The Tenth Circle

Blaine McCracken #11

by Jon Land

Blaine McCracken races to stop terrorists from unleashing an ancient weapon of unimaginable power at the president’s State of the Union speech

Blaine McCracken pulled off the impossible on a mission in Iran, but his work has just begun. Returning to the US, he faces another terrible threat in the form of Reverend Jeremiah Rule, whose hateful rhetoric has inflamed half the world, resulting in a series of devastating terrorist attacks. But Rule isn’t acting alone. A shadowy cabal is pulling his strings, unaware that they are creating a monster who will soon spin free of their control.

Finding himself a wanted man, McCracken must draw on skills and allies both old and new to get to the heart of a plot aimed at unleashing no less than the tenth circle of hell. A desperate chase takes him into the past, where the answers he needs are hidden amid two of history’s greatest puzzles: the lost colony of Roanoke and the Mary Celeste. As the clock ticks down to an unthinkable maelstrom, McCracken and his trusty sidekick, Johnny Wareagle, must save the United States from a war the country didn’t know it was fighting, and that it may well lose.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Adventure, Action, Military Fiction

536 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Jon Land is an American author of thriller novels and a screenwriter. He graduated from Brown University in 1979 Phi Beta Kappa and Magna cum Laude. He often bases his novels and scripts on extensive travel and research as well as a twenty-five year career in martial arts. He is an associate member of the US Special Forces and is an emeritus board member the International Thriller Writers. John currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Reviews

[Viking Jam · Rating 1 out of 5]

http://koeur.wordpress.com/2013/11/14...


Publisher Description: Blaine McCracken pulled off the impossible on a mission in Iran, but his work has just begun. Returning to the US, he faces another terrible threat in the form of Reverend Jeremiah Rule, whose hateful rhetoric has inflamed half the world, resulting in a series of devastating terrorist attacks. But Rule isn’t acting alone. A shadowy cabal is pulling his strings, unaware that they are creating a monster who will soon spin free of their control.

Review: The cover art is pretty bad. How many of these thrillers set in the political realm, always have the Capitol building, the White House or some other institutional edifice on the cover? Publishing houses really do themselves a marketing disservice in that regard. Ho hum.

This novel moved at a good clip, mainly because the author breaks up the novel into about 100 chapters. Gives you a false sense of movement. Right from the get go you are assaulted with a pretty formulaic political thriller. Example. McCracken, ex covert ops/Phoenix-nam/Delta-beret/Deep cover expert/ all around super guy, conducting his biz with a straight forward, in the moment “tude”. He can bring it, sing it and just so you know he was the one whom got deep underground in Iran to destroy their nuclear facility when no nation on earth could. . And the final kicker…wait for it…….he has a 7 foot tall native American sidekick called…..WAREAGLE! BAHAHAHA! Oh, and Wareagle is the one carving the Crazy Horse monument in South Dakota along with…..you guessed it, McCracken. The Crazy Horse Memorial was completed in 1998 while this novel circles current events.

Besides the crappy, tired and old story-line that has been used more than a gigolo at a cougar party, this novel is made up of stilted conversational backstory. For example, the assassin Zarrin (whom happens to be one of the best musicians in the world ) is in her room after a concert. Colonel Kosh an Iranian handler, begins discussing her next job. “Amazing the things you can learn in a Palestinian refugee camp…….as an orphan witnessing Israelis murder both parents….rescued and trained by a legendary Palestinian intelligence official. Zarrin, specialist in every weapon, renowned for making use of objects that aren’t weapons at all, allowing for close-in kills…” Blah, blah, blah. You get the idea. This is an authors easy out for backstory creds. Rather than build the backstory as you get to know them in a slow reveal, we get people talking in a room whom obviously know each other and would never re-iterate to each other what they already know.

There is quite a bit of Deus Ex Machina in this novel. One particular scene is when McCracken, our freakin’ nuclear one-man army super hero, faces off against 12 armed men in a deserted town (with an operating roller coaster) to get his “not” grandson, and is wheeling him away, only to face certain death in a deadly crossfire. He throws a handful of “Bug Bombs” into the air, and they miraculously find all of their targets, thanks to the resident smart software. . And lying at his feet is an assault rifle that just happened to fall out of the window. He takes care of the rest of the baddies and straps the top bad guy to the roller coaster tracks and you know the rest. Scene after scene is this tired “insurmountable odds” shtick, but they weren’t trained in live action fire where you must be in the moment without thinking in order to prevail against the enemy and……zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Another big effort to suspend disbelief, is when commandos raid an old folks home of retired octogenarian veterans from WWII and the Korean war. These ragtag lovable hero’s throw bocce balls, wheelchairs, mace, little clubs and hot coffee at trained commandos and overcome them in grand style. Leaving SUPER MCCRACKEN to swiftly and effortlessly take out some commandos as well. Because, well, he’s FREAKIN’ SUPER MCCRACKEN!!!!!

The whole novel is rife with unbelievable actions and scenarios by ATOMIC SUPER BATMAN MCCRACKEN and his trusty sidekick the 7-FOOT TALL SUPER INDIAN. Not only that, the author un-retires the homegrown religious zealot as the arch enemy (oops, the Joker) that many authors now avoid as being overdone ad nauseum. In order to make this drivel palatable, the author pulls shjt out of a bag called the lost Raonoke Colony and why they disappeared. See, they didn’t disappear at all, the village well had carbonic freakin’ acid in it called the White Death which killed them off. See, now someones got barrels of this stuff…ah, forget it, my brain hurts.

Adding insult to injury is the authors scant knowledge of live action fire. So, SUPER PENIS MCCRACKEN runs up some stairs, blazing a trail of glory, gets shot at with a pistol, manages to dodge live fire, DOES NOT RETURN FIRE, disarms the bad guy and bops him in the nose with the rifle barrel. REALLY? Oh but we are not done, this is all leading up to the Grande diatribe (repeated throughout the novel) where MCRACKEN SUPER DUDE-MAN is going to tell you how bad you are, how wrong you have been, how much he despises non-super heroes, and what he is going to do to you, because you not only deserve it, you earned it…MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming 24th December from Open Road Integrated Media

Thanks to the author and publisher for the review copy via Netgalley.

Blaine McCracken races to stop terrorists from unleashing an ancient weapon of unimaginable power at the president’s State of the Union speech.

1590: An entire colony of British settlers vanishes from their settlement on Roanoke Island, seemingly into thin air.
1872: The freighter Mary Celeste is found drifting at sea off Gibraltar, its entire crew and passengers gone missing without a trace.
What if there’s a connection between two of the greatest historical mysteries ever?

So an interesting premise as always for this, the latest Blaine McCracken thriller (I have dipped in and out of this series on occasion) and perhaps the best one that I have read so far for pure page turning madness.

Jon Land has a gift for blending the mythical with the material and this is no exception – starting us off with a bitesize view of the historical Roaonoke and Marie Celeste disappearances, forwarding through history to bring us bang up to date to the world of today where dangerous and enigmatic Reverend Jeremiah Rule preaches his messages of hate – we are set for Blaine McCracken to face perhaps his most formidable enemy yet.

From then on in its a rollercoaster ride of madness and mayhem as Blaine and the usual suspects try to stop the unthinkable, survive the experience and bring down a man who is more dangerous than even those manipulating him know..can Blaine save the world once more? Ah well. We will see.

Terrific writing as usual, a fast paced joyride of a novel that will make your heart pound and give your brain a work out. Recommended for fans of Thrillers with a twist.

Happy Reading Folks!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tenth Circle is a December 2013 Open Road Integrated Media publication written by Jon Land. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a Blaine McCracken novel. I believe this is the seventh in this series. The story opens with McCracken taking the place of a film crew member and seeing first hand the nuclear capabilities of Iran. He saves the world and returns home to find that there have been a handful of terrorist attacks, one involving someone close to him. These attacks lead Blaine to an anti Islamic preacher.
Now somehow all these occurrences will tie in to two of the greatest mysteries of all time, one being the mystery of the Mary Celeste.

Now I will come clean and confess that I judged this book by it's cover when I requested in from Netgalley. I thought this was a political thriller and it was, but not in the way I had thought. I was unfamiliar with this series and I think that did play a role in my enjoyment of the book. The character and his actions for me were just insane. I couldn't get Chuck Norris out of my mind. I usually give thrillers a great deal of latitude in the plausible department, but this one was just too much for me. The author was asking a lot. Was the book interesting? Was there action? Yes. There was a lot going on in this book. I read it faster than I thought I would. It's over five hundred pages long, but the James Patterson chapters made it easy to keep reading "just one more chapter". If you like fast paced action thrillers will a lot of testosterone, then you will love this one. Overall I give this one a C+

[Marvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

All you need to know about this book is in the description provided by the publishing company:

Blaine McCracken races to stop terrorists from unleashing an ancient weapon of unimaginable power at the president’s State of the Union speech

Contemporary global suspense thrillers like this usually come in two colors. They are either masterfully structured in a less is more style that enable the reader to believe in what is probably an outlandish plot or the author throws a lot of crap against the wall hoping that some of it sticks.

I am afraid Jon Land has a very messy wall.

So what do we have here? A macho hero, a femme fatale assassin, a seriously deranged man of the cloth, a handful of fanatical military types, An Indian sidekick dubiously nicknamed "Indian". I could go on but you get the picture. And I haven't even mentioned the plethora of deadly but unlikely acts of violence that our comic book hero waltzes through. Of course, there are mysterious historical incidents that feed into a doomsday scenario. Actually, I sort of liked how Land merged the Roanoke colony mystery with the Maria Celeste ship disappearance into a deadly modern scenario. I wondered if the author's doomsday scenario was actually based on reality and science in any way. But there were so many scenes that taxed my ability to suspend disbelief that I didn't bother to Google it to find out. My favorite eye-roller in the novel concerns a virtuoso pianist who is commandeering a military raid on her smartphone while she simultaneously plays the piano in a standing room only concert. Try to beat that, Alicia de Larrocha!

I guess it was fun in a comic book sort of way. Those who dig non-stop action thrillers will certainly dig this. Perhaps one can criticize this reviewer for not recognizing pure escapism and just roll with it. But it is hard to roll with the plot when the plot is rolling over you. So if you like this sort of thing, be my guest. I'll just keep searching to find a good contemporary thriller about terrorists and WMDs that doesn't dirty up my walls.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Jon Land's The Tenth Circle, the eleventh installment in the Blaine McCracken thriller series, get ready to hold onto your seats and buckle up in this fast-paced wild thriller ride. Blaine McCracken is a force to be reckoned with, when he's a man on a serious mission. He would do anything to protect the country he loved and the people he cared about. As a former war veteran, he's now up against a serious heavy-hitter named Reverend Jeremiah Rule, a religious zealot who wants to start a war and placing the blame on Muslim Americans. It all started with those domestic terror attacks and his over-the-top sermons he preached to his followers. For Blaine, he needed to bring home Andrew Ericson, someone's close to him and part of his family, who was missing and back to his father. Along the way he teamed up with his Native American friend Johnny Wareeagle, and someone from his past, Zarrin, a classical pianist from the Middle East who also has Parkinson's Disease. When he realized that the terrorist attacks came from Rule himself, they joined forced to discover the root of White Death, a dangerous water that had killed a colony in the past, and how it might be used now for Rule's plot. They were up against Rule and his legions of bikers who would want to wipe out the White House. And they needed to stop them from unleashing this tenth circle of hell, once and for all.

[Jocelyn Brocato · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be: a fast-paced, action thriller with an unpredictable but easy-to-follow plot. The chapters were short, only about a few pages each, which aligned with the quick pace of the plot. The protagonist, Blaine McCracken, is a rugged, tough as nails, seasoned war vet who is always one step ahead of the enemy. The dialogue was cheesy in the best way, with zingy one-liners at the end of most chapters.

Here’s an example:

“What are our orders, sir?”
“Orders? Try this. Don’t do a fucking thing until I get there.”

I almost thought he was gonna say “hasta la vista baby” before pulling the trigger. And I almost wanted him to.

Apparently this author has a series involving Blaine McCracken. I’ll be picking up the next book for sure.

[Dellani Oakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Rollercoaster Ride from Start to Finish!

What do a mime, concert pianist, commandoes and pool cue wielding retired Marines have in common? They're all in Jon Land's latest book, The Tenth Circle.

Blaine McCracken is back, fighting to find who is behind acts of terror on American soil. With his good friend, John Wareagle, and a host of others, McCracken beats the odds once more.

This is a butt kicking, bullets flying, hair raising, edge sitting novel from start to finish. My first Jon Land book, it won't be my last. I must go back to the beginning of the series by this great author.

The Tenth Circle is packed with action, intrigue, surprises and spine tingling events that leave the reader hoping they never come true. Each chapter compels the reader to continue, driving the plot forward like a runaway train.

Dialogue is strong, each character having his own unique style. I particularly like “herb smokin'” Captain Seven. He always refers to McCracken as “McNuts” and speaks to him with contempt, though his respect for Blaine is evident.

The characters in this book are wonderful. They're strong and capable, yet each has a core of vulnerability that they do their best to hide. These weaknesses actually give them the determination to forge ahead, completing the job laid out ahead of them. They seem to jump off the page, ready for action and Jon Land gives it to them. I hope, although Blaine McCracken is older, he will never fade away.

There is a wonderful moment which depicts McCracken to a T. A man he meets at the site of one of the terrorist attacks, hands him back his phone, which he'd dropped.

“Keep this handy in case you need to call 9-1-1.”

McCracken's response – “I am 9-1-1.”

A favorite scene takes place at the Washington Armed Forces Retirement Home. I won't give any spoilers, suffice to say that Blaine McCracken isn't the only old guy who can kick butt.

You can be sure I'm now going to read all the Jon Land books I can find.

5 Golden Acorns for Jon Land, Blaine McCracken and The Tenth Circle.
© Dellani Oakes

[Amy Lignor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blaine McCracken is back and better than ever! Jon Land has written yet another thrilling tale that brings back McCracken, a very ‘special’ Black Ops officer for the U.S. Government, who’s most definitely a troubleshooter in times of need.

Blaine and his cohort, Johnny Wareagle, have just completed a job in Iran. Now the duo is on their way back home where an even more hideous threat will be facing them.

This tale, however, is a true historical puzzle. In 1590, on Roanoke Island, a group of English Colonists landed and began to build a settlement. That was the factual story. However, when other people arrived there was no sign of these supposed settlers, animals, or anything else. These people were never found throughout history, and theories began to abound.

Fast forward to 1872, when the ship, Mary Celeste, was found floating near the Rock of Gibraltar, completely absent of passengers and crew…more people who’d simply disappeared.

In present-day, McCracken and Johnny are living in the world of terrorist attacks; each day brings new bombings from new gangs that no one has been able to identify. There’s a mass of bad people showing up on McCracken’s radar, but the most vocal is Reverend Jeremiah Rule.

Reverend Rule has a heart full of hate towards Muslims and blames them for all the horror taking place. Loud, but not altogether bright, some bad people are stringing the Reverend along and telling him what to do next. But they’re in for a surprise; this man is starting his own war, and is getting ready to release a weapon that no one knows about that will open the Tenth Circle of Hell.

McCracken and his team are out to stop this man and his army of ‘crazies’ in order to save the U.S. from a war that may unleash something or someone that no one is able to fight.

Action, humor, history, mystery, thrills - you name it, Jon Land has delivered it yet again.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

This is my first Jon Land book but not my last. I enjoyed it and did not want to stop once I got into the story. Their is a lot of violence. But they are trying to stop terrorists.

The Plot I thought it was pretty good how they took two different mysteries in history and tied them together to make a weapon that could bring down the U.S. Government and make it very believable and real. It was action, drama, thriller all in one.

The rest home scenes had me laughing and cheering. I wanted to share those scenes with somebody.

The characters are well written and developed. It is the 11 book in the series so I expected that. Though I did not realize before I read it that fact. I liked Blaine McCracken. I was not sure who the bad and good guys were. I really liked one of the twists at the end of it.
I want to go and read the other 10 books in the series and find out more about McCracken and his friends.

The setting for the book was all over the United States and the world. Time was 1590 to the modern year. It tied the different times and incidents together really well.

The pacing of the story was good. It revealed the truth a little bit at a time and you did not want to put the book down till you found out all its secrets.

If you want a action packed book this makes a great read.

I was given this book to review and asked to give honest review of it in return.

Publisher: Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller (December 17, 2013) 536 pages ASIN: B00EP6PBGI

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read Jon Land's Caitlin Strong series, so I expected strong characters and fast paced action but I enjoyed the historical backstory which complicated the story in The Tenth Circle.

Land takes us to Virginia in 1590, British settlers return to find the colony at Roanoke Island missing. There are no survivors, no trace of their bodies or what may have happened to them. Not only is the mystery of the colony at Roanoke is somehow linked to the disappearance of crew of the Mary Celeste in 1872, but the danger that was first recorded in the 1590s continues to exist and may harm us today.

Blaine McCracken and his old comrades are brought out of retirement to take on a strange alliance of dangerous characters. We find Vietnam and Korean war veterans pitted against power hungry military and paramilitary types. Shadow ops, religious fanatics, life long loyalties all make The Tenth Circle an engrossing read. Blaine McCracken's always been brought in to solve the unsolvable and he has the same sort of confidence and disregard of all rules even as he's gotten older. We have a hero in his 60's and he's had to face aging just like everyone else, but he fights against it and somehow he has the spirit and fight to overcome men in their prime. The aging heroes give the story a certain lightness and fun.

ISBN-10: 1480414794 - Paperback $12.49
Publisher: Open Road Media E-riginal (December 17, 2013), 536 pages.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher.

[T.W. Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea how long ago I bought this book. I was going through my library and noticed it and opened it to see if I'd read it already because I had no recollection.

I am so glad I did! This book is now in my top 5 books.

I had no idea that this was actually the 11th book in the series although there were indications that the characters had long histories but I never once felt like I was confused or that the story was missing something because I'd never read the other books.

McCrackenNuts also has to be in my top five favorite characters along with Chris Barry from the vigilante series by Claude Bouchard and Jack Reacher from the Reacher series by Lee Child.

This book starts in Iran with a definitive action against their nuclear program. Before the dust can settle we are shifted back home to deal with terrorist unleashing their hate on our country.

Blaine, Wareagle, and the rest of the gang are soon pulled into the mix that has become very personal. There are so many action scenes with twists and turns that I cannot even try to tease future readers without giving away parts.

It's enough to know that I've read over 80 books this year alone and this book is one of the best so far.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I've never read one of Jon Land's books. I love this type of story and I'd compare him with WEB Griffin, Tom Clancy, and a bit of the TV show 24. The characters are well developed and the story is fast paced. I'd love to see his story board or whatever he uses to keep his characters organized. I enjoyed the different POV's woven into the book, it was easy to follow and made it more interesting. I can't wait to go back and read the first 10 books.

[Tulay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good action book.

Read more about Roanoke island, lost colony. Like everything this author writes, he also includes snap shots of his life at the end. Tenth Circle is about the threats comes from outside the country, but now they seem to come from inside. Quran burning Reverend Rule believes President is Muslim and God instructed him to kill all the Muslims.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tenth Circle: Jon Land

Blaine McCracken is capable of making things happen. Entering a nuclear facility, learning about its inner workings and seeing the capabilities behind these locked doors would make most shudder, send chills down your spine but not Blaine. As he takes on the role of famous photographer, passes the many checkpoints within the Iranian facility, his camera flashes the shots, takes down each scene and hopefully will help tell a story that will wake up the world but first he has to avoid detection. But, even the best laid plans do not always result in the answers and results you want as Blaine’s natural instincts kick in, his realities of the situation come to light and he realizes that in order to complete his task he will have to do more than just pretend. With those in charge proud of their accomplishments, explaining their target is Israel and hoping to wipe her out and just a distant memory, Blaine’s snap decisions, fast and hard reactions would let the Iranian’s know that dealing with Blaine would be anything but what they expected. How he pulls off his escape and what happens to those within the locked and secured walls you will learn for yourself with the explosive solution that will rock more than just the nuclear plant.

Roanoke Island was colony in 1590 where are story begins and the author flashes back to how but not why this colony disappeared and what happened to those living there. Next we learn about the freighter the Mary Celeste whose crew and passengers disappear without a trace in 1872. Why and How? Just what was hidden within their cargo hold that the author allows readers to bare knowledge of that if not found and destroyed would destroy the world? How do they link together and what bearing do they have in the present as we meet Reverend Jeremiah Rule. Rule is a threat to humanity, devoid of morals, feelings and whose behavior is inflammatory, hoping to rid the world of every Muslim person, sect burning one Koran at a time. Inciting many terrorist attacks throughout many cities and towns, his twisted man is not working alone to create this havoc and much more. Rising to his pulpit he brings his flock to a frenzy asking them to sacrifice something near and dear to them and place it within the fire he ignited to burn.

There are nine circles of hell and a tenth one that when unfurled “ a lost canto of Dante’s Inferno — what appears to be the tenth circle of Hell. The ninth circle was previously understood to be the lowest point of Hell reached by Dante and his guide Virgil before ascending on their journey toward Paradise. A portion of the 14th-century manuscript, translated into English prose, is reproduced below” The tenth circle: One that is for those who have lied to themselves, pretend to hurt the ones they love and deserve . Who is behind Jeremiah Rule and why is he so powerful? Where does he support come from and why is he able to spiral out of control as the author brings one little boy to the altar to sacrifice something precious and relates an incident so horrific from Rule’s past it will make you shudder as the death of one young child brings to light the kindness he pretends to the one in the present when the flames roar and his image is illuminated.


Listening to Rule and the one man working with him we learn more about his corruption, taking money from his followers you understand that he is receiving support from someone else and their power together will create what they call the Tenth Circle inflicting it on the hopeless and the damned. But, Blaine is concerned about Roanoke Island and what the connection is to the present as the author brings back our marijuana smoking Captain Seven who enlightens not only readers but Blaine to a horrible truth about what might have happened to those colonists and what impact it will have in the present as we visit O’Hare airport and watch and listen as a fuel truck explodes and more lives are lost.


Ralph Lane is made Governor of this Island and the Indians and natives begin to get along. But, not everyone welcomes the settlers and as Sir. Francis Drake stops at this colony and leave fifteen men to protect the British claim. But, when Grenville arrives, the settlement is empty leaving the fifteen men. Next, a group of settlers arrive on July 22, 1587 with 117 people led by John White. Settling in and trying to become friends with the Croatoan tribe although facing hostilities from others, one man killed other incidents happening that alert the settlers that their new home might not be safe. But, something happens and when a supply ship returns there to find not one living person alive three years later. No sign of war, battle, famine or even dead bodies. No sign of anything until someone sees the houses dismantled, the fort that surrounded the settlement and the word CROATOAN carved on a post and the letters CRO on a tree.
What does it mean? Were they under the protection of the tribe? No crosses anywhere, no dangers seen and yet no search was ever made of Croatoan Island as this word comes haunting Blaine in the present.

But, when Blake, Captain Seven and Johnny Wareagle decide to visit Roanoke Island they meet a young man named Jacob, a descendant of the Croatoan tribe and what they uncover is not only explosive in nature but the hidden reason behind what really happened to the colonists. Added in we meet Zarrin who spent her childhood in a Palestinian Camp hoping to find her way to freedom. Talking piano lessons and wanting to help her teacher get his medication she learns some hard and fast lessons when trying to safe his life and having to fight for her own. Killing one man part of the Hamsa who ran the camp for the much needed meds for so many she hardly copes with the brutal death of her teacher and then is taken away, sent to skill and becomes a hired assassin but for which side? In the present we meet her and learn of her skill to mesmerize audiences with her expert piano playing while eliminating enemies and dealing with a depilating illness. Just how will this all link together and what caused the colonists to die and from what you won’t believe. McCracken becomes the wanted man and he fights his way across many different continents, countries and places to stop what is so vividly described as the “Tenth Circle of Hell! With Seven and Johnny at his side, with homeland security watching his every move just who else wants him eliminated as shots are fired.

Throughout the novel author Jon Land shares his expert research into the disappearance of the colonists and how the Mary Celeste’s cargo ties in. What would happen if what was left in the cargo was not alcohol as stated in the ship’s manifest but something more deadly? What if the terrorist attacks that have been unleashed were connected to using this weapon of mass destruction and this was just the beginning? What if Blaine, Zarrin and Seven team up to try and stop what is about to happen? When Captain Seven relates the facts about the Mary Celeste and Blaine explains the tie in to the cargo and just who these terrorists really are you realize that someone higher up in our government is controlling things. Why? Added in the Reverend Jeremiah Rule fits right into the picture as his flock increases, his hold over so many becomes stronger and his part to help rid the world of Muslims comes to light in a dangerous way that will bring more than just chills to the reader. What would have happened if the crew from the Mary Celeste lived to tell it all? White Death! Just what is it and how will it destroy an entire country?
Legends about the past could the colonists disappearance be related to the weather, an invisible force that when unleashed laid claim to the colonists?

A Palestinian assassin, a Sioux Indian, Blaine McCracken and a weed-smoking captain join forces to stop what several have put into motion. As Zarrin hear the music in her head and plays the many concertos to keep her on the move and her hands moving when fighting for her life, protecting our country and hoping to prevent what three men want to unleash: The Tenth Circle! With the help of an old buddy pretending to be senile in a retirement home Blaine, manages to figure out what the plan is, what Rule has in mind, who is working with him but will he figure out how to stop what they want to unleash before the end of the Presidents’ State of the Union Address? Jeremiah Rule: finding his way back to God but first he needs to reconcile the horrors he inflicted in the present. Delusional, enlisting the help of a biker gang and one man who swore his allegiance to him the end result will send not only Blaine, Zarrin and Johnny into the flames of danger but will prove to readers just how far some will go to protect our country, fight for the future and hopefully protect the present. An ending that only author Jon Land could create and the truth behind the deadly emissions that these assassins wanted to unleash: The Tenth Circle: If not stop the first nine would be nothing compared to what this will do. With an ending so explosive you can feel the heat, the tension, the emotions rising as Blaine McCracken uses all of this skills, his extra lives and his know how to hopefully stop what would be more dangerous than the Black Plague, equal if not worse than and atomic bomb and certainly change the complexion of our country. Blaine McCracken strong, smart, down to earth and definitely someone you want on your side. But, introducing Zarrin added another strong female character that hope this outstanding author brings back again.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago there was an ad on television for toothpaste that assured people using this brand that this product offered more than other products in this category, because their brand had MFP, plus they also had IPS. Well, with such recent cavity busting technology in its pocket, why buy anything else? Turns out MFP wasn't some complicated scientific jargon; the letters stood for: More Fluoride Protection. And the IPS? That's simply Invisible Protective Shield. I don't know whatever happened to MFP. At some point a catchier jingle or new code for fabulous toothpaste must have replaced it. What I do know for sure is that IPS lives on in **The Tenth Circle** by Jon Land, and Blaine McCracken is just loaded with it. How else could he possibly achieve all the hair-raising, death-defying, downright improbable stunts he pulls off in almost every chapter.

I read another thriller a while ago, not by Jon Land, in which the hero was handicapped. He was confined to a wheelchair which he maneuvered the old fashioned way - with elbow grease and well developed pecs. At one point in the novel, he gave chase to a villain, while in his self propelled wheelchair, down the middle of a one way street in which he was going the wrong way, through traffic, while aiming and shooting a gun to stop the bad guys. He had nothing on Blaine McCracken. **The Tenth Circle** had to be written with tongue firmly implanted in cheek, because no mere mortal could accomplish just one of McC's well-timed, hopelessly contrived, and truly hilarious stunts. But isn't that exactly what makes **The Tenth Circle** so much fun to read? And lovers of the thriller novels want their heroes to be invincible because we can't have the guy or gal wuss out and die on us before the huge, spectacular finish. In this thriller it isn't just McC who is invincible either. Everyone associated within his select group of here-I-come-to-save-the-day posse has some element of IPS built right into their genetic history. Because, this kind of stuff cannot be learned or taught. It has to be present at birth and then become finely honed throughout various and sundry adventures. Jon Land knows exactly how to give us all more than a little taste test of gourmet thrillerisms. Just when I thought he couldn't pull off yet another miraculous save, and these things start at the very beginning of the book, so there's no waiting around for it, McC or Indian or Captain Seven, or Zarrin (who isn't even supposed to be on our side) manage to crush the opposition in some creative, innovative way.

My very favorite character in this novel is H J Belgrade. He's a retired member of the military living in the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, DC, and he's the only person McC trusts in the city. HJ is a touch on the odd side. he spends part of his day outside feeding non-existent flocks of pigeons, and he keeps a well ordered daily schedule that includes singing The Wheels Go Round And Round at specific times during the day. He has spent considerable time and effort giving the impression that he's hopelessly senile, when in fact he's no such thing. Or is he? There is a scene that takes place in the AFRH that is one of the funniest, most satisfying scenes I've ever read. This particular event is more than worth the price of the book and the time it takes to read it. I read it over again at least 4 times, and I will probably go back and reread it because it was so well done. This book had several scenes that stood out for me like that one did; that one just happens to be the most memorable one I noticed. Besides that, I thought it was perfect that Land gave this shout out to retired members of the military.

And then there are the villains of the piece. Reverend Jeremiah Rule is not simply your basic bad guy. He is vile, disgusting, a disgrace to religion and the whole human race. As more and more about him is revealed, the loathing for him builds and builds. The Tenth Circle is his concept, and he works very hard to see it through to conclusion. Of course we never expect he will pull off this dastardly plan, but for many pages it appears to be a distinct possibility. If not for that IPS, the United States would be toast. There were a few times I thought Land was actually trying to work up some sympathy for Rule because of the life he'd endured, but there's no way to build any redeeming qualities for someone as evil as this. The government villains are slightly less repugnant albeit nasty, mean-spirited, and vicious, but it's pretty much Reverend Rule's show to run from the outset.

I don't think it's a spoiler to reveal that there s no romantic storyline in **The Tenth Circle**, and that's a plus. When one is busy saving the world, it's just not possible to get involved with bodice ripping and sweaty sheets. Instead Land gives his readers a historic backstory that is fascinating on its own. There's a whole colony of settlers in the New World that disappears, an abandoned ship with missing cargo, Greek pirates, and even Napoleon thrown in for good measure. It all works together to give the story the credibility it loses with McC's behavior. I vaguely remember reading about the disappearing colony before, but what I didn't remember was the explanation that resolved it. If, in fact, it ever was resolved. What I do know is that Land gives a plausible explanation for the various events tied together by a small settlement in North Carolina in 1590.

For people who love thrillers, this book is perfect because it fits the criteria we expect from this genre. But there's also room for those who may not be hardcore suspense lovers, but merely enjoy the escapism this kind of story provides. Land says this is 11th novel featuring Blaine McCracken, and because there are a variety of continuing characters throughout his books, I'm considering reading at least a few of the others to see how those people got to where they were in the current book. For anyone who may need a last minute holiday gift for a thriller lover on the to-buy-for list, consider **The Tenth Circle**.

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon Land has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read (which was not a Blaine McCracken book, instead this one dealt with another kick butt action guy: Jared, aka ~The Ferryman...as in ferrying the dead across the river Styx).

But Jon has written 11 Blaine books and only a couple with The Ferryman (more please). This one features tons of action as you would expect. Nice to see Johnny Wareagle again. Was it just me, or was Johnny's role diminished a bit? Usually he is involved in just as much action as Blaine. They usually operate as partners in action. Hey Jon, how about teaming up Blaine, with the Jared, and then maybe even add in Caitlin Strong? Talk about the Expendables! Tons of action....oh yeah.

Keep writing about Blaine or Jared and I am there (and Caitlin as well, but my old ties are to Blaine & Jared)

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

After successfully completing a seemingly impossible task in Iran, Blaine McCracken returns home to the United States, where a tragedy leads him right into another mission. The United States has been bombarded by mini-terrorist attacks that seem to have been staged by Islamic extremists. These acts have incited increasingly caustic remarks from the religious zealot, Revered Jeremiah Rule, who has been using his platform as an evangelist to nurture hatred towards Muslims. Most terrifying, Rule is backed by a private military in the guise of bodyguards. It's up to Blaine McCracken, who finds himself a fugitive in the midst of all the trouble, to sort everything out and protect the nation from further devastation.


I received an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley. I requested it there because the plot looked super interesting, especially when I learned that some of the key elements of the story are based in some of history's greatest mysteries. But then when I finally got around to reading it, I found out that this book is actually the eleventh installment in a series that I had never heard of. Whoops. Mental note - don't request a book that's a part of a series unless you've read the preceding installments. That being said, I was able to understand mostly everything in the book, thank goodness, so I think that I can still give it a fair review and I also think I can safely recommend it to readers who love action, mystery, and thrilling adventure.

So, first off, as a history buff, I absolutely loved how this book opened. It starts off not with Blaine McCracken, but in the midst of the tragedy/mystery at Roanoke. If you're not familiar with Roanoke, also known as the "Lost Colony," it was a colony of the first settlers in America that actually disappeared without a trace. It had a little over 100 settlers and basically they were left to fend for themselves for a few years but then when a British fleet returned, the colonists had completely vanished with absolutely no explanation or evidence of any sort of illness or attack. The reason for their disappearance is still unknown and the only thing that was found at the colony was the word "Croatoan." So Land starts off the story by showing the British fleet returning to the colony and finding it deserted and John White, whose granddaughter was the first child born in America, remarks that no soul should live in America ever again. Land then cuts to the Mary Celeste, a British merchant ship that was found in 1872 that was unmanned and abandoned. As with Roanoke, no one knows where the crew was and they were never seen again, and this is yet another historical mystery. In the book, Land ties the two events together and makes them very significant to the development of the plot of his story. I'm going to avoid going into further detail out of respect for spoilers, but this was very well done and was accomplished convincingly. It came across as very well researched and I was definitely impressed!

The characters in The Tenth Circle were well-portrayed, especially Jeremiah Rule. He was the most developed character in the book, probably because he had not appeared in any of the previous installments and thus required the most detailed development in order to fulfill his role in the story. Rule is a perfectly crafted villain. He initially appears to be no more than a religious zealot, but he reveals himself to be an evil, twisted, self-righteous monster, one who, in my opinion, probably suffers from some severe mental illness. He commits some truly atrocious acts and justifies them all as "God's will." Reading about him was disturbing and actually made me physically cringe on several different occasions and I think this a credit to Land's writing technique - this character made my stomach turn.

I found it a bit difficult to connect to McCracken and his allies such as Johnny Wareagle, the Captain, and H.J. Belgrade, but I think that this is simply because I have not read the rest of the series. If I had actually read the previous 10 books, I'm sure that I would feel like I knew them inside and out. At this point, there's not much need for a ton of character development for these characters, so Land wisely chose to simply focus on the action without talking too much about their backgrounds or personalities. This is appropriate for a book that is eleventh in a series and any confusion on my part was simply a result of me being a latecomer to the series.

This book completely engrossed my attention over the last few days. I dreaded putting it down (I did have to on a few occasions, such as my trip to New York City on Saturday and my grandpa's Christmas party yesterday), but when I did have to stop reading it I couldn't get it off of my mind. The style and plot remind me of the DaVinci Code and its companions mixed with the Jason Bourne movies - it blends history with action and sometimes violence and brutality, and even those are not usually my favorite things to read about, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I plan to look up the rest of the books at some point (my current to-read list is HUGE though so I am not sure when this will actually happen) and I highly recommend that you go get yourself a copy, if not of this book then of the first in the series. This is definitely one that's worth reading!

[Alana Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Interesting twists, action and adventure await. This was my first Blaine McCracken novel, but surely not my last. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun read.

[Frlobe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so great.

[Casee Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tenth Circle, the latest book in Jon Land’s Blaine McCracken series, is the definition of a page-turner in the suspense genre. We first meet McCracken in Iran, where Israel has enlisted him to pull off an impossible one-man mission in the face of a devastating nuclear threat. This intense episode becomes just a prelude to the high-octane action that Land delivers in the novel’s central story. Once back in the United States, McCracken is met with a close personal tragedy that ties into a string of violent acts of domestic terrorism across the country. His search for answers leads him to one man, the Reverend Jeremiah Rule, whose rampage of extremism has escalated with the acquisition of the White Death, a weapon that could cripple the United States dramatically. Along with his comrades – including the preternaturally lethal Native American, Johnny Wareagle, and the hilariously rendered pot-smoking Captain Seven – McCracken works to uncover the truth behind the White Death, a history that will lead him to answer two of history’s greatest mysteries: the disappearance of British settlers in the 16th century Roanoke colony, and the vanishing of a 19th century ship’s entire crew, the Mary Celeste.

The mystery at the core of The Tenth Circle is wonderfully crafted, and the narrative is superbly achieved. It’s easy to imagine the challenge of writing a suspenseful action thriller that weaves in so much detail – both historic and modern – but Land seems to balance it all with ease. The nonstop energy of the novel’s pacing and the intricacy of the story’s detail combine to create a book that seems capable of pleasing the reader on every level. A component of The Tenth Circle that I especially enjoyed was the uniqueness of Land’s characters, from McCracken at the story’s focus to the variety of supporting characters that bring the depth of the novel to life. A particular favorite and great example is Zarrin, a Palestinian pianist-cum-assassin whose legendary ease of lethal action has been matched by her battle with Parkinson’s. Amid the barrage of explosive action, Zarrin’s personal journey manages to play out in poignant interludes that create a wonderfully engaging story within the story.

While religious extremism isn’t a device that I prefer in a novel’s antagonist, Land’s portrayal of the Reverend Rule was very well done as the illustration of a man driven to instability by past crimes and the desperate search for redemption. The complexity of the character grows with every revelation of his past and present mistakes, each more disturbing than the next. Countering the very emotional villainy in Rule is the remarkable science behind the “White Death”, a true weapon of mass destruction created by the earth itself. I was fascinated by the way Land presented the deadly chemical to the reader in such an intricately detailed yet genuinely believable way. Its ties to the great historical mysteries in the story were equally impressive, revealing the depth and intensity of research that went into the novel.

Blaine McCracken himself is an admirably diverse character with a lot of heart, and patience for little more than getting to the root of the problem – with haste. His interactions with others, friends and adversaries alike, jump off the page with as much style as the richly crafted action sequences. With sharp pacing, a superbly detailed narrative, and plenty of unexpected surprises, The Tenth Circle manages to break the mold of the political thriller while still delivering all of the hallmarks that adventure-seeking readers have come to love.

(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on December 31, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. A copy of the book was provided for the purpose of review.)

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you combine 21st Century terrorism with the centuries-old Roanoke "Lost Colony" mystery?  Check out The Tenth Circle by Jon Land to find out the answer.

I'm relatively new to the thriller/mystery genre, so it's no surprise that I was not previously familiar to the Blaine McCracken series.  This, however, is the eleventh in the series, which should inform any reader that author Jon Land knows how to put a story together.

This starts right off with an action-packed scene that hooked me.  Blaine McCracken, tough old ex-everything-super-spy-type guy, is on a super secret under-cover mission to destroy a super-secret, very powerful nuclear preparation facility in Iran.  But this is really just to get us familiar with how resourceful McCracken can be.  The main story here in the book centers around something a little more close to home.  A zealot preacher, Jeremiah Rule, preaches intolerance, and has developed a remarkable following.  But of course Rule is only a pawn to someone else; someone willing to destroy and kill thousands of Americans in order to start a war against Muslims.

McCracken's investigation leads to the early Roanoke "Lost Colony" and with the help of his giant "Indian" friend and a pot-smoking scientist, McCracken actually solves this centurys-old mystery first.

Death, destruction, bad-guys who are super-bad, and good guys who are almost super-human, this book covers the gamut of thriller stock needs.  And therein lies the problem.

I loved the opening scene, and was hooked right away with the character and his resourcefulness.  But as the story moves, his resourcefulness falls in to more of soldier-of-luck type character.  McCracken gets out of situations with more luck than skill, despite his tough-guy appearance.  I'm always willing to buy an occassional good fortune move in a book, but too many and I no longer can buy in to the story.

The classical pianist/assassin Zarrin is an example of an un-necessary good-luck character here.  Although she should be gunning for McCracken herself (she accepted a contract on him), it turns out she feels she owes him one (even though he's unaware of it).  And of course she's the best assassin around (as well as being the best pianist).  We really don't need Zarrin in this story.  It's an added conflict/resource that doesn't really add to the story, and you have to go out on a limb to accept her reasons for helping McCracken.

Author Land moves the story along with quick, short chapters (100 in all!), but about 1/3 of the way through I was no longer feeling exhilerated at the action as the entire book seemed to have one pace.  Pacing is everything in a thriller, and if it stays the same throughout, we no longer feel the action.

I was hooked early, but I would have liked to have seen a little more control over the story and the characters.  It was almost as though the characters had taken control of the writing ... which only muddied the plot.

If I saw another Jon Land or Blaine McCracken book, I would likely give the author and/or character another read.

Looking for a good book?  This has the potential for top-notch thriller, but needs a little restraint.

This review originally published in the blog, Looking For a Good Book.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon Land in his new book, “The Tenth Circle” Book Eleven in the Blaine McCracken series published by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc. gives us a new adventure of Blaine McCracken.

From the back cover: Blaine McCracken races to stop terrorists from unleashing an ancient weapon of unimaginable power at the president’s State of the Union speech

Blaine McCracken pulled off the impossible on a mission in Iran, but his work has just begun. Returning to the US, he faces another terrible threat in the form of Reverend Jeremiah Rule, whose hateful rhetoric has inflamed half the world, resulting in a series of devastating terrorist attacks. But Rule isn’t acting alone. A shadowy cabal is pulling his strings, unaware that they are creating a monster who will soon spin free of their control.

Finding himself a wanted man, McCracken must draw on skills and allies both old and new to get to the heart of a plot aimed at unleashing no less than the tenth circle of hell. A desperate chase takes him into the past, where the answers he needs are hidden amid two of history’s greatest puzzles: the lost colony of Roanoke and the Mary Celeste. As the clock ticks down to an unthinkable maelstrom, McCracken and his trusty sidekick, Johnny Wareagle, must save the United States from a war the country didn’t know it was fighting, and that it may well lose

There once was a time when there was “High Octane” gasoline. Using it meant that you were not using “Regular” and that you were giving your car energy for high performance and excitement. I feel that “High Octane” can be used to describe what Mr. Land has given us here. ”The Tenth Circle” is one huge action-packed thriller from page one. We have all seen the heart monitor on TV shows, you know the machine that shows the beeps of the heart-up, down, up, down. Well Mr. Land provides us maximum excitement for rapid beeping of our hearts then gives us a few moments to catch our breaths and slow our pulse then he revs us up again. Mr. Land obviously likes to tell a good story. You will not be disappointed with “The Tenth Circle”. It is a roaring adventure from start to finish.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Partners In Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Mina De Caro (Mina's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the full review on MINA'S BOOKSHELF http://minadecaro.blogspot.com/2014/0...

I jumped on the action-packed "Blaine McCracken" band wagon with absolutely no idea of what I was in for, except that the lead character created by Jon Land's prolific imagination is an exiled and indestructible CIA agent who "knows 14 ways to kill a man in under two seconds". The omonymous series kicked off in the distant 1986 with The Omega Command and THE TENTH CIRCLE is its literally pyrotechnic eleventh installment. Quite a first ride for me.

With a break-neck pace and unrelenting suspense, the action unravels in a modern day scenario of terroristic attacks and anti-muslim hate, but the story reaches back to the 16th century, and what is great about it is that Land serves up his spine-tingling and voluminous thriller in 100 bite-sized chapters, each and every one leaving the reader on the edge of a tantalizing cliffhanger. The author breaks up his 536-page narration quite frequently, enhancing that much needed sense of fast-moving action.

The novel is rife with suspense... never a dull moment around Blaine McCraken and his loyal sidekick, Johnny Wareagle, but to some extent that could also be the problem with this book. While I greatly enjoyed the historical references (the "Lost Colony" of Ronaoke and the maritime mystery of the Mary Celeste, two of history greatest puzzles), I found those fascinating premises to be more remarkable than the somewhat outlandish plot. If you are not exactly a big fan of over-the-top, comic-book-style, larger-than-life, "save the day" kind of heroes, you may find yourself struggling to maintain your suspension of disbelief. To a reader who is looking for a more sophisticated storyline and a more subtle characterization, McCracken & Co. may appear as one-dimensional and not readily believable. Moreover (something not uncommon to serial novels), when dialogues are used to introduce back-story information in an attempt to bring readers up to speed with characters and their background, conversations will sound stilted and contrived, detracting from the overall credibility of the story.

Recommended to high-octane adventure lovers and fans of hard-boiled spy thrillers.

***Review copy graciously offered by the publisher via NetGalley in return for an unbiased and honest review

Extended review, pictures, and historical facts available at http://minadecaro.blogspot.com/2014/0...

[Cym Lowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What kind of thriller would align American, Palestinian, Russian, and Iranian commandos against a Southern religious leader intent on destroying America? Answer: a wonderful, engaging story.

Best selling author Jon Land is the acknowledged master of thriller craft. THE TENTH CIRCLE is a testament to that status. It is the most recent of the long-running Blaine McCracken series.
The religious leader, Jeremiah Rule, is the product of a life of dark, disgusting experience. He is seduced to join a cabal intent on murdering the U.S. political leadership assembled for the annual State of the Union address by the President.

The means of death arises from the mysterious disappearance of British settlors on Roanoke Island in 1590, followed by the loss of the crew and passengers of a freighter some 300 years later, the holds of which were understood to contain 1,700 barrels of whiskey.

McCrackin has just destroyed the Iranian nuclear capability. Returning to the free world, he learns that a terrorist explosion has apparently claimed the life of his almost kin. He must become the leader to thwart the assault on America as we know it and find the boy, if he is alive. McNuts, as he is called, draws on old colleagues from around the world, including Zarrin. She is a Palestinian concert pianist trained by the Russians in the art of surreptitious killing. Her hands have many talents, now beset with disease.

Jeremiah Rule pounds the Bible with massive following. His message castigates all Muslims. Led to believe that the diabolical plot with the long-stored White Death will implement God’s will and atone for his own sins, he becomes the fulcrum of disaster.

McCrackin and his trusty Indian colleague, Johnnie Wareagle, embark on the seemingly impossible path to neutralize highly trained enemies, including soldiers from around the world in a motorcycle gang. First, they must first figure out what is going on then jump into battle at the last moment as the White Death races into the U.S. Capital.

In the end, our hero calls in drone strikes on himself.

Will he succeed and survive? Will America perish? What does CROATOAN mean? Will Blaine and Zarrin end up in romance with equal intensity to their warfare?

As always, Jon Land is the best and at the height of his game. Download it and enjoy!

[Stacia · Rating 2 out of 5]

As promised in the blurb, The Tenth Circle is a plot-driven thriller featuring a larger-than-life action-movie hero in Blaine McCracken. In this novel he is up against the denizens of what Reverend Rule terms the tenth circle of hell: “A residence reserved for the most damned who seek nothing but death and destruction during their wasted time as interlopers in the world of our Lord.”

Not having read any previous books in this series (this is the eleventh), for the first third of the book I enjoyed the action and the steadily increasing tension. But fairly soon I reached a point where the action was so over-the-top as to border on cartoonish. Without the undercurrent of humor necessary for it to be tongue-in-cheek, the novel takes itself seriously, but by the halfway point my willingness to suspend disbelief had largely vanished.

What should be nonstop action is hampered in places by clunky exposition; heart-pounding scenes are followed by multi-page descriptions of locations from the past, which both saps the energy from the story and becomes confusing, as the POV shifts between characters, and chapters that end in cliffhangers for one character are followed by slow-moving, seemingly unrelated bits of other characters’ history. This is worsened by the author’s tendency to provide character backstory by having two characters literally read each other’s dossiers aloud—which is not only unlikely, especially when the characters are well known to each other, but also renders the dialogue stilted and unrealistic. Then again, Land’s characters don’t always like to speak to each other; instead, they manage to convey entire chunks of dialogue in a smirk, sneer, shrug, nod, beam, grin, or any number of ways that don’t actually involve speech.

If you’re a fan of over-the-top, Hollywood-style action thrillers with indestructible heroes, this may well be the book for you. But if you prefer three-dimensional characters and more realistic storylines, best to give this one a pass.


This book was furnished by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tenth Circle by Jon Land is another installment to the Blaine McCraken series, #11, I believe. In this outing McCracken almost singlehandedly (he has some help from Johnny Wareagle and Sal Belamo) almost does the impossible - several times. He begins by ending a nuclear threat in Iran to tackling an even bigger terrorist threat based right at home in the USA. Tied into the threat is the answer to the disappearance of the Roanoke colony and the mysterious word "Croatoan"that was found caved on a tree, as well as the disappearance of the Mary Celeste.

Land has this novel gallop along at a good clip, which includes many short chapters, and has a whole lot going on.

I found myself of two minds while reading The Tenth Circle by Jon Land. On the one hand I pretty much knew what I was going to get when I started reading it. It's an action/adventure thriller with an emphasis on action. On the other hand I actually found myself bored reading it because it didn't stand out amount others in the genre. I understand having a hero who can get things done but McCracken, along with others (Wareagle, Belamo, and Zarrin - a Palestinian assassin) is just too good, too perfect. All of the characters in this book are caricatures.

What this is is a good airplane/traveling book: Something with action; short, quick chapters; better than making small talk with strangers; you won't cry or feel a need to replace it should it get lost in the shuffle (of course now it would possibly be on an e-reader, which I wouldn't want to lose, but I digress.) It does deliver excitement and entertainment, so it is a perfectly adequate book based on my airplane book criteria, but it's not going to stand out heads above the others in this genre.

Recommended - but find it used or at a discount price

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Open Road Integrated Media via Netgalley for review purposes.

[Jocie McKade · Rating 5 out of 5]

McCracken is back and bad-a$$ as ever. With his usual disregard for pretty much everything except the right thing, Blain McCracken takes on some serious enemies in this latest thriller from Joh Land.
Still reeling and exhausted after completing a true ‘mission impossible’ in Iran, McCracken arrives back in the U.S. to a series of domestic terrorist’s attacks. One of which leaves his heart cracked and this crack could very well lead to his own death.
These attacks are thought to be incited by the hate fueled speeches of Reverend Jeremiah Rule. He spews hate toward everyone Middle Eastern and the attacks look like retribution for his rhetoric from the pulpit. The Reverend’s dark past and socio-pathic mind makes the perfect foundation for those that will use him to feed their own destructive agenda.

In the midst of the chaos, McCracken finds himself wanted by the very government that he has nearly died for more than once. Racing against an enemy hell-bent on unleashing their lethal weapon during the president’s State of the Union address.

The clues to this weapon take him back to 1590 and the vanished Roanoke Colony, where historical facts become the catalyst for a modern day weapon.

Even McCracken’s indomitable team of Johnny Wareagle, Doctor Seven and a surprising ally may not be able to save the USA from a weapon of Biblical proportions, a weapon that can unleash the Tenth Circle of hell.

Land once again delivers a riveting, super-sonic paced thriller. The characters are strong, believable and resilient, and the twists and turns will leave you needing a chiropractor. Definitely, one of Land’s best.

One of the best scenes I’ve read is involves the “senior home for spies”. I won’t give anything away.....but it’s perfect!

[Misty Rayburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read any of the Blaine McCracken books. Nor have I read anything by Jon Land. There were a few tours I was scheduled to be on but for one reason or another I had to push those reviews back. I was totally sad about it too! I will get to those books, but when I saw he had a tour going for this one, I decided to check it out. He had me at the bolded part of the book description “Blaine McCracken races to stop terrorists from unleashing an ancient weapon of unimaginable power at the President's State of the Union Speech.”

That's exactly what you get with The Tenth Circle and so much more! I devoured this book in two days even with my busy schedule. The story has a pulse pounding pace that had me reading EVERYWHERE I could! Seriously, me and this book were glued. At the dinner table on my kindle and on the bus on the way to the movies on my phone, I was reading this book. It took me a week to finish IT by Stephen King and it comes in at 800 plus pages. It took me two days to read The Tenth Circle and it came in at 500 plus pages.

500 plus pages of religious fanatics, assassins, explosions, history, moments that will make you giggle and music! Yes I said music! There are moments with a certain character that Land makes references to classical music. I found myself running to youtube to play these pieces and re-read the scene and wow it was so much fun! If this becomes a movie, I'll be the first in line to see it, because in my opinion it SHOULD be a movie. I have the desire to just shove everything off my desk and go back and read the other books in this series but I don't think the authors I have scheduled would be happy with that. If you get The Tenth Circle, get the other books because you're going to want to read them!

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thriller about an anti-Muslim cabal in league with the hate-spewing Reverend Jeremiah Rule, who has a huge following. When a series of terrorist attacks occur in America, Blaine McCracken comes to the rescue. This is the most recent in a series of books featuring McCracken and his Native American sidekick, Johnny Wareagle. I have not read the other books in the series and this book doesn't really say what their roles are now. However, they seem to be freelance, covert Homeland Security operatives.

McCracken and Wareagle have been colleagues since the Vietnam War, which would make them at least 60 years old now. That seems a little old to still be performing missions, but this book is basically a comic book. Our heroes, are perfect in every way, never run out of ammunition, never doubt themselves and are never injured. They are joined in this book by a similarly perfect female assassin/concert pianist trained by the KGB. From the beginning sequence in which McCracken successfully impersonates a famous Iranian film maker and singlehandedly takes out an Iranian nuclear facility, you know that nothing about this book will be believable or realistic.

The cabal's plot is related to the disappearances of the Roanoke colony and the crew of the Mary Celeste. The inclusion of these mysteries tries to bring something unique to what is just another cookie cutter thriller with stalwart heroes and insane, inept bad guys. There are some pretty good action sequences. This would be a quick read for a plane flight. If you don't manage to finish it on the flight, no matter, you already know how it ends.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Gee-Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tenth Circle by Jon Land (#11 in the McCracken series)
Buckle your seat belt and hang on! This is a bumpy ride with more twists and turns than a roller coaster!
Blaine McCracken and his friends, Johnny Wareagle and Sam Belamo, are back in a fast paced novel of modern day home terrorists exciting religious warfare against American Muslims as a cover for an even more diabolical plan to destroy the government with a weapon of mass destruction. This weapon has gone undiscovered until recently, but was the reason for the Roanoke colony and ship crew of the Mary Celeste disappearance.
Enter an assassin trained in Russia for Iran, a cult leader offering salvation through mutilation and sex, and government leaders who want to overthrow the current government. McCracken flies all over the country tracking down clues from various bombing sites, the first of which injured his "sons's" son (complicated). As McCracken checks in with an old Vietnam, bong smoking buddy and a retired, sometimes lucid, operative, the plan of the bad guys becomes more and more evident. They all begin to converge on Washington.
I have never read any of the books by Jon Land, but I will be looking up his other novels. His writing is clear, imaginative and creative. He began the black-ops, spy, out-in-the-cold genre before it was popularized by other authors. His devotion to technical detail makes his books so believable and terrifying. I give The Tenth Circle a resounding 5 stars. Enjoy the ride!