I tried really hard to get through this one but it was so political that I eventually gave up. The story is solid but I just couldn't get past the political agenda.

This suspenseful book was enjoyable and realistic of the oil & gas industry.

The characters were well developed. The story flowed well and kept me engaged.
I would recommend this book to those that enjoy the suspense genre.

A CEO of an energy company delivers a speech decrying the war in Ukraine, and his oil platform in the South China Sea goes up in flames mysteriously. The US political, intelligence and military establishment immediately attack the CEO for daring to speak up against the conflict. A worldwide chase to work out whodunnit. A big, interwoven conspiracy. A bit of romance spliced in. A pretty… bad ending.

This book was not for me. The writing and the narrative were a lot of work. I counted the phrase “nuclear war” 5 times on a page. The story jumps around as a plot/writing device that achieves nothing besides adding faux complexity. Sub-plots are brought up that serve little purpose in the overall narrative. A lengthly finale that ends quickly and nonsensically. A flawed novel in execution and substance. 2/5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

ARC provided by AuthorBuzz

A high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled thriller that dives deep into the ruthless world of global oil, corruption, and deadly power struggles. This novel blends action, political intrigue, and raw realism to create a gripping narrative that feels as timely as it is unsettling.

The story introduces a complex web of characters caught in the dangerous terrain of the oil industry—an unforgiving world where fortunes can be made or lost in the blink of an eye, and survival is often decided by who can pull the trigger first. As the plot unfolds, readers are taken from boardrooms where the rich manipulate the future of nations, to warzones where violence is as common as the oil that fuels it. The novel paints a chilling portrait of the lengths people will go to for control over the world's most precious resource, making it clear that power is the ultimate currency, and morality is an afterthought.

From the very first page, the pacing is relentless. The plot moves quickly, with each chapter building on the last, pulling readers further into the tangled mess of greed, betrayal, and violence. Characters shift allegiances, confront their pasts, and try to navigate a morally bankrupt world, all while the stakes continue to climb. There’s a constant undercurrent of tension that never lets up, keeping you on edge with every twist and turn.

The writing is sharp and unflinching, offering a look into a world where idealism has no place. The prose is immersive, bringing to life a high-octane, cutthroat world where danger is never far behind. Every scene is painted vividly, making the reader feel the heat of the desert, the tension in a boardroom, or the weight of a gun in hand. The atmosphere is suffocating, yet oddly compelling, as the story continues to reveal darker and more dangerous facets of the oil business.

What sets this novel apart is its ability to balance heart-pounding action with a deep, almost philosophical exploration of human nature. It examines the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition and the lengths people will go to protect their own interests, even if it means losing their humanity along the way.

With a conclusion that will leave you breathless and thinking long after you’ve finished, this is a novel that is as brutal as it is captivating. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller with layers of complexity, a story that reveals just how far people will go when they have everything to gain—and nothing left to lose.

The stakes have never been higher. This fictitious account of the global pursuit of wealth and power sounds disturbingly familiar, with big oil at center stage. The biased, muzzled media is as corrupt as the dirty politicians and CEOs it coddles. In the crosshairs is Ross Bullock, perhaps the only honest man in the industry, whose coveted Rawhide Energy is being targeted by a barrage of sabotage, lies, false accusations, and even murder. With few allies and a dwindling number of witnesses, Ross must find a way to expose the massive corruption that threatens to end Rawhide. There’s so much more to this suspense-filled, completely plausible story. It plays out like a movie, and Bond’s writing is superb. This one just might keep you up at night, as fiction flirts with reality. A must read.

Not my cup of tea. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this preview copy. Unfortunately it wasn't one of my favorite reads, maybe the theme, maybe the way of writing, but I had difficulty finishing it, it almost ended up in the DNF pile.

Explosive book! From the explosion on the oil rig, to the doomsday clock, this story takes you on an exhilarating journey. One man trying to do the right thing, along with help from his friends new and old can they save the day? This book was so wonderfully written and was a fabulous read. If you like thrillers, this is the book for you.

If you believe in government conspiracies this is the book for you. If you don't give this book a read...it might change your mind.
Is it possible that if a powerful CEO speaks out against the US President's policy that government entities would do all in their power to take them down? Engaging action adventure that draws you in, keeps you engaged and curious.

This book is full of misinformation and conspiracy theories. It has too many characters, which makes it confusing as it jumps from one character to another. You can't follow the story. It wasn't a bad premise, an oil platform being blown up and then Rawhide's refinery. If Ross, the supposedly main character, had led the story instead of all the political messiness and many others who had a POV, it could have been a good mystery/thriller. I gave it one star, but I could have given it none.

Crude takes readers into the a world of oil politics and corruption. It is a fast paced thriller that makes you realize that this could actually happen and the horrifying consequences. Interesting and thought provoking with relatable characters with nonstop action.

II received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

This novel gives us a unique insight into the world of oil politics and government corruption. A fast-paced read that grabs you on the first page. Well developed characters and a well thought out plot makes this an excellent read.

Thank you to NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would. It was very fast paced and easy to read. It played well on actual events and seemed real.

Crude by Mike Bond is a fast-paced, high-stakes thriller that explores the complex world of the global oil industry. When an explosion devastates Rawhide Energy’s offshore gas platform, CEO Ross Bullock must navigate a web of sabotage, political intrigue, and corporate battles to save his company. As investigations unfold and tensions rise, Bond delivers a tense, action-packed narrative set against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and global power struggles.

What makes this book stand out is its blend of personal drama with broader geopolitical themes. Bond does a great job weaving the high-stakes world of oil, energy politics, and corporate maneuvering with deeply human struggles, creating a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. While the pace is relentless, the narrative offers a gripping glimpse into the power dynamics of the oil industry.

Crude is perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers and have an interest in the global implications of the energy sector. Although the book's rapid pace and expansive scope may be overwhelming for some, its engaging action and timely themes will appeal to fans of political and corporate thrillers.

I received this book as a pre-release through Netgalley, but it took me an entire month to read because it included many, too many complex international issues facing our nation. Given Mike Bond's work history and experience, he is an expert on international oil issues, it would have been better if he didn't stray from this, it would have been a 5 star read.

As you can see from people's ratings, if you rely on the New York Times, Washington Post, MSNBC or CNN, you won't be aware of anything the characters refer to, so don't bother reading, you will hate it. Given that the author was an international correspondent, he probably has cut through the issues which were covered up by the current administration and the news media, and isn't concerned about losing those readers.

On the other hand, this book covered a number of international issues that have not been addressed in the last four years, the situation in Ukraine and the proxy war we seem to be in against Russia, the situation between Israel and Hama/Hezbollah, the price of Crude, and terrorism against oil company operations. This needs to be addressed. If the new administration cannot do anything about these issue, there will be an all out World War III, which is why I believe the author included all these issues.

This is meant to be a fast-paced political thriller with a mystery at its core. It is a deep dive into the politics, corporatism, war and corruption that swirl around the oil industry. Indeed, Bond is knowledgeable in all of these areas and delivers on all counts. The plot is a whodunit on the sabotage of an oil platform in Asia and an oil rig in Wyoming. The protagonist, Ross Bullock, is a larger-than-life hero figure serving as the CEO of the targeted Rawhide Energy. This is one cool dude who is well connected, never seems to be flustered by all of the calamities he faces and does not suffer much angst about environmental degradation while making a comfortable living filling the air with carbon. Not unlike the rest of the large cast of characters who inhabit his world, Ross is a little too cartoonish to be believed as a real live person. Indeed, most of the other characters in the book either are unfailingly too good or irredeemably too bad. None are very nuanced.

The plot is sweeping and complex, involving granular detail on the stock market, sabotage, nuclear deterrence, crime, political intrigue, romance, etc. Unfortunately, Bond elects to follow several plotlines using brief vignettes (usually about a page or two). This builds tension and maintains a contemporaneous sense of the action but slows things down and presents challenges for the reader to keep track of the details in the various stories as they develop here and there in the narrative. Similarly, the settings shift all over the world, but the scenes are so brief that the reader acquires little of the flavor of any of these places.

Bond also mars the overall effect of his storytelling prowess by occasionally inserting his personal biases presenting unproven right wing conspiracy memes as proven facts, becoming a bit too didactic about the risks of nuclear war and devoting far too much space to the intricacies of stock market manipulation. This long book would have been improved by some judicious cutting.

This is an intense book based on current headlines and ideas. A potential nuclear war in Ukraine, global conspiracies, the self serving pathos of the ultra rich and oil mix together to form an explosive story. The protagonist is a owner of a rich oil company who refuses to honor the Russian boycott and seeks a middle ground in order to try to step away from the nearing nuclear war. His company begins to implode when an off shore oil drilling rig explodes in an act of sabotage

I found this book to be intense but lacking nuance and development of character and plot. It shouts the story line and plot in a staccato pattern which I found to be shallow and felt like the author was preaching to his audience. I stopped reading it as this was tedious and boring despite the book's intense nature..

Did not love this one as much as I thought I would. A bit too political for my tastes. Read like a good thriller movie in a way but I never connected to any of the characters.

First book I’ve read by this author. Overall, I enjoyed this book. Very fast paced and easy to read. It could be a bit over the top, but it was a fun read in the thriller genre.

MAGA will love this book.

The uber-wrought details about stock prices for an oil company… who cares.

The “Doomsday” plot drew me in, but this was no “Scott Harvath” type adventure. It was just hundreds of pages of MAGA-porn.

If you like that, fine. For me.. no bueno.

There was definitely the hint of a really good book in there - action, adventure... but also, just lots of yelling!

PS. Thanks for sharing, NetGalley. I really do generally like these types of books - I'm no raving liberal. I appreciate the effort, but it was definitely a bit over the top, even for me.

A work of fiction that could double as history. Many events are in the news daily but they are tied in with an exceptional fictional story. Two,thumbs-up!