Hard Target

The Silencer #3

by Mike Ryan

Recker finally reaches his boiling point and confronts Jones about his lack of progress in finding Agent 17. The professor, feeling guilty about not locating him, admits to a secret he's been hiding. As Recker is trying to find Agent 17, Mia launches her own investigation into her friend's death, frustrated that the killer still hasn't been brought to justice. Her lack of experience causes a major mistake--one that may cost the life of both her and Jones. Recker must not only find Agent 17, but save the lives of his friends before it's too late.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Action, Suspense, Mystery

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2017

About the author

Mike Ryan is a writer living in Bucks County, PA. He's married, has three kids, and three dogs. He's used to a hectic and busy household. During his free time, he enjoys watching sports, movies, and music.

Mike's a huge Star Wars fan and loves just about anything with superheroes in it (both Marvel and DC). He also loves to interact with his readers via his blog, Twitter, or email. Follow him on Twitter @Mike_Ryan36 or email at mikeryan36@verizon.net.

Mike also offers a few readers on his mailing list the chance to be beta readers for all books before they're published.

Sign up for Mike's mailing list or visit his blog at www.mikeryan36.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Carôle Ceres · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I spitefully want to give this title only 1 star ⭐️, but that wouldn’t be fair because, it’s an emotive reaction based on my total dislike of the character Mia! She is absolutely tedious, irritating, silly and dumb!

So that alone tells me that this is a good story! If you’ve seen my previous reviews of books one and two, you’ll know that I think of this as a TV series, it is episodic, Not a novel but and episode of an ongoing TV series. So this is the first book that actually reads like a novel and maybe that’s because it’s not itemising and detailing the various ‘jobs’ that he undertakes. This is an episode/story written around the ‘stupid’ female Mia the nurse and her stupid, ill informed, reckless actions.

I’m over her and would be MORE than happy if she were removed!! Sigh. So in terms of episodic interest, this was a great emotive one. But the emotions are anger, frustration and a desire to slap this woman. Sigh.

I’m going to read/listen to one more in this series, then I’m done, as I’m not really into TV Soap Operas really. (I listened to the audiobook version of this title).

EDIT: ‘Person Of Interest’ is the name of the TV show. I don’t know which came first, but the show was better. The show had the police as ‘accomplices’, rather than the gang lords. Also, there was no tedious female love interest. (Honestly, this character Mia REALLY got on my nerves)! 🤬🤯😡

[Rellim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: Books 1-4 have been combined into a box set in both ebook & audio.

These are best read/listened to in order and events in this book build off of what happened in earlier books. As such this review may contain spoilers to The Silencer & Fully Loaded.

The pacing of this one was a bit slower and dialogue repetitive at times - but still an enjoyable and easy listen. Recker has to decide between avenging his past and protecting his present. While he feared knowing him would endanger Mia, it comes from another source. Jones continues to be an invaluable tech wizard.

I like that while these are easy to listen to, they aren’t overly predictable.

Brian Hutchison continues to be a solid choice for the series. He does a good job with the various characters’ personalities and voices. I’m enjoying his performance.

[Nicole Samuels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read with one annoyance!!!

***Spoiler** To the author, I have just discovered you and this series and I must say I love your story and your main character. I have one complaint, OMG did you have to make the female character so annoying. Women are all not that weak and silly, I can't believe some of the things she says. Example, she was tied up in car trunk, someone was there to rescue, they tell her she has to hurry and she stupidly asks why!!! I could not believe it. Please write more powerful female characters.

[Mike Nemeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Hard Target," Mike Wrecker, the former black ops assassin, has to reach out to an unlikely source for help. He likes to go alone. He'd rather put three bullets in a bad guy's chest to prevent repeated bad behavior. But Wrecker has a lot going on. His handler and computer expert, David Jones, has finally tracked his nemesis and the former fellow agent who murdered his girlfriend. Revenge isn't really his thing. This Agent 17 just has to die. The decision is foregone. He's toast. But Ryan juggles multiple story lines. And that's possibly the best thing about his Mike Wrecker books. Wrecker has more than one assignment, more than one problem to solve. He goes hard after every one. He's a blunt instrument. He's not mellow. He's not somebody who debates the merits of a case much. He doesn't really like to kill people. But if they need a bullet, he'll do the honor. And he does. Wrecker helps his friends. He will do whatever it takes.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was tempted to rate this three stars, but I knew what I was getting into after the first book, so I decided to judge it based with that in mind, and I went with four.

This is a short, pulp novel about a good guy beating up and killing bad guys. A Steven Segal movie of a book, you might say. And on that basis, it does pretty well. I like the hero, I don't like the villain, and it moves along a good pace that keeps my interest. Why the temptation to downgrade it to three stars? Well, it seemed to wrap stuff up a little too quickly. I was looking for a 1 1/2 - 2 hour action movie, and I feel like I got a 1/2 hour TV program. There was good conflict and tension, but I think maybe the final episode in this book should have been left on a cliff hanger to start off book 4?

Bottom line. The books are fun, they were inexpensive on Chirp Books, and I don't regret buying them.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was optimistic about this series. I love "snackable" novels that give me a great, shorter story - even if it means that I have to suspend reality a bit. Or in the case of this series, it doesn't so closely mirror a popular TV series that I loved - Person of Interest - that it's almost laughable. So I was disappointed that this series hasn't hit the mark for me.

This installment in particular highlighted how frustrating Mia is as a character and how distracting she is to the story. I never really got the love interest angle and her influence on Recker as a character isn't all that significant. So why include her? That she just does misguided, if not outright stupid, things in this book drove me batty and made it hard to try to appreciate other elements of the story. I think I'll read the 4th novel and then decided if I'll continue. I'm not holding my breath...

[Darryle B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thriller goes more in depth with the character development and the complicated relationship between Recker and Mia. I knew there was going to be danger that would inevitably involve her because of her affiliation with Decker (aka the Silencer). This third part of the Silencer novels added more depth to the ongoing series that I was looking for. His team up with the mob boss in this recent case may or may not be an issue down the road, but it remains to be seen how it will play out. The fact that I am blazing through the novels in this series is evidence that it is a great series worthy of checking out. I am to reading the fourth book. Stay tuned.

[Terry Retter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silencer series a special operator and a computer whiz both refugees from government intelligence agencies and on their black lists seek to do good by helping those who can not get help. Interesting concept with some good story lines. Leaves a bit to the imagination on how get things done without being discovered or injured. But mostly plausible.

[Ralph Phares · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Always Something!

Mike Recker and David Jones just cannot catch a break! With Mike having just gotten David and Mia out of a sticky predicament and finally dispatched the agent who murdered Carrie, Mike's first love, Mike finds himself again in the position of having to rescue Mia in yet another attempt to get to The Silencer. A good dead never goes unpunished!

[Rosemary Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have submitted this review after listening to the audio book of this title from within the series set box. (Audible.com.au)

This episode proves a couple of things:
It's essential to have outside allies.
That having friends makes some one vulnerable.
That revenge isn't always as satisfying as one may imagine.

[Linda Goudreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action...

Good action series. Recker sure seems to draw mayhem and bad guys to him like a large magnet. Glad he has the fighting skills to take down the bad guys. I have to find the next book in this series. Happy Reading.......Thanks, Amarillo Turtle

[david schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful, great Story

This is a great story that keeps you reading! Although the action is to unbelievable to be true! The story keeps you interested until the end!
I enjoyed this book very much! Now on to Mike Ryan's next book

[Rebecca R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good

The one thing that drove me crazy was the relationship between Philadelphia and Columbus, Ohio. You don’t go DOWN to Columbus from Philly and it doesn’t take anyway near 12 hours to make the trip. More like about 7 hours, traffic permitting.

[Julie Conner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3. Mike finally has a chance to confront the man who killed his fiancé, but Mia's snooping for the murderer of her friend puts her in jeopardy while Mike is on the road to meet the killer. Will he be able to save Mia from herself and still finish his vendetta?

[Sylvia Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to see what happened next. You know the author is great at his craft when characters annoy you and I read this book in a couple of days every twist and turn you wonder what happens next his feelings grow our lead character is starting to soften but very good better than the last book

[Travis DiPalma · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★½: Neither particularly good nor bad. I'm getting tired of the drawn out story of Recker and Mia. I would have actually rated it lower, but the ending gave it a half star ⭐ boost. Maybe there is hope in the next book to move on to a new storyline.

[Ruth Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story too!

Third book in the series. Enjoyed it as
much a the first. don't have more to add.
Bye bye for now

[Raymond Losch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

Liked the way the story progressed. Always waiting for the next bit of action. Can not wait to start the next book.

[Milburn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The silencer book 3 great reading!!MKS

[Gary S · Rating 4 out of 5]

gotta love recker

[Cecil L. Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book

Good reading. A bit short but enjoyable all the same. I don't have a lot more to say about it.

[Cindy B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this series, Enjoyable, interesting, engaging and well narrated (and written) by the author.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel I really like this series so far.... it’s a lot like the orphan X series.... even the love interest name in both series is Mia. Not sure if this a coincidence?

[Woody James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one I couldn't put down.

[Lizw]

Little bit of Fugitive, little bit of Researcher - good stories for walking.

[Sharon Sala · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is my favorite author and I love this series. Every single book can stand alone and they just get better an better. Love this authors book!

[Cami Eslick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story in The Silencer series. I love Jones' practicality compared to Wrecker's huge emotions.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the better books so far.

[James Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an ex CIA agent that doesn't like to kill Mike is a butcher.

[Max Skidmore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another 2 1/2