War Path

by Aiden Bailey

His cover is a lie. His target is a ghost. His survival is a long shot.

When DEA agent Garcia Cardoso is snatched by the Gulf Cartel in the Bolivian jungle, CIA operatives Mark Pierce and Rachel Zang are sent to rescue him. They pull him out alive—only to watch him die moments later, cut down by a sniper’s bullet.

His final there's a mole inside the Agency.

Cardoso’s killer is the Sand Viper, a ghost-like assassin working for a shadowy terrorist network called the Dekaract. They've armed Mexico's warring cartels with military-grade rocket systems, and they're about to spark a conflict that will engulf both sides of the US border.

To stop them, Pierce must do the unthinkable—go undercover as the Sand Viper, infiltrating the cartel's inner circle in Monterrey.

Pierce is deep behind enemy lines. Zang is in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the real Sand Viper. And somewhere in the shadows, a traitor is feeding their every move to the enemy.

With the border ready to explode, both agents must battle through a storm of bullets and betrayal—or watch two nations burn.

War Path – the seventh in the stunning Trigger Man action thriller series. Perfect for fans of Mark Greaney, Don Bentley and Brad Thor.


What readers are saying about War Path:

“I’ve fallen back in love with spy and military thrillers—and this one hit the mark perfectly.” -Booksprout Reviewer

“Good read for a beach read or weekend on the couch.” -Booksprout Reviewer

“This was a really frantic read and I loved every minute of it.” -Booksprout Reviewer

“The action is pretty much non-stop, with the plot building up nicely… enjoy the ride in the latest installment of this action-packed series.” -Booksprout Reviewer

“…great addition to this awesome FBI/military series. I love these characters… The plot, as always, starts out strong and never lets up. I highly recommend both the book and series.” -Netgalley Reviewer

“…was like watching an action-packed movie! I love this series!” -Netgalley Reviewer

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2026

About the author

Aiden 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.

Reviews

[Meenaz Lodhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic installment! Fast paced and filled with heart pounding action, it ended too quickly for me.
I’ve read a handful of Aiden Bailey’s books and love the heck out of him!

With a gritty setting and a suspenseful plot-with drug cartels involved this time-
Bailey has once again managed to write an engrossing story with a rollercoaster of emotions, a sense of raw and edgy narrative. Ghost assassins, Mexican drug cartels, Bolivian jungle, this time Mark Pierce goes undercover within one of the deadliest and cruel cartels in possession of military grade weapons.

I don’t usual read stories related to everyday crime or stories about drug cartels, however, this book was just at another level! Aiden Bailey, with his creative gift of writing with extensive imagination wrote this sequel fantastically. The throbbing tension of being discovered, running away, the storyline is extremely intense, exciting and exhilarating.

I highly recommend this fabulous series.

[Todd Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant novel in the Mark Pierce Trigger Man series. There’s so much to love about this book, from a deadly assassin, to the Mexican drug cartels, and CIA Agent Mark Pierce running around doing what the rest of us can’t. Trying to rescue a kidnapped DEA agent in the Bolivian jungle was never going to be easy, along with dealing with the ruthless Mexican drug cartels. Most of us would rather stay home, but Pierce is a force to be reckoned with.
Aiden Bailey has once again delivered an outstanding novel. I couldn’t read it fast enough. Easily worth the 5/5 Star Rating.

[Ken Karcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, the team has been assembled and are ready for war. The previous novels have built a strike team which has been tasked with helping the DEA destroy the Gulf Cartel. Being well supplied and backed up is a new feeling for Pierce, and the team has to battle not only two separate cartels, but also has to contend with missiles capable of being fired into the United States. Unfortunately, the world wide global security threat the team thought they'd broken is back, with an assassin called the Sand Viper, causing Zang to suffer an agonizing loss and forcing the team to recover from a mole giving away their movement. Bailey doesn't let up as the team races to track down the missiles before they're used to start a war between Mexico and the US, and try to find a way to kill this Hydra-like, insidious organization throwing the world into chaos for profit. These books continue to get better as Bailey lives with the characters, we get to see them struggle with the task they've each taken and the reasons they have been on that path. We are assured that all the survivors will return for more novels and I am definitely looking forward to seeing what more he could possibly do to these people.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 7th book in the Trigger Man series by Aiden Bailey and it was really good. Plenty of action/drama throughout the book, great cast of characters(good/bad), and the book is a fast paced thriller. A combination of CIA/DEA agents are out to rescue a kidnapped DEA agent, capture/kill members of Mexican Cartels, and a rouge terrorist group, Dekaract. To top it all off, there is a traitor amongst the team. Just another easy day!
Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel, which will be out on Jan. 18, 2026. I do recommend this series if you enjoy fast paced thrillers.

[Diwakar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Guys, Hope you'll doing well. It's been quite sometime since I've written any reviews due to personal and professional issues. Hopefully this year will be a positive change for me as well as you guys too.

Today I like to thank Aiden Bailey for the ARC of his latest entry to the Trigger Man series #7 War Path. As I've mentioned previously he has sent me the ARC last year itself and coincidentally that's the first book I've finished this year and also it's releasing today. Here my honest thoughts about the book.

The novel starts with CIA Agents Mark Pierce and Rachel Zang race to Bolivian Jungle to rescue the kidnapped DEA agent Garcia Cardoso who was investigating Gulf Cartel activities in that area. Even though the rescue has gone well that Garcia was killed by mysterious assassin Sand Viper who was employed by Dekaract a criminal Network that was so vast still gives constant nightmares to the team.

Before his last breath Garcia informed Pierce and Zang about the possibility of mole inside their team. When an routine patrol leads to the capture of the assassin Sand Viper, Pierce once again makes a bold move to infiltrate Gulf Cartel as Sand Viper to uncover the Dekaract's plan against USA. What happens next is the whole story.

Even though some new characters are introduced in this novel the Holy trinity Pierce, McKenzie and Zang are the main focus of this novel. Each and every one of these 3 people undergo massive changes in their both physical and mental states and I'm really moved by the way it was written in such manner that it didn't felt forced or just shown as another step in the individual's character arc. Easily some of the scenes change the perspectives of what've they gone through and how will they may evolve in upcoming novels is going to be a treat to read.

As of the Antagonists Sand Viper stood out due to unwavering charm and the mind games which not only affect the team but on the whole change the trajectory of the story altogether. Every action set piece was brutal and if it involves the assassin then it was elevated to the level of cinematic brilliance.

On the whole once again Aiden wrote another great entry to the series and if you've not yet to read the series please give it a try you'll definitely enjoy it to the core and once again I like to thank Aiden for this ARC and waiting for the next entry to this amazing series. As usual thanks for reading till the end of this review if you see any mistakes I've made please point it out in comments because I've become kind of rusty in writing reviews.

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast read! I definitely mean this in a positive way.

The action scenes are explained well and as a reader you can see it all happening as you were there. That is what stands out most in this book.

The suspense and danger is luring constantly, from behind every corner. This is how it literally feels, holding your breath to turn another page and find out what will happen next!! 😅

Great suspense and a must read for thriller lovers!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bren]

War Path is the 7th book in the Trigger Man series and it is Action-packed, has a twisted mission and show downs w/ the Mexican Cartels and that's all in a day's work for the Trigger Man Mark Pierce, but during this mission he had help from Rachel Zang and it's one helluva wild ride.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

This story begins with Pierce and Zang in Bolivia to rescue a DEA agent. Once they arrive they locate him and are in the process of saving him when they are attacked by the party that abducted him. They finally get to the river when the agent is killed by a sniper.

The two get back to New Orleans where they report and advise that it looked like there was a mole either in the CIA or DEA. They get information about a drug shipment and work with the Coast Guard to intercept. They manage to stop it and then discover a cartel submarine which they chase and intercept. Upon entering the sub, they find 4 men killed and a single woman they thought was originally someone who had been abducted. They learn later that that person is the killer known as the Sand Viper. After keeping her in New Orleans, it was decided to transport her back to Houston. On the transport, the group was ambushed and the Sand Viper escaped.

Pierce had gone undercover acting as the Sand Viper to infiltrate the cartel. He was successful and made himself useful to the cartel boss. Things changed shortly and a battle ensued where Pierce wound up escaping with the Cartel's boss's wife and son. The trio made their escape and were pursued by many sicaroes and were almost caught. Zang was sent to try and aid Pierce, but Sand Viper was tabbed with killer Zang and a confrontation between the two resulted with Zang being almost killed.

Read along and learn of all of Pierce's adventures during his time undercover, what happened when they finally reached the USA, what the final task Zang and Pierce were assigned and how it worked out in the end.

There is a lot of action in the story and it definitely will keep your interest, don't miss out!

[skylong · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have our different genres of books we like to read. When you find an author who creates, giving life and depth to a character like The Trigger Man, you crave more!

The geographies Bailey visits in this Book 7 are Bolivia, lots of ground in Mexico, the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge and along I10 through Crowley, Louisiana USA, San Antonio, Texas US, Santa Barbara County CA USA, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and more geographies. The abundant travel life and deep research of this author throughout the series makes fact and fiction really seamless.

I’ll wager a flight into Australia that not one of us readers wants to sneak into the Colombian jungle where that brutal cartel holds sway, to rescue a prisoner! Any prisoner! Did I mention an inside mole? Dangerous rescues, with no chance of success, rests squarely on the shoulders of The Trigger Man. How the author crafts each moment, each thought Pierce has, each sound he hears, puts us readers ethereally in each scene! It’s where I forget to breathe.

Book 7 in this series has somehow become my fav. While Mark Pierce more often than not solos with little to no help from his handler’s handlers in the CIA, this time he does have help - a team effort. You’ll reunite in this book with Zang, Summerfield, and others, and read really thought provoking - and revealing - back stories.

Get War Path … it’s worth every page you’ll turn!

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the past few months, I’ve fallen back in love with spy and military thrillers. Anything that sounds even remotely intriguing draws me in—and this one hit the mark perfectly.
It’s the seventh book in the series, and I hadn’t read the previous instalments before diving in. While some references to past missions were lost on me, the brief explanations provided enough context to follow along. Technically, you could read this as a standalone.
The story kicks off with a high-octane mission that doesn’t end well, setting the stage for a complex operation packed with everything I was hoping for:

- a mole
- high-stakes action
- layered, compelling characters
- interagency politics
- rival cartels

I was immediately hooked, couldn’t put it down, and ended up buying the other books in the series right after finishing. If you’re a fan of the genre, this one is definitely worth your time.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pierce and Zang are answer a call from a agent undercover i a Cartel gang ,after the rescue but he is shot by a sniper but manages to say they have a mole in there organisation .
They find the sniper on a separate mission who works for Cartel leader Kalzara ,so Pierce takes her place as no one knows anything of her identity and infiltrate the Cartel .
Pierce discovers the have Missiles and they obtain them from there old enemy Dekaract.
The Sniper escapes so Pierce has to make a quick escape and is pursued ,but manages to capture one of his pursers and find where they are .
The sniper is also instructed to kill Zang .
They discover the whereabouts of Ahmed Fayet and Pierce and Zang are sent to destroy him and the complex.
A very complex read ,full of action ,great read as always by this Author .as a advanced reader not to give too much away enjoy well worth the read .

[Ganesh Subramanian · Rating 3 out of 5]

War Path is a fast-paced thriller that stays true to the Triggerman formula. The jungle rescue mission is engaging, and the undercover storyline provides steady tension. The idea of infiltrating a cartel as a paid assassin is effective, though familiar.

The plot moves quickly, which keeps the story engaging. However, experienced readers may find the twists easy to predict. Character development takes a back seat to action, which may limit emotional depth.

Overall, the book offers reliable entertainment. It does not break new ground, but it delivers a smooth and readable experience. Fans of the series will likely enjoy it, while new readers may see it as a standard action thriller.
Thank you, Booksprout, for sharing an advanced reader copy of the book for review.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pierce and Zang are trying to track down an assassin known as the Sand Viper who killed a DEA agent while also trying to identify a mole within the organisation. This leads to Pierce going undercover in a Mexican cartel as the assassin.

I thought the story was even more riveting by the personal aspects here for Zang. Pierce has his own problems trying to maintain his cover and staying alive while at the same time, their movements are being tracked by a mysterious person who is passing on this information. This was a really frantic read and I loved every minute of it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Pierce returns in War Path by Aiden Bailey. It starts off as a standard recovery mission in Bolivia but soon the world wide secret organisation that has targeted him before appears and wants a piece of the action. In this book we get to know more about both Trigger Man and Ronin and their backgrounds which I find great. Ther is so much I want to know about Pierce. Well maybe it will all be revealed in book eight? Anuway, for fans of good action and a thrilling read you can't go wrong with this author and series. I must thank Netgalley and Inkubator Books for letting me read this advance copy and for the rest of you. The book is in stores on the 18th of January, go get it.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Trigger Man and supporting characters abide by current US political realities in their latest assignment with the DEA, but with all usual bruises, bumps and pedal to the metal scenarios expected in this series. The action is pretty much non-stop, with the plot building up nicely as the Dekaract strives to cause chaos in their plot for power.

Teamwork pays off in the end, which leads us to wonder what's next for Trigger Man. With that said, enjoy the ride in the latest installment of this action packed series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandra Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always action from the get-go in Author Baileys Trigger Man Books. The first five chapters won't let you down and it just gets better from there. A great Book 7 in the series and I have read them all. If you are looking for suspense, drama and action then look no further. This time Mark and Zang get to delve more into the shadow organisation they have been looking to uncover for years. All the gang are back and together they are a force. Already looking forward to their next outing.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carolyn Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Code name: Sand Viper is someone Pierce and his team had never heard of but now is focus of their attention. They are fighting the war on drugs from the jungles of Bolivia to boats in the Gulf of Mexico, to dealing with all the alphabet agencies within the government.

Mark Pierce goes undercover into a dangerous situation with the cartel. The action is fast paced and keeps the story moving. Shows a human side of our hero when he will not leave the woman and the boy behind.

Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to lose a great Aiden Bailey book. DEA agent Garcia Cardoso is kidnapped by the Gulf Cartel in Bolivia and CIA agents Mark Pierce and Rachel Zang are sent in to rescue him. Mark and Rachel were able to get him out only to have him killed moments later by a sniper. Garcia's last words were there is a mole in the agency. Mark decides he has to go undercover in the cartel that hire the sniper to find out what happened and uncover the mole.

[Robert Foland · Rating 4 out of 5]

"War Path" is another exciting chapter in the life of the Trigger Man, with Aiden Bailey delivering a gripping tale full of nonstop action and suspense. The Trigger Man comes through once again—mission accomplished.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.