This is my first book by Ward Larsen and will NOT be the last. He knocked it out of the park with this political thriller. I was hooked from the moment I started listening to the book all the way to the end.
The plot is so believable, expertly delivered and the characters are so real. Bryce Ridgeway is former Army Intelligence turned Junior Congressman, husband and loving father. When Bryce stops a terrorist attack, he becomes an instant hero and the front runner for the Presidency.
Through a series of events Bryce’s wife Sarah notices some discrepancy in Bryce’s behavior which leads her to investigate. Read this immediately to know the rest of the story – you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you Netgallery and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley I was able to review the audiobook. I will bump up my rating to 3.5 stars. The big question is how well do you know your spouse. A great read if you are into political conspiracy. I found the story to have a slow start, but then the acceleration ramped up into high gear.

Deep Fake by Ward Larsen (audio) is a perfect political thriller novel. The plot made sense and kept me guessing. The characters were well-written and believable. The author did a great job in unraveling the mystery and providing clues along the way that had you guessing and second-guessing yourself on what was going to happen or who was involved.

Sarah Ridgeway is living the life she’s always envisioned. She has a devoted husband (Bryce), a loving daughter, and a comfortable home. Then, in a moment, everything changes: at a drab Washington fundraiser, her husband (a junior congressman) intervenes in a terrorist attack and narrowly escapes with his life. When videos of his bravery go viral, he quickly becomes a national hero.

However, Sarah notices that Bryce is acting strangely, and she suspects a terrible secret under all this.

Deep Fake is a well-executed story, and I enjoyed listening to the narrator. I wasn't too keen on the female versions, though. The females sounded a bit flat and airy. The story had tension, a solid buildup to the ending, believable descriptions, and solid writing.

I would recommend this book. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

#NetGalley @MacmillanAudio

After being warned that this book was much like the Manchurian Candidate meets Absolute Power, there weren't many surprises in this book. It still is a fun ride. I enjoyed listening to it which may have allowed me to persevere.
I think it falls in the category of a fast beach read.

Excellent book! I was hooked immediately. There were definitely a lot of twists and turns and you need to really pay attention and read carefully or if listening to the audiobook listen carefully. The characters are very well written and I have to admit I was confused a couple of times but again this book was excellent! This is worthy of five stars

Bryce Ridgeway is back with his family after serving twelve years in the Army. He may be serving as a congressman now, but his training is still a part of him. That becomes apparent when he stops a terrorist attack and he and his family are thrust into the national spotlight. All this attention brings higher aspirations. His wife Sarah is wary, but it's not becoming First Lady that is causing her concern. Who can she trust? And will she find out before it's too late?

With a plot similar to the Manchurian Candidate, Larsen's book takes us deep into the world of spies and schemes we thought were gone when the Cold War supposedly ended. Raised by a father active in politics, Bryce Ridgeway runs for Congress when he is mustered out of the military. His wife Sara and daughter Alyssa are relieved when he survives and foils a terrorist attack. They have mixed emotions when he decides to run for President.

Ever since the attack at a fundraiser, Sarah feels her husband has not been himself and she worries about old combat trauma resurfacing. As she tries to get to the bottom of her unease, more secrets are uncovered. Secrets that put Sarah and Alyssa's lives in danger. Sarah's friend Claire, a computer nerd, offers to help and what she discovers leads the women to seek help at the highest levels. Racing against time, Sarah, Claire, and the FBI work together to solve the mystery and save the country from a Soviet scheme years in the making.

Told by experienced voice over artist and narrator Braden Wright, the characters have distinct voices.

Recommended for those who enjoy intrigue and political thrillers.

I really enjoyed this thriller by Ward Larsen. The conspiracy in this book was cleverly revealed layer by layer. Just as I thought it was done, another even more sinister plan came about. It was done effectively and sounded very plausible. I also liked the characters, both main and supporting ones. They were well-developed and realistic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

READ THIS NEXT! I CANNOT RECOMMEND A MORE INTRIGUING, LIKABLE, FUN, SCARY, THRILLING NOVEL!!! YES, I SQUEEZED IT IN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

I havent read anything by this author, but I loved the description and was intrigued, so I asked for an audio ARC on NetGalley. I had no idea if the first paragraph would bore me or would be too macho - but NONE of the above. Ward Larsen, knocked it out of the park with this thrilling, compelling, crime story. And when a novel is unputdownable, this novel should be at the top of that list.

From the first few minutes of this audiobook, I was hooked... all the way to the end of the novel. I don't say this lightly as Inam picky and don't suffer draggy ass verbage. I was entranced with the plot, characters, detailed and interesting settings, etc. So many creative, illuminating, and interesting details to help us imagine it.

I was enthralled with DEEP FAKE throughout the novel...and that rarely happens to me. I'm usually ready for a book to end because: 1) it was good but I'm ready to move on; or 2) I'm getting slightly bored and want it to end; or 3) I feel the story or characters have made their point, and I feel it's dragging, etc.

Did I suspect or predict any of it in my head - yes, but it was so well-executed that it didn't matter. Ward Larsen is a very classy, talented, and enlightened dude, and/or he knows the formula to reach all genders and non-genders, as well as how to keep a wide variety of readers intrigued and held until the end.

The male narrator, Braden Wright, did a fantastic job, voicing well both male and female characters, some with slight/gentle accents,such as an Irish woman, a Norwegian, and a Russian male. I'd like to make a small recommendation to this terrific narrator: not every female has to talk in a very soft, gentle, high-pitched female voice. Some of us have one octave lower, or blunter, or more direct, but nonetheless, I'm a fan.

Even with some of my typical concerns, this novel rocked it throughout. For instance: The novel has Russian bad-guys....NOT an issue bc so well done; Some tough military men as a theme and many characters....NOT an issue; it has a "realistic" political landscape in DC and Russia...NOT an issue. Again, so well done. I LOVE THIS NOVEL...every aspect of it suited me.

The important things to me in every novel: Was it intriguing/captivating, very believable, with great, relatable, characters, who I respected and believed??? Did it have a mix of both female and male, strong, characters, without patronizing or diminishing them? No fluff. No BS. There wasn't a lot of diversity pointed out, but it treated people right.

Thanks to NetGalley, MacMillian Audio, and Ward Larsen, for such a wonderful opportunity to read this terrific novel and brilliant, on-the-edge-of-my-seat, thrillers!!! I am adding this novel to my FAVORITES list!

I really enjoyed this book. The first half of the book is amazing, the 2nd half becomes formulaic but still well worth the listen.
One small point before the book goes to market: change the tagline as it gives away the twist half way through. If I hadn't known that going in, it would have made it just a little bit better.

WOW! That’s just what I needed! Loved it!

Fast! Action-packed! Fun!

I like a good political thriller.

You’ve got a wife, teenage daughter, a Jr Congressmen x-military husband … add the wife’s best friend who’s heading up a secret Skynet-like military project being twilighted & an FBI agent & you’ve got what it takes to grab & keep my attention.

Part mystery. Part action/thriller. Part political drama. It was un-put-down-able! Quite a fun read & the narrator was good! Available 3/14/23.

This is a deep somewhat dark story about a guy who was in the military but ended up getting out because he got hurt in combat. He has some residual physical damage and yet has overcome his disabilities and is able to have a full life, although it's not in the military as he had hoped it would be. Instead it's in the world of politics.
He's a successful congressman and although very new to the role, he becomes well known because of a very public show of saving what could have been a disaster. He's approached to run for president and although he's hesitant, decides to go for it.
His wife and daughter are behind him but very much in the background as they continue their own lives.
But things just seem off with him and his wife is beginning to suspect something.
And that's when the scary stuff starts to happen.

A really good mystery that I really enjoyed.

This book was strange, but in a good way. I think. It started off a bit slow, but once it picked up it really hooked me.

Devil’s Way
Kate Marshall #4
Robert Bryndza
Every morning Kate Marshall, Private Detective took a swim in the sea. One morning a riptide pulled her under, she fought to stay alive. Two surfers came to her rescue. Kate Marshall came very close to drowning. She woke up in a hospital bed with pneumonia. Jean, an elderly patient, occupied the other bed in the hospital room. The two women became friends and Jean shared the story of her missing grandson, Charlie. The young boy disappeared eleven years ago while on a camping trip. Jean wanted closure and asked Kate to look for her grandson; she needed to know what happened to him. Kate and her partner Tristan began the search for Charlie; they quickly discovered Jean’s past which was colorful to say the least. The case left many questions? What happened to little Charlie, was he kidnapped, or could he have fallen into the bog or the gorge; there were many places in the surrounding area that was very dangerous especially for a small child. The investigation took the Kate and Tristan to the police officers that were on the scene eleven years ago when Charlie disappeared. They discovered a murdered social worker that could or could not have something to do with the missing child. Rather than answers the investigation seemed to bring more questions. The investigation took the Private Investigators from talking with the police officers on the scene when Charlie disappeared to the campground.
This is the first book I have read by author Robert Bryndza, it won’t be the last. The plot was like an onion with layer upon layer that you slowly peeled away. Main characters Kate and Tristan have great depth. Kate is a recovering alcoholic, sober for 13 years. Kate was my favorite character, she is flawed. She is struggling with her near-death experience, the physical, mental and emotional toll it is taking on her. Tristan stands by her even when she loses her temper with him. The descriptions of Dartmoor are stunning and set the atmosphere. Great writing, great plot, great characters, what more can you ask for?

Sarah Ridgeway feels that all her work and sacrifice is finally paying off. After spending years alone raising her daughter while her husband was deployed to some of the most dangerous places on earth, he’s finally home and has been elected to a seat in Congress. During a DC social function, Bryce manages to stop a terrorist and becomes an instant hero, and his political party takes no time in using his bravery in their bid to send their presidential nominee to the White House. Meanwhile, Sarah notices her husband is acting strangely, he’s forgetful, confused and snappy. Concerned about what’s happening to her family, she and her best friend begin to investigate the terrorist attack and her husband’s party. What they uncover about the party’s presidential candidate is a bombshell, and Sarah knows if the man is elected, her life and the lives of everyone in the country will be irrevocably changed and left in ruins. Larsen’s story is terrifying because it’s all to believable, we saw it happen for real in 2016 and the fear it could happen again is scarier than any horror story

This book was objectively ridiculous, and yet I still sort of liked it.


Review copy provided by publisher.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Sarah Ridgeway is married to a junior congressman and retired from the Army. After Bryce prevents a terrorist attack at a fundraiser, he becomes a national hero and vaulted from junior congressman to presidential candidate. However, Sarah and her daughter are noticing Bryce is acting funny.

I enjoyed the audiobook and appreciated the two main female characters of Sarah and her college friend who helps her. I wish the reference to a certain book/movie wasn't mentioned as I would have enjoyed things to be more of surprise. Well done book.

Narration by Braden Wright was well done.