Burn Out

by Joshua Hood, Scott Brick (Narrator)

From the USA Today bestselling author of Robert Ludlum’s Treadstone series, Burn Out is a no holds barred thriller from the “master of action” (Publishers Weekly).

Becoming one of the US Forest Service’s elite smokejumpers has been Jake Slade’s dream. Parachuting into the path of a raging fire and beating it into submission isn’t for the faint of heart, but Slade has never backed down from a challenge. After surviving the grueling six-week training course, he thinks he’s ready for anything nature has to dish out.

What he hasn’t considered is manmade danger, in the form of an old friend turned CI and the DEA Special Agent determined to hunt him down … using Slade as the tracker. It’s an offer he wants to refuse, but with the promise of prison time being expunged from his record, Slade agrees, hoping to finally put to rest the demons of his past.

But what begins as a straightforward search and rescue mission swiftly turns into a harrowing run for his life …

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Action, Suspense, Audiobook, Thriller Suspense

Audiobook

First published August 13, 2024

About the author

Joshua Hood graduated from the University of Memphis before joining the 82nd Airborne Division. During his five years in the Infantry, he conducted combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
After getting out of the Army, he returned to Memphis TN and spent nine years on SWAT.
He is now a full time writer and proud father of two in Collierville, TN.

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshua Hood is one of my favorite authors, he has never let me down with one of his books. Burn Out is a great story about a guy who wants nothing else but being a smokejumper, but the book is so much more. You have an old friend of Jake Slade that are in trouble and needs help, you have an DEA agent on his way to retirement after some bad icidents in his career. Then you have some forest fires of course and an old prepper / survivalist and last there is a drug cartel thrown in. Do you think this will make an action filled story then you are right and it's a very fast paced book that is hard to put down. To my big surprise Staccato is hardly mentioned at all :) I will always recommend that you read anything by Hood. Keep your eyes open for the August release of this great new book. I thank Edelweiss and Blackstone Publishing for giving me not one but two advance copies.

[T.R. Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

BURN OUT shows us yet again that Joshua Hood’s talent is as indomitable as his characters. There’s seemingly no premise he can’t master and no limit to the action he relentlessly delivers.

[myreadingescapism · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I had a free trial for Paramount+ on a Roku tv from Black Friday sales...... where I binged Fire Country. Needless to say, I am a pro at fire fighting in California. 😂

This felt like a good episode of Fire Country and I was here for it! Action packed and tense.

(Plus the whole time I was picturing Bode (🥵) 😅🫠

[BiblioPeeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It was moving fast, the scream of the flames and sizzling hiss of the sap-filled trees, giving it a bestial sound.”

Jake Slade is no stranger to tough times but he’s forging a different path for himself. When he was in prison he joined a fire camp and began to feel what’s it’s like to be part of a team doing meaningful work. Slade decides he wants to become MORE than a hotshot fighting wildland fires. He’s determined to become an elite smokejumper, parachuting in to remote sites in the early stages of a fire.

As a rookie smokejumper Slade is ready for his first active fire and we get thrown into the action with him. Boone, an old friend of Slade’s is a CI for the DEA and he’s missing in wild country only a few people are familiar with. Slade agrees to help find Boone in exchange for his criminal record being expunged. Little does Slade know that the cartel are involved and they’ve sent a Sicario (hitman) to eliminate Boone, putting Slade firmly in the crosshairs too!

Burn Out is FILLED with action that had me by the seat of my pants!! Joshua Hood has a fantastic way of bringing surroundings to LIFE with just enough details that I could picture every scene. From fighting fire, to hand to hand combat and gun fire exchanges, I was here for it! And yes, there’s a few surprises and some parachute action too! If you like ‘Only The Brave’ or ‘Fire Country’ you will enjoy Burn Out!
_______

Thank you Joshua Hood for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Potential spoiler content warnings listed below.








































⚠️Content Warnings: language, violence, gun violence, death

[Nicole McElwaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow wow wow. 4.5⭐️ I did not expect to love this book as much as I did! Such an action-packed book that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I was engaged from the beginning to the end. The writing is so detailed and absorbing that I felt immersed inside the story. The twist at the end left my brain and soul in agony. I will definitely think about this one for a while.
A huge thank you goes to Blackstone Publishing for the ARC via NetGalley.



I loved Buck 🥺

[Stacey (Bookalorian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was go go go all the way to a killer ending!

This book was so fast paced I could feel myself bouncing from foot to foot!

Jake Slade is a smoke Jumper. He has left behind a life of deliquency to become something more but when an old friend is in trouble, the DEA come a knocking!

This book is loaded with intrigue, drama, betrayal and adrenaline. The storyline was solid and I couldn't find anything I didn't like except it did go into a lot of details during the fires and I didn't need that.

I really enjoyed this book and now I need to get more from this author.

4 stars

[Cindy (leavemetomybooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

(( audiobook ))

Downloaded this from NetGalley because I’m a sucker for a Scott Brick-narrated action thriller. This lived up to my expectations — some cringey “men being men” dialogue, some fun surprises, a lot of shooting stuff, with a side of wildfires. Thoroughly enjoyable and made me want to listen to more books by Hood!

* thanks to Blackstone Audio for the review copy. BURN OUT published in August 2024.

[Dirk Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Joshua Hood. Burn Out has all the elements of a good thriller book. Tense situations, lots of action and twists right up to the end.
You are introduced to Jake Slade, a smokejumper. Someone who puts his life at risk jumping from planes in to fight forest fires. The description of what these men put their bodies through makes you appreciate what they are risking. This novel does them proud.
Slade is about to go on a jump when he gets a call from a former acquaintance. Busy, he lets it go to voicemail. But he is eventually pulled in. His former friend, Boone, needs help avoiding the cartel.
Slade is called on to find his friend, help him and avoid the cartel.
What happens is a chase through the forest, a standoff and more twists.
Hood's novels are written to pull you into the scenes. You feel the pain of the characters, you understand what they are going through and you are onsite through the action scenes.
It is hard to put down his novels, and Burn Out is exactly the same. You have to keep reading. You need to know what happens next. Chapters end right when you need to continue, so you do and then you've read 4 more chapters late at night.
I highly recommend this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy.

[SteVen Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Book Review – Burn Out – Joshua Hood
“Burn Out” by the “master of action” author Joshua Hood is a no holds barred action thriller about a US Forest Service elite smokejumper named Jake Slade. What begins as a straightforward search and rescue mission swiftly turns into a disturbing life or death situation for the smokejumper. This action-laden thriller came as no surprise to me because Hood is an outstanding writer of excitement, anticipation, and heroism. The storyline behind a US Forest Service “smokejumper” was ingenious! The plotline was new and different and stimulatingly good. A danger-laden firefighting tale with an excellent change of pace from military spy thrillers. A different type of action thriller that only Joshua Hood could tell. These guys – smokejumpers – are little known for what they do, they are unique, distinctive, and rare and who better then Joshua Hood to bring their ‘badassery’ to light? I can’t recommend this firefighting action thriller enough. It’s fresh, new, and thrillingly good! A big thank you to Joshua Hood and Blackstone Publishing, for the advanced reader’s copy for an honest review. Burn Out will be published on August 13th, 2024.

[Jeremy Peers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joshua Hood’s Burn Out is a refreshing thriller showcasing a group of crazy humans: smokejumpers. They are a unique breed who deserve all the praise and more, having worked with smokejumpers previously in a supporting role. Wildfires are some scary shit and they just jump into them.

Like Hood’s previous books, Burn Out is outstanding. Hood’s writing is marked by action, heart, and meticulous research, all of which are on full display in this book. And Burn Out is the best yet.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy of Burn Out via NetGalley.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiery Intrigue

Slade is a smoke jumper on a mission to save his old friend, Boone, now a CI on the run from a drug cartel, in the middle of a ferocious mountain fire.
Slade gets pulled off his team of smoke jumpers by Feds who are trying to locate Boone, in his mountain escape from the cartel. Slade, knowing both I one and the mountain well, is the likely choice.
What follows is a riveting tale of man against mountain and against killers who will stop at nothing to prevent their mountain based drug operation from being shut down.
Non stop suspense, intrigue and characters that jump right off the pages.
Really good read with some interesting background on smoke jumpers along the way.

[E.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was fun - I am originally from the area where the book was set and am very familiar with all of the locations mentioned! Even a local coffee shop where I was a frequent patron so that made this even more fun to read.

It was action packed, not your usual "suspects" when it came to main characters as it's mainly focused on Smoke Jumpers, and all in all a great and mostly believable story.

I think it'll be a breath of fresh air for those who like suspenseful books and also want something a little different.

Note: Lots of language, some mentions of wounds/fighting/death

My rating: 4*

---
Thanks to NetGalley for this gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jacqui · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Burn Out tell the story of Californian smoke jumpers, a topic I knew nothing about. Essentially fire fighters that parachute into a fire zone and prevent the fire from jumping containment lines. Add in a drug cartel, corrupt officials, workplace bullying and men with chips on their shoulders. This was definitely outside of my usual reading box but I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

Netgalley ARC.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but not amazing. Smokejumpers, 3 letter agencies, and the cartel keep the book rolling. A twisted plot(will keep you guessing) and a good cast of characters makes for an interesting storyline. Plenty of action throughout the book to keep your pulse pounding. I can see this becoming a series, but it should be a one and done.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and I do recommend reading this thriller. You just can't go wrong reading anything that Joshua Hood writes.

[Ralph Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This eARC was given to me through Netgalley.com, and I am providing an unbiased review.

This one was a trial run for me in reading. As a fan of the Bourne movies, and not having read any of Ludlum's works, I wanted to try this author out, plus the story synopsis sounded somewhat interesting. Overall, the story is interesting, and fairly action-filled like one would expect from an action series writer. We have a guy trying to put a bad past behind him, working on being a smoke jumper, whose ties to the earlier life come back to 'haunt' him. We have a cartel boss that sends out a sicario to remove some problems, and it all happens in a forest that has fires burning all over.

Though interestingly possible for all these scenarios to actually happen, as I read through, it just kept getting more and more unbelievable at times. The story and plot are fairly well developed, and the writing style easy to read and understand. I just discount the level of imagination the writer is wanting me to use for an action novel. This is able to be read as a stand-alone novel, and is not associated with any series that I am aware of.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot of this story with friendships and betrayals is interesting enough, but the real star of the story is the infernos that the characters subject themselves to. Lots of action and excerpts characters. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily sent an honest review.

[Thrillers R Us · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wind of success from DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS flush in his sails, Nick Nolte once again ventured to work with Walter Hill in 1987, the echoes of 48HRS still fresh in memory. Hailing from a script by John Milius, who's ego is probably only slightly bigger than Conan's sword, EXTREME PREJUDICE was, in title, homage to APOCALYPSE NOW, also penned by Milius, and its decree for Colonel Kurtz. In action more a tribute to THE WILD BUNCH due to Walter Hill's molding of the story, EXTREME PREJUDICE charmed critics half-heartedly and audiences less. In Joshua Hood's BURN OUT, out in millions of acres of wild America, California, the Six Rivers National Forest, an enemy is on the loose. A wolf in sheep's clothing, a predator that hunts, feeds and kills without conscience. An enemy to be engaged and destroyed with EXTREME PREJUDICE. No, not a scummy tango dirtbag who slipped into the good ole US of A via the southern border--rather: Fire. Walk with me.

To be honest, there is more to BURN OUT than just fire, ashes, and inferno. America has degenerated to a level where the concepts of self-control and personal responsibility are believed to be archaic, in turn allowing unlicensed marijuana growing in Six Rivers National Forest. The land is hard and unyielding, not to speak of the cartel boys coming to party and defend what they believe is theirs. The cartel, where yesterday's success is never enough to cover today's failure, unleashes onto northwest California their most deranged sicario, one with a love for Woodland Camo, inflicting pain, and a hankering for free continental breakie. With a wild fire raging out of control nearby and a court case looking to take down the evil doers, BURN OUT is a veritable powder keg, an explosive thriller basking in the primeval, the destructive beauty of fire. This is where the Smokejumpers come in, adrenaline junkies and soot stained angels floating from above to save the day. BURN OUT, penned by a former Army man, seems set on portraying these firefighters with parachutes as an elite military unit, hailing them as the tip of the spear (isn't everybody?), and issuing edicts like 'a Smokejumper never leaves his jump partner behind'. Entertainingly enough, with both Mexican FEC and USMC in the mix, BURN OUT is an Army/Green Beret friendly book, excoriating the Navy SEALs for taking the cash and writing books about it. Delicious.

A sizzling, modern version of WILL IT BLEND featuring hints of BACKDRAFT, SHOOT TO KILL, FIRESTORM, and the Richard Widmark classic RED SKIES OVER MONTANA, BURN OUT's character conflict set-up, after a prologue that feels like a reenactment on AMERICA'S MOST WANTED, is somewhere between Teasle's posse of FIRST BLOOD and the SSG Barnes vs SGT Elias of PLATOON. Plowing through the morass is Slade, a misunderstood small-time convict, much like CBS's FIRE COUNTRY, who just wants to make his 'wings' and only wants to belong. To to be part of the gang, to only be judged for his ability not his past, for leaving the past in the past has always been his greatest strength. Oh yeah, and fighting fires. As contract Smokejumpers put in time all over America, from Idaho to NorCal and Colorado, basically wherever wildfires threaten Democracy, Slade finds himself a rookie in NW Cali, his troubled past causing more problems than rampant forest fires. Featuring intricate plotting, fierce firefights, yes, those that have nothing to do with actual fire, relentless pursuit through the wilderness, betrayal and more federal agencies than you can throw a Pulaski at, BURN OUT is a smoking, red hot read. Not short on hilarity and smart quips, BURN OUT proffers references to CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, Rambo, death by tree, and maintains that speculation is a cop's worst enemy, ya can't go wrong with Spaghetti-Os, self-preservation is the ultimate motivator, and that there are no consolation prizes in hell. Akin to the raw destructive brutality of fire, BURN OUT is both terrifying and fascinating at the same time, a searing narrative that might end in a load of double aught buckshot being the judge, jury, and executioner. Jump to adding BURN OUT to your TBR list, this scorching thriller is fire.


Big thanks to Blackstone Publishing, NetGalley and Joshua Hood for the ARC.

[Keshav Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Burn Out” by Joshua Hood is a gripping thriller that plunges readers into the high-stakes world of smokejumpers and the perilous challenges they face. Known for his action-packed narratives, Hood delivers a story that is both intense and emotionally charged, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

The protagonist, Jake Slade, is a former convict who dreams of becoming one of the US Forest Service’s elite smokejumpers. After enduring a gruelling six-week training course, Slade believes he is ready to tackle any wildfire. However, his past catches up with him when he is coerced into a dangerous mission by a DEA Special Agent. Slade must track down an old friend turned confidential informant, with the promise of having his prison record expunged. What starts as a straightforward search and rescue mission quickly escalates into a life-or-death struggle against a ruthless cartel hitman

Jake Slade is a compelling character whose complex past adds depth to the narrative. His transformation from a man haunted by his past to a determined and resilient hero is well-crafted. Hood’s portrayal of Slade’s internal struggles and his fight for redemption is both realistic and engaging. “Burn Out” explores themes of redemption, loyalty, and survival. Slade’s journey is not just about battling external threats but also confronting his inner demons. The novel delves into the psychological toll of living on the edge and the sacrifices one must make to protect others.

Joshua Hood’s writing is fast-paced and action-oriented, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. His background in the military and law enforcement lends authenticity to the narrative, particularly in the detailed descriptions of combat and survival tactics.

One of the strengths of “Burn Out” is its relentless pace. The story moves swiftly from one high-stakes situation to another, ensuring that there is never a dull moment. Hood’s ability to create vivid and intense action scenes is commendable, and his attention to detail enhances the realism of the story. While “Burn Out” is an exhilarating read, it may not appeal to readers who prefer more character-driven stories with slower pacing. Some might find the constant action overwhelming, and the plot twists, though exciting, can sometimes feel a bit predictable.

“Burn Out” by Joshua Hood is a thrilling ride that combines intense action with deep emotional undercurrents. It is a testament to Hood’s skill as a storyteller that he can balance these elements so effectively. Fans of action-packed thrillers will find much to enjoy in this novel, and it is sure to leave them eagerly anticipating Hood’s next work. Whether you are a long-time fan of Hood or new to his writing, “Burn Out” is a book that should not be missed.

[Crooked Eye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Burn out by Joshua Hood.
Provided by NetGalley
Narrated by Scott Brick

I wanted an action novel and that’s what I got. However, regardless of genre, I do like each character to have their own voice. Names aside, apart from Buck, all the other characters were generic soldier types. This made it very difficult for me to connect to them; not because they were soldier types, but due to the genericism. In my opinion, this was down to the writing, not the narration. I think the narrator did a fine job.

One reason I don’t often read action novels is not their outrageous events—which can sometimes be fun—but the injuries that the characters sustain in one scene and in the next they’re carrying on like nothing has happened. This novel does suffer this failing, but in the scheme of things it wasn’t too bad.

Another thing was the lack of depth. I suspect it came down to the little things that usually go unnoticed but feed into an overall impression. For example:

Slade let out a pained groan and rolled into a sitting position, a quick scan of the drop zone showing the rest of the team already on the ground. Now playing catch-up, he got to his feet and, after shoving his harness and chute into his gear bag, limped to the edge. A look down showed a fifty-foot drop with razor-sharp rocks and smoldering tree stumps waiting for him at the bottom.

In this paragraph, he let out a pained groan, but we don’t know why. Then he limps to the edge, so we know his leg, foot, or perhaps his hip, is hurt. Nothing more is said about it, but in a paragraph or so, he’s running up a hill. It’s not a big deal, but when it constantly occurs, it undermines the importance of events and keeps everything on a superficial level.

My inability to connect with the characters and a lack of depth was what ultimately dragged the rating right down for me.

[Laur]

Military fiction with some thrilling moments, but I confess that discovering the real drama of the who, why, and how was more interesting for me than the moments that may have qualified as "thrilling".

I couldn't get invested in any of the characters as none pulled me in, or like I was feeling emotionally tied to them. Instead, I felt like I was witnessing and listening to a varied pool of testosterone vying for lead position in the storyline. However, I did find a few touching moments with Slade, as a father who cares about his daughter and in a scene or two, I don't want to give up lest it becomes a spoiler.

One thing I would have preferred in the story is the elimination of so much gratuitous profanity. Not a fan of the f*bomb. I get when an author wants to punctuate anger, emotion, and stress, but to swear for the sake of swearing, I feel is unnecessary and plain annoying. It doesn't work for me, nor would I be inclined to share the book with a teen or older one.

Burn Out - I didn't love it, didn't hate it. Frankly not my cup of tea where the thriller genre is concerned. I finished listening to it for the sake of seeing how it played out in the end, which also to me was not a surprise. Scott Brick did a respectable job of narrating.

2.5 Stars rounded down.

Thanks to NetGalley, Joshua Hood, and Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for an AAC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Joshua Hood though I doubt it will be my last. Burn Out has a unique premise as an ex-con turned forest fire fighter (a "smoke jumper") named Jake Slade is tasked with finding a missing DEA confidential informant against a major drug cartel operating in the California woodlands. The book starts with Jake preparing for a smoke jump. Of course, there's the prerequisite Biff Tannen type supervising him who thinks Jake is nothing but a criminal, and Jake's own struggle to be accepted. Jake soon proves himself a hero in the blaze after going against orders, and then a DEA agent finds him and tells him Jake's old friend, the DEA's CI, is missing, launching into a search to find him before the cartel does. There is plenty of action, although at times Jake seems more like Wolverine than "just a guy", and a few predictable plot twists with one less predictable twist near the end. I feel like I've learned about smoke jumpers simply by reading this book (without needing to use Google) and although in the early chapters I wasn't fully hooked, once the DEA recruits Jake I became compelled to keep reading to the conclusion. Scott Brick as always does a fine job narrating, with each character sounding distinct. Thank you to Joshua Hood, Blackstone, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mike Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake Slade is an ex-con who learned to become a smokejumper, elite firefighters who jump from a plane in behind the fire to slow it down, while in prison. Have just made it out of training, he is added to the elite smokejumper ranks. After his first jump, he is approached by DEA agent who wants him to track one of Slade’s friends who has turned informant. While Slade wants to turn the request down, the promise of his record expunged leads him to agreeing. Slade must find his friend before the Cartel does.

Joshua Hood outdid himself with this one. The idea of a smokejumper is a fresh new exciting hero that I have not come across before. Slade, with his criminal background, is the perfect hero for this story. Mr. Hood keeps you on your toes throughout this book with excellent characters and exciting twists. The action scenes are out of this world, and the last 15% or so of this book is just straight action. Flew through this book, not wanting to put it down.

I can’t recommend this firefighting action thriller enough. If you’re looking for a fresh new hero with a bad ass occupation, you need to grab Burn Out when it publishes on August 13th, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley, Joshua Hood, and Blackstone Publishing for a fee advanced copy for an honest review.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

This is a new author for me, and I’d certainly listen to more. I choose this action thriller which isn’t my usual genre for the narrator Scott Brick, but he wasn’t as great as I’d hoped, still good though and worth the listen.

Jake Slade is a rookie smoke jumper with a criminal past. His friend Boone is an informant for the DEA but has gone missing before the start of the trial. Slade agrees to help find him.
We also get the POV of Keller a Federal agent nearing retirement with a few hiccups in his career to live down . Not everyone looking for Boone wants him to testify, there’s a contracted hitman in the mix to ensure that he doesn’t to protect the Cartel.

I found the back drop of the story with the smoke jumpers fascinating, there’s some great descriptions of a smoke jumpers role, you really get the feel of a raging wild fire with its inherent dangers. It’s an action thriller so there’s much more involved than wilderness fire fighting. There’s certainly plenty of action for ongoing interest, there’s more emphasis on the action than character development but I liked Slade’s transition during the book. There some bits of humour thrown in that had me chuckling at times.

If like me you’re new to the genre of action thrillers it’s an easy one to get into.

[Teresa Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a serious game of rock, paper, scissors I got to read Joshua Hood’s Burn Out first! We are both fans of his writing. This stand-alone novel features Jake Slade, a guy who has seen plenty of trouble and some prison time, but wants to live out his dream. He wants to be a member of an elite group of smoke jumpers and worth with the US Forest Service. He made it and he had a fight to get there. On the way to his first firefight he misses a phone call from an old friend, Mikey Boone, and he can’t imagine that what Mikey needs is anything that he wants to be tangled up in. Slade is busy proving himself, fighting fires, saving lives and dealing with a big pain in a$$, Buck.

Interestingly enough, one of my nephews flies the jumpers in and sometimes flies the helicopter that drops water on the fires. So yes, I called him and talked to him about it. Hood clearly did his research on this one. Full of action and fire fights, dirty and clean federal agents and a drug cartel that will do anything in their power to keep things in their favor, this book is a fast read that is hard to put down. And for Hood fans, find the mention of the Staccato in here. (IYKYK)

[Ted Sheil · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to thank Blackstone and Goodreads for this giveaway copy of Burn Out.

Joshua Hood threw hard charging smoke jumper Jack Slade into the literal fire right from the get go and kept up the pressure with Mexican cartel assassins, DEA agents and non stop action. The details about smoke jumpers, hotshot fire fighters, equipment, weapons and wilderness survival seemed well researched and believable to my novice eye.

Remember playing red light / green light as a kid? Well with Burn Out, Joshua Hood turned his back and called out green light then never turned back around to call Stop. From page one it this book is GO GO GO. Nonstop action. I've frequently heard of people talking about reading a book in one sitting. This was close for me, if it hadn't been for other adult obligations like an actual job this would have done it for me. The only thing missing would be a PG13 romance and you'd have a nice little action movie. I will be looking for other Joshua Hood novels.

[Jason Piccolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Burn Out" by Joshua Hood is a thrilling debut that defies expectations in the best possible way. Following Jake Slade's journey from ex-con to elite smokejumper, Hood crafts a narrative that's anything but cliché. The author's vivid depiction of wildfire fighting and the grueling smokejumper training process adds a layer of authenticity rarely seen in the genre.

Slade's character is a revelation - complex, gritty, and deeply compelling. His unique background and the intense situations he faces leave readers hungry for more of his story. While "Burn Out" stands strong on its own, it's clear that Slade's journey is far from over. Hood has created a character with immense potential, and fans will be clamoring for future books to further explore Slade's adventures and unravel more of his intriguing past.

With its fresh take on the genre and a protagonist that demands further exploration, "Burn Out" marks Joshua Hood as an author to watch in the world of action-packed thrillers.

[Jonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced book that is a page turner. I had hesitated to read it when it was released. Wasn't sure I would get into a smoke jumper as the main character. I'm glad I decided to read it. It had the action of a typical military ops thriller which was unexpected since it was focused on smoke jumpers. I have always respected fire fighters, but I gained even more appreciation of what these forest fire fighters do after reading this book.

I thought the ambush scene with the arrows was good, but it felt somewhat rushed. I thought more action could have occurred in that encounter. There were a couple of minor things I questioned during the story, but nothing that impacted the overall story. I thought the book was a solid 4.5 stars; I rounded up because of the twist at the end that I did not see coming.

Not sure if this could become a series or not. If so, I would definitely read the sequel. If not, I will wait for the author's next book.

[Jaylee Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake Slade is a smokejumper for the US Forest Service. He has went through intense training. He finds himself facing a wildfire connected to unsolved murders. This puts him in the middle of a DEA investigation with a lead investigator (Buck) who has one foot out the door to his retirement and the drug cartel leader wanting to keep the murders under wraps. They’ll both have to survive the chase.

I loved learning more about the smoke jumper role in general and liked how they added the drug cartel plot in.

This is my first book by Joshua Hood and I will definitely be reading more. This book reminded me of the thrill I feel with T. J. Newman.

Even though I listened to audio at 2x speed, I can tell the narrator had an urgency in his voice to add to that action thriller element.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 8/13/24!

[Jan Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much....it's not my usual choice of reading, but I really liked the characters and the riviting story about firejumpers and the hell they go through fighting fires was engrossing and kept me reading into the night!

It's obvious that Mr. Hood has spent time with fire fighters and has written an engrossing story with a lot of fire fighting facts and techniques that were extremely interesting and informative. I learned a lot and very much appreciate everything our firefighters do for our communities.

Our main characters are flawed, but trying to do the right thing throughout the story. Not only fighting fires but also the drug cartels that are determined to keep the law from finding their fields was a double threat for our firefighters and law enforcers. Drug dealers, paid informants, undercover spies and dirty tricks abound in this novel.

I sort of figured out who the bad guys were but the ending had a twist I was not expecting!
Enjoy!

[Mark Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a genre oversaturated with SEALs, Delta, Rangers, and other assorted bearded bro-warriors, it's hard to write a thriller that stands out from the pack. But Joshua Hood has managed to do just that, giving us a smokejumper protagonist with a checkered past and setting him up against not only raging wildfires, but a ruthless cartel assassin and all sorts of plot twists and emotional betrayals.

Hood is one of the hottest names in the action-thriller market these days and with good reason. He's got all the bases covered: visceral prose, rapidfire pacing, characters that are fleshed out without bogging down the story, and loads of violent action.

Listen, I like Carr and Greaney and Bentley as much as the next guy, but if you put brand new novels by them on the table and then put a new Hood thriller next to them and told me I could pick only one, I'd grab the Hood novel every single time and twice on Sundays. Easily my favorite of the modern day action authors.