Forced Induction

by Tom Fowler

When a driver crashes near his classic car shop, retired soldier John Tyler lends aid. He soon learns of more serious and deadly crimes happening nearby. The injured man turns up again asking for Tyler’s help. He’s in over his head with the wrong people. When the two barely survive an ambush, Tyler knows he needs to act. A gun runner closes deals and works on tying up loose ends… like the wounded street racer. To keep his newfound friend safe and stop the flow of illegal weapons, Tyler will travel outside of Maryland and take on his deadliest adversaries yet. He’s alone and badly outgunned. But John Tyler can’t walk away from trouble… even when it might kill him. Forced Induction is the high-octane fifth action thriller in the John Tyler series. Each title can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Genres: Suspense

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2023

About the author

Tom Fowler was born and raised in Baltimore and still resides in Maryland. He is an unabashed homer for Baltimore sports teams. His full-time job is in the field of computer security.

At about age seven, polite young Tom wrote a "murder mystery" in which no one died. The story gave him the writing bug, however, and he's been putting pen to paper and fingers to keys ever since.

When not working or writing, Tom enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading, sports, movies, and writing brief bios in the third person.

Reviews

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the latest in the John Tyler series. The story showcases the protagonist’s considerable skill and heart as he takes on a hate group to recover stolen government property and keep a virtual stranger safe. The story is well written and the characters multidimensional. There’s plenty of action and a good amount of violence but it’s all for a good cause. A book well worth reading.

I received an arc of this book and and voluntarily provided a review.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Lexi planning on living away from home when she starts her next semester. John's girlfriend is a senior head at the Pentagon, and she has a problem. It appears that someone at Ft. Bragg walked off with a load of a new type M14 rifle. The rifles were handed to Vic Andrews who is in the process of selling to various organizations. It seems that Vic had someone who bankrolled the taking of the rifles. This unknown party had one request and that was to bring John Tyler so that this person could have his revenge.

In the book there are several examples of what steps Vic made to hide from the police while making the delivery of the rifles to the organization. John Tyler got involved because Baxter, a member of Vic's group, wound up crashing a vehicle at John's business location. John was able to obtain information from Baxter after he protected him at the hospital. Using the information John received, John and Ortiz, a co-worker of John's, to break up a militia.

You need to read this book to discover what other events John got involved in to prevent additional sales of the rifles. In addition, you will learn who the money backer of Vic and why he wanted revenge against John. The conclusion is well done and must be read to find out what other action also happened.

[Robert Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Big Finale Ending!”
“Another Hit Story which is a full throttle action thriller not to be missed!”
Although a bit tongue in cheek as regards to the action this is a great story full throttle action and exactly what one would expect of from John Tyler who is a retired well decorated soldier.
The story starts simple enough with street racers going past Tyler’s business “Special operations Classic Car Repairs shop” but things take a turn when one smashes his car outside. Seems at first as normal but very quickly it is very apparent it is not and some serious and bad crimes are happening. Tyler is asked for help and steps into a mine field of “gun Smuggling and revenge. Tyler’s approach is to take it full on and it is full throttle action doing things his way.
Tyler gets help from one of his close and trusted worked Ortiz and his also from Lexi his daughter plus Sara Morrison his girlfriend and not forgetting his x-wife’s old partner who is out for revenge and one of the baddies along with a bad and mad bunch of gun runners. Tyler might be out gunned and manned but unable to walk away he will do what it takes and do what he does best. “Take them all out!”
As I’ve said fast full throttle and with a”big Finale Ending!”

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Forced Induction, I have come to the conclusion that John Tyler (everyone calls him Tyler) is a force unto himself. He is the epitome of a "no holds barred, take no prisoners" warrior. One might be tempted to think the character here is overdone and exaggerated, but having known some ex-Special Forces, I have a feeling there is no exaggeration at all. There is plenty of every kind of action a reader could want: shoot-'em up, blow-'em up, beat-'em up, and investigative. This book grabs the reader's attention within the first few paragraphs and it never lets go. But don't think it is all muscle, brawn, and weapons; Mr. Fowler also has a bit of a soft touch to his nature. Tyler exhibits concern for a racer who crashes at his shop (which starts this whole ball rolling), for his daughter, his girlfriend, and his colleagues.
This is the first book in the John Tyler series I have read, but to show what an impression it made, I immediately made sure I owned the other four books in the series. I can't wait to dive in and binge-read. I highly recommend this series.
I received a review copy from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-Stop Action!
This is a Wonderful Action-Packed Thriller that is Bound to Keep your adrenaline pumping no matter What time of the day or night it is!
John Tyler is a great Dad... and a Better Soldier and Protector! When he is given enough bait and left to his own whits to think about them, he will follow the bread crumb bait, but he will NOT be taken as a fool! With his ex-wife in prison, he is the one to look out for their daughter who is in college, and wanting to spread her wings, but, is taking the knowledge of her Dad to heart, and learns from him, as well as teaching him about some of the new techs that can show things behind the scene, also. So, when there is a shooting at the college housing-fair she and her besties are going to, she follows what her dad has taught her, as well as her gut. Then, on another scene, her dad ends up fighting for his life.
Wow, this is a really busy book to talk about without saying everything. Thank you, Tom Fowler for a Great Story!
I received an early copy for an honest review.

[Brian Lobodzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a light novel with an easily followed plot that has non stop action and violence then read this. With the hero in constant action taking us into the underbelly of extremist USA there are enough dead bodies to allow an undertaker to take early retirement He has a simple moral compass that criminals deserve what they get while still trying to persuade them to change. I liked his comment that reading too many books makes you cross eyed which probably explains why I need glasses in old age! I do get scary at how addicted Americans seem to be in 'bearing arms' when even the old timer regularly tests his sniper scope while criminals seem obsessed by bigger and more powerful killing devices. The moral lesson at the end of the day is that crime doesn't pay particularly if you are mentally challenged criminals with wannabe military aspirations.
If I've revealed little of the plot then the answer is simple – buy the book and enjoy it.

In the interests of truth I read an ARC copy but the views expressed are my own.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forced Induction, #5 - One of my favorite series. The stories keep getting better with each new addition. FI keeps the pace fast and steady with Lexi helping John in his quest to find stolen military weapons. The characters, both old and new, blend well with the new and continuous story lines. There's a lot of blood but it is all for a good cause. Ole Uncle George is back to make things bad for John. Hard to put down but well worth the time invested. 5*

Four on the Floor, John Tyler Series, #4 - Good characters. Good dialogues. Well written and thought out story lines. No vulgar language but plenty of realistic, fast-paced action. 4*

Cold Start - An interesting, quickly read story about Tyler's new life he gets out of the Army after serving 24 years. There's a bit of trouble and a chance with a new start with his daughter. 4*

Lane Departure - A very short but to the point short story involving John, a lawyer and some peeved small farmers, acreage, not height. His daughter and the 442 have small parts. 4*

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Tyler returns in this latest instalment of the action packed series. As always Tom Fowler doesn’t let his readers down with a story crammed full of Tyler bad-ass action. I love these characters, and did right from the first book of the series, so to be reading about them again feels like returning to old friends. This time Tyler is taking on gun runners but what he doesn’t know is there are forces at work aiming right for him. Anyone that has read any of these books knows Tyler can never sit back and leave things alone. He has a strong sense of what’s right and always takes action. The one thing I’ll say about Forced Induction is our hero felt a little more ready to kill than he seemed to have been in other books. By that I mean he is usually pushed much harder before making that decision. It seemed he skipped a few steps this time around. That’s as far as I’ll go near spoilers and I don’t mean it to sound discouraging in terms of story, it’s not. This is another great read from an author that delivers each and every time.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Tyler is a car repair mechanic. He owns Special Operations Classic Car Repair (fictional) in Baltimore, Maryland. Tyler is ex military, having served as a wheeled vehicle mechanic in Afghanistan. Tyler has special skills; he is able to help out people who find themselves in trouble because of circumstances that have developed through no fault of their own. In this story, Tyler himself gets involved in a situation that occurs because of an accident. Tyler finds himself going after gun runners - not the usual gun runners, but a home grown militia who has stolen brand new guns from from the U.S. military. Content warning: A lot of bad guys get killed.
I started reading the series because I am somewhat familiar with the locations described in the book. The book held my interest when I was reading the story. The book is well-written and can be read as a stand-alone. I found one amusing grammatical error: on pg. 76 the author uses the word caddy-corner. The correct usage is catty-corner, or kitty-corner. Maybe that's the way the word is used in that area of Maryland . .
Locations/settings: [Maryland: Baltimore (Charles Street, Pratt Street, Inner Harbor Hyatt Regency, I-83N, Special Operations Classic Car Repair–Fictional, Northern Parkway, Harford Road, Hillcrest Ave., Medstar Good Samaritan “Good Sam” Hospital on Belvedere Ave. and Loch Raven Boulevard, East Cold Spring Lane to Morgan State University (Parking Garage near the stadium), College Park (University of Maryland and Stamp Student Union, Plato’s Parlor/Diner), Baltimore Beltway, I-70, I-68 West, Cumberland, Motel 6, Frostburg, Laham (Doctor’s Community Medical Center), Baltimore County, Kingsville McDonald’s, U.S. Route 1, Belair Road, Joppa Road to Harford, Route 4, Ocean City 7-11 is mentioned, Maryland Correctional Institution for Women; North Carolina: Fort Bragg; District of Columbia: (Columbia Street); West Virginia: Farmington in Marion County, Morgantown; Virginia: The Pentagon]

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Tyler is a very matter of fact character. He is a retired Special Forces operator and is enjoying life by repairing old cars with two other military guys. This is a new series for this author if you have previously read the CT Ferguson series. John seems to get involved in odd situations that need resolution by someone who can “just” fix things. As always, John uses his military skills to take on the bad guys, even when his FBI girlfriend believes that the Feds can take care of it. Many times this begins as a Federal problem, but when John, his friends, and his daughter are threatened, then the matter needs to be fixed without bureaucracy involvement. Very intense story that will keep you up until the end. I highly recommend this next story in the series.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for this next John Tyler book and it did not disappoint. Ex military, John has more know how and experience in his little finger than most bad guys can hope for. Underestimating him is for those with a death wish! Although trouble usually seems to follow him and his kind heart that is not the case here. With an intricate plan to draw John into a gun running scheme where revenge is the end game there is no way out. The web is spun so well - "will you walk into my parlor" said the spider to the fly - that John has no option except to comply. This edge of your seat thriller will have you turning pages late into the night. I received this ARC and this is my honest review.

[Valettagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, if you want some action and excitement this is a book for you. From the moment I got into the read, the tension started building. Good guy John Tyler will never turn his back on someone who needs his help or indeed his friends. And boy is it needed here. Heart stopping moments included f.o.c. There’s also a soft side it’s not all rough and tumble so the book is well rounded. This is my first John Tyler series read and I definitely now need to read the rest. I love this author and have previously read the C T Ferguson series, this was just as good!


I received a free arc and am voluntarily leaving a review. I consider it a privilege.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Tyler is a loving father, a kind caring friend and employer. He continues to try to do good by his ex-wife who has that criminal mind set that blames others and never accepts responsibility for every bad choice she has made. John Tyler served 4 times in Afghanstan as a Green Beret. If you are on the wrong side doing harm to others he will quickly take you down and how many die is no obstacle to him. As his enemies have noted he has killer eyes. Someone has stolen new powerful guns that are being sold on the dark web to terrorist groups. I read the entire book until 4 A.M. If you want a book with a hero, family, adversaries and even some great humor thrown in look no further.

[Allen Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Forced Induction’ is book five in the John Tyler series. Tyler is a retired soldier, a single parent, a loner who is learning to cope with his military induced PTSD. That’s the angle that captured my attention. Fowler does a good job of balancing what is a thankless task for John Tyler because he cannot let an injustice go by. It’s a catch22 for Tyler, every action he finds himself inextricably caught up in both exacerbates and gives him cause to unfold more understanding of his personal plight. Forced Induction is another chapter in his ‘retirement’. Great entertainment and a little thought provoking as well. Highly recommended.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this series on Hoopla and it was my first introduction to John Tyler. I kind of wished I had started at the first in the series to get some of the back story on his ex and her brother.

That said, the books starts off with a high speed chase ending in an accident at his Classic car repair shop. He finds that he is the intended target and is drawn into finding who is after him which also leads him to stolen military guns that his girl friend who works at the Pentagon is looking for. Quite the coincidence. Of all the agencies looking for these guns, John is the one who finds them.

A lot of bodies in this book, so if that's not something you're into be warned.

[Doug Yonce]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s great to have Tyler back. This time all of his friends are included in the story, but barely even serving as supporting characters as John takes the bad guys head on. When gun runners us drag racers to distract the cops, one driver ends up driving into Tyler’s shop — intentionally it turns out — but getting our hero involved is not a smart move. Reading this story IS the smart move! I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[David Oswalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book “Forced Induction” by Tom Fowler follows John Tyler as he ends up getting in the middle of more trouble and as he try’s to work his way out of it. This book would make me a fan of Tom Fowler if I was not already one. As always he writes in a way that keeps your eyes to the page as your fingers turn to even more excitement. If you have not read any of the other John Tyler books, don't worry you don't need to follow what is going on here, but I HIGHLY recommend that you do, cause you don't know what you are missing. I give this book 5 Stars.

[J Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Tyler doesn’t back down even when the odds are against him. You can’t help cheering for him when he gets involved in recovery of stolen guns with new technology that are sold to militants. He’s also trying to save the life of a young man that is part of this and the situation is way over his head.
Recommend this book to readers that like fast paced non stop action. I especially enjoy the regular likable characters and the interaction between them.
John Tyler books are gripping and addictive. Looking forward to the next one.

[Sebastian Barrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, what can one say!!

It is not often you come across an author who can ramp up the action in every book. Tom Fowler certainly can!!
Tyler, in this novel, gets caught up in a stolen guns and militia racket that really has him up against the ropes. But in his inimitable style, he comes bouncing back with all guns blazing along with his military know-how and a touch of humour. And in the background is an old adversary who wants him dead.
Roll on number 6 in the series and I hope many more as well.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forced Induction, #5 in the John Tyler series, is a whip-snapper. We have John dealing with new, powerful rifles stolen from Fort Bragg, misguided kids working with the gunrunners, creating diversions with street races to draw off the cops working with the gunrunners, and working alone crossing state lines to try to stop the flow of those guns. Sara, his girlfriend is also involved via her work with the Department of Defense. This is a very fast-paced ride, a good look at the passing scenery, and a mile-a-minute, ever-changing tale to keep you up nights. Tyler doesn't have to kill in the quantities some of these tales involve, but the bad guys don't win this one, either. Just as it should be.
REVIEWED on March 8, 2025, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Mo honor among thieves is a paramount theme in this fast paced suspenseful mystery. I was clueless until the author dropped a crumb and name dropped, but it didn't lessen my experience or enthusiasm for the story. I was very much invested and on edge. Tyler is a miracle and very resourceful to the end. I love his character. The windup of this drama was so intense I could barely breath as I read it. I look forward to more.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved FORCED induction! There’s a great plot and wonderful characters. John Tyler is still the good guy and still the super heroic soldier (retired). The story is packed full of action but, thankfully, no horrifying human trafficking, child abuse, or heinous torture. I love knowing that Tyler will win the day while enjoying the suspense and mystery of how he’s going to manage it - and frantically turning pages to find out.
I reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.

[Manfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Tyler is back in action again. When a car involved in a street race nearly plows into their repair shop, John is drawn into action against gun-runners, a racist militia and a vengeful figure from his past. And this time he's basically all alone most of the time. Some of the bad guys don't think a 51 year old former special operator is a match to them, but John will prove them wrong. Another page-turner in this amazing series. Looking forward to the next one.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Tyler with his daughter Lexi has now told him she with her other girlfriends are taking an apartment this year at college. John has a girl friend who has a big problem that draws John Tyler in. A new rifle is being sold by Vic to organizations. With the main guy funding it, is wanting revenge against John Tyler.
A good plot of catching them and the one behind it all.
Was a nice touch to bring Lexi in to the story .
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Fowler is a gifted writer who puts together sensational crime thrillers and Book 5 of the John Tyler series is no exception. Brilliantly written with an incredible story that leaves you gasping for breath as John Tyler and friends go about their business of eliminating gun runners and locating stolen weapons. An exciting five star read that is recommended to all crime thriller readers. Thanks to Tom Fowler for the Advanced Readers Copy.

[Vj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah, John Tyler is back! I drop other books, mid-story, to read Tyler's latest exploits. I enjoy his cars and confrontations, his pursuit of justice, his kinship with his friends and his love for his daughter. I gave fewer stars because there were more dead bodies left behind than I felt necessary, although that is unlikely to bother other readers. Additionally, it didn't lessen my desire to purchase the next Tyler book. I am hooked on the series. I received an ARC for my honest opinion.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

fast paced action and drama

stolen guns, militia, street racers, and a vengeful figure from the past put a world of hurt, violence and racism at the doorstep of John Tyler

someone targets Lexi- and someone else tips her off

a disturbing collision of dangerous players as Lexi prepares to leave the nest and spread her wings

[Norman Hirschman · Rating 5 out of 5]

John does not look for trouble but trouble seems to find him. It starts off with an auto plowing into his auto work shop. This leads John onto a path for stolen rifles with accessories from Fort Bragg. His daughter becomes a side victim and John cannot tolerate than in any size, shape, or form. When John i is on an vendetta, beware. Excellent reading.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given ARC of this book for my honest review. Thank you Tom!

Someone wants revenge and John Tyler is the target. Weapons stolen from Fort Bragg, street racers, illegal gun sales. There is action aplenty in this John Tyler mystery. A twist on who is seeking revenge!
Read the story to find out.
An enjoyable and entertaining read.

[Jodi Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone crashes a car into John Tyler's garage and so it begins. This was not an accidental wreck, but a ploy to draw Tyler in so he can be taken care of. This story has lots of action and unexpected twists. It is such a fast read as you do not want to put it down once started. Tom Fowler always delivers.