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lynguy1's review
5.0
Steven Konkoly’s first book in the Devin Gray series is disconcerting, suspenseful, and action-packed. It has aspects of both political and military thrillers as well as a conspiracy thriller. Devin Gray is a counter surveillance expert and a former FBI agent. When his mother, Helen Gray dies, she’s a disgraced former CIA officer and viewed as paranoid and unstable, even by Devin. However, when he finds what she has left behind, he enlists help from a long-time friend, Marnie Young, and a team of covert operatives. They need hard evidence before taking this shocking information to others. Devin’s mission becomes searching for a way to destroy a covert network in the United States and to prove his mother’s claims and clear her name.
As always, this author brings characters to life, especially Devin and Marnie. They’re intelligent, patriotic, self-confident, strong, and bold. However, they also have some shortcomings that readers find as the story progresses and their natures and backstories become known to readers. It was also great to visit with old friends from the Black Flagged series.
The prologue is a strong start to the novel with action, strength, and heartbreak. However, it took a while to determine how it fit into the rest of the story, which takes readers from Washington DC to multiple US states. This novel kept me captivated from the first page to its astonishing conclusion, which sets up the next book in the series but leaves several threads open that left me wanting more.
The plot is deeply involved with several twists to the story, although many of the activities are over-the-top. It was so full of action and excitement that it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. I was kept fully invested in the mission becoming a success. But is that what happens?
Konkoly continues to bring great characters, entertaining story lines, and lots of action together in exhilarating novels. Certain aspects of Devin’s character were especially gratifying when compared to some of the covert operatives. The gripping scenes and great plot kept me on the edge of my seat. Konkoly has become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more from him.
Overall, this book was suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced, action-oriented, and highly entertaining. It was an exhilarating first book in the series and I’m looking forward to reading the next book soon. If you enjoy intriguing action, military, and espionage thrillers that have strong male and female characters, then this may be the series for you.
Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was February 1, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.5 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
As always, this author brings characters to life, especially Devin and Marnie. They’re intelligent, patriotic, self-confident, strong, and bold. However, they also have some shortcomings that readers find as the story progresses and their natures and backstories become known to readers. It was also great to visit with old friends from the Black Flagged series.
The prologue is a strong start to the novel with action, strength, and heartbreak. However, it took a while to determine how it fit into the rest of the story, which takes readers from Washington DC to multiple US states. This novel kept me captivated from the first page to its astonishing conclusion, which sets up the next book in the series but leaves several threads open that left me wanting more.
The plot is deeply involved with several twists to the story, although many of the activities are over-the-top. It was so full of action and excitement that it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. I was kept fully invested in the mission becoming a success. But is that what happens?
Konkoly continues to bring great characters, entertaining story lines, and lots of action together in exhilarating novels. Certain aspects of Devin’s character were especially gratifying when compared to some of the covert operatives. The gripping scenes and great plot kept me on the edge of my seat. Konkoly has become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more from him.
Overall, this book was suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced, action-oriented, and highly entertaining. It was an exhilarating first book in the series and I’m looking forward to reading the next book soon. If you enjoy intriguing action, military, and espionage thrillers that have strong male and female characters, then this may be the series for you.
Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date was February 1, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.5 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
madscarlson22's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
isaacrm's review
3.0
I’m giving this one 3 stars because is a bait novel to get you to buy into the coming series.
There, I said it. This book doesn’t have an ending because they want you to read the entire series. Too bad. I’m not going to.
The book is action packed and entertaining like a thriller should be. There’s a little bit of everything, mystery, romance, action, etc. If you’re into thrillers, and you think you can get into a series, you should read this book. If you’re looking for a stand-alone novel, this book is not for you.
There, I said it. This book doesn’t have an ending because they want you to read the entire series. Too bad. I’m not going to.
The book is action packed and entertaining like a thriller should be. There’s a little bit of everything, mystery, romance, action, etc. If you’re into thrillers, and you think you can get into a series, you should read this book. If you’re looking for a stand-alone novel, this book is not for you.
bettywoj's review
4.0
Excellent read and held my interest throughout. Enough detail without going overboard. Enjoyable plot twists. Looking forward to reading Coming Dawn this fall.
fotoshopguy52's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars. Entertaining and certainly frightening in its possibilities and ramifications, but somewhat uneven in its pacing, as I found some passages to be plodding, leaving me less engaged in the story. Even so, worth the read if you don't mind an incomplete story that will not be complete until the next novel(s) in the series.
liberrydude's review against another edition
4.0
The typical formulaic thriller in which the lead off action is about a character we will never meet again. Still I needed a book that would grab my attention and mandate turning the pages. Binge page turning. It succeeded.
I’d read another conspiracy thriller series by Konkoly and enjoyed it. This was no different except instead of high tech moguls it’s the Russians with sleeper agents embedded during the Cold War. Second and third generation Russians who have risen to power posItions within the government, industry, and military- all indoctrinated through an annual summer camp. Fast paced action in Baltimore, DC, Tennessee, and the Ozarks. With a conspiracy and plot this portentous there’s no resolution. Just a skirmish in a war and onto further volumes in the series for resolution.
I’d read another conspiracy thriller series by Konkoly and enjoyed it. This was no different except instead of high tech moguls it’s the Russians with sleeper agents embedded during the Cold War. Second and third generation Russians who have risen to power posItions within the government, industry, and military- all indoctrinated through an annual summer camp. Fast paced action in Baltimore, DC, Tennessee, and the Ozarks. With a conspiracy and plot this portentous there’s no resolution. Just a skirmish in a war and onto further volumes in the series for resolution.
abibliofob's review against another edition
5.0
First review of 2022. I started the year with Deep Sleep by Steven Konkoly. It's a brand new series featuring Devin Gray. I found this book really great and well written with a terrifying storyline. I am a big fan of the tv show The Americans and if you like me liked it you will love this book. This book has its share of suspense, intrigue, action and thrills. I am really looking forward to see where Konkoly will bring my new hero and his band of miscreants. Hats of to you sir for once again coming up with a set of characters to my liking. I will recommend this to anyone who will listen to me. I have to thank @netgalley @amazonpublishing and #Thomas AndMercer for giving me this advance copy of #DeepSleep by #StevenKonkoly #NetGalley
emd14223's review
I have a stressful job and I just needed something with less plot
christinecasey's review
2.0
DNF. How I made it through 64% of this book, I’ll never know. I guess I’m not into Russian spy thrillers. Or maybe I’m just not into THIS Russian spy thriller.