No Prayers for the Dying: The Gage Files, Book 1

by Dale M. Nelson, Gary Bennett (narrator)

In the high-stakes game of international spycraft, the most dangerous weapon is the truth. And Matt Gage is about to unleash it.

Ex-CIA operative Matt Gage believed the covert world was firmly in his rearview. But the untimely demise of a Silicon Valley powerhouse drags him back to the subterranean chessboard of spycraft. At the behest of the tenacious Elizabeth Zhou, the magnate's daughter, he starts an inquiry that promises more shadows than truths.

From the vibrant alleys of Chinatown to the imposing skyscrapers of the tech giants, a sinister web unfolds, where the line between friend and foe isn't just blurred—it's non-existent. Each revelation is a grenade with its pin pulled. Every move is made on a knife's edge. And with every step, Gage walks closer into the subtle battle being waged far from the public eye.

In this electrifying dance of loyalty, betrayal, and the harrowing price of the truth, one misstep could be the last. Perfect for listeners who crave the heart-pounding thrill of Lee Child's Jack Reacher, the cerebral espionage of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, and the intricate plotting of David Baldacci.

Audible Audio

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Dale M. Nelson grew up outside Tampa, Florida and is a graduate of the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. He served eight years a United States Air Force Officer. Following his military service, Dale relocated to the Washington D.C. area and has worked in the defense, technology and telecommunications sectors before starting his writing career. He currently lives in Washington D.C. with his wife and daughters.

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw someone mentioning No Prayers for the Dying by Dale M. Nelson on social media and thought that it sounded interesting. I am glad I took a chance to read it and I thank Severn River Publishing and Edelweiss for supplying me with this first book in what will most certainly be a great new series. I found the book well written and the main character is someone I would like to get to know more about. I will most certainly read the next chapter in this series.

[Angie Boyter]

I persisted through 30% of this book, but I was not enjoying it and really did not want to continue. The plot was intriguing; the protagonist was a bit annoying, but that was his personality! What made me give up was the poor mechanical quality of the writing and copy editing. These kept dragging me out of the story by a desire to redo the sentence. This ranged from simply poor punctuation, e.g., “Call me,Matt” at loc 118, poor grammar, e.g., “whomever” instead of “whoever” at loc 588 to words left out or put in the wrong order. There was even a use of the wrong word, “sick” when it should have been “sic” at loc 722.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to Matt Gage and this action -packed series.

I’ve read several of Dale Nelson’s previous books, so I knew when I started reading No Prayers for the Dying, I was going to be in for an entertaining read. What I wasn’t expecting was how quickly I might get hooked on his Matt Gage series. Matt’s back story made him interesting, once he started investigating, he became even more interesting to the point I was fascinated by his thought process and how he attacked problems.

I love books that keep me guessing all the way through and when they are finished, I am left wondering how I didn’t put the clues all together. Well, No Prayers for the Dying didn’t just leave me wondering how I didn’t put the clues together, it left me wondering how often situations like Matt uncovered happen every day in real life.

Along with developing a likeable, highly capable renegade investigator, this story had a cast that was as unique as they were diverse. Some were very likeable, some were detestable, and some were surprising.

If you are looking for an excellent new thriller series, I would say give No Prayers for the Dying a shot. I’m betting you won’t be sorry, and that you will be hooked when you’ve finished this book. If you are familiar with Dale’s writing, you really owe it to yourself to settle in with No Prayers for the Dying and have an exciting time.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of No Prayers for the Dying from the publisher and chose to provide my review.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Prayers for the Dying Dale M. Nelson
The Gage Files # 1

Fast-paced action-packed introduction to a new series with an intriguing main character ~ First book I’ve read by this author but not the last

What I liked:
* Matt Gage: Ex-CIA operative, works part-time for the Orpheus Foundation, freelance investigator, for journalists, capable, skilled, bright, sees connections, interesting backstory, would like to know more about him
* The reason Matt left the CIA and how it impacted his life afterward
* The moral compass Matt seems to have regarding his work
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That the story drew me in, made me think, and think about spies and espionage and what it would take to be one or to be the handler of one
* Thinking about Matt and his past (hoping to hear more about that) and what he might get up to in future books in the series
* That all of the threads of the story were tied up in the end and the future was brighter for Matt at the conclusion than at the beginning of the book
* Being able to start in on a new series with the first book
* Knowing that there is another book in the series to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about corruption in law enforcement
* The evil done for and by governments to further their own agendas

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "Severn River" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Matt meeting a new client. Elizabeth, the client, wants Matt to look into the death of her father. She has been told that he died as a suicide, but she can't get any answers from the police. Matt agrees to take the case after learning that his mentor Nate had recommended him to her. Matt arrives at the location and he has questions once he discovered the father's house is still described as a crime scene. If it was a suicide, then the case was closed and the house should have been released.

As Matt begins looking into the case, he discovered that there were other individuals within the father's circle that have also died recently. The more he looked into it, the stranger it seemed. He finally determined that there was something going on behind the scene as well. Matt also was being told to drop the case, but he didn't. As a result, Matt now faced unknown danger. The closer he got to the end, the more dangerous it was.

To discover what Elizabeth's father was involved in, what Matt uncovered, who besides Matt were in danger, what the FBI's interest was and how everything worked out in the end, then you need to read this book.

Once you start, it is hard to put down.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy reading fast-paced stories, with relatable characters, and espionage plot, No Prayers for the Dying is a must-read. Matt has been fired by the CIA and is making ends meet work as an investigative journalist partner and sometimes as a PI (although he does not have a license). He is approached by Elizabeth, a Chinese woman whose father has recently died and it was labeled as a suicide but she does not accept it and hires Matt to find the truth. It's the beginning of a life threatening chase to uncover a ring of spies, deceit, murders, betrayal, the selling of state secrets, and the hard truth that Matt could trust no one. No Prayers for the Dying would be great on film and hopefully it will make to the screens!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting introduction to the Matt Gage series. It begins as an investigation into what is being called a suicide by law enforcement and morphs into lies, spies and murder involving foreign agents, the CIA, FBI and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies. What was Johnnie Zhou involved with and how might that have caused him to commit suicide or gotten him killed? Those are questions Matt Gage needs to find answers to in order to help Elizabeth Zhou come to terms with her father’s death. This was a good story with an intricate plot that keeps you engaged. At the end it also leaves you wondering about the reality of how, or if, foreign agents might be operating on American soil.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Prayers for the Dying (The Gage Files Book 1), my fifth read from author Dale M. Nelson, the first 4 were co-written with author Andrew Watts in The Firewall Spies series. An incredibly well-developed, well-written book. The primary characters are well developed. A captivating, page-turning, well-written read. A must-read book! “I received a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author, in fact One Bullet Away (The Gage Files Book 2) is next on my TBR list next. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

The synopsis of this book grabbed me instantly it has all the elements of a great spy thriller: danger, betrayal, secrets, and a hero who can’t quite escape his past. Matt Gage sounds like the kind of character readers will root for flawed, complex, and walking a razor’s edge between survival and destruction. The setting, from Chinatown’s back alleys to towering tech empires, feels modern and sharp, and the stakes couldn’t be higher with truth itself as the ultimate weapon. Even from the description, you can feel the tension building like a ticking clock. Fans of fast-paced espionage and twist-filled plots will definitely want to pick this up.

[Ronaele Whittington, D.S.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chinese infiltrators have entrenched themselves everywhere

Bad guys and good guys operate within layers of bureaucracy, public and private. Does the right hand know what the left hand does? Can a solo investigator like Matt Gage bring about positive change? This story highlights the power and influence of Chinese communists in California and worldwide.
Grammar errors e.g. placement of verbs and adverbs, interrupt the flow of sentences.
A complicated plot requires smooth transitions and clever connections to keep a reader reading.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC and was well disposed by the read. Exciting thriller that is difficult to put down. Really rated it as 4.5 due to the complex nature of the Silicon Valley-like world that needs some prior knowledge to fully appreciate. Great start to a new series with, as the Brits would say, most interesting characters.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt thought his CIA Operative days were done. How little did he know the truth. There’s danger in every step he takes that’s closer to the truth. Full of suspense, secrets and more. Don’t miss out on another opportunity to read this author’s work.

[Daniel Fedko · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun book

I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that he never stops writing. His books are some of the best Entertainment  I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.

[Marlene M. Oaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting

I enjoyed this spy trip into inner workings of taking down bad actors. It kept me engaged all of the way through. It is a page turner for sure.