Shadow Game

Ryan Cage FBI Action Thriller #1

by Vin Strong

“The story ending is well done and this book and author should be a definite read for you.”
--Reviewer of Patriot Force
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When extreme hostage situations require a rapid response, the FBI has one man to Agent Ryan Cage.

While his partner, Dr. Emily Stanton, uses her brilliance to negotiate, Ryan must act fast and put his life on the line.

When terrorists seize control of a bustling subway, Ryan must navigate a chaotic situation, where ordinary citizens are pawns, and the terrorists are bent on total destruction.

With each second ticking toward potential disaster, can the pair defuse the situation in time?

SHADOW GAME (A Ryan Cage FBI Action Thriller—Book 1) is the debut novel in a new series by action thriller author Vin Strong.

The Ryan Cage series delivers a high-octane action thriller experience, immersing you in a world of exhilarating suspense. Its edge-of-your-seat tension, breathtaking narrative turns, and charismatic protagonist will leave an indelible mark on your emotions and have you turning pages late into the night. Fans of Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, and Daniel Silva are sure to fall in love with their next favorite action hero.

Future books in the series are also available!

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller Suspense, Action, Ebooks

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2024

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books that "it was me, not you" scenario on why I rated it the way I did. If FBI thriller's are your thing, I say go for it. I don't mind them per se, but there has to be something in there that will grab my attention and keep me interested and this did not do that. I found MC's to be unlikable with no redeeming qualities and the subway car of kidnapped people plot to be blasé.

[Sharon Leff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot Heavy Starter…

Ryan Cage and partner Emily are an effective team in a train ride of terror as 2 terrorists take an entire train car hostage. While the events move falling in a wicked domino cascade, the action overtakes the character development. Refreshing character reveals occur most clearly at the ending when while in an ambulance, Ryan’s body is examined as he is treated for injuries. Emily surveys his body’s roadmap of criss-crossing scars, of damaged flesh, of bullet wounds…She realizes all the injuries he has sustained and survived. Later, at a diner, she observes his interactions with the staff and locals knowing that he is comfortable in such a place. Ironically, Ryan’s back story teases prompting curiosity.

Unfortunately, the concern about his past and for the partner relationship is not as strong as a series starter should be. My advice, get free, read reviews, and read best of series exclusively.

[Krystal Ramsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Good book with a bit of mystery, but it wasn't really good with it being rushed with getting to the end.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

page-turner action!

The action kept me pinned to this book. There's really nothing original about an FBI agent and his new partner, a profiler and hostage negotiator. But holy moly,Hang on for a ride!

[Eric Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Cage is a very real strong character. Well worth following in future stories.

This is a very well told story of action, thrills, suspense and lots of surprises. Read it eagerly and enjoy it to the utmost.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Real Page Turner!

If you like thrillers this book is for you. Page after page of life threatening events peppered with the calm of a profiler probing the reasons behind the actions of the criminals and the steel focus of the man who is going to stop them.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun

(2 1/2). Hard to decide between marking this up or marking this down. Ryan Cage is one of those almost super-human protagonists you run into every once in a while. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound kind of thing. The story is equally over the top, but the action is non-stop, terrific and you can gobble this book up in a short airplane ride pretty damn easily. Those are positive attributes so I ended up moving to 3 stars. Not great but very exciting. Pretty good stuff.

[Garrett Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good and interesting story well told.

Ryan and his partner really have their hands full trying to save a bunch of rail passages from harm will trying to bring down a killer.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping tale

This author had me by the throat from page one! Action, character development and brilliant turns of phrase: gotten read more Vin Strong!

[Cidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was non-stop action, I was exhausted at the end! Ryan Cage, FBI agent, meets new partner Dr Emily Stanton, a psychological profiler, and are called out to a train carriage with windows blacked out and 13-15 hostages of all ages who are being held by Mr Red and Mr Blue, both bearded and masked. They want a man who has just gone to prison to be brought out so they can kill him. Nice. Emily is the negotiater and Ryan provides the brawn and brain, and he used a lot of both going through the book. I couldn't put this down and even missed my dinner because I was so engrossed. So now I've finished this and enjoyed every minute of the ride, it's time to go and cook that chicken curry I've already prepped. Am looking forward to the next book with this pair as they seem to make a good team.

[judymellinnetzero.net · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too flowery for an action novel

As an example, "She saw the infant, red-faced and trembling in its mother's arms, oblivious to danger but sensitive to the sudden noise and the thick dread that now cloaked every inch of the subway car." Wonder how old this infant was to be so perceptive?

The book continues in this same vein and, I feel, really bogged down the narrative. Thus is a one-and-done for me.

[Steven Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-stop action

The story is solid, the characters are well developed, and the action is top notch. Personally, I believe rich descriptors add to a story, but it's almost as if the author was trying to impress with his verbosity, and the story suffered. Otherwise I would have rated this with 5 stars.
Read it and see if you agree with me.

[Darlene Leard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the world needs-a real hero. Seems to be an impossible accomplishment .

Held my attention throughout the entire book. The characters were strong, motivated, and intelligent but yet human problems they shoved down refusing to deal with. Dealing with terrorism and saving lives is a priority.

[Lewis D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of us who read fiction enjoy a bit of escapism from our lives. I also enjoy some level even minor traces of realism. This started off like that but more than halfway through it disappeared. I also don't need to know every mynute detail of every item nearby which has no relation to the story.
I've already purchased book 2 so I hope this one fares better.

[Scott Torok · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Bit Generic

This Genre of Books 📚 the more I read them are so Similar to one another they tend to Blur together. This Book can be an interesting Distraction from Your Day how much You enjoy it depends on if you read a lot of this Genre. If You are New to this Style of Books I Think You will Like it a Lot more than Readers who Read this Genre Regularly.

[Paige Grover · Rating 1 out of 5]

honestly this book wasnt for me at the start i was confused on whos pov it was. it was an okay read but didnt really enjoy it, it didnt grab my attention or anything. if your into fbi investigstions this book would be for you.

this just wasnt as good as i thought it was going to be.

[Aimee Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost a DNF for me but I hate to do that so I pushed through. I found it boring and would often notice that I had somehow read a page or two but had no memory of it.

[Horace Clinard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of action!

[Jacquelyn V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting Read

This was a riveting read that kept you on your toes and you just wanted to keep reading till the end!

[Abigail Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Think the tv series of Line of Duty/ Night Agent/ Sleeper train. This gives you similar vibes. Easy read with twists and turns. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book as a whole but there were just too many adjectives. Too flowery.

[BLOOPY! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of action. Couldn't identify with anyone. The telling seems robotic and/or clinical. The style of writing isn't my favorite but there was a story amongst the gobbledygook.

[Terry W · Rating 3 out of 5]

verbose

The book was exciting, but I found myself skipping portions because I felt the words were fillers and not germane to the story.

[Karrthick]

good book

[Sue Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast, then slow, very slow

Started out fast paced, then mid book slowed to a crawl all the way to the end of the story.....I lost interest and struggled to complete.

[Linda Gagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

suspense filled story

If you like twists and turns coupled with lots of action you’ll love this novel. I sure did enjoy reading it.

[John Roach, · Rating 5 out of 5]

good action novel

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

bad ending

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced!

A fast paced and exciting read. Complex characters and story. I am ready to read the next book in the series.

[Paul Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice easy read with some twists and turns to keep you thinking