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Gibson Vaughn #3
Cold Harbor
A Wall Street Journal bestselling series.
After a period of brutal isolation in a CIA black-site prison, former Marine and gifted hacker Gibson Vaughn is free—but with no idea where he was or how much time he’s lost. Struggling to maintain his grip on reality, he races to return to the life he left behind. Angry and disoriented, his thoughts turn to vengeance and the man responsible for his rendition. But Gibson’s drive for retribution and the ghosts of his violent past plunge him back into a world he wants only to escape.
As old enemies and once-trusted allies resurface, the architects of a murderous conspiracy will beat a sinister path to Gibson’s doorstep. In discovering the shocking truth about those he thought he knew best, only one thing is certain: those responsible must be made to answer…and pay.
After a period of brutal isolation in a CIA black-site prison, former Marine and gifted hacker Gibson Vaughn is free—but with no idea where he was or how much time he’s lost. Struggling to maintain his grip on reality, he races to return to the life he left behind. Angry and disoriented, his thoughts turn to vengeance and the man responsible for his rendition. But Gibson’s drive for retribution and the ghosts of his violent past plunge him back into a world he wants only to escape.
As old enemies and once-trusted allies resurface, the architects of a murderous conspiracy will beat a sinister path to Gibson’s doorstep. In discovering the shocking truth about those he thought he knew best, only one thing is certain: those responsible must be made to answer…and pay.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2017
2532 people are currently reading
2292 people want to read
About the author
Matthew FitzSimmons
14 books1,394 followersMatthew FitzSimmons is the author of the bestselling Gibson Vaughn and Constance Series. His latest, The Slate, will be released in October, 2024. Born in Illinois and raised in London, England, he makes his home in Washington DC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 392 reviews
August 1, 2017
If an author has only written three books, can you say that their latest is "vintage [author's name]"? Well, I don't care. I've just read Matthew FitzSimmons' third book,
Cold Harbor
, which is the third book in the Gibson Vaughn series, and I can say unequivocally that it is vintage FitzSimmons, in that it kicks ass just as much as the first one did. Why isn't this guy famous yet?
Gibson Vaughn was kept in a CIA black-site prison, isolated from all human contact for a significant period of time. He had no concept of the difference between day or night, and at times he had no idea whether he was really alive or dead. Visions of his childhood friend, Suzanne, and his father kept him company, helped him to cope, and gave him the will to survive, so he could one day be reunited with his young daughter (if she is even still young), and he can enact revenge on the man who has taken him prisoner.
When he is released into the cold, he has no idea how long he has been imprisoned. At first he doesn't even know where he is. All he has are Suzanne and his father's ghosts, cajoling him, bullying him, pushing him toward dual missions—Suzanne wants him to find his daughter and rebuild their relationship; his father wants him to get revenge on the man who ruined Gibson's life.
As Gibson tries returning to the life he knew before he was imprisoned, he finds the readjustment to be very difficult, and his constant ghostly companions don't help matters any. He discovers how many things have changed—rarely for the better—since he has been gone, and he needs to figure out how to get his head, his life, and hopefully, his daughter, back. But it won't be easy, as he quickly makes himself a suspect in a crime he wasn't even around to commit, and is under scrutiny by law enforcement.
The more he tries keeping his head down and doing what he needs to do in the hopes it will heal him, the more roadblocks he runs into, and the more he becomes reacquainted with both old friends and old nemeses. He can't seem to escape the trouble that follows him, and he gets embroiled in a dangerous scheme, unsure of whom he can trust, and whether he'll even come out of it alive, and if he does, what his life will be like afterward.
Cold Harbor is the story of a desperate man trying to regain control of the life he once knew, only to find that life doesn't really exist anymore. When everything you knew, everything you worked toward is impossible to have now, where do you go and what do you do? And does getting revenge against those who've wronged you the therapy you need, or does that open you up to more harm than good?
When FitzSimmons' first book in the series, The Short Drop (see my original review), was published two years ago, it took me by surprise and absolutely blew me away. At that point I knew this was an author worth watching, and I couldn't wait for the series to continue. While I didn't love the second book quite as much as the first, Gibson Vaughn is one of my favorite characters in recent years, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened to him after the last book ended.
Cold Harbor is FitzSimmons firing on all cylinders, and it proves once again that he is a writer with tremendous talent, and that Gibson is a character I can't get enough of, even as he's having trouble distinguishing reality from madness. This is a fantastic series, and this is a writer you need to read if you like this genre. Believe me, you'll want to read him now, so you can look totally cool when he hits the big time—which I hope happens soon.
NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer 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....
Gibson Vaughn was kept in a CIA black-site prison, isolated from all human contact for a significant period of time. He had no concept of the difference between day or night, and at times he had no idea whether he was really alive or dead. Visions of his childhood friend, Suzanne, and his father kept him company, helped him to cope, and gave him the will to survive, so he could one day be reunited with his young daughter (if she is even still young), and he can enact revenge on the man who has taken him prisoner.
When he is released into the cold, he has no idea how long he has been imprisoned. At first he doesn't even know where he is. All he has are Suzanne and his father's ghosts, cajoling him, bullying him, pushing him toward dual missions—Suzanne wants him to find his daughter and rebuild their relationship; his father wants him to get revenge on the man who ruined Gibson's life.
As Gibson tries returning to the life he knew before he was imprisoned, he finds the readjustment to be very difficult, and his constant ghostly companions don't help matters any. He discovers how many things have changed—rarely for the better—since he has been gone, and he needs to figure out how to get his head, his life, and hopefully, his daughter, back. But it won't be easy, as he quickly makes himself a suspect in a crime he wasn't even around to commit, and is under scrutiny by law enforcement.
The more he tries keeping his head down and doing what he needs to do in the hopes it will heal him, the more roadblocks he runs into, and the more he becomes reacquainted with both old friends and old nemeses. He can't seem to escape the trouble that follows him, and he gets embroiled in a dangerous scheme, unsure of whom he can trust, and whether he'll even come out of it alive, and if he does, what his life will be like afterward.
Cold Harbor is the story of a desperate man trying to regain control of the life he once knew, only to find that life doesn't really exist anymore. When everything you knew, everything you worked toward is impossible to have now, where do you go and what do you do? And does getting revenge against those who've wronged you the therapy you need, or does that open you up to more harm than good?
When FitzSimmons' first book in the series, The Short Drop (see my original review), was published two years ago, it took me by surprise and absolutely blew me away. At that point I knew this was an author worth watching, and I couldn't wait for the series to continue. While I didn't love the second book quite as much as the first, Gibson Vaughn is one of my favorite characters in recent years, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened to him after the last book ended.
Cold Harbor is FitzSimmons firing on all cylinders, and it proves once again that he is a writer with tremendous talent, and that Gibson is a character I can't get enough of, even as he's having trouble distinguishing reality from madness. This is a fantastic series, and this is a writer you need to read if you like this genre. Believe me, you'll want to read him now, so you can look totally cool when he hits the big time—which I hope happens soon.
NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer 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....
October 28, 2017
3.5 After a time, actually 18 months, though the wouldn't know the length of this until later, spent in a CIA run facility, in solitary confinement, Gibson is unceremoniously dropped on the same airport runway he was taken from. No longer of sound mind, with absolutely no means, accompanied by bear and his father, dead figures from his past, Gibson turns to one of the only friends he can count on.
These types of espionage thrillers are ones that I have previously only dipped into occasionally. Not my usual reading fare. Not even sure that is the right way to classify this series, but I'm going with it since in my mind that is how they are classified. I was sent a copy of this authors first, The Short Drop, and found myself immersed in the life of Gibson Vaughn. This man with extraordinary computer skills, a good man at heart, who finds himself embroiled in things often not of his choosing. Now, accompanied from his two voices from the past, he is given the opportunity to reconnect with two people he cares about and for which he has been searching.
This is a wonderful series. Gibson, a character, this man who has lost virtually everything and everybody he loves, a character of whom I care a great deal. I enjoy this series immensely. Realistic? Well, if you believe in government conspiracies, a government with agencies that work autonomously, and a government that keeps many secrets from their public, than yes. I'll let you be the judge.
ARC from Netgalley.
These types of espionage thrillers are ones that I have previously only dipped into occasionally. Not my usual reading fare. Not even sure that is the right way to classify this series, but I'm going with it since in my mind that is how they are classified. I was sent a copy of this authors first, The Short Drop, and found myself immersed in the life of Gibson Vaughn. This man with extraordinary computer skills, a good man at heart, who finds himself embroiled in things often not of his choosing. Now, accompanied from his two voices from the past, he is given the opportunity to reconnect with two people he cares about and for which he has been searching.
This is a wonderful series. Gibson, a character, this man who has lost virtually everything and everybody he loves, a character of whom I care a great deal. I enjoy this series immensely. Realistic? Well, if you believe in government conspiracies, a government with agencies that work autonomously, and a government that keeps many secrets from their public, than yes. I'll let you be the judge.
ARC from Netgalley.
October 20, 2017
Cold Harbor is the third in the Gibson Vaughn series by Mathhew Fitzsimmons, a thrilling trio of espionage, hacking, politics and murder that goes deep within the US government.
After 18 months of harsh imprisonment in a black ops site, Vaughn now wants revenge. He's trying to put his life back together, get rid of the "ghosts" from his past and move forward but his need for revenge and his past won't allow him to do that.
Let me say at this point that I wanted to read this book because of the blurb attached to it: Expert hacker wrongfully imprisoned by CIA now on a mission to find the man who put him there. In my mind I was picturing a book about someone like Ed Snowden. What I got instead was another Tom Clancy knock off. This book is about Spooks. Period. Cold Harbor is a euphemism for Blackwater, the horrific defense industry free for all that is a bastion of corruption. Had I known this is what the book was about, I wouldn't have read it. That said, if you're in to this sort of thing then I'm sure you will like it.
There are parts that were absolutely too unbelievable for me. Example given: after 18 months in a hole with no light whatsoever and nothing to eat except protein bars, two a day maybe, when Vaughn is released on a sunny day HE GETS UP AND WALKS MILES TO THE NEAREST HOME. There are many more examples like this. I simply couldn't suspend belief for all of them. Also, it is important that you read the first two books in the series before reading this one. These are not stand alone books and each builds on the storyline of the previous novel.
I received a free Kindle copy from Amazon Kindle - thank you to them and Matthew FitzSimmons.
After 18 months of harsh imprisonment in a black ops site, Vaughn now wants revenge. He's trying to put his life back together, get rid of the "ghosts" from his past and move forward but his need for revenge and his past won't allow him to do that.
Let me say at this point that I wanted to read this book because of the blurb attached to it: Expert hacker wrongfully imprisoned by CIA now on a mission to find the man who put him there. In my mind I was picturing a book about someone like Ed Snowden. What I got instead was another Tom Clancy knock off. This book is about Spooks. Period. Cold Harbor is a euphemism for Blackwater, the horrific defense industry free for all that is a bastion of corruption. Had I known this is what the book was about, I wouldn't have read it. That said, if you're in to this sort of thing then I'm sure you will like it.
There are parts that were absolutely too unbelievable for me. Example given: after 18 months in a hole with no light whatsoever and nothing to eat except protein bars, two a day maybe, when Vaughn is released on a sunny day HE GETS UP AND WALKS MILES TO THE NEAREST HOME. There are many more examples like this. I simply couldn't suspend belief for all of them. Also, it is important that you read the first two books in the series before reading this one. These are not stand alone books and each builds on the storyline of the previous novel.
I received a free Kindle copy from Amazon Kindle - thank you to them and Matthew FitzSimmons.
February 8, 2018
Cold Harbor is the third book in a series, and some of it won’t make sense if you haven’t read the first two. My recommendation would be to binge read all three because then the cliffhangers at the ends of the first two books won’t irritate you.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Matthew FitzSimmons can write. His story telling is excellent. Everything flows so smoothly. His characters are also well defined. I loved Swonger in Poisonfeather and I was happy to see him in this book. Having Duke Vaughn and Bear keep Gibson company was an outstanding idea. And Gibson was absolutely wonderfully written here. He was a wreck, off kilter, doubtful, introspective, just as he should be after 18 months in solitary.
I was happy that the ending of this book was not a cliffhanger! It does give me hope that there are more adventures for Gibson Vaughn in the future.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Matthew FitzSimmons can write. His story telling is excellent. Everything flows so smoothly. His characters are also well defined. I loved Swonger in Poisonfeather and I was happy to see him in this book. Having Duke Vaughn and Bear keep Gibson company was an outstanding idea. And Gibson was absolutely wonderfully written here. He was a wreck, off kilter, doubtful, introspective, just as he should be after 18 months in solitary.
I was happy that the ending of this book was not a cliffhanger! It does give me hope that there are more adventures for Gibson Vaughn in the future.
October 20, 2017
3.5 stars, rounded up because I love this series.
Could have been a 5, but I struggled for the first 150 pages trying to remember who's who. I think this affected my ability to get more engaged in the plot moving forward. By the time things started to ramp up, (for me it was Well over the mid way mark) the book was over. I did find the ending satisfactory, but this is definitely not a stand alone read.
There are some shining moments here, like the side bar conversations with Gibson Vaugh's deceased love ones: Bear and his father. The reasons for their presence is a reminder of what Gibson went through, and what the body/brain will do to fight for survival. Bringing in these ghosts could have gone terribly wrong, but Fitzsimmons does a great job of using them at just the right times. Whether they were there to help, guide or reprimand, I found these scenes to be the most enjoyable.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
Could have been a 5, but I struggled for the first 150 pages trying to remember who's who. I think this affected my ability to get more engaged in the plot moving forward. By the time things started to ramp up, (for me it was Well over the mid way mark) the book was over. I did find the ending satisfactory, but this is definitely not a stand alone read.
There are some shining moments here, like the side bar conversations with Gibson Vaugh's deceased love ones: Bear and his father. The reasons for their presence is a reminder of what Gibson went through, and what the body/brain will do to fight for survival. Bringing in these ghosts could have gone terribly wrong, but Fitzsimmons does a great job of using them at just the right times. Whether they were there to help, guide or reprimand, I found these scenes to be the most enjoyable.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
August 16, 2017
I'm going to be the minority here but this book was just okay at best for me. I should note that this is the third book in a series - a series that I have not read previously. Usually books work well as stand alone books for me but I am guessing that I may have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous books in the series prior to reading this one.
Gibson Vaughn is set free after being kept in isolation at a CIA black site prison. Initially he does not know his whereabouts or just how long he has been imprisoned. The days turned into weeks; weeks into months, months into...well, you get the picture. But for some reason he is freed and he is quite a mess - emotionally and physically.
Trying to get back on his feet proves difficult as ghosts from his past keep popping up - literally talking to him causing him to appear mentally ill in public. Gibson also learns that his ex-wife and daughter are missing after their home has been burnt due to arson. Arson that the authorities feel he may be responsible for. He seeks revenge and gets involved in scheme not fully knowing who he can trust.
The premise sounds so good. Other reviewers have given this book very high ratings. I just struggled with this book. A man desperate to get back on his own two feet, to make people pay and reclaim his life sounded intriguing. I do believe I would have benefited from reading this series from the beginning as this one did not work very well for me as a stand alone.
I received a copy of this book from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gibson Vaughn is set free after being kept in isolation at a CIA black site prison. Initially he does not know his whereabouts or just how long he has been imprisoned. The days turned into weeks; weeks into months, months into...well, you get the picture. But for some reason he is freed and he is quite a mess - emotionally and physically.
Trying to get back on his feet proves difficult as ghosts from his past keep popping up - literally talking to him causing him to appear mentally ill in public. Gibson also learns that his ex-wife and daughter are missing after their home has been burnt due to arson. Arson that the authorities feel he may be responsible for. He seeks revenge and gets involved in scheme not fully knowing who he can trust.
The premise sounds so good. Other reviewers have given this book very high ratings. I just struggled with this book. A man desperate to get back on his own two feet, to make people pay and reclaim his life sounded intriguing. I do believe I would have benefited from reading this series from the beginning as this one did not work very well for me as a stand alone.
I received a copy of this book from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2017
This ARC was provided compliments of NetGalley. Gratitude sent to Thomas & Mercer for making this pre-release available.
What might happen to the psyche of the human mind when all form of communication has been totally stripped away? Hard to imagine. The author stepped forward with a hard-boiled answer. Acute psychosis. In this case, the mind's manufactured way of survival. I was full in. The main character's shattered self was well-defined. It haunts me just to think about it. Him.
Gibson Vaughn awoke to find himself in a cell. No windows. He didn't know where he was. But he knew who was responsible for his being there. Cut off from all communication from the outside world. Not a sound. Dead silence. The endless days turned into torturous months. I could envision the raging torment. Protein bars were the only source of food. Eighteen months. Eventually, he found refuge tucked away in the dark corners of his mind. Awaiting him there were two long-lost souls. Duke, his father. Bear, his childhood friend. Both deceased in the real world. Alive once again. Back with much-needed conversation. Mostly argumentative. Take what you got. Companionship. Day in, day out. No longer alone. Never knowing if it was day or night. Month, not a clue. Time had ceased to exist. As did life.
Eighteen months had passed. It could have been eighteen years. Sedated and dragged from this cell. Gibson found himself on a deserted airstrip. A cold winter's day. Where was he? Why was he set free? One foot behind the next, he plodded down the road. Any road. He wasn't alone. Duke and Bear kept him company. Always.
The one thing that kept Gibson going - revenge. Damon Ogden was responsible for his imprisonment. For that, he'd make him pay. Dearly. The question remained, just how would he break into CIA headquarters and kidnap a ranking official? It would definitely take some careful planning. Bear argued against it. She usually did. Whatever it would take, it would get done.
Gibson had few friends. Not counting Duke and Bear. And the ones he knew were usually on the shady side of the law. No time to be choosy. He was a hacker when he was with the United States Marine Corps. High level skills. Soon it would come in handy. For all the wrong reasons. The story of his life.
He hacked the Dulles airport system. Duke found fault with his plans. Then again, he'd always been like that. Expected. He gained access for a security clearance and a badge for entry into the Dulles terminal. He was working alongside an old friend. Her objective was to rescue a hostage who was stowed aboard a heavily guarded military aircraft. By the end of the night, he knew he would either be dead or going to jail for the rest of his life. All three of them. Might there be a third option?
What might happen to the psyche of the human mind when all form of communication has been totally stripped away? Hard to imagine. The author stepped forward with a hard-boiled answer. Acute psychosis. In this case, the mind's manufactured way of survival. I was full in. The main character's shattered self was well-defined. It haunts me just to think about it. Him.
Gibson Vaughn awoke to find himself in a cell. No windows. He didn't know where he was. But he knew who was responsible for his being there. Cut off from all communication from the outside world. Not a sound. Dead silence. The endless days turned into torturous months. I could envision the raging torment. Protein bars were the only source of food. Eighteen months. Eventually, he found refuge tucked away in the dark corners of his mind. Awaiting him there were two long-lost souls. Duke, his father. Bear, his childhood friend. Both deceased in the real world. Alive once again. Back with much-needed conversation. Mostly argumentative. Take what you got. Companionship. Day in, day out. No longer alone. Never knowing if it was day or night. Month, not a clue. Time had ceased to exist. As did life.
Eighteen months had passed. It could have been eighteen years. Sedated and dragged from this cell. Gibson found himself on a deserted airstrip. A cold winter's day. Where was he? Why was he set free? One foot behind the next, he plodded down the road. Any road. He wasn't alone. Duke and Bear kept him company. Always.
The one thing that kept Gibson going - revenge. Damon Ogden was responsible for his imprisonment. For that, he'd make him pay. Dearly. The question remained, just how would he break into CIA headquarters and kidnap a ranking official? It would definitely take some careful planning. Bear argued against it. She usually did. Whatever it would take, it would get done.
Gibson had few friends. Not counting Duke and Bear. And the ones he knew were usually on the shady side of the law. No time to be choosy. He was a hacker when he was with the United States Marine Corps. High level skills. Soon it would come in handy. For all the wrong reasons. The story of his life.
He hacked the Dulles airport system. Duke found fault with his plans. Then again, he'd always been like that. Expected. He gained access for a security clearance and a badge for entry into the Dulles terminal. He was working alongside an old friend. Her objective was to rescue a hostage who was stowed aboard a heavily guarded military aircraft. By the end of the night, he knew he would either be dead or going to jail for the rest of his life. All three of them. Might there be a third option?
October 19, 2017
Just okay.
Read the first book in this series and founded interesting, but not this one. Started slow and most parts was really slow and boring. Whole plot didn't made any sense.
Read the first book in this series and founded interesting, but not this one. Started slow and most parts was really slow and boring. Whole plot didn't made any sense.
October 1, 2017
Gibson Vaughn is back & he’s not doing well. Eighteen months in complete isolation has left him clinging to his last shred of sanity. When abruptly freed, he has nothing but 2 travelling companions…the ghosts of his father & childhood fiend Bear. Gib knows it’s not normal to talk to the dead but after losing everything, he takes comfort in their familiar faces.
Once he makes it home, Gib tries to pick up the pieces but never loses sight of his goal. The man responsible for his incarceration will pay. But while he’s putting the plan together, there are a few complications.
Turns out his ex-wife & daughter have disappeared & a very persistent detective would really like to know where he’s been. He also gets some startling news regarding Poisonfeather (last book) that seems to be connected to his abduction. Then Bear’s grandmother summons him for an audience. She’s an aristocratic old bat he loathes but she has a plan of her own & if he can pull it off, it just might save his life.
This is book #3 in the series & I’d really recommend reading the others first. The plot is intricate & draws heavily on events from previous story lines. There are many returning characters & as all the little bits & pieces slide into place, it feels like everything that came before will finally become clear & help Gib make sense of what happened to his life.
It’s definitely an action thriller but Gib’s battle with PTSD is a poignant thread that runs through the story. His fragile mental state, conversations with the dead & desperate attempts to reconnect with the living make this character much more complex than your stock action hero.
Questions are answered & true villains revealed. And as tension amps up for the last quarter, a wee beverage might come in handy to help you get through an explosive finale. It’s an ending that will have you wishing you could jump right into book #4.
Once he makes it home, Gib tries to pick up the pieces but never loses sight of his goal. The man responsible for his incarceration will pay. But while he’s putting the plan together, there are a few complications.
Turns out his ex-wife & daughter have disappeared & a very persistent detective would really like to know where he’s been. He also gets some startling news regarding Poisonfeather (last book) that seems to be connected to his abduction. Then Bear’s grandmother summons him for an audience. She’s an aristocratic old bat he loathes but she has a plan of her own & if he can pull it off, it just might save his life.
This is book #3 in the series & I’d really recommend reading the others first. The plot is intricate & draws heavily on events from previous story lines. There are many returning characters & as all the little bits & pieces slide into place, it feels like everything that came before will finally become clear & help Gib make sense of what happened to his life.
It’s definitely an action thriller but Gib’s battle with PTSD is a poignant thread that runs through the story. His fragile mental state, conversations with the dead & desperate attempts to reconnect with the living make this character much more complex than your stock action hero.
Questions are answered & true villains revealed. And as tension amps up for the last quarter, a wee beverage might come in handy to help you get through an explosive finale. It’s an ending that will have you wishing you could jump right into book #4.
August 16, 2023
I received an arc from the publisher Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the previous two books from this author. Let's hope the suspence will be equally thrilling in this one.
RTC
I loved the previous two books from this author. Let's hope the suspence will be equally thrilling in this one.
RTC
January 29, 2018
Check out all of my reviews at: http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
COLD HARBOR (Gibson Vaughn, #3) by Matthew FitzSimmons satisfied this fan immensely!
Even though I do not enjoy cliffhangers, Gibson Vaughn just got under my thriller loving skin and I had to keep reading on in the series. I am so glad that I did. I had no idea how Mr. FitzSimmons would get Gibson moving forward from book #2 to book #3, but he managed it with the additional emotional satisfaction of giving Gibson a sort of completion and happiness that he so deserved.
Cold Harbor begins with Gibson trying to regain control of his mental and physical health after being released from a CIA black-ops prison. For 18 months, all he had were the ghosts of his father and Suzanne to keep him company. As Gibson tries to return to the world of the living, the author continues to throw roadblocks in his way so that he can only go forward and not back to his old life. Gibson’s old friends return at just the right time to assist him by using him to assist them.
Many questions are answered and relationships resolved from the previous books, not always to the good, as the plot picks up pace to the thrilling conclusion.
This book is as intriguing as it is thrilling and I just love the Gibson Vaughn character. This is not a series that should be read as standalones out of order. Each book builds on the last and all the characters and situations are like a giant web.
Thanks very much to Thomas & Mercer and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
COLD HARBOR (Gibson Vaughn, #3) by Matthew FitzSimmons satisfied this fan immensely!
Even though I do not enjoy cliffhangers, Gibson Vaughn just got under my thriller loving skin and I had to keep reading on in the series. I am so glad that I did. I had no idea how Mr. FitzSimmons would get Gibson moving forward from book #2 to book #3, but he managed it with the additional emotional satisfaction of giving Gibson a sort of completion and happiness that he so deserved.
Cold Harbor begins with Gibson trying to regain control of his mental and physical health after being released from a CIA black-ops prison. For 18 months, all he had were the ghosts of his father and Suzanne to keep him company. As Gibson tries to return to the world of the living, the author continues to throw roadblocks in his way so that he can only go forward and not back to his old life. Gibson’s old friends return at just the right time to assist him by using him to assist them.
Many questions are answered and relationships resolved from the previous books, not always to the good, as the plot picks up pace to the thrilling conclusion.
This book is as intriguing as it is thrilling and I just love the Gibson Vaughn character. This is not a series that should be read as standalones out of order. Each book builds on the last and all the characters and situations are like a giant web.
Thanks very much to Thomas & Mercer and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2018
Cold Harbor is the third book in the deliciously complicated Gibson Vaughan series about a former marine computer hacker who gets dragged in to political conspiracies. Unfortunately it is 18 months since I read the last one and I had forgotten pretty much everything that happened, but with book 4 nearly at the top of my NetGalley pile and published this month, there was no time to reread both books, so I did struggle to fill in the gaps. Even so, this is a cleverly written tightly plotted series with interesting characters and well worth a read.
18 months after being locked in a cell by the CIA, Gibson has had no human contact and been fed only protein bars, when he is inexplicably released and dumped back at the airport where he was taken. Having lost everything he holds dear, including his mind, he manages to contact his one remaining friend, Toby the diner owner, who helps him get back on his feet. His ex-wife has taken their daughter far away and begged him to leave them alone, so with nothing left but his thirst for vengeance, and egged on by the hallucinatory ghost of his long-dead father, Gibson hatches a plan to go after Damon, the man he holds responsible. Unfortunately, someone else has plans for Gibson and yet again he is forced to use his skills to break the law in order to do the right thing...
I do not recommend starting this if you have not read the previous two books as there is not much backstory and this one is where the two separate plots converge. I had felt very frustrated that Poisonfeather did not continue the story from The Short Drop, instead going in quite a different direction, and introducing a host of new characters. Given that it’s even longer since Book 1, I just had to go with it and hope it would start to make sense, which it eventually did, but I think I would get a lot more from this series with a second reading - a very rare occurrence for me. Happily I can at least read the next one very soon, although at least this didn’t end on the same kind of cliffhanger as the first two.
18 months after being locked in a cell by the CIA, Gibson has had no human contact and been fed only protein bars, when he is inexplicably released and dumped back at the airport where he was taken. Having lost everything he holds dear, including his mind, he manages to contact his one remaining friend, Toby the diner owner, who helps him get back on his feet. His ex-wife has taken their daughter far away and begged him to leave them alone, so with nothing left but his thirst for vengeance, and egged on by the hallucinatory ghost of his long-dead father, Gibson hatches a plan to go after Damon, the man he holds responsible. Unfortunately, someone else has plans for Gibson and yet again he is forced to use his skills to break the law in order to do the right thing...
I do not recommend starting this if you have not read the previous two books as there is not much backstory and this one is where the two separate plots converge. I had felt very frustrated that Poisonfeather did not continue the story from The Short Drop, instead going in quite a different direction, and introducing a host of new characters. Given that it’s even longer since Book 1, I just had to go with it and hope it would start to make sense, which it eventually did, but I think I would get a lot more from this series with a second reading - a very rare occurrence for me. Happily I can at least read the next one very soon, although at least this didn’t end on the same kind of cliffhanger as the first two.
August 6, 2018
This book was definitely good, but be aware, you HAVE to read Gibson Vaughn's serie in the right order. Because the first book is the better one in my opinion, and because you can't understand that novel without having read the other two. While "The Short Drop" was really incredible (everybody's saying so, not just me), the second book, "Poison Feather" was sort of a let down because it wasn't on the same level of The Short Drop, and because the was a HUGE cliffhanger, which I HATE!!
Cold Harbor is an accomplished story, it ties up the first two stories and complete them. It's clear that it's open to a fourth book (which will be available in November), but if you like to stop there you can and you'll be satisfied. I will read book four, "Debris Line" and hope it won't let me down!
Cold Harbor is an accomplished story, it ties up the first two stories and complete them. It's clear that it's open to a fourth book (which will be available in November), but if you like to stop there you can and you'll be satisfied. I will read book four, "Debris Line" and hope it won't let me down!
December 6, 2017
With the death of Poisonfeather (Book #2), Gibson Vaughn is released from an CIA black site isolation cell, but after 18 months, his sanity is questionable. He spends much of the book speaking to the dead (his father and his friend, Bear.) While pretending to re-integrate into society, he plans retribution for his imprisonment, but his long-time nemesis (Calista) blackmails him into rescuing an old friend from a military contractor, reuniting him with Jenn. Of course, Calista has her own agenda. I found the book pretty repetitive and would not recommend it, without reading the earlier books, as people keep popping up from them.
January 25, 2022
This series is getting pretty silly and unbelievable. I have the next two on audible (were free) so will likely continue but with much lowered expectations. Oh well.
June 26, 2018
First of all, like Mickey Hoffman and others, I must warn you not to even think about reading this book if you haven't read both of the previous two in the series. Most of the negative reviews appear to be by people who did not; they should be discounted. Each of those two resolves one mystery but also leaves much unresolved. The second book also ended on a cliffhanger that caused some readers to feel they had been duped. I was not so disappointed. In future, the average rating of these three books may actually increase, as the trilogy is likely to take its place as one commonly read by fans of the mystery/thriller genre and will be read in quick succession.
I actually listened to all three, and James Patrick Cronin provides an exceptionally good narration that enhanced my enjoyment.
I don't think it will spoil anything if I share that this one brings the story more or less to a close. I don't mean that this is the last we'll ever hear about our hero, Gibson Vaughn. Indeed, the fourth, Debris Line, will be published next November.
To return to the present, I finished the second book about 15 months ago, so initially, my reaction to this one was similar to that by Boris Feldman. For better or worse, the author does not provide much of the back-story until later. Gradually, the story and characters did come back to me. I won't provide a synopsis here; there are plenty of other reviews that do that, such as Sandy's.
There was just enough mystery to keep me excited to read further, and there are several twists and turns that I certainly didn't anticipate, especially toward the end. The result is that I enjoyed this book very much, even though I admit that it was a bit like reading a comic book. Sometimes, it's relaxing to be so entertained.
I actually listened to all three, and James Patrick Cronin provides an exceptionally good narration that enhanced my enjoyment.
I don't think it will spoil anything if I share that this one brings the story more or less to a close. I don't mean that this is the last we'll ever hear about our hero, Gibson Vaughn. Indeed, the fourth, Debris Line, will be published next November.
To return to the present, I finished the second book about 15 months ago, so initially, my reaction to this one was similar to that by Boris Feldman. For better or worse, the author does not provide much of the back-story until later. Gradually, the story and characters did come back to me. I won't provide a synopsis here; there are plenty of other reviews that do that, such as Sandy's.
There was just enough mystery to keep me excited to read further, and there are several twists and turns that I certainly didn't anticipate, especially toward the end. The result is that I enjoyed this book very much, even though I admit that it was a bit like reading a comic book. Sometimes, it's relaxing to be so entertained.
November 6, 2017
Matthew Fitzsimmons is an incredible author. I highly anticipated this book, and I was not disappointed.
This story is so well rounded, and ties into the first two books of the series pretty well. The writing is so imaginative yet realistic. The characters are still being developed really well despite this being the third book in the series. A lot of my unanswered questions from the first two books were answered, which was pretty satisfying.
The beginning made me nervous because it was quite slow, but of course ended up being necessary. I started it, felt too bored with it, read something else in between, and shortly after restarting it, it picked up significantly. Once that happened, I couldn’t put it down. Much like the first two books, my curiosity about what would happen carried me through to the end pretty quickly.
Having read the first two books, I’m not entirely sure this book would be compelling enough on its own without the history of the first two.
This book was very good and I will continue the series if and when another is written. The series is very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it. However, I’m only rating this 4 stars because I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first two.
This story is so well rounded, and ties into the first two books of the series pretty well. The writing is so imaginative yet realistic. The characters are still being developed really well despite this being the third book in the series. A lot of my unanswered questions from the first two books were answered, which was pretty satisfying.
The beginning made me nervous because it was quite slow, but of course ended up being necessary. I started it, felt too bored with it, read something else in between, and shortly after restarting it, it picked up significantly. Once that happened, I couldn’t put it down. Much like the first two books, my curiosity about what would happen carried me through to the end pretty quickly.
Having read the first two books, I’m not entirely sure this book would be compelling enough on its own without the history of the first two.
This book was very good and I will continue the series if and when another is written. The series is very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it. However, I’m only rating this 4 stars because I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first two.
December 2, 2023
Solid.
Picking up immediately where Poisonfeather left off, Gibson Vaughn comes to in a small, very white, very bright cell about the size of a bathroom. He hears and sees nothing and nobody for 18 months. By the time his mysterious captors release him, it's too late to save his mind. They dump him on a frigid airfield in the middle of nowhere with his meager belongings, left to literally walk back to civilization.
When he finally returns to the world he knew before, he discovers his ex-wife's and daughter's house was burned down. When nobody can tell him what happened to them, his already fragile mind disintegrates. Dangling by the last thread of his rope, Caroline Dauplaise re-enters his life after ruining him during the events of The Short Drop. Can things possibly get any worse?
Yes. Yes, they can - at least more complicated and, in one way, better, when Caroline's machinations pair him back up with an old friend. Up next is Debris Line.
Picking up immediately where Poisonfeather left off, Gibson Vaughn comes to in a small, very white, very bright cell about the size of a bathroom. He hears and sees nothing and nobody for 18 months. By the time his mysterious captors release him, it's too late to save his mind. They dump him on a frigid airfield in the middle of nowhere with his meager belongings, left to literally walk back to civilization.
When he finally returns to the world he knew before, he discovers his ex-wife's and daughter's house was burned down. When nobody can tell him what happened to them, his already fragile mind disintegrates. Dangling by the last thread of his rope, Caroline Dauplaise re-enters his life after ruining him during the events of The Short Drop. Can things possibly get any worse?
Yes. Yes, they can - at least more complicated and, in one way, better, when Caroline's machinations pair him back up with an old friend. Up next is Debris Line.
January 30, 2018
it was nice to finally get to this novel . This author is a good writer. I had a little trouble getting into it at first for it had been a while since the second novel and many novels read in between time. It was a while until the story started coming bac to me from the first two after all it was a pretty complex story--wish he would had finished this one sooner. The story had a good pace to it and did not get bogged down to much. The novel had a bitter sweet ending to it-but I guess that was the only way it could have ended. Will Vaughn be in the next novel or will a new main character come into focus?
November 2, 2017
Following the Empire Strikes Back-sized cliffhanger that ended Poisonfeather, Matthew FitzSimmons’ messed-up ex-Marine hacker Gibson Vaughn returns after an eighteen-month absence and is looking for revenge. And although Gibson wants a heaping served ice cold, his thought processes are similarly frozen. His interactions with PTSD-originated ghosts clearly show is not on the top of his game as he was in the debut The Short Drop. FitzSimmons does a fantastic job at getting into Vaughn’s complicated head and makes him sympathetic voice as the reader commiserates with his on-going stress. For all the internal conflict, however, the first act narrative suffers.
If Cold Harbor was season 3 of the Gibson Vaughn drama on FX (and not a bad idea actually, you paying attention Mr. Landgraf?), the network would be hard pressed to ramp up new viewers without the benefit of binge-watching. The novel has a similar circumstance where the familiar reader must fight to play catch up, yet rewards loyal readers to the very end. For someone new coming in who just happens to pick up a copy at the neighborhood Barnes & Noble? Fuhgeddaboudit. FitzSimmons works in backstory and allows a catch-up with the on-going mythos, but initially the reader can be just as confused as the story’s protagonist.
FitzSimmons weaves together action with a hearty bit of internal self-loathing and angst. Gibson’s conversations with his ghosts are not merely metaphorical, but a plot device that, thankfully, does not overstay its welcome, and, contrary to the standard cliché, borders on the detrimental.
Plot-wise, FitzSimmons picks up on the pseudo-cliffhanger from The Short Drop and has Gibson go after the missing George Abe, who was completely MIA during Poisonfeather, while reuniting with cast members from both previous books, strengthening this creator universe. Another strength that gets focus is Vaughn’s humanity and his tendency to doubt, his own fallibility. A hacker by trade, Gibson is by no means the super-genius Cisco Ramon from The Flash, nor do his skills present the ultimate deus ex machina in planned contrivances. He’s good with code, not so much with relationships, and striving to better at both.
Cold Harbor, named for the Blackwater-ish PMC ne’er-do-well, brings a fitting conclusion to the Gibson Vaughn trilogy. FitzSimmons has created a likable character with an enjoyable series. Vaughn is cocky, but knows his limits, more introverted than a one-line joker, and deserves a return engagement. Get working, Matt.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance proof, for not only Cold Harbor, but introducing me previously to The Short Drop and Poisonfeather. I have certainly enjoyed the ride.
If Cold Harbor was season 3 of the Gibson Vaughn drama on FX (and not a bad idea actually, you paying attention Mr. Landgraf?), the network would be hard pressed to ramp up new viewers without the benefit of binge-watching. The novel has a similar circumstance where the familiar reader must fight to play catch up, yet rewards loyal readers to the very end. For someone new coming in who just happens to pick up a copy at the neighborhood Barnes & Noble? Fuhgeddaboudit. FitzSimmons works in backstory and allows a catch-up with the on-going mythos, but initially the reader can be just as confused as the story’s protagonist.
FitzSimmons weaves together action with a hearty bit of internal self-loathing and angst. Gibson’s conversations with his ghosts are not merely metaphorical, but a plot device that, thankfully, does not overstay its welcome, and, contrary to the standard cliché, borders on the detrimental.
Plot-wise, FitzSimmons picks up on the pseudo-cliffhanger from The Short Drop and has Gibson go after the missing George Abe, who was completely MIA during Poisonfeather, while reuniting with cast members from both previous books, strengthening this creator universe. Another strength that gets focus is Vaughn’s humanity and his tendency to doubt, his own fallibility. A hacker by trade, Gibson is by no means the super-genius Cisco Ramon from The Flash, nor do his skills present the ultimate deus ex machina in planned contrivances. He’s good with code, not so much with relationships, and striving to better at both.
Cold Harbor, named for the Blackwater-ish PMC ne’er-do-well, brings a fitting conclusion to the Gibson Vaughn trilogy. FitzSimmons has created a likable character with an enjoyable series. Vaughn is cocky, but knows his limits, more introverted than a one-line joker, and deserves a return engagement. Get working, Matt.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance proof, for not only Cold Harbor, but introducing me previously to The Short Drop and Poisonfeather. I have certainly enjoyed the ride.
January 1, 2025
gibson is released from a CIA black-site & returns to a life that doesn't exist anymore. he's flailing & trying to gain control of his life while also planning retribution for the CIA agent that wronged him. this one's messy because trouble seems to follow gibson & his recklessness has mostly served him except that was when he was clearheaded. after 18 months in solitary gibson's mind is weakened & he's carrying on conversations with duke & bear . when his hacker skills are once again needed we begin to see gibson improve & that means the bad guys would do well not to underestimate him.
also, absolute BANGER of an ending.
also, absolute BANGER of an ending.
December 28, 2019
I have really enjoyed this series - FitzSimmons is a fantastic writer. I wish I had read this one sooner after reading book #2.
August 8, 2020
I was in the mood to get sucked into something and this did it. :)
June 2, 2017
I was given an advance reader's copy of Cold Harbor with no expectation or obligation to write a review, however I feel nothing short of compelled to share my thoughts on what I believe to be a truly exceptionally well written book. This is the 3rd in the Gibson Vaughn series. The first in the series (The Short Drop) was universally praised and a resounding success. The 2nd (Poison Feather) was the proverbial love/hate relationship with readers, myself being on the less than enthusiastic side of that scale. Readers who were disappointed with Poison Feather and who threatened to give up on this author and the series will be woefully mistaken to skip reading Cold Harbor. This author has swung me back full force to the place I was after finishing The Short Drop; practically mourning the fact that I've finished the book! Many of the characters so badly missed by readers in Poison Feather are now back in shockingly intriguing ways. This book grabbed me in the first chapter and held me a most happy captive until the last sentence.
December 29, 2017
The opening of this novel is just absolutely awesome. A man who has been locked in a CIA cell somewhere is released and he has to cope with what are now voices in his head and a world of change after an eighteen-month disappearance. They say you can't go home again and for Vaughn that is just so true. What an opening! So out of sorts. So confused. And then the problem becomes that, for those of us, who didn't catch the first two books in the series, there is a nefarious plot and Vaughn wants vengeance, but little about it makes much sense and none of the names bandied about make sense. A brief summary to bring us up to date would have helped.
March 13, 2019
When we go on long drives, my husband and I often listen to audio books, but sometimes struggle to find ones that appeal to both of us. We often end up listening to thrillers/spy novels, which are entertaining if not great literature.
Anyway, with that said, of this genre, this series has been one of our favorites. Consistent, entertaining, non-redundant (i.e each book is its own story, not just the same story over and over with a few details changed), and a more nuanced lead character than many of these types of stories.
Anyway, with that said, of this genre, this series has been one of our favorites. Consistent, entertaining, non-redundant (i.e each book is its own story, not just the same story over and over with a few details changed), and a more nuanced lead character than many of these types of stories.
July 7, 2018
A near perfect third act for Gibson Vaughn. After a mild sophomore slump, the third book came back with a vengeance.
A Goodreads review I read said this book is “exactly what they were looking for”and I couldn’t agree more. It was exactly what I wanted.
A Goodreads review I read said this book is “exactly what they were looking for”and I couldn’t agree more. It was exactly what I wanted.
December 29, 2017
Following the terrible end to the previous book in the series, Matthew FitzSimmons was successful in his ploy as I immediately bought Cold Harbor (sic). Gibson Vaughn is unceremoniously freed from an imprisonment of indeterminate length in an unknown location. With a loose grip on his sanity and hellbent on vengeance, Vaughn embarks on a course of action the leads to unsurprising carnage.
Like the previous books in the series, Cold Harbor is very well written in a style that suits the genre perfectly and is easy to read. Vaughn is a great character who stays away from being black or white and stays firmly in the grey. His supporting cast is excellent with the major players being well fleshed out and only those on the periphery relegated to cardboard cut outs.
What starts out as a quest for revenge soon twists and turns into something far more complicated and FitzSimmons takes the reader on a ride that never drags and carried me along until the end. Of course, it's ridiculous in places but it's a believable kind of ridiculous. This is top-notch thriller writing that has everything a novel in this genre needs.
Like the previous books in the series, Cold Harbor is very well written in a style that suits the genre perfectly and is easy to read. Vaughn is a great character who stays away from being black or white and stays firmly in the grey. His supporting cast is excellent with the major players being well fleshed out and only those on the periphery relegated to cardboard cut outs.
What starts out as a quest for revenge soon twists and turns into something far more complicated and FitzSimmons takes the reader on a ride that never drags and carried me along until the end. Of course, it's ridiculous in places but it's a believable kind of ridiculous. This is top-notch thriller writing that has everything a novel in this genre needs.
October 20, 2017
Gibson Vaughn
I couldn’t wait for this book to come out after reading the first two. I love this author. The plot was unbelievable- truly. But the way it was written made you believe it could happen. I was on edge of seat the entire book. I will read any books by this author. Gibson Vaughn is another Jack Reacher!
I couldn’t wait for this book to come out after reading the first two. I love this author. The plot was unbelievable- truly. But the way it was written made you believe it could happen. I was on edge of seat the entire book. I will read any books by this author. Gibson Vaughn is another Jack Reacher!
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