After giving the previous book 5 stars, I was excited to jump back into Ben Koenig's world in Nobody's Hero! And Craven did NOT disappoint.

This is a thriller wrapped in a mystery with a great cast of characters. I loved it rather less than Fearless because it's distractedly unbelievable--but at the same time, it was fun for the same reason. I enjoyed reading about his mental condition that makes him "fearless," it was neat.

I pictured Katee Sackoff as the FMC, and Colin Farell as Ben, which was super fun.

After that ending, I have no idea how Ben is going to come back, but I hope there's more books to come!!!

Fun. Stupid? Obviously. But fun. Makes up for the diminishing returns of recent Reacher & Gray Man novels.

But an amazing book. I can't believe it was so well written. Never knew what was gonna happen. The main character was KOENL.And g he was involved in mass murders and stuff but his name was picked from this plo Things unraveled real quick in this book. But there was so many clues and ties and stuff. I could not put this book down. This book had a lot of different hidden genders as well as you read the book.You could see how things could go quickly a screwed. The author had a really good way of taking these characters.And explaining them how they were important part of the story Everybody had a Hidden Agenda in this book. Margaret, especiallyou'll find out. What she was really all about. It was a real great spine thing with action-packed. Going from new york to london and then back to the united states. The ending is really good.It's like a surprise like you would find on christmas day

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

High action and fast pace, and the tension was fantastic. I love the twists and turns and it just kept me wanting to get going. That said it's obviously not perfect and maybe a bit over the top which is why I'm not giving it a full 5 stars. It also doesn't have a rereadability factor that I look for in a five star book.

However if you're looking for a fun read where you won't put the book down, I recommend it.

Book Review
Nobody’s Hero
M. W. Craven
reviewed by Lou Jacobs


readersremains.com | Goodreads


Multi-award-winning British crime novelist M.W. Craven returns with his second high-octane action thriller featuring Ben Koenig—”the man with no fear.” A former U.S. Marshal and now an intelligence operative, Koenig is recruited by the CIA to thwart an international plot that threatens the stability of America and the world.



Ben has a rare genetic disorder affecting his brain, which removes all caution when faced with mortal danger. At times, this condition has proved both a curse and a valuable asset in his line of work. He has no problem with killing people when necessary. In this adventure, Ben faces four armed and ruthless opponents, dispatching them easily with his specially devised “sharpened” credit card—without even needing to utilize his unique Fairbairn-Sykes dagger.

The action begins with a brutal double murder and an abduction in the streets of London. Surveillance footage captures the image of the perpetrator—a woman well known to Ben. A decade earlier, clandestine services had asked Ben to fake her death and facilitate her disappearance. Her resurfacing now presents an impending disaster for global security.

Ben teams up with intelligence operative Jen Draper, who despises him due to past misadventures. Their mutual razor-sharp banter provides frequent comic relief amid the escalating violence and intrigue.

This novel will appeal to fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher and Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series. A continuous stream of cinematic action sequences is interspersed with Ben’s sardonic and sarcastic wit, reminiscent of Nelson DeMille’s John Corey character. Over the course of this adrenaline-laced outing, Ben contends with a father-daughter hit team, the Russian crime syndicate, merciless military contractors, and international terrorists.

M.W. Craven masterfully weaves together a complex, intricate plot filled with red herrings and unexpected twists. Supported by amazing characters, intense action, and unrelenting violence, the story builds to an explosive denouement. Craven expertly provides the necessary backstory, ensuring this book stands on its own. However, after reading this gripping tale, readers will be compelled to download Fearless—the first Ben Koenig novel. This relentlessly paced book is easily devoured in just a few sittings.

I personally alternated between reading on Kindle and listening to William Hope’s narration of the audiobook. Hope expertly modulates his tone and affect to bring each character vividly to life in the theatre of the mind.

Thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing an uncorrected proof and advance audio version in exchange for an honest review. I eagerly await Ben Koenig’s next misadventure!

Ben Koenig is back, and the world hasn’t been this dangerous, or this entertaining, in a long time!

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting Ben Koenig’s return (and if you read Fearless--you should have been), Nobody’s Hero by M. W. Craven does not disappoint. This high-octane thriller picks up where Fearless left off, plunging Koenig—a man who can’t feel fear—back into a world of danger, mystery, and chaos. And, as expected, it’s a thrilling ride from start to finish.

The story begins with the murder of two pickpockets in London, which sets off a global chain of events. A cryptic message hidden in a reopened safe leads Koenig to a list of names, including his own. As he unravels the meaning behind “The Acacia Avenue Protocol,” he’s pulled into a complex web, where the stakes couldn't be higher. The plot is intricate, weaving together suspense and action, with twists that keep you guessing until the very last page.

One of the things I love about Koenig is his snarky attitude. He’s got a knack for delivering sharp one-liners, which inject much-needed humor into a story that’s filled with suspense, action, violence, and tension. But it’s not all about the quips—Koenig’s emotional depth, tangled with his chaotic personal life, makes him an endlessly fascinating character.

This book is fast-paced, packed with action, and has its share of graphic violence, but it’s all in service of the plot. From northern England to the remote Scottish airfields, and across to New York and Nevada, Koenig faces off against corrupt cops, a terrifying private military contractor, and a killer with a bizarre fear of yellow. The unpredictability of it all makes for a ride that’s as thrilling as it is relentless.

What I really appreciate, though, is how Craven masterfully balances the adrenaline rush with a complex storyline that makes you think. It's one of those books that requires you to pay attention because there’s a lot going on. The chapters are short (which is always a plus for me), making it a book you can’t help but devour quickly.

In short, Nobody’s Hero is a great follow-up to Fearless, delivering exactly what you want in a thriller—action, suspense, and a protagonist who just won’t quit. If you like your thrillers fast, smart, and a little bit chaotic, this is the book for you.

NOBODY’S HERO was another excellent thriller by M.W. Craven, who has rapidly ascended to the top of my must read list in recent months. This book is no exception, packed with action and adventure, clever plot twists and devious characters; and yet still riddled with humor and light moments. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and look forward to whatever this author writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to read and review NOBODY’S HERO.

This book had me chomping at the bit and flipping these pages so fast. I was sucked into this action-filled, emotionless MMC. Ben was quite the thinker and character. Following his story was enjoyable. Their twists were unexpected and made this story such a big adventure. I stayed up late to finish this book. I once again jumped into a series on the second book, but I did not feel lost; there is probably a back story I missed. Overall this was a fast and enjoyable read. The ending was unexpected, I loved the unknown aspect of each part. I will read more from M.W. Craven, and I should go read the first book of this series for the back story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and M.W. Craven for the opportunity!

Holy moly! Is espionage noir a thing?

@booksta_jon has been a big M.W. Craven fan and was pretty convincing in getting me to pick up his latest, NOBODY'S HERO, out today by @flatiron_books with the audio by @macmillan.audio, graciously provided via @netgalley.

Ben Koenig is a man who feels no fear, making him quite an asset to intelligence officers. When a woman he helped fake her own death reappears, and a message with his name is discovered, Ben doesn't know what it all means, but he knows it is ominous. As clues, and bodies, start to accumulate, the scope of the threat is beyond horror.

This was such a fantastic reading experience! The pace was unrelenting, the characters were sharp, the action was pounding, and the humor was darkly perfect. I felt challenged mentally to keep track of all the plot points, clues, and misdirection, while holding on with slight cringes to the violent sequences. This is a script waiting to happen. And did I mention the wry, dark humor? I loved it. I also loved the strong, complicated characters. I will be following the series for sure.

The combo digital/audio was great, as it was so full. I loved the narration that imbued all the grit, and also loved keeping track visually with the varying perspectives and quick action.

Wow! Just wow!

This is my first M.W. Craven book, and it was quite the rollercoaster ride! It kept me hooked and thinking about it even when I couldn’t read. The story was action-packed and incredibly thrilling.

I definitely wouldn’t want to meet Koening or Draper in real life, but I enjoyed tagging along on their adventure.

And the twist at the end? Mind-blowing! I’ll be sitting here for the next week trying to untangle it all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and M.W. Craven for the opportunity!

Craven is a British crime writer who is probably best known for his Washington Poe series (there is a new installment also coming out this month which I am looking forward too.) This is the second book of his Ben Koenig series, which is more of a Grey Man/Reacher style thriller, then the police procedural stuff of his previous books. Koenig’s shtick is that he is an ex-Marshall, hunted by the Russian mob who can’t feel fear. The conceit of this book is that a safe is opened in Langley with a list of four people on it, three are dead and the fourth is Koenig. It spirals from there into some really crazy places, and has well executed twists and turns. These type of books are usually pretty formulaic, but this kept switching train tracks. This kind of book is in my wheelhouse, and this is probably my airport read of the year. I ate through this like an Eric Carle worm, and if this kind of thing sounds fun, it delivers on it

Thank you Netgalley & Flatiron Books Publishing for an eARC 🥰🥰

This series is like a high-octane shot of adrenaline straight to the heart - it's fast-paced, action-packed, and utterly addictive.
Ben Koenig is back, and he's still got that whole "unique condition" thing going on (no spoilers, but let's just say it makes him a pretty interesting guy). This time around, he's dealing with a double murder in London, a missing woman, and a whole lot of trouble.
I love how this series blends gritty realism with a hint of dark humor. Ben's a complex character with a lot of depth, and his banter with Jen Draper is some of the best dialogue I've read in a long time. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I'm excited to see where their relationship goes in future books.
The plot's a real page-turner, with twists and turns that'll keep you guessing till the very end. And let's just say the action scenes are pretty intense - I was on the edge of my seat more than once! M.W. Craven done a great job of ramping up the tension and suspense, making it impossible to put the book down.🔥🔥🔥
One of the things that really stands out about this series is its well-developed characters. Ben's not the only complex character - the entire cast is multi-dimensional and relatable. Even the villains are nuanced and believable, which makes the story feel even more realistic.
All in all, I'm thoroughly enjoying this series, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller. 🔥

This was my first but definitely not my last MW Craven novel. I loved the main character Ben Koenig. He has no fear, now he has a bounty on his head. Set in the US and UK, the action never stops. A very wild ride, explosive non-stop thrill ride.

I found this book quick and engaging, from the first page it pulls you in and drags you through some intriguing scenarios and spy action. Packed scenes. However, I was disappointed that it was not listed as a book 3 of a series. I wasn’t aware of the lineup until after I read it. So that being said this book could be read as a standalone or as part of the series. I felt like I wasn’t missing out on too much information about the storyline. But I feel like maybe a few things were missed along the way. Overall a quick entertaining read I will be recommending to my following.

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S NOBODY'S HERO ABOUT?
A decade ago, Ben Koenig helped a woman disappear—and to do so in a way that even he (who knew more than anyone else in the world about it) wouldn't be able to track her. But now, she's surfaced—as someone responsible for a couple of brazen murders on the streets of London. He and his watcher/minder/handler Jen Draper are tasked with finding her and finding out what made her come into the open.

It takes all of their creative approaches to investigating—and Draper's security firm's extensive resources—plus a little luck to get on the path. But will they survive it?

Standing in their was is a team of assassins, criminal police officers, smugglers of various stripes, petty criminals—and bigger ones—and schemes that are truly chilling. Their strengths? The aforementioned creativity and extensive resources, some assistance from a certain Agency, their shared drive, Koenig's lack of fear, his strange humor and odd trivia.

Obviously, the bad guys are in for trouble.

A DARING MOVE
Far too often when someone/some group in a novel has a completely innovative, genius, unbelievably original idea, it really isn't. At best they're usually clever, but nowhere near as mind-blowing as characters act. Too often, I think authors would be better off alluding to a plan without giving us all the details, and readers have to suspend disbelief to keep going.

For a while, I was worried that Craven had bitten off more than he could chew in revealing all that he did—when it was all shadows, I was really invested. But as the book progressed and we got more and more details about the scheme afoot, the more I realized that this was one of those exceptions that proved the rule. There's some really ingenious stuff going on here.

I should've trusted the mind that brought us The Botanist (as only one example).

Can I promise that every reader is going to have their mind boggled by this? No. But even the cynics or the people who suss it out before the reveal are going to admit that this is atypically clever, and you can absolutely understand why Koenig and Draper have such difficulty with this—and are willing to risk so much to stop it.
The Title
I'm not going to get into it now, but I can imagine that more than one book club is going to spend some fun time speculating about/arguing over who the title is referring to.

I mean, I've spent some time speculating about it and arguing with myself over the identity. I figure Craven has multiple characters in mind, actually, rather than just one. But I'm prepared to be wrong about that.

CAVEAT LECTOR, OR, THE FIGHT SCENES
If you're like me, and decided at one point or another to not have a meal while watching Bones, at least until the (first) body is taken back to the Lab (the CSIs may have driven viewers to a similar choice), you're going to want to take a similar approach to the fight scenes in this book. That's actually an excess of caution, you're really only going to need it for some. But better be safe than sorry—really.

Now, once you put the meatball sub aside, these fight scenes are really well-written. I think they're better than those in Fearless. Craven brings the goods in the technical sense/ability to depict things clearly, the impact on the plot, and the overall entertainment value.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT NOBODY'S HERO?
This is really one of those books best discussed among people who've read it—most of the glowing things I want to say would reveal too much—and you don't have to read too much of Craven's work to know it'd be a bad idea to cross him. So what can I say?

Let's start with this—between Fearless and Nobody's Hero I read a couple of thrillers with a one-man Army in the Reacher/Koenig/Ash/Ryan/Orphan X etc. mold that soured me on the whole thing, so I started this with a little trepidation. Also, I didn't know how he'd follow up Fearless and feared a little sophomore slump. It took me very little time to cast all that aside and just have a blast with this—I'm back to my appreciation of the genre, and I don't know if Craven has the word "slump" in his vocabulary.

Ben Koenig is one of those characters that I hope to spend a lot of time with, there's just something about him that I really like. It was good to see Jen Draper in action and to see the shift in the relationship between these two from where it was in Fearless and the beginning of this book to the end. They're a good team.

I don't know where to put this, but I need to say that between what we see in Nobody's Hero and some of the Poe series, I really have to wonder what kind of drinking establishments Craven frequents (or I hope, for his sake, used to frequent).

One of the assassins has a...let's put it generously and vaguely...a quirk. It feels like the kind of thing that Craven stumbled upon at some point in the last 15 years and said, "I need to put this in a book some day." I'm very glad it did—I'm not convinced that a hitman could become a success with that quirk, really. But Craven uses it so well, that I'm not going to complain. I really enjoyed the way it paid off.

We didn't get a monologue at the end by an evil mastermind, which still happens even after being made a cliché decades ago—it wasn't necessary, and what we got instead was so entertaining. It was truly a great change from what was expected.

I don't know that we need that last reveal—nor does the series—but, I look forward to Craven coming back to it in the future (however far away that future may or may not be).

Action, snark, and some really great twists. There's a momentum to this that builds and builds and builds as the tension ratchets up in a way that shows you're in the hands of a Thriller Master. Sure, every decent thriller has that characteristic. But anyone who's read a couple of thrillers knows the difference between standard-issue momentum and tension and something special. This is the latter, and it ain't even close.

Do you need to read Fearless before this? No. Will it help a little? Not much, but yes. The important thing is that you read both of them. You won't want to put it down once you pick it up.

Long live Ben Koenig.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Flatiron Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

Ben Koenig has a disease called Urbach Weithe, which inhibits his ability to feel fear. Which is great when fighting bad guys. Ben gets questioned about a thing called the Acacia Avenue Protocol. He knows nothing about it, but for some reason he was on the list when it was opened and everyone else is already dead. He gets roped into a case where he has to help a lady he previously helped disappear forever and stop the Acacia Avenue Protocol from being carried out.

I really enjoyed this book! It was quite the page turner! The plot was so interesting, I never wanted to go to sleep. I just wanted to stay up reading it all night!

Ben Koenig is quite an annoying obnoxious character when you meet him. Highly intelligent, but never stops talking. I found this to be quite funny and it carries on throughout the book. In the beginning there are multiple plot lines, which at the time seems confusing that it is jumping around, but they do eventually make sense. And when they do, it's an AHA moment!

I really enjoyed the action, plot twists, and suspense that this book entailed! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading mystery, crime, or action books.

I asked for this book from NetGalley before it had a cover or summary. I was intrigued with the name and assumed it would be a romantasy. When I received it, I instantly realized that it was definitely not that so it took me a bit to pick it up. I’m super glad I did eventually decide to read it because I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m not a spy/police thriller story person but I started this and couldn’t stop. The main character Ben Koenig was so different and quirky it kept my attention. The story was well thought out and the twists were great. The ending too! What a great way to end this one. I will enjoy reading the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was not my cup of tea.
I don’t really get into books like this, but I wanted to give it a try.
I felt like the dialogue was on the cheesy side. Kind of was like watching one of those old detective shows.
I just couldn’t really ever get into it.
The story was actually pretty good though. Craven set up some really nice twists.
If male mystery authors are your jam, you will probably like this.
Thanks netgalley!

Lots of action, twists and turns. For me it was a bit confusing until about 50% through. I couldn't see how the multiple plot lines were coming together

A few typos, mainly missed words in a few of the sentences.

Nobody’s Hero I Book 2 Ben Koenig
M. W. Craven
Macmillan Audio Narrated by William Hope
Flatiron Books
December 3, 2024

Ben Koenig is back!!! Ben has had damage to his brain takes away his ability to feel or understand fear, even down to his adversaries facial expressions. This leads to years of training, being sought after for his skills and eventually being pursued. (you are going to want to read the first book) Book 2 picks up because Koenig has a very large bounty on his head and hiding didn’t work out as he planned. What starts as a visit to a coffee shop for Ben to send his monthly email, eventually turns into a global pursuit uncovering secrets and leaving multiple dead bodies in its wake.

The Acacia Avenue Protocol, a cryptic directive, has resurfaced and Ben is needed because everyone who can stop it dead. What makes it better is that one of the names on this list, was killed by Ben Koenig himself. Ben loves to drop his random spiel of information and how he got to his conclusion. He irritates those around him, especially his handler Jen Draper, but for me, it’s perfect. This book has so much going on you just can’t stop. A father daughter pair of contract killers, a woman presumed dead for decades, corrupt cops, a lot of action and a twist at the end that you will NOT see coming. It’s perfect. I can’t wait to see what’s next.