"Always love this series. But this one seemed to be a lot of wheel spinning and repetitive set pieces. Still fun and enjoyed the team interplay, but was hoping this was a little more in the end."

"Vladimir Putin has enemies in high places- in his own cabinet. He is paranoid of his own people and party who he believes will plot a coup or assignation attempt. Of course, he also has enemies among the Ukrainian people. A cell of Ukrainians called the Wolves join forces with a sect of Russian GRU agents to do just as Putin fears- assassinate him.

To thwart an assassination, Putin has four loyalists with devices from which they would immediately initiate a nuclear strike in the event of his death. This device is called the Dead Man’s Hand. Putin assigns a strike team to locate and eliminate the Ukrainians who want to kill him and destroy his power plays in the Ukraine.
The Wolves don’t know about this device. The wolves don’t know that a Russian strike team are hot on their tail, looking to take them out before they can complete their mission. The wolves don’t know about the device that will initiate a nuclear strike should the assassination attempt succeed.

Pike Logan and his Taskforce team come into the mix to thwart the Wolves from succeeding, as the dead man’s hand has world wide deadly consequences. Pike’s team are tasked with tracking the Wolves and rogue Russian team to stop the madness of Putin’s plan.

Dead Man’s Hand leads to an explosive conclusion. Enthralling as well as timely plot. Pacing a bit slow at first. There was way too much time spent detailing practicing high diving jumps. It was not germane to the story and took away from the story getting started. Readers who enjoy the complexities of Pike’s missions will enjoy this one!

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own."

Steve wants to read Drafted: An Illustrated Memoir of a Veteran’s Service During the War in Vietnam