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Rex Dalton #0
The Fulcrum
Sometimes one moment, one event, can change our lives forever...
March 11, 2004. The Madrid train bombings killed 193 innocent civilians.
What the terrorists didn't know was on that fateful day, they also succeeded in creating their worst nightmare.
No one knew who he was, what he looked like, where he came from, nor who he worked for. He was a sniper who could take a target out from eight-hundred yards to a mile. He could kill with a long gun, short gun, or no gun. He was lethal with edged weapons, explosives, poisons, or no weapon at all. Targets could be executed from afar or die with his breath in their face.
Among his enemies he had many names: El Gato, the cat, Alshaytan, the Devil in Arabic, the Ghost, and many others.
His real name is Rex Dalton. He has no friends. He has no family. He has no girl. He has only one motto; don't hate the terrorists. Instead, kill them, so they can't kill again.
THE FULCRUM is a full-length novel, a nail-biting thriller by best-selling author JC Ryan. It is the first book in the electrifying new Rex Dalton series.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2018
1901 people are currently reading
951 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Ryan
48 books149 followersJ C Ryan writes spellbinding mystery suspense thrillers with an archaeological backdrop.
He has been a combat and intelligence officer in the military, practicing lawyer and information technology project manager.
He holds a military as well as a law degree and is married with two daughters and two dogs.
JC currently makes his home on the Gold Coast of Australia.
He has been a combat and intelligence officer in the military, practicing lawyer and information technology project manager.
He holds a military as well as a law degree and is married with two daughters and two dogs.
JC currently makes his home on the Gold Coast of Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
October 13, 2018
An intense look into a well-educated young man whose life and focus changes dramatically after a terrorist event! This is a well-written thriller with lots of action, headlines and questions that make you take a look at your own choices and why you have made them.
Rex Dalton's life is altered , losing faith in himself, girlfriend, unable to defeat his anger and death wish for all and any terrorists. He decides to join the Marines, to pull himself up and do his part to keep others safe.
This is his story...
I received a copy of this story from AXP Elite Readers and author JC Ryan, and I give you my honest opinion of the story. Definitely a 5 STAR story, but do read it for yourself to make your own conclusion, you will certainly be happy you did...
Rex Dalton's life is altered , losing faith in himself, girlfriend, unable to defeat his anger and death wish for all and any terrorists. He decides to join the Marines, to pull himself up and do his part to keep others safe.
This is his story...
I received a copy of this story from AXP Elite Readers and author JC Ryan, and I give you my honest opinion of the story. Definitely a 5 STAR story, but do read it for yourself to make your own conclusion, you will certainly be happy you did...
November 4, 2018
Horribly simplistic. Typical blck n white worldview of a gun toting super hero with no flaws, ambiguity or some kind of reflection. Terrorists and drugs are bad. So everyone involved needs to be killed. All politicians are soft due to political correctness. Oh yeah, and immigration is the root of all evil.
I like my action, and I do indulge in revenge porn. But this was too much, too close to the Trumpinsanity. If you like the Drumpf, you might like this book.
If you think that life ist not black and white, and that usually there are more sides to problem than "just kill em", save your time and dont touch this. Seriously - Don't. Touch. This!
I wish there were minus stars...
I like my action, and I do indulge in revenge porn. But this was too much, too close to the Trumpinsanity. If you like the Drumpf, you might like this book.
If you think that life ist not black and white, and that usually there are more sides to problem than "just kill em", save your time and dont touch this. Seriously - Don't. Touch. This!
I wish there were minus stars...
January 29, 2019
The Fulcrum
Too stupid to finish. I'm so tired of the Strongest, toughest, and smartest, protagonist inn the world. It's been done over and over and I'm really tired of it. How about an author that breathes some intelligence into his story instead of the same old tough guy scenarios.
Too stupid to finish. I'm so tired of the Strongest, toughest, and smartest, protagonist inn the world. It's been done over and over and I'm really tired of it. How about an author that breathes some intelligence into his story instead of the same old tough guy scenarios.
February 14, 2019
I can’t believe I actually finished this awful book. Badly written with poor use of grammar and a frightening lack of understanding of Middle Eastern or European culture. The superhero star of the book might appeal to a 5 year old but that’s about as far as it goes. The tale Is disjointed and fluctuates between needlessly repeated fatuous detail and lack of substance which leaves great tranches of the supposed story unexplored.
At no time did I feel in the least bit engaged. There not one grain of surprise or suspense in one of the several hundred pages. There is no real plot as the words just keep coming as our hero murders his way around the world seemingly at random.
Even the end is a let down. The book just finishes almost mid sentence I imagine as the author drifts onto some mindless sequel.
At no time did I feel in the least bit engaged. There not one grain of surprise or suspense in one of the several hundred pages. There is no real plot as the words just keep coming as our hero murders his way around the world seemingly at random.
Even the end is a let down. The book just finishes almost mid sentence I imagine as the author drifts onto some mindless sequel.
January 28, 2019
Do NOT read this book. It is pure drek. I am appalled it not only got published but is part of a series!
First, the author clearly states that all the problems of the world are because of immigrants / unsecured borders - especially those of the United States. He goes to great pains to paint all people in the Middle East as terrorists or pedophiles or just generally not acceptable.
Second, it is just really poorly written. For an action thriller, there is an amazing lack of conflict. Our "hero" somehow always has the skill required to achieve his mission (gift of language, almost perfect memory, massive martial arts skills, etc.); and each mission goes like this - Dalton is given a mission, the difficulties are described, he completes the mission (with as little detail as possible), and he returns to headquarters to wait for his next mission. Yawn. Nothing ever goes wrong for this guy.
Just skip it. Go find a more nuanced better written thriller. There are many to choose from, and life is too short for this.
First, the author clearly states that all the problems of the world are because of immigrants / unsecured borders - especially those of the United States. He goes to great pains to paint all people in the Middle East as terrorists or pedophiles or just generally not acceptable.
Second, it is just really poorly written. For an action thriller, there is an amazing lack of conflict. Our "hero" somehow always has the skill required to achieve his mission (gift of language, almost perfect memory, massive martial arts skills, etc.); and each mission goes like this - Dalton is given a mission, the difficulties are described, he completes the mission (with as little detail as possible), and he returns to headquarters to wait for his next mission. Yawn. Nothing ever goes wrong for this guy.
Just skip it. Go find a more nuanced better written thriller. There are many to choose from, and life is too short for this.
May 24, 2022
Absolute garbage, written by someone who fetishizes the military with no genuine understanding or desire to actually learn or engage, and all the while repeating nationalist, jingoistic talking points with no relevance to the story.
I’m embarrassed to have read it, and nearly couldn’t finish it with all the dissonance from the *actual* military.
I’m embarrassed to have read it, and nearly couldn’t finish it with all the dissonance from the *actual* military.
February 10, 2024
My first read of this author, and was looking forward to this book, especially of the experience of the author.
Good news and bad news. Why only 3 stars ?
The story.
March 11, 2004. The Madrid train bombings kill 193 innocent civilians.
What the terrorists didn’t know was on that fateful day they also succeeded in creating their worst nightmare.
No one knew who he was, what he looked like, where he came from, nor who he worked for. He was a sniper who could take a target out from eight-hundred yards to a mile. He could kill with a long gun, short gun, or no gun. He was lethal with edged weapons, explosives, poisons, or no weapon at all. Targets could be executed from afar or die with his breath in their faces.
Among his enemies he has many names: El Gato, the cat, Alshaytan, the Devil in Arabic, the Ghost, and many others.
His real name is Rex Dalton. He has no friends. He has no family. He has no girl. He has only one motto; don’t hate the terrorists. Instead kill them, so they can’t kill again.
Great idea for this book, great character, well trained soldier. My three stars is mainly due to too much story. A book filled with too many stories/assignments rushed into one book, his assignments were just getting interesting when they were over, then off to another place.
I have read many great action thrillers, hundreds where if is filled with an exciting build up, strong plot, where I keep guessing what is going to happen, this book it was over before I had time to guess. Shame
Good news and bad news. Why only 3 stars ?
The story.
March 11, 2004. The Madrid train bombings kill 193 innocent civilians.
What the terrorists didn’t know was on that fateful day they also succeeded in creating their worst nightmare.
No one knew who he was, what he looked like, where he came from, nor who he worked for. He was a sniper who could take a target out from eight-hundred yards to a mile. He could kill with a long gun, short gun, or no gun. He was lethal with edged weapons, explosives, poisons, or no weapon at all. Targets could be executed from afar or die with his breath in their faces.
Among his enemies he has many names: El Gato, the cat, Alshaytan, the Devil in Arabic, the Ghost, and many others.
His real name is Rex Dalton. He has no friends. He has no family. He has no girl. He has only one motto; don’t hate the terrorists. Instead kill them, so they can’t kill again.
Great idea for this book, great character, well trained soldier. My three stars is mainly due to too much story. A book filled with too many stories/assignments rushed into one book, his assignments were just getting interesting when they were over, then off to another place.
I have read many great action thrillers, hundreds where if is filled with an exciting build up, strong plot, where I keep guessing what is going to happen, this book it was over before I had time to guess. Shame
January 19, 2020
Another thriller genre author trying to make his own version of Mitch Rapp.
The author devotes the first two thirds of the thriller to setting up Dalton's abilities (They are many). The last third or so is action in Afghanistan while seeking sources of the heroin poppy and the distribution networks.
Those who plan to read the entire series really need to read all of the background available in this book.
The author devotes the first two thirds of the thriller to setting up Dalton's abilities (They are many). The last third or so is action in Afghanistan while seeking sources of the heroin poppy and the distribution networks.
Those who plan to read the entire series really need to read all of the background available in this book.
October 23, 2018
Having enjoyed the Rossler Foundation stories, I was excited to start this new series but I have to say that I was disappointed in this first entry. There's not much of a plot other than the hero's quest to kill as many terrorists as possible. There's not much character development other then the hero wants to kill as many terrorists as possible and he's scared of dogs. The story moves at a brisk pace from one event to another but it's so fast that I felt like I was reading a cliffs notes version of the story. There's action but no action scenes if that makes sense. There's no real ending other than the book simply stops after one of the events. If you didn't know you were at 95% read and closing in on the finish line, you'd be wondering, that's it? It's obvious the whole book is a massive backstory to establish the hero's hatred for terrorists and his kick-ass bonafides but I think that could just as easily have been accomplished in the first 100 pages and then an actual story with characters been developed. I received an advanced copy of this book. I'll likely give the second entry a try with hopes there's an actual story to be told.
September 16, 2018
This is book 1 in the series, and it felt like a book 1. Not quite the adrenaline rush associated with thrillers, but very well written. Lots of time time spent establishing the character's history, personality and motives, as well as developing the foundation for further story lines. Looking forward to seeing where the next book goes.
October 7, 2023
Too much nationalistic preaching, not enough storytelling. Did not finish.
October 4, 2018
Nice beginning to a new series. There were times I didn't like Rex much, but I understood why he did the things he did. Fast-paced adventure, kept me flipping the pages.
September 19, 2018
Buckle up for the new series
I've read each and every book published by JC Ryan since he published his first book back in 2014. I have yet to read a bad one. Of course, some are better than others, but never one I didn't like.
As one of his avid readers and loyal followers I had the privilege to read the first five books in his new Rex Dalton series starting with The Fulcrum. Yes, he has already written five books and he told me they are scheduled to be published one every 4 weeks or so from now on.
All I can tell you is, buckle up for the Rex Dalton series. If you like Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon, Mark Dawson's John Milton, Brad Thor's Scott Harvath, L.T. Ryan's Jack Noble. Ward Larsen's David Slaton and those kind of books, this series is for you.
The Fulcrum is the first book in the series and as usual it sets up the background for the rest of the series. But don't get too hung up on the notion that Rex Dalton will be another door-kicking, terrorist-bashing, world-saving hero. A hero he certainly is but by the end of the second book the series takes a turn I never saw coming. And what a nice turn it was.
I enjoyed every minute of reading the books he has penned so far in this series.
I've read each and every book published by JC Ryan since he published his first book back in 2014. I have yet to read a bad one. Of course, some are better than others, but never one I didn't like.
As one of his avid readers and loyal followers I had the privilege to read the first five books in his new Rex Dalton series starting with The Fulcrum. Yes, he has already written five books and he told me they are scheduled to be published one every 4 weeks or so from now on.
All I can tell you is, buckle up for the Rex Dalton series. If you like Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon, Mark Dawson's John Milton, Brad Thor's Scott Harvath, L.T. Ryan's Jack Noble. Ward Larsen's David Slaton and those kind of books, this series is for you.
The Fulcrum is the first book in the series and as usual it sets up the background for the rest of the series. But don't get too hung up on the notion that Rex Dalton will be another door-kicking, terrorist-bashing, world-saving hero. A hero he certainly is but by the end of the second book the series takes a turn I never saw coming. And what a nice turn it was.
I enjoyed every minute of reading the books he has penned so far in this series.
October 31, 2020
A well written and fast paced thriller. I appreciate the amount of background detail the author provides to support the The Fulcrum’s plot, for example: description of elite military training, the crippling bureacracy of various governmental intelligence agencies, the declined state of spycraft and necessity to overhaul the psyche of those agencies that have become overcome with political correctness and inaction, facts and figures concerning the volume of the Afghan opium trade.
January 22, 2025
If you're looking for a thought-provoking, nuanced thriller that examines the complexities of human nature and geopolitics, then this book is not it. Instead, it is a chaotic and frustrating ride through simplistic characterizations, lackluster storytelling, and shallow political commentary.
The story kicks off with a large chunk (about 30%) of the book spent on the protagonist’s academic background, personal tragedy, and military training. This early part feels like an obligatory setup, with the narrative dragging its feet as it lays out details that never really pay off. Just when you think the story might develop into something more engaging, the narrative quickly transitions into a series of missions that feel rushed and disconnected. These action scenes are over in mere pages, with little explanation or depth—missions seemingly cut short to move on to the next one, leaving you with the sense that nothing of real consequence ever occurs.
This lack of substance might be forgivable if the protagonist were interesting, but instead, we are saddled with a stereotypical, invincible "gun-toting superhero"—a man who’s the strongest, toughest, and smartest in the world. His enemies, terrorists and drug lords, are one-dimensional villains, and everyone involved in the story is either good or bad with little to no room for moral ambiguity or introspection. The book operates in a rigid black-and-white worldview, with the hero's motivations remaining almost entirely unexamined, making him seem more like a fantasy than a relatable character.
In fact, the writing itself lacks any real sophistication. The prose is clunky, the grammar is sometimes poor, and the dialogue feels forced, as though it's trying too hard to sound gritty and tough. It's as though the author is so focused on creating a relentless action hero that they forget to inject any depth or believability into the world or characters around him. The portrayal of cultures, particularly those of the Middle East and Europe, feels shallow and ignorant, with little attempt to capture the nuances of the regions or people involved. The sweeping generalizations made about immigration and political correctness are both simplistic and problematic, reducing complex issues to soundbite-style criticisms that do not serve the narrative.
Another major flaw is the lack of suspense or tension. Despite the protagonist seemingly traveling the world, dispatching bad guys in an endless spree of violence, there’s no real plot to ground the action. The book lacks the emotional or intellectual hooks that make thrillers compelling. The stakes never feel high, and even the so-called "climaxes" feel like mere afterthoughts. The book ends abruptly, almost mid-sentence, as if the author simply ran out of steam and tossed in a quick ending to leave room for a sequel. Unfortunately, the lack of closure is as unsatisfying as the rest of the story.
In conclusion, this book fails to deliver on multiple fronts. Its cardboard characters, shallow worldview, and lackluster prose make it a chore to get through. With so many thrilling, well-crafted novels available today, this one stands out only for its mediocrity. If you're in the market for a well-written, thought-provoking action story, you'd be much better off looking elsewhere. Its not worth it to waste time on this one-dimensional, poorly executed narrative.
The story kicks off with a large chunk (about 30%) of the book spent on the protagonist’s academic background, personal tragedy, and military training. This early part feels like an obligatory setup, with the narrative dragging its feet as it lays out details that never really pay off. Just when you think the story might develop into something more engaging, the narrative quickly transitions into a series of missions that feel rushed and disconnected. These action scenes are over in mere pages, with little explanation or depth—missions seemingly cut short to move on to the next one, leaving you with the sense that nothing of real consequence ever occurs.
This lack of substance might be forgivable if the protagonist were interesting, but instead, we are saddled with a stereotypical, invincible "gun-toting superhero"—a man who’s the strongest, toughest, and smartest in the world. His enemies, terrorists and drug lords, are one-dimensional villains, and everyone involved in the story is either good or bad with little to no room for moral ambiguity or introspection. The book operates in a rigid black-and-white worldview, with the hero's motivations remaining almost entirely unexamined, making him seem more like a fantasy than a relatable character.
In fact, the writing itself lacks any real sophistication. The prose is clunky, the grammar is sometimes poor, and the dialogue feels forced, as though it's trying too hard to sound gritty and tough. It's as though the author is so focused on creating a relentless action hero that they forget to inject any depth or believability into the world or characters around him. The portrayal of cultures, particularly those of the Middle East and Europe, feels shallow and ignorant, with little attempt to capture the nuances of the regions or people involved. The sweeping generalizations made about immigration and political correctness are both simplistic and problematic, reducing complex issues to soundbite-style criticisms that do not serve the narrative.
Another major flaw is the lack of suspense or tension. Despite the protagonist seemingly traveling the world, dispatching bad guys in an endless spree of violence, there’s no real plot to ground the action. The book lacks the emotional or intellectual hooks that make thrillers compelling. The stakes never feel high, and even the so-called "climaxes" feel like mere afterthoughts. The book ends abruptly, almost mid-sentence, as if the author simply ran out of steam and tossed in a quick ending to leave room for a sequel. Unfortunately, the lack of closure is as unsatisfying as the rest of the story.
In conclusion, this book fails to deliver on multiple fronts. Its cardboard characters, shallow worldview, and lackluster prose make it a chore to get through. With so many thrilling, well-crafted novels available today, this one stands out only for its mediocrity. If you're in the market for a well-written, thought-provoking action story, you'd be much better off looking elsewhere. Its not worth it to waste time on this one-dimensional, poorly executed narrative.
April 7, 2019
This is book one in the Rex Dalton Thriller series and introduces you to Rex just as a significant event occurs in his life. He and his girlfriend are meeting his family at Madrid train station on March 11, 2004, when a terrorist bomb goes off, while he and his girlfriend are collecting drinks for everyone down the street. As a result of this event, which killed 193 innocent lives, Rex wonders about his life and a year later joins the Marines and leaves his girlfriend and his old life behind.
Rex has a flair for languages, which he studied in university and also picked up from his family and further study on his own. He also has some significant skills in martial arts. After his basic training, he is soon shifted elsewhere and eventually is trained in a secret new organisation that can take action against all and any enemies of his country without waiting for political say so. He soon gets a name for himself from his adversaries, many of them calling him a ‘ghost’, as he is never seen, but leaves behind bodies.
We get to learn a lot about the training process he undertakes, at times in great detail from someone that obviously knows about this themselves. The physiological aspects of his role are also monitored, but Rex seems to have quite a unique outlook on his role. His motto is ‘don’t hate them – just kill them, before they can kill others’. The book covers a lot of his different jobs, mostly in the Middle East and then his introduction into Europe. He gets to set up caches all over, various false identities and also a network of contacts to use in each country that he goes.
A great start to the series and it sets you up with the reasons why Rex started doing the job he does and what action set him up on this road. You also get to find about his training and then his active role as an agent of the country. What the next book will entail, I am waiting to find out, as I have thoroughly enjoyed this one. I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have even bought a copy and look forward to the rest of them. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Rex has a flair for languages, which he studied in university and also picked up from his family and further study on his own. He also has some significant skills in martial arts. After his basic training, he is soon shifted elsewhere and eventually is trained in a secret new organisation that can take action against all and any enemies of his country without waiting for political say so. He soon gets a name for himself from his adversaries, many of them calling him a ‘ghost’, as he is never seen, but leaves behind bodies.
We get to learn a lot about the training process he undertakes, at times in great detail from someone that obviously knows about this themselves. The physiological aspects of his role are also monitored, but Rex seems to have quite a unique outlook on his role. His motto is ‘don’t hate them – just kill them, before they can kill others’. The book covers a lot of his different jobs, mostly in the Middle East and then his introduction into Europe. He gets to set up caches all over, various false identities and also a network of contacts to use in each country that he goes.
A great start to the series and it sets you up with the reasons why Rex started doing the job he does and what action set him up on this road. You also get to find about his training and then his active role as an agent of the country. What the next book will entail, I am waiting to find out, as I have thoroughly enjoyed this one. I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have even bought a copy and look forward to the rest of them. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
October 20, 2018
The Fulcrum - My first read by this author and I couldn't put the book down! Mesmerized by the writing style, the vivid descriptions and the storylines, I read without stopping. Fast paced, action packed and interesting on several facets. Rex is a good example of what many Americans used to be, the masses who made this country great. Now after the decades of the Dark State (read chapter 15 for clarification) at work molding the brainwashed and dumb downed younger American generations with Mickey Dees and smartphones, our future and security is at stake. This is not a political agenda on part of the author, but part of the description of what we're facing; the reasons Rex became driven. The truth of what we're actually facing with cartels, terrorists and the havoc and destruction caused by the corruption and ineptness of our government's screaming chimps. Oh, sorry, our politicians.
I thought our Founding Fathers voted English (by one vote over German) as our Country's language? A point that caused me concern was his blacking out and thinking he was rescuing his sister. Not sure he would have been allowed to continue, but I'm not in that world and maybe he has special talents that were in dire need. As for mental testing, as determined as he was, he probably had the ability to pass them. Of course there's clarification later concerning those tests. While the ending was not a cliffhanger, the job was accomplished, plus; the ending gives the opening to the next book of the series. Ludlum is my favorite author, but I've found another one that I look forward to reading more of his work. The only editing needed was Internet, somehow everyone thinks this proper noun and place is lower case. I found this book on authorsxp.com. 5*
I thought our Founding Fathers voted English (by one vote over German) as our Country's language? A point that caused me concern was his blacking out and thinking he was rescuing his sister. Not sure he would have been allowed to continue, but I'm not in that world and maybe he has special talents that were in dire need. As for mental testing, as determined as he was, he probably had the ability to pass them. Of course there's clarification later concerning those tests. While the ending was not a cliffhanger, the job was accomplished, plus; the ending gives the opening to the next book of the series. Ludlum is my favorite author, but I've found another one that I look forward to reading more of his work. The only editing needed was Internet, somehow everyone thinks this proper noun and place is lower case. I found this book on authorsxp.com. 5*
February 5, 2019
New Hero Introduced in Gripping, Well-written Thriller
Format: Kindle Edition
A gripping and well-written novel especially for detail-loving readers! Author J. C. Ryan knows intelligence communities, undercover work, and global nations. He brings this knowledge to life in “Fulcrum.”
“Fulcrum” begins as protagonist Rex Dalton’s seesaw board of life hits the ground never to return to balance as he knows it. Ryan’s use of “Fulcrum” for Dalton’s introduction is spot on. The mechanical and visual image of Dalton’s lever board of life slipping on the pivot point of its fulcrum yielding disaster caught me in wanting to find out what happens to his life. Does the seesaw/lever board ever right and balance itself? Or is Dalton doomed to stay on the ground?
All Dalton feels and knows as he tries to right himself is that he wants to kill terrorists. It is not until Chapter 14 that Dalton surfaces as a new man goes on to become almost a superhero, and comes up against plenty of terrorists. He is recruited to work with CRC an ultra-secret security community who launch various missions to global danger spots. Working with CRC, Dalton does right some wrongs and is able to level the playing field of some measure of international terrorists.
The novel’s conclusion finds Dalton still leaving no witnesses behind who could report back on what they saw as missions went down. Readers leave Dalton near Kabul, Afghanistan after he and some military contractors have just put a major kink in the heroin trade by blowing up a big warehouse. Dalton is on his way to yet another assignment but leaves the door open for a return to Afghanistan.
Format: Kindle Edition
A gripping and well-written novel especially for detail-loving readers! Author J. C. Ryan knows intelligence communities, undercover work, and global nations. He brings this knowledge to life in “Fulcrum.”
“Fulcrum” begins as protagonist Rex Dalton’s seesaw board of life hits the ground never to return to balance as he knows it. Ryan’s use of “Fulcrum” for Dalton’s introduction is spot on. The mechanical and visual image of Dalton’s lever board of life slipping on the pivot point of its fulcrum yielding disaster caught me in wanting to find out what happens to his life. Does the seesaw/lever board ever right and balance itself? Or is Dalton doomed to stay on the ground?
All Dalton feels and knows as he tries to right himself is that he wants to kill terrorists. It is not until Chapter 14 that Dalton surfaces as a new man goes on to become almost a superhero, and comes up against plenty of terrorists. He is recruited to work with CRC an ultra-secret security community who launch various missions to global danger spots. Working with CRC, Dalton does right some wrongs and is able to level the playing field of some measure of international terrorists.
The novel’s conclusion finds Dalton still leaving no witnesses behind who could report back on what they saw as missions went down. Readers leave Dalton near Kabul, Afghanistan after he and some military contractors have just put a major kink in the heroin trade by blowing up a big warehouse. Dalton is on his way to yet another assignment but leaves the door open for a return to Afghanistan.
April 27, 2023
This is the first book in a series that features Rex Dalton, an anti-terrorist operative in the Crises Response Consultancy (“CRC”) organization. As per usual in these fictional accounts of anti-terrorist organizations, they are a super-secret group and they do the dirty work the CIA isn’t either capable or allowed to do. Rex’s path to this type of work starts with a terrorist attack that kills several of his family members. He turns from his grief over that personal loss and channels his energies into getting revenge. Initially he joins the U.S. Marines. Then, due to his exceptional performances during Marine Corp training, the U. S. Army’s Delta Special Forces “drafts” Rex into their outfit. Once again, due to his outstanding performances training to be a Delta operator, he comes to the attention of the CRC and he joins that organization. Fleshing out Rex’s background story and the training he receives from the Marines, Delta and CRC takes about one-third of the book. So not much action, thrills or suspense so far. At this point I was expecting the hardcore missions and action to start. But instead, Rex performs his missions with such efficiency that they are executed with very little tension or action. I then suspected that perhaps we (the readers) were being prepared for one big tension and suspense filled mission to end the book. That didn’t happen either. In my opinion, this first book in the Rex Dalton “thriller” series lacked thrills, action, tension and suspense. Rather it seems to be “prep” work for the reader to understand Rex’s background and experience as he continues his anti-terrorist activities in the remaining books in this series.
March 29, 2019
Superman🐺💪 in Camouflage🔪🔫
Ripped from the Headlines📰! A fictionalized account of a trained assassin🐺🔪🔫 behind the scenes of real terrorist attacks!
Book One in this series📚.
When his whole family is killed in the Madrid train bombing💥 of 2004, Rex🐺 becomes single mindedly determined to avenge their deaths by terrorists. Before the disaster, He was once aiming for a diplomatic career, since he spoke four languages fluently and excelled in history and other scholarly studies. After the bombing💥, he realized the only diplomatic solution for terrorists was at the business end of a gun🔫.
He joined the marines, qualifying for officers school but insisting to become infantry instead. He wanted to kill🔫🔪 terrorists to avenge his family.
Excelling at languages, martial arts, and weapons, as well as analytical thought, Rex🐺🔫🔪 is transferred to the Army, to become Delta Force!
Learning to become a paratrooper as part of his training changed him for the better. He loved it!
Then Rex🐺🔫🔪 is picked up by a super secret, elite non military organization to be an assassin🔫🔪. He has the perfect job for the true loner he has become. There will be no medals, no accolades🏆, no girl friend💃, no family👪.
ARC Provided by Hidden 💎 Gems.
I also both this book with KU.
Great book! I will always wonder if there are really super dedicated, super talented men and women like Rex🐺🔫🔪 behind our government, fighting in secret to protect us civilians. The answer is probably yes!
Ripped from the Headlines📰! A fictionalized account of a trained assassin🐺🔪🔫 behind the scenes of real terrorist attacks!
Book One in this series📚.
When his whole family is killed in the Madrid train bombing💥 of 2004, Rex🐺 becomes single mindedly determined to avenge their deaths by terrorists. Before the disaster, He was once aiming for a diplomatic career, since he spoke four languages fluently and excelled in history and other scholarly studies. After the bombing💥, he realized the only diplomatic solution for terrorists was at the business end of a gun🔫.
He joined the marines, qualifying for officers school but insisting to become infantry instead. He wanted to kill🔫🔪 terrorists to avenge his family.
Excelling at languages, martial arts, and weapons, as well as analytical thought, Rex🐺🔫🔪 is transferred to the Army, to become Delta Force!
Learning to become a paratrooper as part of his training changed him for the better. He loved it!
Then Rex🐺🔫🔪 is picked up by a super secret, elite non military organization to be an assassin🔫🔪. He has the perfect job for the true loner he has become. There will be no medals, no accolades🏆, no girl friend💃, no family👪.
ARC Provided by Hidden 💎 Gems.
I also both this book with KU.
Great book! I will always wonder if there are really super dedicated, super talented men and women like Rex🐺🔫🔪 behind our government, fighting in secret to protect us civilians. The answer is probably yes!
May 16, 2021
Back to where it all started for Rex Dalton!. In Madrid back in 2004, Rex, the love of his life, Jessie, and his mother and father and younger brother and sister are about to take a train to Barcelona when a terrorist bomb is exploded at the Atocha Station. Rex and Jessie are not at the station, having gone for coffee when the bomb goes off and when he finds the rest of his family are casualties, Rex’s hate of terrorism is born!
After a period of 11 months of alcohol abuse, with Jessie insisting he break the cycle of drunkenness, he decides on a course to get revenge on terrorism by joining the marines. This leads to a break up with Jessie but Rex excels in most areas of training such that he is transferred initially to Delta Force. Again, excelling in all areas of training he finally is recruited to an off the books organisation that carries out black ops, known as the Crisis Response Consultancy (CRC).
After further training, Rex carries out a number of missions and finally finds himself undercover in Afghanistan renewing acquaintances with Frank Millard from Marine Boot camp and another guy he knew previously, Trevor Madigan ex SAS from Australia. Trevor Madigan has a dog, a Dutch Shepard named Digger who frightens Rex initially. Rex enlists the aid of Trevor and Digger in a number of off the books counter drug operations and the story culminates in them blowing up a major warehouse full of heroin.
A really good story line with a lot of time spent in training Rex for the future which is sure to mean good reading for those that enjoy this type of thriller.
Moses
After a period of 11 months of alcohol abuse, with Jessie insisting he break the cycle of drunkenness, he decides on a course to get revenge on terrorism by joining the marines. This leads to a break up with Jessie but Rex excels in most areas of training such that he is transferred initially to Delta Force. Again, excelling in all areas of training he finally is recruited to an off the books organisation that carries out black ops, known as the Crisis Response Consultancy (CRC).
After further training, Rex carries out a number of missions and finally finds himself undercover in Afghanistan renewing acquaintances with Frank Millard from Marine Boot camp and another guy he knew previously, Trevor Madigan ex SAS from Australia. Trevor Madigan has a dog, a Dutch Shepard named Digger who frightens Rex initially. Rex enlists the aid of Trevor and Digger in a number of off the books counter drug operations and the story culminates in them blowing up a major warehouse full of heroin.
A really good story line with a lot of time spent in training Rex for the future which is sure to mean good reading for those that enjoy this type of thriller.
Moses
October 22, 2018
I wasn't sure about this to start with. The first 30% of the book read more like a biography than a thriller, and whilst I found the detail fascinating (JC Ryan is very good at detail!) I wasn't quite sure where the book was heading and I almost gave up, but being persistent and hating to admit defeat, especially for one of my favourite authors, I stuck with it and was glad I'd done so. The pace picked up once the lengthy training and scene-setting was done, and the action then started to move at the pace I've come to expect from Mr Ryan. Rex Dalton is not your normal average hero, he's a man with a mission, a man forged by the horrific events at the start of the book, a man determined to punish the bad guys, to wipe them off the face of the earth, and he does so quietly and frighteningly efficiently. He's not a character I can warm to but I can understand his motivation and his pain, and I'm interested to see how the series develops. I'm giving a 4 star rather than 5 simply because of that slow start and the feeling that the next book may be better and I want some wiggle room for it.
This was an ARC copy provided by the author for an honest opinion and review.
This was an ARC copy provided by the author for an honest opinion and review.
December 17, 2021
Well, it was an easy read, so there’s that. I thought about a one-star review, but I’d like to reserve that for even worse books.
I almost DNF’d this book, and I’m not likely to continue the series. The great reviews of this series could be because everybody else is abandoning the series after seeing that it’s not their cup of tea.
The author’s style is light on dialog—almost non-existent. The narrator just tells you what happens. Major plot turns can be covered in a bland sentence or two. Be prepared to create your own visuals—there aren’t many descriptions of place in this book.
Perhaps the most interesting character was the girlfriend left behind in an early chapter. Maybe we’ll hear from her in a future book. I’m not likely to find out.
The protagonist is just a clinical assassin. The only character transformation happens early, where he assumes the role. Really, no character in the book is developed at all. Just disjoint stories of an assassin killing bad guys.
There’s so much potential—sense of place, character transformation, social transformation, moral dilemmas, mistakes, humanity. But we don’t talk about those things in this book. Sigh.
I almost DNF’d this book, and I’m not likely to continue the series. The great reviews of this series could be because everybody else is abandoning the series after seeing that it’s not their cup of tea.
The author’s style is light on dialog—almost non-existent. The narrator just tells you what happens. Major plot turns can be covered in a bland sentence or two. Be prepared to create your own visuals—there aren’t many descriptions of place in this book.
Perhaps the most interesting character was the girlfriend left behind in an early chapter. Maybe we’ll hear from her in a future book. I’m not likely to find out.
The protagonist is just a clinical assassin. The only character transformation happens early, where he assumes the role. Really, no character in the book is developed at all. Just disjoint stories of an assassin killing bad guys.
There’s so much potential—sense of place, character transformation, social transformation, moral dilemmas, mistakes, humanity. But we don’t talk about those things in this book. Sigh.
July 25, 2024
Decent
A decent story about Rex whose family were killed in a terrorist bombing of a train station in Madrid.
Rex took it very badly as you would expect and after far too long feeling sorry for himself resolved to exact revenge by killing as many terrorists as he could in the name of defending the USA by enlisting to join the Marines.
Rex went through the extremes of the testing process and excelled in every task he was set. He was moved around various military organisations and undertook more and more extreme testing, coming through each stage with flying colours. As readers will know from reading a summary of the book, Rex ends up as an assassin.
The story labours in many places with unnecessary information and doesn’t really spend enough time on individual tasks undertaken by Rex and consequently loses the opportunity to build tension in the story.
But I still enjoyed the story enough to give it four stars. More tension and focus on individual tasks and I’m certain it would have been five stars.
A decent story about Rex whose family were killed in a terrorist bombing of a train station in Madrid.
Rex took it very badly as you would expect and after far too long feeling sorry for himself resolved to exact revenge by killing as many terrorists as he could in the name of defending the USA by enlisting to join the Marines.
Rex went through the extremes of the testing process and excelled in every task he was set. He was moved around various military organisations and undertook more and more extreme testing, coming through each stage with flying colours. As readers will know from reading a summary of the book, Rex ends up as an assassin.
The story labours in many places with unnecessary information and doesn’t really spend enough time on individual tasks undertaken by Rex and consequently loses the opportunity to build tension in the story.
But I still enjoyed the story enough to give it four stars. More tension and focus on individual tasks and I’m certain it would have been five stars.
April 24, 2021
Super excellent
What an amazing, awesome brilliant thriller? Completely laced with suspense and fast paced action drama, this book is highly recommended. Rex Dalton is devastated after losing his family in a terrorist attack in Madrid. He starts drinking and later breaks up with his girlfriend Jessica. He enlists in Marines and then joins Army. However, after rigorous training he is shocked to learn that he has been dismissed from the Army. He finds himself in a bar again and finds the company of two strangers, Ed and Butch. He is surprised to learn that his dismissal from the Army was merely a ruse to recruit him to CRC, a special organization that deals with eliminating the terrorists by executing them. He does a wonderful job and unleashes terror in the minds of the dreadful criminals. His journey is so marvelous and enthralling that one cannot put down the book even for a moment. A brilliant masterpiece. Highly recommended for reading.
What an amazing, awesome brilliant thriller? Completely laced with suspense and fast paced action drama, this book is highly recommended. Rex Dalton is devastated after losing his family in a terrorist attack in Madrid. He starts drinking and later breaks up with his girlfriend Jessica. He enlists in Marines and then joins Army. However, after rigorous training he is shocked to learn that he has been dismissed from the Army. He finds himself in a bar again and finds the company of two strangers, Ed and Butch. He is surprised to learn that his dismissal from the Army was merely a ruse to recruit him to CRC, a special organization that deals with eliminating the terrorists by executing them. He does a wonderful job and unleashes terror in the minds of the dreadful criminals. His journey is so marvelous and enthralling that one cannot put down the book even for a moment. A brilliant masterpiece. Highly recommended for reading.
July 19, 2021
I vacillated between a 3 and 4-star on this one. I think the writer does a very competent job on the book and, since I believe it is more of a "guys book," the fact that it's a bit "cut and dry" is probably quite acceptable (meaning, it should get 4-stars for guy book). The main character Rex Dalton seems to have a bit of personality in the first part of the book - before his family tragedy which changes his outlook on life - but, afterward, he's almost machine-like in his lifestyle. A lot of the book is devoted to how Rex trains in the Marines and then later in another situation (I won't divulge that). Although I think this would appeal to guys more, I still found it very interesting to learn all the various kinds of training that's necessary. Rex is a very talented and exceptional character and in spite of the rather "spare" writing style, I still liked the book.
December 4, 2018
Excellent book. Good plot, very well written with very detailed descriptions pulling you into every scene as if you’re there. I read the whole book in one session as I just couldn’t put it down. The hero is a bit too good to be true although he is described so well that you want to believe that someone can be that good. The book is perfect for a first-in-a-series and has several sections which could be foundational for future books but it adds to the suspense as you’ve no idea how it will be built onto. Although not a cliff hanger the end is a bit disappointing but definitely makes you want to read the next one in the series. I do hope to see more of the little boy in the next book. I received this book and voluntarily reviewed it.
February 13, 2019
Good Read
The book did not read like a thriller or literary or historical fiction. The author did not describe the characters enough to give them life. The dog was described adequately. In fact, should I come across that dog, I would know him instantly, especially if he were climbing a tree. (Tic) The main character, Rex, loses his entire family to a terrorist attack. As a result, he calls off his engagement and becomes a secret op on a mission of his own. Rex' behavior borders on insanity throughout the book. I expected that he would finally break and learn to live again, but that did not happen. The author's other mechanics of good writing were excellent.
Thank you, Mr. Ryan, for a good read.
The book did not read like a thriller or literary or historical fiction. The author did not describe the characters enough to give them life. The dog was described adequately. In fact, should I come across that dog, I would know him instantly, especially if he were climbing a tree. (Tic) The main character, Rex, loses his entire family to a terrorist attack. As a result, he calls off his engagement and becomes a secret op on a mission of his own. Rex' behavior borders on insanity throughout the book. I expected that he would finally break and learn to live again, but that did not happen. The author's other mechanics of good writing were excellent.
Thank you, Mr. Ryan, for a good read.
January 4, 2021
The first book in a new series about a military special forces soldier on a mission. He is almost a 'superhero' with superior skills in many areas - close combat, foreign languages, technology, weapons at a distance and many more. Unlike other series like this (of which there are many!), our hero does not seem to have a huge flaw, such as depression, or alcoholism, which threatens his comfortable existence. The action sequences were thrilling, but the author's political views intrude far too much. I don't wish to hear any more far-right claptrap like this. (I read this book as part of a three-book box set, and I was relieved to find that the author sensibly stopped the right-wing propaganda in books two and three. Although this is shallow, it is entertaining.
November 17, 2025
The story was a fairly typical origin story for someone who wants revenge on the people who hurt his family and then is plucked up by some secret government agency because of the person's tremendous skills. Had to stop reading after the second round of "illegal immigrants are the source of all the world's problems, especially Muslim immigrants who will radicalize your sons, put your daughters into hareems, and will then blow you up with a car bomb." Although many people today believe this kind of rhetoric, it is disappointing when authors use these tropes to motivate their characters. It is not realistic, not nuanced, and lazy. I will not be finishing this book, or continuing with this series.
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