Ryan Steck

Received as part of the Early Reviewer program, but unfortunately for me, this book sat on my bookshelf for 6 months. Finally got to it last night and it was so good I finished it last night.

Matt Redd, the main character is right up there with some of the best thriller heroes. This action packed novel had two threads that the author skillfully brings together in a fantastic conclusion. Redd is dealing with a king simmering feud with a outlaw biker gang while also on the hunt for a show more bioterrorist who wants to reduce the world’s population through destroying most of the world’s cereal grains.

I read the first book in the series, Fields of Fire some time ago and forgot how good the author and his characters are. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next in series, as well as seeing what the author does as he is taking over the Ted Bell Hawke series following the author’s death. show less

I picked this up primarily due to the publisher (Thomas Nelson, a Christian publishing house) and the back-cover copy. It sounded like next-level Joel Rosenberg, upping the ante a bit.

It upped the ante, for sure--and for me, at least, not always in a good way. I assumed that the publisher name attached to it meant it would be clean, from language, most alcohol, etc. ... unfortunately, that was not the case, so I'm setting aside as a DNF due to my own personal content policy.

There were show more multiple uses of "h___"--I could overlook one or two given context, but that got old quickly as well as proved unnecessary. Multiple references to getting laid or drunk, as well, were--to me--over the top (and in the case of the alcohol, downright triggering now that I no longer drink). Disappointing, again, based purely on my own experience and expectations with Thomas Nelson as a publishing company.

Steck is a talented author with a lot going for him; the book was definitely interesting, and I would have kept reading except for the noted missteps given what I was personally (not) looking for.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. show less

Ryan Steck’s second thriller featuring ex-marine and current FBI fly team contractor, Matthew Redd, opens with the team tracking down Redd’s nemesis and wanted FBI fugitive, Anton Gage, supposedly in hiding off the coast of Spain on the island of Majorca. With visual ID tentative but voice ID positive, Redd assaults the villa without his boss’ authorization and discovers the team was set up and a Gage double was there in place of Gage. The raid was a botched operation. Redd ends up show more suspended without pay and heads home to his family in Montana.

On the flight home his good friend Mikey calls to alert him that Redd’s wife, Emily, was just terrorized by a ruthless gang of bikers on the highway while driving their ill son to the doctor. Unhurt but shaken she didn’t want Redd to know of the scary encounter. Redd’s past history with the bikers however was the reason for the encounter with Emily and the beginning of numerous personal problems Redd would face throughout Lethal Range.

Redd, who clearly has anger management issues that affect his behavior and judgment, goes after the bikers by himself and in his first encounter is lucky to get out of the altercation with just a bruise or two. He is not so lucky in future altercations that include several descriptive action scenes that affect Redd, his friends, his father, and two fight-to-the death battles with the sociopathic bikers. While Redd’s attempts to take out the bikers are the primary focus of the book the author deftly works our fugitive bioterrorist, Anton Gage, into the storyline by bringing him back to Montana to recreate a deadly chemical spore intended to ruin the entire wheat crop in America’s heartland—over 40 million acres. The hundreds of bikers would be his source to move thousands of drones into position to disperse the chemical. Redd’s final battle, now with his FBI fly team and local law enforcement on hand, with the bikers leads him to Gage and a last second chance to foil his plot—and that of the mysterious group knows as the Twelve who were financing the operation. No doubt the Twelve will be at the heart of the author’s third Matthew Redd thriller.

Finally, the frontmatter of my copy of Lethal Range included a dozen or so blurbs from the thriller genre’s most recognized heavyweight authors. Their enthusuastic quotes, plus those from the publishing industry’s most respected review sources, make Lethal Range a must read book for fans of high octane thrillers. Now I hope my blood pressure will soon be back to normal levels! show less

This is my first Ryan Steck book and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was enough of a back story that I didn't feel like I was missing something from the first book and enough action to keep me hooked. The characters are well written and you can feel their emotions. My one bother was the over the top fight scenes that is so brutal but still Matt was able to get up and walk away. Did it add to the excitement of the story....yes...but still it left me saying Oh come on. That said show more I'm still giving it 5 stars because the story is that good. It is a fast paced read and I could not wait to find out how it all turned out. If you like action thrillers then this is a great book to read.

I received this from LibraryThing Early Reviewers and it is my honest opinion. show less