Leo J. Maloney http://leojmaloney.com is the author of a dozen novels. Angle of Attack was published in 2021 and is the first in his Alex Morgan thriller series. It is the 60th book I completed reading in 2023.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R. The main character is young Alex Morgan.

Morgan has followed her father into the super secret Zeta. She is sent to Monaco on her first solo assignment. The Grand Prix race is nearing, and there is intel that something may be happening. Her search for a nuclear device ends in finding it deactivated with its radioactive material missing. A Zeta team in Malaysia is pursuing a terrorist group, only to find them dead.

Is Zeta being tested? Could it be the rival Ares Group? Morgan continues to the next stop on the Grand Prix circuit in Montreal, Canada. Trouble seems to find Morgan wherever she goes.

I enjoyed the 6+ hours I spent reading this 251-page action-filled thriller. I have enjoyed all of the Maloney novels I have had a chance to read. Among them are Rogue Commander, Dark Territory, War of Shadows, Deep Cover, and The Morgan Files. This action/thriller follows well in their footsteps. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

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Leo Mahoney's latest in the Alex Morgan series, Angle of Attack (Lyrical Press 2021) starts with all the action you can handle as Alex Morgan and her partner Lily Randall rescue a kidnapped American scientist from the depths of Iran. After this successful mission, Alex is supposed to get a break but the next job can’t wait. This one takes her undercover as the friend of a girlfriend (her partner, Lily) who herself is the girlfriend of billionaire Scott Renard whose car is entered in the races. They will follow the tour around the world to catch a terrorist and a missing supply of weapons-grade plutonium.

Alex and Lily are tough, talented, beautiful, and often underestimated. Where some might worry when faced with a hopeless battle, Alex and Lily figure out to how to win. I like strong females who don't melt in the face of danger. I’ve found it in this Mahoney series.

I got this Angle of Attack by Leo J. Maloney a while back. I was not sure about a series with Alex Morgan a the main character. Usually Maloney writes about her father who works for the same organisation. This is one great book it is almost better than the original series but it works great as a complement. I actually think I like it when you get spin off series. I have to thank #Netgalley and #KensingtonBooks for letting me read this one.

I have been a big fan of the Dan Morgan series, but for some reason the last few books have not exactly been as good as the many beforehand. When I realized that Leo Maloney was doing a spinoff of the series, with Alex Morgan being the main character, I was interested.

So - Alex is now officially a grown up and officially deemed as an "agent" of Zeta. I have to say that I REALLY enjoyed everything about this book. The plot was interesting, the characters were rich and fairly well developed and the action was enough to keep the reader (that would be me) on our toes. The great thing about spin offs is that even though this is only the first book in the series, the world has already been built and we are already familiar with both the setting (Zeta Group) and the people (Lily, Alex, and the team at Zeta). Because most of that is already established, it was a piece of cake to drop the reader in and let things take off from there. Does that mean that this book cannot be read as a stand alone if someone hasn't already read any of the Dan Morgan books? I don't think so. There is enough back information to set the stage for new readers - even if not all of the necessary info can be imparted, enough of the important stuff is.

In this book, Alex and Lily team up and we see Alex at the front of all kinds of issues, some business related, some personal. This is the first time that I can remember where her dad is NOT part of the drama. She is on her own and it is very obvious that she can hold her own. Does she make any mistakes? Of course. Just like any of us, she's human and not a super hero, but she is as prepared as she can be, and as usual, those Morgan instincts are right much more than they are wrong.

Definitely a win and I'm excited to be looking forward to more from Zeta, either with Dan or Alex at the helm.

I wanted to say thank you to NetGalley for providing me this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Leo J. Maloney, and Kensington Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

After a harrowing run with Dan Morgan, Leo J. Maloney turns to the next generation of gritty agents tasked with helping keep the world safe. Alex Morgan is set to step out of her father’s shadow in Angle of Attack, her first full-length novel. While she knows the ins and outs of Zeta Group, Alex could not have prepared for this mission or those lurking in the background that will stop at nothing to bring her down. A great piece for fans of the Dan Morgan series, as well as readers who love a female protagonist who can hold her own with aplomb.

While Alex Morgan prepares for her first full mission within Zeta Group, she is shocked to see her father finally taking some time off. It’s been years since Dan Morgan could play the role of public citizen and enjoy things without a pretence of being on guard. Alex is being sent to Monaco to look into whispers of something monumental taking place during the Grand Prix event there.

Things begin with an explosive start as the private jet on which she is travelling watches its hanger explode moments after taxiing. Zeta Group is put on the defensive, but Alex refuses to back down, citing the need to move ahead with the mission.

Meanwhile, two other agents answer a call to a potential situation in Malaysia, only to discover that someone’s neutralised the terror group and left the bodies for Zeta Group to find. Could there be a turf war taking place, one in which a new group is seeking to distract Zeta before handling the situation, wasting valuable time?

After intel sends Alex Morgan to the vaults of the grand casino in Monaco, she discovers the bomb has been diffused, but its radioactive material is missing. This could be Ares Group at work again, luring Alex into the trap and then showing that her time and efforts are wasted, keeping her from the real target.

When news that there is something planned at the next Grand Prix event in Montreal, Alex is there, again acting in a quasi-undercover capacity. She’s ready to strike, though it does not help that she has no idea who or what she’s trying to neutralise. This could be a type of danger no amount of stories heard on Dan’s knee could help prevent. With so many people at risk, there is no time to play a game of cat and mouse with Ares, or is there?

I have always enjoyed the work of Leo J. Maloney, as it not only offers up something full of action, but also keeps the characters working in a somewhat relatable environs. Having spent time in both Monaco and Montreal, I could see things as they progressed, while also being completely drawn in by everything that’s taking place.

Alex Morgan does a wonderful job as protagonist in this piece, easily filling the shoes her father left out. She’s gritty and determined, without being reckless. Alex knows what is expected of her and yet she is one who will bend things a little if it helps her make needed progress. Fans of the Dan Morgan series will have seen some of her backstory emerge, though it is not discussed in any detail here, forcing new readers to piece things together on the fly. Alex keeps herself busy and develops effectively throughout the story, but has left much of herself open for further growth, so long as Maloney keeps the series going for a time.

The use of strong supporting characters is key to the success of a novel. While there are a number of names and faces from the elder Morgan adventures, those who make their first appearance here work well to create a foundation that allows Alex Morgan to shine. The antagonism is prevalent throughout, though it is not as blatant, forcing the reader to sense that evil though a number of characters in passing. This is a great technique that keeps things from diverting from Alex Morgan’s growth.

The story was quite straightforward and kept the reader engaged. Maloney uses some unique perspectives and situations to help differentiate from some of the earlier novels, while never lessening the sense of action. There’s a mix of chapter lengths to set the scene and develop the narrative, as needed in this fast-paced book. Never a lull in the action, which permits the story to propel itself forward until the very end, but even at that point, there are some unresolved moments. I am eager to see how Alex Morgan grows in a lead character role, having sat in the shadows throughout her formative years.

Kudos, Mr. Maloney, for another winning story. I am eager to see what you have in store for your next Morgan protagonist.

Leo Mahoney's latest in the Alex Morgan series, Angle of Attack (Lyrical Press 2021) starts with all the action you can handle as Alex Morgan and her partner Lily Randall rescue a kidnapped American scientist from the depths of Iran. After this successful mission, Alex is supposed to get a break but the next job can’t wait. This one takes her undercover as the friend of a girlfriend (her partner, Lily) who herself is the girlfriend of billionaire Scott Renard whose car is entered in the races. They will follow the tour around the world to catch a terrorist and a missing supply of weapons-grade plutonium.

Alex and Lily are tough, talented, beautiful, and often underestimated. Where some might worry when faced with a hopeless battle, Alex and Lily figure out to how to win. I like strong females who don't melt in the face of danger. I’ve found it in this Mahoney series.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Alex Morgan's next mission involves formula one races. While Alex is on hsomeone, someone is intent on hurting Alex. This book had both excitement and intrigue

Several strands are woven together to create a good action thriller. Without rest, Alex and Lily move from one Zeta case to another. Traveling the Formula 1 circuit, they fraternize with the owners and drivers while on the lookout for radioactive material. Whether driving race cars or motorcycles, fighting bodyguards or duplicitous agents, Alex Morgan follows well in her dad’s footsteps.

ANGLE OF ATTACK.....Leo J Maloney
Kensington
Lily and Alex were wearing more of the traditional garment for Iranian women. They were part of the Zeta Mission, this being their first undercover assignment together, A woman who had immigrate to the US as a child, had accepted an invitation on her receiving an award for her work in mathematics. Giving her speech at the university in Tehran and then she disappeared.
The two agents were to seize and take her, they had been watching the low security at the university. Something drastically change with helicopters arriving to take her instead.
A mission that takes them into the racing circuit now, and death of Terry and Alex getting shot. She needed to be effective and help with closing this mission. Good intriguing plot and I like the role and emotions of Alex.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion for Net .Galley and Kensington.