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Fort Black Thriller #1
Devil's Churn
Born to rebel. Sworn to justice.
An elite operative for the FBI, Kade Black is now disavowed. The Russian double agent he was handling is dead. And a fortune in diamonds missing. The FBI thinks Kade is responsible.
He's on the run, and public enemy number one. A title once reserved for his father, an infamous domestic terrorist killed in an FBI raid. Many in the intelligence community thought Kade would follow in his father's footsteps. Now they have the proof.
But Kade is innocent, and he's not going down without a fight. He follows a cryptic trail to the real assassins, which the murdered agent set up as a dead man's switch. It's Kade's only hope to prove his innocence, but following the clues is more dangerous than a shootout with the FBI.
On the rugged Oregon coast, he comes face to face with his past and a grisly ritual murder. As well as an inescapable truth. A conspiracy haunts his family, and threatens more than just his freedom. He must choose between his oath of service...
Or revenge.
An elite operative for the FBI, Kade Black is now disavowed. The Russian double agent he was handling is dead. And a fortune in diamonds missing. The FBI thinks Kade is responsible.
He's on the run, and public enemy number one. A title once reserved for his father, an infamous domestic terrorist killed in an FBI raid. Many in the intelligence community thought Kade would follow in his father's footsteps. Now they have the proof.
But Kade is innocent, and he's not going down without a fight. He follows a cryptic trail to the real assassins, which the murdered agent set up as a dead man's switch. It's Kade's only hope to prove his innocence, but following the clues is more dangerous than a shootout with the FBI.
On the rugged Oregon coast, he comes face to face with his past and a grisly ritual murder. As well as an inescapable truth. A conspiracy haunts his family, and threatens more than just his freedom. He must choose between his oath of service...
Or revenge.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2023
512 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Russ Linton
31 books91 followersDanger, depth, and discovery. I'm an independent fiction author and vagabond travelling the US looking for adventure. As an author, I've dabbled in horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Even landed a small role with a Hollywood studio along the way.
But as a former government agent, I kept running across books about former government agents wandering the country in pursuit of justice.
I decided not to be a cliché.
Then, someone stole my Jeep. And I just *had* to get it back....
New Vigilante Justice series incoming 2023. Stay tuned!
Sign up for his mailing list here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
You can also find Russ online at:
http://www.russlinton.com
http://www.facebook.com/RussLinton
But as a former government agent, I kept running across books about former government agents wandering the country in pursuit of justice.
I decided not to be a cliché.
Then, someone stole my Jeep. And I just *had* to get it back....
New Vigilante Justice series incoming 2023. Stay tuned!
Sign up for his mailing list here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
You can also find Russ online at:
http://www.russlinton.com
http://www.facebook.com/RussLinton
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 26, 2025
Language
A healthy dose of f-bombs along with the use of the names of deity in profane ways puts this book firmly in the gutter.
A healthy dose of f-bombs along with the use of the names of deity in profane ways puts this book firmly in the gutter.
August 17, 2023
Two days in town and everything had fallen spectacularly apart.
First and foremost, welcome back Russ Linton! From his self-chronicled road-trip all across America, it's good to see that he's returned and again pumping out exciting stories like "Devil's Churn"! If you've followed my reviews over the past few years, you'll recognize Russ's name from the - hang on, I'll count 'em for you - 8 books of his I've read before! This includes one of my all-time favorite "super-hero" series, namely, the "Crimson Son" collection (most of which I've read at least twice!). This also covers then "Under the Flickering Light" (yes, the one with the interesting font choice!) which was a fascinating look at that world in the future.
He’d been flagged as a security risk from day one. Despite all he’d done. The sins of a father forced on a boy and carried forever as a man.
In addition, I was well into his last on-going saga, the "Ace Grant, Demon Slayer" tales which unfortunately - but necessarily - ended once our world became embroiled in the trials and tribulations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic! It was neither the time nor the place to have a story heading to what was going to be essentially a mystical war with "Big Pharma" so alas, fans of Ace and co. will have to accept that their story remains incomplete. But to be clear: Russ's decision was one I still whole-heartedly agree(d) with and support!
His father used “freedom” as the excuse for his every excess. Abused his family so they knew the value of “freedom.” Maintained a relentless arms race at his compound so they could secure “freedom.”
But now we're back with "Devil's Churn", a rambunctiously thrilling new story-line that features former - not by choice by the way - FBI Special Agent Kade Black. Unfortunately for him, his journey into the misty shores of Oregon land him right in the middle of big-time trouble! Things go from bad to worse from the moment he's confronted with a grisly ritualistic murder. Along the way he manages to find himself in deeper and deeper trouble, some of it due to his own drive to clear his name or erase the memories of a tortured past. I don't want to give away too many details because there's a lot of twists and turns that work best when you get smacked in the face with them - and yes, that means sometimes literally for our cast as well!
They all claimed to be fighting the last battle against the forces of chaos and evil.
Though this is not my usual "go to" for genre selections - I kept waiting for our hero to either fly away into the skies to release his laser vision or even conjure up a special bond with the local spirits and demons - I can confirm that this story kept me on the edge of my seat. True, there's a lot left open - and I'm not just talking about the RV Hindy's windshield! - but clearly this is a great opening salvo for what will be a thrilling and tense series! Making it even more mysterious for me was the locale, which to my Deep South / East Coast familiarity seemed more foreign than some of the more bizarre fantasy settings I've come across lately! But Russ does an excellent job tying in local flora and fauna - and the hidden economics involved with same - with the trials and tribulations of the day!
Really, it’s order versus chaos. Fending off the barbarian hordes. Savages needing to be tamed. And that taming takes savage men. Like us.
In terms of execution, well, considering this was his first stab at things since his sabbatical, it was pretty smooth reading. I think the editing could have used another good pass (several fragments seemed to dangle about as if forgotten from earlier changes). I was also a little bit surprised to see some sections of around the latter third of the book coming across, maybe not choppy but let's say a bit abruptly or tersely formulated. The normal smooth prose seemed to hiccup on occasion, particularly as the excrement really started making physical contact with the oscillating air current distribution device. And boy did things ever get all "splatty" there at the end! But bottom-line is I'm excited to learn more about Kade's journey and can't wait for the next chapters to be released in the near future! Good stuff!
First and foremost, welcome back Russ Linton! From his self-chronicled road-trip all across America, it's good to see that he's returned and again pumping out exciting stories like "Devil's Churn"! If you've followed my reviews over the past few years, you'll recognize Russ's name from the - hang on, I'll count 'em for you - 8 books of his I've read before! This includes one of my all-time favorite "super-hero" series, namely, the "Crimson Son" collection (most of which I've read at least twice!). This also covers then "Under the Flickering Light" (yes, the one with the interesting font choice!) which was a fascinating look at that world in the future.
He’d been flagged as a security risk from day one. Despite all he’d done. The sins of a father forced on a boy and carried forever as a man.
In addition, I was well into his last on-going saga, the "Ace Grant, Demon Slayer" tales which unfortunately - but necessarily - ended once our world became embroiled in the trials and tribulations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic! It was neither the time nor the place to have a story heading to what was going to be essentially a mystical war with "Big Pharma" so alas, fans of Ace and co. will have to accept that their story remains incomplete. But to be clear: Russ's decision was one I still whole-heartedly agree(d) with and support!
His father used “freedom” as the excuse for his every excess. Abused his family so they knew the value of “freedom.” Maintained a relentless arms race at his compound so they could secure “freedom.”
But now we're back with "Devil's Churn", a rambunctiously thrilling new story-line that features former - not by choice by the way - FBI Special Agent Kade Black. Unfortunately for him, his journey into the misty shores of Oregon land him right in the middle of big-time trouble! Things go from bad to worse from the moment he's confronted with a grisly ritualistic murder. Along the way he manages to find himself in deeper and deeper trouble, some of it due to his own drive to clear his name or erase the memories of a tortured past. I don't want to give away too many details because there's a lot of twists and turns that work best when you get smacked in the face with them - and yes, that means sometimes literally for our cast as well!
They all claimed to be fighting the last battle against the forces of chaos and evil.
Though this is not my usual "go to" for genre selections - I kept waiting for our hero to either fly away into the skies to release his laser vision or even conjure up a special bond with the local spirits and demons - I can confirm that this story kept me on the edge of my seat. True, there's a lot left open - and I'm not just talking about the RV Hindy's windshield! - but clearly this is a great opening salvo for what will be a thrilling and tense series! Making it even more mysterious for me was the locale, which to my Deep South / East Coast familiarity seemed more foreign than some of the more bizarre fantasy settings I've come across lately! But Russ does an excellent job tying in local flora and fauna - and the hidden economics involved with same - with the trials and tribulations of the day!
Really, it’s order versus chaos. Fending off the barbarian hordes. Savages needing to be tamed. And that taming takes savage men. Like us.
In terms of execution, well, considering this was his first stab at things since his sabbatical, it was pretty smooth reading. I think the editing could have used another good pass (several fragments seemed to dangle about as if forgotten from earlier changes). I was also a little bit surprised to see some sections of around the latter third of the book coming across, maybe not choppy but let's say a bit abruptly or tersely formulated. The normal smooth prose seemed to hiccup on occasion, particularly as the excrement really started making physical contact with the oscillating air current distribution device. And boy did things ever get all "splatty" there at the end! But bottom-line is I'm excited to learn more about Kade's journey and can't wait for the next chapters to be released in the near future! Good stuff!
June 5, 2025
Kade Black, former FBI special agent, is on the run in the first installment of this series. He’s been set up for murder and theft and is searching for the proof that will exonerate him via a dead drop near the coast in Oregon. In his search for the truth, he comes across a grisly ritual murder and gets deputized (blackmailed) by the local sheriff to help with the investigation after she figures out who he actually is. His involvement in the local scene causes ripples the likes of which no one could have predicted when he showed up in his camper van.
Amidst all of the action and thrills Kade pursues a bit of a romance, which is a tasteful fade-to-black type. The pace of the whole novel is relatively fast, which makes it difficult to put down as there’s always something interesting going on. Several plot lines all coming together at the end make for a satisfying ending, and now I want to own one of those Russian military shovels he’s always using as a weapon because Kade makes it seem so cool.
Some meta knowledge about the author was helpful when I started listening to the audiobook. Russ is a former agent himself and has been across the country so the locations in the novels he’s written about are real and are described from his actual trips. I’m sure a lot of the FBI stuff is exaggerated but it probably comes from at least a grain of truth. At least, I like to think so.
Narrator Tyler Darby did a phenomenal job with this novel. His smooth baritone voice lends an air of confidence to Kade and the tone and flow to his narration makes for an easy listen. I’m excited to hear more from him as Kade in the upcoming audiobooks!
Amidst all of the action and thrills Kade pursues a bit of a romance, which is a tasteful fade-to-black type. The pace of the whole novel is relatively fast, which makes it difficult to put down as there’s always something interesting going on. Several plot lines all coming together at the end make for a satisfying ending, and now I want to own one of those Russian military shovels he’s always using as a weapon because Kade makes it seem so cool.
Some meta knowledge about the author was helpful when I started listening to the audiobook. Russ is a former agent himself and has been across the country so the locations in the novels he’s written about are real and are described from his actual trips. I’m sure a lot of the FBI stuff is exaggerated but it probably comes from at least a grain of truth. At least, I like to think so.
Narrator Tyler Darby did a phenomenal job with this novel. His smooth baritone voice lends an air of confidence to Kade and the tone and flow to his narration makes for an easy listen. I’m excited to hear more from him as Kade in the upcoming audiobooks!
July 19, 2024
An elite operative for the FBI, Kade Black is now disavowed. The Russian double agent he was handling is dead. And a fortune in diamonds missing. The FBI thinks Kade is responsible.
He's on the run, and public enemy number one. A title once reserved for his father, an infamous domestic terrorist killed in an FBI raid. Many in the intelligence community thought Kade would follow in his father's footsteps. Now they have the proof.
But Kade is innocent, and he's not going down without a fight. He follows a cryptic trail to the real assassins, which the murdered agent set up as a dead man's switch. It's Kade's only hope to prove his innocence, but following the clues is more dangerous than a shootout with the FBI.
On the rugged Oregon coast, he comes face to face with his past and a grisly ritual murder. As well as an inescapable truth. A conspiracy haunts his family, and threatens more than just his freedom.
I liked Kade, he is resourceful and uses everything life has taught him, yet he isn't bullet proof or infallible, making him more believable.
I enjoyed this one.
He's on the run, and public enemy number one. A title once reserved for his father, an infamous domestic terrorist killed in an FBI raid. Many in the intelligence community thought Kade would follow in his father's footsteps. Now they have the proof.
But Kade is innocent, and he's not going down without a fight. He follows a cryptic trail to the real assassins, which the murdered agent set up as a dead man's switch. It's Kade's only hope to prove his innocence, but following the clues is more dangerous than a shootout with the FBI.
On the rugged Oregon coast, he comes face to face with his past and a grisly ritual murder. As well as an inescapable truth. A conspiracy haunts his family, and threatens more than just his freedom.
I liked Kade, he is resourceful and uses everything life has taught him, yet he isn't bullet proof or infallible, making him more believable.
I enjoyed this one.
May 30, 2025
Hmmm. I don’t think it’s a spoiler note to say a great feature of this story is its favorable exciting development of a favorable outcome for a Native American circumstance! I would give the tale a 5-star vote on THAT!
However, at least from my perspective, the entire narrative seems to have too many really unbelievable situations to be taken seriously. Enjoy the read if you can ignore some preposterous stories in the novel’s development!
However, at least from my perspective, the entire narrative seems to have too many really unbelievable situations to be taken seriously. Enjoy the read if you can ignore some preposterous stories in the novel’s development!
January 3, 2024
This one works
Kade Black has a unique back story and a plausible (small) collection of weaknesses, along with the requisite physique and skill set. Russ Linton stands out from the sad collection of would-be Ludlums and Childs who just don’t have the chops or the editors to produce plausible and entertaining thrillers of this genre. I look forward to an enjoyable series.
Kade Black has a unique back story and a plausible (small) collection of weaknesses, along with the requisite physique and skill set. Russ Linton stands out from the sad collection of would-be Ludlums and Childs who just don’t have the chops or the editors to produce plausible and entertaining thrillers of this genre. I look forward to an enjoyable series.
June 2, 2025
sheer craziness
an adrenaline flow of great magnitude propells the storyline to its anticlimactic ending. leaves you tired and shaking at the end of it. i couldn't put this book down. so many layers and plotlines. the protagonist is a machine driven by a past so bizarre, that even he doubts his motivation. excellent story. i highly recommend it.
an adrenaline flow of great magnitude propells the storyline to its anticlimactic ending. leaves you tired and shaking at the end of it. i couldn't put this book down. so many layers and plotlines. the protagonist is a machine driven by a past so bizarre, that even he doubts his motivation. excellent story. i highly recommend it.
July 8, 2025
Let Me Catch My Breath
Every action hero, it seems, has his/her flaws. But for this one, the flaws are strengths. I had to stop occasionally to catch my breath from reading Devil’s Churn. Kade Black had plenty of regrets and flaws. But every one of them lead to another action scene that came so fast I was gasping. Great book. Take a DEEP breath and start reading.
Every action hero, it seems, has his/her flaws. But for this one, the flaws are strengths. I had to stop occasionally to catch my breath from reading Devil’s Churn. Kade Black had plenty of regrets and flaws. But every one of them lead to another action scene that came so fast I was gasping. Great book. Take a DEEP breath and start reading.
October 4, 2025
Wow
A great story! Fantastic characters…especially Kade. I won’t give any of it away, but I read this faster than most books. Never a dull moment.
I also like J Reacher and although there are some similarities, they are very much different. I’d love to see a story where they both meet and see what they could do.
Enjoy!
A great story! Fantastic characters…especially Kade. I won’t give any of it away, but I read this faster than most books. Never a dull moment.
I also like J Reacher and although there are some similarities, they are very much different. I’d love to see a story where they both meet and see what they could do.
Enjoy!
June 5, 2025
A hardness agent
Written in an old style that I rather miss, tough and gritty from start to finish. A typical FBI go and get an story but with a hero that would make Rambo look tame. A good read I enjoyed.
Written in an old style that I rather miss, tough and gritty from start to finish. A typical FBI go and get an story but with a hero that would make Rambo look tame. A good read I enjoyed.
July 1, 2024
I enjoyed the read and have lived in Montana for over 50 years. I spent a week around Hungry Horse Dam and can attest to the ruggedness and remoteness of that area.
December 26, 2024
good read
May 28, 2025
Lots of action with a basic story as a foundation.
June 7, 2025
WOW!
I had a very hard time putting this book down. It was exciting and fun to read. Lenton has done a great job crafting his work.
I had a very hard time putting this book down. It was exciting and fun to read. Lenton has done a great job crafting his work.
June 23, 2025
Very much enjoyed this book and would recommend this author to others. I look forward to reading more of his books.
July 23, 2025
Story not finished
Pretty good story, but no ending, of course need to buy the next book to continue the tale. I really don’t like that!
Pretty good story, but no ending, of course need to buy the next book to continue the tale. I really don’t like that!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews