When the love of Earl’s life goes missing, he’ll risk everything to find her. After Earl’s bride vanishes in the Smoky Mountains on their honeymoon, the former Navy SEAL is certain she’s been abducted. Worse, a storm has washed away any potential evidence. With nothing to go on, the park rangers call off the official search. Then another man loses his daughter in the same area. Can one last lead … same area. Can one last lead help Earl find Morgan before he loses her forever?
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Given the synopsis, I entered into this story with a tense feeling that ultimately never seemed to loosen its grip! This was such a riveting read, especially once the mystery of why Earl’s wife went missing in the first page. I’ll admit that I realized early on what was coming given an early interaction between characters, but I was not disappointed in how the story played out nor in its conclusion. Short, fast-paced chapters kept the tension mounting until the very end and certainly packed a dynamic punch for such a small package!
“If it saddens you to look back, and you’re afraid to look forward, just look beside you, and I’ll be there.”
Earl’s perseverance is a testament to his strong character and truly embodies the human spirit. Facing mounting suspicion in his wife’s disappearance, but also struggling with his own guilt, Earl is horribly conflicted about whether to give up, move on, or continue with a search that seems to matter very little to the law enforcement officials charged with protecting the community. His emotions are expressed with such vehemence that our own sense of empathy is called upon and we can honestly relate to his circumstances and condition.
“The camaraderie couldn’t be explained…”
As an Army veteran myself, I greatly appreciated the level of authenticity presented throughout the story. The men who comprise the mission team came alive on the page as examples of real life individuals I have known and/or worked with, especially Pharts, who brought some much needed humor for the team to maintain their sanity as they embarked on what could very well be a incredibly dauntless undertaking. The team leader, Stan Kowalski, retired Delta Force, drafted the five-paragraph operation order (OPORD), detailing the situation, intelligence gathered on the enemy, and the plan of execution to ensure that all the subordinates understood and followed the order, which is the exact protocol to follow. I was also impressed that once the team received its orders, they actually went through the process of rehearsing those steps briefed in the plan that they would use to carry out the mission. This is such an integral part of any task undertaken within the military and spoke volumes to the story’s reliability, especially when using such highly specialized components of the armed forces. This also definitely spoke highly in regards to the author’s level of research and the advisers he consulted to create a believable work of fiction that could be enjoyed by a laymen and that provided the representation that service members greatly appreciate seeing reflected across all media formats.
Although this was the second book in the series, it can be read as a true standalone. High expectations have been set for this series and I’m so eager for more!
Many thanks to the author and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing me with a free book in exchange for my honest and thoughtful opinion. This review and more special features can be found on That’s What She’s Reading blog at thatswhatshesreading.com.
Panic Point is definitely a read that puts you on the edge of your seat! Starting from the very first chapter when Earl finds his new wife, Morgan, missing from their campsite. Even with the flashbacks that show the sweet and tender moments of how Earl and Morgan met and their enchanting courtship, Panic point will leave your knuckles turning white as you flip through the pages to uncover what happened to Morgan.
I love Early. He is as hard headed as they come and finds it difficult to sit and wait while the search team tries to find his missing bride. He’s strong, brave, and determined. He doesn’t think twice when it comes to uncovering what happened to Morgan, and his willingness to do anything to find her just proves how loyal of a guy he is.
I was definitely expecting Panic Point to turn into some sort of secret, special ops mission. But the ending certainly packs a punch when the big reveal happens as to who took Morgan. There were definitely elements to this book that I wasn’t anticipating, and for that I quite thoroughly enjoyed being surprised. I thought the plot itself was so well developed. Panic Point could have easily been a movie with how well the scenes were written.
Panic Point is perfect for those that love thrillers and action. Grab a bucket of popcorn and sit back! You’re in for quite a ride!
What a thrill ride! Panic Point starts off when Earl discovers his bride, Morgan, has disappeared while on their honeymoon, but events slip back several months to set the scene of their meeting, whirlwind courtship, and marriage. The reader knows from the first pages that something bad has happened to Morgan, but what? Earl’s frustration and fear are palpable as he first seeks answers and then plummets into despair when the days slip by with little-to-no clues.
Bill Briscoe meticulously builds the scenes, characters, and overall tension as Earl is thwarted at every turn and life becomes meaningless and filled with anguish and helplessness. At about the halfway mark, the plot pivots unexpectedly, and the action blasts off. Don’t blink!
A great plot will often falter if the characters don’t pass muster. Good news! Both the plot and characters in Panic Point are impressive, well developed, and completely engaging. A slight injection of humor from one of the supporting characters (no spoilers because this guy is hilarious, including his name) cools the tension at just the right moments, but that doesn’t mean the story lags. In fact, the plot accelerates with each chapter as the conflict ratchets up and the mystery of Morgan’s disappearance begins to unravel, revealing a despicable scheme that must be stopped!
An admirable plot development is that the author doesn’t end the story once the rescue team’s mission is complete. The transition of recovery and healing after a traumatic experience is often left out or glossed over; however, in Panic Point, the resultant nightmares and distrust are realistic and handled with gentleness and patience.
Bill Briscoe knows how to keep the reader on the very edge of that seat as the plot thickens and the characters jump into action, literally. Panic Point is a riptide of a story, drawing you in and refusing to let you go for even one minute.
Panic Point by Bill Briscoe is a Novel of grand adventure. The reader is immediately thrown into a situation that puts the main character in an uneasy state of mind. Which simply results to a strong and exciting beginning. This is the pace that sticks with the reader the entire story.
One thing about Briscoe’s work that threw me off was his timing. While Panic Point is a fantastic book, I personally found that I felt like I was missing so much during the time jumps. One day it’s a car ride, the next it’s the beginning of a relationship, and a marriage, and honeymoon…and there were so many gaps for me.
Did it alter my overall opinion? No. I still find that Briscoe has a unique and interesting writing style that held my attention until the very last sentence. There were those little gasps where I wanted to tell Briscoe’s characters not to do certain things, and at one point slamming the book shut because it was so obvious that something was out of the ordinary! (Okay so this was chapter one but that just goes to show how excited and invested into this story from the very beginning.)
Would I recommend this? Hmm, well, I would. Maybe not to everyone, but definitely would recommend to people looking for a next level read. This novel is a perfect mood read as well! I would suggest putting it on your TBR, and reading it soon. It will keep you on the edge of your seat but also gives you a nice world to visit while in bed.
This is the first book I have read by this author but it won’t be the last! I think I read this all in one night.
This story is fairly fast-paced from the moment that Earl meets Morgan, to their wedding and honeymoon six months later. They say you never know where you find love and for Earl and Morgan it was in the dentist office with Morgan treating Earl’s bad tooth. Now I’m not sure I would want to go camping on my honeymoon but more power to those that like something a little different. However, the honeymoon does not go as planned when Morgan is abducted from their campsite. I can’t even imagine what she (or anyone in a similar position) endures at the hands of their captor(s). The one upside is that Earl has his family supporting him and to Earl, a family is more than just those that are related to you. I appreciated the stories of how some people came into the family and the hand that Earl extended to someone that was helping him find Morgan as they added a deeper human element.
The story really picked up steam when Earl is contacted for a special mission to rescue women being held in the hills of Tennessee. I don’t want to spoil anything but I was intrigued by the group of men, their skill sets, their backgrounds, and that they were willing to take on this mission to save these women. Granted Earl has a personal motive but anyone else could have walked away.
There are some lighter moments and others that make you want to cheer because justice is being served. I did have an uneasy feeling about one character and turns out I was right to feel that way but you’ll have to read the book to figure out who I might be talking about and how they fit into the plot.
I don’t think I would put this book in the mystery category, maybe more suspense or thriller, but either way, it was still an enjoyable read and we give it 4 paws up.
While on honeymoon, former SEAL Earl becomes certain his new bride has been abducted. With no evidence following a storm, and fewer leads, the park rangers are forced to call off the search. Earl keeps looking, desperate to find the love of his life. But, then the unthinkable happens. Another young woman goes missing. Can Earl find the ladies, and their abductor before it’s too late?
Excellent writing, and believable characters. The dialogue fits perfectly, and to be honest, the book reads like an episode of Criminal Minds. I’m new to Bill Briscoe’s writing, but I’m glad to have had the chance to read his work. I’d be delighted to read more in the future!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review
Although hard to read at times. I truly cheered when the ladies won. Too bad Worm and Maw didn’t suffer more.
Was a bit slow to start with no much happening to keep my interest. About half way though it picked up. Overall I enjoyed the book.
A very unusual and wonderful story! Did not expect that a bride would be stolen in a national park while camping on her honeymoon. I do not want to spoil anything, but be ready for multiple twists and turns! Well written, you will immediately fall in love with this couple and ALL of their family members. Some scary portions of possible evil and then a wonderful result as the mystery is solved!
I had not read the previous book in the series and it did not make a difference. It´s a great story packed with action with twists and turns that makes you want to reach the end and understand what happenend. Although the SEAL character appears in many action/thrillers it is not every author who can write about one without making me feel bored by the “unhuman” traits they show. Bill Briscoe does make the characters seem human with flaws and doubts like us normal human beings. Can´t wait to read the next book!
I received a copy of this book from the author.
I can say that this book can definitely be read by itself. This says book 2. I have not read any of the others. This is my first introduction into this series and author. I followed the story without any problems. Did not feel like I had missed anything. So go ahead and read it.
Nice story, easy to follow. I admit that I was tired of reading in general and needed a break so this book took me a bit longer to read than my normal rate.
I have one point to pick. Not happy that a favorite and loved TV show of mine was played on in what I would consider a negative way. My personal opinion. Boo Hoo.
This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC copy.
This book was amazing! No spoilers, but here’s what you need to know: Missing women, no help from local law enforcement, Earl may be their only hope! Set in the Smoky Mountains, the descriptions leave nothing to the imagination, the story and character development are SPOT ON! Gripping detail and a fast-paced drama draw on your emotions and grabs you from the very beginning. Once you start this book, you’ll be hardpressed to put it down! What’s even better about this book is that it works just fine as a standalone, but go back and read Perplexity, you won’t be disappointed with that one either. Get this NOW! Although I initially received an ARC, I loved this book so much I purchased it! You won’t be sorry!