I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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First Shot by John Ryder Also by this author: Final Second, Third Kill, The Witness, The Hostage
Series: Grant Fletcher #1
Also in this series: Final Second, Third Kill
Published by Bookouture on 4th June 2020
Genres: Crime, Suspense, Thriller
Pages: 359
Format: eARC
Source: from Netgalley
Goodreads
Amazon Kindle, Bookshop, Bookhype
“When girls go missing here, no one says a word…”
Twenty-four-year-old Lila has disappeared without a trace. It’s the kind of case that ex-military loner Grant Fletcher would normally be happy to take on—if someone had the money to pay him. But this one he’s doing for free. This one’s personal.
Fletcher owes his life to Lila’s father, from that time in Afghanistan he’d like to forget. And Fletcher knows that returning Lila safe and sound is the only thing that matters to his wheelchair-bound friend.
She last called her father from a small town called Daversville, in rural Georgia. A place—Fletcher discovers as he checks into the only motel—where folks are proud to keep themselves to themselves, and almost all the business comes from the giant sawmill that looms large over the town.
Before he’s even started looking for Lila, Fletcher finds trouble. And discovers that his friend’s daughter wasn’t the first girl to go missing in Daversville. Not the first by far.
Then the last person to have seen Lila before she disappeared is murdered. With Fletcher on the scene when her body is found, he becomes the local deputy’s only suspect, leaving him no choice but to go on the run. Because he knows someone’s abducting girls in this town. And he also knows he’s the only one who can find them…
Fans of the high-octane action and unforgettable heroes found in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series and David Baldacci’s Amos Decker books will love First Shot.
Thank you to Bookouture for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. John Ryan is the pen name of Graham Smith and I LOVED the Beth Young series so I was excited for another book by this author.
Grant Fletcher is an ex-Royal Marine living in Utah with his daughter. Grant Fletcher might be ex-military but he isn’t one to kill for the sake of killing. He’s kept his morals despite all of the awful things he’s been through. Grant is a man who will get things done.
Special Agent Quadrado is a very interesting character. There is lots more to learn about Zoey and I look forward to this as the series develops. I liked Zoey. I liked that she knew when to take charge and when to listen. Sure she makes a few mistakes but on the whole, she is a good agent and works well with Grant Fletcher.
This story is complex and extremely interesting. John wasn’t afraid to get right into the nitty-gritty. Some of this book is difficult to read but for the most, it’s a fastpaced crime thriller. It is the beginning of what promises to be an excellent series!
About John Ryder
John Ryder is a former farmworker and joiner. He’s turned his hand to many skills to put food on the table and clothes on his back. A life-long bibliophile, he eventually summoned the courage to try writing himself, and his Grant Fletcher novels have drawn inspiration from authors such as Lee Child, Tom Cain, Zoe Sharp and Matt Hilton. When it comes to future novels, he says he has more ideas than time to write them.
When not writing, John enjoys spending time with his son, reading and socialising with friends. A fanatic supporter of his local football team, he can often be found shouting encouragement to men much younger and fitter than he is.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
@JohnRyder101 Thanks Emma 🤗
@bookouture Thanks so much for the great review and all your support, Emma.