After loving the first book in the series I was glad that this one was just as much fun. I hope that the publisher also does a full-cast audio for Sentinel like they did for Armored.

Published by Berkley on June 25, 2024

I give Mark Greaney credit for writing some of the best action scenes in the thriller industry. Still, I’m a bigger fan of his Gray Man series than his Armored books. The Gray Man is antisocial, justifiably paranoid, and a bit of an asshole. That’s why I like him. Josh Duffy is friendly, likable, dependable, and has as much personality as a GI Joe action figure. The only trait that makes him seem human is his PTSD, and that only manifests itself in nightmares that have no impact on his work. He’s too boring to make me look forward to his next adventure.

Duffy works for the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. His wife is a State Department Political Officer. They begin the novel in Washington D.C., where Duffy protects a European Union official when a riot breaks out at a protest attended by her daughter.

Duffy and his wife are then jointly assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Ghana. They get to take their kids because Ghana is a relatively stable democracy so what could go wrong? Duffy expects the assignment to be dull, but a Chinese intelligence officer is working to orchestrate a coup that will increase China’s influence in western Africa. The agent has enlisted the services of a South African mercenary who once worked with (and was despised by) Duffy. They were employed as “private security,” a polite term for mercenaries, in Afghanistan and Syria.

The South African in turn enlists the services of Russian mercenaries who work for Wagner. The Chinese agent has also recruited rabble rousers from Togo and other surrounding nations. Unbeknownst to the South African, the Chinese agent also employs Islamic terrorists, with whom the South African would not ordinarily work. It’s good to know that people who overthrow democracies have principles.

Duffy is assigned to a team protecting the US ambassador during a trip with Ghana’s president and a UN representative as they make political appearances in Ghana. Duffy's wife is part of the diplomatic team because of course she is. The trip takes them to a hydroelectric dam that the South African has just captured in stage one of the coup. Bad weather causes them to arrive a day early, upsetting the coup timetable. Shootouts and explosions ensue.

From that point onward, the novel is a series of action scenes, primarily involving Duffy and a Ghanian cop as they try to keep the dam from being blown up while protecting diplomats and Duffy's wife. They also need to prevent the South African from recovering a laptop computer that would provide embarrassing evidence of Chinese involvement in the coup.

The novel's credible atmosphere is obviously the product of meticulous research. The action is fast but perhaps a bit too predictable. When, for example, the South African kidnaps Duffy’s kids (thriller fans will see that coming from the second they learn the kids are traveling to Ghana), Duffy’s plucky daughter displays the kind of bravery that triller fans are used to seeing from the children of action heroes. While the story holds no surprises, it generates excitement through constant motion. I can easily recommend it to action novel fans, but Sentinel lacks the spark that Greany brings to his Gray Man novels.

RECOMMENDED

Another fantastic book from the modern master of action thrillers. Mark Greaney continues to elevate the genre regardless of which series he's working on. Fast paced and action packed, it's another must read.

The Big Thrill published a interview with the author of Sentinel, Mark Greaney, conducted by José H. Bográn, where the author discussed about the second entry into his new and exciting new series.

Mark Greaney (http://markgreaneybooks.com) is the author of more than 20 novels. Sentinel was published in June of this year. It is the 59th book I completed reading in 2024.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.

The primary character of this novel is Josh Duffy. Duffy had served in the US Army and then spent a few years as a mercenary in the Middle East. Now, he is married with two children. His wife, Nichole, is a junior political officer with the US State Department. Josh has been able to follow her into the State Department as a Diplomatic Security Service officer.

Nichole has received her first overseas assignment at the US Embassy in Ghana. Josh and the kids follow her. The assignment was supposed to have little risk, but that was before the Chinese intelligence officer Kong Shaken entered the picture. The government of Ghana has begun to accept assistance from the EU and the US. Shikun is there to destabilize the area and rebuild Chinese influence.

Shikun is a puppet master, pulling the strings of Russian mercenaries, the Dragons of Western Togoland, and JNIM terrorists. Any and all of them are expendable. His only goal is to reestablish Chinese influence. He has a plan to achieve his goal while hiding Chinese involvement.

An EU ambassador is visiting Ghana. She, the American Ambassador, and the President of Ghana begin a press trip through the country inspecting projects funded by the EU and US. An unpredicted storm forces the three helicopters to change their itinerary and visit the Akosombo Dam a day earlier than expected. That is when Shikun’s plan begins to unravel.

Both Josh and Nichole are accompanying the US Ambassador. The peaceful press trip quickly turns into a firefight at the Dam. Several of the party are killed or wounded. Josh must revert to his military training to protect the Ambassador and save his wife.

South African Conrad Tremaine leads the mercenary force at the Dam. He is known for his brutality and once worked with Josh. They did not part as friends. Tremaine is committed to seeing Shikun’s plan through and receiving the promised payout. But more importantly, he will do anything to preserve his anonymity in this bloody venture.

John and Nichole fight to stay alive and protect their friends. When Tremaine uses threats against the Duffy children in an attempt to hide his involvement, John and Nichole go to war.

I enjoyed the 12.5 hours I spent reading this 492-page thriller. The novel is full of action and adventure. I think the following passage sets the tone for the novel. Eight-year-old Mandy Duffy has been kidnapped. She calmly tells someone who has been helping her, “You are being nice. When my daddy comes to get us, I will tell him not to hurt you.” I have had the opportunity to read a few other novels by Mr. Greaney. They have consistently been good reads. They are Back Blast, Gunmetal Gray, Red Metal, and The Chaos Agent. While this novel is the second in the Armored series, it does read well on its own. The chosen cover art is OK. I give this novel a rating of 4.8 (rounded to 5) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

I haven't read the first book in the Armored series so I don't know the back story of Josh and Nichole Duffy. I suspect that knowing the characters better would enhance the reading experience. I felt like I was missing an intimacy with the main characters that made me less vested in their story. The action rules here with detailed cinematic scenes. Lots of Bad guys and easy to root for the good guys. The story picks up in the second half. The African political climate and politics of Ghana were interesting. A good solid read.

Copy provided by the publisher and Netgalley

Mark Greaney's Sentinel is a thrilling, action-packed novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Josh Duffy and his wife Nikki, part of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, are sent to Ghana with their children, expecting a stable environment. However, a Chinese plot to destroy a US-supported dam throws them into chaos.

The tension rises as Josh and his protectees are caught between a Chinese hit squad and a rebel army. Greaney masterfully balances intense action with deep character development, showcasing Josh's struggle between his mission and his family.

Sentinel is a must-read for fans of high-stakes thrillers and expertly crafted espionage stories. Greaney's storytelling prowess makes this book a gripping, unputdownable page-turner. Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this copy

Sentinel is the 2nd book in the Armored series by Mark Greaney.

"Josh Duffy has recovered from his mission as a contractor in Mexico. Now he's in protection with the Diplomatic Service, married to Nichole and father to two kids. The family is posted to Ghana - one of the most stable nations in Africa - by the State Department. But a Chinese security operative has other plans. Now Duffy is on the run - trying to protect his family as well as the ambassador - all while chaos reigns in the capital"

This is a pure action novel. Greaney throws a lot of parts in the mix - mercenaries, Chinese, Russians, rebels and corruption. Duffy is former military. His wife Nichole is a former Apache pilot. And there's some spark in the kids. It's a long book, but the action moves it along quickly. I was a little worried with the "Cast of Characters" pages at the beginning of the book (There are a lot of them) but it's never an issue.

Some excellent action from Greaney.

Mark Greaney's latest thriller, Sentinel, showcases his skill at crafting page-turners. The story follows Josh Duffey and his wife, who work for the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service when they learn they are heading to Ghana and take their children with them. China is funding major investments in Africa in return for the precious metals needed for electronics, and the U.S. has decided this isn’t ideal. In a show of solidarity, the President of Ghana and diplomats from the EU and US embark on a publicity tour. And wouldn’t you know it, the delegation walks right into the beginnings of a coup. What are the odds? Duffy—with a ragtag team of allies—risks it all to keep the diplomats alive and protect Ghana’s democracy.
Greaney, known for The Gray Man, has created a diametrically different hero than Court Gentry in Josh Duffy. Gentry is a one-man killing machine whereas Duffy is just a regular dude. A man who prides himself in doing his job well, providing for his family, and doing what is right no matter the consequences, Duffy is a natural leader and is best when part of a team. He doesn’t relish violence but will dole it out when necessary.
The thread that weaves through all of Greaney’s books is how well-researched they are. Greaney excels at putting the reader into the action and delivers a visceral experience. The emotions and stresses leap off the page and keep the reader turning the pages.
Sentinel is a fun and propulsive thriller with a protagonist anyone can root for.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Sentinel.

Blog Tour

Sentinel by Mark Greaney was an absolute amazing action packed story!
Book two in the Armored series. I’m so excited to read more and I can’t wait for the third title.
Sentinel is a new series with Josh Duffy as the main character and this second book is one wild ride, literally!

The setting and atmosphere also really worked for me in this book. Greany does such fantastic job of transporting you to the middle of Ghana and it's downright scary. The tension and peril of the characters was palpable on every page, and trust me it does not stop until the very end.
This is a really action packed story that not only gives your adrenaline a lift.

The imaginative plot, the well-written storyline, the inclusion and addition of old and new characters, the vivid details in the location settings, the conscientious dialogue, the ideal sense of humor, the ample political subterfuge, and the continued outstanding character development of an iconic protagonist all tied in with the perfect dose of action, makes this book a ‘gem’ of the genre!

Once again, Mark Greaney hit it out of the park!

Thank You NetGalley and Berkley for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
It was a pleasure to be apart of you Blog Tour for this phenomenal title!


(I will post a link to this review when it’s posted to my blog)

No one does an action sequence or gun battle better than Mark Greaney.

This is the second book in the series with Josh Duffy (Duff) but everything does get wrapped up in the book with this particular story. They do refer to the first book a bit but you can read this first and it’ll entice you to read the first one. He’s suffering from PTSD (Duff has a prosthetic device from a bomb explosion while in the service) but there are consequences for his actions although he always manages to pull through.

Expecting more books in this series and will definitely continue. He’s my go to author for this genre.

Highly recommend.

The second in Mark Greaney's Armored series is a fast action tale about a coup attempt in East Africa placed with present-day politics. It's hard getting adjusted to not having the Gray Man, but Josh Duffy is just as badass!

Another great novel by Mark Greaney full of action and suspense. Highly recommend for thriller fansd

The Bat Signal strong and prophesying a taste of things to come, Steve Wynn's maiden endeavor set the Las Vegas strip afire when the MIRAGE casino resort opened in late 1989. Being one of the biggest, most expensive, hyped, and successful properties on the strip and the world, MIRAGE was the first of the megaresorts in Las Vegas, opening the floodgates for a building boom that would transform the face of Sin City forever. Prominently featured eight years later in the Chevy Chase comedy NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VEGAS VACATION, Mirage would split screen time with the Hoover Dam, a temptation for a running gag that screenwriters obviously couldn't resist. Located 35 mins from the Gambling Capital of the World, the American Icon was the butt of jokes using 'dam' as an adjective while Chevy Chase's bumble-shtick comedy did the rest. Sharing the same fate, minus the jokes and Chevy Chase, SENTINEL prominently features the Volta Dam in Ghana, splitting real estate with geopolitics, resource wars, mercenaries, and firefights, making for a dam fine thriller set on the Dark Continent.

Despite or maybe because SENTINEL's goings-on transpire on the Mother Continent, the lines are drawn about as early as they can be, page one, identifying the fly in the ointment; China and her 'Belt and Road' program. As Africa dominates global production both in matters of gold and diamonds, China's mining and construction interests, secretly financed by its Ministry of State Security (the foreign and domestic intel people), are represented by a techie provocateur who's not above using varied nationality mercenaries who're lingering to avoid getting drawn into ongoing wars by their respective countries. Working a coup in Africa is generally no problem, save that doing so in Ghana is different. A nation with 90 gold mines, a few diamond ones, and better infrastructure than some of the republics surrounding it, it's a stable democracy. Nonetheless, it's West Africa. Violence is a given, for there are lotsa Mercs in the dirt. With a nod to DEI, the main baddie henchman, Tremaine, a Merc of the South African variety, works with Russian contractors providing plausible deniability to the Chinese subverting Ghanaian national interests. Very diverse and inclusive. Unfortunate for the bad guys, the good guys have their fingers in the pie, mainly in the form of the Duffys, trading in barbecues and ballgames in the Washington DC area for State Department gigs in the Gateway to Africa. The husband and wife team ply their trade in the US Embassy, Nicole in the Foreign Service as political officer and Josh as an Assistant Regional Security Officer. As a former contractor with a prosthetic leg and a touch of the PTSD, he's cool as a cucumber until the fight starts. Then, all bets are off. Channeling Linc Hawk when the baseball cap is reversed, he turns into a beast. Naturally, meddling with the country's internal politics with a knuckledragging Yankee in the mix goes from A-Ok to SNAFU and FUBAR in a heartbeat.

Due to its size and opposing enemy forces, Haditha Dam required quite a few 75th Ranger Regiment tan berets and a handful of Delta Force to prevent Tigris riverine malfeasance and shutting down the Iraq electrical grid during the early stages of the Global War on Terror in 2003. Part GOLDENEYE's cold open, part THE GUNS OF NAVARONE and THE DIRTY DOZEN, SENTINEL offers plenty of dam action, making a glorious return to the 80s superhuman one man army via para-guerilla action, ignoring the tactical pitfalls of securing and holding large objectives. Nonetheless, SENTINEL entertains on a base level, running with duty, loyalty, dedication, and good old American action. Amid shout outs to SOUTH PARK, JAWS, and Wes Craven, SENTINEL throws out golden nuggets like debt trap diplomacy, EDPs, and jamming the downlink. Although it should be unthinkable, for those who haven't seen the original BLADE RUNNER: spoiler alert. Chronicling a relatable protagonist up against bad ass perpetrators with enough explosives to orbit Arnold Schwarzenegger, SENTINEL is an enthralling geopolitical black ops type thriller that will electrify even the most jaded action junkies, Dollars to donuts, or better Dollars to Yuan. Despite light bellyaching about Benghazi, SENTINEL is a wrestling match in razor wire, a rough and tumble fight with a mountain lion and absolutely phenomenal if you like rainsoaked African jungles and gunfights. Lots of gunfights. Like DIE HARD in a Dam, 34 stories of deep adventure, SENTINEL is a 300+ page chase that will end in violence. Bank on it and pass the dam ammo.

Mark Greaney is skilled in bringing together diverse characters, a contemporary topic, and plenty of pulse-pounding exhilarating action. Sentinel, the second book in the Armored series, features Josh and Nicole Duff. Both work for the U.S. State Department. Josh is a special agent in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security while Nicole is a junior political officer. Nicole gets her first overseas assignment and they’re both sent to Ghana, a country with a stable democracy. Their children also go with them. However, a foreign nation’s plan to embarrass the United States and gain control of resources in the country makes this assignment anything but easy.

Josh is former military and a former close protection agent. He suffers from nightmares and panic attacks. He has a competent nature, and is affable, but misses the exhilaration of high-threat protection. Nicole is highly disciplined, intelligent, and diligent. There are many other characters, but there is a character list at the beginning of the book as well as an abbreviations list.
Greaney is an excellent storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat with gripping scenes, volatile action scenes, a superb plot, and fantastic writing. In preparation for his Gray Man series, he not only traveled to multiple countries but trained extensively in the use of firearms, battlefield medicine, and close-range combative tactics. That experience has been translated into the events in this series as well.

The suspense, with its constant sense of urgency and uneasiness, kept me fully engrossed in the story. The world-building was excellent; especially for the scenes in and around the reservoir. The pace is lightning fast and the premise feels like it could easily happen. While some of the action scenes are a little excessive for one person to handle with such resilience, the story worked for me. Themes include family, power, protecting others, politics, greed, and much more. While here is some technical information on weapons, there isn’t an inordinate amount of detail. My one quibble was the beginning of the book had a few chapters that were in a different time-line and this wasn’t obvious until later.

Overall, this is a riveting, intense, and violent story that is disquieting and unsettling at times, but also has some tender moments. I recommend this series to those who like political, action, espionage, and military thrillers. The action scenes combined with great characters and a well-written plot make this novel a must read for thriller readers. While this series is best read in order, this one worked as a standalone novel for me. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Josh and Nicole.

Berkley Publishing Group and Mark Greaney provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be June 25, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Mark Greaney is a BEAST and has officially become my best author! This man can write! Sorry former first place (I ain't kissing and telling😉). HE holds you by the collar from the beginning and never lets you go. This was so fast paced, I enjoyed every second.

Duffy finds himself in Ghana now with his whole family, with the past events from book 1 its safe to say things have never looked better! Nicole his wife now works at the embassy while he as security. The stirring of a coup begin to take shape with someone from Dufy's past well in the mix. When the Ambassador's party is ambushed at the dam during a tour with the president of Ghana and other dignitaries, time begins ticking to if the enemy's ploy for a power grab will succeed!

Greaney is awesome when it also comes to how he shapes his characters, and being African myself he definitely got the atmosphere of a fellow African country! I look forward to many more from this amazing author

SOLID 5 Stars!!

Berkley Publishing group, thanks so much for this ARC!🙏🏾😊
THE SENTINEL BY MARK GREANEY OUT JUNE 25TH!!!

In a bit of a rarity, I believe I enjoyed this more than book one in this series. Josh and his wife have stable lives and good jobs with the State Department. When his wife is assigned to Ghana, Josh and the kids transfer along with her. Ghana is a stable democracy. What could possibly go wrong?

Lots of action and a very plausible storyline keep this thriller zinging along. It's a hefty book told from many viewpoints, all of which are well done.

I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it for lovers of action thrillers.

Not family friendly due to profanity and violence.

Sentinel is the second book in the Armored series by Mark Greaney. In this book, Josh Duffy has taken on a security position with the State Department. His wife, Nichole, also has a position within the State Department and upon completion of her training period they are assigned to Ghana. There they reside with their two children Mandy and Huck. Ghana is considered one of the more stable countries until a Chinese Operative plans a coup de tau to overthrow the government and establish a new president that will work in line with the Chinese government. The Operative has brought in a group of mercenaries known as Sentinel and lead by someone from Josh's past.

Sentinel starts off rather slow and doesn't really find its rhythm until about 30-40% through the novel. Once it finds its footing the action is non-stop with riveting excitement. The military aspects seem well researched and realistic. Having someone from Josh's path adds an extra subplot to the story and having Nichole along for the ride makes the stakes higher for them both to make it out.

I would give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I think the first third of the book moves along too slow and hinders the overall plot and excitement of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in return for an honest review.
#NetGalley #Sentinel

It felt old school Tom Clancyish in all the best ways. It was a story that started in several disparate places that you didn't expect to merge and they do in the most interesting ways. The main characters Josh and NIkki are such good hard working people that you want to root for them and hope good for them. I enjoyed them and watching the story unfold even if there were a couple of sleepless night when I was unable to put the book down.

Josh Duffy and his wife Nichole are in a much better place in their lives, both financially and professionaly, than they were four years ago when Josh took a job in Mexico out of desperation that nearly cost them both their lives. With this new found stability Josh and their two children follow Nichole to Ghana, Africa for her job with the US Department of State, safe in the knowledge that it's a stable area for a posting for their family. They quickly learn differently when, shortly after Josh arrives in the country, they're part of what should be a short and safe press driven mission that very quickly goes very badly.

The character and abbreviations lists can appear intimidating when starting this one, but being a fan of the Gray Man series, I had faith that if I pushed through the initial confusion of so many characters and new acronyms I'd quickly get my feet under me with this book and that's exactly what happened. Within a few chapters, I had my bearings and rarely had to refer to the lists for help, but when they were needed, I was glad they were there for quick reference.

It takes a few chapters to get going, there's a lot of moving parts and background that's necessary to establish, but once the action starts, it doesn't let up! It's fast-paced, intense, and impossible to put down.

I love Josh Duffy in this new series, I think he's a character that I'd be really happy following through many more books to come. He's flawed and struggling with his past, but he's doing everything he can to keep moving forward. He's likable, relatable, and ultimately someone I think most of us will sympathize with because he's such a three-dimensional character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eArc copy of this book!