A KILLER WITH THE MOST CHILLING PEDIGREE OF ALL...
The Justice Department is hunting Sam Manelli, the godfather of one of America’s biggest crime families. Now an execution gone bad hands the government the ammunition they need. But they can’t do it without Dylan Devlin, the sociopathic hit man whose testimony will put Manelli away for good. Haunted by the crash that killed his wife and blinded his son, U.S. Marshal Winter Massey knows that safety is only an illusion. Now a man who couldn’t protect his own family has to keep a killer and his wife alive—at any cost.
But when the government’s witness protection program explodes in a horrifying hail of bullets and blood, Massey knows he’s up against a killer who can go anywhere, be anyone, and strike at any time. For Massey is about to be blindsided by an adversary more lethal than the mob, more dangerous than any psychopath—and he won’t see his killer coming…until it’s too late.
Most readers won't know the name John Ramsey Miller, nor are they likely to have heard of Inside Out, which is a tremendous shame because this is a fantastic action thriller.
The summary sounds like well worn material: several U.S. Marshals, including the novel's protagonist, Deputy Marshal Winter Massey (who reminded me of Martin Riggs from Lethal Weapon at times), are tasked with protecting a sociopathic hitman and his wife at a classified safehouse so the hitman can testify against a mafia boss. Obviously all hell breaks loose, bullets fly, marshals and assassins die, and Winter wants justice and revenge in equal servings. However, that's the very tip of the iceberg. Without giving too terribly much away, what initially seems to be a standard witness protection action thriller romp, akin to Eraser and Safe House, shifts into territory evocative of Three Days of the Condor, which came as a pleasant surprise. This isn't Eraser, with the hero slaughtering half the planet while they protect the witness from frequent hails of gunfire and explosions the entire time, its something else entirely. The foot never comes off the gas: this is a brisk, taut book with a good quantity of bloody gunplay and close-quarters combat that never skimps on the gory details. One particular character has several lines of literally laugh-out-loud funny taunts, that I just couldn't help but imagine being played by Wilford Brimley, had Inside Out existed, and been adapted, in his heyday. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series in the near future.
While this book looks like a book that you buy in the grocery store book aisle, it is jam packed with action. Gave it 4 stars because honestly it drags at points, but can’t wait to read the next books in the series!
Decent debut for US Marshall Winter Massey, who is deadly with a handgun and possesses the toughness to survive very many harrowing situations. Looks promising.
though the isbn was already listed for a book by the same name, the book itself was not on the listing by goodreads. i believe that this is the second book by john ramsey miller that i have read, and it was a good one. the end of the book blurb mentions that it is his second book. it is very fast paced, and just a little confusing at times as to who is on what side. Various government agencies play a part. there are two baddies--the sort of good one, and his evil son in law. when you read this, you might think that the agents who are supposed to be protecting us, might also be ones to fear.