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Scot Harvath #22
Dead Fall
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 military 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 mercenaries 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 is sent in to settle the score. But in a country almost the size of Texas, 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 military 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 mercenaries 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 is sent in to settle the score. But in a country almost the size of Texas, 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?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2023
About the author
Brad Thor
68 books6,859 followersBRAD THOR is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-four thrillers, including SHADOW OF DOUBT, BLACK ICE (ThrillerFix Best Thriller of the Year), NEAR DARK (one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of the Year), BACKLASH (nominated for the Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year), SPYMASTER (“One of the all-time best thriller novels” —The Washington Times), THE LAST PATRIOT (nominated Best Thriller of the Year by the International Thriller Writers Association), and BLOWBACK (one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” —NPR).
SHADOW OF DOUBT is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
SHADOW OF DOUBT is on sale now. For more information, visit BradThor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 565 reviews
September 3, 2023
3'ish stars... a bit better than his last 3 novels.
Don't get me wrong, I love and won't miss a Scot Harvath novel. Thor's political-military action thrillers have always been a go-to so I'll keep reading them but they have been lackluster for a couple of years. I mostly like Dead Fall but I didn't care much for the subplots.
When the war between Ukraine and Russia broke out, 25 year-old lawyer Anna Royko of Ukrainian descent from Chicago could no longer sit back and do nothing and decided to head to the conflict zone.
Attaching herself to an NGO, Anna distributes supplies to various orphanages in need. One particular orphanage for special needs children in Mykolaiv was bombed and clearly needed more help than just supplies.
Couldn't shake the special needs orphanage off her mind, Anna quits the NGO to return to the orphanage against the advice of other volunteers.
Bad decision! Very bad. A Russian savage mercenary unit took her and thus our hero Scot Harvath is called to the rescue. Because the US can't have boots on the ground, it's just Harvath and a handful of local forces.
This is what I like about Harvath!! I need more like this, his badassness.
There are a couple of things that bugged me, one of which Thor included a section about mass rape and Viagra. Wasn't this also claimed by the US Sec of State about Gaddafi that many world organizations including US intelligence looked into and found no evidence? In short, it was BS. Here it is again... a recycled story. I have trouble believing young men away from girlfriends or wives for months/year need Viagra. How about reports that their troops were freezing and starving but whad'ya know... they have Viagra.
So this one is a mix for me but mostly I did enjoy the action, current events, and the main storyline.
Don't get me wrong, I love and won't miss a Scot Harvath novel. Thor's political-military action thrillers have always been a go-to so I'll keep reading them but they have been lackluster for a couple of years. I mostly like Dead Fall but I didn't care much for the subplots.
When the war between Ukraine and Russia broke out, 25 year-old lawyer Anna Royko of Ukrainian descent from Chicago could no longer sit back and do nothing and decided to head to the conflict zone.
Attaching herself to an NGO, Anna distributes supplies to various orphanages in need. One particular orphanage for special needs children in Mykolaiv was bombed and clearly needed more help than just supplies.
Couldn't shake the special needs orphanage off her mind, Anna quits the NGO to return to the orphanage against the advice of other volunteers.
Bad decision! Very bad. A Russian savage mercenary unit took her and thus our hero Scot Harvath is called to the rescue. Because the US can't have boots on the ground, it's just Harvath and a handful of local forces.
This is what I like about Harvath!! I need more like this, his badassness.
There are a couple of things that bugged me, one of which Thor included a section about mass rape and Viagra. Wasn't this also claimed by the US Sec of State about Gaddafi that many world organizations including US intelligence looked into and found no evidence? In short, it was BS. Here it is again... a recycled story. I have trouble believing young men away from girlfriends or wives for months/year need Viagra. How about reports that their troops were freezing and starving but whad'ya know... they have Viagra.
So this one is a mix for me but mostly I did enjoy the action, current events, and the main storyline.
August 10, 2023
The weak end cost this story a star+ Mr. Thor, you're a better writer than that to leave such feebleness published in your story. Show some strength. 5 of 10 stars
August 13, 2023
Brad Thor never disappoints with this Scot Harvath series and the latest novel was no exception. Pulling on geo-political events, Thor’s story resonates with the attentive reader. In newspaper headlines, the story shifts to war-ravaged Ukraine, where a group of Russian military officers has gone completely off the grid. Harvath is sent into help capture them, but finds himself seeing the war from a new perspective. As the bloodshed continues, there is also an American angle to all of it, one that could turn the Russia-Ukraine conflict on its head. Thor dazzles and proves that he is as gritty as ever with this piece.
While the war between Russia and Ukraine rages on, there is a military unit on the Russian side that has gone completed rogue. Cobbled together by some of the most troubled prisoners and asylum patients, their lust for blood and destruction is like no other and stopping them will be extremely difficult.
While the focus is on the frontlines and the geo-political game of chess, this unit moves through the small villages and commits atrocious acts, leaving victims wishing they had died rather than keep the scars that emerge. After a group of American aid workers fall victim to the unit, Scot Harvath is called in to help locate and destroy them, which will force him to creep well behind the battle lines and sneak around to locate the band of rapists and pillagers.
All this while, a bunch of Russian mercenaries are looting valuable pieces of artwork and stealing them, like the Nazis from ages past. Chaos reigns in a country who fought to stand up to the authoritarian dictator in Moscow. This, while the US stands idly by and wonders how it can be spun in their favour. A cabal is seeking to fans the flames and turn this into a political game.
With Harvath trying to stay alive, he will have to dodge some of the most ruthless men he’s ever had the chance to encounter. This is the life that Harvath has come to expect, but even he might have reached his limit, as retirement looks all the more alluring. Brad Thor does what he knows best and keeps the reader in the driver’s seat throughout this piece.
I remember discovering the work of Brad Thor many years ago, which led me to follow him and read each piece as they come off the publication line. Working to form his protagonist into the rough and tumble man he has become, Thor is able to use a strong narrative to push things along and dazzle those who take the time to come for the ride. A handful of returning characters help offer depth to an already great book, while new faces add something to the story as well. The plot lines, many pulled from the headlines, keep the reader engaged and wondering how much is fact. These gritty stories never fail to impress me, as I learn a great deal more than tuning into the news networks or scanning headlines over coffee. Thor does not seem to want to let his protagonist go in a story that has all the elements for continuing the action. Still, one must wonder how the scars and aching joints will catch up to Scot Harvath before too long.
Kudos, Mr. Thor, for another stunning piece of work that has me on the edge of my seat.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com
While the war between Russia and Ukraine rages on, there is a military unit on the Russian side that has gone completed rogue. Cobbled together by some of the most troubled prisoners and asylum patients, their lust for blood and destruction is like no other and stopping them will be extremely difficult.
While the focus is on the frontlines and the geo-political game of chess, this unit moves through the small villages and commits atrocious acts, leaving victims wishing they had died rather than keep the scars that emerge. After a group of American aid workers fall victim to the unit, Scot Harvath is called in to help locate and destroy them, which will force him to creep well behind the battle lines and sneak around to locate the band of rapists and pillagers.
All this while, a bunch of Russian mercenaries are looting valuable pieces of artwork and stealing them, like the Nazis from ages past. Chaos reigns in a country who fought to stand up to the authoritarian dictator in Moscow. This, while the US stands idly by and wonders how it can be spun in their favour. A cabal is seeking to fans the flames and turn this into a political game.
With Harvath trying to stay alive, he will have to dodge some of the most ruthless men he’s ever had the chance to encounter. This is the life that Harvath has come to expect, but even he might have reached his limit, as retirement looks all the more alluring. Brad Thor does what he knows best and keeps the reader in the driver’s seat throughout this piece.
I remember discovering the work of Brad Thor many years ago, which led me to follow him and read each piece as they come off the publication line. Working to form his protagonist into the rough and tumble man he has become, Thor is able to use a strong narrative to push things along and dazzle those who take the time to come for the ride. A handful of returning characters help offer depth to an already great book, while new faces add something to the story as well. The plot lines, many pulled from the headlines, keep the reader engaged and wondering how much is fact. These gritty stories never fail to impress me, as I learn a great deal more than tuning into the news networks or scanning headlines over coffee. Thor does not seem to want to let his protagonist go in a story that has all the elements for continuing the action. Still, one must wonder how the scars and aching joints will catch up to Scot Harvath before too long.
Kudos, Mr. Thor, for another stunning piece of work that has me on the edge of my seat.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com
October 26, 2023
I have read a few Scot Harvath adventures, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to get involved in another one. They are rather “descriptive.”
And…
For those with a rather squeamish stomach like me, this one, may also fall in that category.
But…
This was a recent donation to my Little Free Library Shed…
And…
The premise was so “in the news” current, that I felt intrigued.
In fact, I was so curious, I forgot to list that I was even currently reading it…
I just began to read.
Premise: Anna Royko is an American citizen of Ukrainian descent. She is headed to Ukraine from her home in Chicago where she works as an attorney.
But…
Because of the war, she can only go as far as Poland.
So…
She hooks up with a humanitarian organization to get her into Ukraine. Her concern is about the horrors committed by Russian soldiers targeting women and children.
In the mean time…
The U.S. government has also become aware of the atrocities, and has sent our main protagonist, and all-time hero, Scot Harvath, (America’s top spy) in to do something about it.
Apparently…
Russia’s army has put together a particularly lethal mercenary unit that has gone rogue. Its members are made up of prisoners, sexual deviants and men from the worst mental asylums in the country.
And…
They have been sent to the Ukraine.
Harvath, in his typical fashion goes in without reinforcements or a fully planned-out mission. (BTW, for those who have not followed the Harvath series, this can be read as a stand-alone, but it is better to start from the beginning so you can know and understand the reoccurring characters.)
So…
How will Harvath handle these rogue enemies?
And…
What about the Russian soldiers who are looting the churches, museums and homes?
And…
What happened to Anna?
Everything is personal to Harvath, and no matter what, this is a mission that he will accomplish.
Or will he?
Fast-paced. Brutal. Gruesome. Bloody. Page-turning. Thriller read.
Consider…
Trigger warnings: rape, intense violence, repeated use of foul language.
So…
In conclusion, I think I will retire myself from any future Scot Horvath stories. Even though this story had substance, because he chose to fictionalize the ongoing war in the Ukraine...
Visually it was difficult to read, for all the descriptive reasons I shared above.
And…
I can’t even imagine listening to the horrors of it being read via audiobook.
And…
For those with a rather squeamish stomach like me, this one, may also fall in that category.
But…
This was a recent donation to my Little Free Library Shed…
And…
The premise was so “in the news” current, that I felt intrigued.
In fact, I was so curious, I forgot to list that I was even currently reading it…
I just began to read.
Premise: Anna Royko is an American citizen of Ukrainian descent. She is headed to Ukraine from her home in Chicago where she works as an attorney.
But…
Because of the war, she can only go as far as Poland.
So…
She hooks up with a humanitarian organization to get her into Ukraine. Her concern is about the horrors committed by Russian soldiers targeting women and children.
In the mean time…
The U.S. government has also become aware of the atrocities, and has sent our main protagonist, and all-time hero, Scot Harvath, (America’s top spy) in to do something about it.
Apparently…
Russia’s army has put together a particularly lethal mercenary unit that has gone rogue. Its members are made up of prisoners, sexual deviants and men from the worst mental asylums in the country.
And…
They have been sent to the Ukraine.
Harvath, in his typical fashion goes in without reinforcements or a fully planned-out mission. (BTW, for those who have not followed the Harvath series, this can be read as a stand-alone, but it is better to start from the beginning so you can know and understand the reoccurring characters.)
So…
How will Harvath handle these rogue enemies?
And…
What about the Russian soldiers who are looting the churches, museums and homes?
And…
What happened to Anna?
Everything is personal to Harvath, and no matter what, this is a mission that he will accomplish.
Or will he?
Fast-paced. Brutal. Gruesome. Bloody. Page-turning. Thriller read.
Consider…
Trigger warnings: rape, intense violence, repeated use of foul language.
So…
In conclusion, I think I will retire myself from any future Scot Horvath stories. Even though this story had substance, because he chose to fictionalize the ongoing war in the Ukraine...
Visually it was difficult to read, for all the descriptive reasons I shared above.
And…
I can’t even imagine listening to the horrors of it being read via audiobook.
July 27, 2023
Ooof. I think Brad drank some bad kool-aid before writing this one. He's been so good for so long, I won't give up on him after one bad outing, but here's hoping the next one is back on track.
July 28, 2023
Scot Harvath goes on the rampage in an orgy of justified blood and violence against the Evil Russians(tm) as he rescues an American citizen who has been kidnapped by a rogue Wagner unit. The book is incredibly simplistic and badly conceptualized and written, but who cares? It supports the CIA’s coup in Ukraine… er… I mean the Glorious and Patriotic Ukrainian Freedom Movement(tm), so this book is GREAT!
In this 100% agenda-approved novel commissioned by the US Department of Glorious Pro-Ukraine Proxy War Propaganda (USDGPUPWP), the TOTALLY not corrupt FBI catches some pesky Russian agents, the purer-than-whitest-snow US Government sends a few more billions in weapons to Ukrainian mobsters, and Scot Harvath slaughters some vile PTA moms who dare to question their children’s gender-affirming genital mutilations… oh wait, that’s the NEXT book! Sorry for the spoilers.
Rest assured, readers. Even the wokest fan will approve of this one! I just have one question: who killed Brad Thor, and who is ghost-writing his novels?
Rating: One Glorious Star (tm)
In this 100% agenda-approved novel commissioned by the US Department of Glorious Pro-Ukraine Proxy War Propaganda (USDGPUPWP), the TOTALLY not corrupt FBI catches some pesky Russian agents, the purer-than-whitest-snow US Government sends a few more billions in weapons to Ukrainian mobsters, and Scot Harvath slaughters some vile PTA moms who dare to question their children’s gender-affirming genital mutilations… oh wait, that’s the NEXT book! Sorry for the spoilers.
Rest assured, readers. Even the wokest fan will approve of this one! I just have one question: who killed Brad Thor, and who is ghost-writing his novels?
Rating: One Glorious Star (tm)
December 26, 2023
Thor takes a stab at using Ukraine and Russia in Dead Fall as the hot spot of choice.
Harvath is his splendid self, a war machine of one man. He is assigned a group of four Ukrainians; their mission is to capture an America woman who joined the humanitarian mission in the middle of a terrible war. Captured by the Ravens, she is Harvath’s mission.
The secondary plot back in Washington comes in play but doesn’t quite come to closure at the end, but it works well enough. Thor takes on a tough project and does a good job. -Tom L.
Harvath is his splendid self, a war machine of one man. He is assigned a group of four Ukrainians; their mission is to capture an America woman who joined the humanitarian mission in the middle of a terrible war. Captured by the Ravens, she is Harvath’s mission.
The secondary plot back in Washington comes in play but doesn’t quite come to closure at the end, but it works well enough. Thor takes on a tough project and does a good job. -Tom L.
August 23, 2023
I have been reading Thor's books for quite some time. When I started collecting books Thor was the first author whose books all made it into the collection. As with any relationship there have been some ups and downs. While Thor writes some very entertaining thrillers at one point he started to allow his characters to wonder into political commentary and I took the author to task for abusing his relationship with his readers in that manner. Thor's books are entertainment and political commentary is for another format and a different section of the bookstores. He seemed to get that message and returned to what he does best writing entertaining thrillers. I am giving this book my 4 star rating because Thor has given this reader something he didn't expect from this author. This book is significantly different from all of the previous Horvath series books and this is the 22nd entry in that series. While the book is still an entertaining thriller it is much more and probably Thor's best book to date. Why?
To begin with the story takes place in Ukraine during the presently ongoing war with Russia. As such it is not totally fiction but more historical fiction an area Thor has never traveled in before. Curiously, Thor has fictionalized the name of the Russian president in the book. Why Putin hasn't been identified openly is not mentioned but maybe Thor is concerned about attributing criminal activity to Putin that isn't true, I don't know but it is a glaring fictionalization. As the story develops Horvath is tasked with going to Ukraine to rescue an American woman working at a Ukrainian hospital and orphanage. The woman is taken after the hospital is attacked by rogue Wagner Group mercenaries who torture and kill everybody in the hospital and orphanage including the children. To say the least the book is heavy with combat actions and descriptions of Russian war crime activities to boil the blood of the most timid of readers. The book is very pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia and an argument can be made that this book would be wonderful propaganda for the Ukrainian cause but it's really difficult to think of a reasonable explanation to justify Russia's invasion of that country so if a book like this can help Ukraine that's fine with me. This book, however, has more and it was this that I found surprising and earned that fourth star.
In the course of setting up the story in this book Thor enters into a description of how our foreign and domestic enemies use misinformation and outright lies spread on social media and unscrupulous news outlets to normalize hatred and violence and to divide the people of this country. When these comments were being made I started to wonder if Thor was returning to political commentary and again abusing the trust of his readers. However, when viewed as a whole the issues discussed are non-partisan and apolitical and are stated as a warning to his readers about what is happening today and how they can protect themselves and the institutions of this country. Thor should be thanked for placing these warnings in a format likely to reach people that need to see, read, and hear these things and maybe they'll stop to think and then learn. Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't but it's worth a try because misinformation and its unregulated spread is a disease even more harmful than our recent bout with Covid. This is a very entertaining and informative book but if you're averse to violence or its description you might want to give this a pass but make the effort not to as its worth reading. Enjoy.
To begin with the story takes place in Ukraine during the presently ongoing war with Russia. As such it is not totally fiction but more historical fiction an area Thor has never traveled in before. Curiously, Thor has fictionalized the name of the Russian president in the book. Why Putin hasn't been identified openly is not mentioned but maybe Thor is concerned about attributing criminal activity to Putin that isn't true, I don't know but it is a glaring fictionalization. As the story develops Horvath is tasked with going to Ukraine to rescue an American woman working at a Ukrainian hospital and orphanage. The woman is taken after the hospital is attacked by rogue Wagner Group mercenaries who torture and kill everybody in the hospital and orphanage including the children. To say the least the book is heavy with combat actions and descriptions of Russian war crime activities to boil the blood of the most timid of readers. The book is very pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia and an argument can be made that this book would be wonderful propaganda for the Ukrainian cause but it's really difficult to think of a reasonable explanation to justify Russia's invasion of that country so if a book like this can help Ukraine that's fine with me. This book, however, has more and it was this that I found surprising and earned that fourth star.
In the course of setting up the story in this book Thor enters into a description of how our foreign and domestic enemies use misinformation and outright lies spread on social media and unscrupulous news outlets to normalize hatred and violence and to divide the people of this country. When these comments were being made I started to wonder if Thor was returning to political commentary and again abusing the trust of his readers. However, when viewed as a whole the issues discussed are non-partisan and apolitical and are stated as a warning to his readers about what is happening today and how they can protect themselves and the institutions of this country. Thor should be thanked for placing these warnings in a format likely to reach people that need to see, read, and hear these things and maybe they'll stop to think and then learn. Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't but it's worth a try because misinformation and its unregulated spread is a disease even more harmful than our recent bout with Covid. This is a very entertaining and informative book but if you're averse to violence or its description you might want to give this a pass but make the effort not to as its worth reading. Enjoy.
March 27, 2024
In Brad Thor's Dead Fall, Scott Harvath, and his team are dispatched to Ukraine to find out what
happened to an American aid worker and but there's a more rogue group of Russian mercenaries
have terrorized the countryside and while someone has been looting Ukraine treasures. Brad Thor
always delivers and never fails can't wait to read his next book.
happened to an American aid worker and but there's a more rogue group of Russian mercenaries
have terrorized the countryside and while someone has been looting Ukraine treasures. Brad Thor
always delivers and never fails can't wait to read his next book.
November 2, 2023
Dead Fall by Brad Thor is in my mind the best Scot Harvath book since the first five stories. It is a brutal story of war and warfare today. It is mostly set in Ukraine in the despiccable war started by the russians. Harvath is tasked with solving the problem of what is happening to american aid workers going missing, but that is not all that's missing. Someone is looting Ukraine of its cultural treasures and there is a gang of russian mercenaries gone rogue terrorising the countryside. In other words he has his hands full. I can really understand why the author felt he had to write something about the war. We should not lose focus on what is happening just because the world has gone mad over what is happening elsewhere. I have been a fan ot Brads books since the beginning but has felt like he had lost focus a little but that is now restored. This one is a masterpiece and I wonder what he will write next.
July 26, 2023
good but not great
Book was a fun read and very timely with current events. But it all felt very formulaic, no cool twists and turns, I could guess what was going to happen after the first few chapters. Maybe written by chat gpt or something.
Book was a fun read and very timely with current events. But it all felt very formulaic, no cool twists and turns, I could guess what was going to happen after the first few chapters. Maybe written by chat gpt or something.
September 30, 2023
This was a thrill, a fun book with up-to-date events as we live through the was in Ukraine. Well done Scot as he allows us to live through his exploits. A good book to be enjoyed without having to read the othered books…but they would give you a nice framework.
July 27, 2023
a big disappointment. I’ve read all the books and this one just felt like very basic, unbelievable far fetched nonsense. Not only that, it read more like a horror novel, some of the images conjured were abominable. I understand the author may be trying draw attention to the circumstances currently unfolding in Ukraine but too much of the story rotates around graphic war crimes. I want entertainment and plot, not what this book delivers.
Read
February 17, 2024I was surprised by some of the mediocre comments. Being half way through the book, I thought Dead Fall had the potential to be one of the author's better books, if not one of the best. We shall see...
August 4, 2023
This was on track to be the best Scot Harvath novel since Spymaster.
Until chapter 34. Then…..boom, Mr. Thor reverted back to his recent trend of the dull, rushed ending to the plot. Maybe it is deadline related, or just not caring enough, but we used to get complete stories. Since Spymaster, we get a decent build up and then the plot wrapped up in 20 or so pages.
It has been quite a few years since I feel Mr. Thor wrote a novel worth reading. If you are not a completionist and read the books out of a sense of obligation (like I do at this point), this one could be skipped. I have refused to purchase the last few books, and wait for them to be available at the library.
The plot of this book is timely, and Mr. Thor actually took time to develop a few new characters and made me care about them, but the payoff was non existent and borderline frustrating after investing my time to that point.
Until chapter 34. Then…..boom, Mr. Thor reverted back to his recent trend of the dull, rushed ending to the plot. Maybe it is deadline related, or just not caring enough, but we used to get complete stories. Since Spymaster, we get a decent build up and then the plot wrapped up in 20 or so pages.
It has been quite a few years since I feel Mr. Thor wrote a novel worth reading. If you are not a completionist and read the books out of a sense of obligation (like I do at this point), this one could be skipped. I have refused to purchase the last few books, and wait for them to be available at the library.
The plot of this book is timely, and Mr. Thor actually took time to develop a few new characters and made me care about them, but the payoff was non existent and borderline frustrating after investing my time to that point.
August 5, 2023
I can’t seem to escape the fast pace thrillers of Brad Thor. His attention to detail, pace and character continues to get better and better.
July 29, 2023
Anna Royko, an American citizen of Ukrainian descent, picked up stakes from her home in Chicago where she worked as an attorney and headed towards Ukraine. Because of the war between Russia that Ukraine is currently involved in, Anna can only get a flight as far as Poland. It is there where she does all she can to make connections and hook up with a humanitarian organization that can get her into the heart of Ukraine.
She has a big heart and considers herself there initially for ‘humanitarian’ reasons. However, what Anna plans to do to the people she is targeting will be far from humane. She has learned about specific horrors of war that just will not stand. The Russian army hordes have not just been ravaging the countryside, towns, and villages of the Ukraine in this skirmish but are targeting women and children of both sexes for barbaric acts. Anna learned that Russia was even providing their troops with Viagra to make sure they were able and ready to go when the opportunity to sexually terrorize these Ukrainians presented itself.
This is the extremely timely and real set-up for the latest international political thriller from the great Brad Thor. DEAD FALL is the title of this latest Scott Harvath novel and, quite frankly, no one in the business does political thrillers at the level of Brad Thor. Once Special Agent Harvath and the U.S. Government become aware of the atrocities that good people like Anna Royko want to stand up against, nothing will prevent him from getting involved.
What will make this perhaps the most dangerous Harvath mission yet, and that is saying something if you have read any of the prior titles in this exceptional series, is the fact that the Russian army has put together one particularly lethal military unit that has gone rogue. The Russians filled this unit with prisoners, sexual deviants, and men from the worst mental asylums in the country and set them loose on the Ukrainian countryside. Again, all of this is taking place in the midst of an already bloody and lengthy military skirmish.
For Scott Harvath to insert himself into a country and situation this volatile sounds suicidal, and it just might be. He has some colleagues, like his friend in Poland named Solvi Kolstad who is spending some time with after a tough assignment in Belarus. It is while he is on his own leisure time that Harvath is made aware of the afore-mentioned issue. Rather than waiting for reinforcements and a fully planned out mission, Harvath inserts himself into the Ukraine with extraordinarily little support and goes in search of those that are personally responsible for the most violent and disgraceful of war crimes against women and children.
With another Russian troop looting museums and famous works of art, it is almost too much for Harvath to take on alone. Yet, he has a personal score to settle and if anyone can get the job done under these circumstances it is Scott Harvath. There are few fictional characters I would rely on more if I were in trouble than Scott Harvath. If I had issues in the U.S., I might want someone like say Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. I recently became acquainted with a new character, Nicky Ryan, from author Lee Farrel Coleman, and would definitely reach out to him if I were in trouble within the NYC area. However, if I needed assistance on a global scale, Scott Harvath would be the first name on my list to have my back when things got too hot. DEAD FALL is an important and intensely brutal and exciting read not to be missed by fans of Thor or fellow lovers of the great Scott Harvath.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
She has a big heart and considers herself there initially for ‘humanitarian’ reasons. However, what Anna plans to do to the people she is targeting will be far from humane. She has learned about specific horrors of war that just will not stand. The Russian army hordes have not just been ravaging the countryside, towns, and villages of the Ukraine in this skirmish but are targeting women and children of both sexes for barbaric acts. Anna learned that Russia was even providing their troops with Viagra to make sure they were able and ready to go when the opportunity to sexually terrorize these Ukrainians presented itself.
This is the extremely timely and real set-up for the latest international political thriller from the great Brad Thor. DEAD FALL is the title of this latest Scott Harvath novel and, quite frankly, no one in the business does political thrillers at the level of Brad Thor. Once Special Agent Harvath and the U.S. Government become aware of the atrocities that good people like Anna Royko want to stand up against, nothing will prevent him from getting involved.
What will make this perhaps the most dangerous Harvath mission yet, and that is saying something if you have read any of the prior titles in this exceptional series, is the fact that the Russian army has put together one particularly lethal military unit that has gone rogue. The Russians filled this unit with prisoners, sexual deviants, and men from the worst mental asylums in the country and set them loose on the Ukrainian countryside. Again, all of this is taking place in the midst of an already bloody and lengthy military skirmish.
For Scott Harvath to insert himself into a country and situation this volatile sounds suicidal, and it just might be. He has some colleagues, like his friend in Poland named Solvi Kolstad who is spending some time with after a tough assignment in Belarus. It is while he is on his own leisure time that Harvath is made aware of the afore-mentioned issue. Rather than waiting for reinforcements and a fully planned out mission, Harvath inserts himself into the Ukraine with extraordinarily little support and goes in search of those that are personally responsible for the most violent and disgraceful of war crimes against women and children.
With another Russian troop looting museums and famous works of art, it is almost too much for Harvath to take on alone. Yet, he has a personal score to settle and if anyone can get the job done under these circumstances it is Scott Harvath. There are few fictional characters I would rely on more if I were in trouble than Scott Harvath. If I had issues in the U.S., I might want someone like say Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. I recently became acquainted with a new character, Nicky Ryan, from author Lee Farrel Coleman, and would definitely reach out to him if I were in trouble within the NYC area. However, if I needed assistance on a global scale, Scott Harvath would be the first name on my list to have my back when things got too hot. DEAD FALL is an important and intensely brutal and exciting read not to be missed by fans of Thor or fellow lovers of the great Scott Harvath.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
August 7, 2023
This is the 22nd book in the Scot Harvath series, and was a huge disappointment. Author Brad Thor’s geopolitical views have been bleeding into this series for a while now, but none so stark as in Dead Fall. With the war in the Ukraine as a backdrop, Scot is sent, alone, to rescue an American worker being held hostage by a rouge band of former Russian soldiers. The writing is bland, the plot nonsensical, and after pages and pages of Thor’s musing on the war, it’s all wrapped up in minutes. Definitively not up to par by prior books, and for the first time in this series, this was a slog to get through.
August 21, 2023
Almost half way through and not especially enjoying this read - perhaps things will change, but thus far this book isn’t a typical Scot Harvath story. The violence depicted is brutal, inhuman, and even Harvath veers into cruelly torturing his enemy. At a guess Brad Thor is using this novel to make several political statements and to try to jar his readers out of complacency. As an author, he can choose to do that. In today’s world I can appreciate his decision to do so. Thus we find tales about the current war in Ukraine in all it’s horror, the inhumanity of many Russians, the power money is able to buy to influence the national politics in the United States, the immorality of some, perhaps many, in Washington, D.C., and the functionality of the FBI. However, as a reader who is a longtime fan of Scot Harvath, his team, and his various adventures, I am beyond disappointed and frustrated by this book’s story and plot. Brad Thor is an excellent writer so I will continue reading to the end - this time. I sincerely hope this change in approach to this long running series is a one time aberration.
July 26, 2023
When I was half way through the book Dead Fall by Brad Thor it reminded me of two scenes from the movies Enemy at the Gates and Wonder Woman. The sheer violence and horrific ways the people getting killed breaks the romanticization that always associated with wars and battles in general.
This novel actually starts kind of like a horror novel where a Brave Ukrainian descent American women Anna Rusko tries to save the orphanage that she looks after in Ukraine from a roving and thieving band of rogue mercenary group called Ravens. It was comprised of Hardened criminals, Psychos from Mental Asylums headed by mysterious man Colonel who are ripping apart any villages they came across by means of systematic looting, rape and murder on par with various terrorist organizations around the world.
At the same time Scot Harvath along with his colleagues from private intelligence company called Carlton Group was tasked with assassination of a Middle East individual currently in a Russian friendly Eastern European country to undermine the efforts of Russia without CIA’s fingerprints. After the successful completion of this mission Scot sneaks off to Poland to have a romantic weekend with his Norwegian fiancé Sølvi Kolstad current head of a secret unit within Norwegian intelligence. But as usual trouble knocks his weekend plans in the shape of fan favorite Troll aka Nicholas and his two awesome yet massive dogs Argos and Draco. The Mission was to extract Anna Rusko from Ravens and if she isn’t alive he was given a free reign to kill all those responsible for her death.
Meanwhile A tech mogul who is an critic of Russian Government was found dead just like some of the oligarchs in Moscow by jumping from a building but the only difference is that the apparent suicide happened not in Moscow but in Washington DC. FBI Counter Intelligence was roped in the investigation which leads to the ugly underbelly of the US Politics filled with corrupt Politicians, Scheming Power Brokers and Megalomanic Billionaires who wants to shape the US based on their twisted ideas. How these separate storylines integrate and whether Scot completed his mission or not forms the rest of the story.
Before reading this novel I first heard the author’s interview in SOFREP Radio podcast which kind of gave me the idea what I can expect from this novel. I was actually surprised how Brad Thor mentioned many lines from the book especially regarding the US politics in that episode while reading it. Aside from that there are many interesting aspects I found in this novel as Harvath was forced to go to Ukraine with No Team, Backup and CAS to reduce the ‘footprint’. Only his basic kit, Troll and his expertise as well as four members from International Legion was provided to go toe to toe against tactically savvy and ruthless Ravens. From the moment he enters the outskirts of Kharkiv he was bombarded with Ambush, Betrayal, Urban Combat and multiple shootouts. This all happens even before he meets his team to go against the Ravens.
This novel also speaks in depth about the horrors faced by innocents in middle of the active battle field. The atrocities committed by Ravens were explained in as little as possible still the lack of information gives you chills about the predicament these people had to go through just because they’re powerless against Ravens. Both inner monologue of Anna Rusko who is facing physical and sexual abuse in hands of the ravens since her capture and Scot Harvath when he experiences in firsthand the horrors done by Ravens was very disturbing to read. But as I said this novel doesn’t give a proper ending of the whole war or save every group of people they came across. It was written as close as possible to reality of the war as Innocents, fellow soldiers are killed and Harvath was pushed to his limits no matter what he tries.
The only drawback I felt was the final battle between Harvath and his team with Ravens was not up to the level of some of the other action scenes in the book. As a Non-American some of the political POV was also little bit confusing for me. Other than that it’s a good novel filled to brim with Badass Characters, awesome combat scenes and nail biting moments. At the end proper hints where there for continuation of this novel let’s see. Thanks for reading my review and as usual I’m open to critics and what not.
This novel actually starts kind of like a horror novel where a Brave Ukrainian descent American women Anna Rusko tries to save the orphanage that she looks after in Ukraine from a roving and thieving band of rogue mercenary group called Ravens. It was comprised of Hardened criminals, Psychos from Mental Asylums headed by mysterious man Colonel who are ripping apart any villages they came across by means of systematic looting, rape and murder on par with various terrorist organizations around the world.
At the same time Scot Harvath along with his colleagues from private intelligence company called Carlton Group was tasked with assassination of a Middle East individual currently in a Russian friendly Eastern European country to undermine the efforts of Russia without CIA’s fingerprints. After the successful completion of this mission Scot sneaks off to Poland to have a romantic weekend with his Norwegian fiancé Sølvi Kolstad current head of a secret unit within Norwegian intelligence. But as usual trouble knocks his weekend plans in the shape of fan favorite Troll aka Nicholas and his two awesome yet massive dogs Argos and Draco. The Mission was to extract Anna Rusko from Ravens and if she isn’t alive he was given a free reign to kill all those responsible for her death.
Meanwhile A tech mogul who is an critic of Russian Government was found dead just like some of the oligarchs in Moscow by jumping from a building but the only difference is that the apparent suicide happened not in Moscow but in Washington DC. FBI Counter Intelligence was roped in the investigation which leads to the ugly underbelly of the US Politics filled with corrupt Politicians, Scheming Power Brokers and Megalomanic Billionaires who wants to shape the US based on their twisted ideas. How these separate storylines integrate and whether Scot completed his mission or not forms the rest of the story.
Before reading this novel I first heard the author’s interview in SOFREP Radio podcast which kind of gave me the idea what I can expect from this novel. I was actually surprised how Brad Thor mentioned many lines from the book especially regarding the US politics in that episode while reading it. Aside from that there are many interesting aspects I found in this novel as Harvath was forced to go to Ukraine with No Team, Backup and CAS to reduce the ‘footprint’. Only his basic kit, Troll and his expertise as well as four members from International Legion was provided to go toe to toe against tactically savvy and ruthless Ravens. From the moment he enters the outskirts of Kharkiv he was bombarded with Ambush, Betrayal, Urban Combat and multiple shootouts. This all happens even before he meets his team to go against the Ravens.
This novel also speaks in depth about the horrors faced by innocents in middle of the active battle field. The atrocities committed by Ravens were explained in as little as possible still the lack of information gives you chills about the predicament these people had to go through just because they’re powerless against Ravens. Both inner monologue of Anna Rusko who is facing physical and sexual abuse in hands of the ravens since her capture and Scot Harvath when he experiences in firsthand the horrors done by Ravens was very disturbing to read. But as I said this novel doesn’t give a proper ending of the whole war or save every group of people they came across. It was written as close as possible to reality of the war as Innocents, fellow soldiers are killed and Harvath was pushed to his limits no matter what he tries.
The only drawback I felt was the final battle between Harvath and his team with Ravens was not up to the level of some of the other action scenes in the book. As a Non-American some of the political POV was also little bit confusing for me. Other than that it’s a good novel filled to brim with Badass Characters, awesome combat scenes and nail biting moments. At the end proper hints where there for continuation of this novel let’s see. Thanks for reading my review and as usual I’m open to critics and what not.
August 7, 2023
Thor is at the top,of his game!
I’ve real all the author’s books, and this one was probably the best. I love how insightful it was to the current world situation.
I’ve real all the author’s books, and this one was probably the best. I love how insightful it was to the current world situation.
July 15, 2023
This is Brad Thor at his best. Scot Harvath is dead center in the middle of the Ukraine-Russia war and on a mission to complete or die trying. The pace, the grit, and the action are top notch. Harvath navigates the battlefield like he’s still in his prime, and pulls no punches. As with all of Thor’s novels, 300+ pages fly by in the blink of an eye. And rightly so…it’s on fire!
July 31, 2023
Scot Harvath is sent to Ukraine to stop rogue Russian unit that is pillaging Ukraine. A US Citizen is dead and another has gone missing. It is up to Scot to stop them before it is too late.
The good of this novel was Scot being dropped into the middle of the Ukraine/Russian War. It provided non stop action and a new situation for Scot to navigate. The bad was the side plot of the story involving a mole within the US and their handler. I just thought that 2as underdeveloped and not melded into the story fully. For this reason, I went with four, not five stars.
Overall this is still a very good thriller that takes Scot Harvath into the middle of a deadly war. Well worth the read or listen.
The good of this novel was Scot being dropped into the middle of the Ukraine/Russian War. It provided non stop action and a new situation for Scot to navigate. The bad was the side plot of the story involving a mole within the US and their handler. I just thought that 2as underdeveloped and not melded into the story fully. For this reason, I went with four, not five stars.
Overall this is still a very good thriller that takes Scot Harvath into the middle of a deadly war. Well worth the read or listen.
September 23, 2023
Perfect for 10 year olds with no geopolitical knowledge
I have read every book in the the Scot Harvath series and enjoyed them. However, in this book Brad Thor writes like he is speaking to an uneducated 10 year old. He uses the main character as well as the Bach ground information setting to explain, from his soapbox in very simplistic language, the “good” and “bad” sides from a very black and white view. The plot of the story was simple and missing much of the interest found in the previous books. I’ll stick to Mark Greeney for my reading in the future.
I have read every book in the the Scot Harvath series and enjoyed them. However, in this book Brad Thor writes like he is speaking to an uneducated 10 year old. He uses the main character as well as the Bach ground information setting to explain, from his soapbox in very simplistic language, the “good” and “bad” sides from a very black and white view. The plot of the story was simple and missing much of the interest found in the previous books. I’ll stick to Mark Greeney for my reading in the future.
September 11, 2023
Brad Thor hits us hard with his latest in the Scot Harvath series...Purely 5-stars but lowered to 4 due to its ending, which seems to be a set up for the next in the series...With the backdrop of war-ravaged Ukraine, there's a rogue unit of the Wagner Group savaging the countryside and robbing the Ukraine of its precious national art... When an American aid worker falls victim to the unit, Harvath is called in to help locate and destroy them...Just great stuff!!!
July 30, 2023
Nothing like an author playing for the wrong side
I finished 3 pages of this book and gave up on it. Thor has no idea, or if he does he's ignoring it, that the Ukrainians are the ones that have been bombing, raping, stealing from, and murdering their own citizens since 2014.
But he wants to sell books. Too bad he has to peddle lies to do it.
I finished 3 pages of this book and gave up on it. Thor has no idea, or if he does he's ignoring it, that the Ukrainians are the ones that have been bombing, raping, stealing from, and murdering their own citizens since 2014.
But he wants to sell books. Too bad he has to peddle lies to do it.
September 13, 2023
Scot Harvath is now in the private sector but still works in dangerous regions.
He has to go at it alone because his team could not go with him for some reason.
It reflects also on how Scot sees the geopolitical shitshow of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The world does not want to go to war but does not want Ukraine to lose to Russia. It is very hard for the Ukrainians.
Now he is in to do a few things. The priority one is to save an American who worked in Ukraine. The second is to assist in small ways.
I like the narrow focus of the mission. One person cannot win the war. And luck already makes them survive the fights and success in the mission.
The understanding how the world works, not only in physical fight but in misinformation. China and Russia are really good at doing that. China has most people in China fooled. And I could assume that many Russians were being fooled too.
The book is very enjoyable. The fight is details and the pace and action is fast.
The reflection on the Ukrainians soldiers are really good. They are good people who do not want to kill, even if the person is an enemy. To take a life is a big deal. So it is best not to fight. Or to have the other team surrendered, knowing this is not a good fight. That they are the bad guys here.
For the really bad guys who come here not only to fight but to do damage, That's the persons that need to be deal with, so that other innocent people will not be harmed.
That's the core value of fight during wartime.
The bad guy in the American front added another dimension to the story.
I give this 4.5 stars.
He has to go at it alone because his team could not go with him for some reason.
It reflects also on how Scot sees the geopolitical shitshow of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The world does not want to go to war but does not want Ukraine to lose to Russia. It is very hard for the Ukrainians.
Now he is in to do a few things. The priority one is to save an American who worked in Ukraine. The second is to assist in small ways.
I like the narrow focus of the mission. One person cannot win the war. And luck already makes them survive the fights and success in the mission.
The understanding how the world works, not only in physical fight but in misinformation. China and Russia are really good at doing that. China has most people in China fooled. And I could assume that many Russians were being fooled too.
The book is very enjoyable. The fight is details and the pace and action is fast.
The reflection on the Ukrainians soldiers are really good. They are good people who do not want to kill, even if the person is an enemy. To take a life is a big deal. So it is best not to fight. Or to have the other team surrendered, knowing this is not a good fight. That they are the bad guys here.
For the really bad guys who come here not only to fight but to do damage, That's the persons that need to be deal with, so that other innocent people will not be harmed.
That's the core value of fight during wartime.
The bad guy in the American front added another dimension to the story.
I give this 4.5 stars.
July 14, 2024
Military ops specialist Scott Harvath is enlisted to rescue an American woman who has been captured by Russian-sided mercenaries in Ukraine during the current conflict in "Dead Fall" (2023). Thor makes great use of that war's drawn-out modern day landscape; seeing things from Harvath's perspective, we get the horrible and intense fog of war, destruction of the Ukrainian homeland, the inept but still dangerous capabilities of the common Russian soldiers now being thrown into the fight, the courage of the Ukranians fighting back, an over-the-top and sick gang of rogue bad guys who Thor makes sure we agree all deserve to die, and then he plots out a fun modern Tom Clancy-John-Clark-style ground incursion.
Also taking place simultaneous to Harvath's adventure is a cyber-treason political thriller plot at home. There's an FBI agent working in DC to unravel a Russian conspiracy and it somehow involves politicians fighting to end US support for Ukraine. This plot thread comes across a bit preachy, hyperbolic, and odd, but whatever.
Verdict: Setting our hero up against a legion of drug-fueled insane-asylum-escaped mercenaries makes it an awesome and action-packed thriller that is an intense and fun read. Definitely recommended for fans of Reacher, James Reese, and other "Dad TV" style books.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: R
Also taking place simultaneous to Harvath's adventure is a cyber-treason political thriller plot at home. There's an FBI agent working in DC to unravel a Russian conspiracy and it somehow involves politicians fighting to end US support for Ukraine. This plot thread comes across a bit preachy, hyperbolic, and odd, but whatever.
Verdict: Setting our hero up against a legion of drug-fueled insane-asylum-escaped mercenaries makes it an awesome and action-packed thriller that is an intense and fun read. Definitely recommended for fans of Reacher, James Reese, and other "Dad TV" style books.
Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: R
September 2, 2023
The war in Ukraine rages on, and when a band of renegade Russian soldiers looting and terrorizing villages kidnap a young American woman who was helping at an orphanage, Scott Horvath is sent in to get her out. With his very able friend Nicholas there to support him, and with the Ukrainian forces agreeing to help, it should be an accomplishable task. But all is not what it seems, and his supposedly under-the-radar arrival leaks out pretty quickly. An ambushed train, needed supplies unavailable, and the clock ticking down against finding his quarry alive, Scott will need every one of his considerable skills, all of the intelligence that Nicholas can ferret out, and a large dose of luck to complete his mission.
Fans of the series will enjoy this fast paced adventure tale. I sensed a fair bit of pointed moral lecturing in the narrative on the evils of Russians and the virtues of Ukrainians which I found disconcerting, but otherwise enjoyed the ride as always.
Fans of the series will enjoy this fast paced adventure tale. I sensed a fair bit of pointed moral lecturing in the narrative on the evils of Russians and the virtues of Ukrainians which I found disconcerting, but otherwise enjoyed the ride as always.
August 30, 2023
Something of a return to form for Brad Thor, after a couple of lackluster books.
An American woman helping in Ukraine is taken by a subset of The Wagner Group. Scot Harvath is sent to get her back. He's promised all sorts of things, but doesn't get very many of them due to the war. Still, he adjusts and adapts, and gallivants all over Ukraine looking for the woman. I found my cynicism rearing its ugly head. This woman wasn't a basketball player or someone important like that, why all the effort? Eventually, the action sucked me in.
The B plot, where a group of FBI agents violate the civil rights of their quarry, adds the weird tension present in these books set in the Ukraine war. While the whole book is predicated on a conspiracy theory, the author goes out of his way deride them. It's very strange.
An American woman helping in Ukraine is taken by a subset of The Wagner Group. Scot Harvath is sent to get her back. He's promised all sorts of things, but doesn't get very many of them due to the war. Still, he adjusts and adapts, and gallivants all over Ukraine looking for the woman. I found my cynicism rearing its ugly head. This woman wasn't a basketball player or someone important like that, why all the effort? Eventually, the action sucked me in.
The B plot, where a group of FBI agents violate the civil rights of their quarry, adds the weird tension present in these books set in the Ukraine war. While the whole book is predicated on a conspiracy theory, the author goes out of his way deride them. It's very strange.
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