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Miranda Chase NTSB #14
Gryphon
With the rising threat of Russia, Sweden joins NATO for its own protection. But someone wants to make them pay—in blood. Sweden’s home-built, world-class jet fighters, the Saab JAS 39E Gripen—named for the mythological Gryphon—are falling out of the skies. The stability, the very existence of NATO could be torn apart, as if trapped in the Gryphon’s mighty eagle claws. Can Miranda’s team of air-crash investigators solve the crisis before the powerful lion-half shreds them asunder?
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2024
21 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Buchman
325 books615 followersUSA Today and Amazon #1 Bestseller M. L. “Matt” Buchman started writing on a flight south from Japan to ride his bicycle across the Australian Outback. Just part of a solo around-the-world trip that ultimately launched his writing career.
From the very beginning, his powerful female heroines insisted on putting character first, then a great adventure. He’s since written over 60 action-adventure thrillers and military romantic suspense novels. And just for the fun of it: 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of read-by-author audiobooks.
Booklist says: 3x “Top 10 of the Year.” PW says: “Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more.” His fans say: “I want more now…of everything.” That his characters are even more insistent than his fans is a hoot.
As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50’ ketch, he is awed by what is possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.
From the very beginning, his powerful female heroines insisted on putting character first, then a great adventure. He’s since written over 60 action-adventure thrillers and military romantic suspense novels. And just for the fun of it: 100 short stories, and a fast-growing pile of read-by-author audiobooks.
Booklist says: 3x “Top 10 of the Year.” PW says: “Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more.” His fans say: “I want more now…of everything.” That his characters are even more insistent than his fans is a hoot.
As a 30-year project manager with a geophysics degree who has designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, and solo-sailed a 50’ ketch, he is awed by what is possible. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 27, 2024
This was a tough book for Miranda and her crew, all of them were off. Miranda, still dealing (and not very well) with the fall out of Andi being gone. Mike and Holly at odds with each other for most of the book, despite talking here and there, but it took until the end of the book before they were back on solid ground. Despite what was going on with them, they managed to do their jobs and once again save the world. The two of them seemed to be doing the heavy lifting in this one, with little bit by Miranda and Jeremy. It was great to see how good things were for Jeremy with Taz and the new baby. The new guy threw me off, I never warmed up to him, glad that he made the choice he did at the end. The very end was heartbreaking, two women very hurt and coming back together. It will be interesting how things are for them going forward and how the team is as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2024
Like all of the previous entries in the Miranda Chase series from the very first page in Drone, Gryphon is an edge-of-the-seat political technothriller with World War III looming over every action on every page.
What makes this OMG FOURTEENTH book in the series stand out is that this is the one where all of the hyper-competent people that we have come to know and love over the course of the series so far are anything but.
Not that they don’t still manage to get the job done – because of course they do! – but rather because it’s clear from the opening page that all of the members of Miranda’s team are broken after the events of Osprey – and Miranda herself is the most broken one of them all.
It’s hard to lead anyone anywhere when your heart, your soul and your entire psyche are lying in pieces on the ground at your feet.
But time, tide, plane crashes and international catastrophes wait for no one. Even if not a single one of Miranda’s team remotely has their shit together, between them they still have enough to figure out exactly which enemy is responsible for the recent series of disasters plaguing Sweden’s civilian and military aviation.
Although Sweden doesn’t have a whole lot of enemies. Which doesn’t make Ian Fleming’s old truism any less true, that “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.” It’s just that this time around they’ll have to start by identifying just who they have to stop.
Escape Rating A: Gryphon is a hard read for fans of Miranda Chase and her team. Which isn’t to say that it’s not a good read, because it oh-so-definitely is. But rather, it’s hard to see people that we’ve come to like and respect and care about act this observably broken.
It’s a heartbreaking response to the events of the previous book, but damn it hurts to watch.
But it does make it easy for someone, actually a few someones, to slip a whole lot of things past them all – because they are all very much NOT at the top of their respective games. More like at the bottom.
The crisis is a conundrum, because it only makes sense in bad ways. Either the Swedish aviation industry is having the worst luck in the universe, over and over, or someone is out to get them. And yet, the usual suspects are all quiet.
And on the third hand being held behind someone’s back, considering the current crisis in the Ukraine, blaming Russia for everyone’s troubles is a damnably easy conclusion to jump to. So it becomes a question of whether Russia has faked out literally everyone – or whether someone else is trying to make it look that way in the hopes of, what? Causing World War III? Who is crazy enough to want to ring that bell?
A question which, in its own way, is at the center of what makes this series so damn good. Because both the question and the solution in each entry in the series isn’t about the techno part of the thriller. It’s always about the human factors. Technology may make the events and crises and calamities and near-catastrophes possible, but it’s always human beings who set them into motion for all too human reasons.
And it’s the humans of Miranda’s team – pulling together and putting it all together – that have to stop the worst from happening.
Not that the tech isn’t fascinating and not that we don’t get a lot of it while following Miranda and her team – but it’s the humans we feel for and with and it’s the human cost of the disaster they’re trying to prevent that make us keep turning pages until they pull literally everyone’s fat out of whatever particular fire they’re facing this time around.
And all of that is just, well, harder in Gryphon because the humans on all sides of this particular equation are all broken, The villains are broken because the game they are playing is not worth the cost, and the ‘good guys’ are broken because they’ve been pulling separately instead of pulling together, so they’re a mess and getting messier by the day.
Whether the radical solution they come up with to begin to start fixing their broken places is something that we’ll all get to find out in the next book in this awesome series, Wedgetail. Until that comes out this summer, we’ll all just have to hope right along with the rest of the team.
Originally published at Reading Reality
What makes this OMG FOURTEENTH book in the series stand out is that this is the one where all of the hyper-competent people that we have come to know and love over the course of the series so far are anything but.
Not that they don’t still manage to get the job done – because of course they do! – but rather because it’s clear from the opening page that all of the members of Miranda’s team are broken after the events of Osprey – and Miranda herself is the most broken one of them all.
It’s hard to lead anyone anywhere when your heart, your soul and your entire psyche are lying in pieces on the ground at your feet.
But time, tide, plane crashes and international catastrophes wait for no one. Even if not a single one of Miranda’s team remotely has their shit together, between them they still have enough to figure out exactly which enemy is responsible for the recent series of disasters plaguing Sweden’s civilian and military aviation.
Although Sweden doesn’t have a whole lot of enemies. Which doesn’t make Ian Fleming’s old truism any less true, that “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.” It’s just that this time around they’ll have to start by identifying just who they have to stop.
Escape Rating A: Gryphon is a hard read for fans of Miranda Chase and her team. Which isn’t to say that it’s not a good read, because it oh-so-definitely is. But rather, it’s hard to see people that we’ve come to like and respect and care about act this observably broken.
It’s a heartbreaking response to the events of the previous book, but damn it hurts to watch.
But it does make it easy for someone, actually a few someones, to slip a whole lot of things past them all – because they are all very much NOT at the top of their respective games. More like at the bottom.
The crisis is a conundrum, because it only makes sense in bad ways. Either the Swedish aviation industry is having the worst luck in the universe, over and over, or someone is out to get them. And yet, the usual suspects are all quiet.
And on the third hand being held behind someone’s back, considering the current crisis in the Ukraine, blaming Russia for everyone’s troubles is a damnably easy conclusion to jump to. So it becomes a question of whether Russia has faked out literally everyone – or whether someone else is trying to make it look that way in the hopes of, what? Causing World War III? Who is crazy enough to want to ring that bell?
A question which, in its own way, is at the center of what makes this series so damn good. Because both the question and the solution in each entry in the series isn’t about the techno part of the thriller. It’s always about the human factors. Technology may make the events and crises and calamities and near-catastrophes possible, but it’s always human beings who set them into motion for all too human reasons.
And it’s the humans of Miranda’s team – pulling together and putting it all together – that have to stop the worst from happening.
Not that the tech isn’t fascinating and not that we don’t get a lot of it while following Miranda and her team – but it’s the humans we feel for and with and it’s the human cost of the disaster they’re trying to prevent that make us keep turning pages until they pull literally everyone’s fat out of whatever particular fire they’re facing this time around.
And all of that is just, well, harder in Gryphon because the humans on all sides of this particular equation are all broken, The villains are broken because the game they are playing is not worth the cost, and the ‘good guys’ are broken because they’ve been pulling separately instead of pulling together, so they’re a mess and getting messier by the day.
Whether the radical solution they come up with to begin to start fixing their broken places is something that we’ll all get to find out in the next book in this awesome series, Wedgetail. Until that comes out this summer, we’ll all just have to hope right along with the rest of the team.
Originally published at Reading Reality
January 27, 2024
3.5
Koalas aren't bears. You'd think Holly would know this.
WARNING - ENTIRE PLOT SUMMARY AHEAD (used by me to keep track of series events)
REALLY - DON'T READ THIS; IT SUMMARIZES BOOK.
most of content copied from other review
This was a tough book for Miranda and her crew, all of them were off. Miranda has regressed, still dealing (and not very well) with the fall out of Andi being gone. It's been 8 months.
Mike and Holly at odds with each other for most of the book, despite talking here and there, but it took until the end of the book before they were back on solid ground.
Despite what was going on with them, they managed to do their jobs and once again save the world. This part was ridiculous, hence rounding down to 3 stars. They go off to Georgia without Miranda, help kill a couple of bad guys and prevent WWIII. Bad guys were trying to get Sweden and Russia into a war.
The two of them seemed to be doing the heavy lifting in this one, with little bit by Miranda and Jeremy. It was great to see how good things were for Jeremy with Taz and the new baby.
The new guy threw me off, I never warmed up to him, glad that he left the team at the end.
The very end was heartbreaking, two women very hurt and coming back together. Once again the bonus scene should have been in the book itself. POV from Andi with her apologizing to Miranda. Mike had pointed out to Holly that Holly made the decision on her own to throw Andi off of the team, and that Miranda should have been part of that decision.
Koalas aren't bears. You'd think Holly would know this.
WARNING - ENTIRE PLOT SUMMARY AHEAD (used by me to keep track of series events)
REALLY - DON'T READ THIS; IT SUMMARIZES BOOK.
most of content copied from other review
This was a tough book for Miranda and her crew, all of them were off. Miranda has regressed, still dealing (and not very well) with the fall out of Andi being gone. It's been 8 months.
Mike and Holly at odds with each other for most of the book, despite talking here and there, but it took until the end of the book before they were back on solid ground.
Despite what was going on with them, they managed to do their jobs and once again save the world. This part was ridiculous, hence rounding down to 3 stars. They go off to Georgia without Miranda, help kill a couple of bad guys and prevent WWIII. Bad guys were trying to get Sweden and Russia into a war.
The two of them seemed to be doing the heavy lifting in this one, with little bit by Miranda and Jeremy. It was great to see how good things were for Jeremy with Taz and the new baby.
The new guy threw me off, I never warmed up to him, glad that he left the team at the end.
The very end was heartbreaking, two women very hurt and coming back together. Once again the bonus scene should have been in the book itself. POV from Andi with her apologizing to Miranda. Mike had pointed out to Holly that Holly made the decision on her own to throw Andi off of the team, and that Miranda should have been part of that decision.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2024
Worth reading but….
I’m a little disappointed because all the previous Miranda Chase books have just been so fantastic and well written. This had a good story, good plot twist, but it just didn’t seem to be quite up to par to the usual. Still well worth the time to read & an enjoyable story. In the precursor to the next book, one minor irritating mistake, discussing the plane and he says left and starboard. It’s either be left and right or port and starboard. You don’t mix the two.
I’m a little disappointed because all the previous Miranda Chase books have just been so fantastic and well written. This had a good story, good plot twist, but it just didn’t seem to be quite up to par to the usual. Still well worth the time to read & an enjoyable story. In the precursor to the next book, one minor irritating mistake, discussing the plane and he says left and starboard. It’s either be left and right or port and starboard. You don’t mix the two.
January 25, 2024
A Much Awaited Release.
Well, I've been waiting for the release of this book as Im hooked on the Miranda Chase books. Sadly, for me this particular book isn't up to the usual high standard, in fact, I think that for me it's been the one I've liked least in this series. Hence the three stars.
Well, I've been waiting for the release of this book as Im hooked on the Miranda Chase books. Sadly, for me this particular book isn't up to the usual high standard, in fact, I think that for me it's been the one I've liked least in this series. Hence the three stars.
April 30, 2024
I was disappointed in this book. To much caos. I was shocked at Andi in the last book and how Holly reacted . Mike and Holly were a mess. What was the purpose of Tad. He was useless. Wishy washy
I hope the next book has the team being a team again and following their protocols.
Not typical of ML Buchman
I hope the next book has the team being a team again and following their protocols.
Not typical of ML Buchman
January 23, 2024
Avoiding spoilers, so I will only say this about the plot: This book has an uncanny relationship to current events, both in aviation and with who might want to escalate tensions and where. This book examines Holly's and Mike's relationship. And how Miranda is/is not dealing with the loss of Andi. The book has a ton of twists and turns--I could not predict how the threads would resolve.
If you like fast-paced thrillers, with all-too-human people, you'll love this book.
If you like fast-paced thrillers, with all-too-human people, you'll love this book.
January 26, 2024
Another great one!
I loved the plot, up to usual Buchan standards. But what really struck me were the thought on what team means, what love is, and how to find hope in small ways. Thanks, Matt. We needed this one.
I loved the plot, up to usual Buchan standards. But what really struck me were the thought on what team means, what love is, and how to find hope in small ways. Thanks, Matt. We needed this one.
January 30, 2024
This series is wonderful and yet I struggled with this book... so not enough of what I wanted, and too much of a different thing. Balanced against that I read this in one go, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book. Sometimes series are like that.
January 31, 2024
While investigating a Swedish crash, Miranda and her team must determine if there is an accident, mechanical error, sabotage or terrorism involved. This one is a nail biter with lots of twists and a few surprises. It was great to have Jeremy back with the team. 5-star read.
January 25, 2024
Excellent action, plot twists, nice bits of angst andlove
The title says it all. Hard to wait for what comes next! Things are back to the ever-ongoing abnormal world of suprizes!
The title says it all. Hard to wait for what comes next! Things are back to the ever-ongoing abnormal world of suprizes!
February 10, 2024
It ended well but it got way too dark for my tastes before that. Also a metric ton of navel gazing angst from just about every character. I just found myself flipping through to get back to the plot.
February 25, 2024
I’m happy I didn’t give up on this series after being disappointed with the previous book. This book was up to the author’s standards that I have enjoyed.
I couldn’t put it down.
I couldn’t put it down.
March 17, 2024
Good, not his best
I liked more of the technical aspects of a crash investigation and the political intrigue. This book was too soap opera-ish and convoluted.
I liked more of the technical aspects of a crash investigation and the political intrigue. This book was too soap opera-ish and convoluted.
October 23, 2024
Diverting, as always. I believe I'm not caught up, and I'm eagerly waiting for what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews