Ghost Agent

Matthew Riker #2

by J.T. Baier

Matthew Riker promised to walk away from a life of violence. Now he’s broken his word, and it’s time to pay the price.

After the events of THE IMPORT, Riker finds himself on the wrong side of his former employers, an elite mercenary group called QS-4. To escape with his life, Riker agrees to take on a job even they can’t touch--protecting a wealthy young man with political connections… and possible ties to a terrorist organization.

Riker quickly finds himself sucked into a world of fast cars, big money, and no consequences. But his client isn’t interested in making his job easy. And a chance encounter with a beautiful heiress makes things even more complicated.

Failure means death, but success might mean something even worse. On this job, Riker will have to walk the thin line between survival and damnation.

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Action, Fiction

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 6, 2020

Reviews

[Dari · Rating 1 out of 5]

it strikes me as unimaginable that this received a 4.5+ rating. absurdly and ridiculously bad... just don't.

[Bodo Pfündl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riker returns in an even more exciting adventure

J.T. Baier has managed to top his already excellent debut with GHOST AGENT. It has it all: intrigue, twists plenty of action and even a bit of romance. Readers of the genre will quickly recognize that J.T. Baier is a great new talent of whom we will hopefully hear a lot more from in the future.

[Darlene Countryman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Reacher has competition in Matthew Riker

I loved the two book series. I listened to The Import and I was hooked from the first chapter. The very next day I read the Ghost Agent cover to cover. It was not only exciting, I loved the twist of having a main character walk a moral line. It was unexpected and I found myself totally absorbed in the story. A GREAT READ!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I blew straight through this book without thinking too much about the content. It's the kind of action story that goes down easily in one gulp, pretty much, and, as such, I liked it.

The huge, saving grace to this series is called Jay Snyder though. Awesome narrator!
Five stars to him - with extra glitter on top. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

[Jonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was mostly 3.5 stars although at some places it was getting close to being at the 4 star level. The story dropped to 3 stars when the plot included 2 untrained rich people being major players and read into the whole operation. Otherwise I like that there appeared to be a conscious attempt to keep the story somewhat realistic so there were fewer unbelievable escapes and actions in this book compared to other books in this genre. At places the author skipped how things actually happened which is probably what kept the book from delving into the totally unbelievable. I also like that the author felt no need to spend paragraphs describing weapons and ammunition like some other writers. I don't think the characters were as solid in this book as the first book, but I am hoping to see Franklin again in a future book. I will definitely look forward to a third book.

[Tracy T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and narration by Jay Snyder (audible review)

I really like Riker! This is a great series do far. With only 2 books out I am already hooked.

This story is full of action, adventure, mystery, bad guys and an odd ball great team Riker got together. Some great characters and well done character development. Lots of dialogue too.

As for the narration, it is amazing! I love Jay Snyder. He does such a great job on all the voice distinction and the female voices. He has a nice reading voice and reads with emotion. Makes the story come to life!

[Spicydish · Rating 4 out of 5]

One doesn’t simply retire from being an assassin but Matthew Riker did just that six years ago, settling for a quiet life as a beekeeper in rural Charlotte, North Carolina. There were strings attached to his retirement and Riker was in violation of them.

The story begins with a meeting of the inner sanctum members of QS4 who we are lead to believe are a branch of the US military. Wrong. Near the end of the novel we discover that QS4 is mercenary group with strong but secret affiliation with the US military.

The story is totally implausible but supremely entertaining if you would like to believe that there is a superhero among us who is guarding the American way of life against mainly Muslim terrorists.

In Book 2 of the series more of Riker’s history is revealed. In high school Ricker was sent to the principal’s office for yet another fight. Coach Caine, head of wrestling team, saw Riker’s potential and intervened. This turn of events rescued Riker of an inevitably doomed life.

QS4 approached Riker because he violated the terns of his retirement and thus had to be punished. He had two choices: death or nullification of his retirement agreement in which case he could return to the fold. Rejecting the death option Ricker agreed to re-up.

In this assignment Ricker had to protect Simon, a rich boy and well connected social media influencer with unexpected computer hacker skills, who unknowingly stole highly classified secrets.

A little romance is woven into the story but superheroes don’t do long term relationships.

[Trish R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story. I really like Matthew Riker, and his "team," Franklin, Simon and Jessica.
This was about 'terrorist's who weren't really terrorists that Riker had to take care of and his only help was his handler and two very rich young people. One he was told he was to protect, and nothing else, and his friend Jessica who he put in danger and Riker added her to his protection. It was a really good book. Riker didn't care in the least about killing the bad guys.

Fade-to-black sex and the F-bomb was used 10 times.

As for the narration: Jay Snyder is an awesome narrator. He did all the books in the Gray Man series and I loved them all, including the two in this series, too. I hope the 2 books in this series is not all there's going to be. Riker is a wonderful hero.

[Michaeljhylton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this second adventure of Riker. This time he comes with a team! Great action, once again and an intriguing plot. I really enjoyed getting to know Riker better - a slice of his backstory is included here.

Can't wait for the next episode!

[Kimberly Hroma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Baier book!!

LOVE your characters-the action-the whole story! Awesome Good guys & bad guys are string characters too (no easy pushovers) and always happy when the bad guys get their due!

[Jkane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nowhere near as good as the first one. The terrorist angle was a bit jumbled, and it felt like the parameters of qs49 or whatever it’s called seems to have been abandoned. It’s not the same organization established in book 1. But I’ll still move on to #3

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book.

[Marian Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

Great hero and equally good villain. Loved the story even if the end is predictable and hero wins the day.

[Sandra Moosman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thumping good book. Keep me rivetted to the end. Good characters and plot twists. Recommend.

[Karen Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series

[Larry Ginn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read.

I think this book was better than the first and it was very good. Now the Riker character is established and the read moves smoothly. Starting book#3.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIO BOOK

Overall 9/10

Story (Was this more than just a simple romance?) 9/10
Emotion (Did I laugh, cry? Did my heart stop beating?) 9/10
Quality of writing 8/10
Narration 10/10

[John Karlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

First one was better

Okay, sequels are supposed to continue the story, this one lacks some of those things. Will read one more, if it bombs, I am out.

[Wesley Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better then the first one

[Ajitabh Pandey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a decent action story - save lives while you are a mercenary. The story picks up from where the previous book ends, although it can be read independently.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is what it is, an action/thriller type of book, but as long as you go into the story knowing that, it’s a good quick read. I enjoyed the characters very much.

[Ejeffrey3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

[John Thurlbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became a J.T. Baier fan after reading his excellent debut book, The Import. In this second book, Baier carries on the brilliant standard he achieved in that book.
In Ghost Agent, Riker needs to regain his status with his agency by protecting a Senator's son. Unfortunately, what quickly emerges is he has stumbled into a potential terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
The plotline has it all: intrigue, twists and turns, subplots, plenty of action and even a bit of romance. Most of the book also has some insight into a fabulous-wealthy lifestyle and the Senator's son, who becomes a comic character.
Readers of the genre will quickly recognize that J.T. Baier is a tremendous new talent!
Baier maintains the tension, suspense, and action and introduces a first-rate, decidedly nasty Bad Guy!
Baier's second book fleshed out Matthew Riker's character, and if you love an all-action hero in the mould of Jack Reacher, then this is for you!
I highly recommend it.

[Brian Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast moving thriller

Good book - got to know Riker in his first book and good follow on here. Seen more of his thinking as well as his violent able sense