Into the Fire

From Costa Rica to New York to St. Lucia to the Philippines to North Korea, L.T. Ryan introduces his Bear Logan Thriller Series with Ripple Effect followed by Blowback.

Riley "Bear" Logan is a, well, bear of a man. Large and not easy to hide. However, in spite of his size, he's remarkably quick and well-versed in all the "spy" training even though he often works with Jack Noble in clandestine assignments which don't register on anybody's legal records anywhere. Though both have previously worked for "the government", they no longer abide by any formal restrictions. 

In Ripple Effect they were assigned to kill one rogue Congressman who had his greasy fingers in drug operations in Costa Rica. What they didn't know about was a government implant into this man's operation designated to take him into custody rather than to take him out. When Jack and Bear and this undercover operative learn of each other's mission, after much ado, they finally work together to do what needs to be done. What was supposed to be a simple in-and-out execution turned into an elaborate chaotic struggle with an unknown someone on the inside making it extremely difficult and dangerous to complete.

After the operation when the "Thorne" in the flesh was discovered, Daniel Thorne proved his arrogant competence was slick enough to cause both Jack and Bear to separate and get lost for a while. And the undercover government implant turned out to be the attractive and skilled "Sadie" who returned to the CIA when the operation was concluded. 

In Blowback Jack was off to who knew where, and Bear went to St. Lucia where he met and became friends with a couple who owned the bar and eatery where he often hung out. When tragedy strikes, Bear winds up in prison for the crime he didn't commit and when he tries to lie low on the weird inside jail heirarchy, he's rescued by none other than Daniel Thorne. 

Knowing he can never trust the man, Thorne cons him into making another rescue which turns out to be two problems and neither one is even remotely simple to solve, ultimately concluding in North Korea. Prior to his NK adventure, he contacts an old buddy in the Philippines to get him and one problem out of St. Lucia who eventually helps him with a friend who will transport Bear to the NK border. 

Both novels are chaotic thrillers, complex maneuvering stories, plenty of clandestine double-crosses, lots of old friends who go way back helping their brothers-in-arms from long ago. 

L.T. Ryan takes his time developing Bear Logan. He's underplayed in Ripple Effect but established for his cool-under-pressure character and slightly less inclined to go off on a wild tangent than his partner Jack Noble. But whenever Jack Noble is in the picture, he's the dominant force, the scene stealer. I lost track of where I left off with the Jack Noble stories. I'd gladly start where I left off once I remember where that was. Bear is a good character but we'll see how notable he becomes in the third installment Takedown.  

Some profanity.

Father, you lavish gifts and talents on your creation. Thank you for L.T's abilities to construct amazing stories. May he know the One who's blessed him. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.