Into the Fire

Hard Duty by JB Turner is Book 13 in A Jon Reznick Thriller Series.

Jon's thinking about heading for Florida from his home in Maine when he receives a message from the CIA's Fran Petersen. What he learns from her is the description of an off-the-books mission to neutralize a former high-ranked CIA man who's become a traitor to America providing highly classified documentations of operatives in foreign countries and the operations of the CIA around the globe to the Russians for significant money and deep protection. The hardest part is the requirement that he can only use two other people for the op with a timeline of one week. In spite of how ridiculous and impossible it sounds, knowing things like this with a savvy opponent takes weeks and lots of operatives to pull off successfully, he knows the two guys he needs to make this at best possible.   

Trevelle Williams, his intel and IT genius, is first on the list. After finding him still in mourning for his murdered girlfriend, Jon apologizes for asking him if he's available to help him. However, Trevelle figures it's what he needs to do, and he's in. The next man is the wild Scottish former operator Mac McCafferty who can't believe the audacity of the plan but decides he's in. 

Finding the traitor is a major trial once they end up in the Middle East, and once they find him, he seems to disappear. Jon blasts Trevelle with the trouble this is causing, and Trevelle can't believe what's responsible for the problems. Finally, Trevelle masters the various interferences and manages some intricate ways to better gauge where the man is and what his plans are. The added strain is his security, none other than several of the vicious Wagner mercenaries. 

Mac and Reznick come up with a plan – and nothing is easy – and it falls apart at the last minute due to unforeseen collateral damage to civilians. Their mission is to neutralize the one man – and if his security ends up dead in the process, that's acceptable. 

Their frustrations mount and the brainstorming accelerates. When time and location are at a critical point, the two of them decide to do one last plan after Trevelle sets up the only thing he can suggest. 

JB Turner has made Jon Reznick a unique and fascinating character whose patriotism is a no-holds-barred loyalty to this country he's defended as a former Delta operator, with the CIA black-ops, and as an FBI employee/consultant. There are no rules for Jon Reznick when on a mission. "Failure is not an option." Hard Duty has a slew of thrilling moments toward the end of this chaotic, unsettling op. No doubt that readers will experience those "No way!" moments or a rising heartbeat reading them. 

I highly recommend this series because JB has made Jon a bit different as the thriller hero. He's hardened, he eats Dexedrine like candy at times to up his game, but there's that part of him that will sacrifice everything for those he loves and the country he honors. Warning for some readers: there is considerable profanity at times. 

Father, you know JB and all that he needs and does. Please continue to bless him with the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.