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Next Wave
Next Wave is the second in the Brian Kelly series, beginning where Exit Strategy ends, at the scene of the explosion of the Por Do Sol restaurant in Key Largo. The explosion kills several members of TOTs, leaving the survivors near dead, and seeking revenge. In addition to the Key Largo crime scene, FBI agents Regal and Major uncover a plot by the next wave of Al Qaida to introduce an airborne pathogen which is both extremely virulent and deadly. Next Wave is told in the third person, and like Exit Strategy, hard to put down.
291 pages, Hardcover
Published May 26, 2025
About the author
Michael Meyer
238 books94 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Michael Meyer is an American travel writer and the author of In Manchuria: A Village Called Wasteland and the Transformation of Rural China and The Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed. He graduated from University of Wisconsin–Madison. He first went to China in 1995 with the Peace Corps. Following Peace Corps, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied writing under Adam Hochschild and Maxine Hong Kingston.
His work has appeared in The New York Times, Time, Smithsonian, the New York Times Book Review, the Financial Times, Reader’s Digest, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Iowa Review, and on This American Life.
In China, he has represented the National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, training China’s UNESCO World Heritage Site managers in preservation practices.
He lives in Singapore and Pittsburgh, where he is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh, teaching Nonfiction writing.
After a five year clearance delay, his book The Last Days of Old Beijing was published in mainland China.
Michael Meyer is an American travel writer and the author of In Manchuria: A Village Called Wasteland and the Transformation of Rural China and The Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed. He graduated from University of Wisconsin–Madison. He first went to China in 1995 with the Peace Corps. Following Peace Corps, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied writing under Adam Hochschild and Maxine Hong Kingston.
His work has appeared in The New York Times, Time, Smithsonian, the New York Times Book Review, the Financial Times, Reader’s Digest, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Iowa Review, and on This American Life.
In China, he has represented the National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, training China’s UNESCO World Heritage Site managers in preservation practices.
He lives in Singapore and Pittsburgh, where he is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh, teaching Nonfiction writing.
After a five year clearance delay, his book The Last Days of Old Beijing was published in mainland China.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 15, 2026
Next Wave is an engaging, fast-paced thriller that successfully builds upon the foundation established in Exit Strategy. Michael Meyer wastes no time plunging readers back into the action, opening with the devastating aftermath of the Key Largo explosion and immediately raising the stakes for both returning characters and new readers.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its relentless pacing. The story moves seamlessly between multiple investigations, balancing the survivors' pursuit of revenge with the FBI's race to prevent a catastrophic bioterrorism attack. This dual narrative keeps the suspense high throughout and makes it difficult to put the book down.
The FBI investigation is particularly compelling. The threat of an airborne pathogen introduces a chilling sense of urgency that feels both plausible and timely. Meyer combines law enforcement procedures, intelligence work, and international terrorism into a story that remains accessible while maintaining genuine tension.
I also appreciated the development of the recurring characters. Brian Kelly continues to evolve as a protagonist, while Agents Regal and Major bring depth and credibility to the investigative side of the story. Their determination, professionalism, and willingness to confront overwhelming odds add emotional weight to the unfolding events.
The action sequences are well-crafted without sacrificing the larger narrative. Rather than relying solely on spectacle, the novel builds suspense through careful plotting, shifting alliances, and the constant uncertainty surrounding who will strike next.
Overall, Next Wave is an exciting blend of crime fiction, political thriller, and counterterrorism suspense. Michael Meyer delivers a gripping sequel that expands the Brian Kelly series while standing strongly on its own. Readers who enjoy intelligent, high-stakes thrillers with strong investigative elements will find plenty to enjoy here.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its relentless pacing. The story moves seamlessly between multiple investigations, balancing the survivors' pursuit of revenge with the FBI's race to prevent a catastrophic bioterrorism attack. This dual narrative keeps the suspense high throughout and makes it difficult to put the book down.
The FBI investigation is particularly compelling. The threat of an airborne pathogen introduces a chilling sense of urgency that feels both plausible and timely. Meyer combines law enforcement procedures, intelligence work, and international terrorism into a story that remains accessible while maintaining genuine tension.
I also appreciated the development of the recurring characters. Brian Kelly continues to evolve as a protagonist, while Agents Regal and Major bring depth and credibility to the investigative side of the story. Their determination, professionalism, and willingness to confront overwhelming odds add emotional weight to the unfolding events.
The action sequences are well-crafted without sacrificing the larger narrative. Rather than relying solely on spectacle, the novel builds suspense through careful plotting, shifting alliances, and the constant uncertainty surrounding who will strike next.
Overall, Next Wave is an exciting blend of crime fiction, political thriller, and counterterrorism suspense. Michael Meyer delivers a gripping sequel that expands the Brian Kelly series while standing strongly on its own. Readers who enjoy intelligent, high-stakes thrillers with strong investigative elements will find plenty to enjoy here.
Displaying 1 of 1 review