Closing Time: A Thriller

Michael Gannon #5

by Michael Ledwidge

The next pulse-pounding Michael Gannon thriller by the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of James Patterson's Michael Bennett series

Springtime, South Florida. While on the shores of Key West, Mike Gannon befriends a fellow beach bum, a funny Australian sports fisherman. He soon uncovers clues to the man's identity—and way more than he bargained for.

In an attempt to thwart the Australian's plans to rob a gas station, Mike makes a split decision and speeds away with the criminal's car. The next morning, he hears that during the robbery, a clerk was killed along with the three robbers, and with no Australian in sight.

As hunter becomes prey, Mike has one locating the whereabouts of the runaway criminal.

Genres: Thriller

368 pages, Hardcover

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

Michael Ledwidge is the son of Irish parents and was born and raised in the Bronx. A graduate of Manhattan College, he is married and has two children.

As the co-author of a series of some of James Patterson’s most profitable books to date, Ledwidge has risen from an admired but, it’s fair to say, mostly unread author, to co-writing some of the most widely read books in the world. He’s made real money doing it, too, enough to change his life completely.

Reviews

[Donne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited about catching up with Mike Gannon again. This has been a fun series to read, much like the 10 Michael Bennett series installments that Michael Ledwidge wrote. This is another fast paced, action-packed, crime thriller that has Mike running for his life from Key West to NYC.

The book summary is pretty vague and basically just introduces the start of the story. After a chance meeting at a local Key West dive bar that Mike just randomly walked into one night, John Hayden, an Australian banker, offers Mike a security job because John suspects that someone is out to kill him. John is in the US on a revenge mission to bring down a US banker, Albert Viviani, that covered up the rape and murder of John’s daughter, by Viviani’s rich and entitled son.

It's not long before all #%!! breaks loose that has John and Mike running for their life along with Nat, John’s personal assistant at the bank and who is in love with John. There is a secondary storyline of Viviani hiring a thug, Birch, who is tasked with hunting John down and killing him. The story flips back and forth from John, Mike and Nat’s escape from Birch and his team of thugs and Birch and Viviani who threatens Birch the whole time with sending him back to prison if he fails; seems that is where Viviani found Birch.

Once again, the story is action-packed with John and Mike barely getting out of every near-death scene every time Birch nearly catches up with them. The ending is a wild and crazy scene of near destruction of the worlds financial system, which is what John’s ultimate plan was.

The continuing character development of Mike as well as the character development of John and Birch was well done, and, once again, the story was fast paced. The storyline and writing were pretty wild and crazy and totally unbelievable, but so enjoyable. That folks is why it’s called fiction. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.5 that I am going to round up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #HarlequinTradePublishing #ClosingTime

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closing Time by Michael Ledwidge follows Mike Gannon, a man who has survived a long and dangerous military career and is more than ready for a quieter, lower-profile life. One of his biggest motivations is his son, Ben, whose future looks bright after being drafted into the minor leagues. Mike will do anything to protect that future, especially when trouble starts circling too close for comfort.

Everything changes after a chance encounter with an Australian man at a dive bar pulls Mike back into danger. Suddenly, he finds himself the prime suspect in a deadly convenience store shootout. Was it truly a random meeting, or was Mike deliberately set up? Determined to clear his name, Mike sets out to uncover the truth—no matter the risk.

The Michael Gannon thriller series continues to deliver nonstop action, and Closing Time is no exception. These fast-paced, plot-driven stories never let up, making them hard to put down. Mike is a likable, grounded protagonist whose devotion to his son adds real emotional weight, and a budding relationship hints at more than just survival. Much like Michael Ledwidge’s Michael Bennett series, this series provides an exciting, satisfying reading experience for thriller fans.

Many thanks to Hanover Square Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Closing Time
Author: Michael Ledwidge
Series: Michael Gannon #5
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Neil Hellingers
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: December 2, 2025
Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages: 368

This is the 5th book in this series and my first. I know I missed on a lot of background info. But Michael fills us in a bit and reminds us that his son is an only child and that his wife died. He has a girlfriend Colleen but no talk of marriage. He is ex-military and ex-cop Michael Gannon once again finds himself in the midst of international mayhem
Story stars In Key West and its springtime Michael is busy supporting his son’s dreams of making it in minor league baseball in hopes of moving on to the major league.
A late-night encounter with a seemingly harmless Australian at a dive bar turns deadly when Gannon unwittingly becomes the prime suspect in a convenience store shoot-out.

There is a lot of action going on in this story- far more action than mystery. Since I am a Psychological Thriller fan this was a bit different for me. However, it is good to change things up every once in awhile. I did like being transported to Key West!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 2, 2025.

[Pattyh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Closing Time. This is a series book that follows a man named Mike Gannon. He is a retired police man enjoying his life in Key West. All hell breaks loose when he meets a man who is a friend of Mikes in a local bar. This man holds the key to the entire financial system in the world. He has a motive for what he wants to do with it and asks Mike for his help.
Mike unwittingly gets involved in this cat and mouse chase as there are some very serious people who are looking for what this man has and will anything to stop him.
The chase to find this ‘key’ has Mike running all over the country and the world as we know it is in jeopardy.
Can Mike help or will he be part of this systematic destruction of the financial world whether he wants to or. Not.
Complicated novel but very good. 3.5 stars

[Doug Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent addition to the series as Michael Gannon, our protagonist, finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or maybe the right place for us, the readers, who get to enjoy an interesting, fast-paced thriller.. As one man seeks revenge against the man (and his company) responsible for his daughter’s death, he holds a “magic bullet in the form of a high-tech program that can take down the economy. With a British mercenary, crooked FBI agents, the Albanian mafia chasing him,Gannon lands right in the middle of the mess. Lots of creativity in a good plot. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Christa Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this 5th book in the action-packed series, ex-military and ex-cop Michael Gannon once again finds himself in the midst of international mayhem. In only a few chapters he goes from semi-retirement and watching his son's baseball games to being on the run from everyone from the FBI, to Albanian mafiosos, and a shadowy global cabal. These books are always page turners with crazy plots just believable enough to keep you invested. In Closing Time, the additional background on the US Treasury and Federal Reserve Banking system and the corruption involved in both adds a whole other level of tension. Another good thrill ride. #NetGalley #ClosingTIme

[Diane Saul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Gannon finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. This leads to multiple complications for him as he tries to clear his name. He is on the run and some very dangerous people are after him. The action starts from the first page and never lets up. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the beginning of this novel difficult to get into. When the story did start with Chapter 1 the characters became more defined although there are a lot of characters in this book. The characters themselves were quite flat and didn't catch my attention. The plot was definitely unique and moved quite quickly in this cat and mouse story. It was not a thriller in my view.

[Likestotravel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closing Time is a fast paced, tangled thriller. Michael Ledwidge keeps the action going from start to finish. Interesting characters, a fascinating plot, and a twisty ending all make for a great story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Sheldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Ledwich has now written five books in his Gannon series. Sadly, I entered on the fifth book. I am now going back and reading the first one hoping I like it more than I did the one I just read it was an adequate mystery thriller but nothing more.

[Rowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A good action thriller.

[Lee Breard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story written in Patterson style,quick chapters fast read

[LaShana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling!!!