Into the Fire

The Rescue by Steven Konkoly is Book 1 in the Ryan Decker Series. 

Former CIA operative Ryan Decker is shockingly released from a 10 year prison term after serving just two years for his part in a tragic failed rescue of a US Senator's daughter from a sex-trafficking kidnapping ring on the day he was scheduled to testify in court. Not only was the senator's daughter killed, other young women and most of Decker's team died in the massive explosion at a remote home. Besides the young women and most of his team, the families of his men were annihilated as were Decker's wife and son, all of it being blamed on the Russian mob and Ryan Decker for his decisions. He has one remaining daughter (Riley) who has been removed from his life by his wife's sister.

Reeling from the sudden change in events and suspicious of the fact that he was dropped off without any information about his release, Decker realizes after being set up to take the fall for the failed rescue, he is now going to be eliminated before he can figure out this high level conspiracy. Added to his heightened awareness, an unlikely source of help proves to be highly informed of his situation and remarkably talented at what she does. Since Decker is now the primary target of an unknown adversary, he needs all the help he can get while not really wanting to put any more people's lives in danger.

The Rescue is a fascinating tale of high-tech pursuits, conspiracies, massively expensive gadgets and endeavors, with truly ugly, psychopathic antagonists determined to protect their perverted desires and the super-sized bank accounts their evil "business" produces by disposing of anyone who gets in their way. Under the guise of "do-gooding", the leader of this pack has government people on his payroll and figures he can manipulate anyone he needs to serve his purpose.

Steven Konkoly provides some fascinating action, close calls, escapes, impressive subterfuge, and a boatload of expensive devices designed to discover how all of the tragic event came to be and to bring it to a decisive halt. When betrayal becomes a possibility, Decker can't accept the possibility but must explore it.

With Konkoly's elite military background to propel the action and accessories, this story proved to be highly entertaining even if at times the events and "lodgings" seemed unbelievable and the author became the narrator. Here's the thing, though, I don't really doubt the existence of any of it, and I'm totally engaged. Although not a cliffhanger because the ending was not neat and tidy, it does set the stage for Book 2 in the Ryan Decker Series.

Profanity was included but kept at a minimum.

(Side note: there are a number of Amazon 1-star reviews, mixed in with the 5-stars, for this novel berating the plot and the writing using blatant insults, as most 1-star reviewers do.)   

Father, thank you for all of your writers and authors who address good and evil honestly. Please let them know that you're the source of their talent(s) and gifts. Please continue to bless Steven and his family. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.