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Jonathan Grave #16
Zero Sum
When a boy under Jonathan Grave’s protection dies of a drug overdose, the black-ops veteran decides it’s time for a war on drugs that actually looks like a war.
Jonathan Grave long ago lost faith with the so-called war on drugs, a futile campaign that enables cartels to make billions under the protection of corrupt officials on both sides of the border. But when a twelve-year-old dies after consuming fentanyl disguised as candy inside the dormitory at Resurrection House, the school he created for the children of incarcerated parents, Jonathan knows it’s time to use his special talents to change the game.
Gathering his Security Solutions team, Jonathan activates Operation Heat Seeker. Nobody and nothing will stop them from ending the flow of poison—not even a vow of revenge from the President of the United States himself . . .
Jonathan Grave long ago lost faith with the so-called war on drugs, a futile campaign that enables cartels to make billions under the protection of corrupt officials on both sides of the border. But when a twelve-year-old dies after consuming fentanyl disguised as candy inside the dormitory at Resurrection House, the school he created for the children of incarcerated parents, Jonathan knows it’s time to use his special talents to change the game.
Gathering his Security Solutions team, Jonathan activates Operation Heat Seeker. Nobody and nothing will stop them from ending the flow of poison—not even a vow of revenge from the President of the United States himself . . .
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 20, 2024
408 people are currently reading
2549 people want to read
About the author
John Gilstrap
77 books1,204 followersA little bit about my background... I've always been a closet-writer. As a kid, I lived for the opportunity to write short stories. I was the editor of my high school newspaper for a while (the Valor Dictus, Robinson High School, class of 1975), until I quit ("You can't fire me! I quit!") over a lofty First Amendment issue that seemed very important at the time. My goal, in fact, was to become a journalist in the vein of Woodward or Bernstein. Okay, I confess, I wanted to be Woodward; Robert Redford played him in the movie, and chicks really dug Robert Redford.
I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1979, and armed with a degree in American history, I couldn't find a job. I ended up settling for a position with a little-noticed trade journal serving the construction industry. They called me the managing editor and they paid me food stamp wages. I hated it. About this time, I joined the Burke Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax County, Virginia, if only to find relief from the boredom of my job. Running about a thousand calls my first year with the department, I was hooked, and the volunteer fire service became an important part of my life for the next 15 years. In the early eighties, hating my job, I went the way of all frustrated liberal arts undergrads—back to graduate school. Earning a Master of Science degree in safety engineering from the University of Southern California, I started down a whole new road. For the next decade and a half, I became an expert (don't you hate that word?) on explosives safety and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, I kept writing. I didn't tell anyone, of course, because, well, you just don't share artistic dreams with fellow engineers. They look at you funny.
My first novel, Nathan's Run, was in fact my fourth novel, and when it sold, it sold big. At a time in my life when things were going well—I was president of my own consulting firm—things were suddenly going very well. Warner Bros. bought the movie rights to Nathan's Run two days after the first book rights were sold, and as of this date, the novel has been translated and published in one form or another in over 20 countries. With Nathan's Run in the can, as it were, I thought I might finally be on to something, but I didn't quit my "day job" until after I sold the book and movie rights to my second novel, At All Costs. I figured that while one-in-a-row might be luck, two-in-a-row was a trend. So, I started writing full-time.
More novels followed, and then a few screenplays. I was living the dream.
But I really didn't like it much. I learned pretty quickly that when you're born a Type-A personality, those extrovert tendencies don't go away just because you're practicing a craft you love. In fact, after just a couple of years of dream fulfillment, I was pretty friggin' bored with the company of my imaginary friends, so I did something that I've never heard a full-time artist do before: I went back to a day job. At first, it was just a matter of reactivating my consulting business, but then, in 2004, I was handed my ideal Big-Boy Job (that's what my wife calls it) working as the director of safety for a trade association in Washington, DC.
And I continue to write. In 2006, Six Minutes to Freedom was published to considerable acclaim. My first (and probably last) foray into book-length non-fiction, SixMin tells the story of Kurt Muse, the only civilian of record ever rescued by the super-secret Delta Force. Thanks to Kurt's cooperation (he is co-author), I gained access to people and places that lifelong civilians like me should never see. The heroic warriors I met during that research turned out to be nothing like their movie stereotypes. These were not only gentlemen, but gentle men, who remained free of the kind of boasting and self-aggrandizement that I was expecting. They were supreme professionals, and very nice guys.
And through them I got the idea for my new series character, Jonathan Grave. He's fo
I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1979, and armed with a degree in American history, I couldn't find a job. I ended up settling for a position with a little-noticed trade journal serving the construction industry. They called me the managing editor and they paid me food stamp wages. I hated it. About this time, I joined the Burke Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax County, Virginia, if only to find relief from the boredom of my job. Running about a thousand calls my first year with the department, I was hooked, and the volunteer fire service became an important part of my life for the next 15 years. In the early eighties, hating my job, I went the way of all frustrated liberal arts undergrads—back to graduate school. Earning a Master of Science degree in safety engineering from the University of Southern California, I started down a whole new road. For the next decade and a half, I became an expert (don't you hate that word?) on explosives safety and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, I kept writing. I didn't tell anyone, of course, because, well, you just don't share artistic dreams with fellow engineers. They look at you funny.
My first novel, Nathan's Run, was in fact my fourth novel, and when it sold, it sold big. At a time in my life when things were going well—I was president of my own consulting firm—things were suddenly going very well. Warner Bros. bought the movie rights to Nathan's Run two days after the first book rights were sold, and as of this date, the novel has been translated and published in one form or another in over 20 countries. With Nathan's Run in the can, as it were, I thought I might finally be on to something, but I didn't quit my "day job" until after I sold the book and movie rights to my second novel, At All Costs. I figured that while one-in-a-row might be luck, two-in-a-row was a trend. So, I started writing full-time.
More novels followed, and then a few screenplays. I was living the dream.
But I really didn't like it much. I learned pretty quickly that when you're born a Type-A personality, those extrovert tendencies don't go away just because you're practicing a craft you love. In fact, after just a couple of years of dream fulfillment, I was pretty friggin' bored with the company of my imaginary friends, so I did something that I've never heard a full-time artist do before: I went back to a day job. At first, it was just a matter of reactivating my consulting business, but then, in 2004, I was handed my ideal Big-Boy Job (that's what my wife calls it) working as the director of safety for a trade association in Washington, DC.
And I continue to write. In 2006, Six Minutes to Freedom was published to considerable acclaim. My first (and probably last) foray into book-length non-fiction, SixMin tells the story of Kurt Muse, the only civilian of record ever rescued by the super-secret Delta Force. Thanks to Kurt's cooperation (he is co-author), I gained access to people and places that lifelong civilians like me should never see. The heroic warriors I met during that research turned out to be nothing like their movie stereotypes. These were not only gentlemen, but gentle men, who remained free of the kind of boasting and self-aggrandizement that I was expecting. They were supreme professionals, and very nice guys.
And through them I got the idea for my new series character, Jonathan Grave. He's fo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
August 11, 2024
Death, astonishing action scenes, and vengeance take center stage in
Zero Sum,
the sixteenth book in the Jonathan Grave action thriller series. When a boy under Grave’s protection dies of an overdose disguised as candy, he’s had enough. He decides it time to put a substantial dent in the flow of the drugs and the corruption that allows it. Once again, he is joined by his covert team as well as getting some help from Irene Rivers, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Grave loves his country. He’s great at making connections, planning, and adjusting as situations change. As a bold and intense protagonist, he runs a detective agency that has a clandestine sideline to it. He stands up for justice, but is willing to cross the line to ethical ambiguity to get it. Not everyone will connect with him, but he’s very good at bringing justice to victims of evil. I loved how his team connected with each other. Their chemistry added to my enjoyment of the novel.
As usual, the first chapter grabbed my attention. Gilstrap is an excellent storyteller who combines a creative plot with gripping scenes and plenty of action and suspense. This kept me engaged throughout the book. As usual, his expertise in weaponry and explosives plays a role in the action as well as his experience as an emergency medical technician. The author weaved another page-turning installment involving corrupt officials, drugs, political intrigue, human trafficking, greed, power, fear, found family, friendship, family, ethical ambiguity, and violence. Additionally, there’s a sub-plot featuring twins that are kidnapped that adds another dimension to the story. My only quibble is with the ending. I wanted a little more closure.
Overall, this was an intense, emotional, and suspenseful novel with a riveting story arc that kept me engaged throughout. While this novel can be read as a standalone, readers will be missing some background and character growth and changes over time. I can’t wait to see where the author takes the next book in the series. Additionally, the author’s note at the end states a new spin-off series will start in 2025. I’m looking forward to reading it too.
Kensington Publishing – Pinnacle and John Gilstrap provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for August 20, 2024.
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My 4.22 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Grave loves his country. He’s great at making connections, planning, and adjusting as situations change. As a bold and intense protagonist, he runs a detective agency that has a clandestine sideline to it. He stands up for justice, but is willing to cross the line to ethical ambiguity to get it. Not everyone will connect with him, but he’s very good at bringing justice to victims of evil. I loved how his team connected with each other. Their chemistry added to my enjoyment of the novel.
As usual, the first chapter grabbed my attention. Gilstrap is an excellent storyteller who combines a creative plot with gripping scenes and plenty of action and suspense. This kept me engaged throughout the book. As usual, his expertise in weaponry and explosives plays a role in the action as well as his experience as an emergency medical technician. The author weaved another page-turning installment involving corrupt officials, drugs, political intrigue, human trafficking, greed, power, fear, found family, friendship, family, ethical ambiguity, and violence. Additionally, there’s a sub-plot featuring twins that are kidnapped that adds another dimension to the story. My only quibble is with the ending. I wanted a little more closure.
Overall, this was an intense, emotional, and suspenseful novel with a riveting story arc that kept me engaged throughout. While this novel can be read as a standalone, readers will be missing some background and character growth and changes over time. I can’t wait to see where the author takes the next book in the series. Additionally, the author’s note at the end states a new spin-off series will start in 2025. I’m looking forward to reading it too.
Kensington Publishing – Pinnacle and John Gilstrap provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for August 20, 2024.
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My 4.22 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
August 19, 2024
John Gilstrap is one of my favorite thriller writers. I've read many of the Jonathan Grave series and this is number sixteen.
Description:
When a boy under Jonathan Grave’s protection dies of a drug overdose, the black-ops veteran decides it’s time for a war on drugs that actually looks like a war. Jonathan Grave long ago lost faith with the so-called war on drugs, a futile campaign that enables cartels to make billions under the protection of corrupt officials on both sides of the border. But when a twelve-year-old dies after consuming fentanyl disguised as candy inside the dormitory at Resurrection House, the school he created for the children of incarcerated parents, Jonathan knows it’s time to use his special talents to change the game. Gathering his Security Solutions team, Jonathan activates Operation Heat Seeker. Nobody and nothing will stop them from ending the flow of poison—not even a vow of revenge from the President of the United States himself . .
My Thoughts:
This was a fast-paced thrill ride all the way through. I was glued to the story. This was a massive undertaking for Jonathan Grave and his crew to try to take down a complex drug and human trafficking network that reached all the way from Mexico to the White House. There are a lot of politics here - and a lot of politicians involved in a deceitful endeavor. It was a totally absorbing read and I would recommend it to all thriller lover - this is a five star thriller for me.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing - Pinnacle through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
When a boy under Jonathan Grave’s protection dies of a drug overdose, the black-ops veteran decides it’s time for a war on drugs that actually looks like a war. Jonathan Grave long ago lost faith with the so-called war on drugs, a futile campaign that enables cartels to make billions under the protection of corrupt officials on both sides of the border. But when a twelve-year-old dies after consuming fentanyl disguised as candy inside the dormitory at Resurrection House, the school he created for the children of incarcerated parents, Jonathan knows it’s time to use his special talents to change the game. Gathering his Security Solutions team, Jonathan activates Operation Heat Seeker. Nobody and nothing will stop them from ending the flow of poison—not even a vow of revenge from the President of the United States himself . .
My Thoughts:
This was a fast-paced thrill ride all the way through. I was glued to the story. This was a massive undertaking for Jonathan Grave and his crew to try to take down a complex drug and human trafficking network that reached all the way from Mexico to the White House. There are a lot of politics here - and a lot of politicians involved in a deceitful endeavor. It was a totally absorbing read and I would recommend it to all thriller lover - this is a five star thriller for me.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing - Pinnacle through Netgalley for an advance copy.
May 13, 2024
Jonathan Grave is back and so is Venice, Boxer and Irene. In Zero Sum it all starts with a deadly drug overdose at resurrection Home and that is not acceptable to Jonathan and his friends. It turns out that it is so much more and soon old enemies are in the picture as well. I have been a fan of John Gilstrap and his books for quite some time now and he keeps on delivering great stories, now I found out that he has a brand new series in the making and it sounds just as good as the ones I already tried. I am relly looking forward to this new project. I had a great time reading this one and I love the banter that goes on and the justice is swift from our heroes. I can really recommend that you try something from this author if you by some fluke has missed him. I also thank Kensington Books and Netgalley for letting me read this advance copy. Keep your eyes open for the release in August.
August 21, 2024
Few thriller writers can write action scenes like John Gilstrap. This book was relevant, fast-paced, emotional in parts, and riveting. I read a couple of the earlier Jonathan Grave books and it was great to get caught up with the characters ... but just wow. No spoilers from me! I listened to the audio book (thank you NetGalley and the publisher!) at 1.2x speed. The narrator was above average, the story was outstanding.
October 1, 2024
Zero Sum—John Gilstrap’s newest Jonathan Grave thriller—pulls no punches amid a seismic shift to the series. An overdose at Resurrection House—the school he founded and funds for children of incarcerated parents—sends Grave on the warpath. He and his small team are going to visit a cartel and hell is coming with them.
Losing a main character in a series takes balls. Gigantic balls. It can have major ramifications on the series and readership, even though it’s difficult for the readers in the moment—and sometimes longer. I’m looking forward to how Gilstrap moves forward—in the Grave series and his new series. If his latest series starring a female lead is an indication, we’re in for a heck of a ride.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of Zero Sum via NetGalley.
Losing a main character in a series takes balls. Gigantic balls. It can have major ramifications on the series and readership, even though it’s difficult for the readers in the moment—and sometimes longer. I’m looking forward to how Gilstrap moves forward—in the Grave series and his new series. If his latest series starring a female lead is an indication, we’re in for a heck of a ride.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy of Zero Sum via NetGalley.
August 13, 2024
4.5 Stars 🌟
As usual, the latest installment with Scorpion and Big Guy does not disappoint. This book however, felt extremely prescient, or at least almost too on the nose with the happenings going on in our country at the moment. Corruption, treachery and cover ups are laid out in clear fashion and it actually scared me with how close to non-fiction we were getting.
Those of us who have been with Jonathan and Boxers for the last 15 books have followed along as they have fought the Los Muertos Cartel. This time though, things hit very close to home to kick things off. We also have a storyline dealing with Wolfie that puts her in the crosshairs of the people at the top.
This book has everything that we have come to expect with this gang - action, lots of bullets, and some pretty intense drama. The focus though seems to be with Scorpion and Big Guy - with Mother Hen and Gunslinger only coming in sporadically (and we also have a new addition to the gang).
I'm not sure if you tried to read this as a stand alone, if you would understand the nuances going on. These guys have been together a really long time and have a ton of history that gives them the capabilities that they now have. I think it helps with the believability factor to know their history. It is long and full of successful ops in their line of work. If it were up to me, I'd recommend you go back and start with book 1 - you won't be disappointed.
I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the narration of Basil Sands. He has been the consistent voice of this series since the beginning. I was just looking at the Audible website and noticed that the first few books of this series are free on Audible at the moment (Aug 2024) - so this would be a GREAT time to dip your toe in.
Thank you to HighBridge Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this audio ARC. This book will be coming out on August 20, 2024.
As usual, the latest installment with Scorpion and Big Guy does not disappoint. This book however, felt extremely prescient, or at least almost too on the nose with the happenings going on in our country at the moment. Corruption, treachery and cover ups are laid out in clear fashion and it actually scared me with how close to non-fiction we were getting.
Those of us who have been with Jonathan and Boxers for the last 15 books have followed along as they have fought the Los Muertos Cartel. This time though, things hit very close to home to kick things off. We also have a storyline dealing with Wolfie that puts her in the crosshairs of the people at the top.
This book has everything that we have come to expect with this gang - action, lots of bullets, and some pretty intense drama. The focus though seems to be with Scorpion and Big Guy - with Mother Hen and Gunslinger only coming in sporadically (and we also have a new addition to the gang).
I'm not sure if you tried to read this as a stand alone, if you would understand the nuances going on. These guys have been together a really long time and have a ton of history that gives them the capabilities that they now have. I think it helps with the believability factor to know their history. It is long and full of successful ops in their line of work. If it were up to me, I'd recommend you go back and start with book 1 - you won't be disappointed.
I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the narration of Basil Sands. He has been the consistent voice of this series since the beginning. I was just looking at the Audible website and noticed that the first few books of this series are free on Audible at the moment (Aug 2024) - so this would be a GREAT time to dip your toe in.
Thank you to HighBridge Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this audio ARC. This book will be coming out on August 20, 2024.
April 20, 2024
Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I will say this as a reviewer, you can't go wrong by reading it.
Now as a fan of the series.... What!?! and why? Guys, this one is gonna leave you with your mouth agape. I just finished reading and I'm sad, upset, sort of excited, and I have so many questions!
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Now as a fan of the series.... What!?! and why? Guys, this one is gonna leave you with your mouth agape. I just finished reading and I'm sad, upset, sort of excited, and I have so many questions!
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2025
4 Stars. This was a typical Digger Grave book. Solid as hell. It sort of feels like the end of something, I’m not sure just yet. This one had a feeling of change. We’ll see where Gilstrap takes us next. There was definitely clean-up, so I hope that this isn’t the last time we hear from Security Solutions.
August 13, 2024
Zero Sum is the next book in the Jonathan Graves series from John Gilstrap.
"After a resident dies from a fentanyl overdose in Resurrection House, Digger is determined more than ever to cut the head of the snake bringing drugs into the US. What do you do when it's your small team against the biggest cartel in Mexico? And when the corruption goes all the way to the White House? Nothing will stop them."
Gilstrap adds in the NSA, the White house and CIA in this wild story. Money corrupts. Boxer has some interesting new toys - an assassination drone with facial recognition is pretty scary. The final raid is big and explosive. Boxer does like to blow stuff up.
There are character story arcs with big changes in this book. It'll be interesting to see where Gilstrap takes them.
Very few write action like Gilstrap, so take a look if you're an action/thriller fan.
"After a resident dies from a fentanyl overdose in Resurrection House, Digger is determined more than ever to cut the head of the snake bringing drugs into the US. What do you do when it's your small team against the biggest cartel in Mexico? And when the corruption goes all the way to the White House? Nothing will stop them."
Gilstrap adds in the NSA, the White house and CIA in this wild story. Money corrupts. Boxer has some interesting new toys - an assassination drone with facial recognition is pretty scary. The final raid is big and explosive. Boxer does like to blow stuff up.
There are character story arcs with big changes in this book. It'll be interesting to see where Gilstrap takes them.
Very few write action like Gilstrap, so take a look if you're an action/thriller fan.
August 23, 2024
After a 12 year old child is murdered at Rez House by a cartel Graves takes the fight to them. Another excellent entry in the Jonathan Graves series
October 4, 2024
Book 16 in the Jonathan Grave series. Not sure why this one is so highly rated, it’s pretty MEH and the plot is not exciting by any means. Drug cartels and corruption at the highest level. Great.
August 24, 2024
Zero Sum
Creating world minus drugs, drug wars and fighting for territory is at the heart of this novel as Jonathan Graves embarks on several wars that will take readers inside the heart of a dangerous drug cartel, prison walls to unravel a much larger problem which centers around Romy Gomez the head of the cartel and his son Paco.
When a box of candy laced with poison and fentanyl finds its way inside a private school with high end security, how does this kid get this box and eat a piece and die. Others spit theirs out. The whole world falls down in Graves and his cohort Boxer as they enter their offices and are told what happened trying to unravel the who and why.
As we hear and see the meeting behind prison walls of a prisoner and federal agents and more we learn that this man has evidence that could take down their drug operation and one high ranking guard decides to risk it all and become part of the team with Graves handing him the evidence needed to take down some powerful people including the President and Vice President and other officials. Meet Standish in charge of dealing with Johnathan and his team never remembering what they can do and the end result puts him over the edge and more. Pavo the son of the head of the cartel now has decided to take on Jonathan and Boxer plus his team thinking he will win this one not fully understanding his opponent. Paco wants the prisoner dead and having his son killed he feels sends a strong message to stay silent but the meeting in the prison and where the prisoner is now covered it . But for how long?
A meeting that results in more murders as other agents and killers come after Jonathan, Boxer and Gail who’s smart and can handle danger but things get wild at this hotel, bodies fall and they take the guard along with them as we once again hear the voices of Irene Rivers the Director of the FBI who’s now in a position to either disregard what she hears or make some calls to shake up more than the government.
Then Captain Hite and the team hear the recording with the prisoner and the Director has to decide truth or false. What’s on the tape is quite revealing and if true the deception, corruption and more go way up the ladder.
Irene and Jonathan have a blunt and honest talk about how to move ahead and protect the man in prison plus taking down the administration plus those attached to it hoping that lives won’t be taken but that’s doubtful.
Working with Security Solutions the official wheels of justice moved not fast enough and the director explains it in detail. The Darmond administration bent laws and killed innocent people. Their aim narcotics and the sales filled their pockets. Harold Standish needed to be pressed and more. Explaining how it worked and the wheels of justice you understand that they can be bought or bent when reading pages 188-192. But a preach in security and LoCicero pays with his life and aiming to eliminate Los Muertos the goal but how? Linking it all to the Schillaci family and the way they will destroy it all is by methods you won’t believe. Drones called little Roxies and their capabilities beyond the normal realm as they can be programmed to kill but in order for you to learn more read pages 208-212 because this is top secret. Head to head conversations as Standish faces off with Miller and someone higher up as they grant him immunity but at what cost and will he live long enough to enjoy it. Hite now joined Security Solutions as Birdman and the plans to take down the administration and more plus the cartel are being worked out.
Lies, corruption and a huge conspiracy but that’s not all . Added in we meet Sissy and Grayson brother and sister who go out for a night and wind up taken by a group that deals in hunt trafficking.
The mission on point and the drones or Roxies ready to fire and the explosions, the deaths and the outcome almost perfect but one on their team takes a hit and is fine. Sissy and Grayson you won’t believe what they are able to do and the confrontation between Irene and the Oval Office will change it all as she tells the truth about the drug cartels and how this administration as you read chapter 22 and hear the accusations and then the unexpected happens as Irene finds herself the target of an investigation and Rolo Gomez and Paco will find out their fate but the war with the cartel was destructive and would Los Muertos be gone and the power of the drones and a surprise you won’t expect. Chapter 24 reveals what Irene knows but how did it come back at her? The final scenes in the war and the end results lets you know that Graves,Digger, MotherHen and Big Guy are on point and wait until you see what Grayson does. Endings are not always final and where does it take the team and what about Irene? In the end if you added it all up you’ll understand the true meaning of Zero Sum.
Hard boiled, tension filled as author John Gilstrap turns up the heat, firing power in a suspense filled and high energy novel to avenge the death of a child from poisoned fentanyl and get justice for more.
Fran Lewis just reviews
Creating world minus drugs, drug wars and fighting for territory is at the heart of this novel as Jonathan Graves embarks on several wars that will take readers inside the heart of a dangerous drug cartel, prison walls to unravel a much larger problem which centers around Romy Gomez the head of the cartel and his son Paco.
When a box of candy laced with poison and fentanyl finds its way inside a private school with high end security, how does this kid get this box and eat a piece and die. Others spit theirs out. The whole world falls down in Graves and his cohort Boxer as they enter their offices and are told what happened trying to unravel the who and why.
As we hear and see the meeting behind prison walls of a prisoner and federal agents and more we learn that this man has evidence that could take down their drug operation and one high ranking guard decides to risk it all and become part of the team with Graves handing him the evidence needed to take down some powerful people including the President and Vice President and other officials. Meet Standish in charge of dealing with Johnathan and his team never remembering what they can do and the end result puts him over the edge and more. Pavo the son of the head of the cartel now has decided to take on Jonathan and Boxer plus his team thinking he will win this one not fully understanding his opponent. Paco wants the prisoner dead and having his son killed he feels sends a strong message to stay silent but the meeting in the prison and where the prisoner is now covered it . But for how long?
A meeting that results in more murders as other agents and killers come after Jonathan, Boxer and Gail who’s smart and can handle danger but things get wild at this hotel, bodies fall and they take the guard along with them as we once again hear the voices of Irene Rivers the Director of the FBI who’s now in a position to either disregard what she hears or make some calls to shake up more than the government.
Then Captain Hite and the team hear the recording with the prisoner and the Director has to decide truth or false. What’s on the tape is quite revealing and if true the deception, corruption and more go way up the ladder.
Irene and Jonathan have a blunt and honest talk about how to move ahead and protect the man in prison plus taking down the administration plus those attached to it hoping that lives won’t be taken but that’s doubtful.
Working with Security Solutions the official wheels of justice moved not fast enough and the director explains it in detail. The Darmond administration bent laws and killed innocent people. Their aim narcotics and the sales filled their pockets. Harold Standish needed to be pressed and more. Explaining how it worked and the wheels of justice you understand that they can be bought or bent when reading pages 188-192. But a preach in security and LoCicero pays with his life and aiming to eliminate Los Muertos the goal but how? Linking it all to the Schillaci family and the way they will destroy it all is by methods you won’t believe. Drones called little Roxies and their capabilities beyond the normal realm as they can be programmed to kill but in order for you to learn more read pages 208-212 because this is top secret. Head to head conversations as Standish faces off with Miller and someone higher up as they grant him immunity but at what cost and will he live long enough to enjoy it. Hite now joined Security Solutions as Birdman and the plans to take down the administration and more plus the cartel are being worked out.
Lies, corruption and a huge conspiracy but that’s not all . Added in we meet Sissy and Grayson brother and sister who go out for a night and wind up taken by a group that deals in hunt trafficking.
The mission on point and the drones or Roxies ready to fire and the explosions, the deaths and the outcome almost perfect but one on their team takes a hit and is fine. Sissy and Grayson you won’t believe what they are able to do and the confrontation between Irene and the Oval Office will change it all as she tells the truth about the drug cartels and how this administration as you read chapter 22 and hear the accusations and then the unexpected happens as Irene finds herself the target of an investigation and Rolo Gomez and Paco will find out their fate but the war with the cartel was destructive and would Los Muertos be gone and the power of the drones and a surprise you won’t expect. Chapter 24 reveals what Irene knows but how did it come back at her? The final scenes in the war and the end results lets you know that Graves,Digger, MotherHen and Big Guy are on point and wait until you see what Grayson does. Endings are not always final and where does it take the team and what about Irene? In the end if you added it all up you’ll understand the true meaning of Zero Sum.
Hard boiled, tension filled as author John Gilstrap turns up the heat, firing power in a suspense filled and high energy novel to avenge the death of a child from poisoned fentanyl and get justice for more.
Fran Lewis just reviews
November 17, 2024
Zero Sum takes direct hit on the twin and entwined evils of government corruption and smuggling of drugs, weapons, and humans.
Zero Sum begins as children of Resurrection House, a safe place for children of convicts with nowhere else to go, is attacked with benign looking candy disguising fentanyl, killing one child, and nearly killing a second, Roman, the son of Jonathan’s right hand, Venice.
Johnathan Graves and his Security Solutions team have been trying to eliminate the hydra-headed cartels. Now they have a determined reason.
FBI head, Irene Rivers, believes the administration for which she works is corrupt with their tentacles profiting from the destruction coming in over and open border.
Coordinating with each other, they each go after their targets, with one mafia head willing to give them the information they need about both, as it was his only son who died at Resurrection House.
Irene’s target is Harold Standish, special assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.
Graves is after the consolidated cartel, Los Muertos, with the mission of wiping them out completely.
The tools he will be using are drones. One high enough to clearly surveil the area where all the heads of distribution are present, but also where trafficked young men and women are held for their pleasure. He also has at his disposal a “swarm” of mini drones, each outfitted with specific facial recognition technology and deadly ammunition for when they each acquire their specific target. It’s brutal, gruesome, and effective.
I often wonder if authors such as John Gilstrap, Brad Thor, Tom Clancy and Stephen Coonts ever worry that the technology and scenarios presented in their book’s cuts too close to facts of our real world.
Harold Standish is a vile human being with a big mouth.
Zero Sum is a wild ride, domestically and internationally. The few provocative synopses I’ve mentioned don’t begin to cover the complex plots, nor their number.
Zero Sum will make you question everything you think you know. You’ll wonder if the country is following the machinations of Gilstrap’s writing or if he’s following theirs.
5 Stars for Zero Sum.
Zero Sum begins as children of Resurrection House, a safe place for children of convicts with nowhere else to go, is attacked with benign looking candy disguising fentanyl, killing one child, and nearly killing a second, Roman, the son of Jonathan’s right hand, Venice.
Johnathan Graves and his Security Solutions team have been trying to eliminate the hydra-headed cartels. Now they have a determined reason.
FBI head, Irene Rivers, believes the administration for which she works is corrupt with their tentacles profiting from the destruction coming in over and open border.
Coordinating with each other, they each go after their targets, with one mafia head willing to give them the information they need about both, as it was his only son who died at Resurrection House.
Irene’s target is Harold Standish, special assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.
Graves is after the consolidated cartel, Los Muertos, with the mission of wiping them out completely.
The tools he will be using are drones. One high enough to clearly surveil the area where all the heads of distribution are present, but also where trafficked young men and women are held for their pleasure. He also has at his disposal a “swarm” of mini drones, each outfitted with specific facial recognition technology and deadly ammunition for when they each acquire their specific target. It’s brutal, gruesome, and effective.
I often wonder if authors such as John Gilstrap, Brad Thor, Tom Clancy and Stephen Coonts ever worry that the technology and scenarios presented in their book’s cuts too close to facts of our real world.
Harold Standish is a vile human being with a big mouth.
“Rio Grande crossings are a superhighway for drugs and sex traffickers and weapons. If you’ve got enough cash, you can get anything across the border. Anybody, for that matter.” Did you know that the USA has a lot of enemies? Well, we’re allowing them to pour in. We’ve got terror cells upon terror cells here. You can pick from the menu. Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, not so much Taliban, but lots of Russians and Chinese. Where do you think the nationwide spike in crime is coming from? You really think a bunch of city dwellers and college kids woke up one morning with spontaneous self-loathing?” … “God, country, and apple pie stopped driving policy a long time ago. It’s all about the money.” … “The president nominates a good buddy and big donor to a cabinet position. There’s a few bucks right there. … Ever wonder why a guy worth millions wants to work a job that pays a hundred and a half? It’s because Sec-Def, say, gets to lead the charge for another big donor to build a billion-dollar manufacturing facility in a state whose congressional representative also happens to be a big fan of the president. Every one of those manufacturing plants has their overhead burden. ... that they guard with their lives. You don’t have to spin all that many points off billions of dollars before you’ve got serious scratch.”John Gilstrap has increased a political direction in the last few books, but in Zero Sum, it’s excruciatingly clear. I preferred it when I didn’t/couldn’t guess the affiliations of those in power.
Zero Sum is a wild ride, domestically and internationally. The few provocative synopses I’ve mentioned don’t begin to cover the complex plots, nor their number.
Zero Sum will make you question everything you think you know. You’ll wonder if the country is following the machinations of Gilstrap’s writing or if he’s following theirs.
5 Stars for Zero Sum.
August 20, 2025
The FBI director is still attempting to investigate the president and his connections to drug cartels and the ""mob."" This is another excellent addition to the Jonathan Grave series. My kindle version had 2 or 3 editing misses, which will not deter me from reading more from Mr. Gilstrap. I am surprised I noticed as I generally read right past them. There were several interesting comments about politicians, power, and how our government lies to us. Example 1: “The American government is protecting these monsters. The politicians need the talking point and the campaign contributions, the federal law enforcement community needs the budget justification, and every department in the Darmond administration is tasked with making sure the snakes survive. You can’t do this alone.” Example 2: "...the DOJ was hip deep in continuing the flow of narcotics. It was no more in their interests to poke the cartels than it was in the White House’s." Example 3: "... a win for the team outweighed the rule of law because the win was a de facto loss for the other side. Compromise meant political suicide. ... Powerful people who voiced opposition to his plans or programs found themselves under investigation or even indictment for technical violations of obscure laws, the defense against which would ruin them financially." Example 4: "“Ideology has nothing to do with anything. ... God, country, and apple pie stopped driving policy a long time ago. It’s all about the money. ... Ever wonder why a guy worth millions wants to work a job that pays a hundred and a half? It’s because SecDef, say, gets to lead the charge for another big donor to build a billion-dollar manufacturing facility in a state whose congressional representatives also happen to be big fans of the president. Every one of those manufacturing plants has their overhead burden”—he used finger quotes—“that they guard with their lives. You don’t have to spin all that many points off billions of dollars before you’ve got serious scratch.”" There are several more, these are just a few that grabbed me as I was reading.
Yes, while Irene Rivers is still attempting to investigate the president and his connections to drug cartels and the "mob." The real story is the need for power, money, and privilege that most politicians seem to have. This is a sad thing that makes our government less like one that Lincoln spoke of in The Gettysburg Address "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Possibly my favorite thing in the book is about helicopters. "the difference between a combat landing and a crash were purely academic."
Additionally, in the Author's Note, I want to reiterate what John Gilstrap had to say about Big Bend National Park. It is gorgeous and it is unforgettable. My story of this National Park is a family vacation in the late 60s when I was probably 10. I still encourage people to go there but avoid the summer when it's 110 in the shade and there is no shade. I will say follow the park on social media and you will see the stunning pictures and the dark sky of Big Bend that I still talk about after sixty years. John Gilstrap said "where much of Zero Sum is set. If you get a chance to travel to that area, do it. It’s beautiful—and different than anyplace I’ve seen before. Do yourself a favor, though, and don’t go during July as we did. I don’t care to endure 134 degrees Fahrenheit again."
Gilstrap, John. Zero Sum (A Jonathan Grave Thriller Book 16) (p. 41, 60, 145, 232-233, 269-270, 338). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
Yes, while Irene Rivers is still attempting to investigate the president and his connections to drug cartels and the "mob." The real story is the need for power, money, and privilege that most politicians seem to have. This is a sad thing that makes our government less like one that Lincoln spoke of in The Gettysburg Address "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Possibly my favorite thing in the book is about helicopters. "the difference between a combat landing and a crash were purely academic."
Additionally, in the Author's Note, I want to reiterate what John Gilstrap had to say about Big Bend National Park. It is gorgeous and it is unforgettable. My story of this National Park is a family vacation in the late 60s when I was probably 10. I still encourage people to go there but avoid the summer when it's 110 in the shade and there is no shade. I will say follow the park on social media and you will see the stunning pictures and the dark sky of Big Bend that I still talk about after sixty years. John Gilstrap said "where much of Zero Sum is set. If you get a chance to travel to that area, do it. It’s beautiful—and different than anyplace I’ve seen before. Do yourself a favor, though, and don’t go during July as we did. I don’t care to endure 134 degrees Fahrenheit again."
Gilstrap, John. Zero Sum (A Jonathan Grave Thriller Book 16) (p. 41, 60, 145, 232-233, 269-270, 338). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
August 25, 2024
A drug cartel just made a serious miscalculation.
When a twelve year old boy dies from eating a piece of candy that was actually a fentanyl-laced tablet the people involved in Resurrection House, a residential school created for the children of incarcerated parents where he was living, are devastated. When they realize that Roman, the son of Rez House patron Jonathan Grave’s go-to hacker and team member Venice, was very nearly a second victim, devastation turns to anger. Rez House was created to provide safety and security for young people whose lives have imploded due to a parent’s misdeeds, and that someone managed to target one of the residents can not be allowed to pass unanswered. The victim’s father was connected to the Los Muertos drug cartel, and the son of the cartel’s leader wanted to send him a message to make sure the man didn’t snitch….but instead, the killing of the man’s son just took away his last reason to live. Jonathan Grave and his team at Security Solutions, the people you call when a problem that is impossible to fix needs to be fixed anyway, are now fully engaged in bringing down Los Muertos completely and irrevocably. That the cartel has connections throughout the US government, up to and including the White House, is irrelevant. The war on drugs has just become personal for Grave and company…and they never, ever fail.
The latest in a series featuring the highly efficient Jonathan Grave, his scarily efficient right hand Boxers, markswoman Gail and hacker extraordinaire Venice is a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that involves corruption at the highest levels of power, a weaponized justice system, and law enforcement agencies who can not be counted upon to actually perform their mission. Grave trusts director of the FBI Irene River, aka Wolverine, as they have a complicated but solid history of working in cooperation with one another, but neither of them know who else around her can.be trusted. They must keep their mission small, limited only to those whom they know can be trusted if they are to have any chance of success. Boxers has new electronic toys he can use to blow things up, and the rest of the team buckles up and looks to get the job done by whatever means necessary. The villains are easy to despise, including (maybe even especially) those who use their positions to make money as they allow drugs to flood the country they are supposed to represent and protect. Readers of the previous installments in author John Gilstrap’s Jonathan Grave series won’t want to miss this one, and readers of authors like Mark Greaney, Lee Child and Brad Taylor should give this book/series a try if they haven’t already done so. Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing/Pinnacle for allowing me early access to a copy of this latest gripping adventure.
When a twelve year old boy dies from eating a piece of candy that was actually a fentanyl-laced tablet the people involved in Resurrection House, a residential school created for the children of incarcerated parents where he was living, are devastated. When they realize that Roman, the son of Rez House patron Jonathan Grave’s go-to hacker and team member Venice, was very nearly a second victim, devastation turns to anger. Rez House was created to provide safety and security for young people whose lives have imploded due to a parent’s misdeeds, and that someone managed to target one of the residents can not be allowed to pass unanswered. The victim’s father was connected to the Los Muertos drug cartel, and the son of the cartel’s leader wanted to send him a message to make sure the man didn’t snitch….but instead, the killing of the man’s son just took away his last reason to live. Jonathan Grave and his team at Security Solutions, the people you call when a problem that is impossible to fix needs to be fixed anyway, are now fully engaged in bringing down Los Muertos completely and irrevocably. That the cartel has connections throughout the US government, up to and including the White House, is irrelevant. The war on drugs has just become personal for Grave and company…and they never, ever fail.
The latest in a series featuring the highly efficient Jonathan Grave, his scarily efficient right hand Boxers, markswoman Gail and hacker extraordinaire Venice is a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that involves corruption at the highest levels of power, a weaponized justice system, and law enforcement agencies who can not be counted upon to actually perform their mission. Grave trusts director of the FBI Irene River, aka Wolverine, as they have a complicated but solid history of working in cooperation with one another, but neither of them know who else around her can.be trusted. They must keep their mission small, limited only to those whom they know can be trusted if they are to have any chance of success. Boxers has new electronic toys he can use to blow things up, and the rest of the team buckles up and looks to get the job done by whatever means necessary. The villains are easy to despise, including (maybe even especially) those who use their positions to make money as they allow drugs to flood the country they are supposed to represent and protect. Readers of the previous installments in author John Gilstrap’s Jonathan Grave series won’t want to miss this one, and readers of authors like Mark Greaney, Lee Child and Brad Taylor should give this book/series a try if they haven’t already done so. Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing/Pinnacle for allowing me early access to a copy of this latest gripping adventure.
September 19, 2024
Zero Sum by John Gilstrap
A Jonathan Graves Thriller #16
Intense, intricately plotted, intriguing story that I hope brings us closer to the demise of corrupt power brokers at the highest levels of the government ~ Fingers crossed and eagerly waiting to find out what happens next.
What I liked:
* Jonathan “Digger” Grave: intelligent, lethal, committed to causes that require a special type of black ops operative to provide justice, caring, wealthy, gives back, rights wrongs, sees the bigger picture
* Brian “Boxer” Van de Muelebroecke: big, quiet, lethal, good friend and lethal colleague of Jonathan’s, works with him to right wrongs, quirky sense of humor, can fly anything, enjoys a good fight
* Gail “Gunslinger” Bonneville: brilliant, ex-FBI HRT member, ex-sheriff, bright, capable, vigilant, talented, lethal, and part of the team doing secretive things with Boxer and Digger, recovering from an injury, seems to be having questions
* Venice “Mother Hen” Alexander: mother, daughter, hacker extraordinaire, brilliant, intriguing, great asset to the team that can provide anything required anywhere
* Irene “Wolfie” Rivers: FBI Director, mother, guardian of orphaned nephew, works with people she doesn’t trust, knows of the corruption in government, trusts Jonathan and his team, intriguing and has a spin-off series coming that I look forward to
* Sissy & Grayson Buchannan: twins, took a dangerous risk, kidnapped on vacation, resilient, survivors
* Big Roxie and her smaller assistants: drones with special abilities that I would never want to be a target of
* Being able to hate the bad guys and root for their demise
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how evil so many were in this story and what they were willing to do for personal gain
* Having to wait for the next book
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by this author? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Pinnacle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
A Jonathan Graves Thriller #16
Intense, intricately plotted, intriguing story that I hope brings us closer to the demise of corrupt power brokers at the highest levels of the government ~ Fingers crossed and eagerly waiting to find out what happens next.
What I liked:
* Jonathan “Digger” Grave: intelligent, lethal, committed to causes that require a special type of black ops operative to provide justice, caring, wealthy, gives back, rights wrongs, sees the bigger picture
* Brian “Boxer” Van de Muelebroecke: big, quiet, lethal, good friend and lethal colleague of Jonathan’s, works with him to right wrongs, quirky sense of humor, can fly anything, enjoys a good fight
* Gail “Gunslinger” Bonneville: brilliant, ex-FBI HRT member, ex-sheriff, bright, capable, vigilant, talented, lethal, and part of the team doing secretive things with Boxer and Digger, recovering from an injury, seems to be having questions
* Venice “Mother Hen” Alexander: mother, daughter, hacker extraordinaire, brilliant, intriguing, great asset to the team that can provide anything required anywhere
* Irene “Wolfie” Rivers: FBI Director, mother, guardian of orphaned nephew, works with people she doesn’t trust, knows of the corruption in government, trusts Jonathan and his team, intriguing and has a spin-off series coming that I look forward to
* Sissy & Grayson Buchannan: twins, took a dangerous risk, kidnapped on vacation, resilient, survivors
* Big Roxie and her smaller assistants: drones with special abilities that I would never want to be a target of
* Being able to hate the bad guys and root for their demise
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how evil so many were in this story and what they were willing to do for personal gain
* Having to wait for the next book
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/by this author? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Pinnacle Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
October 12, 2024
What an exciting and unexpected beginning! Johathan Graves is assaulted in a mock attack by a tiny six-inch drone developed by Boxers and Venice. The miniature drones play a major role in a devasting attack on drug cartel members later in the story.
A book by one of my favorite authors presents you with two story lines. The primary focus is that of Jonathan Graves (Digger) seeking retribution for a young boy dying from a drug laden piece of candy. The boy was a resident of what is supposed to be a “safe home” (Resurrection House) financed by Johathan and overseen by a close friend of his, Father Dom D’Angelo. Along with explosives expert and pilot Boxers (Big Guy), Venice (Mother Hen) hacker extraordinaire, and other characters including Irene Rivers (Wolverine) Director of the FBI, Jonathan seeks to close the drug pipeline running from Mexico into the United States. He has had it with the United States and its supposed “war” on drugs. He eventually learns that contributing to the successful flow of drugs are a wide swath of major political figures including those at the White House.
I was disturbed to discover that a significant part of this novel includes human trafficking. I was not previously aware of, nor prepared for, this dark content. Maybe I am too sensitive, but at times, this part of the book upset me enough to consider not finishing it. For this reason, I only gave the book 3 stars. However, since I received an advanced copy for review, I owed it to the author and publisher to finish reading it.
Overall, an interesting book with lots of action you come to expect from Mr. Gilstrap.
A book by one of my favorite authors presents you with two story lines. The primary focus is that of Jonathan Graves (Digger) seeking retribution for a young boy dying from a drug laden piece of candy. The boy was a resident of what is supposed to be a “safe home” (Resurrection House) financed by Johathan and overseen by a close friend of his, Father Dom D’Angelo. Along with explosives expert and pilot Boxers (Big Guy), Venice (Mother Hen) hacker extraordinaire, and other characters including Irene Rivers (Wolverine) Director of the FBI, Jonathan seeks to close the drug pipeline running from Mexico into the United States. He has had it with the United States and its supposed “war” on drugs. He eventually learns that contributing to the successful flow of drugs are a wide swath of major political figures including those at the White House.
I was disturbed to discover that a significant part of this novel includes human trafficking. I was not previously aware of, nor prepared for, this dark content. Maybe I am too sensitive, but at times, this part of the book upset me enough to consider not finishing it. For this reason, I only gave the book 3 stars. However, since I received an advanced copy for review, I owed it to the author and publisher to finish reading it.
Overall, an interesting book with lots of action you come to expect from Mr. Gilstrap.
August 20, 2024
Wow! This is the first of his books that I've read, and just wow!!
It literally starts with a bang!
Jonathan Graves, the MMC, is a big presence in the world. He runs a detective agency, and is a former special ops agent. He is also the owner/one in charge of Resurrection House, a home for kids of parents who are incarcerated. So, when a 12 year old in the home dies of an overdose, after eating a piece of candy, Jonathan is NOT happy, and plans to get to the bottom of this.
He's pretty sure it has to do with the gang/cartel Los Muertos, who have been a thorn in his side for many years, but now...they've gone too far!
He assembles his TEAM of big hitters to investigate, but when they are finally getting somewhere, they do NOT like what they see.
And it goes pretty high up the chain...
Additionally, we have glimpses of prison, where the father of the boy who was killed is residing. And we see all the corruption that can go on there. (Scary to think that all of this could actually be for real!) And, as another reviewer mentioned, this kind of feels a little 'too close to home' for what is the political climate at the moment...
Lots of action. Lots of bullets. Lots of suspense. Lots of drama. And, we also have a secondary plot involving two twin kids who are abducted!
As I mentioned, this is my 1st book of his, so I'm sure I'm missing some of the notions that are going on here as I am not familiar with this group of vigilantes who are trying to do the RIGHT thing for mankind in a roundabout way...
But it was a terrific story!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #HighBridgeAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. *** The release date is set for 8/20/24! ***
#ZeroSum by #JohnGilstrap and narrated nicely by #BasilSands.
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
Insta @ #BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, and click ‘LIKE’ below!! 📚⭐️
It literally starts with a bang!
Jonathan Graves, the MMC, is a big presence in the world. He runs a detective agency, and is a former special ops agent. He is also the owner/one in charge of Resurrection House, a home for kids of parents who are incarcerated. So, when a 12 year old in the home dies of an overdose, after eating a piece of candy, Jonathan is NOT happy, and plans to get to the bottom of this.
He's pretty sure it has to do with the gang/cartel Los Muertos, who have been a thorn in his side for many years, but now...they've gone too far!
He assembles his TEAM of big hitters to investigate, but when they are finally getting somewhere, they do NOT like what they see.
And it goes pretty high up the chain...
Additionally, we have glimpses of prison, where the father of the boy who was killed is residing. And we see all the corruption that can go on there. (Scary to think that all of this could actually be for real!) And, as another reviewer mentioned, this kind of feels a little 'too close to home' for what is the political climate at the moment...
Lots of action. Lots of bullets. Lots of suspense. Lots of drama. And, we also have a secondary plot involving two twin kids who are abducted!
As I mentioned, this is my 1st book of his, so I'm sure I'm missing some of the notions that are going on here as I am not familiar with this group of vigilantes who are trying to do the RIGHT thing for mankind in a roundabout way...
But it was a terrific story!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #HighBridgeAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. *** The release date is set for 8/20/24! ***
#ZeroSum by #JohnGilstrap and narrated nicely by #BasilSands.
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
Insta @ #BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, and click ‘LIKE’ below!! 📚⭐️
June 25, 2024
Gilstrap's Zero Sum (Pinnacle Books 2024), Book 16 in the Jonathan Grave Thriller series, is another ripped from the headlines sort of tale. It starts when a child under the protection of our hero, Jonathan Grave's, Resurrection House, is killed by an overdose of drugs. Of all the attacks on Graves, breaking his promise to safeguard the vulnerable children of incarcerated parents, who have already suffered too much through their parents, puts him over the edge. He is determined to not only stop the entry into his sanctuary, but destroy those who created and sold the drugs so they can never do it again. That's a big order, but Graves is mad. What complicates it even more is that the drug lords lead to corrupt political leaders who’ve forgotten about the Americans they've sworn to serve. The price of failing to stop these drugs and their masters is immense but to NOT stop them--that is even worse. Graves and those with him decide the risk is worth it.
This is a high stakes story that cuts too close to the truth in our own country as well as others. As always, the story is fast moving and dangerous. It loses a point because there is more backstory than I recall in earlier books and it detracted from the pace in parts. There was also an over abundance (IMHO) of reflection and reaction which slowed the action. I get we need those, but balance is critical. Overall, a worthy read. I've ready every one of this series and will read the next one.
This is a high stakes story that cuts too close to the truth in our own country as well as others. As always, the story is fast moving and dangerous. It loses a point because there is more backstory than I recall in earlier books and it detracted from the pace in parts. There was also an over abundance (IMHO) of reflection and reaction which slowed the action. I get we need those, but balance is critical. Overall, a worthy read. I've ready every one of this series and will read the next one.
September 12, 2024
Audiobook Review – Zero Sum – John Gilstrap/Basil Sands
Author John Gilstrap’s Jonathan Grave series is my favorite audiobook series with stellar narration by reader Basil Sands and audiobook 16 of the series, “Zero Sum” is one of the reasons why. When a 12-year-old boy at Jonathan Grave's at Resurrection House – the school he created for the children of incarcerated parents – dies of a drug overdose after consuming fentanyl disguised as candy – Grave decides it's time for a war on drugs with the Mexican cartel that provided the poison. Gathering his Security Solutions team, Big Guy, Gunslinger, and Mother Hen, Grave goes after the ‘head of the snake’ drug cartel – with help from Wolfie – which leads to some corrupt US politicians including the President of the United States himself. With some interesting new special operations toys – an assassination drone with facial recognition – the final raid on the Los Muertos Mexican drug cartel is explosive, fiery, and turbulent. Gilstrap does it again with a strong believable narrative with lots of action and plenty of intense drama. The narration by the consistent voice of the series Basil Sands was again on point and his reading propelled this story into the top-notch action thriller that it is. Another two-thumbs-up audiobook by John Gilstrap with Basil Sands.
Author John Gilstrap’s Jonathan Grave series is my favorite audiobook series with stellar narration by reader Basil Sands and audiobook 16 of the series, “Zero Sum” is one of the reasons why. When a 12-year-old boy at Jonathan Grave's at Resurrection House – the school he created for the children of incarcerated parents – dies of a drug overdose after consuming fentanyl disguised as candy – Grave decides it's time for a war on drugs with the Mexican cartel that provided the poison. Gathering his Security Solutions team, Big Guy, Gunslinger, and Mother Hen, Grave goes after the ‘head of the snake’ drug cartel – with help from Wolfie – which leads to some corrupt US politicians including the President of the United States himself. With some interesting new special operations toys – an assassination drone with facial recognition – the final raid on the Los Muertos Mexican drug cartel is explosive, fiery, and turbulent. Gilstrap does it again with a strong believable narrative with lots of action and plenty of intense drama. The narration by the consistent voice of the series Basil Sands was again on point and his reading propelled this story into the top-notch action thriller that it is. Another two-thumbs-up audiobook by John Gilstrap with Basil Sands.
May 8, 2024
Action-packed, drug cartels, mob families, political intrigue!
The deliberate drug overdose of a young student at Resurrection House shocks everyone. The trail leads to the boy’s father in prison. Security Solution’s investigation sets off a massive coverup. Everyone who knows the truth is being eliminated. Both the team and the director of the FBI will need to work fast to stay ahead of the assassins. Irene Rivers must decide who to trust as the corruption seems to go to the highest levels of government.
Jonathan and the team go all in to battle the drug cartels, mob families and an old nemesis who comes back to haunt them. In this fast-paced thriller, the stakes are high, and they will need all their skills to survive. Boxer gets some new weapons to play with; hint he is still making things go Boom!
All the Jonathan Graves books are fantastic, but you can read this thrilling installment on its own. This is another action-packed entry in the series! The initial death hits close to home, and the tension among the team adds to the suspense. A surprising twist at the end makes me anxious to read the next book in the series.
Thanks to Kensington Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.
The deliberate drug overdose of a young student at Resurrection House shocks everyone. The trail leads to the boy’s father in prison. Security Solution’s investigation sets off a massive coverup. Everyone who knows the truth is being eliminated. Both the team and the director of the FBI will need to work fast to stay ahead of the assassins. Irene Rivers must decide who to trust as the corruption seems to go to the highest levels of government.
Jonathan and the team go all in to battle the drug cartels, mob families and an old nemesis who comes back to haunt them. In this fast-paced thriller, the stakes are high, and they will need all their skills to survive. Boxer gets some new weapons to play with; hint he is still making things go Boom!
All the Jonathan Graves books are fantastic, but you can read this thrilling installment on its own. This is another action-packed entry in the series! The initial death hits close to home, and the tension among the team adds to the suspense. A surprising twist at the end makes me anxious to read the next book in the series.
Thanks to Kensington Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.
July 9, 2024
Book #16 in the Jonathan Grave series. I started this series with a title in the middle, then had to go back and read the titles I had missed. Yes, you can read Zero Sum as a stand alone but I'd recommend reading the entire series, you won't be sorry. John Gilstrap is a prolific writer who also writes one of my favorite "end of the world as we know it" series. So if you are going to look for the first 15 Jonathan Grave books, get the Victoria Emerson books too. Again, you won't be sorry.
Jonathan Grave is a billionaire. He owns and operates a security investigation business that is utilized by other billionaire and companies that only want the best. Gilstrap has given Grave an interesting back story and a supporting crew that each adds an element to the story. These characters have become a family, but a family like you've never met before.
In ZERO SUM, a child under Jonathan's protection is killed with a deliberate drug overdose. This crime crosses a line that cannot be ignored. In previous books, Jonathan's crew operated with a precision to save the innocent who had been kidnapped. This time, Jonathan will deploy a scorched earth retribution that will forever change the crew's outlook. Gilstrap gives a thriller with a capital T.
Jonathan Grave is a billionaire. He owns and operates a security investigation business that is utilized by other billionaire and companies that only want the best. Gilstrap has given Grave an interesting back story and a supporting crew that each adds an element to the story. These characters have become a family, but a family like you've never met before.
In ZERO SUM, a child under Jonathan's protection is killed with a deliberate drug overdose. This crime crosses a line that cannot be ignored. In previous books, Jonathan's crew operated with a precision to save the innocent who had been kidnapped. This time, Jonathan will deploy a scorched earth retribution that will forever change the crew's outlook. Gilstrap gives a thriller with a capital T.
May 9, 2025
John Gilstrap is one of my favorite writers. I especially like his books about Victoria Emerson!
Once again violence hits close to home! Giovanni had come to Res house after his dad went to prison after killing his wife, Giovanni's mom. Giovanni had got a package with candy and gave some to Roman and his friend as well. Luckily Roman and the other boy spit out their candy when Giovanni collapsed!
Roman told his mom what had happened. According to Venice, Roman had told her that Giovanni had told them that he had got a care package from his mom! This doesn't make sense! Giovanni's mom is dead, why would he tell them that he got a package from his mom!?
Venice: “I didn’t memorize the exact words. He said that Giovanni brought a tin of candy to his room. He said it came from his mother in a care package.”
This was really strange! We find out who sent the package. And it was definitely not from his mom!
Jonathan and Boxers gets some unexpected help when they once again take the fight to south of the border.
I listened to most of the book. You can borrow the Kindle book if you have Kindle unlimited.
Once again violence hits close to home! Giovanni had come to Res house after his dad went to prison after killing his wife, Giovanni's mom. Giovanni had got a package with candy and gave some to Roman and his friend as well. Luckily Roman and the other boy spit out their candy when Giovanni collapsed!
Roman told his mom what had happened. According to Venice, Roman had told her that Giovanni had told them that he had got a care package from his mom! This doesn't make sense! Giovanni's mom is dead, why would he tell them that he got a package from his mom!?
Venice: “I didn’t memorize the exact words. He said that Giovanni brought a tin of candy to his room. He said it came from his mother in a care package.”
This was really strange! We find out who sent the package. And it was definitely not from his mom!
Jonathan and Boxers gets some unexpected help when they once again take the fight to south of the border.
I listened to most of the book. You can borrow the Kindle book if you have Kindle unlimited.
August 20, 2024
Once again, Jonathan Grave goes against the Cartels, the Mafia, and the corrupt actors in the highest levels of the US Government to try and stop the flow of drugs and human trafficking across the border. The death of a young boy in the home Jonathan finances gives Jonathan and his associates access to the boy's father and his knowledge of the players in this scheme,
Heading into Mexico with some new toys that have recently been developed, as well as the munitions that travel with this band to every fight, the war is on.
Excellent secondary story with a brother and sister kidnapping, and of course what happens when there is a breach of trust where there shouldn't be! This was a bit of a cliff hanger, but I'm hoping we get some resolution in the next book, or in the new series that begins soon!
I love the Jonathan Grave series and although this is the 16th book, it is as good as the previous 15. I enjoy catching up with all of our favorite characters and for me, this was an excellent read.
Heading into Mexico with some new toys that have recently been developed, as well as the munitions that travel with this band to every fight, the war is on.
Excellent secondary story with a brother and sister kidnapping, and of course what happens when there is a breach of trust where there shouldn't be! This was a bit of a cliff hanger, but I'm hoping we get some resolution in the next book, or in the new series that begins soon!
I love the Jonathan Grave series and although this is the 16th book, it is as good as the previous 15. I enjoy catching up with all of our favorite characters and for me, this was an excellent read.
September 1, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded down because Jonathan Grave and team were not on a hostage rescue situation, but a vendetta to bring down rampant corruption in the U.S. government. The son of a mobster with evidence to bring down many U.S. governmental officials and the Los Muertos cartel for drug and human trafficking dies of a fentanyl overdose at Resurrection House. The culprit is the "loco" son of the cartel's leader. The mobster begins to tell his story to new FBI handlers, who place him in solitary confinement, but he tells his story to a senior prison guard, who records the testimony and disappears, reaching out to Grave. FBI Director Irene Rivers (Wolfie) starts a legal process, while Grave and his team initiate an extralegal one, targeting the cartel leadership using little drones with A.I. and explosives, developed by Big Guy. Meanwhile, a set of twins are drugged and are destined to become sex slaves by the cartel. Both efforts blow up.
September 7, 2024
Jonathan, The Big Guy & Venice (Ven i chay-just weird) are on the warpath. One of the boys at Rez house died from eating candy laced with fentanyl & Venice's son spit his out just in time.
Scorpion (Jonathan) & crew have tangled and dented the cartels before but it's now time to end them. Although they find this was a targeted kill, it came too close the orphanage he underwrites. The cartels have deep ties to the govt and the money is flowing all the way to the top. There are too many people profiting from the drug trail so it will need to be a two pronged effort to stop the drugs (one lead by Scorpion to kill the head of the cartel in Mexico and the other by Irene, FBI director to try and cut down the rot within).
There are real casualties on the Mexican side of the border and career casualties in the US but the end was surprising.
Scorpion (Jonathan) & crew have tangled and dented the cartels before but it's now time to end them. Although they find this was a targeted kill, it came too close the orphanage he underwrites. The cartels have deep ties to the govt and the money is flowing all the way to the top. There are too many people profiting from the drug trail so it will need to be a two pronged effort to stop the drugs (one lead by Scorpion to kill the head of the cartel in Mexico and the other by Irene, FBI director to try and cut down the rot within).
There are real casualties on the Mexican side of the border and career casualties in the US but the end was surprising.
January 1, 2025
When a boy under Jonathan Grave’s protection dies of a drug overdose, the black-ops veteran decides it’s time for a war on drugs that actually looks like a war.
Jonathan Grave long ago lost faith with the so-called war on drugs, a futile campaign that enables cartels to make billions under the protection of corrupt officials on both sides of the border. But when a twelve-year-old dies after consuming fentanyl disguised as candy inside the dormitory at Resurrection House, the school he created for the children of incarcerated parents, Jonathan knows it’s time to use his special talents to change the game.
Gathering his Security Solutions team, Jonathan activates Operation Heat Seeker. Nobody and nothing will stop them from ending the flow of poison—not even a vow of revenge from the President of the United States himself."
Jonathan Grave long ago lost faith with the so-called war on drugs, a futile campaign that enables cartels to make billions under the protection of corrupt officials on both sides of the border. But when a twelve-year-old dies after consuming fentanyl disguised as candy inside the dormitory at Resurrection House, the school he created for the children of incarcerated parents, Jonathan knows it’s time to use his special talents to change the game.
Gathering his Security Solutions team, Jonathan activates Operation Heat Seeker. Nobody and nothing will stop them from ending the flow of poison—not even a vow of revenge from the President of the United States himself."
June 4, 2024
Jonathan Grave's vigilante justice team is spurred to action when a child dies of an overdose at a Grave-funded residential school for children of incarcerated parents. With the help of the deceased child's father, a rogue prison captain, and the FBI director, the team discovers a web of drug and sex trafficking that encompasses organized crime, a notorious drug cartel, and the US government. It's up to Jonathan Grave and his team to try to take down the nefarious characters in explosive fashion.
I jumped into this series (I think Zero Sum is the 16th installment in the series) with no background knowledge, but I was able to pick up on the overall story threads because John Gilstrap includes sufficient information. Reading more of the series would add color, but I think Zero Sum works as a stand-alone novel too. Zero Sum is an action-fueled, shoot 'em up, explosive thriller of a book. I only read about one of these types of books a year, so I'm not too familiar with the genre.
The plot and number of characters made for confusing reading at times, and I found myself having to back up to remember characters and plot lines. It wasn't overly complicated though, and the pacing was good. The dialogue was solid in most places, and I could tell that through the series, Gilstrap has developed the characters to induce affection and loyalty among his readers. Even a newbie like me could tell where the end was going and what that would mean for the series.
Zero Sum would be a great read for anyone who has read the other books in the Jonathan Grave thriller series or who enjoys a good vs. evil, heavily armed thriller.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corp., which permitted NetGalley to provide Zero Sum to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
I jumped into this series (I think Zero Sum is the 16th installment in the series) with no background knowledge, but I was able to pick up on the overall story threads because John Gilstrap includes sufficient information. Reading more of the series would add color, but I think Zero Sum works as a stand-alone novel too. Zero Sum is an action-fueled, shoot 'em up, explosive thriller of a book. I only read about one of these types of books a year, so I'm not too familiar with the genre.
The plot and number of characters made for confusing reading at times, and I found myself having to back up to remember characters and plot lines. It wasn't overly complicated though, and the pacing was good. The dialogue was solid in most places, and I could tell that through the series, Gilstrap has developed the characters to induce affection and loyalty among his readers. Even a newbie like me could tell where the end was going and what that would mean for the series.
Zero Sum would be a great read for anyone who has read the other books in the Jonathan Grave thriller series or who enjoys a good vs. evil, heavily armed thriller.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corp., which permitted NetGalley to provide Zero Sum to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and John Gilstrap for a complimentary copy of Zero Sum which enabled me to write an unbiased review.
Whoa! And Woohoo! Jonathan Grave is leading another electrifying action-packed thriller addressing corruption at the highest level of government infiltrating judicial and national security agencies. The administration’s open border allows a tsunami of drugs,human trafficking and the cartel’s influence into the United States. Mr Gilstrap convincingly presents shocking scenarios of what would have been considered conspiracy theories just a few years ago. Zero Sum is an all too true realistic fiction. Fascinating! Insightful!
John Gilstrap has done it again! Bravo!
Whoa! And Woohoo! Jonathan Grave is leading another electrifying action-packed thriller addressing corruption at the highest level of government infiltrating judicial and national security agencies. The administration’s open border allows a tsunami of drugs,human trafficking and the cartel’s influence into the United States. Mr Gilstrap convincingly presents shocking scenarios of what would have been considered conspiracy theories just a few years ago. Zero Sum is an all too true realistic fiction. Fascinating! Insightful!
John Gilstrap has done it again! Bravo!
September 1, 2024
Keep them coming
Another great Jonathan Grave book.
A personal vendetta for Scorpion leads to another mission across the border and the political intrigue heats up in Washington. The story was very fast paced and well thought out but I was a little disappointed with the end of Wolfie's involvement.
I was almost expecting to read 'continued in part 2', which I am never a fan of, as it all finished off rather abruptly and dare I say it easily. I was looking forward to a shoot out at the White House to rescue Rivers!
Still looking forward to the next one though, particularly now that his Guardian Angel has now left him.
Another great Jonathan Grave book.
A personal vendetta for Scorpion leads to another mission across the border and the political intrigue heats up in Washington. The story was very fast paced and well thought out but I was a little disappointed with the end of Wolfie's involvement.
I was almost expecting to read 'continued in part 2', which I am never a fan of, as it all finished off rather abruptly and dare I say it easily. I was looking forward to a shoot out at the White House to rescue Rivers!
Still looking forward to the next one though, particularly now that his Guardian Angel has now left him.
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