Hawke's War

Sonny Hawke Thriller #2

by Reavis Z. Wortham

The serene beauty of West Texas’s Big Bend National Park is shattered when four hikers are brutally ambushed by a sniper. Only one survives to report the murders. When investigators come up with nothing, they’re left wondering if this is a single incident—or the beginning of a rampage. One week later, Texas Ranger Sonny Hawke drives his 3500 Dodge Dually into the park, determined to unearth the truth . . .
 
 Before he knows it, he’s in the same sniper’s crosshairs. The drug and human smuggling cartel known as the Coyotes Rabiosos—Rabid Coyotes—have lured him to remote backcountry, looking for payback for an old grudge. Wounded and stranded in the harsh desert terrain, hunted, and outnumbered, Sonny is about to become the target of an even more dangerous enemy—one whose thirst for revenge could incite an international conflict far beyond the U.S.-Mexican border . . .

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Westerns, Suspense, Crime

1 pages, Audio CD

First published May 29, 2018

About the author

Reavis Z. Wortham retired in 2011 and now works harder than before as the author of the critically acclaimed Red River historical mystery series. Kirkus Reviews listed his first novel, The Rock Hole, as one of their Top 12 Mysteries of 2011. True West Magazine included Dark Places as one of 2015’s Top 12 Modern Westerns. The Providence Journal writes, “This year's Unraveled is a hidden gem of a book that reads like Craig Johnson's Longmire on steroids.” Wortham’s new high octane contemporary thriller from Kensington Publishing, Hawke's Prey, featuring Texas Ranger Sonny Hawke was released in June, 2017.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When some friends of Hawke's are killed hiking in a national park by a sniper, Hawke goes to investigate by himself.

Shot almost immediately, Hawke tries to evade capture, then to escape his captors in the hot, wild desert. Meanwhile, people are sent to kill his family.

It's pretty decent, even if Sonny Hawke seems a bit thick sometimes.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
HAWKE’S WAR by Reavis Wortham is the second book in the “Sonny Hawke” series, and finds Sonny leaving a wake of disaster as seems to often be the case according to his fellow officers of the law.

Sonny is a Texas Ranger who is assigned to investigate the death of four hikers in a national park without an obvious reason for anyone targeting them. Investigation into the deaths at the site of the murders results in his abduction by a ruthless group of cartel assassins known as “Coyotes Rabiosos” (Rabid Coyotes) who are a mysterious and legendary cadre of ghost-like attackers reputedly descendants of the warriors who raided with Geronimo while hiding out in the rugged hills.

Survival for himself is secondary to Sonny once he learns his family is targeted for assassination by a crazed drug lord that hired the Coyotes, and he is hopeful that they can escape the horrific fate intended for them by Sonny’s foe bent on revenge that will include his head in addition to his family’s death.

Fortunately, Sonny has those close to him who are themselves formidable opponents to anyone intent on harming him or his family, and one group stays home to stand guard over the family while the other goes off in search of him.

Will Sonny survive to save the life of his family, and will his friends and associates be able to step in when necessary to come to his and his family’s aid?

Excellent action novel that fits well in the border town setting in the desert, and Sonny is a likable character with all the gritty determination you’d expect from a Texas Ranger when threatened.

High praise from some of my favorite authors made me choose this one, and I wasn’t disappointed in the least, making it easy to say that I’m looking forward to reading other novels in this series.

4 stars.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure why an author would write about a real places and then add fictitious places to the story. Big Bend National Park, Boquillos, Santa Elena are all real places. I have visited there for decades and love the area.

It is very remote and across the border on the Mexican side, is even more remote. It is so remote that many less informed people in Texas won’t visit. I wished that the author hadn’t made it seem as if the cartel were operating near the park. The town of Boquillos, in Mexico, overlooks the park. It is so far from a town in Mexico, that its residents have to get their supplies and gas from the US side. The border was closed after 9-11, but has been reopened to visitors. You must have your passport when you cross back over, Recently, we visited and had lunch. We were rowed across the Rio Grande River in a boat. Then, we road donkeys into town. We had excellent food and shopped at the curio stands in town.

The story is interesting so I can’t be objective as I was hypervigilant about mistakes.

[CW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second installment of the Sonny Hawke series. Reavis Wortham does an amazing job of weaving a thriller set in far West Texas. His prose paint a vivid picture of both the region and it's people. Without giving too much in the way of spoilers, this book has Sonny Hawke, a Texas Ranger, going out to Big Bend National Park to investigate a triple homicide. While out there hunting for clues, he soon finds that he is the one being hunted. This book is a true page turner and is action packed throughout. If you haven't read this book (or the first in the series, Hawke's Prey), then I highly recommend you go out and get it today. This book is a stand alone book and it is not necessary for you to have read the first book, but the first book will give you a little background on the protagonist and his family. This book would be a great one to read by the pool or on a relaxing summer vacation.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts off in Big Bend National Park when four hikers are brutally ambushed by a sniper. Only one survives to report the murders. Sonny Hawke goes there with his horse Red to investigate and before he knows it, he's in the same sniper's crosshairs. The sniper lured Sonny for revenge when Sonny killed his brother in the first book. Sonny is wounded and stranded in the harsh desert terrain, hunted, and outnumbered. The cartel also goes after Sonny's family. But they don't know that Herman Hawke and his adopted son Gabe are on the job protecting Kelly and the kids. As you know if you read the previous book that the bad guys don't have a chance. Texas Rangers are family and they protect their own. If you enjoyed watching Walker Texas Ranger, you will definitely love reading this series. The book was great. It was full of action, fast moving and as always a big bang ending.

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four hikers are ambushed deep in Big Bend National Park. Sonny Hawke and his wife were supposed to be there as well, but missed the hike. As Sonny travels to investigate these deaths, he is lured deeper into the wilderness and then wounded. On the run, far from cell phone and satellite phone coverage, he must keep himself alive until his friends figure out how to rescue him. This is a beautifully written book with lyrical descriptions of the back country. Never mind the adrenaline-soaked adventure of Sonny and his friends trying to rescue him and track down the bad guys. And these are some serious bad guys, members of the Coyotes Rabiosos (Rabid Coyotes), two of whom are descendants of Geronimo, not to mention the Syrian-born sniper who has his own reasons for killing Sonny. For readers of C.J. Box or anyone who loves the outdoors.

[John Rumery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Sonny Hawke #4 then reversed field and read this immediately. So I knew some of the characters. Like #4, the setting, storytelling and folksy humor was pretty good.

This Texas Ranger is a tough dude that gets beat up pretty regularly by bad guys but always gets 'em in the end. He has a loyal cadre of followers that pop up at the just the right time.

In this book, I did find his family to be very annoying. Especially his kids. Yes, I know kids do dumb things, but his daughter takes the cake on dumb. "Don't open the door" "Why, we are safe" Immediately attacked by some bad hombres.

She almost snap chatted her life away.

If you like right winning over wrong, and bad guys getting frontier justice, Sonny Hawke and his posse of Texans will serve it up hotter than a jalapeno tamale.

[Patty Nobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hawke’s War” is the latest addition to Reavis Wortham series featuring the formidable Texas Ranger, Sonny Hawke. Sonny is out with his horse Red trying to make sense of the recent murders of his lifelong friends, when he himself is shot. Sonny understands he is in the fight of his life after he takes a tumble off a cliff and is kidnapped by someone who wants him dead. With the help of Sonny’s father, the Sheriff and his team mates the search for Sonny becomes a battle for life and death. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wild ride...or read

Sonny Hawke is hunted by cartel members as well as ISIS. Caught in the Big Bend back country, the action never slows down for a minute as the bad guys continue their vicious chase, kidnapping Sonny and winding up in Mexico, coming close to opening up an international incident. This is a book you can't put down. I personally appreciate that the language was not ruined by the f word, proving that a good book doesn't require smutty language. Can't wait for Sonny's Revenge, the next installment in the series. I will say, I hope Sonny and Kelly have a come to Jesus meeting with their impulsive son and somewhat entitled device-addicted daughter. Even Kelly should have had the sense not to post her planned activities. It got three of their friends killed, not to mention those tasked with protecting them. Hoping they get wiser in the next book!

[Daniel Linnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the series I feel is a solid 4 stars. The first book I rounded up from 3.5 stars. Wortham develops Sonny's local group of crime fighters further and gives each character a little more color. The story in Hawke's War is well thought out and executed. I especially appreciated the setting of Big Bend National Park since I have never been personally. Again, Sonny is not presented as an invincible character that cannot be beat. He is a humble character that knows his limits, even at times bordering on despair in his thought.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy Howdy! Don't mess with Texas!...I was introduced to Texas Ranger, Sonny Hawke in the "Die Hard"-ish "Hawke's Prey" in which our modern Lone Ranger thwarts a major terrorist attack in his hometown...In "Hawke's War" we pick up the mastermind wreaking vengeance against the whole Hawke family...It all starts when four hikers are brutally ambushed by a sniper in Big Bend National Park...A very Zane Grey-like melodrama, but I'm a simple guy and I do like Wortham's good triumphs over evil in these Sonny Hawke thrillers!

[Doug Yonce · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Hawke’s friends are shot down by a sniper, he realizes that he has the real target. So off he goes to hunt down the sniper (and become a target himself). When he gets shot, the story deteriorates into a chase-escape-chase-escape cycle until Hawke is rescued and the bad guys (stereotyped Middle Easterners, Mexican cartel members, and native Americans) are eliminated. I received an advanced digital copy through #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Craig Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would liken this series to books by James Lee Burke combined with Bobby Lee swagger. Once the reader is up to speed on what happened in previous stories the action in Hawke's War is exciting and a quick read. The only issue I had is that a normal man would probably not successfully live through all that Hawke did.

[Janet Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Big Bend region of Texas, Texas Ranger Sonny Hawke is once again in the midst of a vicious plot, this one involving revenge against his own family. Lots of bad guys, nonstop action on the US/Mexican border but with just enough of the good folks from both sides to prevail. Suspense and much fun!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a couple of Wortham's books before and chose this one because it is set in Big Bend. I had visited Big Bend for the first time earlier this year and used this book to revisit it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will read more Wortham. Sonny Hawke is a bad-ass Texas Ranger, and I love a cowboy with a sense of humor.

[Doug Sundseth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

This book had several well-done action scenes and good character work. But the plot was choppy and dominated by a plot in which the protagonist was a prisoner. In addition, there were several sections that strained credulity, both based on physiology and psychology, and based on coincidence/information availability.

Not Wortham's best work.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sonny Hawke sure lives an exciting and dangerous life! Another great action packed tale from Reavis Wortham!!!

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reavis Wortham writes another violent yet engrossing story.

[Bubba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Stuff

Exciting adventure and danger with plenty of gun play. Well written story with interesting characters. I'm looking forward to the book in this series!

[Jinianne Gorg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started out good, but deteriorated quickly.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep ‘em coming !

The second book in this series does not disappoint. Action on almost every page. I will keep reading them if you keep writing them!

[JC McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these ranger stories set in the Texas panhandle.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced and deadly

[HARRY Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non stop, action from several perspectives