I have become something of a fan of Aiden's series. This is the fifth entry in the series and is the third book that I have read.

This is a electrifying thriller that combines fast-paced action, intricate plotting, and complex character dynamics to deliver a compelling experience from the moment you pick up the book. Mark Pierce, a CIA operator with conscience and Trigger Man is thrust into another high-stakes mission that could alter the balance of global power and this time the enemies are not just out there but within too. The task is simple extract a lady, lawyer by qualification and married to someone high up in the Pakistan counter-intelligence network and one who is now cooped up in India with a vital secret and bring her back safely into the US.
The extraction is everything but simple as the Pakistani officer brings out the big guns to prevent his wife from leaving the country dead or alive. The chase across the width of India is a continuous battle with non-sop action. On the other side situations flare in Russia and also back home in the US with the different pieces slowly coming together.
The action in Shock Front is thrilling, with well-paced sequences that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Pierce is as sharp and relentless as ever, but this time, we get more insight into his personal struggles and getting to know the character a bit more including his past activities.
The story shows the dark side of espionage as people get turned and motives are not always above level. Heroes slowly turn into villains and dark motivation makes a person react like never before.

Amidst the carnage Mark stands out with other members of his team who put honor before a lot of things and strive to get things done.

A word of praise for Aiden who has got many things right when writing about the India sojourn, not many authors get it correct despite research.

The series has started growing on me and I expect other readers to enjoy it as well.

Aiden Bailey does it again in the Trigger Man series, in this fifth entry and was hooked from the first page. I was invested in what was going on and was glad it continued the story perfectly. The characters had that feel that I wanted and was engaged with how their story was told.

Mark Pierce is a CIA agent with a conscience, he will no longer follow orders blindly. He'll ask tough questions to himself and others rather than be blindly obedient. Which obviously the chain of command doesn't exactly relish.

He's asked to assist in the extraction of a lawyer from Pakistan who wants to defect to India. Married to someone high up in the counterintelligence structure, she is a prized acquisition. Roshini's husband has been playing with some very unsavoury characters and he's managed to turn a DARPA scientist and she has the proof in her possession.

Mark really is a great character. He's intelligent, loyal, skilled and seems to power through on sheer determination. He doesn't know the meaning of the word quit. Roshini is a wonderful foil to Mark; she loved her husband but when she learned the truth he was hiding, all her dreams turned to ash and she could no longer stomach him.

There are wonderfully technical and character driven scenes interspersed with full-on, action scenes. Mark is still such an enigma though - the little snippets of his previous life (and identity) are still so fragmented, we really still know next to nothing about him.

Now to await the next adventure.

I was anxious after the explosive ending to the last novel, worried about how Mackenzie was dealing with her injuries and if Pierce was going to be glowing in the dark. Sadly Mark doesn't have Summerfield as his handler any longer, he's now stuck with an opportunistic political hack. It's irritating having to deal with such an incompetent moron, especially when Pierce is now working directly for the special activities director. We get to see a trusted friend return, Rachel Zang, assisting in recovering the schematics for a submarine propulsion system used on a sub attempting to smuggle a family out of Russia. A complex mission ranging from India to Indonesia with the lives of a Russian family and two agents sent to rescue them, hanging in the balance. Add a psychotic mercenary with a sick fascination for watching Komodo dragons eating people alive and his private army and Pierce can use all the help he can get. I can't stand the new handler but I have great hopes for the new boss, Abdul Ibrahim. These books are getting better with each new novel, Bailey has a good feel for his character and knows precisely where he is taking the story. I love the breadcrumbs he leaves for us about Pierce's mysterious past, I can't wait to see how it will all shake out.

The next book in the Trigger Man series. Another fast paced read with lots of action. I would have given 5 stars but it felt like there was too much going on. Good plot to go with the action and the book brings back the characters from previous books.

Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator for letting read an advanced copy of the book.

This book is a modern spy and action novel, with great characters and lots of action. It's entertaining, but the action is not believable and "Trigger Man" doesn't seem to hit much.

I must admit that I am a little dissapointed, this book didn't last long enough in my opinion. Shock Front is the fifth adventure with the Trigger Man by Aiden Bailey and it is a wild ride. Filled with some great action and wonderful and some not so wonderful characters. I really like this series and now I keep thinking about what will happen next with Mark Pierce. For those out there who still haven't tried this author I can only say you need to. I must thank Inkubator Books and Netgalley for supplying me with this advnce copy of a great thriller.

Review: Here I am again after I said I was done with the series. In the last novel I saw the final decline of a story line catering to the woke dipshjts of the world. But I thought I should give it another chance as I like the MC. This novel is kind of back on track after the last failure. Trigger Man is still bold and brave with an undercurrent of humility. The author still manages to slip in liberal snippets here and there. Like the "often maligned muslim religion", and "global warming" nonsense.

There are some issues with this novel that need to be addressed. It may be that this is uncorrected proof, hence giving the benefit of the doubt.

1. The pistols, when referenced are called PISTOL AUTO, in caps. Since this is repeated a few times within the story line, it may be that there was auto-correction going on. Semi-auto to designate a Glock 19 is fine, as most pistols are not fully automatic and definitely are not referred to, in any context, as PISTOL AUTO.

2. Battle rifles are referred to as Assault rifles. This is not accurate. That is a contrived naming convention developed by liberals to denigrate the AR platform. They (the lefties) assumed (or on purpose) that the A in AR meant assault. It does not. It referenced the original manufacturer of the firearm, Armalite Rifle Co. It is not surprising that an author from the lefty land down under would also subscribe to the false rhetoric. Just call an HK 416 a battle rifle or an M4 an M4 auto.

3. In one scene, Trigger Man grabs a scuba tank and determines that it is half-full. I scuba dived for many years and still cannot determine how full a tank is with compressed air as air does not form a liquid when compressed in a scuba tank. I don't think air can be weighed as well.

4. Trigger Man references gas fumes as petrol fumes. Would he really, if raised in the States? Once you learn the naming convention as gas, then any associative smell related to those fumes will be gas as petrol is purely OCONUS.

The whole idea that Putin would give a shjt about dumb activists in Sochi waiting to be exfiltrated to a submarine is a joke. Why the USA would go to the risk and expense to somehow paint Putin as embarrassed was a weak byline. Why they did not commence with the rescue operation while no one had ultimate control of the plans is beyond me. I just skipped those chapters to ease the pain.

Overall, the world building was good and the movement drove the characterization in directions that were complimentary. Karson is OTT as are the fight scenes but that's entertainment.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

3.2/5

This is a book that just grabbed my interest and attention right from the start and held it right to the last page. The story is fast paced and full of action, thrills and suspense. The authors writing is good, the story flows well, and its great to see Pierce and Zang working together again. There are lots of story threads here, I think the plot line is very intricately thought out and multi layered. I like the story being told through different characters, some I loathed and others I really liked and can't wait to see more of them in the future. The last quarter of the book is a very tense and atmospheric read that races to an ending that I liked and one that gives good closure and sets up the next book nicely. I'll definitely want to read the next book in this series and would recommend Shock Front if you like books with CIA/terrorism themes. If you're new to Aiden Bailey as an author I'd suggest you read the series in order to get to know the characters and their backgrounds right from the start.

4 stars

National security is under threat. It’s time to call the Trigger Man! Great book and series! Wow! Definitely action packed moments! This book had great suspense, gruesome murder, mystery, action packed, intriguing, and some wild twists and turns! The storyline was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book and series! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Shock Front. This book is action packed and is a political thriller.
Lots of characters in it and a solid plot.
I liked it however there’s also a lot of other sub plots that are not as interesting.
Still a good read 3 atars

Excellent continuation of the series as The Trigger Mantries to smuggle a scared wife out of Pakistan with crucial information. He’s got the CIA on his side, but there are traitors in the midst. Lots of action in a well-designed story.