I was mainly here for the dramatic corporate espionage and the businessman with the big ideas standing strong again the government that’s trying to screw him over… until he said Elon Musk is a wise man. I wasn’t going to let the MAGA conspiracy theories and revisionist history keep me from finishing because it’s important to read from a variety of viewpoints and I thought it would be good fodder for discussion with my husband and friends. But if Ross thinks Elon is smart, I can’t believe any of this other theories and won’t waste my reading time seeing if he wins or gets silenced for being “truthfully”.

Ohh how I love a good geopolitical thriller! The good – no great – thing about books is you can argue about it, shut it, love it or share it. Sometimes books cut a little too close to home and current events. The oil market it cutthroat, complex, politically driven and fueled by money and power. In Crude, an explosion occurs at Rawhide Energy’s Indonesian Mahakam offshore gas platform in the Makassar Straight. Geologist Liz Chaplin is the only survivor. Shortly after, Rawhide’s Wyoming oil refinery is blown.

Ross Bullock owns and operates Rawhide Energy and he does NOT believe that these instances were an accident. Ross finds himself in peril after voicing concerns about a potential global nuclear war instigated by self-interested politicians and the military-industrial complex. Suddenly, he becomes a target of the very powers he criticized, who seek to neutralize or eliminate him.

This is a thriller rooted in politics, corruption, power and government. The very delicate balance to keep the world from reaching the point of a nuclear war is a fine line and a lot of people have their hands in the cookie jar. There are a lot of players and a lot of locations in this one. Do not let that deter you. If you want a book with issues that are a little too close to reality, tucked inside of the pages of a thriller, this is a must read.

"CRUDE" is a must-read for fans of political thrillers and anyone intrigued by the delicate balance of global power. Bond's storytelling prowess ensures that readers are left questioning the fragility of our world and the thin line between peace and annihilation.

This book reminds me a lot of the television show, Yellowstone. You have a powerful oil company (instead of a mega awesome sauce cattle ranch) that everyone is trying to screw over, including other oil companies & the government. A huge bias in the news reporting depicts the owner of the oil company in question as public enemy #1. Or is he?

The story is a combination of recent historical facts, current facts & fiction. The overall theme is mainly of the possibility nuclear war & the death of humanity. The author is pretty hard on the Left, pulling no punches in presenting facts & also creating fictional bad behavior. However, he doesn't hold back on the Right either. They get the same combination of actual facts & fiction. They just don't get hit as often. After all, this is a book about the government & mega corporations. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Very entertaining.

I read this courtesy NetGalley and Big City Press. In this thriller by Mike Bond, the world is on the edge of World War III. The US made a critical error in an ongoing battle in Eastern Europe and nuclear war is imminent. With reelection on the line, the president wants to distract the public. Considering everything that’s going on in the US at the moment, this story made me very wary because it seems to be too possible.
#Crude #NetGalley

I suffered through it. I couldn't really get into it. Too major action.. not enough subplot. Maybe if you really like action books you'll find this enjoyable. It was just not for me

Thank you for Netgalley for a copy.

This book was nothing short of AMAZING! I found myself thinking, "OMG, some of this is SO REAL; the actual premise could actually happen. " This is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat, page-turner that addresses real-life issues and gives you some real aha moments. Likable characters, those you love to love and love to hate, with characters that are easily identifiable in today's political arena—on top of that, the reader can hear these conversations happening in their mind while reading. Plenty of action at every level in this well-written novel that has a good ending and just plain sucks the reader in. I will say, there are a few places where the narrative is a bit run-on and boring, but I promise you, you'll get past it quickly.
I had never read any books by Mike Bond before this, but now I'll be sure to go back and read others.
Even if you've ever thought that political thrillers were not your cup of tea, I think this book will change your mind if you give it a shot. I was NEVER a fan until now.

This action-packed thriller starts with a sabotaged offshore oil platform off Indonesia that is just the beginnings of an oil company's woes. The company has taken an unpopular position that runs counter to the American policies. The author has an interesting point of view -- what if the US is more complicit in the world's wars and conflicts than we usually assume, and what if the bad actors aren't so easily identified? While the drumbeat of politics isn't too far from the book's narrative -- which gets a bit tiresome -- the characters have some well drawn moments and the action shifts all over the world, from NYC board meetings to wildcatter wells in the western US to plenty of overseas locations. There are lots of rough edges which detract from the story, which is why I didn't give this novel top marks, but if you are a fan of lots of hardware -- think Clancy -- and support the politics you will find the novel worth your while.

Thank you for this great read. Grabbed me from the beginning and kept me turning pages! Will look for more by this🧐l author.

CRUDE
Ukraine, Oil and Nuclear War

CRUDE is a geopolitical thriller based on current day events in the complex economic and political world of oil. An explosion occurs at Rawhide Energy’s Indonesian Mahakam offshore gas platform in the Makassar Straight. Geologist Liz Chaplin is the only survivor. Shortly after, Rawhide’s Wyoming oil refinery is blown.

Ross Bullock, CEO and owner of Rawhide Energy, has recently expressed his views on Russian sanctions and the continued war in Ukraine, which run contrary to those of the current US administration. And so begins the battle: faulty maintenance by Rawhide Energy or sabotage.

“Our platform’s destroyed with 131 people dead, our hydrocracker’s blown with 4 dead and another in the hospital, our refinery’s shut, the Indonesians are trying to steal our leases, the insurance pool’s accusing us of negligence, the banks are pulling our loans, people are breaking off negotiations on our new deals, social media’s screaming for boycotts, CNN and all those other assholes are spreading lies, everyone’s selling us short in every market, and EastPac’s trying to eat us alive. And you think it’s accidental?”

Investigations and charges from several regulatory agencies, foreign competition for oil drilling leases, and political pressure all threaten Rawhide’s very existence. With operations and offices in Jakarta, New York, and Wyoming, and other business dealings in London, Moscow, Sudan, Wuhan, and Mongolia, the story has a great international presence.

A little over the top, and a little hectic especially near the end, overall it was very entertaining and educational. Gives a good insight in the world of Crude.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Mike Bond, and Big City Press for the opportunity to read and review this book

This book has a gripping plot. It has a lot of characters but the unraveling of the plot kept me focused. It took me to the past, the present and a little scary what if future! Highly recommended.

Crude: Ukraine, Oil and Nuclear War by Mike Bond is a current events story with the twist of nuclear escalation. A very exciting read (I couldn’t put it down!) if you like political thrillers! Thank you to NetGalley and Big City Press for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I did not finish Crude and felt compelled to express my frustrations. I found the main character insufferable; I couldn’t relate to or sympathize with him at all. His dialogue was grating, and the writing style didn’t resonate with me—it felt disjointed and lacked the engaging flow I’ve experienced in Mike Bond’s previous works.

The overall message left me feeling unsettled, and I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in the narrative. While I’ve enjoyed other books by this author, this one missed the mark entirely. I won’t be continuing with his future titles.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, but it simply wasn’t for me.

Great bookclub novel. Political, espionage and potential of nuclear war would intrigue my bookclub. Lots of plots and many characters. I had to write down characters names to keep track of their associations. You can actually take parts of this book and match them to the political climate we are experiencing in 2024.
Mike Bond’s books never disappoint and always contain action packed plots.

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

This is a story about a energy company which because of opinions of its leader is selected to be ruined by a powerful group. It begins with the explosion of a platform in Indonesia and followed shortly bt another explosion at a refinery in Wyoming. This is only the beginning.

Read along as Ross, the company leader, strives to discover who is behind this campaign to ruin him. Learn all of the actions his team takes and discover what steps and who assists him as he tries to find the truth.

The book is well worth reading.

A book that seems all too real. An oil platform is set to blow up. But who is behind the explosion? Why blow up a good producing oil rig? Ross owns the platform so he takes it upon himself to look for answers. Government is involved. People are dying. Why are investors and friends suddenly avoiding Ross and his team? The story seems all to real. So many games played behind closed doors. Super story and the ending was well done. Mike Bond does write a story that makes you wonder if it is actually true. Well done and kept me interested and pages turning.

Gosh...after reading treacly sweet Christmas books for the last few weeks, I thought I needed a good thriller. I wish I hadn't followed through on that thought.

Although this book had potential, the political agenda that it follows is just not for me. I know there are bad people out there. I know many of them have almost unlimited power. I know there is graft and corruption in the highest levels of government. I just didn't feel like I needed this book. It was a bit difficult to read and the events were helter skelter all over the place. I almost gave up and DNF, but soldiered on. I probably shouldn't have.

Extremely graphic. Realistic. Fast-paced. 'Crude' by Mike Bond refers to crude oil but also to some vulgarity. I would not recommend this because I was offended by sections of the book.

Released July 1st. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Crude” by Mike Bond is a riveting thriller that delves into the dark world of the oil industry and its environmental repercussions. The story follows a former soldier who becomes embroiled in a conspiracy involving corporate greed, political corruption, and ecological destruction. Bond’s vivid descriptions and fast-paced narrative immerse readers in the high-stakes world of energy politics. The characters are complex and morally ambiguous, making their choices all the more gripping. With its timely themes and action-packed plot, “Crude” not only entertains but also provokes thought about the real-world implications of the energy crisis. It’s a powerful read for anyone interested in environmental issues and thrilling storytelling.

Crude is a pulse-pounding thriller, with a fast-paced plot that hops around a bit. The action is enjoyable, but the conspiracy theories are a little too heavy-handed. And I personally bristle when a female character is called a stupid or dumb b!$@#, whether the author means it or not.