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Jess Montgomery Thriller #1
The Trident Conspiracy
Twelve-year-old Abby Montgomery is gone…
A quick Saturday morning stop at South Ridge Bank with her aunt, intelligence analyst, Jess Montgomery, sends the family on a high-stakes rescue mission to save Abby.
The kidnappers want one thing, and one thing only – an invention that’s so secret it’s a matter of national security.
Jess has nowhere to turn. Involving the police will get Abby, and probably the rest of the family, killed.
Can Jess save her niece and protect the secret that she’s been entrusted with? Can she get justice for the family in the process?
If you love Tom Clancy, L. T. Ryan and Mark Dawson, you’ll love the first book in the Jess Montgomery vigilante thriller series.
Get it now!
A quick Saturday morning stop at South Ridge Bank with her aunt, intelligence analyst, Jess Montgomery, sends the family on a high-stakes rescue mission to save Abby.
The kidnappers want one thing, and one thing only – an invention that’s so secret it’s a matter of national security.
Jess has nowhere to turn. Involving the police will get Abby, and probably the rest of the family, killed.
Can Jess save her niece and protect the secret that she’s been entrusted with? Can she get justice for the family in the process?
If you love Tom Clancy, L. T. Ryan and Mark Dawson, you’ll love the first book in the Jess Montgomery vigilante thriller series.
Get it now!
306 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2021
298 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 4, 2021
The Trident Conspiracy doesn't take too long to get going, and it gradually builds suspense as it goes. Jess and Abby are likeable characters that the reader can root for. Jess' boss has secret sources of power, you would not expect. Basically, it's a story of trained bullies abusing their power to get what they want, without any moral compass. It is my first K.J. Kalis novel, and I would not hesitate to read another, especially in this series. I may try another one of the author's series, though. For readers that like suspense and intrigue.
Four and-a-half stars.
Four and-a-half stars.
September 8, 2021
Fast-paced excitement…
This book is the first in a new series by an author, K. J. Kalis, who is known for providing her readers with strong, well-developed characters put into extraordinary circumstances that challenge their mental and physical limits. In this series we meet Jess Montgomery, an Intelligence Analyst, who is highly skilled at uncovering, collating, and analyzing data but who has no field experience. What should have been a fun, carefree Saturday spent with her niece turns into a nightmare of epic proportions with the potential to destroy her family and, perhaps, trigger international conflict. Be prepared for a fast-paced, nerve-wracking adventure that will leave you reaching for your blood pressure meds. I would not have made all the same decisions as Jess but I was drawn into the story so completely that I will admit to enjoying every suspenseful minute of her nightmarish adventure. I am looking forward to seeing where the author will take Jess in the next story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.
This book is the first in a new series by an author, K. J. Kalis, who is known for providing her readers with strong, well-developed characters put into extraordinary circumstances that challenge their mental and physical limits. In this series we meet Jess Montgomery, an Intelligence Analyst, who is highly skilled at uncovering, collating, and analyzing data but who has no field experience. What should have been a fun, carefree Saturday spent with her niece turns into a nightmare of epic proportions with the potential to destroy her family and, perhaps, trigger international conflict. Be prepared for a fast-paced, nerve-wracking adventure that will leave you reaching for your blood pressure meds. I would not have made all the same decisions as Jess but I was drawn into the story so completely that I will admit to enjoying every suspenseful minute of her nightmarish adventure. I am looking forward to seeing where the author will take Jess in the next story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.
August 1, 2021
This is book one of the Jess Montgomery Thrillers series and sees Jess taking her twelve year old niece Abby out for breakfast one Saturday morning. Afterwards, she needs to pop into the local bank to get some sudden paperwork notarised for her mortgage. Just after they walk into the bank, four heavily armed robbers come in to rob the bank. They take everyone’s phones and then tape their mouths and put dark hoods over their heads. They are clearly very well trained, probably ex-military going by the way they dressed, perform their actions and speak to each other. Jess works as an intelligence analyst at high levels in the government, so she can clearly recognise a lot of the danger they are all in. She tries to tuck Abby behind her, but once the dark hoods are on, she can only concentrate on her breathing, not able to see a thing and even sounds are muted. They are given a series of orders and eventually lined up on their feet, with the hand of the person behind them on their shoulder, but she can’t tell if it is Abby’s or not. Her niece is very athletic and tall for her age, but Jess has no idea how she might cope with all of this. She worries what her brother Chase will say and if he will blame her, as he has done for a tragic event in their past!
When the police finally break into the bank and rescue everybody, Abby is missing and the police don’t even believe her niece was even with her to start with. Only Detective Jamieson Saunders seems to take her seriously and helps walk her through what the robbers left behind and how they managed to escape. As it was a bank robbery, the FBI arrived and took over the investigation, and Saunders finds himself closed out by both Jess and Chase. Chase finally gets a ransom call, but what the kidnappers ask for, is something he can’t possibly give up, for national security reasons. He works at Trident Labs and on some very highly classified experiments and discoveries. He has been working for years on one particular item he has created and it is this very formula the kidnappers want. Why they want something that was developed to save lives, is a question Jess must solve, if she is to save the life of her niece. The kidnappers have threatened to kill her if he doesn’t deliver the goods and the formula in just a few hours time! They were warned not to involve the police or FBI or Abby will be killed and Jess believes they will carry out that threat. Chase is a nerdy type, solely focused on his work and even the thought of his own daughter’s life at stake, will not allow him to easily break the rules he lives and works by. Jess has no tactical experience and her brother is even less aware.
The kidnappers want him off kilter, so he will be forced to give them what they want. Jess knows there may be little chance of getting her niece back alive, unless she can discover who is behind this kidnapping, which may have had her as their original target, in order to get at the Montgomery family! Jess will have to use all of her analyst skills and the databases she has access to, to figure out who is behind the kidnapping and what their true purpose is. She manages to track down a few inconsistencies that lead her down one path, and will soon be caught out by her boss and find she has a couple of people on her side, if she will only let them in! A difficult task ahead, to help save the only family she has and try to repair the trust her brother believes she broke all those years ago and has never forgiven her for. If she can’t get Abby back alive, then she will lose her brother Chase completely. Instead of guns blazing, the main characters have to rely on their intelligence gathering and analytical processes, to defeat the bad guys! A refreshing outlook and a determined female lead working to save those she loves and getting justice at the end of the process. I received an ARC copy of this book and I look forward to reading loads more of this series. I would recommend this book to all who want that little bit more from a thriller and a bit more cerebral input. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
When the police finally break into the bank and rescue everybody, Abby is missing and the police don’t even believe her niece was even with her to start with. Only Detective Jamieson Saunders seems to take her seriously and helps walk her through what the robbers left behind and how they managed to escape. As it was a bank robbery, the FBI arrived and took over the investigation, and Saunders finds himself closed out by both Jess and Chase. Chase finally gets a ransom call, but what the kidnappers ask for, is something he can’t possibly give up, for national security reasons. He works at Trident Labs and on some very highly classified experiments and discoveries. He has been working for years on one particular item he has created and it is this very formula the kidnappers want. Why they want something that was developed to save lives, is a question Jess must solve, if she is to save the life of her niece. The kidnappers have threatened to kill her if he doesn’t deliver the goods and the formula in just a few hours time! They were warned not to involve the police or FBI or Abby will be killed and Jess believes they will carry out that threat. Chase is a nerdy type, solely focused on his work and even the thought of his own daughter’s life at stake, will not allow him to easily break the rules he lives and works by. Jess has no tactical experience and her brother is even less aware.
The kidnappers want him off kilter, so he will be forced to give them what they want. Jess knows there may be little chance of getting her niece back alive, unless she can discover who is behind this kidnapping, which may have had her as their original target, in order to get at the Montgomery family! Jess will have to use all of her analyst skills and the databases she has access to, to figure out who is behind the kidnapping and what their true purpose is. She manages to track down a few inconsistencies that lead her down one path, and will soon be caught out by her boss and find she has a couple of people on her side, if she will only let them in! A difficult task ahead, to help save the only family she has and try to repair the trust her brother believes she broke all those years ago and has never forgiven her for. If she can’t get Abby back alive, then she will lose her brother Chase completely. Instead of guns blazing, the main characters have to rely on their intelligence gathering and analytical processes, to defeat the bad guys! A refreshing outlook and a determined female lead working to save those she loves and getting justice at the end of the process. I received an ARC copy of this book and I look forward to reading loads more of this series. I would recommend this book to all who want that little bit more from a thriller and a bit more cerebral input. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
February 10, 2022
The first in a series, The Trident Conspiracy sets up the Jess Montgomery series quite well. Jess treats her 12-year-old niece Abby to breakfast and they make a fast trip to the bank across the street. Jess received mortgage papers that had to be filed that day. Thus begins the series of actions that will test Jess and her brother, Chase, and his daughter Abby, leading them into a nightmare that will become their daily existence.
Our bad guys are horrid. they have no saving graces. It is that lack of balance that made me rate this book 4 stars. Kalis for the most part gives her bad guys the odd humanistic trait to round them out. Set in Tucson, Arizona, The Trident Conspiracy brings us down a mountain of trouble, and Jess is just the woman to handle that. She and Abby manage to hold it together, as does brother Chase in his own way. Their adversaries maintain and hold the upper hand until Jess - and fate- step in.
This series is altogether awesome. You will want to read them all. I will want to read them again, in the proper order, soon. Kalis keeps me reading my retirement days away.
Reviewed on February 10, 2022, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review on Kobo or GooglePlay.
Our bad guys are horrid. they have no saving graces. It is that lack of balance that made me rate this book 4 stars. Kalis for the most part gives her bad guys the odd humanistic trait to round them out. Set in Tucson, Arizona, The Trident Conspiracy brings us down a mountain of trouble, and Jess is just the woman to handle that. She and Abby manage to hold it together, as does brother Chase in his own way. Their adversaries maintain and hold the upper hand until Jess - and fate- step in.
This series is altogether awesome. You will want to read them all. I will want to read them again, in the proper order, soon. Kalis keeps me reading my retirement days away.
Reviewed on February 10, 2022, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review on Kobo or GooglePlay.
August 23, 2024
The Trident Conspiracy was the first of the Jess Montgomery Thrillers that I have read, but it definitely will not be the last. I'm not sure if it was the book by K J Kalis that I have read or not. I read and review so many books, 3 or 4 every week, that titles and authors are starting to all run together, but after having read The Trident Conspiracy, I’m sure that that will not be the case K J Kalis or with the Jess Montgomery Thriller Series. They'll stand out from the crowd.
If you start reading The Trident Conspiracy, hang onto your hat because you are in for an adrenaline fueled, action-packed, roller-coaster thrill ride that will leave you breathless. This story’s plot moves forward like a whirling dervish, with more surprises than a box of chocolates. If you like strong female protagonist who kick butt and take names, you’ll love Jess Montgomery. Like real life heroes, she knows fear, but like real-life heroes, she doesn’t let her fears control her, she controls them and goes on to do what needs to be done. The way Jess gets her man will blow you socks off. This is a binge worthy series.
If you start reading The Trident Conspiracy, hang onto your hat because you are in for an adrenaline fueled, action-packed, roller-coaster thrill ride that will leave you breathless. This story’s plot moves forward like a whirling dervish, with more surprises than a box of chocolates. If you like strong female protagonist who kick butt and take names, you’ll love Jess Montgomery. Like real life heroes, she knows fear, but like real-life heroes, she doesn’t let her fears control her, she controls them and goes on to do what needs to be done. The way Jess gets her man will blow you socks off. This is a binge worthy series.
February 18, 2025
UNBELIEVABLE!
It was the unique plotline of this book which persuaded me to read it, but I wish it hadn't. From the get-go, where the bad guys successfully penetrate a bank but don't take any money ... to the final pages when the heroine, with no training, and no weapon, enters a warehouse during a shoot-out ... and the bad guys, with military black-ops training, haven't the collective intelligence to know that if two civilians can locate their hideaway that the SWAT team can't be far behind ... very little rings true in any of this book's narrative. Granted, the heroine wouldn't have saved a life without her last-pages acts of derring-do, but the whole thing is unbelievable. I won't be searching out any additional books in this series.
It was the unique plotline of this book which persuaded me to read it, but I wish it hadn't. From the get-go, where the bad guys successfully penetrate a bank but don't take any money ... to the final pages when the heroine, with no training, and no weapon, enters a warehouse during a shoot-out ... and the bad guys, with military black-ops training, haven't the collective intelligence to know that if two civilians can locate their hideaway that the SWAT team can't be far behind ... very little rings true in any of this book's narrative. Granted, the heroine wouldn't have saved a life without her last-pages acts of derring-do, but the whole thing is unbelievable. I won't be searching out any additional books in this series.
July 25, 2021
I just love to read medical fiction and this story is really good! Chase created a unique product that could save many lives, but people envisaged a not so noble use for it and had pulled together an enormous operation to force him to comply. Jess is ridden by guilt as she was the one that should be taken, but she puts into use all her knowledge and contacts to unveil the scheme and get the culprits. She also makes a new friend, DI Jamison, who hopefully will also appear in the next stories. Deeply entertaining and easy to read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 5, 2023
I had high expectations for this book based on reviews by others. Sadly, such expectations were not met. The main character in the story, Jess, charges full speed ahead into all sorts of situations like a bull in a china shop. Frequently I found myself thinking "oh come on". It boggles my mind that a civilian as untrained as Jess wouldn't have gotten caught or killed by the villans, but obvously that couldn't happen or there would be no story. The author portrays Jess as an extraordinary woman and her exploits prove that to be true. Her repeated ability to conquer any and all obstacles, in many cases with relative ease, was just way over the top for me.
December 4, 2022
I received a free copy of this book from Book Funnel.
A good read. First book in the Jess Montgomery series. Suspenseful. Well written. Fast paced. Jess is a data analyst and does not work in the field. She is a brave and determined woman but lacking field experience. I hope the series brings her to also develop into a field officer which would be awesome.
I gave it 3 1/2 stars. Hopefully the next book will reach 4+ stars.
A good read. First book in the Jess Montgomery series. Suspenseful. Well written. Fast paced. Jess is a data analyst and does not work in the field. She is a brave and determined woman but lacking field experience. I hope the series brings her to also develop into a field officer which would be awesome.
I gave it 3 1/2 stars. Hopefully the next book will reach 4+ stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2021
Looks like another good series
Love the strong willed female role with the very analytical mind. Makes for on the edge reading. Would have been a 5* except for the very end. It baffled me as to why Jess, with the quick thinking analytical mind not think to pick up a weapon. There was at least one that was not being used. Good otherwise.
Love the strong willed female role with the very analytical mind. Makes for on the edge reading. Would have been a 5* except for the very end. It baffled me as to why Jess, with the quick thinking analytical mind not think to pick up a weapon. There was at least one that was not being used. Good otherwise.
August 31, 2021
A Family affair!
I really enjoyed the characters and the story line was well thought out! Jess was truly a wildcard! Some of the things she did throughout the novel, were just quite stupid! That wouldn't be acceptable in real time! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend reading!
I really enjoyed the characters and the story line was well thought out! Jess was truly a wildcard! Some of the things she did throughout the novel, were just quite stupid! That wouldn't be acceptable in real time! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend reading!
April 23, 2022
Despite being naive and reckless,
Jess and her brother did an okay job of putting away the bad guys. The resolution was rather far fetched for two people with no experience or training, but sometimes a little far fetched makes a good read. It also leaves the door open for new adventures.
Jess and her brother did an okay job of putting away the bad guys. The resolution was rather far fetched for two people with no experience or training, but sometimes a little far fetched makes a good read. It also leaves the door open for new adventures.
May 26, 2022
great first book in a series
Loved the characters and the fast paced action story. Jessie must try to save her niece, Abby who was kidnapped. Charlie is Jessie’s boss. Chase is her brother and Jamison is the Tucson detective. Best characters are Jesse and Abby. Looking forward to other books in the series.
Loved the characters and the fast paced action story. Jessie must try to save her niece, Abby who was kidnapped. Charlie is Jessie’s boss. Chase is her brother and Jamison is the Tucson detective. Best characters are Jesse and Abby. Looking forward to other books in the series.
October 6, 2022
A Great Story
Lots of excitement here! The character of Jess is well thought out with just enough life problems to enhance the climax of the story…PLUS carrying through to future adventures. It’ll be interesting to find out how the author fleshes out Jess’ character in future stories.
Lots of excitement here! The character of Jess is well thought out with just enough life problems to enhance the climax of the story…PLUS carrying through to future adventures. It’ll be interesting to find out how the author fleshes out Jess’ character in future stories.
July 15, 2021
Excellent reading
The story is always moving at a pace, the characters staying true. The heroine keeps growing throughout, the ugliness of greed underlining the motives of the antagonist is always there.
The story is always moving at a pace, the characters staying true. The heroine keeps growing throughout, the ugliness of greed underlining the motives of the antagonist is always there.
December 11, 2021
Very interesting
I enjoyed reading this book. The plot was very good and characters, for the most part, were likeable. The actions of Jess at the end was not very believable, but otherwise, it was certainly worth reading. I would recommend.
I enjoyed reading this book. The plot was very good and characters, for the most part, were likeable. The actions of Jess at the end was not very believable, but otherwise, it was certainly worth reading. I would recommend.
March 2, 2022
Real page turner
Written we!!. Kept me on my toes trying to figure how this would end. This covers one day only, but it keeps your attention. Read it today and only a couple times to put it down to get some work do e like making supper. Great suspense story.
Written we!!. Kept me on my toes trying to figure how this would end. This covers one day only, but it keeps your attention. Read it today and only a couple times to put it down to get some work do e like making supper. Great suspense story.
March 27, 2022
This is just an okay thriller. Can't get to the point of really liking the heroine. She's not very rational despite her so called job. Dialogue is a little weak and much of the action is a little unrealistic. Too many convenient things happening.
October 2, 2022
I was surprised! Fun read.
This was actually pretty good. Parts of it was predictable. A tad cheesy. But I am hoping Jess learns a few more skills ( fighting ) so the next couple of books she won't get so beat up!
Definitely recommend.
This was actually pretty good. Parts of it was predictable. A tad cheesy. But I am hoping Jess learns a few more skills ( fighting ) so the next couple of books she won't get so beat up!
Definitely recommend.
March 12, 2023
Well written, and entertaining.
The characters were engaging and the storyline provided enough to keep me pinned down nose to words.
I found the content to,be just about right in length.
The characters were engaging and the storyline provided enough to keep me pinned down nose to words.
I found the content to,be just about right in length.
September 26, 2023
Good story
Just too exaggerated for it to almost seem real. I love action books, but not when the main character lands lucky break, after lucky break, after lucky break. You almost start rooting for the law of averages to catch up!
Just too exaggerated for it to almost seem real. I love action books, but not when the main character lands lucky break, after lucky break, after lucky break. You almost start rooting for the law of averages to catch up!
September 13, 2021
Not the Best
The book started off well but quickly went downhill. I did read the whole book, surprisingly enough, hoping the storyline would improve. It didn't.
The book started off well but quickly went downhill. I did read the whole book, surprisingly enough, hoping the storyline would improve. It didn't.
November 19, 2021
The story is good and well thought out.
It draws you in and keeps you thinking all the way through.
It draws you in and keeps you thinking all the way through.
December 9, 2021
All in a day's work!
Action-packed! The description is so vivid that you will think you are watching a movie. AND this all happens in one day.
Fantastic job!
Action-packed! The description is so vivid that you will think you are watching a movie. AND this all happens in one day.
Fantastic job!
February 3, 2022
Trident conspiracy
I enjoyed reading this e-book Jess Montgomery is a very brave young lady. She loves her brother so much that she would do anything to save his family.
I enjoyed reading this e-book Jess Montgomery is a very brave young lady. She loves her brother so much that she would do anything to save his family.
Read
December 30, 2022Excellent book with a nail biter of a finish.
January 29, 2023
Unbelievable
I stuck with this because it had a reasonable premise, but the characters are so shallow and the actions so totally absurd that it totally fails. Give this a pass.
I stuck with this because it had a reasonable premise, but the characters are so shallow and the actions so totally absurd that it totally fails. Give this a pass.
April 13, 2023
BRILLIANT, couldn't put the book down, Jess,Abbey,Chase and Piper bring you an action packed story.
August 15, 2023
Jess isn’t even believable as a character. Five minutes ago she had to concentrate on breathing. So, no, the whole premise is too far fetched.
November 8, 2023
Wonderfully written thriller! Held my attention throughout and enjoyed the characters’ relationships. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews