“Outstanding… Grips you from the start to the end… A fantastic book… Move over Jack Reacher.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐When girls go missing here, no one says a word… justice if someone has the money to pay him. But this one he’s doing for free. This one’s personal.
Because Fletcher owes his life to Lila’s father. 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 in rural Georgia. Arriving there, Fletcher’s feet barely touch the ground before he finds trouble. He also discovers that his friend’s daughter wasn’t the first girl to go missing there. Not the first by far.
Then the last person to have seen Lila before she disappeared is murdered. As an outsider, Fletcher becomes the local deputy’s only suspect, leaving him no choice but to go on the run. Because Fletcher knows someone’s abducting girls in this town. And he also knows he’s the only person who can find them…
Fans of high-octane action and unforgettable heroes like Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne and David Baldacci’s Amos Decker will love First Shot.
Readers are loving First Shot:
“I’m still shaking from this heart pounding thriller… John Ryder you nailed it!… Chilling! Riveting! Dark! Action Packed! Twisted! Everything a thriller should be!” The Secret Book Sleuth ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Step aside Jack Reacher, there is a new action hero in town and his name is Grant Fletcher! … Leaves you wanting more and… on the edge of your seat.” Once Upon a Time Book Blog ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Fasten your seat belts and hold on tight as John Ryder’s first in the series grabs you and pulls you full throttle into his pulse-pounding, gripping and exciting thriller.” NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Just the right balance of action and suspense… Engaging with the most cleverly crafted jaw-dropping moments sneaking in and what an ending, bloody hell, I had to lie down in a dark room after that! Action, twists, turns and a bloody good story! What more can you ask for?” Chapter in my Life ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“From the first page I was totally hooked, it’s fast paced, full of suspense and intrigue, it was like being on a rollercoaster that wouldn’t stop. Brilliant story… An absolute gem of a book!!!!” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“What a treasure this book is! I loved every minute of it and I was swept up by the fast paced story… Well, Mr Fletcher, I for one cannot wait to meet you again.” B for Bookreview ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A great mix of crime, investigation and action that makes for an enthralling read… Couldn’t ask for a better start to a new series and I will definitely be first in line for the next book coming out.” By the Letter Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is an edge of your seat thriller!” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Enthralling… This book has so much suspense and had me in shivers… You can just tell that this series is going to be something special.” Sean’s Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Couldn’t put it down… Loved this book, filled with lots of action, mystery, and great characters. Really looking forward to the next book in this new series.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Fantastic start to a new series!!! Hooked from the beginning… great action… great flow… great characters. You are completely invested in the outcome.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“An action packed thriller that certainly got my heart rate up!… My nerves were frazzled… Had me hooked immediately… A great start to a new series.” Goodreads reviewermore
Ex-military Grant Fletcher receives a call from an old friend. His 20-something daughter has disappeared. It’s the kind of case that ex-military loner Grant Fletcher would normally be happy to take on—he will always seek justice if someone has 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. And Fletcher knows that returning Lila safe and sound is the only thing that matters to his wheelchair-bound friend.
The only clue Fletcher has is that she last talked to her father from a small town in Georgia.
What he finds there is baffling. Lila is not the first woman to go missing from there …and probably won’t be the last.
He also discovers that he’s not the only one looking for these missing women .. .the FBI is interested in finding them .. and in placing Fletcher at the top of the persons of interest list.
This is a compelling well-written action-packed novel. I enjoy small town crimes .. the characters are either quirky and friendly.. or just downright evil. This small town has dark secrets and there are those who will do anything at all to keep secrets in the shadows. I like Fletcher’s character, the FBI agent not so much. I think it’s mostly that she isn’t yet fully formed. There are a few twists and turns leading to an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
First Shot by John Ryder
A Grant Fletcher Thriller #1
We meet the girl, briefly.
We meet the girl’s beau
We know she is taken
We know he is not
And then
We meet the man sent to rescue her
He is there as a favor to her father
To rescue her if he can
Will he?
Intense, intricate, and intriguing this story tells of abductions leading to disappearances that are taking place in small town Georgia. People don’t comment, the law doesn’t follow-up, and there is something definitely rotten in Daversville, Georgia.
What I liked:
* Grant Fletcher: a man with principles willing to do what was required to find Lila and return her to her father. I also liked that he loved his wife and loves his daughter
* Special Agent Zoey Quadrado: focused career FBI agent with a backstory that indicates why this case is so important to her
* The pace, plotting and writing
* The action scenes
* Trench – could see him in a book of his own
* The fact that there will be another book in this series to look forward to
What I didn’t like:
* The twisted abductors
* Knowing that there are people out there as evil as the twisted abductors
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
What I would like more of: Fletcher’s relationship with his daughter and who takes care of her while he is away
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars