What do you think?
Rate this book
Cutting Edge
A helicopter crash alters a Coast Guard rescue swimmer's life forever in Cutting Edge, a suspense thriller by USA Today bestselling author Ward LarsenTrey DeBolt is a young man at the crest of life. His role as a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Alaska offers him a rewarding job and limitless adventure. Then a tragic accident alters his during a harrowing rescue, his helicopter goes down.Severely injured, DeBolt awakens in a seaside cabin in Maine, thousands of miles from where the accident occurred. His lone nurse lets slip that he has been officially declared dead, lost in the crash. Back in Alaska, however, Coast Guard investigator Shannon Lund uncovers evidence that DeBolt might still be alive. Her search quickly becomes personal, but before she can intervene, chaos erupts outside a cabin in the wilds of Maine.The nurse who has been treating DeBolt is brutally killed by military-trained assassins. DeBolt is only saved when a bizarre vision guides him to safety. Soon other images appear, impossible revelations that are unfailing in their accuracy. As he runs for his life, DeBolt discovers he has been drawn into an ultra-secret government project. The power it bestows is boundless, both a gift and a curse. Yet one thing is Trey DeBolt has abilities no human has ever known.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2018
358 people are currently reading
849 people want to read
About the author
Ward Larsen
30 books583 followersWard Larsen is the USA Today bestselling author of espionage thrillers. A seven-time winner of the Florida Book Award, his first novel, The Perfect Assassin, has been optioned for film by Amber Entertainment.
A former Air Force fighter pilot, he has also served as an airline captain, and is a trained aircraft accident investigator.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
A former Air Force fighter pilot, he has also served as an airline captain, and is a trained aircraft accident investigator.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 31, 2018
brilliant. so unique and well written. sharp and inteligent. i made itvfor sure to read more of larsen thrillers. 5* for writting.
January 27, 2018
this is my first read of A Ward Larsen Novel.
i find this book engaging right from the first page the author takes us on a very
fast changing story of a victim of A helicopter rescue crash in Alaska
what I really liked about Cutting edge it gave us and insight into the future
beside being a top thriller our hero was in and out of some very tight situations
at times I thought well your finished Mate but he managed to get along
i don't want to spoil it i recommend this for anyone after a top fast thriller
looking forward to reading more of Authors novels .
definitely a 5 star read
i find this book engaging right from the first page the author takes us on a very
fast changing story of a victim of A helicopter rescue crash in Alaska
what I really liked about Cutting edge it gave us and insight into the future
beside being a top thriller our hero was in and out of some very tight situations
at times I thought well your finished Mate but he managed to get along
i don't want to spoil it i recommend this for anyone after a top fast thriller
looking forward to reading more of Authors novels .
definitely a 5 star read
March 23, 2021
There is one thing wrong with this novel. It's a stand alone work by Larsen. DeBolt and Lund would make a good pair in a series. I for one would enjoy such a series but I suppose I, and the rest of Larsen's fans will have to settle for the two Slaton and Davis series. Honestly those series are pretty good to settle for.
Trey DeBolt is a rescue swimmer with the U.S. Coast Guard stationed in Alaska. He's good at his job, or was until the helicopter he was in crashed killing all of those aboard.
But wait! Lund begins to wonder; did DeBolt really die? Lund is an investigator for the Coast Guard, not a Coastie but a contract employee of the service. And she becomes convinced that all is not as it seems or should be.
Meanwhile, DeBolt finds himself semi rescued from a death he's already cheated once, but he's far away from his duty station without any identification yet with mental abilities more than he's ever had before. It's almost as if he had a super Google implanted in his head,
And people are trying to kill him and he doesn't know why or whom.
DeBolt and Lund join forces to try to figure out what is going on and to stay alive, because now Lund is in danger also.
This story takes place in Alaska, Maine, Austria and a few other places. The action is fast and furious and believable. If you like such action in your novels then tgis should be a winner for you. It was for me.
Trey DeBolt is a rescue swimmer with the U.S. Coast Guard stationed in Alaska. He's good at his job, or was until the helicopter he was in crashed killing all of those aboard.
But wait! Lund begins to wonder; did DeBolt really die? Lund is an investigator for the Coast Guard, not a Coastie but a contract employee of the service. And she becomes convinced that all is not as it seems or should be.
Meanwhile, DeBolt finds himself semi rescued from a death he's already cheated once, but he's far away from his duty station without any identification yet with mental abilities more than he's ever had before. It's almost as if he had a super Google implanted in his head,
And people are trying to kill him and he doesn't know why or whom.
DeBolt and Lund join forces to try to figure out what is going on and to stay alive, because now Lund is in danger also.
This story takes place in Alaska, Maine, Austria and a few other places. The action is fast and furious and believable. If you like such action in your novels then tgis should be a winner for you. It was for me.
January 23, 2018
As a huge fan of Ward Larsen's Assassin series, I could not wait to get my hands on Cutting Edge, the first in a new saga.
Here is what is not different about Cutting Edge when compared to the Assassin books. Great characters. Still there. Non-stop action from start to finish. Yep. It's there. A compelling plot. Now what kind of a writer would Larsen be if he left that out? Nope. It's in there.
Trey DeBolt, a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, wakes up just as he is dying. He can't remember what landed him on a table, being given an injection, and zipped into a body bag. All he knows is that he can't move, he can't signal to the doctors standing beside him that he is still alive. But he can hear them. He knows he is dead,
Except, he isn't. When he next awakens he is still under someone's care. It isn't inside a hospital, and nothing feels right about any of it. This is confirmed when he learns he is actually in a beach house, and the nurse taking care of him --helping him get better, and stronger-- admits that there is more at work than meets the eye. Confirmation comes when a team of military assassin's storm the house and DeBolt is the obvious target.
Left with nothing but mounting questions, Shannon Lund --Coast Guard Investigation Services-- becomes one of the only people DeBolt can trust, and depend on for assistance. Lund believes the reports that DeBolt died in a helicopter crash are false. She is certain the rescue swimmer is still alive. When DeBolt reaches out for help, she agrees to lend a hand, especially when DeBolt reveals twice assassins have tried killing him!
The mystery revolves around Atif Patel, something known as META, and Operation Bravo. With brand new, unexplainable skills, DeBolt guides Lund and himself closer to the truth. The problem is the closer they get the more dangerous life becomes. Not just for them. Anyone associated with META in any way is finding themselves dead. There is a hunter on the loose. He is known simply as Delta. He has locked onto both DeBolt and Lund and will stop at nothing until he completes his mission: Exterminate the both of them!
Ward Larsen writes books that simply don't quit. The action, the tension, and the suspense build, and build, and build until the only thing left to do is explode. And Cutting Edge does that! I loved it. So glad I stumbled upon Larsen a few years back. The guy can write!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Absolute Zero
and Damn the Dead
Here is what is not different about Cutting Edge when compared to the Assassin books. Great characters. Still there. Non-stop action from start to finish. Yep. It's there. A compelling plot. Now what kind of a writer would Larsen be if he left that out? Nope. It's in there.
Trey DeBolt, a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer, wakes up just as he is dying. He can't remember what landed him on a table, being given an injection, and zipped into a body bag. All he knows is that he can't move, he can't signal to the doctors standing beside him that he is still alive. But he can hear them. He knows he is dead,
Except, he isn't. When he next awakens he is still under someone's care. It isn't inside a hospital, and nothing feels right about any of it. This is confirmed when he learns he is actually in a beach house, and the nurse taking care of him --helping him get better, and stronger-- admits that there is more at work than meets the eye. Confirmation comes when a team of military assassin's storm the house and DeBolt is the obvious target.
Left with nothing but mounting questions, Shannon Lund --Coast Guard Investigation Services-- becomes one of the only people DeBolt can trust, and depend on for assistance. Lund believes the reports that DeBolt died in a helicopter crash are false. She is certain the rescue swimmer is still alive. When DeBolt reaches out for help, she agrees to lend a hand, especially when DeBolt reveals twice assassins have tried killing him!
The mystery revolves around Atif Patel, something known as META, and Operation Bravo. With brand new, unexplainable skills, DeBolt guides Lund and himself closer to the truth. The problem is the closer they get the more dangerous life becomes. Not just for them. Anyone associated with META in any way is finding themselves dead. There is a hunter on the loose. He is known simply as Delta. He has locked onto both DeBolt and Lund and will stop at nothing until he completes his mission: Exterminate the both of them!
Ward Larsen writes books that simply don't quit. The action, the tension, and the suspense build, and build, and build until the only thing left to do is explode. And Cutting Edge does that! I loved it. So glad I stumbled upon Larsen a few years back. The guy can write!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Absolute Zero
and Damn the Dead
February 13, 2018
Cutting Edge opens with exciting action as Coast Guard rescue swimmer Trey DeBolt finds himself on the operating table following a tragic accident during a rescue attempt off the coast of Alaska. When Trey regains consciousness he finds himself in a remote Maine cottage with a surgical scar on the back of his head. He is in the care of nurse Joan Chandler who is reticent to explain exactly what happened to him and why he is there.
As Trey is nearing full recovery, the quiet Maine life is interrupted by five men who brutally gun down Joan. Trey manages to escape using both his swimming skills as well as some new-found abilities that he discovers are related to his experimental surgery. This kicks off a long chase as Trey attempts to evade his pursuers while also discovering what has been done to him and why.
At the same time, Coast Guard investigator Shannon Lund finds a case she is investigating intersects with Trey DeBolt who she has been told died in the accident. The trail inevitably leads to the two of them connecting and trying to unravel what has happened to Trey and who is behind it.
The book contains plenty of action as Trey escapes from one sticky situation after another moving away from his pursuers and closer to answers. The book is marred by a couple of decisions by Trey which are borderline idiotic and hard to overlook. The technological experimentation at the heart of the story is interesting, but so near to reality as to be almost unremarkable. The story moves to an exciting and satisfying conclusion.
The story is read by P.J. Ochlan who does a fine job voicing the characters and conveying the action and pacing of the story. Some of the text does not lend itself well to an audio version. Car vin numbers and license plate or other documents with long strings of numbers lend some authenticity as written words on the page where they can be skimmed, but slow down the narrative when they must be read aloud.
Interesting action story with a technological twist.
I was provided a copy of the audiobook by the publisher.
As Trey is nearing full recovery, the quiet Maine life is interrupted by five men who brutally gun down Joan. Trey manages to escape using both his swimming skills as well as some new-found abilities that he discovers are related to his experimental surgery. This kicks off a long chase as Trey attempts to evade his pursuers while also discovering what has been done to him and why.
At the same time, Coast Guard investigator Shannon Lund finds a case she is investigating intersects with Trey DeBolt who she has been told died in the accident. The trail inevitably leads to the two of them connecting and trying to unravel what has happened to Trey and who is behind it.
The book contains plenty of action as Trey escapes from one sticky situation after another moving away from his pursuers and closer to answers. The book is marred by a couple of decisions by Trey which are borderline idiotic and hard to overlook. The technological experimentation at the heart of the story is interesting, but so near to reality as to be almost unremarkable. The story moves to an exciting and satisfying conclusion.
The story is read by P.J. Ochlan who does a fine job voicing the characters and conveying the action and pacing of the story. Some of the text does not lend itself well to an audio version. Car vin numbers and license plate or other documents with long strings of numbers lend some authenticity as written words on the page where they can be skimmed, but slow down the narrative when they must be read aloud.
Interesting action story with a technological twist.
I was provided a copy of the audiobook by the publisher.
April 19, 2020
This was a fun book! I guess I was needing a good action adventure story. It would make a good movie although there are probably quite a few similar ones already.
The book definitely kept me engaged throughout. I will say though that the ending left me pretty unsatisfied. I assume that some things were left untied to allow for a sequel? If not then I definitely don't agree with some of the main character's decisions at the end. Also I would have liked if the book included more of the main character's strengths from being a coastguard. It did a little, but I would have liked more. Overall though I still found the book entertaining.
Book does have some curse words and could benefit from some cleanliness editing.
The book definitely kept me engaged throughout. I will say though that the ending left me pretty unsatisfied. I assume that some things were left untied to allow for a sequel? If not then I definitely don't agree with some of the main character's decisions at the end. Also I would have liked if the book included more of the main character's strengths from being a coastguard. It did a little, but I would have liked more. Overall though I still found the book entertaining.
Book does have some curse words and could benefit from some cleanliness editing.
January 3, 2020
An exceptionally engaging and unique techno-thriller. A guy with access to the Internet embedded in his head. Hope this novel is the start of a series.
February 13, 2018
This is a story about a highly secret group within the Department of Defense that is working on a method to create "direct interface to the brain" allowing the subject to find out anything about anyone or anything by accessing data bases anywhere. They find 4 men who have each been in near death accidents and implant high-tech equipment in their brains allowing them to act as robotic computers. Two of these men die as a result of their injuries or the operation. One of the other men, Delta, loses his ability to speak during the operation, and becomes a rogue computer! The other man, Bravo (a Coast Guard rescue swimmer from Alaska) is thought to have not survived the operation, but survives and is cared for by a mysterious nurse in a cabin in a remote seacoast region of Maine.
The first half of this novel clearly rates 5 stars. Then, the story gets complicated to the point of being almost totally unbelievable. The General in charge of META (the DOD program creating the walking computers) tries to bring the program to an end by eliminating its scientific creators, leaving only "its product - two highly altered individuals (Delta & Bravo). The ending is even more disappointing since it leaves so many questions unanswered.
What began as an exciting novel of intrigue ended up as a big disappointment.
The first half of this novel clearly rates 5 stars. Then, the story gets complicated to the point of being almost totally unbelievable. The General in charge of META (the DOD program creating the walking computers) tries to bring the program to an end by eliminating its scientific creators, leaving only "its product - two highly altered individuals (Delta & Bravo). The ending is even more disappointing since it leaves so many questions unanswered.
What began as an exciting novel of intrigue ended up as a big disappointment.
January 27, 2018
It was not what I was expecting and had a time following it in some sections.
February 11, 2018
I am a big fan of Lee Child, have read every Jack Reacher novel and watched the movies based on those books many times. Never thought I'd find a book character I liked as much until I discovered Ward Larsen and his Jammer Davis character. In his latest, Cutting Edge, he introduces someone new, Trey DeBolt. Love the name. Trey is a rescue swimmer in Alaska. When his chopper goes down in a horrific accident, he suffers a terrible head injury. He remembers being in a room with someone, a nurse, he thinks, then a sharp stick and his entire body going cold. He also has a vague memory of being zipped into a body bag before everything went black. When he finally comes to, he's in a cottage on a beach in Maine! He has no idea how he got there or why he's there and not a hospital. There's a nurse taking care of him and she promises she'll tell him everything once he's stronger. Unfortunately, that day never comes. Trey does grow stronger but one day, when he's out running on the beach, he witnesses an attack on the cottage. He watches the nurse get gunned down trying to escape then has to run for his own life when one of the men involved sees him. He manages to get away but his mind is racing with questions about what took place. The trained killers - and there's no doubt in DeBolt's mind that's what they were - appeared to be military? Foreign or domestic? And why come after him? Also no doubt in his mind it was him they were after, not the nurse. Does it have to do with his accident? The huge surgical scars on the back of his head would indicate so. Then there's that little ability he seems to possess all of a sudden where he can call up information in his mind and it appears in his vision like a computer screen. If he asks for a location, he gets longitude and latitude. Weather reports? No problem! When he asks for information on a certain person he doesn't just get height, weight, and hair color. He can tell you where they went to school, where they work, their bank balance, driver's license - in some cases what they ate for breakfast that day.
So what in the world did they - whoever THEY were - implant in his brain. And why? These are questions DeBolt has to find answers to, and fast. He contacts a Coast Guard friend, Shannon Lund, and asks for information on his accident. When he fills her in on what is going on, she insists on flying to Maine to help. With both of them having targets on their backs, they race to discover the truth while fighting just to stay alive.
This was a fast paced read that kept me turning the pages to the stunning conclusion where DeBolt faces off against the bad guys in one of the best finales I've read in awhile. This story is like science fiction meets Jack Reacher AND James Bond all rolled into one. I really hope to see more of Trey DeBolt and his incredible skills in future books by the author. If I wasn't already a fan, I would be after this!
So what in the world did they - whoever THEY were - implant in his brain. And why? These are questions DeBolt has to find answers to, and fast. He contacts a Coast Guard friend, Shannon Lund, and asks for information on his accident. When he fills her in on what is going on, she insists on flying to Maine to help. With both of them having targets on their backs, they race to discover the truth while fighting just to stay alive.
This was a fast paced read that kept me turning the pages to the stunning conclusion where DeBolt faces off against the bad guys in one of the best finales I've read in awhile. This story is like science fiction meets Jack Reacher AND James Bond all rolled into one. I really hope to see more of Trey DeBolt and his incredible skills in future books by the author. If I wasn't already a fan, I would be after this!
May 30, 2018
A new type of super soldier that is hard to wrap your mind around!
Trey DeBolt is a young rescue swimmer with the coast guard stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. While out on a rescue, severe weather causes his team’s helicopter to crash. Everyone is killed, including Trey, or so it says on paper. Sometime later, Trey wakes up in a cottage in Maine with a personal nurse. She fills him in on some of the details of what has happened, but will provide very little information. She oversees Trey’s physical recovery and explains about the brain surgery that was required to save his life. One night while Trey is outside, a team of combat men show up and murder the nurse. As they try to find him, Trey dives in the freezing north Atlantic water and manages to swim away before they can kill him too. Now Trey has no money, no phone, no place to go, and no idea what is going on. However, he is starting to discover that he has new abilities. He can ask questions of his mind and discover details about people and places that he shouldn’t know. It’s almost as if his mind has full access to the internet. Is this why those men wanted to kill him?
Shannon Lund is a civilian officer with the coast guard investigative service (CGIS). While looking into the accidental climbing death of a coast guard member, things start to resurface for the case of Trey DeBolt. A private Lear jet took DeBolt to a hospital instead of an air ambulance. Further investigating tells her that it didn’t go to Anchorage as they were told, but changed the flight plan to Minneapolis and then dropped below 18,000 feet to go visual flight so they wouldn’t be tracked. Then she receives a call from a detective in Maine that Trey’s fingerprints have been found out a doorknob to a cottage by the coast that was destroyed in an explosion. Lund’s decision to further investigate could be the end of her career.
This was a new idea of a technological thriller. I enjoyed the way that Larsen played it out with Trey by slowly building up his abilities and scaring him half to death. It made it feel much more realistic than just suddenly having the full abilities at once. There was definitely some cat and mouse games going one with some of the characters, which made the story keep going strong in several places. The main characters were well developed, but sill flawed enough to keep it real. The plot was exciting and changed once or twice to keep me on my toes. And the twist was a surprise, but shouldn’t have been unexpected.
If you are looking for a new type of thriller, give this book a try . Then grab the Assassin series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Trey DeBolt is a young rescue swimmer with the coast guard stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. While out on a rescue, severe weather causes his team’s helicopter to crash. Everyone is killed, including Trey, or so it says on paper. Sometime later, Trey wakes up in a cottage in Maine with a personal nurse. She fills him in on some of the details of what has happened, but will provide very little information. She oversees Trey’s physical recovery and explains about the brain surgery that was required to save his life. One night while Trey is outside, a team of combat men show up and murder the nurse. As they try to find him, Trey dives in the freezing north Atlantic water and manages to swim away before they can kill him too. Now Trey has no money, no phone, no place to go, and no idea what is going on. However, he is starting to discover that he has new abilities. He can ask questions of his mind and discover details about people and places that he shouldn’t know. It’s almost as if his mind has full access to the internet. Is this why those men wanted to kill him?
Shannon Lund is a civilian officer with the coast guard investigative service (CGIS). While looking into the accidental climbing death of a coast guard member, things start to resurface for the case of Trey DeBolt. A private Lear jet took DeBolt to a hospital instead of an air ambulance. Further investigating tells her that it didn’t go to Anchorage as they were told, but changed the flight plan to Minneapolis and then dropped below 18,000 feet to go visual flight so they wouldn’t be tracked. Then she receives a call from a detective in Maine that Trey’s fingerprints have been found out a doorknob to a cottage by the coast that was destroyed in an explosion. Lund’s decision to further investigate could be the end of her career.
This was a new idea of a technological thriller. I enjoyed the way that Larsen played it out with Trey by slowly building up his abilities and scaring him half to death. It made it feel much more realistic than just suddenly having the full abilities at once. There was definitely some cat and mouse games going one with some of the characters, which made the story keep going strong in several places. The main characters were well developed, but sill flawed enough to keep it real. The plot was exciting and changed once or twice to keep me on my toes. And the twist was a surprise, but shouldn’t have been unexpected.
If you are looking for a new type of thriller, give this book a try . Then grab the Assassin series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
January 25, 2018
I enjoy a good action/suspense novel, and this one was ok. The concept reminded me of the recent short lived TV show "Intelligence". In Cutting Edge Trey DeBolt is a US Coast Guard rescue diver who is seriously injured during a recovery mission. A secret government program uses him as a test subject to implant his brain with wireless technology that allows him to access hundreds of databases and see the results on a small screen in his right eye. He survives the procedure, initially unaware of what has happened, until unknown assailants try to kill him and he discovers his new "gift".
While not a new concept, I did enjoy the technical parts of the book. My complaint is that DeBolt seemed to make some strange or just downright idiotic decisions. He is able to use his new powers to brilliantly steal a passport and escape the country, but
Then there is Shannon Lund, a Coast Guard investigator at DeBolt's station in Alaska. The chemistry between herself and DeBolt seemed forced, as though parts of the book were added or taken out in order to make it work between them; some of it was unnatural.
Overall a good book about the future is now type technology, but I found it lacking in the actual plot.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First-Reads.
While not a new concept, I did enjoy the technical parts of the book. My complaint is that DeBolt seemed to make some strange or just downright idiotic decisions. He is able to use his new powers to brilliantly steal a passport and escape the country, but
Then there is Shannon Lund, a Coast Guard investigator at DeBolt's station in Alaska. The chemistry between herself and DeBolt seemed forced, as though parts of the book were added or taken out in order to make it work between them; some of it was unnatural.
Overall a good book about the future is now type technology, but I found it lacking in the actual plot.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First-Reads.
March 12, 2018
Review of Advance Reading Copy
When a helicopter goes down during a precarious rescue, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Trey DeBolt is critically injured. But he awakens in a seaside cabin in Maine where the nurse caring for him tells him he’s officially dead.
Meanwhile, an unusual chain of events leads civilian Coast Guard investigator Shannon Lund to believe that Trey may still be alive.
Maine is thousands of miles from where the accident occurred but before Trey can get some answers from the nurse, military-trained assassins kill her and then turn to hunting for DeBolt. Trey doesn't understand why he's in the assassin's crosshairs until he discovers he’s become part of a super-secret government experimental project . . . and his new powers may be the one thing that will get him killed.
At its core, this is a story of people thrown into a situation not of their own making, forced into fighting for their lives. Well-drawn characters, a twisty and often unpredictable plot, non-stop action, and an intense cat-and-mouse chase all combine to build suspense and keep the tension building. Readers will find it difficult to set aside before turning the final page. This mesmerizing tale leaves readers with much to consider.
Highly recommended.
When a helicopter goes down during a precarious rescue, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Trey DeBolt is critically injured. But he awakens in a seaside cabin in Maine where the nurse caring for him tells him he’s officially dead.
Meanwhile, an unusual chain of events leads civilian Coast Guard investigator Shannon Lund to believe that Trey may still be alive.
Maine is thousands of miles from where the accident occurred but before Trey can get some answers from the nurse, military-trained assassins kill her and then turn to hunting for DeBolt. Trey doesn't understand why he's in the assassin's crosshairs until he discovers he’s become part of a super-secret government experimental project . . . and his new powers may be the one thing that will get him killed.
At its core, this is a story of people thrown into a situation not of their own making, forced into fighting for their lives. Well-drawn characters, a twisty and often unpredictable plot, non-stop action, and an intense cat-and-mouse chase all combine to build suspense and keep the tension building. Readers will find it difficult to set aside before turning the final page. This mesmerizing tale leaves readers with much to consider.
Highly recommended.
May 10, 2023
A view of things to come?
On one hand the storyline in Cutting Edge seems so futuristic and unlikely to ever actually happen. On the other, with AI at our doorstep, it seems almost like a warning.
Trey and Shannon are strong people who find their lives upended in a story that seems impossible until you really think about where we may be headed in today’s technological world. Really smart people design really cool things but there’s always someone looking to use them for nefarious purposes whether it’s for robbery, medical misuse, information or power. In this book, we get a glimpse of how smart people with cool things can really fall off the deep end.
In some ways, despite being fast paced and full of action, the story felt like it was dragging a bit. Maybe it’s just because it’s a stand alone book, perhaps the first in a series, and the background stories haven’t been fully developed yet. Hopefully we’ll hear more about Trey and Shannon in the future and their stories will deepen as well as the characters in Larsen’s Assassin books have.
On one hand the storyline in Cutting Edge seems so futuristic and unlikely to ever actually happen. On the other, with AI at our doorstep, it seems almost like a warning.
Trey and Shannon are strong people who find their lives upended in a story that seems impossible until you really think about where we may be headed in today’s technological world. Really smart people design really cool things but there’s always someone looking to use them for nefarious purposes whether it’s for robbery, medical misuse, information or power. In this book, we get a glimpse of how smart people with cool things can really fall off the deep end.
In some ways, despite being fast paced and full of action, the story felt like it was dragging a bit. Maybe it’s just because it’s a stand alone book, perhaps the first in a series, and the background stories haven’t been fully developed yet. Hopefully we’ll hear more about Trey and Shannon in the future and their stories will deepen as well as the characters in Larsen’s Assassin books have.
February 19, 2018
Trey De Bolt is a coast guard rescue swimmer. He is on a particularly tough rescue when his helicopter goes down and he is badly injured.
A few weeks later, he wakes up from a coma and can't remember what happened and finds out he is in a cabin in Maine. His nurse at the cabin doesn't tell him much, but he does learn he has been declared dead and lost in the helicopter crash.
Things only get worse from here. A group of military assassins is sent to kill him, the nurse and anyone else connected to the mysterious project that Trey has been unknowingly part of.
And the Coast guard investigator, Sharon Lund, is coming up with odd loose ends in Alaska regarding Trey and another related investigation and finds out that Trey may still be alive.
Meanwhile Trey is on the run trying to piece together what happened and stay ahead of a deadly and greedy plan. How far is too far in the world of technology? Great book. Wild ride!
A few weeks later, he wakes up from a coma and can't remember what happened and finds out he is in a cabin in Maine. His nurse at the cabin doesn't tell him much, but he does learn he has been declared dead and lost in the helicopter crash.
Things only get worse from here. A group of military assassins is sent to kill him, the nurse and anyone else connected to the mysterious project that Trey has been unknowingly part of.
And the Coast guard investigator, Sharon Lund, is coming up with odd loose ends in Alaska regarding Trey and another related investigation and finds out that Trey may still be alive.
Meanwhile Trey is on the run trying to piece together what happened and stay ahead of a deadly and greedy plan. How far is too far in the world of technology? Great book. Wild ride!
February 21, 2018
An excellent read. This is my first book by Ward Larsen. I enjoyed it so much; I now want to read all of the titles in his Assassin series.
Cutting Edge introduces readers to new characters Trey DeBolt and Shannon Lund, both of which I really enjoyed. The book is jam packed with action and chock-full of “cutting edge” technology. The book reminded me of a revamped telling of The Six Million Dollar Man for the 21st century. “We can rebuild them, we have the technology.” Problem is good ol’ Steve Austin from the 70’s only wishes he had the technology Ward Larsen gives his book’s characters (Bravo & Delta) courtesy of the META Project.
I hope that this becomes a new series, and looking forward to book number 2.
Cutting Edge introduces readers to new characters Trey DeBolt and Shannon Lund, both of which I really enjoyed. The book is jam packed with action and chock-full of “cutting edge” technology. The book reminded me of a revamped telling of The Six Million Dollar Man for the 21st century. “We can rebuild them, we have the technology.” Problem is good ol’ Steve Austin from the 70’s only wishes he had the technology Ward Larsen gives his book’s characters (Bravo & Delta) courtesy of the META Project.
I hope that this becomes a new series, and looking forward to book number 2.
December 22, 2018
Lots of action and suspense. Trey DeBolt died in a helicopter accident, or did he? Trey awakens in a small cottage in Maine where he is under the care of Joan Chandler, a nurse. Trey has some surgical scarring on the back of his head and Joan promises to explain but before she can she is gunned down by military assassins. While fleeing Trey discovers that he has some new found abilities, namely access to secure computer systems. Simply put when he thinks of a question the answer might appear in a small virtual screen in his eye. Meanwhile back in Alaska Coast Guard Investigator ShannonLund notices some discrepancies in the reporting of the helicopter accident and starts to wonder if Trey might be alive.
June 6, 2019
This book slowly unravels a suspenseful tale about the military, the alphabet government agencies and it’s secrets, a down on her luck civilian investigator and of course the hero, a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer. Trey DeBolt wakes up in a cabin in Maine and only remembers he was in an accident. His nurse at the cabin is secretive and slowly both her story and Trey’s begin to come to light a bit at a time. Meanwhile Coast Guard Investigator Shannon Lund while investigating another Coast Guard case figures out that Trey just very well may be alive somewhere and not dead as she has been told. This story takes you on a path of its own surprises as more characters are introduced and the are you kidding me moments pile on.
August 18, 2018
3./5 - A promising story with shades of the Bourne Identity. The story centers on a navy rescue diver discovering why he is being hunted by all manner of bad guys. The first 3rd of the book is very interesting. However, as the story progresses towards its conclusion it seems to fizzle as one chase scene piles up on the next. The most glaring flaw of the story is the lack of a good villain. Now, there is a big baddie who Trey must vanquish, but the antagonists are largely weak and this never puts the outcome in any doubt. This is a good opening to what will undoubtedly have multiple sequels. Here's hoping they better this story.
January 27, 2021
My first time with this author and i did this one audiobook. I found the reader to be good. I am very particular about the voice i am listening to and have given up on books with readers whose voice i did not like.
I really liked the concept of having a brain wired to a computer network and the ability to garner information and control smart devices with the mind.
this story i found to be believable enough. The main characters were presented well and grew throughout the story. A good amount of action and well paced.
i did enjoy it enough to start looking for another book by this author and i will give him another read.
I really liked the concept of having a brain wired to a computer network and the ability to garner information and control smart devices with the mind.
this story i found to be believable enough. The main characters were presented well and grew throughout the story. A good amount of action and well paced.
i did enjoy it enough to start looking for another book by this author and i will give him another read.
November 20, 2023
A strong dude wakes up with an embedded computer in his brain. Then the capabilities of the dude and the computer grow and will be challenged.
The issue with the tech superpowers is that tech is everywhere and we know roughly how things work. It's much easier to imagine that a person drinks mutagen and turns into a mutant ninja turtle than to believe in hacker super-gadgets. After all, the mutagen doesn't exist in our world so it's fine to imagine anything about it but the important databases with secret information do exist and have to be protected at least a little bit.
The tech is sketchy but the action is good.
The issue with the tech superpowers is that tech is everywhere and we know roughly how things work. It's much easier to imagine that a person drinks mutagen and turns into a mutant ninja turtle than to believe in hacker super-gadgets. After all, the mutagen doesn't exist in our world so it's fine to imagine anything about it but the important databases with secret information do exist and have to be protected at least a little bit.
The tech is sketchy but the action is good.
February 13, 2018
Watch Trey navigate through this new and terrifying world, where 1984’s Big Brother meets 2018’s Big Data. Wow - that was a whirlwind thriller! Jumping between many characters’ point of views just enhanced the pace, and I can already see this as a fantastic movie series. Did you like James Bond, Jason Bourne, or Sydney Anne Bristow in Alias? This novel felt like a modern twist on a classic spy thriller. You need to see what happens when a straight laced, adrenaline hunting, Coast Guard rescue swimmer wakes up with high-tech superpowers!
November 14, 2022
I enjoyed this book. A unique concept, but all the details were very thought out and well executed. There was a lot of action and always something new happening. Would make a great movie. I will say at some moments there is a lot of detail, like very specific times, places, events that involve the characters past, etc I felt it wasn't always very necessary, however, great for readers who really enjoy the small details. Overall I would recommend this book. It is over 400 pages long, but did not feel that long because there was always so much going on.
June 23, 2023
I read the Jammer Davis and and David Slaton series and loved them both. Mr. Larsen is a great writer. This book, Cutting Edge, is what I would have expected of him -- a great story with a great new character. His books are the hard-to-put-down kind, something I have rarely found lately. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it. There has GOT to be a sequel in the works (right?). I'm ready for it!
Holy Moly, I just saw that this book came out in 2018!! How the heck did miss a Ward Larsen book? I've got to do better book research! ;-)
Holy Moly, I just saw that this book came out in 2018!! How the heck did miss a Ward Larsen book? I've got to do better book research! ;-)
February 2, 2018
I figured Ward Larson's David Slayton series was just going to be your typical espionage thriller/series that sounded like a Bourne Identity rip-off. It exceeded my expectations. This book sounded much more unique, and thus I was excited to read something different. On the flip side, however, this book was a let-down. Maybe it was simply because my expectations were so high that I expected more. The book was good, the pace was good, but I just felt it was somehow lacking.
August 5, 2019
Very interesting exploration of tech soon to be possible
This story is fiction, but is one of the best explorations of the “almost”, or “soon to be possible”, embedded connectivity. It invites the reader to contemplate the feasibility and ethics associated with this emerging technology. Just because we can do a thing, should we, really?
The main characters are enjoyable, and the situations are believable, and the bad guys are fearsome! Good read!
This story is fiction, but is one of the best explorations of the “almost”, or “soon to be possible”, embedded connectivity. It invites the reader to contemplate the feasibility and ethics associated with this emerging technology. Just because we can do a thing, should we, really?
The main characters are enjoyable, and the situations are believable, and the bad guys are fearsome! Good read!
February 3, 2018
Good read
Nonstop action and a plot that seems all too plausible in today’s world. Waking up with access to the internet hard wired into your head would be scary but fun too. Until everybody starts trying to kill you. I’d already figured out some of the ending but not all. I hope he finds a better reason to use his gift than the greed that motivated others.
Nonstop action and a plot that seems all too plausible in today’s world. Waking up with access to the internet hard wired into your head would be scary but fun too. Until everybody starts trying to kill you. I’d already figured out some of the ending but not all. I hope he finds a better reason to use his gift than the greed that motivated others.
February 13, 2018
Great story. Human brains implanted with computer chips, wi fi senders and receivers and as the name implies totally cutting edge technology. But like all wonderful technology there is always some misguided fool prepared to exploit, kill and pervert the abilities that made it possible. Thoroughly enjoyed this read.
March 26, 2018
I did not like this book nearly as much as the author's Assassin series. I struggled through parts of the book but eventually did finish it. I didn't connect with the characters, and I was not that interested in the overall plot. I do give the author credit for trying a new character. The book ended as though this book could be the first in a series.
April 17, 2018
Intense and amazing
Love this authors books , I have read many and they are all incredible from the first words as the chapters grow the web of the story and characters start to interlace one page at a time. Creating an incredible story with so much heart and strength courage and evil... can’t forget the evil people with no morals .. love love it
Love this authors books , I have read many and they are all incredible from the first words as the chapters grow the web of the story and characters start to interlace one page at a time. Creating an incredible story with so much heart and strength courage and evil... can’t forget the evil people with no morals .. love love it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews