WHEN VENGEANCE STRIKES, LOVE IS THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME OF ALL
After a Massachusetts court frees accused murderer Rob Townsend, the victim’s closest friend seeks bitter revenge. But Dylan Johnson may be no match for Townsend, a killer with a powerful reason of his own to double-down on homicide—his ex-girlfriend Heather Carter is now involved with Dylan.
As brutal jealousy and violent revenge rage, a mysterious corporate recruiter from Tanzania contacts Dylan and Heather with an offer to leave behind the murder and mayhem for lucrative positions in Africa. Coffie Kuma tells them they’ll be working on “technology with a humanitarian heartbeat.” Kuma’s pitch is persuasive, his stately manner impressive. And since both Dylan and Heather are out of work, it’s an offer they can’t refuse.
Dylan’s attempt to leave, though, could be cut short when detectives unearth incriminating evidence that ties him not only to the targeting of Townsend, but to the shooting and paralyzing of a beloved Boston policeman. Then, Townsend tries to thwart Heather’s escape by blackmailing her with humiliating evidence of her own bad behavior.
Deeply troubling questions haunt both Dylan and Can they find real freedom under the African sun? Or will it be feeding time on the savannah?
With Shadowed, Thomas Waite, the author of widely published and critically acclaimed thrillers, sweeps readers from Boston’s luxurious condos to the wildest, most remote reaches of Africa. That’s where his sharply-drawn characters discover that nature, “red in tooth and claw,” can scarcely compete with the violence of humans. And, in a unique twist, Waite offers a vivid and ingenious reinvention of Richard Cornell’s classic short story, The Most Dangerous Game.
THOMAS WAITE is the bestselling author of the Lana Elkins thriller series: Lethal Code, Trident Code, Unholy Code, and Ghost Code. Blending cutting-edge technology with geopolitical intrigue, his novels explore how artificial intelligence, cyberwarfare, and autonomous weapons are transforming modern conflict.
Award-winning author Hank Phillippi Ryan called Lethal Code “taut, tense, and provocative.” Vice Admiral N.R. Thunman, U.S. Navy (Ret.), compared Trident Code to the work of Tom Clancy, while syndicated columnist Dale Dauten described Unholy Code as “a wholly riveting thriller with a wickedly clever plot.”
His debut novel, Terminal Value, reached #1 in the Amazon Kindle Store. A former business executive and strategic advisor, Waite serves as a board director and advisor to technology companies and nonprofit organizations. His nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The Boston Globe, and The Daily Beast.
Shadowed is an excellent thriller with a unique and twisting plot that will hold your attention right up to its frightening conclusion. It features a spurned lover and accused murderer, a victim’s friend seeking revenge, and a lover’s quandary – and that’s before the twists really begin. When the action moves to the wilds of Africa, things get downright terrifying!
I’ve read all of Waite’s books and he’s become my favorite thriller writer. Better than Patterson, Ludlum, Baldacci, Child, and Flynn. And while Shadowed is a sequel to Waite’s debut novel Terminal Value (which I loved), his books are all written as stand-alone stories so you don’t have to read them in order. I highly recommend Shadowed – you won’t be disappointed!
I like Thomas' writing and this is a very different novel from his previous. Where the first books centered on technology, this thriller runs down a different track. I'm afraid to give too much away in discussing it. That last sentence had to be re-written to prevent a spoiler.
My thinking is that Thomas had a whale of a good time dreaming up the main character, Dylan. He goes from one very bad choice to another throughout the first part of the book. It seems the character's main flaw is making bad choices. And, all those bad choices lead to ...
Well, that would be another spoiler.
I enjoyed the read and the well-tied-up ending. For the life of me, I could not envision how he was going to get the conflict resolved. But, he did. Good writer, good read. Highly recommended.