Ted Bell's Warmonger

Alexander Hawke #14

by Ryan Steck, Ted Bell

Lord Alexander Hawke is used to going after big game, but his pursuit of a mysterious figure code-named Warmonger brings him up against his most deadly foe—Vladimir Putin—in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series.

Lord Alexander Hawke’s hunt for the Warmonger—a shadowy figure orchestrating chaos across the globe—is put on hold so that he may undertake an urgent mission for the Crown. His assignment: Travel to Russia, escorting the lovely Dr. Ariadne Silk; confront his archnemesis, Vladimir Putin; and recover a secret document that threatens to shake the British monarchy to its core.

While Hawke makes a perilous journey across Europe, his good friend Ambrose Congreve’s routine investigation of a bizarre murder takes a deadly turn, pulling him into a cat-and-mouse game with Silence, a cold-blooded assassin who may be targeting Hawke himself.

Hawke will soon discover that he is a pawn in the Warmonger’s Byzantine plot to bring the world to the brink of total war and resurrect a fallen empire.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Action

512 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2026

About the author

Ryan Steck is the author of FIELDS OF FIRE, LETHAL RANGE, REDD CHRISTMAS, OUT FOR BLOOD, and the forthcoming Alex Hawke thriller TED BELL MONARCH. He is also a freelance editor, the founder and editor-in-chief of The Real Book Spy, and was named an “Online Influencer” by Amazon. Praised as “One of the hardest working and fairest reviewers out there” by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). His books have been endorsed by major #1 New York Times bestselling authors James Patterson, Brad Thor, C.J. Box, Jack Carr, Mark Greaney, Nelson DeMille, James Rollins, Brad Meltzer, Kyle Mills, as well as Don Winslow, T.J. Newman, Brad Taylor, Gregg Hurwitz, and Steve Berry. Visit TheRealBookSpy.com or email him directly at Ryan@TheRealBookSpy for more details.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Ryan Steck, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Ted Bell’s Lord Alex Hawke series, I approached this fourteenth installment with cautious optimism following Bell’s passing. Handing over a long-running, beloved series is never easy—and too often the results are uneven. Ryan Steck, however, proves once again that he is more than equal to the task in his second novel within the series. This novel doesn’t merely continue Alex Hawke’s adventures; it honors Bell’s legacy while confidently pushing the series forward.

Lord Alexander Hawke has never lacked formidable adversaries, but his latest foe—the shadowy and destabilising Warmonger—raises the stakes considerably. As alliances fracture and global tensions mount, Hawke uncovers a dangerous web that points toward a far larger and more elusive power. Tasked with an audacious mission for the Crown, Hawke must travel into Russia to retrieve a letter of immense historical and political significance—one that could alter how the British monarchy is viewed on the world stage. Working alongside a document expert, Hawke is forced to confront not only the dangers of the mission but deeper truths about himself and his family’s past.

Running parallel to Hawke’s journey is an equally compelling storyline involving Ambrose Congreve, who finds himself tracking a mysterious assassin known only as Silence—an operative with their own chaotic agenda. Steck skillfully weaves these threads together, mirroring Hawke’s present-day mission with a historical undertaking by one of his ancestors. The result is a layered, fast-moving narrative that blends espionage, history, and personal sacrifice with impressive control.

What stands out most is how naturally Steck inhabits this world. The pacing is relentless—short chapters propel the story forward at breakneck speed—yet the novel never feels rushed. Instead, it feels purposeful. Steck preserves the sharp dialogue, globe-trotting adventure, and unapologetic swagger that defined Bell’s work, while adding emotional depth and thoughtful character development. Hawke, in particular, emerges as a more fully realised figure here, shaped not only by duty and danger but by legacy.

Characterisation across the board is strong. Familiar faces retain their voices and energy, while historical figures are woven into the narrative with the same bold, unfiltered approach longtime readers expect. Secondary characters are given room to breathe, reinforcing the foundation Bell built while expanding the series’ emotional range.

Plotwise, this novel delivers exactly what fans hope for—high-stakes intrigue, expertly planted twists, and genuinely surprising developments. At times, the story hints at a sense of reckoning or possible finality, but rather than diminishing the experience, this only heightens the tension. If anything, it left me eager to see where Steck might take Hawke next.

As a self-confessed purist, I don’t say this lightly: Ryan Steck has proven himself a worthy steward of the Alex Hawke legacy. This is not just a continuation—it’s a confident, thrilling evolution of the series. Longtime fans will be more than satisfied, and new readers will find a polished, exhilarating entry point into one of modern spy fiction’s most enduring franchises.

Kudos, Mr. Steck, for keeping Alex Hawke as an edgy and worthy protagonist throughout.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Linda Haas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ted Bell’s Warmonger by Ryan Steck is an exciting Alex Hawke novel. It follows what readers expect from Alex Hawke: a lot of hand to hand combat and fast car chases. There are also twists in the story which are good. There are two other story lines in this book which are interesting. It was a fun read.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this one was a wild ride! So many surprises along the way in the latest Alex Hawke adventure. I had so many emotions as I was reading Warmonger, which I think is the sign of a great job by the author. Once again multiple storylines all converge by the end in ways that were certainly not expected at the outset. There's love, loss, grief, joy, sadness, confusion along the way but somehow Alex Hawke manages to work through it all as he always seems to do....but not without a LOT of help from his friends. There are still plenty of loose ends to tie up by the conclusion of this story that I will anxiously be awaiting the next book in the series.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Net Galley for this ARC. #TedBellsWarmonger #NetGalley

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ted Bell's Warmonger (Berkley 2026), #14 of the Alex Hawke series and second by author Ryan Steck, starts as a rescue operation of a high stake's person for the British king. Though Hawke was supposed to be relaxing in his seaside vacation home, the dapper royal spy can't resist his pirate roots and answers his King's call without reservation. I read all of the books in this series authored by Ted Bell, loved them, but as happens when another author takes over the pen, things change. True here also. Ryan Steck's writing style is excellent, but doesn’t quite deliver the swashbuckling justice of the original noble pirate, a moral fighter in the mold of the old James Bond. The book starts with impossible death-defying odds only our hero Lord Hawke can overcome, but by 25% through, cracks develop in the stalwart character with unbendable values and love of country.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, just gritted my teeth at times. I suppose it’s become de riguer for popular international authors to blow the dog whistle of climate change and it should please me it wasn't overbearing. And why are so many of them writing dual timeline stories? I find them a challenge which pulls me out of enjoying the story. In this case, both main characters shared the same names--well, Alex and Alexander.

But this is a personal thing so I didn’t affect my review or rating. It's a fast-paced, clever story worthy of 4/5 without reservations. 

[Daniel Kinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Steck is a brilliant writer

I have to say that Steck must have a multiple personality disorder. Hahaha. He is writing 3 series and they are all so, so different. There are authors I follow that you know who is writing it because there is a style that he or she follows. The only common denominator in a Ryan Steck book is well written high action. Bell’s last few books fell a little short. Steck resuscitated this series in book 13. This Warmonger he made me fall in love with The Alex Hawke series all over again. High, high action. Epic chase scenes. Love it. I cannot wait for the next book. There are plot lines that I cannot wait to read where they are going. There is Congreve and his devastation loss. There is a murderer for Congreve and Alex to track. There is also new family member. Aaaand what the heck will happen with Anastasia. Where will Alex and Anastasia relationship end up. What influence will Pippa Guinness have. She was not the nicest person a few books back. Well done Ryan Steck!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ryan Steck’s "Ted Bell’s Warmonger" feels increasingly like the Alex Hawke series is drifting into Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington territory. It includes all the high-end toys, glamorous settings, and the “lifestyles of the rich and famous,” but with a geopolitical veneer. Where Barrington solves New York’s upscale inconveniences, Hawke is once again globe‑trotting through crises with Russia, Ukraine, and a treacherous NATO insider pulling strings in the shadows...There’s no shortage of action. Steck keeps the pace brisk, and the familiar cast continues to cycle through love, loss, grief, joy, and everything in between. But despite the stakes, the story never quite hits the emotional or narrative heights the series is capable of. It’s a serviceable adventure, just not a standout.

[Steph And David And Josh And Rob and Dan and.. · Rating 5 out of 5]

warmonger review

Warmonger was absolutely the best book , maybe in the series.
I always cannot get enough of this story.
My only regret is A read I couldn’t put down. Thank you for a beautiful work!
Guarantee you will find it very difficult to put it down.

[Ryan Hillis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing new here. Cut and paste plots.