The Thin Black Line

Mike Walton #1

by Simon Gervais

Mike Walton had experienced terrorism from every angle. As a covert field operations officer, he thought he'd seen it all. But that was before terrorism struck him directly at home. Suffering devastating physical injury and unthinkable personal loss, Mike had one of two choices: give up or fight back. And giving up wasn't in his constitution.

Mike and his wife Lisa – a medical doctor and fellow counter-terrorism expert – are recruited by the International Market Stabilization Institute, a privately funded organization operating outside official channels to protect North America's financial interests. The strikes that destroyed Mike and Lisa’s household – the work of Sheik Al-Assad – are bringing the Western economy to its knees. And they are only the beginning. If the Sheik succeeds, the world will change forever, and the next attack is just around the corner. Mike and Lisa must lead a hastily assembled team to Europe to stop the madness before time runs out.

Rippling with tension, raging with action, and replete with the kinds of details only a true counter-terrorism insider can provide, THE THIN BLACK LINE is a nonstop thriller of the first order. It announces an unforgettable new team of characters and a distinctive new voice to the thriller world.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Espionage, Political Thriller

503 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 8, 2013

About the author

Simon Gervais is a former federal agent specializing in protective operations and counterterrorism. He spent nearly twenty years in the military and in law enforcement. His assignments took him all over Europe and the Middle East. He's the New York Times and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 15 exciting thrillers, one of these titles—Robert Ludlum's The Blackbriar Genesis—was written for the Robert Ludlum estate. Simon's Clayton White series is presently being adapted for TV by CBS Studios with Jerry Bruckheimer TV attached to produce.

Simon lives with his wife and two children. He's an avid boater, diver, and skier.

Literary Agent: Mark Tavani at David Black Agency.
Film/TV Agent: Debbie Deuble-Hill and Alec Frankel at APA.

The Caspian Anderson series:
THE ELIAS NETWORK (Sept 2024)
THE ELIAS ENIGMA (July 2025)
THE ELIAS CONSPIRACY (July 2026)

The Chase Burke series (co-written with Ryan Steck):
THE SECOND SON (December 2025)
THE MARKED SON (November 2026)

Robert Ludlum's THE BLACKBRIAR GENESIS written by Simon Gervais (October 18, 2022)

The Clayton White series:
THE LAST PROTECTOR (November 2021)
THE LAST SENTINEL (August 2022)
THE LAST GUARDIAN (October 2023)

The Pierce Hunt series
HUNT THEM DOWN (January 2019)
TRAINED TO HUNT (September 2019)
TIME TO HUNT (November 2020)

The Mike Walton series:
THE THIN BLACK LINE (March 2015)
A LONG GRAY LINE (Novella—March 2016)
A RED DOTTED LINE (November 2017)
A THICK CRIMSON LINE (April 2018)

"[An] action-packed series launch by Simon Gervais..." —Publishers Weekly

"One of the most anticipated action thrillers of the year..." —The Real Book Spy

"Gervais is a thriller writer to watch..." —Library Journal

"An action-packed thrill ride with plot twists around nearly every curve" — Kirkus Reviews

Reviews

[Ward Larsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn't make it beyond Chapter 6

To his credit, the writer has a nice writing style. Unfortunately, from a proclaimed security expert, I found the opening scenario wildly unrealistic. A security threat against an airliner, so serious that an agent dons body armor and poses as a flight attendant, yet they miss a large band of terrorists who bribe their way past security with heavy weapons and grenades? Then the airplane is loaded with unsuspecting passengers? Maybe it got better, but the author lost me there.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Simon Gervais in the first Pierce Hunt book and has since read everything he has written except the Mike Walton series so why not read that as well. The Thin Black Line is the first book and it is a lot about the beginning of Mike and his wife being introduced into IMSI and a world of hunting bad guys. I am a big fan of Gervais and his way with words. I thought the Hunt series was ok, the first book is the best but then he really took of with some fantastic writing. I found this first book entertaining although there are some things I thought was a little strange but it's fiction. I will continue with this series and see where it goes. If you haven't tried this author before you must do so.

[Beth Cutwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I lost a fair amount of sleep over The Thin Black Line as I couldn't put it down. With the very first words, I was hooked and locked in for a hair raising ride with this book.

Everything I imagine our scary world to be was emmulated in this story of terrorism and heroism. Characters were well developed and fleshed out. The plot flowed smoothly to a satisfying conclusion. I desperately want to read more about Mike and Lisa Walton's journey into saving our world.

This is a very fast paced, breath holding and hair raising thriller. Words really don't convey the realism and believability of this work of art, rather Simon Gervais. I found it to be intriguing and can't wait for more from this exciting new author!

[Raymond Bertrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thin Black Line is Simon Gervais’s debut. It’s a fast-paced, intricate yet suspenseful spy thriller similar to the ones written by Daniel Silva. Gervais managed to develop his characters in a way only a handful of authors can. His action scenes are simply breathtaking and much more realistic than in other books of the same genre. At the end of the book, Gervais wrote a half a dozen pages that offer a glimpse about his life as a former federal agent specialized in counter-terrorism and protective operations. I thought it added a nice element to the book.


I’m definitely hooked! Looking forward to the next one.

[Céline Brière · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a real-life covert antiterrorism agent, Simon Gervais clearly knows what he's writing about. His debut novel THE THIN BLACK LINE is a fantastic read. Well-developed characters, believable villains and non-stop realistic action kept me turning the pages. The husband and wife counterterrorism team really worked for me. I love books with strong female protagonists and this one delivers! I've been reading for over 50 years, and it's the first time I felt compelled to write a review. Well done!

[Mary Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the plot and the characters; however, some of the errors in editing, or more like "lack of editing" bugged me. I would have thought editors would have caught some of the glaring mistakes in some of the sentences. I know, petty to some but it kept stopping me, and sometimes confusing what he was trying to say, when past tense vs current, words repeated, etc. on the good side, great edge of my seat tension, and scary how close it is to things we are hearing and seeing in the world today! I will read him again!

[Derek McColl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining read. It has a very tragic beginning with an excess of death. Although it is fun to read about a husband and wife special ops team, some of their dialogue seemed rough. It was also interesting to read about a secret privately owned special ops force that were actually the good guys instead of the bad.

[Softbananas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you want to read a spy thriller or a touchy feely mush book ? Well this has both and for me it didn't work. I also thought the writing style is amateurish at best.

[John W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unveiling of Simon Gervais’ first book THE THIN BLACK LINE introduces his readers the main protagonists Mike Powell and his wife Lisa. The pace of action in the plot begins immediately when Gervais describes the dramatic story Mike’s father’s disappearance. Actions and turn of events have a life altering effect on Mike and Lisa Powell’s lives and their future.

THE THIN BLACK LINE describes sacrifices Mike and Lisa will make to deal with events of their difficult past. Before they can join a privately funded team focusing on combating actions of terrorists all over the world, they both must to come to terms with demons neither understands. Finally Mike tells Lisa how he feels about their loss and they learn to trust each other and work toward the common goal of eliminating the source of their personal terror. Readers come to understand the IMSI team’s goal is to eliminate terrorism regardless of the rules of engagement. THE THIN BLACK LINE’s non-stop action storyline is important as Gervais educates what Mike and Lisa are experiencing at the turn of each page. The author introduces support characters and their backstory and roles they play in his mystery spy thriller.

Gervais story comes to life showing what dealing with the war on terrorism is like. Readers become part of Mike and Lisa’s assignments and the unthinkable results if they don’t succeed. THE THIN BLACK LINE has action on every page, the author skillfully keeps his readers in the dark regarding the unprecedented ending as well as the resolve of each of the subplots. At the end of THE THIN BLACK LINE, Gervais’ readers’ will want verification that they have just read a fictional non-stop spy thriller, or a true story dealing with the evils of terrorism. Gervais provides a must read story earning a 5 star ranking.

[Bookwyrm Speaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw an add for this book and took a chance. I ma glad I did, because it was a hell of a thrill ride. Packed with action, it tells the story of a Canadian husband and wife who are dealt a horrible tragedy and are given the ability to get back at the people that visited it on them. Mike is a former Canadian Spec ops officer who is working as an RCMP Air Marshal, and is caught in a terrorist attack, as is his wife in another area. They suffer a huge tragedy, and are recruited into an organization that will allow them to go after the terrorists that played a part in it. It is action packed, with likable characters who are also dealing with moving past a huge loss. The bad guys are just that, BAD, and totally believable. Set in multiple locations around the world, You feel like your a part of the action. Any fan of Tom Clancy or Brad Thor's should definitely get this book!

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in a GoodReads giveaway.

The Thin Black Line is a good thriller about espionage and terrorism!

It is about terrorists and how the good guys use intelligence etc. to catch them. I learned a lot about terrorist cells and how they work and the jihad element. Simon Gervais, the author, has first-hand knowledge of terrorists and the way they operate, as he has worked for various governments. His book is the first of a series, and it left me wanting to read the next book of the series (which has not been written yet.)

I also liked the part at the end where he gave notes and as much explanation as he could describing specific intelligence techniques.

I would recommend the book and will be reading the next book in the series.

[Steve Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Okay - I am a big fan of Simon Gervais and his Pierce Hunt series. But I decided to read the Mike Walton series starting with THE THIN BLACK LINE and it was fantastic!! Superb action across the globe, an awesome plot and fantastic characters - Gervais shows that he is a pro when it comes to counter terrorism and to writing thriller novels. If you love great protagonists like Pike Logan (Brad Taylor), the Gray Man (Mark Greaney), Mitch Rapp (Vince Flynn/Kyle Mils), Matt Drake (Don Bentley), you will love Simon Gervais' Mike Walton! 5 STARS!! I just can't wait to read the next in the series, A RED DOTTED LINE!

[Gin Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

SURPRISED ME-LOVED IT!

This book is not the usual kind of story line I prefer to read but the reviews were high and the little blurb outlined ofc the story intrigued me so I have it a try. I really enjoyed it. It wasn't constant shooting and fighting but rather had a great story line with interesting characters and lots happening that was really fun to read and learn about. I didn't want to put it down! I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to read an exciting captivating book. Complete entertainment. :)


HIGHLY RECOMMEND! :)

[Priya Narayan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met the author while in a taxi in Santorini Greece. As a supporter of writers and the the level of great conversation I had with him I thought I would try the book. I wish this movie turns into a movie! Mr. Gervais said if I liked the mainstream crime shows k would enjoy this book! It's reminiscent of 24n It's was so good! So realistic as he promised it would be! I enjoyed the pace of the book. I took my time reading this, only reading to put myself to sleep, totally did NOT work! I loved the storyline of the novel! Great work Simon Gervais! Can't wait to see the next one!

[delong hoffman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like it.

The notes at the end were the best part. Mike's and Lisa's characters were annoyingly underdeveloped. I found myself reading on just to get through it. I respect immensely M. Gervais' expertise and service; I just found the writing extremely uneven. EVEN SO, I may actually give his next book a try: as with all of us, practice makes perfect.

[Kevin Stumpf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have been a four star review if not for a few EXTREMELY IRRITATING moments.

First of all...when writing dialogue in a foreign language, authors that do not provide the translation for the reader SHOULD NOT SO!!!!! How am I supposed to know what "solo los corredores certificados pueden entrar sin escolta" means? Put the meaning in italics...something.

Second is the unfathomable dialogue between a husband and wife:
"Let's split up, Lisa. I'll walk into the terminal while you look for the Opel."
"Understood. Be careful, Mike."
"Always." Before climbing out of the vehicle, Mike added quietly, "We're a team, Lisa."
This is not how people who know each other talk to each other.

"I couldn't seem to find the right words to comfort you. You were in a dark place, my love. A very, very dark place." Are these two adults in this century? or in a Shakespeare play?

Lastly who is proofreading this book?

"As soon as they were inside, the door closed, and the Mercedes accelerated away.
"Hello, Zima," Mike said, out of breath.
"What the f*$^?" Zima replied, panting as well.
A Support Six member put his fingers to his lips, silencing them. The next twenty minutes were spent in silence as Support Six listened for any alerts that might have been given about Mike or Zima. One convinced they were in the clear, at least for the moment, the same man who had asked them to be quiet walked toward them." WHAT? HOW? They ACCELERATED AWAY!!! Twenty minutes later the guy who shushed them WALKS TOWARD THEM? Did they accelerate away to drive in a circle for twenty minutes?

The plot and action of this book were good, but these irritating instances may cause me to wait to read the second installment. Hopefully the writing gets better.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first introduced to Simon Gervais’s writing with his Pierce Hunt series, and I have been a fan ever since. I devoured the Hunt series, and then I jumped on board with his newest series with Clayton White at the helm. Needless to say, I am an avid fan of Simon Gervais, so when I came across his first series, the Mike Walton series, I jumped all over it!

Gervais’s writing style is action packed with amazing plot progressions that I always get sucked into. Gervais’s background is so varied, and he has worked in a variety of defense backgrounds that it lends perfectly to his novels. They say write what you know…well Gervais does that with such an artistic flare, and he has the skills to take his novels to the next level.

The Thin Black Line is Simon Gervais’s first novel in his Mike Walton series. Mike is an expert in anti-terrorism. He has seen terrorism from every angle, and he is at the pinnacle of his career. However, when terrorism hits him close to home, and he is left gravely injured, Mike is faced with two choices: to give-up, or go after the group responsible. Well, it is not in Mike Walton’s DNA to give up.

When Mike and his wife Lisa, who has her own impressive resume in counter-terrorism, are recruited to a privately funded organization who operates outside of official channels to go after the group responsible, they become the first husband and wife team in this organization, and they are not to be trifled with. The couple are after the organization who decimated their family who are currently trying to destroy the Western economy. This threat only scratches the surface of what this organization can do, and time is against Mike and Lisa as they race around the world to stop them.

The Thin Black Line is an incredible read and an epic introduction to Mike and Lisa Walton. What made this novel so intriguing for me was the emotional turmoil Mike and Lisa must traverse. This couple must slog through the most unthinkable trauma. I already considered Simon Gervais to be one of my favorite authors, and this novel just cemented it for me!

[Kenneth Gomberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave 5 stars to the Pierce Hunt novels but...

Those were 2 of the best books I've read in this genre, very much like Jack Reacher. So don't give up on this author. I didn't care for the plot, it's sort of tired. A Muslim protagonist and a slew of unpronounceable names with Allah akbar peppered in throughout the book. I love this author, and it has MANY reviews, most extremely high, so is say it's a case that I just didn't gel with this book and it met most people's expectations highly. So, to be fair, give this a shot, though, do NOT miss the two Pierce Hunt novels that end in a cliff hanger and we have to wait until NOVEMBER of this year for the next volume. That is maddening. You finish and you go WHAT? You turn the page and there are just acknowledgments. But don't miss them. I finished both in 2 days and I didn't even sleep that night so I could stay up and read.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

No no no...I wanted to like this book so badly...and I'm glad so many others have liked this. But ugh. The story line itself was great but this was so incredibly unrealistic that Mike's wife could somehow be trained to be an incredible operative in less than a year! Even better trained than the support teams sent to accompany her and Mike? Really? I wish I had stopped reading after the first 25% when I realized that they did not even grieve hard considering the horrendous loss...I grieved more over the loss of our Pug...I mean come on...Nope just too unrealistic. I would have believed this book more if there had been years of training for both Mike and Lisa...they are not Mr. and Mrs. Smith...not by a long shot. And then the ending was so inconsistent. The entire book Mike is obsessed about his father...and then when there is a glimmer of hope, he concedes that he should stay out of it??? Oh no no no...too much inconsistency and unrealistic to the point of, not again for me.

[Johnny Hostile · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great action. Poor writing- I lost count of the number of times a person was named in dialogue. “Lisa, we should shoot the terrorists.” “Yes, Mike, that is a good idea.” It’s like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Some of the painful wording makes one think that English is not the author’s first language. (Mike had a strong work ethics.)
Too many on-the-nose phrases: “Uknown to the terrorist, the signal from the phone was bounced around satellites….”
There were two goals We were led to expect heroes to accomplish: save the dad and kill or capture the Sheik. They did neither of these. The dad was saved by a miracle, and the Sheik got away.
At least the book was really, really long.

[Susan Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authors that have a background in the subject they write about write the best books, as is the case in ‘The Thin Black Line’. The plot is so intricately woven with twists and turns that include believable highly developed characters that have enough authenticity to keep you on the edge of your seat. Also in play is you wondering how the agencies charged with keeping the world safe from terror networks ever manage to do it. I highly recommend this book if you like great spy thrillers.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best assets have nothing left to lose

The best assets have nothing left to lose and everything to gain when they're the good guys. Mike and Lisa loose what is most precious to them when terrorists strike. They emerge from grief with new identities and new purpose - a search for the bread of the snake for justice. Or retribution. . .

Simon Gervais presents a riveting story of what takes place behind the headlines, where anonymity is far desired over public adulation.

[Jaume Ayala · Rating 3 out of 5]

First contact with a new character in a new series.
First quarter (25%) of this novel is uncredible... I cannot imagine anything else to happen to that character!!!! This is what made it become the character for this series.
An Organization in the Shadow is deployed (similar to "The Campus" in Jack Ryan's series) to operate against bad guys... I'm curious to see how this evolves in next books.
Some threads remains unresolved at the end which I guess will be the start for following novels

[Jack Burkhalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gervais gives the reader another thrilling story !

International assassin Mike Walton and his wife physician, Lisa, take on more terrorist and successfully stop another threat to Europe, Canada & America's economic stability. How they succeed is non stop adventure. A true page turner.

[James f. white, jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thin Black Line is one of the most intriguing international spy/terrorists novels I’ve ever read!

If you’re a big fan of international action packed thrillers like yours truly, then The Thin Black Line is a must read book for you hands down! So, what’re you waiting for? Grab your copy today and dive in!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of a series involving a husband and wife team fighting terrorism due to the tragic death of their families.
There is a lot of action throughout, but it is not gratuitous; the same goes for romantic interests of various characters.
This is well-written, and the characters are fleshed out nicely.

[Mark Easter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Walton had experienced terrorism from every angle. As a covert field operations officer, he thought he'd seen it all. But that was before terrorism struck him directly at home. Suffering devastating physical injury and unthinkable personal loss, Mike had one of two choices: give up or fight back. And giving up wasn't in his constitution.

Mike and his wife Lisa – a medical doctor and fellow counter-terrorism expert – are recruited by the International Market Stabilization Institute, a privately funded organization operating outside official channels to protect North America's financial interests. The strikes that destroyed Mike and Lisa’s household – the work of Sheik Al-Assad – are bringing the Western economy to its knees. And they are only the beginning. If the Sheik succeeds, the world will change forever, and the next attack is just around the corner. Mike and Lisa must lead a hastily assembled team to Europe to stop the madness before time runs out.

Rippling with tension, raging with action, and replete with the kinds of details only a true counter-terrorism insider can provide, THE THIN BLACK LINE is a nonstop thriller of the first order. It announces an unforgettable new team of characters and a distinctive new voice to the thriller world.

Review

"Realistic, vivid, dramatic, this is a story told by someone who knows what he's talking about. I offer a bow to this exciting debut and to the newest member of the thriller-writing community. Make a note: in the years ahead Simon Gervais is a name you'll be seeing on many more book covers.”
– Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

“When Simon Gervais writes about the world of high-stakes global security, he knows what he's talking about. His world-class security expertise shines through in The Thin Black Line, a high-speed, break-neck, turbo-charged thriller that takes readers behind the scenes of the war on terrorism."
– David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of The Protector

"The Thin Black Line is a refreshingly smart and blisteringly original tale that's equal parts financial thriller and cat-and-mouse game with the survival of the United States economy hanging in the balance. Simon Gervais puts his own law enforcement background to solid use in hitting a home run his first time at the plate. A major debut that places him on the level of Nelson DeMille and Brad Thor."
– Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong Darkness

“Chilling, compelling, and cutting edge. Global security expert Simon Gervais gives us a husband-and-wife counter-terrorist team that must fight inner and outer demons – and find a way to survive both.” 
– Barry Lancet, author of Japantown

"Drawing from his military and tactical training, Gervais offers up a crisp, taut thriller that action fans can really sink their teeth into.”
– Steven James, national bestselling author of Checkmate

“The Thin Black Line is a heart-pounding read! Simon Gervais weaves bona-fide tradecraft into a high-octane story that never lets up. This is one thriller you don’t want to miss!”
– James R. Hannibal, author of the Nick Baron black ops thrillers

Review

"Realistic, vivid, dramatic, this is a story told by someone who knows what he's talking about. I offer a bow to this exciting debut and to the newest member of the thriller-writing community. Make a note: in the years ahead Simon Gervais is a name you'll be seeing on many more book covers.”
– Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author.

“When Simon Gervais writes about the world of high-stakes global security, he knows what he's talking about. His world-class security expertise shines through in The Thin Black Line, a high-speed, break-neck, turbo-charged thriller that takes readers behind the scenes of the war on terrorism."
– David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of The Protector.

"The Thin Black Line is a refreshingly smart and blisteringly original tale that's equal parts financial thriller and cat-and-mouse game with the survival of the United States economy hanging in the balance. Simon Gervais puts his own law enforcement background to solid use in hitting a home run his first time at the plate. A major debut that places him on the level of Nelson DeMille and Brad Thor."
– Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong Darkness.

“Chilling, compelling, and cutting edge. Global security expert Simon Gervais gives us a husband-and-wife counter-terrorist team that must fight inner and outer demons – and find a way to survive both.”
– Barry Lancet, author of Japantown.

"Drawing from his military and tactical training, Gervais offers up a crisp, taut thriller that action fans can really sink their teeth into.”
– Steven James, national bestselling author of Checkmate.

“The Thin Black Line is a heart-pounding read! Simon Gervais weaves bona-fide tradecraft into a high-octane story that never lets up. This is one thriller you don’t want to miss!”
– James R. Hannibal, author of the Nick Baron black ops thrillers. 

[John Crutchfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gritty yet entertaining

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the second book. I was a little confused by how quickly Lisa was trained. Counter-terrorism is a deadly game and one that requires years of training.

[Robert M. Roth MD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not memorable

Plenty of action and the book moves along. However, I didn't care for any of the main characters and there are too many lucky coincidences and escapes for me to read without suspension of belief.

[Steve Jeffers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the very involved plot. Realism makes this book an excellent read. Certainly right on time in this era of non conventional warfare. I am currently reading the 2nd book in the series and highly recommend the 1st one.