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Peter Ash #2
Burning Bright
In the new novel featuring war veteran Peter Ash, “an action hero of the likes of Jack Reacher or Jason Bourne” (Lincoln Journal-Star), Ash has a woman’s life in his hands—and her mystery is stranger than he could ever imagine.
War veteran Peter Ash sought peace and quiet among the towering redwoods of northern California, but the trip isn’t quite the balm he’d hoped for. The dense forest and close fog cause his claustrophobia to buzz and spark, and then he stumbles upon a grizzly, long thought to have vanished from this part of the country. In a fight of man against bear, Peter doesn’t favor his odds, so he makes a strategic retreat up a nearby sapling.
There, he finds something strange: a climbing rope, affixed to a distant branch above. It leads to another, and another, up through the giant tree canopy, and ending at a hanging platform. On the platform is a woman on the run. From below them come the sounds of men and gunshots.
Just days ago, investigative journalist June Cassidy escaped a kidnapping by the men who are still on her trail. She suspects they’re after something belonging to her mother, a prominent software designer who recently died in an accident. June needs time to figure out what’s going on, and help from someone with Peter’s particular set of skills.
Only one step ahead of their pursuers, Peter and June must race to unravel this peculiar mystery. What they find leads them to an eccentric recluse, a shadowy pseudo-military organization, and an extraordinary tool that may change the modern world forever.
War veteran Peter Ash sought peace and quiet among the towering redwoods of northern California, but the trip isn’t quite the balm he’d hoped for. The dense forest and close fog cause his claustrophobia to buzz and spark, and then he stumbles upon a grizzly, long thought to have vanished from this part of the country. In a fight of man against bear, Peter doesn’t favor his odds, so he makes a strategic retreat up a nearby sapling.
There, he finds something strange: a climbing rope, affixed to a distant branch above. It leads to another, and another, up through the giant tree canopy, and ending at a hanging platform. On the platform is a woman on the run. From below them come the sounds of men and gunshots.
Just days ago, investigative journalist June Cassidy escaped a kidnapping by the men who are still on her trail. She suspects they’re after something belonging to her mother, a prominent software designer who recently died in an accident. June needs time to figure out what’s going on, and help from someone with Peter’s particular set of skills.
Only one step ahead of their pursuers, Peter and June must race to unravel this peculiar mystery. What they find leads them to an eccentric recluse, a shadowy pseudo-military organization, and an extraordinary tool that may change the modern world forever.
429 pages, ebook
First published January 10, 2017
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January 10, 2017
Hell, yes! Once again, Nick Petrie proves he knows how to write a thriller that kicks ass and takes names.
Petrie's debut novel, The Drifter (see my review), was absolutely fantastic, a thriller with a great plot and terrific character development. Featuring war veteran Peter Ash, a complex, intense protagonist, the book even made "honorable mention" on my list of the best books I read in 2015.
Petrie—and Peter Ash—have returned in Burning Bright , a book with even more crackling action and moments of quiet emotion. It might even be better than its predecessor. And here's one thing: I know that blurbs from other authors is just a marketing thing, but when Lee Child is willing to say, "Lots of characters get compared to my own Jack Reacher, but Peter Ash is the real deal," that carries some weight. (Plus, it's true.)
Ash served in Iraq and Afghanistan, returning home after multiple tours of duty plagued by "white static"—serious claustrophobia brought on from the traumatic stress of combat. It's so bad he can barely stand to be indoors for more than a few minutes, and even being outside when the sky is really cloudy gives him trouble. He has once again taken to a long-term hiking and camping trip, this time among the California redwoods, when he discovers he's not as alone as he thought—he encounters a grizzly bear, a rare occurrence these days since most have vanished from that part of the country. His run-in with the bear doesn't approach The Revenant territory, but it sends him up a tree with no gear and supplies, and just slightly worse for wear.
Just as he's beginning to wonder if he'll have to stay in the tree for days until the bear gets distracted, he notices a climbing rope hanging in the tree, what he discovers is a series of ropes hanging from adjacent trees. What better plan that to follow this course, of sorts, and see where it leads? So there he is, traveling from tree to tree, until he finds a hanging platform. All is safe now. Then he finds another danger—a woman with a gun pointed at him. And next? Men with guns. Firing.
June Cassidy is a feisty, Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist known for her investigations into data security. She's been on the run from men purporting to be with the federal government, who are interested in what she knows about her mother's groundbreaking computer software research, since her mother died in an accident not long ago. She doesn't know what her mother was working on, but it must have been something big, because these men keep coming. She doesn't know how to escape them, but discovers Peter might be the help she needs.
As the two team up to figure out who is after June, and what they want, they encounter a series of ever-more-determined men wanting to capture and/or kill them. It's going to take toughness, serious smarts, and pretty mad skills with firearms and getaway cars, none of which seems like a problem for the duo. But as they begin to uncover a serious operation afoot which makes June question whom she can trust, and Peter has to fight both the static and those after June, they may be in more trouble than they think.
Once again, Petrie has written a thriller which is the stuff of which great action films are made. The opening chapters are full of serious pulse-pounding action, but he doesn't give character and plot development short shrift. Peter Ash is so much more than meets the eye, but even though he can drop more than a few assailants at once, he still has a lot of problems of his own, not to mention the adrenaline and, perhaps even a little thrill, which comes from taking care of those looking to do him and June harm. And in June, Petrie has created a terrific foil for Peter.
If you like thrillers which not only ratchet up your pulse but leave you marveling at the author's storytelling skill as well, pick up Burning Bright . (You can read that one first if you want, but The Drifter is equally excellent.) My hope is that Petrie—and Peter Ash—will be back soon, and will get the public recognition they deserve.
NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo..., and see my list of the best books I read in 2016 at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2016.html.
Petrie's debut novel, The Drifter (see my review), was absolutely fantastic, a thriller with a great plot and terrific character development. Featuring war veteran Peter Ash, a complex, intense protagonist, the book even made "honorable mention" on my list of the best books I read in 2015.
Petrie—and Peter Ash—have returned in Burning Bright , a book with even more crackling action and moments of quiet emotion. It might even be better than its predecessor. And here's one thing: I know that blurbs from other authors is just a marketing thing, but when Lee Child is willing to say, "Lots of characters get compared to my own Jack Reacher, but Peter Ash is the real deal," that carries some weight. (Plus, it's true.)
Ash served in Iraq and Afghanistan, returning home after multiple tours of duty plagued by "white static"—serious claustrophobia brought on from the traumatic stress of combat. It's so bad he can barely stand to be indoors for more than a few minutes, and even being outside when the sky is really cloudy gives him trouble. He has once again taken to a long-term hiking and camping trip, this time among the California redwoods, when he discovers he's not as alone as he thought—he encounters a grizzly bear, a rare occurrence these days since most have vanished from that part of the country. His run-in with the bear doesn't approach The Revenant territory, but it sends him up a tree with no gear and supplies, and just slightly worse for wear.
Just as he's beginning to wonder if he'll have to stay in the tree for days until the bear gets distracted, he notices a climbing rope hanging in the tree, what he discovers is a series of ropes hanging from adjacent trees. What better plan that to follow this course, of sorts, and see where it leads? So there he is, traveling from tree to tree, until he finds a hanging platform. All is safe now. Then he finds another danger—a woman with a gun pointed at him. And next? Men with guns. Firing.
June Cassidy is a feisty, Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist known for her investigations into data security. She's been on the run from men purporting to be with the federal government, who are interested in what she knows about her mother's groundbreaking computer software research, since her mother died in an accident not long ago. She doesn't know what her mother was working on, but it must have been something big, because these men keep coming. She doesn't know how to escape them, but discovers Peter might be the help she needs.
As the two team up to figure out who is after June, and what they want, they encounter a series of ever-more-determined men wanting to capture and/or kill them. It's going to take toughness, serious smarts, and pretty mad skills with firearms and getaway cars, none of which seems like a problem for the duo. But as they begin to uncover a serious operation afoot which makes June question whom she can trust, and Peter has to fight both the static and those after June, they may be in more trouble than they think.
Once again, Petrie has written a thriller which is the stuff of which great action films are made. The opening chapters are full of serious pulse-pounding action, but he doesn't give character and plot development short shrift. Peter Ash is so much more than meets the eye, but even though he can drop more than a few assailants at once, he still has a lot of problems of his own, not to mention the adrenaline and, perhaps even a little thrill, which comes from taking care of those looking to do him and June harm. And in June, Petrie has created a terrific foil for Peter.
If you like thrillers which not only ratchet up your pulse but leave you marveling at the author's storytelling skill as well, pick up Burning Bright . (You can read that one first if you want, but The Drifter is equally excellent.) My hope is that Petrie—and Peter Ash—will be back soon, and will get the public recognition they deserve.
NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo..., and see my list of the best books I read in 2016 at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2016.html.
August 29, 2017
June Cassidy is pushing 30 working as a freelancer writing mostly on issues of privacy in the electronic age for Public Investigations. Having recently lost her mother who had been a brilliant scientist working on classified software for the Department of Defense, June was heart broken that she died from injuries sustained by a hit and run driver. Still in a daze from the shock of losing her mother, she rode her single-speed Schwinn at a slow pace to pick up a jolt of coffee to start her day. Suddenly June became alert and highly suspicious when a large black SUV pulled up beside her with some menacing looking men inside. Claiming to be the feds, they demanded she stop and get in their vehicle for questioning. For many years June was constantly told by her mom, by her selfdefense instructor, don’t ever get in the car; so that wasn’t going to happen, not today, until they zapped her with an electric stun gun. Action-packed, a gripping engrossing story with menacing aggressive characters on the hunt, Burning Bright is unputdownable never letting up for one nanosecond.
December 11, 2020
I didn't read the blurb so the tree (Redwoods?) was a surprise. Of course when you climb a redwood tree, you bump into another person. C'mon seriously? It took me three days to finish the "tree" part, that's how long Peter was stuck on the tree in my timeline 😆.
Unfortunately, Burning Bright is not one of my favorite in the series as the plot surrounds AI. Another thing I notice is Nick Petrie's bad guys don't care where you are (in the city or on the highway) they will shoot yo ass like in the movies. Conveniently, police are never around!
The plus side we get to meet new characters who are part of the series (I read out of sequence) and their background. I enjoyed the northwest outdoors and action.
Unfortunately, Burning Bright is not one of my favorite in the series as the plot surrounds AI. Another thing I notice is Nick Petrie's bad guys don't care where you are (in the city or on the highway) they will shoot yo ass like in the movies. Conveniently, police are never around!
The plus side we get to meet new characters who are part of the series (I read out of sequence) and their background. I enjoyed the northwest outdoors and action.
April 25, 2024
I’d really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Drifter, which introduced war veteran Peter Ash. The distinguishing feature about Ash is the extreme claustrophobia he suffers as a result of his active service – he now becomes distressed whenever he entered a building of any sort and this forces him to live virtually all of his life outdoors. He sleeps in tents and wonders the North Western coast of America, a loner somewhat in the style of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. And, like Reacher, Ash is a sucker for good causes so when he comes across a damsel in need of help in the shape of June Cassidy, who is hiding out in the forest having seemingly escaped an attempted kidnapping, he’s quickly drawn to her story.
June’s mother, Hazel, had recently died in a motor accident. She was senior researcher who had developed a self-teaching algorithm, called Tyg3r, which seemingly had the potential to unlock all the secrets of world through its ability to worm its way past any online security system. Unsurprisingly, her work had attracted the attention of people interested in securing access to this system to satisfy their own needs and desires. So who were the people who had grabbed June, perhaps agents of the government or maybe just a bunch of besuited criminals eager to get their hands on this computerised skeleton key? Either way, ascertaining the identity of this group would have to wait as the pair’s first job was to avoid capture as it had become evident that the bad guys were hot on the trail of June and now in close proximity.
I was drawn to the character driven nature of the first book, and it’s the strongest element of this book, too. Peter has more depth to him than Reacher, and his relationship with June turns into a complicated but, eventually, a trusting one. June’s character, too, is developed sufficiently to engender a feeling of protective concern over her welfare. As the two attempt to escape, capture, and unravel the events that have led them into this predicament, we learn more about Hazel’s work and the true extent of Tyg3r’s ultimate capabilities. But this is where the tale started to get a little too ‘big’ for my personal tastes. As others are drawn into the story the set-up seems to promise a pitched battle between the forces of good and evil and though the eventual coming together of the two sides provides a fairly tidy way of closing things off I know that I’d have preferred a more intimate end game that didn’t feel quite so far fetched.
When all is said and done, I will probably find my way back to this series as I really do want to know what becomes of Peter Ash. It's certainly worth catching if you’re a fan of well written adventure escapades.
June’s mother, Hazel, had recently died in a motor accident. She was senior researcher who had developed a self-teaching algorithm, called Tyg3r, which seemingly had the potential to unlock all the secrets of world through its ability to worm its way past any online security system. Unsurprisingly, her work had attracted the attention of people interested in securing access to this system to satisfy their own needs and desires. So who were the people who had grabbed June, perhaps agents of the government or maybe just a bunch of besuited criminals eager to get their hands on this computerised skeleton key? Either way, ascertaining the identity of this group would have to wait as the pair’s first job was to avoid capture as it had become evident that the bad guys were hot on the trail of June and now in close proximity.
I was drawn to the character driven nature of the first book, and it’s the strongest element of this book, too. Peter has more depth to him than Reacher, and his relationship with June turns into a complicated but, eventually, a trusting one. June’s character, too, is developed sufficiently to engender a feeling of protective concern over her welfare. As the two attempt to escape, capture, and unravel the events that have led them into this predicament, we learn more about Hazel’s work and the true extent of Tyg3r’s ultimate capabilities. But this is where the tale started to get a little too ‘big’ for my personal tastes. As others are drawn into the story the set-up seems to promise a pitched battle between the forces of good and evil and though the eventual coming together of the two sides provides a fairly tidy way of closing things off I know that I’d have preferred a more intimate end game that didn’t feel quite so far fetched.
When all is said and done, I will probably find my way back to this series as I really do want to know what becomes of Peter Ash. It's certainly worth catching if you’re a fan of well written adventure escapades.
February 10, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
This book really grabbed my attention from the start with almost non-stop excitement. It almost felt like I had been thrown into an action movie and I loved every minute of it. Before I even knew it, I had read a large part of the book. The pace of the story did eventually slow down but the excitement never stopped because I couldn't stop trying to figure out how things would work out. This was such a great read.
Peter Ash is veteran dealing with PTSD which causes him to feel claustrophobic anytime he is indoors. He deals with it as best he can which usually means that he tries to stay out of buildings as much as possible. I find Peter to be a very interesting and unique character. He thinks quick and knows his limitations. June is a reporter that finds herself hiding from a group of men that attempted to kidnap her. June meets Peter and they start to work together to figure out why she has been targeted. June's character really complimented Peter's nicely. Their personalities meshed perfectly and they seemed to be able to work smoothly together almost from the moment that they met.
This book has no shortage of action. Peter and June find themselves in the middle of several intense situations and I never know exactly how things would turn around. I was never quite sure exactly who the bad guy was so I didn't really trust any of the characters besides Peter and June and of course, Lewis, who I was very happy to see make an appearance in this book. The story took quite a few twists and turns with many unexpected moments.
I would recommend this book to others. This is the second book in the Peter Ash series and while it could be read as a stand alone, readers will probably appreciated the background knowledge from the first book. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this exciting series.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Group - Putnam G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley and First to Read.
Initial Thoughts
This book sucked me in immediately. It started out like an action movie with one exciting event following the next. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end.
This book really grabbed my attention from the start with almost non-stop excitement. It almost felt like I had been thrown into an action movie and I loved every minute of it. Before I even knew it, I had read a large part of the book. The pace of the story did eventually slow down but the excitement never stopped because I couldn't stop trying to figure out how things would work out. This was such a great read.
Peter Ash is veteran dealing with PTSD which causes him to feel claustrophobic anytime he is indoors. He deals with it as best he can which usually means that he tries to stay out of buildings as much as possible. I find Peter to be a very interesting and unique character. He thinks quick and knows his limitations. June is a reporter that finds herself hiding from a group of men that attempted to kidnap her. June meets Peter and they start to work together to figure out why she has been targeted. June's character really complimented Peter's nicely. Their personalities meshed perfectly and they seemed to be able to work smoothly together almost from the moment that they met.
This book has no shortage of action. Peter and June find themselves in the middle of several intense situations and I never know exactly how things would turn around. I was never quite sure exactly who the bad guy was so I didn't really trust any of the characters besides Peter and June and of course, Lewis, who I was very happy to see make an appearance in this book. The story took quite a few twists and turns with many unexpected moments.
I would recommend this book to others. This is the second book in the Peter Ash series and while it could be read as a stand alone, readers will probably appreciated the background knowledge from the first book. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this exciting series.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Group - Putnam G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley and First to Read.
Initial Thoughts
This book sucked me in immediately. It started out like an action movie with one exciting event following the next. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end.
February 16, 2022
I´m on a hot streak. Three books in a row that I have really enjoyed! This is the second of the three that focuses on an individual who has come back to the US having been badly, psychologically damaged by one of the wars in the Middle East.
In this, the second in the Peter Ash series, he finds himself living in the redwoods of Northern California - literally because he does spend time actually living some 300 feet off the ground in a high-level camp that someone else has created. He´s up there to escape a supposedly extinct California grizzly. Up there, he encounters a brash, attractive young woman who regards him with great suspicion largely because she is being pursued by a team of well-trained and heavily armed guys from which she escaped a few days earlier.
Peter convinces her that he is not part of this team and, together they manage to elude this team although they feel pretty certain that others will take up their pursuit. She had initially encountered them at her mom´s computer lab at Stanford University where her mom was working on a quite secret, very powerful, and, apparently, highly sought after app. A long chase with the obligatory twists, turns, and surprises ensues. As a result of Peter´s war experience, he becomes extraordinarily uncomfortable in enclosed spaces, including all buildings. One way in which this extreme discomfort is manifest is that he cannot sleep indoors - a more than minor inconvenience.
The author, Nick Petrie, has created an inventive, very engaging, fun-to-read storyline populated with extremely interesting and very unique characters. These beautifully developed characters have great texture and depth leading me to genuinely like some, dislike others, and not know what to make of still others. Petrie uses the English language very well and, like other authors that I much enjoy, does not try to impress the reader with the extent of his vocabulary yet creates beautiful or exciting or suspenseful word pictures throughout the book.
I felt slightly let down by the ending but I would emphasize ¨slightly¨ as it was clever but did make me feel a bit let down.
All in all, Buring Bright was very enjoyable reading and I will certainly read other books in this series but not quite yet as I never read two books by the same author in a row.
If you enjoy well-written, fast-paced, action-packed books that are fairly quick reads, you may well enjoy this one. Although the book stands quite nicely on its own, you would be well-served by starting with the first book in the series which is set in Milwaukee, where I grew up - that fact alone should make you want to run down to your nearest bookstore (bricks and mortar or electronic).
Over and out
In this, the second in the Peter Ash series, he finds himself living in the redwoods of Northern California - literally because he does spend time actually living some 300 feet off the ground in a high-level camp that someone else has created. He´s up there to escape a supposedly extinct California grizzly. Up there, he encounters a brash, attractive young woman who regards him with great suspicion largely because she is being pursued by a team of well-trained and heavily armed guys from which she escaped a few days earlier.
Peter convinces her that he is not part of this team and, together they manage to elude this team although they feel pretty certain that others will take up their pursuit. She had initially encountered them at her mom´s computer lab at Stanford University where her mom was working on a quite secret, very powerful, and, apparently, highly sought after app. A long chase with the obligatory twists, turns, and surprises ensues. As a result of Peter´s war experience, he becomes extraordinarily uncomfortable in enclosed spaces, including all buildings. One way in which this extreme discomfort is manifest is that he cannot sleep indoors - a more than minor inconvenience.
The author, Nick Petrie, has created an inventive, very engaging, fun-to-read storyline populated with extremely interesting and very unique characters. These beautifully developed characters have great texture and depth leading me to genuinely like some, dislike others, and not know what to make of still others. Petrie uses the English language very well and, like other authors that I much enjoy, does not try to impress the reader with the extent of his vocabulary yet creates beautiful or exciting or suspenseful word pictures throughout the book.
I felt slightly let down by the ending but I would emphasize ¨slightly¨ as it was clever but did make me feel a bit let down.
All in all, Buring Bright was very enjoyable reading and I will certainly read other books in this series but not quite yet as I never read two books by the same author in a row.
If you enjoy well-written, fast-paced, action-packed books that are fairly quick reads, you may well enjoy this one. Although the book stands quite nicely on its own, you would be well-served by starting with the first book in the series which is set in Milwaukee, where I grew up - that fact alone should make you want to run down to your nearest bookstore (bricks and mortar or electronic).
Over and out
December 13, 2016
This is the second book in the Peter Ash series, it was a great read. Well plotted story, good character development, moves along at a good pace.
June's mother, a brilliant programmer was a victim of a hit and run accident, now someone
Is trying to kidnap June in effort to get access to June's mother's program. Peter Ash a veteran with PTDS meets up with June, together they try to figure out who wanted June's mother dead to get her last program.
Peter and June with a full cast of characters pursue and are pursued making for an action packed read. I received this book from Penguins First to Read, for an honest review.
June's mother, a brilliant programmer was a victim of a hit and run accident, now someone
Is trying to kidnap June in effort to get access to June's mother's program. Peter Ash a veteran with PTDS meets up with June, together they try to figure out who wanted June's mother dead to get her last program.
Peter and June with a full cast of characters pursue and are pursued making for an action packed read. I received this book from Penguins First to Read, for an honest review.
December 8, 2016
Conspiracy-theory, fugitive from the law, car chase books aren't my usual choice of reading material but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot pulls you in immediately with June getting kidnapped and then escaping shortly after her mother, government contractor working on a top secret tech project, get killed in a hit and run "accident." June hides in an old research facility in some redwoods in the middle of nowhere when a "shell-shocked" war veteran named Peter stumbles across her while trying to escape from a bear. It was love at first sight for Peter and he offers June his protection. Together they go on the run, trying to figure out who is after June and why. Their quick wit and banter make them entertaining and enduring. I would definitely recommend. This is the second book in the series but I did not read the first and I do not feel like I missed anything.
I gave this 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program with no requirement to review book.
I gave this 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program with no requirement to review book.
April 11, 2017
Loving this series! Peter Ash is such a complicated but simple character that you just gotta love! Combining a story of a vet dealing with PTSD, righting wrongs in the world & future technological advances makes for one hell of an interesting read!
March 6, 2017
Long review just got eaten by internet failure. Can't force myself to retype.
I enjoyed it for the most part although there was quite a bit of willing suspension of disbelief needed. Didn't like the ending too well. It was hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys.
Felt like the end situation with June was just a way to let Peter go and have more adventures. I would have been happier without the actual love interest because I didn't really buy into the chemistry between the two of them
I enjoyed it for the most part although there was quite a bit of willing suspension of disbelief needed. Didn't like the ending too well. It was hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys.
Felt like the end situation with June was just a way to let Peter go and have more adventures. I would have been happier without the actual love interest because I didn't really buy into the chemistry between the two of them
November 6, 2020
4.5 Stars
Really, really good! Action packed, fast-paced and Peter even gets a romance!
The narration was excellent!
Really, really good! Action packed, fast-paced and Peter even gets a romance!
The narration was excellent!
December 4, 2021
A very good #2 in the series. The characters are just superb. June is the main new character and she was just perfect. Lewis makes a reappearance and I really enjoyed his part. Ash is very good in his role and his PTSD is a big but not overwhelming influence on the story. Some members of Ash's unit from Iraq and Afghanistan play a very small role, almost like a tease for some future story. Non-stop action and some shooting going on. Still can't get to a 5 Star read because he features military vets as hired gun killers and that is just not believable. The ending is more of a movie scene than a logical result of the preceding story. Also taking points away for that. Any fan of Jack Reacher or Bob Lee Swagger will find this character a fitting companion. 4 Stars
October 25, 2018
Burning Bright
Burning Bright, the second novel in the Peter Ash series, is a fast-moving, action-packed Adventure featuring a claustrophobic Iraq War veteran and the damsel in distress he stumbled upon while running from a grizzly bear. Set in the Pacific Northwest, it’s good a woodsy thrill, a high speed chase, futuristic technology, secret agents, black ops, and more.
Burning Bright, the second novel in the Peter Ash series, is a fast-moving, action-packed Adventure featuring a claustrophobic Iraq War veteran and the damsel in distress he stumbled upon while running from a grizzly bear. Set in the Pacific Northwest, it’s good a woodsy thrill, a high speed chase, futuristic technology, secret agents, black ops, and more.
February 7, 2017
Move over, Reacher, there's a new hero in town.
Peter Ash is back for his second book in this exciting new series. I am a bit disappointed the dog didn't make it this time around but you can't be a footloose troubled war veteran traveling the country and fighting bad guys if you have too many things to tie you down.
Ash's white static PTSD is still buzzing along. And he can still kick ass when required to do so.
Highly recommended for fans of Reacher. This second book lays the foundation for a long run of books.
Peter Ash is back for his second book in this exciting new series. I am a bit disappointed the dog didn't make it this time around but you can't be a footloose troubled war veteran traveling the country and fighting bad guys if you have too many things to tie you down.
Ash's white static PTSD is still buzzing along. And he can still kick ass when required to do so.
Highly recommended for fans of Reacher. This second book lays the foundation for a long run of books.
March 26, 2023
One of the best opening scenes I can remember which takes place high up in the Redwood trees of Northern California. This is followed up by a memorable car chase and Peter Ash #2 is off to a flying start.
✈️
If you’re a fan of the 80’s then you’ll enjoy some of the author’s references, and if you’re a Mexican food junkie (like me 🤓) then you’ll agree with Peter’s go-to cuisine. Looking forward to #3 in the series!
✈️
If you’re a fan of the 80’s then you’ll enjoy some of the author’s references, and if you’re a Mexican food junkie (like me 🤓) then you’ll agree with Peter’s go-to cuisine. Looking forward to #3 in the series!
March 1, 2022
Pretty similar to the first book. An interesting story that kept me reading, but Peter's PTSD is still dominating him. His friend Louis is back, and is still more interesting than Peter to me.
It was a little hard to decide who were the good guys and bad guys in this one. Guess that's a good thing - keeps things interesting.
It was a little hard to decide who were the good guys and bad guys in this one. Guess that's a good thing - keeps things interesting.
September 15, 2020
Liked this one, Book 2, better than the first. Peter is still suffering from PTSD but the author doesn't make it as an important part of the story as The Drifter.
Ash meets June after having encountered a bear while on a hike. To escape he climbs a giant redwood and runs into June who is hiding from a team intent on kidnapping her.
The story then segues into Ash protecting June from those chasing her. Those who have read The Drifter will enjoy the banter between Ash and Lewis.
Ash meets June after having encountered a bear while on a hike. To escape he climbs a giant redwood and runs into June who is hiding from a team intent on kidnapping her.
The story then segues into Ash protecting June from those chasing her. Those who have read The Drifter will enjoy the banter between Ash and Lewis.
December 28, 2021
A good thriller. I learned a lot about redwoods and tech. The ptsd is starting to wear a little thin.
August 9, 2021
My family moved across country at the end of May, cue the moving truck a week later. I spent the next three weeks or so unpacking at an uneven pace. It often seemed like every box I unpacked created a new problem to solve - and that's on top of purchasing a new refrigerator, laundry machines, and getting a number of other household essentials and then getting them delivered. Things I've done many a time before but now seem to be an Olympic Individual Medley level challenge. Got most of that squared away before setting out to visit our children and grandchildren as we now live relatively nearby (8 1/2 hours by car vs rising at 2:45 AM to catch a 5:30 AM flight out of Dulles to arrive at least 9 hours later in SLC, which was pretty optimistic - layovers in Denver can be hours long). We returned with a couple of grand-kids in tow and basically spent the entire month of July plus a few days into August as either a house guest, a host, or on the road between times. Friends, I love my kids and grand-kids and it's been wonderful to see them but when you add it all up - selling the house in March, packing, the move itself, finding a new home in this crazy market, unpacking you get the sum total of exhausted. I am in dire need of escapist reading.
Enter Burning Bright. As has become my modus operendi I missed Peter Ash #1 completely so this was our first date. Escapist, yes, but it was a rather weird reading experience. If this is part of a series featuring veteran Peter Ash he did not feel like the main character to me, but rather a supporting character who rescues, protects, and bank rolls June in her quest to find out who killed her mom and what was this project she was working on that got her killed.
There's loads of action, some of it requiring suspension of belief (where ARE all these vets with mad skills and super human strength hanging out anyway? and seriously, June is under 30, barely keeping a roof over her head, but she's already been up for a Pulitzer?), combined with one of my least favorite plot devices, the adrenaline fueled Romance. Granted, I have never been kidnapped, chased by murderers, etc etc but I'd guess that based on my reactions to real life stress, and observing the reactions of others, that Instant Attraction to a total stranger would not be one of my go to coping measures. Perhaps I have a more complicated relationship with trust but ripped and good looking in a mountain man sort of way is not likely to distract from the actual life and death issues at hand. But, what do I know? Well, I do know the action/thriller romance is not my favorite.
Sleuthing, car chases, shots fired, explosions, weaponry and security yada yada details ensue leading to a few surprise twists. If you asked my husband he would tell you that I fall asleep during car chases and fight scenes in movies and it is true. "Seen one, seem them all," my brain seems to say, "let's take a nap, you know how this is going to end!"
In the plus column the story is set in the Pacific Northwest and I always love reading about "home," even if the author seems to have just plucked some of it from an atlas. It's fun to recognize the places and Nick Petrie seems to have more than a nodding acquaintance with Seattle (Oh, the traffic! and the secret, code word protected, native ability to get around using secondary roads and alternative routes through residential neighborhoods). Then June and Peter actually stop at a cafe just outside my little home town.
I've seen other reviewers mention that The Drifter was much better, but I'm not sure I will bother. When all is said and done, it's just possible my favorite part of the whole thing was that their get away car was a mini van.
Enter Burning Bright. As has become my modus operendi I missed Peter Ash #1 completely so this was our first date. Escapist, yes, but it was a rather weird reading experience. If this is part of a series featuring veteran Peter Ash he did not feel like the main character to me, but rather a supporting character who rescues, protects, and bank rolls June in her quest to find out who killed her mom and what was this project she was working on that got her killed.
There's loads of action, some of it requiring suspension of belief (where ARE all these vets with mad skills and super human strength hanging out anyway? and seriously, June is under 30, barely keeping a roof over her head, but she's already been up for a Pulitzer?), combined with one of my least favorite plot devices, the adrenaline fueled Romance. Granted, I have never been kidnapped, chased by murderers, etc etc but I'd guess that based on my reactions to real life stress, and observing the reactions of others, that Instant Attraction to a total stranger would not be one of my go to coping measures. Perhaps I have a more complicated relationship with trust but ripped and good looking in a mountain man sort of way is not likely to distract from the actual life and death issues at hand. But, what do I know? Well, I do know the action/thriller romance is not my favorite.
Sleuthing, car chases, shots fired, explosions, weaponry and security yada yada details ensue leading to a few surprise twists. If you asked my husband he would tell you that I fall asleep during car chases and fight scenes in movies and it is true. "Seen one, seem them all," my brain seems to say, "let's take a nap, you know how this is going to end!"
In the plus column the story is set in the Pacific Northwest and I always love reading about "home," even if the author seems to have just plucked some of it from an atlas. It's fun to recognize the places and Nick Petrie seems to have more than a nodding acquaintance with Seattle (Oh, the traffic! and the secret, code word protected, native ability to get around using secondary roads and alternative routes through residential neighborhoods). Then June and Peter actually stop at a cafe just outside my little home town.
I've seen other reviewers mention that The Drifter was much better, but I'm not sure I will bother. When all is said and done, it's just possible my favorite part of the whole thing was that their get away car was a mini van.
June 12, 2023
Burning Bright was an enjoyable read and an improvement upon the first book in the series with great pacing and a thrilling plot.
After the events in The Drifter, Peter Ash headed to California for some much needed peace and quiet. When he stumbles upon a grizzly bear in the redwood forest, he makes the only logical choice and heads up the nearest tree. In the tree he discovers a climbing rope leading to an unseen location further up the tree and so he decides to follow the ropes. At the top is a platform where a woman is hiding out who promptly points a crossbow at Peter’s head upon his arrival. When soon after gunshots are heard below, Peter and the woman go on the run to buy time to figure things out. In a race to stay ahead of their pursuers, the two find themselves in one dangerous situation after another as they race to discover the truth.
Peter has continued to work on his “white static” and claustrophobia and has gotten slightly better but it’s not a problem that will easily go away and will continue to be something Peter will struggle with. During the events of Burning Bright, Peter meets a therapist who talks to him about his struggles and Peter is considering taking his advice and working with someone on his issues. During his and June’s escape, Peter is able to detach himself from what needs to be done to save them whereas June definitely gets more emotional about everything. Upon meeting June, Peter is quickly charmed by her intelligence and savviness which is something he continues to admire throughout the book.
My favorite character from the first book Lewis returned in this book which made me very happy. We get to see more of the skills Lewis has while for the most part he remains shrouded in mystery. June, the woman from the tree, is a strong and intelligent woman who is very successful in her career as a journalist. She’s perceptive enough to suspect the men after her are not with the government as they claim to be and wonders if they may have had something to do with her mother’s recent death. June becomes determined to find out what happened to cause her mother’s death and to find out why these men are after her.
The book starts off with two intense scenes, Peter’s encounter with the grizzly bear and June’s almost kidnapping. From there the action almost never stops and the book has an almost movie-like feel to it. The scene where Peter and June are chased through the woods while they try to escape the men shooting at them in the trees was incredibly well done with great pacing. There is a plotline regarding the use of artificial intelligence and its’ potential uses by the companies or governments that want it. This whole storyline was completely fascinating and held a number of surprises.
Burning Bright was an improvement upon the first book in the series for me as the plot was one I found much more intriguing. I stand by my recommendation from the first book and would recommend this book to fans of Jack Reacher or Mitch Rapp.
After the events in The Drifter, Peter Ash headed to California for some much needed peace and quiet. When he stumbles upon a grizzly bear in the redwood forest, he makes the only logical choice and heads up the nearest tree. In the tree he discovers a climbing rope leading to an unseen location further up the tree and so he decides to follow the ropes. At the top is a platform where a woman is hiding out who promptly points a crossbow at Peter’s head upon his arrival. When soon after gunshots are heard below, Peter and the woman go on the run to buy time to figure things out. In a race to stay ahead of their pursuers, the two find themselves in one dangerous situation after another as they race to discover the truth.
Peter has continued to work on his “white static” and claustrophobia and has gotten slightly better but it’s not a problem that will easily go away and will continue to be something Peter will struggle with. During the events of Burning Bright, Peter meets a therapist who talks to him about his struggles and Peter is considering taking his advice and working with someone on his issues. During his and June’s escape, Peter is able to detach himself from what needs to be done to save them whereas June definitely gets more emotional about everything. Upon meeting June, Peter is quickly charmed by her intelligence and savviness which is something he continues to admire throughout the book.
My favorite character from the first book Lewis returned in this book which made me very happy. We get to see more of the skills Lewis has while for the most part he remains shrouded in mystery. June, the woman from the tree, is a strong and intelligent woman who is very successful in her career as a journalist. She’s perceptive enough to suspect the men after her are not with the government as they claim to be and wonders if they may have had something to do with her mother’s recent death. June becomes determined to find out what happened to cause her mother’s death and to find out why these men are after her.
The book starts off with two intense scenes, Peter’s encounter with the grizzly bear and June’s almost kidnapping. From there the action almost never stops and the book has an almost movie-like feel to it. The scene where Peter and June are chased through the woods while they try to escape the men shooting at them in the trees was incredibly well done with great pacing. There is a plotline regarding the use of artificial intelligence and its’ potential uses by the companies or governments that want it. This whole storyline was completely fascinating and held a number of surprises.
Burning Bright was an improvement upon the first book in the series for me as the plot was one I found much more intriguing. I stand by my recommendation from the first book and would recommend this book to fans of Jack Reacher or Mitch Rapp.
April 25, 2024
great thriller with brilliant opening, which was so nice and suprising. great read. fun. human and good action. all good.
November 19, 2016
I did not read Petrie's first book and it was referred to several time so I'm not sure how much affected my reaction to this,second in his series. It had a whiz bang beginning that caught my attention right away with lots of government intrigue and some unique characters. June is a journalist with intelligent but odd parents who led her a confusing childhood. Early in the book her path crosses with Peter, a troubled ex soldier. Together these two damaged souls make a great team.
Unfortunately in the last one hundred pages or so the car chases and the the trading of or threat of tradingunshots become too much or at least too detailed that it draws the story out needlessly. The ending, about the last ten pages or so, is predictable but touching. I loved the setting in the northwest backwoods. Before I got bogged down in. The last fourth of the book I would have give "Burning Bright" four stars but that fell to three stars by the end.
Thank you to the publishers for providing and advance reading copy.
Unfortunately in the last one hundred pages or so the car chases and the the trading of or threat of tradingunshots become too much or at least too detailed that it draws the story out needlessly. The ending, about the last ten pages or so, is predictable but touching. I loved the setting in the northwest backwoods. Before I got bogged down in. The last fourth of the book I would have give "Burning Bright" four stars but that fell to three stars by the end.
Thank you to the publishers for providing and advance reading copy.
February 5, 2017
A fast paced novel with all the requisite elements that will keep readers engaged. The core is an algorithm that creates artificial intelligence and the suspicious death of the algorithm's creator.
Parts of the novels seemed to be a bit murky to me, not well drawn or developed. Overall I enjoyed the concept and it was a great diversion from my usual historical fiction.
Parts of the novels seemed to be a bit murky to me, not well drawn or developed. Overall I enjoyed the concept and it was a great diversion from my usual historical fiction.
January 16, 2021
I liked how fast the book moved in the beginning where there was not much time to pause between action filled events. The plot fueling the action was not bad ether. There were some surprising twists at the end and it was also better than the first book. Overall, a promising action/thriller series so far.
dnf
February 4, 2017Received this via Goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review/opinion.
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DNF at 39%... hate to give up on it but still can't connect with the characters or the story.
Not a bad book, just not for me I guess :(
"It's not you book, it is me."
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DNF at 39%... hate to give up on it but still can't connect with the characters or the story.
Not a bad book, just not for me I guess :(
"It's not you book, it is me."
June 7, 2024
Genres: Mystery/Thriller/Sci-fi
I completely enjoyed this one. It was a fun ride. I was hooked from the very beginning and stayed hooked until the very end.
The author created 2 strong MCs that were easy to root for as they tried to untangle the mystery at hand. They were always on the move and the action scenes were well done.
The pace was steady. There was always something going on to move the story forward. And there were a few twists thrown in to keep it interesting. Overall, I enjoyed this. I can't find one thing to nitpick. Even though I probably wouldn't read this again, I still have 5 stars for this one.
I completely enjoyed this one. It was a fun ride. I was hooked from the very beginning and stayed hooked until the very end.
The author created 2 strong MCs that were easy to root for as they tried to untangle the mystery at hand. They were always on the move and the action scenes were well done.
The pace was steady. There was always something going on to move the story forward. And there were a few twists thrown in to keep it interesting. Overall, I enjoyed this. I can't find one thing to nitpick. Even though I probably wouldn't read this again, I still have 5 stars for this one.
April 19, 2019
I absolutely loved the first Peter Ash book, but this one really had me wondering what the heck was going on. First off, Peter Ash is clearly not the lead/protag in this book, and that role is filled by June Cassidy, and he's not even the second banana, as that is filled by her father. Weird stuff started happening, that had nothing to do with the character, and it was almost like he was a guest-star in someone else's book. It was a very confusing read for me, as all Peter Ash did was play the old boyfriend/bank machine cliche to June Cassidy, while she took action, she led the plot, she solved the mystery, and her family itself created the conflict. Ash is literally a back-seat passenger coming along for the ride.
This book should really be called Burning Bright (June Cassidy #1)
Once I finished it, it all became clear - after the success of the exceptional debut "The Drifter" Nicolas Petrie (now "Nick" Petrie), suddenly had a deadline for a followup to a unexpectedly-hot property, so like all budding authors, he dusted off his "reject pile" and slapped Peter Ash into an old and hackneyed "skeleton key" manuscript, whereby a piece of software is developed that can crack any password known to man, and naturally, the intelligence community is all over it. Blah, blah, blah.
Anyone in the biz has read about a thousand manuscripts covering that overused "skeleton key" idea, second only to that old "cloning Jesus" standby. The "old manuscript" theory is easily proven too, as you can take Peter Ash totally out of Burning Bright and absolutely nothing changes, as it's not his story. June Cassidy is the lead who takes action, solves the mystery and drives the plot - hell, her mother invented the "skeleton key", her father is involved heavily with the story, and Peter literally just tags along, hovering in the background, providing transportation, money and muscle in that order. He is a 3rd/4th-tier "bodyguard with a bankcard" cut-out character and nothing more.
This tactic of retreading old manuscripts is a common one when deadlines approach and literary agents start calling multiple times a day. It's happened to the best of them - Jeff Abbott's second Whit Mosley novel Black Jack Point is another great example, with Whit tagging along in a totally-unrelated and out-of-character island treasure hunt, which coincidentally stars his brand-new (and very temporary) girlfriend as the lead.
I really hope the 3rd book is a lot better than this and actually involves Peter Ash as the main protagonist & driving force of the story, as he is a classic action-adventure character that deserves more than being injected as a 3rd-banana guest-star role into an old and rejected June Cassidy novel.
This book should really be called Burning Bright (June Cassidy #1)
Once I finished it, it all became clear - after the success of the exceptional debut "The Drifter" Nicolas Petrie (now "Nick" Petrie), suddenly had a deadline for a followup to a unexpectedly-hot property, so like all budding authors, he dusted off his "reject pile" and slapped Peter Ash into an old and hackneyed "skeleton key" manuscript, whereby a piece of software is developed that can crack any password known to man, and naturally, the intelligence community is all over it. Blah, blah, blah.
Anyone in the biz has read about a thousand manuscripts covering that overused "skeleton key" idea, second only to that old "cloning Jesus" standby. The "old manuscript" theory is easily proven too, as you can take Peter Ash totally out of Burning Bright and absolutely nothing changes, as it's not his story. June Cassidy is the lead who takes action, solves the mystery and drives the plot - hell, her mother invented the "skeleton key", her father is involved heavily with the story, and Peter literally just tags along, hovering in the background, providing transportation, money and muscle in that order. He is a 3rd/4th-tier "bodyguard with a bankcard" cut-out character and nothing more.
This tactic of retreading old manuscripts is a common one when deadlines approach and literary agents start calling multiple times a day. It's happened to the best of them - Jeff Abbott's second Whit Mosley novel Black Jack Point is another great example, with Whit tagging along in a totally-unrelated and out-of-character island treasure hunt, which coincidentally stars his brand-new (and very temporary) girlfriend as the lead.
I really hope the 3rd book is a lot better than this and actually involves Peter Ash as the main protagonist & driving force of the story, as he is a classic action-adventure character that deserves more than being injected as a 3rd-banana guest-star role into an old and rejected June Cassidy novel.
April 12, 2022
Book Review – Book Two of the Peter Ash series, “Burning Bright” by war veteran turn author Nick Petrie is a very entertaining action thriller. I binged read through this book just as I did the first one, “The Drifter.” The action and intrigue grabbed me from the very beginning, and the plot and pace continued throughout the entire story. The underlying mystery, and the high-tech subject matter were clever components to a very good and suspenseful narrative. The storyline moves along nicely, and the ambiguity of it makes it very appealing. Burning Bright could stand alone, but readers might get a lot more out of it if it’s read after reading the first book in the series, The Drifter. Burning Bright doesn't focus as much on PTSD as The Drifter, but it still deals with it in a sensitive and understanding manner. I highly respect Petrie for being and giving a “voice” to those who suffer from PTSD. This series, with its complex characters and storyline give insight to those who might not know nor learn about PTSD in any other way other than reading a good novel. The author's notes at the end of each book about PTSD are also helpful and informative too. Although complicated, the characters make this book. Their PTSD is handled in a way that makes you realize how bad it can be, but is not overdone, nor make the reader feel like they’re reading a medical article. Fantastic characters with fluidity and wit, I really liked the insight into their thinking. Their development in this story captures the seriousness, the warmth, the humor, and the action of a well written tale. This book is a suspenseful high-tech ride, complete with a steady mounting body count and a compelling protagonist in Peter Ash. All in all, Burning Bright is a rock-solid read, with some exciting action and lots of developments that create interesting possibilities for the books in the series. Well-worth read!
August 13, 2018
A fast paced action thriller, almost non-stop chase, fight, shoot. This is what Lee Child could be if he would stop describing paint drying. Petrie's prose is solid and evocative and his characters are interesting.
The only unsatisfying part is the ending. Petrie succumbs to the movie-version of James Bond disease: the bad guys have forged an army, built a citadel, and are about to take over the world. I am unable to suspend my disbelief: how hard would it actually be to hire experienced army veterans willing to murder with impunity for a paycheck? I say impossible; Petrie says, they're well paid.
The only unsatisfying part is the ending. Petrie succumbs to the movie-version of James Bond disease: the bad guys have forged an army, built a citadel, and are about to take over the world. I am unable to suspend my disbelief: how hard would it actually be to hire experienced army veterans willing to murder with impunity for a paycheck? I say impossible; Petrie says, they're well paid.
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