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Flesh and Blood
From New York Times bestselling author Don Bentley comes the story of a Green Beret–led rescue mission into Afghanistan’s deadliest valley, where an ancient evil lies in wait.
Five years after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Green Beret Mark “Spicoli” Peters and his fellow commandos are escorting an Afghan warlord through the deadly Korengal Valley one step ahead of the pursuing Taliban. When the team stumbles upon an archaic structure that shouldn’t exist, their discovery leads to a deadly ambush and an impossible choice.
Don Bentley’s Flesh and Blood is part of Pursuit, a gripping collection of short stories that explore what it means to be predator and prey … and what it takes to gain the upper hand. Read or listen to each pulse-pounding story in a single sitting—and an intense adrenaline rush.
Five years after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Green Beret Mark “Spicoli” Peters and his fellow commandos are escorting an Afghan warlord through the deadly Korengal Valley one step ahead of the pursuing Taliban. When the team stumbles upon an archaic structure that shouldn’t exist, their discovery leads to a deadly ambush and an impossible choice.
Don Bentley’s Flesh and Blood is part of Pursuit, a gripping collection of short stories that explore what it means to be predator and prey … and what it takes to gain the upper hand. Read or listen to each pulse-pounding story in a single sitting—and an intense adrenaline rush.
57 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2026
About the author
Don Bentley
22 books976 followersDon Bentley is the NYT bestselling author of FORGOTTEN WAR, Tom Clancy WEAPONS GRADE, and Vince Flynn's MITCH RAPP series (2024). Former FBI Special Agent and Army Apache pilot. Learn more at www.donbentleybooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 Flesh and Blood by Don Bentley
Flesh and Blood is a fast, absorbing read that held my attention from beginning to end. The Korengal Valley setting immediately interested me because of its association with the American deployment to Afghanistan. That backdrop gives the military premise a sense of place and danger before the story takes its more unusual direction. Bentley keeps events moving, yet the soldiers’ actions gave me reasons to pause and reflect on life and the choices people make under extreme pressure. I appreciated getting that reflective element alongside the suspense, especially in such a short work.
The supernatural element was a particular strength for me. I do not want to reveal much about it, since discovering how it fits into the story is part of the enjoyment. What I can say is that the combination of military action and the unexplained worked surprisingly well. It added another layer of uncertainty and kept me curious about what the team was experiencing. Even when I was trying to make sense of what was happening, I remained invested in the story and wanted to keep reading.
My main reservation is that I would have liked more time with it. The pace makes it easy to finish quickly, but there was enough in the premise to sustain a longer story. I would have welcomed more room to explore the situation and its implications without losing the momentum that made it so engaging. Still, Bentley does the story justice within its brief length, and I found the ending satisfying. This was a strong 4.5-star read for me, one I would recommend and one that has made me curious to explore more of his work.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Don Bentley, and Brilliance Publish and Amazon Original Series for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Flesh and Blood is a fast, absorbing read that held my attention from beginning to end. The Korengal Valley setting immediately interested me because of its association with the American deployment to Afghanistan. That backdrop gives the military premise a sense of place and danger before the story takes its more unusual direction. Bentley keeps events moving, yet the soldiers’ actions gave me reasons to pause and reflect on life and the choices people make under extreme pressure. I appreciated getting that reflective element alongside the suspense, especially in such a short work.
The supernatural element was a particular strength for me. I do not want to reveal much about it, since discovering how it fits into the story is part of the enjoyment. What I can say is that the combination of military action and the unexplained worked surprisingly well. It added another layer of uncertainty and kept me curious about what the team was experiencing. Even when I was trying to make sense of what was happening, I remained invested in the story and wanted to keep reading.
My main reservation is that I would have liked more time with it. The pace makes it easy to finish quickly, but there was enough in the premise to sustain a longer story. I would have welcomed more room to explore the situation and its implications without losing the momentum that made it so engaging. Still, Bentley does the story justice within its brief length, and I found the ending satisfying. This was a strong 4.5-star read for me, one I would recommend and one that has made me curious to explore more of his work.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Don Bentley, and Brilliance Publish and Amazon Original Series for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🔥 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲!
I went into this thinking it probably wasn't my kind of thing. Oh, how wrong I was! 😂 The Green Berets, the camaraderie, the banter, the action, Brian Cade's perfectly gruff narration… and THAT ENDING! 👀 Completely unexpected and ridiculously cool. I absolutely loved this book!
Thank you to Don Bentley, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
🎉 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗗𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆! 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲! 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
I went into this thinking it probably wasn't my kind of thing. Oh, how wrong I was! 😂 The Green Berets, the camaraderie, the banter, the action, Brian Cade's perfectly gruff narration… and THAT ENDING! 👀 Completely unexpected and ridiculously cool. I absolutely loved this book!
Thank you to Don Bentley, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
🎉 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗗𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆! 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲! 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
November 4, 2026
Lost Track, but I think number 5 in the Pursuit series. Yes Number 5.
Great all borrowed through Amazon Prime.
Good action and story, just became a little confusing at the end, I lost the plot !
From New York Times bestselling author Don Bentley comes the story of a Green Beret–led rescue mission into Afghanistan’s deadliest valley, where an ancient evil lies in wait.
Five years after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Green Beret Mark “Spicoli” Peters and his fellow commandos are escorting an Afghan warlord through the deadly Korengal Valley one step ahead of the pursuing Taliban. When the team stumbles upon an archaic structure that shouldn’t exist, their discovery leads to a deadly ambush and an impossible choice.
Don Bentley’s Flesh and Blood is part of Pursuit, a gripping collection of short stories that explore what it means to be predator and prey … and what it takes to gain the upper hand. Read or listen to each pulse-pounding story in a single sitting—and an intense adrenaline rush.
3 stars
Great all borrowed through Amazon Prime.
Good action and story, just became a little confusing at the end, I lost the plot !
From New York Times bestselling author Don Bentley comes the story of a Green Beret–led rescue mission into Afghanistan’s deadliest valley, where an ancient evil lies in wait.
Five years after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Green Beret Mark “Spicoli” Peters and his fellow commandos are escorting an Afghan warlord through the deadly Korengal Valley one step ahead of the pursuing Taliban. When the team stumbles upon an archaic structure that shouldn’t exist, their discovery leads to a deadly ambush and an impossible choice.
Don Bentley’s Flesh and Blood is part of Pursuit, a gripping collection of short stories that explore what it means to be predator and prey … and what it takes to gain the upper hand. Read or listen to each pulse-pounding story in a single sitting—and an intense adrenaline rush.
3 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been flying through the short stories in the Amazon Pursuit Collection and so far they have all been very entertaining. I have to say though, that I was particularly impressed with this one.
This story, out of all of the other ones, has a bit of a supernatural bent to it and added to the normally fast action, tension filled story that I was expecting. This one had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I’m not going to go into spoilers because I think one of the best things of it all was having it unfold without knowing what to expect.
I listened to this on audio and had the pleasure of listening to new-to-me narrator Brian Cade. He had a way of bringing the story to life with a little bit of added drama.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Brilliance Publishing | Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC. This book will be out for publication on October 27, 2026.
This story, out of all of the other ones, has a bit of a supernatural bent to it and added to the normally fast action, tension filled story that I was expecting. This one had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I’m not going to go into spoilers because I think one of the best things of it all was having it unfold without knowing what to expect.
I listened to this on audio and had the pleasure of listening to new-to-me narrator Brian Cade. He had a way of bringing the story to life with a little bit of added drama.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Brilliance Publishing | Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC. This book will be out for publication on October 27, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'd almost forgotten how much fun a well-curated short story collection can be. “Pursuit” takes a simple theme, hunt or be hunted, and hands it to six thriller writers who promptly head off in completely different directions with it.
“Tower Fall” by Mark Greaney and Joshua Hood is perhaps the most straightforward pursuit story of the bunch. It is built around a high-stakes mission where multiple groups are chasing the same thing with very different goals. It's pure adrenaline.
In “Bushido”, Brad Taylor turns the concept inward. A contract killer finds himself hunted by rival Yakuza factions while trying to uncover who set him up. The chase is as much about honour as it is about survival.
“Hunting Gods” takes a darkly amusing approach. David McCloskey drops us into the orbit of extremely wealthy men whose resources have vastly outpaced their judgement and moral restraint. It is sharp, suspenseful and quietly satirical.
The remaining stories push the theme in different directions again. “The Final Hour” by Simon Gervais feels like a race against time. Following a unwise decision, pursuit here becomes inseparable from urgency and looming consequences. “Flesh and Blood” by Don Bentley shifts into something darker and stranger, following a Green Beret-led mission through Afghanistan's Korengal Valley where the hunters soon discover they may not be the only predators in the landscape. It was one of the collection's more inventive entries for me because it blends military thriller conventions with something unexpectedly ominous. “Takedown” by Allison Brennan rounds things out with a more familiar investigative, crime-focused take on the theme, demonstrating once again how many forms a pursuit can take. Not every story is about a literal chase. Sometimes the hunt is for answers, justice, survival or the truth.
It is great to see how varied the authors interpretation of the brief was. Some stories are action-heavy, others lean into suspense, mystery or atmosphere. The common theme ties everything together, but each author finds a distinct angle on what pursuit really means. As with any anthology, some entries resonated more strongly than others, but every story brought something fresh to the table and kept me eager to see where the next author would take the concept.
The narration from Luke Daniels, Joe Knezevich and Tim Campbell is excellent throughout, giving each story its own identity while maintaining a satisfying coherence across the collection.
A thoroughly entertaining compilation and a fantastic reminder that I have seriously underrated the pleasure of snacking on short thriller fiction.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing & Amazon Original Stories, NetGalley and all the authors for an advance listening copy of this short story collection.
“Tower Fall” by Mark Greaney and Joshua Hood is perhaps the most straightforward pursuit story of the bunch. It is built around a high-stakes mission where multiple groups are chasing the same thing with very different goals. It's pure adrenaline.
In “Bushido”, Brad Taylor turns the concept inward. A contract killer finds himself hunted by rival Yakuza factions while trying to uncover who set him up. The chase is as much about honour as it is about survival.
“Hunting Gods” takes a darkly amusing approach. David McCloskey drops us into the orbit of extremely wealthy men whose resources have vastly outpaced their judgement and moral restraint. It is sharp, suspenseful and quietly satirical.
The remaining stories push the theme in different directions again. “The Final Hour” by Simon Gervais feels like a race against time. Following a unwise decision, pursuit here becomes inseparable from urgency and looming consequences. “Flesh and Blood” by Don Bentley shifts into something darker and stranger, following a Green Beret-led mission through Afghanistan's Korengal Valley where the hunters soon discover they may not be the only predators in the landscape. It was one of the collection's more inventive entries for me because it blends military thriller conventions with something unexpectedly ominous. “Takedown” by Allison Brennan rounds things out with a more familiar investigative, crime-focused take on the theme, demonstrating once again how many forms a pursuit can take. Not every story is about a literal chase. Sometimes the hunt is for answers, justice, survival or the truth.
It is great to see how varied the authors interpretation of the brief was. Some stories are action-heavy, others lean into suspense, mystery or atmosphere. The common theme ties everything together, but each author finds a distinct angle on what pursuit really means. As with any anthology, some entries resonated more strongly than others, but every story brought something fresh to the table and kept me eager to see where the next author would take the concept.
The narration from Luke Daniels, Joe Knezevich and Tim Campbell is excellent throughout, giving each story its own identity while maintaining a satisfying coherence across the collection.
A thoroughly entertaining compilation and a fantastic reminder that I have seriously underrated the pleasure of snacking on short thriller fiction.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing & Amazon Original Stories, NetGalley and all the authors for an advance listening copy of this short story collection.
October 28, 2026
Don Bentley has written an exciting short story called Flesh and Blood. It's part of a six book collection from Amazon with some really good authors. I recommend that you get them all.
October 28, 2026
Another Novella. Another terrific read!
In this one we have the Green Beret's who are trudging back through enemy lines trying to save a young woman who is being held hostage. They have terrible memories of all that happened in Afghanistan several years ago when all the troops were removed... and many of their brothers were killed in an attack...
Now, they have the best of the best... each specializing in a certain area... and just as they come in for the kill, a 'thing' appears and talks to one of them... ????
This one made my skin crawl, and scared the heck out of me too!
#FleshAndBlood by @DonBentley and narrated wonderfully by @BrianCade.
4.75 bold, scary, cringy, crawley, muscled stars for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫💫💫
This one has just been released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @BrillilancePublishing and @AmazonOriginalStories for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
In this one we have the Green Beret's who are trudging back through enemy lines trying to save a young woman who is being held hostage. They have terrible memories of all that happened in Afghanistan several years ago when all the troops were removed... and many of their brothers were killed in an attack...
Now, they have the best of the best... each specializing in a certain area... and just as they come in for the kill, a 'thing' appears and talks to one of them... ????
This one made my skin crawl, and scared the heck out of me too!
#FleshAndBlood by @DonBentley and narrated wonderfully by @BrianCade.
4.75 bold, scary, cringy, crawley, muscled stars for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫💫💫
This one has just been released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @BrillilancePublishing and @AmazonOriginalStories for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
October 14, 2026
This is a Review of an advance copy received from NetGalley.
I’m a huge fan on Don Bentley and his work. Once I discovered this short series collection for Amazon I was intrigued. Especially seeing a bunch of great authors.
With this story I love the tightness of the story. It gives you a unique situation with the right amount of detail to keep you hooked but not waste the short length. I would recommend this book and the others in this series.
Not getting into spoilers here but The story follows a small team attempting an extraction on someone they have a past with in Afghanistan. This story is filled with intrigue and reflection. Plus the ties to Afghanistan do hold close to home as someone in the military now. The little nod to a Blackhawk and the descriptions of special forces teams are very good. Plus a little surprising element added at the end. I was very impressed by that addition. Really well done for such a short length.
Don Bentley does a great job here and my only complaint is I wish it was longer! Definitely one of my favorites in the series of short stories.
Highly recommend reading this and other works by Don.
I’m a huge fan on Don Bentley and his work. Once I discovered this short series collection for Amazon I was intrigued. Especially seeing a bunch of great authors.
With this story I love the tightness of the story. It gives you a unique situation with the right amount of detail to keep you hooked but not waste the short length. I would recommend this book and the others in this series.
Not getting into spoilers here but The story follows a small team attempting an extraction on someone they have a past with in Afghanistan. This story is filled with intrigue and reflection. Plus the ties to Afghanistan do hold close to home as someone in the military now. The little nod to a Blackhawk and the descriptions of special forces teams are very good. Plus a little surprising element added at the end. I was very impressed by that addition. Really well done for such a short length.
Don Bentley does a great job here and my only complaint is I wish it was longer! Definitely one of my favorites in the series of short stories.
Highly recommend reading this and other works by Don.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC porvided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Flesh and Blood by Don Bentley was a fast-paced, action-packed thriller with a supernatural element that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story grabbed my attention with its initial mission, only to quickly shift as circumstances changed and things began to go wrong. I enjoyed watching the characters navigate the chaos, adapt to unexpected developments, and figure out how to move forward when things didn't go according to plan.
The combination of action, suspense, and the supernatural made this an especially enjoyable read for me. It was a quick read, but it delivered an engaging story that kept things moving and gave me exactly what I was looking for. My only real complaint is that I wish it had been longer. I would genuinely love to see more stories like this, particularly if the author were to expand on the supernatural elements and give the story more room to develop.
Overall, *Flesh and Blood* was an awesome read. It was short, entertaining, and effective, and it left me wanting more. I would absolutely be interested in reading more thrillers that blend this level of action and suspense with supernatural elements.
Flesh and Blood by Don Bentley was a fast-paced, action-packed thriller with a supernatural element that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story grabbed my attention with its initial mission, only to quickly shift as circumstances changed and things began to go wrong. I enjoyed watching the characters navigate the chaos, adapt to unexpected developments, and figure out how to move forward when things didn't go according to plan.
The combination of action, suspense, and the supernatural made this an especially enjoyable read for me. It was a quick read, but it delivered an engaging story that kept things moving and gave me exactly what I was looking for. My only real complaint is that I wish it had been longer. I would genuinely love to see more stories like this, particularly if the author were to expand on the supernatural elements and give the story more room to develop.
Overall, *Flesh and Blood* was an awesome read. It was short, entertaining, and effective, and it left me wanting more. I would absolutely be interested in reading more thrillers that blend this level of action and suspense with supernatural elements.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This novella I enjoyed via an audiobook. Don Bentley is known for his political intrigue/ special ops thrillers, but this story has a twist. If I were to summarize this tale it would be Strangers Things meets Terminal List.
A small force of Green Berets, in post 2021 Afghanistan, is attempting to shepherd a CIA asset through the Korengal Valley to be whisked away to Pakistan by helicopters. However, as they are moving through this harsh valley, there's something else waiting besides Taliban fighters.
I really think Bentley hit every note perfectly, from the military unit and camaraderie to the small hints and whispers of the supernatural slowly building to an ominous encounter.
A great story.
NOTE: I received this copy via Netgalley.
A small force of Green Berets, in post 2021 Afghanistan, is attempting to shepherd a CIA asset through the Korengal Valley to be whisked away to Pakistan by helicopters. However, as they are moving through this harsh valley, there's something else waiting besides Taliban fighters.
I really think Bentley hit every note perfectly, from the military unit and camaraderie to the small hints and whispers of the supernatural slowly building to an ominous encounter.
A great story.
NOTE: I received this copy via Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my first time experiencing the writing of Don Bentley. That has been part of the enjoyment of Amazon’s Pursuit series (a group of authors writing short stories). You get to experience several different authors with different writing styles.
This story was not only good, it had a major twist that I would have never seen coming. It was absolute perfection.
Added to it is the narration of Brian Cade. The source material and his delivery just builds the anxiety slowly to a fever-pitch.
This is a quick listen and a great story to enjoy.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
This story was not only good, it had a major twist that I would have never seen coming. It was absolute perfection.
Added to it is the narration of Brian Cade. The source material and his delivery just builds the anxiety slowly to a fever-pitch.
This is a quick listen and a great story to enjoy.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 28, 2026
This short story is part of the Pursuit Collection that explores characters who are both the predator and the prey.
Four Green Berets are sent to Afghanistan to escort an Afghan warlord through the Korengal Valley. But several unusual conditions happen from loss of their comms, to bad weather that wasn't supposed to be, and an archaic structure that shouldn't exist.
I loved the camaraderie among the four Green Berets, their thought processes while dealing with the changing situation, the danger, and the twist at the end.
Four Green Berets are sent to Afghanistan to escort an Afghan warlord through the Korengal Valley. But several unusual conditions happen from loss of their comms, to bad weather that wasn't supposed to be, and an archaic structure that shouldn't exist.
I loved the camaraderie among the four Green Berets, their thought processes while dealing with the changing situation, the danger, and the twist at the end.
October 30, 2026
Bentley demonstrate his talent as a writer.
I must say that on first read, I would have given this novel a B. Why? The ending. On re-read/listen I changed my mind. As a thriller reader it is sometimes hard to accept some endings, Mark’s ending. This story is so interesting. I would love to hear how Bentley came up with this story. Was it an experience he had while he was in Afghanistan? Was it something he heard about? A mysterious entity in a mysterious place. This is not a typical Bentley novel. It has a supernatural angle. Typical of Bentley it is a story that includes brotherhood, loyalty and sacrifice.
I must say that on first read, I would have given this novel a B. Why? The ending. On re-read/listen I changed my mind. As a thriller reader it is sometimes hard to accept some endings, Mark’s ending. This story is so interesting. I would love to hear how Bentley came up with this story. Was it an experience he had while he was in Afghanistan? Was it something he heard about? A mysterious entity in a mysterious place. This is not a typical Bentley novel. It has a supernatural angle. Typical of Bentley it is a story that includes brotherhood, loyalty and sacrifice.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is such a surprise. It is a quick read that is not what I was expecting. Think of the typical action packed read and add a paranormal twist to it and you get this read. In the end, I wish that this was a little longer but in the end it still works. I recommend this book to others.
October 28, 2026
Short but worth the time
I don't normally review what I read like or dislike and don't criticize. Stories are a part of the person that write them. Not for me to pass judgement. This was a very entertaining story that moved between two genres and kept me entertained,
I don't normally review what I read like or dislike and don't criticize. Stories are a part of the person that write them. Not for me to pass judgement. This was a very entertaining story that moved between two genres and kept me entertained,
October 29, 2026
Interesting in a good way
I really like Dom Bentley, he did great with the Tom Clancy books and I've read his first Vince Flynn book. Solid reads, so when I saw that he did a short story for this collection I knew I had to read it.
It was less action packed and more thrilling and eerie. Especially with that supernatural twist at the end. That was freaky but I enjoyed it.
9/10
I really like Dom Bentley, he did great with the Tom Clancy books and I've read his first Vince Flynn book. Solid reads, so when I saw that he did a short story for this collection I knew I had to read it.
It was less action packed and more thrilling and eerie. Especially with that supernatural twist at the end. That was freaky but I enjoyed it.
9/10
October 29, 2026
What an absolutely incredible book! I loved everything about it! Terrific narration as well!
November 1, 2026
creepy
Wow. I did not expect the ending to this story. Powerful, gripping, redemption, sacrifice. Maybe someone else can help me interpret!
Wow. I did not expect the ending to this story. Powerful, gripping, redemption, sacrifice. Maybe someone else can help me interpret!
November 6, 2026
Flesh and Blood by Don Bentley is a thrilling story. Thanks.
October 17, 2026
Flesh and Blood by Don Bentley is book #5 of 6 in Pursuit, a collection of short fiction thrillers.
In Afghanistan’s deadliest valley this team of commandos come across a structure that’s not on the map…
A deadly ambush ensues…
A brilliant, propulsive story that mixes the real with the mystical.
In Afghanistan’s deadliest valley this team of commandos come across a structure that’s not on the map…
A deadly ambush ensues…
A brilliant, propulsive story that mixes the real with the mystical.
October 28, 2026
2.9 stars
Thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for the early preview of this audiobook.
I was not sure what to expect for this book (the fourth book of the Pursuit Collection of short stories) since I didn’t read the synopsis beforehand. I did not enjoy this one as much as the others, but I did enjoy the characters and their very brief backstories. This book had a feel to it similar to Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell but far less sad due to it being really short and fictional. However, we get to experience some potential paranormal activity in this one, which could be a good or bad thing. Overall, it was ok.
Audiobook narrator Brian Cade rating: 3 stars
The narrator was just ok reading this book. Again, it was a short story.
Thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for the early preview of this audiobook.
I was not sure what to expect for this book (the fourth book of the Pursuit Collection of short stories) since I didn’t read the synopsis beforehand. I did not enjoy this one as much as the others, but I did enjoy the characters and their very brief backstories. This book had a feel to it similar to Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell but far less sad due to it being really short and fictional. However, we get to experience some potential paranormal activity in this one, which could be a good or bad thing. Overall, it was ok.
Audiobook narrator Brian Cade rating: 3 stars
The narrator was just ok reading this book. Again, it was a short story.
October 28, 2026
Flesh and Blood, by Don Bentley, follows a group of Green Berets as they try to make it to their exfil, ahead of the pursuing Taliban. During the escape, they stumble upon ruins that do not appear on their maps and an American hostage. The group must fight against incredible odds, leaving one team member to make a decision that will affect them all. I have read stories by Don Bentley before, and this short story did not disappoint. It was amazing and thrilling, and I highly recommend giving it a chance.
Thank you to NetGalley, Don Bentley, and Amazon Original Stories for allowing me to listen to this advance copy.
Thank you to NetGalley, Don Bentley, and Amazon Original Stories for allowing me to listen to this advance copy.
November 1, 2026
Starting as a typical “dad-lit” and morphing into a horror/psychological mashup, Flesh and Blood manages to flip the script on age old action tropes without feeling gimmicky or weird. It’s got plenty of action and typical “ooh rah” military moments as well as a trippy/weird feeling that would fit in with a Jeremy Robinson or David Golman book. I wouldn’t say this one fits in perfectly with the “Pursuit” theme, however, I throughly enjoyed what Bentley did with this, and can fully appreciate the 180 he pulled off.
October 31, 2026
Combat and Horror
Short but creepy. What a good combination. Military and evil demon! My third Pursuit short story! Love these stories. Onto the last 3!
Short but creepy. What a good combination. Military and evil demon! My third Pursuit short story! Love these stories. Onto the last 3!
October 31, 2026
Pursuit Collection
1. Tower Fall ⭐⭐⭐,5
2. Bushido ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Hunting Gods ⭐⭐
4. The Final Hour ⭐⭐⭐
5. Flesh and Blood ⭐⭐⭐
6. Takedown ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1. Tower Fall ⭐⭐⭐,5
2. Bushido ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Hunting Gods ⭐⭐
4. The Final Hour ⭐⭐⭐
5. Flesh and Blood ⭐⭐⭐
6. Takedown ⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 6, 2026
Good but…
Good writer. First 3/4 of the book was good but the ending section was just too weird for my tastes.
Good writer. First 3/4 of the book was good but the ending section was just too weird for my tastes.
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