Tom Fowler creates two awesome series, each with its very own good guy. Each is quite different from the other. C.T. Ferguson (16 books) is the senior of the two, he is a private detective, a very good one, by the way! My review is of the newest episode of John Tyler (#8), owner of his Special Operations Classic Auto Repair, former Green Beret, called Redline. Along with John, we have his college cover daughter, Lexi; his dad, Zeke, a retired Naval officer; his two auto employees, Smitty the former shop owner and Ortiz also a former Green Beret.
Redline involves a team of bad guys who rob various businesses. Tyler happens to be in a jewelry store when the crew enter to rob it. A shot--a dead store employee--the crew's first fatality. It's now not just robbery!
Tyler teams up with an undercover FBI agent. She's the driver for the crew, she gets Tyler to act as a mechanic as the crew uses older models as getaway rides. Tyler rebuilds the engines and improves the suspension.
The interaction between the crew and Tyler is strained from the beginning, trust issues--Tyler doesn't trust the crew, and the crew doesn't trust Tyler, but Hope vouched for him. Next job (Tyler's first) is a check cashing outlet, a successful robbery. Tyler and Hope become more than undercover agents; it's still undercover though. Tension increases. The bad guys are getting increasingly suspicious, especially of Tyler. They are getting less trusting of him. And if he can't be trusted, what about Hope?
If you enjoy action, REDLINE. If you enjoy excellent storytelling, REDLINE. If you enjoy suspense, REDLINE. If you enjoy a really really great story, REDLINE.
I highly recommend this incredibly well-written thriller!!!!