A propulsive page turner! US President Angela Buchanan ran on a green platform and now she's days away from signing a critical worldwide accord to reduce the use of fossil fuels- an agreement which the Saudi have also joined. But someone isn't happy about that and a cabal headed by a man codenamed Custer is about to execute a diabolical plot. And Brian Rhome, a former CIA paramilitary officer, has been wrapped into an effort to stop it. This is as much a novel about conspiracies and bureaucracies as anything else. Sullivan does a good job with that, as well as with the machinations of a Saudi prince. While this starts with Rhome, he's not the most important player but rather part of a strong ensemble. It's good to see that the female characters, including the CIA Director and a Saudi Princess among others, play key roles. This one has a fair number of twists and Sullivan has done a good job of maintaining the pace, never devolving into too much tech, and keeping you guessing. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A very good read.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

I am a big fan of this author's debut novel, Sleeping Bear, but I wondered about this one at the beginning as this seemed to be another story about a damaged special forces operator dealing with PTSD. But, I was completely wrong, and I have to say this story built around Ground Branch operator, Brian Rhome and a conspiracy involving the upper levels of the US government and Saudi Arabia may be one of the 10 best thriller novels I have ever read. This was a complete page turner, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Major kudos to the author. 5-stars!!!

A former operative is reluctant to return to the game….but the stakes have never been higher.

Brian Rhomes, code name Lobo, is a former member of an elite group of covert intelligence agents trying to live a quiet life in Montana. His last mission ended horribly; due to faulty intelligence, he led his group into an ambush and only he survived. He struggles with guilt over what happened, and has sworn to leave that life behind forever. He is on the verge of losing his family home to foreclosure, and regularly wonders whether he should just end it all. When he is approached with an opportunity to use his hard earned expertise in an advisory capacity overseas in return for enough money to pay off all his debts and have more than enough to help the families of his fallen comrades, he is tempted but can not stomach the idea of being a mercenary. But then he learns that Qasim al-Raymi, the terrorist who his group had been pursuing when they were ambushed was not, as had been believed, killed during the attack but is alive and well and has assumed a leadership role in Al Quaeda, vowing jihad against the West. Rhomes may be too honorable a man to become a mercenary for cash, but he won’t rest until the man who caused his men’s death is dead. With encouragement from his former CIA handlers, he accepts the assignment to help a Saudi Arabian-backed team terminate al-Raymi. In the intelligence world, however, nothing is as it seems. A group of captured Iranian Quds Force soldiers are being transported in Yemen when their caravan is attacked and they are freed. Who is behind this act, and what is their end game? The U.S. President Angela Buchanan has pushed a Green Initiative through Congress into law, and is on the verge of having her Global Green Accord signed by the major nations of the world with the help of the progressive Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. There are many people, both in the US and abroad, who are opposed to this aggressive move away from fossil fuels, and some of them have banded together to take steps to stop it. Everyone has an agenda, and no one can be trusted. With tensions rising between Iran and the United States and factions within Saudi Arabia emerging, it becomes clear that some will stop at nothing to prevent the Accord from being signed. Will Rhomes and others be able to identify those operating in the shadows before the unthinkable happens? Are they the ones setting traps, or are they going to become ensnared themselves?
In Wolf Trap, the reader will travel from the Big Sky country in Montana to Yemen, from the corridors of power in Washington DC to the palaces of Saudi Arabia, and from the mountains of Switzerland to a luxury yacht in the Red Sea. This thriller is hard to put down, and keeps the reader guessing till the very end. When power is threatened, so are longstanding loyalties. With the direction of the world at stake, a President can not fully trust her own Cabinet members or even the Secret Service agents tasked with protecting her; there is intrigue at the heart of the House of Saud; and two groups, both convinced that they are acting out of patriotism, square off to decide the world’s fate. Fans of Vince Flynn, Mark Greaney and Nelson DeMille have a new author to try in Connor Sullivan, and I recommend that they do just that. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria /Emily Bestler Books for the advanced reader’s copy.

Connor Sullivan is back, and he is writing like a seasoned vet after the phenomenal 2022 debut in Sleeping Bear. Wolf Trap is balls to the wall satisfying adventure involving the likes of Iran, the Saudis, and a handful of American spy agencies.

Brian Rhome is a ski slope groomer, like the kind of job you use as an off the wall bar conversation starter. But he really is. He’s got a past too; one that causes Brian to fall into just a shadow of his former self, where it is almost too difficult to live anymore. While he’s busy avoiding the people that led him into an ambush, the one that cost the lives of his CIA ground branch teammates, he’s being silently pulled into a conspiracy that threatens global war in a no-win situation.

President Angela Buchanan has been a torchbearer for a generational change and turning the world’s attention to newer green initiatives. The Global Green Accord will be her crowning achievement in pushing for a longer cleaner future for the world. As the momentous occasion approaches, an absolute catastrophe railroads her hopes.

As the Saudi kingdom has pledged support for the American initiative, Rhome is on the prowl for the man responsible for his team’s demise. Did I mention that there’s a conspiracy going on? Dark Sun is just the tip of some very dark and disingenuous people pulling strings behind the curtain to continue to keep the accord from being signed. Ferocious fighting and death follow the journey at every turn while you’re trying to keep up with Sullivan’s extreme pace!

Sullivan delivers a terrifyingly treacherous and violent second novel. The emotions and history of Brian Rhome really drives the story as you find yourself rooting for vicious payback and steadfast loyalty. What you’ll really enjoy is the extremely aggressive hostility that has creeped into the Saudi Royal Family. Sullivan adds plenty of prominent supporting characters, creative locales, and a deep pulsating energy that drives the uncertainty of the finale.

Wolf Trap is Connor Sullivan's second novel. He has written another great espionage story. I love action thrillers and this one certainly delivers. Interesting plot, lots of action, nuanced character development and layers within layers. Recommended. In the same vein as Brad Thor, Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills, Jack Carr and Don Bentley.

This is a fantastic follow up to Connor’s debut novel; clearly no sophomore slump here. The book is action packed with some novel twists and turns along the way that keeps the reader engaged. Connor’s writing flows smoothly and has excellent pacing that keeps the pages turning. For fans of current thriller writers like Thor, Mills, Carr, Hurwitz, and Child, you will will enjoy Connor’s novels. Also if you are entering the category this is an excellent introduction to the space.

The second novel from Connor Sullivan will leave readers knowing without a doubt that he is a powerful voice in the thriller world. Sullivan has compelling and well developed characters, excellent settings, and plots that will thrill readers, and he delivers them with crisp, well paced writing. Wolf Trap is delivered with a steady burn before the inferno is released upon the reader.

Based on blurbs my expectations were maybe a little too high! This just wasn't a good fit. I love a political thriller, but this title needed a lot of additional editing: words and phrases were repeated within lines of each other, etc. etc. I put it down about 25% in. But I'd be interesting in trying out the author again!

Another excellent thriller from Connor Sullivan. The pace in this book is relentless, like an episode of 24 on speed.

thriller, suspense, international-crime-and-mystery, international-tensions, political, riveting, intrigue, action-adventure, intense, PTSD, treason, espionage, sabotage, family-dynamics, family, royalty, revenge, revenge-killings, dual-narrations, Mid-East, Middle East politics, resentment, ex-CIA, green-politics, unputdownable, extortion, extremists *****

Timely thriller! Fast paced and on target for this time in history. Great characterizations, sound plot with believable scenarios, and super sneaky. Great read!
I requested and received an EARC from Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Wow…. I need time to process this beauty! It was everything a political thriller should be to the tenth degree. It will be a hard one to top in 2023. Brian Rhome has retreated from living.. his guilt is overwhelming. Until his country comes calling one more time and he needs to make a decision. Is his loyalty to himself? His family? His country? Can he be loyal to them all? Or will the decision break him? As Rhome is battling his decision, events unfold that could change the political center of our country - and the world. This book is AMAZING! It was so well done, and the details were on point while not being overwhelming. The characters were well developed, and they pulled one into the story. If you read Sleeping Bear, and were in awe, this sophomore book will not disappoint! Thank you to NetGalley for the early read!

Wow, what a book! Wolf Trap by Connor Sullivan will be tough to beat as my favorite book of 2023. This story had it all. Action, political intrigue, plot twists galore, and a satisfying ending. I highly encourage everyone to preorder a copy wherever books are sold and buckle up when this is released on March 14th, 2023. I was graciously given the opportunity to read an advanced copy by the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

If you have a problem, if nobody can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire Brian Rhome…..

Book Information

Wolf Trap was written by Connor Sullivan. The book will be published on March 14, 2023 and is 470 pages. This is Sullivan’s 2nd novel (the first being Sleeping Bear) and if it is any indication of his talent, the 2nd of many more. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader copy for review prior to publishing.

Summary

Brian Rhome is a former Ground Branch paramilitary officer, a division of the CIA that, according to the United States Government, does not exist. But in reality, they are the group that is often called upon to solve the country’s most dangerous crises quietly outside of the public eye.

Rhome has training in areas like assassination, sabotage, infiltration, and guerrilla warfare….but currently, he is spending his days, or more accurately nights, grooming ski slopes as far away from life as he can get. His isolation is an attempt to deal with the demons of missions past that haunt his thoughts. Unbeknownst to him, a worldwide political crisis is brewing. One that could realign the balance of power around the globe. As the CIA struggles to find solutions—they are left with one viable option—Brian Rhome.

My Thoughts

A few words to describe this book: unrelenting, adrenaline rush, thrilling, complex, awesome.

Sullivan clearly did his research, and it shows. This book deals with international politics from multiple perspectives. It is equally engaging whether in the White House Situation Room, on a yacht in the Red Sea, or at a black site in Saudi Arabia. Sullivan is equally adept whether describing a quiet meeting with a handler in a public park or the interrogation/torture of an individual while in search of key intelligence.

Wolf Trap grabs you by the scruff on your neck and takes you on a global whirlwind adventure. You will meet politicians, royalty, spies, and terrorists. You will meet both good and bad people—and never be quite sure which is which. You will get a glimpse of the secret, behind-closed-doors politics that often drive the publicly visible leaders and events that we see each day.

You also get a very intimate picture of the struggles that people like Rhome face. The stressors, regrets, memories, and demons that they must live with each day. While there is plenty of action and excitement, Sullivan also does a good job pulling back the curtain a bit and showing the reader the mental trauma that exists for many that work very hard to keep us all safe.

Well written, well-paced, and well-done. I very much enjoyed this book.

Recommendation

If you like political thrillers, complex (yet easily readable) plots, and are ready for an adrenaline-laden adventure that you won't be able to put down---this book is for you.

If not, read it anyway, it’s a really good book.

Highly recommended.

Rating

5 Global Crisis Stars

Connor Sullivan is a new voice in political/military thrillers, and he is a good one. Wolf Trap is his second book. It's a complex story of betrayal, revenge, guilt, and deception. Red herrings and intrigue abound.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. There is a lot of effort spent hiding the identities of some of the villains, to the point that it's a bit distracting. The story is built on an agenda of climate change which colors the characterization of several characters. Also, the protagonist has suffered the tried-and-true trope of having his entire team massacred (before the book begins). The action is solid, and even with the complexity of the plot, the story is easy to follow.

Not family friendly due to profanity and violence.

Wow. This book is non stop action. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing and betrayals at the highest level of government. This is the first book I have read by this author and will definitely read him again. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I really love military / political thrillers, and this was an excellent one. Brian Rhome is a former operative whose entire team was killed in an operation gone bad. He is struggling with survivor’s guilt and what to do with his life. (Grooming ski runs isn’t a good use of his skills….) His godfather pulls him into a complicated situation and Brian is to play a key role in saving the President from an assassination attempt.
The characters are well developed and pull the reader into their stories. The action rolls throughout the story, and the intricacies of the plot line keep you guessing until the end. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last.

Wow. What a follow up book to his amazing debut. An absolute page turner with twists and turns that will leave you yearning for more. Every chapter introduces a twist without giving you an answer. Connor does such an amazing job introducing characters into the story, and painting an incredibly complex scheme, that ends in a way that leaves you wanting more and more.
Connor is an author to watch, and this may be a top 10 thriller of 2023! Get excited to read this one!

I only read the first portion (just not my genre or interest) but I see it going over well with our readers if it continues the way it started. Likely an easy 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC.

Connor Sullivan delivers a fantastic book with Wolf Trap.

Brian Rhome, who is the main character in the book, is tasked with stopping a threat that could start World War III. This book reminds me a lot of how Brad Thor, Brad Taylor and Don Bentley novels. If you like those authors you NEED to read this books. You will not be disappointed!

After Sleeping Bear, this is hopefully the start of a series with this character. Brian Rhome is a great character and hopefully this is just the beginning!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Excellent book for fans of the genre as we are introduced to a protagonist who gets back into the game of non-stop action fighting, through twists and turns, against America’s enemies.