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Gregg Kaplan #1
Blown
Gregg Kaplan is not an ordinary man, but a man with special skills, courtesy of the United States Government.
His assignment is to stay off the grid when he innocently stumbles into a blown witness protection detail in Little Rock, Arkansas. He simply could not walk away from the impending mayhem.
After the dust settles, a mortally wounded Deputy U.S. Marshal makes him promise to personally deliver the witness to a U.S. Marshals Service safe site.
Not just a promise, an oath. A pledge between ex-Army Delta Force comrades.
A trust that could not be broken—Once in, never out.
Kaplan soon suspects the witness he vowed to protect has secrets of his own; secrets that go beyond his testimony for the U.S. government. When he discovers the witness is being tracked, Kaplan teams with a WitSec Deputy U.S. Marshal assigned to recover the witness, but soon realizes some merciless people are dead set on preventing the witness from reaching the safe site.
But the witness has a hidden agenda of his own—One that could cost Kaplan his life.
His assignment is to stay off the grid when he innocently stumbles into a blown witness protection detail in Little Rock, Arkansas. He simply could not walk away from the impending mayhem.
After the dust settles, a mortally wounded Deputy U.S. Marshal makes him promise to personally deliver the witness to a U.S. Marshals Service safe site.
Not just a promise, an oath. A pledge between ex-Army Delta Force comrades.
A trust that could not be broken—Once in, never out.
Kaplan soon suspects the witness he vowed to protect has secrets of his own; secrets that go beyond his testimony for the U.S. government. When he discovers the witness is being tracked, Kaplan teams with a WitSec Deputy U.S. Marshal assigned to recover the witness, but soon realizes some merciless people are dead set on preventing the witness from reaching the safe site.
But the witness has a hidden agenda of his own—One that could cost Kaplan his life.
Audiobook
First published January 13, 2015
151 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Barrett
19 books434 followersChuck Barrett is the award-winning author of The Savannah Project, The Toymaker, Breach of Power, and Disruption of his Jake Pendleton series, and Blown, and Last Chance of his blockbuster Gregg Kaplan series. He is a graduate of Auburn University and retired air traffic controller. He also holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate.
He and his wife, DJ Steele (also an author) currently reside in Northern Colorado.
Awards:
—BLOWN
2016 Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards
—Breach of Power
Winner of the 2013 Indie Excellence Award in Political Thrillers.
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
—The Toymaker
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure & Mystery/Suspense categories.
—The Savannah Project
Finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
Second Place in the 2011 Reviewers Choice Awards Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror category.
Honorable Mention in the 2011 ForeWord Reviews Book-Of-The-Year Awards Thriller/Suspense category.
He and his wife, DJ Steele (also an author) currently reside in Northern Colorado.
Awards:
—BLOWN
2016 Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards
—Breach of Power
Winner of the 2013 Indie Excellence Award in Political Thrillers.
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
—The Toymaker
Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure & Mystery/Suspense categories.
—The Savannah Project
Finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
Second Place in the 2011 Reviewers Choice Awards Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror category.
Honorable Mention in the 2011 ForeWord Reviews Book-Of-The-Year Awards Thriller/Suspense category.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 19, 2015
First, buy this book. But before you turn to the first page, find a comfortable spot. Settle in. Because once you start reading, you won't want to stop.
Blown is nonstop action. We're running, chasing, dodging bullets, throwing punches, dangling from cliffs, and burning from the heat of it all. We have twists that threaten to derail us. This book is pure adrenaline.
The important thing, for me, is we aren't given excess action at the expense of character development. Within all the chaos, we have people struggling. The emotional depth feels honest. I got to know the subtleties of the characters' personalities.
I loved Gregg Kaplan's character. He is a superhero with his own moral compass. He is the ultimate badass.
I also loved the way Barrett handled the content. Often, with thrillers of this nature, authors get caught up in their own research and feel the need to educate readers. Barrett gives his readers the important facts, then trusts that we'll be able to keep up. I have no doubt that Barrett spent countless hours getting these details just right, but I never once felt that weight within his writing.
If you love breathless action, thrillers with depth, plots with unexpected twists, memorable characters, and great writing, then you'll want to read this book.
*I was given an advanced copy of Blown by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
Blown is nonstop action. We're running, chasing, dodging bullets, throwing punches, dangling from cliffs, and burning from the heat of it all. We have twists that threaten to derail us. This book is pure adrenaline.
The important thing, for me, is we aren't given excess action at the expense of character development. Within all the chaos, we have people struggling. The emotional depth feels honest. I got to know the subtleties of the characters' personalities.
I loved Gregg Kaplan's character. He is a superhero with his own moral compass. He is the ultimate badass.
I also loved the way Barrett handled the content. Often, with thrillers of this nature, authors get caught up in their own research and feel the need to educate readers. Barrett gives his readers the important facts, then trusts that we'll be able to keep up. I have no doubt that Barrett spent countless hours getting these details just right, but I never once felt that weight within his writing.
If you love breathless action, thrillers with depth, plots with unexpected twists, memorable characters, and great writing, then you'll want to read this book.
*I was given an advanced copy of Blown by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
September 2, 2018
Any time I can read and/or listen to a book and I don’t skim past even one page or roll my eyes it’s a very good story, and I really enjoyed this one.
Gregg Kaplan is an assassin for the CIA and he stumbles in to an attempted assassination in a restaurant where a United States Marshall is killed, but before he dies he makes Kaplan promise to get his witness, Tony, to a WitSec safe house. The rest of the story is about that happening, while leaving breadcrumbs for Marshall Pete Moss to follow along the way.
This was exciting from beginning to end, just how I like my books. The ONLY thing I found unbelievable was this book was about the Mafia and the F-bomb wasn’t used even once? Yeah, that wouldn’t happen so that part wasn’t true-to-life and that’s what I look for in a book about the assassins, cops, BAD GUYS IN THE MAFIA. So, as good as this was I won’t be reading anymore of this PC author. He was too worried about offending those that don’t swear to make it real.
No sex and no F-bomb.
As to the narration: Marc Vietor was okay for me. His women’s voices need work and, as I’m always saying, when you’re sneaking up on someone and you’re not whispering you ruin the moment in that book.
June 22, 2015
Originally posted at The Bookaholic Cat
BLOWN is the first (audio)book in the Gregg Kaplan series by Chuck Barrett and it’s narrated by Marc Vietor.
Lately I’ve been in the thriller mood; when I read -the very explicit- blurb for this audiobook I thought I have found a perfect listen, but soon after I started this audiobook I started to have problems with it. First, the story is told by many different POVs and every time there was a change of character I was lost. I had to go back and re-listen 20 seconds or sometimes more to see when the change of character occurred. That happened many times and it seriously disrupted my enjoyment of the story.
Secondly, the characters felt a bit too flat and very similar. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I didn’t notice the change of characters exactly at the moment when they occurred, but much later. And I don’t know how many times Gregg Kaplan reminded us of the promise he made to the Deputy U.S. Marshal, but it was one or two or three too many, that’s for sure.
Apart for that, the story is interesting and it has non-stop action. The fighting scenes are well coordinated and there were couple of twists and turns that I really liked.
One thing I noticed is that people who read this book loved it, while people who listened to this audiobook didn’t like it much. I don’t know, although the voices of the characters were very similar, I thought Marc Vietor did a decent job, but now I can’t help but wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it instead of listening to the audio.
Will I listen to next book in the series? I’m not sure; I think I’ll wait for some (audiobook) reviews to then decide.
BLOWN is the first (audio)book in the Gregg Kaplan series by Chuck Barrett and it’s narrated by Marc Vietor.
Lately I’ve been in the thriller mood; when I read -the very explicit- blurb for this audiobook I thought I have found a perfect listen, but soon after I started this audiobook I started to have problems with it. First, the story is told by many different POVs and every time there was a change of character I was lost. I had to go back and re-listen 20 seconds or sometimes more to see when the change of character occurred. That happened many times and it seriously disrupted my enjoyment of the story.
Secondly, the characters felt a bit too flat and very similar. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I didn’t notice the change of characters exactly at the moment when they occurred, but much later. And I don’t know how many times Gregg Kaplan reminded us of the promise he made to the Deputy U.S. Marshal, but it was one or two or three too many, that’s for sure.
Apart for that, the story is interesting and it has non-stop action. The fighting scenes are well coordinated and there were couple of twists and turns that I really liked.
One thing I noticed is that people who read this book loved it, while people who listened to this audiobook didn’t like it much. I don’t know, although the voices of the characters were very similar, I thought Marc Vietor did a decent job, but now I can’t help but wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it instead of listening to the audio.
Will I listen to next book in the series? I’m not sure; I think I’ll wait for some (audiobook) reviews to then decide.
April 6, 2018
Wow, what a ride ! This book was non stop can’t put it down action from beginning to end ! CIA and US Marshall take on the world !
August 12, 2018
Implausible. I can suspend disbelief about a lot of things, but this one was too cliched. I read about 35% and then skipped to the last 3 chapters.
May 20, 2017
Really easy to read novel, which was hard to put down. My only regret is that I didn't read it sooner!!
August 1, 2015
I absolutely LOVED this book. It is very fast paced and grabbed my attention from the very first page and kept it until the very last page. Complex characters in a sophisticated plot that rivals the best of Lee Child or Brad Thor. I found that I couldn't put the book down, and then once I finished it, I was sorry it was over. I don't know if this is the beginning of a series or not, but I really hope it is. I loved the unlikely partnership of Kaplan and Moss. This is a must read for thriller fans and I have added the author to my must read authors' list.
October 15, 2023
Blown by Chuck Barrett
333 Pages
Publisher: Switchback Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Fiction (Adult), Action, Adventure, Spies, Witness Security, Witness Protection, Assassin
Gregg Kaplan is traveling west looking for a missing woman when he stops in Little Rock, Arkansas. He sees suspicious activity and thinks a hit is going down. He jumps in and helps the agent. Unfortunately, the agent dies but before he does, he makes Kaplan promise he will get the witness to a safehouse. Kaplan grabs the older man in the Hawaiian shirt and gets him on the back of his motorcycle. The man, Tony Q, is not the best travelling companion. He complains and must stop often to use the restroom. As a former Delta unit operative, Kaplan knows how to travel without leaving a trail. Unfortunately, the bad guys are constantly on his tail.
Pete Moss, yes, it is his real name, just retired from the United States Marshalls but has been recalled to bring in Tony Q. April Moore, an agent sent from the east coast, is assisting him but something feels off to him. He has her investigated and finds she is a real agent although no one can remember ever meeting her.
It has a fast pace, developed characters, and it is written in the third person point of view. Gregg reminds me of Jack Reacher. He is intelligent and skilled. I love Pete Moss. I hope he makes an appearance in the following books in the series. If you like action and adventure stories, you will enjoy this book.
333 Pages
Publisher: Switchback Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Fiction (Adult), Action, Adventure, Spies, Witness Security, Witness Protection, Assassin
Gregg Kaplan is traveling west looking for a missing woman when he stops in Little Rock, Arkansas. He sees suspicious activity and thinks a hit is going down. He jumps in and helps the agent. Unfortunately, the agent dies but before he does, he makes Kaplan promise he will get the witness to a safehouse. Kaplan grabs the older man in the Hawaiian shirt and gets him on the back of his motorcycle. The man, Tony Q, is not the best travelling companion. He complains and must stop often to use the restroom. As a former Delta unit operative, Kaplan knows how to travel without leaving a trail. Unfortunately, the bad guys are constantly on his tail.
Pete Moss, yes, it is his real name, just retired from the United States Marshalls but has been recalled to bring in Tony Q. April Moore, an agent sent from the east coast, is assisting him but something feels off to him. He has her investigated and finds she is a real agent although no one can remember ever meeting her.
It has a fast pace, developed characters, and it is written in the third person point of view. Gregg reminds me of Jack Reacher. He is intelligent and skilled. I love Pete Moss. I hope he makes an appearance in the following books in the series. If you like action and adventure stories, you will enjoy this book.
May 6, 2017
I was literally blown away!
After an unexpected gunfight, Gregg Kaplan gets involved with a witness from the Witness Security Program and from there, the action never stopped.
Greg Kaplan ain’t no ordinary guy. He’s a badass with a heart riding a Harley-Davidson Fat-Boy. The twist and turns will shock the readers in the most surprising way. Kaplan is the kind of man you would want to lead your security. Kaplan’s character is hardcore, powerful and a force to reckon with.
From one great plot to another this thrilling story doesn’t seem to end. Chuck Barrett never ceases to impress me with all the action-adventure-thriller facets of the book. It’s been a while since I’ve read an action thriller from Barrett and the flow of his stories continue to intensify on every page. I’ve read one of his other series, the Jake Pendleton political mysteries, and that kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning. With Gregg Kaplan series, I felt the same rush and adrenaline I experienced when perusing Pendleton. Chuck Barrett is indeed someone to watch out for! Barrett proves again that he’s one of the best thriller writers in this generation!
After an unexpected gunfight, Gregg Kaplan gets involved with a witness from the Witness Security Program and from there, the action never stopped.
Greg Kaplan ain’t no ordinary guy. He’s a badass with a heart riding a Harley-Davidson Fat-Boy. The twist and turns will shock the readers in the most surprising way. Kaplan is the kind of man you would want to lead your security. Kaplan’s character is hardcore, powerful and a force to reckon with.
From one great plot to another this thrilling story doesn’t seem to end. Chuck Barrett never ceases to impress me with all the action-adventure-thriller facets of the book. It’s been a while since I’ve read an action thriller from Barrett and the flow of his stories continue to intensify on every page. I’ve read one of his other series, the Jake Pendleton political mysteries, and that kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning. With Gregg Kaplan series, I felt the same rush and adrenaline I experienced when perusing Pendleton. Chuck Barrett is indeed someone to watch out for! Barrett proves again that he’s one of the best thriller writers in this generation!
August 4, 2018
This non-stop action thriller kept my interest from start to finish. The protagonist, Gregg Kaplan, is a CIA 'dark-ops' agent with incredible capabilities, who gets dragged into a situation and he decides to see it through to the end. During this adventure, he interfaces with the US Marshals Service, the FBI, local police forces in several cities, the Mossad (yes, really!) and the Mafia. Although the story was mostly chases, shootouts, fights, and interrogations, the character development was pretty good. Kaplan is a sympathetic figure and I wanted him to succeed (same for his US Marshal sidekick.) Also, the author didn't try to impress us with long lists of munitions model numbers and features - just enough to make it credible. I liked this book and I will be looking to read more by Chuck Barrett.
May 28, 2021
This book grabbed me from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. I would have gone without sleeping or eating but my better half forced me to come to my senses and put it aside each day.
I wasn’t familiar with this author but have a couple more of his books on my Kindle waiting. He was recommended to me by a fellow author. I am recommending him to anyone who wants a fast-paced thriller with plenty of excitement and non-stop action scenes with a strong male protagonist. It’s a thrill ride with this the main protagonist, Gregg Kaplan, that will keep you holding your breath!
It is well written with distinctive characters that are memorably defined.
I wasn’t familiar with this author but have a couple more of his books on my Kindle waiting. He was recommended to me by a fellow author. I am recommending him to anyone who wants a fast-paced thriller with plenty of excitement and non-stop action scenes with a strong male protagonist. It’s a thrill ride with this the main protagonist, Gregg Kaplan, that will keep you holding your breath!
It is well written with distinctive characters that are memorably defined.
May 31, 2018
Good Read
A very good story? excellent plot, lots of action an unlikely pairing, all brings the reader to a grey satisfying conclusion.. Enjoy.....it's a good book. Try the author:,s other books as well. They Gregg Kaplan in those, as well as being worth
reading on their own merit
A very good story? excellent plot, lots of action an unlikely pairing, all brings the reader to a grey satisfying conclusion.. Enjoy.....it's a good book. Try the author:,s other books as well. They Gregg Kaplan in those, as well as being worth
reading on their own merit
July 27, 2018
I think it needed to have just one more agency in the mix. Non stop action without a break for 4 days straight... that would require some serious supplements other than the occasional greasy breakfast and cup of coffee. :)
Still, got lost in the action and breezed through it. Will probably continue the series.
Still, got lost in the action and breezed through it. Will probably continue the series.
July 28, 2018
Great author
Enjoyed reading your book, had a hard time putting it down. Very well written which is amazing when I consider that there are no bad language its or steamy sex involved. Instead the author depended on a good story and the telling of it! I am glad I happened on this author's work. I will be following his other books. Quite a talent!
Enjoyed reading your book, had a hard time putting it down. Very well written which is amazing when I consider that there are no bad language its or steamy sex involved. Instead the author depended on a good story and the telling of it! I am glad I happened on this author's work. I will be following his other books. Quite a talent!
May 1, 2018
Terrific story glad to meet Gregg Kaplan and Pete Moss. What a team of brining law and order to many situation i hope this talented author,Chuck Barrett brings these two back in future books. Will continue to follow this author. Excellent storyline
September 29, 2018
Awesome
I was completely blown away by this wonderful book. Gregg Kaplan is a mysterious hero. This book has many twists and turns that I never saw coming. I highly recommend “Blown”.
I was completely blown away by this wonderful book. Gregg Kaplan is a mysterious hero. This book has many twists and turns that I never saw coming. I highly recommend “Blown”.
April 4, 2018
An exciting and suspenseful read! Lots of action, twists and turns makes me want to read the other books in the Gregg Kaplan series. Recommended!
August 14, 2018
Good read
Well done
Enjoyable read
liked the main characters - developed well- looking forward to next book in the series. Doesn't read like a first book
Well done
Enjoyable read
liked the main characters - developed well- looking forward to next book in the series. Doesn't read like a first book
August 19, 2018
Non stop action
This book had twists and turns that kept me fully engrossed
One of a kind hero who has standards that most couldn’t live up to.
This book had twists and turns that kept me fully engrossed
One of a kind hero who has standards that most couldn’t live up to.
February 3, 2019
Awesome story: great page turner.
Awesome story: great page turner. Every page full of action and surprise. Gregg Kaplan and US Marshall were a perfect match.
Awesome story: great page turner. Every page full of action and surprise. Gregg Kaplan and US Marshall were a perfect match.
July 18, 2019
Nice action thriller but am I the only one who associate main hero last name with Fanny? Or was it done intentionally?
December 14, 2021
A little cheesy hero and lots of action. Not complicated…a good beach read.
January 2, 2025
Great read
Action packed and great characters. Have not read any from this author before, but will for sure follow this one with more.
Action packed and great characters. Have not read any from this author before, but will for sure follow this one with more.
September 17, 2015
“Blown” eBook was published in 2015 and was written by Chuck Barrett (http://chuckbarrettbooks.com). Mr. Barrett has published four fiction and one non-fiction novel.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘R’ as there are instances of Violence. This Mystery Thriller novel is set in various locations across the easter United States. The primary characters are Gregg Kaplan, a former special forces soldier now doing contract work for the US government, and Pete Moss, a US Marshal.
Kaplan is heading west on his motorcycle when he just happens across an attack on a law enforcement officer and another man, Toni Napoli, when he stops in Little Rock, Arkansas for lunch. With Kaplan’s help, the attack is thwarted, but the law enforcement officer is fatally wounded. Kaplan makes him a promise to see Napoli, who is in the Witness Protection program, to safety.
This begins a cross country race to get Napoli back into the safe custody of the US Marshals. Kaplan cannot simply turn Nopoli over to law enforcement as it is obvious there is a leak within the US Marshal’s Service.
Moss had been stationed in Little Rock, but has recently been transferred to Chicago. When the Marshal Service hears of the attack in Little Rock, Moss is sent back to find the missing witness. He begins the slow process of tracking Kaplan and Napoli. At first he believes kaplan is involved in the attempted murder of Napoli, but he soon learns enough to believe Kaplan is all that is keeping Napoli alive.
Kaplan and Napoli head east, with organized crime in hot pursuit. Moss too is headed east on Kaplan’s trail. Both soon realize that there is much more to this than a simple witness testimony. And both have to face the mob strong men, traitors within the Marshal’s Service and a hired assassin.
There is constant excitement and intrigue throughout this 6.5 hour Thriller. I did find it a little odd that there were three different major plot focus points in the novel. Any one of those could have been the major plot of the novel. Overall though I did like the story and would read another in the “Gregg Kaplan Thriller” series. I give this novel a 3.7 (rounded up to 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘R’ as there are instances of Violence. This Mystery Thriller novel is set in various locations across the easter United States. The primary characters are Gregg Kaplan, a former special forces soldier now doing contract work for the US government, and Pete Moss, a US Marshal.
Kaplan is heading west on his motorcycle when he just happens across an attack on a law enforcement officer and another man, Toni Napoli, when he stops in Little Rock, Arkansas for lunch. With Kaplan’s help, the attack is thwarted, but the law enforcement officer is fatally wounded. Kaplan makes him a promise to see Napoli, who is in the Witness Protection program, to safety.
This begins a cross country race to get Napoli back into the safe custody of the US Marshals. Kaplan cannot simply turn Nopoli over to law enforcement as it is obvious there is a leak within the US Marshal’s Service.
Moss had been stationed in Little Rock, but has recently been transferred to Chicago. When the Marshal Service hears of the attack in Little Rock, Moss is sent back to find the missing witness. He begins the slow process of tracking Kaplan and Napoli. At first he believes kaplan is involved in the attempted murder of Napoli, but he soon learns enough to believe Kaplan is all that is keeping Napoli alive.
Kaplan and Napoli head east, with organized crime in hot pursuit. Moss too is headed east on Kaplan’s trail. Both soon realize that there is much more to this than a simple witness testimony. And both have to face the mob strong men, traitors within the Marshal’s Service and a hired assassin.
There is constant excitement and intrigue throughout this 6.5 hour Thriller. I did find it a little odd that there were three different major plot focus points in the novel. Any one of those could have been the major plot of the novel. Overall though I did like the story and would read another in the “Gregg Kaplan Thriller” series. I give this novel a 3.7 (rounded up to 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
May 27, 2015
First in a new series by Chuck Barrett, this involves a covert intelligence agent/government assassin in the wrong place at the right time, saving a man from a hit squad in a restaurant and making a promise to his Marshals’ bodyguard to deliver him to safety. From there everyone—good, bad, and indifferent—is after him and his charge, who isn’t as meek as he comes across. So at its simplest it’s a chase story, though as it goes on there are other elements added to the plot.
I can’t stand watching most fight sequences in movies because they’re so unrealistic, so it’s refreshing to see them here over so quickly, as would happen in real life, especially when one of those involved is a trained assassin. The description of the dam near the beginning is also well done, as well as the various safe houses and the Italian restaurant. However, there were other settings I had problems picturing, especially the big fights in the warehouse/shipping yard, the private island, and the terrorist’s villa; this is what most likely kept me from giving the book a 5.
The characters, on the other hand, are well drawn, the secondaries as well as the mains. The author has a relatively fluid writing style that makes the reading easy, though I could have done with less reminders of how he’d sworn to the dying deputy marshal that he’d get his charge to safety. When we are first introduced to the killer-for-hire, the writer goes out of his way to be gender-neutral, enough so that I guessed it was a woman; think he could have been more subtle there. And the storming of the warehouse annoyed me, as both men should have known better than to attack a much bigger force alone, only saved by a ridiculous deux ex machina that was never hinted at; not fair.
But despite all that, there’s still much to enjoy. There’s also plenty of backstory for future novels, including threads about a woman from his past that he was on his way to hunt down when he was rudely interrupted, and a female Mossad agent he had a fling with. At first I didn’t remember the prologue, which involved a covert mission in Lebanon, but it comes full circle in the end.
I can’t stand watching most fight sequences in movies because they’re so unrealistic, so it’s refreshing to see them here over so quickly, as would happen in real life, especially when one of those involved is a trained assassin. The description of the dam near the beginning is also well done, as well as the various safe houses and the Italian restaurant. However, there were other settings I had problems picturing, especially the big fights in the warehouse/shipping yard, the private island, and the terrorist’s villa; this is what most likely kept me from giving the book a 5.
The characters, on the other hand, are well drawn, the secondaries as well as the mains. The author has a relatively fluid writing style that makes the reading easy, though I could have done with less reminders of how he’d sworn to the dying deputy marshal that he’d get his charge to safety. When we are first introduced to the killer-for-hire, the writer goes out of his way to be gender-neutral, enough so that I guessed it was a woman; think he could have been more subtle there. And the storming of the warehouse annoyed me, as both men should have known better than to attack a much bigger force alone, only saved by a ridiculous deux ex machina that was never hinted at; not fair.
But despite all that, there’s still much to enjoy. There’s also plenty of backstory for future novels, including threads about a woman from his past that he was on his way to hunt down when he was rudely interrupted, and a female Mossad agent he had a fling with. At first I didn’t remember the prologue, which involved a covert mission in Lebanon, but it comes full circle in the end.
January 9, 2016
If you're looking for a good action/thriller then this book is what you're looking for.
A very dangerous man, searching for answers, stops to have breakfast in a place he shouldn't be, and walks into a situation that will alter the course of several people's lives.
A group with everything to lose is hunting down a rat. The rat just happens to be in the custody of the US Marshalls sitting down for breakfast in a tiny little town on his way to a new identity.
The men have specific orders. The rat must die.
An encounter that will leave many dead and a oath between former Delta operators.
A dark tale of an assassin bonded to a blade that is also the source of his power. A cursed blade that causes him torment until he sedates it's thirst for blood.
A master of killing, hiding, and espionage his name send fears into the hearts of all that hear it. He has nor loyalties and will work for anyone that can pay.
A deadly man who's own past haunts him. Not his past deeds, he's long since made peace with what he is, it's the last of a past that haunts and tortures him. Who is he? Where did come from? What is he? It's these questions that boil in his soul and unwittingly he takes a job that may just answer some of those questions.
He holds a secret. A secret that would be used against him if his enemies find out what it is. A ruthless killer with a heart? Maybe his greatest deception. Killing for money is his life but protecting those that are preyed upon by others is what saves his soul.
A very dark tale of death, destruction, and betrayal will lead the assassin on a path that will be told through the annals of time.
A departure from my normal reading but very enjoyable reading none the less. Fans of the genre will feel right at home with this book and holds great promise as a series worth following.
Gregg Kaplan is not a man that takes an oath lightly especially to another Delta. He will fulfill his promise, even in the face of overwhelming forces.
Action packed with a character that you're sure to love and a promising start to a great series.
A very dangerous man, searching for answers, stops to have breakfast in a place he shouldn't be, and walks into a situation that will alter the course of several people's lives.
A group with everything to lose is hunting down a rat. The rat just happens to be in the custody of the US Marshalls sitting down for breakfast in a tiny little town on his way to a new identity.
The men have specific orders. The rat must die.
An encounter that will leave many dead and a oath between former Delta operators.
A dark tale of an assassin bonded to a blade that is also the source of his power. A cursed blade that causes him torment until he sedates it's thirst for blood.
A master of killing, hiding, and espionage his name send fears into the hearts of all that hear it. He has nor loyalties and will work for anyone that can pay.
A deadly man who's own past haunts him. Not his past deeds, he's long since made peace with what he is, it's the last of a past that haunts and tortures him. Who is he? Where did come from? What is he? It's these questions that boil in his soul and unwittingly he takes a job that may just answer some of those questions.
He holds a secret. A secret that would be used against him if his enemies find out what it is. A ruthless killer with a heart? Maybe his greatest deception. Killing for money is his life but protecting those that are preyed upon by others is what saves his soul.
A very dark tale of death, destruction, and betrayal will lead the assassin on a path that will be told through the annals of time.
A departure from my normal reading but very enjoyable reading none the less. Fans of the genre will feel right at home with this book and holds great promise as a series worth following.
Gregg Kaplan is not a man that takes an oath lightly especially to another Delta. He will fulfill his promise, even in the face of overwhelming forces.
Action packed with a character that you're sure to love and a promising start to a great series.
June 28, 2015
ARC provided by Netgalley
Blown starts with a bang, a shootout at a restaurant in Little Rock, and doesn't stop. Everyone it would appear is trying to kill/capture the witness Tony and it turns out Kaplan.
Murphy's Law seems to follow Kaplan as well. For every time he gets himself and Tony out of danger even more trouble seems to show up. The ever present "promise" the author seems to believe the reader should be reminded of often seems to conflict with Kaplan's better judgement and training.
Essentially this is one big chase scene stretching from Little Rock, AR to Virginia with a stop over in New Jersey. From the moment Kaplan flees with Tony on his Harley motorcycle we have car chases, shootouts, fights, and explosions. All the while I was trying to figure out what the heck was really going on. Honestly I'm still not sure exactly. As enjoyable as this book was it was still frustrating to read. I like a good mystery with my thriller but I don't want to feel like I'm missing something important that is right in front of me.
Multiple story arcs run through the main story of keeping Tony alive and delivering him to WitSec. Mob bosses, FBI secret missions, leaks at the CIA and US Marshals, unfinished business from a past mission in Lebanon, and finally what Tony has up his sleeve. Seriously I felt like I should be taking notes just to keep it all straight. The multiple POV, something I'm not usually fond of, actually helped in this area. Each story line is connected however convoluted it might feel and they each get an ending, a separate ending. I appreciated that none of the plots got left hanging. However it did give the end of the book a never-ending feel to it. I kept glancing puzzled at the % read after each "ending" wondering what more could there be.
I liked this book. I didn't love it. Will I re-read it sometime in the future? No. Will I read future books in the series? Yes. Will I seek out other series books by this author? Maybe.
Blown starts with a bang, a shootout at a restaurant in Little Rock, and doesn't stop. Everyone it would appear is trying to kill/capture the witness Tony and it turns out Kaplan.
Murphy's Law seems to follow Kaplan as well. For every time he gets himself and Tony out of danger even more trouble seems to show up. The ever present "promise" the author seems to believe the reader should be reminded of often seems to conflict with Kaplan's better judgement and training.
Essentially this is one big chase scene stretching from Little Rock, AR to Virginia with a stop over in New Jersey. From the moment Kaplan flees with Tony on his Harley motorcycle we have car chases, shootouts, fights, and explosions. All the while I was trying to figure out what the heck was really going on. Honestly I'm still not sure exactly. As enjoyable as this book was it was still frustrating to read. I like a good mystery with my thriller but I don't want to feel like I'm missing something important that is right in front of me.
Multiple story arcs run through the main story of keeping Tony alive and delivering him to WitSec. Mob bosses, FBI secret missions, leaks at the CIA and US Marshals, unfinished business from a past mission in Lebanon, and finally what Tony has up his sleeve. Seriously I felt like I should be taking notes just to keep it all straight. The multiple POV, something I'm not usually fond of, actually helped in this area. Each story line is connected however convoluted it might feel and they each get an ending, a separate ending. I appreciated that none of the plots got left hanging. However it did give the end of the book a never-ending feel to it. I kept glancing puzzled at the % read after each "ending" wondering what more could there be.
I liked this book. I didn't love it. Will I re-read it sometime in the future? No. Will I read future books in the series? Yes. Will I seek out other series books by this author? Maybe.
September 18, 2015
Thanks to netgalley.com, Chuck Barrett and Switchback Press.
What an awesome read, Kaplan's badass makes Reacher look tame and loved the action filled fast pace. Has some of the best chase writing in it; a Harley Davidson Fat Boy verse a Police loaded Crown Victoria, that same Harley verse a helicopter, a Jeep Wrangler verse that same Crown Victoria and end up with a Mercedes Benz verse a Buick Lacrosse.
Blown has it all a CIA agent off the grid, the US Marshals series, the FBI, various Sheriff Depts, various local police, a hot redhead assassin, the MOB, contract FBI agents, the Mossad, a terrorist and one clever snitch named Tony Q.
Absolutely love Chuck Barrett's writing style, he puts you into the pages your right their with Kaplan and Moss, and love the huge extra helping of action he gives you with Blown.
I've always thought the coolest thing about being an avid reader. When you see one like Blown, where the cover catches your eye, you know nothing about the author, and the description hooks you in.
You end up reading a tour de force, you don't want it to end and wish it was one of those 1000 page Stephen King masterpiece.
Blown has stories intertwined with more stories, a storyline that takes you from Little Rock, Arkansas to the Ports of Newark, New Jersey, then off to Tel Aviv to help the Mossad, to Martinique and end up back in Little Rock. Barrett's as good as Ludlum, Flynn or Thor.
The other cool thing with this one is, you'll like Pete Moss a US Marshall, that ends up befriending Greg Kaplan and Barrett could very easily create a series about Moss.
I highly recommend Blown, Chuck Barrett will end up being your new favorite author and I'm eagerly waiting for the next installment on Greg Kaplan.
I do hope that he'll write a prequel or release it as short story, we're Kaplan rescues the niece of the Mossad leader and it's mentioned in Blown.
What an awesome read, Kaplan's badass makes Reacher look tame and loved the action filled fast pace. Has some of the best chase writing in it; a Harley Davidson Fat Boy verse a Police loaded Crown Victoria, that same Harley verse a helicopter, a Jeep Wrangler verse that same Crown Victoria and end up with a Mercedes Benz verse a Buick Lacrosse.
Blown has it all a CIA agent off the grid, the US Marshals series, the FBI, various Sheriff Depts, various local police, a hot redhead assassin, the MOB, contract FBI agents, the Mossad, a terrorist and one clever snitch named Tony Q.
Absolutely love Chuck Barrett's writing style, he puts you into the pages your right their with Kaplan and Moss, and love the huge extra helping of action he gives you with Blown.
I've always thought the coolest thing about being an avid reader. When you see one like Blown, where the cover catches your eye, you know nothing about the author, and the description hooks you in.
You end up reading a tour de force, you don't want it to end and wish it was one of those 1000 page Stephen King masterpiece.
Blown has stories intertwined with more stories, a storyline that takes you from Little Rock, Arkansas to the Ports of Newark, New Jersey, then off to Tel Aviv to help the Mossad, to Martinique and end up back in Little Rock. Barrett's as good as Ludlum, Flynn or Thor.
The other cool thing with this one is, you'll like Pete Moss a US Marshall, that ends up befriending Greg Kaplan and Barrett could very easily create a series about Moss.
I highly recommend Blown, Chuck Barrett will end up being your new favorite author and I'm eagerly waiting for the next installment on Greg Kaplan.
I do hope that he'll write a prequel or release it as short story, we're Kaplan rescues the niece of the Mossad leader and it's mentioned in Blown.
April 28, 2015
Once in, never out. - Delta Force mantra
Gregg Kaplan - officially he wasn't there, wasn't even in the country. He should have listened to his intuition as he entered the restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas and got got back on his Harley Fat Boy and drove away. Instead he gets caught in the middle of a gunfight and ends up promising a dying U.S. Marshall (who also happens to be ex-Delta Force) that he'll get his witness from the Witness Security Program, Tony Q, to a WITSEC safe house. He had NO idea what that was going to entail.
There are stories within stories within stories in this lightning-paced thriller. Just when I thought one tale was finishing up, another storyline popped up. And the thing is - all the story parts are fun to read and kept me guessing.
What do you get with BLOWN? Colorful characters including U.S. Marshall Pete Moss (yes, that's his name) and an assassin called Valkyrie. A storyline that stretches from Lebanon to Arkansas to New Jersey to Martinique and all kinds of dangerous points in between.
I liked the pacing, the descriptions of people and places, especially the CIA and WITSEC safe places, and the sleight of hand moments when the author caught me unawares.
What I'm trying to say - with too many words probably - is that I really liked this book. And I recommend it to anyone that likes imaginative thrillers.
NOTE: I received this book from Switchback Press through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Gregg Kaplan - officially he wasn't there, wasn't even in the country. He should have listened to his intuition as he entered the restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas and got got back on his Harley Fat Boy and drove away. Instead he gets caught in the middle of a gunfight and ends up promising a dying U.S. Marshall (who also happens to be ex-Delta Force) that he'll get his witness from the Witness Security Program, Tony Q, to a WITSEC safe house. He had NO idea what that was going to entail.
There are stories within stories within stories in this lightning-paced thriller. Just when I thought one tale was finishing up, another storyline popped up. And the thing is - all the story parts are fun to read and kept me guessing.
What do you get with BLOWN? Colorful characters including U.S. Marshall Pete Moss (yes, that's his name) and an assassin called Valkyrie. A storyline that stretches from Lebanon to Arkansas to New Jersey to Martinique and all kinds of dangerous points in between.
I liked the pacing, the descriptions of people and places, especially the CIA and WITSEC safe places, and the sleight of hand moments when the author caught me unawares.
What I'm trying to say - with too many words probably - is that I really liked this book. And I recommend it to anyone that likes imaginative thrillers.
NOTE: I received this book from Switchback Press through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2015
I would like to thank Switchback Press and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic copy to review. Gregg Kaplan, former Special Forces but now a civilian worker for the Government, finds himself in the middle of a blown witness protection detail at a restaurant. Feeling obligated due to the dying wish of the WitSec deputy, Kaplan has no choice but to protect the witness. WitSec seems to be no longer safe because of an obvious leak, so Kaplan attempts to go off the grid to get the witness to safety. His efforts to protect the witness are complicated by the unwillingness of the witness himself to comply with true safety protocols. The only place that the book falls short for me is regarding Kaplan's protection of the witness. Regardless of the fact that is not his area of expertise, I would think that logic would direct Gregg to never letting the witness out of his sight. This fast paced story will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the exciting conclusion. The plot of Blown is highly developed and the characters, main and otherwise, are well defined. Gregg Kaplan is the ideal main character for a thriller such as this one - smart, strong, and able to adapt to ever changing circumstances. With most of his backstory yet to be revealed, I would definitely be interested in reading future books that delve more into Kaplan's past.
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