Night of the Bonfire

Michael Quinn #1

by Kevin Scott Olson

Ex-Navy SEAL Michael Quinn is called in by the CIA to investigate a key undercover operative's brutal murder. From the peaceful seaside town of Laguna Beach, the trail leads him across the globe, and into a world beyond anything he imagined.

Amidst violent twists and turns, Quinn's journey takes him from the crowded streets of Rome to a quiet cove off the Mexican coast. Along the way he crosses paths with an oligarch obsessed with vengeance...with a woman of unforgettable beauty...and with a man on the verge of adding the crowning touch to his criminal empire.

Interwoven with memorable characters, Night of the Bonfire is a riveting novel that takes the reader to an exceptional level of intrigue.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2015

About the author

Kevin Scott Olson lives in southern California, where his hobbies include travel, outdoor sports, and keeping up with the adventures of ex-Navy SEAL Michael Quinn.

His debut Michael Quinn novel, Night of the Bonfire, is an Amazon Best Seller, reaching #6 of the top 100 novels in its genre.

Reviews

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the author in exchange for a honest review. I enjoyed reading this book. It is a well written book.I hope that in the future that the author makes more novels about the Micheal Quinn character in this book.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good action and suspense. Mike Quinn is an operator on par with the best. I look forward to seeing more of him in the future.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just FYI I won a free copy of this book.

I liked the author's writing style/description of scenes/action. I felt like I could easily picture his story in my head. That being said, that is probably the only reason I gave it the stars I did. I'm usually not that harsh but I felt like the story lacked a level of development and I was left expecting much more from the book. The main character was fairly developed, but that the background of some of the support characters felt a little forced/added in as an afterthought (sienna in particular). Also, overall it ended very predictably and kind of boringly (sorry!). The ending was a generic "boy gives up spy life to run away with girl and everyone is happy." The book had a lot of underlying stories that could have been used to avoid this kind of ending but it felt like the author maybe sold out a little for the popular ending (again so sorry I'm just being honest!). Two other things:

1). The blood feud between the two mafia gangs was a cool setup but then it just abruptly ended and never spoke of again. I mean wouldn't the Russian's family ultimately come after Marco? A lot of this storyline seems underdeveloped or just kind of forgotten about. I felt like this storyline in particular would have made the overall book much more interesting if it had been fully developed. With the abrupt end of the feud and no further mention it felt like the author himself wasn't sure if he wanted it in the book or not and it ultimately left me confused as to the point of having that storyline in the book in the first place. I guess it allowed for some pretty cool action scenes but it ultimately felt pretty random.


2). Really all his fuss about a painting and then it's just accepted as lost at sea? This is kind of odd and at conflict with the rest of the book. The entire rest of the book won't stop talking about how people are willing to die for this painting, it's so important & beautiful, no one can control themselves around it, etc. and then the way that is resolved is whoops lost at sea, GPS stopped working and we can't find it sorry! When just a half hearted paragraph about "they tried to dive and look for it but couldn't find anything" would've been a better resolution to this storyline. I found this resolution to be VERY discordant with the entire book. The rest of this book is basically all about this painting, the ending is very, very odd.


So ultimately I liked his writing style and would be willing to try a different book of his because of this. But the several undeveloped side stories and the whole "they lived happily ever after" ending wasn't my jam, and I truly expected much much more from this book. Great book idea but ultimately an undeveloped story. Many ideas were never fully carried through or were abruptly resolved as if the author no longer wanted to include those parts. I think if this book was perhaps twice as long (to allow for the development of those storylines) I would've absolutely loved the book. Oh well.

That being said if all you're looking for a quick read that has some great action scenes and maybe a few sexy side themes this is perfect. As such, the book comes across as being written more for men to be honest. The women are all the same and come off as beautiful but boring, and willing to put out. The choice to have a stereotypical romantic ending made me feel like it was chosen in order to make it seem slightly less misogynistic in its portrayal of women characters.

Anyway the overall story was fairly good if you don't pay too close attention and the author's fantastic writing style and scene descriptions make up for a lot of what the story lacks. It is very easy to picture the scenes the author has set up and this makes it a quick read. To be honest: Ultimately I received a free copy of the book, so I can't complain too much, but I felt like there was a lot left to be desired from the storyline.

[Cezara Corbu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good first novel by Kevin Scott Olson. If you enjoyed his short stories, you will most certainly like this book.
Pros: fast-paced thriller, with growing suspense. The storyline is very exciting and there is a lot of action involved. The story is usually unpredictable, things sometimes go wrong, but Quinn's wit and perspicacity always pay off. Also, Olson's writing style makes it very easy to picture the setting, although there aren't many descriptive passages involved.
Cons: all female characters are placed in the same category - women Michael Quinn wants to bang. The characters are very simple-minded, none of them is built in a complexity that should be worthy of a novel. Each of them has a single personality trait that defines them (e.g. Quinn=brilliant hero, Marco=evil thief, Sienna=gorgeous woman Quinn lusts for) and there's not much more to be told about them.
Overall, I thought this was a good book, perfect for those who enjoy a fast-paced adventure.

[Betty Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling adventure with a lot of action! A spy novel that caught and kept my attention. Mr. Quinn moves from one assignment to another with flare. He is a former Navy Seal working for the CIA. Some of the story is quite predictable, but the part that is not is a surprise that is totally not predictable. The thrilling fast-paced adventure is about Michael Quinn finding and stealing back on old painting from an unscrupulous thug who will do anything to keep that piece of art. A hookup with Sienna is something I kept hoping for in the novel. I just kept reading and reading as it was difficult to put down. Let's have more full novels from this new writer. I recommend it to all who enjoy reading spy novels.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In “Night of the Bonfire” ex-Navy Seal Michael Quinn, an independent contractor is called in by the CIA to unearth the identity of the murderer of an undercover agent involved in the art world where a fabled priceless painting is being sought after by a Russian mafioso and a playboy art collector - Viktor Orlov and Marco Leone. With a crash course in art appreciation and credentials from Global Art Funding LLC, Quinn connects with Marco Leone at a black-tie function at Laguna Beach, making a business arrangement that will lead him into danger, uncovering a drug smuggling operation as well as finding the legendary painting.

Well-written and intriguing the author sets the plot between the hustle and bustle of Rome, the quiet coastline of Mexico as well as to the peaceful town of Laguna Beach, weaving art theft, espionage and murder into a captivating mystery. Fast-paced and action-packed intensity and suspense quickly mount with an explosion near the Burns and Harriman Auction House where Quinn saves Leone’s mistress Sienna from being kidnapped. With armed confrontations, a car chase and hint of romance, the plot quickly flows to a fiery clash near the end.

Among the compelling and credible characters that breathe life into the story are Ex-Navy Seal Michael Quinn who’s intelligent, determined and often fearless and the beautiful, artistic, and selfless Sienna Santorellli. But it’s the hot-tempered, arrogant, vain and self-indulgent Marco Leone and the ruthless brutality of Viktor Orlov that add a cold chill to the plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed “Night of the Bonfire” and look forward to reading more Michael Quinn adventures.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A signed copy of an ARC giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
This is a helluva fast-paced action thriller!
Michael Quinn is a former Navy Seal who is now an independent contractor for the CIA.
After completing his last mission, Quinn is summoned to a meeting with the Director.
There he is assigned a new mission to find out who killed an agent. The man had been deep undercover in the art world, specifically stolen art treasures. He was undercover as a gallery owner.
What's involved is a priceless painting of rare beauty that has been long missing and possibly a myth.
This mission leads Quinn to Laguna Beach, Rome, Mexico and back.
Along the way he encounters Viktor Orlov, a ruthless Russian mafia leader and Marco Leone, a brutal and heartless Italian "businessman".
He also meets the stunningly alluring Sienna Santorelli, one of Marco's mistresses who , it seems, would rather be anywhere else.
Skillfully-plotted and at a dynamic clip, "Night of the Bonfire" is so full of action you'll need to stop every once in a while just to catch your breath.
The final chase and confrontation are a RUSH!
With the right nurturing and promotion Olson's Michael Quinn could be right up there with Lee Child's Reacher and Nick Petrie's Peter Ash!
Well done. I hope there's a #2.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars language and style
5 stars narrative
5 stars overall

Bravissimo! Night of the Bonfire is a fast-paced action thriller and it is now one of my favorite books. Make no mistake, this isn't a Clancy-esque marathon; it's a short, quick read. The author gets right into the story. His writing style is economical and erudite; he doesn't recycle the same sixth grade vocabulary over and over, and his lush descriptions invite us into the vibrant world of our hero, Michael Quinn - a former Navy SEAL who is now an independent contractor for the CIA.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, and more about the main character Michael Quinn.

Let's roll.

[Lorene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free from the author. I read the prologue before reading this one. Half of the prologue tied into this story, but the other half didn't make sense with this book. I enjoyed the book, it was a quick read. A lot like a Bond book but without all the cool gadgets. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to someone that wants an easy, fun, and fast read.

[Alaina Maxam · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS A VERY GOOD MYSTERY THAT HAS A LOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS. I ENJOYED READING ABUT THE EX SEAL AND HIS ANTICS AGAINST THE BAD GUYS

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Night of the Bonfire is the first novel in the Michael Quinn series by Kevin Scott Olson. Prior to this, I have also read one short story entitled "Breakout" by the same author, which also features Michael Quinn. I'll begin by explaining Michael a bit. He's an American special operative, formerly Navy SEAL and now doing various tasks for the CIA. In regards to his work, he's very smart; he doesn't take unnecessary risks and does his best to keep any operation professional. Night of the Bonfire, we begin in the middle of an exciting operation in Mexico that he's been working on. From one assignment to another, we soon find ourselves following him to a new mission to find an old painting, thought to be destroyed by the artist. In present time, Marco Leone and Victor Orlov are two art collectors. They're both willing to do anything in order to get this piece. It's Michael's job to secure the artwork.

The main thing I like about Michael, the same in my experience with Breakout, is that he does his best to make the smart decisions in any given situation. Nor does he do things for any needless violence or adrenaline fix. In the beginning of the book, we can see this best; he has his part to play in the plan and then he takes a step back for others to do their own bit. It's something that's quite obviously missing in many movies and television shows; that in those cases, the characters just don't know when to take a break. Michael, however, doesn't do it for glory or attention. He does his part and knows better than to put himself in a dangerous situation unnecessarily. The other characters each have their part to play as well. Marco Leone and Victor Orlov were fitting foes for our main character. Both seemed intelligent and took reasonable risks to ensure that their operations remained functioning. Marco in particular; his security is fairly tight he tries to keep himself, his belongings and his party, safe at all times. Sienna is a great character as well. I appreciated that she's something more than just a brainless arm attachment to Marco. She has genuine intelligence; she was very cautious, she speaks well, she's multilingual and a former art student. I also like her history and felt that her past seemed somewhat interesting.

The plot is very well developed and the author has created a very structured book, with a mix of varying things for many audiences to enjoy. There are aspects of espionage, action scenes with explosions, a car chase and a few fights, a priceless painting thought to be lost for many years, plus a little bit of romance to bind it all together. The CIA operations are very functional. Though we only meet a few of the people involved in these plans, it's obvious that there must be heaps of other people involved. The same with the actual set up; there's obviously a lot of work and research gone in to the operation. I think that works well because we know that it's a huge operation, but the author doesn't clutter the story with needless scenes, research or people that we might simply forget in five minutes. I don't actually have any complaints that I can think of in regards to plot or writing. The only thing I'm really confused about is that Michael uses his own name during the operation. It just seems silly to me because, in theory, one might simply trace his name back to some aspect of his past. For example, pretty much anyone can discuss you at any given time. All it takes is for one, newly unemployed henchman to go to a new job, only to find Mr Quinn in a new operation which involves some sort of new cover identity. Of course, I'm sure any henchman would likely be swept up into custody of whatever agency is fitting, but it could be other people connected to the first operation that could be a problem; cleaners, lovers, anyone who met him at a restaurant or party. Having made that point, however, I can see why the author chose to keep Michael's name as is and simply edit his past. I'm sure it's difficult for a character to take on a new identity and that might only serve to confuse the book. Another thing that bothers me is that Sienna gives Michael a tour of Marco's home during a visit. Personally, if I were Marco, I wouldn't allow that to happen as anybody could use that information to do violate his privacy. Even if it weren't Michael to use the information, he might have still shared it with someone else who might use it.

Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with the book, the characters most of all. They're smart and feel natural; many with past lives that we get to learn little bits about. The plot is thrilling and takes the idea of an art theft, mixed with a little espionage and action. The author writes well and develops both plot and characters without clutter. All of these aspects create a novel that is both original and exciting. I definitely would love to read more of Michael Quinn's life and eagerly await his next adventure.

I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

[John Johnstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Flemings Bond style is easy to replicate however you must have a good storyline to make it work. With Michael Quinn, Kevin Scott Olson has produced an excellent facsimile including gadgets,the beautiful girls and an outstanding story. Entertaining from start to finish he sends his private contractor into the art world to uncover and bring down a major drug player. The author has delivered everything you would expect of the genre, action, thrills, suspense, violence and of course moderate sex. This has been a great book to read after my last two selections have failed to deliver. Recommended.

[Lou Kahle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting.

A little far fetched and hard to believe in some parts. What originally drew me to this author were his short stories and this is anything but short.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put the book down. It's intriguing. It's not just a murder mystery. It's about murder, mafia and theft. You have spies on the case, not the police. Also a touch of romance. I look forward to reading more of Michael Quinn books

[Serafina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This easy-to-read spy novel features Michael Quinn, a little bit of an uptight, former NAVY SEAL who is now a CIA operative. He has the military mindset but is trying to get by in the laid-back beach community of Laguna Beach. His mission is to find and regain a stolen painting and investigate an undercover operative’s murder.

As anyone familiar with The Maltese Falcon story knows, people will do anything to obtain and keep a fabulous piece of art! Quinn must find the art but also keep it from the two unscrupulous people who have it who will do anything to make sure they keep it.

As a spy novel, we expect some action scenes and Olson delivers those with a car chase, fights and a few explosions. Like any good James Bond film there must be a little romance and we get that too with a beautiful but smart woman named Sienna. Olson quickly moves the scene from one mission in one country to the next mission in another country, from Rome to California to Mexico, so you can’t just read and not pay attention. I have read a lot of classic old mystery detective novels and Quinn is one of the old-fashioned sorts of gumshoes who keeps his head when everyone else seems to start getting desperate. I didn’t realize when I started reading this that Quinn is also a character in a series of short stories, so by the time the author brings us to this novel, Quinn already has a history and is a well-developed character.

The plot has a lot of twists and turns and the characters seem real. The Night of the Bonfire actually refers to a real event: The Bonfire of the Vanities. This happened in Italy in the late 15th century when any objects that were deemed to contribute to sin were publicly burned. This included mirrors, artwork and books. Of course, the plot expands to involve cross-border intrigue involving drugs and criminal leaders. Overall, this is a book full of intrigue and the author did a heck of a job on his first book. I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

It's the second time I read something about Michael Quinn.

The first time it was when I read Breakout and boy, I said it back then that a full novel would have been a total rollercoaster.
And it was.

It didn't take me much to read this book, even with work and personal life in between.
It's fast-paced and it's like you can't even breathe because you're literally living with Michael Quinn - you're with him every move he makes.
You can't wait to see what's ahead of you in the next chapter.

What I like the most about Michael is that he's human.
He's not this kind of superhero, he's a man who has to think about moves and actions and consequences no matter his training.
He's human and so he can be hurt. I like that he's not bulletproof like you can see other characters elsewhere being.

I feel also personally involved because I'm Italian and there's a bit of my nation in here.
Italian words used in the novel were pretty accurate, just a few minor slips here and there - nothing major.
It's not a critic at all because I know what's like writing in a language that is not yours to begin with.
So if anyone's curious about it, just ask me!

I'm honored and thankful for the opportunity given to me to review this book and I hope to read more about Michael Quinn soon!


Like I said before, English is not my first language so feel free to correct me if I made mistakes along the way.

[John Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Night of the Bonfire” eBook was published in 2015 (Dec) and was written by Kevin Scott Olson (http://kevinscottolson.com). Mr. Olson has published 4 novels.

I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘R’ as there are instances of Violence. This Thriller novel is set mostly in California, USA, but it also touches on Rome, Italy and the Mexican coast.

The primary character is former Navy SEAL Michael Quinn. Quinn is now working for the CIA as a contractor, taking on special projects. Quinn is at first assigned to track down a missing painting that is being used as currency between drug dealers. The painting was thought to have been destroyed during the Bonfire of the Vanities (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonfire...). If it exists, it will be worth millions.

His mission focus soon changes from finding the painting to stopping a new drug from finding its way into the US West coast distributions system. There is quite a bit of action and intrigue as Quinn infiltrates the criminal organization thought to have the painting and works to halt the spread of the new drug. He must confront Marco Leone, leader of the criminal group and fanatic art collector, who turns into a powerful adversary.

This was a novel written much in the flavor of Ian Flemming’s original ‘James Bond’ novels. This was a relatively quick read (only 3.5 hours) but I did enjoy it. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

[Joan Kundra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great first novel by Kevin Olson!!

This book is about Michael Quinn, a former Navy Seal now doing special work for the CIA. Quinn is sent on a mission to find a piece of stolen artwork. There are two possible suspects. Quinn is very intelligent and carefully plans each step of his mission. This mission finds him going from Mexico...California...and Rome. Of course there is a beautiful woman involved and Quinn learns from her where he could possibly find the stolen art. Every step of the way there is danger and excitement involved...along with careful planning for the best way to get to the place where the painting is without getting caught. Following Quinn on his mission leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next.

The night of the bonfire, Quinn gets his chance. The excitement that follows keeps the reader turning to the next page and the next chapter to find out what happens next.

I did not give this book all five starts as it was difficult to keep track of where the action was happening. Each chapter started with the name of the city where the chapter was taking place. At times I would have to look back to see what city the chapter was in. Other than that, I would say that this is an extremely well written book that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was going to happen next. Mr. Olson wrote so well that I was sucked in from the very first page. Looking forward to reading more of the life and adventures of Michael Quinn.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Caitlyn Marsolek · Rating 3 out of 5]

The action right away wasn’t what got me hooked on this book. It was the new proposal in the second chapter that piqued my interests. It was possibly because we’re heard the story all before; gangs and criminal organizations sell drugs to get big money, but this book takes a step back for that and goes for the illegal art trade. We’ve all heard of it, but as far as black market sales go it takes a back seat to things like drugs, human trafficking, and the like. And the fact that this character has to suddenly become this artsy individual when he has little to no prior knowledge of art was another point that got me interested.

Overall great characters, I thought the initial rivalry between Viktor and Marco was great. But I had to stop a moment and think, “Really? The bad guy is a Russian and Italian connected to the Mafia?” And using Sienna as this sex object made me uncomfortable. I think her character could have used more development; hearing her background about how she studied art was a nice start but I wish there was more. Like just as she was starting to sound more and more interesting she’s knocked out of the picture! And when she’s back there’s really nothing of her to write home about.

That said with the way Marco was treating women, I was pretty glad Quinn wanted to punch him. Took him up a few pegs. Though that whole thing with the bonfire later on also left me feeling uncomfortable. That aside, it was still a compelling story. Final fight was pretty awesome, ending was a nice touch.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Book Review of Night of the Bonfire: A Michael Quinn Novel
Author: Kevin Scott Olson
Date of Publication: December 4, 2015
Publisher: Roseblood Publications
Buy Link: http://goo.gl/yYa8ti
Rating: 5 stars

Book Blurb: “Pure, one hundred percent Snow White. No Question.” Chapter 17

Review by Nicole Harmon:
I liked this book very much and recommend it to anyone who wants to read it regardless of your preference. A quick summary of the novel is special agent Quinn is on a two edged mission. On one hand he is searching for the person behind the stealing and selling of highly sought after art work. The second hand he is searching for the person or syndicate moving pure white heroin into the country. Both converge in the body of one man- Marco. He is an Italian who has a business that appears very profitable. As the story moves along you will find out how he is able to run his business and how the main character Quinn is able to catch him.
My favorite part in the whole novel is the one scene where they have a Midsummer’s Night Eve party where they setup a large bonfire and throw a naked woman into the fire who then catapults back into the air onto the other side of the fire. I think there are many moments like this one in the novel. I won’t give the story away but I think you should definitely read it.

I did receive compensation for the completion of this review for this novel on both Amazon and Good reads.

[Bruce McNair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Quinn is a CIA special operative, which gives him some independence from the organisation. He is tasked with finding and securing a painting that had been assumed lost, but is not the target of Russian and Italian criminals. In addition, he must stop a criminal drug network from expanding in the US. For two thirds of the book, Quinn handles his tasks with consummate ease and minimal conflict. It is only when he makes his final play for the painting that the action heats up to thriller level.

In my opinion, there were a few events that didn’t quite work. In particular:

a. If security was an issue, why was the painting driven from Rome to Milan in order to be loaded onto a plane. In contrast, the security in California was much tighter with a diversion in place and transport to the mansion by drone blimp. I also could not understand why Sienna's bodyguard was happy to be dismissed from duty in Rome, especially given Marco's controlling nature.

b. When targeting the drug ship, without the light of the moon, surely he would be disoriented, i.e. unable to determine which way was up. This often happens in cave dives.

c. In my opinion, Italian was overused. In some cases, I feel it was not how a native speaker would talk, e.g. "mia donna" where a native speaker would probably be more likely to say "cara mia" or just "cara".

In conclusion, after struggling through the first two-thirds, the final third was a more pleasant read. I would like to give it 3 out of 5 stars.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kevin Scott Olson's novel, Night of the Bonfire is an entertaining spy novel with a technical and methodical manner of story telling which highlights its straightforward appeal. Michael Quinn is a detail oriented, logical former NAVY SEAL CIA operative existing in the laid back community of Laguna Beach. This dichotomy adds a new twist to the spy genre. Olson, similar to our protagonist, is level headed, open minded, and decisive which helped elevate this action filled book.

Perhaps I am biased because of how easy I was able to identify with Michael Quinn. As a resident of Orange County myself, I am familiar with "characters" who remain super serious with a law enforcement background but live in a artsy, affluent beach town. This juxtaposition is real and it is this realism that comes across in a light-hearted and suspenseful methodology.

Night of the Bonfire does not take itself too seriously by over doing what the spy novels that came before it already achieved. With this earnestness to tell a story through logic and rationale, Olson has found a niche with a creative blend of honest characters, fantasy situations, and intriguing turns of events. This series is not ground-breaking for the spy genre but it certainly is on a level all on its own.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mike Siedschlag · Rating 4 out of 5]

My print copy of Night of the Bonfire by Kevin Scott Olson was given to me as part of a giveaway done by the author.

Kevin Scott Olson has created an action/adventure in the truest sense with Michael Quinn. Night of the Bonfire is the second book I have read featuring this character and I am hooked. Great action/adventure, suspense, fast cars, fast women, sleazy bad guys; they're all here.

Quinn is the cool tough guy hero in the mold of James Bond, Dirk Pitt, Roland Deschain, Jason Bourne, Bernard Samson, and Ryan Cawdor to name a few. I think the character of Michael Quinn could enjoy a run comparable to Cawdor given the type of story line author Olson employs.

In true hero fashion, Quinn gets his butt kicked, then kicks bad guy butt, completes the mission, gets the girl, and generally saves the day. Along the way he has all the fun toys to play with. At times things get to looking pretty bad for our hero, but in the back of our minds we know he will come through okay (I mean come on, it's his book after all!)

Night of the Bonfire is good escapist reading. Is it War and Peace ? No, but we already have one of those.

So, if you want to kick back with a fun, exciting read, you'll get that with Kevin Scot Olson's newest Michael Quinn action/adventure Night of the Bonfire. Enjoy!


Mike

[Michelle Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrilling fast-paced adventure! Once I started reading Night of the Bonfire, I couldn't put it down. Michael Quinn is such an interesting and well written character. Kevin Scott Olson did an amazing job of taking this ex Navy Seal current CIA operative and making him incredibly hardcore and fierce at what he does, but he is also written to be smart and he doesn't take unnecessary risks like some of his colleagues. He really did an amazing job of developing all the characters and making you feel invested in them and rooting for Quinn to accomplish the mission. This book is great because it seems as though every chapter you are in a new country or area and although it can get a little hard to keep up with at times, I loved all the adventure, excitement, and imagery and could easily picture it all in my head. The storyline is great and exciting and I think that there is just enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat and keeps you wanting/needing to know the outcome. I really enjoyed everything about this book and hope that there is more adventures to come for Michael Quinn. Olson really has the potential for an amazing series that I will surely follow. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[MacKenzie Gregory]

With his, “Use what you have available” twist on MacGyver; the righter-of-wrongs likeness of Rambo, and the suave debonair of James Bond, Kevin Scott Olson’s Michael Quinn is the new, “all things man against crime” hero.

From the, “In the copper glow of sunset, the Mexican desert seemed to know something was about to happen,” opening line of Night of the Bonfire, through California, USA, to Italy and back to America, Mr. Olson sets his readers up for a ride they won’t soon forget.

This author doesn’t waste words, and the smart reader will take note; when descriptions are being given, pay close attention—you’ll be seeing them again, with import. The tight, fast-paced plot grabs you from the get-go and doesn’t let go.

You’ll find yourself rooting for the good-guys, (and gals), loving to hate the bad guys, and cheering Quinn on all the way. Twist and turns abound, along with a surprise or several, that keep the reader guessing until the very end, which you’ll enjoy with a satisfying sigh.

If he hasn’t already, I surely wish this author would consider print publishing, Night of the Bonfire is one book I’d be happy to put on my, “keep and reread” shelf.

A smacking good read. Five stars, all the way.

I received the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Hcj12500 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, enjoyable read. The story was interesting, and the main character was likeable. I would have liked a little more development of the backstory (there's a feud that feels like it's going to be a major plot point...and isn't) and little bit more thought out pace. I didn't mind the author taking his time on the development (I actually like that), but there were several things that he spent enough time with for it to feel like they were going somewhere that turned out to be insignificant. Overall, I enjoyed it.

****SPOILER ALERT****

Also, it was very obvious the author is a man. The way the main character interacts with women...well...a man wrote this. It didn't bother me at all until the very end. Main guy finally gets the girl, who clearly wants him, but the first kiss describes her "at first pushing back in protest, then relaxing in surrender." Maybe not a big deal, but why does her wanting him need to be portrayed as fight and surrender? It had been building for quite a while...there was no need to hint at it being anything other than consensual.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy Wultsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

His name is Quinn, Michael Quinn.

If James Bond had been American and modern, this could have been his book. The villains and heroes are outrageous and larger than life, the action is made for the silver screen, and the women are all beautiful arm ornaments/ sex kittens.

There are cool high-tech gadgets and weapons, fast cars and motorcycles, and danger lurks around every corner. Explosions and firefights abound.

The one part I have an issue with (and this is the same issue I have with James Bond) is how a government employee can afford all the fancy toys, a nice house, and not be drowning in debt. Unless they are selling government supplies on the side or running drugs for extra cash, I don’t see how the super spies can afford their lifestyle (legally) on a government salary. Per diem rates are not that high, I don’t care where you are stationed. Perhaps a rich uncle or a trust fund from their parents?

Overall, a good action-packed read.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free through the Goodreads Giveaway program and it is part of my Reading Rut project (readingrut.wordpress.com). Thank you to the author.

[Carleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, thrilling "James Bond -esque" novel. Michael Quinn is a former Navy SEAL and is now doing special missions for the CIA. Though his mission of obtaining a stolen piece of art may seem boring, it is anything but! The beginning of the novel and the end are extremely captivating. The middle is great, but with some slow areas that were a bit confusing to myself at times at the moment, but were definitely needed to tie into the ending. Quinn is after this art as well as attempting to obtain it from one of two men who will stop at nothing to keep it safe for themselves under major security. My most favorite and intriguing part chapter is actually the one that takes place during the night of the bonfire. Hold onto your seats, because it only gets better from there! I would recommend this book to adults or mature young adults looking for a "James Bond-esque" read. I hope that this is just the beginning for Michael Quinn and that there will be other adventures to follow. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gets 3.5 stars which is pretty good for a debut novel. Since this is the first novel by Kevin Scott Olson, I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a thriller that I really enjoyed and had a hard time putting down. Night of the Bonfire is the first book in a new series. It is a standalone with no cliffhanger, though it is open-ended for future books in the series. There is violence.

The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat that all of that info here. The author did a good job of explaining about the art world and the black market sales for stolen art. There are a lot of clues in the storyline that keep you guessing what twists and turns will be revealed next. It definitely kept me reading to see where the story would go. Some of the characters could use some more development but overall it is a decent read and worth taking some time to read.

I look forward to reading more of his books, and can't wait for another Michael Quinn novel. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Laina · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.**

I'm really loving Kevin Scott Olson's Michael Quinn series. I love cop books, movies, and tv shows and this series gives me all of the same things I love from say, Numb3rs, for example.

Michael Quinn is an amazing character. Yes, he's a normal guy, but he's also a smart guy. Michael gets himself into dangerous situations when he does his job, but he always finds a way to make it through, relatively unscathed.

I like that Kevin Scott Olson doesn't make Michael into a perfect character, because I don't like that type of thing. Olson makes Michael flawed and deeply imperfect, but also shows that Michael is a good guy who's just trying to do his job with the least amount of collateral damage possible.

I really hope to read Olson's next book Breakout, soon, as I can't wait to see what Michael gets up to next. I'm also curious to see if Michael will still be with Sienna.