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Snowstorm in August
They call him el Carnicero―the Butcher. He is the most powerful drug lord on the planet, and when the city of New York incurs his wrath, he utters a single “¡Venganza!” With military precision, he strafes Central Park with 4,000 pounds of cocaine, killing hundreds of innocent people enjoying a summer afternoon.
The only NYPD unit trained to go up against this level of terrorism has been disbanded, but four anonymous billionaires retaliate by recruiting a task force of highly decorated retired cops. Armed with cutting-edge technology, former NYPD captain Danny Corcoran leads his team in a pulse-pounding thriller in their battle to stop the enraged head of a Mexican cartel from raining more death on the city.
The only NYPD unit trained to go up against this level of terrorism has been disbanded, but four anonymous billionaires retaliate by recruiting a task force of highly decorated retired cops. Armed with cutting-edge technology, former NYPD captain Danny Corcoran leads his team in a pulse-pounding thriller in their battle to stop the enraged head of a Mexican cartel from raining more death on the city.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2023
198 people are currently reading
6105 people want to read
About the author
Marshall Karp
40 books616 followersMarshall Karp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a TV and screenwriter, documentarian, and playwright. Working with James Patterson, Marshall cocreated and cowrote the NYPD Red series. After six bestsellers, Marshall has carried the series forward on his own, beginning with NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority. Marshall is also the author of Snowstorm in August, as well as the critically acclaimed Lomax and Biggs novels, featuring LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs. For over twenty years he has worked closely with the international charity Vitamin Angels, providing tens of millions of mothers and children around the globe with lifesaving vitamins and nutrients.
For more information, visit www.karpkills.com.
For more information, visit www.karpkills.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
May 27, 2025
All at once, masterfully written, shocking and fascinating. An Unforgettable page-turner. Highly recommend for a guaranteed thrill ride from start to the very last word.
October 14, 2022
Outstanding! 10 of 10 stars
December 31, 2022
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Marshall Karp, and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
While I have read a bunch of his collaborative work, this is the first time I have had the opportunity to see what Marshall Karp can do on his own. This piece is intense and full of great character development, making the experience one that I hope to repeat again soon. Touching on a number of pertinent issues with enough action to keep things moving, Karp shows that he has what it takes to stand on his own and impact the genre quite effectively.
A freak snowstorm in August is all New York City needs. When Central Park is transformed into a winter wonderland, many wonder if it is an environmental situation. However, as people begin to suffer the consequences of the falling flakes, it’s soon revealed that this ‘snow’ is actually uncut cocaine, falling from the sky. Thousands die or are seriously injured and someone will have to pay.
Trying to untangle it all is left at the feet of Danny Corcoran, whose time as a captain in the NYPD recently came to an abrupt halt. With a handful of other retired cops, Corcoran is being anonymously funded to get to the heart of the matter and solve it before anyone else gets hurt. It turns out that Joaquín Alboroto, a powerful drug load feared around the world, is responsible for the carnage and will stop at nothing to keep it going, as long as those who stand in his way refuse to bow down.
While Corcoran and his team work as many angles as possible, the truth behind Alboroto’s plan comes to fruition. It will take ruthless behaviour and strategic planning to bring the kingpin down, but Corcoran has nothing to lose. He’s ready for a fight and this is sure to be one that will only end when someone’s body is gathering dust on the ground. Karp’s intense thriller kept me hooked until the final page turn.
While I discovered the work of Marshall Karp reading the James Patterson NYPD Red series, I could tell that there was something there worth exploring. Karp is one of the few collaborators whose work I have never had issues reading and actually come to enjoy when I see publication dates approaching. His book had all the elements needed for a great thriller and added some grit to the mix, making it even better. A strong narrative and substantial character development kept me hoping for a great story, which came in time. I can only hope that there are more books in this vein for me to enjoy before too long.
Danny Corcoran proved to be an entertaining protagonist throughout the. reading journey. Not only does he have the gumption needed to be a great investigator, but the personal side of his life is on full offer. Corcoran offers an intuitive approach to the investigation and provides the reader with a great adventure throughout while also providing some emotional insight, both into a past with his wife, as well as with some familial issues that prove to be an interesting sub-plot. I would be interested in seeing more of Danny Corcoran, should the chance arise.
Marshal Karp is truly a talented author in his own regard. His writing is crisp and style is just what I would expect in this genre. A well-paced narrative offers the reader the necessary roadmap to successfully make their way through everything taking place, with a handful of strong characters to offer intrigue and keep things interesting. Short chapters propel the book forward and permit the reader to feel as though they could easily devour the book in a sitting or two. I am eager to see if this was a standalone or if Karp will be back with more Corcoran. It is sure to attract many readers, such as myself, who have never read any of Karp’s own books.
Kudos, Mr. Karp, for a great novel. Now that I know you can spin a formidable tale, I will be adding you to my radar.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/sn...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While I have read a bunch of his collaborative work, this is the first time I have had the opportunity to see what Marshall Karp can do on his own. This piece is intense and full of great character development, making the experience one that I hope to repeat again soon. Touching on a number of pertinent issues with enough action to keep things moving, Karp shows that he has what it takes to stand on his own and impact the genre quite effectively.
A freak snowstorm in August is all New York City needs. When Central Park is transformed into a winter wonderland, many wonder if it is an environmental situation. However, as people begin to suffer the consequences of the falling flakes, it’s soon revealed that this ‘snow’ is actually uncut cocaine, falling from the sky. Thousands die or are seriously injured and someone will have to pay.
Trying to untangle it all is left at the feet of Danny Corcoran, whose time as a captain in the NYPD recently came to an abrupt halt. With a handful of other retired cops, Corcoran is being anonymously funded to get to the heart of the matter and solve it before anyone else gets hurt. It turns out that Joaquín Alboroto, a powerful drug load feared around the world, is responsible for the carnage and will stop at nothing to keep it going, as long as those who stand in his way refuse to bow down.
While Corcoran and his team work as many angles as possible, the truth behind Alboroto’s plan comes to fruition. It will take ruthless behaviour and strategic planning to bring the kingpin down, but Corcoran has nothing to lose. He’s ready for a fight and this is sure to be one that will only end when someone’s body is gathering dust on the ground. Karp’s intense thriller kept me hooked until the final page turn.
While I discovered the work of Marshall Karp reading the James Patterson NYPD Red series, I could tell that there was something there worth exploring. Karp is one of the few collaborators whose work I have never had issues reading and actually come to enjoy when I see publication dates approaching. His book had all the elements needed for a great thriller and added some grit to the mix, making it even better. A strong narrative and substantial character development kept me hoping for a great story, which came in time. I can only hope that there are more books in this vein for me to enjoy before too long.
Danny Corcoran proved to be an entertaining protagonist throughout the. reading journey. Not only does he have the gumption needed to be a great investigator, but the personal side of his life is on full offer. Corcoran offers an intuitive approach to the investigation and provides the reader with a great adventure throughout while also providing some emotional insight, both into a past with his wife, as well as with some familial issues that prove to be an interesting sub-plot. I would be interested in seeing more of Danny Corcoran, should the chance arise.
Marshal Karp is truly a talented author in his own regard. His writing is crisp and style is just what I would expect in this genre. A well-paced narrative offers the reader the necessary roadmap to successfully make their way through everything taking place, with a handful of strong characters to offer intrigue and keep things interesting. Short chapters propel the book forward and permit the reader to feel as though they could easily devour the book in a sitting or two. I am eager to see if this was a standalone or if Karp will be back with more Corcoran. It is sure to attract many readers, such as myself, who have never read any of Karp’s own books.
Kudos, Mr. Karp, for a great novel. Now that I know you can spin a formidable tale, I will be adding you to my radar.
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/sn...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
March 30, 2022
Many years ago, I made a solemn vow. I would never read a James Patterson novel or read anything written by anyone who had worked with James Patterson. There are many great novels and novelists in the world, and I don’t have time for hacks.
I said goodbye to the latter part of that vow when Andrew Gross convinced me that not everyone who works with James Patterson is a no-talent-never-was, whose only chance at getting published was to ride somebody else’s coattails.
I will now include Marshall Karp in the same breath as Andrew Gross and I’m sure there are others. Look…it’s my hang-up, it’s not personal. But I’m still not reading a Patterson novel.
The description of Snowstorm in August was too good to pass up and the line, “that’s not snow…that’s cocaine,” read in your graveliest, 80s action-hero voice (think Danny Glover “I’m gettin’ too old for this shit” from Lethal Weapon) is worth the price of admission alone.
I went into SiA with very low expectations and I pretty much expected it to be corny, cliched, and probably terrible. I hoped that what I was getting into was a book that didn’t take itself too seriously and leaned into the absurdity that can be the Thriller genre.
What I got was a book that was…pretty good. It didn’t take itself too seriously and it was not as absurd as I feared it would be. It is cliched and it does take a good deal of disbelief suspending, but, if you can just go into it wanting to enjoy the damn book, I think you’ll be ok.
There are gunfights and car chases and boat chases and people falling out of helicopters splattering onto the Statue of Liberty…yes, you read that right.
There’s murder-for-hire and cartel bosses and Russian mob bosses and computer hacking and even an elderly lady who wonders why the hell it’s snowing in August.
Really. Read this thing like you’re watching a buddy-cop film. It’s better that way.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Blackstone Publishing.
I said goodbye to the latter part of that vow when Andrew Gross convinced me that not everyone who works with James Patterson is a no-talent-never-was, whose only chance at getting published was to ride somebody else’s coattails.
I will now include Marshall Karp in the same breath as Andrew Gross and I’m sure there are others. Look…it’s my hang-up, it’s not personal. But I’m still not reading a Patterson novel.
The description of Snowstorm in August was too good to pass up and the line, “that’s not snow…that’s cocaine,” read in your graveliest, 80s action-hero voice (think Danny Glover “I’m gettin’ too old for this shit” from Lethal Weapon) is worth the price of admission alone.
I went into SiA with very low expectations and I pretty much expected it to be corny, cliched, and probably terrible. I hoped that what I was getting into was a book that didn’t take itself too seriously and leaned into the absurdity that can be the Thriller genre.
What I got was a book that was…pretty good. It didn’t take itself too seriously and it was not as absurd as I feared it would be. It is cliched and it does take a good deal of disbelief suspending, but, if you can just go into it wanting to enjoy the damn book, I think you’ll be ok.
There are gunfights and car chases and boat chases and people falling out of helicopters splattering onto the Statue of Liberty…yes, you read that right.
There’s murder-for-hire and cartel bosses and Russian mob bosses and computer hacking and even an elderly lady who wonders why the hell it’s snowing in August.
Really. Read this thing like you’re watching a buddy-cop film. It’s better that way.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Blackstone Publishing.
September 2, 2022
A quick, fun one from the primary author of Patterson’s NYPD RED books. Karp stood well on his own. He’s created an interesting cast of characters in an original circumstance. A billionaire funded “Police Force” fighting terrorists extra-judicially. Plenty of places for this to become a fun series. I’ll definitely read another one of these if he writes it.
July 18, 2025
Marshall Karp's Snowstorm in August showcases his talent for action thrillers. It's good guy former NYPD captain Danny Corcoran against bad guy Joaquin Alboroto. Both sides have teams. The "Snow" is cocaine. Lots of killing. Creative destruction of property. Possibility of major loss of life. Not my thing, but if you enjoy action TV mini-series, you can imagine you are getting the soundtrack in the audio version, but without the pounding music.
July 4, 2022
It was like reading a Netflix movie. And I liked it. And I’ll like it on Netflix too.
July 4, 2022
I have only read one book from this author and it was several years ago. No particular reason why because I did like the book that I read. Well, this new book made me want to go back and read the books of his that I haven’t read! Great characters, a real thrill ride of a book with a storyline that I pray never comes true.
June 12, 2022
Marshall Karp’s latest novel opens with one of the most stunning large-scale tragedies that I can remember in recent thriller fiction. It is August 21st, and the temperature is already near 90 degrees in New York City. However, from her 10th floor apartment, 92-year-old Aurelia Gladstone is about to witness something that she needs her housekeeper to confirm for her. It appears to be snowing outside as large chunks of white flakes are falling upon midtown Manhattan.
This is what everyone around Central Park is experiencing that morning, only most are falling on their faces once they become engulfed in the snow. For this is not snow from the heavens, but billions of dollars of extremely potent cocaine that is being dumped from a small plane turned drug crop duster. The effects are tragic with upwards of a hundred men, women and children killed and/or extremely sickened by this apparently senseless attack. Animal lovers also will be heartbroken to learn that every single creature perishes at the Central Park Zoo.
The responsible party is notorious drug lord Joaquin Alboroto, one of the most dangerous men on the planet. He has a major vendetta against the city of New York, which he holds responsible for the death of his wife and child. Regrettably, this ambush is just the first step in his master plan. To thwart such a maniac will require mercenary types who are able to operate independently but can get the job done at any cost. Former NYPD captain Danny Corcoran is responsible for leading this group. He had run a similar task force under then-Police Commissioner Trace Baker, but they were disbanded, much to his chagrin.
Now, four anonymous billionaires have stepped forward to fund a new team to be put together by Corcoran, a fledgling counterterrorism unit that essentially will make things up as they go along and pull out all the stops to prevent another tragedy in the Big Apple. Corcoran spends a good portion of the novel traversing the globe to assemble the unique personnel required to stop Alboroto --- top cops, all of whom are retired.
Meanwhile, the second phase of Alboroto’s plan is being put into action. He has completely cut off all illegal drugs to NYC. While the mayor is claiming victory in the war on drugs, Corcoran and his colleagues see the big-picture problems this will cause --- looting, rioting, a rise in petty crime and much worse as a result of drug addicts not being able to get their fix. It will be more than the NYPD can handle.
Just as Corcoran’s team is getting put into place and tapping into intel around the globe and in Mexico City to find out what the next blow will be, they learn of the final step in Alboroto’s plan. He intends to release on the drug-hungry streets of NYC a highly potent grade of cocaine laced with methanol that will turn all those who use it blind. This will lead to epidemic levels of permanent injury, and it seems there is no way to prevent it from happening.
SNOWSTORM IN AUGUST is an intense novel and the perfect beach-read thriller. Marshall Karp may not be a household name, but James Patterson fans will know him as the co-author of the popular NYPD Red series. Obviously, Karp has learned well from his time spent with the master. This book has many of the same page-turning, cliff-hanging moments that made their collaboration so much fun to read.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
This is what everyone around Central Park is experiencing that morning, only most are falling on their faces once they become engulfed in the snow. For this is not snow from the heavens, but billions of dollars of extremely potent cocaine that is being dumped from a small plane turned drug crop duster. The effects are tragic with upwards of a hundred men, women and children killed and/or extremely sickened by this apparently senseless attack. Animal lovers also will be heartbroken to learn that every single creature perishes at the Central Park Zoo.
The responsible party is notorious drug lord Joaquin Alboroto, one of the most dangerous men on the planet. He has a major vendetta against the city of New York, which he holds responsible for the death of his wife and child. Regrettably, this ambush is just the first step in his master plan. To thwart such a maniac will require mercenary types who are able to operate independently but can get the job done at any cost. Former NYPD captain Danny Corcoran is responsible for leading this group. He had run a similar task force under then-Police Commissioner Trace Baker, but they were disbanded, much to his chagrin.
Now, four anonymous billionaires have stepped forward to fund a new team to be put together by Corcoran, a fledgling counterterrorism unit that essentially will make things up as they go along and pull out all the stops to prevent another tragedy in the Big Apple. Corcoran spends a good portion of the novel traversing the globe to assemble the unique personnel required to stop Alboroto --- top cops, all of whom are retired.
Meanwhile, the second phase of Alboroto’s plan is being put into action. He has completely cut off all illegal drugs to NYC. While the mayor is claiming victory in the war on drugs, Corcoran and his colleagues see the big-picture problems this will cause --- looting, rioting, a rise in petty crime and much worse as a result of drug addicts not being able to get their fix. It will be more than the NYPD can handle.
Just as Corcoran’s team is getting put into place and tapping into intel around the globe and in Mexico City to find out what the next blow will be, they learn of the final step in Alboroto’s plan. He intends to release on the drug-hungry streets of NYC a highly potent grade of cocaine laced with methanol that will turn all those who use it blind. This will lead to epidemic levels of permanent injury, and it seems there is no way to prevent it from happening.
SNOWSTORM IN AUGUST is an intense novel and the perfect beach-read thriller. Marshall Karp may not be a household name, but James Patterson fans will know him as the co-author of the popular NYPD Red series. Obviously, Karp has learned well from his time spent with the master. This book has many of the same page-turning, cliff-hanging moments that made their collaboration so much fun to read.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2022
Marshall Karp once again doesn't disappoint. This book was a page turner from start to finish. The story was original and exciting.
January 1, 2023
This book was fast, thrilling and, most importantly, FUN to read.
Hoping that this is the start of a new series from Marshall Karp.
Hoping that this is the start of a new series from Marshall Karp.
June 18, 2022
Snowstorm in August does not disappoint. Karp has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat and wanting to read more. There are so many twists, things you wouldn't expect. The character development is on par, so you become vested into their story.
June 12, 2023
Pretty good kind-of police/detective thriller from one of the brains behind NYPD Red, which is one of my favourite series' to read. Certainly fast-moving and inventive.
November 23, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S SNOWSTORM IN AUGUST ABOUT?
Joaquín Alboroto is the head of Mexico's largest drug cartel—and is a character straight out of Winslow's Cartel Trilogy (and, likely, reality). He's powerful, ruthless, calculating, and vengeful—and right now, he's angry. His anger is directed at New York City and the family of one judge from NYC, and he goes after both.
The first step in this process is blanketing Central Park in cocaine—it looks like a snowstorm swept over the park. Horses, dogs, squirrels, birds, children, and adults out for a fun day in August are killed or hospitalized—countless lives are irrevocably damaged at once. And Alboroto promises more to come.
The NYPD is totally unprepared for this—the current commissioner isn't the right man for this moment, he's better known for working the political and bureaucratic sides of things. Preventing attacks of this type isn't in his wheelhouse.
A former counter-terrorism officer in the NYPD is recruited to head up a group of retired officers to confront Alboroto and similar threats. This is a vigilante group with private funding, but in their hearts, they're still NYPD and want to serve the city. Using old contacts (on both sides of the law), liaising with the Mexican government, and armed with the best hackers and technology that money can buy—plus their own experience and grit—this small group just may be able to stop Alboroto before his next strike.
THE BALTIC AVENUE GROUP
This right here might be my favorite idea in this novel. So you've got a non-governmental anti-terrorist strike force—you need to fund them if they're going to be effective at all. So, sure, you could have one of them be a super-genius inventor/entrepreneur (like Tony Stark), an orphaned heir of a super-rich man (Bruce Wayne), a group of thieves and con artists turned Robin Hood (Leverage), or a Powerball winner. Something.
Karp gives us a group of billionaires who know the economic impact that a terrorist attack can bring on the city—and on themselves. They don't want to go through that again, so they're willing to spend a lot of money to keep them from losing much more. They're benevolent and out for themselves at the same time. That's as close to a perfect description of heroes for our time as you're going to find anywhere.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT SNOWSTORM IN AUGUST?
This book made me flashback to a book that I hadn't thought of in years—I posted about it on October 25, 2013, so probably the last time I gave it any thought was the 26th (though probably the afternoon of the 25th)—Dick Wolf's The Intercept. There's a very similar elite group of cops ready to take down terrorist threats with all the fancy tech and everything. That group, however, was part of the NYPD and should've been controlled by things like the Constitution, the courts, and the city's budget. This book, however, features retired cops acting as vigilantes with a budget that probably shames even all of The Big Apple's. Also, the writing is crisper, the characters aren't cardboard, and it's more entertaining. My intent wasn't to find another excuse to disparage The Intercept, but because the books were similar in so many ways, I had to figure out why I really liked one and had little good to say about the other.
Sometime after 9/11 I remember reading about (and I think I heard one or more of the participants discuss this), some governmental agency brought together some thriller writers, movie makers, etc. to think up some possible, but unlikely attacks that could be launched on the U.S. so contingency plans could be thought up as well as ways to deter this. Does anyone else remember this? Anyway, a lot of what Albortoro gets up to in this book feels like the product of those meetings—possible, but unlikely. Still, if you picked up your phone tomorrow morning and whatever social media feed gives you your news described the attack on Central Park (or any of the other things in this book), you'd believe it. I'm not so sure how willing I am to believe that a handful of ex-cops and federal agents could stop it. But I'd like to think it could happen. (I clearly have more confidence in the ingenuity of criminals and killers than I do in people who'd want to stop them).
There's an incredibly cinematic feel to this—if your brain doesn't project a lot of these scenes onto a mental movie screen in your head, something's wrong. That cover shot alone deserves a Wagner score (although that seems overused, maybe substitute Harold Faltermeyer*). That cinematic feel lets Karp get away with a few things that I'm not sure that other thriller writers could get away with (and some thriller writers use all the time)
* Composer of Top Gun's score.
Combine all of those two paragraphs, and what Karp has given us is a blockbuster novel with a very realistic grounding, but it doesn't necessarily play out that way. But Karp hooks you quickly and keeps on hooking you—he's not content to get you invested just once, he wants it all. There's a romantic subplot that works well and rounds out Danny's character, but I wondered a couple of times if it messed up the pacing a bit (and made me wonder about Danny's priorities at least once). Aside from that, the pacing was spot-on, and the novel kept picking up speed as it goes and you barrel into the conclusion—I don't know how someone is supposed to put this down during the last 50 pages (it's slightly easier in the 50 before that—slightly).
Satisfying action, well-executed plot twists and turns, characters you want to see again, and very believable villains. Snowstorm in August is the action-adventure novel you need to read.
Disclaimer: I received this ARC from the author in exchange for this post and my honest review.
---
WHAT'S SNOWSTORM IN AUGUST ABOUT?
Joaquín Alboroto is the head of Mexico's largest drug cartel—and is a character straight out of Winslow's Cartel Trilogy (and, likely, reality). He's powerful, ruthless, calculating, and vengeful—and right now, he's angry. His anger is directed at New York City and the family of one judge from NYC, and he goes after both.
The first step in this process is blanketing Central Park in cocaine—it looks like a snowstorm swept over the park. Horses, dogs, squirrels, birds, children, and adults out for a fun day in August are killed or hospitalized—countless lives are irrevocably damaged at once. And Alboroto promises more to come.
The NYPD is totally unprepared for this—the current commissioner isn't the right man for this moment, he's better known for working the political and bureaucratic sides of things. Preventing attacks of this type isn't in his wheelhouse.
A former counter-terrorism officer in the NYPD is recruited to head up a group of retired officers to confront Alboroto and similar threats. This is a vigilante group with private funding, but in their hearts, they're still NYPD and want to serve the city. Using old contacts (on both sides of the law), liaising with the Mexican government, and armed with the best hackers and technology that money can buy—plus their own experience and grit—this small group just may be able to stop Alboroto before his next strike.
THE BALTIC AVENUE GROUP
This right here might be my favorite idea in this novel. So you've got a non-governmental anti-terrorist strike force—you need to fund them if they're going to be effective at all. So, sure, you could have one of them be a super-genius inventor/entrepreneur (like Tony Stark), an orphaned heir of a super-rich man (Bruce Wayne), a group of thieves and con artists turned Robin Hood (Leverage), or a Powerball winner. Something.
Karp gives us a group of billionaires who know the economic impact that a terrorist attack can bring on the city—and on themselves. They don't want to go through that again, so they're willing to spend a lot of money to keep them from losing much more. They're benevolent and out for themselves at the same time. That's as close to a perfect description of heroes for our time as you're going to find anywhere.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT SNOWSTORM IN AUGUST?
This book made me flashback to a book that I hadn't thought of in years—I posted about it on October 25, 2013, so probably the last time I gave it any thought was the 26th (though probably the afternoon of the 25th)—Dick Wolf's The Intercept. There's a very similar elite group of cops ready to take down terrorist threats with all the fancy tech and everything. That group, however, was part of the NYPD and should've been controlled by things like the Constitution, the courts, and the city's budget. This book, however, features retired cops acting as vigilantes with a budget that probably shames even all of The Big Apple's. Also, the writing is crisper, the characters aren't cardboard, and it's more entertaining. My intent wasn't to find another excuse to disparage The Intercept, but because the books were similar in so many ways, I had to figure out why I really liked one and had little good to say about the other.
Sometime after 9/11 I remember reading about (and I think I heard one or more of the participants discuss this), some governmental agency brought together some thriller writers, movie makers, etc. to think up some possible, but unlikely attacks that could be launched on the U.S. so contingency plans could be thought up as well as ways to deter this. Does anyone else remember this? Anyway, a lot of what Albortoro gets up to in this book feels like the product of those meetings—possible, but unlikely. Still, if you picked up your phone tomorrow morning and whatever social media feed gives you your news described the attack on Central Park (or any of the other things in this book), you'd believe it. I'm not so sure how willing I am to believe that a handful of ex-cops and federal agents could stop it. But I'd like to think it could happen. (I clearly have more confidence in the ingenuity of criminals and killers than I do in people who'd want to stop them).
There's an incredibly cinematic feel to this—if your brain doesn't project a lot of these scenes onto a mental movie screen in your head, something's wrong. That cover shot alone deserves a Wagner score (although that seems overused, maybe substitute Harold Faltermeyer*). That cinematic feel lets Karp get away with a few things that I'm not sure that other thriller writers could get away with (and some thriller writers use all the time)
* Composer of Top Gun's score.
Combine all of those two paragraphs, and what Karp has given us is a blockbuster novel with a very realistic grounding, but it doesn't necessarily play out that way. But Karp hooks you quickly and keeps on hooking you—he's not content to get you invested just once, he wants it all. There's a romantic subplot that works well and rounds out Danny's character, but I wondered a couple of times if it messed up the pacing a bit (and made me wonder about Danny's priorities at least once). Aside from that, the pacing was spot-on, and the novel kept picking up speed as it goes and you barrel into the conclusion—I don't know how someone is supposed to put this down during the last 50 pages (it's slightly easier in the 50 before that—slightly).
Satisfying action, well-executed plot twists and turns, characters you want to see again, and very believable villains. Snowstorm in August is the action-adventure novel you need to read.
Disclaimer: I received this ARC from the author in exchange for this post and my honest review.
September 23, 2022
A terrific story about Captain Danny Cocoran of the NYPD who heads a team of quick reaction officers until there was an accident and the unit is disbanded by the Mayor. His immediate boss is replaced with a moron (yes- there are many in all walks of life) and when told to report to the new guy, Danny and others opt to leave the NYPD.
It starts with snow (cocaine) being air dropped over Central Park and poisoning hundreds of people, plants and animals. Next, Danny's former father-in-law, a judge has to let the son of coke cartel leader loose due to tainted evidence and then does something that causes the cartel boss to seek revenge on all of NYC.
Danny and a few others from his elite unit are now private citizens being funded by billionaires and they take on the cartel.
It's non-stop action and a great read.
It starts with snow (cocaine) being air dropped over Central Park and poisoning hundreds of people, plants and animals. Next, Danny's former father-in-law, a judge has to let the son of coke cartel leader loose due to tainted evidence and then does something that causes the cartel boss to seek revenge on all of NYC.
Danny and a few others from his elite unit are now private citizens being funded by billionaires and they take on the cartel.
It's non-stop action and a great read.
June 24, 2025
The author takes the “drug cartel trade” to the next level with severe vengeance and unspeakable cruelty. The character development and plots were outstanding-believable, carefully thought out and extreme. Our hero-Danny Corcoran, no longer a NYPD blue but working “with no boundaries” will try to prevail before the next outlandish plan tries to bring NY to its knees! Enjoy
December 26, 2022
first chapter yup— but keep going for the full ride!
A well written full of twists and turns storyline that kept me up wanting to read this all in one sitting!
A well written full of twists and turns storyline that kept me up wanting to read this all in one sitting!
December 1, 2025
This is a good distraction. I international thriller. My only criticism is that nothing seemed to go wrong for the "good guys".
December 30, 2022
Absolutely magnificent. I wish there were more than five stars. What a fantastic storyline. I can’t wait to read another of Marshall Karp’s books! Having finished two in a row…I cannot wait to start another. Don’t miss this!
September 11, 2023
Easy read.
Imaginative, scary & bizarre.
I enjoyed reading this book.
Imaginative, scary & bizarre.
I enjoyed reading this book.
September 18, 2022
wicked
What a great read if there was more stars I would give it a ten i want more like this and I want it now many thanks for this great book
You must read it like NOW
What a great read if there was more stars I would give it a ten i want more like this and I want it now many thanks for this great book
You must read it like NOW
December 17, 2022
Think The Expendables, but in book form and smarter! Every chapter was short but efficient, the story unbelievable but like an action movie, I didn’t want to turn away. Nothing deep about it, it’s pure entertainment and who doesn’t love Bruce Willis or Sly at their best? Get the popcorn and settle in for this fast, entertaining read, I loved it!
January 7, 2023
This is a high tension page-turner of a thriller. Some of the plot is a little over the top, but I loved it.
April 14, 2023
I usually don't give five stars unless it makes me cry or touches me in some way. This book though is one of the best thrillers I've ever read.
July 23, 2023
A very original concept. Hard to put down!
July 24, 2023
great read
I’m new to Marshall Karp’s writings but will look for more. This was enthralling from the start and throughout. Great book
I’m new to Marshall Karp’s writings but will look for more. This was enthralling from the start and throughout. Great book
December 7, 2022
Creative spin on rea!ity
Public servants become privatized vigilantes. Cartels and their international counterparts use their best violence for revenge which continues to escalate. Power and money support the successful as well as unsuccessful forces at war. Much to contemplate.
Public servants become privatized vigilantes. Cartels and their international counterparts use their best violence for revenge which continues to escalate. Power and money support the successful as well as unsuccessful forces at war. Much to contemplate.
June 22, 2022
Brilliant!
I have been hooked on Marshall Karl's books since the Lomax & Briggs series, but Snowstorm outdid them all. It hooked me in from pag 1- snow in NY in August ? No wait, its cocaine ! From then on I knew I was in the hands of a master. Karp concocks the most creative scenarios I have ever read. This is a "can't put it down " read. And as always, I love the laugh out loud humor.
I have been hooked on Marshall Karl's books since the Lomax & Briggs series, but Snowstorm outdid them all. It hooked me in from pag 1- snow in NY in August ? No wait, its cocaine ! From then on I knew I was in the hands of a master. Karp concocks the most creative scenarios I have ever read. This is a "can't put it down " read. And as always, I love the laugh out loud humor.
May 24, 2023
Lots of action, very quick to move through the story. Mr.Karp knows his "stuff".
May 26, 2022
Of the myriad of co-authors of books with the prolific James Patterson, Marshall Karp is a favorite of mine (the two co-created and co-write the NYPD Red series, on which, as I understand it, Karp will go solo with the upcoming Book 7). So when I had the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this book - which seems to be the first in a series - I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I was not disappointed; in fact, it's one of the best books of this kind I've read in a while.
More specifically, it's got a unique, intriguing story that launches with a white-out in Central Park. Snow? Not in August. Try cocaine. It lands on unsuspecting people and animals, killing them almost instantly. Say what? Beyond that, it's got a unique, intriguing main character in former NYPD captain Danny Corcoran, who heads up a special clandestine team of specialists formed by the police commissioner.
Danny lost his wife to an accident years earlier, but he's still close to her sister and their father, a soon-to-retire judge. His last day on the bench turns into a nightmare, triggering a war between powerful drug lord Joaquin Alboroto and the city of New York. When an unexpected disaster results in the police commissioner and his special team getting decommissioned, so to speak, Danny is asked to join a team of retired officers - if possible, an even more clandestine bunch funded by a handful of billionaires. Their primary mission? Thwarting Alboroto's plans to bring the city and a list of targets to their knees with no regard for human collateral damage.
But finding Alboroto and learning what deadly tricks he's got up his sleeves isn't going to be a walk in Central Park even after it's been deemed safe once again. It's not likely he's working in a vacuum, either - but there are plenty of bad guys and gals out there, some known and some not, so ferreting out who's allied with whom is a challenge in and of itself (not to mention exceedingly dangerous). The rest of the book is packed with action - some crossing over into "you've got to be kidding me" territory but edge-of-seat exciting nonetheless.
The bottom line? If you've got room in your summer vacation bag for just one more killer/thriller, consider this one. It's a winner in my book!
More specifically, it's got a unique, intriguing story that launches with a white-out in Central Park. Snow? Not in August. Try cocaine. It lands on unsuspecting people and animals, killing them almost instantly. Say what? Beyond that, it's got a unique, intriguing main character in former NYPD captain Danny Corcoran, who heads up a special clandestine team of specialists formed by the police commissioner.
Danny lost his wife to an accident years earlier, but he's still close to her sister and their father, a soon-to-retire judge. His last day on the bench turns into a nightmare, triggering a war between powerful drug lord Joaquin Alboroto and the city of New York. When an unexpected disaster results in the police commissioner and his special team getting decommissioned, so to speak, Danny is asked to join a team of retired officers - if possible, an even more clandestine bunch funded by a handful of billionaires. Their primary mission? Thwarting Alboroto's plans to bring the city and a list of targets to their knees with no regard for human collateral damage.
But finding Alboroto and learning what deadly tricks he's got up his sleeves isn't going to be a walk in Central Park even after it's been deemed safe once again. It's not likely he's working in a vacuum, either - but there are plenty of bad guys and gals out there, some known and some not, so ferreting out who's allied with whom is a challenge in and of itself (not to mention exceedingly dangerous). The rest of the book is packed with action - some crossing over into "you've got to be kidding me" territory but edge-of-seat exciting nonetheless.
The bottom line? If you've got room in your summer vacation bag for just one more killer/thriller, consider this one. It's a winner in my book!
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