Okay, I like reading books by Andrew Mayne because they're exciting and they make me feel smart. This is the second in a newer series, and I recommend reading the first one because it's good and because it gives context to the characters.
The main character in this is a typical Mayne maverick, independent and smart and resourceful. There's a mystery to unravel here, with hackers who are doing shady things, and international travel. It's a fun ride and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Thriller

Another smart winner from Mayne!

I love this author. Period. Full-stop. His novels are intelligent, meticulously crafted and a helluva good read.

Death Stake is the second book in the Trasker series. Brad Trasker is a former intelligence officer who now works for a private aviation company. The kind of company that works on cutting edge projects. The kind of projects that other countries want to steal. The owner of the company asks Brad to look into some missing venture capitalists. Kyle, the owner, had given them some money and hasn't heard from them. They appear to have gone missing. The more Trasker digs, the more diabolical the plot becomes. The search for the missing men takes him all over the world and causes him to almost be killed multiple times, get involved with an Asian gang and other government agencies.

Like Mayne's other novels, the plot involves a lot of technology or science that your average reader isn't aware of. Mayne doesn't talk down to the reader but explains the science around the thing in such a way that it deepens the whole plot. it also creates interest in this reader to find out more. I absolutely love when a book inspires the quest for more knowledge.

Another homerun!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book.

Brad Trasker is a bit of a smart aleck, retired intelligence operative, now working for a private company that is developing next-gen aerospace technology. Trasker's job is to keep the company's CEO safe and its highly classified technology out of the wrong hands. His first mission in book 2 of the series is to hunt down the person responsible for taking photos of their top-secret new engine design, the second is tracking down a group of software developers the company invested into who have disappeared. The latter task takes him to Thailand, where he has to navigate cultural differences and decide who he can trust to help him, and who may just want him dead. This is a fast-paced, spy-thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Trasker has a wry sense of humor and is very good at his job, which keeps the action entertaining as well as exciting. You don't need to read book 1 first, but I suggest you do!

Have you ever been in a fun house at the carnival? Trasker is like going into a fun house thinking you got this, yes might be a few twists and surprises along the way and then you realize you really had no clue what to expect and come out with your mind blown, breathing hard. That was Death Stake to me.I read book 1 and I enjoyed book 2 much more. Besides being entertainment in its finest, some of things make you think about the world we live in and all the possibilities. I look for any book by Andrew Mayne. I am always enthralled and each main character has its flaws, quirks and its own personality. Trasker is right on target. Thank you for the opportunity to receive an advance copy. I freely volunteer my honest thoughts and opinions. #DeathStake #Trasker #AndrewMayne #ThomasandMercer #NetGalley

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I found this to be a well-executed and dynamic espionage thriller that is razor sharp and gripping. This second book in Andrew Mayne's newest series is even better than the first and loaded with suspense. Trasker's adventure leads him into a world of supercomputer systems, image analysis, bitcoin, ransomware attacks, and other cybercrimes.

This author's books are always well thought out and researched which is why they are so captivating. Fans of his books can be assured of another exciting experience when they enter into the hunt with Brad Trasker. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book in this series.

My sincere thanks to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, and to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Andrew Mayne writes THRILLERS! His plot lines are full of tension and suspense, his characters are well defined and you'll spend alot of time trying to figure out which ones are the bad guys and which ones are the good guys......and it changes pretty quickly. DEATH STAKE is book #2 in the Trasker series, just one of several excellent series in Mayne's library.

Brad Trasker received his unusual skill set as an intelligence officer. Now retired, he practices his craft in a commercial market that spcializes in military applications. When security is breached, it's Trasker's job to identify the hackers and get the info back where it belongs. Trasker is an expert on recovery, no matter the consequences. This book will have readers engrossed and ignoring everything outside the page. Plan a binge just to be safe. I'd recommend any on Andrew Mayne's books to those who appreciate a great story from start to finish.

Death Stake by Andrew Mayne is a fascinating, fast paced mystery.
I couldn’t put this book down. It was very suspenseful and full of action.
A captivating read for those who appreciate gripping mysteries infused with a unique spin on police procedurals.

An Excellent International Action Thriller

The novel opens with an Air Force Colonel vehemently complaining to Brad Tasker about Wind Aerospace’s security, which allowed pictures of their secret project to be taken. They are now online. While this thread goes dormant, an international thriller starts.

This novel has two threads. The opening thread, as mentioned above, quickly becomes dormant. The second thread is an international effort to find a person in whose company Kylie Connor, the owner of Wind Aerospace, invested. Most of this thread takes place in Bangkok, Thailand, so he is operating by himself most of the time. He faces such problems as police corruption, mob interference, international mercenaries, and another woman there to look for recovery of funds that one of her company's customers invested. She raises some red flags for Tasker. This is an action-thriller with a rapid pace. Unlike many novels in this genre, some parts of this novel require some thought about what is happening. There are numerous twists, turns, and, especially, misdirections that kept me from being sure about whether several characters are good guys or bad guys. For me, the tension and suspense are strong in this novel. My interest was quickly captured and kept all the way to the end.

The background on Brad Tasker provides more about how Tasker reached this stage in his life and how his skills were honed through his previous employment experiences. The B-storyline that began in the first novel between Tasker and Connor continues but because of the distance between them, it is not as extensive as in the first novel. In this novel, the reader sees Tasker working in a more unsupported environment that provides more insight into his character. This aspect did add to my enjoyment of reading this novel.

Some aspects of this novel can cause some readers to stop reading. On the positive side, there are no intimate scenes. On the downside, vulgar and rude language is very evident. As for violence after the fact, it is very descriptive of the results of the violence used on the victims. This novel has chases, shoot-outs, and high-tension confrontations on the action side of the violence. While this is the second novel in the series, I did not notice any unsupported references to the first novel. Overall, if you enjoy action thrillers, you are probably used to this language and violence level.

As with most action thrillers I have read and even watched, a believable main storyline is not their strong point, but that is not the reason to read such novels, so this downside was not significant to me. As an action thriller, I liked that this novel solidly kept my attention and kept me reading late into the evening. Even with the dormant thread at the start, there are no loose ends at the end. I did have a problem with the ending, but most readers probably will not.

I have read nine novels by this author, and this novel only confirmed his ranking as a Must-Read author for me. I highly enjoyed reading this novel. I highly recommend reading this novel if you like this author or action thrillers. I sure hope that there will be another novel in this series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. I rate it with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

The tech world is fascinating. Mayne dumbs it down to common sense talk and terms we should all recognize, enough to get the gist of bitcoin and hacking. You think you’re reading a mystery novel which evolves into a murder mystery and ultimately a spy novel. It was amazing to be captivated by Trasker’s thought process and the magic behind it all. The story is tricky to follow because of the tech terminology however the mind games and suspense were riveting. I learn something new with each Mayne book, I’m actually excited to try his method for memorization. Having read an early copy I’m more than excited to give my honest review, it’s always a pleasure to read a book that I’ll think about until the next.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest revieew.

The story begins with Brad receiving a call from the Pentagon complaining of a major brief. It seems that a picture has been published on the internet of a hydrogen engine that Brad's company has been developing for the Government. Brad takes steps to find out who did it and who was behind it After Brad's meeting with the individual, that person commits suicide. Brad next leans of a start-up that Kylie, his boss, invested in where all oof the participants have disappeared. Brad decides to look into it and his journey takes him from Las Vegas to Bangkok where the group was last seen.

Brad as his search gets closer learns that there is more related to his search than was originally believed. The closer Brad gets the more dangerous it becomes. Follow his trail and learn who helps him as he works to complete his mission.

The ending sums up nicely, but there are questions unanswered. Pick up this book, you won't be sorry.

Action and suspense are front and center in Death Stake by Andrew Mayne. This second book in the series featuring retired intelligence operative Brad Trasker is mainly set in Bangkok, Thailand. Trasker is the head of security at a remote aerospace facility in the United States. When a photo of a top-secret military product shows up online, he begins to investigate. This leads to a start-up in Bangkok, where three software developers have disappeared and their headquarters is a crime scene.

Trasker tends to be proactive, wants to feel relevant, and has a great memory. He likes and is interest in maps and has a system to learn foreign words quickly. However, he often causes chaos, but mostly against the people trying to cause problems for him and his company. His greatest fear is letting people down.

What a wonderful, new-to-me series by a favorite author! It’s hard to get your breath as the action is fast and furious and the plot twists and turns. With exciting scenes and an antagonist that thinks on his feet and finds allies where-ever he goes, this is a riveting action and crime thriller.

The story quickly hooked me and kept me engaged to the very end. I can’t wait to see where the author takes the next book in the series. Threads include murder, corporate espionage, missing investments, deception, moral ambiguity, and more. Overall, this was an intense, suspenseful, fast-paced and dynamic thriller with good characterization.

Thomas and Mercer and Andrew Mayne provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 29, 2024.

Andrew Mayne strikes again with Death Stake, book two in the Trasker series realeasing October 29, 2024 from Thomas & Mercer.

I don't know how Andrew Mayne keeps luring me in but he creates characters like Brad Trasker who pull you into scene after scene of a novel and leave you wanting more. In Death Stake, Trasker has to solve a Corporate Espionage/Murder Mystery after his company loses money in a start up investment. (Crypto Currency-something I can't wrap my brain around! This book helped. Don't even get me started on NFTs!) After leaked photos alert Brad to a problem, a very tangled web begins to appear as he ends up in Thailand facing an old childhood school mate and a dubious woman who doesn't pass the sniff test.

The action in this book is non-stop. Trasker is put in situations that are high risk, reflex reaction, and mind boggling. His ability to round up allies, make sense of the players on the chess board, and navigate Bangkok on a motorcycle is amazing.

I really enjoyed this book. The non-stop, fast paced action made it easy to read. While there are characters from the first book making appearances, they aren't the main focus. I giggled out loud at some of lines.

"[…] eyes light up like I'd just told him Gal Gadot was asking him to prom."

Death Stake delivers everything you want in a mystery.

>high stakes
>underground criminal organization
>who can you trust
>what really happened
>who is the puppet master
>mind palaces

Thank you to @NetGalley Andrew Mayne and #thomasandmercer for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Death Stake is one of those books that you stay up to continue reading through the night. It has lots of action, a relentless pursuer of truth - Trasker -, a group of boys who are involved in a crime that is not entirely their fault and they'll pay heavily for it, corrupt Police forces, betrayal, espionage and mystery, and best of all, a good ending where good beats evil.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Death Stake by Andrew Mayne is a very highly recommended action-packed thriller and the second novel in the Brad Trasker series following Night Owl in 2023. This is a great addition to the series!

Retired intelligence operative Brad Trasker is head of security at Wind Aerospace for CEO Kylie Connor when he learns about a security breach. A photo of their top-secret AI-designed hydrogen engine has surfaced online. Trasker's investigation points to Josiah Levenstein, a young man who is clearly not a criminal mastermind and later is found dead. This leads to the start-up company xQuadrant started by three young software developers. Kylie invested in it and now the young men have disappeared along with nearly a million dollars in investment money.

Trasker begins to follow the trail of the missing young men. It leads him to Bangkok, Thailand, where the HQ of xQuadrant is a padlocked crime scene. The complex investigation in to what happened enters the sophisticated high-tech world of cryptocurrency, the international underworld, cyber-crime, digital espionage, spies and double agents, and internal betrayal.

Death Stake follows Trasker's investigation in this compelling, high octane, action-packed, complicated thriller. There are so many intricate twists and turns in the plot you will be unable to set the fast-paced novel down. I enjoyed every minute of following Trasker as he pieces together clues and makes numerous plans on the fly in order to escape death multiple times.

Trasker is an interesting, full-realized, savvy character with a keen intelligence, a world of experience, and a smart mouth. Even though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I would recommend reading Night Owl first because it is another very highly recommended novel and it is a great initial introduction to the characters.

Death Stake is an exceptional, dynamic, satisfying thriller and I'm looking forward to a third installment featuring Brad Trasker! Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon

I was issued this book for my unbiased review.

I have read a number of Andrew Mayne's books. I have enjoyed them all. Many interesting main characters. I will say that these books aren't really for everyone. Some of them get pretty deep at times, and it takes a bit to get into the story at times. If you hang in, you will have an interesting story and maybe learn about somethings you never thought of before.

I look forward to reading more.

Thriller Suspense about a retired spy's investigation into a major breach at an aerospace facility draws him into the underworld of cryptocurrency, espionage and betrayal.

5/5 stars: A long time favorite author, Mayne's second entry in the Trasker series which is a Thriller Suspense that spans the globe and features a retired intelligence operative turned head of security at a remote aerospace facility. After a major breach, his investigation leads to a Bangkok start-up, where its software developers have disappeared, along with nearly a million dollars in investment money. But following their trail gets him nothing but threats and with assassins hunting him, he's drawn into the same complex high-tech underworld of cryptocurrency, digital espionage and betrayal that swallowed up the runaway coders. As the line between ally and enemy blurs and the stakes become life and death, he'll have to navigate the dangerous intersection of modern intelligence and old-school spy games to survive. With tons of action and plenty of twists and turns, Mayne's written a fast-paced gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final reveal. Additionally, I really like how the plot unfolds and weaves together so effortlessly. Mayne's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Brad Trasker, his boss Kylie and his colleagues. As always, Mayne tackles current day real world topics and issues in a refreshing way and I love the way he depicts Trasker's use of mind palaces. Mayne touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check out the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Night Owl.

I received this eARC thanks to Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This book reads like a primer for espionage. With the advent of crypto-currencies, the world has been besieged by crooks getting into the system and emptying crypto. The crimes are being perpetrated against some of the world’s foremost crime syndicates and they are not amused.

A group of young American students have mastered the system of infiltrating these crypto accounts and emptying them. Three of four young men are found brutally murdered in an apartment in Thailand and a fourth computer whiz is on the run. Trasker must find him before the owners of the accounts do.

I found this story extremely informative and educational. The monetary and crypto world has become so sophisticated that Harvard graduates have difficulty figuring out what is going wrong.

Who are the good guys and bad guys? The water gets very murky in this novel. The players are often not what they seem. Crime is not always by the criminals and law enforcement is often jaded and corrupt. I enjoyed this book and the can of worms it opens. 5 stars – CE Williams

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Andrew Mayne, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I am always sure of a great reading experience when handed an ARC by Andrew Mayne. His style and adventurous storytelling keep the reader in the middle of the action while educating to no end. Bringing one of his newer protagonists back, Mayne provides the reader with a great story in the middle of Thailand and a tense investigation highly off the books. Brad Trasker will stop at nothing for answers, though his life constantly hangs in the balance. A stellar piece sure to impress many!

After an illustrious career working in Intelligence, Brad Trasker is enjoying semi-retirement as Head of Security for an aerospace facility. When a breach is noticed, Trasker is on it, though the military blowback is intense. Someone has leaked photos of a highly secretive hydrogen engine and Trasker needs to get to the center of it all. While tracing some leads, he stumbles upon a start-up in Bangkok, where three software developers have gone missing. Something is surely amiss and could hep him solve this mystery.

With a significant sum of money missing as well, Trasker is hot on their heels and heads to Thailand. Cultural and linguistic shock await him, though there is also an air of secrecy. Arriving at an address he is provided, all appears locked up by the police, but the Homicide Department of the Royal Thai Police are mum about what might have happened. Tasker won’t let that deter him, as countless dead ends lead to one conclusion, he is not welcome.

Refusing the leave without answers, Trasker soon finds himself on many hit lists, with assassins chasing him down. All the while, he loses himself in the world of cryptocurrency and digital espionage, still looking for the three coders he arrived in Bangkok to locate. He’s an old-school spy with a few of his own tricks to show off and a mission to get answers before returning stateside. A well-paced story that shows how versatile Andrew Mayne tends to be with his writing.

Andrew Mayne has always impressed me with his writing and varied ideas. I learn so much when I read his books and prove to be highly entertained. The narrative flow is clear and gritty, keeping the story moving and the humour edgy. There is so much to take away from the book, from the well-placed characters, the short chapters, and even the technological information on offer. Mayne keeps the reader wanting to know more and tosses in strong plot points to keep things from being too predictable. I am always eager to see what Andrew Mayne puts into his books and this was surely no exception!

Kudos, Mr. Mayne, for yet another winner!

I was hesitant to dive into this second book in the series. Book one - Night Owl - was not my favorite Andrew Mayne novel. In fact, even with it's short length, it was a slog to get through. I didn't connect with the character or the mystery. However, I am a completionist, so I felt compelled to at least give this book a shot. So glad that I did. This book is such an improvement over the last one. While in the first book, Trasker felt like a tired old spy, this one he's got a little spring in his step. He's doing actual spycraft, and the action feels more compelling this time around. Less of a mystery and more of a spy novel, this one improves on all the things I felt were lacking with the first book and even improves on the things I enjoyed in the first book too (like the memory palaces). Still not a huge fan of all the AI techno jargon (sometimes it still feels like chapters were written by ChatGPT), but I felt less so than I did after reading the first one. I still prefer his UIU series, but I'll be happy to give another book from this character a chance!

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer for the copy of Death Stake by Andrew Mayne. Books by Andrew Mayne are always well-written with inventive, intriguing stories. I don’t love Trasker though, because he’s too much of a superhero/Jack Reacher type who knows everything and can do everything. It’s very unrealistic, but if you can suspend belief for the whole book it might not bother you. I loved the complex story, even though some of it was difficult to understand. It was disappointing that everything wasn’t completely wrapped up at the end. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.