They killed his best friend. Now, someone must pay.Former soldier Max Savage lives off the grid, leaving behind the society that scorned him. But when his best friend’s murder is ruled a suicide, Savage is hellbent on finding who’s responsible and why.Partnering with a headstrong detective looking to prove her worth, Savage pursues a set of cryptic clues that lead to shady backroom deals and the … shady backroom deals and the highest levels of corruption.
As the clock dwindles, devastating secrets are revealed. The pair must decide whether to risk their lives against overwhelming odds or watch the world they love crumble down around them.
If you love pulse-pounding thrillers loaded with suspense, action, and twists you don’t see coming, Max Savage is for you!
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Savage Beast was all high-octane and high-intensity action and suspense. It was a thrill-ride of adventure and it was non-stop right up until the end. I had no idea which way this story was going to go. Each time I thought I had a grasp on what Savage had found himself a part of, the author made it clear with another plot twist that I was so very wrong. I’ve read reviews comparing Savage to Jack Reacher and I can definitely see where people saw the similarity. Savage threw himself at problems, looking to solve them, completing death-defying stunts and putting his military training to good use. I didn’t know which end was up but I was totally down for it all!!
I have been a fan of Sloane for quite a while. So to see a new story from him, we’ll sign me up!
Savage Beast is the introduction to a new and really gripping series.
This is a really different type of story you’d expect from Mr. Howell. I was excited and a bit scared about what I was in for. I’ll admit I was skeptical about my reaction to this type of story, but Mr. Howell hasn’t failed me yet and he didn’t this time either!
This story was amazing! I had a hard time putting it down! This is a phenomenal blend of action, suspense, mystery, a bit of romance and in true Sloane Howell style, the snarky humor that his fans love!
Do yourself a favor and get your hands on this story!
There is something about Max Savage that draws the reader into his world from the first three sentences. He’s observant, reflective, and exudes a strength that forces your hand into falling into his web. Savage knows his way around the world and brings his specialty to Tulsa, Oklahoma. His charm finds himself in the middle of a puzzle with a hot, smart as a whip, witty female detective ready to make Tulsa open its doors to the big picture.
Sloane Howell unleashes a masterpiece of brilliance with Savage Beast. He paints the picture of Max Savage, Tulsa, and the underworld in a way only Howell knows how to do. Howell is spot on with the mystery and deceit and folds in a slight air of sexy mischief. He’s rich in exposition, but he’s not careless and frivolous with his intent. Howell builds up the rich good ‘ol boy’s network into an artful masterpiece which falls along the lines of Grisham, Brown, and Child’s works. What sets Howell apart from most authors is the ability to dive into new genres and take off running while nailing the themes and styles from the first word to the last word. A worthwhile read and I’m looking forward to more of Max Savage and Sloane Howell’s artistry!
Max Savage is a loner, an ex Delta Force man, who works as a bouncer at a topless bar one day a week for minimum wage, and in return, he makes long-distance phone calls, and has his mail delivered there. He reads an encrypted message in a newspaper and takes off for Tulsa where the police inform him that his friend Sean has committed suicide. He doesn’t believe it, and with the help of a beautiful detective, Kristine Shirley, he attempts to prove this crime was a murder.
This book surprised me because it is so different from the writing style that Sloane Howell uses for his rom-com books. Reading this brought me to mind of books by Raymond Chandler and his detective character, Phillip Marlow, or Dashiell Hammett and his detective character, Sam Spade, or even Erle Stanley Gardner and his series on Perry Mason—characters who are intense, sharp, brash, and a bit curmudgeony; sentences that are short, sometimes staccato sounding, and to the point. I also like the short paragraphs, some only a few pages long.
We learn a lot about the history of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and how it was once the oil capital of the world. Howell is very detailed in his descriptions: the geography lessons as he weaves his way through the Tulsa streets, the rolling hills, the trees, the highways; the real and honest physical descriptions of his characters; his description of the hotel room right down to how the chevron pattern behind the headboard was painted; the taking apart of a gun/rifle; the J.M. Davis Gun Museum with every type of firearm imaginable and having the largest private gun collection in the world. Notice how Sloane Howell describes the Tulsa buildings and how their exposure to the elements changes their original colour. He compares that pale green patina to man. “The same thing made a man a man, what he’s been exposed to. Everyone has a patina.”
He puts some of himself in the book using Max as his alter ego. Max wants people to read more—“I liked leaving books around. People needed to read more.” Or his mention of the Auto Inflammatory Alliance and one of Sean’s friends having a child with a rare disease called Periodic Fever Syndrome. Also how Max doesn’t drink alcohol very often and his love of movies and mention of books like The Art of War and The Prince; things very personal to this author.
“Savage Beast” is a very well-written book using words that gracefully, yet powerfully, flow from page to page giving us a story full of intrigue, drama, adventure, history, suspense, and a bit of romance thrown in. It is a book that appeals to both men and women. An excellent read and I anxiously await another story about Max Savage.