Thrillers & Suspense
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Dead Fall: A Thriller (22) (The Scot Harvath Series)
Lethal operative Scot Harvath is dispatched to avenge the killing of American citizens abroad in #1 New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brad Thor's new pulse-pounding thriller.
In the war-ravaged borderlands of Ukraine, a Russian mercenary unit has gone rogue. Its members, conscripted from the worst prisons and mental asylums across Russia, are the most criminally violent, psychologically dangerous combatants to ever set foot upon the modern battlefield.
With all attention focused on the frontlines, they have pushed deeper into the interior to wage a campaign of unspeakable barbarity. As they move from village to village, committing horrific war crimes, they meet little resistance as all able-bodied men are off fighting the war.
Simultaneously, a team of Russian soldiers has been dispatched by the Kremlin to loot truckloads of art and priceless cultural treasures hidden away in a host of churches, museums, and private homes.
When multiple American aid workers are killed, America's top spy, Scot Harvath, is sent in to settle the score. But in a country so vast, will Harvath be able to find the men in question and, more importantly, will he be able to stop them before they can kill again?
In the war-ravaged borderlands of Ukraine, a Russian mercenary unit has gone rogue. Its members, conscripted from the worst prisons and mental asylums across Russia, are the most criminally violent, psychologically dangerous combatants to ever set foot upon the modern battlefield.
With all attention focused on the frontlines, they have pushed deeper into the interior to wage a campaign of unspeakable barbarity. As they move from village to village, committing horrific war crimes, they meet little resistance as all able-bodied men are off fighting the war.
Simultaneously, a team of Russian soldiers has been dispatched by the Kremlin to loot truckloads of art and priceless cultural treasures hidden away in a host of churches, museums, and private homes.
When multiple American aid workers are killed, America's top spy, Scot Harvath, is sent in to settle the score. But in a country so vast, will Harvath be able to find the men in question and, more importantly, will he be able to stop them before they can kill again?
Editorial Reviews
"No one in the business does political thrillers quite like Thor...DEAD FALL is an important, intensely brutal and exciting read that is not to be missed." ― Book Reporter
"This book has it all - spies, tradecraft, espionage, and geopolitics." -- Fred Burton, New York Times bestselling author of GHOST
"DEAD FALL drips with danger, depravity, and daring deeds." ― Best Thriller Books
"Thor brings the fireworks like never before." ― The Real Book Spy
"[Brad Thor] changes the game in DEAD FALL and ratchets the action and suspense to a new level." ― Wharton Journal-Spectator
"It's not only Thor at his best, but Thor testing his own, and Harvath's, boundaries. Refreshing for any novel, but especially a thriller. This is heady stuff, brilliantly conceived and wondrously realized." ― BookTrib
"This book has it all - spies, tradecraft, espionage, and geopolitics." -- Fred Burton, New York Times bestselling author of GHOST
"DEAD FALL drips with danger, depravity, and daring deeds." ― Best Thriller Books
"Thor brings the fireworks like never before." ― The Real Book Spy
"[Brad Thor] changes the game in DEAD FALL and ratchets the action and suspense to a new level." ― Wharton Journal-Spectator
"It's not only Thor at his best, but Thor testing his own, and Harvath's, boundaries. Refreshing for any novel, but especially a thriller. This is heady stuff, brilliantly conceived and wondrously realized." ― BookTrib
Readers Top Reviews
DavidJTravelers MRSh
Mr. Thor has given us an exciting thriller. He has woven three stories into one book. The beauty in his writing is the stories while unique all are connected. I really enjoyed reading this book. It is fun read and I like how Mr. Thor continues to grow and evolve the Scot character. I read all of the Scot series and looking forward to #23.
Laurel S.
I have read all of Brad Thor’s novels, and this one will not disappoint any of his fans. I love the way Thor makes the missions fit into our current political/world events. Ukraine and Russia are on the forefront of our minds and as we are all concerned about the irrationality and instability of Russian leadership, it was easy to relate to this fast moving, action packed plot! Wow! What a rollercoaster ride!
Pops
I liked this one as well as any of Brad Thor’s books. It has a nice balance of action and story development. Brad’s experience and skill shows through like his protagonist , Scott Horvath. It’s hard to believe this is the 22nd book in the series. It still delivers first rate entertainment. Having the Ukraine as the backdrop just adds to the interest.
RRS
Oh my word! I kept reading this from the moment it came out only stopping to go to work. I particularly liked reading it because it was about the atrocities of what are happening today in Ukraine. I really believe that its a story but it's based on what is probably going on daily there and more people will be aware of it since a very popular author has written about it. Brad Thor has been a great story teller and author and I think this will help bring some of the atrocities that are reaching higher levels to more people and possibly do more good. I can hardly wait to see where Brad goes with Scot's character next. His is one of the few books I actually purchase.
SirReadalot
Deadfall opens with the Ukrainian war as the backdrop, as Scot Harvath is sent in alone to rescue an American hostage from a group of brutal war criminals whose barbaric methods are reminiscent of Isis. Harvath immediately has to battle the realities of the war in Ukraine to get to his team of Ukrainian Foreign Service volunteers, and with no supplies to speak of, sets out on a mission to hunt down and neutralize a force approximately 10 times the size of their own, and rescue the hostage. First off, this novel had more meat to it than the previous few. The extra pages were very much appreciated. Second, Thor’s research for this novel shines throughout, giving color to Harvaths escapades, and deservedly shining a light on the resilience and fortitude of the Ukrainian people. I highly recommend this book!
Short Excerpt Teaser
Prologue PROLOGUE
KHARKIV OBLAST, UKRAINE
TUESDAY
The children ran for their lives. Those who could, fled into the woods. Those who couldn't-the smaller and the sickest among them-were forced to take up hiding places inside. The adults tried to convey calm, but it was wall-to-wall panic. And rightfully so. The monsters were coming.
In the basement of the abandoned Soviet-era tuberculosis hospital, via a decrepit passageway punctuated by broken light fixtures, rusted pipes, and puddles of fetid water, was the kitchen. And in that kitchen was the best answer the orphanage had been able to come up with for its most complicated problem.
An old pantry had been outfitted like a chicken coop. Its shelves had been taken over by wooden nesting boxes pre-staged with bedding. The few blankets that could be spared had been tacked to the walls to help deaden any sound. A run-down refrigerator with a false back hid the entrance of the pantry from view.
Each of the infants inside had been given an emergency ration of formula. The toddlers, many of whom were suffering from colds and flu, had been given small pieces of bread soaked in tea and dabbed with a little bit of honey. Anything to keep them quiet. It was imperative that they maintain absolute silence.
With all able-bodied men at the front, the entirety of the orphanage staff, save for its eighty-year-old custodian, was female. There was no one available to fight for them. They would have to look out for themselves.
Weeks' worth of discussions over what to do if this moment ever came had given birth to a plan. Everything about it-the running, the hiding, all of it-was extreme, but absolutely necessary. One of the evilest tendrils of the war was about to slither in and wrap itself around their throats.
The children had practiced taking deep, quiet breaths. Those with respiratory issues had been given pillows to cough into, but only as a last resort. Their hope for survival now rested not in their numbers, but in their ability to remain invisible.
Anna Royko, who had been at the orphanage for only a few months, had insisted on taking watch. She was an American of Ukrainian descent.
Born and raised in Chicago, the twenty-five-year-old had been deeply affected by the suffering she had seen coming out of Ukraine. When news broke that the Russians had bombed a children's hospital and maternity ward in Mariupol, she could no longer sit by. She had to do something.
After emailing her resignation to the law firm where she worked, she booked a one-way ticket to Poland, as martial law had been declared in Ukraine and commercial air traffic had been suspended.
She spent a week knocking on doors and visiting various aid organizations across Warsaw before one finally took her on board.
Though she had zero experience working for an NGO and even less experience operating in a war zone, it was her fluency in Ukrainian that proved too valuable to pass up.
The group that hired her was a small humanitarian organization focused on getting much-needed supplies to the hardest-hit orphanages throughout Ukraine. The position paid next to nothing, would require grueling hours, and was extremely dangerous. So much so that there were reams of waivers she was required to sign.
The good they were doing was unquestionable and so, keeping her inner lawyer in check, she moved rapidly through the paperwork. After signing and initialing where indicated, she started work the very same day.
What Anna saw on her first trip into Ukraine ripped her heart out. The misery, the desperation, the horrific conditions the children were living in… all of it. The only thing that gave her hope was the heroism of the adults who were risking everything to take care of them.
As the war ground on, the situations at the orphanages grew more dire. No matter how quickly she and her colleagues returned with supplies, there was never enough. It was like showing up as the Titanic was slipping under the icy water only to toss out pool noodles. Watching people slowly die, especially children, wasn't why she was there.
She had come to Ukraine to help ease people's suffering, if not to somehow reverse it. But when she and her team arrived at an orphanage for special needs children in the southern city of Mykolaiv-halfway between Odesa and Kherson-something inside her snapped. The building had been bombed and completely destroyed.
As badly as the supplies from Poland were needed, being a glorified delivery driver was no longer enough for her. She had to do more.
Remembe...
KHARKIV OBLAST, UKRAINE
TUESDAY
The children ran for their lives. Those who could, fled into the woods. Those who couldn't-the smaller and the sickest among them-were forced to take up hiding places inside. The adults tried to convey calm, but it was wall-to-wall panic. And rightfully so. The monsters were coming.
In the basement of the abandoned Soviet-era tuberculosis hospital, via a decrepit passageway punctuated by broken light fixtures, rusted pipes, and puddles of fetid water, was the kitchen. And in that kitchen was the best answer the orphanage had been able to come up with for its most complicated problem.
An old pantry had been outfitted like a chicken coop. Its shelves had been taken over by wooden nesting boxes pre-staged with bedding. The few blankets that could be spared had been tacked to the walls to help deaden any sound. A run-down refrigerator with a false back hid the entrance of the pantry from view.
Each of the infants inside had been given an emergency ration of formula. The toddlers, many of whom were suffering from colds and flu, had been given small pieces of bread soaked in tea and dabbed with a little bit of honey. Anything to keep them quiet. It was imperative that they maintain absolute silence.
With all able-bodied men at the front, the entirety of the orphanage staff, save for its eighty-year-old custodian, was female. There was no one available to fight for them. They would have to look out for themselves.
Weeks' worth of discussions over what to do if this moment ever came had given birth to a plan. Everything about it-the running, the hiding, all of it-was extreme, but absolutely necessary. One of the evilest tendrils of the war was about to slither in and wrap itself around their throats.
The children had practiced taking deep, quiet breaths. Those with respiratory issues had been given pillows to cough into, but only as a last resort. Their hope for survival now rested not in their numbers, but in their ability to remain invisible.
Anna Royko, who had been at the orphanage for only a few months, had insisted on taking watch. She was an American of Ukrainian descent.
Born and raised in Chicago, the twenty-five-year-old had been deeply affected by the suffering she had seen coming out of Ukraine. When news broke that the Russians had bombed a children's hospital and maternity ward in Mariupol, she could no longer sit by. She had to do something.
After emailing her resignation to the law firm where she worked, she booked a one-way ticket to Poland, as martial law had been declared in Ukraine and commercial air traffic had been suspended.
She spent a week knocking on doors and visiting various aid organizations across Warsaw before one finally took her on board.
Though she had zero experience working for an NGO and even less experience operating in a war zone, it was her fluency in Ukrainian that proved too valuable to pass up.
The group that hired her was a small humanitarian organization focused on getting much-needed supplies to the hardest-hit orphanages throughout Ukraine. The position paid next to nothing, would require grueling hours, and was extremely dangerous. So much so that there were reams of waivers she was required to sign.
The good they were doing was unquestionable and so, keeping her inner lawyer in check, she moved rapidly through the paperwork. After signing and initialing where indicated, she started work the very same day.
What Anna saw on her first trip into Ukraine ripped her heart out. The misery, the desperation, the horrific conditions the children were living in… all of it. The only thing that gave her hope was the heroism of the adults who were risking everything to take care of them.
As the war ground on, the situations at the orphanages grew more dire. No matter how quickly she and her colleagues returned with supplies, there was never enough. It was like showing up as the Titanic was slipping under the icy water only to toss out pool noodles. Watching people slowly die, especially children, wasn't why she was there.
She had come to Ukraine to help ease people's suffering, if not to somehow reverse it. But when she and her team arrived at an orphanage for special needs children in the southern city of Mykolaiv-halfway between Odesa and Kherson-something inside her snapped. The building had been bombed and completely destroyed.
As badly as the supplies from Poland were needed, being a glorified delivery driver was no longer enough for her. She had to do more.
Remembe...
