30 Days Hath Revenge

Blake Meyer Thriller #1

by C. Kevin Thompson

A Clandestine Mission. A Cryptic Message. A Chaste Promise.

Blake Meyer dreamed of a peaceful end to a dutiful career with the FBI. Married now, his life was taking him in a new direction--a desk job. He would be an analyst. Ride it out until retirement. Be safe so he could enjoy family life.

But when a notable member of the IRA is murdered in his London flat, Blake's secretive past propels him into the middle of an international scheme so twisted and sadistic, it will take everything Blake possesses--all of it--to save the United States from a diabolical terrorist attack.

Genres: Christian Fiction

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2013

About the author

Be sure to follow Kevin on Bookbub for information on sales! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-kev...

C. KEVIN THOMPSON is a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a kid at heart. Often referred to as “crazy” by his grandchildren, it’s only because he is. He’s a writer. Need he say more?

The second edition of his award-winning debut novel, The Serpent’s Grasp, is now available! The first four books of his Blake Meyer Thriller series - Book 1- 30 Days Hath Revenge, Book 2- Triple Time, Book 3- The Tide of Times, and Book 4- When the Clock Strikes Fourteen will be republished in 2023 along with the last two, 5- A Pulse of Time, and 6- Devil of a Crime. His newest novel, award winning The Letters, is now available!

Kevin is a huge fan of the TV series 24, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, NCIS, Criminal Minds, BBC shows Broadchurch, Shetland, Hinterland, and Wallander, loves anything to do with Star Trek, and is a Sherlock Holmes fanatic too. But you will never catch him wearing a deerstalker. Ever.

Reviews

[Peter Younghusband · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this novel gave me yet another confirmation that just because this is a debut novel it does not have to be a dud or you feel the author needs to put in more hard yards before they publish next.

I was immediately taken in by this novel. Not just with the plot and charactersation but with the writing. Thompson writes very well. It is immediately evident. This is one very strong asset to him as an author. His command of the English language and how he constructs it for this novel forms one very solid foundation upon which the plot, pace and charactersiation rest. It did not surprise me to discover that Thompson has won Awards for his writing, the first edition of this novel was a Silver Medalist in the Readers' Favorite 2013 Book of the Year Awards in the Christian Fiction category.

The pace in this setting is frenetic. It never lets up. It is this that keeps you coming back for more. In some novels of this genre and calibre, it can end up with the characters being in a plot driven storyline and the main character being taken for a ride with the fast paceness of the plot. Here, the reader can feel that everything is happening to the main character or characters and they have no or not much control over what is happening to them. In this novel, Thompson has avoided this pitfall. It is very much a character driven plot. This lends itself very well to Blake being able to use his extensive experience and knowledge of his field to find out answers to the terrorist threat to his present and that of the world's population.

Just as Thompson has an excellent, competent command of the English language, the same degree of expertise can be said for the construction of this novel, the characters but especially the plot. There are no thin areas of plotlines, characterisation or pace. There is depth to all these aspects. Blake is one self-made man who knows who he is and what makes himself tick. He is extremely relational and even before the events and characters of his past start to influence him, Thompson has developed him enough to have the reader endeared to him and on his side. This bides well when the events of his past threaten him and the rest of the world. You are already on his side and rooting for him. Doing it this way establishes his credibility as a character and gives the reader the confidence to continue to read without any doubt of Thompson's development of Blake.

Another aspect of Thompon's characterisation is the layered construction of the plot and how this affects Blake. The terrorist plot that exists in Blake's past that is now affecting his present also adds layers to the professional and personal life of Blake and his family. It sets the stage for him to show how versatile and resourceful an agent he is, in simultaneously fulfilling the responsibilities his profession as an Agent and protecting his family.

I can see why Thompson is successful with this novel. He as researched it well and applied it effectively. Clues to this success can be found from his Amazon bio:

" He is a huge fan of the TV series "24," "The Blacklist," "Blue Bloods," "Designated Survivor," and "Criminal Minds." He loves anything to do with Star Trek, is a Sherlock Holmes fanatic, and reads lots of books."

Apart from Blake, I have a soft spot for Harrison Kelly. I really enjoyed this character. It is an asset for an author's ability to successfully depict the nationality of the character. While reading the sections involving Kelly and Blake, I felt very much at home with his mannerisms and language as Thompson has depicted Kelly as pretty much how us Australians speak and behave.

I also enjoyed Agent Julee Scarfano. She seems a more than capable operative and is very good as being a go-between for Blake and Connell when Blake needs to bypass the restrictive rules and regulations of the FBI in order to go rogue. I hope that Thompson includes Julee in the remaining 5 novels in this series. The almost love-hate relationship between Connell and Blake adds another layer of suspense that I enjoyed. This seems to be a characteristic of novels in this military, special ops genre. I never get sick of the main character thwarting and bypassing rules and regulations to get things done in dire circumstances of a mission when rules and regulations would restrict its outcomes. Connell seems to waver between sticking to the confines of the FBI operation procedures and giving Blake what he needs within this. He fails miserably and nearly loses Blakes respect for him or at least has it damaged.

This novel is described by Thompson and others as a Christian thriller due to its exclusion of sex, profanity and other gore. I would challenge this. These exclusions make this a clean read and that does not make it Christian. Some secular authors write clean reads with these exclusions and their novels are far from being Christian.

What makes this a Christian thriller is the inclusion of spirituality based on Biblical themes and doctrines and who God is. There is only a little of this in this novel. I felt that if it was omitted, it would not have any great impact on the overall plot or even on Blake to whom it was directed. However, this omission would have made it a clean read and indistinguishable from a secular novel. However, with this inclusion, Thompson gets Blake thinking about the meaning of life (cliche not intended!), the question of evil and its effects on the human race and where he all fits into this. There was potential there for Thompson to develop this further and as a result, develop the character of Harrison who is the sole Christian character and who provides the spiritual/ biblical input to Blake. I hope that this is included more and developed further in the sequel, Triple Time, and the remaining books 3-6 that are to come over the next few years.

Maybe I expected more of these Biblical themes and spirituality due to the fact that Thompson is an ordained minister. I have found from reading other novels from Ministers/Pastors they have no problem including Biblical themes of redemption, salvation, evil, death, spiritual warfare, sexuality and other themes concerning the ills of this world (suffering, addictions, domestic violence, to name a few) in greater detail than what Thompson has, without it being preachy or "fire and brimstone" type narrative.

The above is the only shortcoming I see in this novel. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and the writing ability of this author. I am glad to have approached him to write a review and be part of his launch party for this series.

Strongly Recommended. 4/5 Stars.

[Elizabeth Kling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new author to me

It was recommended to me by another author. It is my favorite genre. FBI Agent Blake is a captivating character who have to love. The plot has twists and turns that keep you glued to the book. It has a satisfying ending and makes you want to read the next one in the series. I will definitely keep up with this author. If you like this genre you will love this book.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't put down thriller!

Blake was close to retirement and just wanted a desk job so he could spend more time with his family. It was nearly arranged when the chatter of a terrorist attack came through. Since he knew the players from his black opps days the president wanted him lead on the case.

[Cindy Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good tale of current times....

An imaginative way to use current events and common fear together to make an amazing story. Blake Meyer is an amazing Ayer but I wanna see Scarfano become a major player

[Terry Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was expecting more of a military type book that sometimes gets a little too technical for me. It was nothing like that. Action packed all the way through with good writing. The author gives good depth to all characters. This is a must read.

[Aviar Savijon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding masterpiece of fiction with a not stop thrill ride of an adventure as we see what the main character is made of as he hunts for terrorists and lives through the carnage and action packed mayhem. I loved it!

[Lillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well-written, fast-paced thriller with well-developed characters and plot. It is categorized as Christian fiction, but the Christian element is not very strong, although it appears that it may develop more in future installments in the series.

I would have given it a higher rating except I was disappointed in the ending. The imminent catastrophe was averted, at least temporarily, but the whole case wasn't solved. I like books to have a definite conclusion and avoid books in a series if I know that there are cliffhangers and the same story continues in the next book. Many readers like that kind of series, and they will appreciate the hanging loose end in this story.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series! A group of terrorists plot to release a lethal virus, and only Blake Myer can stop them. The plot is entirely plausible, and as such, presents a very scary scenario. A tight plot, good characterizations, and edge-of-your-seat suspense make this trilogy a great read!

[jan lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller

This book was hard for me to lay down. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next in the series

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revenge

One of the books you can not put down. Liked the characters . The story was one revenge that grew out of control.😊

[J.D. Schechter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

A good 'I didn't see that coming' thriller, well written and plotted. Unfortunately it desperately needs a competent editor...or two

[Tony Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

High stakes are critical to good thrillers. They don't come much higher than what you'll find in "30 Days Hath Revenge" by author C. Kevin Thompson.

FBI agent Blake Meyer is looking forward to a career change. He's spent his time in the field and is looking forward to a nice, quiet desk job and time with his beloved family. But a murder in London changes everything. The victim was a former IRA member, someone Blake knew from the past life he'd hidden so well. Worse, the information trickling in suggests that someone knows about Blake's past and the operation he was involved in fifteen years earlier. This is information only a handful of people had access to. Is this murder a message to Blake? Who knows about his past? Why bring it up now, and for what purpose?

As if things weren't complicated enough, intelligence points to an impending terrorist attack on American soil. Blake's desk job will have to wait. He's thrust back into the field, spearheading the effort to foil this attack and calling on all of his knowledge and connections. It's a race against time to stop a devastating plot that it may already be too late to prevent, and other than a few proven allies, Blake isn't even sure who he can trust.

The terrorist plot itself is intriguing and reminiscent of Ted Dekker's "Circle Series" and Robert Liparulo's "Germ." It's biological terrorism at its finest (no spoiler there; you'll see that hinted at on the back cover). The simplicity of the plot is amazing, yet it promises a body count beyond comprehension. A very well conceived idea by Mr. Thompson.

The action accelerates throughout the story as Blake pursues lead after lead, trying to track down the shadowy figures behind the attack and save untold millions. The ending is explosive, and right when you think everything is going to wrap up neatly, Mr. Thompson adds an unexpected twist that raises the stakes even higher for the rest of the series.

My own thoughts as a reader on the construction of the story:

Characters are well-conceived and believable, with layers to their personalities. There are no cardboard cutouts here. We see heroes with flaws, villains that are sympathetic, and Mr. Thompson's characters become living, breathing people that the reader can care about.

Dialogue is solid and believable. Characters talk like real people. Always a plus.

The plot is compelling and moves along at a crisp pace on multiple levels. Mr. Thompson has done plenty of research and it shows.

I think theme is always open to readers- people pick up different messages from authors- but I picked out thoughts on the power of a promise, the value of life, and questions of ethics and morality. How close would you get to doing wrong in order to do right? How close should we get to that line? Mr. Thompson may have different thoughts on his story, but that's what I took from it.

I should mention that this is a Christian thriller, with no profanity, bedroom scenes or excessive gore. Please DO NOT let that deter you from reading it. Mr. Thompson has written a well-crafted thriller that is not preachy by any means. It's simply good food for thought in an entertaining package. If you haven't tried a Christian thriller, I challenge you to read this book. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

"30 Days Hath Revenge" was a silver medalist in the Readers' Favorite 2013 International Award Contest and is well deserving of the honor. This is a very well-written book, worth reading and adding to your bookshelf.

Five stars. Hands down.

Tony Ross

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recently introduced to this author through the website, bookfun.org. This website connects authors with readers/reader's groups in a way to get more discussion generated around the author and their works. So when I sat down to open this book, I really wasn't sure what to expect. Now that I've finished the book, let me just tell you one important piece of advice. When you sit down to read this book, HANG ON! You will be treated to the ride of your life!

Special agent Blake Meyer is looking forward to winding down his successful career as an FBI agent. With just a little while left, he is enjoying life behind a desk as an analyst, putting all of the dangers of his job behind him. That is, until a member of the IRA is killed in London. This murder sets off a chain of events that seeks to pull Blake back into the life he so desperately wants to put behind him, a life that could put his life and the life of his family on the line. Can Blake avert the devastation that is being planned for the US? Will he be able to stay behind the desk? No way I'm sharing any more information about this book, you just need to go BUY THE BOOK!

Mr. Thompson has created a story that could be ripped right out of today's headlines. This story is not only relevant to today's current terrorist activity, but horrifyingly realistic. The characters are given such life by the author and with a setting right here in North Florida this book kept me up at night.

Is this a "man's book"? You can bet your life on it! Terror plots, explosions, gun battles, you name it. This book has all of that, plus a terrific story line that keeps you turning the pages long into the night.


I received this book from the author after meeting with him on bookfun.org in exchange for my honest opinion of his book.

[J.L. Rallios · Rating 4 out of 5]

I try to write reviews how I like to read them: short and sweet. First off, I picked this up because it is described as being clean. I was not disappointed. I really like to support authors who write clean fiction. It makes it even easier when their stories themselves are good, and this was one of them. I really enjoyed this thriller. It kept me going and I cared about the characters. The writing was good, although some of the action felt a little "blocky" (a word I just made up for when there's too much unnecessary detail that makes the action a bit awkward). Mr. Thompson has done his homework with biochemical weaponry and other technical portions, or at least he's done enough to "sell" me into the story -- for the most part. There are some parts that stretch the suspension of my disbelief, although not to the breaking point of my not enjoying the story. My biggest criticism, however, is the ending: 1) There remains one huge loose end (no spoiler here) that left my mouth open (almost literally at least) because I had expected a revelation; 2) for such an impending catastrophic event it was averted way too easily and quickly - which gives the impression that it really wasn't that big of a deal to begin with; and 3) it wasn't clear to me IF the catastrophic event was entirely averted.

[Duane Petit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good

This was a clean wholesome thriller which is a rarity these days and quite refreshing.I got to read an exciting well thought out highly suspenseful story without a bunch of swearing or sex and quite frankly it moved along nicely on its own merits without any of that stuff and still maintained a strong punch. A Highly imaginative non stop thrill ride that kept me engaged from the beginning until the very end ,excellent piece of work very well done, four stars.

[Katelyn Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well written that you will feel as if you are there, in the midst of the chaos! With attention to every detail, the realism of the characters as well as the plot, and a climax that's sure to leave your heart racing for answers, you will be drawn in and on the edge of your seat from cover to cover! I give this book 5 stars and 2 thumbs up!

[Sewspecialmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kevin outdid himself. I was totally blown away. Great book. Can't wait for the next one!

[Nancy Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever!!!

Could not put this book down. I am so sorry the other books in the series are not available on kindle. I would buy them all.