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Some Die Nameless
An ex-mercenary and an embattled journalist find themselves unlikely allies against a corrupt defense contractor.
Ray Devlin is retired, living a simple life off the grid in Florida, when a visit from an old colleague stirs some bad memories--and ends with a gunshot. Soon Devlin is forced to again face a past he'd hoped to leave behind, as a member of a mercenary force that helped put a brutal South American dictator into power.
Tracy Quinn is an investigative reporter at a struggling Philadelphia newspaper decimated by layoffs and cutbacks. Then one day what appears to be a straightforward homicide--a body left in an abandoned rowhouse--draws her and Devlin together, and ultimately enmeshes both in a conspiracy that stretches over twenty years and reaches to the highest levels of the U.S. government.
Before long, they're both the targets of a ruthless assassin haunted by his own wartime experiences. For Devlin, it could all mean a last shot at redemption. For Tracy, the biggest story of her career might just cost her life.
Ray Devlin is retired, living a simple life off the grid in Florida, when a visit from an old colleague stirs some bad memories--and ends with a gunshot. Soon Devlin is forced to again face a past he'd hoped to leave behind, as a member of a mercenary force that helped put a brutal South American dictator into power.
Tracy Quinn is an investigative reporter at a struggling Philadelphia newspaper decimated by layoffs and cutbacks. Then one day what appears to be a straightforward homicide--a body left in an abandoned rowhouse--draws her and Devlin together, and ultimately enmeshes both in a conspiracy that stretches over twenty years and reaches to the highest levels of the U.S. government.
Before long, they're both the targets of a ruthless assassin haunted by his own wartime experiences. For Devlin, it could all mean a last shot at redemption. For Tracy, the biggest story of her career might just cost her life.
341 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2018
63 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Wallace Stroby
27 books108 followersWallace Stroby is an award-winning journalist and the author of the novels
Cold Shot to the Heart, Gone 'Til November, The Heartbreak Lounge and The Barbed-Wire Kiss..
A Long Branch, N.J., native, he's a lifelong resident of the Jersey Shore. "The Barbed-Wire Kiss," which The Washington Post called "a scorching first novel ...full of attention to character and memory and, even more, to the neighborhoods of New Jersey," was a finalist for the 2004 Barry Award for Best First Novel.
A graduate of Rutgers University, Stroby was an editor at the Star-Ledger of Newark, Tony Soprano's hometown newspaper, for 13 years.
Cold Shot to the Heart, Gone 'Til November, The Heartbreak Lounge and The Barbed-Wire Kiss..
A Long Branch, N.J., native, he's a lifelong resident of the Jersey Shore. "The Barbed-Wire Kiss," which The Washington Post called "a scorching first novel ...full of attention to character and memory and, even more, to the neighborhoods of New Jersey," was a finalist for the 2004 Barry Award for Best First Novel.
A graduate of Rutgers University, Stroby was an editor at the Star-Ledger of Newark, Tony Soprano's hometown newspaper, for 13 years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 10, 2021
I confess that I was a bit disappointed when I learned that Wallace Stroby's new novel would not feature Crissa Stone, the kick-ass female protagonist who has starred in his last four books and who has become one of my favorite characters in the crime fiction universe. Happily, though, my concerns were short-lived. Some Die Nameless features all of the qualities that readers have come to expect from one of Stoby's novels: great writing; well-drawn, memorable characters, and a plot that moves practically at warp speed.
The main protagonist is Ray Devlin, a man with a shadowy past who once worked for a private security firm, doing the sorts of things for which private security firms and other such contractors have become famous for in the years since 9/11. Devlin's last job was in a fictional Latin American country near Venezuela where his firm had been hired to help put a brutal dictator into power and then to keep him there. But something went terribly wrong, and in the wake of those developments, Devlin has retired and is attempting to live quietly under the radar on a boat in South Florida. One day, though, his past catches up with him and Devlin discovers that killers are hot on his trail, apparently attempting to clean up a potentially embarrassing situation for the company that once employed him and that now has its sights set on higher and much more lucrative goals.
As Devlin maneuvers to save his life, he crosses paths with a crime reporter named Tracy Quinn. Tracy works for a struggling newspaper in Philadelphia where the cost-cutters have taken over in the person of managers and editors who are much more interested in generating clicks on the paper's web page than they are in competent, old-fashioned reporting. Tracy is struggling to save her job while simultaneously attempting to maintain the high standards that once characterized the paper's mission. It's no easy task, especially when she stumbles across another element of the mystery that Devlin is pursuing, and once they meet and begin chasing the story and the bad guys together, things are going to get very, very dicey for both of them.
Both Devlin and Quinn are interesting and sympathetic characters, and watching them in action is hugely entertaining. But in addition to telling a great story, Stroby has also raised some very serious questions about the future of journalism in this country and about the ways in which the government has increasingly come to rely on private contractors to do its work, dirty and otherwise, in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and other such hotspots. Some Die Nameless is another solid effort from Stroby--a very good book that will give readers a lot to think about.
The main protagonist is Ray Devlin, a man with a shadowy past who once worked for a private security firm, doing the sorts of things for which private security firms and other such contractors have become famous for in the years since 9/11. Devlin's last job was in a fictional Latin American country near Venezuela where his firm had been hired to help put a brutal dictator into power and then to keep him there. But something went terribly wrong, and in the wake of those developments, Devlin has retired and is attempting to live quietly under the radar on a boat in South Florida. One day, though, his past catches up with him and Devlin discovers that killers are hot on his trail, apparently attempting to clean up a potentially embarrassing situation for the company that once employed him and that now has its sights set on higher and much more lucrative goals.
As Devlin maneuvers to save his life, he crosses paths with a crime reporter named Tracy Quinn. Tracy works for a struggling newspaper in Philadelphia where the cost-cutters have taken over in the person of managers and editors who are much more interested in generating clicks on the paper's web page than they are in competent, old-fashioned reporting. Tracy is struggling to save her job while simultaneously attempting to maintain the high standards that once characterized the paper's mission. It's no easy task, especially when she stumbles across another element of the mystery that Devlin is pursuing, and once they meet and begin chasing the story and the bad guys together, things are going to get very, very dicey for both of them.
Both Devlin and Quinn are interesting and sympathetic characters, and watching them in action is hugely entertaining. But in addition to telling a great story, Stroby has also raised some very serious questions about the future of journalism in this country and about the ways in which the government has increasingly come to rely on private contractors to do its work, dirty and otherwise, in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and other such hotspots. Some Die Nameless is another solid effort from Stroby--a very good book that will give readers a lot to think about.
September 28, 2018
What if Rambo and Lois Lane teamed up to take down a bunch of corrupt mercenaries?
OK, that would probably suck. But Wallace Stroby came up with a more realistic story along those lines that’s actually good.
Ray Devlin is a retired soldier-of-fortune living quietly in Florida that gets a visit from an old war buddy. Unfortunately, their reunion takes a dark turn turn when that guy tries to murder him, and Ray has to go looking for the reason why. Meanwhile, Tracy Quinn is an investigative reporter in Philadelphia trying to survive lay-offs and fend off the editors who want her to just write click bait articles instead of performing actual journalism. Tracy covers what seems to be a routine homicide, but then her path crosses Devlin as part of the story. When the two start sharing information they begin seeing a pattern with Devlin’s old employer at the center of it all, and digging into the secrets of a company that has trained killers on the payroll is a dangerous game.
I’m a big fan of Stroby’s series about a professional thief Chrissa Stone but hadn’t read any of his other books. After this one I’ll be making more of an effort to track them down because he’s got a knack of mixing thriller elements with a more grounded perspective with real tension to it.
That starts with the two main characters who are at the heart of the novel. Both are well drawn and have a true sense of verisimilitude to them. Devlin really feels like a middle-aged ex-soldier haunted by regrets. While you do get a bad ass vibe from him he’s no action movie killing machine either. Unlike many a bad portrayal of reporters in fiction, Tracy shines as a journalist who loves her job even as it seems to be dissolving around her. There’s a nice attention to detail with the stuff at the newspaper that rings true.
I also enjoyed how Stroby sets up a plot that seems like your standard conspiracy deal at first. However, once it’s rolling he does a pretty sly subversion of not having it go like you expect. There’s a lot of solid surprises and twists here, and it really doesn’t end up where it obviously seems to be going at first. Overall, this is an extremely well written thriller that’s a cut above your standard beach read.
I’ve also had a few brief interactions on social media with Wallace Stroby in the past for good reviews I gave to his Chrissa Stones books, and I was delighted to see that the main bad guy here is named Kemper. I checked with him to see if I was the inspiration for that, and he tried to burst my balloon with a logical story about a last minute character name change with the inspiration probably being seeing the story of serial Ed Kemper on Mindhunter. But I think we all know the truth. Who are you going to believe? Me or the guy who wrote the book?
OK, that would probably suck. But Wallace Stroby came up with a more realistic story along those lines that’s actually good.
Ray Devlin is a retired soldier-of-fortune living quietly in Florida that gets a visit from an old war buddy. Unfortunately, their reunion takes a dark turn turn when that guy tries to murder him, and Ray has to go looking for the reason why. Meanwhile, Tracy Quinn is an investigative reporter in Philadelphia trying to survive lay-offs and fend off the editors who want her to just write click bait articles instead of performing actual journalism. Tracy covers what seems to be a routine homicide, but then her path crosses Devlin as part of the story. When the two start sharing information they begin seeing a pattern with Devlin’s old employer at the center of it all, and digging into the secrets of a company that has trained killers on the payroll is a dangerous game.
I’m a big fan of Stroby’s series about a professional thief Chrissa Stone but hadn’t read any of his other books. After this one I’ll be making more of an effort to track them down because he’s got a knack of mixing thriller elements with a more grounded perspective with real tension to it.
That starts with the two main characters who are at the heart of the novel. Both are well drawn and have a true sense of verisimilitude to them. Devlin really feels like a middle-aged ex-soldier haunted by regrets. While you do get a bad ass vibe from him he’s no action movie killing machine either. Unlike many a bad portrayal of reporters in fiction, Tracy shines as a journalist who loves her job even as it seems to be dissolving around her. There’s a nice attention to detail with the stuff at the newspaper that rings true.
I also enjoyed how Stroby sets up a plot that seems like your standard conspiracy deal at first. However, once it’s rolling he does a pretty sly subversion of not having it go like you expect. There’s a lot of solid surprises and twists here, and it really doesn’t end up where it obviously seems to be going at first. Overall, this is an extremely well written thriller that’s a cut above your standard beach read.
I’ve also had a few brief interactions on social media with Wallace Stroby in the past for good reviews I gave to his Chrissa Stones books, and I was delighted to see that the main bad guy here is named Kemper. I checked with him to see if I was the inspiration for that, and he tried to burst my balloon with a logical story about a last minute character name change with the inspiration probably being seeing the story of serial Ed Kemper on Mindhunter. But I think we all know the truth. Who are you going to believe? Me or the guy who wrote the book?
June 26, 2018
Wallace Stroby writes a fast paced and intense thriller that delves into the murky world of US politics and military defence contractors. Ray Devlin is an ex-soldier, ex-mercenary, who sails off the Florida coast on his patched up boat, Higher Tide, when an old colleague, Bell, tracks him down ostensibly to join a new team venture which Ray has no interest in. To his dismay, it all ends badly when an attempt to kill him is made. Ray has no idea what is going on, but is concerned that another attempt on his life will be made. Tracy Quinn works as a crime reporter on the struggling Observer newspaper and website. She is working in a highly stressed and pressurised environment with lay offs, budget cuts and rumours of buy offs, and she is expected to change what she has been doing and threatened with losing her job if she fails to comply.
Ray sets off to visit another old colleague, Roarke, who runs a bar in Philly to see if he can shed any light on what has happened, but gets no further insights. What is odd is that a decomposing dead body has a common link to a past overseas contract to put a General Ramirez in power, a right wing dictator, with the tacit approval of the US government where huge human rights abuses and murder took place. In the present, Ramirez is facing considerable protests and efforts to overthrow him. Ray's concern for his ex-wife and son, Brendan, has him travelling to Connecticut to warn them. After a horrifying multiple killing at a bar makes it absolutely clear that Ray will be hunted down and eliminated, Ray begins to tentatively colloborate with Quinn off the record. As Tracy, with the assistance of Alysha Bennett, begin to dig into and write up the story, she finds she is not immune from danger either. The bodies pile up as corrupt and ruthless attempts to secure billions of dollars worth of military defence contracts are underway, and those forces are determined to eliminate anyone perceived as a threat.
The shadowy world of mercenaries, below the radar overseas political machinations by the US government, and the secretive world of military defence contractors make for a wonderful and non-stop action thriller. The character of Ray, haunted and scarred by his traumatic past, a man of integrity, frightened that his family is at risk, pushes him from someone forced to react to what is happening to take a more proactive approach which might just kill him. His partnership with Tracy piles the heat on his pursuers as the truth begins to slowly drip out into the public arena through the news forums. I found this a compelling, entertaining and thrilling read from Wallace Stroby. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
Ray sets off to visit another old colleague, Roarke, who runs a bar in Philly to see if he can shed any light on what has happened, but gets no further insights. What is odd is that a decomposing dead body has a common link to a past overseas contract to put a General Ramirez in power, a right wing dictator, with the tacit approval of the US government where huge human rights abuses and murder took place. In the present, Ramirez is facing considerable protests and efforts to overthrow him. Ray's concern for his ex-wife and son, Brendan, has him travelling to Connecticut to warn them. After a horrifying multiple killing at a bar makes it absolutely clear that Ray will be hunted down and eliminated, Ray begins to tentatively colloborate with Quinn off the record. As Tracy, with the assistance of Alysha Bennett, begin to dig into and write up the story, she finds she is not immune from danger either. The bodies pile up as corrupt and ruthless attempts to secure billions of dollars worth of military defence contracts are underway, and those forces are determined to eliminate anyone perceived as a threat.
The shadowy world of mercenaries, below the radar overseas political machinations by the US government, and the secretive world of military defence contractors make for a wonderful and non-stop action thriller. The character of Ray, haunted and scarred by his traumatic past, a man of integrity, frightened that his family is at risk, pushes him from someone forced to react to what is happening to take a more proactive approach which might just kill him. His partnership with Tracy piles the heat on his pursuers as the truth begins to slowly drip out into the public arena through the news forums. I found this a compelling, entertaining and thrilling read from Wallace Stroby. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
June 23, 2018
I had high hopes for this one when it started as it was brilliantly written especially the dialogue and I felt that even though it was the type of book I don't normally read it could really soar. This one is much more a thriller than Stroby's previous novels and was a turn away from the hardboiled/noir that I usually read. For me, it felt pretty derivative of what the thriller genre is and it sorely lacked any excitement in the climax as the story fizzles out.
Devlin is an ex-soldier who has become somewhat of a recluse after separating from his wife and son. Bell, an ex-colleague, tracks him down with less than noble intentions. Tracy Quinn is a Philadelphia journalist, who is sticking to her principles and continuing to produce investigative stories in the face of increasing job cuts at her paper and under editorial pressure. The two sort of use each other to get information on the people who set Devlin up for their own gains.
The book was pretty solid, but I felt it was stereotypical of the genre with characters with shady pasts looking to go legit through political powers and the journalist and the man of principle looking to take them down. That aside I was enjoying it, but where it loses a star is in the ending where there are no real stakes at play and the main character doesn't actually play much of a part in what unfolds.
I'll still be diving into Stroby's Crissa Stone series as it sounds more up my (noir) alley, but this one ultimately didn't quite do it for me.
Devlin is an ex-soldier who has become somewhat of a recluse after separating from his wife and son. Bell, an ex-colleague, tracks him down with less than noble intentions. Tracy Quinn is a Philadelphia journalist, who is sticking to her principles and continuing to produce investigative stories in the face of increasing job cuts at her paper and under editorial pressure. The two sort of use each other to get information on the people who set Devlin up for their own gains.
The book was pretty solid, but I felt it was stereotypical of the genre with characters with shady pasts looking to go legit through political powers and the journalist and the man of principle looking to take them down. That aside I was enjoying it, but where it loses a star is in the ending where there are no real stakes at play and the main character doesn't actually play much of a part in what unfolds.
I'll still be diving into Stroby's Crissa Stone series as it sounds more up my (noir) alley, but this one ultimately didn't quite do it for me.
Want to read
July 27, 2021Maintaining a low profile on his boat in Florida, Former spec ops trainer Ray Devlin, becomes targeted by a powerful ex employer looking to eliminate loose ends. His otherwise peaceful life gets ugly fast by an assassination attempt forcing Ray to team up with a Philadelphia newspaper reporter working a parallel investigation. Strong characters in an original, fast paced thriller.
November 17, 2018
This is my first encounter with Wallace Stroby, but it will likely not be the last. In Some Die Nameless, he has written a fine novel that moves along at a very quick pace and provides the reader with two well drawn protagonists, along with a host of bad guys, some of whom are more credible than others.
At the heart of the story is Ray Devlin, ex-soldier, former mercenary, now retired. Ray lives a very quiet life aboard a boat in Florida, and seems to be avoiding some PTSD issues by avoiding social interactions. This goes out the porthole, however, after an unexpected visit from a former mercenary buddy with bad intentions. Devlin is perplexed as to the motive for the sudden attempt on his life and begins to investigate on his own. His starting point is the other members of his former mercenary team that provided assistance to a brutal South American dictator.
Solely through coincidence, Devlin crosses paths with an investigative newspaper reporter called Tracy Quinn. Her paper is struggling for circulation and her boss wants her to focus on the internet rather than her preferred paper editions and good old fashioned investigative reporting. The homicide she is called to report not only brings her into Devlin's sphere, but ultimately drops them both smack dab into a messy cover-up that reaches to the highest levels of the government.
As you can guess, the more digging they do, the greater the risk they pose to the bad guys, and soon they're targets of a sociopathic assassin. In the midst of this we discover more about both Quinn and Devlin, what drives them, and how they might just help one another in more ways than meets the eye. For a brief period, I even thought I smelled a budding romance there.
There's plenty of action, gunplay and attendant tension throughout the book. Sometimes Devlin becomes too much a caricature, evading multiple attempts on his life when credulity would have had him die well before the book's finale. But so what? It's a great ride and we can accept that he is a little bit unbreakable, can't we? For the most part, the characters, places, and scenes are believable. I did mind that too many of the baddies were over-the-top, and could be bested by one former sergeant now a good 20 years past his prime. The only other nit, and it's microscopically small (a pet peeve if you will), is when Devlin is described as "lowering the hammer" on his Glock. These sidearms have no external hammer! Stroby does a pretty decent job in describing all the other weaponry, but slipped up here. I know, it's a minor detail, and in no way will deter me from reading more of this fine author. Just needed to get that off my chest- thanks.
So, a solid 4 star story that is well worth the read. Enjoy.
At the heart of the story is Ray Devlin, ex-soldier, former mercenary, now retired. Ray lives a very quiet life aboard a boat in Florida, and seems to be avoiding some PTSD issues by avoiding social interactions. This goes out the porthole, however, after an unexpected visit from a former mercenary buddy with bad intentions. Devlin is perplexed as to the motive for the sudden attempt on his life and begins to investigate on his own. His starting point is the other members of his former mercenary team that provided assistance to a brutal South American dictator.
Solely through coincidence, Devlin crosses paths with an investigative newspaper reporter called Tracy Quinn. Her paper is struggling for circulation and her boss wants her to focus on the internet rather than her preferred paper editions and good old fashioned investigative reporting. The homicide she is called to report not only brings her into Devlin's sphere, but ultimately drops them both smack dab into a messy cover-up that reaches to the highest levels of the government.
As you can guess, the more digging they do, the greater the risk they pose to the bad guys, and soon they're targets of a sociopathic assassin. In the midst of this we discover more about both Quinn and Devlin, what drives them, and how they might just help one another in more ways than meets the eye. For a brief period, I even thought I smelled a budding romance there.
There's plenty of action, gunplay and attendant tension throughout the book. Sometimes Devlin becomes too much a caricature, evading multiple attempts on his life when credulity would have had him die well before the book's finale. But so what? It's a great ride and we can accept that he is a little bit unbreakable, can't we? For the most part, the characters, places, and scenes are believable. I did mind that too many of the baddies were over-the-top, and could be bested by one former sergeant now a good 20 years past his prime. The only other nit, and it's microscopically small (a pet peeve if you will), is when Devlin is described as "lowering the hammer" on his Glock. These sidearms have no external hammer! Stroby does a pretty decent job in describing all the other weaponry, but slipped up here. I know, it's a minor detail, and in no way will deter me from reading more of this fine author. Just needed to get that off my chest- thanks.
So, a solid 4 star story that is well worth the read. Enjoy.
September 26, 2021
This is a page-turner of a novel, featuring Ray Devlin, an army vet who did some contract work from which he is recovering emotionally and physically on his boat in Florida, when someone from that past shows up at his boat. All hell breaks loose in a hurry, leading Devlin to Philadelphia where he ultimately contacts journalist Tracy Quinn to try to set the record straight about what has been going on with a string of homicides connected to Devlin's past. I loved Ray Devlin. Everything about him. This is one compelling story from one of my most favorite writers.
November 2, 2018
Some Die Nameless uses the shadowy world of mercenaries and government security contractors to tell the story of an ex-soldier/merc whose idyllic existence living on a boat in Florida is disrupted. Ray Devlin begins the tale by fighting off a murder attempt by an ex-teammate and travelling to Philly to meet with another former member of his team, who coincidentally (or not) is murdered the following day. He's left to figure out what's going on while attempting to assist the local authorities in their investigations. He decides to use a local newspaper reporter to help in his endeavors and the race is on to put the puzzle pieces together before he ends up a victim himself.
Devlin's a pretty good character. Wallace Stroby sort of downplays his level of expertise, portraying him as a pretty gentle guy just trying to live his life on a houseboat. Yet he proves fully capable of fighting off assassination attempts and beating the crap out of younger badasses. If Stroby was going after a Reacher-type character and tale he was pretty successful- Devlin does his work very matter-of-factly, never overreacts, plans things out (usually), and the narrative moves along at a fast clip. I didn't exactly 'buy' some of the action sequences, since I'm not sure that a guy who's been out of the game for a pretty long while could handle some of the physical challenges Devlin had to face, but otherwise the plot is believable.
Although the plot was decent and moved forward at a fast pace once Devlin figured out what was going on, I found the conclusion to be a little overblown. I won't spoil it but it seemed to be built for a movie ending rather than a book. Some Die Nameless is a good action read starring a character that I hope returns in subsequent Stroby efforts.
Devlin's a pretty good character. Wallace Stroby sort of downplays his level of expertise, portraying him as a pretty gentle guy just trying to live his life on a houseboat. Yet he proves fully capable of fighting off assassination attempts and beating the crap out of younger badasses. If Stroby was going after a Reacher-type character and tale he was pretty successful- Devlin does his work very matter-of-factly, never overreacts, plans things out (usually), and the narrative moves along at a fast clip. I didn't exactly 'buy' some of the action sequences, since I'm not sure that a guy who's been out of the game for a pretty long while could handle some of the physical challenges Devlin had to face, but otherwise the plot is believable.
Although the plot was decent and moved forward at a fast pace once Devlin figured out what was going on, I found the conclusion to be a little overblown. I won't spoil it but it seemed to be built for a movie ending rather than a book. Some Die Nameless is a good action read starring a character that I hope returns in subsequent Stroby efforts.
July 20, 2021
Excellent writing and plots surround this mercenary history. Soldiers years or decades later when dangerous aftermath of corporate treachery makes the majority former compatriots reflect this novel's title. To a literal exact degree.
August 4, 2018
I liked this book a great deal. Full discloser I am a big Stroby fan. I liked the way main character, Devlin an emotionally wounded ex-mercenary didn't go on a murderous rampage like many others of this genre. Well done. I also liked the juxtaposition of the killer and his lack of conscious, and the main character and his inability to do what needed to be done, what the reader expected to be done. I'm ready for another Devlin novel.
August 1, 2018
This will be Stroby's breakthrough thriller. All the parts mesh beautifully -- pacing, characters, plot. Terrific read by a budding master of the form.
April 6, 2018
I first came across Wallace Stroby via his novella ‘Lovers in the Cold’ and have been a fan ever since and I particularly enjoy his Crissa Stone series of novels, as she is probably my favourite female fictional protagonist.
Some Die Nameless is Stroby’s newest novel and although not released till later this year, I managed to get an ARC edition of the novel. I won’t summarise the premise of the novel as I don’t think I can add to the above précis lest to say military veteran Ray Devlin and Philadelphia reporter Tracey Quinn join forces to investigate a string of deaths related to a mercenary operation that Devlin was involved in South America.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and although military vets seem to be a common theme for contemporary crime protagonists, Stroby doesn’t give us a gung-ho type hero, as Devlin is in his fifties and knows his physical limitations. He doesn’t go looking for confrontation until he decides he has too but it seems to have no trouble finding him. The novel also gives us a great insight into contemporary newspaper reporting, where it’s not all about the quality of writing. A journalist’s fate can be decided on the number of ‘hits’ they get on internet stories and followers on social media.
The novel reaches a thrilling and bloody climax on a island in the Caribbean and there’s also an unexpected twist in Devlin and Quinn’s relationship, where throughout the book you keep thinking, will they or won’t they ?
I’m already looking forward to Stroby’s future offerings even though this one hasn’t been officially released and I don’t know if this is a stand alone or if we’ll see Devlin or Quinn again in the future.
Some Die Nameless is Stroby’s newest novel and although not released till later this year, I managed to get an ARC edition of the novel. I won’t summarise the premise of the novel as I don’t think I can add to the above précis lest to say military veteran Ray Devlin and Philadelphia reporter Tracey Quinn join forces to investigate a string of deaths related to a mercenary operation that Devlin was involved in South America.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and although military vets seem to be a common theme for contemporary crime protagonists, Stroby doesn’t give us a gung-ho type hero, as Devlin is in his fifties and knows his physical limitations. He doesn’t go looking for confrontation until he decides he has too but it seems to have no trouble finding him. The novel also gives us a great insight into contemporary newspaper reporting, where it’s not all about the quality of writing. A journalist’s fate can be decided on the number of ‘hits’ they get on internet stories and followers on social media.
The novel reaches a thrilling and bloody climax on a island in the Caribbean and there’s also an unexpected twist in Devlin and Quinn’s relationship, where throughout the book you keep thinking, will they or won’t they ?
I’m already looking forward to Stroby’s future offerings even though this one hasn’t been officially released and I don’t know if this is a stand alone or if we’ll see Devlin or Quinn again in the future.
April 4, 2019
I've been a fan of Wallace Stroby since reading one of his earlier books, Gone Till November - a dark, stand-alone entry firmly entrenched in the noir category. Since then, I've made it a point to read his novels, including the terrific Crissa Stone series.
Some Die Nameless, like Gone Till November, is a stand-alone and shares many of the same elements - very dark, twisty, tension-filled and razor-sharp dialogue that the author excels at. I couldn't stop reading, even though I dreaded what would happen next to Devlin, the main character.
I won't delve into the synopsis as other reviewers have already done so ably. But there was a real 'punch' early on in the book that lets you know this is a writer who isn't phoning it in, but crafting a great story with an ace or two up his sleeve to let you know he's the real deal.
If you enjoy gritty crime fiction, or simply excellent writing, give this book - or any of Wallace Stroby's books - a try. You'll be glad you did.
Some Die Nameless, like Gone Till November, is a stand-alone and shares many of the same elements - very dark, twisty, tension-filled and razor-sharp dialogue that the author excels at. I couldn't stop reading, even though I dreaded what would happen next to Devlin, the main character.
I won't delve into the synopsis as other reviewers have already done so ably. But there was a real 'punch' early on in the book that lets you know this is a writer who isn't phoning it in, but crafting a great story with an ace or two up his sleeve to let you know he's the real deal.
If you enjoy gritty crime fiction, or simply excellent writing, give this book - or any of Wallace Stroby's books - a try. You'll be glad you did.
July 31, 2018
I enjoy Wallace Stroby’s crime fiction, I think his Crissa Stone series is outstanding. This book is more of a testosterone driven, high octane adventure; it reads like a script for an action movie with lots of opportunities for special effects and a pretty substantial body count. I prefer Stroby’s crime fiction for reading, but I’ll look forward to the film based on this story.
September 19, 2018
This started off strong with a lot of frisson over what exactly was going to happen with intrepid reporter Tracy, reluctant former mercenary Devlin, and ruthless killer Lukas, but this fell apart so hard at the end all I could do was shake my fist Also cue so much mirthless laughter over the almost quaint revelation that a politician would be so tainted with his involvement in any of these shenanigans to the point that he'd drop a re-election campaign.
June 10, 2021
Started off well enough, but last third or so was kinda generic / silly.
July 17, 2018
Great Thriller! (TW: PTSD/ suicide)
You know those action/thriller movies where a group of friends from the past suddenly find themselves being picked off one by one in the present? This is kind of that in book form! But add to the main dude being hunted a journalist struggling at a downsizing newspaper who accidentally stumbles into his troubles and danger. I really liked the balance of good, developed characters with tense action scenes, and the dives into political unrest, and the struggles in print vs digital journalism for newspapers.
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: http://link.bookriot.com/view/56a8200...
You know those action/thriller movies where a group of friends from the past suddenly find themselves being picked off one by one in the present? This is kind of that in book form! But add to the main dude being hunted a journalist struggling at a downsizing newspaper who accidentally stumbles into his troubles and danger. I really liked the balance of good, developed characters with tense action scenes, and the dives into political unrest, and the struggles in print vs digital journalism for newspapers.
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: http://link.bookriot.com/view/56a8200...
September 19, 2018
This thriller has a terrific opening scene and author Wallace Stroby throws in some twists and turns. But the basic plot comes from the movie "RED," and the ending is kind of unsatisfying.
Ex-mercenary Ray Devlin is retired, living on a boat in a Florida marina when an old colleague shows up out of the blue -- then suddenly tries to kill him. Devlin fends him off, just barely, then sets off on a cross-country journey to look up the guy who would be next on the list. Things go badly there too.
Meanwhile a Philly journalist whose job is hanging by a thread stumbles onto the story, gets Devlin to talk (a little) and starts tracking back on who could have ordered the hits and why.
The story then devolves into a major killing spree as the hitman sent to polish off Devlin messes up the job and his efforts to fix it continue going awry. More hitmen get into the story to go after the reporter. Meanwhile Devlin goes on the attack -- and gets one of the bad guys to pretty much tell him everything that's going on, which I found a little hard to believe.
The prose is lean and propulsive, and I really liked the reporter character and her struggles. But overall I had higher expectations for this book. But it won't deter me from trying Stroby's earlier novels, particularly his award-winning debut with the world's most perfect title: The Barbed-Wire Kiss.
Ex-mercenary Ray Devlin is retired, living on a boat in a Florida marina when an old colleague shows up out of the blue -- then suddenly tries to kill him. Devlin fends him off, just barely, then sets off on a cross-country journey to look up the guy who would be next on the list. Things go badly there too.
Meanwhile a Philly journalist whose job is hanging by a thread stumbles onto the story, gets Devlin to talk (a little) and starts tracking back on who could have ordered the hits and why.
The story then devolves into a major killing spree as the hitman sent to polish off Devlin messes up the job and his efforts to fix it continue going awry. More hitmen get into the story to go after the reporter. Meanwhile Devlin goes on the attack -- and gets one of the bad guys to pretty much tell him everything that's going on, which I found a little hard to believe.
The prose is lean and propulsive, and I really liked the reporter character and her struggles. But overall I had higher expectations for this book. But it won't deter me from trying Stroby's earlier novels, particularly his award-winning debut with the world's most perfect title: The Barbed-Wire Kiss.
July 14, 2018
This started off at a terrific pace, immediately compelling in its hard-boiled story telling. Lost a little plot-wise along the way but still a very enjoyable read.
October 24, 2018
Some Die Nameless
Mysterious Book Report No. 351
by John Dwaine McKenna
Every single human being on the planet has a past; the deeds, events and situations that have shaped us and made us into the persons we are today. Some of those experiences were happy and good . . . others, not so great . . . and a few of them we do our absolute best to put out of our minds forever. But sometimes, no matter how honest an effort, the past just won’t stay in the rear-view mirror. Instead, it drives up, cruises on through, then cuts in front and runs you off of the big highway of life. (What a metaphor!) That’s what happens to an ex-airborne army ranger named Ray Devlin in a propulsive new thriller that’ll keep you nailed to the page long after you were supposed to be off somewhere, doing something else.
Some Die Nameless, (Mulholland Books/ Little Brown/ Hachette, $26.00, 337 pages, ISBN 978-0-316-44020-2) by Wallace Stroby, begins in Florida, where fifty-four year old Ray Devlin is semi-retired, living on his boat and off the grid. He takes odd jobs in construction to make ends meet, keeps to himself and does his best to put his past as a mercenary soldier behind him. He’s seen action all over the world as a sergeant in a tight-knit group of commandos, working for a governmental contracting company run by an elusive man named Kemper. But after Rays last job in South America left him severely wounded, he recuperated, then walked away from life as a soldier of fortune and hasn’t seen, or been in touch with any of his old comrades-in-arms for twenty years. He’s surprised then, when one of the handful of men who went with him on that last fateful mission, a trooper under Devlins command named Bell, turns up at the south Florida marina where Ray’s docked, looking to reconnect. In less time than it takes to drink a bottle of beer however, the two men are locked in a fight to the death.
At the same time, up in Philadelphia, the discovery of a decomposing corpse in an abandoned house triggers a young, ambitious reporters instincts for a major story, even though the failing newspaper she’s working for doesn’t want her to pursue it. She and Devlin are forced to team up as the two cases unfold, becoming evermore intertwined, sinister and deadly, with hitman and killers lurking on every page. If thrillers are your thing, you don’t want to miss Some Die Nameless, because Wallace Stroby is one of the hottest crime fiction writers working today. He’s fast becoming a national treasure, as well as one of the MBRs personal favorites!
Mysterious Book Report No. 351
by John Dwaine McKenna
Every single human being on the planet has a past; the deeds, events and situations that have shaped us and made us into the persons we are today. Some of those experiences were happy and good . . . others, not so great . . . and a few of them we do our absolute best to put out of our minds forever. But sometimes, no matter how honest an effort, the past just won’t stay in the rear-view mirror. Instead, it drives up, cruises on through, then cuts in front and runs you off of the big highway of life. (What a metaphor!) That’s what happens to an ex-airborne army ranger named Ray Devlin in a propulsive new thriller that’ll keep you nailed to the page long after you were supposed to be off somewhere, doing something else.
Some Die Nameless, (Mulholland Books/ Little Brown/ Hachette, $26.00, 337 pages, ISBN 978-0-316-44020-2) by Wallace Stroby, begins in Florida, where fifty-four year old Ray Devlin is semi-retired, living on his boat and off the grid. He takes odd jobs in construction to make ends meet, keeps to himself and does his best to put his past as a mercenary soldier behind him. He’s seen action all over the world as a sergeant in a tight-knit group of commandos, working for a governmental contracting company run by an elusive man named Kemper. But after Rays last job in South America left him severely wounded, he recuperated, then walked away from life as a soldier of fortune and hasn’t seen, or been in touch with any of his old comrades-in-arms for twenty years. He’s surprised then, when one of the handful of men who went with him on that last fateful mission, a trooper under Devlins command named Bell, turns up at the south Florida marina where Ray’s docked, looking to reconnect. In less time than it takes to drink a bottle of beer however, the two men are locked in a fight to the death.
At the same time, up in Philadelphia, the discovery of a decomposing corpse in an abandoned house triggers a young, ambitious reporters instincts for a major story, even though the failing newspaper she’s working for doesn’t want her to pursue it. She and Devlin are forced to team up as the two cases unfold, becoming evermore intertwined, sinister and deadly, with hitman and killers lurking on every page. If thrillers are your thing, you don’t want to miss Some Die Nameless, because Wallace Stroby is one of the hottest crime fiction writers working today. He’s fast becoming a national treasure, as well as one of the MBRs personal favorites!
July 30, 2018
This is a fast-paced thriller that has nuanced, layered characters leading the way. Ray Devlin is a retired mercenary who is trying to lead a simple life on his boat. That is shattered when an old colleague drops in, violence takes hold, and the story takes off. Tracy Quinn is an investigative reporter, working for a Philadelphia newspaper that is not doing well in this online climate. Their paths cross over a case, putting both in the path of danger.
Wallace Stroby has the ability to keep the reader avidly turning pages and to provide nerve-wracking scenarios with very good plots. At the same time, his characters are well-thought-out and fully-fleshed. I always enjoy his books and just wish he would write faster!
June 4, 2021
This one started off as a bit of a slow burner.
Eventually it sparked up and hit a sound pace.
It’s essentially a good guy (ex- mercenary - who hadn’t lost any of his macho military skills) versus evil arms dealing corporate back guys with a hand full of corrupt government mates to help them on there way.
Good and original plot. Easy to read.
I enjoyed it.
Eventually it sparked up and hit a sound pace.
It’s essentially a good guy (ex- mercenary - who hadn’t lost any of his macho military skills) versus evil arms dealing corporate back guys with a hand full of corrupt government mates to help them on there way.
Good and original plot. Easy to read.
I enjoyed it.
August 10, 2021
This is my favorite book this year and Mr. Stroby is tied for my favorite author and not nearly enough people read him. This book has great characters and the villains are especially crazy in this one. Highly recommend.
April 26, 2021
This book is fast-paced, populated by interesting characters - both good and bad - and focusses on the ambiguity of personal choices and the consequences of a person’s actions throughout their life.
There are no saints in Stroby’s novel, but there are different degrees of sinners. I found this book an engaging read. There are several settings and each is well-developed. In the end, the good guy wins, but the price is high and the body count is even higher.
A good weekend read to chase the Covid clouds away.
There are no saints in Stroby’s novel, but there are different degrees of sinners. I found this book an engaging read. There are several settings and each is well-developed. In the end, the good guy wins, but the price is high and the body count is even higher.
A good weekend read to chase the Covid clouds away.
November 9, 2021
Stand alone 2018 thriller. Author Wallace Stroby does his usual superb job. Eminently readable and very enjoyable.
July 17, 2018
If Wallace Stroby is not an author you are familiar with, it is time for you to catch up with this fine writer of crime and mystery novel.
It is a mark of the imaginative author that he or she can take familiar plot elements , freshen and enliven them and bring them alive on the page. In "Some Die Nameless" Mr. Stroby has his hero, Ray Devlin, who lives on an old cabin cruiser in Florida, passing his days as anonymously as he can, "off the grid" as the phrase goes. One day, the past, in the person of an old co-worker pal finds him , just, he says , to catch up on old times when they used to be employed with a large global security -for- hire company. To catch up and kill him, that is. This does sound like same old stuff, but Mr. Stroby takes it and works it into a story that keeps the reader's interest from beginning to end.
The reason is that, I think, the author peoples his novels with interesting characters. They have background, have flaws, courage, and the emotional depth. Devlin is not just a burned- out ex soldier; he is a man of regrets and a certain pride . When he starts of on his quest into finding out why he was on a hit list , it is to warn other old friends who were also comrades. When he meets a reporter who covered the story of the murder of another mercenary, their relationship is realistic for a man who has learned to not trust easily. She is dedicated, has a hard shell herself, and is scared of what she fell into. Action abounds. It is believable, that is, people get hurt, fighting is exhausting, shooters miss, and plans go awry. Like real life.
The author takes his time to build a story and it is a story worth reading. I recommend it.
Notes: violence , no sex, and I do not recall any egregiously off color- language.
It is a mark of the imaginative author that he or she can take familiar plot elements , freshen and enliven them and bring them alive on the page. In "Some Die Nameless" Mr. Stroby has his hero, Ray Devlin, who lives on an old cabin cruiser in Florida, passing his days as anonymously as he can, "off the grid" as the phrase goes. One day, the past, in the person of an old co-worker pal finds him , just, he says , to catch up on old times when they used to be employed with a large global security -for- hire company. To catch up and kill him, that is. This does sound like same old stuff, but Mr. Stroby takes it and works it into a story that keeps the reader's interest from beginning to end.
The reason is that, I think, the author peoples his novels with interesting characters. They have background, have flaws, courage, and the emotional depth. Devlin is not just a burned- out ex soldier; he is a man of regrets and a certain pride . When he starts of on his quest into finding out why he was on a hit list , it is to warn other old friends who were also comrades. When he meets a reporter who covered the story of the murder of another mercenary, their relationship is realistic for a man who has learned to not trust easily. She is dedicated, has a hard shell herself, and is scared of what she fell into. Action abounds. It is believable, that is, people get hurt, fighting is exhausting, shooters miss, and plans go awry. Like real life.
The author takes his time to build a story and it is a story worth reading. I recommend it.
Notes: violence , no sex, and I do not recall any egregiously off color- language.
August 20, 2018
Not the usual New Jersey milieu of mayhem and murder that one expects of this author. It has a few references and scenes take place in Camden, but the bulk of this takes place in Philly and Florida and then an off shore island. It's all about a 'retired' soldier of fortune who finds his old buddies are either trying to kill him or getting them selves killed. The past comes back to haunt and stalk the protagonist due to some things he might know about an operation tat an American arms dealer and black market operator of working in the shadows with the government to shift the power in foreign countries. A bit of Blackwater-type shenanigans. The head of this company is seeking to use a politician as a puppet to further line his pockets and needs to 'clean house' before he appears to go clean himself.
Enter an investigative female reporter who gets involved and has her life in jeopardy and lots of murder, violence, and great incidental characters. Stroby again writes in a great clean, unfettered blunt to the point Hemingway-esque style and provides a lot of tension that leads to situations you may feel that you know where they'll go, but they change direction.
This is reminiscent and has the feel of a John D. MacDonald thriller right down to the protagonist living on a docked boat in Florida. It, also, feels very visual, as if it is the treatment for a movie.
The violent showdown on an island hideaway in progress of being constructed is taut and thrilling, but feels a little bit of a letdown after a great build-up. Still ... appreciate the time reading it and hope Stroby continues on after this eighth novel
Enter an investigative female reporter who gets involved and has her life in jeopardy and lots of murder, violence, and great incidental characters. Stroby again writes in a great clean, unfettered blunt to the point Hemingway-esque style and provides a lot of tension that leads to situations you may feel that you know where they'll go, but they change direction.
This is reminiscent and has the feel of a John D. MacDonald thriller right down to the protagonist living on a docked boat in Florida. It, also, feels very visual, as if it is the treatment for a movie.
The violent showdown on an island hideaway in progress of being constructed is taut and thrilling, but feels a little bit of a letdown after a great build-up. Still ... appreciate the time reading it and hope Stroby continues on after this eighth novel
July 14, 2018
Another Strong Hit!
This is another gritty Stroby story. His stories are action packed and hard to put down because you want to know what will happen next. One of my favorite authors.
This is another gritty Stroby story. His stories are action packed and hard to put down because you want to know what will happen next. One of my favorite authors.
December 14, 2019
Non-series actioner with somebody trying to retire retired mercenaries. Stroby has a tremendous sense of pacing and he writes a good gun battle. The hero here is a little too squeaky, but it barrels along with enough brio so you hardly notice.
September 2, 2018
This is a gritty, fast-paced thriller; however I thought the ending let it down. Without going into details, it was an anti-climax. But I can forgive it that because the rest was so well written.
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