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At All Costs
Jake and Carolyn Donovan stand accused of massacring 16 people and touching off one of the country's worst environmental catastrophes. Although innocent, they are on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. Along with their young son, they have eluded capture for 13 years, but are finally forced to stop running and fight for their freedom--and their lives. From the bestselling author of Nathan's Run.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
827 people are currently reading
864 people want to read
About the author
John Gilstrap
79 books1,209 followersA little bit about my background... I've always been a closet-writer. As a kid, I lived for the opportunity to write short stories. I was the editor of my high school newspaper for a while (the Valor Dictus, Robinson High School, class of 1975), until I quit ("You can't fire me! I quit!") over a lofty First Amendment issue that seemed very important at the time. My goal, in fact, was to become a journalist in the vein of Woodward or Bernstein. Okay, I confess, I wanted to be Woodward; Robert Redford played him in the movie, and chicks really dug Robert Redford.
I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1979, and armed with a degree in American history, I couldn't find a job. I ended up settling for a position with a little-noticed trade journal serving the construction industry. They called me the managing editor and they paid me food stamp wages. I hated it. About this time, I joined the Burke Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax County, Virginia, if only to find relief from the boredom of my job. Running about a thousand calls my first year with the department, I was hooked, and the volunteer fire service became an important part of my life for the next 15 years. In the early eighties, hating my job, I went the way of all frustrated liberal arts undergrads—back to graduate school. Earning a Master of Science degree in safety engineering from the University of Southern California, I started down a whole new road. For the next decade and a half, I became an expert (don't you hate that word?) on explosives safety and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, I kept writing. I didn't tell anyone, of course, because, well, you just don't share artistic dreams with fellow engineers. They look at you funny.
My first novel, Nathan's Run, was in fact my fourth novel, and when it sold, it sold big. At a time in my life when things were going well—I was president of my own consulting firm—things were suddenly going very well. Warner Bros. bought the movie rights to Nathan's Run two days after the first book rights were sold, and as of this date, the novel has been translated and published in one form or another in over 20 countries. With Nathan's Run in the can, as it were, I thought I might finally be on to something, but I didn't quit my "day job" until after I sold the book and movie rights to my second novel, At All Costs. I figured that while one-in-a-row might be luck, two-in-a-row was a trend. So, I started writing full-time.
More novels followed, and then a few screenplays. I was living the dream.
But I really didn't like it much. I learned pretty quickly that when you're born a Type-A personality, those extrovert tendencies don't go away just because you're practicing a craft you love. In fact, after just a couple of years of dream fulfillment, I was pretty friggin' bored with the company of my imaginary friends, so I did something that I've never heard a full-time artist do before: I went back to a day job. At first, it was just a matter of reactivating my consulting business, but then, in 2004, I was handed my ideal Big-Boy Job (that's what my wife calls it) working as the director of safety for a trade association in Washington, DC.
And I continue to write. In 2006, Six Minutes to Freedom was published to considerable acclaim. My first (and probably last) foray into book-length non-fiction, SixMin tells the story of Kurt Muse, the only civilian of record ever rescued by the super-secret Delta Force. Thanks to Kurt's cooperation (he is co-author), I gained access to people and places that lifelong civilians like me should never see. The heroic warriors I met during that research turned out to be nothing like their movie stereotypes. These were not only gentlemen, but gentle men, who remained free of the kind of boasting and self-aggrandizement that I was expecting. They were supreme professionals, and very nice guys.
And through them I got the idea for my new series character, Jonathan Grave. He's fo
I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1979, and armed with a degree in American history, I couldn't find a job. I ended up settling for a position with a little-noticed trade journal serving the construction industry. They called me the managing editor and they paid me food stamp wages. I hated it. About this time, I joined the Burke Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax County, Virginia, if only to find relief from the boredom of my job. Running about a thousand calls my first year with the department, I was hooked, and the volunteer fire service became an important part of my life for the next 15 years. In the early eighties, hating my job, I went the way of all frustrated liberal arts undergrads—back to graduate school. Earning a Master of Science degree in safety engineering from the University of Southern California, I started down a whole new road. For the next decade and a half, I became an expert (don't you hate that word?) on explosives safety and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, I kept writing. I didn't tell anyone, of course, because, well, you just don't share artistic dreams with fellow engineers. They look at you funny.
My first novel, Nathan's Run, was in fact my fourth novel, and when it sold, it sold big. At a time in my life when things were going well—I was president of my own consulting firm—things were suddenly going very well. Warner Bros. bought the movie rights to Nathan's Run two days after the first book rights were sold, and as of this date, the novel has been translated and published in one form or another in over 20 countries. With Nathan's Run in the can, as it were, I thought I might finally be on to something, but I didn't quit my "day job" until after I sold the book and movie rights to my second novel, At All Costs. I figured that while one-in-a-row might be luck, two-in-a-row was a trend. So, I started writing full-time.
More novels followed, and then a few screenplays. I was living the dream.
But I really didn't like it much. I learned pretty quickly that when you're born a Type-A personality, those extrovert tendencies don't go away just because you're practicing a craft you love. In fact, after just a couple of years of dream fulfillment, I was pretty friggin' bored with the company of my imaginary friends, so I did something that I've never heard a full-time artist do before: I went back to a day job. At first, it was just a matter of reactivating my consulting business, but then, in 2004, I was handed my ideal Big-Boy Job (that's what my wife calls it) working as the director of safety for a trade association in Washington, DC.
And I continue to write. In 2006, Six Minutes to Freedom was published to considerable acclaim. My first (and probably last) foray into book-length non-fiction, SixMin tells the story of Kurt Muse, the only civilian of record ever rescued by the super-secret Delta Force. Thanks to Kurt's cooperation (he is co-author), I gained access to people and places that lifelong civilians like me should never see. The heroic warriors I met during that research turned out to be nothing like their movie stereotypes. These were not only gentlemen, but gentle men, who remained free of the kind of boasting and self-aggrandizement that I was expecting. They were supreme professionals, and very nice guys.
And through them I got the idea for my new series character, Jonathan Grave. He's fo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
April 16, 2021
Gilstrap is so very good. This is the second standalone, albeit with ties to the Grave series, and it was so fun to read. We learned the origin story of one of the primary characters in the main series as well.
This poor family, it was some ride. If it wasn’t for bad luck..., well, you know. Gilstrap created a truly evil bad guy. I only wish he got more of his own medicine. I also wonder what happened to the rest of these characters. While we know about Wolverine, the others may still have stories to tell. If you love the Grave books, don’t miss this one.
This poor family, it was some ride. If it wasn’t for bad luck..., well, you know. Gilstrap created a truly evil bad guy. I only wish he got more of his own medicine. I also wonder what happened to the rest of these characters. While we know about Wolverine, the others may still have stories to tell. If you love the Grave books, don’t miss this one.
November 6, 2016
This was the first stand alone I have read by this author. I really enjoy the Jonathan Graves series, but this one did not hold my attention like the series does. It started out fast and strong and ended fast and strong, but the middle dragged for me. It took weeks for me to finally finish reading the book. The premise was good. An everyday family (or are they?) against an evil government entity. I am giving it 3 stars.
February 24, 2025
Did a story ever grip you so completely that you had to pause for air? That was my experience with this nail-biting thriller told from multiple perspectives as the Brightons’ worst nightmare unfolds.
Fourteen years ago, Jake and Carolyn were working a job at a local plant when things went terribly wrong. The two escaped and before they could contact the authorities, a man-hunt was underway for them. With help from a family member, the two go underground using fake-identities, and living unassuming lives. They have escape plans, but their lives have been busy in their small community and with raising their now thirteen-year-old son.
When the FBI turns up at Jake’s auto shop, things quickly escalate, and the family finds themselves once again on the run from the FBI.
The author tells the story in both present and past through the perspectives of Jake, Carolyn, their son and the lead FBI agent. The pacing is intense as the FBI closes in. Gilstrap quickly had me connecting to the Brightons, and I believed their story as we learned what happened, but who wants this pinned on them and why? Their solution, to go back to the scene of the crime. A scene sealed off for fourteen years.
Basil Sands narrates and did a stellar job of setting the tone, capturing the characters’ emotions and holding me captive. The story is filled with twists and growing danger. The story was nail-biting, felt genuine and left me shocked. You’ll want to plan before beginning because once you begin, everything else will need to wait.
If you are looking for an addictive, heart-pounding escape, you’ll want to grab the audio edition of At All Costs. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Fourteen years ago, Jake and Carolyn were working a job at a local plant when things went terribly wrong. The two escaped and before they could contact the authorities, a man-hunt was underway for them. With help from a family member, the two go underground using fake-identities, and living unassuming lives. They have escape plans, but their lives have been busy in their small community and with raising their now thirteen-year-old son.
When the FBI turns up at Jake’s auto shop, things quickly escalate, and the family finds themselves once again on the run from the FBI.
The author tells the story in both present and past through the perspectives of Jake, Carolyn, their son and the lead FBI agent. The pacing is intense as the FBI closes in. Gilstrap quickly had me connecting to the Brightons, and I believed their story as we learned what happened, but who wants this pinned on them and why? Their solution, to go back to the scene of the crime. A scene sealed off for fourteen years.
Basil Sands narrates and did a stellar job of setting the tone, capturing the characters’ emotions and holding me captive. The story is filled with twists and growing danger. The story was nail-biting, felt genuine and left me shocked. You’ll want to plan before beginning because once you begin, everything else will need to wait.
If you are looking for an addictive, heart-pounding escape, you’ll want to grab the audio edition of At All Costs. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 4, 2015
I saw this book and read it on the strength of the blurb. A fast-paced thriller which stands the test of time, it is penned in such a wonderful manner that it takes you on an emotional journey along with the main characters. There are not too many twists and turns, just a good plot and an enjoyable read.
November 20, 2011
Like all John Gilstrap books, At All Costs grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. In the opening chapter, the reader is thrust into the lives of Jake and Carolyn; normal everyday people with normal everyday jobs, a son and a home, until one incident sends them fleeing for their lives, on the run from the police and FBI. By chapter two, we find out the couple hold the number one spot on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list. They have been in hiding for the last 12 years and don't intend to give that up now.
Enter Irene Rivers from the Jonathan Graves series. As FBI agent in charge of bringing Jake and Carolyn in, she must not only save her reputation by capturing Jake and Carolyn, but unravel the question of if they are really guilty.
As a huge fan of John Gilstrap, I was thrilled to read the story of how Irene Rivers got to the top of the FBI. This is a woman who demands her own series. She is tough, capable, smart and tender all at the same time. I'd love to read more of her story.
If you are a Gilstrap fan, you will love At All Costs. If not, you will be after reading this.
Victoria Allman
Author of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
SEAsoned - A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
Enter Irene Rivers from the Jonathan Graves series. As FBI agent in charge of bringing Jake and Carolyn in, she must not only save her reputation by capturing Jake and Carolyn, but unravel the question of if they are really guilty.
As a huge fan of John Gilstrap, I was thrilled to read the story of how Irene Rivers got to the top of the FBI. This is a woman who demands her own series. She is tough, capable, smart and tender all at the same time. I'd love to read more of her story.
If you are a Gilstrap fan, you will love At All Costs. If not, you will be after reading this.
Victoria Allman
Author of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
SEAsoned - A Chef's Journey with Her Captain
September 20, 2013
This was an exciting book--a real page turner. It was recommended to my book discussion group. I had not read this author before but enjoyed his work and will look for other books he has written. As I read the book, I could not help but hope the main characters would come out ok in the end. I recommend this book to readers who like action-packed thrillers.
April 27, 2014
A great thriller to start but when down hill from there, drawn out with it ending in a whimper
December 14, 2014
John Gilstrap has written another taut page-turning thriller that you will find very hard to put down. Those who have read his amazing Jonathan Grave series will remember Irene Rivers as Jonathan's tough CIA link and long time friend. This book brings us one of Irene's first big cases, showing how her dogged pursuit of the truth gets her the nickname of Wolverine. Jake and Carolyn Donovan have been on the run for 14 years after being accused of a mass murder and labelled as terrorists. After their last identity is compromised, they grab their pre-teen son, Travis, and head off once again. But now, they have decided to fight the conspiracy and work to bring the truth to life. Problem is, they are now facing Irene and her band of FBI agents who are determined to bring them into custody. Lots of twists and turns, close calls and dangers, make this a fantastic, fast paced story that will keep you riveted.
January 28, 2018
14/20. Excellent fast paced thriller. Big fan of this authors other book Nathans Run which this book reminded me of (Innocent people on the run to avoid being murdered by evil conspiracies). Written in 1999 I'm not sure if you could do a book now whose heroes have been No.1 on the FBI most wanted list for a terrorist attack for 14 years (prophetic or what, look out in 2015 Osama they're coming to get you) but a great read, a real page turner that I read in 2 days, perfect for a journey.
October 26, 2014
If you like a thriller/action type book, reading this guy is a pretty good bet that you will be thoroughly entertained. I've read several John Gilstrap books and "At All Costs" is pretty darn good. Sure, it's not a romance novel, a feel good book, or will it ever be considered great "literature". It is however, a fairly quick read and a good "page turner" so that you might well end up reading it late into the night.
November 6, 2007
My only beef with this book is that I never felt that any of the characters were in danger. Even when suffering from life threatening ailments in the book, I didn't think Gilstrap would kill them off. Otherwise, this gook is a really good read bound to keep you enthralled. Definately a book to check out if you are looking for something to read.
July 4, 2016
An extremely intense thriller/cliff-hanger with a realistic scenario that gives one pause -it could really happen.
The characters are believable and get under one's skin, but the prolonged suspense in some places was overly melodramatic. Nevertheless, this is a very good read, well paced and highly engaging.
The characters are believable and get under one's skin, but the prolonged suspense in some places was overly melodramatic. Nevertheless, this is a very good read, well paced and highly engaging.
March 29, 2019
Twists and Turns
I really enjoy the way John Gilstrap weaves his stories together out of dozens of threads. What do a U.S. senator, a manager of a body shop, a picked on kid, a bureaucrat at the EPA, his unhappy wife, an FBI field agent and a ruthless Chicago businessman have in common? You’ll have to read this book to find out.
I really enjoy the way John Gilstrap weaves his stories together out of dozens of threads. What do a U.S. senator, a manager of a body shop, a picked on kid, a bureaucrat at the EPA, his unhappy wife, an FBI field agent and a ruthless Chicago businessman have in common? You’ll have to read this book to find out.
May 10, 2011
Very suspenseful and action-packed! I don't normally read the thriller genre but this book hooked me because of the family angle. The plot is full of twists and turns, and will definitely keep you up at night to finish it. Made me want to seek out others by this author.
July 4, 2012
Another excellent thriller by Gilstrap. I enjoyed getting to see some of Irene Rivers' back-story in this one, and the Donovans were likeable and believable protagonists. Once again, Gilstrap did a great job bringing the characters to life.
March 2, 2018
In the early part of his career, John Gilstrap wrote a lot about families in jeopardy. Now it seems like he's delved into more Clancy-type territory. This is kind of like Running On Empty, and is a great sample of early Gilstrap.
Read
October 19, 2019This book “At All Costs” by “John Gilstrap” is a story about a fugitive family using dead people's identities to hide from the government because from a crime they didn’t commit and are the number one on the ten most wanted list. Jake and Carolyn known as the Donovan’s life will change from years of hiding and obey the law but this time they will need to run. Their son Travis will later know the truth about his parents past and he will never see his parents the same ever again.
Jake Donovan who people know him as Jake Brighton works at a body shop in a small town in Phoenix. One day the FBI and the DEA had busted inside the body shop to do a drug bust because Jake’s paint crew did a sloppy job of transporting them. Jake Brighton was worried when he seen the FBI and the DEA outside the shop because he thought he was going to get robbed and this made him reached for his gun and aimed it at agent Rivers. Jake aimed his gun at agent Rivers for a long time because he was panicking which made him freeze as a statue and when he focused he lowered his gun then was arrested with an assault charge. During that time his wife Carolyn was working at her desperate job where people open packages by not picking up after their mess they caused in the store. When Jake was taken to the courtroom he made a call to Carolyn to go by the plan they had practiced for years for this kind of situation now because he knew when the FBI took fingerprints of his hand everything about their lives are going to change after that. Carolyn was worried because no one had never called her while she was working if it has to deal with something about her child Travis at school, when Jake told her to calm down and to focus on telling her that they're in this together, she instantly runs to the exit of the store not listening to customers or to her boss. Carolyn always has doubt because she doesn’t believe they are ever going to have a good life from hiding but jake always has to put Carolyn into the confidence phase so everything can go as planned
When Jake was released he had a “burst of excitement” and when he exited the courtroom he was being cautious because he knew by the time he was released the FBI would know who he really was. Agent River was furious by the background check of Jake Donovan “Number one on the ten most wanted list”. A few hours had passed when Carolyn had finished getting everything done as planned . As Carolyn was waiting for Jake to arrive at the storage center she was getting worried and was thinking about leaving without him but her mind was always saying “family first” which Jake had implemented into her mind. By the time Jake arrived Carolyn had calmed down and the only thing they needed to do was getting their son Travis. As they were arriving to Travis’s school Jake and Carolyn had an argument because Carolyn has been saying that they should give up running away but Jake told her If the FBI catches them it's over and the only important thing right now is getting their son and finding a way to escape. Everytime when the Donovan’s had escaped from being pulled over by police by using different identities agent River would always get furious. The main goal for agent Rivers is getting the Donovan’s in that cell because if she doesn't she would be lowered in the ranks. When Jake had told Travis about his past “of being accused of massacring 16 people and causing an environmental catastrophe” will change Travis’s life of what he really thought about his family. The only chance the Donavan’s have to escape from running away is Carolyn’s uncle known as Harry whom is a lawyer who helped them before when everything went downhill for them. Harry is a person who doesn't stop if he successfully done his job and that's why he wants to help Carolyn to stop running and believes she and her husband Jake are innocent.
My opinion about this book is that I think the Donovan’s are innocent because whoever was there when the Donovan’s had seen in the darkness causing the murders and causing an environmental catastrophe when they were escaping didn’t want to get their hands dirty so he or she wanted them to be criminals for a reason. I think the target audience for this book is for those who are looking for a suspenseful and entertaining story telling.
Jake Donovan who people know him as Jake Brighton works at a body shop in a small town in Phoenix. One day the FBI and the DEA had busted inside the body shop to do a drug bust because Jake’s paint crew did a sloppy job of transporting them. Jake Brighton was worried when he seen the FBI and the DEA outside the shop because he thought he was going to get robbed and this made him reached for his gun and aimed it at agent Rivers. Jake aimed his gun at agent Rivers for a long time because he was panicking which made him freeze as a statue and when he focused he lowered his gun then was arrested with an assault charge. During that time his wife Carolyn was working at her desperate job where people open packages by not picking up after their mess they caused in the store. When Jake was taken to the courtroom he made a call to Carolyn to go by the plan they had practiced for years for this kind of situation now because he knew when the FBI took fingerprints of his hand everything about their lives are going to change after that. Carolyn was worried because no one had never called her while she was working if it has to deal with something about her child Travis at school, when Jake told her to calm down and to focus on telling her that they're in this together, she instantly runs to the exit of the store not listening to customers or to her boss. Carolyn always has doubt because she doesn’t believe they are ever going to have a good life from hiding but jake always has to put Carolyn into the confidence phase so everything can go as planned
When Jake was released he had a “burst of excitement” and when he exited the courtroom he was being cautious because he knew by the time he was released the FBI would know who he really was. Agent River was furious by the background check of Jake Donovan “Number one on the ten most wanted list”. A few hours had passed when Carolyn had finished getting everything done as planned . As Carolyn was waiting for Jake to arrive at the storage center she was getting worried and was thinking about leaving without him but her mind was always saying “family first” which Jake had implemented into her mind. By the time Jake arrived Carolyn had calmed down and the only thing they needed to do was getting their son Travis. As they were arriving to Travis’s school Jake and Carolyn had an argument because Carolyn has been saying that they should give up running away but Jake told her If the FBI catches them it's over and the only important thing right now is getting their son and finding a way to escape. Everytime when the Donovan’s had escaped from being pulled over by police by using different identities agent River would always get furious. The main goal for agent Rivers is getting the Donovan’s in that cell because if she doesn't she would be lowered in the ranks. When Jake had told Travis about his past “of being accused of massacring 16 people and causing an environmental catastrophe” will change Travis’s life of what he really thought about his family. The only chance the Donavan’s have to escape from running away is Carolyn’s uncle known as Harry whom is a lawyer who helped them before when everything went downhill for them. Harry is a person who doesn't stop if he successfully done his job and that's why he wants to help Carolyn to stop running and believes she and her husband Jake are innocent.
My opinion about this book is that I think the Donovan’s are innocent because whoever was there when the Donovan’s had seen in the darkness causing the murders and causing an environmental catastrophe when they were escaping didn’t want to get their hands dirty so he or she wanted them to be criminals for a reason. I think the target audience for this book is for those who are looking for a suspenseful and entertaining story telling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2023
finished 11th february 2023 good read three stars i liked it kindle library loaner have read three from gilstrap and have enjoyed each one this one follows a couple on the run for fourteen years after an incident at a weapons storage facility their long run disrupted by the arrest of drug bunnies at the work place of the man...don't recall if the f.b.i. team sent to arrest the drug bunnies were adorned in full battle-rattle but the man...reacted and paid the price. in this story like in one other maybe both of the other stories i've read there's a charming image of one character chomping down on the flesh of another...fight scene. my arm hurts thinking about it. fortunately i have access to more then a few digital library indexes discovered after seeing that my go-to digital library only had three gilstrap stories so it was a nice discovery to see i have access to other indexes...will have to check my "to-read" pile that i do not index (maybe my recommendation list) to see what else i can find not available at the go-to outlet.
June 9, 2020
One of the few books I DNF.
I usually read through books no matter how boring they are, but this one just didn't do it for me and I quit about a third in.
I get that the main characters are in a dire situation so they're not at their best, but the author really could've made them at least somewhat likeable.
Instead they're all very whiny and show other unpleasant traits that just makes it hard to root for them.
Maybe they'll redeem themselves later, maybe they won't. But at over 100 pages in without character development or anything interesting happening, I stopped caring.
The start of the book was very hard for me to get through as well, because a way-too-long segment is spent on the whole "these people are on the run from something horrible but we won't tell you what it is."
When The Event is finally shown, I found it poorly narrated.
Not the author for me, that's for sure.
I usually read through books no matter how boring they are, but this one just didn't do it for me and I quit about a third in.
I get that the main characters are in a dire situation so they're not at their best, but the author really could've made them at least somewhat likeable.
Instead they're all very whiny and show other unpleasant traits that just makes it hard to root for them.
Maybe they'll redeem themselves later, maybe they won't. But at over 100 pages in without character development or anything interesting happening, I stopped caring.
The start of the book was very hard for me to get through as well, because a way-too-long segment is spent on the whole "these people are on the run from something horrible but we won't tell you what it is."
When The Event is finally shown, I found it poorly narrated.
Not the author for me, that's for sure.
February 24, 2023
the book is almost 25 years old.. but what a story. One of the best suspense novels I have read in a long time. I know that the author has a series of books with a specific lead character, but this is not one of them...
I highly recommend this book to those who really like suspense.
"Jake and Carolyn Donovan stand accused of massacring 16 people and touching off one of the country's worst environmental catastrophes. Although innocent, they are on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. Along with their young son, they have eluded capture for 13 years, but are finally forced to stop running and fight for their freedom--and their lives. "
I highly recommend this book to those who really like suspense.
"Jake and Carolyn Donovan stand accused of massacring 16 people and touching off one of the country's worst environmental catastrophes. Although innocent, they are on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. Along with their young son, they have eluded capture for 13 years, but are finally forced to stop running and fight for their freedom--and their lives. "
November 3, 2021
You know how, as part of the story line, an author will mention a song, band, food, author? Well, that' s how I found John Gilstrap. And what a prize this, his 2nd novel is. Jake Brighton is working for Marcus Ford when the FBI comes in. He thinks they're after him; however, the targets are the workers in the paint department who are selling drugs. After much finagling on the part of new friends, Jake is released - and, after calling his wife - RUNS. A fascinating story of how innocent people are blamed form an act of terrorism and their efforts to prove themselves innocent.
December 21, 2021
I think it was one of the readers of these pages that first turned me on to John Gilstrap. I really liked his first book, Nathan's Run, but this one may have to go on my top ten list for 2000. It is spectacular. Jake and Carolyn Brighton are the perfect small town couple. Until, that is, their small town finds out that these two are actually two of the FBI's most wanted fugitives. Their 'crime' was 14 years ago and their outing causes them to go back to the scene to prove their innocence. It is a fabulously crafted story and one who's ending kept me reading far too late last night.
October 6, 2020
Jake and Carolyn Donovan have been on the run from the FBI for 14 years. By happenstance Jake winds up in the middle of a drug bust. Luckily for him and his family his lawyer gets him released before the results of his prints come back.
Now it's on the run all over again. They turn to an old friend to help gather the evidence that will prove their innocence. But someone in power doesn't want that to happen.
It was a decent story up to about halfway when it really kicked into gear.
Now it's on the run all over again. They turn to an old friend to help gather the evidence that will prove their innocence. But someone in power doesn't want that to happen.
It was a decent story up to about halfway when it really kicked into gear.
November 8, 2021
This is a great plot. The tension is constant, the protagonists working as hard as they can to get out of the mess they're in. They're naive and yet intelligent and clever, learning as they go, evading a foe that is all around them and can show up at any time. I thoroughly enjoyed every page. Good characters, good story.
January 3, 2022
A surprisingly good story from an author who usually writes "shoot-em-up" stories with superheroes who overcome overwhelming odds to save the day or the innocent. This is a story of a couple in hiding after being mistakenly accused of murder and being on the run for years until an unfortunate event reveals their true identity. Well-written and easy to read, the story is quite enjoyable.
December 12, 2025
Great thriller
Mr. Gilstrap weaves an Intriguing web of conspiracy, love, pain, and justice. His story takes the reader from the suffocating confines of a haz-mat suit to the back room power meetings of Washington D.C. The trip makes the reader turn page after page looking forward to the next twist.
Mr. Gilstrap weaves an Intriguing web of conspiracy, love, pain, and justice. His story takes the reader from the suffocating confines of a haz-mat suit to the back room power meetings of Washington D.C. The trip makes the reader turn page after page looking forward to the next twist.
January 4, 2020
The suspense factor was top notch.
The story was well written, with no gaps or implausible situations. It kept me alert, anxious and nervous to see how it would play out. The bad guys were truly bad; I did love Thorn, though.
The story was well written, with no gaps or implausible situations. It kept me alert, anxious and nervous to see how it would play out. The bad guys were truly bad; I did love Thorn, though.
March 1, 2020
A good read
This storyline is good, I think the writer does a great job with the characters, it just wasn't a book that I had to read all at once. It took a while for me to keep my interest.
This storyline is good, I think the writer does a great job with the characters, it just wasn't a book that I had to read all at once. It took a while for me to keep my interest.
March 17, 2020
Good read
One of those books one can't but down, the only annoying part was the so-called hero constantly screwing up, it got annoying but the story help together. Great writing, fun read.
One of those books one can't but down, the only annoying part was the so-called hero constantly screwing up, it got annoying but the story help together. Great writing, fun read.
May 5, 2022
Jake and Carolyn Donovan are accused of a crime they did not commit they are on the run from the authorities also they are also protecting their son it is one family's ordeal against the justice system to prove their innocence
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