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Fade #2
Fade In: A Thriller
When ex-Navy SEAL Salam "Fade" al-Fayed wakes from a coma in a prison hospital, a shadowy organization offers him the only way out—through a high-stakes military mission. An electrifying international political espionage thriller from #1
New York Times
bestselling author Kyle Mills.
"Wall to wall action. Great book," as recommended by bestselling thriller author Brad Thor on Today .
"Fade is a badass operator whom even a coma can’t stop. . . . Plenty of action, plenty of fun." —Kirkus Reviews
When ex-Navy SEAL Salam "Fade" al-Fayed steps in front of a sniper's bullet, he assumes that he's reached the end of the road—his death wish has finally been answered.
Instead, he wakes in a hospital. As one of the deadliest operatives in U.S. history, he's now incapable of even standing without assistance. Alone and wanted by authorities, he's destined to spend the rest of his life lying in a prison infirmary.
So when a shadowy organization offers him a new identity and next-generation medical care, he has no choice but to agree. Nothing's free, though. After a grueling rehabilitation, he's drafted into an elite paramilitary unit equipped with cutting-edge military technology. But who's in charge?
A dire threat soon provides the a highly contagious pathogen explodes out of China, and a select group of the world's wealthiest and most powerful people decide that governments are no longer capable of controlling the chaos erupting around the globe. It's a power grab by billionaires who've decided that it's their time to rule.
With panic rising worldwide, the leaders of both democracies and dictatorships prove equally willing to destroy anything and anyone to save themselves. Forced into action before he's fully ready, Fade finds himself at the sharp end of a mission to stop a menace unlike any he's faced before. If he fails, the consequences will be unimaginable. But what if he succeeds?
No one elected the people he's working for. And God sure as hell didn't ordain them. Has he signed on to save the human race . . . or to help quietly enslave it?
Fade In tackles the complex threats of international espionage, power imbalances, and global terrorism–and introduces a character destined to take his place among legends like Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, and Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon. "The prose snaps and hums. . . Fade In is a gripping, violent, and often heartbreaking book. It’s for readers who like their thrillers with a sharp philosophical bite." —Literary Titan
Kyle Mills is the author of nine New York Times bestselling Vince Flynn novels featuring Mitch Rapp.
"Wall to wall action. Great book," as recommended by bestselling thriller author Brad Thor on Today .
"Fade is a badass operator whom even a coma can’t stop. . . . Plenty of action, plenty of fun." —Kirkus Reviews
When ex-Navy SEAL Salam "Fade" al-Fayed steps in front of a sniper's bullet, he assumes that he's reached the end of the road—his death wish has finally been answered.
Instead, he wakes in a hospital. As one of the deadliest operatives in U.S. history, he's now incapable of even standing without assistance. Alone and wanted by authorities, he's destined to spend the rest of his life lying in a prison infirmary.
So when a shadowy organization offers him a new identity and next-generation medical care, he has no choice but to agree. Nothing's free, though. After a grueling rehabilitation, he's drafted into an elite paramilitary unit equipped with cutting-edge military technology. But who's in charge?
A dire threat soon provides the a highly contagious pathogen explodes out of China, and a select group of the world's wealthiest and most powerful people decide that governments are no longer capable of controlling the chaos erupting around the globe. It's a power grab by billionaires who've decided that it's their time to rule.
With panic rising worldwide, the leaders of both democracies and dictatorships prove equally willing to destroy anything and anyone to save themselves. Forced into action before he's fully ready, Fade finds himself at the sharp end of a mission to stop a menace unlike any he's faced before. If he fails, the consequences will be unimaginable. But what if he succeeds?
No one elected the people he's working for. And God sure as hell didn't ordain them. Has he signed on to save the human race . . . or to help quietly enslave it?
Fade In tackles the complex threats of international espionage, power imbalances, and global terrorism–and introduces a character destined to take his place among legends like Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, and Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon. "The prose snaps and hums. . . Fade In is a gripping, violent, and often heartbreaking book. It’s for readers who like their thrillers with a sharp philosophical bite." —Literary Titan
Kyle Mills is the author of nine New York Times bestselling Vince Flynn novels featuring Mitch Rapp.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2025
347 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Mills
33 books2,510 followersI grew up in Oregon but have lived all over—D.C., Virginia, Maryland, London,
Wyoming. My father was an FBI agent and I was a bureau kid, which is similar to being an army brat. You tend to spend your time with other bureau kids and get transferred around a lot, though, I fared better on that front than many others.
One positive aspect of this lifestyle is that you can’t help but absorb an enormous amount about the FBI, CIA, Special Forces, etc. Like most young boys, I was endlessly fascinated with talk of chasing criminals and, of course, pictured it in the most romantic terms possible. Who would have thought that all this esoteric knowledge would end up being so useful?
I came into writing from kind of a strange angle. When I graduated from college in the late eighties, I had the same dream as everyone else at the time—a corporate job, a nice car, and a house with lots of square footage.
It turns out that none of that really suited me. While I did go for the corporate job, I
drove a beat-up Jeep and lived in a tiny house in a so-so Baltimore neighborhood. Most of the money I made just kind of accumulated in my checking account and I found myself increasingly drawn to the unconventional, artistic people who lived around me. I was completely enamored with anyone who could create something from nothing because I felt like it was beyond me.
Enter rock climbing. I’d read an article on climbing when I was in college and thought it looked like an incredible thing to do. Someday, I told myself, I would give it a try. So one weekend in the early ’90s, I packed up my car, drove to West Virginia, and spent a
weekend taking lessons. Unknown to me at the time, this would be the start of an
obsession that still hangs with me today. I began dating a girl who liked to climb and we decided we wanted to live somewhere with taller rocks and more open space.
Moving to Wyoming was the best decision we ever made. The place is full of the most amazing people. You might meet someone on a bike ride and find out they were in the Olympics, or climbed Everest, or just got back from two months trekking in Nepal. In a roundabout way, it was these people who made it possible for me to write a novel. They seemed to have no limitations. Everything was possible for them and I wanted to be that type of person, too.
I was working for a little bank in Jackson Hole, spending my days making business loans and my afternoons and weekends climbing. For some reason, it finally occurred to me that I’d never actually tried to be creative. Maybe I could make something from nothing. Why not give it a shot?
My first bright idea was to learn to build furniture. That plan had some drawbacks, the most obvious of which being that I’m not very handy. It was my wife who suggested I write a novel. It seemed like a dumb idea, though, since I majored in finance and had spent my entire college career avoiding English courses like the plague. Having said that, I couldn’t completely shake the idea. Eventually, it nagged at me long enough that I felt compelled to put pen to paper. Eight months later, I finished Rising Phoenix and about a year after that I managed to get it published.
The success of Rising Phoenix and my subsequent books has allowed me to make my living as a writer, which isn’t bad work if you can get it. Other than that, my life hasn’t changed all that much. Aging elbows have forced me to replace climbing with backcountry skiing and mountain bike racing. I got the not-so-smart idea of restoring an old pickup to replace the dying Jeep. And, I still live in Wyoming...
Wyoming. My father was an FBI agent and I was a bureau kid, which is similar to being an army brat. You tend to spend your time with other bureau kids and get transferred around a lot, though, I fared better on that front than many others.
One positive aspect of this lifestyle is that you can’t help but absorb an enormous amount about the FBI, CIA, Special Forces, etc. Like most young boys, I was endlessly fascinated with talk of chasing criminals and, of course, pictured it in the most romantic terms possible. Who would have thought that all this esoteric knowledge would end up being so useful?
I came into writing from kind of a strange angle. When I graduated from college in the late eighties, I had the same dream as everyone else at the time—a corporate job, a nice car, and a house with lots of square footage.
It turns out that none of that really suited me. While I did go for the corporate job, I
drove a beat-up Jeep and lived in a tiny house in a so-so Baltimore neighborhood. Most of the money I made just kind of accumulated in my checking account and I found myself increasingly drawn to the unconventional, artistic people who lived around me. I was completely enamored with anyone who could create something from nothing because I felt like it was beyond me.
Enter rock climbing. I’d read an article on climbing when I was in college and thought it looked like an incredible thing to do. Someday, I told myself, I would give it a try. So one weekend in the early ’90s, I packed up my car, drove to West Virginia, and spent a
weekend taking lessons. Unknown to me at the time, this would be the start of an
obsession that still hangs with me today. I began dating a girl who liked to climb and we decided we wanted to live somewhere with taller rocks and more open space.
Moving to Wyoming was the best decision we ever made. The place is full of the most amazing people. You might meet someone on a bike ride and find out they were in the Olympics, or climbed Everest, or just got back from two months trekking in Nepal. In a roundabout way, it was these people who made it possible for me to write a novel. They seemed to have no limitations. Everything was possible for them and I wanted to be that type of person, too.
I was working for a little bank in Jackson Hole, spending my days making business loans and my afternoons and weekends climbing. For some reason, it finally occurred to me that I’d never actually tried to be creative. Maybe I could make something from nothing. Why not give it a shot?
My first bright idea was to learn to build furniture. That plan had some drawbacks, the most obvious of which being that I’m not very handy. It was my wife who suggested I write a novel. It seemed like a dumb idea, though, since I majored in finance and had spent my entire college career avoiding English courses like the plague. Having said that, I couldn’t completely shake the idea. Eventually, it nagged at me long enough that I felt compelled to put pen to paper. Eight months later, I finished Rising Phoenix and about a year after that I managed to get it published.
The success of Rising Phoenix and my subsequent books has allowed me to make my living as a writer, which isn’t bad work if you can get it. Other than that, my life hasn’t changed all that much. Aging elbows have forced me to replace climbing with backcountry skiing and mountain bike racing. I got the not-so-smart idea of restoring an old pickup to replace the dying Jeep. And, I still live in Wyoming...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
September 19, 2025
I enjoyed this and I hope we see more of Fade in the future, but I didn’t love this as much as the first one. It had a really strong 1st half and then got a little too wild for a min, but then had a strong ending. I feel the ending could lead into another book.
I love this author in general, but this wasn’t my favorite of his. It’s not that it wasn’t good. It’s just that is how high the bar is when it comes to his writing. The bar is so high that even a good book looks less great having read his other books. I am sad he is no longer writing the Mitch Rapp series as he offered so much to that series. But I will continue to read anything he writes!
———
Pre-read: Just finished book 1 and I loved it. So I immediately got this one! Can’t wait to see more of Fade! 🖤
I love this author in general, but this wasn’t my favorite of his. It’s not that it wasn’t good. It’s just that is how high the bar is when it comes to his writing. The bar is so high that even a good book looks less great having read his other books. I am sad he is no longer writing the Mitch Rapp series as he offered so much to that series. But I will continue to read anything he writes!
———
Pre-read: Just finished book 1 and I loved it. So I immediately got this one! Can’t wait to see more of Fade! 🖤
April 16, 2025
I was fortunate to get an advace copy of Fade In by Kyle Mills. It's the second book about Salam al-Fayed aka. Fade. I don't know if it was good or bad reading the first book before this one but I am of the opinion that Fade book 1 is the better of the two. Sorry Kyle, I can't help it. I do like this one but I don't think it reaches the same level. Don't get me wrong, I recommend that you read both, they do go well together and I sincerely hope that ther will be a third in the future. I like the way the author deals with both covid and the main characters situation, it is the first book I have encountered that has this take on the virus. I believe that fans waiting for this book will be pleasantly surprised. Thanks to Netgalley . and Author's Equity as well as Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for giving me a copy.
August 11, 2025
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Fresh and incredibly relevant to today’s geopolitical landscape, Fade In is a slow-burn thriller that meticulously sets the scene and challenges your view of global power before exploding with violence that leaves you stunned. Kyle Mills has delivered a powerful novel with a unique protagonist that will keep you riveted while asking you to ponder moral quandaries between bursts of action.
Thriller fans will enjoy Fade In on its own merits but will also be excited for the potential of where this series can go in the future. It’s set up for more intriguing plots, ethical inquiries and exhilarating action. Can’t wait to see what Kyle Mills delivers next.
Fresh and incredibly relevant to today’s geopolitical landscape, Fade In is a slow-burn thriller that meticulously sets the scene and challenges your view of global power before exploding with violence that leaves you stunned. Kyle Mills has delivered a powerful novel with a unique protagonist that will keep you riveted while asking you to ponder moral quandaries between bursts of action.
Thriller fans will enjoy Fade In on its own merits but will also be excited for the potential of where this series can go in the future. It’s set up for more intriguing plots, ethical inquiries and exhilarating action. Can’t wait to see what Kyle Mills delivers next.
July 15, 2025
I received an ARC of Fade In by Kyle Mills from the author. This book is a fast paced action thriller that tackles some very relevant topics.
I really enjoyed the overall concept of this book and the character of Jon Lowe in particular. Lowe is a super rich entrepreneur who decides to use his incredible wealth to rest control of the direction of the world away from the world’s governments. He seems very altruistic in his motives even if the means of doing so are very questionable at times. That is where the main character of Fade, Salam Al-Fayed, comes in to play.
Lowe and his associates begin to assemble the best operatives in various fields by offering them something they can’t refuse and hopefully winning them over to see their goals as worthwhile.
I really enjoyed the pace and plot of Fade In. Where the book falls a little short for me is in the character of Fade himself. He has some redeeming moments where his leadership qualities take precedence, but then there isn’t a whole lot of depth given to the character or his history. There is also his drug use and the use of prostitutes, provided by his boss, that is just thrown in very nonchalantly.
In conclusion, Fade In was an enjoyable read. I would be interested in seeing how the story of Jon Lowe’s mission to guide the world plays out or if absolute power corrupts him leading Fade to step in.
Thanks to Kyle Mills and Author’s Equity for providing me with the advanced reader’s copy of this book.
I really enjoyed the overall concept of this book and the character of Jon Lowe in particular. Lowe is a super rich entrepreneur who decides to use his incredible wealth to rest control of the direction of the world away from the world’s governments. He seems very altruistic in his motives even if the means of doing so are very questionable at times. That is where the main character of Fade, Salam Al-Fayed, comes in to play.
Lowe and his associates begin to assemble the best operatives in various fields by offering them something they can’t refuse and hopefully winning them over to see their goals as worthwhile.
I really enjoyed the pace and plot of Fade In. Where the book falls a little short for me is in the character of Fade himself. He has some redeeming moments where his leadership qualities take precedence, but then there isn’t a whole lot of depth given to the character or his history. There is also his drug use and the use of prostitutes, provided by his boss, that is just thrown in very nonchalantly.
In conclusion, Fade In was an enjoyable read. I would be interested in seeing how the story of Jon Lowe’s mission to guide the world plays out or if absolute power corrupts him leading Fade to step in.
Thanks to Kyle Mills and Author’s Equity for providing me with the advanced reader’s copy of this book.
August 13, 2025
Kind of eye rolly, kind of okay.
July 30, 2025
I liked the Mitch Rapp books that this author wrote, didn't realize this one was a second book, until after I was done with the audio and the author and narrator were talking about the first one. I went to look and it was written 20 years ago. Not sure if I will go back to check it out. This one was ok for me, Fade was an unusual guy. Definitely manages to cheat death a ton of times. Has skills, but there is something about him I don't like, not sure why. He's pretty lackadaisical about so much, might be due to cheating death so many times. Then there is his friend, Matt, who the two seem to have a love/hate relationship. Lastly there is John, who I wasn't sure if he was a bad guy or good guy. I definitely hated how he seemed to be at the center of everything that was going on, manipulating it to what he wanted.
The supposed real bad guy and all the action was a bit crazy! Part of me like what the end result would have been, part of me didn't. But more towards the first, might be due to how I think the world is going.
Overall this one was ok, there were times it was easy to tune out as I didn't really care for the characters that much. The action would bring me back.
The supposed real bad guy and all the action was a bit crazy! Part of me like what the end result would have been, part of me didn't. But more towards the first, might be due to how I think the world is going.
Overall this one was ok, there were times it was easy to tune out as I didn't really care for the characters that much. The action would bring me back.
September 23, 2025
I’ve loved every Kyle Mills novel, whether it’s the Mark Beamon series or his continuation of the Mitch Rapp series for the Vince Flynn Estate. I always look forward to each new release. In "Fade In," the second book of his Fade series, we follow Salam al-Fayed (a.k.a. "Fade"), a former Navy SEAL fluent in Arabic. First introduced as one of America’s top Spec Ops operators, Fade, abandoned by his country, now shifts from working with the government to teaming up with a group of billionaires to stop one of their own from unleashing a biological weapon on humanity. While it’s slightly weaker than the first novel, it’s still a thrilling page-turner!
August 18, 2025
Fade is back with a vengeance! Part Mission Impossible (IMF), part Steven Seagal (Hard to Kill), part Mitch Rapp, but 100% Fade! What a ride! Hope we see more of Fade in the future! Thanks Kyle for another great book, have been a big fan of your writing since you started.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2025
Salam al-Faye, better know as Fade, has been in a long-term coma forgotten about and left to wither away in a hospital bed. Miraculously he comes out of his coma and the hospital makes a call to his one time friend and boss, Matt Egan. Matt is now working for a billionaire who wants to use his money and power to make the world a better place. Matt tries to convince Fade to come help in exchange for helping in his recovery. Fade is reluctant at first, but eventually relents. It is just in time as the Chinese scientist who developed Covid has threatened to release a deadlier version to kill off the world’s elderly population.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I read the first Fade book a couple of years ago. It was very enjoyable, but I wouldn’t of put it down as one of my top books of that year. Fade In is an upgrade from the original. Mr. Mills has clearly honed his craft in the 20 years since he wrote the original. Fade is a very interesting and complex hero. He seems to not care about anything other than getting drunk. Looks can be deceiving, though, as Fade tends to end up doing the right thing, even if it is against his better senses.
The plot itself was also very intriguing. It was smart to take the recent Covid pandemic, and make it the jumping off point for a possible new virus even more deadly. Along with the plot, Mr. Mills kept the readers interest by setting the story in multiple locals around the world. There was a ton of action in the novel, so you’re never more than a few chapters from the next battle raging on.
Fade In is well worth the read. Mr. Mills continues to be at the top of his game, and one of the best writers in the genre. Thank you too, Mr. Mills and Authors Equity from a free ARC for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I read the first Fade book a couple of years ago. It was very enjoyable, but I wouldn’t of put it down as one of my top books of that year. Fade In is an upgrade from the original. Mr. Mills has clearly honed his craft in the 20 years since he wrote the original. Fade is a very interesting and complex hero. He seems to not care about anything other than getting drunk. Looks can be deceiving, though, as Fade tends to end up doing the right thing, even if it is against his better senses.
The plot itself was also very intriguing. It was smart to take the recent Covid pandemic, and make it the jumping off point for a possible new virus even more deadly. Along with the plot, Mr. Mills kept the readers interest by setting the story in multiple locals around the world. There was a ton of action in the novel, so you’re never more than a few chapters from the next battle raging on.
Fade In is well worth the read. Mr. Mills continues to be at the top of his game, and one of the best writers in the genre. Thank you too, Mr. Mills and Authors Equity from a free ARC for an honest review.
August 11, 2025
Kyle Mills can write, good book
August 5, 2025
lt's been 20 years since the first Salam al-Fayed, AKA Fade book. Since then Mills has been writing in other late authors' series.
Fade, former SEAL and master of undercover ops has pretty much given up. So not far into the story he's in a coma recovering from traumatic injuries. Enter a billionaire with an agenda, and advanced medical equipment.
The meat of the story after recovery is to hunt down the Chinese scientist who developed the coronavirus and wasn't happy with the results. He's now successfully developed the virus which will kill everyone over the age of 70, which includes most of those in power worldwide.
Fade, former SEAL and master of undercover ops has pretty much given up. So not far into the story he's in a coma recovering from traumatic injuries. Enter a billionaire with an agenda, and advanced medical equipment.
The meat of the story after recovery is to hunt down the Chinese scientist who developed the coronavirus and wasn't happy with the results. He's now successfully developed the virus which will kill everyone over the age of 70, which includes most of those in power worldwide.
June 28, 2025
I would like to start and say that I loved Fade. I read it for the first time before I started this and it quickly became one of my favorite thrillers. I also loved the majority of the work Kyle Mills did for the Mitch Rapp series. I have all the respect in the world for him but I hated this. I was thankful enough to receive an ARC and I wanted to give a honest review. I unfortunately won't be posting anywhere else about this because I don't believe in being too negative about other people's work.
June 2, 2025
Kyle Mills is on top of his game with Fade In. Advancements in technology have allowed Fade to re-emmerge as the trained killer from years past. Fade is now older and reflective. He is starting to feel his limitations but still overcomes his demons. Fade no longer faces terror threats from his past. These new threats are more modern in nature and require the precision that only Fade and a group of trusted associates can conquer. I did not see the ending coming, either. I'm glad to see Kyle writing for himself, again. I feel he does his best work when he is doing so. Fade In is expertly crafted with a wave of nostalgia from years past. It will draw you in and keep you wanting more.
June 2, 2025
My Memorial day weekend has 1 rule, Get a good book and smoke a Brisket through the night.
Fade IN, a book I was waiting 20 years for, did not disappoint! Fade In kicked off my
summer from the first page and drew me in and never let go until I was fork tender! #fadenation #fadein
Fade IN, a book I was waiting 20 years for, did not disappoint! Fade In kicked off my
summer from the first page and drew me in and never let go until I was fork tender! #fadenation #fadein
July 29, 2025
If you love crawling into a world of military tech, corrupt foreign/domestic politics, and a mentally unstable MMC then this the book for you. After reading Kyle’s addition to the Mitch Rapp series, I found the dark humor of Fade really enjoyable. #assassinsWithoutBorders The fight scenes mixed in with the cool toys was fascinating to read.
Thank you to the author for this gifted ARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to the author for this gifted ARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 22, 2025
I liked the idea of a chemically rebuilt super soldier, but the actual plot here was jumpy and not very interesting. things happened so fast that it felt like every third chapter was just missing from the book I read.
July 14, 2025
Sometimes great things are definitely worth the wait.
Twenty years after Kyle Mills introduced us to Salam al-Fayed – better known as Fade – in the first book of the series, Fade, this bestselling author thrusts readers into a world teetering on the brink in the sequel, Fade In.
Here is my book review of this fantastic thriller by this superb author: https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/ste...
Twenty years after Kyle Mills introduced us to Salam al-Fayed – better known as Fade – in the first book of the series, Fade, this bestselling author thrusts readers into a world teetering on the brink in the sequel, Fade In.
Here is my book review of this fantastic thriller by this superb author: https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/ste...
August 9, 2025
They bring back Fade once more and turn him loose in the wild. Fun read that is less thriller and more intrigue. I picked up a version that also included the alternate epilogue, keep the original; it’s better. I love that Mills is departing from Mitch Rapp and sharing his talent with new characters and storylines.
June 22, 2025
Fade In, the long anticipated sequel to Fade by Kyle Mills did not disappoint. I was honored to receive an advanced copy of this extraordinary book, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. Fade In is non-stop action from start to finish, which is not unexpected from Kyle Mills. Exceptional plot and pacing make for a quick, enjoyable read and leaves you wanting more. I am definitely looking forward to more Fade and excited to see where Kyle takes him next.
July 30, 2025
If you read one thriller this summer, it needs to be this one.
Kyle Mills has resurrected Fade in the most fantastic way with such relevance to today’s world.
Good or bad, right or wrong, truth or fiction - you decide.
Kyle Mills has resurrected Fade in the most fantastic way with such relevance to today’s world.
Good or bad, right or wrong, truth or fiction - you decide.
August 24, 2025
Uuuugggggg!🤦🏻
I hate writing this review because I have read every thing Mills has written and absolutely love everything he has done…except this one. Real slow getting going, Disjointed at times. There’s a billionaire who gives his jets, giant yachts, and high end hookers to the very flawed main character. The altruistic billionaire makes Fade slog through jungles for hours/days only to end up at the very posh camping site the billionaire had arrived at in style. Why not just bring Fade with you?? Too many unrealistic scenarios. I hate it because I was so excited to get a new Kyle Mills book! I’m sure it’s just a “one off” and I will be back in for the next book.
Edit: The near ending was pretty good and exciting.
I hate writing this review because I have read every thing Mills has written and absolutely love everything he has done…except this one. Real slow getting going, Disjointed at times. There’s a billionaire who gives his jets, giant yachts, and high end hookers to the very flawed main character. The altruistic billionaire makes Fade slog through jungles for hours/days only to end up at the very posh camping site the billionaire had arrived at in style. Why not just bring Fade with you?? Too many unrealistic scenarios. I hate it because I was so excited to get a new Kyle Mills book! I’m sure it’s just a “one off” and I will be back in for the next book.
Edit: The near ending was pretty good and exciting.
August 31, 2025
I have read all of Kyle Mills's books and found this to be my least favorite. It didn't seem to have a smooth storyline; rather, it felt a bit "jumpy". I didn't find the characters to be well developed, and the story was a bit hard to follow.
I'll read his next book with my fingers crossed that it will be much bettr.
I'll read his next book with my fingers crossed that it will be much bettr.
June 11, 2025
Fade has been resurrected in the most unique way possible! He is bad ass taking on the world to defend against opponents that no one sees coming with the scariest villain imaginable given the likelihood certain events can actually happen! The tech and real life logistics had me at the edge of my seat and thoroughly creeped out at the same time. Brilliant, engaging writing is the hallmark of this Kyle Mills delight!! Grateful to Mr Mills for the early ARC!
July 6, 2025
It was worth the wait for Fade to return. Deadpool has nothing on Fade from his inability to, you know, die to his dry wit approach to life.
Mills keeps the pages turning with his signature intensity, while Fade teams up with an unlikely pair to keep society from imploding. Present day life comes to life in a scenario one can only hope stays fiction.
Mills keeps the pages turning with his signature intensity, while Fade teams up with an unlikely pair to keep society from imploding. Present day life comes to life in a scenario one can only hope stays fiction.
June 8, 2025
I was introduced to Kyle Mills as an author through the Mitch Rapp series. So earlier this year I read FADE, which was written by Mills 20 years ago. Loved it, and when I had the opportunity to receive and read an advanced copy of FADE IN, I jumped at it! Fortunately, I was selected and I was not disappointed. Mills has developed a solid character in Salam al-Fayed (I.e., Fade), with his own demons, talents, and flaws. The supporting cast is also good. The complex relationship Fade has with his former best friend, Matt Egan, adds to the humanity of both characters. Highly readable and a fascinating plot makes for a great sequel. If you love thrillers, you will love FADE IN.
June 23, 2025
Fade In was fantastic. It was exactly what I hoped for in the next saga for Fade. Having JUST completed Fade, some of the parts in the beginning felt redundant, but they totally make sense in context. I thought the character of Egan was a LOT different than Fade, but there are reasons for that I suppose. As expected, there are many conflicts of conscience for Fade and you will always be ready to keep the page turning as you go through them all with him. All in all a great read - would recommend to anyone. 4.5 stars rounded up since can't do half stars.
Thank you to Kyle Mills for the ARC for this review. #FadeIn #FadeNation
Thank you to Kyle Mills for the ARC for this review. #FadeIn #FadeNation
June 17, 2025
Starting the legend of the three word titles, early 1990 saw the return of Steven Seagal after pursuing those ABOVE THE LAW in the late 80s. This time out, he's Los Angeles cop Mason Storm, on the wrong side of power politics and definitely HARD TO KILL. The horde of baddies does try valiantly, even putting him into a seven-year coma from which he slowly returns, trains up, loads out and ends those responsible. LEFT FOR DEAD in 2004, the legendary SEAL who went on a multi-state rampage in a vintage Caddy in the early millennium is back from the dead. Kyle Mills smoothly transitions from abdicating the Mitch Rapp throne to reviving the protagonist from the best MIL/Thriller published in the last 26 years. After failing to pay ferry toll across the river Styx, Salam al-Fayed aka Fade is rejected back to being among the living and fresh out of a 20-year coma. No easy way out for Fade. No easy Day. Just FADE IN, landing the most reckless combat operative in history deep in government conspiracy, violence, and mayhem--Fade's running with a lit fuse and it's burning fast.
Unlike Rambo who's always believed that the mind is the best weapon, FADE IN proffers that sometimes a loose cannon is the best option. Reflecting the current US political and social climate, a benevolent billionaire looking to rid the world of evil is of the same opinion. It's the rise of the billionaires, their time to control society from transpo to medicine, to computing, space and social media. And Fade's destined to help him make this happen. To hell with dictatorships and democracies. Whether pawn or predator, Fade is still a broken down former Navy SEAL with a less than rosy history concerning the US government. A man who gets by with nihilism and black humor and who believes that V8 engines and antibiotics are peak progress. Fade's a man like Omni Consumer Products, he can fix anything; though tape, superglue and chewing gum have their limits. In pursuit of peace, justice and apple pie, Fade's unique moral compass might just be what can realize the billionaire's global vision of the future. IF he can get Fade, rhymes with BLADE, out of rehab, on board and back into the game.
Only the second book in the series, FADE IN has Fade coming back to the living for a fourth time, in effect making the protagonist the anti-DROP DEAD FRED. While at times it isn't quite obvious where the narrative is heading, seemingly a series of anecdotes without significance or a story with no arc, FADE IN is a PYGMALION thriller on crank with upbeat rhythm, youthful enthusiasm, a dash of humor, and the optimistic rebuilding of a killing-machine after decades of hiatus in the TERMINATOR junkyard. Between defenestration and dismemberment, FADE IN reminds that anything can be rationalized if you try hard enough and has quite the bone to pick with current world leaders, the political climate, socioeconomic strata of the US, military ladder climbing, and defense contract shenanigans, nicely counterbalancing the shoutouts to PREDATOR, Mike Ehrmantrout, CSI MIAMI and BREAKING BAD. Somewhere between Neo Unplugged, THE BOURNE IDENTITY, RAINBOW SIX, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON and UNIVERSAL SOLDIER, FADE IN gloriously returns Fade into the thick of things, in lock-step with the accoutrements of the modern James Bond lifestyle; booze, broads, bullets, and bad guys that trend towards the eccentric. Sure to light up the dog days of summer reading, FADE IN is the fantastic chronicle of the psychotic former SEAL, up close and personal. From the first words of 'Fade In', FADE IN is A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM for even the most jaded Thriller junkies--a novel that's all blood, adrenaline and lactic acid.
Big thanks and huge props to Kyle Mills, Simon & Schuster and Authors Equity for the ARC.
July 28, 2025
To start out with, this is my first book review that does not include Mitch Rapp, the character that I have gotten to know so well through the years. So be gentle as I try to convey the message of Fade In!
I had gotten to know the works of Kyle Mills when he took over for the late, great Vince Flynn in 2013. I had not read any of his novels prior to that point, focusing on the works of Vince. I had extremely high expectations when The Survivor came out in 2015, he had big whopping shoes to fill in which he would either be praised or criticized by Rapp fans everywhere! What he had done was by far exceeded my expectations followed in that first entry. Any doubts I had were quickly eradicated and then the next 8 entries into the series progressively, in my opinion, kept getting better and better up until his exit book, Code Red.
When the news broke that he was stepping back from Mitch Rapp, I was disappointed at first but then intrigued when he said he was going back to a character he had created long before he had taken over for Vince. For me, a diehard Rapp fan, I just couldn’t understand why Kyle was stepping out of that series of books.
Noting that, I had to go back to the first book, Fade, and get myself familiar with the characters in that book. I wanted to understand the characters/world that he had created. It was such a change for me compared to what I had come to know and love from the universe Vince had created, yet Fade proved to the start of another thriller series that I was looking forward to Fade In to see how Kyle carried on with the main character, Fade.
So fast forward to 2025, I was honored and privileged to be one of the first few to be selected for Fade Nation in which I received the ARC. Once I again I had high expectations from Kyle and boy, did he deliver.
You know the old saying of you can keep a good man down, well in this case there seems to be nothing that can keep the lead protagonist, Fade, down. Not a good shot to the spine, not being in a coma, so we start to see Fade come back online receiving rather unusual methodologies/medication to get back to his old self.
As is moved to a new location to begin that healing process, the book takes unexpected twists and turns up to and including an NFL player that, let's just say, wishes he wouldn’t have crossed paths with Fade.
From there, Fade finds himself trying to decide to join an elite team that was being assembled to stop a Chinese scientist from taking out the elderly world population. Many times, Fade was thinking, no he was done, but time and time again, he would jump back into the fold so to speak.
Through the course of the book, unexpected events take place that Fade and team must adapt or be killed in the process. Not giving much more away, I highly encourage you to pick this book up, you do not want to miss this one! If you are a fan of the thriller genre, you need to get your hands on a copy as soon as possible!!
Kyle has done a tremendous job in bringing Fade back literally from the edge of death and treating us to an adventure that sees many plot twists and turns up until the very end. Who thought a nuclear weapon would actually be considered and maybe even used??? You will have to read to find out!
I will leave you with this, if you have not yet read the first book in this series, Fade, what are you waiting for, get to know the characters, then jump right into the middle of it with Fade In. Truly a great piece of work from Kyle, I applaud him for what he has done, he truly is a master of the thriller genre, and I cannot wait to what he brings next!!
I had gotten to know the works of Kyle Mills when he took over for the late, great Vince Flynn in 2013. I had not read any of his novels prior to that point, focusing on the works of Vince. I had extremely high expectations when The Survivor came out in 2015, he had big whopping shoes to fill in which he would either be praised or criticized by Rapp fans everywhere! What he had done was by far exceeded my expectations followed in that first entry. Any doubts I had were quickly eradicated and then the next 8 entries into the series progressively, in my opinion, kept getting better and better up until his exit book, Code Red.
When the news broke that he was stepping back from Mitch Rapp, I was disappointed at first but then intrigued when he said he was going back to a character he had created long before he had taken over for Vince. For me, a diehard Rapp fan, I just couldn’t understand why Kyle was stepping out of that series of books.
Noting that, I had to go back to the first book, Fade, and get myself familiar with the characters in that book. I wanted to understand the characters/world that he had created. It was such a change for me compared to what I had come to know and love from the universe Vince had created, yet Fade proved to the start of another thriller series that I was looking forward to Fade In to see how Kyle carried on with the main character, Fade.
So fast forward to 2025, I was honored and privileged to be one of the first few to be selected for Fade Nation in which I received the ARC. Once I again I had high expectations from Kyle and boy, did he deliver.
You know the old saying of you can keep a good man down, well in this case there seems to be nothing that can keep the lead protagonist, Fade, down. Not a good shot to the spine, not being in a coma, so we start to see Fade come back online receiving rather unusual methodologies/medication to get back to his old self.
As is moved to a new location to begin that healing process, the book takes unexpected twists and turns up to and including an NFL player that, let's just say, wishes he wouldn’t have crossed paths with Fade.
From there, Fade finds himself trying to decide to join an elite team that was being assembled to stop a Chinese scientist from taking out the elderly world population. Many times, Fade was thinking, no he was done, but time and time again, he would jump back into the fold so to speak.
Through the course of the book, unexpected events take place that Fade and team must adapt or be killed in the process. Not giving much more away, I highly encourage you to pick this book up, you do not want to miss this one! If you are a fan of the thriller genre, you need to get your hands on a copy as soon as possible!!
Kyle has done a tremendous job in bringing Fade back literally from the edge of death and treating us to an adventure that sees many plot twists and turns up until the very end. Who thought a nuclear weapon would actually be considered and maybe even used??? You will have to read to find out!
I will leave you with this, if you have not yet read the first book in this series, Fade, what are you waiting for, get to know the characters, then jump right into the middle of it with Fade In. Truly a great piece of work from Kyle, I applaud him for what he has done, he truly is a master of the thriller genre, and I cannot wait to what he brings next!!
August 2, 2025
I was really looking forward to reading this latest book in the series. I just finished book 1 (Fade) a couple of days ago, so Fade - the MMC - was still very prominent in my mind. As I mentioned in my previous review, there was a 20 year gap between the first book and this new release.
Throughout the first book, we went through that entire book with the overwhelming feeling of doom; that there was not going to be a way that Fade was going to successfully make it out of his circumstances. And the way that book ended, it left us with the presumption that he did not.
This book picks up directly where the last book left off, in fact, the prologue is taken from book 1 to remind us how exactly Fade got himself into the mess that he was in. Matt Egan reappears and many things have changed in his life and in his circumstances. He is now working for an extremely powerful billionaire - Jon Lowe - whose motives and benevolence are a bit unclear. He has decided that he wants to bring Fade into the fold and he has the money, ability and toys to make it happen.
This storyline takes us on a fast moving plot regarding the development of a new deadly virus that is directly targeted for people over 60 years of age. The philosophy behind it being that society cannot continue to waste its resources on the old and the world needs a shake up in order to redo its societal order. To top things off, the developer of the virus, goes on television and basically lets the world know that he has created this virus and will be releasing it into the world. As you can imagine - chaos reigns.
While I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the first book more. For whatever reason, I did not like the man that Egan turned into. Granted, I understand the "why" behind his transformation, but it made me sad because there was so much history between Egan and Fade and I was hoping to see that relationship go in the other direction.
Fade is still the star of the show. He is the unlikely hero - the man who REALLY doesn't want to be the hero - yet he is the one with the talent and ability to do the job. We see his compassion and dare I say "goodness" shine through with the situation in Virginia with the physical therapist Lisa Thompson. Unfortunately for him, he is too good at what he does - whether he wants to be or not.
I liked seeing the introduction of Raya as a character and a friend to Fade. I liked the two of them as a team and am looking forward to seeing the friendship continue as the series progresses. Hopefully the relationship with Matt will also develop into something better as we move forward.
So, this book is fast paced with a ton of action, suspense and drama. The pacing felt a little off to me - it did not feel like it flowed as well as the first book, but I still enjoyed it, I'll be looking forward to seeing where things go from here - because I'm not sure that Jon Lowe is as good of a character as he thinks he is.
We will see......
P.S. There is a great interview at the end of the audio version between author Kyle Mills and narrator Will Damron that was worth the listen :)
Throughout the first book, we went through that entire book with the overwhelming feeling of doom; that there was not going to be a way that Fade was going to successfully make it out of his circumstances. And the way that book ended, it left us with the presumption that he did not.
This book picks up directly where the last book left off, in fact, the prologue is taken from book 1 to remind us how exactly Fade got himself into the mess that he was in. Matt Egan reappears and many things have changed in his life and in his circumstances. He is now working for an extremely powerful billionaire - Jon Lowe - whose motives and benevolence are a bit unclear. He has decided that he wants to bring Fade into the fold and he has the money, ability and toys to make it happen.
This storyline takes us on a fast moving plot regarding the development of a new deadly virus that is directly targeted for people over 60 years of age. The philosophy behind it being that society cannot continue to waste its resources on the old and the world needs a shake up in order to redo its societal order. To top things off, the developer of the virus, goes on television and basically lets the world know that he has created this virus and will be releasing it into the world. As you can imagine - chaos reigns.
While I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the first book more. For whatever reason, I did not like the man that Egan turned into. Granted, I understand the "why" behind his transformation, but it made me sad because there was so much history between Egan and Fade and I was hoping to see that relationship go in the other direction.
Fade is still the star of the show. He is the unlikely hero - the man who REALLY doesn't want to be the hero - yet he is the one with the talent and ability to do the job. We see his compassion and dare I say "goodness" shine through with the situation in Virginia with the physical therapist Lisa Thompson. Unfortunately for him, he is too good at what he does - whether he wants to be or not.
I liked seeing the introduction of Raya as a character and a friend to Fade. I liked the two of them as a team and am looking forward to seeing the friendship continue as the series progresses. Hopefully the relationship with Matt will also develop into something better as we move forward.
So, this book is fast paced with a ton of action, suspense and drama. The pacing felt a little off to me - it did not feel like it flowed as well as the first book, but I still enjoyed it, I'll be looking forward to seeing where things go from here - because I'm not sure that Jon Lowe is as good of a character as he thinks he is.
We will see......
P.S. There is a great interview at the end of the audio version between author Kyle Mills and narrator Will Damron that was worth the listen :)
September 7, 2025
Don’t miss this action-packed, location-rich adventure set in the darkest corners of Africa.
Missing in Tanzania opens as Australian rancher Ann Thompson arrives in Stone Town, Zanzibar, in search of a shadowy local fixer named Anton. It seems that Ann’s twin sister, Jane, vanished after a safari on the Serengeti. The mission hardly comes out of sisterly love. As a result of complex family dynamics, Ann’s objectives are purely self-serving. Without Jane’s signature on a critical loan document – or proof that she’s dead – their vast cattle ranch, Molly Creek, will fall into foreclosure.
Anton’s help won’t come cheap. His price is a $50,000 retainer, plus a princely $100,000 bonus if he can find Jane or prove she’s dead. By the time he’s stated his fee, he’s already proved his worth by saving Ann from human traffickers that have been following her since she hit town.
James E. Merriman, author of the award-winning thriller Red Sun Over Africa, turns what could have been a straightforward missing person search into an intricate web of betrayal, greed and survival. A prime example is a critical plot pivot involving Jane that comes early in the book. Just as Merriman has readers wondering what grisly fate poor Jane has fallen to, we learn that she’s been luxuriating in a Seychelles villa with a ruthless banker, Singh Bakshi, and conspiring to strip her own family of their land for its mineral wealth. It’s an earth-shaking reveal that invites readers to witness Ann’s dogged investigation collide with a conspiracy. The exotic setting is definitely icing on the cake, but the story is good enough to take place anywhere on Earth.
Merriman’s twin versus twin setup is a winner, bristling with emotional dynamics throughout. Ann’s Outback-hardened resourcefulness and Anton’s intelligence-world savvy make a compelling partnership. The well-crafted plot equals Merriman’s strength as an immersive storyteller. From the get-go, he draws us into Stone Town’s spice-scented alleys – with danger lurking around every corner – and demonstrates his flair for sensory prose throughout. That’s especially true in a memorable and chaotic scene involving a couple of poachers and bull elephants in the latter part of the story.
Anton, a Stanford graduate with his mix of Silicon Valley polish and Tanzanian street smarts, is Merriman’s standout creation. Watching him navigate both the corrupt corridors of finance and the criminal underworld with equal ease is a true pleasure. Through Anton, Merriman delivers a memorable adventure that will keep readers turning pages late into the night. Here’s hoping Merriman brings Anton back for a sequel.
Missing in Tanzania opens as Australian rancher Ann Thompson arrives in Stone Town, Zanzibar, in search of a shadowy local fixer named Anton. It seems that Ann’s twin sister, Jane, vanished after a safari on the Serengeti. The mission hardly comes out of sisterly love. As a result of complex family dynamics, Ann’s objectives are purely self-serving. Without Jane’s signature on a critical loan document – or proof that she’s dead – their vast cattle ranch, Molly Creek, will fall into foreclosure.
Anton’s help won’t come cheap. His price is a $50,000 retainer, plus a princely $100,000 bonus if he can find Jane or prove she’s dead. By the time he’s stated his fee, he’s already proved his worth by saving Ann from human traffickers that have been following her since she hit town.
James E. Merriman, author of the award-winning thriller Red Sun Over Africa, turns what could have been a straightforward missing person search into an intricate web of betrayal, greed and survival. A prime example is a critical plot pivot involving Jane that comes early in the book. Just as Merriman has readers wondering what grisly fate poor Jane has fallen to, we learn that she’s been luxuriating in a Seychelles villa with a ruthless banker, Singh Bakshi, and conspiring to strip her own family of their land for its mineral wealth. It’s an earth-shaking reveal that invites readers to witness Ann’s dogged investigation collide with a conspiracy. The exotic setting is definitely icing on the cake, but the story is good enough to take place anywhere on Earth.
Merriman’s twin versus twin setup is a winner, bristling with emotional dynamics throughout. Ann’s Outback-hardened resourcefulness and Anton’s intelligence-world savvy make a compelling partnership. The well-crafted plot equals Merriman’s strength as an immersive storyteller. From the get-go, he draws us into Stone Town’s spice-scented alleys – with danger lurking around every corner – and demonstrates his flair for sensory prose throughout. That’s especially true in a memorable and chaotic scene involving a couple of poachers and bull elephants in the latter part of the story.
Anton, a Stanford graduate with his mix of Silicon Valley polish and Tanzanian street smarts, is Merriman’s standout creation. Watching him navigate both the corrupt corridors of finance and the criminal underworld with equal ease is a true pleasure. Through Anton, Merriman delivers a memorable adventure that will keep readers turning pages late into the night. Here’s hoping Merriman brings Anton back for a sequel.
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