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Frank Sherman #2
Reckoning
They stole the drone tech and burned the refugee camp. He plans to return the favor.
West Africa is already a tinderbox when Captain Frank Sherman touches down. A refugee camp lies in ruins. Experimental U.S. drone tech is missing. And someone’s doing everything they can to make sure Sherman’s team never comes home.
But Sherman doesn’t rattle.
From jihadist hideouts in Mali to the blood-slick back rooms of Accra, he hunts the truth behind a conspiracy that spans warlords, corrupt officials, and mercenary ghosts. The body count rises. The lies get thicker.
And Sherman? He only moves one way—forward, with a rifle and a reason.
Reckoning is the second hard-hitting installment in the Frank Sherman Thrillers Series—where covert ops meet conspiracy, and justice always has a cost. Fans of Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp, and Jack Ryan will find a new obsession in Sherman’s relentless warpath.
__________________________________________
Praise for the Frank Sherman Thrillers
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "I put Sherman in the realm of Mitch Rapp, Jack Reacher and Jack Ryan."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "If you like these types of stories, you will find Mr. Austin to be a great storyteller."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "The intrigue and complexities of Africa are right from today's news headlines and the action is full of sound and smell and simply real."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "The pace never lets up and the sense of adventure shines through. Characters are well fleshed out. Military jargon is very understandable."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Another exciting adventure with Sherman and his crew."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Again, I couldn't put the book down."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "I felt a bit stressed—as if I was with them all the way. The adrenaline was coursing through me."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Suspenseful. Insight into a new world for me—Africa! Kept me intrigued and interested."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Frank Sherman is an outstanding protagonist."
West Africa is already a tinderbox when Captain Frank Sherman touches down. A refugee camp lies in ruins. Experimental U.S. drone tech is missing. And someone’s doing everything they can to make sure Sherman’s team never comes home.
But Sherman doesn’t rattle.
From jihadist hideouts in Mali to the blood-slick back rooms of Accra, he hunts the truth behind a conspiracy that spans warlords, corrupt officials, and mercenary ghosts. The body count rises. The lies get thicker.
And Sherman? He only moves one way—forward, with a rifle and a reason.
Reckoning is the second hard-hitting installment in the Frank Sherman Thrillers Series—where covert ops meet conspiracy, and justice always has a cost. Fans of Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp, and Jack Ryan will find a new obsession in Sherman’s relentless warpath.
__________________________________________
Praise for the Frank Sherman Thrillers
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "I put Sherman in the realm of Mitch Rapp, Jack Reacher and Jack Ryan."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "If you like these types of stories, you will find Mr. Austin to be a great storyteller."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "The intrigue and complexities of Africa are right from today's news headlines and the action is full of sound and smell and simply real."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "The pace never lets up and the sense of adventure shines through. Characters are well fleshed out. Military jargon is very understandable."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Another exciting adventure with Sherman and his crew."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Again, I couldn't put the book down."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "I felt a bit stressed—as if I was with them all the way. The adrenaline was coursing through me."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "Suspenseful. Insight into a new world for me—Africa! Kept me intrigued and interested."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Frank Sherman is an outstanding protagonist."
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2020
About the author
Joel Austin
7 books15 followersJoel Austin lives in Colorado with his wife and daughter. He has Masters degrees in History and International Relations. Joel worked in West Africa and continues to enjoy international travel. He is an avid fan of great books and great beer. Joel is a news junkie, particularly anything related to international affairs.
Find out more at: www.joelaustin.online
Find out more at: www.joelaustin.online
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 2, 2020
Lots of action
Again, this book is full of non stop action. I enjoyed the first action packed book, this was more of the same but I couldn't get into it with the enthusiasm as I did the first.
Again, this book is full of non stop action. I enjoyed the first action packed book, this was more of the same but I couldn't get into it with the enthusiasm as I did the first.
March 30, 2022
Frank Sherman, Jack Reacher with a Gun.
Frank Sherman Is an OUTSTANDING PROTAGONIST. I just the love this character. I put him in the realm of Mitch Rapp, Jack Reacher and Jack Ryan. On to book three in the series. 😁
Frank Sherman Is an OUTSTANDING PROTAGONIST. I just the love this character. I put him in the realm of Mitch Rapp, Jack Reacher and Jack Ryan. On to book three in the series. 😁
June 10, 2026
Wow, I purchased this book in a vain attempt to find books by Lee Child just like Jack Reacher not expecting much, like so many other books I've tried. WRONG!” It was a non stop read, page turner unable to put down book!
Basically Frank Sherman is your Lee Child Jack Reacher type bloke.
It starts with Frank visiting his best and only friend, once a comrade in the army with Frank, but now retired and living in a northern California town. On his arrival his friend isn’t there as planned to meet him and Frank soon finds out the reason why? It is reported he was killed in a car crash. But wasn’t. He was murdered brutally and the local sheriff’s report is a obviously a pack of lies. It’s become clear that the town is as crooked and dirty as they come. But they underestimate Frank he will stop any outsider from ruining it. Frank is not one to allow his x partners death go unpunished.
Frank Sherman is a man not to be taken light heartedly and he starts his vengeance on the town’s crooked occupants, taking on all that stands in his way until nothing is standing. Crooked cops, Bikers drug barons, anyone involved or bad needs to take heed.
Justice with explosive nonstop action keeps you reading to the end. One of the be4st military thrillers I have read in a very long time. I will read more for sure.
August 7, 2022
Reckoning was a huge disappointment: worse than a scoop of ice cream falling off the cone, but better an the flu. Book 1, Happenstance, was quite enjoyable. Reckoning on the other hand was jumbled (poorly organized). I stayed with it only because I try to finish books I start, but it was wasted time.
The fatal flaw, in my humble opinion, was a lack of organization. The first 40% I could have skipped and missed nothing. It read like a diary, and a bad one. Random thoughts and activities that never came together was painful. Additionally, throughout the remaining 60%, the author (whoever he is) inserted a meaningless filler of nonsense. I kept thinking he must have a page or word count requirement. He needs professional editing to learn how to weave this mess of inserted garbage without totally ruining the book. Well, optimistically, maybe the next one…please. I rated this book a really wobbly 1-1/2, rounded up to a 2. Not really good enough for a solid 2.
The fatal flaw, in my humble opinion, was a lack of organization. The first 40% I could have skipped and missed nothing. It read like a diary, and a bad one. Random thoughts and activities that never came together was painful. Additionally, throughout the remaining 60%, the author (whoever he is) inserted a meaningless filler of nonsense. I kept thinking he must have a page or word count requirement. He needs professional editing to learn how to weave this mess of inserted garbage without totally ruining the book. Well, optimistically, maybe the next one…please. I rated this book a really wobbly 1-1/2, rounded up to a 2. Not really good enough for a solid 2.
February 6, 2026
awesome book awesome author awesome character
I can’t believe it took me almost 2 years in reading 500 of t books in this genre to actually find Frank Sherman as the main character and the author who wrote this book. I don’t know why it took so long for it to pop up in a read more like this list of books. When all I read are books like this. I cannot say enough good things about the authenticity of the main character, his purity the way he doesn’t flip-flop in his convictions like so many other main characters do in a series from one book to the next, just hands-down, an amazing book
I can’t believe it took me almost 2 years in reading 500 of t books in this genre to actually find Frank Sherman as the main character and the author who wrote this book. I don’t know why it took so long for it to pop up in a read more like this list of books. When all I read are books like this. I cannot say enough good things about the authenticity of the main character, his purity the way he doesn’t flip-flop in his convictions like so many other main characters do in a series from one book to the next, just hands-down, an amazing book
October 17, 2023
Totally brilliant!
Book 2 in this series is truly spectacular. It makes Book 1 seem like a term paper by comparison. The characters lived and breathe reality in a real world full of real problems.
The intrigue and complexities of Africa are right from today's news headlines and the action is full of sound and smell and simply real.
Very well written. Most enjoyable and memorable.
Book 2 in this series is truly spectacular. It makes Book 1 seem like a term paper by comparison. The characters lived and breathe reality in a real world full of real problems.
The intrigue and complexities of Africa are right from today's news headlines and the action is full of sound and smell and simply real.
Very well written. Most enjoyable and memorable.
September 1, 2025
Past, Present, Future
Captain Frank Sherman is on a mission with his team in West Africa. With The Major, Sergeant, and Corporal, this mission, to retrieve a valuable piece of American equipment is action, adventure, and mystery. With Frank's past, the present with old acquaintances, and the future of Africa all coming together, this second standalone novel has Frank Sherman and the team wondering just what is happening with a reckoning coming.
Captain Frank Sherman is on a mission with his team in West Africa. With The Major, Sergeant, and Corporal, this mission, to retrieve a valuable piece of American equipment is action, adventure, and mystery. With Frank's past, the present with old acquaintances, and the future of Africa all coming together, this second standalone novel has Frank Sherman and the team wondering just what is happening with a reckoning coming.
December 8, 2022
Just finished 2nd book in series. Austin can really write. Well plotted, non-stop action and a world-class protagonist in Frank Sherman. I’m loving this series and starting on #3. Discovered quite by accident as there is no buzz, promo, etc even though there should be. Violent yes. Well written, yes. Movie material. OMG.
June 3, 2023
armed and dangerous
Cross between Mitch Rapp and Robert McCall! Frank Sherman with Delta pals Lopez and Guernsey are up for the fight! Twists and turns, lots of bodies, spies and good guys…this book has them all!
Cross between Mitch Rapp and Robert McCall! Frank Sherman with Delta pals Lopez and Guernsey are up for the fight! Twists and turns, lots of bodies, spies and good guys…this book has them all!
October 25, 2026
Reckoning - review
Great action. Liked the three main characters (GI’s), but plot and continuity of action was hard for me to follow. One minute the team is in the dessert, the next in an urban firefight. How ffid they get there?
Great action. Liked the three main characters (GI’s), but plot and continuity of action was hard for me to follow. One minute the team is in the dessert, the next in an urban firefight. How ffid they get there?
October 28, 2026
This author has it all. You cannot ask for more.
This book is pure entertainment. Its fast paced and written in a way that makes it hard to put down. READ IT! YOU WON'T BE WASTING YOUR TIME.
This book is pure entertainment. Its fast paced and written in a way that makes it hard to put down. READ IT! YOU WON'T BE WASTING YOUR TIME.
July 9, 2021
Fantastic
The pace never let's up an sense of adventure shines through characters are well.fleshed out military jargon is very understandable
E
The pace never let's up an sense of adventure shines through characters are well.fleshed out military jargon is very understandable
E
September 17, 2021
Excellent read
This story continues in the third book of which I have already read. I highly recommend all three books. End
This story continues in the third book of which I have already read. I highly recommend all three books. End
June 15, 2026
This descriptive
and well written thriller
kept me
engrossed throughout the entire book.
The various locations added to this Suspenseful Thriller!!
and well written thriller
kept me
engrossed throughout the entire book.
The various locations added to this Suspenseful Thriller!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews