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Scot Harvath #19
Near Dark
INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
“Fast-paced...pulse-pounding...supremely entertaining…His best ever.” — The Washington Times
“This might be the single greatest thriller I’ve covered....It’s amazing!” — The Real Book Spy
Scot Harvath returns in the newest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor.
The world’s largest bounty has just been placed upon America’s top spy. His only hope for survival is to outwit, outrun, and outlast his enemies long enough to get to the truth.
But for Scot Harvath to accomplish his most dangerous mission ever—one that has already claimed the lives of the people closest to him, including his new wife—he’s going to need help—a lot of it.
Not knowing whom he can trust, Harvath finds an unlikely ally in Norwegian intelligence operative Sølvi Kolstad. Just as smart, just as deadly, and just as determined, she not only has the skills, but also the broken, troubled past to match Harvath’s own.
“Fast-paced...pulse-pounding...supremely entertaining…His best ever.” — The Washington Times
“This might be the single greatest thriller I’ve covered....It’s amazing!” — The Real Book Spy
Scot Harvath returns in the newest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor.
The world’s largest bounty has just been placed upon America’s top spy. His only hope for survival is to outwit, outrun, and outlast his enemies long enough to get to the truth.
But for Scot Harvath to accomplish his most dangerous mission ever—one that has already claimed the lives of the people closest to him, including his new wife—he’s going to need help—a lot of it.
Not knowing whom he can trust, Harvath finds an unlikely ally in Norwegian intelligence operative Sølvi Kolstad. Just as smart, just as deadly, and just as determined, she not only has the skills, but also the broken, troubled past to match Harvath’s own.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 20, 2020
6056 people are currently reading
5547 people want to read
About the author
Brad Thor
46 books7,390 followersBRAD THOR is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five thrillers, including EDGE OF HONOR, SHADOW OF DOUBT, BLACK ICE (ThrillerFix Best Thriller of the Year), NEAR DARK (one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year), BACKLASH (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year), SPYMASTER (“One of the all-time best thriller novels” —The Washington Times), THE LAST PATRIOT (nominated Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association), and BLOWBACK (one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” —NPR).
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
EDGE OF HONOR is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 958 reviews
September 12, 2020
From hunter to hunted to hider. SNORING! 1 of 10 stars!
August 6, 2020
I will give it 3.75 stars, though Goodreads does not permit this to be expressed with ease!
Never one to turn away from a Brad Thor thriller, I turned to the latest in the Scot Harvath series. In a novel that picks up where the last conveniently ended, Thor thrusts the reader into the middle of yet another tactical battle. When Carl Pedersen is found murdered, Scot Harvath can only wonder if it has something to do with one of his past missions. News emerges that Harvath has a massive bounty put out on him, forcing him to take significant precautions. This is an open bounty, where anyone who is successful collects a massive sum, leaving Harvath to always peer over his shoulder. Without knowing where his enemies await, Harvath must forge ahead with reckless abandon and hope for the best. When Harvath finds himself in Lithuania, he learns a little more about Pedersen and some of the missions he undertook in the past. There are some whispers that the Russians might have taken action in retribution for a recent dust-up, but Harvath cannot rest on his laurels. Working with a sly agent whose background comes from the Scandinavian countries, Harvath seeks to extract as much information as he can in order to neutralise the largest threat. With the bounty still in play, he will have to be careful not to make a misstep, for it may be his last. A must-read for series fans, though this one lacked a little of the spark I had hoped to find. Recommended to those who enjoy Harvath and his thrills, as well as readers who like a little international flavour to their novels.
Every series has its best before date and it is up to the writer to keep things fresh, or tap out before they expire. While the first eighteen books in this series proved to be ‘edge of your seat’ thrillers, Brad Thor may have let his foot off the gas with this one, sure to displease ardent fans. Harvath has lived a long and productive life, as can be seen by those who have long followed the series. He has had victories and utter failures in his personal and professional lives, all of which are recapped here throughout a constant flashback narrative. With little to develop except that which is before him, Harvath loses some of his appeal, as though he is simply going through the motions and trying not to die. If I can be so bold, it seems as though Harvath is at the point where it might be time to hang up the tactical vest, as he is no longer able to forget the scars and the numerous aches. The list of strong secondary characters include some returning faces and many new ones as well. Thor hints at some possible new leaders or spin-off series with some who receive both backstory and character development, which might help revitalize the larger Thor universe and breathe new life into his writing. There was nothing overtly wrong with the writing or inherently poor with the plot, but it lacked the depth, sharpness, and twists that series fans have come to expect. I can only surmise that Thor is wondering if he wants to go in a new direction and yet seeks to tie things off before departing, or if this was a last kick at the can in hopes of getting one more book out of Harvath. There is no shame in moving on, but one can hope that Brad Thor will effectively shift things to a new series and not leave his fans with an abrupt cessation after a score of novels bearing Harvath’s presence.
Kudos, Mr. Thor, for another interesting book. I have a feeling this book was meant to convey something to your fans without you bluntly putting it out in a press release. Am I wrong?
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Never one to turn away from a Brad Thor thriller, I turned to the latest in the Scot Harvath series. In a novel that picks up where the last conveniently ended, Thor thrusts the reader into the middle of yet another tactical battle. When Carl Pedersen is found murdered, Scot Harvath can only wonder if it has something to do with one of his past missions. News emerges that Harvath has a massive bounty put out on him, forcing him to take significant precautions. This is an open bounty, where anyone who is successful collects a massive sum, leaving Harvath to always peer over his shoulder. Without knowing where his enemies await, Harvath must forge ahead with reckless abandon and hope for the best. When Harvath finds himself in Lithuania, he learns a little more about Pedersen and some of the missions he undertook in the past. There are some whispers that the Russians might have taken action in retribution for a recent dust-up, but Harvath cannot rest on his laurels. Working with a sly agent whose background comes from the Scandinavian countries, Harvath seeks to extract as much information as he can in order to neutralise the largest threat. With the bounty still in play, he will have to be careful not to make a misstep, for it may be his last. A must-read for series fans, though this one lacked a little of the spark I had hoped to find. Recommended to those who enjoy Harvath and his thrills, as well as readers who like a little international flavour to their novels.
Every series has its best before date and it is up to the writer to keep things fresh, or tap out before they expire. While the first eighteen books in this series proved to be ‘edge of your seat’ thrillers, Brad Thor may have let his foot off the gas with this one, sure to displease ardent fans. Harvath has lived a long and productive life, as can be seen by those who have long followed the series. He has had victories and utter failures in his personal and professional lives, all of which are recapped here throughout a constant flashback narrative. With little to develop except that which is before him, Harvath loses some of his appeal, as though he is simply going through the motions and trying not to die. If I can be so bold, it seems as though Harvath is at the point where it might be time to hang up the tactical vest, as he is no longer able to forget the scars and the numerous aches. The list of strong secondary characters include some returning faces and many new ones as well. Thor hints at some possible new leaders or spin-off series with some who receive both backstory and character development, which might help revitalize the larger Thor universe and breathe new life into his writing. There was nothing overtly wrong with the writing or inherently poor with the plot, but it lacked the depth, sharpness, and twists that series fans have come to expect. I can only surmise that Thor is wondering if he wants to go in a new direction and yet seeks to tie things off before departing, or if this was a last kick at the can in hopes of getting one more book out of Harvath. There is no shame in moving on, but one can hope that Brad Thor will effectively shift things to a new series and not leave his fans with an abrupt cessation after a score of novels bearing Harvath’s presence.
Kudos, Mr. Thor, for another interesting book. I have a feeling this book was meant to convey something to your fans without you bluntly putting it out in a press release. Am I wrong?
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
August 3, 2020
Not a fan of this one. After 40%, I skimmed the hell out of it because it was so boring. I can't believe the last book was so exciting and now this one is a whole bunch of talking and no action.
July 28, 2020
Near Dark spent a lot of time talking about the past. I know that the author is capable of better.
The novel also lacks the consistent mind-boggling action that i've come to expect in Scot Harvath novels. Hopefully the next novel in the series will be straight-forward and action-packed.
The novel also lacks the consistent mind-boggling action that i've come to expect in Scot Harvath novels. Hopefully the next novel in the series will be straight-forward and action-packed.
September 2, 2020
Maybe I've just outgrown this genre, but I could barely finish this book. It was, honestly, just boring. And also silly - guy is literally trying to drink himself to death over the very recent murder of his wife and then two seconds later he's falling for the stereotypical female sidekick. It just felt trite and formulaic and not suspenseful at all. I was an avid Mitch Rapp fan until Mills ruined that series. I've read a few of Thor's books in the hopes they would come close to Vince Flynn's writing, and I'm always disappointed. Just not for me.
September 20, 2022
Intense SPY Thriller!
CIA operative Scot Horvath races against time to catch his wife's killer and save himself from assassination in this high-stakes thriller full of suspense. This is a great read with well-rounded characters and should have five stars except Thor rushed the ending like he had to get out the door for a camping trip to the Poconos which is coincidentally how I feel right now finishing up draft 1 of my second book!
CIA operative Scot Horvath races against time to catch his wife's killer and save himself from assassination in this high-stakes thriller full of suspense. This is a great read with well-rounded characters and should have five stars except Thor rushed the ending like he had to get out the door for a camping trip to the Poconos which is coincidentally how I feel right now finishing up draft 1 of my second book!
August 10, 2021
Scot Harvath is in bad shape mentally, drinking to forget the devastating personal losses he suffered in the prior book, Backlash. He is lured outside a bar to fight two thugs as part of an assassination attempt, which fails only because his team arrives in time to save him. When he finds out a close Norwegian friend was tortured to death to get to him and someone has put a $100 million bounty on him, he decides to bust out of his funk. Eventually, he meets up with the female Norwegian prodigy of the dead man (Solvi), and their relationship starts to smolder. (Harvath's code name is Norseman from having bedded so many SAS flight attendants.) Things seem to point back to Russia, but it's a feint.
July 2, 2020
It's a shame Thor spent half the book revisiting the last book to properly set the foundation of this one. The only saving grace were sporadic action scenes and the ending, which was predictable and weak.
I've also decided that I really don't enjoy Armand Schultz's narration of this series. His pace and tone make everything seem trite.
Next time I'm hoping for a full new novel and perhaps a new narrator?
I've also decided that I really don't enjoy Armand Schultz's narration of this series. His pace and tone make everything seem trite.
Next time I'm hoping for a full new novel and perhaps a new narrator?
September 10, 2020
For whatever reason, I've missed the last couple of books in the Scot Harvath series - as in did not read. Not long after I started this one, I realized I've missed them like I miss long-lost friends. As Celine Dion sang, "It's all coming back to me now" - and I've vowed not to make the same mistake going forward.
What that boils down to, in book review terms, is that I absolutely loved this one. Maybe it's because I saw a less gung-ho, more circumspect Harvath, still reeling from events that happened in previous books. There was plenty of action, but it didn't seem as rough as usual, and I sensed that Harvath's heart wasn't really in it. Besides that, the author's sometimes lengthy diatribes against some issue or other were noticeable to me in their absence. Quite honestly, all that made this book more interesting to me, but I'll venture a guess that die-hard fans might not be quite as enthusiastic. My husband - also a fan of this series - just started reading this one, and I'll be interested to get his take.
As it begins, Harvath is drowning himself in his sorrows (more accurately, in substantial quantities of alcohol) in Key West when he gets bad news; a beloved colleague has been tortured and murdered. The news gets even worse: apparently, someone is offering an almost unbelievably high bounty on his own head - to be paid to the first player to achieve success. Over his years working for the Carleton Group, which functions as a more clandestine CIA, Harvath has accumulated no shortage of enemies. But is it possible that the two bad news scenarios are somehow connected?
Enter beautiful and well-skilled Norwegian agent Solvi Kolstad, also a protogee of Harvath's murdered colleague and an intelligence agent, who is on the warpath to find the man's killer. What's more, she wants to hook up with Harvath and put their heads together (with a hint that a few other body parts might be shared as well somewhere down the line). The trick, you see, will be ferreting out the colleague's murderer (and, depending on who that is, who ordered the hit) while avoiding the bounty hunters who will do almost anything to snuff out Harvath for good. The sometimes bloody trail takes him and Solvi to a few countries and a few narrow escapes and culminates, I must say, in an ending that's satisfying to some characters but not to others.
The conclusion to my review is a non-conclusion; I have no idea from whence my copy came. Most of the books I read I get as advance review copies from publishers via NetGalley, but this one - a hardcover edition - simply showed up in the mail with no accompanying documentation. I have a vague recollection of entering some kind of giveaway - possibly from Bookish First - but thus far I haven't been able to confirm it. So for now, all I can say is whoever you are, I thank you very much.
What that boils down to, in book review terms, is that I absolutely loved this one. Maybe it's because I saw a less gung-ho, more circumspect Harvath, still reeling from events that happened in previous books. There was plenty of action, but it didn't seem as rough as usual, and I sensed that Harvath's heart wasn't really in it. Besides that, the author's sometimes lengthy diatribes against some issue or other were noticeable to me in their absence. Quite honestly, all that made this book more interesting to me, but I'll venture a guess that die-hard fans might not be quite as enthusiastic. My husband - also a fan of this series - just started reading this one, and I'll be interested to get his take.
As it begins, Harvath is drowning himself in his sorrows (more accurately, in substantial quantities of alcohol) in Key West when he gets bad news; a beloved colleague has been tortured and murdered. The news gets even worse: apparently, someone is offering an almost unbelievably high bounty on his own head - to be paid to the first player to achieve success. Over his years working for the Carleton Group, which functions as a more clandestine CIA, Harvath has accumulated no shortage of enemies. But is it possible that the two bad news scenarios are somehow connected?
Enter beautiful and well-skilled Norwegian agent Solvi Kolstad, also a protogee of Harvath's murdered colleague and an intelligence agent, who is on the warpath to find the man's killer. What's more, she wants to hook up with Harvath and put their heads together (with a hint that a few other body parts might be shared as well somewhere down the line). The trick, you see, will be ferreting out the colleague's murderer (and, depending on who that is, who ordered the hit) while avoiding the bounty hunters who will do almost anything to snuff out Harvath for good. The sometimes bloody trail takes him and Solvi to a few countries and a few narrow escapes and culminates, I must say, in an ending that's satisfying to some characters but not to others.
The conclusion to my review is a non-conclusion; I have no idea from whence my copy came. Most of the books I read I get as advance review copies from publishers via NetGalley, but this one - a hardcover edition - simply showed up in the mail with no accompanying documentation. I have a vague recollection of entering some kind of giveaway - possibly from Bookish First - but thus far I haven't been able to confirm it. So for now, all I can say is whoever you are, I thank you very much.
July 25, 2020
A Thriller?
I’ve read all 19 books in the series, so I felt confident purchasing this one. Chapter 11 made me stop and post this review, something I would normally never do without finishing the book. The writing here is slow, dry and boring; lots of exposition, more like historical non-fiction than a rollicking action thriller.
I’ve read all 19 books in the series, so I felt confident purchasing this one. Chapter 11 made me stop and post this review, something I would normally never do without finishing the book. The writing here is slow, dry and boring; lots of exposition, more like historical non-fiction than a rollicking action thriller.
June 22, 2020
I had an amazing opportunity to read an early copy of Brad Thor's next Scot Harvath release scheduled for July '20, NEAR DARK. I've read every book since Lions of Lucerne and developed into a HUGE Thor fan. At this point in Brad's career, he's in the enviable position where just about anything he writes will be received by an eager, paying crowd. At the risk of guessing a writer of his position might sooner or later fall into a pattern of repetition and 'call one in', I would be dead wrong. His novels continue to evolve and improve with each release. Hard to imagine NEAR DARK could improve on last summers smash hit, BACKLASH. But it does.
What Brad does this time is put you directly in the agony of Harvath's existence--the loss of so many loved ones in his inner circle crushes the will of existence for one of the toughest men ever to grace the pages of a novel. You see him at rock bottom; you turn pages begging him to find the will and resolve to pick up the pieces. Scot Harvath is at his true breaking point, and you know why.
For me, this book shows what a master storyteller is capable of when they want you to 'feel' the emotions of the protagonist. Without experiencing Harvath's trauma myself in the real world, I've never been so close to a fictional character's agony. I have no doubt you'll feel the emotion of this book like never before in a Brad Thor tale.
Buy it.
What Brad does this time is put you directly in the agony of Harvath's existence--the loss of so many loved ones in his inner circle crushes the will of existence for one of the toughest men ever to grace the pages of a novel. You see him at rock bottom; you turn pages begging him to find the will and resolve to pick up the pieces. Scot Harvath is at his true breaking point, and you know why.
For me, this book shows what a master storyteller is capable of when they want you to 'feel' the emotions of the protagonist. Without experiencing Harvath's trauma myself in the real world, I've never been so close to a fictional character's agony. I have no doubt you'll feel the emotion of this book like never before in a Brad Thor tale.
Buy it.
July 25, 2020
I was a little disappointed in this book, judging from all the reviews and “best in the series” hype. A lot of time was spent retelling the details from the previous release, and it seemed like Near Dark could have been added as several chapters in the last book instead of a stand-alone. The ending felt extremely rushed and anti-climatic. That being said, there’s enough here to satisfy the series fans (like myself), but I think I was somewhat blinded by the advance reviews, and I was expecting more.
July 29, 2020
I am a huge Brad Thor/Harvath fan! I will say that this is the first book that I didn’t care for. The first reason is that too much of the book was spent recapping the last books’ plot. The second reason is that I did not like that a love interest was introduced for Scot, knowing that his wife had just been killed. I know that Lara’s death was in a previous book, but when you think about the time line, this book is maybe two months since she was killed.
When Scot started to have an inner monologue about Sølvi, or announced that he dreamt about her, I thought it was way too soon.
Just my opinion.
When Scot started to have an inner monologue about Sølvi, or announced that he dreamt about her, I thought it was way too soon.
Just my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2020
In this latest entry in the Scot Harvath series, someone puts a $100 Million bounty of Harvath's head. Meanwhile, after the event of the last book, the quarry is drinking heavily, trying to get over his grief and guilt.
After finding out he's Wanted: Dead, Harvath goes hunting for the man behind the reward. Along the way, he has what passes for a meet cute in these sorts of books with a beautiful Norwegian intelligence agent.
The two combine their forces, and go after the assassins and the one who hired them.
Pretty good. A little slower paced than many of the books in this series.
After finding out he's Wanted: Dead, Harvath goes hunting for the man behind the reward. Along the way, he has what passes for a meet cute in these sorts of books with a beautiful Norwegian intelligence agent.
The two combine their forces, and go after the assassins and the one who hired them.
Pretty good. A little slower paced than many of the books in this series.
August 2, 2020
Near Dark is another good addition to the Scot Harvath series. It is as formulaic as some of the previous entries but still manages to be entertaining as ever.
Brad Thor fans must read this.
Brad Thor fans must read this.
February 22, 2022
So who put a 100 million dollar bounty and a pool of assassins after Harvath?
I have heard that the Scot Harvath books are excellent international spy thrillers. Unfortunately Near Dark is #19 in the series and while usually these types of books can be read as standalones, this one just didn’t work.
It is based very heavily on the events of the past few books, with TONS of recap. I think if I had read the prior books, the recap would be boring, and since I hadn’t, I had no clue what they were talking about. Also since I don’t know the characters that had died, all the grief and past recollections didn’t affect me.
Having read a few other reviews from long time series readers, I’m not too far off the mark there. Either way there was tons of intrigue and I think it would be worth trying prior novels in the series.
It also took a long time for Harvath to do anything exciting since he spent much of the book reeling from prior events and in hiding.
Once the action got going it does seem like Thor can write a good spy thriller. I liked Harvath and Sorvi, the Norwegian spy. These characters just kick ass and have some Bond-like qualities and sometimes that’s what books need. I liked that he went there with the torture and murders too.
My favorite side character was Nicholas the dwarf. A real dwarf isn’t something I see often in books and he was hilarious plus a brilliant hacker. Would love to go back and read the history there.
In short … I would start back at the beginning and try the first book in the series before judging too harshly. The recapped action sounded awesome but I can’t recommend these as standalones based off Near Dark.
I have heard that the Scot Harvath books are excellent international spy thrillers. Unfortunately Near Dark is #19 in the series and while usually these types of books can be read as standalones, this one just didn’t work.
It is based very heavily on the events of the past few books, with TONS of recap. I think if I had read the prior books, the recap would be boring, and since I hadn’t, I had no clue what they were talking about. Also since I don’t know the characters that had died, all the grief and past recollections didn’t affect me.
Having read a few other reviews from long time series readers, I’m not too far off the mark there. Either way there was tons of intrigue and I think it would be worth trying prior novels in the series.
It also took a long time for Harvath to do anything exciting since he spent much of the book reeling from prior events and in hiding.
Once the action got going it does seem like Thor can write a good spy thriller. I liked Harvath and Sorvi, the Norwegian spy. These characters just kick ass and have some Bond-like qualities and sometimes that’s what books need. I liked that he went there with the torture and murders too.
My favorite side character was Nicholas the dwarf. A real dwarf isn’t something I see often in books and he was hilarious plus a brilliant hacker. Would love to go back and read the history there.
In short … I would start back at the beginning and try the first book in the series before judging too harshly. The recapped action sounded awesome but I can’t recommend these as standalones based off Near Dark.
Want to read
August 8, 2020I am A huge Brad Thor fan and look forward to him every year. So it pains me to write this review that I hated this book. It was awful. At one point I had to look at the cover to make sure I had downloaded the right book/author. Most of the book was spent discussing the last book which I thought was one of the best books I've ever read. I found the action barely there and thought Nicholas wasnt used efficiently. I skimmed the last third as I just couldnt do it. I'll be back next year and the ones after that but this was a huge disappointment.
September 13, 2020
Scot is really facing some demons this time around. It makes for a killer adventure, pun intended. Another amazing pageturner!
October 29, 2022
Pretty much a vengeful rehash of the previous 18 books. Lots of it was just blah blah blah.
July 25, 2020
Near Dark is an amazing follow-up to Backlash. A blend of fast-paced narrative, thrilling events, well-written action, and characters that feel real and relatable. The book explores Scot Harvath in an emotionally damaged state of mind after the events of Backlash while having to navigate through a hundred million bounty on his head as retribution for Harvath’s brutal acts of vengeance in Backlash. This dynamic amps up the stakes for Harvath on a very personal level.
The storyline is crafted with a sense of constant worry for Harvath and his remaining family due to the extravagant bounty on his head. This creates a strong desire for readers to keep on reading to find out what happens next. Near Dark, while being a story of emotional healing, is also an espionage narrative at heart. Clandestine meetings, undercover operations, unlikely alliances, and more are all part of the brilliant aspects of Near Dark. Harvath must get to the bottom of the bounty on his head and make sure he doesn’t get claimed by an adversary before he gets the chance to release his bottled-up rage.
Harvath is joined in this undertaking by an operative of Norwegian Intelligence Service, Sølvi Kolstad. Kolstad and Harvath make a great duo, being in sync when it comes to tactics and thoughts. Kolstad is a lethal and well-trained operative who proves to be just as hell-bent in this undertaking as Harvath, for her own reasons, and is established earlier on in the story with bona-fides that leave no doubt for readers that she is a worthy ally of Harvath. With a dynamic chemistry between the two operatives, the read becomes even more intriguing to see how the two operatives would get along.
The action is smooth and fast-paced, comprising of fast-paced shootouts and some brutal melee combat. Even though I had expected more action sequences, the brilliant espionage aspects and characters made up for less-than-expected action sequences. The technical accuracy in details pertaining to firearms and tactics also played an important role in retaining the gritty espionage and operations vibe Scot Harvath books are known for.
I was a bit taken back by what I felt was a slightly abrupt ending. The compartmentalized branches of the narrative that collectively formed the bigger picture felt too quickly tied up at the end, not feeling as satisfying as I thought they would to finally unravel.
All in all, Near Dark packs exciting moments, three dimensional characters, realistic and grounded elements of espionage, and the devastating impact of the loss of loved ones for those who live dangerously at the edge of the sword. A great and engrossing read that does not let up till the very end.
The storyline is crafted with a sense of constant worry for Harvath and his remaining family due to the extravagant bounty on his head. This creates a strong desire for readers to keep on reading to find out what happens next. Near Dark, while being a story of emotional healing, is also an espionage narrative at heart. Clandestine meetings, undercover operations, unlikely alliances, and more are all part of the brilliant aspects of Near Dark. Harvath must get to the bottom of the bounty on his head and make sure he doesn’t get claimed by an adversary before he gets the chance to release his bottled-up rage.
Harvath is joined in this undertaking by an operative of Norwegian Intelligence Service, Sølvi Kolstad. Kolstad and Harvath make a great duo, being in sync when it comes to tactics and thoughts. Kolstad is a lethal and well-trained operative who proves to be just as hell-bent in this undertaking as Harvath, for her own reasons, and is established earlier on in the story with bona-fides that leave no doubt for readers that she is a worthy ally of Harvath. With a dynamic chemistry between the two operatives, the read becomes even more intriguing to see how the two operatives would get along.
The action is smooth and fast-paced, comprising of fast-paced shootouts and some brutal melee combat. Even though I had expected more action sequences, the brilliant espionage aspects and characters made up for less-than-expected action sequences. The technical accuracy in details pertaining to firearms and tactics also played an important role in retaining the gritty espionage and operations vibe Scot Harvath books are known for.
I was a bit taken back by what I felt was a slightly abrupt ending. The compartmentalized branches of the narrative that collectively formed the bigger picture felt too quickly tied up at the end, not feeling as satisfying as I thought they would to finally unravel.
All in all, Near Dark packs exciting moments, three dimensional characters, realistic and grounded elements of espionage, and the devastating impact of the loss of loved ones for those who live dangerously at the edge of the sword. A great and engrossing read that does not let up till the very end.
May 27, 2024
Book Review - Near Dark - Brad Thor
I have read or listened to all of Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath books. “Near Dark” is book 19 in the series. It fascinates me that though the plots are rather consistent with nice surprise twists and lots of intense action, Thor somehow manages to keep his stories and characters different and fresh. I have no idea how thriller authors pull that off but he’s done it again. Near Dark included a lot of back references to the previous book, “Backlash.” At first, they (the references) seemed unnecessary, but as the story progressed, they enhanced the current plot line. I was also very happy to see that the ‘little-man’ Nichols had returned although Thor barely mentioned his two dogs who won my heart in previous novels. New character Norwegian intelligence officer Sølvi Kolstad has a major role in this novel and has the potential to become a co-protagonist in this series. I also hope her CIA counterpart, Holidae Hayes (I just love that name) makes future appearances as well. Only down side to Near Dark was the ending felt rushed. An additional 2-3 chapters would have been appropriate in keeping the intensity up oppose to just taking care of business with very little detail. I have been a Scot Harvath fan for many years now and despite the lack of detail in the closing chapters, Near Dark was a very enjoyable read.
I have read or listened to all of Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath books. “Near Dark” is book 19 in the series. It fascinates me that though the plots are rather consistent with nice surprise twists and lots of intense action, Thor somehow manages to keep his stories and characters different and fresh. I have no idea how thriller authors pull that off but he’s done it again. Near Dark included a lot of back references to the previous book, “Backlash.” At first, they (the references) seemed unnecessary, but as the story progressed, they enhanced the current plot line. I was also very happy to see that the ‘little-man’ Nichols had returned although Thor barely mentioned his two dogs who won my heart in previous novels. New character Norwegian intelligence officer Sølvi Kolstad has a major role in this novel and has the potential to become a co-protagonist in this series. I also hope her CIA counterpart, Holidae Hayes (I just love that name) makes future appearances as well. Only down side to Near Dark was the ending felt rushed. An additional 2-3 chapters would have been appropriate in keeping the intensity up oppose to just taking care of business with very little detail. I have been a Scot Harvath fan for many years now and despite the lack of detail in the closing chapters, Near Dark was a very enjoyable read.
July 25, 2020
Another hit it out of the park. Brad Thor keeps providing he is at the top of his game. Such an amazing tale full of suspense, drama and a simple love story. Scot Havarth is still someone you do not want to mess with. Liked how Brad showed this side of Scot and how he dealt with some of his ghost. I also enjoyed how Brad gives that quick back brief on some of the characters he uses to keep new read and returning readers up on his characters and how they fit into the storyline. Not a dull moment in the story. It’s a must read for everyone.
August 6, 2020
Thor is predictable, and I needed something quick one evening, so reached for Near Dark.
I have two problems with this book. First, there's a VAST amount of inner dialogue, much of it backstory.
Next, Harvath's dedication to the memory of his recently deceased wife is commendable. But that storyline rings untrue when he suddenly become a horn-dog over a Scandinavian associate by the end of Near Dark. I suspect most of Thor's readers are male, so maybe this isn't a problem for them. But for me it devalues Harvath's character to the point that I don't give a flying fig about him anymore.
I have two problems with this book. First, there's a VAST amount of inner dialogue, much of it backstory.
Next, Harvath's dedication to the memory of his recently deceased wife is commendable. But that storyline rings untrue when he suddenly become a horn-dog over a Scandinavian associate by the end of Near Dark. I suspect most of Thor's readers are male, so maybe this isn't a problem for them. But for me it devalues Harvath's character to the point that I don't give a flying fig about him anymore.
October 19, 2020
After a few weeks of “experimental” reading excursions, meaning “new to me writers”, I returned to one of my tried and true authors, BRAD THOR. Book number 20 in his Scot Harvath series is NEAR DARK. What a terrific writer of spy thrillers! Thanks for the great entertainment.
In this story, which picks up right after book 19 (BACKLASH), Scot is suffering from a horrific personal loss. He has retreated to a luxury resort near Key West in southern Florida in the United States. He is drinking alcoholic beverages like there is no tomorrow. That is no exaggeration. If you read BACKLASH, you can understand his mental state. If you have not read the previous story, you probably should do so before you start this one.
Harvath works for a private intelligence gathering company after many years of government employment including the U.S. Navy SEALS, the U.S. Secret Service and the C.I.A. As the story unfolds, Scot is drinking in a dive bar in Key West when two bums start to harass the female bartender. That action upsets Scot and he invites them “to step outside” with him. They do. A fight breaks out. A third man shows up with a gun and is about to shoot Harvath. A shot rings out. The would be gunman collapses. Dead. Scot’s team of Haney, Staelin, Palmer and Ashby have come to the rescue. They are there because it has come to his company’s attention that a contract for $100 million has been issued for Harvath’s death.
His team also informs Scot that his good friend Carl Pedersen of the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) has been tortured and killed. Carl had worked with Scot on a couple of cases. This is another blow to his collapsing psyche. Scot flies to Norway on a company jet where he meets Solvi Kostad an N.I.S. officer who was also close to Pedersen. The two team up together to find out who tortured/killed Carl and to find out who is trying to kill Scot.
There are plenty of suspects including Filip Landsbergis, a high-ranking member of Lithuania’s State Security Department (VSI), who has also worked with Scot. Nikolai Nekrasov is a billionaire Russian oligarch who lives in southern France near Nice who has a grudge against Harvath. Andriejus Simulik head of VIS is another suspect. Paul Aubertin, born Michael Collins McElhone in Ireland, is a former French Foreign Legion operative, and is now a paid assassin.
As mentioned earlier Harvath’s journey takes him to Key West and then to Boston, Oslo, Lake Garda (Italy), Lithuania and Mont St. Michel near Normandy (France). As typical of Brad Thor stories, there is plenty of action with a hint of romance. The book is fast paced and should be a quick read for most readers. This a perfect read for those people who have quarantined themselves during COVID 19 Pandemic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
GO! BUY! READ!
In this story, which picks up right after book 19 (BACKLASH), Scot is suffering from a horrific personal loss. He has retreated to a luxury resort near Key West in southern Florida in the United States. He is drinking alcoholic beverages like there is no tomorrow. That is no exaggeration. If you read BACKLASH, you can understand his mental state. If you have not read the previous story, you probably should do so before you start this one.
Harvath works for a private intelligence gathering company after many years of government employment including the U.S. Navy SEALS, the U.S. Secret Service and the C.I.A. As the story unfolds, Scot is drinking in a dive bar in Key West when two bums start to harass the female bartender. That action upsets Scot and he invites them “to step outside” with him. They do. A fight breaks out. A third man shows up with a gun and is about to shoot Harvath. A shot rings out. The would be gunman collapses. Dead. Scot’s team of Haney, Staelin, Palmer and Ashby have come to the rescue. They are there because it has come to his company’s attention that a contract for $100 million has been issued for Harvath’s death.
His team also informs Scot that his good friend Carl Pedersen of the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) has been tortured and killed. Carl had worked with Scot on a couple of cases. This is another blow to his collapsing psyche. Scot flies to Norway on a company jet where he meets Solvi Kostad an N.I.S. officer who was also close to Pedersen. The two team up together to find out who tortured/killed Carl and to find out who is trying to kill Scot.
There are plenty of suspects including Filip Landsbergis, a high-ranking member of Lithuania’s State Security Department (VSI), who has also worked with Scot. Nikolai Nekrasov is a billionaire Russian oligarch who lives in southern France near Nice who has a grudge against Harvath. Andriejus Simulik head of VIS is another suspect. Paul Aubertin, born Michael Collins McElhone in Ireland, is a former French Foreign Legion operative, and is now a paid assassin.
As mentioned earlier Harvath’s journey takes him to Key West and then to Boston, Oslo, Lake Garda (Italy), Lithuania and Mont St. Michel near Normandy (France). As typical of Brad Thor stories, there is plenty of action with a hint of romance. The book is fast paced and should be a quick read for most readers. This a perfect read for those people who have quarantined themselves during COVID 19 Pandemic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
GO! BUY! READ!
April 3, 2022
This book is the 19th entry in Thor's Horvath series. I read and reviewed the 20th entry last year and some how missed this book in the sequence. It appears that the 18th, 19th, and 20th books are connected in that elements of each book carry over into the next books and provide some of the motivation for the action. In this book an intelligence leader of a foreign government that assisted Thor in carrying out his mission that was the basis of the plot in book 18 is tortured and murdered. The reason for the murder was to gain information on Horvath. Subsequent to the murder a 100 million dollar contract is put out to kill Horvath by an unknown party(s). Horvath's response is to attempt to find out who is trying to have him killed as well as to seek to revenge the murder of his friend. From this point all the fun begins and that is why I read Thor's books, just for the fun and entertainment. There is a lot of action and a little romance as well as some foreign scenery to imagine. Unlike last year's book which is the book that follows this one in the series there isn't as much violence and certainly not the distasteful graphic kind that I criticized in my review of that book. This is a fun little thriller and what I expect from a Thor book.
January 10, 2021
What a disappointment. This is probably the worst Harvath book in the series, and a shame that it came after what was maybe the best in Backlash. I put off reading this because I heard that was the case and that was correct.
This is supposed to be a thriller, but I kept waiting for said thrills and there were none. Harvath is a bad ass character and the reason to read this series. However Thor decided to not put him into an action sequence until over 90 percent in the book. Instead he drinks, rehashes details from previous books that we already know,talks to people trying to solve a mystery we already know the answer to, falls for a hot Norwegian chick even though his wife was just murdered, and then everything wraps up really quick and in a way that's anticlimactic.
,
I'm not sure what Thor was trying to accomplish. If he wanted to reset the series after Backlash he could have. This book seems unnecessary because the character work falls flat. That's not the reason to read this series. It could have really been a kick ass action packed book full of pursuits and Harvath avoiding contract killers. Instead it was a phoned in placeholder. I might be done with this series.
This is supposed to be a thriller, but I kept waiting for said thrills and there were none. Harvath is a bad ass character and the reason to read this series. However Thor decided to not put him into an action sequence until over 90 percent in the book. Instead he drinks, rehashes details from previous books that we already know,talks to people trying to solve a mystery we already know the answer to, falls for a hot Norwegian chick even though his wife was just murdered, and then everything wraps up really quick and in a way that's anticlimactic.
,
I'm not sure what Thor was trying to accomplish. If he wanted to reset the series after Backlash he could have. This book seems unnecessary because the character work falls flat. That's not the reason to read this series. It could have really been a kick ass action packed book full of pursuits and Harvath avoiding contract killers. Instead it was a phoned in placeholder. I might be done with this series.
December 21, 2020
As usual this Scot Harvath novel does not disappoint. Not only does it deliver the action and suspense that comes standard with Brad Thor’s writing, but he also layers on the edutainment with jewels—historic and atmospheric—about his settings. I also love how deep he digs into his characters’ hearts and minds, so that the reader can really get into their heads. The plot was a series of dominoes falling at just the right pace. And the payoff at the end left me both fulfilled and longing for more of one of my favorite book boyfriends. Well done, Mr. Thor! Looking forward to the next one.
October 11, 2020
This one is a good one in the series. No stupid storyline (like flying to the moon and back in 45 min. to save the world). Typical Brad Thor thriller, a real page-turner that keeps you reading. As one event ends another begins immediatly so it doesn't drag anywhere in the book.
September 9, 2020
I won this book as a giveaway of the finished edition from the publisher. The writing is this book was really easy to get lost in. This book was a genre I do not normally read and I enjoyed it very much. The author did a good job of also catching the reader up to speed if you hadn't read the other books in the series.
October 17, 2025
Scot Harvath has a problem. Someone wants him dead; badly enough to put a 100 million bounty out on him. The book follows this main storyline, with a couple diversions. Harvath develops a drinking problem and this takes up a good portion of the narrative. He gets to work side by side with a Norwegian operative named Solvi. They end up good friends and maybe a bit more than friends. If you want the details, you'll have to pick up the book and discover what a great thriller writer Brad Thor actually is. Overall, a very good book.
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