Winter's Rage

Byron Tibor #3

by Sean Black, Steven Savile

Special forces veteran Byron Tibor is back in Winter’s Rage, the latest book from acclaimed thriller writer, Sean Black, author of the bestselling Ryan Lock series.After years as a government trouble-shooter, working in the most dangerous places in the world, Byron suffered a breakdown. Enrolled in a special DARPA experiment known as the ‘guilt-free soldier’ program, Byron’s PTSD is cured, and he is given augmented powers. But his newfound abilities leave him isolated and prone to unpredictable rages. Now, hunted by the government, Byron has taken refuge in the remote Appalachian town of Winter’s Rage. But Byron’s peaceful existence is about to be shattered by the arrival of a troubled young woman on the run from a violent drug cartel. “Sean Black is the future of thriller writing.” Ken Bruen

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2017

About the author

I write the Ryan Lock series of thrillers, which feature ex-military bodyguard Ryan Lock and his partner, former Marine, Ty Johnson. The first two books in the series, Lockdown and Deadlock, hit the Official UK Top 50 Bestseller Chart, and the third, Gridlock, has just been released in hardback. They have have also been translated into Dutch, German, and Russian.

I'm a firm believer in hands-on research, also known as 'any excuse to get out of the house', so before I wrote Lockdown, I trained for a month with former members of the Royal Military Police's specialist close protection unit. That turned out to be great preparation for Deadlock, which I researched by spending time inside Pelican Bay Supermax in California (see the TV interview on my author page). I recently completed a desert survival course in Arizona and ventured into the tunnels under Las Vegas, all as preparation for a new standalone thriller I will begin work on once I have completed the fourth Ryan Lock book.

Before I became a full-time novelist, I taught college and wrote television drama. I'm an Oxbridge and Ivy League graduate – try not to hold that against me.

Reviews

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the last 6 months my Blog and what I seemed to have signed up for sort of took over my reading life. What I mean by that is I over committed to publishers and had so many books I had to read as part of Blog Tours etc that I ended up not reading any of the books I actually wanted to read. I finally bit the bullet and decided to take no more tours or books on for specific dates for at least the rest of the year and was determined to actually read so many of the books that I have brought and want to read and this one was absolutely top of my list.

A lot of my followers know I am a huge Sean Black fan (especially the Ryan Lock Series) however the Tibor books are a little different to my usual choice. They certainly fall into the Crime, Thriller and Mystery genre but they also have a different type of feel to them. Let me explain! Byron Tibor is an ex-soldier, however he is not an 'ordinary' soldier. Byron was part of an experiment known as the ‘guilt-free soldier’ program, and although his PTSD is cured and he is given augmented power he struggles with feeling isolated. Currently Byron (known as Mike) is on the run from the Government and settles in the strange and small town named Winters Rage.

Within a couple of chapters I felt like I hadn't been away and Byron or 'Mike' as he is known once again has to try to hide his natural ability which exceeds others. In this case he is working for a local guy named Wayne and the job suits him down to the ground. Winters Rage is a small town but he can keep his head down and just do a job to get by. Living in a remote cabin on a mountainside suits him. However when Wayne's daughter Raelynn heads back to town with her two children everything changes. Before Byron knows it, he is dragged into a situation which involves him protecting Wayne and his family.

There is something so readable about this character along with the amazing writing and brilliant story line. The bad guys suitably fit into the plot and as a reader you just know things are not going to work out well for these guys. I read this in two straight sittings and absolutely loved it. I felt like I had seriously missed out leaving it so long to catch up with Byron. Another added element to this is that due to his location, there is no technology, no help via the latest gadgets...just pure survival instinct. The setting is bleak, and this is the perfect backdrop for this book. Another cracking read and one that is completely engaging from start to finish. A highly recommended book and series by a highly (in my opinion) under-rated author. Sean Black is one of my all time favourite authors and think if you haven't read his stuff then you should definitely start!

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another "hit" by Sean Black. What can I say? I was already a fan of the "Ryan Lock" series when I came across this book. A great concept introducing me to another character with whom I could easily engage. The one down side being that this is No. 3 in the series and I haven't yet read the other two. However even the down side has an upside in that now I get to read two more stories about Byron Tibor which will provide me with a better background to the character. I'm still playing catch-up with the Ryan Lock series and I know that I'm going to enjoy catching up with this new series just as much, Happy days ahead.

[itchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

brief synopsis:
Byron plays vigilante as a pursued junkie mom and her kids fall on his lap.

setting:
Winter's Rage, West Virginia
Miami

named personalities:
Caleb Jacobs - a violent robber
Dale Pasternak aka Tweedledumber- an unpredictable and dangerous guy with attention deficit disorder
Henry Dalhousie aka Tweedledumb- a pro killer and leader of his band of psychos
Eddie - the world's number one dad of two girls
Raelynn 'Rae' Cardiman aka Elspeth White - a troubled soul
Byron Tibor aka Mike Roberts aka Batman aka Johnny - a bleeding heart
Wayne Cardiman - Mike's septuagenarian boss
Maeve Cruikshank - a diner proprietress
Benny - Maeve's short-order cook
Anna - Rae's eldest
Chase - Rae's seven-year-old son
Steven 'Tin Tin' Duffy - an English musician of Duran Duran fame
Karel Fialka - a British singer-songwriter
Halle Berry - a surprisingly flexible American actress
Madonna - an American singer
Gloria Estefan - a Cuban singer
Jim Lowry - Winter's Rage's sheriff
Julia - Byron's wife whom he abandoned
Larry Carter - a harmless old coot
Sam - Byron's uncle
Nanci - Winter's Rage's bus station ticket-seller
Thoreau - presumably Henry David Thoreau
Graves - Byron's old superior
Jim Burges - a snowplow driver
Usain Bolt - a Jamaican sprinter
Christian Bale - an English actor who played Batman
Tarantino - presumably Quentin Tarantino
Buzz Lightyear - a Toy Story character
King Kong - a giant movie monster
Elmer Fudd - a shotgun-toting cartoon character
Max Schreck - a German horror actor
Shakespeare - presumably William Shakespeare
Glen - the absentee father of Anna and Chase
the Equalizer - a retired intelligence agent vigilante
Daniel Boone - an American folk hero
George aka Moustache Man - an old belligerent guy
Laney Daker - a lying bitch in the diner
Superman - a fictional superhero
Obi-Wan - presumably Obi-Wan Kenobi
Viktor Krip - Henry's point of contact

typos:
p93: "...It's going to be a fair old while before the road's impassable, especially if Jim's out later with the snowplouw...."

p208: The driver's door was jammed and no amount of kicking it would shift it.

plot:
p195: It didn't take me long to liberate an over-and-under shotgun and another handgun, a Glock, along with a box of ammunition for each.
p231: I pumped the gun and trained both barrels on him.
How do you pump an over-under, hmm?

This gives one a solid vigilante fix.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good thriller story. It features plenty of action and danger. The characters are reasonably realistic, the dialogue fits the characters. While this story is the third in the Byron Tibor thriller series, I haven’t read the first two, but that didn’t seem to interfere with any comprehension of this story. A woman whose late husband apparently stole drugs and cash from a major gang operating out of Florida, is being pursued by that gang. Since the husband is now dead, the gang figures the women has their money and their drugs. She doesn’t, but she is a drug addict (meth and/or painkillers) and she has two young children. The gang wants them all dead as proof that double crossing the gang is a very poor career choice. She flees Florida with her two children by Greyhound bus to return to her hometown, Winter’s Rage, West Virginia. This is winter time and the town lives up to its name as winter storms add to the danger and suspense in this thriller. Her father is in his mid-seventies now, but he has a new friend, a mysterious stranger who is new to Winter’s Rage. His name is Byron Tibor, but he is traveling under an alias, Mike Roberts. Mike/Byron is trying to break contact with his old employer, an unnamed government agency, similar to the CIA. Mile/Byron’s previous training comes in handy when the hit men arrive in Winter’s Rage to kill the woman, her children and her father.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

WINTER’S RAGE - Byron Tiber (Mike) is living in a small mountain town in West Virginia. He is helping one of the citizens, Wayne, build a cabin for his daughter, Raelynn, who is coming home. Of course, no one knows of Mike’s enhanced physical attributes, so he can only work as fast as an average man, making it slow going for the cabin. This is not the real issue though. Wayne’s daughter and her 2 kids arrive and so do three guys who have been paid to kill them all. There is a terrific snow storm and the tension grows. The strangers stand out when they visit a diner in an attempt to find out where Wayne lives. The owner of the diner calls Wayne and warns him there are strangers looking for him. The dialogue is tight and the action is tense. Of course, you know that Mike will save the day but there are lots of twists and lots of things that make the book one you can’t put down. These are great books but beware there is violence.

[Jeff Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

His name is Byron Tibor, or, maybe not. A former Special Forces veteran trying to get away from his past, or maybe running to meet it around the corner. He lands in a small Appalachian town of Winter Rage as Mike Roberts. He befriends Wayne Cardiman, whose daughter, Raelynn, is on the run from a drug cartel and headed home. The cartel wants her dead, but Mike isn’t going to let that happen. Terrific setting with mountains and blizzards. No high tech computers or prototype weapons here! Just lots of action. This is actually #3 in the series and you do not have to have read the first two in order to enjoy this one.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page-turner for sure, but...

But what? I mean, the book hooked me, it pulled me along and I didn't want to stop reading, but...
The main character, Byron, was augmented by the government. He's super strong, super fast, he can see things that... Anyway, he's basically a superhero, and it's completely unnecessary. If Byron was a normal, but extremely highly trained person, it would have worked just as well. In fact, it would have made it a better book, for me, anyway.
That said, it was quite well written and fun to read. There were a few mistakes and typos... "the weed-raddled path"? (riddled, like "bullet-riddled"), but not many.
So, read it and enjoy!

[Lewis DiDonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and fast to read

Well, Byron has been in the isolated West Virginia mountain town, endearing himself to townsfolk and especially with a elderly man. Byron keeps secret his augmented senses, strength, and speed. Unfortunately, a hero draws trouble ( or is drawn to it). The old man's grown daughter plus her kids, show up; running from bad guys. Byron dispatches the bad guys and thankfully resists the grateful attentions of the daughter. So now, he can leave town and have his next heroic adventure.

[david berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trained killer//good samaritan












A man realizes he is trained to do things he does not like anymore. Byron Tabo or leaves this occupation paying the price of being hunted. Moving to a small town he is befriended by Wayne who hires him to do building workk. Then Wayne gets a call from his estranged daughter she is coming to him with her kids. She is being followed by a death squad and by .now .Byron known as Mike helps her for Wayne. Now the action really starts to Florida and back to say bye to the daughter .

[Juri Bowa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missed Opportunity

When I read the first book in this series I was excited to find a new and unique character to follow. However the author chose to develop him in a different direction to what I had expected, in the next two books. This book, like the second one, is well-written, the story is interesting and the action is engaging BUT Byron Tibor feels like a Jack Reacher clone. Not a bad thing in itself but not at all what I had hoped for after reading the first book.

[Pedro Bedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super hero quality lead character helping out the little guy in an out of the way town when trouble arrives. If he'd been a dog he's have been the littlest hobo :) The bad guys are the baddest and Byron Tibor outbads them and goes deeper to get their bosses just to help out a friend to save his junkie daughter and her kids. Hope she's worth it but he leaves before finding out. He'll get his just deserts one day.

[Mbsuther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter's Rage

The reviews of this book were pretty good, even the 3* ones. I enjoy the one man, damagedca but, thrust into an unfamiliar role of "saviour". What I liked was the storyline and the pacing. The author made sure you got pieces of the damaged hero's story, but not overly dramatized. I did feel that the last 10% (and the ending) was too abrupt. I would have liked more finishing. That said a 4.2 out of 5 rating and will definitely read the next in the series.

[Tammy R. Blackwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a story about Special Forces Veteran Byron Tibor. While being treated for PTSD he came out of the program with enhanced abilities. He is now trying to stay hidden from the government under a different name. He befriends a older man in the mountains and then his family and uses his abilities to keep them safe. It's a well written story with a lot of action.

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

winters Rage

A new hero to me, a tale I enjoyed, I feel the need to find more stories with Byron Tibor, so I can learn the back story about why he is like he is. I liked this book very much, I feel the same as I did when I first started reading Lee Child, I want a whole series to explore.

[Dee Cash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book

Winter's Rage is a good story about some messed up people. Byron Tibor (Mike) has his own demons to deal with while he's trying to help a friend's messed up family. There's plenty of blood and gore if you like those thrillers. The writer uses pretentious words while also messing up on the small stuff. Overall Winter's Rage is worth the time of a thriller fan.

[Mo Allard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter's Rage

A fast paced impossible to put down read! Excellent story and you will read cover to cover in one go. Loved the characters and hope there are more about this Byron Tibor! Recommended to thriller and mystery readers. It is 5am and I am finally going to sleep if I can.

[Dusty Pruitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunters becoming the Hunted

Three bad guys meet up with an even bigger bad guy. This was a great book and the story line was fantastic . I gave it a four because there were so many typos and incorrect words that it put me off. A few is one thing but several is unprofessional. Get a better editor. Big D

[Ronpoet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!!

Some times the cover of a book or an ad for the book tells you " here is another Jack Reacher" and after reading the novel you say no way. This isn't Jack Reached but Byron Tumor must be a close cousin. Could not stop reading the book. A thrill ride!! A five out of five stars. On to the next one.

[John Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter's Rate :Tibor

This a good read. The story tells what happens when the innocent get hurt, at least in fiction. Well written and presented,the action and suspense build to a good ending.

[Mikel Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad to the bones.

A new cast of characters with a new spin on a old but good plot of evil meeting justice. I highly recommend this series if you enjoy reading a good fictional series. I hope this series continues.

[E.R. Yatscoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, quick read with enough action to keep me happy. The mystique surrounding Tibor also works well. He's like Jake Reacher except he actually has to work. This was a library book. I also write thrillers, check my work out.

[Susan Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winters rage

Loved this series. Byron Tibor is like Bruce Willis’s John McClane in that trouble seems to find him.
A good guy trying to keep ahead of the Government agents and blend in.

[Steve Osten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling

That is one man I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. Or anywhere else. I thought that the whole story was done fantastically. I think I found a couple of new authors to keep an eye out for.

[Louis E Martin Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book well worth the time.

A fast read and a good one too. I highly enjoyed the characters and the story plot. Characters were real and believable. It was nice to read a book with a real solid beginning, middle and explosive ending.

[RALPH BURDICK · Rating 5 out of 5]

A case of you reap what you sow.!

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Super realistic story line . With all the nooks and crannies that will keep the pages turning.
So you know, Mikey liked it!

[Paul Lariviere · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new lone ranger

All that's missing is a white horse and a sidekick. Great storyline with a variety of characters. The ending left me wondering if further persuasion was required of if the point was made. What do you think? Its n pi t the Twilight Zone....

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book

The protagonist is tough, with a good heart. The antagonists are mean, nasty and very disagreeable. The kids and their mom are in the middle, it’s a rip snorter read!
Enjoy!

[scott j benrube · Rating 5 out of 5]

page turner

I have read other books by Sean Black Never leaving a review because the read was just okay. This was different. Enjoyed the character development, the limited violence and want more.

[Michael Altieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent storyline

There were a few grammar mistakes, but nothing was worse than I've done myself. I know that as an author myself, it is very easy to make the simplest mistakes. But the story had a good pace to it and a nice happy ending.

[David Richey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Winter to Remember

Byron alias Mike is a good person inspite of the deaths. A woman with children has a chance of a different life.