The Recruit, a novel written by Alan Drew, is a captivating narrative that delves into the complex world of espionage and the human cost of conflict. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the story follows the journey of a young recruit who becomes entangled in a web of secrets, loyalty, and betrayal. The novel skillfully intertwines historical events with deeply human emotions, offering a multi-layered exploration of morality and sacrifice.
With its rich character development and meticulous attention to historical detail, The Recruit offers readers a thought-provoking and immersive experience. As the plot unfolds, it presents a gripping portrayal of the protagonist's internal conflict and the moral dilemmas he faces in the pursuit of his mission. Drew's exquisite storytelling draws readers into a world of espionage and intrigue, making it a compelling read for students seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities of human nature and the impact of historical events on individual lives.

This book felt like it lasted a thousand years...in a bad way.
There were far too many side stories that had no real impact on the main plot.
150 if not 200 pages could have been cut and this would have been better for it. Many many distractions that felt like the author was just trying to meet a word count rather than round out a story.
Overall the main plot was decent, it deals with a lot of relevant and difficult topics around racism and the impacts small gestures can have. Unfortunately, I was so bored by all the offshoot bits included that I had trouble staying focused. By the time everything was coming together I was really just hoping for it to end so I could pick something else up.
Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for sending me this ARC, wish I had better news for ya.

I really tried to like this book, especially given the high ratings it had received already, but I ultimately gave up on it about halfway through. There wasn't anything specifically wrong with it but I just didn't connect with the story or the characters and kept putting it away to read later. Eventually I just didn't find it interesting enough to continue. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my review.

Wow!
I really liked this fast paced thriller, but, it was hard to keep up at times. There were a LOT of cultural references that may trigger some including white supremacy, animals dying, and hate crimes. These were handled well and the writing was very solid but for some readers it may be a turn off.
This novel left me thinking about our present world, even though it took place around the birth of the internet.
It was weirdly fun to go back in time while still thinking about where we are in real time.

Great read!

Very Late to the Party
Firstly, I would like to send my deepest apologies to everyone who was involved in my being selected to read this book. Also thank them for selecting me to read this arc. My awful delay has nothing to do with the author and his craft. It all has to do with life getting away from me which is no one's issue but mine. In fact The Recruit by Alan Drew is a fantastic crime story featuring well-developed characters and multiple crimes weaved together in a shocking, but not the far-fetched way. Based in a Southern California town in the 80s, the book addresses themes that exist today. Which makes it very relatable to the reader The story of outsiders coming into a new community and the insiders threatened by their differences and the change is one familiar to all.

Drew brings you into the minds of all the characters telling the story from the perspectives of the medical examiner, the detective and police looking into unsolved cases, the Vietnamese immigrants new to America, and the young boys being led into white supremacy groups as he unveils and weaves together a wave of crime that unfortunately is too real. What I enjoyed most is the pacing. When I realized I had it on my kindle still and hadn’t started it I was able to read it in one sitting which is in great part to great writing. Again my sincerest apologies 4 starts all the way.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2023 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2023/01/2023-reading-list-announced-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

I had a love/hate relationship with this book, which actually made me like it more, if that makes sense.

What I liked:
*It took place in LA, Orange County, CA and sometimes in Big Bear - I grew up here and it was fun to picture everything that was in the book.
*it took place in 1987, and yes, I'm old enough to picture everything during that time also.
*The book is well-written and the characters are well-thought out.
*The characters are tied together in some way, but you don't know how until about halfway through the book.
*It was interesting to read how new technology placed a part in the character's lives during this period.
*It shows what life was like for Vietnamese refugees during this time period. I don't know a lot about this topic, so it was interesting to learn more about it.
*It has a love story, a detective, and some bad guys. What more could you ask for?

What bothered me:
*The subject is the "white power movement" during this time period. The descriptions of what happened made me uncomfortable, and at times, I had to put the book away for a little while. It truly hurt my soul.
*There were multiple characters and storylines that were a little confusing at first, but I enjoyed how they were brought together throughout the story.
*The story is descriptive. At times, it was REALLY descriptive. Like I said, it was well-written, but the descriptive events were hard to take.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and the story will stick with me for awhile. This is part of a detective series, but you didn't need to read the other books to understand this one.

I gave this book four stars. I was given this book for my honest opinion.
*

Based on the synopsis the book sounded intriguing and something that would be very relevant to things that are happening in our world today. I liked the setting of the late '80s and early days of the internet. It was interesting to see how Tech was used to spread conspiracies and attract young men to hate groups. But unfortunately the story didn't keep my interest and went on too long. Ultimately, I don't think I'm the right reading audience. I think I was expecting more of a fast-paced read or page turner. Thank you to the publisher for my ecopy of this book.

This is not generally the type of book I read but thought I would give it a try and to my surprise I did enjoy it. In places there was a little too much description of things that weren't relevant to the story but it was easy to overlook that and get to the meat of the plot.

A small town, Rancho Santa Elena in 1987 looks like paradise. It’s 1987 located in Southern California where there are violent hate crimes disturbing the peace. Detective Benjamin wade starts investigating , he finds a secret that people are not telling to anyone. With forensic expert Natasha Betencourt at his side, Ben uncovers a mysterious gang of youths involved in the town’s growing white power movement. What is his white power movement? What Ben doesn’t know, is that this group is part of a larger group. Ben zeroes in on the newest recruit of the gang hoping to find out who is the mastermind of this group. Will he? Ben finds himself uncomfortable about some of the truths he has. As he comes closer to finding the truth, he becomes a target.

The author has written a smart and chilling thriller that kept me turning the pages. It’s chilling and timely, “The Recruit” follows one man's descent into the darkness lurking just beneath the respectable veneer of modern life. It’s an excellent crime novel.

A big thank you to the author Alan Drew, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

This story takes us back to 1987 southern California where a series of strange crimes are happening. It tells the story about white supremecists start recruiting via the internet and how any infusion of non-white population is cause for extreme action.

This book is somewhat retrospective in that it tells us how hate groups evolved and started using the internet to recruit and indoctrinate which we can view with 20/20 hindsight.

It was an interesting read.

Not a light read, but one that seems more timely by the day. Set in the easy days of the internet, it's interesting how quickly those with nefarious intent have found a way to take a life n=enhancing technology to the dark side.

Strange things are starting to happen in 1980's Rancho Santa Elena, California and Detective Ben Wade wants to figure out what is going on. Wade is called to a house where a young boy is having trouble breathing and at the same time his girlfriend Natasha, a doctor with the regional medical examiner's office is called to another jurisdiction on a murder case. Wade suspects something is off with the boy's case and believes that he ingested poison and finds some in the backyard. Only the next day does he discover why it is there when the family's missing dog turns up outside a Vietnamese grocery with it's throat slit. Are Ben's cases and Natasha's connected? if so how and why?

This was an enjoyable detective story that was fun partially because it was set in the 80s pre-modern technology. I say it is enjoyable even though the reason behind the actions are so horrible. This is the second book in the Detective Wade series and I have not read the first one and did not need to in order to enjoy and understand this one. I would suggest any reader of detective novels to give this one a try.

Set in Rancho Santa Elena, California in 1987. This book is a look at the dark side of the internet as it was just beginning. Weird, seemingly unrelated crimes are occurring in town and Detective Benjamin Wade and forensic expert Natasha Betencourt have a hard time connecting the crimes. When they uncover a link to the growing local White Supremacists', can they stop them?

Detective Benjamin Wade and forensic examiner Natasha Betencourt work together in a professional capacity while maintaining a personal relationship. The novel is set in the late 1980's in Rancho Santa Elena, a small Southern California town that has big city problems: murder, poisonings, and assaults.
Ben soon discovers that the white power movement is gaining a foothold with the town's youth. As Ben does some digging into the unfamiliar technology that the group is using to recruit, will he be able to put the pieces together before someone else gets hurt?

Having read the first book in the series, the author did not capitalize on the strong start. The character development is not substantial and the plot of the novel includes several expected cliches. Although the story is timely, it also shows how little things have changed in this country over the years. My biggest issue with the book is the lack of discovery, as the author gives the reader a first hand look into the perpetrators and bad actors. The mystery is missing, leaving the book flat in my opinion. Having read many books in the genre, The Recruit is an average read.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Recruit by NetGalley and the publisher, Random House. The decision to read and review this novel was entirely my own.

This is the second book in a series, which I did not realize, about Detective Ben Wade. The events take place in 1987 in Rancho Santa Elena, CA. A lot happens in the beginning of the book, with multiple stories intertwining. White supremacists is a key plot that is well done throughout.
The characters are well developed, and I liked the relationship between Natasha and Ben. The author did a great job portraying a woman working in the field in the 80s.
I don't know that I personally liked this book enough to go back and read the first book, but that is of no fault of the author. It's just not of interest to me.

This book is extremely topical for today's race issues, unfortunately. That said, it was difficult for me to get through. The plot is very dense and the content is heavy. I see the need for a book like this, but it is not necessarily something I would choose, especially with all the heavy issues going on in the world currently.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

I enjoyed this suspenseful story. This is a new author for me which I look forward to reading more from this series in the future. This is a well written story where the characters not only pull you into the story but also kept me coming back for more. I enjoyed being pulled into the story by the characters. They are relateable and supportive of each other. This is afast paced story that has twists and turns that you don't want to miss. An engaging story that is hard to put down. A story where you will question who you are and where you fit into the community. A series of murders and hate crimes causes havik in a small town. What happens next is something you will need to read this book to find out. This is a great story and I highly recommend it.

The Recruit
Alan Drew
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book most definitely leaves you hanging at the end! I wished the story line would of been different, when I requested the book I sure wasn’t expecting this. It was a good read just not the type of books I am really interested in!

Straight off current news headlines, this mystery crime novel dives headfirst into figuring out how so many people get radicalized into white supremacy and violence. From cult-like leaders building secret armies to violence-prone mentally unstable teens swept into the movement, the intensity of hate escalates into destructive racist actions.

Set in a small Southern California town in 1987, when the internet was just emergent, hate groups turn to private online bulletin boards to evade the federal government. There’s Jacob, a bomb-building young teen, swept by his older 20-something neighbor Ian into a gang of skinheads. There’s Bao, a Vietnamese grocery store owner, being terrorized by Ian, who’s older brother got killed in Vietnam. Jacob’s Dad, a PTSD suffering Vietnam War vet who abuses Jacob in his worst post-traumatic moments, turns out to be having an affair with Bao’s daughter. Jacob discovers this, propelling him in rage to join the neo-Nazi gang, and commit hate crimes against both the Vietnamese and Mexicans.

Ben Wade, an LAPD detective who’s moved to the small town, embarks on investigating the hate crimes and uncovering a widespread White supremacy movement.

Stand by for an explosive ending!