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Nicole Grant Thriller #1
Locked Down
When a former NSA analyst is targeted for assassination by rogue elements of the Chinese and U.S. governments, she’s forced to team with a renegade CIA spy and fight back using technology to stay one step ahead of her pursuers and to extract the ultimate form of justice. The tension and suspense locks in on the first page and doesn’t let up until the last.
Thirty-year-old Nicole Grant is a methodical planner and leads a carefully structured life working in the private sector for an IT security firm. She works behind a desk, plans out every hour of ever day, and almost never succumbs to impulse.
While on a carefree vacation in Hong Kong, a face from the past shows up—a past when she was a computer engineer involved in super-secret high-tech espionage for the American government. Suddenly, a bargain hunting excursion turns deadly, and now it’s she who’s being hunted.
Nicole’s safe, meticulously constructed world is instantly turned upside down. A life-long desk jockey, she’s forced to go on the run and team with a sketchy CIA spook named Ron Hernandez, a troubled former special-operations soldier who may or may not be a saving grace.
As she fights back using what she knows best—computers—Nicole comes face-to-face with a searing family guilt she has carried for years. Beyond that, if she and Hernandez are to beat the odds stacked against them, not only must Nicole learn how to operate in the field, she has to learn how to throw the plan out the window and improvise in the face of overwhelming obstacles.
Thirty-year-old Nicole Grant is a methodical planner and leads a carefully structured life working in the private sector for an IT security firm. She works behind a desk, plans out every hour of ever day, and almost never succumbs to impulse.
While on a carefree vacation in Hong Kong, a face from the past shows up—a past when she was a computer engineer involved in super-secret high-tech espionage for the American government. Suddenly, a bargain hunting excursion turns deadly, and now it’s she who’s being hunted.
Nicole’s safe, meticulously constructed world is instantly turned upside down. A life-long desk jockey, she’s forced to go on the run and team with a sketchy CIA spook named Ron Hernandez, a troubled former special-operations soldier who may or may not be a saving grace.
As she fights back using what she knows best—computers—Nicole comes face-to-face with a searing family guilt she has carried for years. Beyond that, if she and Hernandez are to beat the odds stacked against them, not only must Nicole learn how to operate in the field, she has to learn how to throw the plan out the window and improvise in the face of overwhelming obstacles.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2016
About the author
Ed Kovacs
11 books16 followersED KOVACS is the author of six novels, including the critically-acclaimed Detective Cliff St. James series set in New Orleans, post-killer hurricane.
LOCKED DOWN, Nicole Grant #1, is now available as an e-book at most of the online retailers.
"When a former NSA analyst is targeted for assassination by rogue elements of the Chinese and U.S. governments, she’s forced to team with a renegade CIA spy and fight back using technology to extract the ultimate form of justice. The tension and suspense locks in on the first page and doesn’t let up until the last."
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THE RUSSIAN BRIDE from St. Martin's Press:
“Quick, entertaining action.” Kirkus Reviews
“Brisk, easy-to-read thriller... Readers who like their heroes fearsome and focused... will want to see more of (the hero) Kit Bennings.”
"This is a thriller packed so full of action, it leaves readers breathless. Kovacs does an incredible job at being technically accurate and easy to understand, so readers of all levels are engaged throughout. A must-read for fans of fast-paced stories that don’t let you go till the very end." RT Book Reviews
---------------------------------------------------
BURNT BLACK, Cliff St. James #3.
"The vibrant description of occult doings mixes well with the movements of the earthbound characters, making this Cliff and Honey’s best outing to date." -- Kirkus
"What lingers after the demons are downed is St. James’ obliquely funny personality. A fine, offbeat procedural." -- Booklist
"This series has a definite southern noir feel, and its rough around the edges locale will be catnip to some readers, like myself." -- Criminal Element
---------------------------------------------------
GOOD JUNK, Cliff St. James #2.
"The scenes of New Orleans are rich and real." --The New York Times Book Review
Publisher's Weekly gave Good Junk the rare honor of a *starred,* boxed review.
"Powerful prose elevates this well above most other contemporary P.I. novels." --Publisher's Weekly
"With so many twists and turns, even the most devoted noir fans may wish they had a map. But it’s well worth trying to find the way." --Kirkus
"Kovacs maintains a fast pace, and his descriptions of a steamy, seamy, badly managed city that is failing to recover from Katrina are jolting and plausible. Good Junk has plenty of action—and high-tech gadgetry, too--" --Booklist
----------------------------------------------------
STORM DAMAGE
"Powerful as a Category Five hurricane, Storm Damage is a riveting journey into murder, politics, and greed. Kovacs writes like a master." -- Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author
-----------------------------------------------------
UNSEEN FORCES
"A spellbinding thriller that will keep you riveted well past midnight." St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"A real page-turner rivaling The Da Vinci Code." --Phenomena Magazine
-----------------------------------------------------
Ed is a member of AFIO, Association for Intelligence Officers, American Legion Post 299, the International Thriller Writers organization, and the Mystery Writers of America.
"Ed Kovacs is a vivid addition to the thriller genre." –Steve Berry, NYT Bestselling Author
LOCKED DOWN, Nicole Grant #1, is now available as an e-book at most of the online retailers.
"When a former NSA analyst is targeted for assassination by rogue elements of the Chinese and U.S. governments, she’s forced to team with a renegade CIA spy and fight back using technology to extract the ultimate form of justice. The tension and suspense locks in on the first page and doesn’t let up until the last."
------------------------------------------------------
THE RUSSIAN BRIDE from St. Martin's Press:
“Quick, entertaining action.” Kirkus Reviews
“Brisk, easy-to-read thriller... Readers who like their heroes fearsome and focused... will want to see more of (the hero) Kit Bennings.”
"This is a thriller packed so full of action, it leaves readers breathless. Kovacs does an incredible job at being technically accurate and easy to understand, so readers of all levels are engaged throughout. A must-read for fans of fast-paced stories that don’t let you go till the very end." RT Book Reviews
---------------------------------------------------
BURNT BLACK, Cliff St. James #3.
"The vibrant description of occult doings mixes well with the movements of the earthbound characters, making this Cliff and Honey’s best outing to date." -- Kirkus
"What lingers after the demons are downed is St. James’ obliquely funny personality. A fine, offbeat procedural." -- Booklist
"This series has a definite southern noir feel, and its rough around the edges locale will be catnip to some readers, like myself." -- Criminal Element
---------------------------------------------------
GOOD JUNK, Cliff St. James #2.
"The scenes of New Orleans are rich and real." --The New York Times Book Review
Publisher's Weekly gave Good Junk the rare honor of a *starred,* boxed review.
"Powerful prose elevates this well above most other contemporary P.I. novels." --Publisher's Weekly
"With so many twists and turns, even the most devoted noir fans may wish they had a map. But it’s well worth trying to find the way." --Kirkus
"Kovacs maintains a fast pace, and his descriptions of a steamy, seamy, badly managed city that is failing to recover from Katrina are jolting and plausible. Good Junk has plenty of action—and high-tech gadgetry, too--" --Booklist
----------------------------------------------------
STORM DAMAGE
"Powerful as a Category Five hurricane, Storm Damage is a riveting journey into murder, politics, and greed. Kovacs writes like a master." -- Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author
-----------------------------------------------------
UNSEEN FORCES
"A spellbinding thriller that will keep you riveted well past midnight." St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"A real page-turner rivaling The Da Vinci Code." --Phenomena Magazine
-----------------------------------------------------
Ed is a member of AFIO, Association for Intelligence Officers, American Legion Post 299, the International Thriller Writers organization, and the Mystery Writers of America.
"Ed Kovacs is a vivid addition to the thriller genre." –Steve Berry, NYT Bestselling Author
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 3, 2017
I really like the heroine of this book and have been gratified when female readers told me that the female characters in the story were well-rounded, well-developed, interesting 3D characters. It's a page-turner of an action thriller, with a plot that grabs hold of you and doesn't let go. But then, I wrote it so I'm biased!
February 23, 2017
LOCKED DOWN is a fast moving espionage thriller filled with action on every page. Ed Kovacs’ main characters Nicole Grant, who works as a security computer specialists. She former government SIGINTE technician analysts. Nicole left government work behind after an assignment left a bad taste in her mouth. Ron Hernandez, a CIA agent and Nicole’s supervisor on the failed project. Kovacs creates a realistic storyline focusing on unfolding events relating to the need to keep the failed project secret.
Hernandez goes rogue when he receives a tip that 18 of the personnel who worked on the project with Grant and himself have assassinated by the US a government. Kovacs creates support characters both good and bad and provides each character's backstory when he introduces them to the storyline. Readers follow Nicole and Ron as they deal with staying alive and trying to expose those responsible for the deaths. Once they uncover the unsavory reasons behind the murders, Nicole and Ron understand international implications to the security of the United States and other world powers.
The author builds suspense and intrigue taking readers’ breath away. Ed Kovacs' plot moves towards LOCKED OUT’S explosive ending keeping readers on the edge of their seats of an out of control roller coaster. The enthralling conclusion leaves readers wondering if it could realistically happen?
Hernandez goes rogue when he receives a tip that 18 of the personnel who worked on the project with Grant and himself have assassinated by the US a government. Kovacs creates support characters both good and bad and provides each character's backstory when he introduces them to the storyline. Readers follow Nicole and Ron as they deal with staying alive and trying to expose those responsible for the deaths. Once they uncover the unsavory reasons behind the murders, Nicole and Ron understand international implications to the security of the United States and other world powers.
The author builds suspense and intrigue taking readers’ breath away. Ed Kovacs' plot moves towards LOCKED OUT’S explosive ending keeping readers on the edge of their seats of an out of control roller coaster. The enthralling conclusion leaves readers wondering if it could realistically happen?
January 27, 2017
International Thriller, a good read!
If you like international thrillers, I think you'll like this book. Unwittingly, the hero of the story gets dragged into intrigue at the highest level of a foreign government while on vacation. This one is well-written with a great story line and will hold you until the end. Enjoy!
If you like international thrillers, I think you'll like this book. Unwittingly, the hero of the story gets dragged into intrigue at the highest level of a foreign government while on vacation. This one is well-written with a great story line and will hold you until the end. Enjoy!
October 20, 2016
Kovacs New heroine
Nicole is an interesting character and the story is revealing to today. I have enjoyed other kovacs books and this one was fast moving and well written.
Nicole is an interesting character and the story is revealing to today. I have enjoyed other kovacs books and this one was fast moving and well written.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews