This was my first venture into the Matt Drake novel and all I can say is that it just did not hit the spot like other titles in this genre. Matt Drake is not Courtland Gentry and leaves a lot to be desired. While It was a good action book, I felt that the characters were a tad shallow and I had trouble connecting with them.

Don Bentley is back at it again. Between rocking out Jack Ryan Jr adventures for the Clancy estate and then bringing more Matt Drake into the fold, Bentley has been a man on a mission, Following Drake and Laila, who has seen her fair share of excitement for a lifetime, things get heated as the world is on the precipice of WW3. Ukraine and Russia, tell me where we have heard this before. Nukes out of proper hands and militia madmen demanding safeguarding are only a couple of the absolutely brutal conditions that Bentley has Drake navigating. There are numerous things to be thankful for in Bentleys writing but I absolutely love the sarcastic nature that Drake carries himself with. It brings an amazing full circle feeling to not taking life to seriously unless you absolutely have too. Drake is back, Bentley is on fire with his writing and this one rocks.

It is that time of year, everyone! Don Bentley has just penned his third Matt Drake thriller, and it is an epic of a doozie! The thriller universe has come to pair Matt Drake with sarcasm to the third degree, and high flying action, and author Don Bentley has delivered that in his third novel Hostile Intent. It is common in the thriller universe to have “ripped from the headlines” plots, and readers have come to expect that in thrillers now, however, Bentley has taken that to a whole other level. With the war in Ukraine happening as we speak, I did not expect it to appear in novels for a few months. Bentley must have a crystal ball, because his novel revolves around a conflict in Ukraine. It was eerie to read about this in a novel, and watch it play out on the national stage.

When Matt Drake is asked for by name in the US embassy in Vienna, heads are turned and questions are raised for what is the intent of that inquiring party. This person has critical information about a Russian intelligence operation, and they need to talk with DIA’s top case officer Matt Drake. As Drake attempts to set up a meet with this person, assassins start coming out of the woodwork, throwing a wrench in the cog each time they meet. As details come to light, Drake, Frodo, and his team are in a race to prevent World War III from gaining a hand hold.
Reviewed for Best Thriller Books


Hostile Intent was a terrifying read that was well paced, funny, and packed one heck of a gut punch. As a reader, I have come to love Matt Drake and his trusted confidant, Frodo. This latest installment has solidified my love for these two characters, and added more layers of complexity that makes this series so intriguing to read. Not only was this a fast paced read, but including a conflict in Ukraine was the icing on this terror cake! Hats off to Don Bentley for having the foresight to have his plot revolve around this. Hostile Intent is a stellar read, and a great addition to the Matt Drake series.

Published by Berkley on May 3, 2022

After someone tells Matt Drake’s wife to grow a pair, Drake decides to confront him when (as Will Smith learned) he should just let it go. But Drake is a tough guy who loves guns (the insult comes at a gun range while Drake is helping the little woman improve her shooting technique) so he needs to show the world, or at least the reader, that tough guys never bypass an opportunity to be tough. Looking for toxic masculinity? Call Matt Drake.

Drake is a case officer for the DIA. He’s all man, as he proves by telling us how turned on his lovely wife makes him and by making sure the reader knows that he really enjoys shagging her. He tells puny weak men to turn in their “man card” when they fail to meet his standards of masculine behavior. He can’t look at a woman without rating her sex appeal. All standard fare for tough guy heroes, even more so for insecure wannabes who love tough guy novels like this one.

Tough guy heroes spend a lot of time assuring the reader of their competence and overall superiority at all things requiring toughness and even things that don’t. They are apparently too insecure to let readers judge for themselves. Too much of this novel is dedicated to a tough guy’s worship of himself.

Drake works for and with tough guys who have all the Ranger and Delta and Green Beret credentials that make tough guys so darn special. They speak to each other in tough guy dialog to reassure each other that they aren’t secretly pansies. Don Bentley makes sure the readers know exactly what guns they are carrying and what scopes they’ve affixed to their rifles so that gun porn addicts can get their fix.

A good chunk of the novel is spent summarizing earlier novels. The summaries are unnecessary, as Hostile Intent would work as a stand-alone even without the summaries. They seem to have been included to boost the page count in a novel that fails to develop subplots or anything else beyond tough guy rhetoric. Bentley also ups the wordcount with obsessive data dumps. Want to know the horsepower of a V-8 engine in a Range Rover? Or the candlepower of its LED headlights? But what about the high beams? The speed at which a paratrooper’s boots hit the ground? Useless data substitutes for useful characterization. I guess all a reader needs to know about tough guys is that they’re tough. And they love their sexy wives, or at least they love having sex with them.

The plot anticipates a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Be prepared to endure President Zelenskyy being belittled as a coward. Apart from Bentley’s lack of prescience about how the invasion would take place, his belief that Europe would be indifferent to the invasion, and his wild miss on the character of Ukraine’s president (it turns out that in the real world, you don’t need to be a tough guy to be brave), the story has little to do with that war as it focuses on the tired theme of a loose nuke entering the marketplace and creating the threat of World War III. Drake and a team of tough guys are dispatched to recover the nuke, taking on the Russian Army in the process. The plot is just an excuse for Drake and his band of tough guys to be tough in combat, and for some Russian tough guys to be tough (but not as tough as the Americans), and for a Mossad agent to be extra tough because tough guy writers worship Mossad.

Bentley’s writing style is pedestrian when it’s not ridiculously clichéd (“failure wasn’t an option”; “swaying like a drunken sailor”). The novel offers plenty of action to fans of tough guy action novels, but the absence of characterization or an interesting plot makes Hostile Intent a less interesting choice than tough guy novels that offer more substance, better characters, and snappier prose.

NOT RECOMMENDED

Hostile Intent, the newest novel by Don Bentley, is a high-flying, action-packed thriller by one of the best in the business. Bentley continues to impress me with his writing, and each of his books continues to get better and better.

DIA case officer Matt Drake is counting on his upcoming vacation with several uninterrupted weeks at home in Austin with his wife. Yet when a walk-in to the US Embassy in Vienna, “the City of Spies,” claims to have information about a secret Russian operation, Drake immediately gets on a jet to Austria. The walk-in got his attention—he called himself the Irishman and used Drake’s name, his real name, not a cover. Drake knows him as Nolan Burke, former member of the IRA and wanted by several governments, but someone to whom he owes a great debt.

Nolan is gone by the time Drake reaches the embassy, and before they can debrief, Russian operatives kidnap the Irishman. Drake always pays his debts, and he vows to find Nolan. I’m so doing, he’ll also be ensuring that World War III doesn’t start. To achieve his objective, Drake will have to make unconventional alliances and go up against spies as smart and equipped as him—but who are much more ruthless.

This fast-paced spy novel ends chapters on small cliffhangers and is full of surprises, so I didn’t want to put the book down until I was finished. A former FBI Special Agent, SWAT Team member, and Army Apache helicopter pilot, Don Bentley writes with an insider’s assurance with tantalizing details of tradecraft combined with adrenaline-fueled action scenes. As you might expect from the genre, most characters are men, and while the women in the book have positions of power, there is more stereotyping than I would like. Also, given Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, having Russians as antagonists in this book sometimes feels too prescient. Still, it’s a fun read, and fans of espionage novels such as the Jack Ryan and Milo Weaver series or will enjoy this book. I am going to gift a copy to my cousin who retired from the Navy!

Ready or not, Matt Drake has been tasked with the most crucial operation yet, to prevent a nuke from getting in the wrong hands and igniting WWIII. From Austin to Vienna to Kharkiv, "Hostile Intent" is an exhilarating espionage thriller!

DIA agent Matt Drake recruits and ran assets all over. Matt travels to Vienna after a walk-in who goes by "Irishman" went to the US Embassy and asked for him. Irishman or Nolan has Russian information and wants to trade for Matt's help. Before they get down to the details, Nolan is kidnapped by Russian operators. Matt must find and rescue the man and stop WWIII.

Talk about the timing of Bentley's new release of "Hostile Intent"! Although this is a fictionalized account of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and nuclear threat, it hit really close to home. Does peacekeeping operation ring a bell? Propaganda galore!

What I love about this series is the clever dialogue, and tongue-in-cheek puns between Matt, his partner "Frodo", and boss James. Overall, it's fast-paced with heart-pounding action sequences that keep me turning the pages. Can't wait for book #4!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this DRC.

Don Bentley infuses Hostile Intent , the third book in the Matt Drake thriller series, with action, travel, suspense, and an intensity like few others can achieve. This book, which can be categorized as an espionage thriller, a political thriller, and a military thriller as it has aspects of all three, is set largely in Ukraine and Austria, but there are key scenes in Washington D.C. and Russia as well. Matthew Drake and his wife Laila are at a shooting range when his boss calls. Matt is a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) case officer who runs and recruits assets all over the world. A walk-in to the US embassy in Vienna, Austria claims he has critical information about a Russian intelligence operation. He asks for Matt by name, not by one of his aliases. Before he can debrief Nolan Burke, a Russian team kidnaps Nolan.

Matt is full of wit and sarcasm, but he has a serious side. He wants to make the world safer and often sacrifices his own well-being to achieve this. He shows character growth despite the large amount of action in this novel, which pleasantly surprised me. The other characters have a variety of depths in their supporting or opposing roles. Some are new to the series and others provide the reader continuity with the prior books in the series.

Fluid writing and fantastic world building, as well as an excellent, fast-paced plot will keep readers engaged. The first three chapters pique your interest while chapter four grabs readers and immerses them in the story. At this point, the action and drama are so compelling the pages nearly turn themselves. I was on a rollercoaster of action and emotion. While there are descriptions of weapons and gear, it is only enough to engage the reader. I believe this approach will make this novel appeal to a wider audience.

Overall, this novel is a shockingly dark, disturbing, suspenseful, and emotional ride. Be aware that there is plenty of danger, intrigue, and violence in this story. Additionally, with the current situation in Ukraine, this one seemed all too realistic. Themes include bureaucratic wars, teamwork, spies, political maneuvering, corruption, graft, differences in operational philosophies, friendship, loss of face, the impact of social media, and much more.

This is the first book that I have read by this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series as well as going back and reading the first two. I believe those readers who enjoy action thrillers and military thrillers will want to read this book.

Berkley Publishing Group and Don Bentley provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 3, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Book Review – With the current world situation taking place between Russia and Ukraine, one would think that author Don Bentley’s new book, “Hostile Intent,” might seem to have some foretelling world affairs ‘powers’ – well, not really. The Russia/Ukraine storyline in this fictional spy espionage thriller is in name only and is unrelatable to the current conflict in Ukraine. However, Don Bentley continues to elevate his ‘storytelling game’ with each new release and his third installment of his Matt Drake series is no different. Hostile Intent joins its two other predecessors – “Without Sanction” and “The Outside Man” at the ‘BIG Boyz’ thriller table of action/spy thrillers. Each book has had unmatchable authenticity thanks to Bentley’s excellent research and former military and government agent experience. And with its almost ripped-from-the-headlines feel of current tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Hostile Intent takes the reader on an unprecedented reading escapade that most thriller enthusiast – such as myself - enjoys experiencing. This narrative takes main character Matt Drake to Vienna, Austria (Spy Capital of the World), to determine why a former IRA militant, asked for him by name at the U.S. Embassy. Russian operatives later get involved in the storyline and an unnamed Russian intelligence agent, soon after tells Drake about a wayward tactical nuclear device being offered for sale by a Ukrainian arms dealer. Anytime the Russians are involved, there are ‘complicated complexities’ that must be addressed. In steps protagonist Matt Drake and his team, including some battle-hardened Navy SEALs, to prevent the Russians from igniting WWIII with the wayward nuke. Tight writing, fast-paced scenes, and exhilarating action sequences, this spy espionage thriller rivals all the other big-name thrillers in the genre. It even has some unique suspense to add to the ample action sequences. The technical details are all appropriate without becoming uninteresting, and the subplots eventually connect with the overall storyline. All the usual characters are back and strongly developed, and I can’t help but to love the humorous exchanges between Drake and Frodo (Drake’s DIA agent partner). Their friendship/partnership is one of my favorite things about this series. Hostile Intent is a very nice addition to the Matt Drake series, and I highly recommend reading it. Don Bentley’s star continues to shine, and he has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Special thank you to Berkley Publishing for the free hardcover book and to NetGalley for the digital advanced reader’s copy.

Don Bentley’s third Matt Drake novel, HOSTILE INTENT (May 5), is his best work of the series. This outing finds Matt called overseas to Vienna to answer a mysterious summons at the US Embassy. Once in The City of Spies and accompanied by his wife, Laila, things don’t go as planned, and nothing is as it seems.

Drake, quickly finds himself in the middle of trouble after a collision between the Irishman and a squad of Russian goons. After surviving that encounter, Drake finds himself warily working with Ella, an agent of the Austrian government, to unthread a massive plot involving a nuclear warhead that threatens all of Europe.

Here, Bentley is ominously prescient with his depiction of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and the involvement of Ukrainian militia, written several months before the real-life invasion occurred.

Drake, Laila, and reluctant partner Ella, are joined by Frodo and a small platoon of Navy SEALS in an all-gas no-brakes race to prevent World War Three. With the clock ticking down toward a violent conclusion, Drake and his hastily assembled motley crew must repeatedly save each other as they work together to save Ukraine and Europe.

HOSTILE INTENT is a witty, fun read - equal parts thriller and sitcom - that left me wondering what new hot mess Drake will get himself into in the next chapter.

This book is Don Bentley at his finest!

A fast paced, espionage thriller that is perfect for fans of Tom Clancy. That's not surprising since Don Bentley recently penned the Jack Ryan novel Target Acquired. Like Clancy's novels, this book is full of detailed military weaponry and tactics, along with an overwhelming slew of characters. Matt Drake is an engaging character;: the perfect hero with a great sense of humor. If this is your genre, I highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced reader copy.

I really enjoyed this third novel in the Matt Drake series. Very prevalent storyline with what is going on over in Ukraine right now. Action takes place in Vienna and then in Ukraines and the pace of the Staley is done well. Some new characters are introduced to go along with the regulars from the previous books. Would love a origin story for Frodo, probably my favorite character.

Definitely recommend this book if you have read the previous two books in the series! Look forward to what comes next. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy to read and review!

Hostile Intent by Don Bentley, a good read. If Thriller Mystery's are your thing and you love espionage, murder, and intrigue don't miss this book!

Don Bentley's novels have an unmatchable authenticity thanks to his firsthand experience with the stuff of action movies and spy thrillers, as a former special agent who spent a lot of time overseas: And this one has an almost eerie ripped-from-the-headlines feel, the way tensions between Russia and Ukraine come into play. Fans of undercover, international suspense won't want to miss this one, and even if they're new to the series, they can jump right in: From the dialogue to the rising stakes, HOSTILE INTENT will have you eagerly along for the ride from the first page to the last. With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early read!

When a mysterious walk-in to the US embassy in Vienna claims to have critical information about a Russian intelligence operation, he raises eyebrows. But when he asks for Matt Drake by name and calls himself the Irishman, he gets the DIA’s premier case officer on a one-way flight. Matt arrives to find Austria’s charming capital lousy with intelligence officers, all swirling around Nolan Burke—a onetime member of the real IRA. But before Matt can debrief Nolan, the Irishman is kidnapped by a Russian direct action team. Now, Matt must find a way to repay the debt of honor he owes Nolan for saving his wife while stopping World War III in the process.

This is my first Don Bentley and Matt Drake novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even though I have not read the first two Matt Drake novels, I do not feel that I missed anything as the author gives enough of the backstory of what had happened previously. He writes with a certain amount of humor which I like. The author's characterizations are very good, and there is never a let up in the action. Of course, now I want to read the first two Matt Drake novels! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an introduction to an author that I am sure I will be following in the future. For those who like non-stop action, I highly recommend.

Don Bentley is a relatively new author and is already a must read. He came out of the gate swinging with his debut, Without Sanction, and shows no sign of stopping. I've said this after every new book of his is published but Hostile Intent is his finest work to date.

Matt Drake, a DIA agent, is on vacation with his wife when he gets a phone call from his boss. A mysterious man has shown up at the U.S. embassy in Vienna claiming he has intelligence on an upcoming Russian operation. However, he will only talk to one man - Matt Drake. Perplexed, Drake heads off to Vienna for a chat. Knowing Drake is a magnet for trouble, Frodo (his best friend/guardian angel/handler) heads to Vienna as well. As one does on a trip to Vienna, Drake and Frodo must figure out a way to stop the Russians and prevent World War III.

Just like his previous books, there are things you can bank on: a great story, authentic, non-stop action, fantastic characters, and witty dialogue. Not to mention the predicting the future part. Bentley must have called Ms Cleo at the psychic network because what is happening in the real world and in the book are eerily similar. It's freaky.

If you want a fun, thrilling read look no further than Hostile Intent. You can thank me later.

My sincere thanks to Don Bentley, the Berkeley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Hostile Intent!

Sarcastic, rambunctious and flirtatious, Don Bentley’s Hostile Intent is a treacherous romp across Europe with Matt Drake and Frodo winning friends and influencing people everywhere they go. Or maybe not exactly that. But they do link up with others. Some of whom they join forces with. Others who want them dead. But in the end, it’s all about the friendships they make along the way. Ok, not really. Hopefully, there will be time for forging bonds with new acquaintances later. But first, Matt and Frodo must find a way to survive a multi-pronged onslaught while saving the world from total annihilation. Dodging copious amounts of lethal ammunition headed in their direction as if they are lead magnets. Simple, right? As anyone who has read this series knows, nothing is ever simple when Matt “Danger” Drake is involved (side note: if Danger isn’t his middle name, it absolutely 100% needs to be).

Hostile Intent kicks off with Matt Drake on a well-deserved vacation and in a…uh…let’s say…randy mood, looking at his wife as if he’s a fat kid and she’s a triple chocolate cake in the bakery display case. But just as he’s about to put his carnal plans in motion, duty calls in the form of a walk-in at the US Embassy in Vienna who uses a code phrase that only Matt would recognize. So off he goes to Austria to meet with this man who calls himself the Irishman and brings critical intelligence about an emerging conflict. But before the Irishman can share details of what he knows, he’s kidnapped by Russian operatives, kicking off a battle against time in which Matt must try to save this person to whom he owes so much, learn what he knows and then rush off to stop nothing short of World War III from commencing. All in a day’s work for the venerable DIA agent.

There’s a lot more I’d like to say about the plot of this book, but I want to avoid spoilers. So I’ll leave it at this: Don Bentley is one hell of a prognosticator and could not have written a more timely thriller if he was actually Biff Tannen, traveled to the future, came back to present day with a DeLorean full of history books and then sat down to write a novel. To Don I say, “Well done, sir!”

Do not miss Hostile Intent. That’s an order! One which I cannot possibly enforce. So, I’ll just ask you nicely to preorder a copy now and get ready for the ride in May. Please and thank you. And I know you’ll enjoy it because it’s a stunning book. Don Bentley continues to churn out witty and sarcasm filled page-turning hits with brilliant storylines that are tons of fun to read and keep you on the edge of your seat. And the Thrillerverse is a better place for having Matt Drake in it, sprinting headlong into dangerous situations without a thought to his own safety. He’s just trying to do right by the world and make it a better place. That’s a hero we can all wholeheartedly embrace.

After reading this book I have to ask myself if the author has a crystal ball that predicts the future. The storyline eerily follows current events in Ukraine. The action starts from the first page and never lets up, you won’t want to stop til you get to the end. This is the 3rd book in a series but could easily be read as a stand alone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

HOSTILE INTENT REVIEW grabs you from go & in MATT style doesn't let up. Read it yesterday staying up past midnight, it's that good!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @bentleydonb has written a novel seemly pulled from the headlines, a master class of storytelling. Rooting for Ella's full recovery #MD3

The variety of characters and their POVs are exceptional as is Don's ability to weave them together in a cohesive and action packed read.

Hostile Intent makes you wonder if Don Bentley possesses the supernatural ability to predict the future; writing about the Ukraine vs Russia conflict before it blew up in the news takes away any doubts about the sheer meticulousness of his research and awareness of the situation to be able to predict 10 moves ahead.
After the events of The Outside Man, Matt Drake is settling back into a predictable rhythm with his wife, Laila, when a walk-in at CIA’s station in Vienna asks for Drake by name. Rushing to Vienna, Drake gets caught up in a Russia-sanctioned operation to invade Ukraine. At the same time, a Ukrainian militia gets their hands on a nuke that they wish to hang over NATO’s head for protection against Russia. As tempers flair and the battle lines are drawn, Drake must establish new alliances alongside his best friend Frodo to stop World War 3 before it starts.
Don Bentley’s darkly hilarious prose is one to marvel at. Bentley nails the essence of highlighting Drake’s witty sense of humor in grave situations while maintaining a somber tone and a fast pace. The rich characterization and world-building details invoke a majestic sense of being present in the moment with Drake as opposed to simply reading it. With the glorious setting of Vienna, Bentley digs deep into the old school cold-war espionage vibes of nebulous treaties and a consistent mood of distrust between spies. Matt Drake’s expertise at running and handling assets is given its due spotlight, adding to Drake’s cerebral versatility.
Hostile Intent is a treat for action aficionados. The moment Drake steps in Vienna, he starts running and gunning throughout the streets and murky apartments. High speed car chases and John Wick style gun-fu and close quarter combat are present in copious amounts throughout the narrative, written with finesse and a clear objective to make reader-visualization as stark and clear as possible to provide high doses of adrenaline and entertainment.
Don Bentley has bested himself this time as Hostile Intent blows past the high standards of the previous two Matt Drake books. With a supremely timely geopolitical climate and tremendous stakes of the narrative, Hostile Intent has reserved a spot in the listing for the year’s most entertaining thrillers.

Full review will be posted with a blurb image on https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com