Lone Survivor

Alex Hawkins #1

by Vin Strong, Phillip Sacramento (Narrator)

Book #1 from the series: Alex Hawkins Action Thriller
🎧Listening Length = 5 hours and 2 minutes

A gripping 2024 release that kicks off a thrilling series: Air Marshal Alex Hawkins’s job goes from painfully dull to life-threatening when terrorists take over an international flight to Dubai. All of a sudden, he’s the last line of defense against a team of hostiles, and the lives of nearly 300 passengers hang in the balance…

When an ordinary flight spirals into a hostage crisis, Air Marshal Alex Hawkins is the plane’s sole protector against a deadly hijacking. With hundreds of lives at stake, he must outwit the terrorists and avert an international catastrophe—from 30,000 feet in the air. One wrong move, and they are all dead.

LONE SURVIVOR is the debut novel in a new series by action thriller author Vin Strong. The Alex Hawkins series is a gripping action thriller that will keep you glued to the pages with intense suspense, stunning plot twists, and an unforgettable protagonist who is sure to capture your heart. You'll find yourself turning pages well into the night. Fans of Brad Taylor, Vince Flynn, and Mark Greaney are sure to fall in love with their next favorite action hero. Future books in the series are also available!

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Ebooks

Audible Audio

Published December 20, 2024

Reviews

[Kristina Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast read. Cheesy and over the top with fight scenes. Free book, sooo I guess I can’t complain.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars, rounded UP. Almost didn’t finish (it was that bad). Trite and melodramatic, along with long monologues from the terrorists which added to the already almost-comical representation of them and their aims.

I’m not sure if the audiobook I listened to was messed up/glitching due to borrowing it through Hoopla, or if that was the original recording, but either way it was awful. Random voices and sounds popping in without reason.

[diannscollins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unrealistic

Alex is the Air Marshall on a flight that is overtaken by terrorists. His antics to fight them off is unrealistic. It was hard to follow and imagine the action that was occurring.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

WTF was that.

[Brandie (Tinkerbombb) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I decided to try reading something new today. I had hopes for this book, but they diminished in the first few pages. I pushed on, and pretty much forced myself to finish this book (lucky for me it was so short). I did not like or connect with the writing style, it seemed to be written so poorly. Not only did the characters lack depth, the story did as well.
The storyline did have promise, but it was not executed in this read.

[Marissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

why did this feel like a 9/11 fanfiction

[Erika · Rating 1 out of 5]

a couple of enjoyable moments, but otherwise it was like reading Michael Scott’s script for Threat Level Midnight

[Freya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought I'd try something new so grabbed a free book off Amazon Kindle. I now know why they're free.
Didn't like the style of writing at all. Couldn't connect with the characters who Strong was eagerly attempting to develop. Events and fight scenes were wholly unrealistic for a book that was trying too hard for a 'real feel'. Dialogue was cringe, as were the flashbacks to Alex's past which really didn't serve any purpose. Possibly to develop Alex for the sequels but I don't care enough about him or the style to invest in any more, even if they're free.
Positives = it was a quick read.
Gave 2 stars because at least it was finishable (just).

[Jillian Karlicek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Scratched the itch of a fun action thriller. A plane heist movie complete with the eye candy, over-the-top fight scenes, a muslim terrorist cell, and an unrealistic plot. Had its heart pumping moments and it’s moments where you’ve gotta suspend your belief to move along. I will probably read another in the series.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and will be looking for more in this series on Air Marshall Alex Hawkins!

[GW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Line Survivor -

Ehh. This actually deserved about a 2.5 rating but I rounded up. This was disappointing because the author has a way of pulling the reader into the story; which is good. But, the book was ruined for me with the gratuitous fight episodes. The fighting goes on and on and on and the fight in the cockpit of the airliner was just stupid. The author actually states that the hero sprints across the cockpit (while throwing, and being thrown about said cockpit) and beating all the bad guys up. Ever been in the cockpit of a plane? Oh yeah, another ridiculous part was that the good guy must have casually snapped at least 5 or 6 guy's necks. What?
Were I in high school I probably would have loved this book. As it is, not so much.

[Diane Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book. The words led to a great visualization! Alex was able to carry out an extraordinary rescue during a plane hijacking.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say this is a nice quick airplane crisis read. It hits the suspense markers and gets you thinking. Alex Hawkins is an Air Marshal who has found himself on a new aircraft and in a hijacking situation taking the flight plan of course from landing in Dubai to Iran. The hijackers do not inform the crew or passengers exactly who or what they want just total cooperation from everyone. This helps to build the suspense as you find out that not only do the hijacker’s not know who or what the people who are paying them want they also don’t know who all the other hijackers are themselves. We only get two hijackers identified by the main character Alex in the beginning. However, we know there is more due to Alex’s position being in coach limiting his perspective.
I appreciated the authors concern for realism in giving us a scenario in which Alex thinks he has some quick action hero plan to take out the hijackers. This plan ultimately does not get attempted for the preservation of life of other passengers and the plan becoming unmanageable because others didn’t act according to his calculations. I love a character who can think realistically. However we do dive into some unrealistic territory with the ending and the water landing and Alex after being stabbed has the ability to overtake a motorboat filled with terrorist armed with high powered weapons; but this is still fiction so we shall allow Alex that strength. Another example of the just-positioning of realism and fiction is the nods to 9/11. There are quite a few mentions and nods to aircraft protocols and procedures that had to be changed since 9/11. However in this exploration of 9/11 changes they fail to identify how not one but three hijackers managed to get high powered weapons through security when the Alex the Air Marshal only has the ability to bring a small knife and pistol.
Alex clearly has had some past trauma that is hindering his ability to properly “sus” out whether some passengers are dangerous or not in the beginning. I am assuming since this is supposed to be book one of a series this past trauma will be further explored in other books. However it was quite frustrating not getting at least a little insight to what that traumatic event was. Whatever this past event is has also lead him to falling for our favorite flight attendant the true hero Emma.
Ms. Emma the flight attendant, one women rescue crew, co-pilot, nurse, technician. Emma is a bad ass in a side character role. She not only sticks her neck out for Alex and is willing to not expose him as the air marshal, she sticks her neck out to rescue him from his bonds once he is discovered so they can take back the plane. Since romance was obviously in the air amist the terror and fear panic I hope in further books Emma’s badassory is displayed since it seems as if Alex will be pursuing a relationship with her.
All in all I enjoyed the book would read another of this series.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thriller genre novel involving a terrorist group that hijacks a passenger jetliner in flight as it heads to Dubai, United Arab Emirates from JFK airport in NYC with approximately 300 people aboard. The Air Marshall aboard this flight is the primary character in this novel and his name is Alex Hawkins. At 39 years old he is a retired Navy SEAL now. He is a complex character whose past life heavily influences him as he performs his job as an Air Marshall. The complexity of his past life is revealed as the story unfolds. I learned a lot about the Air Marshall service as I read this book. Hopefully, I didn’t learn anything that wasn’t already public knowledge. The plot is well thought out and presented as a very realistic possibility. Although, how the terrorist got their weapons past TSA is not revealed and I wondered about that aspect being realistic or not. Plot twists abound in this story which keeps Alex on his toes when attempting to subdue the hijackers. Alex’s encounters with the terrorist brings a great deal of violence, tension and suspense into the story. Don’t read too much into the title of this book. The reference to lone survivor refers to an episode in Alex’s past, not the current hijacking.

[Sandra Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a strong story, with occasional flashbacks for Alex Hawkins, who was a Navy Seal years earlier and was the sole survivor in a horrendous crash with his Seal team. He's now an Air Marshal on assignment in this book for a flight from JFK to Dubai. As you might guess, dangerous things are going to happen on that flight. There will be suspense, good characterization, violence, and unfortunately, some f-words here and there with more happening in the flashbacks. Alex is a very likable character and makes a good hero -- though, of course, with some baggage he needs to work out to find peace of mind in his personal life. This is a good story, but it IS a continuing series and so there are various aspects of the story that are not completely resolved, although the ending IS satisfactory.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to take this one with a leap of faith in all its bravado and yippee-cay-yay mother f*****, posturing!

And I’m 💯% down for all of it!

I just love an action-packed, disaster book, movie, whatever!!
There was a ton of action! ( Die Hard, Armageddon, Independence Day, comes to mind.)

I’m also totally okay with the ‘ USA saves the entire planet, …… world…. you name it! It certainly caused a few eye rolls from me. Took the over-the-top rhetoric with a … yeah yeah… yeah.. ( And a side note, I’m Canadian.)

In this case a jetliner filled with civilians headed to Dubai. One former navy seal, turned air marshal with a partner on the ground. This partner on the ground, was a character I just loved.

It’s a fun romp. I’d give 3.75, rounded up to 4 Stars.

[Richard Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Hawkins is an Ex US Seal and now a US Air Marshall, having 115 flights under his belt he has only had to deal with seven incidents until now. When the plane he is travelling on experiences extreme turbulence when they were in clear air Alex finds someone whose reaction is out of place but he choses to beleive its nothing to worry about.

He then regrets that when people stand up with machine guns saying that they are taking over the plane, Alex needs to work out how he can take control of the plane but there is only one of him and there could be six or nine terrorists onboard. The only good news is it appears they want people alive so that gives him a chance to act.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot of this book is pulled me in, the first chapters were interesting and dare I say believable. However, half way through you do see this story becoming fantastical and not realistic in any sort of way. Alex wasn’t making the best choices, let his emotions get the best of him, and the action scenes felt unrealistic. Pair that with his nosy boss Sarah and his damsel in distress Emma, it just felt like Vin decided to go for Hollywood and less realism. It certainly felt rushed and drawn out in the end and I am not a fan of the epilogue leaving us hanging. I doubt I will read anymore of this series.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story introduces Alex Hawkins and his role as an Air Marshall. Prior to this role, he serves as a SEAL in the US Navy. His current assignment is on a flight to Duabai and what events happened during the flight. You get the impression that you are there with him as his thought process and mehodical planning are displayed to the reader.

Learn how is training in his earlier role prepared him for the steps that he needed to take to overcome the events that happen on this flight. The story is a definite winner and I look forward to reading more stories from this author.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than several typos throughout the book I really enjoyed the storyline. Ex-Navy SEAL turned Air Marshall who is basically a badass on all fronts. I hope this is the kind of Air Marshall on my flight if it’s ever taken by terrorists!

The only part of the book I didn’t enjoy was all the technical jargon about how to land the plane. I understand some of it was necessary but thought there was a bit too much detail.

I have the second book on my list of To Read as I am interested in what happened between him and his brother.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Hawkins

Alex is a guy carrying a lot of baggage from family to military. He lets the baggage control his life. One he can’t do anything about, the other he can in the long run. His air marshal job was suppose to be an easy run, but Iranians take over the plane. He goes into seal Superman to take the plane back. Alex has the making of a good lead with a little work on the action and his character. Some of the action was a little hard to believe. Overall the book was interesting and a decent read. Alex is an easy character to like.

[Ron Golan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Main Story Theme was quite good BUT I found some of the action scenes to be highly unrealistic. The hero manages superhuman feats while being badly injured which is a bit much even for an Ex-SEAL. This spoils the overall reading experience. I notice similar comments from some of the other readers. One of the most irritating issues for me at least was that he referred to his brother Ben as being badly injured but at no point could I find how this happened. If I missed it, could some other reader point me to where I should be looking. I noticed that he referred to his brother in the sequel, again without an explanation. Overall, not a bad read but a good editor could have suggested improvements to make it so much better.

[Officer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am presuming that this is self-published, in which case it’s far better than most! I really enjoyed the storytelling. There’s slightly cheesy dialogue towards the end, and the (few) spelling mistakes would have been picked up in an editorial process, but it’s a good read.
I was encouraged enough to look at others in the series, but was a little put off by the similarity in scenarios. Still, I would recommend this book as a good thriller with an interesting premise, likeable, capable hero and thrilling plottting!

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lone Survivor has a good storyline but lacks credible details

Alex Hawkins has great story ideas. He could be a great author if supported by great technical editors. I cringe when reading about people successfully landing jets without any hands-on training. I almost but not quite bought in given the coaching from the ground. Manual autopilot, or whatever the term was, is an oxyoron. Never-the-less, I finished the book, and that says something positive about the novel. I am a real sucker for true love.

[Susan Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lone Survivor

This is a really good yarn.
One lone air Marshall trying to stop 7 terrorists who have hijacked a plane.
A former SEAL Alex is used to taking out multiple assailants but this time there are innocent civilians in the way. He has to find a way to get back control of the plane before it reaches Iran.
I would have given it 5 stars if the author had properly explained the Ben story. It was too vague.
The book is still a great read.

[Keith Withers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devastating and very scarry action

When Alex Hawkins, ex Navy Seal now a flight Marshall, is forced into action, on board a international flight bound for Dubai, then begins a most frightening series of events, in which he is brought up to face 6 terrorists trying to take over the control of the plane and hold the 300 odd passengers hostage. A story of courage, deliberate strategic thinking and bravery, What ensues is nothing short of breathtaking.

[Marian Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

well worth reading! better than a workout!

yay for vin strong! yay for well-written nail biters! yay for plausible! yay for losing sleep while you read! yay for more of the same! yay for men like Alex Hawkins! and Old Joe! and women like Sarah and Emma! did I yay vin strong yet? well, he deserves two... so do we. I hear there's more of Alex out there. whatta ya wanna bet they won't be free like thus one was?

[Peter Blomquist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excellent plot, complex characters. However, the audiobook version is presented in an AI named Jack that is just HIDEOUS!! It mispronounces words, for example “friends”, pronouncing the “i” in the word. It also totally misreads “BUD/S”, which is a critical aspect of the plot since the main character was U.S. Navy SEAL. These miscues negatively impact the reading and story flow. The book also could have used additional editing, for example, at one point referring to Lake Michigan as an ocean.

[Neal Hogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suspend your disbelief

This is a thriller about a washed up Seal who, almost single handed, defeats the Iranian government. The author has created a hero luckier and more skilled than any previous Hollywood creation. Unfortunately spell check was the only copyeditor. So, the reader must rewrite many passages to make sense of them.

[Kenneth Kozlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love at first sight

Funny title isn't it. I love this book it kept me going This was a story About a air marshal that loved his job And loved what he did throughout his life. But he fell in love For the 1st time. It was the 1st time he saw this flight attendant on the airline he was to save 250 lives. That's all I am going to say. Great read.