First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Ryan Steck, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Having enjoyed the Lord Alex Hawke series by Ted Bell, I was not sure where things might go when the author passed away. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Ryan Steck had taken up the cause and penned the lucky thirteenth novel in the series, if only to extend Hawke's adventures a bit. This was surely a great addition to the series, as the new British king has been abducted for reasons as yet unknown. Hawke and his team are sent in to investigate under the radar and return Charles III before it becomes public knowledge. What begins as a simple rescue soon opens up as family trees and a group wanting to open old wounds emerges. How will Hawke handle it all and where are things headed next? All this and more come to light in Steck's great continuation of the well-established series.

Lord Alexander Hawke has never shied away from adventure and dramatic outcomes. His latest mission quelling an attack on the high seas outside of Antarctica is an example of that, though it was also highly costly. The only thing that Hawke needs to salve his wounds is time away from the action at his Teakettle Cottage in Bermuda. However, they say that rest is for the wicked and the lazy, neither of which describe the man. Hawke soon finds himself pulled into a mission that is more than just capturing criminals, but might be the one chance to save the realm from complete disaster.

Longtime friend and former Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard Ambrose Congreve calls on Lord Hawke with sensational news. As Britain is set to watch another vote on Scotland's independence, the new monarch has disappeared from his vacation home at Balmoral Castle. Charles III was apparently abducted while out on a stroll and panic is rife within the British Government. While no one wants to leak it to the press, there is a dire need to find the king before the vote. Hawke is tasked by the new prime minister to locate Charles III within 72 hours or the news will have to come out. Worries that the truth will derail the current Scottish vote are compiled when it is clear that other parts of the British realm are in danger without a clear Head of State.

While Hawke tries to track down the king, news out of Cuba is just as troubling. It appears as though someone has been shipping a highly destructive nerve agent across th Atlantic, with hopes of using it to stir up trouble in Northern Ireland. Hawke's partner, Stokely Jones, will have to use his mental acuity to follow that lead in order to keep the peace and provide some direction. With Charles III and the threat to the British monarchy in trouble, the truth surrounding the kidnapping becomes clear to Hawke. A dissident group claiming that they have the 'true' monarch ready to take the throne stirs up history and old skirmishes with the various Houses involved in the transfer of power during the Stuart era. With time working against them and the vote on the horizon, Lord Hawke will have to work swiftly or face more than personal disappointment. A great addition to the serie that leaves things open to see if Ryan Steck hs more plans for Lord Alex Hawke in the future.

While I am a purist at heart, I realise that, sometimes, a good series cannot end simply when the author passes on. I have seen a mix of great successes and utter failures when new authors arrive to grab the reins. In reading this first novel after Ted Bell has died, I was impressed with how Ryan Steck handled things. His attention to detail is clear in capturing the essence of the piece and adding new angles in the narrative. The foundation of the story mirrors what Bell might have done and delves deeply into the Hawke connection to all things royal. The characters keep their flavrouing and left me feeling as though this was Bell writing. as Steck has been able to keep things moving in ways that are familiar to series fans. The story itself moved along well, with plot points I would expect from the series and keeps the reader on edge as they push through this adventure. I was eager to see what Steck would do and he has not disappointed. I hope there is more Lord Hawke to come and that Ryan Steck remains a part of things. as he 'gets' the Bell nuances and works them well!

Kudos, Mr. Steck, for taking up the torch to shed light on this great series.

It's been over three years since we last saw Alex Hawke on the pages, and this year, he returns with reckless abandon, in a top notch thriller by Ryan Steck that is sure to hit the bestsellers lists.

Ted Bell's Monarch is the thirteenth book in a high octane series about Lord Alex Hawke. In the newest installment, author Ryan Steck takes over for the legendary Ted Bell in one of best thriller series to date. Chalk full of everything readers have come to expect from a Ted Bell novel, it is replete with lyrical prose, chaotic-infused action, trips on the high seas, and a cast of some of the most interesting characters to boot.

One of my favorite prologues of all time belongs to Ted Bell, in his initial novel of this series, called Hawke. It is so incredibly memorable, and coming into this book, I had lofty expectations for Steck to carry on, in my opinion, a quintessential Ted Bell tradition - a top-notch opening that launches you from your seat deep into the bowels of a boat, rocking at sea. And it happened! Like a firehose of gasoline on a fire, this book is a burner. It was lightning quick, as we got a fresh take on a classic series. With all of the beloved characters that readers have come to know and love, it is a boxing glove packed with concrete.

Ted Bell's Monarch is 100 miles per hour in a school zone - reckless. It's a flyover during the National Anthem - classic. It's the first pitch on Opening Day with the sun shining - amazing. It's a literal boat swaying on the Southern Ocean - chaotic. It's a dog that ate your kid's Rock'em Sock'm Robots - filled with action.

Destined to be on the best series continuations, Ted Bell's Monarch is a perfect reintroduction to Alex Hawke, ideal for both series or new readers. Steck's most recent will knock you on your ass.

If anyone could carry on Ted Bell's legacy, it appears Ryan Steck is the one! The last couple Alex Hawke books that the late Ted Bell wrote weren't my favorite and I LOVED this series from the start. Alex Hawke is one of my favorite thriller series characters - his wit combined with his ruthlessness is unmatched. Well, Ryan Steck has fully renewed my interest in this series. From the start, I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The multiple storylines with different characters in different places was done really well. You just knew that somehow they'd all end up in the same place by the end of the book but how they got there was thrilling to read. I really did not want this book to end, and hope that the wait is not TOO long before Mr. Steck writes the next one. I know I am anxiously waiting to see what trouble Alex Hawke gets into next!


Thanks to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. #TedBellsMonarch #NetGalley

I thought that author Ryan Steck did a good job in displlying the style of Ted Bell. Bell's novels always promised big things, then got so caught up in them that the story was hard to finish. Monarch, about the kidnapping of King Charles takes us through the kidnapping and various royalty and we get to a point where the story just eats itself up.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.