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A Raines & Shaw Thriller #1
Fallen Angel
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO REDEEM YOUR PAST?
Kendra Shaw was once a rising star on the counterterrorism circuit. A brilliant operative who specialised in finding, fixing and finishing threats all around the world. But after a harrowing mission goes wrong, the pressure becomes too much for her to take, and she suffers a nervous breakdown.
Now disgraced and suspended from duty, Kendra is sent back home, where she spends months recovering from the trauma. She thinks she is out of the game.
But any peace is short-lived.
One afternoon, on a busy street corner, Kendra spots a familiar face from her past. Ryan Hosseini -- the lover she left behind years ago when she decided to serve her country.
Wrestling with old regrets, she is about to approach him when she realises that he isn’t alone. A surveillance team is hovering close by. Affiliation unknown. Intention unknown. And before Kendra can make sense of the situation, a bomb detonates and rips through the lunchtime crowd. And amidst the fire and rubble, Ryan vanishes.
Now Kendra finds herself on the hunt once more. Searching the city. Determined to uncover the truth. Is Ryan a victim of circumstance? Or is he a home-grown terrorist on the verge of unleashing an even deadlier attack?
Kendra Shaw was once a rising star on the counterterrorism circuit. A brilliant operative who specialised in finding, fixing and finishing threats all around the world. But after a harrowing mission goes wrong, the pressure becomes too much for her to take, and she suffers a nervous breakdown.
Now disgraced and suspended from duty, Kendra is sent back home, where she spends months recovering from the trauma. She thinks she is out of the game.
But any peace is short-lived.
One afternoon, on a busy street corner, Kendra spots a familiar face from her past. Ryan Hosseini -- the lover she left behind years ago when she decided to serve her country.
Wrestling with old regrets, she is about to approach him when she realises that he isn’t alone. A surveillance team is hovering close by. Affiliation unknown. Intention unknown. And before Kendra can make sense of the situation, a bomb detonates and rips through the lunchtime crowd. And amidst the fire and rubble, Ryan vanishes.
Now Kendra finds herself on the hunt once more. Searching the city. Determined to uncover the truth. Is Ryan a victim of circumstance? Or is he a home-grown terrorist on the verge of unleashing an even deadlier attack?
ebook
First published October 11, 2013
About the author
John Ling
11 books37 followersJohn Ling is the author of international thrillers that have appeared on the USA Today and Amazon bestseller lists.
He was born into an ethnic Chinese family and raised as a Christian in Muslim-majority Malaysia. He now lives in New Zealand. His exotic cultural background, straddling East and West, informs his storytelling.
He was born into an ethnic Chinese family and raised as a Christian in Muslim-majority Malaysia. He now lives in New Zealand. His exotic cultural background, straddling East and West, informs his storytelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
July 3, 2016
I was exceedingly pleasantly surprised by Fallen Angel by John Ling. I have to admit to not being a fan of espionage/terrorist thriller books, but I was hooked from the first line 'Auckland isn't Baghdad.'
The action in this book takes place over one day in the life of Kendra Shaw, a once brilliant counter-terrorism operator suffering from PTSD. Out for a walk, she spots a face from her past, a man she once loved but left behind in order to further her career.
He is not alone. Three men are shadowing him. Before Kendra can do anything, a bomb rips through a nearby department store and Ryan vanishes.
Is Ryan a victim of circumstance? Or is he a home-grown terrorist on the verge of unleashing an even deadlier attack? Kendra is determined to uncover the truth.
This is a short but thrilling read.
Thank you to author John ling for a digital copy of Fallen Angel in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The action in this book takes place over one day in the life of Kendra Shaw, a once brilliant counter-terrorism operator suffering from PTSD. Out for a walk, she spots a face from her past, a man she once loved but left behind in order to further her career.
He is not alone. Three men are shadowing him. Before Kendra can do anything, a bomb rips through a nearby department store and Ryan vanishes.
Is Ryan a victim of circumstance? Or is he a home-grown terrorist on the verge of unleashing an even deadlier attack? Kendra is determined to uncover the truth.
This is a short but thrilling read.
Thank you to author John ling for a digital copy of Fallen Angel in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
May 1, 2016
Brilliantly written, Fallen Angel moves non-stop and is the kind of spy story that cries out to be made into a film. As I was reading I kept thinking of the Jason Bourne movies with Matt Damon. I hope the author has sequels in mind because the book is a great setup for a series.
June 3, 2015
Kendra Shaw (former counterterrorism operative) watched in the background as Alpha, Beta & Charlie followed Ryan Hosseini (ex-lover).
KABOOM! The Farmers store was a ball of fire.
Ryan drove off on a motorcycle.
2 of the dead covert operatives were Peter Wong & Justin Cronin.
Leila & Saeed Hosseini (secular Muslims) lived in Remuera (suburb).
A horrible sight awaited Kendra.
6 bodies that had been bound & TV tied were brutally executed. None were the 2 parents.
Kendra met with Jim Braddock & Adam Larsen to give them the current lowdown.
Kendra, Jim & Adam met with Ambassador Ali Hatami (Iran).
Will Leila & Saeed Hosseini be found?
Will Ryan Hosseini be caught & brought to justice?
What about Onyx?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written clandestine operative adventure book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great spy thriller adventure movie, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
KABOOM! The Farmers store was a ball of fire.
Ryan drove off on a motorcycle.
2 of the dead covert operatives were Peter Wong & Justin Cronin.
Leila & Saeed Hosseini (secular Muslims) lived in Remuera (suburb).
A horrible sight awaited Kendra.
6 bodies that had been bound & TV tied were brutally executed. None were the 2 parents.
Kendra met with Jim Braddock & Adam Larsen to give them the current lowdown.
Kendra, Jim & Adam met with Ambassador Ali Hatami (Iran).
Will Leila & Saeed Hosseini be found?
Will Ryan Hosseini be caught & brought to justice?
What about Onyx?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written clandestine operative adventure book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great spy thriller adventure movie, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
March 19, 2019
“Auckland isn’t Baghdad.”
Kendra is one mean black-ops operator. Deadly, instinctive, coolheaded and rational. Her mental struggles, her despair, her attempts to lead a normal life are all blown away, trying to leave behind the memories of dreadful operations in Bagdad, her dangerous past catches on her.
The descriptions of the protagonist in her manouvers are a bit over-detailed, but putting you right in her mind, the way an operative would act, making it realistic and situating you in a heart pounding scenario, along with her. Fast paced and entertaining, I read it in one seat! The story is compelling enough to follow the rest of the series, which I’m definitely going to!
I received an early version of this book from the publisher and my review is entirely voluntary.
Kendra is one mean black-ops operator. Deadly, instinctive, coolheaded and rational. Her mental struggles, her despair, her attempts to lead a normal life are all blown away, trying to leave behind the memories of dreadful operations in Bagdad, her dangerous past catches on her.
The descriptions of the protagonist in her manouvers are a bit over-detailed, but putting you right in her mind, the way an operative would act, making it realistic and situating you in a heart pounding scenario, along with her. Fast paced and entertaining, I read it in one seat! The story is compelling enough to follow the rest of the series, which I’m definitely going to!
I received an early version of this book from the publisher and my review is entirely voluntary.
August 1, 2013
Fallen Angel will reel readers in straight from the beginning with sheer excitement. It's mysterious, suspenseful and will keep one flipping the pages feverishly with anticipation of what could possibly happen next. Ling's novel also poses many questions in the first few chapters which grasps, and holds readers' interest right away. As the plot thickens, you'll find yourself gripping the book so tightly, your knuckles will turn white. Reminiscent to James Patterson's works, the author portrays his writing gift aggressively throughout, and it doesn't quit until the jaw-dropping, astonishing finish.
June 14, 2016
I received this novella as a freebie for joining the author's mailing list. This is an honest review.
I enjoyed this novella, and thought the character of Kendra was well written. Once a superb agent now disgraced and suspended and in therapy she finds herself thrown back in to her old but is all as it seems
I enjoyed this novella, and thought the character of Kendra was well written. Once a superb agent now disgraced and suspended and in therapy she finds herself thrown back in to her old but is all as it seems
March 30, 2019
A Great Spy Mystery
John Ling is a master when it comes to penning espionage thrillers with an international flare, engaging characters, strong dialogue, and astute, tough, methodical, feisty, and hard-hitting women. The backdrop is Auckland, where terrorists and bombing are supposedly nonexistent, but nothing is never what it seems as Kendra Shaw will soon discover when she sees her ex, Ryan Hosseini, being followed by four covert operatives. Each chapter exhibits, through some flashbacks, gripping events, clandestine predicaments, cyber terrorism, secrets and lies, shocking revelations, revenge, and treachery, leaving you eager to see what the next episode has pending. But with so many twists and turns, if you think you know how this storyline will end, you don’t know Kendra Shaw and will have you asking, “How far would you go to save an ex and his parents, who didn’t like you, and your relationship with your ex ended on a sour note?”
John Ling is a master when it comes to penning espionage thrillers with an international flare, engaging characters, strong dialogue, and astute, tough, methodical, feisty, and hard-hitting women. The backdrop is Auckland, where terrorists and bombing are supposedly nonexistent, but nothing is never what it seems as Kendra Shaw will soon discover when she sees her ex, Ryan Hosseini, being followed by four covert operatives. Each chapter exhibits, through some flashbacks, gripping events, clandestine predicaments, cyber terrorism, secrets and lies, shocking revelations, revenge, and treachery, leaving you eager to see what the next episode has pending. But with so many twists and turns, if you think you know how this storyline will end, you don’t know Kendra Shaw and will have you asking, “How far would you go to save an ex and his parents, who didn’t like you, and your relationship with your ex ended on a sour note?”
December 10, 2017
I got this as a e book for my laptop from the author in exchange for a honest review. It is my first book by this author. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. It was a well written book. I hope to read more books by this author.
February 24, 2017
Got from John Ling Newsletter, for a honest review.
The book has action through out the book. Kept me reading on the edge of my seat, hoping nothing would happen to Kendra. I'm not much of a terrorist book reader, but the cover and the details of the book had me wanting to read it. Once you pick it up, you can't put it down. Kept going at some point need to come up for air from all this action. When Kendra met up with Jim, it had just enough time to pull air into your lungs and the action was off and going again. Loved it found another Author to read from. Loved the little happy ending with Kendra and Ryan. Was well written and had a nice steady pace to keep the action going.
Thank you for letting me read your awesome action packed book.
The book has action through out the book. Kept me reading on the edge of my seat, hoping nothing would happen to Kendra. I'm not much of a terrorist book reader, but the cover and the details of the book had me wanting to read it. Once you pick it up, you can't put it down. Kept going at some point need to come up for air from all this action. When Kendra met up with Jim, it had just enough time to pull air into your lungs and the action was off and going again. Loved it found another Author to read from. Loved the little happy ending with Kendra and Ryan. Was well written and had a nice steady pace to keep the action going.
Thank you for letting me read your awesome action packed book.
June 3, 2016
Having read John Ling's previous book, The Blasphemer I knew what to expect for Fallen Angel - a fast-paced, action-pack thriller. From the get go you are introduced to Kendra Shaw who has a lot of emotional baggage and mental anguish from her past. As a former spy she is once again thrown into the field reluctantly when trouble shows up out of nowhere. I didn't understand how a person who is psychologically disturbed could take down assailants easily. She didn't experience any anxiety attacks during combat.
Character development is definitely lacking here as we don't know much about Kendra or even her ex Ryan. Maybe the backstory will be revealed in a sequel or this was a conscious decision from the author. It is however an entertaining read to get lost in - sort of like watching action movies.
Character development is definitely lacking here as we don't know much about Kendra or even her ex Ryan. Maybe the backstory will be revealed in a sequel or this was a conscious decision from the author. It is however an entertaining read to get lost in - sort of like watching action movies.
December 2, 2016
This is a pacy novel reminiscent, in my opinion, of the TV series '24' with Kendra as a female 'Jack Bauer'. This is not a criticism as I adore the series, but I found myself comparing her to Jack as I read the book, and this I loved. The chapters are short and snappy (thankfully not too 'wordy' - one of my pet hates) and I almost expected to see the location/day/time as chapter headings for the reader to work out timelines as there is so much going on. I enjoyed the book and found myself wishing that Kendra could develop further; however, I believe that subsequent books are to be stand-alone stories with other characters and themes. A bit of a shame really as I would have liked to follow Kendra on her return to Sector One or as a vigilante with her 'posse'. Perhaps the author could be persuaded ... ?
November 24, 2016
A ripper thriller!
This is one of those books that are impossible to put down and will have the reader looking to read more. Action packed the story moves at a cracking, spine tingling pace. Enough of the back story is presented to enable the reader to understand the current context of events. The author has certainly done his research – the realistic background of terrorism, organized crime and political conspiracy provides the –“this could really happen”- leaves the reader ready to search for more books by John Ling.
This is one of those books that are impossible to put down and will have the reader looking to read more. Action packed the story moves at a cracking, spine tingling pace. Enough of the back story is presented to enable the reader to understand the current context of events. The author has certainly done his research – the realistic background of terrorism, organized crime and political conspiracy provides the –“this could really happen”- leaves the reader ready to search for more books by John Ling.
May 17, 2015
Fallen Angel is a short, exciting and very readable thriller. Mr. Ling, a young writer, shows great promise and I'm looking forward to reading more of his books in the future.
July 20, 2015
very good
June 28, 2017
Fallen Angel by John Ling is a book I got from an author website through Instafreebie. It is in the genre of one spy-gone-rogue and another retired spy with humane concerns returning from retirement to save the day. In this case, we have Kendra, the retired spy, who has spotted her boyfriend, Ryan, from ten years before engaging in some type of covert activity that does not appear to be officially sanctioned. When Ryan's activities result in an explosion that should have assured his death, Kendra begins an investigation to determine what has been going on.
This book veers off into spy fantasy. It will take a lot of reader suspension of belief to go along with the series of coincidences and situations portrayed in this novel. An interesting part of the reader experience can be to observe the organization of the author in writing this selection. Chapters are divided into topic areas. Certain chapters detail surveillance and counter surveillance methods on the street as operatives move from place to place. Other chapters detail fighting styles as Kendra defeats her opponents. Other chapters detail supposed intelligence organizations gone bad as bureaucrats try to cover up their mistakes. Author Ling ties all of these chapters into a coherent story.
Which is not to say the story is in any way believable. Kendra is not only proficient in a wide variety of weapons, she is able to restock her supply the old-fashioned way, by killing those who have them. She always seems to have the right weapon for the right job no matter that the story moves over widely disparate geographical areas.
There are the chapters and segments that describe a government bureaucracy gone wild in which various elements are quite willing to kill their own in the preservation of secrecy. This is not a recipe for instilling employee loyalty. Such rogue activities would produce organizations which could not survive long over time.
Kendra, our hero and main protagonist, kills people with the same attitude as one ticking items off a shopping list. There are lots of kills and it was a bit difficult for me to keep track of the numbers. I finally gave up. I don't want to meet people like Kendra. The blase acceptance of dealing death to anyone getting in the way is a bit of a stretch.
It seems this story is pitched to an audience of fans of this type of story. Jargon is used and not explained. Reader knowledge is assumed. "Use the edge of her eye to check on her six." (Kindle location 722) refers to Kendra observing dangerous conditions behind her. "Kendra peered under the car, trying to locate the tango," (Kindle location 299) refers to the target (T = tango). Fans can feel superior with their knowledge of insider terms.
I give this a rating of two Amazon stars for being too over-the-top in the casual acceptance of violence and intelligence operations craziness.
This book veers off into spy fantasy. It will take a lot of reader suspension of belief to go along with the series of coincidences and situations portrayed in this novel. An interesting part of the reader experience can be to observe the organization of the author in writing this selection. Chapters are divided into topic areas. Certain chapters detail surveillance and counter surveillance methods on the street as operatives move from place to place. Other chapters detail fighting styles as Kendra defeats her opponents. Other chapters detail supposed intelligence organizations gone bad as bureaucrats try to cover up their mistakes. Author Ling ties all of these chapters into a coherent story.
Which is not to say the story is in any way believable. Kendra is not only proficient in a wide variety of weapons, she is able to restock her supply the old-fashioned way, by killing those who have them. She always seems to have the right weapon for the right job no matter that the story moves over widely disparate geographical areas.
There are the chapters and segments that describe a government bureaucracy gone wild in which various elements are quite willing to kill their own in the preservation of secrecy. This is not a recipe for instilling employee loyalty. Such rogue activities would produce organizations which could not survive long over time.
Kendra, our hero and main protagonist, kills people with the same attitude as one ticking items off a shopping list. There are lots of kills and it was a bit difficult for me to keep track of the numbers. I finally gave up. I don't want to meet people like Kendra. The blase acceptance of dealing death to anyone getting in the way is a bit of a stretch.
It seems this story is pitched to an audience of fans of this type of story. Jargon is used and not explained. Reader knowledge is assumed. "Use the edge of her eye to check on her six." (Kindle location 722) refers to Kendra observing dangerous conditions behind her. "Kendra peered under the car, trying to locate the tango," (Kindle location 299) refers to the target (T = tango). Fans can feel superior with their knowledge of insider terms.
I give this a rating of two Amazon stars for being too over-the-top in the casual acceptance of violence and intelligence operations craziness.
July 1, 2017
Fallen Angel by John Ling
I liked this book very much although the characters were sketchily drawn. Enough for us to get the gist, but that was all. I hope there's more in the series because this one was just too short. the language was great, dialogue natural. On occasions it must've taken some time to find 'Le mot juste' or the exact word to use in the situation. But Mr Ling nailed it.
The story rolled along in an exciting and fast manner, but there wasn't much atmosphere. We didn't feel for Auckland. We didn't get the surroundings of the characters. It seemed that these people were sort of in a tunnel and everything outside the tunnel of the action of the book we weren't told.
I know it's not fair to compare, but I've just finished reading a book by an Australian author and she managed to give not only her characters but the whole ecosystem in which they existed a life. It was very very exciting. You ended up with a big picture, which wasn't quite the same here.
This was an action story. Yes. And the action was good. The characters were enough to get the story moving but they could've been more. One of my pet peeves about action stories is the characters have no substance at all but not with standing my earlier comments these characters were real and I liked them or disliked them as the case maybe. It was OK. I hope John Ling expands his vision in the future. Nonetheless I enjoyed Fallen Angel. Heading off now to read the next story in the John Ling lexicon.
I liked this book very much although the characters were sketchily drawn. Enough for us to get the gist, but that was all. I hope there's more in the series because this one was just too short. the language was great, dialogue natural. On occasions it must've taken some time to find 'Le mot juste' or the exact word to use in the situation. But Mr Ling nailed it.
The story rolled along in an exciting and fast manner, but there wasn't much atmosphere. We didn't feel for Auckland. We didn't get the surroundings of the characters. It seemed that these people were sort of in a tunnel and everything outside the tunnel of the action of the book we weren't told.
I know it's not fair to compare, but I've just finished reading a book by an Australian author and she managed to give not only her characters but the whole ecosystem in which they existed a life. It was very very exciting. You ended up with a big picture, which wasn't quite the same here.
This was an action story. Yes. And the action was good. The characters were enough to get the story moving but they could've been more. One of my pet peeves about action stories is the characters have no substance at all but not with standing my earlier comments these characters were real and I liked them or disliked them as the case maybe. It was OK. I hope John Ling expands his vision in the future. Nonetheless I enjoyed Fallen Angel. Heading off now to read the next story in the John Ling lexicon.
March 10, 2019
Fast-paced Espionage/Terrorism Novel
Kendra Shaw is the "fallen angel." She was a black ops assassin who was involved in an incident in Iraq which resulted in the death of some innocent people.
This plunged her into a dark place of the soul. Her superiors concluded that she could not perform effectively while suffering PTSD and recalled her. She has been sidelined for months and receiving counselling.
Gradually recovering but still subject to panic attacks, she is having coffee in downtown Auckland one afternoon when she suddenly glimpses a figure from her past walk by. She and Ryan Hosseini had been lovers but she said goodbye to him when she became an assassin. She rushes out to speak to him but notices that he seems to be under surveillance by a three-person team. She hangs back but tries tries to figure out why they are following him.
Shortly after Ryan enters Farmers department store followed by one of his watchers. Moments later there is a loud explosion resulting in the destruction of the building and customers. Kendra is horrified. Was Ryan the architect of the bombing or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
She retrieves car keys from one of the other dead watchers, locates their car and heads for Ryan's home to question him. What she finds there heightens her concerns- all of the servants are dead (executed) and the parents are missing.
There is an Iranian terrorist cell in town. With the assistance of her retired mentor Kendra sets out to find Ryan and unravel the mystery.
This is a fast-paced well-written novel. I look forward to reading the others in Ling's Raine and Shaw series.
Kendra Shaw is the "fallen angel." She was a black ops assassin who was involved in an incident in Iraq which resulted in the death of some innocent people.
This plunged her into a dark place of the soul. Her superiors concluded that she could not perform effectively while suffering PTSD and recalled her. She has been sidelined for months and receiving counselling.
Gradually recovering but still subject to panic attacks, she is having coffee in downtown Auckland one afternoon when she suddenly glimpses a figure from her past walk by. She and Ryan Hosseini had been lovers but she said goodbye to him when she became an assassin. She rushes out to speak to him but notices that he seems to be under surveillance by a three-person team. She hangs back but tries tries to figure out why they are following him.
Shortly after Ryan enters Farmers department store followed by one of his watchers. Moments later there is a loud explosion resulting in the destruction of the building and customers. Kendra is horrified. Was Ryan the architect of the bombing or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
She retrieves car keys from one of the other dead watchers, locates their car and heads for Ryan's home to question him. What she finds there heightens her concerns- all of the servants are dead (executed) and the parents are missing.
There is an Iranian terrorist cell in town. With the assistance of her retired mentor Kendra sets out to find Ryan and unravel the mystery.
This is a fast-paced well-written novel. I look forward to reading the others in Ling's Raine and Shaw series.
March 15, 2019
Thrilling terrorist action set in lovely, peaceful New Zealand. Not the first place one thinks of for spies, but governments the world round find need for covert agents.
Kendra Shaw was one of the best. Until an op went terribly wrong and civilians were killed. Unable to bear the guilt, she’s back home, out of the game. Now Kendra just wants to find what life she can build after giving her years to the government without question.
On a downtown street, Kendra spots Ryan, the man she loved and left behind heartbroken, when she entered the service. Kendra tries to catch up, at least to clear the air, but then she sees that she is not the only one on Ryan’s trail. He is being followed by a team of operatives.
Kendra hangs back to observe, but when the building Ryan enters blows up shortly after, and she sees Ryan fleeing the scene on a motorcycle, apparently unharmed, she will have some hard decisions to make.
Kendra can’t believe that Ryan could have changed so drastically as to become a terrorist, but if she is going to find the truth, she need to find him before the government does. Can she face bringing down the man she still loves if things turn bad? Will she be able to save him if he’s innocent?
I was gifted the boxset containing this novel and am voluntairly leaving a review.
Kendra Shaw was one of the best. Until an op went terribly wrong and civilians were killed. Unable to bear the guilt, she’s back home, out of the game. Now Kendra just wants to find what life she can build after giving her years to the government without question.
On a downtown street, Kendra spots Ryan, the man she loved and left behind heartbroken, when she entered the service. Kendra tries to catch up, at least to clear the air, but then she sees that she is not the only one on Ryan’s trail. He is being followed by a team of operatives.
Kendra hangs back to observe, but when the building Ryan enters blows up shortly after, and she sees Ryan fleeing the scene on a motorcycle, apparently unharmed, she will have some hard decisions to make.
Kendra can’t believe that Ryan could have changed so drastically as to become a terrorist, but if she is going to find the truth, she need to find him before the government does. Can she face bringing down the man she still loves if things turn bad? Will she be able to save him if he’s innocent?
I was gifted the boxset containing this novel and am voluntairly leaving a review.
February 8, 2018
Kendra Shaw is an ex operative for a counter terrorism group called Section 1. She’s put on hiatus when the stresses of her job begin to show up in negative ways and she has to undergo treatment for PTSD. On the street one afternoon, she spots her ex boyfriend Ryan Hosseini. But before she can call out to greet him she notices that he’s being followed. A classic formation- every agent knows this by heart. Rather than alert him, she chooses to watch for a few minutes to see if she can figure out what is going on. Is Ryan aware he is being followed? Is he on the good side or the bad side? Before she can figure it out, there’s an explosion and everything turns upside down. The tails are dead and Ryan is nowhere to be found. Did he orchestrate the whole thing? Kendra is going through all kinds of fears, wondering if Ryan has been killed, or he is now a double agent, has someone taken him against his will? The more she gets involved, the less sense the whole thing makes. This book is one of those page turners that’s hard to put down- don’t read if you need to be up early the next morning!
November 3, 2025
I got a copy of this thanks to the author, John Ling. This novella is a prequel and sidequel to his novel, The Blasphemer (which was excellent). This tale involves Kendra Shaw, recently returned from fighting in Baghdad and she is struggling to adjust to normal life. Feeling she has finally gotten kind of a grip on the situation she sees her ex-lover walking along the street. She left him 10 years ago to serve her country. She wants to run up to him but decides to let things be. Then she notices three black ops hovering nearby. Affiliation unknown. Intentions unknown. So she follows and the results are a rip roaring spin through Auckland, a lot of gunshots and a plot fit to today’s world.
John Ling again succeeds in driving a thrilling tale at breakneck speed. One quibble (but not a biggie as it is only used twice) is the word “that” being used following Roger i.e. “Roger that.” Having worked for airport security at the Airport and trained by an ex-army officer, he informed us ‘newbies’ to never use that after roger. “Copy that” is perfectly fine.
Pick this up at Amazon, you won’t be disappointed. Then get The Blasphemer
John Ling again succeeds in driving a thrilling tale at breakneck speed. One quibble (but not a biggie as it is only used twice) is the word “that” being used following Roger i.e. “Roger that.” Having worked for airport security at the Airport and trained by an ex-army officer, he informed us ‘newbies’ to never use that after roger. “Copy that” is perfectly fine.
Pick this up at Amazon, you won’t be disappointed. Then get The Blasphemer
January 16, 2018
The Angel is Redeemed
(Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of the book and decided to provide my honest review, which I have.) Fallen Angel by John Ling is a short action-adventure mystery. The book starts off with the protagonist, an agent attempting re-integration from a 10-year Baghdad assignment, confronted with a terrorist conspiracy. It immediately becomes troubling for her because it may or may not involve her old boyfriend. From that point on, because of her actions and unbeknownst to her she is followed, shot at and driven deeper into the conspiracy of her old boyfriend and his involvement with terrorists. While there is a lot of action/adventure, mystery and crime solving, the plot is thin, not complicated, and does not require me, as the reader, to engage in any part of the book. My RECOMMENDATION: If you want a read that is non-stop Action-Adventure and a Mystery Crime Investigation Thriller that requires no reader engagement then Fallen Angel is the book for you. –Tex.
(Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of the book and decided to provide my honest review, which I have.) Fallen Angel by John Ling is a short action-adventure mystery. The book starts off with the protagonist, an agent attempting re-integration from a 10-year Baghdad assignment, confronted with a terrorist conspiracy. It immediately becomes troubling for her because it may or may not involve her old boyfriend. From that point on, because of her actions and unbeknownst to her she is followed, shot at and driven deeper into the conspiracy of her old boyfriend and his involvement with terrorists. While there is a lot of action/adventure, mystery and crime solving, the plot is thin, not complicated, and does not require me, as the reader, to engage in any part of the book. My RECOMMENDATION: If you want a read that is non-stop Action-Adventure and a Mystery Crime Investigation Thriller that requires no reader engagement then Fallen Angel is the book for you. –Tex.
August 20, 2019
A very fine first novel, a fun and gripping read, with a roller coaster ride from down-in-the-dumps to pie-in-the-sky, and a storybook ending.
"Fallen Angel" by John Ling seems to be his first published work. If so, it is an amazing accomplishment.
The story is of a woman is emotionally damaged—and perhaps a bit mentally as well; as you read you might get clues that will settle the notion—who is determined to change her life and escape the horrors associated with being a counter-terrorist agent.
Immediately she is confronted with a surprise observation of an alienated lover, and is torn between an aversion to any contact with him and a terrible conviction that a team of terrorists is tracking him with the intention of killing him.
Thus begins a yarn of intrigue and suspense, cobbling an unlikely (but likeable) team of good guys who aren't very nice to bad guys, with enough murder an mayhem to satisfy all about the most jaded reader.
"Fallen Angel" by John Ling seems to be his first published work. If so, it is an amazing accomplishment.
The story is of a woman is emotionally damaged—and perhaps a bit mentally as well; as you read you might get clues that will settle the notion—who is determined to change her life and escape the horrors associated with being a counter-terrorist agent.
Immediately she is confronted with a surprise observation of an alienated lover, and is torn between an aversion to any contact with him and a terrible conviction that a team of terrorists is tracking him with the intention of killing him.
Thus begins a yarn of intrigue and suspense, cobbling an unlikely (but likeable) team of good guys who aren't very nice to bad guys, with enough murder an mayhem to satisfy all about the most jaded reader.
September 16, 2022
A free ebook provided by the author.
I had this book for some time now, but only recently decided to dust it off. I also happen to see Ling's Author and Financial newsletters. This book shares the same writing style as his newsletters. I can appreciate how knowledgeable Ling is about his global view of real world events.
This tale is very focused on the Raines character. And she is a badass. You don't want to be on the wrong side of her. She will not hesitate to take action. It is all reflex and instinct. It was an exciting ride. I will have to read more to get a feel for the Shaw character and to watch their interactions grow.
Side note concerning one of the action scenes. An EMP device is used as part of the breaching of the warehouse. I assume that is also where the computers are located. It is not relevant to the story, but there should have been more concern by the villains that their computers have now been fried.
This was a GoodReads. I should read more of Ling's work.
I had this book for some time now, but only recently decided to dust it off. I also happen to see Ling's Author and Financial newsletters. This book shares the same writing style as his newsletters. I can appreciate how knowledgeable Ling is about his global view of real world events.
This tale is very focused on the Raines character. And she is a badass. You don't want to be on the wrong side of her. She will not hesitate to take action. It is all reflex and instinct. It was an exciting ride. I will have to read more to get a feel for the Shaw character and to watch their interactions grow.
Side note concerning one of the action scenes. An EMP device is used as part of the breaching of the warehouse. I assume that is also where the computers are located. It is not relevant to the story, but there should have been more concern by the villains that their computers have now been fried.
This was a GoodReads. I should read more of Ling's work.
March 18, 2019
What a great read Fallen Angel by John Ling turned out to be! Kendra, main female lead character more than makes up for her past in this one. NO spoilers, you owe it to yourself to read this book and find out how she gets her wings back. John Ling is an accomplished Author with a very bright future, just like Kendra in the book. From front cover to back cover, the reader is locked into a great story line, and GLAD to be there. I always find myself hating for the books John Ling writes to end and this one was the same way for me. Elicits nice emotions and tense ones as well as Kendra sets about her job to complete some mission, and she does those completions really really well. I loved how the characters interacted in Fallen Angel as well. Just all in all a great and thrilling read ride! I HIGHLY recommend this book. Keep ‘em coming Mr. Ling!! I can’t wait for the next one.
March 28, 2019
Short story
This is a short book with a plot that echoes some terror incidents around the world. It’s based in New Zealand with a strong female lead Kendra, who notices a surveillance team around an old flame of hers, Adam. She follows and gets involved in a conspiracy that could have far reaching implications around the world.
It’s written in an engaging style and it’s characters have promise, I just felt the many short chapters echoed the short story and wasn’t developed enough. I wanted much more detail and to get deeper into all the characters and their motivations. The story ends just over seventy percent through the book with a generous sample of the next in series.
This is a short book with a plot that echoes some terror incidents around the world. It’s based in New Zealand with a strong female lead Kendra, who notices a surveillance team around an old flame of hers, Adam. She follows and gets involved in a conspiracy that could have far reaching implications around the world.
It’s written in an engaging style and it’s characters have promise, I just felt the many short chapters echoed the short story and wasn’t developed enough. I wanted much more detail and to get deeper into all the characters and their motivations. The story ends just over seventy percent through the book with a generous sample of the next in series.
March 5, 2019
This is the 1st of a 4book series and this is more to my liking. An agent that has fallen from grace, damaged and is suspended from duty until the foreseeable future. On one of her afternoon strolls she sees an operative one that she had an affair with and still has feelings for, then a bomb explosion and he disappears but what Kendra finds out that he was not alone others were shadowing him. Were they good/bad Kendra has certainly got to find out? The story is well written the characters with history behind them, planned and executed, not overly long but about right there is nothing worse than reading a load of drivel that doesn't mean anything.
September 26, 2019
It seemed your typical terrorist story. It was very quick paced, in the sense that it felt the characters never really had to struggle to determine and investigate what was going on. It felt as if they magically uncovered the answers as to who was doing what and why rather quickly. It could have been a much better story if the author had taken time to develop the plot and add some more barriers for the characters to overcome. The ending also had me feeling very unsatisfied and didn't feel realistic. Once again, everything magically worked out. Real life doesn't work that way. Yes, there may be happy endings eventually, but where's the awkward moments or struggle for reconciliation?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2019
Fallen Angel (A Raines & Shaw Thriller Book 1) by John Ling Fallen Angel (A Raines & Shaw Thriller Book 1) by John Ling is an unconventional love story. I gave it four stars.
I received a complimentary copy from the author in a goodreads promotion. That did not change my opinion for this review.
"Now disgraced, Kendra becomes a ‘fallen angel’ — an operative considered too damaged to stay on the front lines. She is suspended from duty and sent back home."
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Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Angel-R...
I received a complimentary copy from the author in a goodreads promotion. That did not change my opinion for this review.
"Now disgraced, Kendra becomes a ‘fallen angel’ — an operative considered too damaged to stay on the front lines. She is suspended from duty and sent back home."
hh
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Angel-R...
December 26, 2019
Fallen Angel (A Raines & Shaw Thriller Book 1) by John Ling is an unconventional love story. I gave it four stars.
I received a complimentary copy from the author in a goodreads promotion. That did not change my opinion for this review.
"Now disgraced, Kendra becomes a ‘fallen angel’ — an operative considered too damaged to stay on the front lines. She is suspended from duty and sent back home."
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Angel-R...
I received a complimentary copy from the author in a goodreads promotion. That did not change my opinion for this review.
"Now disgraced, Kendra becomes a ‘fallen angel’ — an operative considered too damaged to stay on the front lines. She is suspended from duty and sent back home."
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Angel-R...
February 23, 2019
Kendra Shaw is a block op assassin. After an emotional break down because innocent people were killed during an op in Iraq. She has a breakdown from guilt. She sees her ex boy friend Ryan looking like he was involved in a store bombing. She goes to Ryan's parents house and sees things are not the way his parents would keep their property. She then realizes why Ryan was involved with the bombing. There is a lot of action in this thriller, so much it is difficult to stop reading.
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