One Way

Sam Archer #5

by Tom Barber

NYPD Detective Sam Archer is on his way home on a Sunday afternoon in New York City. He’s been out of the field for over three months due to a broken ankle and a nasty case of pneumonia, but has just been given the all clear to get back out there again, starting tomorrow. Archer takes a seat on a bench in the Upper West Side, enjoying a cold drink and soaking up the last remaining sun of the day.Then he sees something totally unexpected.Two men are crossing the street in front of him, heading quickly towards a group climbing into a car. Both men are armed with pistols.And all hell breaks loose.Shouting a warning and racing to their aid, a ferocious gunfight erupts, shattering the peaceful afternoon. Archer and the group are forced to flee uptown in the strangers’ vehicle, their ambushers giving chase. With their tyres blown out and the car crashing, the group have no choice but to take cover in a Harlem tenement block, situated in one of the most dangerous areas in the city. Their ambushers are close on their heels and seal off the building, pinning down the NYPD as they start to arrive.Archer and the others are trapped in the building with their attackers.Hiding out with the group from the car in an apartment upstairs, Archer starts to piece together the situation. The people he’s with are US Marshals, protecting a witness, a seven year old girl. Clearly, someone out there is desperate to kill her.But as they barricade themselves in and wait for back-up, none of them realise the full extent of the danger they are in.Others are on their way to the building, ruthless and trained killers who won’t leave until the girl is dead. As the scores of NYPD and Marshals on the street desperately try to figure out how they can get to their people inside, Archer and the Marshals must fight to stay alive against increasingly hopeless odds, running out of ammunition, chances and time.Unarmed and totally unprepared, Archer is thrown back into the fray; either kill or be killed. As they encounter the enemy, take casualties and Archer learns who this child witness really is, two things become abundantly clear.There’s only one way in or out of the building.And it appears there’s only one way this can end.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Amazon, Suspense, Action

363 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 2013

About the author

Born in Sydney, Australia and raised in England and Brunei, Tom Barber has always had a passion for writing and story-telling. It took him to Nottingham University, England, where he graduated in 2009 with a 2:1 BA Hons in English Studies. Post-graduation, Tom moved to New York City and completed the 2 Year Meisner Acting training programme at The William Esper Studio, furthering his love of acting and screen-writing.

Upon his return to the UK in late 2011, Tom set to work on his debut novel, Nine Lives, which has since become a five-star rated Amazon UK Kindle hit. The following books in the series have been equally successful, garnering five-star reviews in the US, UK, France, Australia and Canada. The Sam Archer series has had over a million books downloaded worldwide and each title is currently being adapted into audiobook format.

Tom spends most of his time back and forth between the US and the UK. He can be contacted at http://www.tom-barber.co.uk/

For info on all upcoming releases: http://tom-barber.us6.list-manage1.co...

Reviews

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* Intense and firing on all cylinders, One Way has nothing but high octane action. Four U.S. Marshals are protecting a witness and about to leave for another safe house when they are ambushed climbing into their SUV. Managing to drive away with one of their own wounded, they crash close to an apartment building and barely make it to the door with the thugs closing fast. One Way never lets up for a second as more baddies heavily armed with the latest weapons and equipment arrive on the scene ready to take them all out including any innocents that get in their way. Is some of it far-fetched; certainly, but the reader will be immersed in the story and flipping the pages at high-speed. Very well written, well developed characters, loads of fast action!

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Other Way.

Sam Archer is a great hero. He latches on to the criminal. He never lets go. He hangs on tight.

Everyone wants him on their team. Due to luck, he is sure to land on someone’s. This is what happens here. This is why the defectives are afraid of him.

Archer is involved in a witness protection incident. He is minding his business, sitting on a park bench drinking a soda when a gunfight breaks out.

Someone is shooting at the federal marshals who are guarding a witness. The witness saw multiple murders in a private villa in the Hamptons. The witness is in the witness protection program.

They are recognized as they are leaving their safe house and are going to their car. How do the varmints know that the marshals are there? How do they know which car they will be getting in?

The four of them have better step up their game. The safety of their witness is in jeopardy. Will the witness survive this ordeal?

Four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. Be prepared for nearly non-stop action with a lot of violence and gore. However, it was written in a way that I was able to develop a strong rapport with the main character and several of the supporting characters. This was my first book in this series. I intend to read others as time allows.

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty decent book, a bit slow start because the author pauses when introducing each character then giving a page-long exposition on their life and motivations and ideals. Or two pages. The action, when it starts, is nearly non-stop even if it has to be a bit exaggerated to kick things off (like a character suddenly having an epileptic seizure, forcing a run for supplies). Its a bit much, for me at least, because there's almost never any let up from a nearly continuous white-knuckle ride.

[Matthew Andrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of books by Tom Barber and he's written another absolute gem with "One Way".

Sam Archer has just finished some much need exercise in the Gym after being injured in the line of duty a few months earlier, sitting in the sunshine he notices 4 adults & a young girl getting into a car nothing else usual apart from 4 suspicious men approaching the group with fire arms instinctively Archer alerts the group and a shoot out in downtown NYC begins, Archer and the group escape the scene with the gun men hot on there heels. The group are forced to hide out in a Harlem housing block that already houses some of the areas toughest people but when the gun men barricade the only way in or out it turns into a deadly game of cat & mouse.

Will Archer survive well you'll just have to read it to find out but one things sure this is a fantastically written book by an awesome author who if you haven't read any of the previous books in the series, you'll defiantly want too after reading this one.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun reading this, nothing offensive and still interesting, reader immersive, and couldn’t put it down. Usual for the series ...

[R. E. Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is how you write a thriller!

Just enough time to get to know the main characters before everything goes sideways. Every time you think they're doomed, they come up with a way out. Then just when you think they have a chance, it gets worse and they seem to be doomed again. The tension just keeps building right to the climax.

There are some very minor nitpicks I could make, but I enjoyed it too much to bother. Compared to some of the books I gave five stars, this deserves six. If you like action-packed thrillers, you won't be disappointed.

[Tulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart pounding thriller.

This was my first book by this author, will be reading more. I love the heart pounding action, fast moving story. I couldn't put it down.

[Cindy Keizer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonstop action

This was my first Sam Archer book but it won't be my last! Well written, great characters, several great plot twists. Highly recommend.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a remarkably plotted, non-stop action filled story of a brief period in Sam Archer’s life. Following an injury, he is getting ready to return to the NYPD counter terrorism unit for field duty. He stops at a street vendor and gets a soda after going to the gym. While doing this he sees a suspicious car with disreputable looking passengers stop near what is obviously a government car with a small girl and four adults. Then he spots a gun and runs over to let them know. There is a chase with guns being fired and finally an accident where the government car is immobilized. Archer had joined the US Marshals in the car and all got out an ran into a nearby building to evade the men chasing them. And that is when the trouble and action really start. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys this genre. Non-stop action that will grab the reader and not let go. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-Galley for an honest review.

[Edward Laufer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am definitely hooked on the Sam Archer series now. The fifth book has taken the series to new heights of excitement and breath-holding anticipation.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I jumped in on this series about Sam Archer at book number 5 I thoroughly enjoyed it and did not feel like I had missed a lot of backstory. It was full of action and intrigue and did not go into a lot of unnecessary descriptions and fluff. The read was pretty quick and I enjoyed all of the characters. Looking forward to seeing where the series takes me.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a massacre in East Hampton, New York where several mob members were left gunned down by Mike Lombardi with his crew. Making this first homicide in the Hamptons of last 9 years, also left a small little girl "Jennifer" was found hiding in a laundry basket. The U.S. Marshals Service had to protect the little girl so that she could testify in court. After stashing the girl in Manhattan, the Marshals decided to move her to a safe house away from NYC. The team of Marshals led by John Foster, along with Alice Vargas, Jack Carson, and Jared Barlow were in process of loading an SUV for the move when all hell broke loose. A car driven by Zachary Braeten and his crew pull up along side of SUV and begin shooting. Sam Archer, a member of NYPD's Counter Terrorism Bureau was sitting on a bench across the street completely by accident. Archer without his gun jumps into the fray. A fierce gun battle breaks out. The SUV bolts and tries to get away. The gun battle chases them and blows out the tires on the SUV. Jack Carson is badly wounded in the chase.Finally stopping in front of an odd tenement building. They hole up in an apartment on the fifth floor. The gang of bad guys arrive and seal building. Fierce gun battles rage as the Marshals move from the fifth to 8 th floor. Making matter worse a support team of commando bad guys land on the roof. Foster is killed by a sniper. Both Vargas, and Archer sustain injuries as well. The chase through the building races back and forth. The story line is just tremendous with it's non stop action. The bullets and bodies fly every which way. The suspense and tension at times is just unbearable. Archer and Vargas mold together as a pretty good team waiting for help from the outside that can never get to them. With a surprising twist concerning the support commandos, I was really thrown for a loop. Who Vargas really was, I never saw it coming. Incredible dialog lifts these characters out of the gun battles and into almost life like soldiers of good and evil. The action refuses to let up from cover to cover. I finished the book in 2 readings. I stayed up past TWO AM unable to put my Kindle down until I got through the last 200 pages in book. This is the fifth Sam Archer book from author Tom Barber. "One Way" is by far the best of the lot so far. The characters we meet along the way with Archer and his team are very easy to root for. Archer and his group are the very best at what they do and it shows. I enjoyed this book a very great deal. Having two more books in the series to go, I'm jumping into the sixth right away ! If you've not caught any of Tom Barber's Sam Archer books I implore you to check them out. For any fan of thrillers packed with action cover to cover, the Sam Archer books deliver every time. 5 stars out of 5 and highly recommend, "One Way" was a kick ass hard punching thriller with bullets and bodies flying everywhere. Check out Author Barber's books ! You'll not be sorry. Sam Archer # 6 here I come.

[Sleepless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another explosive thriller from the Sam Archer Series! If you like heart pounding, edge of your seat crime stories, you'll love this one!

There is only One Way, and Counter Intelligence Agent is the"way". The body count rises as Sam Archer unhesitantly jumps in to help US Marshals on a protective witness detail of a little girl, who was the only witness to a gangland massace. The small team of Marshalls are ambused by a hit team to kill the young girl. The group becomes traped in a dilapadated Harlem highrise, with only one way, in or out.
That's just the begining as an assault of 12 (13 if you count the pilot) paramiltary style killers to finish thefailed ambuse. The twists and turns of this brazen attack rachet up the pressue on the protective detail while law enforcement is rendered useless. And that as they say "is just the begining. Truly an epic thriller!

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book would make a great option for Marvel Comics-- it has a hero / heroine team that are virtually indestructible, despite multiples of bad guys shooting them, explosives slinging shrapnel into their well proportioned bodies, a plot that simply defies credulity; for example, the bad guys have blockaded themselves, along with our heroes, into a tenement building that has but one door in/out. Half the NYPD, including their vaunted ESU (SWAT) personnel, plus a U.S. Marshal's team are all stymied... tried to land a helicopter on the roof and got decimated by some mines and rocket launcher (bad guys got all the goodies), and so, can't fathom another way in. This, despite numerous windows and a mostly abandoned building!
Like I said, Marvel comics... think one of their money-minting movies that moves swiftly from one explosion to the next, mixed in with scenes where heroes managed to kill their way through the numerous foes thrown against them. Got it? Okay, then you get the jist of the book.

That is not to say this can't be enjoyable. It is, if for no other reason than that it sweeps along from one firefight to the next with alacrity. And I give credit to the author for actually researching his weapons information. A pet peeve of mine is when an author confuses revolvers with semi-auto handguns, etc. On the down side, Mr. Barber goes overboard to prove his knowledge about weapons and firearms, offering details about every weapon deployed throughout the pages (and there are plenty) despite that information being largely extraneous to the story.

So, if you're in the mood for bang, boom, only bad guys and expendable good guys dying, and a plot that really is secondary to the mayhem, you're in the right place. Pass the popcorn.

[Roy Murry · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE WAY
A Sam Archer Thriller #5

TOM BARBER

Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author

Mr. Barber's series keeps me coming back for more because his novels of Sam Archer's adventures are always fast-paced. This thriller is no exception and stands alone as a complete story. I read this one in two sittings.

Sam jumps into a situation where there is only one way out, and a group of professional operatives wants the few people with him dead. The large building they are hiding in is invaded from below and above by well-equipped persons chasing them.

There is no way out, and the army of police in the street below is being been kept at bay. Sam and a team of US Marshals protect their witness whom they believe the criminals want dead.

The team gets cut down to Sam and a lady Marshal who fight through critical events the average trained person could not endure. They work together perfectly avoiding some disasters.

Well prepared, the criminals center on their prey to an explosive ending that only a few will survive. The way out is the roof. Who makes it out is a gripping event to read, but start at the beginning and you'll be thrilled to the end.

[William Bentrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Way by Tom Barber
This is a thriller, no bones about it. It is adrenaline fueled, foot to the floor, high octane thriller. This is the fifth book in a series but it stands alone just fine. Sam Archer is a NYC cop on his way home from the gym when is world is turned upside down by something he witnessed. Unable to help himself Archer steps into a frenzied fire fight.
I’ve never read Barber before and I have to say I am impressed. There was non-stop action but it was filled with human beings that Barber fleshes out to the point where you feel remorse when one is killed. The villains are also realistic but there is a point at which credibility is strained when anger overcomes even demented common sense.
I look forward to reading all the Sam Archer books.

[Darran · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the fifth Sam Archer novel I've read but I reckon I'm calling it quits now. As with the previous four novels, Tom Barber gets some cool ideas going but, overall, this book ultimately fails to deliver. I can't remember if the word "Pause" and/or "Paused" was used as much in the previous ones. If so, I honestly don't know how I made it to book five. If not, it's a strange thing to have manifested now. There are 100 uses of pause/paused it in this book. Not "around" 100, exactly 100 which makes me think it's intentional. It's mostly used during dialogue. Pause. To increase tension. I'll certainly be putting this series on pause. Indefinitely. Although, I do have a strange hankering to watch, "The Raid," again.

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam is healed from his last injuries and slated to go back to work with his counter-terrorism team tomorrow.

After a work out with his bestie Josh, Sam is chilling on a park bench with a drink when he notices suspicious activities occurring right in front of him: two shady looking guys with weapons held at their sides heading for an SUV loading 3 guys, a woman and a little girl.

Sam lives for his work and strongly believes in the protection of others, whatever the cost. He shouts out a warning and saves the lives of the SUV people, who bring him along in a car race to escape the danger.

Why are they being attacked? Who's attacking? What's the story behind these people?

Sam's there to help, because that's what he does....

[DarcLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protection detail!

US Marshall's guarding a young girl are attacked and forced to hide in a rundown tenement. Outnumbered and with one of them seriously injured the only thing they have going for them is a new addition to the team Sam Archer. Barely recovered and only just cleared for active duty he never expected his good Samaritan act to land him in the fight of his life. But turning his back when law enforcement needs help isn't his style. I recommend this fast paced rollercoaster of a ride where not everything is as it seems and Sam along with a beautiful Marshall will need every skill they possess to survive.

[Keith Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed and outrageous drama.

A story within and without another drama of dynamite proportions. Whilst trying to protect an important witness to an apparent gangland family slaying. A whole team of Marshalls is attacked and imprisoned, in a domestic building, by a gang disgraced police officers. How will they escape alive is a distressing and uncertain dilemma.Whilst being stalked by the mercenary 'cops' they are unaware that their young protected witness is only part of their problem. Discover how the mercenaries are outthought and outmaneuvered by their captives to try and 'live to fight another day'.

[Trevor Trotman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Implausible plot.

I found the plot implausible in that I often found myself questioning why our hero was prolonging the agony by not doing the obvious thing.
It was reasonably well written but irritatingly peppered with grammatical mistakes.
There's not one "whom" in the book.
"Either or" is one of two choices not multiple choice; either A or B, not either A, B or C.Either
t-shirt is used throughout the book. T-shirts are called T-shirts because when laid flat, they are T shaped, not t shaped.
Perversely iPads are referred to as I-pads.
The author has no idea what a group noun is and has scant regard for the correct use of apostrophes.

[Paul E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Question. You Wil Like It.

Tying Miami New York together is a natural rom the time I was enrolled at the University of Miami In the late 1960s right up to the present moment . Not only are there students, alumni, and professors over the decades whose backgrounds have tied together the Big Apple with Miami’s moon, beaches, and stardoms together, but now this challenging police novel links organized crime, mobsters, and heroism of pest cops against deviltry in human form. I won’t say more and destroy your enjoyment of a novel that pits good cops and bad cops in turmoil you cannot predict.

[John Guenzler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the plot but I think Mr. Barber needs to research his details a bit better. In America, it is tires, not tyres. But more so his description of the arms and ammunition. No modern firearms or ammo manufacturers use copper cases for ammo. It cannot sustain the pressure, (hint: research Little Big Horn massacre.) That and his repeated use of nomenclature that may be popular with the uninformed but inaccurate for the weapons he described. If not for these things, I would have given it a higher rating.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archer is minding his own business, still recovering from injuries received in the line of duty.
He sees a small group of people with a little girl getting into a vehicle.
The group is suddenly attacked by men with guns.
Archer assists and gets into the vehicle with the small group.
It turns out they are Federal Marshalls protecting sa witness (the small girl)
The Marshalls and Archer hole up in an office building and are savagely attacked. the bad guys have backup, professional killers arriving in a helicopter.
Many people, good and bad will die today.

[Dallas Gorham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy mystery/thrller

Sam Archer is everything you'd want in a hero. One Way has the great protagonist, and it has a good supporting cast of well-developed characters. Several interesting back stories are expertly inserted at just the right place. The plot twist caught me by surprise and was an added dimension of depth to the plot. As a mystery/thriller writer myself, i appreciate a well -crafted story like this.

[Will Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If it weren't for the repetition and the long-winded backstories, this book could have been half as long as it was. Still, great character development, clean editing, lots of action and suspense, and even a touch of romantic inclination that leaves you wanting more. The actual drama is a tad far-fetched to be believable if you know anything about US Law Enforcement. But the stretch makes for interesting story telling.

[Gonzalo Corvera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es mi primera novela de Tom Barber, la encuentro bastante divertida. Llaman la atención varios errores de edición, algunos relacionados a que el autor intenta escribir en inglés americano, un error crítico de falta de investigación (sobre el voltaje que llevan las líneas telefónicas), y algunos otros de estilo (¿Porque repetir, como si fuera información nueva, lo que sucedió unas páginas atrás?). En general diría que es tan buena como novela como la película "Die Hard" (la primera) fue en cine.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrill ride

Started out like it was going to be a slow read. Boy. Is that misleading! Just a day before he's cleared to go back to work with NYPD, Archer sees a man with a gun heading towards a federal vehicle. He shouts a warning, and gets caught up with a hostage situation. Every minute is spent trying to keep a witness, and his small group alive. Edge of your seat action. Loved it.

[Carol Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nail biting, thrilling read.

This story had me hooked quickly. There are so many twists & turns to keep me guessing as to how this very capable hero could possibly survive being trapped in a rundown tenement building in Harlem. Sam Archer "accidentally" joins forces with a small protective detail to guard and protect a young girl from a major hit squad. Or is there more to this story...Wow! I have a new series to enjoy! Great read!