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Devil's Hour: Axel Blaze Thriller Book 13
In the darkest hour, the devil whispers loudest.
Blaze comes to Georgia seeking closure. Instead, he walks straight into a nightmare. When he travels to Coastal Georgia to honor his mother’s last wishes, he witnesses her childhood friend, Helen McCaskill, being attacked—and learns her granddaughter has vanished.
Something festers in the marshland. Bodies surface in the reeds, carved with warped symbols. Locals whisper about “Devil’s Hour” —a ritual nightmare run by a Haitian priest and protected by a Savannah dynasty with wealth older than the city—masters of trafficking, terror, and midnight markets where human lives are bartered.
What begins as a simple visit spirals into a war. To find the girl, Blaze will walk into hell. To save the lost, he will burn every last shadow to ash. Because the devil picked the wrong hour to rise.
_________________
Praise for the
“Blaze combines the force of Reacher, the unapologetic badassery of Dirty Harry, the savagery of Frank Castle, and the calculated precision of Bourne.”
"Blaze is a no-nonsense guy. Shoot second...after head butting the guy first. My kind
of hero!"
“Blaze is a badass in the real sense of the word. He doesn’t stop until every bad guy
is broken or dead.”
_________________
Readers are
★★★★★ “…non-stop action…”
★★★★★ “…fast and violent…”
★★★★★ “Blaze is the new badass in town!!”
★★★★★ “Must read! This series rocks!!”
Blaze comes to Georgia seeking closure. Instead, he walks straight into a nightmare. When he travels to Coastal Georgia to honor his mother’s last wishes, he witnesses her childhood friend, Helen McCaskill, being attacked—and learns her granddaughter has vanished.
Something festers in the marshland. Bodies surface in the reeds, carved with warped symbols. Locals whisper about “Devil’s Hour” —a ritual nightmare run by a Haitian priest and protected by a Savannah dynasty with wealth older than the city—masters of trafficking, terror, and midnight markets where human lives are bartered.
What begins as a simple visit spirals into a war. To find the girl, Blaze will walk into hell. To save the lost, he will burn every last shadow to ash. Because the devil picked the wrong hour to rise.
_________________
Praise for the
“Blaze combines the force of Reacher, the unapologetic badassery of Dirty Harry, the savagery of Frank Castle, and the calculated precision of Bourne.”
"Blaze is a no-nonsense guy. Shoot second...after head butting the guy first. My kind
of hero!"
“Blaze is a badass in the real sense of the word. He doesn’t stop until every bad guy
is broken or dead.”
_________________
Readers are
★★★★★ “…non-stop action…”
★★★★★ “…fast and violent…”
★★★★★ “Blaze is the new badass in town!!”
★★★★★ “Must read! This series rocks!!”
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Bill Runner
42 books63 followersBill Runner worked as an investigative journalist before turning to writing novels. He grew up on a regular diet of western novels and movies about lone rangers, which influenced the shaping of Blaze. Bill is an experienced mountain climber and has been a lifelong student of martial arts. Working the crime beat and studying the art of fighting helped make him the author of thriller novels, which are known for well-executed action sequences.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 1, 2026
The definitive Axel Blaze thriller!
Bill Runner has perfected the art of the relentless action hero. Devil’s Hour finds Blaze at his most lethal after innocent lives are put on the line. Axel Blaze is a formidable lead, driven by purpose and shaped by grief. The antagonists are layered and dangerous, creating a constant sense of threat. The electric chemistry and sparkling banter between Blaze and the fabulous Stella adds a refreshing layer to the series, while Lenny’s comedic timing provides necessary relief from the dark subject matter. The pacing is surgical—every chapter builds toward a climax that is as satisfying as it is violent. Fans of thrillers will find plenty to love in Blaze’s systematic destruction of the Savannah trafficking ring. Truly an adrenaline-soaked triumph.
Bill Runner has perfected the art of the relentless action hero. Devil’s Hour finds Blaze at his most lethal after innocent lives are put on the line. Axel Blaze is a formidable lead, driven by purpose and shaped by grief. The antagonists are layered and dangerous, creating a constant sense of threat. The electric chemistry and sparkling banter between Blaze and the fabulous Stella adds a refreshing layer to the series, while Lenny’s comedic timing provides necessary relief from the dark subject matter. The pacing is surgical—every chapter builds toward a climax that is as satisfying as it is violent. Fans of thrillers will find plenty to love in Blaze’s systematic destruction of the Savannah trafficking ring. Truly an adrenaline-soaked triumph.
April 6, 2026
DEVIL'S HOUR is the thirteenth book in the Axel Blaze Thriller series, and it's my first time reading anything by Bill Runner. There were a few missing descriptive adjectives, but it didn't really affect how much I enjoyed this intense and fast-paced story. Even though I'm not big on a lot of descriptive text, but Runner's descriptions made it easy to visualize what was happening. This is definitely a page-turner that's hard to put down.
After his brother's death and then his mother's, Axel's grieving and has no idea what's next. He's currently on his way to Georgia to return an item to Helen, his mother's childhood best friend. When he arrives, he finds Helen looking for her missing thirteen-year-old granddaughter. He figures his mom would want him to help find the girl. Before he knows it, he finds out others have gone missing. Most haven't been found. Others found in the swamps are mutilated in ways no alligator could do. Now Axel's not leaving until he cleans up this part of Georgia.
Axel came to Georgia grieving for his mother - he'll leave with a strange kind of peace.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
After his brother's death and then his mother's, Axel's grieving and has no idea what's next. He's currently on his way to Georgia to return an item to Helen, his mother's childhood best friend. When he arrives, he finds Helen looking for her missing thirteen-year-old granddaughter. He figures his mom would want him to help find the girl. Before he knows it, he finds out others have gone missing. Most haven't been found. Others found in the swamps are mutilated in ways no alligator could do. Now Axel's not leaving until he cleans up this part of Georgia.
Axel came to Georgia grieving for his mother - he'll leave with a strange kind of peace.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 20, 2026
Blaze returns to his hometown in coastal Georgia in order to honor the memory of his mother whom he recently lost. When he arrives, he cannot find his mother's friend, Helen, because she is out looking for her missing granddaughter. Blaze is immediately drawn into the mystery when he realizes some lowlifes in town intend to harm Helen. If they are willing to do that to keep her from looking into her granddaughter's disappearance, then Blaze realizes that there is something evil brewing.
This is one of the most well written books I have read in a while. I bookmarked several passages because of the fresh, descriptive language. The characters are well developed and it is easy to picture the Georgia coast with all its marshland. The suspense builds on every page and the drama reaches a satisfying conclusion with no loose ends. I'm giving a somewhat reluctant five stars for a really good book, though the level of violence was unexpected and not something I would normally choose to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This is one of the most well written books I have read in a while. I bookmarked several passages because of the fresh, descriptive language. The characters are well developed and it is easy to picture the Georgia coast with all its marshland. The suspense builds on every page and the drama reaches a satisfying conclusion with no loose ends. I'm giving a somewhat reluctant five stars for a really good book, though the level of violence was unexpected and not something I would normally choose to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
May 4, 2026
blaze is not spec op
Two guys in a room and he wants to sneak in for 5 steps to choke the 1st one then stab him through the neck and then miraculously shoot the second before he gets shot himself…really?? He’s carrying a silenced Glock 19, and he doesn’t choose 2 head shots from 15 feet? Then the finally, 3 guards with CQB weapons ready and 2 targets..he has the element of surprise by sneaking in, and rather than shooting the guards first, he gives away the element of surprise by making some dumb smart smartass comment to the bad guy, giving the guards a sec to react before he can shoot…why?? I hate books with characters that do dumb unrealistic stupid stuff, a real spec ops operator would never do…it just makes for poor quality. These books used to be good. He killed bad guys efficiently, like he was taught. Now he wants to fight 3 guys and knock them out when he’s holding a silenced weapon…series turned into garbage.
Two guys in a room and he wants to sneak in for 5 steps to choke the 1st one then stab him through the neck and then miraculously shoot the second before he gets shot himself…really?? He’s carrying a silenced Glock 19, and he doesn’t choose 2 head shots from 15 feet? Then the finally, 3 guards with CQB weapons ready and 2 targets..he has the element of surprise by sneaking in, and rather than shooting the guards first, he gives away the element of surprise by making some dumb smart smartass comment to the bad guy, giving the guards a sec to react before he can shoot…why?? I hate books with characters that do dumb unrealistic stupid stuff, a real spec ops operator would never do…it just makes for poor quality. These books used to be good. He killed bad guys efficiently, like he was taught. Now he wants to fight 3 guys and knock them out when he’s holding a silenced weapon…series turned into garbage.
March 31, 2026
I picked this up thinking I would read a few pages and suddenly I was deep in a nightmare I could not escape.
This book goes hard in the best way. Blaze walks into this quiet town and boom everything turns dark, creepy, and intense real fast. Missing girl, twisted symbols, secrets everywhere, and this whole Devil’s Hour thing that just gave me chills. I loved how fast it moved and how it never felt safe for even a second. If you like stories that pull you in and refuse to let go, you need to read this one. Trust me.
This book goes hard in the best way. Blaze walks into this quiet town and boom everything turns dark, creepy, and intense real fast. Missing girl, twisted symbols, secrets everywhere, and this whole Devil’s Hour thing that just gave me chills. I loved how fast it moved and how it never felt safe for even a second. If you like stories that pull you in and refuse to let go, you need to read this one. Trust me.
April 4, 2026
Another "Blaze thriller!"
Another fast paced character driven action/adventure featuring Axel Blaze.From the mountains of Colorado to the coastline and marshes of Georgia, Adel follows the breadcrumbs of his late mother's life into a complex labrinyth of corruption and crime.As the web of deceit and despair crumbles, the depth of horror is revealed from drug trafficking to human sex trafficking illegal organ harvesting, and even as it is brought into the light, the empire crumbles. Excellent five star read!
Another fast paced character driven action/adventure featuring Axel Blaze.From the mountains of Colorado to the coastline and marshes of Georgia, Adel follows the breadcrumbs of his late mother's life into a complex labrinyth of corruption and crime.As the web of deceit and despair crumbles, the depth of horror is revealed from drug trafficking to human sex trafficking illegal organ harvesting, and even as it is brought into the light, the empire crumbles. Excellent five star read!
April 19, 2026
Devil’s Hour goes beyond standard action fare by delivering a story with genuine emotional weight. Blaze’s journey through Georgia is as much about confronting grief as it is about stopping evil. The narrative explores dark themes with maturity and restraint. The villains are convincingly sinister, and the stakes remain high throughout. Supporting characters like Helen and Maggie enrich the story. The action is sharp, cinematic, and impactful. Bill Runner successfully combines intensity with introspection, making Devil’s Hour a compelling and well-rounded thriller.
April 6, 2026
A dark and gripping thriller that blends folklore, crime, and raw intensity, Devil’s Hour delivers a haunting journey into the heart of hidden evil. With a relentless pace and an atmosphere thick with tension, this story explores the cost of confronting darkness and the courage it takes to stand against it.
April 13, 2026
Good story, but a bit over the top none the writing.
I think I've read all the books in this series. Generally they are good stories with solid plots. This one has a lot of unnecessary descriptive comments. It is loaded with expressions like "dropped like a marionette with t he strings cut". It got distracting and annoying after a while.
I think I've read all the books in this series. Generally they are good stories with solid plots. This one has a lot of unnecessary descriptive comments. It is loaded with expressions like "dropped like a marionette with t he strings cut". It got distracting and annoying after a while.
April 17, 2026
Blaze appreciates swamp land while clearing it from evil
Moral code underlies decisions and interventions as Blaze joins a community effort to stop human trafficking and profiteering from body parts. Good story. Violence serves a purpose. Strong women and men risk their lives to stand for justice.
Moral code underlies decisions and interventions as Blaze joins a community effort to stop human trafficking and profiteering from body parts. Good story. Violence serves a purpose. Strong women and men risk their lives to stand for justice.
April 12, 2026
Devil's Hour
Axel at his best, those that didn't deserve to survived, experienced Axel's sense of justice. I really do appreciate the dry humour that comes out at various times.
This story is an absolute page tuner.
Axel at his best, those that didn't deserve to survived, experienced Axel's sense of justice. I really do appreciate the dry humour that comes out at various times.
This story is an absolute page tuner.
May 15, 2026
excellent work
A well written, totally fascinating story with great characters and lots of human emotion highly recommend reading this book to anyone who likes action and adventure stories
A well written, totally fascinating story with great characters and lots of human emotion highly recommend reading this book to anyone who likes action and adventure stories
April 2, 2026
Another good Axel Blaze book!
This was a very good book you don't want to put down if you like good action books you will love these thanks to Bill Runner!
This was a very good book you don't want to put down if you like good action books you will love these thanks to Bill Runner!
April 18, 2026
A Georgia Town Set a-Blaze
In a small Southern Georgia town called Calder’s Crossing Blaze fired his way through the rot and saved the day!
In a small Southern Georgia town called Calder’s Crossing Blaze fired his way through the rot and saved the day!
April 21, 2026
Great read!
Loved the book that had action right from the beginning and until the very end! it was very hard to put down! Can't wait to read book 2!
Loved the book that had action right from the beginning and until the very end! it was very hard to put down! Can't wait to read book 2!
April 22, 2026
good read
April 25, 2026
Another great story from Bill Runner, I now have to wait until August to read the next book in the series.
I would recommend these books to anyone who loves Reacher!!
I would recommend these books to anyone who loves Reacher!!
May 2, 2026
Good story, can't wait to get to the next.
May 8, 2026
Book 13
Book 13 was a fun read and had a few errors throughout. The plot and characters are developed well. It was a bit repetitive in places and had a few good twists.
Book 13 was a fun read and had a few errors throughout. The plot and characters are developed well. It was a bit repetitive in places and had a few good twists.
May 14, 2026
Action all the way!
Another fast paced action packed story in the Axel Blaze series. Doesn't disappoint from start to finish, Blaze doing what Blaze does best!
Another fast paced action packed story in the Axel Blaze series. Doesn't disappoint from start to finish, Blaze doing what Blaze does best!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews