Another standout from my new favorite author., Brendan Dubois. Lewis Cole is a thoroughly enjoyable protagonist with a nice group of supporting characters and friends. A protest at a nuclear plant turns deadly and Lewis begins investigating after his friend Diane is injured. This book was a little darker than Dubois’s previous Lewis Cole outings but still enjoyable. Recommend!

Another action packed Lewis Cole thriller full of twists. turns and the strong bonds of friendship.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed reading Fatal Harbor by Brendan DuBois; it was the second one I've read by this author about this protagonist. The story flowed smoothly, with a plot that kept me hooked from start to finish, and I found the ending particularly satisfying. The main character is someone I really want to succeed and his powerful enemies to lose. I like that this author puts a lot of care into crafting how the story develops and then wraps up.

Lewis Cole, a columnist and retired Department of Defense analyst, finds himself on another mission to avenge his best friend, Detective Diane Woods, who was almost killed in a protest against nuclear power. Lewis followtracks down her assailant in a journey through Washington DC and a few New Hampshire towns. With a lot of material and moral support from Felix Tinios, a security consultant from Boston's North End, Lewis faces armed enemies with their own agendas. I found it a gripping plot that tested Lewis’ sleuthing skills and his physical endurance, forcing him to ask just how far he is willing to go to seek justice for his badly injured friend. If you enjoy reading contemporary suspense stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend this book (and I’m certainly looking out for more by this author).

How far would you go to get justice for a friend?

The seaside town of Tyler Beach, NH, is like many beach towns….during the summer months, overcrowded and loud with out-of-towners looking for a day (or more) of sun, fun and games, but more quiet in the off season. It also happens to be next door to the town of Falconer, home to a nuclear power plant that from time to time is the target of groups against nuclear power. A recent protest turned violent and deadly; among the casualties was Diane Woods of the Tyler Police Department; she was attacked and savagely beaten with a pipe by the head of one of the protestor groups, Curt Chesak. She is in a local hospital in a coma, and it is unclear if she is going to pull through. She is also one of Lewis Cole’s best friends, and he is determined that Chesak will be held to account. By him. The police can’t seem to track Chesak down, and Lewis suspects that he is more than just your average protest leader. As Lewis, with the help of his “security consultant” Felix (who may have ties to organized crime, but can also be relied upon to provide weapons, transportation, and anything else someone seeking their own form of justice might need) begin their search for Chesak, they immediately encounter pushback from people in black SUVs claiming to be federal agents but with less than perfect credentials.. Gunfire in the streets outside Boston University, where Lewis went to interview a professor known to have ties to Chesak, is followed by the explosion of said professor’s house in nearby Brookline. Although Lewis’ current occupation is as a contributor to a local magazine (well, he actually was fired from that recently), his background as an analyst for the Department of Defense has left him with some skills in getting to the bottom of a puzzle like this. Before his quest is over, he will have to return to the city he swore he had been in for the last time, Washington DC, as well as several small NH towns as he works to keep Diane safe and deliver justice for the violent acts done to her….and it may cost Lewis everything he holds dear, including his own life.
Fatal Harbor is the eighth book in author Brendan DuBois’s Lewis Cole series, originally published in 2014. It can be read as a stand-alone, although reading some of the earlier books will give the reader a better understanding of the relationships between the characters. The names of many of the towns are fictional, although anyone who knows the (very small) NH seacoast can figure out which real-life towns they represent. This particular installment is less a mystery (we know from the beginning what was done and who did it, we just aren't’ sure of the why behind it all) and more a novel of crime and retribution. I’ve read many of the Lewis Cole novels over the years, so had the benefit of knowing what Lewis has been through, how he ended up in Tyler Beach, and what his relationships are with Felix, Diane and others…and that knowledge strengthened my understanding of Lewis’ course of action. All in all, an enjoyable story certain to be enjoyed by readers of earlier books in the series, as well as by those who enjoy authors like M. K. Wren and Philip R. Craig. Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of Fatal Harbor.

This book was a decent read! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, Action packed, intrigue, mystery, murder, god plot twist and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was interesting and flowed nicely! It wasn't one of my top favorites but still worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Fatal Harbor is another solid mystery in the ongoing Lewis Cole series. Capable of standing on its own, the story deals with Lewis’ unique method of solving crimes and in this case, seeking justice. Always engaging and always an easy, entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn River Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.