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Omega #1
Dawn of the Hunter
Ten years in the British SAS have turned Lacklan Walker into a supreme killing machine. That, and his twisted, dysfunctional family.
His father, a Boston Brahmin Billionaire, taught him how to hate. His English Aristocrat mother taught him he didn’t belong. And when his only friend and childhood sweetheart, Marni, wanted to teach him how to love, he walked away from her, knowing all he would ever be good at was killing, and war.
Now, Robert Walker, his father has called him back to Boston from Wyoming, because Marni has gone missing. But before Lacklan can go looking for her, Walker has to tell him the truth: the truth about who he is, what he has done, who has taken Marni…and why: the truth about Omega.
And that truth unleashes in Lacklan a rage, a rage that will not be sated until he has hunted down and killed each and every one of his enemies.
This is the dawn of the hunter…
His father, a Boston Brahmin Billionaire, taught him how to hate. His English Aristocrat mother taught him he didn’t belong. And when his only friend and childhood sweetheart, Marni, wanted to teach him how to love, he walked away from her, knowing all he would ever be good at was killing, and war.
Now, Robert Walker, his father has called him back to Boston from Wyoming, because Marni has gone missing. But before Lacklan can go looking for her, Walker has to tell him the truth: the truth about who he is, what he has done, who has taken Marni…and why: the truth about Omega.
And that truth unleashes in Lacklan a rage, a rage that will not be sated until he has hunted down and killed each and every one of his enemies.
This is the dawn of the hunter…
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2017
4103 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
About the author
Blake Banner
151 books397 followersUSA TODAY and Amazon #1 bestselling author of the OMEGA and DEAD COLD MYSTERY series. Learn more about Blake Banner at his website: www.blakebanner.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
August 4, 2021
Must admit to being a little disappointed here. I recently found myself up to date with all 26 of Mr Banner's books in his Dead Cold series which I loved. So I decided to try this series and, this first book at least, was not the same calibre at all.
I still enjoyed the action packed heroics but I struggled with the sheer number of people the main character killed. He basically disposed of anyone who stood between him and his objective regardless of who they were or if they were even relevant. I think if the cleaning lady had stepped in front of him he would have brained her with her mop bucket. It verged on being farcical.
However I have been promised by a reader I trust that it is as brilliant a series as Dead Cold, and I can see the ratings do start to climb from the next book. I have also bought books 1-5 as a boxed set, so I am up for more! Maybe by the time I review book two I will have discovered I do like Lacklan (yes that is the spelling in the book) after all and maybe he will have eased up a bit on who he kills. Wish me luck.
I still enjoyed the action packed heroics but I struggled with the sheer number of people the main character killed. He basically disposed of anyone who stood between him and his objective regardless of who they were or if they were even relevant. I think if the cleaning lady had stepped in front of him he would have brained her with her mop bucket. It verged on being farcical.
However I have been promised by a reader I trust that it is as brilliant a series as Dead Cold, and I can see the ratings do start to climb from the next book. I have also bought books 1-5 as a boxed set, so I am up for more! Maybe by the time I review book two I will have discovered I do like Lacklan (yes that is the spelling in the book) after all and maybe he will have eased up a bit on who he kills. Wish me luck.
July 20, 2018
I understand why writers need to self publish for financial reasons, but it tends to stunt their development from a writer into an author. I noticed strong echo's of other novels of a similar type, especial Jack Reacher books. There was a lack of structure and research and a abundance of unnecessary violence used to develop the main character. Having 30 yrs military experience I can assure You that only very few ex SAS men choose to live in remote locations, many are married and the single one's tend to either carry out private security work, or live in a nice flat in a city. It was impossible to believe that the main character could have sustained the beatings he took and still remained active, or after his years of training with the SAS would have stumbled in to situations without a back up plan. My last suggestion is that you do much more structuring and research, add a bit more narrative to your work, and get a good editor, come up with your own style rather than use concepts from other books that you have read
January 23, 2018
SAS hard core bad-ass struggles with dad's super-powerful organization trying to diminish the horror of the coming apocalypse caused by global warming. The protagonist chases after a childhood love that is also trying to stop the bad guys. It's not clear why Sean / Marni want to stop Omega (let's stop the guys trying to mitigate the disaster). The author is preachy as hell about global warming and ignorant of even the most basic firearms knowledge. His description of what a Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum does is nonsensical and a Glock 43 has neither a hammer nor a safety.
Lots of macho crap and Sean kills pretty much everyone he meets.
Lots of macho crap and Sean kills pretty much everyone he meets.
May 20, 2019
Great book if you like the bad guys getting the chop 🙀
September 21, 2020
762 Amazon reviews avg 4.2
Worth Reading...good in so many ways, but for me, it had some deficiencies.
What was good:
-Lots of action.
-A world conspiracy backdrop. The premise was interesting, to include world overpopulation, saving the planet, but with no regard for anyone outside of their private circle.
What was bad:
-I almost gave up at the end of Chapter Four. I felt the set up was too slow. But then it picked up.
-The next big problem for me is how the hero kills or too easily, too many people, and I am often not sure the people he kills, need to or even deserve to die or be maimed for life. At this point, I didn't like the hero.
-The killing slows down a little, still don't like the guy. The conspiracy is taking more shape. I am interested in the story, then it STOPS. It felt like I was turning the page to the read the next chapter and he is asking for a review. It just did not feel like any storylines were wrapped up. It is the most abrupt ending I have ever read, and yes there is a next book in the series.
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU. As of this writing 93% 5 and 4-star reviews on Amazon with 320+ reviews)
Worth Reading...good in so many ways, but for me, it had some deficiencies.
What was good:
-Lots of action.
-A world conspiracy backdrop. The premise was interesting, to include world overpopulation, saving the planet, but with no regard for anyone outside of their private circle.
What was bad:
-I almost gave up at the end of Chapter Four. I felt the set up was too slow. But then it picked up.
-The next big problem for me is how the hero kills or too easily, too many people, and I am often not sure the people he kills, need to or even deserve to die or be maimed for life. At this point, I didn't like the hero.
-The killing slows down a little, still don't like the guy. The conspiracy is taking more shape. I am interested in the story, then it STOPS. It felt like I was turning the page to the read the next chapter and he is asking for a review. It just did not feel like any storylines were wrapped up. It is the most abrupt ending I have ever read, and yes there is a next book in the series.
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU. As of this writing 93% 5 and 4-star reviews on Amazon with 320+ reviews)
February 17, 2018
One you get past the first three chapters it becomes pretty much non stop action. The author tries to put a few red herrings and a few twists into the story. As it's the first of a series, there really isn't much suspense in how this book is going to end. The main character, Lacklan Walker, really has few redeeming qualities. He's a stone killer, although in this novel he's on a mission.
Not sure I'll continue the series. I really hate stories that don't end.
Not sure I'll continue the series. I really hate stories that don't end.
May 26, 2022
What an amazing book. I certainly can imagine how his life had been hard. It's impossible to imagine how he can be so vindictive. However, it makes for fantastic reading!
February 14, 2018
Too brutal and unrealistic
Got half way through book before given up. Main character is brutally beaten but manages to escape his bonds and go on killing the bad guys . Really This is more unrealistic than a Tom Cruse Mission Impossible.
Got half way through book before given up. Main character is brutally beaten but manages to escape his bonds and go on killing the bad guys . Really This is more unrealistic than a Tom Cruse Mission Impossible.
April 29, 2018
Lacklan Walker is a rich kid who had a strained relationship with his father. Rather than do what was expected of him, Walker joined the SAS, a special forces unit in the British military. He passed on marrying the love of his life for reasons I've since forgotten. But he wanted the best for her and didn't believe his choices gave her that opportunity. Walker spent at least a decade performing assignments that honed his talents as an effective killer. He didn't return home, and he didn't contact Marni, his childhood sweetheart. Out of the blue, his father contacts him and says Marni's gone missing. Robert Walker then explains some of the reason why it's imperative Lacklan finds her. She's pursued her father's research and poses a danger to some very dangerous people, people who are part of a clandestine organization Robert himself is part of. Lacklan is shocked that his distant dad confided him, but trusts the man very little. He's a billionaire and ruthless. But Marni's left him a clue, and he knows where to find her. Turns out the clue leads him to an operation that has nefarious intent and could dramatically damage society. But Lacklan Walker doesn't worry much about his safety, and that's his secret weapon. He's dangerous. And he's got a vintage Mustang tricked out with electric engines. Still, he's no Batman. The car's just a car. Writer Blake Banner has created a soldier who's a good guy. But he can turn into a one-man army when pushed. Walker is a great character and one of my personal favorites in the mystery thriller genre. I burned through all the books Banner wrote in the series, one after another. I was obsessed.
January 23, 2018
Dawn of the Hunter introduces Lacklan Walker as a man with a particular set of skills that could put Liam Neeson's Brian Mills on alert. Called to his dying father's bedside, a man he detests and has not had contact with for many years, he sets out to find a childhood friend who is in danger. Walker amply demonstrates his skills along the way, leaving death and destruction in his wake.
While I appreciate the technical skill demonstrated by Walker, I don't know much about him. I understand more about the men he is fighting against than him, but that may be the cloth from which they are drawn: men intent on controlling the world because they know better. Walker understands them, too, as demonstrated in a pointed monologue that seems to address more than the characters to whom it is directed. In my mind, anyway. I don't understand much of his motivation as a person, though. One review I read described him as "soulless", and I think that is the perfect word for him.
There is a strong sense of place throughout the book. The characters occupy the space convincingly, and everything seems to make sense.
This is the first chapter in a series of books. I intend to give the second book a go at some point, and I hope that there is some better background on Lacklan. For this book, it was a quick read (160-ish pages), and I didn't hate it at all, but I wanted something more. I want Lacklan to be less lacking.
While I appreciate the technical skill demonstrated by Walker, I don't know much about him. I understand more about the men he is fighting against than him, but that may be the cloth from which they are drawn: men intent on controlling the world because they know better. Walker understands them, too, as demonstrated in a pointed monologue that seems to address more than the characters to whom it is directed. In my mind, anyway. I don't understand much of his motivation as a person, though. One review I read described him as "soulless", and I think that is the perfect word for him.
There is a strong sense of place throughout the book. The characters occupy the space convincingly, and everything seems to make sense.
This is the first chapter in a series of books. I intend to give the second book a go at some point, and I hope that there is some better background on Lacklan. For this book, it was a quick read (160-ish pages), and I didn't hate it at all, but I wanted something more. I want Lacklan to be less lacking.
January 19, 2018
Okay, but room for improvement
Well, first of all, feel free to come to Salida. It's not near that isolated. Maybe Hartsel, but that's a ways out.
Anyway, the book: Lacklan is a fairly flat character, which is unfortunate because there's some interesting back story that could be developed. He mentions a couple of times that he's losing his humanity, but we never get to see what his conflict is about. There's a lot of telling us about the relationships in the book, but there is absolutely nothing to support what we're directly told.
The plot is pretty thin, and clearly designed to be spread out over multiple books. Besides thinning out the plot, it leaves this installment pretty short. Personally, I'd rather have one book that tells the whole story.
There's some pretty glaring holes throughout. Maybe Banner tightens up his storytelling in the next couple of books...which would be great because there's some potential here.
Well, first of all, feel free to come to Salida. It's not near that isolated. Maybe Hartsel, but that's a ways out.
Anyway, the book: Lacklan is a fairly flat character, which is unfortunate because there's some interesting back story that could be developed. He mentions a couple of times that he's losing his humanity, but we never get to see what his conflict is about. There's a lot of telling us about the relationships in the book, but there is absolutely nothing to support what we're directly told.
The plot is pretty thin, and clearly designed to be spread out over multiple books. Besides thinning out the plot, it leaves this installment pretty short. Personally, I'd rather have one book that tells the whole story.
There's some pretty glaring holes throughout. Maybe Banner tightens up his storytelling in the next couple of books...which would be great because there's some potential here.
January 1, 2018
Dawn of the Hunter. Blake Banner
Lacklan Walker, ex British SAS is highly skilled. That would be an understatement. He's deadly. His extremely wealthy Bostonian family he is estranged from. He hasn't spoken to his father in year's. Suddenly he is summoned. His father wants to speak to him. He's dying. Lacklan reluctantly agrees. His father and brother are part of an organization of extremely wealthy and powerful people who believe overpopulation is killing our world as we know it. They will stop at nothing to shrink and control the population. This is an extremely fast paced action thriller full of deceit and misdirection towards Lacklan. A fantastic read!
Lacklan Walker, ex British SAS is highly skilled. That would be an understatement. He's deadly. His extremely wealthy Bostonian family he is estranged from. He hasn't spoken to his father in year's. Suddenly he is summoned. His father wants to speak to him. He's dying. Lacklan reluctantly agrees. His father and brother are part of an organization of extremely wealthy and powerful people who believe overpopulation is killing our world as we know it. They will stop at nothing to shrink and control the population. This is an extremely fast paced action thriller full of deceit and misdirection towards Lacklan. A fantastic read!
August 19, 2018
Strangely interesting
This book could have been so much more. It was good and interesting but it had NO ENDING. NONE. Just like a chapter ended and a pop-up appeared saying "buy the next book in the series". There was no closure. Just an offer to buy the next book so this same story can continue??? Most blatantly obvious lead ins to the next in the series at least have some closure to this specific episode, and then on to the next. Not so here. So, I enjoyed the book,but not the ending my And I will read no more of the series so that this type of ending doesn't happen any more to me.
This book could have been so much more. It was good and interesting but it had NO ENDING. NONE. Just like a chapter ended and a pop-up appeared saying "buy the next book in the series". There was no closure. Just an offer to buy the next book so this same story can continue??? Most blatantly obvious lead ins to the next in the series at least have some closure to this specific episode, and then on to the next. Not so here. So, I enjoyed the book,but not the ending my And I will read no more of the series so that this type of ending doesn't happen any more to me.
September 19, 2019
Ok book
The story was alright I suppose but the main character came over as a bit of an idiot who's moto in the sas must have been if In doubt kill it , he went about killing everybody he came across which was a bit to much for me , if Mr Banner put a bit more thought into the story and just have his character knock out of subdue certain characters like in the bar brawl or the truck driver it would have made a more enjoyable read because its hard to believe the amount of people he killed and the police never questioned him once ,overall it's an ok read but could have been so much better .
The story was alright I suppose but the main character came over as a bit of an idiot who's moto in the sas must have been if In doubt kill it , he went about killing everybody he came across which was a bit to much for me , if Mr Banner put a bit more thought into the story and just have his character knock out of subdue certain characters like in the bar brawl or the truck driver it would have made a more enjoyable read because its hard to believe the amount of people he killed and the police never questioned him once ,overall it's an ok read but could have been so much better .
November 28, 2018
A Mystery by BB/Ex SAS/Population Control/A World Organization/Ekite
BY has penned a mystery novel about an underground organization founded by the elite rich to begin to control the population of the world.
One father is murdered and his daughter and the son of another runs to the SAS. After 10 years the two begin to fight the group know as Omega. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
BY has penned a mystery novel about an underground organization founded by the elite rich to begin to control the population of the world.
One father is murdered and his daughter and the son of another runs to the SAS. After 10 years the two begin to fight the group know as Omega. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
August 12, 2019
A one man killing machine!
I found this story a little hard to believe even though there was plenty of action in this book. I don't know how the main character got to be in the SAS especially as he is American. He also came across to me a little psychopathic seemingly wanting to kill everyone. This did not appeal to me but if you like plenty of killing in your books you'll love it.
I found this story a little hard to believe even though there was plenty of action in this book. I don't know how the main character got to be in the SAS especially as he is American. He also came across to me a little psychopathic seemingly wanting to kill everyone. This did not appeal to me but if you like plenty of killing in your books you'll love it.
October 4, 2019
I did like the story and though I don’t mind series I do tend to like each storyline wrapped up by the end of each book, at least the crime part of the book if not the personal life of the main character. I do not care for the main character of this series, at least not yet. As a previous reviewer said, he has few redeeming qualities. He seems to be a pretty cold human being. I will read the next one in the series and see how that one goes.
December 6, 2017
Not sure will wait for the next book
Enjoyed the book overall and a decent plot line that could easily be developed in future books. My biggest problem was that i dont really like the hero, not enough background development and i found him a little souless. That said will pick up the next in series when it comes out.
Enjoyed the book overall and a decent plot line that could easily be developed in future books. My biggest problem was that i dont really like the hero, not enough background development and i found him a little souless. That said will pick up the next in series when it comes out.
January 13, 2018
Fantastic story
This is the first story of this author that I have read and it was really good 👍👍👍 I can't wait to read the next story in this series! 📕
I wasn't sure if I would really like this story but it turned out to be an amazing and confusing plot!👏 Hopefully the next story will be as good!
This is the first story of this author that I have read and it was really good 👍👍👍 I can't wait to read the next story in this series! 📕
I wasn't sure if I would really like this story but it turned out to be an amazing and confusing plot!👏 Hopefully the next story will be as good!
March 10, 2018
Good read
A good fast paced book. Lacklan is an odd character. If you miss the reference to his mother the question of how an American got into the SAS doesn't get answered. He kills at the drop of a hat and has a remarkable ability to withstand pain. A bit James Bond/Rambo but still enjoyable.
A good fast paced book. Lacklan is an odd character. If you miss the reference to his mother the question of how an American got into the SAS doesn't get answered. He kills at the drop of a hat and has a remarkable ability to withstand pain. A bit James Bond/Rambo but still enjoyable.
March 12, 2018
Killer
Lacklan Walker is asked by his father to find childhood friend, Marni. She has gone missing. They don't know if she left on her own or was kidnapped by an organization, Omega. They after her because she has some important research gathered by her deceased father. Whatever the research is, it's enough to kill over. Action-filled!
Lacklan Walker is asked by his father to find childhood friend, Marni. She has gone missing. They don't know if she left on her own or was kidnapped by an organization, Omega. They after her because she has some important research gathered by her deceased father. Whatever the research is, it's enough to kill over. Action-filled!
May 15, 2018
Dawn of the hunter
This was the most action packed book that I have read. My goodness but the main character is ruthless, but makes this story really exciting. I can not wait to read your next book in this series. The Author really did an outstanding job of keeping the readers attention throughout the story. I could not put this book down until the very last page.
This was the most action packed book that I have read. My goodness but the main character is ruthless, but makes this story really exciting. I can not wait to read your next book in this series. The Author really did an outstanding job of keeping the readers attention throughout the story. I could not put this book down until the very last page.
January 8, 2019
Dawn of the Hunter kept my interest, but there was a tremendous loss of life! Seemingly the main character is a killing machine. It may be hard for me to "like" him if he continues to kill so many without any personal consequences.
I'll read the second book in the series and then decide if I want to continue.
I'll read the second book in the series and then decide if I want to continue.
February 16, 2019
I liked the beginning, well written, interesting, etc. Then the blood bath began, which didn't make sense to me. I thought the concept that the Omega project was proposing was an interesting angle to controlling the masses, but there was just too much meaningless violence for me.
Read it and decide for yourself.
Read it and decide for yourself.
February 23, 2019
I was impressed with this book. There wasn't a dull moment in it. I loved the plot and the characters. There was so much suspense and action in this story. I want to read more from this author. The ending left me with wanting to know what is happening in their lives next! It is a wonderful series I am sure!
July 16, 2021
Action is non-stop.Arlington National may not be large enough to inter all the bodies being left in the heroes wake.It will be interesting to see if our hero can keep up this pace through 15 volumes.The same will be true of our hero's ability to absorb all the punishing treatment he has endured thus far.I'm hooked.
January 30, 2018
I love action
Even though this author may be talented and if you don't mind profanity and guts and gore then you might like this book. I detest profanity and find it totally unnecessary so I will never read another one of his books. In fact I didn't finish this one.
Even though this author may be talented and if you don't mind profanity and guts and gore then you might like this book. I detest profanity and find it totally unnecessary so I will never read another one of his books. In fact I didn't finish this one.
November 13, 2017
Suspence and excitement
Suspenceful, who done it, with chills and thrills through out. I enjoyed the ruthless characters and am looking forward to the next installment to see what happens next.
Suspenceful, who done it, with chills and thrills through out. I enjoyed the ruthless characters and am looking forward to the next installment to see what happens next.
December 2, 2017
Ex SAS agent takes secret society by the throat
Riveting action with unexpected twist.
The U.S. version of James Bond, hard drinking and smoking, rough around the edges. He handles problems by plowing right through them!
This would make a great action movie!
Riveting action with unexpected twist.
The U.S. version of James Bond, hard drinking and smoking, rough around the edges. He handles problems by plowing right through them!
This would make a great action movie!
January 2, 2018
Action packed thriller
Great read, the characters are complex and believable and the plot kept twisting and turning. Couldn’t put it down, read it in 2 hits. Perfect holiday reading.
Great read, the characters are complex and believable and the plot kept twisting and turning. Couldn’t put it down, read it in 2 hits. Perfect holiday reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews