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The prisoner who wakes up in a box miles from anywhere.
The jailer who doesn’t question his job.
The shipment of drones stolen in transit from a cargo hub.
The kidnappers planning a devastating attack on US soil.
When James Chadwick, a drone expert, disappears suddenly, Cruxys Solutions investigators Ruth Gonzales and Andy Vaslik are assigned to track his last movements. With few clues to go on, the hunt moves from London to New York, gathering speed as they close in on a horrifying plan to kill the US President and inflict total damage on a US Air Force base.
And time is running out.
Praise for The Locker, Book 1 in the Cruxys Solutions series:
"Readers who enjoy Harlan Coben and Joseph Finder will happily get lost in the nightmare presented here."—Booklist
"[An] intriguing and inventive plot."—Mystery Scene
"Gonzalez and Vaslik make an appealingly mismatched investigative unit."—Kirkus Reviews
The jailer who doesn’t question his job.
The shipment of drones stolen in transit from a cargo hub.
The kidnappers planning a devastating attack on US soil.
When James Chadwick, a drone expert, disappears suddenly, Cruxys Solutions investigators Ruth Gonzales and Andy Vaslik are assigned to track his last movements. With few clues to go on, the hunt moves from London to New York, gathering speed as they close in on a horrifying plan to kill the US President and inflict total damage on a US Air Force base.
And time is running out.
Praise for The Locker, Book 1 in the Cruxys Solutions series:
"Readers who enjoy Harlan Coben and Joseph Finder will happily get lost in the nightmare presented here."—Booklist
"[An] intriguing and inventive plot."—Mystery Scene
"Gonzalez and Vaslik make an appealingly mismatched investigative unit."—Kirkus Reviews
360 pages, Paperback
Published January 8, 2017
7 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Magson
47 books97 followersAdrian Magson is a British crime-writer, his books often involve conspiracies, and have two repeating main characters - Riley Gavin, a young female investigative reporter, and Frank Palmer, a former RMP (British Royal Military Policeman) now a private investigator.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 10, 2016
The Bid is a very fast-paced thriller with an intelligent and elaborate plot and interesting characters, and even a touch of humor and even love. James Chadwick, the drone expert who gets kidnapped, never realized how dangerous the art of flying them can be to other people. Even though he’s seen what the military can do with them, he is still not convinced they are more that useful things to throw bombs without risking lives. His kidnappers want to do the opposite, of course. How and when I cannot disclose here, but the reader will find out soon enough.
This is the second in a series and I wish I read the first book too, because the whole idea of Cruxys Solutions and investigators Ruth Gonzalez and Andy Vaslik is very entertaining. This book would make excellent material for a Hollywood blockbuster!
This is the second in a series and I wish I read the first book too, because the whole idea of Cruxys Solutions and investigators Ruth Gonzalez and Andy Vaslik is very entertaining. This book would make excellent material for a Hollywood blockbuster!
December 24, 2016
Adrian Magson's "The Bid" (Midnight Ink 2017) is the story of a man who is kidnapped for unknown reasons. Oddly, no one cares he is missing--not his family, employers, or the friends he doesn't have. The only one who notices is an insurance company he is paying to react if he doesn't contact them daily for a period of five days. When the two agents assigned to find him try to do that, they are blocked by everyone involved, including law enforcement until the two agents find that he is kidnapped not for money but for what he can do with drones. Quickly, they unravel enough scary details that suddenly everyone cares. The question is: Can they find the man before he does something that will change the nation?
A good summary of this book is from the publisher's own description:
The prisoner who wakes up in a box miles from anywhere.
The jailer who doesn’t question his job.
The shipment of drones stolen in transit from a cargo hub.
The kidnappers planning a devastating attack on US soil.
The plot is fast moving, intricate, and clever. The characters are fairly flat, but likable and smart. Overall, this is well-suited to thriller readers intrigued by the possibility that drones present in causing havoc around the world.
--received a free copy from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review
A good summary of this book is from the publisher's own description:
The prisoner who wakes up in a box miles from anywhere.
The jailer who doesn’t question his job.
The shipment of drones stolen in transit from a cargo hub.
The kidnappers planning a devastating attack on US soil.
The plot is fast moving, intricate, and clever. The characters are fairly flat, but likable and smart. Overall, this is well-suited to thriller readers intrigued by the possibility that drones present in causing havoc around the world.
--received a free copy from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review
January 6, 2017
Very readable thriller……
James Chadwick is a pretty ordinary guy. He has a wife he doesn’t get on with and a son at private school plus, it turns out, a sweet young thing he beds when he gets the chance. He has a decent job which pays well and as a hobby is also an expert drone handler.
His concern that he is being watched and followed leads him to take out an insurance with Cruxys Solutions who will find a client if he goes missing and protect his family at the same time. James Chadwick then goes missing….
It would be a spoiler to say why he is kidnapped and held against his will but the whole story is built upon the Cruxys investigators Ruth Gonzales and Andy Vaslik looking for him and building the picture as to why.
As plots go it is comprehensive and logical. The salient facts are well presented to the reader and the pace is varied but moves steadily forward. The characters are well formed although the focus is naturally on the investigators rather than the kidnap victim which is understandable as the Cruxys Investigations are a series of books of which this is the second. Nothing is lost by reading this thriller without having read the first as the reader will quickly pick up the relationship between the two main protagonists.
The style and quality of writing would normally earn this novel a sure-fire 4 star but there are two areas which dragged it back down to 3 stars. The first is the rather rushed ending. It’s almost as if the publishers had stipulated a certain maximum length and the author ran out of pages. The second is that there is more than a suspicion of a fifth columnist inside the FBI or Homeland Security and then we hear no more of it. I don’t mind loose ends except when they peter out and are not referred to again.
Apart from these reservations it’s a good read. Nothing deep or stimulating but entertaining all the same.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
James Chadwick is a pretty ordinary guy. He has a wife he doesn’t get on with and a son at private school plus, it turns out, a sweet young thing he beds when he gets the chance. He has a decent job which pays well and as a hobby is also an expert drone handler.
His concern that he is being watched and followed leads him to take out an insurance with Cruxys Solutions who will find a client if he goes missing and protect his family at the same time. James Chadwick then goes missing….
It would be a spoiler to say why he is kidnapped and held against his will but the whole story is built upon the Cruxys investigators Ruth Gonzales and Andy Vaslik looking for him and building the picture as to why.
As plots go it is comprehensive and logical. The salient facts are well presented to the reader and the pace is varied but moves steadily forward. The characters are well formed although the focus is naturally on the investigators rather than the kidnap victim which is understandable as the Cruxys Investigations are a series of books of which this is the second. Nothing is lost by reading this thriller without having read the first as the reader will quickly pick up the relationship between the two main protagonists.
The style and quality of writing would normally earn this novel a sure-fire 4 star but there are two areas which dragged it back down to 3 stars. The first is the rather rushed ending. It’s almost as if the publishers had stipulated a certain maximum length and the author ran out of pages. The second is that there is more than a suspicion of a fifth columnist inside the FBI or Homeland Security and then we hear no more of it. I don’t mind loose ends except when they peter out and are not referred to again.
Apart from these reservations it’s a good read. Nothing deep or stimulating but entertaining all the same.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
August 21, 2017
I'm a big fan of Adrian Magson's books but The Bid is just not plausible.
April 10, 2018
Drone warfare at its best. The best or worst part of this book is how close it might have come toward reality.
October 21, 2016
Note: This review contains very minor spoilers
The Bid is the fourth Adrian Magson novel I have read, having previously tackled two Harry Tate novels, Red Station and Tracers and one Marc Portman novel, The Watchman. In all those cases my reaction on finishing each novel was pretty much the same; complete ambivalence. It wasn’t that they were bad books per se. Each one was sensibly plotted and competently written. It’s just that they all lacked anything that was in any way memorable, be it action, characters, concept or plot. In the case of The Watchman I actually described it in my review on Amazon as ‘incredibly bland’, and I could say much the same for the two Harry Tate books.
I would like to be able to report that ‘The Bid’, the second novel in Magson’s ‘Cruxys’ series and the first I have read, bucks this trend but I simply can’t. Once again this is a perfectly competently written contemporary thriller that deals with a reasonably plausible scenario and does so for the most part sensibly and logically until right towards the very end. However, like the other Magson novels I have read it’s also strangely unengaging for reasons I struggle to put my fingers on.
It might be the distinct lack of charisma displayed by any of the characters involved in the story. From the central due of Gonzales and Vaslik downwards, no-one really leaps of the page and demands your attention. Even the bad guys are generally bland and unengaging; for the most part rent-a-terrorist archetypes drawn in broad brush strokes and given minimal psychological depth to help explain their actions or provide motivation.
The lack of real action until the final quarter of the book doesn’t help either, when it comes to engaging the reader’s interest. Yes, following Gonzales, Vaslik and others as they try to track down a missing man and in the process slowly uncover a terrorist conspiracy does offer some interest, but since as readers we’re already several steps ahead of them and what they do mostly involves having meetings and interviewing people the opportunities for unexpected plot twists or heart pounding excitement are limited. It doesn’t help that when the big break does come it’s not really down to their efforts but rather the actions of one of the would be terrorists.
Its only in the last quarter of the book, as the terrorists plan moves towards it conclusion, that the story become more dynamic and more incident packed. Unfortunately, this shift in pace also coincides with a distinct reduction in plausibility. One of Magson’s undoubted strengths as an author is his ability to come up with plots that stay well within the realms of what is possible, even probable. In the latter stages of The Bid however, that skill seems to desert him, with events taking ever more unlikely turns. We are, for example, asked to believe that despite a proven threat to the life of the US President, with the likely timing and location of the attack known well in advance, the Secret Service would allow the American leader to attend the event where he’s to be targeted. Or that, once the shooting starts, he wouldn’t be bundled out of there in mere seconds.
None of these or many other less significant events come across as remotely plausible or even logical, even within the book’s own fictional world. This sudden lack of realism is only amplified by the fact that events in the book’s early stages had the definite feel of things that could actually happen without the need for any great suspension of belief. As a consequence, the grand finale of The Bid feels entirely disjointed from everything that has preceded it; as if it has been imported from a very different type of thriller.
Then, to just further disappoint the reader, the book ends so abruptly that for a moment I thought my e-book copy was missing pages. There’s no coda, no opportunity for reflection or examination of the personal or political fallout from everything that has occurred; no chance to decompress or revel in victory. The story simply stops, feeling when it does like the end of a TV episode in some long running show rather than some grand, exciting adventure where the fate of the free world has been at stake.
Which sums up pretty succinctly what The Bid is in thriller terms; it’s a serviceable, professionally produced but rather under-powered and unmemorable book in an ongoing series that will pass the time but isn’t ever going to really fire your imagination. It does the job its intended to competently enough but nothing more, like a middle of the road network TV show.
I received my copy of The Bid from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review
The Bid is the fourth Adrian Magson novel I have read, having previously tackled two Harry Tate novels, Red Station and Tracers and one Marc Portman novel, The Watchman. In all those cases my reaction on finishing each novel was pretty much the same; complete ambivalence. It wasn’t that they were bad books per se. Each one was sensibly plotted and competently written. It’s just that they all lacked anything that was in any way memorable, be it action, characters, concept or plot. In the case of The Watchman I actually described it in my review on Amazon as ‘incredibly bland’, and I could say much the same for the two Harry Tate books.
I would like to be able to report that ‘The Bid’, the second novel in Magson’s ‘Cruxys’ series and the first I have read, bucks this trend but I simply can’t. Once again this is a perfectly competently written contemporary thriller that deals with a reasonably plausible scenario and does so for the most part sensibly and logically until right towards the very end. However, like the other Magson novels I have read it’s also strangely unengaging for reasons I struggle to put my fingers on.
It might be the distinct lack of charisma displayed by any of the characters involved in the story. From the central due of Gonzales and Vaslik downwards, no-one really leaps of the page and demands your attention. Even the bad guys are generally bland and unengaging; for the most part rent-a-terrorist archetypes drawn in broad brush strokes and given minimal psychological depth to help explain their actions or provide motivation.
The lack of real action until the final quarter of the book doesn’t help either, when it comes to engaging the reader’s interest. Yes, following Gonzales, Vaslik and others as they try to track down a missing man and in the process slowly uncover a terrorist conspiracy does offer some interest, but since as readers we’re already several steps ahead of them and what they do mostly involves having meetings and interviewing people the opportunities for unexpected plot twists or heart pounding excitement are limited. It doesn’t help that when the big break does come it’s not really down to their efforts but rather the actions of one of the would be terrorists.
Its only in the last quarter of the book, as the terrorists plan moves towards it conclusion, that the story become more dynamic and more incident packed. Unfortunately, this shift in pace also coincides with a distinct reduction in plausibility. One of Magson’s undoubted strengths as an author is his ability to come up with plots that stay well within the realms of what is possible, even probable. In the latter stages of The Bid however, that skill seems to desert him, with events taking ever more unlikely turns. We are, for example, asked to believe that despite a proven threat to the life of the US President, with the likely timing and location of the attack known well in advance, the Secret Service would allow the American leader to attend the event where he’s to be targeted. Or that, once the shooting starts, he wouldn’t be bundled out of there in mere seconds.
None of these or many other less significant events come across as remotely plausible or even logical, even within the book’s own fictional world. This sudden lack of realism is only amplified by the fact that events in the book’s early stages had the definite feel of things that could actually happen without the need for any great suspension of belief. As a consequence, the grand finale of The Bid feels entirely disjointed from everything that has preceded it; as if it has been imported from a very different type of thriller.
Then, to just further disappoint the reader, the book ends so abruptly that for a moment I thought my e-book copy was missing pages. There’s no coda, no opportunity for reflection or examination of the personal or political fallout from everything that has occurred; no chance to decompress or revel in victory. The story simply stops, feeling when it does like the end of a TV episode in some long running show rather than some grand, exciting adventure where the fate of the free world has been at stake.
Which sums up pretty succinctly what The Bid is in thriller terms; it’s a serviceable, professionally produced but rather under-powered and unmemorable book in an ongoing series that will pass the time but isn’t ever going to really fire your imagination. It does the job its intended to competently enough but nothing more, like a middle of the road network TV show.
I received my copy of The Bid from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review
March 13, 2017
Well written and not over the top story involving Cruxys Solutions, an insurance company.
Read
March 12, 2017Good read, will read others.
January 1, 2017
“The Bid” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Adrian Magson (http://www.adrianmagson.com). Mr. Magson has published twenty two novels.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in the contemporary US. The main character is Ruth Gonzales, an investigator for Cruxys Solutions.
A client of Cruxys Solutions has turned up missing and Gonzales is tasked to investigate. She begins her investigation in the UK, but soon heads to the US to find the client. Before long she finds herself on the trail of terrorists intending on using drones in some kind of attack.
She is teamed with former partner Andy Vaslik as they follow the trail to their missing client. Gonzales proves to be a strong female character. Not only do they find terrorists behind the abduction, but the terrorists are allowing various groups to bid for the right to claim responsibility.
I enjoyed the just short of 9 hours I spent reading this 360 page Mystery / Thriller. I had not read the first book in the series, but this one read well on its own. This was not the most exciting book, but it was a good story. The cover art selected is approprate for the story being told. I give this novel a 3.7 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in the contemporary US. The main character is Ruth Gonzales, an investigator for Cruxys Solutions.
A client of Cruxys Solutions has turned up missing and Gonzales is tasked to investigate. She begins her investigation in the UK, but soon heads to the US to find the client. Before long she finds herself on the trail of terrorists intending on using drones in some kind of attack.
She is teamed with former partner Andy Vaslik as they follow the trail to their missing client. Gonzales proves to be a strong female character. Not only do they find terrorists behind the abduction, but the terrorists are allowing various groups to bid for the right to claim responsibility.
I enjoyed the just short of 9 hours I spent reading this 360 page Mystery / Thriller. I had not read the first book in the series, but this one read well on its own. This was not the most exciting book, but it was a good story. The cover art selected is approprate for the story being told. I give this novel a 3.7 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
January 15, 2017
Midnight Ink and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Bid. This is my honest opinion of the book.
Cruxys Solutions Investigators Ruth Gonzales and Andy Vaslik are back in this second book of the series that started with The Locker. Client James Chadwick is a drone expert who has disappeared without a trace, so Ruth and Andy are dispatched to find out why. Wife Elizabeth is unaware of his client status, as well as his disappearance, so Ruth and Andy must start from scratch. When the search moves from London to New York, the team soon discovers an unsettling set of clues that lead them to a horrifying realization. Will Ruth and Andy be able to find James and stop the situation from escalating to a devastating conclusion?
What I like most about Adrian Magson's books are their strong, realistic plots with modern implications. The situation described within the pages of The Bid could most certainly occur within the United States or any other major country in the world, for that matter. This helps lend an air of credibility and gives the reader a more horrifying thrill. I could easily see Ruth and Andy up on the silver screen, as their characters are well developed and complete. With many possibilities for future plot lines, I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Cruxys Solutions Investigators Ruth Gonzales and Andy Vaslik are back in this second book of the series that started with The Locker. Client James Chadwick is a drone expert who has disappeared without a trace, so Ruth and Andy are dispatched to find out why. Wife Elizabeth is unaware of his client status, as well as his disappearance, so Ruth and Andy must start from scratch. When the search moves from London to New York, the team soon discovers an unsettling set of clues that lead them to a horrifying realization. Will Ruth and Andy be able to find James and stop the situation from escalating to a devastating conclusion?
What I like most about Adrian Magson's books are their strong, realistic plots with modern implications. The situation described within the pages of The Bid could most certainly occur within the United States or any other major country in the world, for that matter. This helps lend an air of credibility and gives the reader a more horrifying thrill. I could easily see Ruth and Andy up on the silver screen, as their characters are well developed and complete. With many possibilities for future plot lines, I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
January 20, 2017
eview
This is the first of my “read a different author books” for this year… and its always great to strike gold on the first attempt. I have to be honest, i own the first three Harry Tate books and for some reason they are sat on my shelf unread, they sound great and yet my reading pile never seemed to allow for me to read them (i seem to always be trying to keep up with the review pile rather than the read for myself pile, its great when the two coincide).
The Bid follows Ruth Gonzales and Andy Vaslik as they search for their client who is missing, his Insurance contract comes into effect as soon as he fails to check in. This extra insurance security must be for a reason and as they dig into his past they discover this consultant is more than he appears on the surface, and his skills are in demand by people who will do anything to make him work for them. His life and his family under threat.
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