The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
echitchins's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
realelife's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jkellyjr's review
4.0
From Vanished to Vigilante: The emergence of the man without fear, Ben KoenigâŚâŚ
Book Information
âFearlessâ is written by the renowned English crime writer M.W. Craven. Spanning 416 pages, the book is scheduled to be published on July 11, 2023. The audiobook version, narrated by William Hope, has a runtime of 11 hours and 10 minutes. Craven is well-known for his notable contributions to the crime fiction genre, including the popular Washington Poe series and the DI Avison Fluke series. In 2019, his novel The Puppet Show received the esteemed Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award. Thanks to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an Advance Readers Copy of this book for review.
Summary
Ben Koenig, the enigmatic former leader of the US Marshal's Special Operations Group, vanished without a trace six years ago. Untraceable and forgotten, he became a ghostly figure, drifting from place to place, leaving no footprint behind. But now, the man who no longer exists is thrust into the spotlight as someone from his past launches a relentless pursuit to find him.
In a high-stakes game of revenge, Ben is coerced into a mission he cannot refuse. A town called Gauntlet, nestled in the scorching Chihuahuan desert, holds a dangerous secret, and its inhabitants will stop at nothing to protect it. With his unique condition that renders him immune to fear, Ben is a force to be reckoned with.
As his face graces every television screen in the nation, it's tempting to dismiss Ben as just another drifter. However, underestimating him would be a grave mistake. Gauntlet's hidden powerbrokers have shed blood before and will do so again, but little do they know that Ben Koenig is about to become their worst nightmare.
My Thoughts
A gripping debut in an electrifying new series, Fearless is an adrenaline-fueled roller coaster you won't want to get off. If you're a fan of Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne, or Jack Bauer, you will undoubtedly love Ben Koenig. As the first book in this series, Fearless introduces us to a well-written story with a great set of characters, full of surprises and twists.
Told in the first person, the story unfolds through Koenig's perspective, allowing readers to unravel the plot and think through the mysteries alongside him. Koenig has a unique personality. He is cocky but also has a head full of random thoughts and facts. This personalizes him and adds a touch of quirkiness, even amidst the action-packed moments, often leading to a laugh or two. He also has a rare disorder that renders him incapable of feeling fear. Despite his disorder, Koenig is relatable due to the little details that Craven includes, such as his love for chocolate milkshakes and unwavering devotion to family and friends.
Fearless strikes a good balance with a compelling, intriguing storyline, thrill-ride action, and necessary violence (at least for this kind of story). The book maintains a good pace, with an involved plot and gripping action scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. Craven's attention to detail and impressive research contribute to the believability and realism of the story. That is not to say that there are parts where believably and probability arenât stretchedâeven to their limitâbut thatâs what makes a fictional thriller. Extraordinary events require extraordinary circumstances.
The standout aspect of Fearless for me is the development and depiction of Ben Koenig, which sets the stage for exciting follow-up novels in this series. The supporting characters also play significant roles and add depth to the story. As a reader, there is a lot to like here and much to look forward to in the future installments of this series, given the strong foundation laid by this book.
In the audiobook rendition of Fearless, narrated by William Hope, his performance is exceptional. Striking a delicate balance, Hope skillfully avoids both underperforming and overacting, a challenge often encountered in this genre. With finesse, he captures the full range of emotions and experiences of the characters, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the novel.
Recommendation
âFearlessâ is a thrilling ride filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twistsâa must-read for fans of Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne, or Jack Bauer. With its engaging plot, excellent character development, and impressive attention to detail, I highly recommend it.
Rating
4 Chocolate Milkshake Stars
Book Information
âFearlessâ is written by the renowned English crime writer M.W. Craven. Spanning 416 pages, the book is scheduled to be published on July 11, 2023. The audiobook version, narrated by William Hope, has a runtime of 11 hours and 10 minutes. Craven is well-known for his notable contributions to the crime fiction genre, including the popular Washington Poe series and the DI Avison Fluke series. In 2019, his novel The Puppet Show received the esteemed Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award. Thanks to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an Advance Readers Copy of this book for review.
Summary
Ben Koenig, the enigmatic former leader of the US Marshal's Special Operations Group, vanished without a trace six years ago. Untraceable and forgotten, he became a ghostly figure, drifting from place to place, leaving no footprint behind. But now, the man who no longer exists is thrust into the spotlight as someone from his past launches a relentless pursuit to find him.
In a high-stakes game of revenge, Ben is coerced into a mission he cannot refuse. A town called Gauntlet, nestled in the scorching Chihuahuan desert, holds a dangerous secret, and its inhabitants will stop at nothing to protect it. With his unique condition that renders him immune to fear, Ben is a force to be reckoned with.
As his face graces every television screen in the nation, it's tempting to dismiss Ben as just another drifter. However, underestimating him would be a grave mistake. Gauntlet's hidden powerbrokers have shed blood before and will do so again, but little do they know that Ben Koenig is about to become their worst nightmare.
My Thoughts
A gripping debut in an electrifying new series, Fearless is an adrenaline-fueled roller coaster you won't want to get off. If you're a fan of Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne, or Jack Bauer, you will undoubtedly love Ben Koenig. As the first book in this series, Fearless introduces us to a well-written story with a great set of characters, full of surprises and twists.
Told in the first person, the story unfolds through Koenig's perspective, allowing readers to unravel the plot and think through the mysteries alongside him. Koenig has a unique personality. He is cocky but also has a head full of random thoughts and facts. This personalizes him and adds a touch of quirkiness, even amidst the action-packed moments, often leading to a laugh or two. He also has a rare disorder that renders him incapable of feeling fear. Despite his disorder, Koenig is relatable due to the little details that Craven includes, such as his love for chocolate milkshakes and unwavering devotion to family and friends.
Fearless strikes a good balance with a compelling, intriguing storyline, thrill-ride action, and necessary violence (at least for this kind of story). The book maintains a good pace, with an involved plot and gripping action scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. Craven's attention to detail and impressive research contribute to the believability and realism of the story. That is not to say that there are parts where believably and probability arenât stretchedâeven to their limitâbut thatâs what makes a fictional thriller. Extraordinary events require extraordinary circumstances.
The standout aspect of Fearless for me is the development and depiction of Ben Koenig, which sets the stage for exciting follow-up novels in this series. The supporting characters also play significant roles and add depth to the story. As a reader, there is a lot to like here and much to look forward to in the future installments of this series, given the strong foundation laid by this book.
In the audiobook rendition of Fearless, narrated by William Hope, his performance is exceptional. Striking a delicate balance, Hope skillfully avoids both underperforming and overacting, a challenge often encountered in this genre. With finesse, he captures the full range of emotions and experiences of the characters, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the novel.
Recommendation
âFearlessâ is a thrilling ride filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twistsâa must-read for fans of Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne, or Jack Bauer. With its engaging plot, excellent character development, and impressive attention to detail, I highly recommend it.
Rating
4 Chocolate Milkshake Stars
lattemommyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sjyudelson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hampshirebooklover's review against another edition
Finished at 25% and Iâm gutted but just wasnât for me! I know itâs not Poe and Tilly so wonât be the same but I just couldnât connect. That said hubby read it and loved it and gave it 5 stars
toellandback's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I've been looking forward to this one as I love the Tilly/Poe series from the same author, however this one - the start of a new series - is very different.Â
The main character, Ben Koenig, is ex-US Special Ops, however six years ago he disappears from existence after something goes wrong on an op only to suddenly find himself on America's Most Wanted List.Â
Koenig is a highly intelligent, seemingly indestructible killing machine and when a friend asks a big favour, he'll stop at nothing to succeed.Â
Maybe my expectations were too high or the American setting was not really my thing, but i did struggle a bit with this one. Quite a complex story, plenty of American acronyms (which are admittedly explained once) and the almost perfect main character just left me a bit flat. That said, the lesser characters are varied and interesting enough and there are enough twists for the reader to wonder whats coming next.Â
A decent read if you've not read the Tilly/Poe series.
The main character, Ben Koenig, is ex-US Special Ops, however six years ago he disappears from existence after something goes wrong on an op only to suddenly find himself on America's Most Wanted List.Â
Koenig is a highly intelligent, seemingly indestructible killing machine and when a friend asks a big favour, he'll stop at nothing to succeed.Â
Maybe my expectations were too high or the American setting was not really my thing, but i did struggle a bit with this one. Quite a complex story, plenty of American acronyms (which are admittedly explained once) and the almost perfect main character just left me a bit flat. That said, the lesser characters are varied and interesting enough and there are enough twists for the reader to wonder whats coming next.Â
A decent read if you've not read the Tilly/Poe series.
ranjkrish88's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25