.
As a result, Margaret is promoted and given a new Adrienne Astra.
Her first mission?
Sanction Junius.
However, a mole at the off-the-books company is already plotting Adrienne's demise.
GET READY FOR AN ORIGIN STORY UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
If you like high-stakes espionage, action, and endings you won't see coming, then you'll love Landon Beach's tense spy thriller.
If you are a fan of James Bond, Trevanian, Don Winslow, Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series, Jack Carr’s The Terminal List series, Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath series, Mark Greaney’s Gray Man series, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series, Tom Clancy’s Campus novels, Brad Taylor’s Pike Logan series, or Jason Matthew’s Red Sparrow Trilogy, you'll enjoy The Blue Hour Sanction.
"With its gripping premise and non-stop action, The Blue Hour Sanction delivers a thrilling narrative that will captivate fans of both The Hunger Games and James Bond. Prepare for a wild ride through a world of deadly secrets and high-stakes missions—you'll be hooked from the first page."
—Andrew Watts, USA Today bestselling author of the Firewall Spies series
HOW DID A YOUNG WOMAN FROM A SMALL TOWN IN MICHIGAN BECOME THE MOST LETHAL ASSASSIN THAT THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN? YOU ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
College heptathlete Margaret Crandall is invited to compete for a spot with a secret company to become an elite assassin. While still in the training pipeline, her mentor is murdered attempting to kill the billionaire shipping tycoon, Victor Lars Junius, who is a member of a global criminal empire and attempting to transform himself into the legendary actor Richard Burton.
As a result, Margaret is promoted and given a new Adrienne Astra.
Her first mission?
Sanction Junius.
However, a mole at the off-the-books company is already plotting Adrienne's demise.
GET READY FOR AN ORIGIN STORY UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
If you like high-stakes espionage, action, and endings you won't see coming, then you'll love Landon Beach's tense spy thriller.
If you are a fan of James Bond, Trevanian, Don Winslow, Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series, Jack Carr’s The Terminal List series, Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath series, Mark Greaney’s Gray Man series, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series, Tom Clancy’s Campus novels, Brad Taylor’s Pike Logan series, or Jason Matthew’s Red Sparrow Trilogy, you'll enjoy The Blue Hour Sanction.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2023
About the author
Landon Beach
11 books130 followersLandon was born and raised in Michigan but now lives in the Sunshine State with his wife, two children, and their golden retriever. He previously served as a Naval Officer and was an educator for fifteen years before becoming a full-time writer. Find out more at landonbeachbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 22, 2024
Spectacular book!!!!
June 10, 2025
Didn't hate it, didn't love it... won't remember it. 🫠
August 8, 2025
Books 1, 2 and 4 were about an author and her life. This book (book 3) was essentially a book the fictional author wrote, which I wasn't interested in. It did not carry on the story from book 2, so I skipped it and went on to book 4 to continue the story being told in books 1 and 2.
August 29, 2023
Prepare for a roller coaster ride of action, intrigue, and character development in Landon Beach's latest novel, "The Blue Hour Sanction." This gripping book not only serves as a standalone action-packed assassin thriller but also delves into the captivating backstory of the femme fatale, Adrienne Astra. While some may recognize Adrienne Astra as a creation of the fictional character Rachel Roberts, who writes under the pen name Riley Canon in Beach's books "Huron Breeze" and "Huron Nights," reading these previous novels is not a prerequisite for enjoying this thrilling tale.
From the first page to the last, "The Blue Hour Sanction" keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story wastes no time thrusting readers into a heart-pounding narrative, leaving them eager to flip each page to uncover the next twist and turn. The action sequences are refreshingly authentic, eschewing the exaggerated spectacle often found in action films. Moreover, the characters in this novel are remarkably human and vulnerable, a rarity in a genre dominated by invincible action heroes.
The novel opens by revealing Adrienne Astra's life before she became the formidable assassin. A normal college student with exceptional athletic abilities, Adrienne's transformation into a killing machine is a captivating journey to behold. While a part of me wanted more insight into her metamorphosis, the balance between backstory and Adrienne's psychological shift was commendably handled by Beach, keeping me engaged and satisfied throughout.
"The Blue Hour Sanction" is a fast-paced, high-tension thriller perfect for the summer season. Beach's writing prowess shines brightly in this book, further solidifying his status as one of my favorite authors. Fans of his previous works will find this novel a compelling addition to his catalog, while newcomers will undoubtedly be drawn to explore more of his captivating stories. As a longtime reader of Beach's works, I can confidently say that this novel now sits at the top of my list, nudging out other favorites like "The Cabin." I highly recommend "The Blue Hour Sanction" to all thriller enthusiasts and eagerly await the next tale Landon Beach brings to readers.
From the first page to the last, "The Blue Hour Sanction" keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story wastes no time thrusting readers into a heart-pounding narrative, leaving them eager to flip each page to uncover the next twist and turn. The action sequences are refreshingly authentic, eschewing the exaggerated spectacle often found in action films. Moreover, the characters in this novel are remarkably human and vulnerable, a rarity in a genre dominated by invincible action heroes.
The novel opens by revealing Adrienne Astra's life before she became the formidable assassin. A normal college student with exceptional athletic abilities, Adrienne's transformation into a killing machine is a captivating journey to behold. While a part of me wanted more insight into her metamorphosis, the balance between backstory and Adrienne's psychological shift was commendably handled by Beach, keeping me engaged and satisfied throughout.
"The Blue Hour Sanction" is a fast-paced, high-tension thriller perfect for the summer season. Beach's writing prowess shines brightly in this book, further solidifying his status as one of my favorite authors. Fans of his previous works will find this novel a compelling addition to his catalog, while newcomers will undoubtedly be drawn to explore more of his captivating stories. As a longtime reader of Beach's works, I can confidently say that this novel now sits at the top of my list, nudging out other favorites like "The Cabin." I highly recommend "The Blue Hour Sanction" to all thriller enthusiasts and eagerly await the next tale Landon Beach brings to readers.
August 29, 2023
I was hoping Mr. Beach would write the Adrienne Astra books, and, damn, he sure enough delivered.
It's as if he buried a treasure in his previous novel Huron Nights, in which we get to witness the exploration of the writer Rachel Roberts (pen-named Riley Cannon) as she finds inspiration for Adrienne Astra - the protagonist of her global, smash-hit series of novels - and now Mr. Beach unearths the treasure of her character in this thrilling, blood-pressure-altering, smash of a book: The Blue Hour Sanction.
We come to understand the rigor with which Astra was trained--in brutal and quite clearly unethical fashion. Through the intensity of her interactions with her trainers and in the climax of her missions, I found myself riveted and, frankly, extremely attracted to the amazing competence of his protagonist. Despite her training, she maintains an honest moral compass, and most of all, she is an intuitive, tenacious, brilliant bad bitch.
The training sequences are, by far, the most intense writing Mr. Beach has ever done, and this man deals in spearguns and underwater warfare and international criminal cartels and, probably, trained bull sharks and Russian narwhals. I'll never again hear the howl of a coyote and not think about the wolves in Mr Beach’s masterpiece. I think I'll have nightmares, but they're worth it to read this book.
I can't wait to hear what happens to Adrienne Astra. I hope Mr. Beach writes another five books in the series. I bet they'll be so good y'all will be selling plasma and kidneys and running trotlines to get a hold of his next piece. I’m cooking up side-hustles right now. Some books are just worth it.
Life is precarious; don’t be stingy with yourself.
It's as if he buried a treasure in his previous novel Huron Nights, in which we get to witness the exploration of the writer Rachel Roberts (pen-named Riley Cannon) as she finds inspiration for Adrienne Astra - the protagonist of her global, smash-hit series of novels - and now Mr. Beach unearths the treasure of her character in this thrilling, blood-pressure-altering, smash of a book: The Blue Hour Sanction.
We come to understand the rigor with which Astra was trained--in brutal and quite clearly unethical fashion. Through the intensity of her interactions with her trainers and in the climax of her missions, I found myself riveted and, frankly, extremely attracted to the amazing competence of his protagonist. Despite her training, she maintains an honest moral compass, and most of all, she is an intuitive, tenacious, brilliant bad bitch.
The training sequences are, by far, the most intense writing Mr. Beach has ever done, and this man deals in spearguns and underwater warfare and international criminal cartels and, probably, trained bull sharks and Russian narwhals. I'll never again hear the howl of a coyote and not think about the wolves in Mr Beach’s masterpiece. I think I'll have nightmares, but they're worth it to read this book.
I can't wait to hear what happens to Adrienne Astra. I hope Mr. Beach writes another five books in the series. I bet they'll be so good y'all will be selling plasma and kidneys and running trotlines to get a hold of his next piece. I’m cooking up side-hustles right now. Some books are just worth it.
Life is precarious; don’t be stingy with yourself.
August 24, 2023
The Blue Hour Sanction by Landon Beach is another book you can’t put down. It is expertly written as a story within a story as only Beach can do. Tension builds throughout the entire book centering around a favorite character we first met in Huron Breeze, Adrienne Astra. In The Blue Hour Sanction we find out her origin story. Astra takes on enormous physical and mental challenges using her athletic ability, determination and smarts to be hired by the Worth-Gideon Organization as its #1 assassin. She is now in a position to expose the lies, murders, and manipulations of those who own and work for Worth-Gideon and its competitor, Control. Lives are changed by acquiring new and secret identities leaving behind who they were forever. People are easily dispensed of if not considered useful or interfere with the reckless tactics to gain power and money. The reader gets completely absorbed and each incident is more thrilling than the last!
Landon Beach masterfully weaves all the characters together with ease. The suspense will captivate you and keep you turning the page for the next shocking event. One would never have a clue how Adrienne Astra began her journey! Read The Blue Hour Sanction to find out! Highly recommended!
Landon Beach masterfully weaves all the characters together with ease. The suspense will captivate you and keep you turning the page for the next shocking event. One would never have a clue how Adrienne Astra began her journey! Read The Blue Hour Sanction to find out! Highly recommended!
August 28, 2023
The Blue Hour Sanction combines two of my favorite series, The Hunger Games and James Bond, and I have never read an origin story like this before. Adrienne Astra was first mentioned as a character in Beach’s novel Huron Breeze. Since reading that book, I have wondered how she became the world’s most deadly assassin. This novel answers that question! Wow! From the shocking opening pages until the exciting ending, there’s action, espionage, suspense, betrayals, twists, and thrills galore. A special treat was the villain Victor Lars Junius, a shipping titan trying to literally “become” one of the best actors of the twentieth century. What an original idea. Also, Beach set part of the book’s climax at a famous location I don’t believe has ever been used in fiction. It was perfect and nostalgic. Only Landon Beach could write a stand-alone novel that also seamlessly enriches one of his series. This book should be a movie! I loved it.
August 29, 2023
Landon Beach is always brilliant, always surprising, but The Blue Hour Sanction is something entirely new from him: tight, mean, globe-spanning action. Beach has dealt before in razor wire, bad deals gone worse, icy waves, busted legs, nice liquor, and hidden rooms, but not with this kind of pressure on the pedal. I love an origin story, and if you’ve been following the Adrienne Astra excerpts in the Sunrise-Side novels, you’ll love to finally be able to move around in her world, which is as dark and glittering and cold a maze as I’d hoped it would be. Adrienne herself is a comet, a loner, faster and more ruthless than all her shady allies and piratical enemies. I think I finished these 400 pages in five hours. There are scenes in this book I was not able to stop reading, chapter after chapter, and they stayed with me: this is a cinematic, tense, blood-flecked hunt.
September 7, 2023
The Blue Hour Sanction is a thriller you can’t put down. It grips you from the beginning and holds you until the end. Even if you’re good at figuring out whodunits, this one’s not so easy. You’ll find surprise after surprise as the story twists and the suspense builds. The writing is also superb! You might need to cover your eyes for some of the scenes! There’s no shortage of descriptives that make you feel like you're hiding behind the trees, watching it first-hand. I was most intrigued by the dialogue and the manner in which psychopaths size up every nuance of speech, facial expression, and body language to assess what’s going on and how they should proceed. It’s fascinating and well done. There’s also a more global commentary on technology and the coming impact of AI, which I appreciated. If you like to read on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend this book.
September 20, 2023
couldn’t put it down!
What an origin story! We finally get to read and learn about Adrienne Astra, the main character of Riley Cannon’s books. Riley Cannon, whose real name is Rachel Roberts, is the heroine of the Sunrise-Side mystery series penned by Landon Beach.
This thriller had so much detail and backstory that I felt like I was training to become the assassin! It was rich with imagery, character development, and complex characters that drew me into the story and didn’t let go. We get to find out how the assassin Adrienne Astra came to be, why she chose this path, and how she was conflicted about her choices. The ending made me want to continue the story - i had more questions!
Fabulous, engrossing, and vivid read. HIGHLY recommend!
What an origin story! We finally get to read and learn about Adrienne Astra, the main character of Riley Cannon’s books. Riley Cannon, whose real name is Rachel Roberts, is the heroine of the Sunrise-Side mystery series penned by Landon Beach.
This thriller had so much detail and backstory that I felt like I was training to become the assassin! It was rich with imagery, character development, and complex characters that drew me into the story and didn’t let go. We get to find out how the assassin Adrienne Astra came to be, why she chose this path, and how she was conflicted about her choices. The ending made me want to continue the story - i had more questions!
Fabulous, engrossing, and vivid read. HIGHLY recommend!
August 29, 2023
Landon Beach once again delivers on his mission – a face paced, exciting, escape from reality. This action novel debut for Beach takes a deep dive into the origin story for his assassin character Adrienne Astor. The story covers her full development from a naïve college student looking for more than 9-5 drudgery after graduation all the way through the intense, brutal training regimen that transforms her into an elite assassin who’s first assignment turns out to be a Pandora’s box of nested problems and distrust within her employer’s ranks. Who can be trusted in a business where standard operating procedure is: “Trust No One”? An enjoyable and gritty read. Mission accomplished.
August 30, 2023
The Blue Hour Sanction is a thrilling read for anyone who loves a solid, badass, female protagonist. Having read the previous Sunrise Side books in the series, I enjoyed reconnecting with the mysterious Adrienne Astra, but this is a great stand-alone as well. The book is not a straightforward, “here’s her life story, step-by-step”; no, this has got layers, twists and turns, and an eclectic cast of characters that form an entirely new world. As always, Landon Beach kept me guessing until the very end. Definitely a must read!
September 1, 2023
For those of you who are avid Landon Beach readers, you know that this is his first “action novel.”
Landon’s character development, plot line, and story setting have inexorably matured to become a world-class author.
The latest evidence of this maturation is “The Blue Hour Sanction.” This epic action novel involves complex characters, with multiple subplots, involving international settings, and spans over a decade of intrigue as the story unfolds.
If you want a multifarious “goodread”—I highly recommend Landon’s latest and most epic thriller—The Blue Hour Sanction!!!
Dr GWB
Landon’s character development, plot line, and story setting have inexorably matured to become a world-class author.
The latest evidence of this maturation is “The Blue Hour Sanction.” This epic action novel involves complex characters, with multiple subplots, involving international settings, and spans over a decade of intrigue as the story unfolds.
If you want a multifarious “goodread”—I highly recommend Landon’s latest and most epic thriller—The Blue Hour Sanction!!!
Dr GWB
November 1, 2023
Just a lot of fun! I’ve been enjoying many books by Landon Beach. Each plotline in the books are well designed, always surprising me. The Blue Hour Sanction is a fun read with a strong female protagonist.
I enjoy his characters, as they feel like real people I might encounter in real life.
I read The Blue Hour Sanction on kindle, but mostly I listened to on Audible. Scott Brick, an A list narrator, takes the excellent writing, creating storytelling that keep me enthralled for hours.
I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series.
I enjoy his characters, as they feel like real people I might encounter in real life.
I read The Blue Hour Sanction on kindle, but mostly I listened to on Audible. Scott Brick, an A list narrator, takes the excellent writing, creating storytelling that keep me enthralled for hours.
I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series.
January 20, 2024
2.5*
Fast-moving action-adventure plot but the author tried too hard to toss surprises into the mix in ways that were incongruous with already-established facts and characters. Also, other than the protagonist, I didn’t CARE what happened to secondary or tertiary characters. Death and violence were handled in an off-handed manner. An exciting read, but don't think too much while listening or eye-reading.
Note: The audio narration was 5*
Fast-moving action-adventure plot but the author tried too hard to toss surprises into the mix in ways that were incongruous with already-established facts and characters. Also, other than the protagonist, I didn’t CARE what happened to secondary or tertiary characters. Death and violence were handled in an off-handed manner. An exciting read, but don't think too much while listening or eye-reading.
Note: The audio narration was 5*
September 6, 2023
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September 7, 2023
I’ve read every Landon Beach release so far, and this one totally caught me by surprise (in a good way). Beach always adds a lot of detail and depth to his books, but this thriller had more surprises and plot twists. I was hooked early by the background of the main character, and that the suspense just built up throughout. I’m looking forward to the next in the series!
November 28, 2023
I found this awesome new (to me) author and narrator thanks to another narrator's post on Facebook. So thank you Scott Brick! The recommendation coming from Brick gave me high hopes about this book. I was not let down! The Blue Hour Sanction was a great action packed thriller and very well narrated! Most definitely looking forward to the next book!
August 29, 2023
Exciting with many twists
Landon Beach’s foray into the land of assassins is twisted and scary. I really enjoyed this book and the introduction to the newest heroine. I look forward to her future exploits. This book is hard to put down until you reach the exciting conclusion!
Landon Beach’s foray into the land of assassins is twisted and scary. I really enjoyed this book and the introduction to the newest heroine. I look forward to her future exploits. This book is hard to put down until you reach the exciting conclusion!
August 30, 2023
I love reading everything from Landon Beach! He has amazing character development that you feel like you really know these people. The story lines are capitating and take you right there in the story. The Blue House Sanction was riveting! It kept me on the edge of my seat!
September 1, 2023
A very entertaining origin story of Adrienne Astra. Recruited right out of college, she's bound to be extremely successful in anything she decides to do. Apparently that includes sanctioning bad guys.
September 7, 2023
Beach does it again! I have loved reading all of Beach’s books and this one didn’t disappoint. I’m a full time working mom, so I don’t have a ton of free time. But, I love making time to get lost in a Landon Beach book. Make sure you give The Blue Hour Sanction a read!
Did Not Finish
June 30, 2026This is not a continuation of the series but you are reading a novel that the fictional character Rachel Roberts writes under her pen name. Interesting thought to do this but it wasn't the book series I was reading. I really don't have an interest in this story
August 29, 2023
After reading Landon Beach's Huron Breeze and Huron Nights - which follow an author by the name of Riley Cannon, who finds inspiration for her writing through detective work - I was very eager to get into Blue Hour Sanction. Throughout reading the Sunrise-Side Mysteries, I continuously found myself intrigued by Cannon's stories and wishing they existed so I could read them all. That's why I immediately had to read Blue Hour Sanction, which provides the backstory of the very protagonist within Cannon's novels. I love a good origin story, and this one did not disappoint! I was so captivated from the very first page that I just could not put it down!
How could a young woman and athlete from Michigan become the greatest assassin of all time? You have to read this action-packed, captivating, and high-stakes story for yourself!
How could a young woman and athlete from Michigan become the greatest assassin of all time? You have to read this action-packed, captivating, and high-stakes story for yourself!
August 29, 2023
Could not put the book down. I thought I would read a chapter or two and wound up reading the whole thing straight through.
Loved it!!
Loved it!!
August 29, 2023
Couldn’t put the book down. To finally hear the origin of Adrienne Astra was solid. What a likeable character; a tough, smart, killer with a sense of justice.
August 30, 2023
Like the rest of Landon’s books, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this and it did not disappoint! Edge of your seat reading at its finest and such a fun read. One of my favorites so far!
September 1, 2023
twisty thriller with a female protagonist!
Reading the Blue Hour Sanction was a cross between thriller and mystery ride!
Liked the female protagonist and will listen again to this book when the audio is released! Beach keeps us guessing and
does not disappoint! Recommend for those who need a twister of a journey!
Reading the Blue Hour Sanction was a cross between thriller and mystery ride!
Liked the female protagonist and will listen again to this book when the audio is released! Beach keeps us guessing and
does not disappoint! Recommend for those who need a twister of a journey!
September 1, 2023
Another Beach Thriller
If you like a book that captures your interest from the beginning, this is the book for you. Twists and turns throughout the book are captivating.
If you like a book that captures your interest from the beginning, this is the book for you. Twists and turns throughout the book are captivating.
September 8, 2023
Another great read from Landon Beach. Keeps you on the edge of your seat following the assassin. Looking for a thrilling read I highly recommend The Blue Hour Sanction.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews