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lynguy1's review
4.0
Cold Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann is a suspenseful, gripping, and intense crime thriller set in Reykjavik, Iceland. This is the second book in the Finn series. Four months after the night in Yemen Finn is still trying to remember what happened and whether he is guilty of the crime. Wanted for questioning in connection to war crimes, he is after answers from three members of his former team who have been deployed to Iceland. However, things don’t go smoothly.
Finn is a well-developed character with courage and resilience. He is self-sufficient, a keen observer, and has trust issues. However, he is also experiencing memory lapses. This increases the impact and intrigue as the story unfolds. There is a wide range of supporting characters that provide conflict and interest.
What a prologue and first chapter! Stunning and heartbreaking, the story started out strong, but got even better as the characters became better known and the action amped up. An excellent pace kept this reader fully engaged. Moments of introspection in between action scenes give a fantastic insight into both Finn’s and Krista’s thoughts, behaviors, and actions towards others. This book has a solid plot, diverse characterization, and great atmosphere. It was interesting to see how Finn approached investigations as Krista Kristjansdottir, the main detective in the story, also investigated. The story was also thought-provoking and I found myself asking how much a person can take before giving up. I also learned a little about Iceland and its history. While the ending brings the reader closure on most things, one important item isn’t fully resolved. This novel shines light on law enforcement, the military, betrayal, death, murder, memory loss, corruption, and much more.
Overall, this is a well-plotted and brilliantly executed story with characters that felt emotionally rich. It has exciting scenes and a larger-than-life antagonist in an unsettling thriller that chills you to the bone at times. It’s a riveting tale that keeps readers turning the pages from start to finish. Those that enjoy crime thrillers, military thrillers, and police procedurals will likely enjoy this novel. It was not a light read, but it was well written and atmospheric. It works as a stand-alone novel, but book one in the series will give readers more depth and background. With high stakes, great characterization, and plenty of action in this series; I am looking forward to seeing what is next for Finn.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Brandon Webb, and John David Mann provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 7, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Finn is a well-developed character with courage and resilience. He is self-sufficient, a keen observer, and has trust issues. However, he is also experiencing memory lapses. This increases the impact and intrigue as the story unfolds. There is a wide range of supporting characters that provide conflict and interest.
What a prologue and first chapter! Stunning and heartbreaking, the story started out strong, but got even better as the characters became better known and the action amped up. An excellent pace kept this reader fully engaged. Moments of introspection in between action scenes give a fantastic insight into both Finn’s and Krista’s thoughts, behaviors, and actions towards others. This book has a solid plot, diverse characterization, and great atmosphere. It was interesting to see how Finn approached investigations as Krista Kristjansdottir, the main detective in the story, also investigated. The story was also thought-provoking and I found myself asking how much a person can take before giving up. I also learned a little about Iceland and its history. While the ending brings the reader closure on most things, one important item isn’t fully resolved. This novel shines light on law enforcement, the military, betrayal, death, murder, memory loss, corruption, and much more.
Overall, this is a well-plotted and brilliantly executed story with characters that felt emotionally rich. It has exciting scenes and a larger-than-life antagonist in an unsettling thriller that chills you to the bone at times. It’s a riveting tale that keeps readers turning the pages from start to finish. Those that enjoy crime thrillers, military thrillers, and police procedurals will likely enjoy this novel. It was not a light read, but it was well written and atmospheric. It works as a stand-alone novel, but book one in the series will give readers more depth and background. With high stakes, great characterization, and plenty of action in this series; I am looking forward to seeing what is next for Finn.
Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Brandon Webb, and John David Mann provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for June 7, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
marilynw's review
4.0
Cold Fear (Finn Thrillers #2)
by Brandon Webb, John David Mann
Finn is a disgraced former Navy Seal who is on the run, wanted for horrible war crimes. Finn's memory is faulty, traumatic events have caused his mind to block out happenings from his youth and from the day atrocities were committed in Yemen. He knows that at least one corrupt Seal is after him and Finn is after some of the corrupt Seals who committed the crimes for which he's being blamed. You don't have to read the first book in this series to enjoy this one but doing so will give you a better understanding of Finn, his memory problems, and how parts of the Yemen incident are slowly coming back to him. Things happening now are triggering a return of some of his memories of just how deep the corruption among the Seals runs.
Finn is an amazing man. He's small, odd looking, about the last person you would think could perform all the rigorous feats required to become a Navy Seal. But Finn's mind, intelligence, and heart have driven Finn to get the most out of his body. When he's not being hampered by PTSD flashbacks, Finn can't be beat. He thinks he knows his enemy, the man chasing him, and he knows he is in danger. He also knows the men he is chasing and it's their weaknesses that he will use against them.
I don't always enjoy military thrillers but I've enjoyed the books in this series. Finn is a character that I want to follow and want to understand better. Also, the side characters are interesting and I hope to see one or two of them again in another book. But I know not to get too attached to anyone who comes in contact with Finn because the dangerous people that surround him will stop at nothing and no one is safe.
Pub: June 7th 2022
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley for this ARC.
by Brandon Webb, John David Mann
Finn is a disgraced former Navy Seal who is on the run, wanted for horrible war crimes. Finn's memory is faulty, traumatic events have caused his mind to block out happenings from his youth and from the day atrocities were committed in Yemen. He knows that at least one corrupt Seal is after him and Finn is after some of the corrupt Seals who committed the crimes for which he's being blamed. You don't have to read the first book in this series to enjoy this one but doing so will give you a better understanding of Finn, his memory problems, and how parts of the Yemen incident are slowly coming back to him. Things happening now are triggering a return of some of his memories of just how deep the corruption among the Seals runs.
Finn is an amazing man. He's small, odd looking, about the last person you would think could perform all the rigorous feats required to become a Navy Seal. But Finn's mind, intelligence, and heart have driven Finn to get the most out of his body. When he's not being hampered by PTSD flashbacks, Finn can't be beat. He thinks he knows his enemy, the man chasing him, and he knows he is in danger. He also knows the men he is chasing and it's their weaknesses that he will use against them.
I don't always enjoy military thrillers but I've enjoyed the books in this series. Finn is a character that I want to follow and want to understand better. Also, the side characters are interesting and I hope to see one or two of them again in another book. But I know not to get too attached to anyone who comes in contact with Finn because the dangerous people that surround him will stop at nothing and no one is safe.
Pub: June 7th 2022
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley for this ARC.
pickles027's review
4.0
Chief Finn is back and searching for answers. Last we saw Finn, he was on his way back to the US on an aircraft carrier, which was an amazing setting for a book. Finn is an amazing character with a shadowy past and even shadowier present. This adventure finds Finn in Iceland and on the trail of some of his former SEAL teammates. Yet, as the story unfolds, Finn gets pulled into a local murder mystery that will require the use of his special skills. I enjoyed diving deeper into Finn's past and this story is filled with new interesting characters. It also has more twists and turns than the first book. Overall, this is a great next step and I can't wait to see where Finn will end up next.
sheska_meroba's review
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I tried to give this one a shot but it’s just not my type of book, although I feel like it would be a good one for people who enjoy crime thrillers.
I tried to give this one a shot but it’s just not my type of book, although I feel like it would be a good one for people who enjoy crime thrillers.
reburkah's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really enjoy the writing style of these books and will happily read the next one!
tkiley's review
4.0
Another enjoyable thriller from this pair of nonfiction writers. I really appreciate how the nonfiction instincts and past of the two authors influences the work. In the first book in the series Steel Fear, the authors added a lot of information about aircraft carriers. Here, they present a detailed portrait of Iceland. There are two competing plots. First, Finn returns to continue his search for answers from his forgotten past. Iceland is also dealing with a dead woman found underneath the ice of a pond. These plots remain mostly separated throughout the book, but the book moves quickly enough that it is not that much of an issue. I found a lot of the book to be very thrilling, especially the conversations between Finn and Detective Krista. Overall, a very enjoyable and different thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review of the book
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review of the book
sg911911's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
cactuscab's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0