Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on January 15, 2019

I enjoyed Light It Up (the third Peter Ash novel but the first I read), in part because Ash is a tough guy who doesn’t act like a typical thriller tough guy. There were enough fight scenes to establish his tough guy credentials, but there’s more to Ash than the ability to throw punches. I liked him even more in Tear It Down. When a kid steals his truck, wallet, and phone, Ash lets it happen, in part because he doesn’t want to risk being shot, in part because he doesn’t want to hurt the kid. That’s a refreshing attitude for a thriller tough guy. His restraint doesn’t stop him from being an action hero when the need arises, but he doesn’t feel the urge to show off his skills just to prove his toughness. Of course, Ash wants his truck back, which adds an interesting subplot to a main story that is already more entertaining than most tough guy thrillers deliver.

A homeless boy named Ellison Bell listens as his three friends, none older than fifteen, cook up a plan to rob a jewelry store in a mall. Bell is the smart one so he does most of the planning. He’s reluctant to take the risk but against his better judgment, he does. Of course, the robbery does not end well, and Bell is hunted by one of the baddest bad guys in Memphis. That sets up the subplot.

Meanwhile, Ash is getting antsy. His broken bones have mended, and as much as he enjoys his time with his girlfriend June, he needs to be on the move. June sends him to Memphis, where her friend Wanda Wyatt, a black lesbian war photographer, is being harassed by a white supremacist.

The harassment consists of destroying her house — repeatedly, on one occasion by using a belt-loaded machine gun. That seems a bit extreme just to make a black lesbian leave the neighborhood, so Ash and the reader wonder what the real motivation might be. The answer is surprising. Surprises are always good in thriller plots.

Ash has been damaged by his experiences, making him more likable than thriller heroes who are merely self-righteous or filled with the wrath of justice (however they define it). He’s also empathic; he can relate to the damage in others. He has an affinity for Wanda, who has seen her share of carnage and might be even more damaged than Ash. Lewis, his tough guy buddy, isn’t as carefully developed, but he’s likely to grow a more detailed background in future novels.

Tear It Down offers some insight into why redneck racists blame everyone but themselves for their problems. It paints a convincing portrait of Memphis as a city that offers few opportunities to people who were not born into the privileges offered by a middle-class life. The story argues that violence is a way for the powerless to gain a feeling of power, regardless of their skin color. At the same time, it suggests that people of all races can change negative racial perceptions by being kind to each other. Maybe those aren’t original insights, but they give the novel more weight than a typical action thriller.

Still, this is ultimately a tough guy novel, which means fighting, chasing, and shooting, all unfolding in cinematic style. The plot is unusual, unpredictable, and fun. With the addition of strong characterization and a bit of philosophy, Tear It Down demonstrates that Peter Ash novels merit the attention of fans of tough (but smart) guy fiction.

RECOMMENDED

Characters that go looking for trouble usually find it even it is the ones they love sending them to the slaughter. Peter Ash seems to have it all from a beautiful girlfriend with a no-nonsense way about her to an idyllic home in the Pacific Northwest. But he can’t sit still. In “Tear It Down” [Nick Petrie/G.P. Putnam’s Sons/384pgs], Ash is drawn (or sent as it would be) to Memphis to help his girl’s old friend Wanda, a former war photographer, out of a mess. What follows is Peter being dragged into the underworld of Memphis with aplomb though to be fair many of the characters’ motivation are narratively sound despite being slightly out of whack. Ash as a character is cool and collected much like an old school John McClane or Jack Reacher. The potential, especially with how he functions, defies reality in most instances but there is something undeniably charming about his approach with an almost altruistic bent hiding a dark war past. Even his closest friends is criminal in the old school Dillinger mode who is always there for them. Ash tries to paint a perfect anti-hero world even if it is really not. The bad guys from a smart kid who ends up on a dark path to a ex con who has filed his teeth into sharp tips with a full Blu face tattoo have their own gripes even though they seems to follow a path that will extricably lead to their deaths. The sequences keep getting bigger until the carnage almost becomes too significant to suspend disbelief. Even though it is entertaining at times despite the body count, the interesting approach is that many of the characters on both sides are thinking, even in the moment, about the body count despite the amount of ammunition being volleyed back and forth. It is an odd paradox at times. Ultimately the resolution makes sense but the carnage overwhelming for a progression of this specific pace. It is brewing and brewing but then it seemingly goes off the rails in the final instance of the 3rd act. The balance is not kept but it is fun to watch these cowboys run blazing into gangland like it was the Wild West making allies, enemies and sometimes reluctant colleagues along the way.

B

By Tim Wassberg

I had fun with this one. I have to say that I am very happy that I made the decision to read this series several years ago when the first book, The Drifter, was being published. I feel like I have really got the chance to know Peter and the gang over the years and it has been quite the adventure. This book is the fourth in the Peter Ash series and while I think it could be read as a stand-alone novel, I do think that the series works best when read in order.

Peter is sent to help out a friend in Memphis. Once he reaches her home, he finds a dump truck parked in her living room. He immediately realizes that this is not going to be the simple job he thought it would be. Just as he is beginning repairs on her home, his truck is stolen by a fearful teenager and Peter is picked up by the head of the local gang. Nothing is ever boring in Peter's life.

Just as I expected this was an exciting story. There are several different things going on throughout the book and there was never any a dull moment. This book had all of the action that I could have hoped for including gun fights, car chases, and even a fist fight or two. I like the fact that all of the action in the story really helped to advance the plot and there were quite a few times that Peter was very vulnerable. He does handle himself well in most situations but he knows that he is not invincible.

I really liked the characters in this book. Peter is still dealing with PTSD from his time in the military. He is very much improved when compared to the start of the series but those experiences are always with him. Peter is very competent and able to stay calm in even the most extreme circumstances. Lewis is a lot of fun and probably my favorite character in the series. I love his relationship with Peter and think that the pair really compliments each other well. I really appreciate the complete trust that they have in each other. I thought that Wanda and Eli were also great characters with compelling backstories.

I do have to say that this book started out a bit slow for me which is odd since it was a really fast-paced story. I did find the beginning of the book to be interesting but I was confused by the absence of the main character, Peter. For me, the book really picked up once Peter entered the scene. I do understand why the author made the choice to show us some events from a different perspective but I did think it took a little to long for Peter to finally show up in the story.

I would recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers. This was an action-packed story with a really compelling mystery. I couldn't wait to see how everything would pan out and must say that the story did come to a satisfying conclusion. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Penguin Group - Putnam G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley.

Our hero, former Marine Peter Ash, is trying to settle down and overcome his PTSD. He can still just barely function indoors. His ever-resourceful girlfriend sends him to Memphis to help out a friend and he arrives just in time to have his truck stolen, watch the friend’s house repeatedly receive military-like assaults and run amok with the local drug lord. He’s having one really great time in Memphis. This is a fast and fun, fourth addition to a thriller series that doesn’t disappoint on any level. It functions as a stand alone but the other books are really good, so why not check them out. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I enjoyed the 4th installment of the Peter Ash series more I did the previous release. Tear It Down had a great deal of excitement and tension. There were a couple of off the cuff comments made by Peter that I found out of place for both his character and his current situation. Will definitely be purchasing this title at my library, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this title.

I do believe this one is the most exciting, fast paced, deadly book to date. Peter and Lewis, is i ever needed help these are the ones i would want by my side.
My only question is where are the audio versions? The first was great, but no more available, why Mr. Petrie, why?
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this thrilling 4th in the series. I can’t wait for more.

June Cassidy's compound in the Pacific Northwest is a good place for Peter Ash to recover after the bone-shattering events of Light it Up. He spends the time fixing up the cabins and working out, running through the forest carrying a 40# piece of pipe. But June knows her man and sees Peter getting restless, so she asks him to go the Memphis to help out her friend, Wanda, a former combat photographer who is trying to make a new life in the civilian world. Peter arrives in Memphis right after someone drives a dump truck into the front part of Wanda's house. Who could be so determined to make her leave her house, bought at a foreclosure auction? It dates from before the Civil War and there are rumors about its history. Meanwhile, four young men plan a jewelry store heist, except things go spectacularly wrong and then Peter gets involved when one of the young men hijacks Peter's beloved green pick-up. The two storylines run parallel until they begin to converge into another explosive denouement. If you like Lee Child and Harlan Coben, you must read this series. The characters are so three-dimensional and the plots are so well-developed, you will find them all hard to put down.