What do you think?
Rate this book
Blunt Force
Elite kill teams have been unleashed. Only the Trigger Man stands in their way.
A team of investigative journalists have published the Luxembourg Papers, a cache of leaked documents exposing the dirty secrets of the world’s most corrupt governments.
Knowing there is yet more data to be released, Syrian and Russian intelligence agencies are racing to find and eliminate the reporters. Their combined kill teams target anyone who even comes close to accessing the stolen secrets.
Top CIA operative, Mark Pierce – code name Trigger Man - and his unit are tasked with protecting the journalists and recovering the rest of the data.
From the luxury villas of Spain to the tax havens of Luxembourg, and on to a deadly pursuit across Iceland’s arctic wilderness, Pierce battles elite assassins as he fights to complete his mission.
But someone closer to home has their own reasons for making sure the remaining documents never see the light of day. And they may turn out to be the most dangerous enemy of all…
Blunt Force – the sixth in the stunning Trigger Man action thriller series. Perfect for fans of Mark Greaney, Mark Dawson and Gregg Hurwitz.
A team of investigative journalists have published the Luxembourg Papers, a cache of leaked documents exposing the dirty secrets of the world’s most corrupt governments.
Knowing there is yet more data to be released, Syrian and Russian intelligence agencies are racing to find and eliminate the reporters. Their combined kill teams target anyone who even comes close to accessing the stolen secrets.
Top CIA operative, Mark Pierce – code name Trigger Man - and his unit are tasked with protecting the journalists and recovering the rest of the data.
From the luxury villas of Spain to the tax havens of Luxembourg, and on to a deadly pursuit across Iceland’s arctic wilderness, Pierce battles elite assassins as he fights to complete his mission.
But someone closer to home has their own reasons for making sure the remaining documents never see the light of day. And they may turn out to be the most dangerous enemy of all…
Blunt Force – the sixth in the stunning Trigger Man action thriller series. Perfect for fans of Mark Greaney, Mark Dawson and Gregg Hurwitz.
435 pages, ebook
Published June 15, 2025
458 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Aiden Bailey
20 books83 followersAiden Bailey is an international bestselling thriller author from Australia. Formerly an engineer, he built a career marketing multi-national technology, engineering, and construction companies. His various roles have included corporate communications with the Australian Submarine Corporation, technical writing for several defence contractors, engineering on an outback petroleum pipeline, a magazine editor and art director, and engineering proposal writer for the Royal Australian Air Force’s surveillance and intelligence gathering aircraft and drone enabling works. Aiden has travelled widely in six continents and his experiences are the basis of many of his stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 30, 2025
If you like good thrillers and some wonderful twists combined with some great action all told in a fast paced way? Then you should look into this series about the Trigger Man by Aiden Bailey. Blunt Force is the sixth adventure with Mark Pierce and his friends and foes. I found the story good and the characters great, I also really liked that we get to know a little more about the Trigger Mans past, but not too much. I found this author through social media and a couple of thriller fans there. I am really glad I tried the first book and I am now addicted to this series. I really recommend it and thank Inkubator Books and Netgalley for supplying me with this advance copy.
June 16, 2025
Even if you haven’t read the previous five books in the Trigger Man series, Blunt Force is so superior that it leans into creating its own genre!
Aiden Bailey gives you first-time readers a fantastic stand-alone book (you won’t be able to put down). And then for us fans, Bailey returns early series characters and reunites them with Trigger Man.
You will fly and drive to and safe houses that became compromised; you’ll run with the Americans and the Russians over very recent Icelandic volcanic activity as their boots start melting. You’ll hunker behind huge and crumbling glaciers and crevasses for the explosive firefights Trigger Man and Ronan barely win over Russian Zaslon members in twisting, winding and crumbling ice caverns. You’ll sit with Trigger Man in bombed our village structures as he attempts rescue of siblings with highly sought after secrets in war-torn Syria.
Mark Pierce is at his best fighting for good people, and he is the only one willing and able to rescue a captured sister and brother from the clutches of this book’s hauntingly, scary evil Dr Acid, before the sibling’s slow disfigurations &/or deaths.
And how does Pierce get to the siblings being held in an active Syrian war zone? His rescue attempt begins crammed inside a bullet-like device INSIDE the Arab Gas Pipeline … with a scuba tank for breathing and in total darkness!!! There are more hold-your-breath moments throughout this book!
I’ve read the series from Lee Child’s Reacher, Mark Greaney’s Gray Man, and Brad Thor’s Scott Harveth. Know that Bailey’s Trigger Man series, and this Blunt Force, are on equal footing and sometimes, surpassing!
You won’t be disappointed reading Blunt Force!
Aiden Bailey gives you first-time readers a fantastic stand-alone book (you won’t be able to put down). And then for us fans, Bailey returns early series characters and reunites them with Trigger Man.
You will fly and drive to and safe houses that became compromised; you’ll run with the Americans and the Russians over very recent Icelandic volcanic activity as their boots start melting. You’ll hunker behind huge and crumbling glaciers and crevasses for the explosive firefights Trigger Man and Ronan barely win over Russian Zaslon members in twisting, winding and crumbling ice caverns. You’ll sit with Trigger Man in bombed our village structures as he attempts rescue of siblings with highly sought after secrets in war-torn Syria.
Mark Pierce is at his best fighting for good people, and he is the only one willing and able to rescue a captured sister and brother from the clutches of this book’s hauntingly, scary evil Dr Acid, before the sibling’s slow disfigurations &/or deaths.
And how does Pierce get to the siblings being held in an active Syrian war zone? His rescue attempt begins crammed inside a bullet-like device INSIDE the Arab Gas Pipeline … with a scuba tank for breathing and in total darkness!!! There are more hold-your-breath moments throughout this book!
I’ve read the series from Lee Child’s Reacher, Mark Greaney’s Gray Man, and Brad Thor’s Scott Harveth. Know that Bailey’s Trigger Man series, and this Blunt Force, are on equal footing and sometimes, surpassing!
You won’t be disappointed reading Blunt Force!
June 5, 2025
I received an ARC through "Booksprout" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The story begins with Pierce meeting with Ibrahim discussing a new assignment for his team. It appears that a group of journalists have hacked into a firm and obtained data that several groups want. The assignment is to find the journalist and protect them as well as recover the data. One of the journalist has already been killed so pierce and his Tech Specialist Parab were sent to Ronda where Escarra, another of the journalist, was to protect her. It seems that he arrived too late and she had already been killed. Pierce wound up fighting and later pursuing the Russian killer. He caught up and fought with the Russian falling to his death.
The situation now was down to two journalist and the other members of Pierce's team were dispatched to pick them up. As it turned out both targets were located at the same location in Iceland. As the two members observed the journalist, they look like they were going to meet, but before that happened, one of the journalists was abducted and Zang chased the car trying to save the journalist. She was too late.
Read along and learn how once they located the last journalist what events the team had to overcome. Read the exciting conclusion and discover why the data that was hacked was so important and who really wanted it badly.
This story definitely has a lot of action and you won't want to put the book down. Get the book now, you won't be disappointed.
The story begins with Pierce meeting with Ibrahim discussing a new assignment for his team. It appears that a group of journalists have hacked into a firm and obtained data that several groups want. The assignment is to find the journalist and protect them as well as recover the data. One of the journalist has already been killed so pierce and his Tech Specialist Parab were sent to Ronda where Escarra, another of the journalist, was to protect her. It seems that he arrived too late and she had already been killed. Pierce wound up fighting and later pursuing the Russian killer. He caught up and fought with the Russian falling to his death.
The situation now was down to two journalist and the other members of Pierce's team were dispatched to pick them up. As it turned out both targets were located at the same location in Iceland. As the two members observed the journalist, they look like they were going to meet, but before that happened, one of the journalists was abducted and Zang chased the car trying to save the journalist. She was too late.
Read along and learn how once they located the last journalist what events the team had to overcome. Read the exciting conclusion and discover why the data that was hacked was so important and who really wanted it badly.
This story definitely has a lot of action and you won't want to put the book down. Get the book now, you won't be disappointed.
June 3, 2025
Data is stolen from a bank in Luxenburg and passed to 4 journalists and some leaked on social media .
Pierces boss Abrahim wants it found as is contains classified information regarding location of safe houses.
Two journalists have been killed in suspicious circumstances .
Zang is in Iceland with Knight to track the other two journalists when one is killed and manages to get the surviving one Kastrin to a safe house .
The rest of the team are also in Iceland Parab,Knight Summerfield Pierce joins them in a safe house,then goes to help Zang with the journalist .
Abrahim has disappeared and Mitch Hawley and Brooker take over and wants Pierce to report the finding of the tapes to Him alone .
Neither Pierce or Zang trust them and rightly so .
Pierce or anyone realised the Russians and Syrians were also after the data stick .
Kastrin told Pierce the location of a second device ,when after being pursed across Glaciers by the Russians and needed rescue and had to contact Brooker for help and promised the stick was with them .
Pierce stayed behind to find the other stick and told them to say he had died in a glacier.
Pierce is shocked why everyone wanted the data so badly.
Abrahim is reinstated and the team again safe after Brooks betrayal.
Heart pounding read as always and good the team are back together and look forward to next read .
I was fortunate to be advanced reader and enjoyed the book ,which im sure you will also
Pierces boss Abrahim wants it found as is contains classified information regarding location of safe houses.
Two journalists have been killed in suspicious circumstances .
Zang is in Iceland with Knight to track the other two journalists when one is killed and manages to get the surviving one Kastrin to a safe house .
The rest of the team are also in Iceland Parab,Knight Summerfield Pierce joins them in a safe house,then goes to help Zang with the journalist .
Abrahim has disappeared and Mitch Hawley and Brooker take over and wants Pierce to report the finding of the tapes to Him alone .
Neither Pierce or Zang trust them and rightly so .
Pierce or anyone realised the Russians and Syrians were also after the data stick .
Kastrin told Pierce the location of a second device ,when after being pursed across Glaciers by the Russians and needed rescue and had to contact Brooker for help and promised the stick was with them .
Pierce stayed behind to find the other stick and told them to say he had died in a glacier.
Pierce is shocked why everyone wanted the data so badly.
Abrahim is reinstated and the team again safe after Brooks betrayal.
Heart pounding read as always and good the team are back together and look forward to next read .
I was fortunate to be advanced reader and enjoyed the book ,which im sure you will also
June 16, 2025
This book starts with Mark Pierce as part of a team set to go up against Russians looking for a data breach of a law firm both the CIA and FSB have used to set up various safe houses. A simple assignment with a new team of trusted associates would seem to be a simple beginning to this newest thriller but of course, everything is turned upside-down when half the team is taken hostage and tortured while Pierce and Zang try to outrun Russian assassins over a fresh Icelandic lava flow. Mark and his team are forced to renew their forged bonds in the worst of circumstances, from Iceland to Syria, the past and present clash to prevent an unknown tragedy while also trying to bring justice to a sadistic international criminal. We also are made aware of some of the mysteries concerning the Trigger Man's past, surprisingly focused on Russia with a foreboding showdown lurking in the future. I've been reading these books from their conception and am still delighted by learning new things about these characters, especially Mark's mysterious past. I'm also glad to see Mackenzie Summerfield back, although Aiden seems to have shifted his masochistic tendencies to her rather than punish our main character. I'm never sure about how these books will end, and this one shook out very differently than I expected, and am not exactly sure how this will affect future events. All in all, another fantastic book by a very talented author and I can't wait to see what he has in store for their next adventure.
June 10, 2025
This is yet another wonderful story in this great series. Pierce is reunited with Summerfield and Zang when they set out to protect the journalists who have released very sensitive documents detailing several governments activities, and to also recover the rest of the data before Russian and Syrian agents.
I loved the cat and mouse aspects of this and there is no let-up in the action as the team go from Spain to Iceland , back to Europe and then onto the Middle East in order to complete the mission. There's a lot of internal politics going on also which throws the future of the team in doubt. I loved the ending - it had a nice sense of karma to it. Bring on the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved the cat and mouse aspects of this and there is no let-up in the action as the team go from Spain to Iceland , back to Europe and then onto the Middle East in order to complete the mission. There's a lot of internal politics going on also which throws the future of the team in doubt. I loved the ending - it had a nice sense of karma to it. Bring on the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 11, 2025
Wow! What an amazing story. This is the sort of book you could so easily become absorbed in, especially the action-packed beginning. Aiden Bailey certainly has a talent when it comes to writing entertaining Thrillers, and I’ve really enjoyed all six books in the series. I love that this story takes us to different countries, where Mark Pierce finds himself pitted against the Russians. He may have background help in his latest assignment, but like always it’s Pierce that’s going to be putting himself in danger. The fight scenes are epic, and I truly love the skill of Trigger man.
Do yourself a favour and read this fabulous book. 5/5 Star Rating
I have received this as an advanced copy to review.
Do yourself a favour and read this fabulous book. 5/5 Star Rating
I have received this as an advanced copy to review.
August 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It’s got tons of great action, a wonderful set of characters, and some gut-wrenching moments that stopped me cold. The villains felt so real—their detachment from what they were doing to others was horrifying.
What I also loved was how the story made me want to learn more about the real world. Iceland, Luxembourg, Spain, and the conflicts connected to them all became more vivid through the story. The added layers of the Cold War, Syria, the war in Ukraine, and the pipeline gave it so much depth and made it feel alive.
And the writing itself was excellent—fast, sharp, and easy to sink into. I’m glad I had the chance to read this book and then talk with Aiden about it on The Thriller Pitch Podcast.
What I also loved was how the story made me want to learn more about the real world. Iceland, Luxembourg, Spain, and the conflicts connected to them all became more vivid through the story. The added layers of the Cold War, Syria, the war in Ukraine, and the pipeline gave it so much depth and made it feel alive.
And the writing itself was excellent—fast, sharp, and easy to sink into. I’m glad I had the chance to read this book and then talk with Aiden about it on The Thriller Pitch Podcast.
May 23, 2025
Another Tour de Force in the Trigger Man series by Aiden Bailey! The protagonist takes a licking and keeps on ticking despite all the obstacles.
Always operating on the edge of reason, Trigger Man keeps working through a tangled web of deceit and gamemanship to serve justice even when it comes at a great personal cost, not only to his body but his own finances in this edition. Add in his usual cast of supporting and supportive characters, and you have another winning read on your hands.
Highly recommended - I'm already looking forward to Trigger Man's next adventure!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Always operating on the edge of reason, Trigger Man keeps working through a tangled web of deceit and gamemanship to serve justice even when it comes at a great personal cost, not only to his body but his own finances in this edition. Add in his usual cast of supporting and supportive characters, and you have another winning read on your hands.
Highly recommended - I'm already looking forward to Trigger Man's next adventure!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 15, 2025
Fast paced read, as usual, from the very first page. Those following the series will not be disappointed in this. I love the fact we get to have a little glimpse into The Trigger Mans mysterious and well-hidden past. He does some scary things like fighting on a Lava Field and climbing a Glacier. From the description, from Mr Bailey, Iceland is a very beautiful place that is both a wonderland and a wilderness. It's a great setting for espionage, drama and suspense. The supporting characters in the team are interesting and all fit in quite well to their rolls. I like the camaraderie at the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 16, 2025
I would like to give the book a higher rating, because it's worth more than 5 stars. I love the book; it's brilliantly written. It captured my attention from the first page, and I couldn't put it down. The characters made me think about spy movies, it's so realistic. The action scenes are entertaining, and the thriller parts are scary. There's nothing negative I can say about the book; to me, it's a page-turner and worth every minute I spent reading it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 20, 2025
Trigger Man is an exceptional operative and will fight with all he has to do what is right and to help people. In Blunt Force there are three different narratives: the American, the Russian, and the Syrian, but what really was behind the theft of the Luxembourg Papers was much simpler, it was a family looking for closure and to put a criminal behind bars. Fast-paced, with lots of fights and action is a must-read for those who enjoy the genre.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 19, 2025
Satisfactory
It’s like 2 different teams. For the first about 2/3s the team seems pretty incompetent. More like the Keystone Cops than an elite team especially compared to the Russians, who have no problem locating and taking over their secure house as well as tracking them to the targets. Also why is an agent who is obviously traumatized by her torture put back out in the field? None of the team members seems to be able to detect folks that are following them, although you would think someone like Mark would have a sixth sense about that kind of thing.
It’s like 2 different teams. For the first about 2/3s the team seems pretty incompetent. More like the Keystone Cops than an elite team especially compared to the Russians, who have no problem locating and taking over their secure house as well as tracking them to the targets. Also why is an agent who is obviously traumatized by her torture put back out in the field? None of the team members seems to be able to detect folks that are following them, although you would think someone like Mark would have a sixth sense about that kind of thing.
June 13, 2025
Stolen Data from a bank in Luxenburg and given to four journalists and then leaked on social media . Three of the journalists are die in suspicious circumstances. The last one Kastrin is put in a safe house.
Pierces Parab, Knight and Summerfield meet in the safe house.
The team travel many countries, with the Russians on their tails.
Drama, and action all the way.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Pierces Parab, Knight and Summerfield meet in the safe house.
The team travel many countries, with the Russians on their tails.
Drama, and action all the way.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2025
I started this series with book number 4. Overall I have enjoyed this series. This book was a tough one for me to get through. It really didn’t grab my attention until I was halfway through. I also still find it odd how much British terminology is used when the characters nor setting are clearly no British. It really takes away from the continuity of the story. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by booksprout.
June 18, 2025
off the hook!
Trigger man doesn’t disappoint! Bailey has topped himself again. Great multi layered story full of intrigue and lots of action. It grips you so hard you can’t put it down! On a mission he’s bit quite sure of only he and a few trusted allies can pull this mission off, but is it really the mission or what game is being played and by who! The answer doesn’t come until the end! So get busy reading. You will be captivated!
Trigger man doesn’t disappoint! Bailey has topped himself again. Great multi layered story full of intrigue and lots of action. It grips you so hard you can’t put it down! On a mission he’s bit quite sure of only he and a few trusted allies can pull this mission off, but is it really the mission or what game is being played and by who! The answer doesn’t come until the end! So get busy reading. You will be captivated!
June 19, 2025
This was an intriguing and compelling thriller by author Aiden Bailey. It is the 6th entry in the Trigger Man series, but I don't think it suffered from being read as a standalone. There is a lot of political subtext at hand, and I couldn't put it down. It reminded me of Mark Greaney and Gregg Hurwitz thrillers. Highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 17, 2025
"Blunt Force" is a relentless, fast-paced thriller. Aiden Bailey once again delivers his finest work in this series. Each page is filled with action and intrigue, making it enthralling, entertaining, and intense.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 24, 2025
When a team of investigative journalists team up and publish the Luxembourg Papers which is a collection of the world's governments most dirty secrets things get bad really quick. Syria and Russia are racing to keep more from being leaked and Mark Pierce, known as Trigger Man and his team are trying to protect the journalists and find the rest of the data.
June 14, 2025
If you like lots of action, this is probably a book for you, and it's not a bad plot either. The characters are also good, but the main character isn't consequent, as I think he should have taken out all the bad apples closest to himself.
June 15, 2025
This author knocks out of the park in this Trigger Man's mission w/ danger only a few steps away and no place safe for Pierce or the journalists he's to protect he has to think and act fast to keep everyone alive. It's adrenaline spiking, heart pounding, page turning helluva a good book.
June 16, 2025
Perfect title. This one came out swinging and never stopped. The Trigger Man is back and each book gets better and better. The action with his team, the storyline. Really good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 18, 2025
This book was pretty good. The plot was good, A good secret agent/assassin book is always a joy to read. I personally don’t enjoy country political or stuff like that, but the action thriller parts of this book was enjoyable
July 13, 2025
Action packed as usual, this time Mark Pierce and his team is asked to lookout for some investigative journalists that are being hunted by kill teams. Seemingly in good graces with the CIA again, not everything is what it looks like. Another fantastic read in this awesome series.
July 15, 2025
Welcome back Trigger Man
Oh how I missed you! This man is second to none. I still love book1 and how it all began. I can’t recommend this series enough! Read it all, you’ll love them.
Oh how I missed you! This man is second to none. I still love book1 and how it all began. I can’t recommend this series enough! Read it all, you’ll love them.
July 30, 2025
Excellent again
Blunt Force, book 6 in the 'Trigger Man' series is another great story featuring topical issues.
Lots of action again with hardly time to take a breath and the introduction of a new assassin who I'm sure we haven't heard the last of.
Bring it on asap.
Blunt Force, book 6 in the 'Trigger Man' series is another great story featuring topical issues.
Lots of action again with hardly time to take a breath and the introduction of a new assassin who I'm sure we haven't heard the last of.
Bring it on asap.
August 1, 2025
Great book
I liked the variety of stories going on at the same time and eventually tied together. It required reading passages over to. Get the many individuals and locations straight
I liked the variety of stories going on at the same time and eventually tied together. It required reading passages over to. Get the many individuals and locations straight
November 6, 2025
Intrigued
Pretty intense book to read. Kind of a little incredible they survived such a harrowing ordeal Mona freezing cold glacier, severely out numbered and out gun ed. But overall an exciting
read!
Pretty intense book to read. Kind of a little incredible they survived such a harrowing ordeal Mona freezing cold glacier, severely out numbered and out gun ed. But overall an exciting
read!
June 25, 2025
Great and hair raising adventure.
One too many secrets to solve and danger around each corner. The twists and turns had me on pins and needles throughout.
One too many secrets to solve and danger around each corner. The twists and turns had me on pins and needles throughout.
July 5, 2025
A great ending for a change
Trigger man in true form after the bad guys. They try to form a rag tag team while trying to free some people and take on the Russians.
Trigger man in true form after the bad guys. They try to form a rag tag team while trying to free some people and take on the Russians.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews