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Finn Thrillers #2
Cold Fear
Finn's search for his memory of one fateful night leads him to Iceland--only to be followed by an unhinged assassin intent on stopping him--in the riveting follow-up to Steel Fear, from the New York Times bestselling writing team Webb & Mann, combat-decorated Navy SEAL Brandon Webb and award-winning author John David Mann.
Disgraced Navy SEAL Finn is on the run. A wanted man since he jumped ship from the USS Abraham Lincoln, he's sought for questioning in connection to war crimes committed in Yemen by a rogue element in his SEAL team. But his memory of that night--as well as the true fate of his mentor and only friend, Lieutenant Kennedy--is a gaping hole.
Finn learns that three members of his team have been quietly redeployed to Iceland, which is a puzzle in itself; the tiny island nation is famous for being one of the most peaceful, crime-free places on the planet.
His mission is simple: track down the three corrupt SEALs and find out what really happened that night in Yemen. But two problems stand in his way. On his first night in town a young woman mysteriously drowns--and a local detective suspects Finn's involvement. What's worse, a SEAL-turned-contract-killer with skills equal to Finn's own has been hired to make sure he never gets the answers he's looking for. And he's followed Finn all the way to the icy north.
Disgraced Navy SEAL Finn is on the run. A wanted man since he jumped ship from the USS Abraham Lincoln, he's sought for questioning in connection to war crimes committed in Yemen by a rogue element in his SEAL team. But his memory of that night--as well as the true fate of his mentor and only friend, Lieutenant Kennedy--is a gaping hole.
Finn learns that three members of his team have been quietly redeployed to Iceland, which is a puzzle in itself; the tiny island nation is famous for being one of the most peaceful, crime-free places on the planet.
His mission is simple: track down the three corrupt SEALs and find out what really happened that night in Yemen. But two problems stand in his way. On his first night in town a young woman mysteriously drowns--and a local detective suspects Finn's involvement. What's worse, a SEAL-turned-contract-killer with skills equal to Finn's own has been hired to make sure he never gets the answers he's looking for. And he's followed Finn all the way to the icy north.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 2022
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July 9, 2023
Cold Fear (Finn Thrillers #2)
by Brandon Webb, John David Mann
Finn is a disgraced former Navy Seal who is on the run, wanted for horrible war crimes. Finn's memory is faulty, traumatic events have caused his mind to block out happenings from his youth and from the day atrocities were committed in Yemen. He knows that at least one corrupt Seal is after him and Finn is after some of the corrupt Seals who committed the crimes for which he's being blamed. You don't have to read the first book in this series to enjoy this one but doing so will give you a better understanding of Finn, his memory problems, and how parts of the Yemen incident are slowly coming back to him. Things happening now are triggering a return of some of his memories of just how deep the corruption among the Seals runs.
Finn is an amazing man. He's small, odd looking, about the last person you would think could perform all the rigorous feats required to become a Navy Seal. But Finn's mind, intelligence, and heart have driven Finn to get the most out of his body. When he's not being hampered by PTSD flashbacks, Finn can't be beat. He thinks he knows his enemy, the man chasing him, and he knows he is in danger. He also knows the men he is chasing and it's their weaknesses that he will use against them.
I don't always enjoy military thrillers but I've enjoyed the books in this series. Finn is a character that I want to follow and want to understand better. Also, the side characters are interesting and I hope to see one or two of them again in another book. But I know not to get too attached to anyone who comes in contact with Finn because the dangerous people that surround him will stop at nothing and no one is safe.
Pub: June 7th 2022
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley for this ARC.
by Brandon Webb, John David Mann
Finn is a disgraced former Navy Seal who is on the run, wanted for horrible war crimes. Finn's memory is faulty, traumatic events have caused his mind to block out happenings from his youth and from the day atrocities were committed in Yemen. He knows that at least one corrupt Seal is after him and Finn is after some of the corrupt Seals who committed the crimes for which he's being blamed. You don't have to read the first book in this series to enjoy this one but doing so will give you a better understanding of Finn, his memory problems, and how parts of the Yemen incident are slowly coming back to him. Things happening now are triggering a return of some of his memories of just how deep the corruption among the Seals runs.
Finn is an amazing man. He's small, odd looking, about the last person you would think could perform all the rigorous feats required to become a Navy Seal. But Finn's mind, intelligence, and heart have driven Finn to get the most out of his body. When he's not being hampered by PTSD flashbacks, Finn can't be beat. He thinks he knows his enemy, the man chasing him, and he knows he is in danger. He also knows the men he is chasing and it's their weaknesses that he will use against them.
I don't always enjoy military thrillers but I've enjoyed the books in this series. Finn is a character that I want to follow and want to understand better. Also, the side characters are interesting and I hope to see one or two of them again in another book. But I know not to get too attached to anyone who comes in contact with Finn because the dangerous people that surround him will stop at nothing and no one is safe.
Pub: June 7th 2022
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley for this ARC.
June 3, 2022
Cold Fear
by Brandon Webb and John David Mann is a suspenseful, gripping, and intense crime thriller set in Reykjavik, Iceland. This is the second book in the Finn series. Four months after the night in Yemen Finn is still trying to remember what happened and whether he is guilty of the crime. Wanted for questioning in connection to war crimes, he is after answers from three members of his former team who have been deployed to Iceland. However, things don’t go smoothly.
Finn is a well-developed character with courage and resilience. He is self-sufficient, a keen observer, and has trust issues. However, he is also experiencing memory lapses. This increases the impact and intrigue as the story unfolds. There is a wide range of supporting characters that provide conflict and interest.
What a prologue and first chapter! Stunning and heartbreaking, the story started out strong, but got even better as the characters became better known and the action amped up. An excellent pace kept this reader fully engaged. Moments of introspection in between action scenes give a fantastic insight into both Finn’s and Krista’s thoughts, behaviors, and actions towards others. This book has a solid plot, diverse characterization, and great atmosphere. It was interesting to see how Finn approached investigations as Krista Kristjansdottir, the main detective in the story, also investigated. The story was also thought-provoking and I found myself asking how much a person can take before giving up. I also learned a little about Iceland and its history. While the ending brings the reader closure on most things, one important item isn’t fully resolved. This novel shines light on law enforcement, the military, betrayal, death, murder, memory loss, corruption, and much more.
Overall, this is a well-plotted and brilliantly executed story with characters that felt emotionally rich. It has exciting scenes and a larger-than-life antagonist in an unsettling thriller that chills you to the bone at times. It’s a riveting tale that keeps readers turning the pages from start to finish. Those that enjoy crime thrillers, military thrillers, and police procedurals will likely enjoy this novel. It was not a light read, but it was well written and atmospheric. It works as a stand-alone novel, but book one in the series will give readers more depth and background. With high stakes, great characterization, and plenty of action in this series; I am looking forward to seeing what is next for Finn.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Brandon Webb, and John David Mann provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 7, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Finn is a well-developed character with courage and resilience. He is self-sufficient, a keen observer, and has trust issues. However, he is also experiencing memory lapses. This increases the impact and intrigue as the story unfolds. There is a wide range of supporting characters that provide conflict and interest.
What a prologue and first chapter! Stunning and heartbreaking, the story started out strong, but got even better as the characters became better known and the action amped up. An excellent pace kept this reader fully engaged. Moments of introspection in between action scenes give a fantastic insight into both Finn’s and Krista’s thoughts, behaviors, and actions towards others. This book has a solid plot, diverse characterization, and great atmosphere. It was interesting to see how Finn approached investigations as Krista Kristjansdottir, the main detective in the story, also investigated. The story was also thought-provoking and I found myself asking how much a person can take before giving up. I also learned a little about Iceland and its history. While the ending brings the reader closure on most things, one important item isn’t fully resolved. This novel shines light on law enforcement, the military, betrayal, death, murder, memory loss, corruption, and much more.
Overall, this is a well-plotted and brilliantly executed story with characters that felt emotionally rich. It has exciting scenes and a larger-than-life antagonist in an unsettling thriller that chills you to the bone at times. It’s a riveting tale that keeps readers turning the pages from start to finish. Those that enjoy crime thrillers, military thrillers, and police procedurals will likely enjoy this novel. It was not a light read, but it was well written and atmospheric. It works as a stand-alone novel, but book one in the series will give readers more depth and background. With high stakes, great characterization, and plenty of action in this series; I am looking forward to seeing what is next for Finn.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Brandon Webb, and John David Mann provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 7, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
June 17, 2022
Super freaky! Oh, how did I not see it coming?! 😮
Cold Fear is book #2 in The Finn Thrillers series and what an electrifying follow-up it was! In the first novel, Steel Fear, we're introduced to a Chief Finn, a Navy SEAL who was sent back to the US on USS Abraham Lincoln for a botched operation in Yemen. We don't know how it went down in the farmhouse only that it ended up in a bloodbath and neither does Finn.
Finn's memory of that fateful night was foggy at best. He needs answers and tracks down three of his former team to Reykjavík, Iceland. At the same time, a man was sent to take out Finn. I enjoy this deadly cat and mouse as the story unfolds and appreciate Iceland's history and the city tour in the midst of mayhem.
Not only was Finn wanted by the Americans, but a Reykjavík detective also wants to question and arrest Finn when a woman was found drowned in the frozen pond on Christmas Eve. Finn is their only lead as he was the sole person nearby and was captured on CCTV.
This book. THIS BOOK! Okay, I was a bit confused at the beginning with many players, and the story started out as if it was a crime mystery. But make no mistake this is an edge-of-your-seat action-filled military thriller that's very different from Carr, Greaney, or Thor. Absolutely read it! 4.5⭐
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley for this DRC.
Cold Fear is book #2 in The Finn Thrillers series and what an electrifying follow-up it was! In the first novel, Steel Fear, we're introduced to a Chief Finn, a Navy SEAL who was sent back to the US on USS Abraham Lincoln for a botched operation in Yemen. We don't know how it went down in the farmhouse only that it ended up in a bloodbath and neither does Finn.
Finn's memory of that fateful night was foggy at best. He needs answers and tracks down three of his former team to Reykjavík, Iceland. At the same time, a man was sent to take out Finn. I enjoy this deadly cat and mouse as the story unfolds and appreciate Iceland's history and the city tour in the midst of mayhem.
Not only was Finn wanted by the Americans, but a Reykjavík detective also wants to question and arrest Finn when a woman was found drowned in the frozen pond on Christmas Eve. Finn is their only lead as he was the sole person nearby and was captured on CCTV.
This book. THIS BOOK! Okay, I was a bit confused at the beginning with many players, and the story started out as if it was a crime mystery. But make no mistake this is an edge-of-your-seat action-filled military thriller that's very different from Carr, Greaney, or Thor. Absolutely read it! 4.5⭐
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley for this DRC.
June 8, 2022
Finn’s arrival in Iceland’s Reykjavic, was fraught with difficulties. On the run, in disgrace, Navy SEAL Finn was in search of answers to a long buried, unable to be retrieved, memory of a night in Yemen, and what had happened to his friend and mentor, Lieutenant Kennedy. But the same night Finn arrived in Reykjavic, a young woman drowned in a nearby, mostly frozen, lake. And Finn saw her before her death, although he was unaware at the time. When the local detective tracked Finn down, he was stunned. If she could track him, so could others. Had he lost his ability to blend in?
Finn’s discovery of three team members who were also in town, plus a brutal assassin who no one wanted to deal with, had him wondering whether they’d all followed him. And when brutal murders began to occur in the peaceful and basically crime-free city, the police force went on high alert, with the lead detective mostly flying solo, determined to find answers to the death of the young girl, as well as the other killings. But was she one step ahead of Finn, or was he one step ahead of her? And was the elderly employer of the young, drowned girl somehow involved?
Cold Fear is the 2nd in the Finn Thrillers by combat-decorated Navy SEAL Brandon Webb and award-winning author John David Mann, and I quite enjoyed it. Steel Fear, the first in the series, introduced us to Finn, and I thoroughly enjoyed that one – this one not quite as much. Fast paced, chilling (in more ways than one), and brutal, I was shocked at the outcome – hadn’t seen it coming! I definitely recommend it to fans of the genre and look forward to checking out #3 when it’s available.
With thanks to NetGalley and Kathleen Quinlan, Random House, Ballentine for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Finn’s discovery of three team members who were also in town, plus a brutal assassin who no one wanted to deal with, had him wondering whether they’d all followed him. And when brutal murders began to occur in the peaceful and basically crime-free city, the police force went on high alert, with the lead detective mostly flying solo, determined to find answers to the death of the young girl, as well as the other killings. But was she one step ahead of Finn, or was he one step ahead of her? And was the elderly employer of the young, drowned girl somehow involved?
Cold Fear is the 2nd in the Finn Thrillers by combat-decorated Navy SEAL Brandon Webb and award-winning author John David Mann, and I quite enjoyed it. Steel Fear, the first in the series, introduced us to Finn, and I thoroughly enjoyed that one – this one not quite as much. Fast paced, chilling (in more ways than one), and brutal, I was shocked at the outcome – hadn’t seen it coming! I definitely recommend it to fans of the genre and look forward to checking out #3 when it’s available.
With thanks to NetGalley and Kathleen Quinlan, Random House, Ballentine for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2022
4.25 military thriller stars - now available
This is a genre that I don’t read often, but I enjoyed the first one in the series so reading the next one was an easy choice! I wouldn’t say you have to read the first one, but it does give you more insight into the character.
We first met Finn when he was on the USS Abraham Lincoln. He’s still on the run from questionable events in Yemen and his SEAL mission there. Finn is having memory issues so he can’t recall what happened, it just flashes in bits and pieces.
Now he’s in Iceland, hunting down some of those potentially corrupt SEALs to interrupt their next mission. He gets drawn into a local mystery with a drowned woman. I really liked the Reykjavik detective in this one and I liked reading about how she worked to solve the case.
As Finn tracks down the SEALs, someone else is hunting him! This one made me want to visit Iceland. The pacing was terrific, and it made for a quick read. I’ve gotten invested in Finn and can’t wait to read the next book to see if he gets all the answers he has been seeking.
This made for a great buddy read with Marilyn and I appreciate her recall of all the details!
Thank you to Random House/Ballantine for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
This is a genre that I don’t read often, but I enjoyed the first one in the series so reading the next one was an easy choice! I wouldn’t say you have to read the first one, but it does give you more insight into the character.
We first met Finn when he was on the USS Abraham Lincoln. He’s still on the run from questionable events in Yemen and his SEAL mission there. Finn is having memory issues so he can’t recall what happened, it just flashes in bits and pieces.
Now he’s in Iceland, hunting down some of those potentially corrupt SEALs to interrupt their next mission. He gets drawn into a local mystery with a drowned woman. I really liked the Reykjavik detective in this one and I liked reading about how she worked to solve the case.
As Finn tracks down the SEALs, someone else is hunting him! This one made me want to visit Iceland. The pacing was terrific, and it made for a quick read. I’ve gotten invested in Finn and can’t wait to read the next book to see if he gets all the answers he has been seeking.
This made for a great buddy read with Marilyn and I appreciate her recall of all the details!
Thank you to Random House/Ballantine for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one.
August 3, 2022
“Christmas is special here. In Reykjavik, nothing bad ever happens at Christmas.”
Cold Fear is the second in the Finn thriller series. Last year authors Webb and Mann launched the first, Steel Fear, to widespread acclaim, and I loved it, too. My thanks go to Random House Ballantine and Net Galley for the invitation to read and review. This book is for sale now.
Our protagonist, Finn, is a singular fellow. A Navy Seal (like one of our authors,) he is currently on the run, being sought for questioning regarding war crimes that took place in Yemen. He doesn’t think he is guilty, but he isn’t sure; a large chunk of his memory of that time has vanished, leaving him—and us—slightly off balance. But Finn is a survivor, and now, in Iceland, three members of his own team are here too; he thinks they may have the information that he needs to fill in the gaps he can’t access. There’s another more worrisome person, an assassin, looking for him as well.
Meanwhile, a woman has been found dead, face up under the ice. Suicide has been suggested, but that notion quickly falls apart. When her body disappears from the morgue, the police kick into overdrive. Iceland has almost no crime of any kind, let alone murder, and so immediately, they begin eyeing the Americans in their midst, including Finn.
Finn is a memorable character. He’s funny looking, like a cross between a Gecko and E.T., and yet, thanks to his training, he can merge seamlessly into a crowd and be invisible. His traumatic childhood haunts him, but the authors don’t beat us to death with this aspect of his personality. To my delight, he is burdened with none of the overused tropes used by lesser authors such as alcoholism. He is not on a mission to avenge the deaths of people in his personal life, and he doesn’t get kidnapped and thrown in the trunk of a car or van. Bad guys don’t try to harm his family—of which there is none, in any case—or his pets. He doesn’t get neurotic and bite his lip till he tastes blood, or bunch his fists up so tightly that he cuts his palms with his own fingernails. Feel me? I have quite a list of things I never want to see in a novel again. This happens, once one reads over a thousand novels in this genre, and for awhile I quit the genre entirely, thinking that there was nothing new left to read. Webb and Mann have proven me wrong, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
One last word about setting. Though Finn is a resonant protagonist, the setting is more important here than in most thrillers; that was the case in Steel Fear, which was set on the aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, and it’s true here, as well. The descriptions are resonant, but they don’t slow us down. This is a true thriller, with a pace that never flags.
I’m in this series for the duration. I also urge other women to ignore the promotions that boast that this is Alpha Male material. Last time I looked, I was an old lady school teacher, and I am all in. If you love a good thriller, I highly recommend both Finn books to you.
Cold Fear is the second in the Finn thriller series. Last year authors Webb and Mann launched the first, Steel Fear, to widespread acclaim, and I loved it, too. My thanks go to Random House Ballantine and Net Galley for the invitation to read and review. This book is for sale now.
Our protagonist, Finn, is a singular fellow. A Navy Seal (like one of our authors,) he is currently on the run, being sought for questioning regarding war crimes that took place in Yemen. He doesn’t think he is guilty, but he isn’t sure; a large chunk of his memory of that time has vanished, leaving him—and us—slightly off balance. But Finn is a survivor, and now, in Iceland, three members of his own team are here too; he thinks they may have the information that he needs to fill in the gaps he can’t access. There’s another more worrisome person, an assassin, looking for him as well.
Meanwhile, a woman has been found dead, face up under the ice. Suicide has been suggested, but that notion quickly falls apart. When her body disappears from the morgue, the police kick into overdrive. Iceland has almost no crime of any kind, let alone murder, and so immediately, they begin eyeing the Americans in their midst, including Finn.
Finn is a memorable character. He’s funny looking, like a cross between a Gecko and E.T., and yet, thanks to his training, he can merge seamlessly into a crowd and be invisible. His traumatic childhood haunts him, but the authors don’t beat us to death with this aspect of his personality. To my delight, he is burdened with none of the overused tropes used by lesser authors such as alcoholism. He is not on a mission to avenge the deaths of people in his personal life, and he doesn’t get kidnapped and thrown in the trunk of a car or van. Bad guys don’t try to harm his family—of which there is none, in any case—or his pets. He doesn’t get neurotic and bite his lip till he tastes blood, or bunch his fists up so tightly that he cuts his palms with his own fingernails. Feel me? I have quite a list of things I never want to see in a novel again. This happens, once one reads over a thousand novels in this genre, and for awhile I quit the genre entirely, thinking that there was nothing new left to read. Webb and Mann have proven me wrong, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
One last word about setting. Though Finn is a resonant protagonist, the setting is more important here than in most thrillers; that was the case in Steel Fear, which was set on the aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, and it’s true here, as well. The descriptions are resonant, but they don’t slow us down. This is a true thriller, with a pace that never flags.
I’m in this series for the duration. I also urge other women to ignore the promotions that boast that this is Alpha Male material. Last time I looked, I was an old lady school teacher, and I am all in. If you love a good thriller, I highly recommend both Finn books to you.
March 4, 2022
Cold Fear is the thrilling sequel to Webb and Mann’s novel Steel Fear. The difference between the two novels is that the setting is not the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, a sort of locked room mystery at sea, but the giant aircraft carrier in the northern Atlantic, Iceland. Former Navy Seal Finn is on his own, AWOL, with another Seal hunting him. He is out to find out what really happened in Yemen because his memory is foggy. He is haunted by the bodies of the dead civilians in the farmhouse that he is being blamed for. He is also haunted by his past, having killed his own brother when he was only eight. His self-imposed mission to track down the three Navy Seals in Reykjavik and force them to tell him what really happened so he can clear his name and his conscience. Basically, a black ops thriller. Meanwhile, not all is well in peaceful little Iceland where a woman seemingly walked into the freezing bay and drowned herself, now to be coined the frozen mermaid. Finn, caught on surveillance cameras, near the scene, is suspected by Icelandic authorities, of foul play, especially when his movements at the airport and his obviously false name being used, come into play.
This is a non-stop thrill ride of a lone man, even one with all kinds of training, facing overwhelming odds, tracking down three equally well-trained warriors, and trying to avoid a seemingly invincible killer on his trail. Not knowing if there is anyone he can trust, Finn, loner that he always has been, has his work cut out for him. This is a book you should only open up if you can afford to stay up all night. It is that good.
This is a non-stop thrill ride of a lone man, even one with all kinds of training, facing overwhelming odds, tracking down three equally well-trained warriors, and trying to avoid a seemingly invincible killer on his trail. Not knowing if there is anyone he can trust, Finn, loner that he always has been, has his work cut out for him. This is a book you should only open up if you can afford to stay up all night. It is that good.
May 4, 2022
Brandon Webb and John David Mann have written a great follow-up to last year's Steel Fear, featuring "disgraced" Seal Finn. Steel Fear was probably the most surprising book I read last year so I had high hopes for Cold Fear. I'm happy to say Webb and Mann did not disappoint. Known for their nonfiction work, they are now 2-for-2 in the arena of fiction. While I didn't love Cold Fear as much as Steel Fear, that should not detract from how good Cold Fear is.
Finn is a deeply flawed man, like the rest of us, which is what makes him such a compelling character. He is a good man doing what is right regardless of the consequences. Webb, a legend within the Seal community, gives Finn all the traits we believe a prototypical Seal should possess: a fierce warrior with an unbreakable moral compass, someone who isn't invincible but fights like he is, and someone who will stand up to evil.
It can't be easy moving from nonfiction to fiction but Webb and Mann have made it seem almost pedestrian. I think we can safely call them stars in the thriller-verse as well as accomplished nonfiction authors. Cold Fear is a compelling, fun read set in a beautiful locale that thriller fans should not miss!
My sincere thanks to Brandon Webb and John David Mann, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advance copy of Cold Fear!
Finn is a deeply flawed man, like the rest of us, which is what makes him such a compelling character. He is a good man doing what is right regardless of the consequences. Webb, a legend within the Seal community, gives Finn all the traits we believe a prototypical Seal should possess: a fierce warrior with an unbreakable moral compass, someone who isn't invincible but fights like he is, and someone who will stand up to evil.
It can't be easy moving from nonfiction to fiction but Webb and Mann have made it seem almost pedestrian. I think we can safely call them stars in the thriller-verse as well as accomplished nonfiction authors. Cold Fear is a compelling, fun read set in a beautiful locale that thriller fans should not miss!
My sincere thanks to Brandon Webb and John David Mann, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advance copy of Cold Fear!
July 17, 2022
Peaceful Iceland is an unlikely spot for tragic murder and a covert military op.
“Cold Fear’ opens in the dark and the cold. Iceland is known as the land of ice and fire; in the summer it has the midnight sun, but now, in the winter, it is ice and darkness. How does anyone survive the winters here? Iceland is a place with few predators, no snakes, no poisonous spiders, and no mosquitos. In a “bad” year there is maybe one gunshot death in the whole country. Yet humans can be cruel and dangerous. Illegal drug trade is rampant, and the island has become a midway drop-off point for human traffickers. Into this land of beauty, contradictions, and cold, comes Finn.
The drama unfolds in two storylines. A young girl drowns on Christmas Eve; she is alone, cold, and frozen in the ice like a tragedy in a fairy tale. The police investigation starts out badly when the body disappears. However, Detective Krista Kristjánsdóttir is determined to find answers. She has no idea of the complex problems she will uncover.
Former SEAL Finn is thrown into this mix. He is posing as a “crime writer” to ferret out rogue operators, sent to Iceland on some sort of covert “capture and kill” mission. Finn has come to “fix things; he knows little if anything about the operatives or their target, but he must stop them. He is focused, methodical, and determined. Readers follow Finn as he unearths the tiniest clues and puts together information bit by tiny bit.
Pages are filled with vivid descriptions that enhance the narrative. The metal edge of the saw lets out a scream as it slices through the ice. The city is a ghost of itself, still and silent, the streets deserted. It is as if the city were lying very still, holding its breath. Fatigue moves through his veins like oil sludge.
“Cold Fear” is the second book in the “Finn thrillers” series, but this journey is its own story. It combines the precision and discipline of military action/adventure story with the nail-biting tension of a police-procedure thriller. It is a non-stop adventure from page one.
I received a review copy of “Cold Fear” from Brandon Webb, John David Mann, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books. I did a search online for Lapsang Souchong tea, and found that it is available from my favorite online tea merchant with a rating of 99 (out of 100).
“Cold Fear” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books.
“Cold Fear’ opens in the dark and the cold. Iceland is known as the land of ice and fire; in the summer it has the midnight sun, but now, in the winter, it is ice and darkness. How does anyone survive the winters here? Iceland is a place with few predators, no snakes, no poisonous spiders, and no mosquitos. In a “bad” year there is maybe one gunshot death in the whole country. Yet humans can be cruel and dangerous. Illegal drug trade is rampant, and the island has become a midway drop-off point for human traffickers. Into this land of beauty, contradictions, and cold, comes Finn.
The drama unfolds in two storylines. A young girl drowns on Christmas Eve; she is alone, cold, and frozen in the ice like a tragedy in a fairy tale. The police investigation starts out badly when the body disappears. However, Detective Krista Kristjánsdóttir is determined to find answers. She has no idea of the complex problems she will uncover.
Former SEAL Finn is thrown into this mix. He is posing as a “crime writer” to ferret out rogue operators, sent to Iceland on some sort of covert “capture and kill” mission. Finn has come to “fix things; he knows little if anything about the operatives or their target, but he must stop them. He is focused, methodical, and determined. Readers follow Finn as he unearths the tiniest clues and puts together information bit by tiny bit.
Pages are filled with vivid descriptions that enhance the narrative. The metal edge of the saw lets out a scream as it slices through the ice. The city is a ghost of itself, still and silent, the streets deserted. It is as if the city were lying very still, holding its breath. Fatigue moves through his veins like oil sludge.
“Cold Fear” is the second book in the “Finn thrillers” series, but this journey is its own story. It combines the precision and discipline of military action/adventure story with the nail-biting tension of a police-procedure thriller. It is a non-stop adventure from page one.
I received a review copy of “Cold Fear” from Brandon Webb, John David Mann, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books. I did a search online for Lapsang Souchong tea, and found that it is available from my favorite online tea merchant with a rating of 99 (out of 100).
“Cold Fear” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books.
June 5, 2022
The writing team of Webb and Mann bring us the next exciting installment in their Finn series. This time Finn is in Iceland as the year comes to a close. He's on the trail of three men whom he believes have information about what really happened in Yemen. It soon becomes apparent that he is being pursued as well by a deranged killer. Meanwhile, he gets tangled up in the investigation of an apparent suicide death of a young woman on Christmas Eve.
The story is well-plotted, suspenseful and action-packed. It was interesting spending some time reading about Iceland, its landscape, history and people, and the country's troubled relationship with America.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honesty review. Many thanks for the opportunity to read more of Finn's adventures.
The story is well-plotted, suspenseful and action-packed. It was interesting spending some time reading about Iceland, its landscape, history and people, and the country's troubled relationship with America.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honesty review. Many thanks for the opportunity to read more of Finn's adventures.
May 11, 2022
4.5 stars, actually.
After being enthralled by Steel Fear, the first book in this series, I jumped at the chance to request a review copy of this one that features a flawed military hero known only as Finn. I must say it didn't excite me quite as much as the first, but this remains a series I'm delighted to recommend. The setting this time is not a submarine but Iceland - and the authors certainly did their homework on this (to me) almost mysterious country in the northern Atlantic (if nothing else, I got an engrossing, in-depth history lesson).
As the story begins, Finn - a former Navy SEAL - is trying to track down three SEALS who were with him in Yemen when a monstrous tragedy happened that resulted in the death of numerous civilians. Ultimately, Finn was blamed for the disaster, and one - maybe two - of his buddies at the time has since been murdered. Finn has no memory of what happened and would like to clear his name, of course - and he believes the three he's looking for can clear the record and at the very least clear his conscience.
But early on, life gets in the way as he passes an obviously terrified young woman running toward the bay; while it appears she deliberately drowned herself, clues are murky and suggest the possibility of murder. Because Finn was in the area, he becomes a very unwilling person of interest to the local police. Complicating matters is that he's also a person of interest to his former employer and a contract killer (bringing a whole new meaning to the concept of "somebody's out to get me").
The rest of the book is a wild chase to see who will get to whom first; can Finn, who's taken an interest in the drowning case, solve the mystery surrounding the dead girl and extract the information he needs about what really happened on his military assignment before he's caught by the authorities (or worse)? You'll just have to read it to find out - but I will say it's a heck of a chase. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
After being enthralled by Steel Fear, the first book in this series, I jumped at the chance to request a review copy of this one that features a flawed military hero known only as Finn. I must say it didn't excite me quite as much as the first, but this remains a series I'm delighted to recommend. The setting this time is not a submarine but Iceland - and the authors certainly did their homework on this (to me) almost mysterious country in the northern Atlantic (if nothing else, I got an engrossing, in-depth history lesson).
As the story begins, Finn - a former Navy SEAL - is trying to track down three SEALS who were with him in Yemen when a monstrous tragedy happened that resulted in the death of numerous civilians. Ultimately, Finn was blamed for the disaster, and one - maybe two - of his buddies at the time has since been murdered. Finn has no memory of what happened and would like to clear his name, of course - and he believes the three he's looking for can clear the record and at the very least clear his conscience.
But early on, life gets in the way as he passes an obviously terrified young woman running toward the bay; while it appears she deliberately drowned herself, clues are murky and suggest the possibility of murder. Because Finn was in the area, he becomes a very unwilling person of interest to the local police. Complicating matters is that he's also a person of interest to his former employer and a contract killer (bringing a whole new meaning to the concept of "somebody's out to get me").
The rest of the book is a wild chase to see who will get to whom first; can Finn, who's taken an interest in the drowning case, solve the mystery surrounding the dead girl and extract the information he needs about what really happened on his military assignment before he's caught by the authorities (or worse)? You'll just have to read it to find out - but I will say it's a heck of a chase. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
June 13, 2022
This is well done. It combines several top notch sets of eyes. The placement in Iceland's capitol with the immense character development! That's why I had to round it up for a 5 star.
Finn was good in the first book. In this one he is turned inside out. But that's just one aspect for this intrinsically complex and players within the double digits for all that is transpiring within the several plot lines. This reminds me to that extent for comparison to some of the great politico, international writers for intrigue, ops, subterfuge plying of the past. 40 to 50 year old Cold War stuff. But also NOT. Because this is timely and nearly perfect for the 2022 situations. Especially within the European status and country perceptions. But this is the only thing I have read this year that captures the fatalism, the logical mayhem, the depth of the present incompetence paired with misguided feeling.
Regardless, this is NOT for everyone. It's brutal as a night mission to capture terrorist or mass murderers could be. Although aftermath and much else is also going on.
There is a character in this one. Boone. Well, I sure can see the movie. He brought to mind that real life person who they called The Iceman. Very similar personality and livelihood. But a different type of body form.
Corruption in military, corruption in governments of local and wide, corruptions in friendship, corruptions in any sense of life value! This reflects well and accurately.
It's overlong and not entirely perfect. But close to that. And at no point did I ever feel a slog or a drag. Shit happens. Even to the most practiced and superlative practitioners of stealth and mayhem. All the short chapter shifting helped with seeing location counterpoint to an A level degree. Maps were also excellent in the hard cover. There was almost no "telling" but plethora volcanic showing.
Death occurs for those who you would never think it will/would for a series form publication of this erudite and savvy context. But I realize that it has happened before (but I cannot think of one recently either). Our ice blue eyed detective's department and much else of Icelandic living is also 5 star. With what she/they have on their plate, it was a task that I am in awe of Webb and Mann accomplishing such quick and convoluted placements/actions.
Body counts are high. Action begins the book and is literally throughout the entire. Navy Seals training also entirely embedded. Most of it within the territory of the Ice Maiden quirey had me still guessing. Not Finn's voids or guilts but the larger plotting with our Ukraine History Teacher! WONDERFUL character. Please don't let her go permanently away!
Finn #3. My guess it is going to be in a hot climate.
Absolutely in my top 5 books for 2022. Even though it is only 1/2 way finished, I doubt it will get any lower than #3.
"Moses blows us!"
Finn was good in the first book. In this one he is turned inside out. But that's just one aspect for this intrinsically complex and players within the double digits for all that is transpiring within the several plot lines. This reminds me to that extent for comparison to some of the great politico, international writers for intrigue, ops, subterfuge plying of the past. 40 to 50 year old Cold War stuff. But also NOT. Because this is timely and nearly perfect for the 2022 situations. Especially within the European status and country perceptions. But this is the only thing I have read this year that captures the fatalism, the logical mayhem, the depth of the present incompetence paired with misguided feeling.
Regardless, this is NOT for everyone. It's brutal as a night mission to capture terrorist or mass murderers could be. Although aftermath and much else is also going on.
There is a character in this one. Boone. Well, I sure can see the movie. He brought to mind that real life person who they called The Iceman. Very similar personality and livelihood. But a different type of body form.
Corruption in military, corruption in governments of local and wide, corruptions in friendship, corruptions in any sense of life value! This reflects well and accurately.
It's overlong and not entirely perfect. But close to that. And at no point did I ever feel a slog or a drag. Shit happens. Even to the most practiced and superlative practitioners of stealth and mayhem. All the short chapter shifting helped with seeing location counterpoint to an A level degree. Maps were also excellent in the hard cover. There was almost no "telling" but plethora volcanic showing.
Death occurs for those who you would never think it will/would for a series form publication of this erudite and savvy context. But I realize that it has happened before (but I cannot think of one recently either). Our ice blue eyed detective's department and much else of Icelandic living is also 5 star. With what she/they have on their plate, it was a task that I am in awe of Webb and Mann accomplishing such quick and convoluted placements/actions.
Body counts are high. Action begins the book and is literally throughout the entire. Navy Seals training also entirely embedded. Most of it within the territory of the Ice Maiden quirey had me still guessing. Not Finn's voids or guilts but the larger plotting with our Ukraine History Teacher! WONDERFUL character. Please don't let her go permanently away!
Finn #3. My guess it is going to be in a hot climate.
Absolutely in my top 5 books for 2022. Even though it is only 1/2 way finished, I doubt it will get any lower than #3.
"Moses blows us!"
April 28, 2022
Not what I was expecting but a suspenseful and compelling read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to admit it took me a few chapters to gather my wits about this new story. I was still in the Submarine from the last book and switching to Iceland was wild.
This story brings a ton of twists to it. You really have to pay attention to the underlying and back story with the different characters popping in. Two main storylines are winding through and we are getting Finn’s version of what happened long ago in drips. Webb and Mann are making us sweat it out right along with him!
The characters are strong, well-developed, and interesting. Nothing boring going on in this one. Between the murder mystery and the SEAL’s on the hunt, this is a fabulous combination of a murder mystery and a suspense thriller.
Highly detailed with awesome imagery that brings you right into the crime scenes and the location, this story is a slow burn that grows throughout the book. Definitely carve out some time for this one. It’s a long captivating read!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/cold-fear-by...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to admit it took me a few chapters to gather my wits about this new story. I was still in the Submarine from the last book and switching to Iceland was wild.
This story brings a ton of twists to it. You really have to pay attention to the underlying and back story with the different characters popping in. Two main storylines are winding through and we are getting Finn’s version of what happened long ago in drips. Webb and Mann are making us sweat it out right along with him!
The characters are strong, well-developed, and interesting. Nothing boring going on in this one. Between the murder mystery and the SEAL’s on the hunt, this is a fabulous combination of a murder mystery and a suspense thriller.
Highly detailed with awesome imagery that brings you right into the crime scenes and the location, this story is a slow burn that grows throughout the book. Definitely carve out some time for this one. It’s a long captivating read!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/cold-fear-by...
May 16, 2022
Cold Fear is the follow-up to Steel Fear by authors Brandon Webb & John David Mann's and is the continuing story of Navy Seal Sniper Finn who is accused of killing innocents during his last mission. He is a hunter who knows how to blend into a crowd and needs to find out who was responsible for the atrocity but he is also the hunted. This a quick read that holds your attention and is part detective novel and spy thriller set in Iceland. A great addition to the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 31, 2022
Disgraced Navy SEAL Finn is on the run. He is wanted for events that happened on a botched mission in Yemen. Events that he can’t completely remember. Three members of his team were sent to Iceland, so Finn heads there to get information. While Finn is looking for those SEALs, someone else is looking for Finn.
The characters are well-developed and interesting. Cold Fear is told using the points of views of Finn, Krista, and Boone. Finn is looking for answers. Krista is a detective in Iceland working on a murder case. Boone is a contract killer after Finn.
This is the second book in the Finn Thrillers series. While Cold Fear can be read as a standalone, I recommend starting with the first book, Steel Fear.
Cold Fear is an exciting thriller with plenty of action.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are well-developed and interesting. Cold Fear is told using the points of views of Finn, Krista, and Boone. Finn is looking for answers. Krista is a detective in Iceland working on a murder case. Boone is a contract killer after Finn.
This is the second book in the Finn Thrillers series. While Cold Fear can be read as a standalone, I recommend starting with the first book, Steel Fear.
Cold Fear is an exciting thriller with plenty of action.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2022
Former Navy SEAL Finn, one of the thriller genre’s brightest new stars, returns for another action-packed adventure in the latest must-read novel from New York Times bestselling co-authors Brandon Webb and John David Mann.
Following the events of last year’s Steel Fear (2021), Finn, the former SEAL who now finds himself on the run, lands in Iceland. Disgraced from the career he once loved, Finn is wanted in connection to a series of war crimes committed in Yemen, where his SEAL team was once stationed. Somehow, members of his old unit are involved, but for Finn, the whole operation is a mystery—a night he can’t seem to remember. So too is the fate of Lieutenant Kennedy, one of his closest friends.
Looking for answers, Finn sets up shop in Iceland, where a few of his old comrades are now stationed. What he doesn’t count on, however, is a crazed assassin—a man he has some history with—chasing after him, determined to . . .
Continue reading this spoiler-free review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2022/06/06...
Following the events of last year’s Steel Fear (2021), Finn, the former SEAL who now finds himself on the run, lands in Iceland. Disgraced from the career he once loved, Finn is wanted in connection to a series of war crimes committed in Yemen, where his SEAL team was once stationed. Somehow, members of his old unit are involved, but for Finn, the whole operation is a mystery—a night he can’t seem to remember. So too is the fate of Lieutenant Kennedy, one of his closest friends.
Looking for answers, Finn sets up shop in Iceland, where a few of his old comrades are now stationed. What he doesn’t count on, however, is a crazed assassin—a man he has some history with—chasing after him, determined to . . .
Continue reading this spoiler-free review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2022/06/06...
March 24, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC.
This is a great book, it kept me on the edge of my seat. Also, the setting of Iceland and the Icelandic characters added so much to the read, I loved it!
I enjoyed the first in the series, but this follow-up even more so.
Finn, a former Navy Seal, AWOL, on his own, with his memory still foggy, is being hunted by a
Seal as well as trying to catch up to 3 Navy Seals, who will probanly be able to tell him what happened in Yemen so he can clear his name and conscience. Also, in Reykjavik, a girl has drowned and the police saw Finn on a nearby camera and he is now a suspect. As if things couldn't get worse, I felt so bad for Finn!
Hard to put down, this is a terrific book, can't wait for no. 3 in the series and I highly recommend it!
This is a great book, it kept me on the edge of my seat. Also, the setting of Iceland and the Icelandic characters added so much to the read, I loved it!
I enjoyed the first in the series, but this follow-up even more so.
Finn, a former Navy Seal, AWOL, on his own, with his memory still foggy, is being hunted by a
Seal as well as trying to catch up to 3 Navy Seals, who will probanly be able to tell him what happened in Yemen so he can clear his name and conscience. Also, in Reykjavik, a girl has drowned and the police saw Finn on a nearby camera and he is now a suspect. As if things couldn't get worse, I felt so bad for Finn!
Hard to put down, this is a terrific book, can't wait for no. 3 in the series and I highly recommend it!
June 11, 2022
Sherlock meets Jason Bourne in this masterfully plotted genre-mix
A dead girl is found under the ice of a pond in Reykjavik, Iceland. The whole nation is left devastated and the police without a clue. Around the same time, two highly skilled spec-ops operators arrive in the city. One determined to unravel the conspiracy which Sen him. The other set on burying every last shred of evidence, including the man searching for it…
Brandon Webb and John David Mann deliver a stunning sequel to their powerhouse-debut STEEL FEAR.
COLD FEAR once again delivers an unique genre-mix of crime and spy thriller but with a totally different setting, which is fascinating in its own right.
Iceland is not only presented as a beautifully outlandish place but also functions as both a catalyst and an unique viewing lens for the thought-provoking, haunting and twisted story.
But the story wouldn’t be that touching and memorable without the characters who populate it.
First and foremost, Finn remains a fantastic protagonist! Smarter than most fictional heroes, mysterious but relatable and going against type for this genre. The supporting cast also gets plenty of opportunity to shine.
The pace is excellent, the action lightening-fast, cinematic and unforgiving. And the end will stay with you long after the last page and leave you wanting more. I can’t recommend this series highly enough!
A dead girl is found under the ice of a pond in Reykjavik, Iceland. The whole nation is left devastated and the police without a clue. Around the same time, two highly skilled spec-ops operators arrive in the city. One determined to unravel the conspiracy which Sen him. The other set on burying every last shred of evidence, including the man searching for it…
Brandon Webb and John David Mann deliver a stunning sequel to their powerhouse-debut STEEL FEAR.
COLD FEAR once again delivers an unique genre-mix of crime and spy thriller but with a totally different setting, which is fascinating in its own right.
Iceland is not only presented as a beautifully outlandish place but also functions as both a catalyst and an unique viewing lens for the thought-provoking, haunting and twisted story.
But the story wouldn’t be that touching and memorable without the characters who populate it.
First and foremost, Finn remains a fantastic protagonist! Smarter than most fictional heroes, mysterious but relatable and going against type for this genre. The supporting cast also gets plenty of opportunity to shine.
The pace is excellent, the action lightening-fast, cinematic and unforgiving. And the end will stay with you long after the last page and leave you wanting more. I can’t recommend this series highly enough!
June 17, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Thriller / Mystery
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Cold Fear, by authors Brandon Webb, John David Mann, is the second installment in the authors Finn Thrillers series. Navy SEAL sniper Finn searches for the truth after he can loses his memory of what happened during a mission gone horribly wrong in Yemen. Finn, whose memories of an atrocity that was committed by his own Black Squadron team, has gone AWOL (Absent Without Leave) and is now a fugitive. He escaped certain death in San Diego, and made his way to Iceland where he hopes he can find answers.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Thriller / Mystery
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Cold Fear, by authors Brandon Webb, John David Mann, is the second installment in the authors Finn Thrillers series. Navy SEAL sniper Finn searches for the truth after he can loses his memory of what happened during a mission gone horribly wrong in Yemen. Finn, whose memories of an atrocity that was committed by his own Black Squadron team, has gone AWOL (Absent Without Leave) and is now a fugitive. He escaped certain death in San Diego, and made his way to Iceland where he hopes he can find answers.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
July 23, 2022
I received a free electronic ARC of this novel from Netgalley, authors Brandon Webb and John David Mann, and publisher, Bantam. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Cold Fear of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend Webb and Mann to friends and family. They write a fine mystery.
This was my first exploration of this second of the Finn Thriller series by Webb and Mann, and it is a stand-alone book that I enjoyed, but I will want to explore the remainder of this intriguing series. We are in Reykjavik, Iceland with Finn, an ex-navy Seal seeking three other ex-Navy Seals who have turned to the dark side. Upon his arrival, he is enmeshed in the investigation of the death of a local girl, found under the ice beyond the heated duck pond on the river downtown. Many think this was suicide, but there are plenty crying 'murder'. Finn isn't sure this death ties into his problem, but finding the dark-side Seals doesn't get in the way of investigating the death of this young lady. And we travel over the town and into the wildness of Iceland, detailed enough to give you a chill. This was an excellent introduction to the land of fire and ice. And an excellent who-done-it.
pub date June 7, 2022
Bantam
Reviewed on June 10, 2022, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
This was my first exploration of this second of the Finn Thriller series by Webb and Mann, and it is a stand-alone book that I enjoyed, but I will want to explore the remainder of this intriguing series. We are in Reykjavik, Iceland with Finn, an ex-navy Seal seeking three other ex-Navy Seals who have turned to the dark side. Upon his arrival, he is enmeshed in the investigation of the death of a local girl, found under the ice beyond the heated duck pond on the river downtown. Many think this was suicide, but there are plenty crying 'murder'. Finn isn't sure this death ties into his problem, but finding the dark-side Seals doesn't get in the way of investigating the death of this young lady. And we travel over the town and into the wildness of Iceland, detailed enough to give you a chill. This was an excellent introduction to the land of fire and ice. And an excellent who-done-it.
pub date June 7, 2022
Bantam
Reviewed on June 10, 2022, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.
June 12, 2022
Book Review: Cold Fear (Finn Thrillers #2) by Brandon Webb, John David Mann
Published by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, June 7, 2022
★★★★☆ (4.0 Stars)
Positive!
From the bowels of a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to the belly of a cybercurrency mining beast...
Reykjavík, Iceland.
In pursuit of answers to events at Al-Mukallā, Yemen which ultimately led to his dishonorable discharge ("Steel Fear", Book 1, 2021), Ex-Navy SEAL Chief Warrant Officer Finn finds himself in Iceland and gets entangle with former SEAL teammates, the evil incarnate of an assassin, a relentless detective of the Lögreglan, the Icelandic national police, and a cryptocurrency magnate.
The books centers on thriller venue Iceland, which, following a 2008-2011 financial crisis, developed into a Bitcoin and cryptocurrency mining center, with the energy-intensive enterprise attracted by the island-nation's low cost of power as state-owned Landsvirkjun and others generate nearly 100% of the island's electricity requirements using geothermal and hydroelectric sources, rather than fossil fuels. (Thanks to the book, new and welcome knowledge to this reviewer.)
Once again - though with a few loose ends, and simply not as compelling as Book 1's murder mystery /military suspense thriller dished out with incredibly detailed, insider knowledge of the "Abe", USS Abraham Lincoln, the Webb /Mann author partnership delivers a well-researched suspense thriller beyond the typical fare.
Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley.
Published by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, June 7, 2022
★★★★☆ (4.0 Stars)
Positive!
From the bowels of a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier to the belly of a cybercurrency mining beast...
Reykjavík, Iceland.
In pursuit of answers to events at Al-Mukallā, Yemen which ultimately led to his dishonorable discharge ("Steel Fear", Book 1, 2021), Ex-Navy SEAL Chief Warrant Officer Finn finds himself in Iceland and gets entangle with former SEAL teammates, the evil incarnate of an assassin, a relentless detective of the Lögreglan, the Icelandic national police, and a cryptocurrency magnate.
The books centers on thriller venue Iceland, which, following a 2008-2011 financial crisis, developed into a Bitcoin and cryptocurrency mining center, with the energy-intensive enterprise attracted by the island-nation's low cost of power as state-owned Landsvirkjun and others generate nearly 100% of the island's electricity requirements using geothermal and hydroelectric sources, rather than fossil fuels. (Thanks to the book, new and welcome knowledge to this reviewer.)
Once again - though with a few loose ends, and simply not as compelling as Book 1's murder mystery /military suspense thriller dished out with incredibly detailed, insider knowledge of the "Abe", USS Abraham Lincoln, the Webb /Mann author partnership delivers a well-researched suspense thriller beyond the typical fare.
Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, and NetGalley.
March 18, 2022
This is a well written, very intense story. The character, Finn, drew on my empathy right away. This is a stand-alone tale but this magnetic character made me wish I had read the previous book! There are twists and turns making this one of those hard to put down reads. (I hope Finn meets up with Olga again one day. I want to know more about who she really is.) This author team knows how to create tension and drama.
I did figure out the particular mystery with the young female victim but it took me nearly to the disclosure point. I love that kind of challenge in a thriller.
I lean more toward Christian fiction these days but putting some language aside this is a very good read. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of the book. This is my own personal reaction to the series and this particular story. I will definitely read more of Finn Thrillers.
I did figure out the particular mystery with the young female victim but it took me nearly to the disclosure point. I love that kind of challenge in a thriller.
I lean more toward Christian fiction these days but putting some language aside this is a very good read. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of the book. This is my own personal reaction to the series and this particular story. I will definitely read more of Finn Thrillers.
June 18, 2022
This is the second novel in an exciting rogue military agent series. The first book is called Steel Fear and should really be read first to understand what happens in this novel.
Finn is on his own mission to find out who really did the massacre he is accused of doing. Iceland is a unique location for a novel like this and I found it particularly interesting. Webb and Mann have done a good job of immersing readers in the climate and culture of the country.
The authors have done a good job crafting Finn as an able hero. He gets into all kinds of suspenseful situations while chasing the truth of his past. We get a good dose of the kind of training SEALS endure, providing Finn with the ability to foil his attackers. He's a one man army. He comes under the scrutiny of a local police detective and he tries to help her solve a murder while keeping his real identity and mission secret.
The plot is quite complex with secret agents, rogue agents, and a person with a new way to threaten the world. It is not until near the end of the novel that all of the mysterious events come together to a suitable resolution. In the meantime, we get a good dose of how governments work, covering up errors to their own benefit and pressuring potential harm for acquiescence in further action.
I enjoyed this engaging novel once I got into it a bit and began to understand Finn's mission in Iceland. Readers will find this situation suitably handled but with Finn on the way to his next adventure.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Finn is on his own mission to find out who really did the massacre he is accused of doing. Iceland is a unique location for a novel like this and I found it particularly interesting. Webb and Mann have done a good job of immersing readers in the climate and culture of the country.
The authors have done a good job crafting Finn as an able hero. He gets into all kinds of suspenseful situations while chasing the truth of his past. We get a good dose of the kind of training SEALS endure, providing Finn with the ability to foil his attackers. He's a one man army. He comes under the scrutiny of a local police detective and he tries to help her solve a murder while keeping his real identity and mission secret.
The plot is quite complex with secret agents, rogue agents, and a person with a new way to threaten the world. It is not until near the end of the novel that all of the mysterious events come together to a suitable resolution. In the meantime, we get a good dose of how governments work, covering up errors to their own benefit and pressuring potential harm for acquiescence in further action.
I enjoyed this engaging novel once I got into it a bit and began to understand Finn's mission in Iceland. Readers will find this situation suitably handled but with Finn on the way to his next adventure.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
June 22, 2022
An excellent book, with a storyline that keeps moving forward with plenty of suspense and violence. Finn is one of the few heroes who isn’t good-looking or able to blend in naturally. He’s a bit on the strange looking side, but is very gifted in blending in.
The very peaceful country of Iceland is a very different setting for a violent story like this one. The authors threw in quite a few interesting items about Iceland, including the Siltra Fissure, the only place in the world where you can touch the North American and Eurasian continents at the same time. Of course, you have to be swimming in extremely cold water to do it, which leaves me out. Coincidently, this spot was on a program I watched last week and it popped up in Flipboard this morning.
Any book that has characters quoting Travis McGee automatically gets extra points. Not that this book needs any extra points.
Finn uses Vieques, a little island off the eastern tip of Puerto Rico, as his happy place. That makes me feel old because when I was there a long time ago, I was on a destroyer firing 5 inch shells at abandoned cars on the side of hill. My closest happy place was a bar in Old San Juan. That was back before the protests that closed down the firing range.
I’m looking forward to the third book in the series.
The very peaceful country of Iceland is a very different setting for a violent story like this one. The authors threw in quite a few interesting items about Iceland, including the Siltra Fissure, the only place in the world where you can touch the North American and Eurasian continents at the same time. Of course, you have to be swimming in extremely cold water to do it, which leaves me out. Coincidently, this spot was on a program I watched last week and it popped up in Flipboard this morning.
Any book that has characters quoting Travis McGee automatically gets extra points. Not that this book needs any extra points.
Finn uses Vieques, a little island off the eastern tip of Puerto Rico, as his happy place. That makes me feel old because when I was there a long time ago, I was on a destroyer firing 5 inch shells at abandoned cars on the side of hill. My closest happy place was a bar in Old San Juan. That was back before the protests that closed down the firing range.
I’m looking forward to the third book in the series.
October 19, 2022
Second book in this series, in a very different location, Iceland. Much of the story continues on from the first book, with a few other characters appearing. Along with Finn, one of the best is Krista, the senior police detective responsible for trying to sort out & solve a sudden rash of deaths & murders taking place over Christmas/New Years in Reykjavik. International politics is involved, too. Finn is trying to find out more about what happened to him & a fellow Navy SEAL friend during their last Middle East deployment, during which a dreadful murder of a family took place. He managed to survive a plot--from higher up--to 'erase him' during a trip back to US territory on an aircraft carrier, which happened to also harbour a serial killer. He continues trying to uncover other traumas in his life. It's a fascinating thriller, perhaps not quite as much as in the first book, when we were learning about the protagonist, Finn, and how he managed to survive & help others. It will be interesting to see where the next book takes Finn. He's uncovered a lot more about some of the traumas in his life, and has just been scooped up by a different US govt agency.
September 20, 2022
Chief Finn is back and searching for answers. Last we saw Finn, he was on his way back to the US on an aircraft carrier, which was an amazing setting for a book. Finn is an amazing character with a shadowy past and even shadowier present. This adventure finds Finn in Iceland and on the trail of some of his former SEAL teammates. Yet, as the story unfolds, Finn gets pulled into a local murder mystery that will require the use of his special skills. I enjoyed diving deeper into Finn's past and this story is filled with new interesting characters. It also has more twists and turns than the first book. Overall, this is a great next step and I can't wait to see where Finn will end up next.
April 29, 2022
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Make sure to check out the full review
Make sure to check out the full review
August 7, 2022
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, which is always nice. I hoped I would enjoy it based on how much I enjoyed the first book, but the way this book started out I was not so sure. It answers some questions that were raised in the first book (mostly about Finn and his memory), which I was pleasantly surprised happened. It had good character development (Finn's continues to be developed, and the development of the other characters in the book was also well-done, I thought). It also had two mysteries going on at once (as it were), so that also made the overall plot interesting.
It's not a "true horror" book in that it does not generate feelings of fear, dread, disgust, and terror in the audience (well, maybe some dread because of the "fear" or suspicions of what's about to happen); in this case, some of the deaths that are described were horrific enough for me that they made me little sick to my stomach and/or disgusted. So maybe it fits the genre of horror a little bit.
There were plenty of twists and turns in this book that left me wondering "what's going to happen next? In what direction are the authors going to take us now?"
I was surprised at the humor in the book.
The "best part" of the book had to be the last sentences in the book.
It was a good book; I enjoyed it overall. I was not sure how it was going to go after the way the first book ended and felt like I was taking a chance with this one. It was not at all what I expected, but I still found myself enjoying it. I would be willing to give a third book in the series a try if they publish one. I will give it four stars because of how it kept me guessing until the end.
It's not a "true horror" book in that it does not generate feelings of fear, dread, disgust, and terror in the audience (well, maybe some dread because of the "fear" or suspicions of what's about to happen); in this case, some of the deaths that are described were horrific enough for me that they made me little sick to my stomach and/or disgusted. So maybe it fits the genre of horror a little bit.
There were plenty of twists and turns in this book that left me wondering "what's going to happen next? In what direction are the authors going to take us now?"
I was surprised at the humor in the book.
The "best part" of the book had to be the last sentences in the book.
It was a good book; I enjoyed it overall. I was not sure how it was going to go after the way the first book ended and felt like I was taking a chance with this one. It was not at all what I expected, but I still found myself enjoying it. I would be willing to give a third book in the series a try if they publish one. I will give it four stars because of how it kept me guessing until the end.
March 28, 2024
Book Review – Cold Fear – Webb & Mann
Tag team authors Brandon Webb and John David Mann did not disappoint in their follow-up action thriller, “Cold Fear.” While I liked their debut novel “Steel Fear” better, it doesn’t lessen the fact to how good Cold Fear is. Known for their nonfiction work, Webb and Mann are now 2-for-2 in the fiction thriller arena. In Cold Fear, Chief Finn (no second name given) – an AWOL Navy SEAL - is trying to track down three corrupt Navy SEALS who were with him in Yemen when a hideous tragedy happened that resulted in the death of numerous civilians. Subsequently, Finn was blamed for the debacle and has no memory of what happened and would like to clear his name. He believes the crooked three SEALs he's looking for can clear the record and at the very least clear his conscience. Also, while investigating that past tragedy in Yemen, a young woman mysteriously drowns – and a local police detective suspects that Chief Finn is somehow involved. What's worse, a former Navy SEAL-turned assassin has been hired to make sure that Finn doesn’t get the answers that he's looking for. This is a non-stop, multi-layer thrill ride of a lone military warrior, facing overwhelming odds, tracking down three equally well-trained but unscrupulous Navy SEALs, and seemingly trying to avoid an invincible assassin on his trail, all at the same time! All the characters are solid, well-developed, and captivating. Nothing boring going on in this tale because these two authors know how to create tension, drama, and excitement! Between the murder mystery and hunting the corruptible Navy SEALs, this is a fabulous combination of a murder mystery and anticipatory suspense. Cold Fear is a remarkable thriller and I highly recommend reading it.
Tag team authors Brandon Webb and John David Mann did not disappoint in their follow-up action thriller, “Cold Fear.” While I liked their debut novel “Steel Fear” better, it doesn’t lessen the fact to how good Cold Fear is. Known for their nonfiction work, Webb and Mann are now 2-for-2 in the fiction thriller arena. In Cold Fear, Chief Finn (no second name given) – an AWOL Navy SEAL - is trying to track down three corrupt Navy SEALS who were with him in Yemen when a hideous tragedy happened that resulted in the death of numerous civilians. Subsequently, Finn was blamed for the debacle and has no memory of what happened and would like to clear his name. He believes the crooked three SEALs he's looking for can clear the record and at the very least clear his conscience. Also, while investigating that past tragedy in Yemen, a young woman mysteriously drowns – and a local police detective suspects that Chief Finn is somehow involved. What's worse, a former Navy SEAL-turned assassin has been hired to make sure that Finn doesn’t get the answers that he's looking for. This is a non-stop, multi-layer thrill ride of a lone military warrior, facing overwhelming odds, tracking down three equally well-trained but unscrupulous Navy SEALs, and seemingly trying to avoid an invincible assassin on his trail, all at the same time! All the characters are solid, well-developed, and captivating. Nothing boring going on in this tale because these two authors know how to create tension, drama, and excitement! Between the murder mystery and hunting the corruptible Navy SEALs, this is a fabulous combination of a murder mystery and anticipatory suspense. Cold Fear is a remarkable thriller and I highly recommend reading it.
June 22, 2022
I had a hard time concentrating on the characters. Kept getting them confuse.
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