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Harvey Bennett Prequels #1
The Icarus Effect
He just wants a new life. To escape from it all... but fate has other plans.
Harvey Bennett is no stranger to tragedy.
He's searching for something. But he's not sure what.
Life, unfortunately, keeps getting in the way.
When tragedy strikes Harvey during a family camping trip, he does the only thing he knows how to do: he runs away.
The Icarus Effect is a coming-of-age story set in the woods and backcountry of the US, following the saga of a young man who just wants to find his place in the world. He's alone, scared, and stubborn.
The runaway bestseller The Enigma Strain and the follow-up series of Harvey Bennett Mysteries has fans asking the question: "who is Harvey Bennett?"
How did Harvey Bennett go from reclusive park ranger to head of the Civilian Special Operations?
Now, discover the answer: Introducing the newest in the Harvey Bennett universe: the Harvey Bennett Prequel series.
If you like authors like Dan Brown, Clive Cussler, and Matt Reilly, you'll love Harvey Bennett. Start reading The Icarus Effect today!
Harvey Bennett is no stranger to tragedy.
He's searching for something. But he's not sure what.
Life, unfortunately, keeps getting in the way.
When tragedy strikes Harvey during a family camping trip, he does the only thing he knows how to do: he runs away.
The Icarus Effect is a coming-of-age story set in the woods and backcountry of the US, following the saga of a young man who just wants to find his place in the world. He's alone, scared, and stubborn.
The runaway bestseller The Enigma Strain and the follow-up series of Harvey Bennett Mysteries has fans asking the question: "who is Harvey Bennett?"
How did Harvey Bennett go from reclusive park ranger to head of the Civilian Special Operations?
Now, discover the answer: Introducing the newest in the Harvey Bennett universe: the Harvey Bennett Prequel series.
If you like authors like Dan Brown, Clive Cussler, and Matt Reilly, you'll love Harvey Bennett. Start reading The Icarus Effect today!
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2018
251 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Nick Thacker
109 books439 followersNick Thacker is a thriller author from Texas who lives in Hawaii. In his free time, he enjoys reading in a hammock on the beach, skiing, drinking whiskey, and hanging out with his beautiful wife, two dogs, and two daughters.
For more information, visit Nick online at www.nickthacker.com
In addition to his fiction work, Nick is the founder and lead of Sonata & Scribe, the only music studio focused on producing “soundtracks” for books and series. Find out more at www.SonataAndScribe.com.
In addition to his fiction work, Nick is the founder and lead of Sonata & Scribe, the only music studio focused on producing “soundtracks” for books and series. Find out more at www.SonataAndScribe.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 29, 2018
Harvey Bennett has always been an enigma, a man with a painful past that has only ever been hinted at, until now.
It was actually heart breaking to read all that happened to him and how he reacted, well or badly. It has changed my perception of him, not positively or negatively, just different.
M. P. McDougall has done a bang up job.
It was actually heart breaking to read all that happened to him and how he reacted, well or badly. It has changed my perception of him, not positively or negatively, just different.
M. P. McDougall has done a bang up job.
November 29, 2018
Harvey “Ben” Bennett is a character that draws you in and steals your heart. He’s a 19 year old good kid who can’t figure out what to do with his life when sudden tragedy strikes. With zero coping skills for grief, he still blunders forward trying to do the right thing. Incredibly good plot, lots of action, completely believable dialogue, and fully developed characters. Bravo!
December 3, 2023
I could not put it down!
Seriously! I read this in one day. I rarely give 5 stars, but this was well-deserved. This prequel answers a lot of questions about Harvey. I don't want to give too much away, but the book begins with bears attacking. You can't stop in the middle of that. Haha. It's just one thing after another throughout the rest of the book. Great story, as well as providing insight into Harvey.
Seriously! I read this in one day. I rarely give 5 stars, but this was well-deserved. This prequel answers a lot of questions about Harvey. I don't want to give too much away, but the book begins with bears attacking. You can't stop in the middle of that. Haha. It's just one thing after another throughout the rest of the book. Great story, as well as providing insight into Harvey.
December 18, 2018
Well written
Well written. This author really understands how to create a plausible story. A bit limited probably due to having to tie into the rest of the series.
I will continue to look for and read books by M. P. MacDougall.
Well written. This author really understands how to create a plausible story. A bit limited probably due to having to tie into the rest of the series.
I will continue to look for and read books by M. P. MacDougall.
February 10, 2020
The Icarus Effect - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Introducing the 19 year old Harvey (Ben) Bennett - an immature youngster,content to remain at home with his parents and 9 year old brother Zack, without a care for the future or where his life is going. In order to try and engage with both his sons,(but especially with Harvey) Johnson takes the brothers on a camping trip to the Yellowstone National Park, where events take place that will make Harvey grow up fast and face up to his responsibilities in a shocking and brutal way.Following this, Harvey, now calling himself Ben Bennett finds himself thrown out of the house by his grieving Mom and takes what he thinks will be a fulfilling and rewarding career, with the Forest Fire Rangers organisation. Things there don't go according to his plans either,thanks to another's acts and once again, Harvey's life takes another sharp about-turn. Will this new direction and sense of responsibility for himself and others turn out to be the right choice? Will he reconcile with his Mom? How has the family dynamic altered since he left? Where will this second career take young Harvey Bennett?Nick Thacker begins a wonderful family saga about his young (future) hero,with a realistic, gritty dramatic series of events,that show Harvey's coming of age and learning that the world doesn't owe him a living and to value the time spent with loved ones and friends, giving him a clear purpose in life, going forward.My only niggle is that the story is ended with a slight curtailment in a way that means you'll be eager to continue the saga of The Icarus Effect in Book 2 of the A Harvey Bennett Adventure: (Harvey Bennett Prequels) series, Severed Pines, for which a preview takes up the last 25% of the novel, but I can highly recommend the action, characters and believable storyline, that makes you feel like part of the action and as if you know someone just like young Harvey (Ben) Bennett! Why not try it for yourself - and tell all your friends, who'll love it too?
Introducing the 19 year old Harvey (Ben) Bennett - an immature youngster,content to remain at home with his parents and 9 year old brother Zack, without a care for the future or where his life is going. In order to try and engage with both his sons,(but especially with Harvey) Johnson takes the brothers on a camping trip to the Yellowstone National Park, where events take place that will make Harvey grow up fast and face up to his responsibilities in a shocking and brutal way.Following this, Harvey, now calling himself Ben Bennett finds himself thrown out of the house by his grieving Mom and takes what he thinks will be a fulfilling and rewarding career, with the Forest Fire Rangers organisation. Things there don't go according to his plans either,thanks to another's acts and once again, Harvey's life takes another sharp about-turn. Will this new direction and sense of responsibility for himself and others turn out to be the right choice? Will he reconcile with his Mom? How has the family dynamic altered since he left? Where will this second career take young Harvey Bennett?Nick Thacker begins a wonderful family saga about his young (future) hero,with a realistic, gritty dramatic series of events,that show Harvey's coming of age and learning that the world doesn't owe him a living and to value the time spent with loved ones and friends, giving him a clear purpose in life, going forward.My only niggle is that the story is ended with a slight curtailment in a way that means you'll be eager to continue the saga of The Icarus Effect in Book 2 of the A Harvey Bennett Adventure: (Harvey Bennett Prequels) series, Severed Pines, for which a preview takes up the last 25% of the novel, but I can highly recommend the action, characters and believable storyline, that makes you feel like part of the action and as if you know someone just like young Harvey (Ben) Bennett! Why not try it for yourself - and tell all your friends, who'll love it too?
July 6, 2021
Late teen Harvey 'Ben' Bennett heroically rescues his father and young brother during a bear attack while they are camping. And then he promptly blames himself, behaves like an spoiled brat, gets thrown out of home and joins the Forest Service as a seasonal fire fighter.
While being trained he makes friends and an enemy, Chad - it's a clear indication along the line it's going to come to a head, and given the nature of the job, most likely when lives are on the line.
"The Icarus Effect" is one of several prequels to the Harvey Bennett series. I assume that later books deal with Ben as an adult, I certainly hope so as there is only so much rite of passage and teenage angst I can deal with.
There's a few pretty heavy-handed redemption scenarios aimed, it would appear, at turning Ben into a man.
Author Nick Thacker has a cavalier approach to his characters - don't get too attached to any of them because you never know who's going to bite the dust next.
There's some parts of the book that are just ham fisted, for example the letter to his mother that she never reads. Gimme a break, he's got a key to the house, just put it on the table!!!
From the above you might figure that I didn't like it - I actually did, but it needs to grow up.
While being trained he makes friends and an enemy, Chad - it's a clear indication along the line it's going to come to a head, and given the nature of the job, most likely when lives are on the line.
"The Icarus Effect" is one of several prequels to the Harvey Bennett series. I assume that later books deal with Ben as an adult, I certainly hope so as there is only so much rite of passage and teenage angst I can deal with.
There's a few pretty heavy-handed redemption scenarios aimed, it would appear, at turning Ben into a man.
Author Nick Thacker has a cavalier approach to his characters - don't get too attached to any of them because you never know who's going to bite the dust next.
There's some parts of the book that are just ham fisted, for example the letter to his mother that she never reads. Gimme a break, he's got a key to the house, just put it on the table!!!
From the above you might figure that I didn't like it - I actually did, but it needs to grow up.
July 17, 2020
Ebook Review: THE ICARUS EFFECT by Nick Thacker & MP MacDougall
(T) his
(H) arm
(E) voked
(I ) nsecurities
(C) aution
(A) bounds
(R) eally
(U) pset
(S) ilenced
(E) ver
(F) earful
(F) riend
(E) ncourages
(C) ourage
(T) riumph?
THE ICARUS EFFECT, erases logic.
The only thought, is run.
Can't escape experience, comes again.
This ever end, find peace?
Before his face, every day.
What's the outcome, you interested?
Can't put down, easy read.
Follow this story, get it!
(T) his
(H) arm
(E) voked
(I ) nsecurities
(C) aution
(A) bounds
(R) eally
(U) pset
(S) ilenced
(E) ver
(F) earful
(F) riend
(E) ncourages
(C) ourage
(T) riumph?
THE ICARUS EFFECT, erases logic.
The only thought, is run.
Can't escape experience, comes again.
This ever end, find peace?
Before his face, every day.
What's the outcome, you interested?
Can't put down, easy read.
Follow this story, get it!
December 20, 2018
The must read prequel.
Followers of Nick Thacker's Harvey Bennett series of thrillers will love this prequel. Harvey's first job as a teenager in the forest fire service is full of thrills and unpleasant personal rivalries. His job at Yellowstone finally resolves his personal conflicts following his father's death by a bear. This collaboration with M P Mc Dougal is immensely readable and wets the appetite for the sequel The severed pines.
Followers of Nick Thacker's Harvey Bennett series of thrillers will love this prequel. Harvey's first job as a teenager in the forest fire service is full of thrills and unpleasant personal rivalries. His job at Yellowstone finally resolves his personal conflicts following his father's death by a bear. This collaboration with M P Mc Dougal is immensely readable and wets the appetite for the sequel The severed pines.
December 29, 2018
For anyone who has enjoyed the Harvey Bennett series, this is a "must read". Well told story of Harvey (Ben)'s earlier life and what drove him to become the person who showed up in "The Enigma Strain". Some of the storyline took me by surprise as it was unexpected, but definitely kept my interest all the way through. I am a huge Nick Thacker fan, and look forward to each new release, and these collaborative efforts are also amazing...please don't stop.
September 30, 2019
Good, well paced read. Loved the information about bush fires. That alone is worth 5 stars. Too many books are not really about anything much, just sensation. But I did not like being left not knowing what happened to the note that blew away, and if Ben ever got back to see and make up with his mother and brother. I like books to be complete in themselves, even if they're part of a series. Loose ends annoy.
December 7, 2019
As this is the first book of a series it serves to put the main character into perspective and how life´s good and bad sides mold an individual´s character. There is a lot of teen angst but it is totally acceptable and believable under the circunstamces of the story. It´s a page turner, extremelly well written - the description of the places, people and their surroundings are so clear that they seem to be in front of the reader. Loved reading it and going to buy the next book of the series!
January 2, 2019
This book was my first encounter with Harvey "Ben" Bennett. An adolescent with a terrifying encounter with a mother grizzly and her cub. This left him traumatized but he went on to work as a park ranger. Following Ben through his problematic family issues and introverted personality I watched him grow into manhood. Great storyline and well developed characters were very well developed and believable.
January 7, 2019
Interesting plot as to how Harvey (Ben) started out in life - lots of bad luck af first (right after High School) including some traumatic effects from all the dying around him. Harvey does not know how to deal with grief and keeps blaming himself for some of it - piled on top of that is people trying to put the blame on him. Excellent read!
June 27, 2019
Ben’s a GOOD guy, BUT ...
His lack of self-esteem is his biggest enemy. He’s old enough to know better but really slow to get himself aligned with himself. This is a very good introduction to Ben and his personal problems not to mention the fact that it leaves you clamoring fir the rear of the series.
His lack of self-esteem is his biggest enemy. He’s old enough to know better but really slow to get himself aligned with himself. This is a very good introduction to Ben and his personal problems not to mention the fact that it leaves you clamoring fir the rear of the series.
November 19, 2019
Very enjoyable
From the very beginning I knew this book is what I wanted to read.
Amazing characters and a very good story line.
It is so entertaining I didn't want to put it down.
The story is so real it makes the characters real.
This is my first book by these authors and I have already downloaded
another one.
From the very beginning I knew this book is what I wanted to read.
Amazing characters and a very good story line.
It is so entertaining I didn't want to put it down.
The story is so real it makes the characters real.
This is my first book by these authors and I have already downloaded
another one.
December 18, 2018
This was a great introduction to the Harvey "Ben" character. I have read several of the books in the series and had wondered where the character originated.
I look forward to reading more of these types of stories.
I look forward to reading more of these types of stories.
December 21, 2018
Amazing beginning!
Really enjoyed this story. Taking a look back to how Harvey Bennett became Ben. Seeing how he became the person he is in “The Enigma Strain”. Seeing his tragic past and how he overcame his fears. Can’t wait to read Severed Pines.
Really enjoyed this story. Taking a look back to how Harvey Bennett became Ben. Seeing how he became the person he is in “The Enigma Strain”. Seeing his tragic past and how he overcame his fears. Can’t wait to read Severed Pines.
December 22, 2018
Another great year
This is a great pleasure to to the Harvey Bennet stories but requires absolutely no knowledge of the early books to totally enjoy it.
Highly recommended if you like your adventure with a dash of aviation and wilderness.
This is a great pleasure to to the Harvey Bennet stories but requires absolutely no knowledge of the early books to totally enjoy it.
Highly recommended if you like your adventure with a dash of aviation and wilderness.
January 17, 2019
Enjoyable story, although the main character was a bit thin and predictable to always have a wrong attitude that gets him into trouble. That is quite typical of many teens today. Fairly well written with a solid storyline.
March 1, 2019
Solid introduction to one of my favorite literary characters! This story is full of emotion and confusion, highlighting how death changes a person and how quickly the world can unravel. It also has a fairly brutal lesson in reality. A wonderful read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2020
Not q bad tale
From the point of view of a prequel, it's not a bad tale, and would be a benefit to read before the main series of Harvey Bennett books.
I would urge anyone planning on reading this series of books to read the prequels first.
From the point of view of a prequel, it's not a bad tale, and would be a benefit to read before the main series of Harvey Bennett books.
I would urge anyone planning on reading this series of books to read the prequels first.
June 1, 2020
This Harvey Bennett origin story provides a very good background to Nick Thacker’s main archaeological thriller character. This story provides an emotional rollercoaster ride as you follow young Harvey through his seminal life experiences.
December 1, 2018
Started late at night...and could NOT stop till I finished the book! A real attention getter!!!
December 9, 2018
Great start on learning who Harvey Bennett is and an early view of his life and it’s turmoils that shaped him.
January 10, 2019
I dont know why i did really like this book. Look like i was reading a book for a teenager. I think this is the first time i write something like that. I feel sorry but i have to be honest.
March 6, 2019
An excellent prequel to the renowned Harvey Bennett series. It isn't required to read in order to understand the series, but i recommend it for fans or for someone who hasn't started the series yet.
April 5, 2019
Harvey
Anxious to read Severed Pines. Ben has become a favorite character. I will read each of the sequels as I can.
Anxious to read Severed Pines. Ben has become a favorite character. I will read each of the sequels as I can.
May 26, 2019
Excellent
This is a book that you will definitely enjoy and want to read more of the series. It has mystery and plenty of human interest. Very well written.
This is a book that you will definitely enjoy and want to read more of the series. It has mystery and plenty of human interest. Very well written.
August 21, 2019
Really good set up prequel even though i haven't read the others in the series. Written well and flows well 😊
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews