Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

In Joseph Reid's False Horizon, the 2nd installment in the Seth Walker thriller series, this novel would take you places and compel you to keep reading to the end. For Air Marshal Seth Walker, he's been called on a case in West Virginia when an airplane had been downed with no living survivors. While he investigates on this plane crash, he works with Sheriff Heather Simon and Mitchell Devers on the debris from the fallen plane and picks up the pieces to develop suspects on the list. And it's far and many that ranges from eco-terrorists who's waging a war against frackers when they use drones to target those targets. Some of those drones carry guns that could be lethal and also deadly leaving a trail of carnage behind. When they were under an attack of drones, things turns serious and complicated when Sheriff Simon loses her backup, leaving them outnumbered. When they think they have it figured out, they guessed wrong and turn to one guy who was number one on this suspect list, something that Heather Simon knew. When they thought he would be a greatest asset to the case, they were wrong when they learned what he was all about and what he's planning to do. It's up to Seth and Devers and Agent Melissa Cooke from the FBI to stop this person in his tracks before it might too late to save others lives in his path of self-destruction.

First I'd like to thank Joseph Reid for providing me an advance reader copy of False Horizon in exchange for an honest review...thank you!

This is book 2 of the Seth Walker series, and I have to say Joseph knows how to write a crime fiction action-packed thriller mystery with thorough details and terminology. The bullets are flying in book 2 as Air Marshal Seth Walker helps to investigate a mysterious plane crash in the mountains of West Virginia.

There are so many angles to this mystery, and the action was intense to read. I was also impressed with the supporting characters that assisted Seth Walker in his investigation.

The story held my attention to the end. I liked how snippets of book 1 come back in book 2 so that there's a connection between books in the series; even though they are standalone stories and not one continuous journey. I like that we get to go on a new adventure or solve a new crime or watch Seth save another person within each book. The writing is exciting, well organized, and well researched for the amount of scientific and technology lingo used in the story.

Look for my full review, coming soon to the Plum Report book blog:)

False Horizon
(Seth Walker #2)
by Joseph Reid

Kindle Edition
Expected publication: June 18th 2019 by Thomas & Mercer


Goodreads synopsis:
The Amazon Charts bestselling series continues as ruthless ecoterrorists, heavily armed miners, and cold-blooded drug smugglers clash in the Appalachians, where air marshal Seth Walker is investigating a mysterious plane crash.

A commuter flight has fallen from clear skies over West Virginia, its wing sheared off at twenty thousand feet. Air marshal Seth Walker is called to the mountains of Appalachia to investigate. But what he stumbles into is a ground war as unpredictable and combustible as a mason jar full of nitroglycerin.

Before he can even start searching for what might have downed the plane, Walker finds himself caught in the confounding—and deadly—cross fire between drone-deploying ecoterrorists, unstable frackers, ruthless drug smugglers, and armed miners pushed to the breaking point.

The escalating mystery takes a personal turn as Seth gets closer to the truth about the money, power, and politics motivating everyone involved—including those Seth believed he could trust. Can he dodge the danger lurking in every hill and holler long enough to discover what may be the biggest threat of all?


***

4.5 Stars

This is the second book in the Seth Walker air marshall series. When I picked this book up I was afraid that I might need to start with the first entry in the series, TAKEOFF but luckily I discovered pretty quickly it was easy to get into the storyline without the backstory of book one. Thank goodness. It is always nice to know an author can get us up to speed without making it seem like he is dumping a ton of information on us in the beginning.

Seth is a combination of tattooed bouncer, air marshall and MacGyver all wrapped up in one perfect package. I was almost afraid some of the technical stuff in this storyline might be over my head but Reid did a great job of making all the musings in Walker’s brain understandable. Thank you so much for that. Sometimes I am afraid to pick up books that I know I might not get through due to all the mind-bending aspects.

This book will please the action adventure enthusiast in you while making you wonder how Walker lives a life so removed from others. The closer he gets to the truth, the more people on his team end up dead. It was quite a thrilling book that I think would make a great movie. I don’t want to give too much away since it is the journey that makes a book like this thrilling.

I will definitely pick up book one in the series just to catch myself up since I anticipate Seth Walker is not through yet.

If you love action adventure and thrillers, definitely pick this one up.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This is the second in the Seth Walker series. I have read the first one which helped me with background in this one.
Seth is an Air Marshal who is now helps investigates air crashes. He is called to West Virginia to find out what really happened when a flight crashed. He is helped again by Malissa Cooke FBI. A couple of new characters are introduced, a county sheriff and another FBI agent.

I enjoyed the writing but if I had not read the first book, I would not have known what was going on with Seth. I believe that you will need to read them in order to get the most enjoyment.

Lots of action, lots of shooting and lots of improvised actions by Seth. 3 to 4 stars. Thank you, Net Galley, for the read. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

When I discover a book set in my home state of West Virginia, I will usually try to read it, not only for the story but to see how the state is betrayed by the author. Air Marshall, Seth Walker is assigned to investigate a commuter airline crash with no clear reason why the plane went down.

All the negatives about this state are brought to the forefront, be they fracking, drug use or environmental issues. I don’t shy away from the problems my state faces....they are deep and far reaching. I am tired of the portrayal of your stereotypical mountain man from where he lives to how he talks.

Drones figure into this story heavily and if you fear what they may be capable of your fears may be well founded.

Not a bad read, but not one I would highly recommend.

Joseph Reid's second Seth Walker novel is a heart-pumping thriller filled with shootouts, close-quarters fighting, and aerial attacks.

When a plane goes down in West Virginia, Seth is sent to investigate. Two flights, a helicopter ride from the local FBI agent, and car ride from the county sheriff take him to the site of a fracking operation. As the mechanics of the plant are about to online, eco-terrorists raid the grounds with drones and hooded 'disrupters.' Is the Green Way organization capable of taking down a jet? Would they go that far to push their agenda? Seth must dig through the evidence, literally and figuratively, and see where the trail leads.

Walker also finds out early in the novel that this investigation has funding implications for the Marshalls. This heightens the tension throughout. His team is made up of the local FBI agent, the county sheriff, and Melissa Cooke from the FBI's Critical Incident Response Unit. You may remember her from the first book. They work well as a team, even after some internal federal vs local bickering.

For the most part, False Horizon is a localized thriller that allows the reader to get a solid dose of this part of the country. And even though this is the second Walker novel, Reid provides some backstory of first book. This is informative, but not distracting. He does a good job of describing Walker's transition from engineer to marshal to field investigator. 

Drones. Fracking. Drugs. Appalacia. West Virginia. Drones, and booby traps, and stink bombs. How and why? Follow Walker as he speeds along windy two-lane roads on the path to the truth.

Plot-wise, this was a pretty pedestrian thriller, but what made it stand out was some very good characterization. I found the ending rather abrupt and something of a let-down.

Quite a bit of excitement. The hero, Seth, is mentally and emotionally damaged but still has good analytical skills. Hard to imagine a home built drone that can carry bombs and machine guns. Too many goods guys are killed to my liking.

The second book in the Seth Walker series lives up to the high standard set by the earlier book. To complete his investigation, the protagonist faces bad guys of many different types, all Intent on stopping him. Navigating all of these roadblocks leads to an exciting conclusion.