J B Turner – Best Crime Books and More

Hard Power by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #12)

Synopsis: Hard Power ―the follow-up to the electric Hard Exit ―is a riveting new thriller from bestselling author J. B. Turner. When Amy Chang, partner of NSA hacker Trevelle Williams―a friend of Jon Reznick―is found dead on a Manhattan subway, everyone says it was a suicide. But Trevelle knows that someone had been watching Amy’s every move, and he isn’t about to let them slip away. Trevelle calls on Jon Reznick to help him uncover what happened to Amy and protect Amy’s brother, Kevin Chang, a Hong Kong student-activist living in New York. Before long, two government organizations are hunting them, forcing the trio to go on the run. Will Reznick be able to pull himself out of another mess, or have things finally gone too far? As his pursuers close in, Reznick reaches out to Martha Meyerstein, FBI assistant director, for help―but with so many political forces at play, people are not always who they seem to be. With friends’ lives on the line, Reznick will have to summon all his black-ops skills, tradecraft, and killer instincts to keep both Trevelle and Kevin alive…but he might have to sacrifice his own life to do it.

MY RATING: 5/5

My Review: I absolutely love this series and this latest release is no exception. Jon Reznick’s friend and hacker Trevelle is the one who calls Jon for help this time, a far cry from the norm. However, the situation Trevelle finds himself in is far from the ordinary. Trevelle’s girlfriend Amy Chang is found dead and he is convinced, along with Amy’s brother Kevin, that it was no accident. Although Jon has no jurisdiction he as per the norm sticks his nose in to try and get to the bottom of what has gone on. It becomes clear pretty quickly that the situation Jon, Trevelle and Kevin find themselves in proves the theory that all is not right!

There is plenty of action pretty much from the off with this latest book and as usual Jon is determined for the truth even if it means falling out with the FBI assistant Martha (which he does plenty of)! I was a little on the fence with how the Jon and Martha relationship has played out but a part of me also understands the need for it. That aside I loved the pacing of the story and there was plenty of corruption and action top keep you entertained. Although there is a slight swerve into the arena featuring Chinese politics, I can forgive it as it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. I just hope we don’t see the author going politics heavy in future books.

Overall this is a fast paced and action packed story with a character you can’t help but love. A great series which I am thoroughly enjoying and would happily recommend.

Hard Exit by J B Turner (Jon Reznick 11)

Hard Exit Synopsis:

When a Swiss intelligence agent goes missing—taking with him thousands of classified documents that have the potential to expose covert agents and information around the world—he also threatens to expose the one secret that will change Jon Reznick’s life forever.

Hans Muller has found someone on Swiss CCTV footage—someone who is supposed to be dead, someone from long ago in Reznick’s past. If her true identity is as Muller suspects, and if he divulges her secret, it could be dangerous for her and her loved ones, not to mention disastrous for national security.

In a shocking twist of fate, the mysterious woman looks exactly like Jon Reznick’s late wife, who was thought to have died in the 9/11 attacks. Reznick has to know: Is this just a case of mistaken identity, or has Elisabeth been alive all this time?

Reznick jumps into an international fray with Swiss Intelligence agents and the CIA to find the missing classified documents and his own answers. Anyone who knows Jon Reznick knows he won’t rest until he finds the truth…even if it upends his life as he knows it.

My Rating: 5/5

My Review: Well wow. I did NOT see this coming. I am a fan of this series and have always loved all the books. However, book 10 I struggled with a little and felt like it didn’t fit with the others. Picking this book up it also didn’t necessarily fit with what you have read about Reznick in the past because this book goes a lot deeper than the norm and it’s hugely personal for Jon.

Hans Muller is the start of this story and it’s when he finds someone on CCTV footage that cannot be identitfied he realises just what he has stumbled upon! The identity of that person is someoe who is meant to be dead, and sadly for Hans Muller the person whose life it affects the most is Reznick. Reznick doesn’t know whether to believe that this missing person is his wife but he is determined to find out. The story is an absolute rollercoaster from start to finish and I read this in just a handful of sittings over a day and a half.

I think you really do have to have read the series to undstad the gravity of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was so pleased with the way the story was wrapped up. I was so worried it would be cliched but I needn’t have worried. I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait to see what is nect for Jon.

Hard Fire by J B Turner (Jon Reznick 10)

Hard Fire Synopsis:

Jon Reznick is not a man to cross. A brutally effective black-ops veteran, Reznick has a history of taking the law into his own hands. So when a group of masked men murders his closest friend, he swears to exact vengeance. The now-deceased Bill Eastland had been Reznick’s last living tie to his father, leaving him devastated…and furious. Whether or not the FBI approves, he swears to hunt down whoever issued the hit on his friend.

With the help of hacker Trevelle Williams, Reznick tracks the masked murderers from Maine to Texas to New York, quickly becoming embroiled in the shadowy world of the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mafia. As Reznick’s own body count begins to climb, clues lead him to one of the most dangerous crime families in New York, headed by the infamous Paul Moretti. But FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein has just learned a crucial secret that could derail Reznick’s quest for revenge—Moretti is a high-level FBI informant.

Reznick faces a stark choice: take on the FBI and risk severing ties with Martha, or inflict his own form of rigorous justice no matter the possible fallout. How far will he go—and how many government agencies will he undermine—to get retribution for his best friend’s death? He might just have to create his own set of rules.

My Rating: 3/5

My Review: I have read this series from the beginning and have absolutely loved them all. Somehow this latest book I didn’t feel fit with what I knew about this character so far and by the time I finished the book I wondered what had happened. I won’t re-hash the synopis as that is pointless and to be fair the storyline never seems to be an issue which shows the skill JBT has as an author.

What I found hard to stomach was the character I have grown to know and love reading about. Jon is returning from a trip and intercepts some bad guys, when he realises they killed his old pal Bill Eastland it rams up his revenge factor. For some reason this story didn’t sit right with me at all. It didn’t feel anything like the character I had read about for the last ten books because this version of Jon was a little too crazy. He didn’t care for Martha (definitely didn’t sit right with me) and he cared little for anybody else’s feelings.

An average read which for some reason didn’t resonate with me, I can only hope that the Jon I know and love returns for book 11

No Way Back by J B Turner (Jack McNeal 1)

Synopsis: When the people he loves most are in danger, Jack McNeal will get revenge…or die trying.

NYPD detective Jack McNeal is used to asking the tough questions. But a late-night visit from the Secret Service lands Jack on the other side of the table—as a suspect in the disappearance of his estranged wife, Caroline, a prominent reporter on the White House beat. When her body is found floating in the Potomac, Jack is overcome by disbelief and despair.

Her death seems eerily similar to the suspicious fatality of a young socialite years before. Is the similarity of the two tragic incidents simply a coincidence, or could it be a sign of a murderous orchestrated plot to protect those in the highest echelons of the American government?

To avenge Caroline’s death, Jack embarks on a journey into the darkest recesses of power. Suspects abound—from haunted Special Forces soldiers to ex-CIA to the president’s own body man. Along the way, Jack will be forced to decide: Is there a line he won’t cross to expose the killer?

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: I am a huge fan of this author and especially the Jon Reznick series. I was excited to see he had a new series out featuring Jack McNeal. I admit I started this book and a chapter or two in I put it down again as I just couldn’t get into it. I went back a few weeks and a few books later and thankfully that changed. I soon got into the world of Jack McNeal and was pleasantly surprised. This is certainly not as great as the Reznick series but I always find that getting into a new series sometimes takes a while to do.

The story centers around NYPD Detective Jack McNeal, and the main aim of his job is investigating corrupt and dirty cops. Late one night he gets a visit from the Secret Service who are there to ask questions about his estranged but missing wife. The story is well paced and there is certainly a lot going on. When Jack decides to investigate what has happened to his wife it soon becomes apparent that he will have to break lots of rules to get the answers he needs.

I can see why many reviewers are not that impressed as if you take the character and story at face value its been done a million times before with a straight shooting guy going off the rails. However, I think the writing is just as good as ever from this author and this makes for a great starting point for a series. No this wasn’t as good as the Reznick books but it’s definitely a well written and engaging story like all of Turners books are and I am looking forward to the next one in this series to see where he takes the character.

Hard Vengeance by J B Turner (Jon Reznick 9)

Synopsis: When the people he loves most are in danger, Jon Reznick will get revenge…or die trying.

When black-ops specialist Jon Reznick receives a voice mail from FBI assistant director Martha Meyerstein, hoping to explore their relationship outside of the federal government, Jon starts to imagine a new future, one where he can leave his past behind. But an unhinged killer with a grudge has other plans. He’s setting a trap for Reznick, one he knows the operative won’t be able to resist.

In a picturesque fishing village on the Mediterranean coast, a luxury yacht has gone up in flames. Was it a terrible accident or something much more sinister? Jon Reznick must travel overseas, to find out what’s happened to Martha and seek revenge on the psychopath who has put Reznick’s entire future in jeopardy.

Jon will need all the help he can get to bring him to justice. Fresh out of Quantico, Reznick’s daughter, Lauren, joins him against his wishes, along with hacker Trevelle Williams. But government operatives from across the globe have descended on this quiet vacation destination and will stop at nothing to prevent the truth from coming out

My Rating: 5/5

My Review: All I can say is that my heart can’t take all this drama going on in this series. I was gobsmacked by the start of this story and when Irealised that for Jon this was now super personal I felt sorry for whatever character would be on the receiving end of his fury! As Jon travels to Spain he has no clue what has happened and why. It soon becomes clear this is personal and as we get the killers side of the story it makes for a very intense read. Now that Jon cannot call on Martha for help he turns to Trevelle, his hacker friend. I love Trevelle and wish we saw more of him, but at leasthe makes an appearance as does Jon’s daughter Lauren.

This latest installment had everything you could want in this type of book and more! Packed to the rafters with intense action, a fabulous lead character, an interesting storyline and a book that had me mesmerised. I thoroughly loved this latest book, only now I have to wait for feels like an eternity for the next one! A series I would highly reccomend.

Hard Target by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #8)

41go4J3e0YL Synopsis: When hacker Trevelle Williams discovers documents that threaten national security and put his life in jeopardy, there’s only one person he can turn to—Jon Reznick. Williams has learned that Rosalind Dyer, a key congressional witness, is about to be killed in order to stop her testimony. She has stumbled into the middle of a cover-up that goes deep into the United States government. Dyer knows her days are numbered, but that won’t stop her from doing what she has to do.

Trevelle Williams has helped Jon out of many a scrape in the past. Now, Jon is the only person he can turn to for help saving Rosalind’s life, as well as his own, and protecting national security in the process. Continue reading “Hard Target by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #8)”

Publication List – J B Turner

Miami Requiem (2014) Deborah Jones #1
Dark Waters (2014) Deborah Jones #2
Hard Road (2016) Jon Reznick #1
Hard Kill (2016) Jon Reznick #2
Hard Wired (2016) Jon Reznick #3
Hard Way (2017) Jon Reznick #4
Hard Fall (2018) Jon Reznick #5
Rogue (2018) American Ghost #1
Reckoning (2018) American Ghost #2
Requiem (2018) American Ghost #3
Hard Hit (2019) Jon Reznick #6
Hard Shot (2019) Jon Reznick #7
Hard Target (2020) Jon Reznick #8
Hard Vengeance (2021) Jon Reznick #9
No Way Back (2022) Jack McNeal 1
Hard Fire (2022) Jon Reznick #10
Hard Exit (2023) Jon Reznick #11
Long Way Home (2023) Jack McNeal 2

Hard Shot by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #7)

51Rq3q-Qq8L._SY346_ Synopsis: When a group of homegrown attackers takes aim at cops outside a Fourth of July baseball game, black-ops specialist Jon Reznick and his daughter, Lauren, are caught in the cross fire. Jon hunts down two of the gunmen. But the last member of the group is at large and about to launch a fresh killing spree across the city. Cops are under fire, and Jon must stop this madman before more people are killed.

But Jon’s renegade tactics and vigilante justice are starting to ruffle some feathers, and his friends in high places might not be able to help him anymore. With leaks inside the FBI and resistance from the NYPD, Reznick doesn’t know whom to trust.

He knows one thing: he won’t watch the city he loves be torn apart, especially not with his daughter in the crosshairs. But can he get to her in time?

My Rating: 5/5

My Review: YES! Finally another installment featuring Jon Reznick. I like Jon as a main character and it seems like things are starting to take its toll and I think this latest book we see him try and take a step back (well at the end at least). This book is a typical high octane and action packed book that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Jon attends a ball game with is daughter when attackers start to take out police officers. Jon being Jon means he cannot leave it and as such becomes embroiled in this latest attack on US soil. Only this time it seems the attackers are closer to home. At 248 pages it isn’t a particularly long read but certainly an entertaining one.

I really love the characters and am crossing my fingers that we get to see Jon make a few changes in his personal life in the next book. I could easily read these books over and over as they are fantastic and I admit I am a bit of a fan. I cannot wait to see what’s next for Jon and highly recommend this series.

Hard Hit by J B Turner (Jon Reznick 6)

Hard Hit Synopsis: He’s fighting for justice while she fights for her life.

With his daughter lying in the hospital, struck down in a reckless hit-and-run, the only thing Jon Reznick can do is wait—and plot his revenge. Not satisfied with the slow-moving police investigation, he starts his own manhunt.

He discovers that the car belongs to a high-ranking diplomat whose interests are closely tied to those of the United States government, and this man may not be what he appears. The FBI wants Reznick to back down, but the more information Jon digs up, the more questions he finds. Was it a simple accident, or is there more to it? How many young women’s lives has this man ruined? Lauren’s life hangs in the balance, and Jon must get answers, no matter the cost—to him or the government.

With the help of a dedicated NYPD detective who has suspicions of her own, as well as FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein, Jon Reznick will have to fight for his daughter while she fights for her life.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Hard Hit by J B Turner (Jon Reznick 6)”

Hard Fall by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #5)

Synopsis: A friend in danger. A shadowy psych ward. A conspiracy beyond Reznick’s worst nightmares.

When an old Delta Force buddy comes to Jon Reznick for help, paranoid and fearing for his life, Reznick feels duty-bound to protect him. As a black-ops specialist, loyalty to his brothers in arms comes before everything—even the law.

But Jerry White proves difficult to protect. A runaway from a top-security psychiatric facility in upstate New York, he’s considered a danger to himself and others, and Reznick is powerless to stop shadowy senior hospital managers taking Jerry back by force. When FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein warns him off, Reznick ignores her advice, suspecting the Wittenden Institute is not what it seems.

Digging deeper into the hospital’s background—and that of its esteemed manager, Dr. Robert Gittinger—Reznick begins to unravel a sinister plot that will bring warzone black ops to American soil. And when his own life comes under threat, he discovers that Jerry is trapped in a web of high-level conspiracies more terrifying than anything he has ever encountered…

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Hard Fall by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #5)”