Target Down: A Gripping Western Thriller About Family, Vengeance, and Survival

Matthew Redd Thriller #5

by Ryan Steck

When former deep-black operative Aaron Decker helped Matthew Redd escape both a blizzard and a team of killers, Redd promised to return the favor if he was ever needed. Now, that favor is being cashed in.

Though he's been living quietly with his family in Michigan since his 'death' ended his military career and former life twenty years ago, widower Aaron Decker wakes one night to a home invasion that is clearly not random. Someone has finally found him. After narrowly escaping a Russian mafia hit team, he takes no chances with his children's safety and relocates them to a remote Upper Peninsula cabin where he awaits the arrival of his old ally and former Marine Raider, Matthew Redd.

When Redd arrives, he's eager to make good on his promise to repay his debt. Redd and Decker work together under constant threat to transport Decker's kids to Redd's ranch in Montana. Then Redd convinces Aaron to leave the kids in his wife Emily's care, camping at a remote site in Yellowstone National Park under the watchful eye of FBI director Gavin Kline. Meanwhile, the two men take off to investigate the source of the mysterious leak feeding Decker's whereabouts to the Russian mob.

While Redd and Decker cross the country, following leads that seem to point to a traitor in Decker's former deep-black ops unit from the early years of the War on Terror, Emily and the kids find they're not as safe in Yellowstone as they hoped. When they learn of the danger, Redd and Decker can only hope that they're not too late as they race to protect their families.

Packed with suspense and action, Target Down is the 5th gripping military thriller in the Matthew Redd

Fields of Fire (Matthew Redd #1)Lethal Range (Matthew Redd #2)Out for Blood (Matthew Redd #3)Gone Dark (Matthew Redd #4)Also Redd Christmas, a Matthew Redd novella

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 8, 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

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4.5⭐️ Ryan Steck you nailed another one in the Matthew Redd series! Please don't stop! I honestly don't know how he does it, because I really am not a thriller/action novel reader, they generally are not my type. But there is something about these Matthew Redd series that seriously keeps me going! In Target Down we see Matthew team up with Aaron Decker and I love how we see two dads working hard to keep the bad guys away and these guys protecting their beloved families. I was guessing until the end who in the world "Nightshade" was. And I of course will not tell you as I think you should read it for yourself and try to figure it out. Target Down is nice and clean, no language to worry about, and another great addition to the Matthew Redd series! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Steck has outdone himself. Target Down is in my opinion the best book yet in this series about Matthew Redd. The book starts with great action and then it never stops. It's fast paced and well written with some wonderful characters, both old ones and new ones. For once it's not Matt himself that is deep into trouble and his home in Montana is safe. But is it really? An old acquaintance reaches out for help and as we all know by now Matt can't refuse no matter the consequences, he is there. This is a wild race against an anonymous foe buried deep in government as well as some dangerous Russians. I had a really great time reading this fifth adventure in a series I was thinking about quitting but I will now eagerly wait for the sixth installment. I must thank Netgalley and Tyndale House for letting me read this advance copy that will hit the shelves on September 8th.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to see two superstars working together. Decker and Redd make a good team. When the bad guys discover Decker, aka “Phantom “ is still alive, the chase is on. But when they go after family, the stakes are raised, and the fight is on. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.