Another great novel from Thomas Perry! Whether it’s a stand-alone or part of a series, Perry knows how to frame a story to hook the reader and step-by-step add in twists, sub-puts and resolution. With a strong female protagonist, rivaling his iconic Jane Whitefield, he has created Leah Hawkins, who takes on a special assignment, as the acting Chief of Police, to restore a small town’s identity and confidence following a devasting prison break in their town.

If Jack Reacher had been a woman, he would have been Leah Hawkins! This is the thriller/revenge novel that I have been waiting for, because it has a female superhero as the protagonist.

The author stirs us by an especially brutal setup by a group of convicts who orchestrate a jailbreak, and then demolish a town. Guards, residents and police are ruthlessly murdered. Women are raped, homes pillaged, a town destroyed.

It is then that Leah Hawkins, totally alone plots revenge on the 12 leaders. Oh, hereby hangs a brilliant thriller. I was unable to put this book down. I was endlessly fascinated by the sheer brilliance of Leah, doing this job by herself.

This is an unusual and brilliant thriller about a woman who shows courage, genius and brutality to rid the world of these villains. I loved it!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this incredible thriller.

Got the eARC yesterday. Finished it this morning. I always appreciate Mr. Perry's excursions from series writing. This is a stand-a-lone novel that has scenes all across the country. Colorado to the Canadian Border, East Coast, West Coast and Gulf Coast.

As always with Mr. Perry's novels I believe he has done meticulous research on the physical locations he uses. At least every location I know of personally is correct so I expect all the ones I have not been to are good as well.

I don't always know if I will be re reading one of the author's books. There are some I have read many multiple times and others just the once. I am never sorry to have read any of his work. I expect I will re read this one at some point. PLUG: Last year's The Burglar I have now read a second time and it very much holds up.

I hate giving spoilers and don't think I can better the catalog copy so this "review" is about my positive reaction to this book. I hope that anyone who has not read Mr. Perry will try him and this is as good a spot as any to start.