The new book is titled Monarch, and this time, Lord Alexander Hawke has an impossible mission, one that has Great Britain and the world hanging on the edge.

Alex Hawke is back. The British King has been abducted. Multiple storylines with great characters. Non stop action. An excellent continuation of the series. Who can be trusted?

Basically retooling the 1970s formula and punching into the early 1980s, ROCKY III nonetheless clung to the tragedy-as-motivator hook and brought in a meaner, bigger, and better opponent for Balboa. The peak Laurence Tureaud, aka Mr. T, notwithstanding, the third installment of the classic Stallone self-love-fest further benefited from the return of Carl Weathers' Apollo Creed, taking Rocky back to the roots of fighting, ditching the destructive financial trappings of the game, and recapturing the hunger to win. The promissory note for training Rocky gave Apollo the privilege of a rematch in the squared circle. No refs, no cameras, no rules. Just two fighters and the Bell. "Ding Ding". A long time protege of author Ted Bell has picked up the pieces and pen, resulting in the continuation of the saga of Alex Hawke, sounding the drums of war once again. As an elaborate scheme gets rolling nigh the eve of the Scottish referendum concerning their membership in the UK, for whom the bell tolls is none other than a missing MONARCH. In fact, THE monarch, King Charles III, and it's up to 'the Warlord' Alex Hawke to face off against a ruthless mastermind, prevent global disaster, and save the King in the NICK OF TIME.

The feral accipitrine that's set on the trail of the baddies in MONARCH is none other than Lord of Hawkesmoor, better known to Ted Bell's loyal readers as Alex Hawke. A creature of radiant violence and naturally good at war, Hawke is a firearms expert, a master of unarmed combat, and a war-time naval aviator to make Maverick turn green with envy. Lord Hawke, the Warlord can do just about everything, except divide by zero--that is exclusively the realm of Chuck Norris. Nary ten pages in, even discounting the merry band of marauders monikered with 'Thunder and Lightning', all former Navy SEALs, MONARCH already jumps the shark with proclaiming that Lord Alexander Hawke's good friend is the "eccentric south African billionaire innovator" who, like a good stand-in for Blofeldt or some such, loaned Hawke the "green monster", a free-electron laser that can cut an aircraft carrier in half. It's laser vs rail gun. Good vs evil. The US vs China. It's MASTER AND COMMANDER meets CRIMSON TIDE. MONARCH turns into a decent yarn if you can ignore the first few chapters of Navy SEAL simping and convoluted naval surface warfare. And it's safe to do so. Just like the first ten minutes of a cheeseball 80s, early 90s action flick, designed to captivate and engage the audience and set up bona fides. Not necessary. What follows after that display can stand on its own as good SpyThrill entertainment, somewhat like a JOE PICKETT story, if Montana is subbed out with the Scottish Highlands. Married to the job, the sixth richest man in England ditches the yacht and forgets the red menace conglomerate pitched against the free world for more pressing matters; a sinister scheme against the MONARCH to send ripples of chaos through the Western world to advance a global political agenda.

Just like the ROGUE WARRIOR believed in the therapeutic properties of Bombay's Gin, Alex Hawke, direct descendant of a British high seas scoundrel (suppose it's okay to be a pirate as long as it's not like, Ethiopians), has a penchant for Gosling's Black Seal Rum and a nose for rogue action, as someone is wont to be at the tender age of thirty-eight. Thrown into this heady mix are elements of Agatha Christie and THE CELESTINE PROPHECY, just without the verve of the former or the chumminess of the latter. Despite presenting a good story and pace, at times, MONARCH unfortunately reads like an American trying to write like a Briton. There is an ocean of difference between this novel and say, Ian Fleming, Frederick Forsyth, Craig Thomas, John Le Carre, or Jack Higgins. Moreover, unlike novels like Bill Clinton & James Patterson's THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING or THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER, a missing British monarch doesn't give the same feel of impact on geopolitical affairs as does anything affecting the US president. That said, MONARCH however really shines when (fictional) King Charles is in action, as the dialogue featuring his highness is utterly entertaining. In fact, MONARCH gets rather good about one third into the story, with a particularly satisfying high-point at the end of Chapter 41. Somewhere between THE KING'S MAN, Cussler's Dirk Pitt and a wacky James Bond, MONARCH is nonetheless a fine book of international intrigue, spy stuff, and good old American action. Cast in the light of a traditional globetrotting England-saving escapade, MONARCH features interesting minutiae aplenty, including an interesting catch-up on English throne succession and royalty, and glorious shoutouts to BLACK SABBATH, George W. Bush, COLUMBO, HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE, George RR Martin, and, ofc, TOP GUN. Picking up where Ted Bell left off, MONARCH has a pair of Sherlock Holmesian cops, the James Bond-like protagonist, Novichok, Cuban agitators, a British monarch, a German castle, though 'Muhahahahahaha', no scar-face baddie with a white Persian cat lap-warmer. There could've been. Pulling readers deep into an ominous global affair and relentless adventure, MONARCH is a fiendish plot that reminds to remember the fifth of November--a glorious pulp spy thriller of Herculean proportions.

I recently had the opportunity to read an advance copy of the latest book in Ted Bell's Alex Hawke series. 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.

For the uninitiated, Ted Bell's Alex Hawke series is a New York Times bestselling espionage thriller series following the adventures of MI6 agent, Lord Alexander Hawke, who finds himself embroiled in international intrigue and high-stakes missions. This is a continuation of the series by Ryan Steck following the death of Ted Bell in January of 2023. Steck has signed up for a two-book continuation of this series in partnership with Byrdie Bell (who leads the Ted Bell estate) with the Berkley Publishing Group.

I will admit that this was my first foray into the Alex Hawke universe and before reading this I attempted to get a little background on the series so that I could get a better idea of the character so that I could write a proper review of the novel. I noticed that this character is oft-compared to Ian Flemming's vaunted character of James Bond (with both characters being employed by MI6 and being known for their suave demeanor and thrilling missions).

With that comparison being made (a comparison that multiple sources across the interwebs have promoted), the author makes numerous attempts to enforce that comparison in the early part of the book - going so far as to mention the name of James Bond on multiple occasions, mentioning Ian Fleming at one point, and going so far as to how Hawke likes his martinis ("shaken, not stirred" - The phrase "shaken, not stirred" has become synonymous with James Bond, appearing in both Ian Fleming's novels and the film adaptations). Anyone who has done a deeper dive into this phenomenon will come to realize that there is a psychological concept where repeated exposure to information, even if false, increases the likelihood of it being believed, and is known as the illusory truth effect.

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 describes 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 the Atlantic, with hopes of using it to stir up trouble in Northern Ireland. This nerve agent is identified as Novichok (which is a Russian word (Новичо́к) that is loosely translated as 'newcomer, novice, or newbie') and is a family of nerve agents, some of which are binary chemical weapons. The agents were originally developed at the GosNIIOKhT state chemical research institute by the Soviet Union and Russia between 1971 and 1993. Novichok agents are organophosphate nerve agents. Chemically, they are similar to the V series of organophosphate agents, which includes VX, and the G series, which includes sarin. The effect of the Novichok nerve agent, like other nerve agents, is that it irreversibly binds acetylcholinesterase and produces a cholinergic toxidrome. Uniquely, these agents are thought to also target neurons in the peripheral nervous system.

As a background, Novichok agents came to public attention in the twenty-first century after they were used to poison opponents of the Russian government, including the Skripals and two others in Amesbury, UK (2018), as well as Alexei Navalny (2020), but Russian civil poisonings with this substance have been known since at least 1995. As in the book, some of these agents are binary weapons, in which precursors for the nerve agents are mixed in a munition to produce the agent just prior to its use. The precursors are generally significantly less hazardous than the agents themselves, so this technique makes handling and transporting the munitions a great deal simpler. Additionally, precursors to the agents are usually much easier to stabilize than the agents themselves, so this technique also makes it possible to increase the shelf life of the agents.

Hawke's partner, Stokely Jones, will have to use his mental acuity to follow that lead 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 soon 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.

On my self-determined five-star rating scale, I would give this book a solid four stars as I found the action to be dazzling. The supporting cast of the Lord Alexander Hawke series—Ambrose, Pelham, Stokely— continue to shine as always, with their loyalty and quirks grounding the book in the well-known world fans have come to adore. I believe that this series would be enjoyed by action and adventure aficionados who also enjoy authors such as Brad Thor, Gregg Hurwitz, Jack Carr, Brad Taylor, and Joshua Hood.

As with most of my reviews, this is just my five cents worth.

I thought that author Ryan Steck did a good job in displaying 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.

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