Dead in Their Tracks

Mitch Kearns Combat Tracker #1

by J.T. Sawyer

FBI Agent Mitch Kearns had just finished teaching a mantracking course and was looking forward to time off when the daughter of a former black-ops mentor shows up on his doorstep in desperate need of help. The Aeneid Corporation, a military contractor that provides mercenaries to third-world governments, wants Devorah Leitner dead and the secrets she carries buried. With his life taking a drastic turn as the two are pursued by trained killers through the desert, Mitch has to use every trick in his arsenal as a former combat tracker to elude their pursuers until they can thwart the sinister plot to launch a terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Dead in Their Tracks is the first book in a new action-adventure series by author JT Sawyer.

About the Author: JT Sawyer is the pen name for Tony Nester who makes his living teaching survival courses for the military special operations community, Department of Homeland Security, US Marshals, FAA, and other federal agencies throughout the US. He has over 25 years of experience testing long-term survival skills in the desert, mountains, and forest. JT also served as a consultant for the film Into the Wild. For more information, visit jtsawyer.com.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Adventure, Fiction, Ebooks, Action, Military Fiction

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2016

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dead in Their Tracks is the first book in a series of books about Mitch Kearns, the fictional FBI Combat Tracker. The story begins with a demonstration of Mitch Kearns' abilities: he is teaching a tracking course to FBI wannabes, which is an important set up for the novel. He returns from the FBI field office only to find that the daughter of his Black Ops mentor is on the run from a U. S. military contractor. She needs help avoiding capture, and while Agent Kearns attempts to make up his mind whether or not he will help her, his desert-isolated home is attacked. He, then, realizes that he must now use every skill he’s ever known, to attempt to keep her safe, and invariably unlock the conspiracy that is transpiring even in the highest branches of the U. S. government, the military contractor, and the FBI itself. Instead of heading toward the city to evade capture and seek help, he heads farther into the desert. It’s an okay read, but not terribly original, and not a lot of depth to the characterization. It is, however, rife with action, intrigue, and suspense.

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m on vacation, and this is a decent vacation read. OK, I’ve found something positive to say about this Amazon First Reads (at least I think that’s how it ended up in my Kindle Library.) Some reasons I don’t recommend it: the characters are pretty one dimensional imitations of hundreds of characters you’ve met before in other novels. The macho renegade super hero FBI agent ( he’s a bit worse than the normal stereotype, he does more mansplaining in the first few chapters than most of his type do in a complete novel.) PS: to show how macho he is, he actually says “ a man ought to smell like a man.” Whatever that means. Enter Dev, the sultry Israeli agent skilled at all forms of combat, cyber intelligence, etc etc, but still her Daddy’s girl. The villains are clones of multiple others of this genre. The first 60% of the book focuses on an interminable manhunt through the unforgiving Southwestern terrain. This is to demonstrate the author’s credentials, he knows of which he writes. But at 40% I was rooting for the 🌵 cacti. The reason I gave it a second star is that it was decent and short enough to keep it off my DNF list. I think there are sequels aplenty, but not for me.

[Joan]

Late night read.

This story is chock full of loooooonnnnnngggggg sentences which makes reading hard work . Info dumps don’t help either, and the guard screams and no one hears him??

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay but a little too predictable.

[billy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished the preface

She was one badass woman but argued about killing the guard. Come on!!! She was supposed to take over the company? Poor storytelling IMO!

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Dead in Their Tracks”, first full length novel in the 'Mitch Kearns' series, is a by the numbers chase thriller.
The daughter, Devorah 'Dev' Leitner, of Mitch's former mentor, Anatoly Leitner, is on the run after hacking into the military contractor Aeneid Corporation. She's taken encrypted files detailing a plan for multiple terrorist attacks, funded by the company, in the U.S.A.
She tracks Mitch down to his temporary lodgings in a ranch bunkhouse but has hardly enough time to outline her story before heavily armed mercenaries attack. From there on in, almost till the end, Mitch and Dev are on the run across desert territory.
Mitch, following his Special Ops Army service, signed up with the FBI and specialises in tracking (the physical kind). He uses his skills to stay ahead of his stalkers.
But Aeneid has powerful support in the U.S Government - Dev is placed on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted list and Mitch gears his FBI career just went down the tubes.
I hadn't read it before but it felt like I had as it takes a tried and tested generic plot and runs with it without much imagination.
It's not bad but it isn't good - an OK read.
3 Stars.

[Robert Enzenauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author was recommended to me by my friend and veteran-turned author Mike Slavin for our monthly book club, and I am so glad that he did. This is an incredible action thriller, and the author’s personal history as a survival trainor and tracker comes through in all of the exciting action. And the character of Dev is a great contrast and addition to Mitch. The plot moved verty, very fast, and even the minor characters are well developed and interesting. Terrforism, and gov ernmental intrigue. Very hard to put down – so don’t start if you have commitments that can’t wait. I read it over a weekend, and didn’t get much else accomplished. There’s murder, corruption terrorism. Also, The author is very creative with his descriptions of the desert Southwest. I will definitely go finish this series, but plan to start this author’s zombie post apocalypse series.

[Karen Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read books 1-3 as a boxed set. My review of the set is as follows:

The Mitch Kearns Combat Thriller Series combines well written characters with thrilling action, and brings forth tracking and survival skills.

Mitch Kearns is a former Army Special Forces tracker turned FBI Tracker and survival instructor in the US Southwestern District.

At the end of a FBI mission, Mitch returns to his bunkhouse on a friend's ranch only to find Devorah (Dev) Leitner on his doorstep trying to avoid being captured and/or killed by a typical megalomaniac trying to take over the world through supporting oppressive third world dictators.

Thus begins book one. In subsequent books two and three, the connection between Mitch and Dev grows while other equally bad antagonists "bite the dust."f

[Michael Slavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author knows a lot about tracking.

This was a good and short novel, the first in a long series.

Mitch is the good guy, FBI, pulled into helping a former Mossad agent in Arizona who is trying to stop a terrorist attack on US soil.

What I like:
-Great details about tracking.
-Strong female and male lead.
-Great chase in the Arizona desert, that ends up in LA.
-Good action scenes.

What I didn't like:
-I felt two interactions didn't seem real to me. It was subtle and probably not worth mentioning. You probably won't even notice. Not egregious, and nitpicking.

I will read the rest of the series and some of his other stuff too. Has some apocalyptic books too.

[Linda Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept, marred in the execution,

I found the background of tracking and evasion techniques interesting, but the character development was weak, and the writing did not generate any emotional response making it difficult to get invested in the fate of the main characters. The antagonists were cliched and two dimensional - i was about to say they were too black-and-white, but they were just black.

The editor didn’t do a good job, allowing incorrect homonyms and nonsense phrases to pass (when was the last time you saw a lilting smile?)

It was hard going to get to the end.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read with Accurate Details

This book provides a riveting adventure story. It also presents factually correct tracking skills. The author could have been my SERE instructor in the Philipine jungle. For those not familiar with the acronym, Google it. For those intimately familiar with the term, "Dead in their Tracks," will instantly bring back memories. I sincerely hope all those memories are pleasant. JT Sawyer wrote a novel that appeals to a wide audience. I budgeted for the series.

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great read. Easy, short and quick but also predictable, slow and frankly, boring. It has a lot of potential but not enough to really keep interest.
Character development is practically non existent. It’s almost like Here’s Dev and here’s Mitch and then they collide together. There’s little development working up to either intro and they’re the main characters. For all the side characters, development is even worse.
The tracking data was interesting for sure but not enough to keep reading the series for me.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Espionage, Murder, Terrorism and Betrayal

Mitch and Dev are both well trained in their respective countries as soldier and rescue and ransom savior respectively. They are forced into the Arizona desert with mercenaries and ex coworkers trying to kill them and retrieve information that could reveal a plot against the United States. This book is filled with exciting adventure and survival techniques that will keep entranced to the end.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mitch Kearns Combat Tracker #1
Dead in Their Tracks
J.T. Sawyer

One part spy thriller, computer hacking, wilderness hike, shoot out. Mitch and his female Mossad Agent trek through Arizona Desert Prickly Pear dodging rattlers and cactus spines and bullets while trying to avoid the perils of a rocky terrain. Wary of friends who may be moles Mitch wishes he had his dog who resides with his Ex so he’d know someone was truly loyal.

[See · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good read. I will look forward the second book in the series.

Dev and Mitch go from desert country with all of it's pitfalls and end up in the big city thwarting terrorists and profiteers from the government and they never get sexually inclined. This was a refreshingly good book to read.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced and with a unique skill set - tracking

All aspects of the story were fine but there was a major flaw. An un-named character gets shot, but this person would never have gone into battle without a vest. He already used vests earlier in the story so why all of a sudden does he not use one now?
Besides that, it was fun and fast!

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

People who like espionage and counter espionage will love this book. The main characters are vivid, deserving of respect, and totally committed to their separate causes. The plot is straightforward and easily followed and the premise is stopping a man completely mad with power from destroying even more lives with his bid for even more power.. I do recommend this book.

[Cynthia A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Power hungry jerks!

A greedy individual and a politician who was greedier plan to have an Iranian attack on United States soil. Dev managed to infiltrate a firm that was planning the attack. She is put on the FBI top ten list after she steals vital information.
Mitch is on vacation when Dec comes to him for help. From now to the end of the book is nonstop action.

[Suzanne Borcherds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

Don't start this book unless you can finish it asap. Very exciting and the plot is very suspenseful. Great descriptions of the Arizona desert which keeps the book interesting. Great read.

[Thomas Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it.

Good group of characters, good and bad. Enough twists in the plots to keep your attention. Still wondering where in Anaheim there is a forest with a stream running through it. Oh well, starting book #2, enjoy.

[Sam mcdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

Not as good as a lot of other books in the political intrigue category, but I did enjoy the outdoor portion, which most of that genre lacks. I may give the next one a peek.

[stuart mckie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast moving, 'can't put it down' read

Really enjoyed the storyline and the character development. So much so that I've bought the follow on. Fiction mixed with desert/tracking lore ... an interesting and different blend.

[C P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, fast pace

Strong character development across the story. The ending a bit much but not unexpected with the story. Warriors did as warriors. Greed and politics bring corruption at great cost

[S. Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept my interest mostly because I am from the area in the book. It was pretty predictable and did not really cover anything new for this genre. It was free and worth the price. I have not decided if I will read the next in the series.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lot of action

The author does a pretty fair job of describing the tracking needed in the book. The characters could use a little more development to understand the thought process that goes on in the story line. It is an interesting book and worth reading.

[Fran Germinaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting novel with FBI agent Mitch Kearns, a military contractor and Dev Leitner, daughter of his Black Ops mentor teaming together to prevent a terrorist attack.
Will the next in the series bring them closer together? I think this would make a good movie.

[Robert T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead in Their Tracks

This story was fast paced, factual, believable, and the characters were very relatable. All in all, a great read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of action

And not easy to see the many moves that lie ahead, as the writer chooses the less predictable path for the story. It was a very interesting read and kept me wanting to delve further into the narrative.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action and pace to spare

I really enjoyed the exciting pace of this novel. It's not badly written but nothing special either. The character of Mitch is pitch perfect. The woman is fairly well done. I would probably read another one in this series. The setting was a bonus.

[Ruth Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Enjoyable

Fast paced adventures, clear motives, and understandable characters made this a must read. The settings were well described. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.