False Dawn: Mackenzie Reynolds Thriller Book 1

by D.V. Berkom

She thought the mission was about protecting a defector.

She was wrong.

When a high-value defection goes violently wrong off the coast of Costa Rica, close protection operator Mackenzie “Mac” Reynolds is the only one left standing. Her client, a Chinese military colonel, vanishes. Her team is dead. Determined to uncover who betrayed them, Mac begins a global hunt for the truth.

ebook

Published August 17, 2026

About the author

DV Berkom is the USA Today bestselling author of action-packed, riveting adventure and crime thrillers. Known for creating resilient, kick-ass female characters and page-turning plots, her love of the genre stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, action/adventure stories, and thrillers.

A restless soul and adventurer at heart, she spent years moving around the US and traveling to exotic locales before she wrote her first novel and was hooked. More than a dozen books later, she now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Mark, and several imaginary characters who like to tell her what to do. Her most recent books include the Claire Whitcomb Western Series: Retribution, Gunslinger, and Legend, and the latest in the Leine Basso thriller series: Final Encounter, Terminal Threat, Fatal Objective, A Plague of Traitors, and Shadow of the Jaguar. DV's currently hard at work on her next thriller.

For more information, visit her website at www.dvberkom.com. To be the first to hear about new releases and subscriber-only offers, go to: bit.ly/DVB_RL

Books by DV Berkom:
The Kate Jones Thriller Series:
Vol. 1 (books 1-3): Bad Spirits, Dead of Winter, Death Rites, Touring for Death
Cruising for Death
Yucatán Dead
A One Way Ticket to Dead
Vigilante Dead

The Leine Basso Thriller Series:
A Killing Truth
Serial Date
Bad Traffick
The Body Market
Cargo
The Last Deception
Dark Return
Absolution
Dakota Burn
Shadow of the Jaguar
A Plague of Traitors
Fatal Objective
Terminal Threat
Final Encounter

The Claire Whitcomb Western Series:
Retribution
Gunslinger
Legend

Reviews

[Richard Gordon]

This is a whirlwind tour from central America to Southeast Asia.
Mac is a close protection agent who loses her entire team and her protectee.
She has some personal issues which influence how she follows through to avenge her team. Well written by an exciting author. I have read everything that she has written and I am constantly mazed by the amount of research that goes into her work. I am not one to spill the beans about the plot or action but I can say readers won't be disappointed.

[Diane Wagner]

Action-packed, can’t put down kind of book! Outstanding plot, great characters, lots of interesting locations and a female lead who is awesomely fierce! Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

[Allen Simmons]

Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Reynolds is a protector. She heads up a team for a non-military, close protection group. She’s good, but there are forces at work over which she has no control.

Mac’s dad is dead. She doesn’t speak to her mother. Her team is her family. When betrayal turns what should have been a routine mission into a fight for survival her whole world is turned upside down and so begins a heart-stopping race to find the perpetrators.

Typical of DV Berkom, the story-line is fast, gritty and consuming. ‘Mac’ is a work in progress. Unlike other heroines of Berkom’s worlds Mac is going to take some getting used to. She’s young, impetuous, volcanic and remorseless.

There are secrets to fathom and she will not rest until they are brought to light.

[LooseBoots]

A brand new series from one of my favourite authors. There are some books that take a while to " get into" but this book captured my attention from page one.
It had just the right amount of intrigue, excitement and tension to make it an exciting thriller.
A winner in every sense of the word. A spy thriller that would give James Bond a run for his money.
Fantastic work.

[Paula Stockdale]

Once again DV Berkom has delivered! New venue, new characters, strong and competent lead character great action and pace. If you’re not reading DV Berkom’s book, you should be.

[Chapters_with_VDKeck]

Y’all, False Dawn hits the ground running and leaves scorch marks! When Mac Reynolds’s protection team is wiped out in a surgical ambush, her mission to safeguard a defector explodes into a globe-spanning conspiracy involving black ops, encrypted intelligence, a driven journalist—and the father she thought she’d lost.

Mac is tough, sharp, and wonderfully human, with enough grit to chew nails and ask for seconds. D.V. Berkom’s cinematic writing crackles with tension, while the excellent world-building pulls you deep into a shadowy maze of espionage, betrayal, and buried secrets. Fast, fierce, and twistier than a backroad in a thunderstorm—this series opener is one heck of a ride!

[Tanya]

I received an advance review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Very action packed and engaging throughout which was fun! The only thing that let it down was the constant changing of locations which became hard to keep up with. I would like to see the romance more fleshed out as the books go further, as I wasn’t quite sure how Mac actually felt. Otherwise, another page turning book by an amazing author and looking forward to the next instalment.

[Roger]

False Dawn: Mackenzie Reynolds Thriller Book 1, my thirteenth read from author D.V. Berkom, with a kick-ass female main character, the first book in the Mackenzie Reynolds Thrillers! I love mystery & espionage & Berkom has both in this book. She's created a character you want to read more about! I have to read more by this author about this character. I’ll be reading more by this author, especially since I just went out & discovered that I own more books in the series! “I received a complimentary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. High on my TBR list is Fractured Dawn: Mackenzie Reynolds Thriller Book 2 (Mackenzie Reynolds Thrillers). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Timothy J. & Darlene D. Seyler]

Easier to read than LaCarre, less characters but more depth of each. Can easily pick up, put down, and pick up again. Good chapter length, Easier than the Bourn series just a fun, easy read

[Richard JF Gallick]

Excellent read and good start for a new series. Looking forward to the next instalment in this series.

[HornFan2]

One of my favorite niches in the action/adventure genre, are one's with a strong lead female character and man can D.V. ever deliver. She's my favorite author, with that style of book.

MaKenzie Reynolds is tough, fearless, human and out for revenge. She makes False Dawn two good, while protecting a Chinese Military defector with her team. They are compromised, MacKenzie ends one of two survivors, the rest of her team gets killed, learns who sold out the team and she ends going on the hunt for revenge.

False Dawn, was my type of book, fast paced, a storyline that could be ripped right out of the headlines, it's tension filled, action packed, full of suspense, twists and turns several red herrings, builds to an epic conclusion, that sets you up perfectly for book 2, chocked full of good and nasty characters that add to the storyline.

Thought D.V.. kept the storyline believable, plausible even, another great edition to good verse evil genre themed books and the perfect partner for Leine Basso.

[Pierrebleu]

A fast paced thriller with plenty of non-stop action and twists & turns.
Mac is another great headstrong female lead character from DVB, although maybe not quite as likeable as in her other work, but that’s just my preference. She hurtles headlong into trouble when looking for answers with Nick who she encounters along the way, but can she trust him?
She finds herself in a mountain of trouble but there is one person who could possibly help but the last thing she wants to do on this earth is seek help from that one particular person, her mother. She might have no choice!
Action packed to throughout and it kept me engaged from first page to last.

[Hazel]

A cracking start to a new series

I've been a huge fan of DV Berkom for years – her Leine Basso books are always a must-read for me – so I was incredibly excited to hear she's starting a brand new series.

This story introduces us to a brand new character, Mackenzie Reynolds, and she is an absolute powerhouse. Honestly, the whole way through reading I just kept thinking about how much I need Mackenzie and Leine to meet up at some point. They would either become instant friends or completely level whatever city they happened to be in together, and I would 100% pay to see that! 😜

The story kicks off quickly and doesn't really let up. Mackenzie proves she is more than capable of handling herself. She is tough, clever and has that perfectly gritty edge that this author writes so well. The plot has plenty of twists to keep you guessing and the pacing is spot on.

The settings themselves are atmospheric and vivid that they almost become characters in their own right, adding a layer of tension to the plot you can practically feel the sweat and dust on the page as things unfold.

If you like fast-paced thrillers with strong, no-nonsense female leads then you're going to love this one. It doesn't officially come out until August but it's definitely one to add to your pre-order list. I'm already impatient for the next book to see what Mackenzie gets up to next.

Once again, thank you to D.V for accepting me as a member her ARTeam and for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of False Dawn and my hungry eyes can't wait to read the next!

[Julie Howard]

Explosive start to a new series, one that I can't wait to jump back into. I just loved it.

This author always writes entertaining, thought provoking, action packed thrillers and this series looks like we can expect the same. I was immediately engaged and connected to the characters, which was great because it kept me hooked but it also meant I was worried the rest of the book about there future. Good job there wasn't that many characters and it was more how Mac got out of deadly situations, while searching for answers. Oh and finding people to trust when everybody is keeping secrets. Secrets that could get you killed.
While dodging bullets we were also treated to colourful scenery in a number of places and locations from Costa Rica, Vietnam and London making it easy to imagine and picture all while trying to uncover the truth with a deadly killer not far behind. Really looking forward to the next book.

When a high ranking officer of the Chinese military devices to defect, Mac and her team are requested to provide protection. However her team is betrayed and somehow she is the only one left alive. Determined to track down those responsible for wiping out her friends, Mac will need all her skills and training because she might be looking for someone but they are also looking for her.
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Kim]

A promising new series…

Looking for something new and exciting? Well, here it is. This first book in a brand new series starts off with a bang (actually several) and keeps up the frenetic pace all the way through. D.V. Berkom is an award-winning author of several very popular series featuring fierce female leads who back down from nothing. Mackenzie Reynolds, the lead character in this series, is no different. I’m not saying she is perfect—she has her flaws like any one of us, but she is a firebrand force to be reckoned with if you are foolish enough to cross her. And this book begins with her being crossed in a big way. I won’t summarize the entire story or spill any beans that will spoil your enjoyment; I just want to say that if you like strong female leading ladies, non-stop action, and plot twists that will keep you flipping pages all night, you have found your newest adrenaline fix. I enjoyed every page of this book and am very much looking forward to the next story. I highly recommend this book to all armchair adventure seekers and thriller enthusiasts.
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I was provided with an advance copy of this book, for which I thank the author, but my choice to share my honest and unbiased review is completely voluntary.

[Alexandria]

Received an advanced read copy in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

I'm a fan of D.V.'s books and this one is no exception. I always know I've got a book that I'll not want to put down when I get partway in and this was exactly the same way. Once I had time to start the book, I found myself staying up far too late on weeknights, reading into the pitch darkness of the middle of the night and early morning. (I read slow though because I like to settle into a plot and be present for it!)

I found the description of the locations to be charming and interesting in a way that indicated the author bothered to become familiar with the setting locals instead of just Googling some facts about it and pretending. Specifics of customs and people come into play in the background enough to make you feel certain they know what they're writing.

The characters are engaging and while the first bit of the plot feels like you can already 'call it' and I worried for a minute that we'd drag that part out for a long while, we don't. It's something else, something behind that event, that gets trotted out front and center, leaving me avidly consuming page after page.

Can't wait on the next installment!

[Judy Johnson]

OMG...I don't even know where to start! This book is edge-of-your-seat, thrilling, a nail-biter, riveting, and all those feels wrapped into one! I received an ARC copy of this book, and the opinion expressed here is mine alone and left freely without any promise of remuneration.
The first book in this Mac Reynolds trilogy (and no obvious cliff hanger...) takes us all around the world chasing down bad guys, dodging bullets, super exciting chase scenes, and escape scenarios that will have you cheering out loud for the good guys! What makes this even better (I wasn't sure DV even could) was trying to figure out exactly WHO the bad guys were, and if/when/where they would resurface next. This spy thriller is so descriptive that the reader can actually visualize the setting, which makes it THAT MUCH MORE exciting. I don't want to rehash the story, but I DO want you to do three things: 1. Pre-order, you WON'T BE SORRY! 2. Read other books by this author, again, you WON'T BE SORRY 3. Take my advice, this is a MUST read for anyone who loves spy-thrillers, with very bad actors, lots of action, and just a GREAT story. I am anxiously awaiting book number two.

[Al]

After reading the first few pages of this book I said to myself, “this is off to an intense start.” It turns out that it was just ramping up and relative to where things go from there it wasn’t so intense after all. The protagonist, Mackenzie, or Mac as she is known, is a strong female who gets things done, something that I know to expect when I read a book by D.V. Berkom and one of the reasons I always jump at the chance to read her books. Mac is a new character, but this book is the first of a planned trilogy, so I expect to see her kicking some butt (that has it coming) in some fashion again. As intense as this read was and how much it impacted Mac in many ways, both professionally and personally, this is the perfect read if you enjoy intensity in the stories you read. If you’re looking to relax, maybe not, although even then you can be glad that you’re not dealing with things as stressful as Mac does.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[MB]

I have read most of DV Berkom's books and was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of "False Dawn" from the author. The book is the beginning of a three-book series featuring Mackenzie "Mac" Reynolds, who provides close protection to clients hired by the agency she works for. Mac and her team's job is to protect a Chinese defector, but all goes terribly wrong. She not only loses the defector but also all but one member of her team. She begins a personal crusade to find out who is responsible, which has her hopping from country to country. The reason I rated 4 stars instead of 5 was because it was difficult for me to believe that she could go so easily from country to country even with the help of her deceased father's friend and his son. The author's descriptions are spot on; I could almost feel the sweltering heat Mac encounters on her crusade. There are twists and turns in the story and some amazing revelations that kept me turning page after page far into the night. I can't wait to read the two follow-on books.

[Dawn Gill]

I've read all DVBerkom's books, and was delighted to be offered an advance copy as part of the proofing process.
I'm very, very fond of Leine Basso, but she's been retired, and there's a new kick-arse protagonist in town - Mackenzie Reynolds.
As with all books by this author, everything feels meticulously researched and convincing - but it's written with such a light touch I feel I'm absorbing the details almost by osmosis.
It's fast paced, interesting and with exactly the correct level of jeopardy and violence. There's always a wish I could read one of Berkom's novels through the night; and if I'd not had the requirement to check for any inconsistencies, that's what I'd have done!
I've warmed to Mac (and her pals), and I'm really looking forward to the next in the series.
A great book, perfect holiday reading, wherever and however you might be spending your downtime.

[Daniel J]

I enjoyed False Dawn very much. My only comments are on page 51 there is a paragraph that mentions “Craig”. Not sure who Craig is. The following paragraphs confused me a little from page 122 - “I’m sorry for your loss.” Neary fell silent. After a brief moment she said in a quiet voice, “And the colonel?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t think he’s alive.”
Neary dropped the piece of candy back into the paper bag. “We are in a dangerous business.”
“What happened? What stopped you from getting the colonel out?”
The older woman sighed as she rolled the top of the bag closed. “We were compromised.” She stared into the distance. “Someone was intercepting Colonel Zhang’s messages.”

Excerpt From
ART copy: False Dawn: Mackenzie Reynolds Thriller, Book #1
D.V. Berkom
This material may be protected by copyright.

[Laurie]

Another amazing book by D.V. Berkom! Mac and her protection team were sent to cover a Chinese
Official trying to defect. Chaos ensues when they get him to a yacht, thinking being on the water was safe.
Naturally, the ship is compromised. Mac barely makes it out alive.

She decides to find out why her team was destroyed. Determined, Mac travels and meets up with Nick. Together they find contacts all over Southeast Asia and realize Nick's brother died in a related mission.

Mac is a force to be reckoned with. Great character. Working with Nick they begin to care about each other.
Hard to put down!!

[Dave Wheeler]

This is an exciting start to a new series Mac is leading a team for the 1st time but not all goes to plan but its a thriller so be a shock or boring if it did and this is definitely not boring in anyway shape or form.

An action packed adventure no one is safe and not a real spoiler not everyone survives, there is plenty of action never a dull moment so hold on to your seats your in for a great ride.the actin is global and it feels like this is going to be a great series I can't wait for the next adventure

Definitely 5 stars in my view and highly recommended to read you're not going to be bored that's a guarantee

[Hope Gerhardstein]

Mac Reynolds is a kick… female protagonist in a new series by DV Berkom. She is similar in abilities to Leine Basso in another of Berkom’s series. This book takes us from Costa Rica to Vietnam, Laos and London. With great descriptions of the locations. Mac is tasked with protecting a Chinese defector but the job is compromised and she becomes the sole survivor. She goes on the hunt to avenge her team and meets a journalist named Nick who assists her. It is full of action and suspense with a little bit of romance. Mac and Nick are searching for something while they are being chased and threatened with death. Great read.

[Candy Sue Truskowski]

I received this copy early and man am I glad I did. What a great book, I couldn't stop thinking about this book when I wasn't able to read it. This book would be a great movie and one I would love to watch. I loved everything about this book; the action, the places, the characters... it came together so flawlessly and I'm here for it. If you love action, adventure, betrayal and suspense then you better get this book. I can't wait to start the second book and find out what else Mac gets herself into. This was my first book by D.V Berkom and after this series I will be reading the others, I love finding new authors that rock!!!!

[Lonnie Huff]

This is a hard to put down thriller. Mac is a protection specialist. Her team has been tasked with getting a Chinese informant out to safety. When they pick him up they are ambushed, but they manage to get away. They go to their safe place and are betrayed. The team is killed and Mac wants revenge. She travels over Southeast Asia trying to find out who set them up. There are hit teams out trying to stop her.

This is a book you will read more than once its so good. It is intense and fast paced it will keep your attention. This is a great read and you won't regret it.

[Claudete Takahashi]

If you are the sort of reader that enjoys adventure and mystery False Dawn is a must-read! Mac is leading her team protecting a defector from China but they'll only face betrayal and death, with her being the only survival. She'll almost get killed when trying to get back home and after learning the few leads there were to find those responsible for the carnage she goes back to Asia where she'll be facing life threats, will discover hard truths regarding her parents, and might even find love.
Fast-paced, False Dawn is a great start to a new series!
I thank the author for this ARC.

[Cindy Schlener]

I am an advanced reader for False Dawn. I have read all the Leine Basso books along with the Kate Jones books and have loved them all. False Dawn is a new series about a strong woman in a tough position. I found it really fast paced and I liked the main character "Mac". She's has a lot family issues so quite a complex character which I enjoy.
So you are looking for a good book about a complex woman who is mental and physically strong and searching out answers to a mystery - this is it!

[Ciclochick]

Required: a new book by your favourite author; a no-nonsense, kick-ass protagonist; fast-action thrills and spills that send your heart racing nineteen to the dozen; guaranteed entertainment. Solution: this book.

Not that I ever doubted it. I have twenty-one Berkom novels under my belt, so it’s fair to say I’m not just a fan, I’m utterly besotted.

This one absolutely delivers. You have to stay sharp, mind. Mac trusts no one, and frankly neither should the reader. Every chapter keeps you second-guessing right up to the climactic end.

As ever, Berkom throws every ounce of her honed, high-octane storytelling into the mix: tight pacing, ruthless tension and action sequences that practically sizzle.

And the best part? There’s more to come.

[Jean Durbin]

If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers with strong female characters, international intrigue, and plenty of twists, put this one on your reading list! With espionage, betrayal, unexpected connections, and secrets coming to light, the story keeps you guessing.
A gripping storyline, plenty of action, and a protagonist you can't help but root for. Definitely a page-turner for thriller fans!

⭐ Highly recommended!