James R. Hannibal

James R Hannibal has written one high-speed roller coaster of a tale, so be sure to make yourself a snack when you settle in with this one, because it was impossible to put down.

In Talia Inger, he has crafted an extraordinary heroine: brave, smart, and damaged enough to have some serious trust issues. Which, as it turns out, may not be a terrible thing as a CIA officer, because accompanying her on this ride is a brilliant cast of characters that you will love – and hate to distrust. On top show more of that, who CAN she trust – her new donut-loving boss who resides in a basement-dwelling department titled “Other”, the civilian “consultant” she has been tasked to work with, the brilliant aerospace tech genius she is sent to assess, or the mentor who brought her into the CIA?

“The job was to complete the mission.” Jordan looked her in the eyes. “We serve a greater good. And sometimes that responsibility mandates a broken rule. Sometimes it demands sacrifice.”

Hannibal has crafted some truly memorable characters, likable despite knowing most of them are criminals. My favorite characters were the truly genius/mad bomber Darcy and the crew’s wheelman and pilot Mac, a Scottsman with a hearty appetite and a wicked smart brain. However, all the characters were vividly drawn and more complex than I expected. The bond between CIA tech geek/hacker Eddie and Talia is strong. Eddie’s nerd humor provides a quirky and fun comic relief against the tension of the novel.

And does it move! This is a story with layers, and you really can’t tell who is playing who. They set out to outwit the assassin Lukon by pretending to be Lukon and his team and steal- but who is pretending? Above all, who IS Tyler, and whose side is he on? What really is the game at hand?

“So we’re not just stealing the hypersonic designs. If we move fast, we’ll be hijacking Lukon’s team before he can hire them.”

The story was exciting from beginning to end. It’s replete with evasive chases, a bevy of amazing tech from spy gadgetry to planes that fly in the mesosphere (which I had to Google, I was so intrigued), plenty of cleverly planned explosions, insane stunts, and a down-to-the-last-minute operation using a Russian ekranoplan. The latter also necessitated a Google search to figure out if it was a plane or a ship. (Hint: it’s kind of both.) From Talia’s super cool Inspector Gadgetesque sunglasses to Eddie’s tiny drone (named “Sibby”), the story had as many fun details as it did action scenes.

Talia watched her phone disappear. “My whole life was on that thing.”

“And now it’s on your new one. Along with a few bonuses. Everything the modern spy needs – camera, maps, voice recorder, sat phone, translator-“

“Can I shoot someone with it?”

Underlying the main plot arc is Talia’s backstory. Her father died in a horrible car accident which she survived, leaving her an orphan who bounced in and out of foster homes. The trauma left her with phantom pain in her side when she is anxious, and caused her subconscious to block most of the memory. There’s something about his death that now makes her think there is more to it than what she knew, and signs appear that make her wonder if the mission she is working has ties to her father’s death.

The Gryphon Heist is also a story about redemption and forgiveness. Tyler’s character delivers a message about the difference in doing things for the purpose of morality versus the greater good. It’s not a message you would expect to find in an action-driven spy thriller replete with bombs going off everywhere and machine guns, but there you are.
Confession: I haven’t read anything in the true spy genre for a while. THIS was the most fun I’ve had with the genre since my Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan days. The book’s dry humor and banter remind me of Robert Ludlum’s The Road to Gandolfo – a longtime favorite.

The book ties up the main plot neatly while leaving an opening for the next book in the Talia Inger series, Chasing the White Lion. This next entry will be released in March 2020 and a few teaser chapters have been included!!
If you are looking for a fast-paced spy thriller that will keep you guessing, has engaging, likable (even though you shouldn’t) characters, and a bit of DEPTH to it, too, you’re going to want to read The Gryphon Heist. show less

While Elysium Tide is not a perfect book, it is a very interesting one. Dr, Peter Chesterfield relies on his not inconsiderable intellect to control all areas of his life, He has an acerbic tongue and little patience with those who he doesn't view as meeting his high standards. This leads to his enforced hiatus in Hawaii, after his lack of people skills lands him in hot water one too many times. And he finds himself, accidentally, in the middle of a murder mystery.

Initially he treats it as show more an intellectual puzzle. Things get interesting as the people he meets, notably the cop, Lisa, and the resort doctor, Tuna, challenge his atheistic outlook on life. A near-death experience challenges him further to examine his life.

Everything about him, even his faith journey, is intellectual. While fascinating, it does lack somewhat in creating an affinity with the reader. The mystery itself, is a fast-moving adventure, but short on emotional connection. At the end of the story, the mystery is satisfactorily wrapped up, but the personal issues are just beginning to develop. I will be interested to see where it goes in future books.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. show less

Ben Calix is at the top of the game as a spy with the Company, a US spy agency that is super secret. Until he’s not. After a botched mission, Ben is cut off and has no idea why. With super-villains tracking him, his own teammates abandoning him, and the Director who he reveres keeping silent, Calix makes it his new mission to save the world and prove his innocence. The Paris Betrayal is pure adrenaline-laced action that will appeal to those who love a good spy novel. This reader soon show more became deeply engaged with Ben’s plight, hoping against hope that his spy-craft would keep him alive as he sought to redeem himself. Action-packed, on the surface this novel is a rousing good read. But if you look a little deeper you will see parallels to the Book of Job. I actually discovered the connection after about 30 pages — I snuck a peek at the back of the book. The Author’s Note details the inspiration for the the character and the story line. I found it very inventive, as well as a great what-if of Job’s life in the modern-day world. I also included it as a the book club portion of my Faith and Fiction Bible study. My group had fun discussing the book in light of what we had studied the previous weeks. The book has few references to faith, but its Christian worldview shines through. I very much enjoyed the wild ride I took with Calix. I would love another book starring Ben, Clara, and the intrepid Otto (the cutest dog in fiction this year 🙂 .

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Revell and LibraryThing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

What an amazing conclusion to the Lightraider Academy trilogy! Kudos to James R. Hannibal for creating this rich, complex world from a board game. I have never played the game but the books make me want to investigate it so relive the adventure again.

The trilogy needs to be read in order because it is one continuous fast-paced, faith-driven battle against the dark force. Faith lessons that the Lightraider cadets learn from the masters ring true and are very applicable. The cadets, once show more again, go out on missions two by two and I enjoyed getting to know Aaron and Samar who are newer characters to the plot. The romance between Connor and Kara is sweet, protective, but fraught with doubt because they are constantly pulled apart by various missions. Connor, Teegan, Kara, Lee, and Zel's third person voices mingle with Valshadox the dragon's voice to create a panoramic view of this epic final battle of good triumphing over evil.

It's a bit of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter set in a world of dragons and supernatural powers. It's a powerful allegory with unforgettable characters - a must-read if you're a fan of YA fantasy. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Enclave Escape via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own. show less