The Low Road: A John Tyler Action Thriller

by Tom Fowler

A military thriller of small-town corruption, rigged justice and a veteran who won't stay locked up. Lone-wolf suspense where a quiet road trip becomes a one-man war on a crooked town.

A former Green Beret exposes small-town corruption after a rigged arrest puts his life and his daughter in danger in this high-stakes military action thriller of lone-wolf justice.

Even hundreds of miles from Baltimore…
Deadly trouble still finds John Tyler.

At his daughter Lexi’s encouragement, retired soldier John Tyler heads out of state for a classic car convention. Lexi comes along for moral and technical support, and for once, the trip feels like it might actually be a break.

It doesn’t last.

When Tyler is arrested on a bogus vehicular charge, the weekend goes off the rails fast. Things get worse when his captors realize exactly who they’ve locked up, and what he’s capable of.

After surviving an attempt on his life, Tyler starts asking questions. What he uncovers is a town riddled with corruption, run by powerful people who will do anything to protect their criminal operation.

Tyler has never been good at walking away. Not when innocent people are being exploited, and not when his daughter is in danger.

It’s a collision course, and despite their best efforts to stop him, John Tyler stays in the driver’s seat. Can he keep Lexi safe and bring down a criminal organization before he becomes another body buried by the town?

The Low Road is Book Six in the John Tyler Thriller Series, perfect for readers who love fast-paced action thrillers, former military heroes, lone-wolf justice, and small-town corruption.

Praise for the John Tyler Thriller

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Tyler doesn’t back down.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ They picked on the wrong man.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Lexi is definitely her father's daughter.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ A heart pounding ride.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Plenty of action and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Genres: Native American, Action

436 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2023

Reviews

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Low Road is #6 in the John Tyler Action Series and is an excellent continuation of the life and times of ex-military man John Tyler and his daughter Laci. Tyler served 26 years in the US Military, followed by 8 years working in private security before his ex-wife was sent to prison and his high school aged daughter came to live with him. With four tours in Afghanistan and many overseas postings while serving, Tyler hadn't been home much with Laci, so they each consider this a second chance to know one another more naturally. Neither of them thinks John's high-risk job is a good idea, and he has always loved and worked extensively on old muscle cars. Tyler sees the light as a single parent for the next few years. The only parent. Laci needs a stable home, a calm and supportive parent, and someone she can trust to be around for the next important few years of her life. He immediately finds a mechanic job in Smitty's small garage and quits Patriot Security. However, trouble will still tend to follow him around.

In The Low Road, Tyler has opened his classic car repair garage and daughter Laci talks him into entering his classic Oldsmobile 442 in a car show several hours away as a means of spreading the word about his new repair and restoration garage among other vintage car enthusiasts. Tyler has never entered a car show. Tyler has never even been to a car show. Laci, now a freshman in college, is of course in charge of advertising and handles the books. Despite his reluctance, Tyler gives in to her common sense plan to meet other car enthusiasts. Within hours, he is ticketed for a broken taillight and aftermarket exhaust. He explains to the cops, more than once, the taillight was intact when he parked the car, and the car is almost 40 years old and has had several exhaust systems over all those years. They toss him in jail for resisting arrest. When he didn't return to the hotel and Laci, she called his girlfriend Sara who is an FBI investigator, who in turn called Tyler's lawyer. This will be the last 'normal' thing that will happen in this thriller. Tyler knows how to clear a room. The barnyard. The road. Laci is learning to back him up. With the politics in this little place, it isn't hard to find injustices. Even with your eyes closed. And if you are also looking for corruption and prejudice, you have come to the right place.

REVIEWED on March 7, 2025 at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.

[Sherie Miklas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite John Tyler book yet. Tyler’s daughter, Lexi, has the great idea to buy him a pass to a classic car convention to drum up business for his own classic car repair shop. He agrees to go only if she will join him. They head off to Beauregard, NC, a small town with a police chief who can spot an out of state license plate a mile away. Spotting Tyler’s Maryland plate on his 442 was the chief’s first mistake. From there the story snowballs into a nail biting, heart pounding ride. The author introduces some great characters that I wouldn’t mind seeing in some future books. I’d love to find out what path Grady and Ray-Ray, the escaped convicts, took after Tyler left town. Lexi is really coming into her own. She’s totally her father’s daughter. I can easily see her becoming a CIA operative with her computer and tactical skills, intellect, and budding street smarts. Maybe a spin-off series? I highly recommend this book!

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely amazing book. When I first started this series I wasn’t 100% sold on it. Mainly because I was so entrenched in the authors other series and missed the protagonist. But wow by the end of the second book I was sold and now can’t wait for another John Tyler book. This one is well worth the wait. With dynamic characters, an engrossing storyline, and plenty of action this book hits all the right spots for hours of entertainment.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Tyler can’t go anywhere without running into a situation that needs his special skills to fix. John has a car repair business specializing in classic vehicles. Since it never hurts to have more business, his daughter, Lexi, talks him into going to North Carolina to a car show so he can advertise his expertise. He and Lexi drive the 442 to a small town near the show which is amazingly modern and spotless. There are all kinds of huge homes and expensive vehicles around. Curious situation; there seems to be a lot of money coming from somewhere. John’s tail light is mysteriously broken while he and Lexi are having dinner. When he objects, he is arrested and taken to jail. John and Lexi investigate further and find that the police are arresting visitors on phony vehicular charges, and then taking them to jail. Out-of-towners pay the fines and then leave town as soon as possible. That is, most out-of-towners; but not John. This little scam is just a way to make easy money for the officers, but definitely not enough to justify what he sees in this town. Since John is starting to interfere with this sweet money-making scheme, his life is threatened in the jail. John escapes and he is now on the run. It appears that the entire small town and even State government is after him. John and Lexi dig deeper into what is really going on. What is the source of all of this money? How far up the chain does this go? It can’t be legal. This is a very intense story that will keep you up until the end. I highly recommend it and look forward to the next in the series.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Tyler is a car repair mechanic. He owns Special Operations Classic Car Repair (fictional) in Baltimore, Maryland. Tyler is ex military, having served as a wheeled vehicle mechanic in Afghanistan. Tyler has special skills; he is able to help out people who find themselves in trouble because of circumstances that have developed through no fault of their own. In this story, Tyler himself gets involved in a situation because he drives to North Carolina to visit an vintage car show; and to promote his specialty repair shop. Tyler finds himself arrested and jailed because of a crime ring of corrupt law enforcement and politicians in the small fictional town of Beauregard, North Carolina. Content warning: A lot of bad guys get killed.
I started reading the series because I am somewhat familiar with the locations described in the book. The book held my interest when I was reading the story. The action doesn't stop, until Tyler has cleaned-up the town. The book is well-written and can be read as a stand-alone.
Settings/Locations: [North Carolina: Beauregard fictional town in fictional Ramseur County, Bryson City, Fort Bragg, Charlotte, Research Triangle Park, Sappony Nation Reservation – fictional, however the Native American Sappony Indian Tribe of North Carolina is a recognized High Plains tribe of the State; Maryland: Baltimore (Northern Parkway, Special Operations Classic Car Repair – fictional, Harford Road), Columbia, College Park (University of Maryland, Plato’s Parlor Apts. - fictional; Virginia: U.S. Department of Defense, The Pentagon; Mentioned: West Virginia]

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this adventure. This installment takes readers into North Carolina and does a great job showing that even the most beautiful places have their own problems. Like every state, there’s the good, the bad, and the ugly and this story doesn’t shy away from any of it. The setting felt authentic and added real depth to the action.
It was actually Lexi’s idea to head down to NC for a classic car show. She wants to help get John’s shop more recognized and build its reputation, which makes total sense for her character. Of course, that’s when everything starts going downhill. What begins as a business opportunity quickly turns into something much bigger and more dangerous than anyone expected.
There were a couple of slower chapters early on, but once the story picked up, it really picked up. The tension builds steadily, and before long the pace is fast, intense, and hard to put down. John continues to be steady under pressure, and Lexi’s involvement adds heart and higher emotional stakes to the story.
What I especially liked was how layered the storyline felt. It doesn’t feel neatly wrapped up, and I honestly don’t think this storyline is over yet which only makes me more excited for what’s coming next. I can’t wait to start the next one and see where this journey goes.
Honestly, if this series ever became a mini-series on Netflix or Prime, I think Bob Odenkirk would be a great choice to star in it. After seeing what he did in Nobody, I could really picture him bringing John Tyler’s grit, intensity, and quiet toughness to life on screen.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review
.
This story begins with Lexi preparing to start her sophomore year and moving to the campus. Tyler is working as he normally does when Lexi talks to him about how to get new business. As a result, Lexi starts looking into sites where she discovers there is a car show for classic vehicles. Lexi then takes it upon herself to book her father as a displayer. She then ultimately convinces her father to do it. He said he would only do it if she went with him. Upon in arriving in the N.C. town where they had booked a room, they went to dinner. Unbeknownst to them, the town was corrupt and one of the cops broke a taillight on Tyler's car. In addition, because his muffler was not original equipment, which was another violation, Tyler was arrested and put into jail.

Lexi then started working on getting help for her father. Tyler, meanwhile, was taken to the county jail where he was attacked. In the end Tyler knew he needed to escape and with the help of three other prisoners was successfull. After reuniting with his daughter, they discussed what to do next.

To learn what Lexi and Tyler proceeded to do with help from others and what sort of obstacles they had to overcome, then you need to read this book. This action will keep you reading until you finished the book. The ending sums everything up and you learn while the town was corrupt as well as what other players were involved.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far will a 'Legal' Crook go?
This was a very busy addition! It starts off so nice and family time, right? Lexi gets John Tyler to go to this car show for the weekend to strum up business for his company. They stopped for breakfast, a cop broke his tail light on his 442, cleaned the glass up. So when he goes out there, then he is confronted by a busted tail light, and an after market exhaust system... I mean, of course its not going to be the original, its how old?
So, they take him to jail, wait to get more money from him, and he makes the mistake of pointing out how 'nice' this town looks.
So, he goes to county lock up, and things really take a turn there. Poor John Tyler can't get a break... which makes the city, county, and state Pay by His terms!
I really liked this one as it seamed like it could be anyone, anywhere USA, and anything happen.. which is true, in reality. Even the learning to let your kid grow up and move out. That takes time and work too.
This could be great as a standalone, but is much better when you read the series in whole.
Thank you, Tom Fowler for another Great Story!
I received a complimentary copy of this story, and this is my honest review.

[Library Champion · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Low Road began relatively slowly but it soon built up to a suspenseful level. You begin to hold your breath, just knowing that with every decision (all pretty innocent by themselves) the 'other shoe will drop' and when it does, the surprise takes a smooth suspension of disbelief - "Oh, so *that's* what's going to set everything off." Suspension builds further with veiled threats to Lexi, who is working behind the scenes to gather information, maintain outside contact, and eventually keep her eyes open for those threats to herself.

The meanings of "the Low Road" are both subtle and in-your-face, and the subtle becomes entwined with the obvious as the story evolves. Tyler and Lexi join forces along the way with a retired cop, an assortment of fugitives, and First Nation Americans to fight against outright murderous conspiracy that crosses political and geographic lines.

The story line is rapid fire (often literally) and eventful, and completely entertaining. I feel this is one of Tom Fowler's strongest of both his series. It's hard to pick a favorite, and he has blended the two series by inserting characters from one to the other, with great effect.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. Opinions and comments are entirely my own.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

John T is a classic car mechanic and daughter Lexi is packing for college when she gets the bright idea of attending a car show with his restored 442 Olds.

They head off for a fun last weekend before she leaves and end up in a town near the car show as everything at the show is sold out. The adjoining town is surprisingly updated, new roads, buildings is excellent repair etc. While at dinner, the local police have a scam. Fine out of towners for violations, throw them in jail, tow their car and collect steep fines. All of this however doesn't cover all the upkeep this town has undergone.

Tyler heads to jail for the weekend and is attacked rather quickly after arriving. He finds that due to his comments about the town, those in power want him silenced permanently. He stages a breakout, meets up with Lexi and a few townies she has befriended and finds the real reason behind the prosperity- gold mining and corruption.

He, Lexi and former old & new friends fight through the corruption and bring what is going on into the light. Lots of beat downs, shootings and corrupt cops and a quick read

[Kathryn Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LOW ROAD
JOHN TYLER by Tom Fowler


If you have ever read any Repairman Jack novels, you will love John Tyler books.
They are great reading that will have you on the edge of your seat and Tom Fowler does a great job of writing with all the excitement you could ask for.
John is raising his college age daughter because his ex wife is in prison. Both have adjusted just fine and realize how much alike they really are. She is the one thing that he really loves and his life now has meaning and that’s just what he has been looking for. He has a lady friend who works for the government which sometimes adds special twists to his life.
John is the hero that you have always wanted to know and most always does the right thing, not always the easiest. He hates injustice and can never walk away when someone really needs help.
If you want to read books about an average guy who owns a classic car repair shop, get different books. These are all so much more and you will enjoy them all!











Review by Kathy Barnett

[BJayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent novel by Tom Fowler. The main character, John Tyler, simply wants to work on classic cars and spend some extra time with his daughter before she moves out to live off-campus with her friends. So when an opportunity arises for John to take a road trip with Lexi, he goes, thinking this will be a great father-daughter bonding time. But things don’t always go to plan, do they?

John and Lexi end up in a small town where things seem to be a bit too “nice”. John can sense that something is off, but he prefers to keep to himself. Until he’s caught up in one of the town’s schemes. Things quickly go from bad to worse, but John has never been one to back away from a fight or step away from defending the underdog.

There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing what’s really going on in this back woods town. The suspense of wondering what will happen next will keep you on the edge of your seat.

If you’re a fan of Jack Reacher style books, you’ll love Tom Fowler’s John Tyler.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Low Road, #6 - Intense. Interesting. Good pace. Good action. Good planning throughout the story lines. Good characters making sure the baddies pay their dues. Well written and entertaining, and a one sitting read. Never mess with a classic car. Source: ARC. 5*

The John Tyler Series:
Midnight Drive, prequel: Interesting characters and dialogue. Good storylines but average. 3*

Four on the Floor, John Tyler Series, #4 - Good characters. Good dialogues. Well written and thought out story lines. No vulgar language but plenty of realistic, fast-paced action. 4*

Forced Induction, #5 - One of my favorite series. The stories keep getting better with each new addition. FI keeps the pace fast and steady with Lexi helping John in his quest to find stolen military weapons. The characters, both old and new, blend well with the new and continuous story lines. There's a lot of blood but it is all for a good cause. Ole Uncle George is back to make things bad for John. Hard to put down but well worth the time invested. 5*

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Tyler finds himself on the wrong end of trouble. Unfortunately, this time he has his daughter, Lexie with him, and anyone who messes with Lexie is in for a rough road. The characters here are well-developed, realistic, and people you wouldn't mind knowing in real life. I think my favorite of Tyler's character traits is his inability to walk away when someone is in trouble or being abused. He has to do his best to right the wrongs he sees. And Lexie is definitely her father's daughter. She is just as strong and determined as Tyler is.
The story has plenty of action to keep the shoot 'em up, beat 'em up crowd engaged, and plenty of investigative action, also. It is the best of all worlds, in my opinion. If you haven't read this series I highly recommend that you do. The stories don't have to be read in order, but you are able to see the progression of the characters better if you do.
I received a review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This being a John Tyler thriller there are certain expectations that Tom Fowler has created for his character. Firstly, someone somewhere will do the wrong thing. Secondly, they will likely do that near, or in this case, to Tyler himself. Which all leads to the third expectation, and the best thing about these books, that Tyler will not be able to walk away. A broken tail light is just the start for Tyler this time around. I won’t give away plot details but Tom Fowler puts his man through a lot in this one but Tyler has never been afraid of hard work or a little discomfort. This is as good as any of this series and that’s saying a lot as they’ve all been excellent. You get great characters, storylines full of twists and turns, tension, action all wrapped up in a fast paced novel. This author never lets his readers down and with The Low Road I’m sure he’ll have another sure fire hit.

[Valettagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book I received an ARC from the author and boy I was not disappointed. John Tyler ex military and definitely no pushover is the main character. When he’s pulled for a motoring offence
( that wasn’t) he’s not prepared to let sleeping dogs lie. There’s something strange going on, and whilst he didn’t want to be there, he certainly isn’t going to put his daughter in jeopardy. This town don’t realise who they’re messing with. The story just gets better and better with plenty of twists and turns. When reality hits it’s all too late and there’s only going to be one winner. John Tyler but not before everyone he holds dear is threatened. Wow! Loved it.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic John Tyler book. His daughter Lexi gets involved and has really grown up. She can handle her own and protect herself. This time John gets a bogus ticket in a small town in North Carolina. The rot goes deep in this town. Rollins joins in the fun. There r a few new characters who add to the story! There is non stop action, drama and plenty of fight scenes! It’s a typical good vs evil story but it involves right and powerful people! We also get a hint at what the next book will be. No matter where Tyler goes you trouble follows. I highly recommend this book and this author!

[Slugpuppy3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonstop action. I couldn’t put down THE LOW ROAD! All Tyler wanted was to please his daughter by attending a car show to drum up more business. Crooked cops in a small Southern town targeted him for a shake-down as soon as they saw his out-of-state car tag. Tyler doesn’t like being a target and, besides, there’s something really shady going on that needs to be looked into …
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book with no strings attached. I even purchased my own copy! 😁

[Doug Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

No good deed goes unpunished as John Tyler finds out when he and his daughter head off to a classic car show. They find room in a nearby town where the police chief is running a scam on visitors to hide much more serious activities. Tyler is the wrong guy to mess with as they soon find out in this action-packed thriller. I received an advance copy of this book from the author and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does it feel to put your trust in someone or a group of people and be brutalized atrociously by these people???
Corruption and greed is the bottom line, and it made bile rise up in my throat. This had so many dark twists and turns, but I love when the underdogs get their licks in and shine! I was grinning like a loon by the end of this magnificent blow for justice. But, I'm sure this author has some dark plans ahead in his next book. Hold on tight!!!

[Dave and Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marketing to malicious intent

Misdemeanor to mayhem.

Indian injustice to jailbird insurrection

Broken promises to broken heads.

John Tyler always seems to have trouble follow him.

Wind him up and he has to correct the trouble whether it is his directly or injustice to others.

Can Lexi reel him in or does she she get pulled into the mess?

Read this great addition to the series. Tom Fowler has done it again!

[Tg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Low Road is most certainly a High-Octane thriller that will keep you excited and tense at every turn of the page. This book revs up from the very beginning and speeds it way to a crescendo of forceful action in a fight for the underdogs. It’s an absolute thrill-a-minute filled with a terrific assortment of interesting characters and a high powered and riveting story about criminals who ultimately…. (you will have to find out because I don’t want to ruin the excitement for you)

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be fooled by the relatively slow start of John Tyler's latest adventure.
The Low Road is a fast-paced and gripping novel with lively characters.
JT, his daughter, and his friends join forces with an assorted team of fugitives, retired cops, and native americans to fight local corruption in a nearby county.
The plot is an uninterrupted sequence of twists and turns, engaging and entertaining despite the rather violent content.

[Jodi Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler is happy working in the shop, but Lexi thinks they should advertise to bring in more business. She finds a car show in North Carolina and they head out for the weekend. This town is not as it seems and when Tyler gets arrested on trumped up charges, he gets mad. That is when everything hits the fan. This book is even wilder than the others before and you will not be able to put this one down!

[Carolyn Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what can I say about my favorite author other than he still keeps hitting them out of the ballpark. Each story in this series keeps getting better and better. With a lot of action and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat, and trying to turn the pages as fast as you can so you can see what is happening next. And another five stars for the Yeti!! Everyone needs to read this series.


I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Daryl J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read any of Tom Fowler’s books, and I was gifted (by him) THE LOW ROAD, the sixth in the John Tyler series. After reading this book, I’m a fan and will start from the beginning of the series. Fortunately, THE LOW ROAD is a standalone book. Good, crisp writing, a fascinating plot, and great heroes (and heroines) make this a must-read for action thriller fans. Mr. Fowler also has crime series that I will also check out. As for now, I’m a new Tom Fowler (and John Tyler) fan.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great action thriller from Tom Fowler
Despite wanting to live a quiet life trouble finds John Tyler wherever he goes.
I love his sense of social justice. Corruption at the highest levels does not stop him from wanting to put things right.
If you like this genre, you will enjoy this fast paced thriller.

Thank you for the opportunity to read your book

[Susan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another John Tyler action adventure. His daughter Lexi plays a more active role in this installment. A lead in to the next installment is intriguing and scary. Can’t wait for that one coming in 2024. Rollins shows up to help out in this adventure. This has a lot of action and is satisfying that the bad guys get come uppance! Go John! Can’t wait for the next one!!!!

[Arllau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun fast paced thriller with lots of drama in Book 6 of the John Tyler Thrillers. John Tyler and his daughter Lexi are the hero's in this story fighting the corrupt politicians and police. A thoroughly enjoyable book that you won't want to put down.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.

[Jody Derby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just one more chapter good!
When John Tyler and his daughter stop off on their way to a classic car convention, they have no idea they’ve driven straight into a corrupt town. When the police of that corrupt town break John’s taillight they have no idea who they are messing with.
This book is packed with twists and turns, that kept me reading late into the night.