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Snow
Three hunters find a crashed cocaine plane in the Montana wilderness. Each has a reason to steal the cocaine – who will? The two who do steal it soon find themselves hunted by the Mexican cocaine cartel, the DEA, Las Vegas killers, their guide, and the police of several states. Zack, a former NFL star now a TV sports icon, owes two million to some nasty people in Vegas. Steve, a Wall Street broker, may have lost all of his and Zack’s investments. Curt, their guide, a half-Cheyenne mountain man, is trying to save his ranch from an energy company takeover. Diego is an executioner for the cocaine cartel. María Christina, a Harvard grad and Yale MBA, runs the cartel. Whitney Castro is a black girl from the Denver slums, now a brilliant DEA agent. Kenny Stauffenberg is an easy-going Montana sheriff who never gives up a hunt. From the frozen peaks of Montana to the heights of Wall Street, the slums of Denver and the million-dollar tables at Vegas, SNOW is an electric portrait of today’s American culture, the invisible line between good and evil, and what people will do in their frantic search for love and freedom.
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First published October 1, 2017
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About the author
Mike Bond
39 books448 followersMIKE BOND has been called the “master of the existential thriller” by the BBC and “one of the 21st century’s most exciting authors” by the Washington Times. He is a bestselling novelist, environmental activist, international energy expert, war and human rights correspondent and award-winning poet who has lived and worked in many remote and dangerous parts of the world. His critically acclaimed novels depict the innate hunger of the human heart for what is good, the intense joys of love, the terror and fury of battle, the sinister vagaries of international politics and multinational corporations, and the beauty of the vanishing natural world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 276 reviews
October 12, 2018
I received a free copy of this for review from NetGalley.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Some seemingly law-abiding citizens stumble across something valuable and decide to keep it even though they know it will be dangerous to do so. Oh, you have heard it? Yeah, it’s been around a while.
Zach is a former NFL player turned television announcer, and Steve is his old friend and investment manager. They take an annual hunting trip to Montana where their buddy Curt acts as their guide while they camp in the woods. The guys are having trouble enjoying their vacation since Zach has run up huge gambling debts in Vegas and needs cash quickly while Wall Street shenanigans have wiped out the savings Steve was managing for him. This has also put Steve into a very deep hole that might ruin his family.
Zach comes across the crash of a small plane with hundreds of kilos of cocaine in it, and Steve immediately seizes on the idea of taking drugs and selling them as a way of getting out of their mutual financial crisis. Because there’s no chance that an organization capable of filling a plane with millions of dollars of drugs will ever come looking for it, right?
Despite Zach’s reservations they haphazardly start a scheme that involves keeping the secret from Curt. Things escalate quickly. Mistake piles upon mistake. And just like that Zach and Steve are in deep trouble and soon realize that they can’t even trust each other anymore.
The trope of an ordinary person finding a bag of money or drugs which takes them straight down the path to hell is one I generally appreciate. However, this one seemed pretty clichéd. It starts out with a very similar set-up to Scott Smith’s A Simple Plan and then quickly morphs into an attempt at doing something like Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men. (And those are two way better books I’d recommend if you’re in the mood for this kind of thing.) From there we cycle through all the checkpoints you’d expect to cross. You’ve got your ruthless enforcer from the drug cartel, a dedicated cop, some innocent people getting screwed over, etc. etc.
There’s also the odd way that it veers into social commentary and existential angst. Many a good crime novel includes these elements, but the writing here just seems to swing wildly from following the plot to going off on tangents about the environment, the perils of capitalism, and the way everyday life can chip at the soul. Those are all subjects that can easily and naturally pop up in a book like this, but the way they’re presented here often seems clumsy and ill-timed.
The most original aspect are the characters of Zach and Steve. The set-up leans in the direction of treating the football hero Zach as the good guy led astray by the fast talking Steve, but we get a more interesting perspective as we learn more about them. Zach is actually more of a hypocrite and selfish guy then he first appears while Steve isn’t quite the Wall Street d-bag you’d assume from the beginning. The way they almost accidently create an escalating mess is a great depiction of how quickly things can fall apart for someone once they decide to cross the line.
Despite its shortcomings I’m still a sucker for these kind of crime stories, and there was some very good character work done as well as some nicely atmospheric stuff that takes us from the snowy woods to the streets of Las Vegas. It’s not bad, but I can think of several better ones.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Some seemingly law-abiding citizens stumble across something valuable and decide to keep it even though they know it will be dangerous to do so. Oh, you have heard it? Yeah, it’s been around a while.
Zach is a former NFL player turned television announcer, and Steve is his old friend and investment manager. They take an annual hunting trip to Montana where their buddy Curt acts as their guide while they camp in the woods. The guys are having trouble enjoying their vacation since Zach has run up huge gambling debts in Vegas and needs cash quickly while Wall Street shenanigans have wiped out the savings Steve was managing for him. This has also put Steve into a very deep hole that might ruin his family.
Zach comes across the crash of a small plane with hundreds of kilos of cocaine in it, and Steve immediately seizes on the idea of taking drugs and selling them as a way of getting out of their mutual financial crisis. Because there’s no chance that an organization capable of filling a plane with millions of dollars of drugs will ever come looking for it, right?
Despite Zach’s reservations they haphazardly start a scheme that involves keeping the secret from Curt. Things escalate quickly. Mistake piles upon mistake. And just like that Zach and Steve are in deep trouble and soon realize that they can’t even trust each other anymore.
The trope of an ordinary person finding a bag of money or drugs which takes them straight down the path to hell is one I generally appreciate. However, this one seemed pretty clichéd. It starts out with a very similar set-up to Scott Smith’s A Simple Plan and then quickly morphs into an attempt at doing something like Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men. (And those are two way better books I’d recommend if you’re in the mood for this kind of thing.) From there we cycle through all the checkpoints you’d expect to cross. You’ve got your ruthless enforcer from the drug cartel, a dedicated cop, some innocent people getting screwed over, etc. etc.
There’s also the odd way that it veers into social commentary and existential angst. Many a good crime novel includes these elements, but the writing here just seems to swing wildly from following the plot to going off on tangents about the environment, the perils of capitalism, and the way everyday life can chip at the soul. Those are all subjects that can easily and naturally pop up in a book like this, but the way they’re presented here often seems clumsy and ill-timed.
The most original aspect are the characters of Zach and Steve. The set-up leans in the direction of treating the football hero Zach as the good guy led astray by the fast talking Steve, but we get a more interesting perspective as we learn more about them. Zach is actually more of a hypocrite and selfish guy then he first appears while Steve isn’t quite the Wall Street d-bag you’d assume from the beginning. The way they almost accidently create an escalating mess is a great depiction of how quickly things can fall apart for someone once they decide to cross the line.
Despite its shortcomings I’m still a sucker for these kind of crime stories, and there was some very good character work done as well as some nicely atmospheric stuff that takes us from the snowy woods to the streets of Las Vegas. It’s not bad, but I can think of several better ones.
October 4, 2017
Steve and Zach are friends that get together once a year to hunt. They use the services of Curt to assist them as a guide in the cold and snowy wilderness. They are on their annual getaway trip when they run into a crashed airplane filled with cocaine and this is where the story starts.
The book is narrated from different points of view and takes place on different locations starting on Montana. I could not relate or empathize with the main characters Steve and Zach because of the poor decisions they made throughout the story.
The novel is very fast paced and straightforward. I found the book similar to those of James Patterson.
Overall it was ok.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.
The book is narrated from different points of view and takes place on different locations starting on Montana. I could not relate or empathize with the main characters Steve and Zach because of the poor decisions they made throughout the story.
The novel is very fast paced and straightforward. I found the book similar to those of James Patterson.
Overall it was ok.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2018
I received a free e-copy of Snow by Mike Bond from Bookish First. This book is about two men who go on a hunting trip in the Montana wilderness with their guide. One of is a former football player from LA but is now an announcer for a football network, the other man is his investment broker. Each year they go on this hunting trip with the same guide. Both men are having financial problems. During the trip one of the men find a crashed plane with two coffins in it. The coffins are filled with what looks like snow but it is really cocaine. It is a lot of cocaine worth millions. What will he do with it? Will he tell his friend or keep the secret to himself? Power, greed, corruption and revenge fill these pages.
October 1, 2017
My thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC. Gratitude sent to Mandevilla Press for making this pre-release available.
The author drew me in to an action-packed thriller that wouldn't let go. The heart pounding scenes kept me on the edge of my seat. This well-written narrative culminated with an ending that I will continue to think about for a long time.
Two buddies, Zack Wilson a former NFL star and Tom Montclair, a Wall Street mogul, embarked on their yearly ten-day hunting trip into the beautiful frozen tundra of Jack Creek, Montana. It had become a tradition. Steve's happily married with a couple of kids. Zack's single and bounces from one relationship to the next. Their trusty guide Curt Weathers provides horses, food and lodging. The perfect getaway.
While hunting elk, Zack stumbled upon a small engine plane that had crashed into a snowy mountain hilltop. He peered through the windshield expecting to find a body. It was empty. Not entirely. There were two coffins inside.
When Zack arrived back at camp, he told Tom about his find. They trudged up the hill. Tom carefully let himself down inside the plane from the cockpit door that was facing skyward. There was something unusual about the coffins that made him suspicious. He soon discovered that both were loaded with cocaine. Must be millions of dollars worth on the street. They each did some lines.
Steve suggested they grab the stash and sell it. Zack was incredulous. Thought his friend was insane. Steve had just learned of some heartbreaking breaking news. Now was a good as time as any to lay it on the table. After a breath, he told Zack that all of their money that he had invested took a nosedive. It was worthless. Hardly worth the paper it was printed on. Zack was in shock. Twelve million dollars down the drain. They were both now broke. Riches to rags. Seemed like a good reason to sell the cocaine. Regain some of their losses. Little did they know, it belonged to the Veracruz cartel. Not the kind of people you would want to burn. So began their life as drug dealers.
While loading the cocaine inside the horses saddlebags, Zack spooked one and got savagely kicked. His right arm took the force of the blow. Shattered. The timing couldn't have been any worse. With excruciating pain, he continued to work on. Thank the NFL for that. They transported the heavy load downhill to Curt's truck. Three-hundred kilos worth. Almost finished loading the truck they saw someone on a snowmobile coming straight at them. Probably, the guy from the plane. No time to stick around. They took off leaving him behind.
Stopping at a hospital, Zack was admitted to the ER. A scan confirmed a complex fracture of the right radial and ulnar bone. A sharp bone fragment was threatening the nerve of the ulnar. Any jarring movement could result in him bleeding out. An immediate operation was suggested. No time for that now. He had to keep moving. The doctor wrapped his arm in bubble wrap and provided a sling. Lots of pain medication. Just like being back in the NFL.
Now they both faced the daunting proposition of who to sell the cocaine to. Two fish out of of water. Dangerous business to say the least. If caught, they could get sent to prison. Of course, there was a good likelihood they'd get killed. At this point, there was no going back to their normal lives. A thing of the past.
The Montana Sheriff and the Colorado State Police were hunting them. Curt was looking for them as well. They had hurt one of his horses and damaged his truck. Didn't know what he'd do when he found them. Mainly, wanted answers. Payment for his losses. As if that weren't enough, the DEA had set their sights on them. They crossed state lines. That would bring in the FBI. Fugitives. Drug dealers. Closing in fast. They'd have to get in line. They had made sworn enemies with a Mexican drug cartel. They were right on their heels. Almost have them in their crosshairs. The DEA was waiting to bust them when they were in the possession of the cocaine. They weren't foolish enough to drive around with it. Until then, they didn't have enough on them to make an arrest. The cartel needed to beat the DEA to the punch before their cocaine was confiscated. Who would be first? Was it possible that the pair might even get away with it? Anything was possible.
The author drew me in to an action-packed thriller that wouldn't let go. The heart pounding scenes kept me on the edge of my seat. This well-written narrative culminated with an ending that I will continue to think about for a long time.
Two buddies, Zack Wilson a former NFL star and Tom Montclair, a Wall Street mogul, embarked on their yearly ten-day hunting trip into the beautiful frozen tundra of Jack Creek, Montana. It had become a tradition. Steve's happily married with a couple of kids. Zack's single and bounces from one relationship to the next. Their trusty guide Curt Weathers provides horses, food and lodging. The perfect getaway.
While hunting elk, Zack stumbled upon a small engine plane that had crashed into a snowy mountain hilltop. He peered through the windshield expecting to find a body. It was empty. Not entirely. There were two coffins inside.
When Zack arrived back at camp, he told Tom about his find. They trudged up the hill. Tom carefully let himself down inside the plane from the cockpit door that was facing skyward. There was something unusual about the coffins that made him suspicious. He soon discovered that both were loaded with cocaine. Must be millions of dollars worth on the street. They each did some lines.
Steve suggested they grab the stash and sell it. Zack was incredulous. Thought his friend was insane. Steve had just learned of some heartbreaking breaking news. Now was a good as time as any to lay it on the table. After a breath, he told Zack that all of their money that he had invested took a nosedive. It was worthless. Hardly worth the paper it was printed on. Zack was in shock. Twelve million dollars down the drain. They were both now broke. Riches to rags. Seemed like a good reason to sell the cocaine. Regain some of their losses. Little did they know, it belonged to the Veracruz cartel. Not the kind of people you would want to burn. So began their life as drug dealers.
While loading the cocaine inside the horses saddlebags, Zack spooked one and got savagely kicked. His right arm took the force of the blow. Shattered. The timing couldn't have been any worse. With excruciating pain, he continued to work on. Thank the NFL for that. They transported the heavy load downhill to Curt's truck. Three-hundred kilos worth. Almost finished loading the truck they saw someone on a snowmobile coming straight at them. Probably, the guy from the plane. No time to stick around. They took off leaving him behind.
Stopping at a hospital, Zack was admitted to the ER. A scan confirmed a complex fracture of the right radial and ulnar bone. A sharp bone fragment was threatening the nerve of the ulnar. Any jarring movement could result in him bleeding out. An immediate operation was suggested. No time for that now. He had to keep moving. The doctor wrapped his arm in bubble wrap and provided a sling. Lots of pain medication. Just like being back in the NFL.
Now they both faced the daunting proposition of who to sell the cocaine to. Two fish out of of water. Dangerous business to say the least. If caught, they could get sent to prison. Of course, there was a good likelihood they'd get killed. At this point, there was no going back to their normal lives. A thing of the past.
The Montana Sheriff and the Colorado State Police were hunting them. Curt was looking for them as well. They had hurt one of his horses and damaged his truck. Didn't know what he'd do when he found them. Mainly, wanted answers. Payment for his losses. As if that weren't enough, the DEA had set their sights on them. They crossed state lines. That would bring in the FBI. Fugitives. Drug dealers. Closing in fast. They'd have to get in line. They had made sworn enemies with a Mexican drug cartel. They were right on their heels. Almost have them in their crosshairs. The DEA was waiting to bust them when they were in the possession of the cocaine. They weren't foolish enough to drive around with it. Until then, they didn't have enough on them to make an arrest. The cartel needed to beat the DEA to the punch before their cocaine was confiscated. Who would be first? Was it possible that the pair might even get away with it? Anything was possible.
June 1, 2022
When two friends on a hunting trip high in the Montana learn their fortunes have been lost in the up-and-down world of Wall Street, their luck takes a turn after stumbling across a wrecked plane loaded with Mexican-made drugs. But does this mean their luck turns for the better.... or worse?
Zack and Steve are close friends at wits end. Both are approaching middle age and want financial stability. The money they could earn from selling the drugs could revive their recent financial woes. But when the Mexican drug cartel learns their cargo did not perish in the crash they send a top 'fixer' to retrieve it. And the chase begins!
Zack and Steve take the reader on a journey from the snow-filled mountains of Montana through Colorado and into Vegas where the pair hope to make their millions. Fast on their heels is the DEA, local law enforcement, and none other than a Mexican hitman determined to get back what is rightfully owned by a powerful drug cartel. Mike Bond provides the reader a fast-paced novel with head-spinning turns in a story that could well have taken place, and to anyone of us who happen to come across a mislaid load of illegal drugs.
A highly recommended novel with all the ingredients of a suspense-thriller!
Zack and Steve are close friends at wits end. Both are approaching middle age and want financial stability. The money they could earn from selling the drugs could revive their recent financial woes. But when the Mexican drug cartel learns their cargo did not perish in the crash they send a top 'fixer' to retrieve it. And the chase begins!
Zack and Steve take the reader on a journey from the snow-filled mountains of Montana through Colorado and into Vegas where the pair hope to make their millions. Fast on their heels is the DEA, local law enforcement, and none other than a Mexican hitman determined to get back what is rightfully owned by a powerful drug cartel. Mike Bond provides the reader a fast-paced novel with head-spinning turns in a story that could well have taken place, and to anyone of us who happen to come across a mislaid load of illegal drugs.
A highly recommended novel with all the ingredients of a suspense-thriller!
October 3, 2017
Wow...need to take a breath after this non-stop action with two men, who are usually in city life with big money problems on the horizon, out for their yearly elk hunt with guide Curt. While out hunting in day one man, former football player turned analyst Zach, finds a small plane crashed in the forest. He sees footprints leaving the site so believes the pilot made it out, and notes two coffins inside the plane. When he gets back to camp he tells his former manager and money man,Steve, about finding the plane. Steve convinces him to show it to him right away, without telling their guide what was up. When they make it to the plane, Steve goes in, finding cocaine in the coffins! He immediately starts telling Zach that they should take it and sell it, that the money made would get them back on top.
This idea is the premise for the story,as things go wrong at every level, from taking their guides truck to being shot at! A great adventure follows, showing the warped thinking of the men when using the drug, and the people they eventually hurt.
I would like to thank Netgalley, author Mike Bond and publisher Mandevilla Press for a copy of this story from which I give you my thoughts.
This idea is the premise for the story,as things go wrong at every level, from taking their guides truck to being shot at! A great adventure follows, showing the warped thinking of the men when using the drug, and the people they eventually hurt.
I would like to thank Netgalley, author Mike Bond and publisher Mandevilla Press for a copy of this story from which I give you my thoughts.
October 9, 2017
Two privileged, rich, and morally deficient guys are hunting elk with a native American guide (stereotyping abounds). They both lost lots of money making poor decisions, so they use continue that path by making a series of really bad decisions beginning with a plane crash. What I liked about this book was juxtaposing the slang word for cocaine, "snow" with actual snow. But, there was little else to like. The writing was amateurish. (What ever happened to editors?) The author kept inserting references to the environment and native Americans, and other topics which are obviously important to HIM, but extraneous to the story. The author would have us believe that these morally depleted characters actually think about the abuse and misuse of western lands. Seriously? Don't waste your time reading this book.
December 7, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The storyline is interesting but the execution is sorely lacking. The characters are one dimensional and morally corrupt. The dialogue throughout the book is stilted. The characters are extremely unlike able; they are not engaging or sympathetic and I did not relate or connect to them. Although there is a lot of action, it is not suspenseful at all. There are no thrills and chills. There is no edge of your seat suspense. No twists. No red herrings. Blah Blah Blah. The plot is driven by action, but the action seems mechanical: this happens, then this happens, which leads to this happening. The climax is ...well, there really isn’t a climax. The denouement abruptly ends the story with “The end” actually printed. Mediocre at best. Two stars is generous. I can not recommend it.
The storyline is interesting but the execution is sorely lacking. The characters are one dimensional and morally corrupt. The dialogue throughout the book is stilted. The characters are extremely unlike able; they are not engaging or sympathetic and I did not relate or connect to them. Although there is a lot of action, it is not suspenseful at all. There are no thrills and chills. There is no edge of your seat suspense. No twists. No red herrings. Blah Blah Blah. The plot is driven by action, but the action seems mechanical: this happens, then this happens, which leads to this happening. The climax is ...well, there really isn’t a climax. The denouement abruptly ends the story with “The end” actually printed. Mediocre at best. Two stars is generous. I can not recommend it.
June 18, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
While on a hunting trip, a former NFL linebacker, now sportscaster, finds a small airplane containing a whole lot of cocaine. Instead of calling the police, he and his friend decide to sell it, as they're having financial difficulties.
A lot like the movie A Simple Plan only without Billy Bob Thornton.
While on a hunting trip, a former NFL linebacker, now sportscaster, finds a small airplane containing a whole lot of cocaine. Instead of calling the police, he and his friend decide to sell it, as they're having financial difficulties.
A lot like the movie A Simple Plan only without Billy Bob Thornton.
October 23, 2017
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. And if I had not committed to reviewing this I would not have finished it. I won’t recap the plot as others have done that already, but I will say that none of the characters are compelling or even likable. Everyone is flawed—that can be ok, but almost everyone here is despicable with few redeeming qualities or behaviors. Is it really the case that cocaine can ruin so many lives so quickly? I wouldn’t doubt it. But do I really need to read a book about a couple of greedy, selfish, nasty guys who flush their seemingly wonderful lives down the toilet for an easy score that goes bad? The book also suffers from some rather poor writing that would be helped by some professional editing. The story circles around itself and often feels like it was written in a high school English class. I would give this book a pass.
September 11, 2017
3.5 stars.
This book is filled with action from the very beginning and the plot moves along at steady pace throughout the book. All of the characters were interesting, whether good or bad, which I think is really important in any story. If I become disinterested in a character, I become disinterested in the story itself. The synopsis for this book includes many different characters and they are all an interesting part of this story. This story has so much action in it, as well as many different characters, from the Mexican cartel to the DEA. This different locations and settings in this book also add to the action and keep the story interesting. This is definitely a book filled with action and suspense. This is the first book I have read by the author and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.
This book is filled with action from the very beginning and the plot moves along at steady pace throughout the book. All of the characters were interesting, whether good or bad, which I think is really important in any story. If I become disinterested in a character, I become disinterested in the story itself. The synopsis for this book includes many different characters and they are all an interesting part of this story. This story has so much action in it, as well as many different characters, from the Mexican cartel to the DEA. This different locations and settings in this book also add to the action and keep the story interesting. This is definitely a book filled with action and suspense. This is the first book I have read by the author and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.
November 9, 2017
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I found this book a challenge to finish. I did not like the characters, their series of bad decisions, or the entire premise of the book. The story was about two friends, one a former NFL football player, who has transitioned to be an on air sports caster and his long-time investment advisor. They both have financial troubles and find an crashed airplane in the mountains while hunting that has kilos of cocaine. THe story details their actions to sell the cocaine while being chased by cartel bad guys and law enforcement.
At no time did I like either of the two main characters or any of the people they associated with. I am sorry but this was not a book that I would recommend.
I found this book a challenge to finish. I did not like the characters, their series of bad decisions, or the entire premise of the book. The story was about two friends, one a former NFL football player, who has transitioned to be an on air sports caster and his long-time investment advisor. They both have financial troubles and find an crashed airplane in the mountains while hunting that has kilos of cocaine. THe story details their actions to sell the cocaine while being chased by cartel bad guys and law enforcement.
At no time did I like either of the two main characters or any of the people they associated with. I am sorry but this was not a book that I would recommend.
March 20, 2020
It's an okay book. Interesting writing, but the stupid decisions by the main characters (who seem like they should be much more intelligent) really let the book down. Left me feeling disappointed.
October 27, 2017
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of Snow by Mike Bond in exchange for an unbiased review.
Snow is a thriller that vacillates from heart-stopping action in a cold and grueling environment to lots of human self-doubt and contemplation. It’s hard to like what the some of the characters choose, but it makes for a interesting tale that melds well all the personal conversations in their heads. The characters struggle with their moral choices and ever-persistent self-examination that creeps into the reality of what they’ve done. Once they discover that more than just law enforcement is in pursuit, it’s not just between good and bad.
When the action moves, it flies like you’re racing downhill out of control. It fits perfectly with the “what the hell am i doing and how did I get here” moments in insane situations. Often, there’s no clear good choice to the dilemma. So much doesn’t go as planned but then, as the reader, do you want it to? The subtle way that Bond tests the reader’s moral temperature makes this all the more interesting.
Bond’s writing carries the reader away quickly, and places you into the harsh environment which looms large in this book. Some readers may be disappointed in that no hero rises out of the pages, but perhaps that role played by the existential snow and its significance is the heart of this story.
Snow is a thriller that vacillates from heart-stopping action in a cold and grueling environment to lots of human self-doubt and contemplation. It’s hard to like what the some of the characters choose, but it makes for a interesting tale that melds well all the personal conversations in their heads. The characters struggle with their moral choices and ever-persistent self-examination that creeps into the reality of what they’ve done. Once they discover that more than just law enforcement is in pursuit, it’s not just between good and bad.
When the action moves, it flies like you’re racing downhill out of control. It fits perfectly with the “what the hell am i doing and how did I get here” moments in insane situations. Often, there’s no clear good choice to the dilemma. So much doesn’t go as planned but then, as the reader, do you want it to? The subtle way that Bond tests the reader’s moral temperature makes this all the more interesting.
Bond’s writing carries the reader away quickly, and places you into the harsh environment which looms large in this book. Some readers may be disappointed in that no hero rises out of the pages, but perhaps that role played by the existential snow and its significance is the heart of this story.
September 18, 2018
An incredible book about choices that leaves the reader beset with the idea of options.
Zack and Steve are old friends and have hunted with their guide, Curt, for many years in the Montana wilderness. While up in the snowy mountains on this particular hunting trip, an aeroplane crashes not far from their campsite. When the three discover the plane is carrying a huge load of cocaine, choices are made by one of them that leads to a fast-paced, tense and apprehensive read.
Friendships and allegiances are tested throughout the events that lead to two of them on the run from the drug cartel, whose cocaine was lost, as well as the DEA, police from a few states, the Montana sheriff and other killers.
It’s about money, how much is lost and how much is owed. Choices can be skewed when there is fear of loss of reputation, money and then, finally, honesty and integrity.
I enjoyed the fast pace from the mountains of Montana to Vegas. The book is a portrayal of modern times where choices are often based on the amount of money to be made over that of honesty and integrity. Sad.
A brilliant read that makes you wonder.
BonnieK
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Zack and Steve are old friends and have hunted with their guide, Curt, for many years in the Montana wilderness. While up in the snowy mountains on this particular hunting trip, an aeroplane crashes not far from their campsite. When the three discover the plane is carrying a huge load of cocaine, choices are made by one of them that leads to a fast-paced, tense and apprehensive read.
Friendships and allegiances are tested throughout the events that lead to two of them on the run from the drug cartel, whose cocaine was lost, as well as the DEA, police from a few states, the Montana sheriff and other killers.
It’s about money, how much is lost and how much is owed. Choices can be skewed when there is fear of loss of reputation, money and then, finally, honesty and integrity.
I enjoyed the fast pace from the mountains of Montana to Vegas. The book is a portrayal of modern times where choices are often based on the amount of money to be made over that of honesty and integrity. Sad.
A brilliant read that makes you wonder.
BonnieK
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
June 26, 2018
Two men go on a hunting trip in the Montana
wilderness with their well known guide. It is cold
and there is so much snow everywhere.
One of the men is from LA. He is a former football
star now an announcer for one of the football
networks. The other man is his investment broker.
Each year they go on this trip with the same guide.
This year both men are facing financial troubles.
One finds a crashed plane with two coffins. The
coffins are filled with snow but not the kind that
falls from the sky but the deadly type one sniffs,
worthy millions of dollars.
Powerful, explosive, sinister plots of deceit, greed,
betrayal, corruption and revenge surrounded the
characters.
The descriptions are vivid. I could feel the wind,
cold & snow. The reader traveled with the characters
through Montana, New York City life, the lights &
casinos in Las Vegas, the mountains of Denver.
The reader learns how each character thinks & lives
their life whether a ex-football star, a broker, a hunting
guide, an DEA agent, a cartel queen and her gunman,
a casino operator plus other law enforcement officers.
An interesting read in the wage between good versus
evil.
I volunteered to read Snow. Thanks to Bookish First
for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.
wilderness with their well known guide. It is cold
and there is so much snow everywhere.
One of the men is from LA. He is a former football
star now an announcer for one of the football
networks. The other man is his investment broker.
Each year they go on this trip with the same guide.
This year both men are facing financial troubles.
One finds a crashed plane with two coffins. The
coffins are filled with snow but not the kind that
falls from the sky but the deadly type one sniffs,
worthy millions of dollars.
Powerful, explosive, sinister plots of deceit, greed,
betrayal, corruption and revenge surrounded the
characters.
The descriptions are vivid. I could feel the wind,
cold & snow. The reader traveled with the characters
through Montana, New York City life, the lights &
casinos in Las Vegas, the mountains of Denver.
The reader learns how each character thinks & lives
their life whether a ex-football star, a broker, a hunting
guide, an DEA agent, a cartel queen and her gunman,
a casino operator plus other law enforcement officers.
An interesting read in the wage between good versus
evil.
I volunteered to read Snow. Thanks to Bookish First
for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.
September 10, 2018
Featured at The Review Period with Cat Ellington from 2018-08-25 - 2018-09-09, my review of Snow by Mike Bond has been archived for its place in the Reviews by Cat Ellington Complete Anthology book series.
June 30, 2018
Snow missed the mark for me, as far as a suspense thriller goes. There is not a single likable character because even the supposed good guys spend most of the book behaving badly. The book is all action, with very little plot. The author chose to provide a paltry amount of background information for the characters, instead of throwing in tidbits of their issues to justify the mess they have made of their lives. The fact that the criminals had such an easy time retracing the steps of the main characters did not ring true for me.
Snow ended as it began, with an expected plot twist that left nothing to the readers imagination. For the reasons listed above, this is not a book that I would recommend to other readers.
Snow ended as it began, with an expected plot twist that left nothing to the readers imagination. For the reasons listed above, this is not a book that I would recommend to other readers.
December 12, 2017
Snow, snow and more snow. Zack and Steve go out west for hunting, their guide Curt, a long time friend, is there to help them. It's cold and snowy but the elk is worth hunting. Until, they hear a plane crash nearby. Checking it out they find kilos of cocaine and the pilot gone.
And the plan begins. A way to steal the coke, sell it and make it home (one to NY the other to LA) and do all this in the SNOW and without getting caught. And so the journey begins. I found it amazing what these men went through all because of greed. But then greed does that to you. And the ending was not what I expected. Good book but all that SNOW!
And the plan begins. A way to steal the coke, sell it and make it home (one to NY the other to LA) and do all this in the SNOW and without getting caught. And so the journey begins. I found it amazing what these men went through all because of greed. But then greed does that to you. And the ending was not what I expected. Good book but all that SNOW!
May 9, 2019
Definitely Recommend
This book is a fun read! The characters are flawed and the choices they make ill-advised, however you root for them anyway. The setting adds to the feeling of impending disaster.
This book is a fun read! The characters are flawed and the choices they make ill-advised, however you root for them anyway. The setting adds to the feeling of impending disaster.
February 19, 2020
Crime does not Pay
I would give this 3.5 for the adventure rounded down to 3 for the stupid choices made by the characters.
Three men go hunting every year in the mountains of Montana, Zack an ex football player, Steven a stock broker and Curt the guide. They each have money challenges but are trying to forget them on the hunting trip. Zack has gambling debts, Steven made bad investments and lost not only his money but Zack's as well, and Curt is about to lose his farm.
While hunting Zack shoots an elk, but forfeits it to a grizzly to escape he takes another way back to camp and discovers a plane filled with Cocaine crashed on the mountain. He goes back toward camp and finds Steven and tells him about the plane. They do not tell curt the guide about the cocaine but do tell him about the crashed plane. Steven and Zack decide to steal the cocaine and sell it to pay off their debts, but they must do it before the police arrive that Curt has called about the crashed plane.
This is the story. They steal the cocaine, the cartel that owns it is after them. The guide is after them to find out why they did it and crashed his truck and to help them if he can, the DEA and the police are also after them. This cat and mouse game goes on from Montana to Colorado to Vegas and back and forth. It finally ends on the top of a mountain pass.
The story is interesting, it has a lot of action, some soul searching by the two that stole the cocaine, especially toward the end. It was a fast moving story. I would recommend it if you like these type of books.
Thanks to Mike Bond, Mandevilla Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of the book.
I would give this 3.5 for the adventure rounded down to 3 for the stupid choices made by the characters.
Three men go hunting every year in the mountains of Montana, Zack an ex football player, Steven a stock broker and Curt the guide. They each have money challenges but are trying to forget them on the hunting trip. Zack has gambling debts, Steven made bad investments and lost not only his money but Zack's as well, and Curt is about to lose his farm.
While hunting Zack shoots an elk, but forfeits it to a grizzly to escape he takes another way back to camp and discovers a plane filled with Cocaine crashed on the mountain. He goes back toward camp and finds Steven and tells him about the plane. They do not tell curt the guide about the cocaine but do tell him about the crashed plane. Steven and Zack decide to steal the cocaine and sell it to pay off their debts, but they must do it before the police arrive that Curt has called about the crashed plane.
This is the story. They steal the cocaine, the cartel that owns it is after them. The guide is after them to find out why they did it and crashed his truck and to help them if he can, the DEA and the police are also after them. This cat and mouse game goes on from Montana to Colorado to Vegas and back and forth. It finally ends on the top of a mountain pass.
The story is interesting, it has a lot of action, some soul searching by the two that stole the cocaine, especially toward the end. It was a fast moving story. I would recommend it if you like these type of books.
Thanks to Mike Bond, Mandevilla Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of the book.
Read
August 15, 2018I had high hopes for SNOW by Mike Bond. It sounded like a fresh police/detective story about two guys who thought it would be a good idea to steal a load of cocaine that literally dropped in their lap when they discovered a small plane that had crashed near the area where they were hunting elk.
I'm sorry to say that I did not finish this book. I simply could not engage myself in it. The two main characters of focus were -- at best -- anti-heroes. In reality they seemed cardboard cutouts of the stock "stupid, rich, bad guys." The cops in the story appeared also to the follow central casting outline. And the plot felt stiff and stilted. Ultimately I came to the point of asking myself "Why am I still reading this?" With no good answer, I quit.
I'm sorry to say that I did not finish this book. I simply could not engage myself in it. The two main characters of focus were -- at best -- anti-heroes. In reality they seemed cardboard cutouts of the stock "stupid, rich, bad guys." The cops in the story appeared also to the follow central casting outline. And the plot felt stiff and stilted. Ultimately I came to the point of asking myself "Why am I still reading this?" With no good answer, I quit.
October 26, 2018
What a great sneak peek at a book that promises lots of conflict, broken bones and action. But I especially liked the scene-setting too,
"it seared into his bones, electrified his muscles, drove pure oxygen deep into his
lungs, exploded his vision to infinity. Everything grew clear. He sat on the snow. It felt warm and cradling, fit his body like a glove. He looked out over the vast horizon, the great sweeping white plateaus, the raw black peaks and tree-thick ridges under the near-black sky, and sensed the magnificence of it all."
I could almost feel the snow under me, almost feel the sharp cold and see those dark ominous trees. I was immersed in merely an excerpt, but it sure didn't feel like it.
"it seared into his bones, electrified his muscles, drove pure oxygen deep into his
lungs, exploded his vision to infinity. Everything grew clear. He sat on the snow. It felt warm and cradling, fit his body like a glove. He looked out over the vast horizon, the great sweeping white plateaus, the raw black peaks and tree-thick ridges under the near-black sky, and sensed the magnificence of it all."
I could almost feel the snow under me, almost feel the sharp cold and see those dark ominous trees. I was immersed in merely an excerpt, but it sure didn't feel like it.
October 9, 2017
A very interesting story that has a group of men that are out on a hunting trip and while hunting they come across a plane that has crashed. The contents of the plane led two of the men to think that they can sell the product and make the cash that they both need fast in order to help themselves. This story starts strong and has you going until the end. You leave the mountains and travel to New York, Las Vegas, and then back to the mountains. They are being tracked by the man sent to bring the product back and to end them, and also the DEA. A very exciting book from start to finish. A good read. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
November 20, 2017
Mike Bond never fails to produce page-turning suspense. As always, the settings and characterization are intricate and detailed, the plot full of false trails yet inexorably building to a stunning climax.
Flawed protagonists are the norm for Bond. Horribly wrong decisions are made. Yet somehow there's rarely a question of who's good and who's bad; circumstances and events shape the people and their actions, and there's a sense that the final result was inevitable from the very start. Yet the process of getting there is fascinating and rarely predictable.
John D. Macdonald would have liked the writing of Mike Bond.
Flawed protagonists are the norm for Bond. Horribly wrong decisions are made. Yet somehow there's rarely a question of who's good and who's bad; circumstances and events shape the people and their actions, and there's a sense that the final result was inevitable from the very start. Yet the process of getting there is fascinating and rarely predictable.
John D. Macdonald would have liked the writing of Mike Bond.
August 7, 2018
This book told a story of just what greed and selfishness can do to a person. One of the main characters comes upon a plane crash. Inside the plane is a million dollars worth of cocaine. He tells his buddy about it and they decide that it is a great idea to steal it and sell it. They then continue to get themselves deeper and deeper into trouble. They are be hunted be the DEA, the cops, Vegas killers and the Mexican drug cartel. It was an action packed book with several twist and a good ending. I would recommend it. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy for my honest opinion.
April 8, 2020
Once again I am surprised at the ability of Mike Bond to write an unexpected story. Many of his books does not end the way you thought they would, Snow is one of those. I have to thank Mandevilla Press and Netgalley for giving me the enjoyment of this great read.
December 12, 2017
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read Snow by Mike Bond.
Two men, a stock broker and a former NFL player, go on an annual hunting retreat in the mountains of Montana. These city boys hire a experienced guide to help them enjoy their annual getaway. The trip starts out with a mad grizzily bear and a very cold night. Their luck changes when they find an abandoned plane with alot of cocaine on it and they decide to take it and sell it.
Both men have money issue and this might be the solution or they will die trying to find a way out.
Good read - somewhat unbelievable in parts, but otherwise a fast paced book that will keep you hoping they will get away with this crazy plan.
Two men, a stock broker and a former NFL player, go on an annual hunting retreat in the mountains of Montana. These city boys hire a experienced guide to help them enjoy their annual getaway. The trip starts out with a mad grizzily bear and a very cold night. Their luck changes when they find an abandoned plane with alot of cocaine on it and they decide to take it and sell it.
Both men have money issue and this might be the solution or they will die trying to find a way out.
Good read - somewhat unbelievable in parts, but otherwise a fast paced book that will keep you hoping they will get away with this crazy plan.
October 23, 2017
GNAB I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Mike Bond and Mandevilla Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
I enjoy Mike Bond novels. In this one the protagonists are not sympathetic in any way, yet you still find yourself hoping they will be able to get out of the mess they have gotten themself embroiled in this time, if only for the sake of the people who love them.
Zack is a retired Broncos football star now doing color for a major network. He has husbanded his income over the flush years, setting aside enough to live comfortably when he is no longer in demand in the land of football. His portfolio is invested in conservative investments with his broker and friend Steve. Steve is a rich kid who had all the benefits money can buy but luck has not been with him lately. He has managed to invest his own and Zacks money in stocks which are now basically worthless. Zack will never forgive him, and Steve's wife and two children will be homeless at the end of the month. Maybe he will think of a solution - and find an opportunity to let Zack know about the loss of all his savings, on their annual elk hunting trip to Montana with their mutual friend and guide, Curt. Yeah, that's gonna work out well. In a very entertaining way....
pub date Oct 1, 2017
Mandevilla Press
I enjoy Mike Bond novels. In this one the protagonists are not sympathetic in any way, yet you still find yourself hoping they will be able to get out of the mess they have gotten themself embroiled in this time, if only for the sake of the people who love them.
Zack is a retired Broncos football star now doing color for a major network. He has husbanded his income over the flush years, setting aside enough to live comfortably when he is no longer in demand in the land of football. His portfolio is invested in conservative investments with his broker and friend Steve. Steve is a rich kid who had all the benefits money can buy but luck has not been with him lately. He has managed to invest his own and Zacks money in stocks which are now basically worthless. Zack will never forgive him, and Steve's wife and two children will be homeless at the end of the month. Maybe he will think of a solution - and find an opportunity to let Zack know about the loss of all his savings, on their annual elk hunting trip to Montana with their mutual friend and guide, Curt. Yeah, that's gonna work out well. In a very entertaining way....
pub date Oct 1, 2017
Mandevilla Press
June 16, 2019
Fast paced and truly insightful, but not a traditional thriller.
This book was very twisty and turny--and therefore I kept going.It was sad in many places,couldn't relate to many of the characters,but it was still engrossing because I feel the author really drew an accurate portrait of cocaine and its impact on America.The snow is definitely a character,as is the 'snow',a nickname for the cocaine,of course.I didn't feel this was a thriller ,but it's good crime novel.It was tightly written,didn't see any plot holes ,and the author used great descriptions,and I could 'see' these places very well. Obviously,this book is for mature audiences.
This book was very twisty and turny--and therefore I kept going.It was sad in many places,couldn't relate to many of the characters,but it was still engrossing because I feel the author really drew an accurate portrait of cocaine and its impact on America.The snow is definitely a character,as is the 'snow',a nickname for the cocaine,of course.I didn't feel this was a thriller ,but it's good crime novel.It was tightly written,didn't see any plot holes ,and the author used great descriptions,and I could 'see' these places very well. Obviously,this book is for mature audiences.
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