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Matthew Riker #4
Relentless Pursuit
Six years ago, Matthew Riker stared into the face of evil.
Riker has gone up against terrorists, kidnappers, and drug cartels, but the greatest evil he faced in his QS-4 career was a man named Charles Fraction. Now Fraction has resurfaced, and Riker will stop at nothing to take him down.
Riker and his small team of allies are on the hunt. Their search for Fraction will take them across the globe. With a man like Fraction, every clue is a potential trap, but Riker has no choice but to continue his pursuit. As long as Fraction is free, everyone in Riker's life is in grave danger. Including the woman he loves.
Charles Fraction plans to change the world, and he wants Matthew Riker to be there when he brings a nation to its knees.
Riker has gone up against terrorists, kidnappers, and drug cartels, but the greatest evil he faced in his QS-4 career was a man named Charles Fraction. Now Fraction has resurfaced, and Riker will stop at nothing to take him down.
Riker and his small team of allies are on the hunt. Their search for Fraction will take them across the globe. With a man like Fraction, every clue is a potential trap, but Riker has no choice but to continue his pursuit. As long as Fraction is free, everyone in Riker's life is in grave danger. Including the woman he loves.
Charles Fraction plans to change the world, and he wants Matthew Riker to be there when he brings a nation to its knees.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2022
85 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 30, 2023
2.5 stars
My least favourite in the series so far, for plenty of reasons, but none of them strong enough to actually list.
I can however say that I felt like I had somehow been through this whole "ghost agent" thing already, some version or other, with Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies.
And while this book really does read like a Tom Cruise action movie, it also feels like one in the way that you've already "been there, done that" before.
Matthew Riker will kick ass and save the day - just as reliably as Ethan Hunt will do some sort of aerial acrobatic stunt and run like a bat out of hell, and so on. But you always kind of know he'll also save the world sooner or later. No bad guy is going to win this time around either.
I hope this particular bad guy arc reached some sort of conclusion, because as far as "Moriarity Complexes" goes... This is a pretty bad case of Big Bad thinking he's the Biggest, Baddest Bad Guy ever.
All in all, the "Oh my! Our precious organisation is corrupt - gasp!!" shtick was predictable and rather boring. The action scenes were good enough, but mostly eked the book out before we got to the inevitable ending, rather than giving the story substance.
I'll probably check back in if there is a 5th book in the future, but this one failed to grip me.
My least favourite in the series so far, for plenty of reasons, but none of them strong enough to actually list.
I can however say that I felt like I had somehow been through this whole "ghost agent" thing already, some version or other, with Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies.
And while this book really does read like a Tom Cruise action movie, it also feels like one in the way that you've already "been there, done that" before.
Matthew Riker will kick ass and save the day - just as reliably as Ethan Hunt will do some sort of aerial acrobatic stunt and run like a bat out of hell, and so on. But you always kind of know he'll also save the world sooner or later. No bad guy is going to win this time around either.
I hope this particular bad guy arc reached some sort of conclusion, because as far as "Moriarity Complexes" goes... This is a pretty bad case of Big Bad thinking he's the Biggest, Baddest Bad Guy ever.
All in all, the "Oh my! Our precious organisation is corrupt - gasp!!" shtick was predictable and rather boring. The action scenes were good enough, but mostly eked the book out before we got to the inevitable ending, rather than giving the story substance.
I'll probably check back in if there is a 5th book in the future, but this one failed to grip me.
July 4, 2022
This was an audiobook. It was 3.5 stars but I rounded up because Snyder did an excellent narration with different voices for many characters. He is one of the best in the business.
As for the book, the writing is less complex than others in this genre (Greaney, Wood, Hurwitz, etc.) but that isn't necessary a big drawback. Sometimes I don't want to read plots within plots with dozens of characters. I do like that the author does not write several pages detailing every weapon that each character has. Although the story is straight forward and elementary, I do like the characters that Baier has created (Riker, Morrison, Timber, Powell, Franklin).
I found there were inconsistencies in logic and gaps in outcomes that made me think - why did happen. And the pace was somewhat slow until the last 1/4 of the book. Still if there is a sequel, I'll read it. I think Riker is starting to shape up as a character worth following, especially with Snyder reading.
As for the book, the writing is less complex than others in this genre (Greaney, Wood, Hurwitz, etc.) but that isn't necessary a big drawback. Sometimes I don't want to read plots within plots with dozens of characters. I do like that the author does not write several pages detailing every weapon that each character has. Although the story is straight forward and elementary, I do like the characters that Baier has created (Riker, Morrison, Timber, Powell, Franklin).
I found there were inconsistencies in logic and gaps in outcomes that made me think - why did happen. And the pace was somewhat slow until the last 1/4 of the book. Still if there is a sequel, I'll read it. I think Riker is starting to shape up as a character worth following, especially with Snyder reading.
February 28, 2025
Relentless Pursuit by J.T. Baier is a gripping thriller that follows Mathew Riker and his small team as they track down Charles Riker, a cunning and formidable adversary with world-altering ambitions. While the pacing starts off slow, the tension steadily builds, culminating in a fast-paced and explosive final act. The Audible edition is particularly engaging, thanks to Jay Snider’s excellent narration, which brings the characters and action to life. With its mix of intrigue, tactical operations, and high-stakes drama, Relentless Pursuit is a solid addition to the series, especially for fans of intense thrillers.
June 30, 2022
Just What A Thriller Should Be
Some thrillers go on too long, or the dialogue rings false. In Book 4, Baier gives us what a thriller should be: heavy on action, just complicated enough, and a satisfying conclusion.
Some thrillers go on too long, or the dialogue rings false. In Book 4, Baier gives us what a thriller should be: heavy on action, just complicated enough, and a satisfying conclusion.
February 13, 2023
Awesome seeies
LOVE these characters & stories!! Lots of action and super good Good guys & bad-bad guys who gets what’s coming!
Sooo looking forward to many (hint to author) more Riker stores to come!!!
LOVE these characters & stories!! Lots of action and super good Good guys & bad-bad guys who gets what’s coming!
Sooo looking forward to many (hint to author) more Riker stores to come!!!
March 25, 2023
Great story, action, packed, exciting, good guys, bad guys, great characters, and a fantastic narrator.
I really like this series. It’s fun and there’s always something going on.
As for the narration, Jay Snyder is absolutely amazing.
Totally recommend this book and a series.
I really like this series. It’s fun and there’s always something going on.
As for the narration, Jay Snyder is absolutely amazing.
Totally recommend this book and a series.
September 22, 2023
great series!!
Great series of books! Really wish there were more. Hopefully book 5 is at least planned for the future. Riker is a great character and I love all the different characters as well.
Great series of books! Really wish there were more. Hopefully book 5 is at least planned for the future. Riker is a great character and I love all the different characters as well.
December 22, 2023
Thourghly Entertaining
The hero characters in this book give one hope that we’re all going to be safe in our republic.
The hard choices made by these people I hope are a real reflection in some of our country’s more clandestine agencies.
This is my new favorite author.
The hero characters in this book give one hope that we’re all going to be safe in our republic.
The hard choices made by these people I hope are a real reflection in some of our country’s more clandestine agencies.
This is my new favorite author.
December 19, 2022
Another good story about Scarecrow. The guy's bullet proof. Another Jason Bourne kind of guy, but with a twist.
March 3, 2023
This has been an engaging series. I especially like how successive books build on the predecessors while bringing in some new twists.
June 19, 2022
This book reaches my Goodreads Challenge. YAY!
Love, love, love Matthew Riker, Timber and Morrison, and new-comer Powell. But mostly Riker. This time he was after Charles Fraction, who killed people by shooting out both eyes if he had the chance but would settle for one eye, and was working on destroying the United States with a quantum computer. It was up to Riker and his team to stop Fraction.
A kiss or two and fade-to-black sex and the F-bomb was used 10 times.
As for the narration: Jay Snyder has the best voice for any book he reads. His voices are perfect and his emotions when he reads are fantastic.
Love, love, love Matthew Riker, Timber and Morrison, and new-comer Powell. But mostly Riker. This time he was after Charles Fraction, who killed people by shooting out both eyes if he had the chance but would settle for one eye, and was working on destroying the United States with a quantum computer. It was up to Riker and his team to stop Fraction.
A kiss or two and fade-to-black sex and the F-bomb was used 10 times.
As for the narration: Jay Snyder has the best voice for any book he reads. His voices are perfect and his emotions when he reads are fantastic.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews