2022s
Hey, look, I’m dying in another book! Thank you, sir! đ twitter.com/david_jwe…
My review of Ryan’s debut novel: www.retrophisch.net/2022/09/0… đ twitter.com/RyanSteck…
Retrophisch Review: Fields of Fire
The best conspiracy theories contain an element of truth, and the best novels containing conspiracies do as well. Such is the case with Ryan Steck’s Fields of Fire, the debut novel from the founder of The Real Book Spy, one of the Web’s go-to resources for thriller lovers.
Matthew Redd is doing not only what he loves, but something he is good at as well: being a Marine Raider, part of the tip of the spear that is America’s special operations forces. With nods to the characters of Vince Flynn, Lee Child, Brad Taylor, and others, Redd is a hard-charging Marine with a heart of gold, both thanks to his adoptive father, J.B. But while gearing up for the takedown mission of a scientist-terrorist, Redd is deceived by the person he helps out on the side of the road, and the result is his being disgracefully drummed out of his beloved Corps. To make matters worse, he emerges from the stockade to find out J.B. has died.
Redd sets off to his home in Montana, to the small town and open spaces he hasn’t been around in for close to a decade. He finds himself at odds with his neighbor, the son of a BigTech billionaire, learns his high school sweetheart has returned, and can’t square the messages he’s getting about J.B.’s death with the man himself. Not getting any help from local law enforcement, Redd sets out to get answers using the skills taught to him by J.B. and the Marine Corps.
Ryan Steck enters an already crowded thriller field, but brings something fresh and new in the story of Matty Redd. As not only a lover of the thriller genre, but a student, Steck has learned his lessons well and crafted a solid debut. Incorporating bits of real life, such as the Georgia Guidestones and Bill Gates buying up farmland, albeit in this case his fictitious tech billionaire being the buyer, Steck weaves a conspiracy of global proportions into the rough-and-tumble locale of Big Sky life in Montana.
Steck signed a two-book deal with his publisher, and the next novel is easily but convincingly set up at the conclusion of this one. As an adoptive father myself, I could feel J.B.’s pain and pride as Redd recounted lessons his dad had taught him. I also enjoyed the carefully-laid plot twist. If you are a lover of the thriller genre, this is a great read to add to your library.
4/5 phins, a solid debut
Amazon: Kindle, Hardcover
Barnes & Noble: Hardcover
Indiebound: Hardcover
Mike is completely correct. mikestone.me/but-are-t…
I’m so happy there’s new Whitecross music. twitter.com/darkstarr…
I’m so happy there’s new Whitecross music. twitter.com/PastorWil…
The college football season is upon us, which means I’m changing the accent color in macOS from my usual green to purple… #nerd #GeauxTigers
Finished “Fields of Fire,” @RyanSteckAuthor’s debut, last night. Well done, sir.
If you like thrillers, you should definitely pick this up when it’s released a week from now. www.amazon.com/dp/149646… đ
Released in the summer of 2020, in the heart of Covid-19 uncertainty, and featuring past and present members of the band, here’s Sacred Warrior’s awesome metal version of “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand”: youtu.be/B7pX0ovqS…
Would watch. twitter.com/SocialSee…
Based on an actual life event that happened to me today, @bekindtobignate and I have decided our next band name will be Dental Implant, and our debut album will be titled “Screwed Into My Skull.”
On the plane ride home Sunday, finished Heat 2 by @MegGardiner1 & @michaelmann, literally as the plane stopped at the gate. While we waited to deplane, started on my ARC of @TheRealBookSpy’s Fields of Fire.
“What, you started another book, just like that?” asked my wife.
“Yep.”
Speaking of All For the King, this is the song that introduced me to them, and it remains my favorite of theirs: youtu.be/cc_sCQc1A…
The moniker “legend” gets thrown around quite a lot, but Nicholas Winton is the epitome of the word. What a man. twitter.com/valaafsha…
The drive today was shorter, but may have been more stressful. AL->GA (Atlanta metro, ugh)->SC (most of the highway under construction)->NC (where no one gets out of the left lane. Ever.)
But we made it, tried @Bojangles, & reunited with my bride, who flew in. Move-in tomorrow!
There’s a new episode of The Empowered Parent Podcast out, and we’re talking about open adoptions. empoweredparent.podbean.com/mobile/e/…
Today was spent on the road in four states, as I drive with our oldest to North Carolina where he starts as a freshman at High Point University on Monday. Leg #2 of the trip tomorrow, move-in on Saturday! @HighPointU
This is the most metal cover Stryper has had since the original To Hell with the Devil art, and honestly, I think it beats even that. twitter.com/Stryper/s…
If you don’t smile at least once during this video, I have to question if you have a soul. Just delightful.
Glad to see these young men having so much fun with their talent. Well done, gents. twitter.com/AdamRuthe…