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Max McLean #1
The Break Line
British intelligence operative and hardened assassin, Max McLean, battles a nightmarish enemy in this stunning debut thriller from an award winning war correspondent.
When it comes to killing terrorists British intelligence has always had one man they could rely on, Max McLean. As an assassin, he's never missed, but Max has made one miscalculation and now he has to pay the price.
His handlers send him to Sierra Leone on a seemingly one-way mission. What he finds is a horror from beyond his nightmares. Rebel forces are loose in the jungle and someone or something is slaughtering innocent villagers. It's his job to root out the monster behind these abominations, but he soon discovers that London may consider him the most disposable piece in this operation.
When it comes to killing terrorists British intelligence has always had one man they could rely on, Max McLean. As an assassin, he's never missed, but Max has made one miscalculation and now he has to pay the price.
His handlers send him to Sierra Leone on a seemingly one-way mission. What he finds is a horror from beyond his nightmares. Rebel forces are loose in the jungle and someone or something is slaughtering innocent villagers. It's his job to root out the monster behind these abominations, but he soon discovers that London may consider him the most disposable piece in this operation.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2018
145 people are currently reading
2741 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
January 10, 2019
James Brabazon, award-winning war correspondent and filmmaker, has written a terrific action spy thriller debut. Max McLean is an assassin working for British Intelligence in a group of like individuals called the Unknown. Fast paced, with plenty of plot twists, The Break Line is a great start to a new series for those that enjoy a lot of action. Max is sent to Sierra Leone where all hell is breaking loose. There is something terrifying going on in the jungles of West Africa. Max gets into plenty of trouble with CIA, the Russians, West African rebels, and Israel’s intelligence service.
Brabazon does a wonderful job with details. His writing shows his knowledge about West Africa. If you like a good action thriller, sit down and take a ride with Max McLean. You won’t be disappointed.
4 out of 5 stars
Thanks to Berkeley Publishing and Elisha Katz for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date - January 15, 2019
Brabazon does a wonderful job with details. His writing shows his knowledge about West Africa. If you like a good action thriller, sit down and take a ride with Max McLean. You won’t be disappointed.
4 out of 5 stars
Thanks to Berkeley Publishing and Elisha Katz for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date - January 15, 2019
February 25, 2019
”Almost every day began like that, robbed of clarity by a night of searing dreams. It was easier waking up in the war. Any war. At least I knew where I was then.”
Maximilian McLean has a problem. He makes a decision that goes against his orders. He lets a target live. A woman who does not fit the profile he has been given, but she has seen his face, so by protocol she is supposed to die anyway.
He lets her live because he doesn’t want to knowingly kill an innocent person. He has been trained to kill without question, so his handlers in London are suddenly wondering if he has outlived his usefulness, which means they can promote him or kill him. There seems to be some disagreement on which course is the best action.
They send him to one of the most dangerous spots on the planet...Sierra Leone. A man he respects as the consummate soldier and assassin has returned from Sierra Leone a change man, broken and scared. ”Sonny Boy had been deeply disturbed, actually driven mad by something he’d encountered in-country. For days I had wondered what that something could have been. After shining my torch on the face of the dead squaddie outside Kabala I felt one step closer to finding out. A face frozen in mortal terror like that was not just uncommon: in my experience it was unique.”
So if he discovers the truth and manages to survive whatever foul incarnation is out in the jungles of Africa, will London let him live, or will they get him with a lights out bullet to the brain?
Who is the professor?
What are the Russian Spetsnaz doing out in the jungle?
How are the CIA connected?
How can the girl he let go possibly be connected to what is going on in Sierra Leone? ”No good deed goes unpunished.”
Can someone give Max a list of everyone trying to kill him? The list is getting too long and convoluted to figure out without a large white board with arrows and lines connecting the dots.
So he has the professor in the sight of his scope. ”My heart all but stopped, the beat so slow. I am tethered to the bullet, my mind filled with single certainty. The man is already dead even though the shot is not yet taken. The target’s name has already been written in the Book of the Dead.”
Except, well, the professor isn’t who he expects him to be. In fact, he isn’t expected to know him at all. The list of madmen he personally knows is rather short because most of them are dead soon after meeting him. There is hell, and then there is dousing the walls of hell with kerosene. Things are getting too hot, even for a man with his skill set. They are creating creatures that can upset the hierarchy of man. They are something uncategorized in the animal kingdom, except in the pages of genre fiction.
”The nearer they got, the more manifest their hideousness. Every muscle strained, bulged, as if fit to burst, embossed with veins that stood out like tramlines riding across sinew. Their eyes were wild and rolled back, so that their irises vanished into a blur of white-eyed horror. And their mouths--wide open, lips pulled taut--sent forth waves of ululating screeches.”
Every decision Max McLean has ever made in his life seems to be rippling forward to land on his ass while he is in the middle of the most horrendous set of circumstances that no amount of training could have prepared him for.
If he can survive those things in the jungle and make his way back to civilisation, will civilisation have already decided that he isn’t much better than those things in the jungle?
Heart pounding action, with more than a few tingles of apprehension that always happen to me when speculative fiction borders on the possible. The writing style of James Brabazon seems stilted to me in the first few pages, but it soon becomes apparent that the style fits the nature of the book, and the rocket speed with which the plot sweeps me along shortly has me completely immersed in asking why, what, who, where, and how? I know the when; it happens right now in the pool of light from my reading lamp.
I want to thank Rafa Ashraf and Berkley Publishing for supplying me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Maximilian McLean has a problem. He makes a decision that goes against his orders. He lets a target live. A woman who does not fit the profile he has been given, but she has seen his face, so by protocol she is supposed to die anyway.
He lets her live because he doesn’t want to knowingly kill an innocent person. He has been trained to kill without question, so his handlers in London are suddenly wondering if he has outlived his usefulness, which means they can promote him or kill him. There seems to be some disagreement on which course is the best action.
They send him to one of the most dangerous spots on the planet...Sierra Leone. A man he respects as the consummate soldier and assassin has returned from Sierra Leone a change man, broken and scared. ”Sonny Boy had been deeply disturbed, actually driven mad by something he’d encountered in-country. For days I had wondered what that something could have been. After shining my torch on the face of the dead squaddie outside Kabala I felt one step closer to finding out. A face frozen in mortal terror like that was not just uncommon: in my experience it was unique.”
So if he discovers the truth and manages to survive whatever foul incarnation is out in the jungles of Africa, will London let him live, or will they get him with a lights out bullet to the brain?
Who is the professor?
What are the Russian Spetsnaz doing out in the jungle?
How are the CIA connected?
How can the girl he let go possibly be connected to what is going on in Sierra Leone? ”No good deed goes unpunished.”
Can someone give Max a list of everyone trying to kill him? The list is getting too long and convoluted to figure out without a large white board with arrows and lines connecting the dots.
So he has the professor in the sight of his scope. ”My heart all but stopped, the beat so slow. I am tethered to the bullet, my mind filled with single certainty. The man is already dead even though the shot is not yet taken. The target’s name has already been written in the Book of the Dead.”
Except, well, the professor isn’t who he expects him to be. In fact, he isn’t expected to know him at all. The list of madmen he personally knows is rather short because most of them are dead soon after meeting him. There is hell, and then there is dousing the walls of hell with kerosene. Things are getting too hot, even for a man with his skill set. They are creating creatures that can upset the hierarchy of man. They are something uncategorized in the animal kingdom, except in the pages of genre fiction.
”The nearer they got, the more manifest their hideousness. Every muscle strained, bulged, as if fit to burst, embossed with veins that stood out like tramlines riding across sinew. Their eyes were wild and rolled back, so that their irises vanished into a blur of white-eyed horror. And their mouths--wide open, lips pulled taut--sent forth waves of ululating screeches.”
Every decision Max McLean has ever made in his life seems to be rippling forward to land on his ass while he is in the middle of the most horrendous set of circumstances that no amount of training could have prepared him for.
If he can survive those things in the jungle and make his way back to civilisation, will civilisation have already decided that he isn’t much better than those things in the jungle?
Heart pounding action, with more than a few tingles of apprehension that always happen to me when speculative fiction borders on the possible. The writing style of James Brabazon seems stilted to me in the first few pages, but it soon becomes apparent that the style fits the nature of the book, and the rocket speed with which the plot sweeps me along shortly has me completely immersed in asking why, what, who, where, and how? I know the when; it happens right now in the pool of light from my reading lamp.
I want to thank Rafa Ashraf and Berkley Publishing for supplying me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
October 27, 2018
Max McLean is a member of an elite group of operatives working for British intelligence, paradoxically known as the Unknown. In essence, these operatives do not exist. An assassin deviates from the rules, a decision that will come back to bite him. Meanwhile, there has been some sort of a horrible outbreak in Sierra Leone. Who are the men, and which ones are the monsters? Vengeance is being wreaked even as the smell of peppermint wafts in the air.
This techno thriller started off slowly for me, but I became substantially more invested as the story moved forward. There is a ton of information regarding ballistics and the requisite acronyms that are associated with this type of read, not my favorite, but apt to be a plus for many.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy to read in exchange for a review.
This techno thriller started off slowly for me, but I became substantially more invested as the story moved forward. There is a ton of information regarding ballistics and the requisite acronyms that are associated with this type of read, not my favorite, but apt to be a plus for many.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy to read in exchange for a review.
July 27, 2018
This was one of my most anticipated thrillers of 2018 and so I nearly fainted when I nabbed an early copy. This is a difficult book to review without giving away major parts of the plot so I will be keeping my review succinct in order to avoid spoiling it for any potential readers who happen upon this. I knew this was right up my alley when I came across it many months ago online after the synopsis that grabbed my attention.
Wow, if this is what Brabazon can deliver I am super-stoked as to what is to come. I love a fantastic political/espionage thriller and this has all the right plot elements to make it truly unputdownable - perilous missions, a complex main characters in Max Mclean and visits to dangerous countries that are limited in terms of law and order.
"The Break Line" is one of the best thrillers I have read so far this year and I know it will be in my top books of 2018! It is that majestic, smart and authentic that it simply has to feature. I see others have complained about the violence involved in the plot but I don't feel it can ever be labelled as gratuitous and always fits the story well. There were plenty of plot twists thoroughout too, this is a gruesome and dizzying page-turner.
A genuinely mindblowing adventure and I cannot wait to read Brabazon's next offering - I wouldn't miss it and I hope we don't have to wait too long before being able to indulge again. See, i'm already impatient! The author delivers a stunning thriller with considerable aplomb. On my list of favourite authors you go Mr Brabazon.
Don't take my word for it - grab a copy. I hate it when I feel like no matter what I write (even if I literally gush as I am doing here) I cannot get across just how much I appreciated this one. Tasty!
Many thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Wow, if this is what Brabazon can deliver I am super-stoked as to what is to come. I love a fantastic political/espionage thriller and this has all the right plot elements to make it truly unputdownable - perilous missions, a complex main characters in Max Mclean and visits to dangerous countries that are limited in terms of law and order.
"The Break Line" is one of the best thrillers I have read so far this year and I know it will be in my top books of 2018! It is that majestic, smart and authentic that it simply has to feature. I see others have complained about the violence involved in the plot but I don't feel it can ever be labelled as gratuitous and always fits the story well. There were plenty of plot twists thoroughout too, this is a gruesome and dizzying page-turner.
A genuinely mindblowing adventure and I cannot wait to read Brabazon's next offering - I wouldn't miss it and I hope we don't have to wait too long before being able to indulge again. See, i'm already impatient! The author delivers a stunning thriller with considerable aplomb. On my list of favourite authors you go Mr Brabazon.
Don't take my word for it - grab a copy. I hate it when I feel like no matter what I write (even if I literally gush as I am doing here) I cannot get across just how much I appreciated this one. Tasty!
Many thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
January 29, 2019
3.5 stars
Now Available!
The Break Line is a fast-paced complex political spy thriller with plenty of action and violence to get your heart pounding. There are some gasp-worthy moments that could get your adrenaline going or leaving you gasping in shock and needing some recovery time before continuing.
James Brabazon creates a fascinating character here with our smart, cold and dangerous assassin Max McLean who grows a conscience and starts doubting his orders. Max is quite the hardcore character. The tension rises and it becomes unpredictably interesting as Max starts to question his mission.
James Brabazon really knows how to draw you right into the action with those vivid descriptions to the setting as well. The story is quite vivid with those combat scenes and at times took on a theatrical feel for me. Things started to move quite fast for me and there is no holding back on some of the gore to the violence. I started to get a little lost with the pace and I became a bit distracted while reading and some of those gory scenes left my mind wandering away from the violence.
I highly recommend for readers who like an action-packed and fast-paced spy thriller. It’s sure to satisfy.
Thank you so much to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy of this novel.
Now Available!
The Break Line is a fast-paced complex political spy thriller with plenty of action and violence to get your heart pounding. There are some gasp-worthy moments that could get your adrenaline going or leaving you gasping in shock and needing some recovery time before continuing.
James Brabazon creates a fascinating character here with our smart, cold and dangerous assassin Max McLean who grows a conscience and starts doubting his orders. Max is quite the hardcore character. The tension rises and it becomes unpredictably interesting as Max starts to question his mission.
James Brabazon really knows how to draw you right into the action with those vivid descriptions to the setting as well. The story is quite vivid with those combat scenes and at times took on a theatrical feel for me. Things started to move quite fast for me and there is no holding back on some of the gore to the violence. I started to get a little lost with the pace and I became a bit distracted while reading and some of those gory scenes left my mind wandering away from the violence.
I highly recommend for readers who like an action-packed and fast-paced spy thriller. It’s sure to satisfy.
Thank you so much to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy of this novel.
April 24, 2018
This Rollins-esque offering is part Hitman, part archaeological/bio tech thriller with some energetically described violence and a big dollop of horror. It’s fun and a bit silly, though if you’ve got no stomach for detailed gore, this definitely isn’t for you. It ticks a lot of boxes: crazy scientists ✔️ Russian special forces ✔️ ancient bio hazards ✔️ infected supermen who just might eat your face ✔️ etc etc. Even so, there’s a stiltedness to the language which really stops the flow and some bits that feel slooooow. Overall, it’s not quite there yet, something to pass the time, but not a book to inspire true love.
ARC via Netgalley
ARC via Netgalley
January 31, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
That was one crazy ride! The last 40% was intense, fast-paced, and action-packed. The first 60%... not as much. There was some action, but it was a slow, slow burn.
I probably would have enjoyed this one a lot more if the book hadn't pitched to me because of my love of James Rollins' novels. It was very different from those, but the whole time I was expecting it to involve history, archaeology, techonology, science... but it really was just a spy/assassin thriller with some horror-sci-fi elements thrown in. Because of this preset expectation, I think I enjoyed this less than I would have had I just picked it up for what it was. Don't get me wrong, I still ended up on the positive side of the fence when it came to liking the book, but I can't give it as many stars because I only liked it instead of loving it.
I think fans of spy and assassin thrillers or action movies with sci-fi-esque twists will love this one. Jason Bourne fans will probably eat this one up! For me, though, it was just an okay read. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
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Review to come on release. Pre-review: Decent book, just not really like what was pitched to me so had high expectations going in. 3.5 stars
That was one crazy ride! The last 40% was intense, fast-paced, and action-packed. The first 60%... not as much. There was some action, but it was a slow, slow burn.
I probably would have enjoyed this one a lot more if the book hadn't pitched to me because of my love of James Rollins' novels. It was very different from those, but the whole time I was expecting it to involve history, archaeology, techonology, science... but it really was just a spy/assassin thriller with some horror-sci-fi elements thrown in. Because of this preset expectation, I think I enjoyed this less than I would have had I just picked it up for what it was. Don't get me wrong, I still ended up on the positive side of the fence when it came to liking the book, but I can't give it as many stars because I only liked it instead of loving it.
I think fans of spy and assassin thrillers or action movies with sci-fi-esque twists will love this one. Jason Bourne fans will probably eat this one up! For me, though, it was just an okay read. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
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Review to come on release. Pre-review: Decent book, just not really like what was pitched to me so had high expectations going in. 3.5 stars
January 29, 2019
This is the author's debut thriller introducing Max McLean, a British Intelligence Operative and Assassin.
Handlers send Max to Sierra Leone where he finds someone ... or something ... is slaughtering innocent villagers. It's his job to find who is responsible, but maybe the London office consider him disposable.
This is a rather complex spy thriller loaded with action .... a real page turner. It's a well-written scary concept with an unexpected ending.
Many thanks to the author / Berkley Publishing Group / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Handlers send Max to Sierra Leone where he finds someone ... or something ... is slaughtering innocent villagers. It's his job to find who is responsible, but maybe the London office consider him disposable.
This is a rather complex spy thriller loaded with action .... a real page turner. It's a well-written scary concept with an unexpected ending.
Many thanks to the author / Berkley Publishing Group / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 25, 2018
The Break Line is the first in Brabazon's gritty, bloody, Max McLean espionage series. Like Donald Hamilton's Max Helm, McLean is a trained killer who deals with his assignments not only with graphic violence but with an understanding of how the real world operates. His world is short, nasty, and brutish. McLean is a British spy, but not the suave debonair James Bond variety. The story takes place in War-torn Sierra Leone, a land with which Brabazon is intimately familiar, having traveled through it. And sadly Sierra Leone like much of Africa has been torn asunder by diseases such as a Ebola and vicious rebels who have no boundaries, no lines of decency that they are afraid to cross. And, against this brutal background, the machinations of the superpowers and their allies play out. Brabazon may not at this point have an extensive library, but he is clearly a force to be reckoned with.
January 31, 2019
Max McLean has been an assassin for over 20 years. He loses his anonymity when he aborts an assassination attempt, thus angering his employer MI6. He’s sent on a new mission, eliminating the unidentified leader of some rebels in Sierra Leone. It’s also a part of the world where Ebola is a threat. It turns out that there was a special reason why Max was selected for this mission. What follows is a mix of British, American and Russian agents and double agents. It’s never really clear who’s doing what to whom, or why they are doing it. The book is very fast paced and it’s also quite violent. “His eye hung from its socket onto my cheek. He was bleeding heavily from his mouth, nose and ears; hemorrhaging into his throat and onto my face.” Max is an invincible hero who single handedly defeats the bad guys. It became a little cartoonish and unbelievable when Max discovers his target and the underlying mystery that Max uncovers in Africa would also fit into the Marvel Comics universe. The book held my interest and reminded me of books written by James Rollins - with a mix of action and pseudoscience. I gather that this is the start of a series and I might read the next book. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. Rating 3.5 stars.
June 14, 2019
This is a Jason Bourne-like tale pumped up on steroids! Film maker and war journalist Brabazon takes Max McLean to the heart of darkness in Sierra Leone. Max is a veteran assassin working for the Unknown—an off-the-books unit within the British Government. He has been given the task of killing a white man in northern Sierra Leone whose leadership of a formidable group of men is creating havoc in the region. These are science fiction warriors and extremely hard to kill.
Enjoy this action-packed debut thriller that includes the CIA, Russians, West African rebels, and even the Israeli intelligence service. Oh—and maybe a double-crossing Brit too.
Enjoy this action-packed debut thriller that includes the CIA, Russians, West African rebels, and even the Israeli intelligence service. Oh—and maybe a double-crossing Brit too.
February 18, 2019
The first in a series, Brabazon brings a LOT to the table. Action packed from beginning to end, each new decisions McLean makes throws him into a different trajectory. The first decision he made, when he went against orders, was not like him but even as a hardened assassin, he finds it difficult to kill those that are innocent. This may not end well for him. 😉
A lot of characters are introduced and he finds betrayals amongst them and within himself. We also get a tangle of a medical thriller with speak of cholera, etc. What else can Brabazon include?! It's not overly done, which is nice. He does a fine job in building McLean's character and as with all first in a series, lays the groundwork for the next. McLean is reminiscent of other characters like him - highly intelligent, master of his trade, and whether you like his actions or not, you get a soft spot for him.
While this type of thriller is not my favorite kind in the subgenres of thrillers, I did find the story interesting while with so much going on, there were some lulls within the pages... but very little - small set ups for the next bullet to dodge. (see what I did there?)
A great start to the beginning of a series I can only see getting crazier.
★★★☆
A lot of characters are introduced and he finds betrayals amongst them and within himself. We also get a tangle of a medical thriller with speak of cholera, etc. What else can Brabazon include?! It's not overly done, which is nice. He does a fine job in building McLean's character and as with all first in a series, lays the groundwork for the next. McLean is reminiscent of other characters like him - highly intelligent, master of his trade, and whether you like his actions or not, you get a soft spot for him.
While this type of thriller is not my favorite kind in the subgenres of thrillers, I did find the story interesting while with so much going on, there were some lulls within the pages... but very little - small set ups for the next bullet to dodge. (see what I did there?)
A great start to the beginning of a series I can only see getting crazier.
★★★☆
February 19, 2019
The Incredible Ebola Hulk! What?
Jeez this book. Don't waste your time.
Book started off pretty good. James Bond's alter ego.
Went downhill fast.
This was supposed to be an action packed thriller. Well where was the action? What little action there was i wasn't sure what was happening.
What would drive men to not only slaughter innocent civilians but crush their skulls and rip out their intestines? Is this a biological weapon that drives men insane and gives them super strength? Mind control? Is this something like 'Bird Box'? I was waiting for a Sandra Bullock cameo.
Hulk Good! Book Bad!
Hulk is strongest one there is! Hulk rip this book to shreds!
Won this on Goodreads Giveaway. Hulk smash goodreads!
Jeez this book. Don't waste your time.
Book started off pretty good. James Bond's alter ego.
Went downhill fast.
This was supposed to be an action packed thriller. Well where was the action? What little action there was i wasn't sure what was happening.
What would drive men to not only slaughter innocent civilians but crush their skulls and rip out their intestines? Is this a biological weapon that drives men insane and gives them super strength? Mind control? Is this something like 'Bird Box'? I was waiting for a Sandra Bullock cameo.
Hulk Good! Book Bad!
Hulk is strongest one there is! Hulk rip this book to shreds!
Won this on Goodreads Giveaway. Hulk smash goodreads!
November 29, 2018
British filmmaker and author of My Friend the Mercenary (2011), James Brabazon makes his fiction debut, introducing readers to an exciting new character cut from the same cloth as Jason Bourne.
To earn a license to kill, one must first be willing to kill on command, something Max McLean has never had an issue with when it comes to protecting his country. For the better part of two decades, McLean has served as an assassin, working for an off-the-books unit buried deep within the British government.
Though he’s one of the coldest killers in the game, there’s another side to McLean too. Underneath the hard-boiled assassin is a man with an ever-growing conscience, fueling a desire to know for certain that the men his country tasks him with eliminating are, in fact, truly bad. That line of thinking leads to a botched mission in Caracas after Max fails to take out his target, prompting some to question his ability to follow orders in the field. Thankfully, his superiors give him a second chance, but McLean quickly learns that the new mission is anything but straight-forward.
The new target is a white man located in northern Sierra Leone, who is said to be leading an army that has quickly grown out of control. Taking him out is a high priority, but getting deep enough into the African jungle undetected proves to be nearly impossible. Worse for Max is the fact that the last man sent to kill the evil leader–a man whom McLean knows and respects–literally lost his mind. Posing as a doctor, Max attempts to collect intel, only to have his cover blown and . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/11/25...
To earn a license to kill, one must first be willing to kill on command, something Max McLean has never had an issue with when it comes to protecting his country. For the better part of two decades, McLean has served as an assassin, working for an off-the-books unit buried deep within the British government.
Though he’s one of the coldest killers in the game, there’s another side to McLean too. Underneath the hard-boiled assassin is a man with an ever-growing conscience, fueling a desire to know for certain that the men his country tasks him with eliminating are, in fact, truly bad. That line of thinking leads to a botched mission in Caracas after Max fails to take out his target, prompting some to question his ability to follow orders in the field. Thankfully, his superiors give him a second chance, but McLean quickly learns that the new mission is anything but straight-forward.
The new target is a white man located in northern Sierra Leone, who is said to be leading an army that has quickly grown out of control. Taking him out is a high priority, but getting deep enough into the African jungle undetected proves to be nearly impossible. Worse for Max is the fact that the last man sent to kill the evil leader–a man whom McLean knows and respects–literally lost his mind. Posing as a doctor, Max attempts to collect intel, only to have his cover blown and . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/11/25...
January 24, 2019
I really loved this book. It was fast paced and action packed, full of espionage straight from an assassin. I wanted to keep reading to get through it. It was riveting.
Max McLean is the main protagonist and I loved his character. It was really engaging right from the start. I'm definitely a fan of this type of book and when you get a really well done book, it is hard to put it down. From bullets flying to car chases, it was a great game of cat and mouse. It kept me intrigued from the beginning and I was never sure exactly what would happen. I never really guessed what would happen either, which I love.
There was a bit of language, which I expect when it is anything military. I really hate when they drop the C word though. I find it really disgusting, but it only happens a couple of times. The F bomb is dropped through it, but it isn't so much that it is overwhelming and again, it is expected in anything that has to do with military.Other than that, the writing was well done, smooth and easy to read. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
My husband doesn't enjoy reading paper books, he would rather read his kindle, but knowing how much I enjoyed this one he has asked me to give it to him next. This is right up his alley. I think he will enjoy it too.
Great read. I highly recommend if you love assassin, espionage type genres.
Max McLean is the main protagonist and I loved his character. It was really engaging right from the start. I'm definitely a fan of this type of book and when you get a really well done book, it is hard to put it down. From bullets flying to car chases, it was a great game of cat and mouse. It kept me intrigued from the beginning and I was never sure exactly what would happen. I never really guessed what would happen either, which I love.
There was a bit of language, which I expect when it is anything military. I really hate when they drop the C word though. I find it really disgusting, but it only happens a couple of times. The F bomb is dropped through it, but it isn't so much that it is overwhelming and again, it is expected in anything that has to do with military.Other than that, the writing was well done, smooth and easy to read. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
My husband doesn't enjoy reading paper books, he would rather read his kindle, but knowing how much I enjoyed this one he has asked me to give it to him next. This is right up his alley. I think he will enjoy it too.
Great read. I highly recommend if you love assassin, espionage type genres.
February 12, 2019
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
The Break Line
Max McLean, Book #1
By James Brabazon
ISBN: 9780440001478
Author Website: jamesbrabazon.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
Synopsis:
British intelligence operative and hardened assassin, Max McLean, battles a nightmarish enemy in this stunning debut thriller from an award winning war correspondent.
When it comes to killing terrorists British intelligence has always had one man they could rely on, Max McLean. As an assassin, he’s never missed, but Max has made one miscalculation and now he has to pay the price.
His handlers send him to Sierra Leone on a seemingly one-way mission. What he finds is a horror from beyond his nightmares. Rebel forces are loose in the jungle and someone or something is slaughtering innocent villagers. It’s his job to root out the monster behind these abominations, but he soon discovers that London may consider him the most disposable piece in this operation.
Review:
At the beginning of the story, we see a flashback in which Max McLean is remembering Raven Hill, the school where he learned all his skills and the details of his first mission. Back in the present, Max is now in South America taking care of another mission: find the target, kill the target and get out. But something doesn’t look right. His target isn’t the one described in the brief and he lets the person go. Recently, for Max the thrill of killing the target has changed, it doesn’t feel right and he is starting to question whether if this is the life he wants to continue on.
Back in London, Max is assigned his new mission. Max’s new target is in Sierra Leone and the only way to know who he is is through a blurry photograph. Max needs to be extra careful with this mission. He will have limited contact with London and, again, he has to kill his target and get out.
Once in South Africa, Max, using the undercover of a Canadian doctor, meets his guide/contact Roberts who knows the area well and speaks the local language. Roberts gives Max all that he will need for his mission. Days later they set on a road trip to find Max’s target but on the way they come across an infected village were all of its inhabitants have mysteriously died. Local authorities are trying to cover the deaths by saying it was Ebola or Cholera but Max has never seen anything alike from what the villagers died of. There is something more than a simple virus killing people in Sierra Leone and Max’s target is behind the killings of innocents and entire villages.
I really enjoyed reading The Break Line and it is really difficult not to spoil the story. My first impression was to think of Max as a Jason Bourne/secret agent type of character. Max is a great sniper and soldier who goes around the world undercover after targets. He, himself has a mysterious background. His father died while on a mission and his mother died not so long after from how heartbroken she was leaving Max without parents to later join become a soldier.
Everything seems normal up until the point where Max is assigned his new mission in South Africa. One of the first things he notices is that the mission wasn’t originally his and now he has to finish it. He doesn’t have much details about his new target except for a blurry picture of a man with a vague inscription on the back. And then he sees the bodies of the villagers and the state they were left. Things instantly start to look suspicious and the only way to figure out what is going on is to find the man from the picture, finish the mission.
I was definitely not expecting some of the things that happened throughout the book and some even caught me off guard. There are several really good and well-described scenes, even one delivered by a little girl. I can very well see the book as a live action movie. If you like action, thriller, and mystery The Break Line is the book for you.
Favorite Quotes:
“Of course it’s not the fall that kills you. It’s the landing.”
“Very few things in nature are black―except for coal, and, perhaps, the heart of a sniper.”
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
The Break Line
Max McLean, Book #1
By James Brabazon
ISBN: 9780440001478
Author Website: jamesbrabazon.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro
Synopsis:
British intelligence operative and hardened assassin, Max McLean, battles a nightmarish enemy in this stunning debut thriller from an award winning war correspondent.
When it comes to killing terrorists British intelligence has always had one man they could rely on, Max McLean. As an assassin, he’s never missed, but Max has made one miscalculation and now he has to pay the price.
His handlers send him to Sierra Leone on a seemingly one-way mission. What he finds is a horror from beyond his nightmares. Rebel forces are loose in the jungle and someone or something is slaughtering innocent villagers. It’s his job to root out the monster behind these abominations, but he soon discovers that London may consider him the most disposable piece in this operation.
Review:
At the beginning of the story, we see a flashback in which Max McLean is remembering Raven Hill, the school where he learned all his skills and the details of his first mission. Back in the present, Max is now in South America taking care of another mission: find the target, kill the target and get out. But something doesn’t look right. His target isn’t the one described in the brief and he lets the person go. Recently, for Max the thrill of killing the target has changed, it doesn’t feel right and he is starting to question whether if this is the life he wants to continue on.
Back in London, Max is assigned his new mission. Max’s new target is in Sierra Leone and the only way to know who he is is through a blurry photograph. Max needs to be extra careful with this mission. He will have limited contact with London and, again, he has to kill his target and get out.
Once in South Africa, Max, using the undercover of a Canadian doctor, meets his guide/contact Roberts who knows the area well and speaks the local language. Roberts gives Max all that he will need for his mission. Days later they set on a road trip to find Max’s target but on the way they come across an infected village were all of its inhabitants have mysteriously died. Local authorities are trying to cover the deaths by saying it was Ebola or Cholera but Max has never seen anything alike from what the villagers died of. There is something more than a simple virus killing people in Sierra Leone and Max’s target is behind the killings of innocents and entire villages.
I really enjoyed reading The Break Line and it is really difficult not to spoil the story. My first impression was to think of Max as a Jason Bourne/secret agent type of character. Max is a great sniper and soldier who goes around the world undercover after targets. He, himself has a mysterious background. His father died while on a mission and his mother died not so long after from how heartbroken she was leaving Max without parents to later join become a soldier.
Everything seems normal up until the point where Max is assigned his new mission in South Africa. One of the first things he notices is that the mission wasn’t originally his and now he has to finish it. He doesn’t have much details about his new target except for a blurry picture of a man with a vague inscription on the back. And then he sees the bodies of the villagers and the state they were left. Things instantly start to look suspicious and the only way to figure out what is going on is to find the man from the picture, finish the mission.
I was definitely not expecting some of the things that happened throughout the book and some even caught me off guard. There are several really good and well-described scenes, even one delivered by a little girl. I can very well see the book as a live action movie. If you like action, thriller, and mystery The Break Line is the book for you.
Favorite Quotes:
“Of course it’s not the fall that kills you. It’s the landing.”
“Very few things in nature are black―except for coal, and, perhaps, the heart of a sniper.”
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
May 16, 2019
DNF - For some reason, this novel is just not clicking with me. It details an ordered mission of an assassin tasked assassinate an African leader to prevent the break out of a war. I have stopped reading at about the 80-page mark. Not sure what it is, though I think one issue is the multiple tangents the novel seems to branch out on.
Maybe I will come back to it and try again.
Maybe I will come back to it and try again.
December 16, 2018
“The Break Line” is written by James Brabazon, a British award-winning war journalist, documentary filmmaker, and now a debut novelist. Honesty requires that I disclose I was given an advance copy of the book by the publisher with the hope that I would provide a review. This was the first time I have had an opportunity to do so, and the following opinions are wholly and truly mine and mine alone. No outside influence was exerted. If you disagree with assessment, I am alone to blame.
After reading it, I have a one-word response – Wow!
“The Break Line” introduces Max Maclean, a British assassin that doesn’t exist, in order to fulfill the necessary missions that involve killing terrorists and enemies of the state on behalf of leaders who need to deny knowledge. From the age of 19 Max has been trained and used as a weapon to protect his country. Now 23 years later he is the best assassin and operative in his country’s service, a “specialist” member of the “unknown” group who operate outside the boundaries of know governmental organizations.
That is until he does the unthinkable, and decides to abort his mission in Caracas because he discovers his target is missing a defining scar and he holds back from killing her. In espionage work, trust and obedience are key and Max has broken the rules. His handlers are very unhappy and there is a price to be paid for not following through on his orders.
Max is sent on a high-risk mission to West Africa, where he will travel deep into the jungles of Karabunda, near the border of Guinea, to find the camp of a dangerous group of rebels who are attacking and terrorizing local towns. What makes them especially dangerous is they appear to be led by an ex-Russian military leader and a scientist who may be performing unknown experiments. Max’s mission is to find them and terminate the leader without exposing himself or using any American or other military resources.
When Max arrives in Sierra Leone, he finds the rebel forces are slaughtering innocent village members, including physical evidence that seems horrific. Then Max discovers that someone knew he was coming and turned him into a target himself. Is it possible that one of his handlers is a traitor to the crown and working against him? And why is he being treated as disposable piece in the outcome of this mission? Max’s suicide mission will stretch him beyond anything he’s ever been through, if he hopes to survive unbelievable odds, let alone find and remove his target.
“The Break Line” is a well-delivered fast-paced mystery and action filled adventure. Brabazon is methodical and tight-knit in his writing style, using his experience and background to provide a realistic feeling to all of the different settings and scenery throughout the book. The plotting is exciting and moves along at a breakneck pace, with twists and surprises along the way. Everything built up to a great climax, involving both lots of physical action and analytical thinking to resolve the underlying mystery. I really had only one minor complaint. Being an American, I found some of the British slang hard to understand, but it didn’t detract in any way from the story.
Most importantly, this book succeeds or fails based on the reader’s reaction to the main character of Max McLean, master assassin. I am sure the publisher’s intent is that he will become a popular protagonist in a successful thriller series. In my humble opinion, I liked Max. I found him to be an interesting, multi-layered, character who was well defined and kept my interest. Brabazon provided him with a motivating background, depth in personality and mental aptitude, and hardcore physical prowess. One outing is not enough to completely create and define the strength of an action hero, but Brabazon gets Max off to an excellent start in his first outing.
I also realize something else about Brabazon’s first novel. I love reading Lee Child and David Baldacci. In my opinion, they are two of the best writers in the thriller action series genre today. Brabazon’s character – Max McLean – reminds me a lot of Child’s popular character, “Jack Reacher”, Baldacci’s own “Will Robie” and “John Puller”, and even Ian Fleming’s famous British superspy, “James Bond”. It’s not just the character resemblance either. The style and plotting are similar too. Brabazon’s writing style is direct and straight to the point compact like that of Lee Child, and his plotting is much like that of a Baldacci book. The way clues are laid out and set-up for use later in the book are developed, seem relatively familiar.
I was about a third of the way through this book and realized that it is the kind of book that would be the result if David Baldacci and Lee Child ever collaborated together. It is a beautiful blend of both their proven strengths. However, let me be clear. In no way is Brazabon copying them. Not in any manner. Rather, in my opinion, Brabazon has taken some of their strengths and combined it with his own developing skills as a writer to create a new complex action hero that is fresh, exciting, and his own person.
Overall, this was a strong first outing for Brabazon and his assassin, Max McLean. As for me, I cannot wait to read their next adventure. As for you, I recommend getting yourself something to drink and snack on, curl up on the couch, and simply lose yourself in the joy of an excellent read and the successful debut of a new thriller hero.
After reading it, I have a one-word response – Wow!
“The Break Line” introduces Max Maclean, a British assassin that doesn’t exist, in order to fulfill the necessary missions that involve killing terrorists and enemies of the state on behalf of leaders who need to deny knowledge. From the age of 19 Max has been trained and used as a weapon to protect his country. Now 23 years later he is the best assassin and operative in his country’s service, a “specialist” member of the “unknown” group who operate outside the boundaries of know governmental organizations.
That is until he does the unthinkable, and decides to abort his mission in Caracas because he discovers his target is missing a defining scar and he holds back from killing her. In espionage work, trust and obedience are key and Max has broken the rules. His handlers are very unhappy and there is a price to be paid for not following through on his orders.
Max is sent on a high-risk mission to West Africa, where he will travel deep into the jungles of Karabunda, near the border of Guinea, to find the camp of a dangerous group of rebels who are attacking and terrorizing local towns. What makes them especially dangerous is they appear to be led by an ex-Russian military leader and a scientist who may be performing unknown experiments. Max’s mission is to find them and terminate the leader without exposing himself or using any American or other military resources.
When Max arrives in Sierra Leone, he finds the rebel forces are slaughtering innocent village members, including physical evidence that seems horrific. Then Max discovers that someone knew he was coming and turned him into a target himself. Is it possible that one of his handlers is a traitor to the crown and working against him? And why is he being treated as disposable piece in the outcome of this mission? Max’s suicide mission will stretch him beyond anything he’s ever been through, if he hopes to survive unbelievable odds, let alone find and remove his target.
“The Break Line” is a well-delivered fast-paced mystery and action filled adventure. Brabazon is methodical and tight-knit in his writing style, using his experience and background to provide a realistic feeling to all of the different settings and scenery throughout the book. The plotting is exciting and moves along at a breakneck pace, with twists and surprises along the way. Everything built up to a great climax, involving both lots of physical action and analytical thinking to resolve the underlying mystery. I really had only one minor complaint. Being an American, I found some of the British slang hard to understand, but it didn’t detract in any way from the story.
Most importantly, this book succeeds or fails based on the reader’s reaction to the main character of Max McLean, master assassin. I am sure the publisher’s intent is that he will become a popular protagonist in a successful thriller series. In my humble opinion, I liked Max. I found him to be an interesting, multi-layered, character who was well defined and kept my interest. Brabazon provided him with a motivating background, depth in personality and mental aptitude, and hardcore physical prowess. One outing is not enough to completely create and define the strength of an action hero, but Brabazon gets Max off to an excellent start in his first outing.
I also realize something else about Brabazon’s first novel. I love reading Lee Child and David Baldacci. In my opinion, they are two of the best writers in the thriller action series genre today. Brabazon’s character – Max McLean – reminds me a lot of Child’s popular character, “Jack Reacher”, Baldacci’s own “Will Robie” and “John Puller”, and even Ian Fleming’s famous British superspy, “James Bond”. It’s not just the character resemblance either. The style and plotting are similar too. Brabazon’s writing style is direct and straight to the point compact like that of Lee Child, and his plotting is much like that of a Baldacci book. The way clues are laid out and set-up for use later in the book are developed, seem relatively familiar.
I was about a third of the way through this book and realized that it is the kind of book that would be the result if David Baldacci and Lee Child ever collaborated together. It is a beautiful blend of both their proven strengths. However, let me be clear. In no way is Brazabon copying them. Not in any manner. Rather, in my opinion, Brabazon has taken some of their strengths and combined it with his own developing skills as a writer to create a new complex action hero that is fresh, exciting, and his own person.
Overall, this was a strong first outing for Brabazon and his assassin, Max McLean. As for me, I cannot wait to read their next adventure. As for you, I recommend getting yourself something to drink and snack on, curl up on the couch, and simply lose yourself in the joy of an excellent read and the successful debut of a new thriller hero.
October 29, 2018
The Break Line- A Brilliant Debut Thriller
The Break Line is a brilliant debut thriller from James Brabazon and has brought his skills as a journalist and filmmaker to bear. He knows how to hook a reader and keep them hovering up the pages like an addict on crack.
This is one of the tautest thrillers out at the moment, dealing with the British covert operations, with a mix of Mi5 and Mi6 making an appearance. Along with the ‘unknowns’ British operatives who did the ‘wet’ work better known as killings. So strange it could be true, because who does really know what the secret service gets up to in the name of the British people.
Max Mclean picked out at an early age to be a sniper officially did not exist according to the British government and all the relevant military arm of the country. Max and his masters have started to lose faith in each other and is sent on a mission to see if he can still be trusted.
He visits a comrade at arms who is in a military facility and is not well. Sonny Boy was one of the bravest and strongest men he knew but was locked away rambling about they were coming for him. He had been to West Africa and was suffering from mortal terror.
Max heads to West Africa for his mission, alone and with no back up, when he comes face to face with the enemy he has to liquidate. What he learns scares him and he has to try and get back home alive. Even though there would be those who would not be too pleased to hear that he is alive and back in the UK.
This really is a great thriller that will get you gripped and keep you hooked from beginning to end. This is a seriously hardcore thriller, complex and a case of who is the good guy here?
A really brilliant debut thriller, hope there is more to come.
The Break Line is a brilliant debut thriller from James Brabazon and has brought his skills as a journalist and filmmaker to bear. He knows how to hook a reader and keep them hovering up the pages like an addict on crack.
This is one of the tautest thrillers out at the moment, dealing with the British covert operations, with a mix of Mi5 and Mi6 making an appearance. Along with the ‘unknowns’ British operatives who did the ‘wet’ work better known as killings. So strange it could be true, because who does really know what the secret service gets up to in the name of the British people.
Max Mclean picked out at an early age to be a sniper officially did not exist according to the British government and all the relevant military arm of the country. Max and his masters have started to lose faith in each other and is sent on a mission to see if he can still be trusted.
He visits a comrade at arms who is in a military facility and is not well. Sonny Boy was one of the bravest and strongest men he knew but was locked away rambling about they were coming for him. He had been to West Africa and was suffering from mortal terror.
Max heads to West Africa for his mission, alone and with no back up, when he comes face to face with the enemy he has to liquidate. What he learns scares him and he has to try and get back home alive. Even though there would be those who would not be too pleased to hear that he is alive and back in the UK.
This really is a great thriller that will get you gripped and keep you hooked from beginning to end. This is a seriously hardcore thriller, complex and a case of who is the good guy here?
A really brilliant debut thriller, hope there is more to come.
December 10, 2018
The Break Line is the first novel in the Max McLean series by award winning war correspondent, James Brabazon. His military experience is readily apparent in this, his first thriller. Brabazon’s observations and experiences as a correspondent have certainly allowed him to add more detail and depth to this political thriller.
Brabazon’s fictional assassin is Maximilian Ivan Drax Pierpoint Mac Ghill’ean, commonly known as Max McLean. At age nineteen, Max is tested and deemed a “legally sane psychopath”. He has been recruited into a secret unit of the British military, designated “The Unknown” or UKN. Twenty-three years in, he allows his personal feelings to sway him from completing an assignment, and it’s all downhill from there.
Max is given one last mission before he will be allowed to leave the anonymity of the unit. The plot twists begin even before he reaches Sierra Leone in West Africa, the location for his final mission. Once Max locates his target he realizes that he has been betrayed. He’s just not sure by whom. There is plenty of action for the thrill-seekers. At times, it reads like the car chase sequence in your favorite “by the seat of your pants” movie. You’re right there in the front row of the theater. The story twists, turns, spins, upends and eventually rights itself, but Max will never be the same. He now knows why his old commander advised his recruits that the day would come when the pressure of the job would bring the roof in. “The question is, which side of the break line will you be on?”
The author has created a realistic character. Max, the assassin, is fully-developed and has a complete backstory. The reader doesn’t have to wonder why he became who he is. The plot is amazingly intricate and utterly believable. Brabazon has also done an admirable job with the scenery. He has brought the jungle to life. Both the terrain and the animals that reside in the darkest of places are brilliantly described and incorporated into the action.
If a good book is one that grabs your attention at the beginning and holds it to the end, and you immediately know what’s going on and that doesn’t change; how do you characterize a book that grabs and holds your attention but your opinion about what’s REALLY going on constantly changes? I’d say I just read it, and it’s not good, or even great, it’s superlative. This is an expertly written novel, especially for a debut in the genre. Brabazon has set the bar high for himself.
The Break Line is a political thriller with an assassin, an action thriller with an assassin, a scientific thriller with an assassin and a medical thriller with an assassin. It’s actually all that and more. I only found one flaw in the writing. Mr. Brabazon assumes we’ve all been in the military and will recognize the jargon, myriad acronyms, and complicated interconnections. Despite the over abundance of unnecessary military-speak and strategy, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars, only because that’s the maximum I could give it. It deserves more. If you’re a fan of thrillers with a love him or hate him assassin, The Break Line is going to become one of your favorites. If you’re squeamish about extreme violence with lots of blood and guts, this is not the book for you.
I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book as part of Penguin's First to Read program. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Brabazon’s fictional assassin is Maximilian Ivan Drax Pierpoint Mac Ghill’ean, commonly known as Max McLean. At age nineteen, Max is tested and deemed a “legally sane psychopath”. He has been recruited into a secret unit of the British military, designated “The Unknown” or UKN. Twenty-three years in, he allows his personal feelings to sway him from completing an assignment, and it’s all downhill from there.
Max is given one last mission before he will be allowed to leave the anonymity of the unit. The plot twists begin even before he reaches Sierra Leone in West Africa, the location for his final mission. Once Max locates his target he realizes that he has been betrayed. He’s just not sure by whom. There is plenty of action for the thrill-seekers. At times, it reads like the car chase sequence in your favorite “by the seat of your pants” movie. You’re right there in the front row of the theater. The story twists, turns, spins, upends and eventually rights itself, but Max will never be the same. He now knows why his old commander advised his recruits that the day would come when the pressure of the job would bring the roof in. “The question is, which side of the break line will you be on?”
The author has created a realistic character. Max, the assassin, is fully-developed and has a complete backstory. The reader doesn’t have to wonder why he became who he is. The plot is amazingly intricate and utterly believable. Brabazon has also done an admirable job with the scenery. He has brought the jungle to life. Both the terrain and the animals that reside in the darkest of places are brilliantly described and incorporated into the action.
If a good book is one that grabs your attention at the beginning and holds it to the end, and you immediately know what’s going on and that doesn’t change; how do you characterize a book that grabs and holds your attention but your opinion about what’s REALLY going on constantly changes? I’d say I just read it, and it’s not good, or even great, it’s superlative. This is an expertly written novel, especially for a debut in the genre. Brabazon has set the bar high for himself.
The Break Line is a political thriller with an assassin, an action thriller with an assassin, a scientific thriller with an assassin and a medical thriller with an assassin. It’s actually all that and more. I only found one flaw in the writing. Mr. Brabazon assumes we’ve all been in the military and will recognize the jargon, myriad acronyms, and complicated interconnections. Despite the over abundance of unnecessary military-speak and strategy, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars, only because that’s the maximum I could give it. It deserves more. If you’re a fan of thrillers with a love him or hate him assassin, The Break Line is going to become one of your favorites. If you’re squeamish about extreme violence with lots of blood and guts, this is not the book for you.
I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book as part of Penguin's First to Read program. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
January 21, 2019
HIS LAST MISSION
OUR ONLY HOPE
Published on 24th January with Penguin Books The Break Line is described as ‘a debut dripping with authenticity and menace. Smart, unputdownable and packed with irresistible set pieces and jaw-dropping plot twists, this is a thriller like no other.’
This is one book that sent my imagination into overdrive.
Read on to see why…
Max McLean is a phantom operative, working in the shadows and slipping through borders unknown. Max is a trained assassin, working for the British government, something they will never acknowledge. Max was selected from a young age and transformed into this killer, a man with no compulsion in pulling a trigger, following orders and walking away. But Max challenges an order on one such mission and is recalled back to the UK to answer to his bosses. This one time he did not pull the trigger. This could be the moment where he has exposed his identity and is no longer of any use to his employers.
Max is given one last chance to redeem himself with a job that will take him into the deepest corners of Africa, into the jungle of Sierra Leone. Before he travels he is instructed to visit an old buddy, a man that Max revered almost, a man he admired. This man is now locked up in an institution for his own safety and for the safety of others. He is deluded. He has lost his mind. He is in abject terror of something or someone after returning a broken man from a recent trip to Africa. Max sees the fear in his friend’s eyes, the fear in his voice as he rasps ‘They’re coming Max, they’re coming…’ It is now the responsibility of Max to figure out what his friend is so afraid of and to go on an extremely dangerous mission into the heart of West Africa, a mission he is all too well aware of that he may not return from.
Max McLean is a man with a past, a past he keeps close to his chest but one that had a huge impact on his formative years. Growing up in Ireland, Max’s parents were certainly not typical of Irish parents at the time and circumstances led him to where he finds himself now…a killer, a murderer, a man with no ties, a man forever roaming the continents, fulfilling the instructions of others.
On arrival in West Africa, Max becomes acquainted with his appointed contact and sets about unearthing the truth behind his friend’s terror. As the days pass and the secrets slowly reveal themselves, Max is soon all too aware of the dangerous position he now finds himself in.
James Brabazon writes from experience, exposing a world of horror to his readers. The descriptions are vivid…very vivid, as the stench of death rises off the pages. I’m not going to lie to you folks, you do not want to be eating your dinner during some scenes as the imagery is quite gruesome with some very violent and vile scenes. This is also quite a technical novel with descriptions of the weapons etc, at times, very intricate. It is clearly obvious that James Brabazon knows what he writes about. With his experience of being on the front-line, he brings all his knowledge to the table and, with his own flair, takes us on a hair-raising journey into the depths of the West African jungle. We are plunged into a page-turning race to the end as Max McLean fights for his survival with incredible strength, fortitude and bravery. Max McLean has to conquer many demons on this nightmarish mission as we join him in this frightening thriller involving the CIA, MI6, SAS and of course the Russians.
The Break Line is a fast-paced and completely engrossing, turbulent tale of one man’s heroic actions and his enduring belief that everything he does is for a greater good.
OUR ONLY HOPE
Published on 24th January with Penguin Books The Break Line is described as ‘a debut dripping with authenticity and menace. Smart, unputdownable and packed with irresistible set pieces and jaw-dropping plot twists, this is a thriller like no other.’
This is one book that sent my imagination into overdrive.
Read on to see why…
Max McLean is a phantom operative, working in the shadows and slipping through borders unknown. Max is a trained assassin, working for the British government, something they will never acknowledge. Max was selected from a young age and transformed into this killer, a man with no compulsion in pulling a trigger, following orders and walking away. But Max challenges an order on one such mission and is recalled back to the UK to answer to his bosses. This one time he did not pull the trigger. This could be the moment where he has exposed his identity and is no longer of any use to his employers.
Max is given one last chance to redeem himself with a job that will take him into the deepest corners of Africa, into the jungle of Sierra Leone. Before he travels he is instructed to visit an old buddy, a man that Max revered almost, a man he admired. This man is now locked up in an institution for his own safety and for the safety of others. He is deluded. He has lost his mind. He is in abject terror of something or someone after returning a broken man from a recent trip to Africa. Max sees the fear in his friend’s eyes, the fear in his voice as he rasps ‘They’re coming Max, they’re coming…’ It is now the responsibility of Max to figure out what his friend is so afraid of and to go on an extremely dangerous mission into the heart of West Africa, a mission he is all too well aware of that he may not return from.
Max McLean is a man with a past, a past he keeps close to his chest but one that had a huge impact on his formative years. Growing up in Ireland, Max’s parents were certainly not typical of Irish parents at the time and circumstances led him to where he finds himself now…a killer, a murderer, a man with no ties, a man forever roaming the continents, fulfilling the instructions of others.
On arrival in West Africa, Max becomes acquainted with his appointed contact and sets about unearthing the truth behind his friend’s terror. As the days pass and the secrets slowly reveal themselves, Max is soon all too aware of the dangerous position he now finds himself in.
James Brabazon writes from experience, exposing a world of horror to his readers. The descriptions are vivid…very vivid, as the stench of death rises off the pages. I’m not going to lie to you folks, you do not want to be eating your dinner during some scenes as the imagery is quite gruesome with some very violent and vile scenes. This is also quite a technical novel with descriptions of the weapons etc, at times, very intricate. It is clearly obvious that James Brabazon knows what he writes about. With his experience of being on the front-line, he brings all his knowledge to the table and, with his own flair, takes us on a hair-raising journey into the depths of the West African jungle. We are plunged into a page-turning race to the end as Max McLean fights for his survival with incredible strength, fortitude and bravery. Max McLean has to conquer many demons on this nightmarish mission as we join him in this frightening thriller involving the CIA, MI6, SAS and of course the Russians.
The Break Line is a fast-paced and completely engrossing, turbulent tale of one man’s heroic actions and his enduring belief that everything he does is for a greater good.
January 26, 2019
When I first started blogging, I wasn’t reading too many thrillers, let alone government thrillers.
But over the years, I have read a few here and the genre started to grown on me. Since I started blogging, I have increased my thriller base substantially.
Often though, I find that I am coming into a thriller series late in the game, with established characters and well developed subplots. When I had the opportunity to start this government thriller from the beginning, I eagerly said yes.
This is a debut novel for author James Brabazon and his main character Max McLean so steaks are high for a solid introductory novel.
This book was definitely on the gritty side. This spy, Max McLean is far from the martini drinking, debonaire James Bond. This main character is much darker and much more complex.
The author, James Brabazon, is a former war journalist and that absolutely shows in this book. This book has a lot of detail and it is clear he knows or has done a lot of research on British covert operations and intelligence like Mi5/Mi6. I had a great deal of fun reading about these agencies and their operations. One hang up I had though was some of the technical language. On one hand added authenticity, but on the other hand it was a little overwhelming to the casual reader such as myself.
When the book started out, it was a little on the slow side. I wasn’t completely invested until about 30% of the way through, then I was eager to keep reading and see how things panned out. I wouldn’t exactly say that the beginning was ‘boring’ but it wasn’t as engaging as the last half of the novel.
There is also quite a bit of gore in this book. As with any authentic thriller, there is a measure of violence and gore necessary to validate the realism in the story—and thus is the case with this book, however for me toward the end, it started to be a little bit of overkill (no pun intended).
Over all this was a good debut. I would recommend it to people who are fans of spy novels and government/military like thrillers and covert ops.
See my full review here
But over the years, I have read a few here and the genre started to grown on me. Since I started blogging, I have increased my thriller base substantially.
Often though, I find that I am coming into a thriller series late in the game, with established characters and well developed subplots. When I had the opportunity to start this government thriller from the beginning, I eagerly said yes.
This is a debut novel for author James Brabazon and his main character Max McLean so steaks are high for a solid introductory novel.
This book was definitely on the gritty side. This spy, Max McLean is far from the martini drinking, debonaire James Bond. This main character is much darker and much more complex.
The author, James Brabazon, is a former war journalist and that absolutely shows in this book. This book has a lot of detail and it is clear he knows or has done a lot of research on British covert operations and intelligence like Mi5/Mi6. I had a great deal of fun reading about these agencies and their operations. One hang up I had though was some of the technical language. On one hand added authenticity, but on the other hand it was a little overwhelming to the casual reader such as myself.
When the book started out, it was a little on the slow side. I wasn’t completely invested until about 30% of the way through, then I was eager to keep reading and see how things panned out. I wouldn’t exactly say that the beginning was ‘boring’ but it wasn’t as engaging as the last half of the novel.
There is also quite a bit of gore in this book. As with any authentic thriller, there is a measure of violence and gore necessary to validate the realism in the story—and thus is the case with this book, however for me toward the end, it started to be a little bit of overkill (no pun intended).
Over all this was a good debut. I would recommend it to people who are fans of spy novels and government/military like thrillers and covert ops.
See my full review here
March 10, 2021
I have read The Break Line, it's the first Max McLean adventure by James Brabazon. This was a good action thriller with a little different twist. I am not really sure what I thought about it, because I don't like it when it gets to much fantasy or science fiction and I think it got a little to far for me. I will still recommend it and read the second book and see where it goes.
July 20, 2018
Very exciting action/techno/horror thriller with pages that flew through the fingers. Undoubtedly very violent and gory, it has an intriguing 'anti/hero' at its heart. He doesn't expect you to like him (why would you?) but you'll certainly be rooting for him as he takes us deep into the African jungle. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
November 20, 2020
The Break Line is one of the best action thrillers I have had the pleasure of reading. It’s one of the books whose uniqueness and sheer unbridled violence will stay with you long after you have read it. As a debut, I have nothing but immense respect for the author’s ability to write a refined action thriller that is written extremely well for a debut. Imagine a cross between Victor the Assassin books and James Rollins thrillers, and you have The Break Line.
The Break Line debuts Max McLean as a hardened British assassin who is part of a black-ops unit, called The Unknown, that is responsible for doing the dirty work the government does not wish to be associated with. Immediately we see McLean establish his bona-fides as a competent and autonomous assassin, but one who is somewhat tired of living a life of violence in the shadows. When his gut instinct tells him that something is wrong with the target he is assigned, he chooses to forgo his mission and is called back. To make up for his lack of conformity with the program, he is offered a mission to take out a rebel leader in Sierra Leone, one whose death will end bloodshed and save lives. As simple as it sounds, it isn’t.
This is where the plot ventures from purely espionage and assassin-style to the James Rollins style, with some horror elements. On his way to the target, McLean comes across a town that is supposedly closed off for an outbreak of Cholera. But when McLean digs further, he comes across a display of violence unimaginable under normal circumstances. Bodies ripped apart brutally, bitten, torn limb from limb. This is linked directly to the rebel McLean is there to kill. As Max gets closer and closer to his target, he is targeted by forces led by a shadow group, one that has a direct link to Max himself. Without spoiling more, I will simply say there is no lull in the fast-paced narrative.
The action in this phenomenal thriller is adrenaline-pumping and visually appealing for all fans of the action thriller genre, with detailed combat sequences of fisticuffs as well as shootouts that are described in a manner that the reader feels right in the middle of the combat zone. With accurate details pertaining to technical weaponry and sequences that demonstrate the author’s research into weapons systems, the action in this book is on par with the best of the genre. McLean favors a Sig Sauer pistol, a relatively rare sight in the books but a welcome one.
Max McLean, while a badass protagonist, is also an intriguing one. As the book often reveals details about his past, we see McLean described as a “legally sane psychopath”. Early on in the book he is shown as a soldier willing to pull the trigger unflinchingly when ordered to on an unsuspecting family man. This side of him is balanced with his humanity; even operating in shades of grey, he tries to do good to innocents around him. The narrative is full of meaningful encounters where his humanity overcomes his killing nature. That being said, he isn’t the most forgiving person. Encountering several unarmed civilians who pose a threat to his mission, he shoots first without bothering to incapacitate them, yet his actions will resonate well with the readers. That is the beauty of his character.
The unique and rare blend of assassin-style vibes and science-fiction elements of biological viruses and genetic mutation is brilliantly thought out and portrayed in this story. Deep down, it is a story of mankind’s struggle in walking the line between selfish and selfless, and it applies to Max not just directly but through his discoveries throughout the narrative. There are elements of gruesome horror that will haunt readers with the unfiltered descriptions of horrifying actions perpetrated by beings that are no ordinary humans. Be prepared for some shocking twists, abrupt turns in the plot that would keep the reader on the edge of their seat, and some badass moments that establish Max McLean as the new gun on the block that no one should ever mess with. I highly recommend this action thriller, and I am absolutely thrilled to read more by the author.
The Break Line debuts Max McLean as a hardened British assassin who is part of a black-ops unit, called The Unknown, that is responsible for doing the dirty work the government does not wish to be associated with. Immediately we see McLean establish his bona-fides as a competent and autonomous assassin, but one who is somewhat tired of living a life of violence in the shadows. When his gut instinct tells him that something is wrong with the target he is assigned, he chooses to forgo his mission and is called back. To make up for his lack of conformity with the program, he is offered a mission to take out a rebel leader in Sierra Leone, one whose death will end bloodshed and save lives. As simple as it sounds, it isn’t.
This is where the plot ventures from purely espionage and assassin-style to the James Rollins style, with some horror elements. On his way to the target, McLean comes across a town that is supposedly closed off for an outbreak of Cholera. But when McLean digs further, he comes across a display of violence unimaginable under normal circumstances. Bodies ripped apart brutally, bitten, torn limb from limb. This is linked directly to the rebel McLean is there to kill. As Max gets closer and closer to his target, he is targeted by forces led by a shadow group, one that has a direct link to Max himself. Without spoiling more, I will simply say there is no lull in the fast-paced narrative.
The action in this phenomenal thriller is adrenaline-pumping and visually appealing for all fans of the action thriller genre, with detailed combat sequences of fisticuffs as well as shootouts that are described in a manner that the reader feels right in the middle of the combat zone. With accurate details pertaining to technical weaponry and sequences that demonstrate the author’s research into weapons systems, the action in this book is on par with the best of the genre. McLean favors a Sig Sauer pistol, a relatively rare sight in the books but a welcome one.
Max McLean, while a badass protagonist, is also an intriguing one. As the book often reveals details about his past, we see McLean described as a “legally sane psychopath”. Early on in the book he is shown as a soldier willing to pull the trigger unflinchingly when ordered to on an unsuspecting family man. This side of him is balanced with his humanity; even operating in shades of grey, he tries to do good to innocents around him. The narrative is full of meaningful encounters where his humanity overcomes his killing nature. That being said, he isn’t the most forgiving person. Encountering several unarmed civilians who pose a threat to his mission, he shoots first without bothering to incapacitate them, yet his actions will resonate well with the readers. That is the beauty of his character.
The unique and rare blend of assassin-style vibes and science-fiction elements of biological viruses and genetic mutation is brilliantly thought out and portrayed in this story. Deep down, it is a story of mankind’s struggle in walking the line between selfish and selfless, and it applies to Max not just directly but through his discoveries throughout the narrative. There are elements of gruesome horror that will haunt readers with the unfiltered descriptions of horrifying actions perpetrated by beings that are no ordinary humans. Be prepared for some shocking twists, abrupt turns in the plot that would keep the reader on the edge of their seat, and some badass moments that establish Max McLean as the new gun on the block that no one should ever mess with. I highly recommend this action thriller, and I am absolutely thrilled to read more by the author.
February 18, 2019
The Break Line (2018) is James Barbazon's a debut novel. Its a mix of horror, military, andn intrigue genres, Max McLean, its protagonist, is an assassin with the British Special Operations Service. Mclean began killing people at the young age of twentyish. He's still doing it and has risen to the top of his job description; he's now mid-forties. He is now the lead assassin for MI6 and is under consideration for promotion to directorship of the assassination school at Raven Hill, the school that trained him all those years ago.
But Max has recently fucked up. His fundamental flaw is that he doesn't like to kill; he does it without guilt when he's convinced the target deserves to disappear, but he doesn't do it out of a need to bleed. His last job was a woman whom he was ordered to dispatch but at the last minute he realized that she was not the woman his handlers wanted to kill—it was a mistaken identity by someone above his pay grade. So he doesn't kill her, though he does take her to bed. Well, he had to do something! We learn later that she was the right woman and that Max had been set up.
This failure-to-perform creates two problems for Max. First, in a military setting there is no such thing as a mistake made above your pay grade—the higher-ups are masters at deflecting guilt so that it boomerangs back to the lower echelon. Second, by not killing someone he had been ordered to kill, he had disobeyed an order; this is, of course, unacceptable no matter how good the reason. As Max puts it, "You mean I am at fault for not killing someone who shouldn't be killed?" The answer is a firm, "Yes!"
So Max's promotion is held up until he can complete his next job. That next job is very messy. He is to go to Sierra Leone to assassinate a man who is at the center of a Russian-supported rebellion. The fellow who had been sent before him had been exfiltrated and was stark raving mad. The cruelty of the rebels is immeasurable as whole villages are decimated, leaving behind brutally hacked-up bodies. There are simply no survivors; it's as if a primordial monster had been let loose on the population.
The Sierra Leone government masks the brutality by closing the affected area and claiming that a cholera epidemic has broken out. But Max knows better as he fights to survive while tracking down his target: somehow his target knows that Max is coming. Bodies fall faster than rain in a thunderstorm as the Russians—or someone—tries to bring Max down in what seems to be West Africa's armpit. Max begins to realize that his several handlers have mixed motives: at least one has sent him on the mission to be murdered.
This is a tightly woven plot with lots of surprises. And it's the fastest pace I've ever seen in a geopolitical thriller. As the bodies dropped and the blood flowed I found myself hoping that Max would survive just so I could read the next Max McLean book. What a treat—but you can't be shy about buckets of blood. This is not everyone's book.
Five Stars!
But Max has recently fucked up. His fundamental flaw is that he doesn't like to kill; he does it without guilt when he's convinced the target deserves to disappear, but he doesn't do it out of a need to bleed. His last job was a woman whom he was ordered to dispatch but at the last minute he realized that she was not the woman his handlers wanted to kill—it was a mistaken identity by someone above his pay grade. So he doesn't kill her, though he does take her to bed. Well, he had to do something! We learn later that she was the right woman and that Max had been set up.
This failure-to-perform creates two problems for Max. First, in a military setting there is no such thing as a mistake made above your pay grade—the higher-ups are masters at deflecting guilt so that it boomerangs back to the lower echelon. Second, by not killing someone he had been ordered to kill, he had disobeyed an order; this is, of course, unacceptable no matter how good the reason. As Max puts it, "You mean I am at fault for not killing someone who shouldn't be killed?" The answer is a firm, "Yes!"
So Max's promotion is held up until he can complete his next job. That next job is very messy. He is to go to Sierra Leone to assassinate a man who is at the center of a Russian-supported rebellion. The fellow who had been sent before him had been exfiltrated and was stark raving mad. The cruelty of the rebels is immeasurable as whole villages are decimated, leaving behind brutally hacked-up bodies. There are simply no survivors; it's as if a primordial monster had been let loose on the population.
The Sierra Leone government masks the brutality by closing the affected area and claiming that a cholera epidemic has broken out. But Max knows better as he fights to survive while tracking down his target: somehow his target knows that Max is coming. Bodies fall faster than rain in a thunderstorm as the Russians—or someone—tries to bring Max down in what seems to be West Africa's armpit. Max begins to realize that his several handlers have mixed motives: at least one has sent him on the mission to be murdered.
This is a tightly woven plot with lots of surprises. And it's the fastest pace I've ever seen in a geopolitical thriller. As the bodies dropped and the blood flowed I found myself hoping that Max would survive just so I could read the next Max McLean book. What a treat—but you can't be shy about buckets of blood. This is not everyone's book.
Five Stars!
August 24, 2018
This book was written in the fast paced action style of James Rollins and Matthew Riley. Most of the spec stuff that was described was completely over my head, but it added to the story. I liked that the book was mostly set in Africa and I enjoyed the description of the landscape. The detailed description of the London pub was spot on and I could literally see the confrontation scene unfold (such a good whodunnit). I also liked that some characters popped up again unexpectedly throughout the book and that in typical spy fashion, allegiances change.
I enjoyed the twists and turns, however some of the twists were a bit predictable. I’d most likely read a sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
I enjoyed the twists and turns, however some of the twists were a bit predictable. I’d most likely read a sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
July 24, 2020
Get ready Vince Flynn, Pike Logan, and all the other literary government tough guys; Max McLean is here, Northern Irelands produced an epic killer who’s working for England’s MI6, McLean is sent into the land of Joseph Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness, and Apocalypse Now, wrecking havoc on all those who oppose him, until he comes up against a killing machine that total obliterates it’s enemy with the efficiency of a sociopath and the terror of German SS. Get ready to strap in, lock and load.
Can’t wait for number two.
Can’t wait for number two.
March 20, 2019
This is the most violent book I have ever read (and that’s saying something). It veers off into a sci-fi plot that is totally over the top. Not what I signed up for. If the book had been billed as horror or sci-fi I might have given it a better rating.
There is also some very awkward phrasing that had me wondering if the author’s first language wasn’t English or the book had been translated.
There is also some very awkward phrasing that had me wondering if the author’s first language wasn’t English or the book had been translated.
April 9, 2022
James Brabazon – a journalist, documentary filmmaker, and non-fiction author – made his fiction debut with The Break Line a few years ago and it’s one of the most intriguing, original, darkly spellbinding, and wildly brilliant tale that I’ve read in a long time. Though this book doesn’t technically fit into any existing genre by normal standards, it mixes elements of psychological thrillers, ultra-realistic black ops / assassins based thrillers, scientific speculative monster horror action adventures, and other related thrillers but also has a Fleming-esque feel to it. The first person narrative is immersive and Brabazon takes us deep into the psychotic mind of his protagonist, Max McLean, who’s a complex character, antiheroic and yet sympathetic and good when it matters.
The Break Line is, of course, many levels away from most of the thrillers in the action genres that stick to formulas and tropes, but it comes off as a classic masterpiece and not as the work of a debut author. Max, the cold blooded assassin, is called by the author as a ‘legally sane psychopath’, who works for a shadowy British black ops group to do their bidding without thinking about it. Problems arise when he begins questioning his orders and analyzing the intel on his own and spares the life of his target in Latin America. This ‘mistake’ comes back to haunt him later in the tale in a gruesome, yet epic way. Max’s whole life, from his young age, is relevant to the plot, the characters, and to his character development, but I won’t get into any spoilers in this review. The many twists and turns in the story are memorable and truly mind-blowing.
The author’s prose is spellbinding, mystical, and immersive, taking the readers deep into the psyche of Max McLean in a unique yet brilliant way. His attention to detail and the logistics connected to the operations are a treat to read. His(Max’s) ability to analyze situations is gripping, filled with tension, and Max’s mind is written well enough to contaminate the readers with the character’s paranoia, fears, and terrors. The action is realistic sometimes and wildly epic near the end, but it’s all written in a plausible way despite the completely unrealistic concept of the story.
Given a chance to redeem himself after the screw-up in Latin America, Max is sent to West Africa to assassinate a Russian who’s training a group of rebels, but of course, the operation is not what it seems. His friend and trusted operator, a battle buddy, has lost his mind after heading to the same place, and Max can’t imagine what could have happened. As he investigates, Max finds that the operation is filled with deceptions, which both Britain and the US would kill for, in a shadowy operation that involves the Russians and a medical research facility. The scenes of spycraft and tradecraft are written too realistically when compared to most of today’s thrillers, and the author’s attention to detail is heavily researched. Max, a paranoid and psychotic assassin, is written with a large depth of character to make the readers not just sympathize with him, but also cheer for him when things go haywire in horrific ways.
Though the villains are humans in a complex conspiracy that spans the globe, Max also fights things that aren’t exactly human, but something more monstrous. The author convincingly mixes the classical espionage and spy thriller genre with the monster horror genre, making the book a treat for both fanbases, but it’s too serious at times while being too wild at others. The monsters themselves are complex and don’t appear too much, but they’re dangerously wild when they do. I liked how the monsters, or Sleepers as they’re called, are teased for most of the book and appear only near the end at the main act of the epic tale. These creatures, mutated and weaponized humans, are connected to the Ebola virus, and the author explains the science enough to make genetic warfare look like the new horrific WMD for the thriller genre with endless possibilities.
The portrayal of West Africa shows heavy research and is very immersive, like a travelogue with the grim realities of the region. The bits of humor mixed with the heavy darkness were amazing in a wild and whacky manner, but it never lightened the severity of the narrative. The climax, technically the multiple climaxes, were epic, wild, brilliant, smart, and twisted and ties up all the loose ends, making this book readable as a highly satisfying standalone though there’s a sequel.
This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted and is filled with bloody violence, torture, action, and psychologically dark elements that are not for everyone. I liked how Max, an obvious psychopath, is humanized and shown as a person with a moral compass who has his own emotions and fears. He’s a badass killer for sure, but there’s a lot of depth to Max which is very rare in this genre. The Break Line is a book like no other and is a treat to hardcore fans of spy thrillers, action thrillers, scientific horror technothrillers, and psychological thrillers. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel eventually, as Max McLean is a unique breed of a killer in the genre filled with stereotypical action heroes.
For more long-form book reviews, check out - www.kronosananthsimha.com/book-blog/
The Break Line is, of course, many levels away from most of the thrillers in the action genres that stick to formulas and tropes, but it comes off as a classic masterpiece and not as the work of a debut author. Max, the cold blooded assassin, is called by the author as a ‘legally sane psychopath’, who works for a shadowy British black ops group to do their bidding without thinking about it. Problems arise when he begins questioning his orders and analyzing the intel on his own and spares the life of his target in Latin America. This ‘mistake’ comes back to haunt him later in the tale in a gruesome, yet epic way. Max’s whole life, from his young age, is relevant to the plot, the characters, and to his character development, but I won’t get into any spoilers in this review. The many twists and turns in the story are memorable and truly mind-blowing.
The author’s prose is spellbinding, mystical, and immersive, taking the readers deep into the psyche of Max McLean in a unique yet brilliant way. His attention to detail and the logistics connected to the operations are a treat to read. His(Max’s) ability to analyze situations is gripping, filled with tension, and Max’s mind is written well enough to contaminate the readers with the character’s paranoia, fears, and terrors. The action is realistic sometimes and wildly epic near the end, but it’s all written in a plausible way despite the completely unrealistic concept of the story.
Given a chance to redeem himself after the screw-up in Latin America, Max is sent to West Africa to assassinate a Russian who’s training a group of rebels, but of course, the operation is not what it seems. His friend and trusted operator, a battle buddy, has lost his mind after heading to the same place, and Max can’t imagine what could have happened. As he investigates, Max finds that the operation is filled with deceptions, which both Britain and the US would kill for, in a shadowy operation that involves the Russians and a medical research facility. The scenes of spycraft and tradecraft are written too realistically when compared to most of today’s thrillers, and the author’s attention to detail is heavily researched. Max, a paranoid and psychotic assassin, is written with a large depth of character to make the readers not just sympathize with him, but also cheer for him when things go haywire in horrific ways.
Though the villains are humans in a complex conspiracy that spans the globe, Max also fights things that aren’t exactly human, but something more monstrous. The author convincingly mixes the classical espionage and spy thriller genre with the monster horror genre, making the book a treat for both fanbases, but it’s too serious at times while being too wild at others. The monsters themselves are complex and don’t appear too much, but they’re dangerously wild when they do. I liked how the monsters, or Sleepers as they’re called, are teased for most of the book and appear only near the end at the main act of the epic tale. These creatures, mutated and weaponized humans, are connected to the Ebola virus, and the author explains the science enough to make genetic warfare look like the new horrific WMD for the thriller genre with endless possibilities.
The portrayal of West Africa shows heavy research and is very immersive, like a travelogue with the grim realities of the region. The bits of humor mixed with the heavy darkness were amazing in a wild and whacky manner, but it never lightened the severity of the narrative. The climax, technically the multiple climaxes, were epic, wild, brilliant, smart, and twisted and ties up all the loose ends, making this book readable as a highly satisfying standalone though there’s a sequel.
This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted and is filled with bloody violence, torture, action, and psychologically dark elements that are not for everyone. I liked how Max, an obvious psychopath, is humanized and shown as a person with a moral compass who has his own emotions and fears. He’s a badass killer for sure, but there’s a lot of depth to Max which is very rare in this genre. The Break Line is a book like no other and is a treat to hardcore fans of spy thrillers, action thrillers, scientific horror technothrillers, and psychological thrillers. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel eventually, as Max McLean is a unique breed of a killer in the genre filled with stereotypical action heroes.
For more long-form book reviews, check out - www.kronosananthsimha.com/book-blog/
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