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Sleeping Bear
A former Army veteran seeking solitude in the Alaskan wilderness after her husband’s death finds herself a pawn in a deadly game with Russia in this white-knuckled thriller.
After her young husband’s untimely death, Army veteran Cassie Gale decides to take a few days of solitude in the Alaskan wilderness before she starts her new job. But when she fails to show up on her first day and her dog is discovered injured at her wrecked campsite, her father knows that this is much more than a camping trip gone awry.
As it turns out, Cassie’s not the first person to disappear without a trace in Alaska’s northern interior. Bears. Wolves. Avalanches. Frostbite. Starvation. There are many ways to die in here. But not all disappearances can be explained. Cassie’s is one of them, along with a number of other outdoor enthusiasts who have vanished in recent years.
Regaining consciousness in a Russian prison, Cassie finds herself trapped in a system designed to ensure that no one ever escapes alive. It will require all her grit and skills to survive. Meanwhile, her father rushes to outrun the clock, scouring thousands of acres, only to realize she’s been taken by a nefarious adversary—one with the power of the Eastern Bloc behind it. Ties to his past life, one full of secrets, threaten to surface. He knows there’s a price to be paid, but he’s determined it won’t be his daughter.
After her young husband’s untimely death, Army veteran Cassie Gale decides to take a few days of solitude in the Alaskan wilderness before she starts her new job. But when she fails to show up on her first day and her dog is discovered injured at her wrecked campsite, her father knows that this is much more than a camping trip gone awry.
As it turns out, Cassie’s not the first person to disappear without a trace in Alaska’s northern interior. Bears. Wolves. Avalanches. Frostbite. Starvation. There are many ways to die in here. But not all disappearances can be explained. Cassie’s is one of them, along with a number of other outdoor enthusiasts who have vanished in recent years.
Regaining consciousness in a Russian prison, Cassie finds herself trapped in a system designed to ensure that no one ever escapes alive. It will require all her grit and skills to survive. Meanwhile, her father rushes to outrun the clock, scouring thousands of acres, only to realize she’s been taken by a nefarious adversary—one with the power of the Eastern Bloc behind it. Ties to his past life, one full of secrets, threaten to surface. He knows there’s a price to be paid, but he’s determined it won’t be his daughter.
528 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 6, 2021
347 people are currently reading
4668 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
September 8, 2022
4.5⭐
Glad I didn't read the blurb! The cover gives a little hint. The first 100 pages of this debut (BTW, I can't believe it's his first!) kept me guessing where it's heading and I have to admit it was best not knowing. This is a fun and fast-paced thriller.
Sleeping Bear has a strong female lead, Cassie Gale, a former Army Ranger from Montana who's heading to Alaska for a new job, riding shotgun, her late husband's former Marine German Sheperd, Maverick. I enjoy the outdoorsy road trip through Yukon territory in Canada as she finds lodges, campsites, and meets people along the way to her destination. I like how the author writes his characters, they don't seem forced and every single one has depth. All the casts are believable and her family plays a large role in the story. I love them!
I recommended the audiobook to the library, they got it after I borrowed the book so I had both. If you're deciding which to go with, I would say reading is better. Not saying the audio was bad. Hilary Huber is a fabulous narrator, but she has a humorous tone in her voice and not fitting for this thriller in my view.
Glad I didn't read the blurb! The cover gives a little hint. The first 100 pages of this debut (BTW, I can't believe it's his first!) kept me guessing where it's heading and I have to admit it was best not knowing. This is a fun and fast-paced thriller.
Sleeping Bear has a strong female lead, Cassie Gale, a former Army Ranger from Montana who's heading to Alaska for a new job, riding shotgun, her late husband's former Marine German Sheperd, Maverick. I enjoy the outdoorsy road trip through Yukon territory in Canada as she finds lodges, campsites, and meets people along the way to her destination. I like how the author writes his characters, they don't seem forced and every single one has depth. All the casts are believable and her family plays a large role in the story. I love them!
I recommended the audiobook to the library, they got it after I borrowed the book so I had both. If you're deciding which to go with, I would say reading is better. Not saying the audio was bad. Hilary Huber is a fabulous narrator, but she has a humorous tone in her voice and not fitting for this thriller in my view.
July 4, 2022
Evil Russian agents are back on the menu, baby!
January 1, 2023
Sleeping Bear is Conno Sullivian's debut, It's a spy. story. with a love story and a strong female lead
Cassie Gale, an Army Ranger the action picks up when the Russian has been kidnapping people. This
was a non-stop page-turner that kept me guessing to the end.
Cassie Gale, an Army Ranger the action picks up when the Russian has been kidnapping people. This
was a non-stop page-turner that kept me guessing to the end.
November 10, 2023
A fantastic book with excellent story line. Connor connects the dots. Love it.
May 8, 2023
This debut novel, set in Alaska and Russia, consists of the very best of many genres - thriller, adventure, espionage, murder and mystery. I was hooked from the first chapter right through til the end.
Non-stop action and intrigue. Well-developed characters, an interesting and surprising backstory and a well thought out plot.
Highly Recommended!
I can hardly wait for his next novel!
Non-stop action and intrigue. Well-developed characters, an interesting and surprising backstory and a well thought out plot.
Highly Recommended!
I can hardly wait for his next novel!
July 14, 2021
WOW! WOW! WOW! What a debut. If you're a fan of Vince Flynn, Mark Greaney, Brad Thor, you need to add Connor Sullivan to your list of must read. At first I didn't know what was going on as the story was building and almost gave up but then boom the story takes off and never slow down. Take a bow Mr. Sullivan because this is my favorite read of 2021...so far. Highly recommended!
July 12, 2021
A riveting espionage/political/military story that might be one of the very best thrillers I've read this year or any other. The pace was lightning fast, the characters strongly compelling and the prose effectively built suspense on the stark originality of the plot. After all, who wants to spend time and money reading a " been there, done, that " thriller?
January 26, 2021
Sleeping Bear
Don’t let the title fool you, Sleeping Bear is no sleeper! It’s a head-spinning, jaw clenching, ear pounding, and palm-sweating thriller of a book!
Connor’s opening page - “Since 1988 more than seventy thousand missing person reports have been filed by the Alaska State Troopers. Many of the missing were last seen in and around a gigantic, triangular-shaped wilderness above the 60° North Parallel latitudinal line that forms the raw, unforgiving heart of the most remote state in America.”
This lead-in alone is enough to make you turn the page. Seventy thousand people go missing! Remind me never to go to the 60° North Parallel in Alaska!
But Connor Sullivan’s main character Cassie Gale does go there, and what awaits her is not good.
There’s something special for me about cracking open a new book. You’re either reading a book from an Author and characters you know and love and have followed for years. Or you’ve found an exciting new Author and new characters. You know nothing about them, what their background is or where the story might even go. That enticement alone is almost too much to handle. Like Forrest Gump once said, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”. And that’s exactly how I feel reading a book from a new Author. That turn of each page is juicy and exciting, making you want more and more until you can't put the book down. You are addicted to the excitement and the unknown.
Every book you read of course takes you on its desired trip, and Connor Sullivan delivered that in spades. He created a suspenseful storyline, full of intrigue, tension, and twists to the plot, that even when you think you might know what happens, it doesn’t. He expertly laid out the scenes so vividly, that it left nothing to the imagination. I felt like I was watching a movie on the big screen and was so deeply enthralled I lost track of all time.
Connor wove together a story that not only brings you to know Cassie Gale (an Army veteran), the main protagonist, but also her father, Jim Gale (and ex-agent for the US Government), and how their lives will suddenly intertwine in his quest to find her. Cassie is caught up in a kidnapping ring that takes her from Alaska to Russia, which is virtually inescapable, and, unfortunately, her father’s past comes back to haunt them both and put her in an even more precarious situation. Will he get to her in time? Will she figure her own way out? Will she figure out the connection in time? The final chapters of the book are an absolute nail biter! Cassie, and others, find themselves as pawns in an ugly game, one that brings the past back into the present. The escape is planned, but more obstacles get thrown in the way. Who will get out alive and who won’t? Connor masterfully created an ending flight/fight scene worthy of making you hang onto the edge of your seat!
What I really like about this story is that it isn’t woven around current day tensions or bloody gun battles in the middle east. It’s suspense “could be” a current day situation, but one you’d never think of. The storyline is a great escape, taking you on a journey you’d never expect!
I hope you read this book because you won’t regret it! Emily Bestler Books and Atria Books have found a new gem, again.
Don’t let the title fool you, Sleeping Bear is no sleeper! It’s a head-spinning, jaw clenching, ear pounding, and palm-sweating thriller of a book!
Connor’s opening page - “Since 1988 more than seventy thousand missing person reports have been filed by the Alaska State Troopers. Many of the missing were last seen in and around a gigantic, triangular-shaped wilderness above the 60° North Parallel latitudinal line that forms the raw, unforgiving heart of the most remote state in America.”
This lead-in alone is enough to make you turn the page. Seventy thousand people go missing! Remind me never to go to the 60° North Parallel in Alaska!
But Connor Sullivan’s main character Cassie Gale does go there, and what awaits her is not good.
There’s something special for me about cracking open a new book. You’re either reading a book from an Author and characters you know and love and have followed for years. Or you’ve found an exciting new Author and new characters. You know nothing about them, what their background is or where the story might even go. That enticement alone is almost too much to handle. Like Forrest Gump once said, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”. And that’s exactly how I feel reading a book from a new Author. That turn of each page is juicy and exciting, making you want more and more until you can't put the book down. You are addicted to the excitement and the unknown.
Every book you read of course takes you on its desired trip, and Connor Sullivan delivered that in spades. He created a suspenseful storyline, full of intrigue, tension, and twists to the plot, that even when you think you might know what happens, it doesn’t. He expertly laid out the scenes so vividly, that it left nothing to the imagination. I felt like I was watching a movie on the big screen and was so deeply enthralled I lost track of all time.
Connor wove together a story that not only brings you to know Cassie Gale (an Army veteran), the main protagonist, but also her father, Jim Gale (and ex-agent for the US Government), and how their lives will suddenly intertwine in his quest to find her. Cassie is caught up in a kidnapping ring that takes her from Alaska to Russia, which is virtually inescapable, and, unfortunately, her father’s past comes back to haunt them both and put her in an even more precarious situation. Will he get to her in time? Will she figure her own way out? Will she figure out the connection in time? The final chapters of the book are an absolute nail biter! Cassie, and others, find themselves as pawns in an ugly game, one that brings the past back into the present. The escape is planned, but more obstacles get thrown in the way. Who will get out alive and who won’t? Connor masterfully created an ending flight/fight scene worthy of making you hang onto the edge of your seat!
What I really like about this story is that it isn’t woven around current day tensions or bloody gun battles in the middle east. It’s suspense “could be” a current day situation, but one you’d never think of. The storyline is a great escape, taking you on a journey you’d never expect!
I hope you read this book because you won’t regret it! Emily Bestler Books and Atria Books have found a new gem, again.
January 15, 2022
Girl Gone in Alaska
Review of the Simon & Schuster audiobook edition (July, 2021) released simultaneously with the Atria/Emily Bestler hardcover
Although Sleeping Bear is set in the current era, the anachronistic use of the Soviet Union's hammer & sickle logo on the book's cover gives it away that we are in a setting of a crazed evil empire of SMERSH-type killers vs James Bond-like proxies. The villains here do just about everything except drip venom from their fangs while lurking in their lair, and the heroes, after the required initial setbacks, take on impossible odds with eventual success. i.e. do not expect anything realistic here, but enjoy the ride.
The setup was well done and incorporated the mystery of the Alaskan Bermuda triangle with the apparent real-life information that the number of disappeared people in Alaska is twice the national average for the USA. Army Ranger School veteran Cassie Gale is in bereavement over the death of her husband and takes a outdoor guiding job in Alaska to escape her life and to aid the grieving process. She disappears while on the road to her new place of employment and her family is notified. Unknown to her and her sister is the backstory that her widowed father was a CIA operative in his youth who made a significant enemy back in the days of the Soviet Union. The family arrives in Alaska to aid in the search and mayhem ensues.
There are a lot of stereotypes and cliches here: e.g. the mad scientists, the hidden lair, the zombie like hordes of subordinates etc., but it is all very well done for first time thriller novelist Connor Sullivan. Background details such as the Magnitsky Act, Putin's Palace, Sharashkas etc. were well researched and completely correct. It is definitely a solid outing for fans of the genre.
I listened to the audiobook edition as read by the prolific narrator Hillary Huber who was excellent as always. I don't know if she speaks Russian but the occasional Russian phrase sounded completely authentic to me.
Review of the Simon & Schuster audiobook edition (July, 2021) released simultaneously with the Atria/Emily Bestler hardcover
Although Sleeping Bear is set in the current era, the anachronistic use of the Soviet Union's hammer & sickle logo on the book's cover gives it away that we are in a setting of a crazed evil empire of SMERSH-type killers vs James Bond-like proxies. The villains here do just about everything except drip venom from their fangs while lurking in their lair, and the heroes, after the required initial setbacks, take on impossible odds with eventual success. i.e. do not expect anything realistic here, but enjoy the ride.
The setup was well done and incorporated the mystery of the Alaskan Bermuda triangle with the apparent real-life information that the number of disappeared people in Alaska is twice the national average for the USA. Army Ranger School veteran Cassie Gale is in bereavement over the death of her husband and takes a outdoor guiding job in Alaska to escape her life and to aid the grieving process. She disappears while on the road to her new place of employment and her family is notified. Unknown to her and her sister is the backstory that her widowed father was a CIA operative in his youth who made a significant enemy back in the days of the Soviet Union. The family arrives in Alaska to aid in the search and mayhem ensues.
There are a lot of stereotypes and cliches here: e.g. the mad scientists, the hidden lair, the zombie like hordes of subordinates etc., but it is all very well done for first time thriller novelist Connor Sullivan. Background details such as the Magnitsky Act, Putin's Palace, Sharashkas etc. were well researched and completely correct. It is definitely a solid outing for fans of the genre.
I listened to the audiobook edition as read by the prolific narrator Hillary Huber who was excellent as always. I don't know if she speaks Russian but the occasional Russian phrase sounded completely authentic to me.
July 12, 2021
Well, I'm conflicted.
The book started as a solid 5-star read and stayed this way for the first quarter. Sullivan's writing shone as long as the book was a rural thriller set in the Alaskan wilderness. Cassie was fun to read as a character, the atmosphere was great, there was this resident feeling of unease. Then it turned into a spy novel which was expected, that was the way the book was advertised, so it was still alright, but then it turned into a high-tech military thriller and that's roughly where it lost me. It was still fun until the end, I was hooked, but I believe this book had the real potential of being something more than just another American military thriller, and don't even get me started on the nice Americans-evil Russians trope.
If you're looking for a military thriller with a unique twist, Sleeping Bear is a good option. But I hope Sullivan writes something a little bit more personal, a little bit more contained, a little bit more... I don't want to say realistic, 'grounded' maybe? Because I feel that's the way his writing will really shine, just like it did in the beginning chapters. If he ever decides to write a rural, gritty thriller, like maybe an action-y small town story, I'll be there. I'm not that sure about a sequel to Sleeping Bear.
The book started as a solid 5-star read and stayed this way for the first quarter. Sullivan's writing shone as long as the book was a rural thriller set in the Alaskan wilderness. Cassie was fun to read as a character, the atmosphere was great, there was this resident feeling of unease. Then it turned into a spy novel which was expected, that was the way the book was advertised, so it was still alright, but then it turned into a high-tech military thriller and that's roughly where it lost me. It was still fun until the end, I was hooked, but I believe this book had the real potential of being something more than just another American military thriller, and don't even get me started on the nice Americans-evil Russians trope.
If you're looking for a military thriller with a unique twist, Sleeping Bear is a good option. But I hope Sullivan writes something a little bit more personal, a little bit more contained, a little bit more... I don't want to say realistic, 'grounded' maybe? Because I feel that's the way his writing will really shine, just like it did in the beginning chapters. If he ever decides to write a rural, gritty thriller, like maybe an action-y small town story, I'll be there. I'm not that sure about a sequel to Sleeping Bear.
July 5, 2021
I have read Sleeping Bear the first book by author Connor Sullivan. People are disappearing from Alaska. Is it by natural reasons such as I don't want to be found or maybe a bear ate me or is it something entirely different? Cassie is on her way to Alaska to work as a guide but she vanishes, not without a trace. Her father goes to investigate and suddenly we are in a high speed mystery that spans thirty years. This was a quick read but not really my cup of tea. I will still recommend it and I thank @netgalley and @atriabooks for giving me this advance copy and I also must thank the author @connor_sullivan_author for writing it. It's a great first book.
December 30, 2023
TRIGGER WARNING: Graphic torture scenes
I really enjoy reading crime thrillers and murder mysteries based in Alaska. Marc Cameron’s Arliss Cutter series is definitely one of my fave series. He really grasps the trials and tribulations of the environment. Connor Sullivan seems to have a similar grasp of the challenges of that type of environment too.
The book summary lays out the premise for the primary storyline: the abduction of Cassie, former military, and who the press dubbed her “GI Jane” because of her reputation in Ranger school and a political scandal afterwards. Anyway, Cassie was taking a few days to check out the area where her new job as a guide for a wildlife refuge organization was; she was scheduled to start work in a few days. Cassie is still grieving the recent death of her husband, who was also military. She also has a former military dog (German Shepard), Maverick, who accompanied her on her trip to AK. More about Maverick later, because those who are familiar with my reviews know I’m going to talk about Maverick.
Within days of Cassie’s disappearance, papa bear Jim Gale, begins tracking Cassie’s movements. Now, some adult kids may chafe at a parent tracking their SAT phone call log, GPS movements, and border crossings, but for those kids going out into the wilds of AK with nothing more than a fierce and loyal former military dog, a few weapons (guns & knives), a SAT phone, a can of bear spray and some camping gear, having a smart and wilderness experienced papa bear could be the difference between life and death.
Of course, there are secondary storylines, one being Jim’s past military life, that the book summary just briefly mentions. As soon as Jim inspects Cassie’s destroyed campsite, he has doubts that the damage was from a bear attack. It’s then that he starts alluding to some long-ago agreement he made that nothing happens to Cassie. This is not a spoiler alert since it was revealed in the first 15-20% of the story. It’s about this time that I already had my suspicions regarding two characters as well as motive.
Most of the story chapters flip back and forth between Cassie and Jim with some chapters from a Russian General named Sokolov and a few from US intelligence agencies. The first half of Cassie’s story is mostly about Cassie discovering where she is and why she is being held captive by a team of Russian doctors and guards. She also meets several other captives who were also abducted. The first half of papa Jim’s story was mostly about trying to figure out what happened to Cassie and where she was. He’s certain that there are those among the other characters who knew what happened to Cassie, why she was taken, and where she is.
Into the second half of the story, the storylines begin to merge together and the separation between the good and bad guys becomes clear, and there is a huge cast here that includes an alphabet of US government agencies. There are several intense scenes and incidents for the Gail family and the bad guys. The end comes really quick after that (thank goodness!!!). I’d had enough of this story and was glad to finally get to the end.
The first half of the story was a solid 4star read for me with the second half being a 1star read. I guess, I’d give it a 2.5stars if I could, but I’m not feeling compelled to round up, hence, the overall 2star rating. I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #AtriaBooks #SleepingBear
I really enjoy reading crime thrillers and murder mysteries based in Alaska. Marc Cameron’s Arliss Cutter series is definitely one of my fave series. He really grasps the trials and tribulations of the environment. Connor Sullivan seems to have a similar grasp of the challenges of that type of environment too.
The book summary lays out the premise for the primary storyline: the abduction of Cassie, former military, and who the press dubbed her “GI Jane” because of her reputation in Ranger school and a political scandal afterwards. Anyway, Cassie was taking a few days to check out the area where her new job as a guide for a wildlife refuge organization was; she was scheduled to start work in a few days. Cassie is still grieving the recent death of her husband, who was also military. She also has a former military dog (German Shepard), Maverick, who accompanied her on her trip to AK. More about Maverick later, because those who are familiar with my reviews know I’m going to talk about Maverick.
Within days of Cassie’s disappearance, papa bear Jim Gale, begins tracking Cassie’s movements. Now, some adult kids may chafe at a parent tracking their SAT phone call log, GPS movements, and border crossings, but for those kids going out into the wilds of AK with nothing more than a fierce and loyal former military dog, a few weapons (guns & knives), a SAT phone, a can of bear spray and some camping gear, having a smart and wilderness experienced papa bear could be the difference between life and death.
Of course, there are secondary storylines, one being Jim’s past military life, that the book summary just briefly mentions. As soon as Jim inspects Cassie’s destroyed campsite, he has doubts that the damage was from a bear attack. It’s then that he starts alluding to some long-ago agreement he made that nothing happens to Cassie. This is not a spoiler alert since it was revealed in the first 15-20% of the story. It’s about this time that I already had my suspicions regarding two characters as well as motive.
Most of the story chapters flip back and forth between Cassie and Jim with some chapters from a Russian General named Sokolov and a few from US intelligence agencies. The first half of Cassie’s story is mostly about Cassie discovering where she is and why she is being held captive by a team of Russian doctors and guards. She also meets several other captives who were also abducted. The first half of papa Jim’s story was mostly about trying to figure out what happened to Cassie and where she was. He’s certain that there are those among the other characters who knew what happened to Cassie, why she was taken, and where she is.
Into the second half of the story, the storylines begin to merge together and the separation between the good and bad guys becomes clear, and there is a huge cast here that includes an alphabet of US government agencies. There are several intense scenes and incidents for the Gail family and the bad guys. The end comes really quick after that (thank goodness!!!). I’d had enough of this story and was glad to finally get to the end.
The first half of the story was a solid 4star read for me with the second half being a 1star read. I guess, I’d give it a 2.5stars if I could, but I’m not feeling compelled to round up, hence, the overall 2star rating. I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #AtriaBooks #SleepingBear
June 14, 2021
Sleeping Bear, the debut from Connor Sullivan, has been getting early praise and he deserves every bit of it. Russia has been kidnapping people in the Alaskan wilderness for years. It's the perfect place for the kidnappings: it's remote, disappearances are chalked up to nature, and no one makes much effort to find the missing. That is until a woman and her dog go missing. Her family, led by her dad, make a furious search for her in the Alaskan wilderness. Her dad however, is not your typical father. From his previous life, which his family is unaware of, he has picked up certain skills and he is uniquely qualified to help find his daughter and her dog.
I guess you would call Sleeping Bear a spy thriller but it is so much more than that. It's a love story. The love of a father and his willingness to do whatever it takes to find his daughter. Themes of mental health, PTSD, and numerous types of loss run throughout Sleeping Bear.
Sullivan has written an incredible book. As debuts go, Sleeping Bear is up there as one of the best, if not the best.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the honor of reviewing Sleeping Bear.
I guess you would call Sleeping Bear a spy thriller but it is so much more than that. It's a love story. The love of a father and his willingness to do whatever it takes to find his daughter. Themes of mental health, PTSD, and numerous types of loss run throughout Sleeping Bear.
Sullivan has written an incredible book. As debuts go, Sleeping Bear is up there as one of the best, if not the best.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the honor of reviewing Sleeping Bear.
January 24, 2021
Fantastic debut by Connor Sullivan! Cassie Gale decides after recent events in her life she going to get off the grid and go to Alaska. But what she stumbles into in Alaska not only could turn into a international incident, but it raises old ghosts from her family's past. Fantastic writing by Connor Sullivan! I can't wait to read more of his work!
September 8, 2021
Hard to believe this is Connor's first novel. This is one very fast paced wild ride beginning to end. Hope he writes more books.
May 22, 2023
Having been on a recent Cold War espionage binge, I turned to this novel by Connor Sullivan, which straddles both the 1980s and today. The disappearance of an Army vet in the Alaskan wilderness has the authorities treat it as a kidnapping. Little do they know, the woman’s father holds deep secrets from his past, things that the Russian Government has not forgotten. Trying to piece it all together, members of the US Government act swiftly, though they are wholly unaware of what happened those years ago and how James Gaines/Robert Gale might be at the root of everything. Sullivan does well to drum up Cold War sentiments throughout and entertains the reader effectively.
Still hurting from her husband’s sudden death, Cassie Gale needs some time away. She decides to take a trip up into the Alaskan wilderness to clear her head and get away from life in Montana. When she does not show up at work after a few days hiking in Alaska, many people begin to panic, including her father, James. With all of her things strewn about the campsite and her dog injured, Cassie’s disappearance takes on a new level of panic, with the elder Gale most concerned of all.
James Gale probes a little deeper and learns that Cassie is not the first to disappear in the region. While there are many ways people disappear, including wildlife and weather, something does not sit right, as the missing appear to be targeted attacks. What’s baffling is that these are everyday citizens with no known reason to be of interest to anyone.
When Cassie awakes, she’s in a Russian prison with no hope of escape. Pulling on her Army past, she will have to find a way to survive or face a horrible future. It soon becomes apparent that Cassie is a pawn as the Russians try to lure James Gale out of hiding and into their trap. His past proves to be the primary reason that Cassie sits imprisoned now, though the fallout could be catastrophic if not neutralised. As members of the US Administration are read into how James Gale, known during his past as ‘Robert Gaines’, worked for them as an assassin in the 1980s, the truth of the Russian plan comes to light and it is not pretty. Racing against the clock and with his daughter in mind, Gale will have to wake the sleeping Russian bear in order to pull Cassie from its jaw. A Cold War mission gone awry comes to life once more, where assassinations to ensure compliance were common, with the new actors just as determined to succeed. Connor Sullivan weaves a wonderful story with dark aspects that reminds the reader of a time from the past that could resurface again.
While I have not read anything by Connor Sullivan before this novel, I am well-versed in the genre. It is a wonderful story of two sworn enemies revisiting their past clashes and trying to make sense of things through a new lens. With a strong narrative base, Sullivan works in some key themes and keeps the reader guessing throughout. A handful of great characters flavour the narrative, which weaves and takes many a turn, especially into a CIA-KGB clash. Plots develop throughout and keep morphing into something more sinister, until the climactic end, where Sullivan puts the pieces together. This is a great novel for those who love a little mystery and espionage tied in with their thriller novel. There are many moving parts herein and the reader finds themselves in the centre of it all. With another novel by Connor Sullivan out there, I am eager to get my hands on it to see if it is as impactful as this story.
Kudos, Mr. Sullivan, for pulling on history to paint a gripping tale for those who enjoy something a little more suspenseful from a past era.
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Still hurting from her husband’s sudden death, Cassie Gale needs some time away. She decides to take a trip up into the Alaskan wilderness to clear her head and get away from life in Montana. When she does not show up at work after a few days hiking in Alaska, many people begin to panic, including her father, James. With all of her things strewn about the campsite and her dog injured, Cassie’s disappearance takes on a new level of panic, with the elder Gale most concerned of all.
James Gale probes a little deeper and learns that Cassie is not the first to disappear in the region. While there are many ways people disappear, including wildlife and weather, something does not sit right, as the missing appear to be targeted attacks. What’s baffling is that these are everyday citizens with no known reason to be of interest to anyone.
When Cassie awakes, she’s in a Russian prison with no hope of escape. Pulling on her Army past, she will have to find a way to survive or face a horrible future. It soon becomes apparent that Cassie is a pawn as the Russians try to lure James Gale out of hiding and into their trap. His past proves to be the primary reason that Cassie sits imprisoned now, though the fallout could be catastrophic if not neutralised. As members of the US Administration are read into how James Gale, known during his past as ‘Robert Gaines’, worked for them as an assassin in the 1980s, the truth of the Russian plan comes to light and it is not pretty. Racing against the clock and with his daughter in mind, Gale will have to wake the sleeping Russian bear in order to pull Cassie from its jaw. A Cold War mission gone awry comes to life once more, where assassinations to ensure compliance were common, with the new actors just as determined to succeed. Connor Sullivan weaves a wonderful story with dark aspects that reminds the reader of a time from the past that could resurface again.
While I have not read anything by Connor Sullivan before this novel, I am well-versed in the genre. It is a wonderful story of two sworn enemies revisiting their past clashes and trying to make sense of things through a new lens. With a strong narrative base, Sullivan works in some key themes and keeps the reader guessing throughout. A handful of great characters flavour the narrative, which weaves and takes many a turn, especially into a CIA-KGB clash. Plots develop throughout and keep morphing into something more sinister, until the climactic end, where Sullivan puts the pieces together. This is a great novel for those who love a little mystery and espionage tied in with their thriller novel. There are many moving parts herein and the reader finds themselves in the centre of it all. With another novel by Connor Sullivan out there, I am eager to get my hands on it to see if it is as impactful as this story.
Kudos, Mr. Sullivan, for pulling on history to paint a gripping tale for those who enjoy something a little more suspenseful from a past era.
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May 18, 2022
Book Review – Sleeping Bear – Connor Sullivan
New author Conner Sullivan’s new thriller “Sleeping Bear” solidifies the cliché saying, “a real page-turner” with no hesitancy. I pulled an ‘all-nighter’ to finish this book. I literally could not stop reading it until I was finish, it was that good, at least to me it was…and especially since this is Sullivan’s first thriller novel. Sleeping Bear follows a former female Army veteran that suddenly disappears without a trace in Alaska’s northern wilderness only to find herself trapped in a Russian prison system designed to ensure that no one ever escapes. We eventually learn that her kidnapping has something to do with her father’s past life, which made for a very intriguing storyline. Impressive story and plot that kept me engaged and curious. The characters were well developed and very true-to-life. I especially liked the main character Cassie Gale. She reminded me of Author Chris Hauty’s character, Haley Chill – smart, tough, and very capable of handling ‘violence of action’ when she has to! Sullivan’s in-depth research obvious and his writing was imaginative and clever. I like fresh and new, and this book was definitely that. I will read Sullivan’s next installment and recommend checking out Sleeping Bear, it’s everything but a ‘sleeper’! Thank you NetGalley, Author Connor Sullivan and Atria Books for the electronic Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
New author Conner Sullivan’s new thriller “Sleeping Bear” solidifies the cliché saying, “a real page-turner” with no hesitancy. I pulled an ‘all-nighter’ to finish this book. I literally could not stop reading it until I was finish, it was that good, at least to me it was…and especially since this is Sullivan’s first thriller novel. Sleeping Bear follows a former female Army veteran that suddenly disappears without a trace in Alaska’s northern wilderness only to find herself trapped in a Russian prison system designed to ensure that no one ever escapes. We eventually learn that her kidnapping has something to do with her father’s past life, which made for a very intriguing storyline. Impressive story and plot that kept me engaged and curious. The characters were well developed and very true-to-life. I especially liked the main character Cassie Gale. She reminded me of Author Chris Hauty’s character, Haley Chill – smart, tough, and very capable of handling ‘violence of action’ when she has to! Sullivan’s in-depth research obvious and his writing was imaginative and clever. I like fresh and new, and this book was definitely that. I will read Sullivan’s next installment and recommend checking out Sleeping Bear, it’s everything but a ‘sleeper’! Thank you NetGalley, Author Connor Sullivan and Atria Books for the electronic Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
July 22, 2021
Imagine Jason Bourne grew old after going in to hiding, had a family. Changed his name even.
What would Jason Bourne do if his daughter, an army vet, was kidnapped by one of his old enemies?
Imagine if the daughter was kidnapped in to some off-book Russian Hunger Games like situation. A situation where those kidnapped were forced to fight to survive one more day…one more day of also being experimented on.
That’s this book, folks!
Not my usual thriller; I’ve only read a handful of military/CIA type novels. So I don’t have much to compare. But this was a fun, pulse quickening ride!
I recommend this to readers who enjoy cinematic experience with reading, like cia spy craft, or are general fans of thrillers.
TW for baddies being mean to dogs.
What would Jason Bourne do if his daughter, an army vet, was kidnapped by one of his old enemies?
Imagine if the daughter was kidnapped in to some off-book Russian Hunger Games like situation. A situation where those kidnapped were forced to fight to survive one more day…one more day of also being experimented on.
That’s this book, folks!
Not my usual thriller; I’ve only read a handful of military/CIA type novels. So I don’t have much to compare. But this was a fun, pulse quickening ride!
I recommend this to readers who enjoy cinematic experience with reading, like cia spy craft, or are general fans of thrillers.
TW for baddies being mean to dogs.
August 21, 2021
I don't mind a good espionage story but it has to make sense for me to like it. And this one had me until almost halfway before I was pretty done. I thought the abduction and set up was really well done. Even though it was a stretch for length and amount, I was totally down for that part of the story.
But once the guy watching a screen in some far off country recognized the. . .what, chin? Cheek bones? of someone on the screen and made the huge leap, I was out. It was such a push beyond coincidence that I couldn't make the same leap as the author.
Oh well, just not for me, maybe.
But once the guy watching a screen in some far off country recognized the. . .what, chin? Cheek bones? of someone on the screen and made the huge leap, I was out. It was such a push beyond coincidence that I couldn't make the same leap as the author.
Oh well, just not for me, maybe.
September 17, 2022
What a fantastic debut by Connor Sullivan. Sleeping Bear is a fast paced and well developed political/espionage thriller. Great world building, unique characters - I enjoyed that Sullivan wrote from various perspectives, including several antagonists.
I liked that all the events, interesting on their own, layered to culminate in an epic finale. I was loathed to put the book down all the way through - but especially the last 20%.
No one is safe, beloved characters die. Lots of twists and turns - big summer blockbuster feels. The epilogue was great.
CW (spoilers):
Narration note:
I originally started with the audiobook narrated by Hillary Huber. Unfortunately I didn’t click with her style, so I switched to reading it.
I liked that all the events, interesting on their own, layered to culminate in an epic finale. I was loathed to put the book down all the way through - but especially the last 20%.
No one is safe, beloved characters die. Lots of twists and turns - big summer blockbuster feels. The epilogue was great.
CW (spoilers):
Narration note:
I originally started with the audiobook narrated by Hillary Huber. Unfortunately I didn’t click with her style, so I switched to reading it.
October 17, 2022
Great book. Was on the edge of my seat the whole way. Very early on I cared for the Gale family like they were my own which is rare for a new novel. For a debut, he knocked it out of the park. I also read this book in Alaska which added to the experience. Only grip I had was maybe the ending was a little rushed and I wanted a little more but nothing too crazy. A must read for thriller fans
July 26, 2021
If you told me a computer wrote this to be a Netflix series I would believe it. The book just didn't know what it wanted to be, so it tried to be everything and it just didn't work for me.
July 5, 2021
DNF'd at 64%. I really tried with this one, but at each turn this felt like something your father-in-law would read on a long flight. That being said, I think this really could be someones jam (and I will infact be recommending this to my father-in-law). Most everyone is familiar with the movie Taken, right? Well, this is in a similar vein. Adult daughter goes missing (but! in the Alaskan wilderness after a personal tragedy) and dad with a very special set of skills is determined to bring her back to safety (but! add in a Russian twist). If that sounds like your thing, pick this up because Sullivan does it well. It just wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2021
WOW! What a debut from Connor Sullivan! This book had me hooked from the first page, and the story was so uniquely told. I cannot wait to see if there will be a sequel.
October 14, 2022
I picked this book up on a whim at the grocery store and boy am I glad I did. It keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering how all of the puzzle pieces fit together. If CIA/Navy SEAL thrillers are your thing, this is for you. I now have another author that I’m compelled to read any new piece of work that they churn out.
December 1, 2021
Breakneck pace with a riveting plot! Even if you're not that big on action thrillers, this one's worth the ride. Think "Taken" meets "Spy Game," but with strong female leads and a hefty dose of cowboy justice.
July 11, 2021
Lots of fun here. Starts in the vein of a CJ Box man against nature story. Then it veers hard left into international spy thriller, a la Vince Flynn. But all done in a great way.
July 11, 2021
just could not get into this one..looked at all the reviews but sorely disappointed..the premise is not believable..DNF
July 27, 2021
Holy schnikes this book was one of the best thrillers I have read to date and it is Sullivan's deput novel! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and just kept thinking, this would make a PHENOMENAL movie! Alaska is one of my most favorite places in the world so I figured it would be some sort of survival story but did not anticipate the thrill ride that awaited me. Cassie, a former army ranger, disappears on a camping trip in a remote area of Alaska. Her father is determined to find her and what happened to her. The spider web of connections for who was involved, how it was orchestrated, and why her families past played a part, was woven perfectly!
Mr. Sullivan you have found your talent, please start on another one asap so I can reserve a copy and count down the days until its release!
Mr. Sullivan you have found your talent, please start on another one asap so I can reserve a copy and count down the days until its release!
January 23, 2023
I'm giving this four stars because I know the writing is good and all the military stuff is good and the CIA stuff. I didn't enjoy it particularly but it was a preference thing and I can't in good conscience give a bad review of a book just because I didn't like it!
It just sort of went over my head. I'd say, pick it up if you like lots of military discussions and stuff like that. (Or like me, you're travelling Mexico and it was the only English book on the bookswap shelf)
I know this was the authors first novel and it definitely doesn't read that way!
It just sort of went over my head. I'd say, pick it up if you like lots of military discussions and stuff like that. (Or like me, you're travelling Mexico and it was the only English book on the bookswap shelf)
I know this was the authors first novel and it definitely doesn't read that way!
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