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Thunder Storme
The long-awaited fifth novel in the action-packed Wyatt Storme series is here!Former NFL All-Pro Wyatt Storme and ex-CIA assassin Chick Easton are fishing on the Lake of the Ozarks when gunmen blow by them in a boat, chasing a determined woman seeking justice for her family. Wyatt and Chick save the woman and are swept into a violent battle for control of a new casino and all the riches and power it will bring. The Kansas City mob, the Dixie Mafia and the local syndicate have them out-numbered and out-gunned but it's the gangsters who should be worried. There's a deadly storm coming...and his name is Wyatt.
"The perfect storm of witty banter, clever action, and compelling mystery." Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series.
"Ripley once again delivers sustained suspense, a corkscrew plot, and a plethora of evil-doers, in a perfectly executed thriller." William H. Lovejoy, author of Trigger Happy
"With a boom of thunder and lightning, Wyatt Storme is back again, as electric and glowing with energy as W.L. Ripley always makes him." Gerald Duff, author of Memphis Ribs
"WL Ripley is a fantastic storyteller, and Thunder Storme proves the point. And Ripley does it with a style reminiscent of the derring-do of the classic Travis McGee novels: smart, sassy, hilarious--and deadly. Wyatt Storme is that one-in-a-million tough guy with a brain, part philosopher, part enforcer, always on the right side of justice. Storme and Chick Easton may be the best duo since Riggs and Murtaugh--maybe since Butch and Sundance. With relentless action and crackling dialogue, Thunder Storme comes at you full-force." Phillip Thompson, author of Outside the Law
Praise for the Wyatt Storme series:
"Storme is one of my all-time favorite series characters, up there with Spenser and Dave Robicheaux," Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of the Robert B. Parker's Spenser series.
"Wyatt and Chick deserve billing just below Parker's Spenser and Hawk and Crais' Elvis Cole and Joe Pike." Booklist
"Here's one for the boys who love to kick butt. Storme has the catlike moves of the early Spenser." Kirkus Reviews
"For those of us who still feel an ache for the immortal John D. MacDonald." Tampa Tribune
"The perfect storm of witty banter, clever action, and compelling mystery." Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series.
"Ripley once again delivers sustained suspense, a corkscrew plot, and a plethora of evil-doers, in a perfectly executed thriller." William H. Lovejoy, author of Trigger Happy
"With a boom of thunder and lightning, Wyatt Storme is back again, as electric and glowing with energy as W.L. Ripley always makes him." Gerald Duff, author of Memphis Ribs
"WL Ripley is a fantastic storyteller, and Thunder Storme proves the point. And Ripley does it with a style reminiscent of the derring-do of the classic Travis McGee novels: smart, sassy, hilarious--and deadly. Wyatt Storme is that one-in-a-million tough guy with a brain, part philosopher, part enforcer, always on the right side of justice. Storme and Chick Easton may be the best duo since Riggs and Murtaugh--maybe since Butch and Sundance. With relentless action and crackling dialogue, Thunder Storme comes at you full-force." Phillip Thompson, author of Outside the Law
Praise for the Wyatt Storme series:
"Storme is one of my all-time favorite series characters, up there with Spenser and Dave Robicheaux," Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of the Robert B. Parker's Spenser series.
"Wyatt and Chick deserve billing just below Parker's Spenser and Hawk and Crais' Elvis Cole and Joe Pike." Booklist
"Here's one for the boys who love to kick butt. Storme has the catlike moves of the early Spenser." Kirkus Reviews
"For those of us who still feel an ache for the immortal John D. MacDonald." Tampa Tribune
- GenresThriller
309 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2020
55 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
W.L. Ripley
20 books24 followersWarren L. Ripley is the author of the critically acclaimed Wyatt Storme mystery series. He lives in Missouri.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 1, 2021
Wyatt Storme and Chick Easton are fishing, when a girl in a boat zooms by them, pursued by men with guns. After taking care of that little problem, the pair find themselves in a peck of trouble.
There's con men and mobsters and corrupt police, and Wyatt has no idea what is going on, so he and Chick annoy and antagonize everyone they meet until they figure something out.
Not bad, needs a little more action.
There's con men and mobsters and corrupt police, and Wyatt has no idea what is going on, so he and Chick annoy and antagonize everyone they meet until they figure something out.
Not bad, needs a little more action.
November 3, 2020
Another good Storme read
As usual another must read from Mr. Ripley. I started reading this one and couldn’t put it down, but it was worth it.
As usual another must read from Mr. Ripley. I started reading this one and couldn’t put it down, but it was worth it.
November 9, 2020
Way too long a wait..
Storme and Chick, always the good guys. I wish Mr Ripley would put out these more often. Very good read!
Storme and Chick, always the good guys. I wish Mr Ripley would put out these more often. Very good read!
February 16, 2021
( Format : Audiobook )
"It's Humphrey Bogart week."
Wyatt Storme was thinking of buying a stretch of land near the cabin of old friend Jacob and he'd borrowed it to both look around and enjoy some time fishing with Chick Easten. But their relaxation was disturbed by a boat hitting against theirs as it raced across the water, pursued by another. There had been a woman in the first, two men in the second and, seeing Sorme and Chick watching, the men returned to shoot at them. Didn't quiet go their way when Chich through the host's anchor at them, hurling both into the water. One swam away. Later, they met the woman from the lead boat.
Drawn into a local situation they didn't understand, and a crime situation reaching a crisis, the two friends deliberately blunder and further annoy nearly everyone in their attempts to find out not only what was going on but also why a feisty young woman had been murdered. Action, shootings, conspiracies, secrets and lies, crime lords, financial dealings, infidelities and divorce proceedings, all make this an explosive fishing trip with Storme and Chick doing what they do best: cause chaos with a nonchalant attitude and quick quips for every conversation.
Narration is by Rodney Turner, who deep , rounded voice smooches deliciously through the dialogue, perfectly capturing the humour in his performance. His character voices are not clearly differentiated, in fact, little effort is made at all for most of the protagonists. But, curiously, far from this being a negative, the very similarity of the voices actually increases the enjoyment of the book. and, despite the numerous characters, it is always clear who is speaking. Mr.Turner's voice is a pleasure to hear.
My thanks to the rights holder of Thunder Storme who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite, if I'm honest, becoming a little confused in the final complexities of the plot towards the ending. Didn't matter. So much of the pleasure was the attitude and conversation of Chick. It's fun as well as a mystery thriller and a book I'd recommended to anyone. I just look out for others in this series.
"It's Humphrey Bogart week."
Wyatt Storme was thinking of buying a stretch of land near the cabin of old friend Jacob and he'd borrowed it to both look around and enjoy some time fishing with Chick Easten. But their relaxation was disturbed by a boat hitting against theirs as it raced across the water, pursued by another. There had been a woman in the first, two men in the second and, seeing Sorme and Chick watching, the men returned to shoot at them. Didn't quiet go their way when Chich through the host's anchor at them, hurling both into the water. One swam away. Later, they met the woman from the lead boat.
Drawn into a local situation they didn't understand, and a crime situation reaching a crisis, the two friends deliberately blunder and further annoy nearly everyone in their attempts to find out not only what was going on but also why a feisty young woman had been murdered. Action, shootings, conspiracies, secrets and lies, crime lords, financial dealings, infidelities and divorce proceedings, all make this an explosive fishing trip with Storme and Chick doing what they do best: cause chaos with a nonchalant attitude and quick quips for every conversation.
Narration is by Rodney Turner, who deep , rounded voice smooches deliciously through the dialogue, perfectly capturing the humour in his performance. His character voices are not clearly differentiated, in fact, little effort is made at all for most of the protagonists. But, curiously, far from this being a negative, the very similarity of the voices actually increases the enjoyment of the book. and, despite the numerous characters, it is always clear who is speaking. Mr.Turner's voice is a pleasure to hear.
My thanks to the rights holder of Thunder Storme who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite, if I'm honest, becoming a little confused in the final complexities of the plot towards the ending. Didn't matter. So much of the pleasure was the attitude and conversation of Chick. It's fun as well as a mystery thriller and a book I'd recommended to anyone. I just look out for others in this series.
November 15, 2020
Good book.
Enjoyable read. I liked it. I highly recommend it. It has mystery, plenty of action as well as a great deal of dark humor.
I will be looking forward to the next book!
Enjoyable read. I liked it. I highly recommend it. It has mystery, plenty of action as well as a great deal of dark humor.
I will be looking forward to the next book!
November 19, 2020
Good series.
May 29, 2023
This is the fifth adventure of Wyatt Storme and his buddy Chick Easton. Wyatt is an ex-pro football player for the Dallas Cowboys and Chick is a former CIA assassin. Now days, they help people with dangerous problems when the law enforcement officials may not be completely impartial. Wyatt and Chick are great characters, well developed and a closely linked team based upon prior adventures that they can practically read each other’s minds and anticipate each other’s actions. Each of them uses humor or at least attempts at humor to unbalance opponents and increase the likelihood that their opponents will act hastily due to their anger at Wyatt and Chick’s antics. In this case, a brand new casino is being considered near Truman Lake in Missouri. There are several rival groups competing for the right to own and develop this casino property. Not all the rivals are dealing above board and in the open. Wyatt and Chick wind up helping one group whose central character was murdered. These are complicated ownership groups, some with silent political partners, some with silent criminal partners, some with both and all with an attitude of doing whatever it takes to come out on top, legal or otherwise. It takes a while for Wyatt and Chick to clearly identify all members of each group, as well determine who is aligned with whom and who is double crossing whom. Plenty of action, tension and suspense as they close-in on the Missouri commission’s selection date. This has been a great thriller series and this book was a very enjoyable read.
November 5, 2020
Couldn’t Finnish-boring
I hate to say that a book written by a fellow Missourian didn’t meet my bar for holding my interest. It seemed to be written for 6th graders, and obviously was a attempt to be a primer for the kiddos. Even though a novel i would like to point out that Lake of the Ozarks is twice as large as Truman Lake and it is the Lake of the Ozarks and not Truman that has more miles of shoreline than California.
I hate to say that a book written by a fellow Missourian didn’t meet my bar for holding my interest. It seemed to be written for 6th graders, and obviously was a attempt to be a primer for the kiddos. Even though a novel i would like to point out that Lake of the Ozarks is twice as large as Truman Lake and it is the Lake of the Ozarks and not Truman that has more miles of shoreline than California.
March 19, 2021
Another thriller with a side of humor
Storme and his butt- kicking buddy pun their way thru more murder and land deals. Drags a bit when compared with other books in the series. Still a good read!
Storme and his butt- kicking buddy pun their way thru more murder and land deals. Drags a bit when compared with other books in the series. Still a good read!
May 22, 2021
Great read
Enjoyed all of the books but up in sir about love afair and ending result. Guess ending is up to me.
Enjoyed all of the books but up in sir about love afair and ending result. Guess ending is up to me.
April 22, 2024
I've always been a Parker fan,and found little to compare with Spencer and Hawk - is close. Please write more.
January 11, 2026
Good but not great final book. Too many characters, too little suspense. Still worth the read/listen.
March 19, 2024
What happened?
I’ve read all the previous Storme novels as well as Ripley’s Cole Springer series. All I have to say is “Where is the real W L Ripley?” If this is the same author, then maybe there’s a new editor involved. The dialogue was stilted and, in many instances, inappropriate for the characters. For example, in one interchange between two “crime bosses”, one says, “Why are we having this talk with interlopers present? I would prefer to do so in their absence.” Was this guy educated at Harvard or something? The chemistry and humor between Storme and his pal Chick Easton were forced and unconvincing.
If I hadn’t read Ripley’s other works, I would think that this was a first attempt of a novel by a fledgling author who hadn’t found his voice.
I’ve read all the previous Storme novels as well as Ripley’s Cole Springer series. All I have to say is “Where is the real W L Ripley?” If this is the same author, then maybe there’s a new editor involved. The dialogue was stilted and, in many instances, inappropriate for the characters. For example, in one interchange between two “crime bosses”, one says, “Why are we having this talk with interlopers present? I would prefer to do so in their absence.” Was this guy educated at Harvard or something? The chemistry and humor between Storme and his pal Chick Easton were forced and unconvincing.
If I hadn’t read Ripley’s other works, I would think that this was a first attempt of a novel by a fledgling author who hadn’t found his voice.
November 21, 2020
Good series.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews