Man on Edge

Rake Ozenna Thriller #2

by Humphrey Hawksley

A tense and twisting espionage thriller involving state secrets, lethal assassins and the threat of a new Cold War.

Trauma surgeon Carrie Walker is taken aback when her estranged uncle makes contact out of the blue. Senior Russian naval officer Artyom Semenov claims to be in possession of an explosive piece of information which he is offering to share with the West. But can he be trusted?

Travelling to Moscow undercover to meet with Semenov, Carrie finds herself stranded when the carefully-planned operation goes catastrophically awry. In grave danger, there's only one person she can turn to for help: her former fianc�, Major Rake Ozenna of the Alaska National Guard.

Aware how vital it is that he reaches Carrie before others do, Rake knows he's pitted against a powerful and lethal enemy. But is it a rogue agent - or the Russian state? As preparations gather pace for a high-profile NATO exercise off the Norwegian coast, Rake must act fast if he is to prevent a global catastrophe.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2007

About the author

Humphrey is an award-winning author, podcaster and journalist whose assignments with the BBC have taken him to crises all over the world. The three books in his future history series -- Dragonstrike, Dragonfire and The Third World War -- have been praised as authentic, catastrophic scenarios which begin with a Chinese strike in the South China Sea. His Rake Ozenna espionage thriller series is set in the Arctic and High North, beginning with Man on Ice and a Russian invasion of the Alaskan island of Little Diomede. Rake is an island native and a special forces veteran with the Alaska National Guard. The late, great Nelson de Mille applauded Rake as being smart and tough, 'and we’re glad to have him on our side.' Humphrey's non-fiction work includes Democracy Kills: What’s So Good About Having The Vote, published during the Iraq civil war and Asian Waters: The Struggle over the Indo-Pacific and the Challenge to American Power which examines the impact of Chinese expansion in Asia. Humphrey hosts the bi-monthly Democracy Forum Debates. His work has appeared in most mainstream media outlets and he has been guest lecturer at universities and think tanks such as the RAND Corporation, The Center for Strategic and International Studies and MENSA Cambridge. He moderates the Democracy Forum Debates on international issues and is a host of the Goldster Magazine Show and podcast.

Reviews

[Jay Pruitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those of you who enjoyed Tom Clancy's Hunt For Red October, where things like silent submarine propulsion systems threaten the balance of world power and where a handful of spy-type, paramilitary patriots must risk everything to save the world (again), will love this book. Imagine a situation where Russian leaders must choose to either align with the U.S. or its rival superpower, China. Layer onto that a rogue faction who plots to kill the U.S. and Russian presidents in a bizarre dual assassination, hoping to cause a shift in its nation's policies. Now, drop in a couple badass military types, the CIA, KGB-equivalents, and the mad scramble to locate and commandeer a datastick (smuggled like a tampon) across the frozen landscape that separates Russia from Norway, and you have the makings of a real page turner. If you like this kind of novel (and I do), I recommend you strap in for the ride...

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tense political thriller, informative, accurate and full of information. I was totally gripped by the story and also enjoyed learning a great deal about Russia and international affairs.

[Deena Schoenfeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced plot with believable characters, much like Man on Ice - Book 1 in the Rake Ozenna thriller series.

The storyline evolved around a multitude of characters, but they were very well developed and written. Main character - Rake Ozenna - is an army captain - is back although after the events of Book 1, his engagement to trauma doctor Carrie Walker has ended. There is no definitive answer to the ending of the engagement but the reader can infer that the two are still in sporadic contact so there aren't a lot of hard feelings on either side.

There are many secondary characters in government roles, because many of them made an appearance in book 1, there is not a lot of confusion with who-is-what and who-does-what. There are more secondary characters added and they are done in such a way that it is not such an information dump as with the previous book in the series.

Man on Edge was loaded with geopolitical intrigue, ramifications and plot lines, just like Man on Ice. There is an overabundance of globe-hopping travel for Rake, some that pushes the edge of credulity in this fast-paced book. It seems like no one needs sleep and doesn't get loopy when going days without rest.  Speaking of credulity, there are some instances where it's lucky plot twists that save characters, not truly something believable, but that is why it is fiction - things are supposed to strain the bounds of truth.

This is a very quick read as the storyline is engrossing and the plot moves very fast while being filled with twists, turns, blizzards and lots of horse poop.

Recommend?

I recommend this to everyone! All ages will get something from this action-packed thriller.

This review appeared on my website.

Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was asked to review this book from the author's publicist, but I received the digital book via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County Library system. It was read as a Kindle Book.

I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is entertaining, if implausible (sorry people!) and it hits a lot of topical themes. Carrie, a trauma surgeon travels to Moscow to recover whatever it is that her uncle Artyom Semenov has that's allegedly world-shaking. Then, she finds herself in deep trouble and can only be rescued by her love interest Major Rake Ozenna of the Alaska National Guard. I missed the first novel so I came in cold for this one but that was ok- Hawksley gives you enough of everyone's back story to understand why they react as they do. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC- it's a page turning thriller that packs a lot into a relatively slim volume.

[J.A. Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man on Edge, written by Humphrey Hawksley, is a fast-paced thriller that I really enjoyed reading. I haven’t read the first book in the series, but that didn’t matter because the author did a great job filling me in on the important stuff throughout the story when I needed it so I didn’t feel like I was missing much background information. I’ll be honest and say that there were a couple of times I felt like I was reading an Alex Cross novel because the story was so compelling. It was very well written, the plot was solid, the characters were (mostly) likable and the attention to detail was great.

I loved the dynamic between Carrie and Rake. They love each other, but Carrie is what’s keeping them apart and even though Carrie broke Rake’s heart he’s still there for her trying to save her life. It was great. I did wish that Carrie had gone through a little bit more, I know she went through some rough situations in this book, but I would have liked to see her fight back. She sees Rake kill people in book one and according to a passage in book two that was kind of one of her main reasons for ending things with him so there was a part of me that wanted her to have to get her hands dirty so that she couldn’t hold that against him anymore. I thought it was great though.

I was sad about a couple of the deaths that happened, but it helped add to the story so it worked out. I hope that Rufus gets adopted by Carrie at some point. I wasn’t a fan of Nilla from the beginning and wasn’t surprised by the turn of events where she was involved. I loved Mikki’s character, he was great at adding just the right amount of humor in difficult situations and he always had Rake’s back. I would probably read a series on just Mikki because he seemed like a fun character. I did feel at some points that Rake needed a little bit more personality.

Yumatov was a great character like I said I haven’t read the first book, so I didn’t quite understand his motives a lot of the time when it came to Carrie. At points he seemed like the enemy and then at other points it seemed like he was her friend, all he wanted was revenge on Rake, but part of him seemed to genuinely care for Carrie and I’m not sure if that has something to do with book one. That was probably the only part of the book that ever confused me, trying to figure out if Yumatov was truly trying to help Carrie or not. He was a great villain though!

I wouldn’t recommend the author change anything. The book was very well done and I would probably read more of this author's work, especially this series. I also loved that at the very end the author went through and gave a special thank you to everyone that helped with the book. A lot of authors just do a general thank you, but this one was more personal which made me respect the author even more. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers. It has a little bit of everything; spies, military, backstabbing, betrayal, love, corrupt government, action and more.

[J.A. Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man on Edge, written by Humphrey Hawksley, is a fast-paced thriller that I really enjoyed reading. I haven’t read the first book in the series, but that didn’t matter because the author did a great job filling me in on the important stuff throughout the story when I needed it so I didn’t feel like I was missing much background information. I’ll be honest and say that there were a couple of times I felt like I was reading an Alex Cross novel because the story was so compelling. It was very well written, the plot was solid, the characters were (mostly) likable and the attention to detail was great.

I loved the dynamic between Carrie and Rake. They love each other, but Carrie is what’s keeping them apart and even though Carrie broke Rake’s heart he’s still there for her trying to save her life. It was great. I did wish that Carrie had gone through a little bit more, I know she went through some rough situations in this book, but I would have liked to see her fight back. She sees Rake kill people in book one and according to a passage in book two that was kind of one of her main reasons for ending things with him so there was a part of me that wanted her to have to get her hands dirty so that she couldn’t hold that against him anymore. I thought it was great though.

I was sad about a couple of the deaths that happened, but it helped add to the story so it worked out. I hope that Rufus gets adopted by Carrie at some point. I wasn’t a fan of Nilla from the beginning and wasn’t surprised by the turn of events where she was involved. I loved Mikki’s character, he was great at adding just the right amount of humor in difficult situations and he always had Rake’s back. I would probably read a series on just Mikki because he seemed like a fun character. I did feel at some points that Rake needed a little bit more personality.

Yumatov was a great character like I said I haven’t read the first book, so I didn’t quite understand his motives a lot of the time when it came to Carrie. At points he seemed like the enemy and then at other points it seemed like he was her friend, all he wanted was revenge on Rake, but part of him seemed to genuinely care for Carrie and I’m not sure if that has something to do with book one. That was probably the only part of the book that ever confused me, trying to figure out if Yumatov was truly trying to help Carrie or not. He was a great villain though!

I wouldn’t recommend the author change anything. The book was very well done and I would probably read more of this author's work, especially this series. I also loved that at the very end the author went through and gave a special thank you to everyone that helped with the book. A lot of authors just do a general thank you, but this one was more personal which made me respect the author even more. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers. It has a little bit of everything; spies, military, backstabbing, betrayal, love, corrupt government, action and more.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Man On the Edge’ is an exceptional political thriller that gets fascinating with every new chapter. The reader is treated to a series of actions that occur in different locations and involve powerful people. Reading this book was a joy as the author gets to be imaginative with every new scene. The characters, flow of the plot, drama, unfolding of events, and suspense are what made Humphrey Hawksley’s novel an enjoyable book. One gets glued to the pages, as everything the author writes about is thrilling. I love that the story started at a modest degree. The reader is first taken to Murmansk Oblast, Russia, as we get introduced to the first character that is Colonel Ruslan Yumatov. The colonel is with another character whom I later found to be as interesting, Gerald Cooper.
We follow the story of surgeon Carrie Walker as she journeys to meet her uncle who apparently has damning information that will break powerful entities. Her uncle, Artyom Semenov contacts her, but does whatever he has substantial? The suspense during this part of the plot was killing me. I wanted to read more as the story got juicier with every fresh contact. I enjoyed every happening in the book. The author introduces one to the world of espionage, crime, and the military. The story gets to be thrilling as we get into a political world, a different world where loyalty and control are key. There is nothing that can prepare one for the action and adventure that is in the book. Everything happens so fast and the battles get to be too serious, getting the reader so drawn in the book that you forget about reality for a minute.
I can say that I was thoroughly entertained throughout my reading. There is nothing like a boring chapter. You get to follow a character from the start, love them for their actions, loathe them for their misgivings but never want to see them disappear. The author was so good with character development that he made me attached to some characters. One of those characters was Carrie Walker. How can someone in the medical field go through so many tribulations? I loved Carrie as she was focused on her work and always aimed to complete her mission. I like that she risked her life, and passed through dangerous roads just to get to her target.
Rake Ozenna was another favorite character. He was prudent and carefully calculated his steps before making any move. Rake was also accommodating when people needed him. The book is a gripping thriller with major themes like governance, diplomacy, military action, political alliances, world peace, love, family, and friendships. The breaking down of the plot was nicely done, making the story easy to comprehend. The conversations in the book are astounding too. I liked the sense of humor and how informative the dialogues were. I recommend ‘Man On Edge' to readers who fancy books that contain political fiction, drama, and intense action.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

One fine thriller - awaiting cinematic adaptation!

British foreign correspondent Humphrey Hawksley has used his skills globally, having assignments in Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Delhi and Colombo, and contributing to ABC, National Public Radio, the Financial Times, New York Times, Yale Global, Nikkei Asian Review among others. He knows his territories and cultural aspects of the regions about which he writes and more! His impressive books to date: RED SPIRIT, DRAGON FIRE, DRAGON STRIKE, THE THIRD WORLD WAR, SECURITY BREACH, CEREMONY OF INNOCENCE, ASIAN WATERS, and his current thriller series RAKE OZENNA THRILLERS of which MAN ON EDGE is the second installment.

Designing a primary, title character that will sustain interest and allow multiple adventures when creating a series is an ability Humphrey owns: Special agent Captain Rake Ozenna is a native of Little Diomede island in Alaska, and while in the initial novel in this series, MAN ON ICE, his expertise was apparent in a challenge occurring between his island and Russia. Now his skills are further examined in the realm of Scandinavia and Russia. The cast of the series continues in this volume - trauma surgeon, Dr Carrie Walker, American intelligence contractor, Harry Lucas, and his ex-wife, British businesswoman and diplomat, Stephanie Lucas – with new participants…

The story is both gripping and addictive, capturing credible factors that seem prescient in our contemporary climate, and weaving a tale that races like lighting from the opening to the final chapter. Humphrey’s very apparent knowledge of how countries and leaders function tightly weaves an intense thriller like few other authors.

Supplying a backdrop of the kaleidoscopic plot stimulates curiosity and commitment – ‘Trauma surgeon Carrie Walker is taken aback when her estranged uncle makes contact out of the blue. Senior Russian naval officer Artyom Semenov claims to be in possession of an explosive piece of information which he is offering to share with the West. But can he be trusted? Travelling to Moscow undercover to meet with Semenov, Carrie finds herself stranded when the carefully-planned operation goes catastrophically awry. In grave danger, there’s only one person she can turn to for help: her former fiancé, Major Rake Ozenna of the Alaska National Guard. Aware how vital it is that he reaches Carrie before others do, Rake knows he’s pitted against a powerful and lethal enemy. But is it a rogue agent - or the Russian state? As preparations gather pace for a high-profile NATO exercise off the Norwegian coast, Rake must act fast if he is to prevent a global catastrophe.’

Successful on every level – fine prose, stunning characters who capture and retain our interest, and insights into the realm of global politics and derring-do – MAN ON EDGE is a winner, and dangles a carrot in front of the reader, awaiting the next volume! Highly recommended

[Alexander Pyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following up Humphrey Hawksley’s MAN ON ICE, comes another political thriller that contains assassins, intrigue, and a looming existential threat, in MAN ON EDGE.

We follow Carrie Walker, a trauma surgeon, who is put in a tight spot after her estranged uncle reaches out to her. He has some rather sensitive and necessary information, but Walker does not know if she can fully trust him. When she goes undercover to meet him in Moscow, things go wrong and she finds herself stranded with almost no one to turn to, other than her ex-fiancé, Major Rake Ozenna, who is part of the Alaska National Guard.

Knowing the stakes, Ozenna knows he must reach Walker before anyone else does, yet who is after her? The Russians? NATO? A rogue agent? It will pit him against his most far reaching enemy yet.
Like any good political thriller, Hawksley knows how to pace and enjoys the tension that forces readers to turn page after page, chapter after chapter. Great for him, terrible for my schedule! Walker is a rather endearing and well-rounded character to follow and contrasts well with Ozenna, although I remain quite a fan of him in this new installment.

It is clear that Hawksley is getting better and better with each new book, which is a great thing to see in a writer. They all still have that lightning fraught tension that gives thrillers their flavor and it’s just hard to pass up. The setting of Moscow is also somewhat topical based on our news cycle of late, so in some ways, Hawksley’s foresight is commendable, even if it just dials back into old fears of the Cold War that reads inexplicably like old headlines.

The only true weakness to this, was that I found that antagonists something to still live up to. Given the stakes of his story and how Hawksley kicks it up a notch, I found myself wanting a little bit more from them. I want real people, or even deeper characters rather than the rather flat and shallow tropes he had play out. Luckily, Carter and Ozenna make up for this in spades and they are after all the centerpiece of the book.

If you’re a fan of political thrillers or even just plain old thrillers, MAN ON EDGE is a read you cannot miss!

[Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man on Edge is a thriller by Humphrey Hawksley which involves many aspects of politics. The story is about a trauma surgeon named Carrie Walker. She is suddenly called over to Russia by her uncle, who is offering information to the West. She goes to meet him, only to find skulking villains and threats looming in the background. Stuck in Russia, her only hope is former fiance and Alaskan National Guard member Rake Ozenna. Rake has to maneuver through a web of villains and hidden threats to help save both Carrie and those he cares about from evil. Overall, the author did an amazing job when it came to making things interesting. The book doesn’t skip a beat, culminating into amazing action. The chapters focusing on Carrie, for example, were one of the most interesting in my opinion. They were full of uncertainty and a dramatic tone which I personally loved. The relationship between Carrie and Rake was interesting to me as well, and I feel it could be explored more in later books. The plot was very entertaining, and I found myself on the edge of my seat. Rake’s parts kept me second-guessing, and even wanting to learn what would happen next. One encounter with Rake, during his consulting with the Pentagon, was a show of drama and plot progression. I never felt like it dragged on too long and the book kept leading you on, wanting to read further. The only downfall was that at times it felt like it didn’t take as much time as to work with character development, but this isn’t that big of a deal with the book. At the end you get to see how the relationship blossomed through all the hardships rake and Carrie faced. The pace of the book was at a nice speed. At times it felt a bit fast, but you didn’t feel too overwhelmed. The book built up to a satisfying conclusion, and I can’t wait to see the next installment. The author put a large amount of effort into building up the world in the book, and it shows. A great read full of thrills through and through, this book is a 5 out of 5 for me.

[Jenna Tomaszewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man on Edge is a thriller novel by Humphrey Hawksley that follows Rake Ozenna through a dangerous mission that begins near the Russian/Norwegian border with a dead reindeer and a severed ear. Rake and his close comrade Mikki must work through the situation, unaware that Russia is out for revenge after what happened a few years back. They want Rake to pay for the lives he had to take. Even Rake’s former fiancé, Dr. Carrie Walker, is once again roped into the situation after a mysterious phone call from her uncle in Russia, who happens to work on these crafts. Is he trying to defect, or is it part of the scheme? Will Rake save the day, and Carrie?

If you are a fan of James Bond/Jason Bourne, then this book is going to be right up your alley. Government entanglements, military men deciding between orders and discovering the plans for themselves, perhaps even a little bit of romance, and it all adds up to an exciting story that is well worth the read. The action beats are very well done, and the mystery is structured in such a way to keep you guessing until the climax of the story.

Specifically, the author has mastered the art of bringing tension to a scene. There were several sections of the book where I could not physically read fast enough to relieve the tension created for the characters. The pacing is fantastic, as well. Pair these elements with the excellent plot, and you have a thriller that will do exactly that: Thrill you!

If I had to give any sort of knock, there were a couple spots that needed some editing clean-up, but there weren’t any mistakes that ruined the illusion of the story. Out of five stars, this is still a five!

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch out Mitch Rapp and Scott Harvath! There is a new action hero on the rise named Rake Ozenna. Rake is a Major in the Alaska National Guard who defeated a Russian attack on Diomede in his first outing. Now in Man on Edge the Russians want revenge for the death of their forces. Russian Colonel Ruslan Yumatov has a plan to disrupt a NATO exercise, place himself in a position of power and lure Rake to Russia.

Doctor Carrie Walker is Rake’s former fiancé whose uncle is an officer in the Russian navy, working on advancements in their submarine technology. He has information to turn over to the West and asks Carrie to travel to Moscow to retrieve it. When her uncle is murdered she reaches out to the only person she can trust - Rake. With the help of Harry Lucas, a former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Rake is sent to bring back the information, putting him within Yumatov’s reach. It is a race to prevent an assassination and political turmoil.

From Moscow to the frozen border with Norway, this is a story of deception and constant action. WhileYumatov is a constant threat, there is someone else behind the scenes who is pulling the strings. It suggests that there is more to come and Rake will be back. If you are a fan of Brad Thor or Mark Greaney then Humphrey Hawksley should definitely be on your reading list. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book for my review.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch out Mitch Rapp and Scott Harvath! There is a new action hero on the rise named Rake Ozenna. Rake is a Major in the Alaska National Guard who defeated a Russian attack on Diomede in his first outing. Now in Man on Edge the Russians want revenge for the death of their forces. Russian Colonel Ruslan Yumatov has a plan to disrupt a NATO exercise, place himself in a position of power and lure Rake to Russia.

Doctor Carrie Walker is Rake’s former fiancé whose uncle is an officer in the Russian navy, working on advancements in their submarine technology. He has information to turn over to the West and asks Carrie to travel to Moscow to retrieve it. When her uncle is murdered she reaches out to the only person she can trust - Rake. With the help of Harry Lucas, a former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Rake is sent to bring back the information, putting him within Yumatov’s reach. It is a race to prevent an assassination and political turmoil.

From Moscow to the frozen border with Norway, this is a story of deception and constant action. WhileYumatov is a constant threat, there is someone else behind the scenes who is pulling the strings. It suggests that there is more to come and Rake will be back. If you are a fan of Brad Thor or Mark Greaney then Humphrey Hawksley should definitely be on your reading list.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

An action-packed thriller, author Humphrey Hawksley has created a thrill ride of a novel. While I haven’t read the first book in the series, the author does a great job of gleaning into the backstory and history established in the first novel enough to create a clear picture of the major players of the narrative and their roles.

The buildup of suspense and heart-pounding action is equally matched to witty banter between characters and powerful character growth throughout the novel as well. Playing into the government agent versus the world theme, the author blends the shadowy government operations of a good thriller with the personal ups and downs of protagonist Rake and his on and off romance with Carrie. The backdrop of Russia and the surrounding areas felt relevant to the current political scene in the world, creating a deeper connection to the action of the novel’s plot overall.

The Verdict

A one of a kind read author Humphrey Hawksley has created a tension-filled, action-packed narrative that is not to be missed. An evenly paced read with steady character arcs and a great flow overall, everyone should grab their copies of “Man on Edge”, the second book in the Rake Ozenna Thriller series, today!

[Moná · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Man on Edge (A Rake Ozenna Thriller Book 2)," author Humphrey Hawksley takes his readers on an action-packed journey with Major Raymond "Rake" Ozenna and Carrie Walker, as a mission they have done together caught up to them in the form of revenge. While Carrie is in Moscow, stranded with no protection, she reaches out to Rake for assistance in getting her back on American soil. There is a constant back and forth about who is the real enemy, American or the Russian governments. Both countries believe there are conspiring against each other, which can develop into a catastrophic result. Senior naval officer Artyom Semenov, Carrie's uncle, was killed and robbed of his powerful technology that can start a war.

This book will have you on the edge of your seat, wondering what's going to happen next. The involvement between both governments and their official agents, will the reader feel they are amongst the members in the field. I enjoyed reading this book because secret missions are something I find fascinating, I felt like I was witness to all that occurred within this book. This was a well-detailed illustration depicting the characters' emotions and I highly recommend this book to everyone who is a fan of secret agencies and classified military missions.

[Janeadams Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

A violent, bloody thriller about a high stakes game if revenge, espionage and high level double dealings set in Russia, Norway and Washington. The protagonists, friends from a shared childhood in Little Diomede, an Alaskan outpost of particular interest to Operation Dynamic Freedom, a military exercise seen by the Russians as a provocation, are called on to smuggle critical information across a well-fortified border in time to verify that a planned summit between two great powers is on the level. The information has already proved deadly to the Russian admiral who had it first - now it's up to his niece, an American doctor, to smuggle it out of Moscow and up to Rafe, her lover, to see that she makes it. The novel's elliptical construction makes it seem that the backstory of their relationship has somehow been edited out of the pages or cut for length and pacing, although it seems important to an understanding of the plot.

[Sarah Nantais · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read and really enjoyed the first book, Man on Ice, so I was very excited when I learned about this one. Typically, books filled with espionage and political affairs are not my cup of tea. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the first book, so I wanted to give the second one a try.
You don’t have to be a die-hard political/spy-thriller fan to enjoy the wonderful adventure that lives within these pages. Rake is just as proficient and effective as he was in the first book. Carrie is a strong female character who is not a damsel in distress. Yes, she reaches out to her ex-fiancé for help, but that doesn’t make her weak.
If you disregard genre labels and are simply looking for a well-crafted story with excitement and subconscious education, you will not go wrong with Man on Edge by Humphrey Hawksley. It’s got suspense, action and most importantly, humanity.

[Todd Sheffield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man on Edge is a page-turner. Humphrey Hawksley knows how to keep the reader engaged throughout the entire book. In essence, this book follows the main character, Rake Ozenna, on a quest to save the world from those who would institute a new world order of sorts. While the book is a fascinating, action-packed story, it has its shortfalls. The ending was predictable, and several grammar flaws detracted from the book. Overall, this book was worth the read. That's why this book received 4 of 5 stars.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man on Edge by Humphrey Hawksley is a thriller novel focusing on Rake Ozenna, a man who attracts political danger. I absolutely love this book. I had a hard time putting it down and was on the edge of my seat. From the very beginning, it was exciting opening up with action. The writing was like watching a movie, changing perspectives made it harder to put down. I was completely invested from start to finish. Hawksley's writing style is captivating. I love the character development with Rake and Carrie being my favorites. I look forward to more!

[Sandie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeh? I've found a great new author in Humphrey Hawksley. I love Lee Child and find Hawksley to have the same, no mess, fast pace. We operate in Global times now and Man on Edge has a global plot involving the lead character: Rake Ozenna who hales from Alaska. Small easy to read book, strong characters and fast pace.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average thriller with glimmers of particularly engaging sections. This is an experience author, so he knows how to write a good story, but I suspect this is not his best work. It just wasn't very engaging overall. I'll check out some of his other books.

I really appreciate the review copy!!

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to know which russian who is good and who is bad in this series but the difficulties in the region and the characters is why this is such a great series. Man on Edge by Humphrey Hawksley is the second book about Rake Ozenna. This book was a quick read and full of thrills. There is deception on so many levels that it became really suspenseful. The book is as usual very well written and I hope there will be a fourth coming soon. If you have missed this author I recommend that you try him out.

[Rob Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an action packed thriller, the second in a series, with more twists and turns. Who are the bad guys is the underlying question not answered until the very end. Man on Edge is just a fun book to read. It takes place in Russia and along the Norwegian border. The one thing that does not seem to change throughout the novel is the bad and cold weather. Maybe I should have read this in the summer at a beach.

[KerryO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humphrey Hawksley is right up there with Jack Carr, Brad Thor and Kyle Mills. Can't wait to start book #3 of this series!

[Liz Melton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling spy novel

The book Man on the edge( Rake Ozena thriller book 2) by Humphrey Hawsley centers around Rake Ozena an undercover operative and mission that seems to be one thing but is something all together different! The book begins with characters the reader needs to pay attention to because the book seems to start off slow but once the action starts it never slows down! In this the second book in this thriller series Carrie Walker who is Rake Ozena’s ex fiancé, finds herself involved with an uncle who she has not had any contact with in quite some time. Carrie and her uncle get pulled into an operation that goes terribly wrong. This undercover operation has many people killed, Riley will need, and carry on the run for her life. The only person Carrie Walker trust is her ex fiancé Rake Ozena. Rake Ozena is in Washington dealing with Backlash from a previous
Investigation that has him on the “most wanted list “actually it’s more like he has most of Europe warning him dead or in prison. Carrie he’s on the run in Moscow and not only is she on the run from and Unknown bite she is getting backlash from her previous interaction with her ex fiancé. Carrie and Take have their images all over the news so it seems like she can not escape trouble at every turn. Rake is trying Desperately to locate the woman he loves and save her from harm but the closer they get to each other the more dangerous it seems. This thrilling book never stops, it is an excellent read and nonstop action. I Highly recommend this book to anyone trying to escape the humdrum Covid quarantine life has dealt us and this past year. God bless in Jesus loves you

[Ana Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fast-paced and kept me glued to its pages, anxious to know what and who Rake was up against next. Rake is smart, sharp, and definitely someone you want on your side. While Rake is the central character of this story, his fiancé, Carrie Walker is an integral part, as it’s her uncle who leads her to Moscow where she finds herself in possession of valuable information. The story is told from multiple perspectives, as Rake and Carrie try to unravel the mystery.

This is an excerpt from the review I wrote for Red Carpet Crash. A big thank you to them for sharing this book with me.