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John Gilstrap

Author of Nathan's Run

39+ Works 2,635 Members 104 Reviews 3 Favorited

About the Author

John Gilstrap is the acclaimed author of Nathan's Run and AT All Costs, both of which were selections of the Literary Guild. A former firefighter and EMT, he is an explosives-safety expert and an environmental engineer. He lives with his wife and son in Virginia. (Bowker Author Biography)

Includes the name: John Gilstrap

Image credit: Mary Beth Gibson

Series

Works by John Gilstrap

Nathan's Run (1996) 399 copies
No Mercy (2009) 311 copies
At All Costs (1998) 277 copies
Hostage Zero (1888) 175 copies
Even Steven (2000) 164 copies
Threat Warning (2011) 138 copies
Scott Free (2002) 136 copies
Damage Control (2011) 114 copies
High Treason (2013) 101 copies
Against All Enemies (2015) 75 copies
Friendly Fire (2016) 75 copies
End Game (2014) 75 copies
Crimson Phoenix (2021) 74 copies
Final Target (2017) 66 copies
Scorpion Strike (2018) 59 copies

Associated Works

Watchlist: Two Serial Thrillers in One Killer Book (2010) — Contributor — 320 copies
The Chopin Manuscript: A Serial Thriller (2007) — Contributor — 235 copies
The Copper Bracelet: A Serial Thriller (2009) — Contributor — 91 copies
Six Minutes to Freedom (2006) 38 copies
Reader's Digest Select Editions 2001 v01 #253 (2001) — Author — 32 copies
X-Files: Secret Agendas (The X-Files (Prose)) (2016) — Contributor — 16 copies
Hardboiled Horror (2017) — Contributor — 15 copies

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Birthdate
1957
Gender
male
Nationality
USA
Education
College of William and Mary

Members

Reviews

Harm’s Way by John Gilstrap
Jonathan Grave #15

Missionary stories were big when I was little and at one point I thought it might be interesting to be one. I have since reconsidered and if I had not done so, this book would definitely make me never want to take my chances in a mission field!

What I liked:
* Jonathan “Digger” Grave: intelligent, lethal, committed to causes that require a special type of black ops operative, caring, wealthy, gives back, rights wrongs, sees the bigger picture
* Brian “Boxer” Van de Muelebroecke: big, quiet, lethal, good friend and lethal colleague of Digger who works with him to right the wrongs, quirky sense of humor, can fly anything
* Gail “Gunslinger” Bonneville: brilliant, ex-FBI HRT member, ex-sheriff, bright, capable, vigilant, talented, lethal, and part of the team doing secretive things with Boxer and Digger
* Venice “Mother Hen” Alexander: mother, daughter, hacker extraordinaire, gets lost when working, intriguing, great asset to the team that can provide anything required anywhere
* Jesse “Torpedo” Montgomery and his father Davey “Chief” Montgomery: strong ties though love-hate relationship that rears its head from time to time, both capable and necessary on this op
* Irene “Wolverine” Rivers: Director of the FBI, hires Jonathan and his team for the ops they undertake, a bit of a dark horse but seems to be on the side of what is right
* Max Greenwich: on the mission trip to appease his brother Mikey, intelligent, able to see the trouble they were in when kidnapped, strong, resilient, smarter than many of the missionaries he was with
* That the plot seemed relevant to current affairs
* That it made me think, care about the outcome, and wish that things were different in our current chaotic political climate

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the bad guys and wondering why they made the choices they did…
* Knowing I have to wait for the next book in the series – the teaser has me eager to read the book

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, though it had a bit of a sad ending
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Pinnacle for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars
… (more)
½
 
Flagged
CathyGeha | Sep 30, 2023 |
Jonathan Grave and his trusty right hand, Boxers, are asked by a former commander to run down a former member of their old unit who's gone rogue, murdered several CIA agents and leaked classified information. When they locate their former comrade the story he tells them is too crazy to believe. Someone is plotting to overthrow the US government by a series of high-level assassinations. But their former comrade in arms is convincing.
What follows is an action-packed, pyrotechnic thriller in the hills of West Virginia.
I like Gilstrap's characters, the humor he infuses his stories with, and the way he moves his plot along. While, here, his heroes never seem to be in any real danger, the story is satisfying.
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Flagged
MugsyNoir | 1 other review | Jul 19, 2023 |
White Smoke by John Gilstrap
Victoria Emerson #3

Good fiction is believable, draws the reader in, and makes them feel a part of the story – this series does just that. I am not sure if this is the final book in a trilogy or if there will be more books to look forward to.

What I liked:
* Victoria: politician, widow, mother, prepper, convinced that good will overcome evil, willing to do what is difficult, not always easy to understand her thinking but admired her and wondered if I could/would do what she did
* Adam, Caleb, and Luke Emerson: sons of Victoria, well trained by their parents, grew up quickly, capable, strong, intelligent and lethal
* Major McRea: a good man, strong sense of duty, widow, stalwart, protective, strategic thinker, grounds Victoria and provides balance
* The plot, pacing, writing, and conclusion…if it is the conclusion
* That it made me think, care, feel, and wonder what skills I would have to offer if in a similar situation after a nuclear war and how I would act and react
* Getting to see how the Ortho community was doing and how those at the annex fared – definitely would have preferred to be in Ortho!
* Wondering what will happen next in the lives of the Emersons, the lives they come in contact with, and the rest of the world
* All of it really…except…

What I didn’t like:
* Parsons and his posse and how wickedly evil they were
* Thinking about how easily society can devolve
* Contemplating government and how it does-doesn’t benefit society

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars
… (more)
 
Flagged
CathyGeha | 1 other review | Feb 28, 2023 |
This series continues to impress. Unlike other "end of world" series Gilstrap focuses on the political side and the positive. The main character, Senator Victoria Emerson, decided at the last moment not to enter the government bunker during an eminent nuclear strike because her sons were not to be allowed in with her: select government personnel only. She and her family, along with the two military officers whose final duty was to deliver her to the bunker, take off in an attempt to get as far out of DC as possible before the missile hits. They find refuge in a small town and Victoria's down-to-earth, common sense leadership skills take center stage. It's not her intent to lead this community but it does seem to be her calling. Those left in the world are frightened, some to the point of violence and cruelty others to get what they need and others who will cower and concede just to live another day. Victoria doesn't believe it needs to be this way and a peaceful society can be rebuilt through a lot of hard work and cooperation.

The second half of the story has been those government officials tucked safely away in their bunker with all their needs being met, but no way to interact with or help the survivors, and their petty in-fighting believing they still hold a position of power.

This third book brings Victoria back to the bunker away from the "Eden" she's helped build. The security of the bunker has been pierced by a group of marauders who take for themselves and terrorize others for what they have. Parsons is the leader of these marauders and has made himself judge, jury and executioner of the remaining members of Congress. Victoria and her loyal followers aim to bring peace and justice to their holdout and the refugees surrounding it.

Again, I truly enjoy this series not just for the action and survival stories but the morality and focus on what it would take to truly rebuild a society and for the better. The characters and setting are so well presented they are nearly tangible.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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Flagged
she_climber | 1 other review | Feb 14, 2023 |

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Statistics

Works
39
Also by
19
Members
2,635
Popularity
#9,748
Rating
½ 3.7
Reviews
104
ISBNs
192
Languages
11
Favorited
3

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