Dark Reckoning

Drenna Steel #3

by John Sneeden

"...possibly the best in the series."


"I had to stay up late and finish Dark Reckoning."


Former CIA operative Drenna Steel is using her lethal skills to complete private contracts overseas. After finishing a job in the UK, she’s approached with an urgent request to find Chinese national Mei Kwan, an AI specialist who defected with a drive containing information her government desperately wants back.


But the job will be fraught with danger because Kwan is being hunted by an elite Chinese hit squad known as Dragon Fire. Their leader is a sadistic psychopath whose calling cards are torture and death.


After Drenna locates the defector in Amsterdam, the two go on the run together. But they soon learn there is more to the information on the drive than originally thought. They also realize it’s not just the Chinese who want to get their hands on it.


Outgunned and unsure who to trust, Drenna must get the information into the right hands before it’s too late. Fortunately, there is no one better suited for the job than a female assassin who takes pleasure in violently punishing her enemies.


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364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2024

Reviews

[Matthew McNally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Reckoning is the third and latest installment of the Drenna Steel thriller series by author John Sneeden. I read the previous two and provided reviews of each. I was effusive with my praise for both the fabulously developed character of Drenna and the excellent craft of storytelling that Sneeden brings to this series along with his other works. (The Signal and The Ezekiel Code are among my other favorite works of Sneeden.) As much as I loved those others and the first two novels in this series, this book, of the ones I have had the joy of reading so far, is certainly is his best work to date in my opinion. For comparison, in this genre I am a huge Mark Greaney fan. I have been to two of his book signings and find him as engaging as a speaker as he is a writer. If you are familiar with his Gray Man series, (which I love!) then you know what a master of the modern thriller that Greaney is. The quickly captivating, fast-paced, perfectly detailed scenes of Greaney's produce incredibly action-packed, hair-on-fire, ultra-suspenseful stories that make it nearly impossible for one to put down. In my view, Dark Reckoning approaches the same quality of storytelling as one would find in latter six or seven of Greaney's Gray Man series. I recall Mark discussing his evolution as an author in one of his talks. He explained how his craft of character and scene development have vastly improved since he penned the initial book in the series, The Gray Man, and how every successful author goes through this process. I see a similar evolution taking place here with Sneeden in Dark Reckoning. As I said, I was an instant fan of the first two books of the series, Retribution and then Collateral Damage, which introduce us to the delightful and, when necessary, ruthless ex-CIA operative in Drenna Steel. So, if you're a Greaney fan and/or if you have treated yourself to the first two installments in this Sneeden series, beware! You will want to devour this one in single sitting! From start to finish, this latest Drenna Steel saga is replete with suspense, wonderfully devised action scenes, and enough ingenious twists and turns to dizzy even a seasoned fighter pilot! The only grievance I could levy here is that the fourth book is still in the works and not yet ready for my reading pleasure. And how do I know there is a fourth installment coming? Well, let's just say the last few pages leave the reader on the edge of his or her seat with the crafty and coy foreshadowing found therein! Can't recommend this story enough for fans of the thriller genre! Sneeden gets an A+ here as he has somehow set a new standard for his works. The public demand for Drenna Steel stories will continue to grow I am certain.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explosive From Start To Finish. This is one of those books that starts out as a somewhat classic spy caper - someone is trying to flee from their home country with hyper sensitive material (and knowledge) and is doing the whole "take two steps. stop. turn right and go 3 steps. stop." thing trying to avoid detection and give the authorities the slip.

But then it takes about 1/3 of the book to get back to that... because we're now involved in *another* spy thriller such that both will come together - and get even more explosive when they do - but now we need to get back to our series heroine, Ms. Drenna Steel, and find out what she is doing and how she is going to get involved with the first scene.

No matter where we are in the tale, the bad guys are always a shadow away and it is up to Ms. Steel and her allies to keep the good guys safe and handle the bad guys... well, in the manner in which bad guys get handled in such tales. ;)

But then that ending. Wow. On several different levels. Yet again, Sneeden manages to make you want the next book... how about right freaking NOW?!?!?!?!

Very much recommended.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story with strong characters. I am glad there are three books in this series. (So far - who knows for the future??) Just when you think Drenna is safe, another action-packed sequence unfolds. It is scary with the parallels of government control. As with all his books, this one comes highly recommended too!

[Betty Ems · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

another really great book! I just love Drenna & and the messes she gets into. I recommend reading the first book 1st to get all the backstory.

[John Halajko · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gray Woman is back!

Good story keeps you guessing lots of plot twists ending leaves you hanging waiting for the next book and when is that coming Mr Sneeden?