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Frank Shaw #2
Awful Intent
Frank is an Army Special Forces veteran who screwed up, went to prison, and is now out, trying to go straight. He’s traveling through Southeastern Utah, enjoying the miles and miles of red-rock desert and wilderness when a man is murdered where nobody is supposed to see.
Except Frank does see.
He could turn his back, but turning isn’t in Frank’s nature. Not when the murderous crew begins to hunt him. Not when the sheriff seems to be helping them. And especially not when he discovers the plot is far bigger and more deadly than he could have imagined.
Another fast-moving, action-packed, roller-coaster of suspense from John D. Brown. Fans of Lee Child, Robert Crais, and Burn Notice will be delighted by the action, characters, and high-stakes twists.
Except Frank does see.
He could turn his back, but turning isn’t in Frank’s nature. Not when the murderous crew begins to hunt him. Not when the sheriff seems to be helping them. And especially not when he discovers the plot is far bigger and more deadly than he could have imagined.
Another fast-moving, action-packed, roller-coaster of suspense from John D. Brown. Fans of Lee Child, Robert Crais, and Burn Notice will be delighted by the action, characters, and high-stakes twists.
- GenresThriller
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2016
263 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
John D. Brown
20 books117 followersJOHN D. BROWN writes action-packed thrillers and epic fantasies with characters you want to cheer for. He lives with his wife and four daughters in the hinterlands of Utah where one encounters much fresh air, many good-hearted ranchers, and the occasional wolf. If you want to be notified when he releases his next book, sign up at his website johndbrown.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 8, 2016
QUIT READING REVIEWS! HIT THE BUY IT NOW BUTTON NOW!!
Wow - what a follow up to Bad Penny. I kept checking back month after controlling for the sequel to the authors first book, Bad Penny. Boy was I a happy guy when finally along comes Awful Intent. For fans of Thor, Clancy, Flynn, the Arisen series guys, to fans of Jack Murphy and also of the Primal series _ YOU ALL WILL LOVE FRANK SHAW!!! Ex-Green Beret, 100% realistic bad dude good guy!! Both books were well written thrillers, packed with action (realistic in nature, not over the top surviving 500 rounds of MP5 9mms from 20 feet away, nope this author paints a realistic thrill ride that keeps you yearning to turn each page. This review does not do the books justice, just trust me, buy Bad Penny and Buy Awful Intent now as well because you'll be running back to your kindle to buy it as soon as you finish Bad Penny. Truth be told, I liked Awful Intenteven better but Bad Penny is kick assets as well! Well done Mr. Brown, well done!
Wow - what a follow up to Bad Penny. I kept checking back month after controlling for the sequel to the authors first book, Bad Penny. Boy was I a happy guy when finally along comes Awful Intent. For fans of Thor, Clancy, Flynn, the Arisen series guys, to fans of Jack Murphy and also of the Primal series _ YOU ALL WILL LOVE FRANK SHAW!!! Ex-Green Beret, 100% realistic bad dude good guy!! Both books were well written thrillers, packed with action (realistic in nature, not over the top surviving 500 rounds of MP5 9mms from 20 feet away, nope this author paints a realistic thrill ride that keeps you yearning to turn each page. This review does not do the books justice, just trust me, buy Bad Penny and Buy Awful Intent now as well because you'll be running back to your kindle to buy it as soon as you finish Bad Penny. Truth be told, I liked Awful Intenteven better but Bad Penny is kick assets as well! Well done Mr. Brown, well done!
March 30, 2018
Underwhelmed in Utah.
I' m not sure how many proto Jack Teachers there are out there but he still remains the bench mark. "Awful Intent" was far from being awful but it just failed to capture my imagination enough. The main character, a wise cracking ex green beret, just didn't ring true and it help that his accomplice, the local sherriff, appears to be the Queen of the Amazons, hiding out in remotest Utah.
The plot was very much out of the terrorist playbook and the villains also out of the same book. That's the bad part.
The good part--- it was an enjoyable read. The style of writing suited the at times implausible scenario's ( the Amazon Queen also being an accomplished microlight pilot) and Frank certainly has some great lines.
All in all a pleasant read for a couple of wet March afternoons.
I' m not sure how many proto Jack Teachers there are out there but he still remains the bench mark. "Awful Intent" was far from being awful but it just failed to capture my imagination enough. The main character, a wise cracking ex green beret, just didn't ring true and it help that his accomplice, the local sherriff, appears to be the Queen of the Amazons, hiding out in remotest Utah.
The plot was very much out of the terrorist playbook and the villains also out of the same book. That's the bad part.
The good part--- it was an enjoyable read. The style of writing suited the at times implausible scenario's ( the Amazon Queen also being an accomplished microlight pilot) and Frank certainly has some great lines.
All in all a pleasant read for a couple of wet March afternoons.
July 27, 2017
This is an excellent book of a man stopping in the dessert to watch the sun set. What he saw instead was a woman and two men chasing a third man and beating him over the head with a shovel. Frank watches as they wrap him in a tarp and throw him in the back of a pickup. Frank calls the police and follows the pickup. However the people in the pickup call the police also. Since Frank has a record he is the one who gets in trouble. This is a very intense story of terrorist activity. It is well written and is hard to put down.
January 31, 2020
I would actually give this book 3 1/2 stars. Some of the action and suspense was pretty good. I did not like the history lesson or religious lessons, not because of the info, but because of how it was presented. It almost seemed like it was copied and pasted from Wikipedia. Also, I would have liked much more background and character development. But I did enjoy the repartee between the 2 main characters in stressful times!
April 1, 2018
Fantastic Story
I’ve done a whole lot of reading over the last few months, including works by bestselling authors and I believe this is my favorite out of all. I liked the main characters a lot. I liked the plot and liked the ending. Just left me with a good feeling. Definitely recommended!
I’ve done a whole lot of reading over the last few months, including works by bestselling authors and I believe this is my favorite out of all. I liked the main characters a lot. I liked the plot and liked the ending. Just left me with a good feeling. Definitely recommended!
June 17, 2019
What a wild ride!
I found the story to be quite a bit unbelievable but with that being said, it was definitely exciting and humorous. Frank 's self deprecating sense of humor was fun and the interaction between him the sheriff was well written.
It kept me entertained and the writing was good. I enjoyed it for what it was, a wild adventure in Utah.
I found the story to be quite a bit unbelievable but with that being said, it was definitely exciting and humorous. Frank 's self deprecating sense of humor was fun and the interaction between him the sheriff was well written.
It kept me entertained and the writing was good. I enjoyed it for what it was, a wild adventure in Utah.
July 23, 2017
A very entertaining page turner. The author shows he did his homework when the characters discuss the military and the Middle East/ terrorist situation. I feel like I just watched a good TV miniseries which is never a bad thing. I recommend this to all fans of mystery and suspense thrillers.
July 25, 2017
Very well written. The hero is believable and human. Nice work.
The hero is very believable and we'll developed. The description of the scenery is very accurate. I have been in that part of America and it really is beautiful.
The hero is very believable and we'll developed. The description of the scenery is very accurate. I have been in that part of America and it really is beautiful.
July 28, 2017
Good one!
I really enjoyed this Frank Shaw book. The reason I gave it 4 stars is there was almost too much action.
If you dial back the action a bit and give a bit more on character development, it would be James st about perfect. But overall....good stuff!
I really enjoyed this Frank Shaw book. The reason I gave it 4 stars is there was almost too much action.
If you dial back the action a bit and give a bit more on character development, it would be James st about perfect. But overall....good stuff!
August 7, 2017
Interesting story
I liked the book and I didn't like the book. At times the author was to verbose. There wasn't an economy of words. Also, parts of the story line weren't very believable. But I stuck with it and finished. I liked the main characters also.
I liked the book and I didn't like the book. At times the author was to verbose. There wasn't an economy of words. Also, parts of the story line weren't very believable. But I stuck with it and finished. I liked the main characters also.
May 28, 2018
I am definitely going to read more of the Frank Shaw series. The characters really come alive I loved the paraglider Gary. This book is a nail biter. It really shows the strength of character that lies in the unlikeliest appearing individuals. Great read.
April 9, 2020
Terrorists vs. an ex-con and the Sheriff. I sure hope they get together in a later book.
I really liked the banter between Frank and the Sheriff. The action in spurts was engaging, not at all action for its own sake. No typos or wrong words. Totally for a threr-evening read.
I really liked the banter between Frank and the Sheriff. The action in spurts was engaging, not at all action for its own sake. No typos or wrong words. Totally for a threr-evening read.
January 14, 2017
Nonstop Excitement
This story pulls you in and keeps you there. Frank is a character who is easy and fun to root for.
This story pulls you in and keeps you there. Frank is a character who is easy and fun to root for.
July 29, 2017
Keeps you going
Excellent story line with plenty of action. Frank Shaw is a different kind of hero than your usual but he has a good heart. Highly recommend to all!!
Excellent story line with plenty of action. Frank Shaw is a different kind of hero than your usual but he has a good heart. Highly recommend to all!!
September 10, 2017
Good, but the first one was better.
Okay, but like I said, first one was better. All in all, good series, recommend both - where and when is the next one?
Okay, but like I said, first one was better. All in all, good series, recommend both - where and when is the next one?
October 3, 2017
Action packed
Great characters and non-stop action. Pulls you in like a Jack Reacher story and delivers like one too. Time to go find the next one . . .
Great characters and non-stop action. Pulls you in like a Jack Reacher story and delivers like one too. Time to go find the next one . . .
March 26, 2018
Great Action
I have read both Frank Shaw books. Nothing but action I both. Great characters, reminds me of Jack Reacher.
Can't wait for the next episode.
I have read both Frank Shaw books. Nothing but action I both. Great characters, reminds me of Jack Reacher.
Can't wait for the next episode.
November 11, 2016
Brown proves that his first novel wasn’t a fluke. This one is even better and even if Lee Child’s influence is blatantly obvious, there are much worse role-models out there. The novel hits the ground running and the pacing is sustained throughout the length of the book.
The only place the author falters at is at the final showdown: instead of the hero rising to the occasion and trouncing the villains, Reacher-style, the author goes for realism. Although the hero still saves the day, but with considerable help and not in an utterly convincing manner.
Nevertheless, this book has established me as a fan of Mr. Brown and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series. A little more polish, a little more daring on the author’s part, and Child will have serious competition to contend with.
The only place the author falters at is at the final showdown: instead of the hero rising to the occasion and trouncing the villains, Reacher-style, the author goes for realism. Although the hero still saves the day, but with considerable help and not in an utterly convincing manner.
Nevertheless, this book has established me as a fan of Mr. Brown and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series. A little more polish, a little more daring on the author’s part, and Child will have serious competition to contend with.
April 24, 2016
After all of the action in Bad Penny, if you are hoping to get a breather with Awful Intent, you will soon discover you will not be getting one. There are car chases, air fights, floods and more car chases! Shaw is on his way to California to spend Independence Day with his sister and nephew. He stops in Utah to just take in the scenery and watch the sunset. He sees some suspicious activity and, never one to miss a chance to get into trouble, goes to investigate. It turns out to be a terrorist cell and there are a lot more of them then there are of the one of him. He finally convinces the sheriff that these are not nice people but by then there is no way to call for backup. Whether they are on offense or defense, depends on what page you are on.
July 22, 2016
This second novel in the series is just as impressive as the first one. Another taut thriller that sustains your attention throughout. The premise of the story was also solid and had a Tom Clancy feeling of projecting technology and how it might be used in the wrong hands.
Some of the conversations in it were quite thoughtful and approached some subjects with a lot of nuance and understanding. I really like how the character of Frank has developed where this time he gets involved out of wanting to do the right thing, when walking away from the situation might have been more prudent.
This story would also make a great action movie which I can visualize. There are just so many great action scenes.
Some of the conversations in it were quite thoughtful and approached some subjects with a lot of nuance and understanding. I really like how the character of Frank has developed where this time he gets involved out of wanting to do the right thing, when walking away from the situation might have been more prudent.
This story would also make a great action movie which I can visualize. There are just so many great action scenes.
October 8, 2016
Frank is former special forces but ended out with a dishonorable discharge and a prison term. Of course he is really a good guy who makes the moral choice to do what's right. As he travels through Utah he happens upon a murder and reports it to an attractive female sheriff who doesn't believe a word he says because he is a tattooed ex-con. There are a lot of mysterious goings on and Frank investigates in order to convince the sheriff that the bad guys are a real threat. It kept me engrossed and anxious to see if all turned out well. One of the best things about it is that the language was clean and there was no explicit sex, just a little attraction. The story was good enough to hold my interest. I've already got another one in this series on my Kindle.
November 24, 2016
Second book in the series, and Frank just keeps getting better. What starts out as a murder mystery, turns into a hunt for International terrorists planning a 4th of July biological attack in several different cities. Along the way, he romances the local sherriff, but it's left up to the readers imagination if anything ever comes from that. There is action, suspence, and a little bit of humour scattered here and there, but the story never gets bogged down and moves along nicely the whole time. if you liked the first book "Bad Penny", I think you'll like this one as well.
Only wish the "Mormon Mafia" had been included in some way as help.
Only wish the "Mormon Mafia" had been included in some way as help.
April 22, 2016
Like I said about book one in this series, the guts of this story were good. What, again, I didn't like were the tangents, like the aside about Islam and what makes the Arab world tick and stuff like that. So the story's guts get 4 stars and the side tracks get two stars so that averages to 3 stars.
One aside that I have come back a while later to note: this is written in present tense. Like German. "We go to the store. We see the food. We think about the food." I can't really explain it but it was hard to overlook and it was a bit disconcerting.
One aside that I have come back a while later to note: this is written in present tense. Like German. "We go to the store. We see the food. We think about the food." I can't really explain it but it was hard to overlook and it was a bit disconcerting.
August 1, 2016
This one was looking like it would chug right along like the first one, so I was disappointed when I ran into a rather large chunk of Frank explaining radical Islam to a law enforcement professional (wo seemed rather competent in all other areas, so not sure why she was so out of the loop on this one). So I skipped over that whole section and picked back up when the action did.
The stakes for Frank for the majority of the book also aren't quite as great as in Bad Penny, although the evolution of his Bad Penny don't-get-involved attitude into something more altruistic drives his motivation.
The stakes for Frank for the majority of the book also aren't quite as great as in Bad Penny, although the evolution of his Bad Penny don't-get-involved attitude into something more altruistic drives his motivation.
April 24, 2016
Avoiding the dust
A super hero who has flaws, but accepts all of life's ups and downs now that he realizes his destiny by making his own decisions.
He connects with a female self-confidence sheriff and single mother who prioritizes her duties in an emergency.
Both risk their lives, ending more friendly for their futures.
A super hero who has flaws, but accepts all of life's ups and downs now that he realizes his destiny by making his own decisions.
He connects with a female self-confidence sheriff and single mother who prioritizes her duties in an emergency.
Both risk their lives, ending more friendly for their futures.
July 15, 2016
Fine thriller, basically a big chase through southern Utah. Lot's of military know-how and lingo was dropped in along the way. Every situation got a fresh eval when new info was received. I liked that. I also liked that the woman wasn't just there to shout "Help!" or fall over sticks during a chase.
September 22, 2016
Outstanding
Another book that needs 10 stars instead of 5! Also, a book that keeps your interest until the very end. It is so exciting, I could hardly wait to go to the next page. Mr. Brown is an excellent author whose writing keeps the adrenaline flowing and he must also have a good proofreader!!!
Another book that needs 10 stars instead of 5! Also, a book that keeps your interest until the very end. It is so exciting, I could hardly wait to go to the next page. Mr. Brown is an excellent author whose writing keeps the adrenaline flowing and he must also have a good proofreader!!!
October 27, 2016
Awful intent
Good tale and full of action, twists and turns along the way. Probably way too flip in comments made in the middle of serious pain or moments of high potential for death if a mistake was made. Amazing how poorly the hero shot with his supposed training and the sheriff was not too believable.
Good tale and full of action, twists and turns along the way. Probably way too flip in comments made in the middle of serious pain or moments of high potential for death if a mistake was made. Amazing how poorly the hero shot with his supposed training and the sheriff was not too believable.
January 9, 2017
I like this series. I think I liked this book better than the first one. It's a little violent and there's some swearing, but no sex. Except for an excessively long info dump on terrorism, the action moved pretty fast and was a good read. I really like Frank (MC) and how he is a good guy despite his past.
March 24, 2016
Best ever
John has done his research. He speaks with an authority that quickly has you believing. The characters are realistic and their actions and reactions are believable. Frank Shaw is the best friend we all wish we had.
John has done his research. He speaks with an authority that quickly has you believing. The characters are realistic and their actions and reactions are believable. Frank Shaw is the best friend we all wish we had.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews