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Ryan Drake #8
Downfall
‘My name is Ryan Drake and this is just the beginning.’
Ryan Drake and his team are in hiding, having become sworn enemies of states and agencies around the world. But when a CIA operative and former adversary is killed in a car bomb attack, Drake is shocked to hear someone claiming responsibility using his name.
Forced out of hiding by this mysterious new threat, Drake embarks alone on a dangerous and deadly search for answers; a journey that will take him from the slums of Rio to the deserts of Tunisia and the mountains of Afghanistan. But as the stranger’s insidious influence grows stronger, he begins to realise the key to unravelling the present lies in his own shadowy past.
Following his trail of destruction, the team must fight to save Drake not only from a list of ruthless enemies, but even more urgently, from himself.
An edge-of-your-seat action thriller from bestselling author Will Jordan, perfect for fans of James Phelan and Vince Flynn.
Ryan Drake and his team are in hiding, having become sworn enemies of states and agencies around the world. But when a CIA operative and former adversary is killed in a car bomb attack, Drake is shocked to hear someone claiming responsibility using his name.
Forced out of hiding by this mysterious new threat, Drake embarks alone on a dangerous and deadly search for answers; a journey that will take him from the slums of Rio to the deserts of Tunisia and the mountains of Afghanistan. But as the stranger’s insidious influence grows stronger, he begins to realise the key to unravelling the present lies in his own shadowy past.
Following his trail of destruction, the team must fight to save Drake not only from a list of ruthless enemies, but even more urgently, from himself.
An edge-of-your-seat action thriller from bestselling author Will Jordan, perfect for fans of James Phelan and Vince Flynn.
- GenresFiction
625 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2019
39 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Will Jordan
21 books666 followersWill Jordan was born in Fife, Scotland in 1983. He is best known as the author of the RYAN DRAKE series of action thrillers, and for his YouTube alter-ego, THE CRITICAL DRINKER, amassing well over a million followers and quickly becoming one of the most popular movie critics on the internet. Having always enjoyed a passion for storytelling, he began writing short stories from a young age, eventually moving up to full-length novels and the publication of his first Ryan Drake novel in 2012.
His works to date include:
Redemption (Ryan Drake 1) - 2012
Sacrifice (Ryan Drake 2) - 2013
Betrayal (Ryan Drake 3) - 2014
Black List (Ryan Drake 4) - 2015
Deception Game (Ryan Drake 5) - 2015
Second Chances (Ryan Drake novella) - 2016
Ghost Target (Ryan Drake 6) - 2016
Shadow Conflict (Ryan Drake 7) - 2017
Deadly Cargo (Co-written with James Patterson) - 2017
Trial by Fire (Ryan Drake novella) - 2018
Downfall (Ryan Drake 8) - 2019
Something to Die For (Ryan Drake 9) - 2020
Dark Harvest (2022)
His works to date include:
Redemption (Ryan Drake 1) - 2012
Sacrifice (Ryan Drake 2) - 2013
Betrayal (Ryan Drake 3) - 2014
Black List (Ryan Drake 4) - 2015
Deception Game (Ryan Drake 5) - 2015
Second Chances (Ryan Drake novella) - 2016
Ghost Target (Ryan Drake 6) - 2016
Shadow Conflict (Ryan Drake 7) - 2017
Deadly Cargo (Co-written with James Patterson) - 2017
Trial by Fire (Ryan Drake novella) - 2018
Downfall (Ryan Drake 8) - 2019
Something to Die For (Ryan Drake 9) - 2020
Dark Harvest (2022)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 6, 2019
Downfall, the eighth novel in the Ryan Drake thriller series, is another conspiracy-filled, all action adventure and definitely the best of the series so far. It's clear to see why Mr Jordan has become a bestseller; he certainly knows how to provide an action-packed story that barely gives you time to take a breath as it shuttles along at breakneck pace. It seems that the previous seven novels set-up the plan which then comes to fruition in Downfall. Jordan has such a great feel for penning compelling characters, so much so that you feel and can relate to both the protagonists and antagonists.
As the conclusion approached, I felt that it was going to be very emotional given the long journey to get to this point, and boy was I right; I even shed a few tears, testament to the powerful nature of the authors writing. His characters are as real and tangible as any I've come across previously; they have their flaws and failings, as we all do, but they are also tenacious and up for a fight. Each of the series instalments can easily be read as standalones, but the best experience is achieved when you read them in order from the very beginning. The fact that Ryan Drake grows and evolves through each book is what really makes him a character who reserves a special place in my heart. Smart, resourceful and tough with a penchant for Talisker whiskey, Drake is a superb and particularly memorable character.
Many thanks to Canelo for an ARC.
As the conclusion approached, I felt that it was going to be very emotional given the long journey to get to this point, and boy was I right; I even shed a few tears, testament to the powerful nature of the authors writing. His characters are as real and tangible as any I've come across previously; they have their flaws and failings, as we all do, but they are also tenacious and up for a fight. Each of the series instalments can easily be read as standalones, but the best experience is achieved when you read them in order from the very beginning. The fact that Ryan Drake grows and evolves through each book is what really makes him a character who reserves a special place in my heart. Smart, resourceful and tough with a penchant for Talisker whiskey, Drake is a superb and particularly memorable character.
Many thanks to Canelo for an ARC.
December 30, 2018
Everything that has been build up comes to fruition in this masterclass thriller!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If Will Jordan could spare the time, I would love seeing him writing for a long-running tv drama, because many writers could learn from him, how one builds up a big mystery over a long time and then reveals it in the most stunning, shocking and satisfying way imaginable.
That is exactly what Jordan does in his 8th full-length novel about ex-CIA operative Ryan Drake. Since the very first novel it was hinted at Drake’s mysterious past and here it finally rears its ugly head. Since I hate spoiling people, I won’t say anything else about the matter, other than that the wait was truly worth it and that it makes for a unique reading experience.
Downfall is my favourite of the whole series and already a big contender for my best book of 2019. It’s perfectly paced (the line “never a dull moment” doesn’t even come close), complexly plotted and by far the most action-packed book I’ve come across in a long time.
But even if you would take away all of the above, Downfall would still be a pleasure to read, for the sheer beauty of its characters. They ar so real that you truly feel for them, no matter if they are the heroes or the supposed villains in their story.
So at the end there where tears in my eyes and a resolve in my heart. A resolve to see it through with them no matter where it leads. And even if I don’t know if the next book will be the last, the signs definitely point to an epic finale and I can’t wait to witness it. I believe that is called a job well done, Mr. Jordan!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If Will Jordan could spare the time, I would love seeing him writing for a long-running tv drama, because many writers could learn from him, how one builds up a big mystery over a long time and then reveals it in the most stunning, shocking and satisfying way imaginable.
That is exactly what Jordan does in his 8th full-length novel about ex-CIA operative Ryan Drake. Since the very first novel it was hinted at Drake’s mysterious past and here it finally rears its ugly head. Since I hate spoiling people, I won’t say anything else about the matter, other than that the wait was truly worth it and that it makes for a unique reading experience.
Downfall is my favourite of the whole series and already a big contender for my best book of 2019. It’s perfectly paced (the line “never a dull moment” doesn’t even come close), complexly plotted and by far the most action-packed book I’ve come across in a long time.
But even if you would take away all of the above, Downfall would still be a pleasure to read, for the sheer beauty of its characters. They ar so real that you truly feel for them, no matter if they are the heroes or the supposed villains in their story.
So at the end there where tears in my eyes and a resolve in my heart. A resolve to see it through with them no matter where it leads. And even if I don’t know if the next book will be the last, the signs definitely point to an epic finale and I can’t wait to witness it. I believe that is called a job well done, Mr. Jordan!
November 20, 2019
RABBIT HOLE
“Every morning I wake up with the news of bloodshed. I feel my body, desperate to know whether I’m still alive.” - Suman Pokhrel.
“I was lucky I identified my real enemies in time. When they came for me, I was not alone.” – Captain Nascimento ELITE SQUAD THE ENEMY WITHIN.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. In our complicated times, it’s so difficult to be a good person. Although in the world of espionage, it’s nearly impossible. Soldiers and spies are the sin eaters of nation states. They do the harsh, nasty things which the general public would be incapable of doing or doesn’t want to do. But sometimes, those sins can consume the soldier or spy and bury him in a sea of regret.
Such is the case of novelist Will Jordan’s thrillers. Jordan, a Scotsman, writes about the life and times of Ryan Drake, a veteran SAS trooper turned contractor for the American CIA. Over the course of 8 books, he finds himself dragged into a covert war between two espionage Gods, his life destroyed, all hope or normalcy scattered to the wind and fighting a seemingly losing battle with the kings and queens of the spying game.
An espionage epic where sometimes the cavalry doesn’t come in time, where the best laid plans are at risk of exploding and where sometimes the worst ending is to be left alive amongst the wreckage while better men and women die. In Downfall, the eight novel of the saga, Drake finally has a reckoning with his sins, ones that bind him deeply to the woman that has influenced his destiny. Now to the review. Is it possible for a clueless sinner to find absolution?
The novel begins in Afghanistan. Ryan Drake is talking with a silent figure with a hood over their head. He waxes lyrical about his past life as a soldier, long since over, the wild beauty of the South Asian mountains and the wars that he fought in the Graveyard of Empires. A Blackhawk helicopter lands nearby, and Drake and the hooded figure soon find themselves in front of the occupants. The occupants, a heavily armed team of gunmen are led by a man and a woman. After establishing bona fides, they order Drake to unhood his associate. He does so and it’s revealed to be a very angry, gagged Anya. Evil laughter then ensures.
We then cut to America, several months back. The new DCI Marcus Cain has barely settled into his Langley office when he’s greeted by a most inconvenient autopsy report. Said autopsy report concerns the dead previous director, a fellow whose blood is on Cain’s hands. In Switzerland, a man, Alex Yates, trains with a Heckler and Koch MP5SD. His resulting times and speed fail to satisfy Anya however and he himself is furious at an unforeseen modification she made to the shooting range that offends his morality.
Back at Langley, a bureaucrat by the name of Breckenridge receives the first good news in a long time and afterwards, dies happy when an unexpected car bomb explodes during an evening milk run. This spectacular murder on a Virginian country road catches the attention of Kiera Frost one of Breckenridge’s former employees, hiding back in Switzerland. She makes a fateful call to Ryan Drake. And that call sends Drake on the run, seemingly without rhyme or reason. From the decadent luxury and hillside slums of Rio De Janerio, the sandy alleys of Tunisia and a climatic war in the mountains of Afghanistan, a ragtag group of disgraced, vagabond covert operatives fight to uncover the horrifying secrets of Post 9/11 world and discover what they themselves are made of in the process.
In Terms of plot, DOWNFALL is the culmination of what has come before it in the odyssey of Ryan Drake. An espionage epic only rivalled by the great Robert Littell and Charles McCarry, 21st century Post 9/11 spy fiction has not seen many series with the ambition that Mr Jordan displays. A saga that spans generations and a thousand covert wars, big and small. Encompassing battles personal, political over world changing events and more intimate conflicts, with betrayal, regret and love and family abounding, the author has painted on a canvas that has gotten only more compelling over the years as he’s written. And the latest part of that canvas, DOWNFALL is no exception, and particularly special due to the themes it explores. Chief among these themes, are judgement, absolution and the sins that bind us together, all three which have a lot of weight when looking back at what had been done before by the hero of the story.
Action and setting are among the best in the series. The author has continuously upped the stakes like a pro and continued to deliver more spectacular violence on some very unexpected and special backdrops. From gun battles in the hills of Rio De Janerio, to rioting and ambushes in Tunis and sniper attacks in Northern Afghanistan, the rag-tag band of Drake and Co and their well equipped and powerful enemies duke it out in some of the most dangerous, gritty locations on the planet. But it’s not just the locations but the atmosphere that the author is able to create. Whether it be the dusty claustrophobia of a tunnel underneath Tunis, a raging fire that engulfs a rickety Brazilian Favela or long-range sniper duels in the dusty Hindu Kush, DOWNFALL is a suitably edgy spy novel.
Research? Quite good. The author loves real world details and kit but also utilizes it in quite an appropriate fashion. In an inversion of most spy novels where the protagonist is lovingly equipped with thousand-dollar body armour, assault rifles, handguns and other fancy hardware, the heroes in the Drake stories do not have such luxuries, and even less so now that they are rogue agents. But there are a few standouts in this story such as the lovely Chey Tac Intervention sniper rifle which gets to show off its Canadian designed capabilities in a pivotal climactic moment. We also get a Heckler and Koch P7 and even a Milkor MGL being used in a creative manner. But it’s the research beyond the kit which is a standout in this instance. Whether it be the societal dynamics of Rio De Janerio where the poor people take the hills and the rich people taking the beaches, a more malicious use of social media in fuelling the Arab Spring protests, or a resurrection of what the research of MKULTRA may have in the Post 9/11 world, the author draws upon old and new real world details to create a very compelling story.
The characterization of the players in the Ryan Drake books is something that needs to be elaborated on. In short, it’s one of the things that makes the series as a whole great to read. These people are very flawed, imperfect and they do make mistakes, sometimes very catastrophic ones. They aren’t superhuman, they aren’t omnipotent, and they aren’t perfect. They suffer, dearly at times. And all this makes their characterization more interesting, more dynamic than the average mainstream published hero whose growth is curtailed by a status quo of sorts. I’ll talk about three for brevity’s sake. Drake, Anya and Rojas. First Drake. Drake is the hero of the story. A Welsh UK SAS veteran who soon became a high ranked government contractor working for the CIA, he’s had a rough few years. Gone rogue, fired from his job, gone rogue again. He’s been shot at, locked away, tortured, beaten up, suffered grave romantic heartbreak and betrayed a thousand times over by both friends and enemies. He’s hit rock bottom and, in this story, not being able to go any further means he begins to kill his way back up. Far more ruthless, driven and in the zone than in the previous books, Drake has finally recovered a killer instinct and while very mentally unstable in this story, is also making far fewer mistakes or hesitating at the wrong moments. He’s on a journey of discovery in this novel and what he discovers makes him question his whole saga, especially when he finds the sin that binds him to the most important person in his life. It’s this sin, which makes him do a very admirable thing and willingly submit himself to judgement by that important person and allows them to decide whether Drake still deserves any absolution for his sin against them.
Next Anya. Anya is the deutertagonist of the story and some may even consider her the protagonist as her life has the most weight on the story. A middle aged Latvian American covert operative who defected to the USA during the Cold War, she caught the eye of an up and coming CIA field officer who made her a candidate for an experimental paramilitary unit that would be sent to wage war on the USSR during the Soviet Afghan conflict. Initially performing well, she was caught by the Soviets, horribly tortured but later escaped, this trauma later evolved into bitterness when she was sold out by her oldest friend in the Company and successfully captured by a Russian Black Ops snatch team. Now an avowed enemy of the CIA, Anya has a singled minded, near fanatical desire to gain vengeance on all her enemies before she dies or is killed. While she’s a far better planner than Drake with her years of experience, and also a more ferocious fighter who doesn’t play fair, the traumas, indignities and general suffering she’s undergone in her hard life mean she doesn’t care about politeness, or niceties. She is not a suave, cocktail drinking spook who can charm a man. She can barely charm her team in this story who are irritated by her near authoritarian temperament. Rather, she makes do with appeals to pragmatic self interest and sheer authoritative experience at covert operations.
Finally, Rojas. Rojas is probably my favourite character in the entire book because while he’s a bit player, albeit a hands-on bit player whose role is significant, he pulls his weight and adds a lot of sardonic joy to the grimness of the life and times of Ryan Drake. Originally a Colombian gangster whose talents brought him to the attention of the CIA, he soon became a legendary asset by murdering two of Pablo Escobar’s deputies and then looting the carcass of the Medellin Cartel for its millions of dollars. By the Clinton Administration he had become a free man and when we find him in DOWNFALL, Rojas has set himself up as a high-priced security consultant for Brazil’s top criminals. An affable but cocky fellow, Rojas despite the sleazy macho Hispanic image is also a very competent, wise operative who in another time would have made an outstanding employee of a national intelligence service. For all the sarcastic, biting retorts he makes, he’s also all business when on the hunt and when it comes time to make a killing, he’s an amazing shot with a sniper rifle. Funny, yet competent, Rojas balances out the grimness of Anya and Drake who have suffered so much over the course of the series.
Constructive criticism? Well, this is nitpicking on my part but I wasn’t exactly a fan of the chapter with the Desert Eagle. It strained credulity somewhat with the deagle and a Barrett rifle being used at purposes and distances they were not intended for. Aside from that I have no other complaints.
Overall, DOWNFALL is an excellent conspiracy thriller and another gem in the hidden mine that is the Ryan Drake series. Will Jordan has created a true rarity, that of the espionage epic. It’s a big, sweeping serialized plot that is far more compelling than any old standalone novel. With its cast of fleshed out characters who do the unexpected, impressive real world details that creates a constant harrowing tension, a story that spans generations and touches on some deeper themes than the norm in contemporary conspiracy thriller fiction, DOWNFALL is a book that continues the rise to greatness of Ryan Drake and his war.
recommended
“Every morning I wake up with the news of bloodshed. I feel my body, desperate to know whether I’m still alive.” - Suman Pokhrel.
“I was lucky I identified my real enemies in time. When they came for me, I was not alone.” – Captain Nascimento ELITE SQUAD THE ENEMY WITHIN.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. In our complicated times, it’s so difficult to be a good person. Although in the world of espionage, it’s nearly impossible. Soldiers and spies are the sin eaters of nation states. They do the harsh, nasty things which the general public would be incapable of doing or doesn’t want to do. But sometimes, those sins can consume the soldier or spy and bury him in a sea of regret.
Such is the case of novelist Will Jordan’s thrillers. Jordan, a Scotsman, writes about the life and times of Ryan Drake, a veteran SAS trooper turned contractor for the American CIA. Over the course of 8 books, he finds himself dragged into a covert war between two espionage Gods, his life destroyed, all hope or normalcy scattered to the wind and fighting a seemingly losing battle with the kings and queens of the spying game.
An espionage epic where sometimes the cavalry doesn’t come in time, where the best laid plans are at risk of exploding and where sometimes the worst ending is to be left alive amongst the wreckage while better men and women die. In Downfall, the eight novel of the saga, Drake finally has a reckoning with his sins, ones that bind him deeply to the woman that has influenced his destiny. Now to the review. Is it possible for a clueless sinner to find absolution?
The novel begins in Afghanistan. Ryan Drake is talking with a silent figure with a hood over their head. He waxes lyrical about his past life as a soldier, long since over, the wild beauty of the South Asian mountains and the wars that he fought in the Graveyard of Empires. A Blackhawk helicopter lands nearby, and Drake and the hooded figure soon find themselves in front of the occupants. The occupants, a heavily armed team of gunmen are led by a man and a woman. After establishing bona fides, they order Drake to unhood his associate. He does so and it’s revealed to be a very angry, gagged Anya. Evil laughter then ensures.
We then cut to America, several months back. The new DCI Marcus Cain has barely settled into his Langley office when he’s greeted by a most inconvenient autopsy report. Said autopsy report concerns the dead previous director, a fellow whose blood is on Cain’s hands. In Switzerland, a man, Alex Yates, trains with a Heckler and Koch MP5SD. His resulting times and speed fail to satisfy Anya however and he himself is furious at an unforeseen modification she made to the shooting range that offends his morality.
Back at Langley, a bureaucrat by the name of Breckenridge receives the first good news in a long time and afterwards, dies happy when an unexpected car bomb explodes during an evening milk run. This spectacular murder on a Virginian country road catches the attention of Kiera Frost one of Breckenridge’s former employees, hiding back in Switzerland. She makes a fateful call to Ryan Drake. And that call sends Drake on the run, seemingly without rhyme or reason. From the decadent luxury and hillside slums of Rio De Janerio, the sandy alleys of Tunisia and a climatic war in the mountains of Afghanistan, a ragtag group of disgraced, vagabond covert operatives fight to uncover the horrifying secrets of Post 9/11 world and discover what they themselves are made of in the process.
In Terms of plot, DOWNFALL is the culmination of what has come before it in the odyssey of Ryan Drake. An espionage epic only rivalled by the great Robert Littell and Charles McCarry, 21st century Post 9/11 spy fiction has not seen many series with the ambition that Mr Jordan displays. A saga that spans generations and a thousand covert wars, big and small. Encompassing battles personal, political over world changing events and more intimate conflicts, with betrayal, regret and love and family abounding, the author has painted on a canvas that has gotten only more compelling over the years as he’s written. And the latest part of that canvas, DOWNFALL is no exception, and particularly special due to the themes it explores. Chief among these themes, are judgement, absolution and the sins that bind us together, all three which have a lot of weight when looking back at what had been done before by the hero of the story.
Action and setting are among the best in the series. The author has continuously upped the stakes like a pro and continued to deliver more spectacular violence on some very unexpected and special backdrops. From gun battles in the hills of Rio De Janerio, to rioting and ambushes in Tunis and sniper attacks in Northern Afghanistan, the rag-tag band of Drake and Co and their well equipped and powerful enemies duke it out in some of the most dangerous, gritty locations on the planet. But it’s not just the locations but the atmosphere that the author is able to create. Whether it be the dusty claustrophobia of a tunnel underneath Tunis, a raging fire that engulfs a rickety Brazilian Favela or long-range sniper duels in the dusty Hindu Kush, DOWNFALL is a suitably edgy spy novel.
Research? Quite good. The author loves real world details and kit but also utilizes it in quite an appropriate fashion. In an inversion of most spy novels where the protagonist is lovingly equipped with thousand-dollar body armour, assault rifles, handguns and other fancy hardware, the heroes in the Drake stories do not have such luxuries, and even less so now that they are rogue agents. But there are a few standouts in this story such as the lovely Chey Tac Intervention sniper rifle which gets to show off its Canadian designed capabilities in a pivotal climactic moment. We also get a Heckler and Koch P7 and even a Milkor MGL being used in a creative manner. But it’s the research beyond the kit which is a standout in this instance. Whether it be the societal dynamics of Rio De Janerio where the poor people take the hills and the rich people taking the beaches, a more malicious use of social media in fuelling the Arab Spring protests, or a resurrection of what the research of MKULTRA may have in the Post 9/11 world, the author draws upon old and new real world details to create a very compelling story.
The characterization of the players in the Ryan Drake books is something that needs to be elaborated on. In short, it’s one of the things that makes the series as a whole great to read. These people are very flawed, imperfect and they do make mistakes, sometimes very catastrophic ones. They aren’t superhuman, they aren’t omnipotent, and they aren’t perfect. They suffer, dearly at times. And all this makes their characterization more interesting, more dynamic than the average mainstream published hero whose growth is curtailed by a status quo of sorts. I’ll talk about three for brevity’s sake. Drake, Anya and Rojas. First Drake. Drake is the hero of the story. A Welsh UK SAS veteran who soon became a high ranked government contractor working for the CIA, he’s had a rough few years. Gone rogue, fired from his job, gone rogue again. He’s been shot at, locked away, tortured, beaten up, suffered grave romantic heartbreak and betrayed a thousand times over by both friends and enemies. He’s hit rock bottom and, in this story, not being able to go any further means he begins to kill his way back up. Far more ruthless, driven and in the zone than in the previous books, Drake has finally recovered a killer instinct and while very mentally unstable in this story, is also making far fewer mistakes or hesitating at the wrong moments. He’s on a journey of discovery in this novel and what he discovers makes him question his whole saga, especially when he finds the sin that binds him to the most important person in his life. It’s this sin, which makes him do a very admirable thing and willingly submit himself to judgement by that important person and allows them to decide whether Drake still deserves any absolution for his sin against them.
Next Anya. Anya is the deutertagonist of the story and some may even consider her the protagonist as her life has the most weight on the story. A middle aged Latvian American covert operative who defected to the USA during the Cold War, she caught the eye of an up and coming CIA field officer who made her a candidate for an experimental paramilitary unit that would be sent to wage war on the USSR during the Soviet Afghan conflict. Initially performing well, she was caught by the Soviets, horribly tortured but later escaped, this trauma later evolved into bitterness when she was sold out by her oldest friend in the Company and successfully captured by a Russian Black Ops snatch team. Now an avowed enemy of the CIA, Anya has a singled minded, near fanatical desire to gain vengeance on all her enemies before she dies or is killed. While she’s a far better planner than Drake with her years of experience, and also a more ferocious fighter who doesn’t play fair, the traumas, indignities and general suffering she’s undergone in her hard life mean she doesn’t care about politeness, or niceties. She is not a suave, cocktail drinking spook who can charm a man. She can barely charm her team in this story who are irritated by her near authoritarian temperament. Rather, she makes do with appeals to pragmatic self interest and sheer authoritative experience at covert operations.
Finally, Rojas. Rojas is probably my favourite character in the entire book because while he’s a bit player, albeit a hands-on bit player whose role is significant, he pulls his weight and adds a lot of sardonic joy to the grimness of the life and times of Ryan Drake. Originally a Colombian gangster whose talents brought him to the attention of the CIA, he soon became a legendary asset by murdering two of Pablo Escobar’s deputies and then looting the carcass of the Medellin Cartel for its millions of dollars. By the Clinton Administration he had become a free man and when we find him in DOWNFALL, Rojas has set himself up as a high-priced security consultant for Brazil’s top criminals. An affable but cocky fellow, Rojas despite the sleazy macho Hispanic image is also a very competent, wise operative who in another time would have made an outstanding employee of a national intelligence service. For all the sarcastic, biting retorts he makes, he’s also all business when on the hunt and when it comes time to make a killing, he’s an amazing shot with a sniper rifle. Funny, yet competent, Rojas balances out the grimness of Anya and Drake who have suffered so much over the course of the series.
Constructive criticism? Well, this is nitpicking on my part but I wasn’t exactly a fan of the chapter with the Desert Eagle. It strained credulity somewhat with the deagle and a Barrett rifle being used at purposes and distances they were not intended for. Aside from that I have no other complaints.
Overall, DOWNFALL is an excellent conspiracy thriller and another gem in the hidden mine that is the Ryan Drake series. Will Jordan has created a true rarity, that of the espionage epic. It’s a big, sweeping serialized plot that is far more compelling than any old standalone novel. With its cast of fleshed out characters who do the unexpected, impressive real world details that creates a constant harrowing tension, a story that spans generations and touches on some deeper themes than the norm in contemporary conspiracy thriller fiction, DOWNFALL is a book that continues the rise to greatness of Ryan Drake and his war.
recommended
April 21, 2019
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‘Downfall’ is an enjoyably cinematic, wildly melodramatic thriller that reads a bit like a Robert Ludlum novel reimagined as a telenovela. It’s the 8th book in the Ryan Drake series and the first I’ve read. I went into it expecting something that could be read as a standalone book and it kind of can, but I can’t help feeling I’d have enjoyed it a lot more if I’d read the other books first.
The core plot is pretty standard action movie stuff – Drake is a part of an elite team of special forces spy types. When a terrorist starts a series of attacks and uses Ryan’s name, Drake starts a desperate globe-trotting mission to identify the attacker and save his name. Throw in a load of backstory about secret experiments, some Washington intrigue between the different security agencies and tempestuous relationships within the team and you have all the makings of a readable and enjoyable thriller.
The real strength of the books is the efficiency of the action scenes. That’s good news because there are a lot of them. They’re punchy and tight, with a visual flair that really jumps off the page and I found them genuinely gripping. What worked less well for me is the plot that ties them all together. I always knew what the characters were doing, but I didn’t always know why they were doing it, which led to a bit of head scratching. I think a large part of the problem is that this was the first Drake books I’ve read. There were numerous sub-plots that obviously continued from previous novels in the series and a lot of the detail of the relationships between the characters was lost on me.
That’s a shame, because I think there’s a good chance that had all that been clearer to me this would be a 4-star rather than a 3-star review. There’s an enjoyably heightened sense of emotion to everything that happens that’s really fun. It all has the crazy energy of a manga series, where everything that happens is either the worst or the best thing ever and every double cross is met with gasps of horror. I think it would have enjoyed it even more if I knew the full back story and could enjoy the multiple twists and turns without worrying that I didn’t really know what was going on.
That’s a roundabout way of saying that this was a fun, over the top read that’s packed with action and incident. If you’ve read the other books I expect that you’ll love it, but if you haven’t it might be best to start with the first, as I now intend to.
‘Downfall’ is an enjoyably cinematic, wildly melodramatic thriller that reads a bit like a Robert Ludlum novel reimagined as a telenovela. It’s the 8th book in the Ryan Drake series and the first I’ve read. I went into it expecting something that could be read as a standalone book and it kind of can, but I can’t help feeling I’d have enjoyed it a lot more if I’d read the other books first.
The core plot is pretty standard action movie stuff – Drake is a part of an elite team of special forces spy types. When a terrorist starts a series of attacks and uses Ryan’s name, Drake starts a desperate globe-trotting mission to identify the attacker and save his name. Throw in a load of backstory about secret experiments, some Washington intrigue between the different security agencies and tempestuous relationships within the team and you have all the makings of a readable and enjoyable thriller.
The real strength of the books is the efficiency of the action scenes. That’s good news because there are a lot of them. They’re punchy and tight, with a visual flair that really jumps off the page and I found them genuinely gripping. What worked less well for me is the plot that ties them all together. I always knew what the characters were doing, but I didn’t always know why they were doing it, which led to a bit of head scratching. I think a large part of the problem is that this was the first Drake books I’ve read. There were numerous sub-plots that obviously continued from previous novels in the series and a lot of the detail of the relationships between the characters was lost on me.
That’s a shame, because I think there’s a good chance that had all that been clearer to me this would be a 4-star rather than a 3-star review. There’s an enjoyably heightened sense of emotion to everything that happens that’s really fun. It all has the crazy energy of a manga series, where everything that happens is either the worst or the best thing ever and every double cross is met with gasps of horror. I think it would have enjoyed it even more if I knew the full back story and could enjoy the multiple twists and turns without worrying that I didn’t really know what was going on.
That’s a roundabout way of saying that this was a fun, over the top read that’s packed with action and incident. If you’ve read the other books I expect that you’ll love it, but if you haven’t it might be best to start with the first, as I now intend to.
April 8, 2019
This is the 8th in the Ryan Drake series by Will Jordan, but can easily be read as a stand-alone.
This starts with a prologue dated 14 Jan 2011, Afghanistan…..Ryan Drake has a captive and two helicopters arrive to pick them up.
The story is full of conspiracies, the CIA, the NSA and a group of ex-CIA operative trying to stay under the radar…..then a car bomb is blamed on Drake and so the action really begins…
This reminded me a little of the Jason Bourne series, in that the CIA and Langley are involved, leaving damaged men in their wake, with great characters in Drake and Anya. The writing is excellent in this incredibly well plotted, brutal, action packed and twisty thriller……..it will end in tears ! If you like Ludlum or LeCarre, you’ll love this.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
This starts with a prologue dated 14 Jan 2011, Afghanistan…..Ryan Drake has a captive and two helicopters arrive to pick them up.
The story is full of conspiracies, the CIA, the NSA and a group of ex-CIA operative trying to stay under the radar…..then a car bomb is blamed on Drake and so the action really begins…
This reminded me a little of the Jason Bourne series, in that the CIA and Langley are involved, leaving damaged men in their wake, with great characters in Drake and Anya. The writing is excellent in this incredibly well plotted, brutal, action packed and twisty thriller……..it will end in tears ! If you like Ludlum or LeCarre, you’ll love this.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
February 20, 2019
Wow! What a Ride!!
Stop reading reviews and click the Buy Now button, RIGHT NOW! If you are a fan of Thor, Clancy, Flynn, Greany, etc. then do yourself a favor and buy this book and then go buy every book in the series because you will be one spoiled reader. And you won’t sleep for many many nights as you will have the sure joy of discovering an author with an awesome series. I envy you in that, unlike me, you will not have to wait for the next book, and then the next book and the next. You will be able to read all of the books in the series now. That’s why you need to purchase this book, the latest in the series because once you read Book 1, you won’t stop so do your self a favor and get this one now so you don’t have to come back and find it when you finished the others!!
Well done sir, well done!
Stop reading reviews and click the Buy Now button, RIGHT NOW! If you are a fan of Thor, Clancy, Flynn, Greany, etc. then do yourself a favor and buy this book and then go buy every book in the series because you will be one spoiled reader. And you won’t sleep for many many nights as you will have the sure joy of discovering an author with an awesome series. I envy you in that, unlike me, you will not have to wait for the next book, and then the next book and the next. You will be able to read all of the books in the series now. That’s why you need to purchase this book, the latest in the series because once you read Book 1, you won’t stop so do your self a favor and get this one now so you don’t have to come back and find it when you finished the others!!
Well done sir, well done!
December 15, 2024
Downfall was a great read, is action packed, and a crazy cast of good/bad characters. Think of Jason Bourne/Treadstone or The Manchurian Candidate and Ryan Drake is the man. Check out the Ryan Drake series by Will Jordan(highly recommend)
March 5, 2022
Well, this one was a tough one to rate!
At this point I'm well invested in the overarching storyline along with the characters, most of whom are very engagingly written. And the author has established a steady (and I mean exhilarating) pace of action, twists and turns along with important character moments sprinkled here and there. I listen to the series as audio versions, and these books are easy as any to listen to - though not quite as easy to put down.
What can I say. If you've followed the series this far you'll probably enjoy this one as well, for mostly the same reasons as the previous books. Though I do find myself thinking that I would've enjoyed this book less had it been an earlier part in the series - at this point the momentum of the grand story and the fact that I really like the characters are enough to make me enjoy this one greatly - as there are some shortcomings in this book. And the whole aspect of the unreliable narrator has become so reliable that it's now fully expected. Don't let that fool you though - this book is highly recommended if you've followed the story this far! And I am giving the book four stars, which I think means a lot. But I also want to mention the parts that, in my opinion, lessened the impact this novel had on me.
First, there's the whole aspect of Ryan himself. I didn't mind this angle too much in the end, and sure it was interesting to see him from a different perspective, but I kind of felt like when watching Lost years ago: a story that starts relatively grounded with some strange stuff going on, but goes progressively more and more over the board as the story progresses.
Ok, mentioning Lost is really going a bit far, the strange stuff in Ryan Drake books go nowhere near that territory. Sorry.
Another thing that kind of bothered me was the absence of Marcus Cain. Yes, he's there in a couple of scenes, but he's mostly gone. This is a pity since I had really started to like him as an antagonist, and there was a certain buildup, a growth in intensity and menace that was now forgotten. Don't get me wrong, I think this novel introduced a great secondary antagonist to the series, but as Cain is the real antagonist in the series it felt odd that the emphasis earlier placed on him would be lifted in the 8th book and the pressure let to decrease just before the final book in the series.
The last "complaint" I might have has to do with the team of characters. Will Jordan knows how to write compelling characters with distinct personalities and motivations, and he's right on the money with most of the new additions as well, all the while deepening the already established characters. But normally Ryan works with a team that is tightly knitted or is at least formed of characters the reader knows. There's a sensation of familiarity. Not in this novel though! The team feels more distant than ever, and perhaps this is partly to the fact that there's so much emphasis on Ryan and Anya, but it's also for the fact that there are characters around that don't feel familiar at all. And for this reason there's a lack of chemistry, of natural connection between the team members. Mitchell is the worst example of this, feeling like a complete stranger, followed by Alex and Rojas I would say. And out of these Rojas felt like the most fleshed out character in a strange way, even though we barely know him. Even Frost felt like she was left in the back seat, and though Dietrich has been one of my favourite characters from book one I noticed he seemed somehow less interesting here.
In any case, the book was very enjoyable indeed, and I have high hopes for the 9th and final book, as there are some loose ends that still need to be tied up. And I'm not sure what to expect!
At this point I'm well invested in the overarching storyline along with the characters, most of whom are very engagingly written. And the author has established a steady (and I mean exhilarating) pace of action, twists and turns along with important character moments sprinkled here and there. I listen to the series as audio versions, and these books are easy as any to listen to - though not quite as easy to put down.
What can I say. If you've followed the series this far you'll probably enjoy this one as well, for mostly the same reasons as the previous books. Though I do find myself thinking that I would've enjoyed this book less had it been an earlier part in the series - at this point the momentum of the grand story and the fact that I really like the characters are enough to make me enjoy this one greatly - as there are some shortcomings in this book. And the whole aspect of the unreliable narrator has become so reliable that it's now fully expected. Don't let that fool you though - this book is highly recommended if you've followed the story this far! And I am giving the book four stars, which I think means a lot. But I also want to mention the parts that, in my opinion, lessened the impact this novel had on me.
First, there's the whole aspect of Ryan himself. I didn't mind this angle too much in the end, and sure it was interesting to see him from a different perspective, but I kind of felt like when watching Lost years ago: a story that starts relatively grounded with some strange stuff going on, but goes progressively more and more over the board as the story progresses.
Ok, mentioning Lost is really going a bit far, the strange stuff in Ryan Drake books go nowhere near that territory. Sorry.
Another thing that kind of bothered me was the absence of Marcus Cain. Yes, he's there in a couple of scenes, but he's mostly gone. This is a pity since I had really started to like him as an antagonist, and there was a certain buildup, a growth in intensity and menace that was now forgotten. Don't get me wrong, I think this novel introduced a great secondary antagonist to the series, but as Cain is the real antagonist in the series it felt odd that the emphasis earlier placed on him would be lifted in the 8th book and the pressure let to decrease just before the final book in the series.
The last "complaint" I might have has to do with the team of characters. Will Jordan knows how to write compelling characters with distinct personalities and motivations, and he's right on the money with most of the new additions as well, all the while deepening the already established characters. But normally Ryan works with a team that is tightly knitted or is at least formed of characters the reader knows. There's a sensation of familiarity. Not in this novel though! The team feels more distant than ever, and perhaps this is partly to the fact that there's so much emphasis on Ryan and Anya, but it's also for the fact that there are characters around that don't feel familiar at all. And for this reason there's a lack of chemistry, of natural connection between the team members. Mitchell is the worst example of this, feeling like a complete stranger, followed by Alex and Rojas I would say. And out of these Rojas felt like the most fleshed out character in a strange way, even though we barely know him. Even Frost felt like she was left in the back seat, and though Dietrich has been one of my favourite characters from book one I noticed he seemed somehow less interesting here.
In any case, the book was very enjoyable indeed, and I have high hopes for the 9th and final book, as there are some loose ends that still need to be tied up. And I'm not sure what to expect!
June 26, 2025
DownFall the eighth installment in Will Jordan’s Ryan Drake series, is a thrilling crescendo that delivers another great volume to the series. Readers are kept on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Now a hunted man, Drake is pursued by the CIA and a clandestine group called the Circle. His only ally in this desperate mission to expose deep-rooted corruption is his sister, Jessica. Jordan’s masterful storytelling weaves the series together with electrifying intensity, making this a standout novel that I am truly grateful for.
The narrative pulses with relentless action, from urban firefights to high-stakes infiltrations, as Drake and Jessica race against time. Jordan’s craftsmanship shines as he weaves a complex plot with gut punching reveals that keep readers on edge. Drake’s bond with Jessica, fighting for redemption as true family, deeply resonates with my values of faith and freedom, grounding the chaos in heartfelt loyalty. The story’s focus on intelligence scandals sparked my interest in their real world parallels, leading me down an enriching research path that added depth to the experience.
Downfall concludes with a powerful and satisfying resolution that balances heart pounding thrills with a profound sense of closure. I am thankful for a novel that honors Drake’s journey. For readers seeking a fast-paced thriller with emotional weight, this book is an exceptional choice.
The narrative pulses with relentless action, from urban firefights to high-stakes infiltrations, as Drake and Jessica race against time. Jordan’s craftsmanship shines as he weaves a complex plot with gut punching reveals that keep readers on edge. Drake’s bond with Jessica, fighting for redemption as true family, deeply resonates with my values of faith and freedom, grounding the chaos in heartfelt loyalty. The story’s focus on intelligence scandals sparked my interest in their real world parallels, leading me down an enriching research path that added depth to the experience.
Downfall concludes with a powerful and satisfying resolution that balances heart pounding thrills with a profound sense of closure. I am thankful for a novel that honors Drake’s journey. For readers seeking a fast-paced thriller with emotional weight, this book is an exceptional choice.
April 26, 2021
Yet another action-packed nail-biting cliffhanger in the Ryan Drake series. After the carnage in Berlin, Ryan and his friends are at Anya's safehouse in Swiss. Ryan is overwhelmed with news of a CIA operative killed in an explosion in which someone using his name has claimed responsibility. He embarks on a mission to find the perpetrator, clear his name and unveil the harsh truth. His lone journey begins with wreaking havoc on a clandestine medical facility in Rio, Brazil owned by a powerful pharmaceutical group involved in futuristic medical research. He then moves to Tunisia for the second leg and finally to Afghanistan, where it all began. He is closely tailed by his friends - Kiera, Mitchell, Alex, Dietrich, the formidable Anya and a Rio drug lord Rojas to ensure his safety in this dangerous mission. Ryan and Anya devise a decoy scheme to lay their hands on that one person who knows the truth and the mastermind behind the secret operation that was carried out many years earlier and which haunts Ryan to date. What happens next is a shocking revelation on that fateful day when trust and camaraderie were put at stake, manipulated by a nefarious plan by none other than Marcus Caine. The book is fast-paced, enthralling, and intriguing to the readers as to what happens next. The finale in Afghanistan is gripping and keeps readers glued on. While 'Downfall' can be read as a stand-alone, it is recommended to read the earlier books in the progression to comprehend the characters and their personalities. Brilliantly penned and now ready to pick the next one in the series.
December 23, 2021
With each high octane, edge of your seat thriller of the Ryan Drake saga, the stories keep getting better and better. Many of the mysteries involving his past are starting to come to light and Ryan gets closer to finding out the truth about a forgotten mission of his past. A lost memory buried deep within his psyche. A truth that he realizes too late that he was not ready to face, but had to. Such a revelation came at a cost and had a devastating impact on him and those close to him.
I could not stop reading until I reached the conclusion of this story and just when I thought "Deception Game" was great, this one takes it up several notches. In this novel, it also shares a backstory about antagonist Jason Hawkins that sheds light on why he is the sociopathic killer and nemesis to Drake who was also a member of a strike team Drake once led. The powerful use of descriptive words put me at every scene and the vast knowledge of weaponry the author has is impressive, especially for readers like myself who are military vets, former law enforcement and a history buff. It adds so much more credibility to a story when the author has the kind of background knowledge that is consistent with an agency being portrayed along with its characters. If I was giving out awards, this series wins my Reader's Choice Award for 2021.
I could not stop reading until I reached the conclusion of this story and just when I thought "Deception Game" was great, this one takes it up several notches. In this novel, it also shares a backstory about antagonist Jason Hawkins that sheds light on why he is the sociopathic killer and nemesis to Drake who was also a member of a strike team Drake once led. The powerful use of descriptive words put me at every scene and the vast knowledge of weaponry the author has is impressive, especially for readers like myself who are military vets, former law enforcement and a history buff. It adds so much more credibility to a story when the author has the kind of background knowledge that is consistent with an agency being portrayed along with its characters. If I was giving out awards, this series wins my Reader's Choice Award for 2021.
August 6, 2021
I don't have a ton to say here.
This is the ending of the Ryan Drake series and I think it does an ok job of it.
There are some good twists and nice action, but over all the book was kind of a letdown.
In the first book, Drake is a fool chasing shadows, outclassed by everyone around him and I like it. There is room to grow and lessons to learn.
In this last book, Drake is a fool chasing shadows, outclassed by everyone around him and I hate it. He should have grown and learned his lessons, but he feels irrelevant and devoid of agency in his own book.
In addition, the end of the character arcs and the conflict with the Circle were lackluster and unsatisfying.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it and finishing the series, but it doesn't hold up to the books that come before it and falls flat as the climax of the series.
This is the ending of the Ryan Drake series and I think it does an ok job of it.
There are some good twists and nice action, but over all the book was kind of a letdown.
In the first book, Drake is a fool chasing shadows, outclassed by everyone around him and I like it. There is room to grow and lessons to learn.
In this last book, Drake is a fool chasing shadows, outclassed by everyone around him and I hate it. He should have grown and learned his lessons, but he feels irrelevant and devoid of agency in his own book.
In addition, the end of the character arcs and the conflict with the Circle were lackluster and unsatisfying.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it and finishing the series, but it doesn't hold up to the books that come before it and falls flat as the climax of the series.
May 17, 2022
Like the other previous books, the adventure is great... But I have some issues about the Brazil's description:
1) Street transit in Brazil is not as described in the book.
2)Favelas (shanty town) are not as described in the books... Actually, their architecture is completely different... and if you are a stranger to the place... you could not even enter there... If you dont belong... your are dead.
3) The names of brazilians are diferent... Most of the time they seem Spanish (in the book).
4) Clothes and behavior inside the favelas are completely diferent as described in the book.
5) Romek Karalius... well.. I understand it is a russian/slavic name... but Karalius in Brazil sounds like "Big D**k"... I can't imagine someone with that name walking around in Brazil... So much bullying :-)
Anyway... I like Will Jordan's writing...so I enjoyed the book.
1) Street transit in Brazil is not as described in the book.
2)Favelas (shanty town) are not as described in the books... Actually, their architecture is completely different... and if you are a stranger to the place... you could not even enter there... If you dont belong... your are dead.
3) The names of brazilians are diferent... Most of the time they seem Spanish (in the book).
4) Clothes and behavior inside the favelas are completely diferent as described in the book.
5) Romek Karalius... well.. I understand it is a russian/slavic name... but Karalius in Brazil sounds like "Big D**k"... I can't imagine someone with that name walking around in Brazil... So much bullying :-)
Anyway... I like Will Jordan's writing...so I enjoyed the book.
December 15, 2020
I quite like half of the story going on here, when it focuses on the characters besides Drake, but somehow Ryan's arc felt a bit...out of place. It's not that there wasn't any setup for it. Perhaps it's just that it almost felt obligatory? Like this part of his life had to be told, even if it wasn't the most original or interesting part of it?
Regardless, it's executed well enough, and the interplay between the other characters not only kept me engaged, but helped to sell Ryan's side of things. Jordan is also still highly competent at threading multiple elements together, and I've never once questioned if I was going to pick up the final entry in the series.
Regardless, it's executed well enough, and the interplay between the other characters not only kept me engaged, but helped to sell Ryan's side of things. Jordan is also still highly competent at threading multiple elements together, and I've never once questioned if I was going to pick up the final entry in the series.
December 21, 2022
Another solid title from a reliable storyteller
Another thoroughly enjoyable installment from a consistently great series that keeps getting better.
Jordan's talent for writing interesting, likeable characters is world class, and the way he adds and weaves in back story as he goes keeps you glued.
However, the final showdown of this story didn't quite hammer home as hard as the previous installment, it was a little more predictable, and had a few more holes in it that broke some of the immersion. Bit this is only a nit pick.
Overall this was a real page turner with some really great new characters, gripping action and excellent pacing.
Another thoroughly enjoyable installment from a consistently great series that keeps getting better.
Jordan's talent for writing interesting, likeable characters is world class, and the way he adds and weaves in back story as he goes keeps you glued.
However, the final showdown of this story didn't quite hammer home as hard as the previous installment, it was a little more predictable, and had a few more holes in it that broke some of the immersion. Bit this is only a nit pick.
Overall this was a real page turner with some really great new characters, gripping action and excellent pacing.
June 6, 2021
Another great entry into the ryan drake series and oh my God we went to mind control territory and it was awesome!
I kinda figured Ryan had some kind of mind control going on since he can't remember operation hydra, yup that's the name, and he's been losing time and etc.
Ryan is a lot scarier than I thought. He really is a one man army when he sets his mind to it; even scaring Anya and that's saying something.
It's just a fantastic ride and it's so fun.
On to the next and final book in the series!
I kinda figured Ryan had some kind of mind control going on since he can't remember operation hydra, yup that's the name, and he's been losing time and etc.
Ryan is a lot scarier than I thought. He really is a one man army when he sets his mind to it; even scaring Anya and that's saying something.
It's just a fantastic ride and it's so fun.
On to the next and final book in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2021
Downfall is fast paced and action packed as usual but in my opinion, it is the least intense in the series. However it is the most dramatic one too and I mean TV series dramatic. Well, at least Ryan’s past and Anya’s past are revealed, their chemistry hits the highest note but damn Will Jordan, he twisted their path again. While many plots in Downfall seem quite Hollywoodsy and hard to believe unlike all the previous books I still like it. The badass Ryan Drake is well written and I love when Anya and Ryan work together. I am ready for the finale just please don’t break my heart.
September 8, 2025
This book was saved by the last 10 chapters.
An overall drag filled with cliched characters wo had the most basic character arcs. With cringy dialogues. A rip off of the Black Ops games.
While I was reading it, I had half a mind to give up and take it out on the author who is basically a wannabe Tom Clancy. The paper thin plot stretched more than its limit over 600 pages didn't help either.
Looking forward to read the end of the series. (Because I can't help it. May God have mercy on my soul)
An overall drag filled with cliched characters wo had the most basic character arcs. With cringy dialogues. A rip off of the Black Ops games.
While I was reading it, I had half a mind to give up and take it out on the author who is basically a wannabe Tom Clancy. The paper thin plot stretched more than its limit over 600 pages didn't help either.
Looking forward to read the end of the series. (Because I can't help it. May God have mercy on my soul)
March 29, 2020
Overall, another great page-turner from Will Jordan. I was a bit let down though by a couple of seeming loose ends. First of all, I wish that Cain would have played a greater role in this story. What happens to him? Secondly, there is no follow up to Drake's mother's fate. I would like to have seen more done with these story threads from the earlier novels.
Still an enjoyable book but it is outdone by all of its predecessors.
Still an enjoyable book but it is outdone by all of its predecessors.
May 19, 2021
Hidden truths are finally exposed
Book 8 in this series follows the usual twist and turns associated with the usual group of characters we have gotten to know along the way. Some new characters bring new information to bear and help reveal long suppressed memories. Onto book 9 where hopefully a climatic ending awaits to finish an engaging and enjoyable series.
Book 8 in this series follows the usual twist and turns associated with the usual group of characters we have gotten to know along the way. Some new characters bring new information to bear and help reveal long suppressed memories. Onto book 9 where hopefully a climatic ending awaits to finish an engaging and enjoyable series.
May 4, 2022
Starting a series near the end is not ideal. It was a stop and start read for me as I borrowed it from the Library and it was my work lunchtime reading. But I was able to follow it and Will Jordan has done a great job of crafting characters and their backgrounds. I look forward to reading more. It was a book that I really enjoyed, just a shame it took me so long to finish it. Nice work Drinker.
January 5, 2022
Good book, but not up to the standards of the rest. The series took a strange direction in this book, that just didn't come together well. Too many moving parts, pieces left unresolved, and far fetched ideas. Lots of action and good pace, but still feels lacking.
November 21, 2022
One of my least favorite of the later entries in the series because the situations in it were frustrating, but really well executed down the stretch to bring a good twist and pay off on lot of setups in the last few books. Left me really excited for the final book in the series.
June 24, 2023
Highly recommend.
Great pacing and depth of story and action. I came into this series at book 8 but am definitely going to go to book 1 and read the rest. Will Jordan just became one of my go to authors. Thanks!
Great pacing and depth of story and action. I came into this series at book 8 but am definitely going to go to book 1 and read the rest. Will Jordan just became one of my go to authors. Thanks!
June 9, 2019
Really great novel!
This novel was really fast-paced and had unexpected twists and turns. A great deal is learned about Ryan Drake. I'm already looking forward to the next novel!
This novel was really fast-paced and had unexpected twists and turns. A great deal is learned about Ryan Drake. I'm already looking forward to the next novel!
January 5, 2022
Ok, needed an editor. Way too long.
December 2, 2022
Cabin pressure...lost
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2023
Another absolutely phenomenal entry in the series. Twists and turns everywhere. Action scenes to rival big Hollywood movies. I loved all of it.
February 14, 2025
Now we are getting somewhere! This was intense! Kane is still thwarting their attempts to capture him. One more series and we will see who makes it out alive!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2024
ANTI-RYAN IS SO BADASS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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