Hard Sun

Jon Reznick #15

by J.B. Turner

One sniper. One plan. Zero margin for error.

Jon Reznick doesn’t trust the CIA—but when operative Daniel Black shows up near his home in Maine, he listens. A high-value target has been taken out by a sniper in Mallorca. The kill was clean. Professional. And just the beginning.

Reznick is sent in under deep cover to hunt for the assassin and retrieve a cache of Cold War–era surveillance tapes—evidence so explosive it could bring down presidents. As bodies begin to fall and the sniper’s true mission comes into focus, Reznick realizes the stakes are far higher than anyone imagined.

Because this isn’t just a hit. It’s the opening move in something far more devastating—and time is running out to stop it.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Suspense

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2025

About the author

J.B. Turner is the bestselling author of the Jon Reznick thriller series. His next book, HARD SHADOWS (Thomas and Mercer), is published on 30 June 2026. He is a former journalist. His books have sold more than three million copies. He also wrote the American Ghost black-ops series and the Deborah Jones crime series. He has a keen interest in geo-politics. And he loves music. Everything from Beethoven to The Beatles, The Cure to Bach. And everything in between. He loves films. Well, good ones. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Heat, The Godfather, The Offence, The Parallax View, Silver Linings Playbook, The Banshees of Inisherin, The Gray Man, The French Connection, Payback, It’s a Wonderful Life, Manhattan, Sideways, Annie Hall, Hell or High Water. TV shows he has enjoyed include: The Terminal List, The Kominsky Method, The Morning Show, Succession, Call My Agent!, Your Honor, The Undoing, Patrick Melrose, Colony, Bloodline, Mare of Easttown, Dead to Me, Fleishman is in Trouble, The Mosquito Coast and After Life. He lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is married with two children.

Literary Agent: Mitch Hoffman, The Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency, New York.

Film/TV: Rich Green, The Gotham Group, Los Angeles.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 5 out of 5]

National security, assassinations, and covert operations are combined in Hard Sun, the fifteenth book in the Jon Reznick series by J. B. Turner. This action-packed political thriller mainly takes place in Mallorca, a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea. Daniel Black, with the Central Intelligence Agency, contacts Reznick. They want him to take on an ultra-high-risk mission where the United States has plausible deniability. A high-value target, has been assassinated by a sniper in Mallorca on a military base. It was clean and professional, and this is just the beginning. Reznick is sent in to hunt for and eliminate the assassin as well as retrieve surveillance tapes, photos, and audio recordings from the 1960’s and later. But the sniper isn’t done yet. More is to come.

Reznick is a former military and a former covert operative who still does occasional work for the American alphabet agencies. He’s an excellent shot, highly intelligent, fearless, and tough. He’s a straight-talker, capable, patient, resourceful, methodical, resilient, self-motivated, doesn’t easily share feelings, and can be a deadly killer.

With high stakes, time constraints, and very little in the way of intelligence on the killer or his next target, Reznick joins forces with the remote technical expertise of Trevelle Williams who has advanced cyber security and hacking skills. The story has great pacing, a twisty and absorbing plot, and plenty of exciting scenes. It also shows Reznick’s approach to an investigation and readers get a good feeling for his character. The dynamic plot came alive with the amount of conflict that he faced. Once again, the world-building was first-rate and allowed this reader to easily visualize what was happening and where it was happening. However, it is brutal at times, especially the torture scene. While most of the story is from Reznick’s point of view, readers do get the occasional insight into the antagonist.

Overall, this high-octane thriller was intriguing, entertaining, thought-provoking, and a powerful page-turner from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book in the series. There’s never a dull moment in this series.

Amazon Publishing UK – Thomas and Mercer and J.B. Turner provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for December 16, 2025.
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My 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars ⭐️

This is the 15th book in this series and has Jon Reznick being roped in by the CIA with a case to find out who is behind some unusual deaths in Mallorca, Spain that has them stumped. It seems that there are some very dangerous recordings that have made an appearance and the powers that be have determined that the recordings need to be recovered and kept "safe". The problem is that other people are involved in the hunt for the recordings and people are being killed. Reznick does what he does best from the very beginning and the storyline is filled with non stop action.

I listened to an audio ARC of this book that was narrated by Jeffrey Kafer. The actual story itself was a fairly easy to listen to, enjoyable story. I think that I have read a couple of books in this series in the past, and the narrator seems to be the voice of the series. He did a fine job with his narration, delivering the story in a deep even tone that added to the overall enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this Audio ARC. This book will be out for publication on December 16, 2025.

[LianaReads blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Sun is a fast paced, action heavy thriller that delivers exactly what fans of Jon Reznick love: danger, tension, and nonstop momentum. The story follows Reznick as he’s pulled into a high risk mission tied to political secrets, Cold War surveillance tapes, and a skilled assassin leaving bodies behind in Mallorca. Even with very little intel, Reznick works methodically, relying on his sharp instincts and experience to track down the killer before the situation escalates even further.
The setting adds great atmosphere, and the pacing keeps the tension high from start to finish. There are definitely some brutal moments, but they fit the intensity of the storyline. I enjoyed the blend of mystery, action, and political intrigue, and Reznick continues to be a tough, capable, no nonsense lead.
This is a gripping, high energy read that thriller fans will enjoy, fast, intense, and easy to get lost in a great read.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reznick is one of my favorite book characters. He's done a lot of jobs for his country and they're asking again for the seemingly impossible this time. But with his trusty partner Travelle they might just get it and more done in this one.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carole Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

When an issue needs to be fixed, he gets the call

When a man is taken out by a sniper's bullet in Mallorca, it is of concern to a great many people...and governments. The dead man was not well-liked, as he was a living reminder of a painful time in Spanish history, but it was rumored he possessed a huge cache of tapes capturing high level people saying things over the years that would be at best highly embarrassing if they were to be publicly released. The CIA approaches Jon Reznick, a highly effective if unorthodox (and deniable) operative to find out who the sniper was, where the tapes (if they actually exist) are now and destroy them. Reznick wants to refuse; after all, his specialty is tracking down known targets, not discovering who or what the target might be. In the end he is persuaded to undertake the mission given the chaos the released tapes could cause, and it soon broadens in scope as more fall victim to the sniper. Can he discover why these targets have been eliminated and by whom before whoever is behind the campaign can release damning evidence that might topple governments?
Hard Sun is the 15h in author J. B. Turner's series featuring Jon Reznick, and is another fast-paced tale of espionage, action and conspiracy. Reznick is a no-nonsense tough guy protagonist who works in the moral gray areas of high stakes international intrigue. The plot is credible and moves quickly, with an escalating sense of tension pushing the reader to keep turning pages. Fans of the series as well as those who enjoy thrillers featuring protagonists who are the tip of the spear against the forces of evil in the world, stories that blend political intrigue and the world of cloak and dagger should give the series a try. Fans of Vince Flynn, Jack Carr and Brad Thor, take note. My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for allowing me access to this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I am a cozy mystery fan at heart but sometimes I want something with a bit more punch and Jon Reznick certainly delivers that with this thriller. The story mostly follows Reznick as he tries to work out who is behind the death of a high value target and retrieve the Intel he has hidden away. Of course it's not as simple as finding the killer, he also has to work out who he is and how he made the shot in the first place, all while staying under cover in a foreign country. Occasionally you also get the perspective of some of the other characters as they to help or hinder him. This works well for the story as you get both sides of the story and it helps to build up the tension in real time. Looking forward to the next book.

Jon Reznick might have retired but when he is asked for help in finding a sniper and retrieving the Intel he hide before his death, Jon is on the first plans to Mallorca. With no intel or chatter from other agencies about the killing Jon is on his own. Can he unmask the shooter? When another body is discovered Jon fears this is just the build up for the main event. An event that will rock the world unless he can stop it and that means not blowing his cover.

I like the narrator. He is the reason I started listening to the series in the first place because I have heard him read a number of books and he is always entertaining. Now I know when this author and narrator team up I am in for a roller coaster ride of a book.I
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

This story begins with the assassination of a retired Spanish Investigator on Mallorca. John receives a visit from Daniel Black, a CIA operator who has worked with Jon, to discover who the killer was in addition to finding a trove of data that the dead person had. Jon agrees and travels to Mallorca where he begins his search. With little information, Jon 1st step is to try and locate the site where the shot was taken. John eventually discovers the location and does a search and comes up empty. He then goes back during the daylight and does a more detailed search. He finds an item and through this discovery, he gets a name and now knows who the killer is. Shortly thereafter another politician is killed and Jon is able to find a connection between the two murders.

Jon meanwhile is visited by a group of Spanish Investigators who want to know what he is doing there. Eventually Jon is brought in for interrogation where he is tortured. Jon believes that the killer is not done yet and is still around and dangerous.

Read along and follow Jon as he chases the killer. Discover what other task the killer has to perform and how it all worked out in the end. This is another great story and well worth the read!

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Hard Sun” is the 15th entry in the Jon Reznick series by J.B. Turner and my introduction to this character and series.

The action is hot and heavy in this thriller and really never lets up from beginning to right near the very end. One thing I appreciated in this novel was how easy it was to pick up and not feel lost. It’s very easy to become and new fan of this series.

The writing was excellent. There was not the absurdity and unbelievable side that is seen in so many thrillers today. Jeffrey Kafer added a lot to the novel with his narration. Excellent job on his part.

There was one thing that actually struck me as funny. I am one that doesn’t get when writers bring politics (on all sides) into their novels. People read to escape reality. And as someone who is hoping to sell their books, you would think that they would not want to alienate any potential readers. But what was funny was when the character, Jon Reznick, actually complained about someone getting political.

Good, solid read. Check it out.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* Excellent, but flipping brutal.

Reading my only previous book by this author, in this series, it felt like one aimed at a male readership when I read the blurb, but goodness, was it easy to get into without any infodump or mansplaining. Therefore, when I saw this new one, I jumped at the chance to grab it.

It's brutal. It starts brutally and Jon has a really tough time with the very little info there is to go on - thank goodness for the mantra drilled into him during his training that gives him the first, throwaway clue. The it begins to get physical. That he came through what was basically torture, confirmed to the people torturing him, who weren't necessarily bad guys, that he'd training. It blew his cover that was pretty much already blown, beyond any doubt. I was surprised he wasn't extracted at that point.

Jon is dogged, patient, a patriot. The baddie also felt that they were a patriot, and the author made them realistically, if sadly, believable, based on how the West has treated allies in countries it has gone to war with. I liked that there wasn't fanaticism, that there weren't utterances of death threats or fatwas, merely a person choosing a side, living for that side, ready to die for that side.

The SS agents in this, though, felt like caricatures. I've read several tales with SS agents and it seems as if they're anal in going about their duties. Not here. Not sure how so many could've ended up where they did, or how professional brains didn't engage, even if their personal ones had $$ signs.

Anyway, it ends well, with Jon battered, bruised but ready for his next mission.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my reading pleasure.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first JB Turner novel and I am loving all the action. This book delivers it all action, national security, assassinations and so much more.

Jon Reznick doesn’t trust the CIA—but when operative Daniel Black shows up near his home in Maine, he listens. A high-value target has been taken out by a sniper in Mallorca. The kill was clean. Professional. And just the beginning.

Reznick is sent in under deep cover to hunt for the assassin and retrieve a cache of Cold War–era surveillance tapes—evidence so explosive it could bring down presidents. As bodies begin to fall and the sniper’s true mission comes into focus, Reznick realizes the stakes are far higher than anyone imagined.

Because this isn’t just a hit. It’s the opening move in something far more devastating—and time is running out to stop it.

[Scott Lovelace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Jon Reznick book, it will not be my last. This was a very enjoyable fast paced international thriller. Jon is an extremely capable operative. The action is extremely intense and no holds barred. Set primarily on the picturesque island of Majorca. Jon accepts an assignment and he is relentless until he achieves his goal. This was an incredible story with believable characters. Highly recommended. I read this as a stand-alone even though its book fifteen in the series.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting how Jon got pulled into this one, all that he found out from an odd clue and the hard knocks he took while figuring things out. I liked the friends he made along the way, loved how he ripped apart those that should have known better and of course how he stopped the "bad" thing from happening. The phone call at the end was interesting and it surprised me how much it seemed to mean for Jon. Someone really saw the work he has done and appreciates it.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found t his latest book by the author intriguing and very interesting.
Reznick thoughts before this were of a vacation. before taking this assignment.
Muroz had hours of recordings, people in Europe and US were on these, but where were they. I found this plot flowed and kept me reading to the end.
I recommend this book as well as the series. Given arc Amazon UK and Thomas & Mercer.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to have Jon back! I never know the specifics of his adventure, but I know I’ll always be rewarded by the end of the story. This one did it again as Jon puts his mad skills to work in another thrill ride. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.B. Turner gives us another thrill ride with Hard Sun. The investigation is interesting. It takes a bit before Reznick is drowning in action, but the ride is fun. I love this series and I’m going to keep coming back because I need to know what Reznick is doing next.😆

“Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Black of the CIA asks Jon Resnick to go to Mallorca to find out what's going on. Someone has remotely shot the former prime minister of spain on the naval base and he thinks there is more going on. The US President is due to come to mallorca and Black wants to be sure he will be safe. He finds out that the shooter was a man that dissappeared near the end of the Iran war, Frederick Hicks, but the man is very good at hiding. Somehow Resnik's cover is blown, and they torture him. Resnick manages to get himself back to his hotel. However, he finds out the President is on the yacht, and Resnick can't find Hicks. The book becomes very exciting!

I thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

[Neville Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

An assassin operating in Mallorca and John Reznick is tasked to find him with no clues. An action packed thriller that you come to expect from J B Turner. I really enjoy these novels and this book is no exception. Fast paced with a few twists and well drawn chracters. Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for this review ARC.

[Jim Cerone The Perfect Host DJ MC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elaborate Set Up

Amazing that author Turner has already written 15 books featuring Jon Reznick. In any series, there will be hills and valleys. This one starts on a hill but ends in a valley. The set up was elaborate and compelling. But the story faltered at Chapter 33, almost like Turner didn’t know where to go next.

[Kerry Peebles · Rating 5 out of 5]

hard sun - great fast paced read, unable to put down

Book 15 and thankfully still coming. Fast paced as ever, never faulter, unable to put the book down. Another great tribute to the Reznick thrillers. Without spoiling once you get into the Reznick thrillers you will be calling for the next. Keep them coming J.B keep them coming.

[Gale Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Once Again!

JB Turner never disappoints when Jon Reznick is involved! I could listen to Reznick stories day after day for weeks at a time if there were that many to read/ listen to! The narrator Jeffery Kafer does an amazing job! I couldn't ask for more when it comes to a book! Thanks, JB Turner!

[T Olsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that's easy to read, interesting, and with a setting I love. It's also entertaining, but unfortunately only if you shut off your brain. The main character does some incredibly stupid things, and I don't see the point of having a main character do things that no sane person would do.

[Lawrence H Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you J.B.Turner

Hard Sun is your best novel to date. I couldn’t put it down. It’s 6:11am. And I need sleep. Now that I finishe Hard Sun, Jon Resnick and I can rest !!!
Until your next novel!!
Thanks J.B.

Dr C 🎉🎊🎉🎊🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾😊

[Antoinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received a ARC and I have really enjoyed this book. The storyline was easy to follow and I was hooked from the start. I really like the MMC he doesn't take any nonsense from anyone. I will definitely recommend the book if you loved the previous books in this series.

[michael hussey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reznick Never Disappoints

From the first chapter it’s just great Jon Reznick at his best helping our country and killing a lot of bad guys along the way. Enjoy this book and hopefully it’s not over.

[Elaine Timperley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible storytelling

As always, J B Turner keeps up the suspense, twists an turns to keep you glued till the last word.

[dennys1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Story

This book is as good a story as one would want to read. The main character Jon Reznick is such an interesting character. I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was hard to read because of how hard it was on Jon Reznick. Good thing he's a survivor! I rate it 5 stars.

[Martin Southard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard Sun is another gripping entry in J.B. Turner’s long-running Jon Reznick series, delivering exactly the sort of taut, high-stakes action thriller fans have come to expect. The plot moves at a brisk pace, with sharp bursts of action and enough political intrigue to keep the pages turning.

Dark in places and never short of energy, Hard Sun is a punchy, addictive thriller that shows Turner still knows exactly how to deliver a satisfying, high-octane read.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for this advanced copy