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Grant Fletcher #1
First Shot
“When girls go missing here, no one says a word…”
Twenty-four-year-old Lila has disappeared without a trace. It’s the kind of case that ex-military loner Grant Fletcher would normally be happy to take on—if someone had the money to pay him. But this one he’s doing for free. This one’s personal.
Fletcher owes his life to Lila’s father, from that time in Afghanistan he’d like to forget. And Fletcher knows that returning Lila safe and sound is the only thing that matters to his wheelchair-bound friend.
She last called her father from a small town called Daversville, in rural Georgia. A place—Fletcher discovers as he checks into the only motel—where folks are proud to keep themselves to themselves, and almost all the business comes from the giant sawmill that looms large over the town.
Before he’s even started looking for Lila, Fletcher finds trouble. And discovers that his friend’s daughter wasn’t the first girl to go missing in Daversville. Not the first by far.
Then the last person to have seen Lila before she disappeared is murdered. With Fletcher on the scene when her body is found, he becomes the local deputy’s only suspect, leaving him no choice but to go on the run. Because he knows someone’s abducting girls in this town. And he also knows he’s the only one who can find them…
Fans of the high-octane action and unforgettable heroes found in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series and David Baldacci’s Amos Decker books will love First Shot.
Twenty-four-year-old Lila has disappeared without a trace. It’s the kind of case that ex-military loner Grant Fletcher would normally be happy to take on—if someone had the money to pay him. But this one he’s doing for free. This one’s personal.
Fletcher owes his life to Lila’s father, from that time in Afghanistan he’d like to forget. And Fletcher knows that returning Lila safe and sound is the only thing that matters to his wheelchair-bound friend.
She last called her father from a small town called Daversville, in rural Georgia. A place—Fletcher discovers as he checks into the only motel—where folks are proud to keep themselves to themselves, and almost all the business comes from the giant sawmill that looms large over the town.
Before he’s even started looking for Lila, Fletcher finds trouble. And discovers that his friend’s daughter wasn’t the first girl to go missing in Daversville. Not the first by far.
Then the last person to have seen Lila before she disappeared is murdered. With Fletcher on the scene when her body is found, he becomes the local deputy’s only suspect, leaving him no choice but to go on the run. Because he knows someone’s abducting girls in this town. And he also knows he’s the only one who can find them…
Fans of the high-octane action and unforgettable heroes found in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series and David Baldacci’s Amos Decker books will love First Shot.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2020
384 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
John Ryder
5 books21 followersJohn Ryder is a former farmworker and joiner. He’s turned his hand to many skills to put food on the table and clothes on his back. A life-long bibliophile, he eventually summoned the courage to try writing himself, and his Grant Fletcher novels have drawn inspiration from authors such as Lee Child, Tom Cain, Zoe Sharp and Matt Hilton. When it comes to future novels, he says he has more ideas than time to write them.
When not writing, John enjoys spending time with his son, reading and socialising with friends. A fanatic supporter of his local football team, he can often be found shouting encouragement to men much younger and fitter than he is.
When not writing, John enjoys spending time with his son, reading and socialising with friends. A fanatic supporter of his local football team, he can often be found shouting encouragement to men much younger and fitter than he is.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
June 15, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
Tall Boy eyed him as if he was a circus freak from bygone days. ‘You’s talkin’ with the tongue outta your shoe… C’mon, let’s get outta here ’fore we catch arthritis from this old coot.’
Daversville was a town that time hadn’t ever known about, let alone forgot. The clothes worn by the townspeople weren’t so much outdated fashion as never having been fashionable. Each item was clean and well presented, but they were clearly worn as an alternative to nudity rather than make the wearer feel or look good.
Fellers wasn’t a bar for tourists, it was a spit and sawdust kind of place with genuine sawdust and extra spit.
With the pace of an arthritic sloth, Fletcher took a few gentle steps forward.
My Review:
I rarely read books of this genre but I would routinely add them to my routine if I could find a bevy of them as easy to fall into and difficult to let go of as First Shot proved to be. Mr. Ryder’s engaging writing was taut with tension, surprisingly emotive, and well packaged with glints of humor and refreshingly clear descriptive details where each perfectly honed word packed a powerful punch while also being smartly strung together in clever arrangements that pulled sharp visuals and defined step-by-step planning and eventful fight scenes that ran like a movie reel behind my eyes. I definitely wanted to give the caustic and surly FBI agent an attitude adjusting whack to the back of her head, although the bad guys eventually did that for me.
I was already duly impressed before I noticed First Shot was the only book listed for this author – could it actually be his first?!? I have just made a new addition to my list of authors to watch for as I now have a taste for an action hero named Grant Fletcher.
Tall Boy eyed him as if he was a circus freak from bygone days. ‘You’s talkin’ with the tongue outta your shoe… C’mon, let’s get outta here ’fore we catch arthritis from this old coot.’
Daversville was a town that time hadn’t ever known about, let alone forgot. The clothes worn by the townspeople weren’t so much outdated fashion as never having been fashionable. Each item was clean and well presented, but they were clearly worn as an alternative to nudity rather than make the wearer feel or look good.
Fellers wasn’t a bar for tourists, it was a spit and sawdust kind of place with genuine sawdust and extra spit.
With the pace of an arthritic sloth, Fletcher took a few gentle steps forward.
My Review:
I rarely read books of this genre but I would routinely add them to my routine if I could find a bevy of them as easy to fall into and difficult to let go of as First Shot proved to be. Mr. Ryder’s engaging writing was taut with tension, surprisingly emotive, and well packaged with glints of humor and refreshingly clear descriptive details where each perfectly honed word packed a powerful punch while also being smartly strung together in clever arrangements that pulled sharp visuals and defined step-by-step planning and eventful fight scenes that ran like a movie reel behind my eyes. I definitely wanted to give the caustic and surly FBI agent an attitude adjusting whack to the back of her head, although the bad guys eventually did that for me.
I was already duly impressed before I noticed First Shot was the only book listed for this author – could it actually be his first?!? I have just made a new addition to my list of authors to watch for as I now have a taste for an action hero named Grant Fletcher.
June 23, 2021
First Shot is the start of a new series by John Ryder, which is the pseudonym of British author Graham Smith, who writes the excellent Jake Boulder series, and the DC Beth Young police procedural series. Both well worth checking out.
Grant Fletcher was a Royal Marine until an operation in Afghanistan went wrong. His American wife died young, leaving him to raise their daughter alone. He has a real tough guy exterior and you don’t want to mess with him (similarities to early Reacher), when you dive into the back story there is a sadness about him, that shows that he has quite a vulnerable interior.
The author is a very visual writer, you feel as if you are at Grant’s side as the well-researched plot unfolds with just the right amount of action, mystery, tension and suspense. You will be on the edge of your seat throughout. First Shot really is an enjoyable and entertaining read and I look forward to more books to come. It was a pleasure to be able to read
5 star's are not enough.
Grant Fletcher was a Royal Marine until an operation in Afghanistan went wrong. His American wife died young, leaving him to raise their daughter alone. He has a real tough guy exterior and you don’t want to mess with him (similarities to early Reacher), when you dive into the back story there is a sadness about him, that shows that he has quite a vulnerable interior.
The author is a very visual writer, you feel as if you are at Grant’s side as the well-researched plot unfolds with just the right amount of action, mystery, tension and suspense. You will be on the edge of your seat throughout. First Shot really is an enjoyable and entertaining read and I look forward to more books to come. It was a pleasure to be able to read
5 star's are not enough.
June 3, 2020
This is a great start and introduction to a new series and new characters.
There is always something about a small town, out in the sticks where new faces are looked on with distaste that you know is going to make for a killer read. This is a town that is hiding secrets and Fletcher doesn’t get the warmest of welcomes when he gets there in his quest to help a friend out.
Along with Fletcher, there is also Special Agent Zoey Quadrado who is another newby to the town, sent by the government to investigate the disappearances of women that have passed through Daversville. These two characters end up being thrown together to try and uncover what is just going on.
I enjoyed getting to know both Fletcher and Quadrado and whilst this is a bit of a rocky meeting of sorts, I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next. Fletcher I felt bared his soul as such in this book but Quadrado I feel there is more to her that we have yet to see.
First Shot is a great mix of crime, investigation and action that makes for an enthralling read. Fletcher is one of those men that seems to attract trouble so you know things are never going to be boring whilst he is around. Whilst not afraid of trouble, he also has a heart and think due to this he will appeal to all readers. Couldn’t ask for a better start to a new series and will definitely be first in line for the next book coming out.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
There is always something about a small town, out in the sticks where new faces are looked on with distaste that you know is going to make for a killer read. This is a town that is hiding secrets and Fletcher doesn’t get the warmest of welcomes when he gets there in his quest to help a friend out.
Along with Fletcher, there is also Special Agent Zoey Quadrado who is another newby to the town, sent by the government to investigate the disappearances of women that have passed through Daversville. These two characters end up being thrown together to try and uncover what is just going on.
I enjoyed getting to know both Fletcher and Quadrado and whilst this is a bit of a rocky meeting of sorts, I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next. Fletcher I felt bared his soul as such in this book but Quadrado I feel there is more to her that we have yet to see.
First Shot is a great mix of crime, investigation and action that makes for an enthralling read. Fletcher is one of those men that seems to attract trouble so you know things are never going to be boring whilst he is around. Whilst not afraid of trouble, he also has a heart and think due to this he will appeal to all readers. Couldn’t ask for a better start to a new series and will definitely be first in line for the next book coming out.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
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November 27, 2022
1-Star - DNF @ 33%
John Ryder - Grant Fletcher, #1 - First Shot
Audible Audiobook - 11:07 Hours - Narrator: Nick Landrum
Heard: 03:40 Hours - Balance: 07:27 Hours
This is an attempt by British author Graham Smith, writing under the pseudonym of John Ryder, to move into the "Jack Reacher, ex-military tough guy" genre, with a former Royal Marine, Grant Fletcher, as the protagonist. For me, the attempt doesn't work. Fletcher is not a trained investigator, yet he provides many technical explanations for his thoughts and actions while not having the background credibility to support them.
The first couple of hours seemed ok, except that the audio production is unprofessional, particularly as this is an Audible production. A lot of the narration has been edited and replaced, but the replacement audio is of quite a different sound and tone compared to the original.
Finally dnf'd @ 33%.
John Ryder - Grant Fletcher, #1 - First Shot
Audible Audiobook - 11:07 Hours - Narrator: Nick Landrum
Heard: 03:40 Hours - Balance: 07:27 Hours
This is an attempt by British author Graham Smith, writing under the pseudonym of John Ryder, to move into the "Jack Reacher, ex-military tough guy" genre, with a former Royal Marine, Grant Fletcher, as the protagonist. For me, the attempt doesn't work. Fletcher is not a trained investigator, yet he provides many technical explanations for his thoughts and actions while not having the background credibility to support them.
The first couple of hours seemed ok, except that the audio production is unprofessional, particularly as this is an Audible production. A lot of the narration has been edited and replaced, but the replacement audio is of quite a different sound and tone compared to the original.
Finally dnf'd @ 33%.
October 31, 2020
First Shot is the beginning of a new series by John Ryder, which is the pseudonym of British author Graham Smith, who writes the DC Beth Young police procedural series, but still a new author for me.
John Ryder introduces a new character/characters in the main character a British born former marine Grant Fletcher, and also FBI agent Zoey Quadrado.
An interesting new character with his own past and stories his own flaws, tough, yes but not super human hero, that's for sure.
As the book stories travels at a good pace we learn of Fletchers past history, tough decisions and now he is helping a friend find a young women who has disappeared in a little town called Daversville in Georgia, USA.
Women disappearing, which brings FBI Agent Zoey Quadrado to town. Grant Fletcher seems to face silence if not aggression from the small lumber towns people.
What's going on in the quite, old fashioned little town, why is no one talking?
Well paced story, good characters.
Good enough to order second in the series.
Four Stars
John Ryder introduces a new character/characters in the main character a British born former marine Grant Fletcher, and also FBI agent Zoey Quadrado.
An interesting new character with his own past and stories his own flaws, tough, yes but not super human hero, that's for sure.
As the book stories travels at a good pace we learn of Fletchers past history, tough decisions and now he is helping a friend find a young women who has disappeared in a little town called Daversville in Georgia, USA.
Women disappearing, which brings FBI Agent Zoey Quadrado to town. Grant Fletcher seems to face silence if not aggression from the small lumber towns people.
What's going on in the quite, old fashioned little town, why is no one talking?
Well paced story, good characters.
Good enough to order second in the series.
Four Stars
May 28, 2020
First Shot is the beginning of a new series by John Ryder, which is the pseudonym of British author Graham Smith, who writes the excellent DC Beth Young police procedural series. This is an American action thriller so the new name makes sense if he's looking for a different reader base, and features a Jack Reacher-like ex-military tough guy with a conscience battling impossible odds in a small town.
Grant Fletcher was a Royal Marine until an operation in Afghanistan went wrong. His American wife died young, leaving him to raise their daughter alone. Now an army friend to whom he owes his life has asked a favour - find his daughter who disappeared from outside a diner in a remote Georgia town. None of the locals will talk, and then an FBI agent shows up, also investigating a suspicious number of missing women, and a key witness is murdered. Something very sinister is going on, but how can a whole town be involved?
While this is indeed a lot like the early Reacher books, or even more like the less well known but equally propulsive John Milton series, that's OK - after all, Reacher isn't really Reacher any more so there's a gap in the market which this could fill very nicely. Who needs originality when you have a popular hero-type, a comfortingly familiar plot and well executed action sequences? It's well written, with a hero who's not afraid to use violence but won't harm the innocent, and a close third person narrative style that gets you right into Fletcher's head - he's a wonderfully analytical fighter!
Zoey Quadrado is a good support character and the villains are pretty evil. Various elements of the plot stretch credulity, but who reads this genre for realism? The ending leaves things set up for the rest of the series and I will happily read more of Fletcher's adventures.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. First Shot is published on June 4th.
Grant Fletcher was a Royal Marine until an operation in Afghanistan went wrong. His American wife died young, leaving him to raise their daughter alone. Now an army friend to whom he owes his life has asked a favour - find his daughter who disappeared from outside a diner in a remote Georgia town. None of the locals will talk, and then an FBI agent shows up, also investigating a suspicious number of missing women, and a key witness is murdered. Something very sinister is going on, but how can a whole town be involved?
While this is indeed a lot like the early Reacher books, or even more like the less well known but equally propulsive John Milton series, that's OK - after all, Reacher isn't really Reacher any more so there's a gap in the market which this could fill very nicely. Who needs originality when you have a popular hero-type, a comfortingly familiar plot and well executed action sequences? It's well written, with a hero who's not afraid to use violence but won't harm the innocent, and a close third person narrative style that gets you right into Fletcher's head - he's a wonderfully analytical fighter!
Zoey Quadrado is a good support character and the villains are pretty evil. Various elements of the plot stretch credulity, but who reads this genre for realism? The ending leaves things set up for the rest of the series and I will happily read more of Fletcher's adventures.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. First Shot is published on June 4th.
May 31, 2020
I agreed that the book gave a Jack Reacher kinda vibe while reading it. It made me nostalgic for those initial books. Author John Ryder went a step further and gave me two larger than life characters Grant Fletcher and Zoey Quadrado.
Grant's best friend Don's daughter Lila was missing and Grant owed his life to Don. So he went in search for her in the town of Daversile. Zoey too was sent to investigate the case of missing girls. Both join forces and made this book a high octane thriller.
My first book by this author, the story was like a bullet fired from a gun. Absolutely fast paced with evil villains the story was a tough read at times. Both the main characters were hot and happening. They had their pulls and pushes in their temperament, but soon their work chemistry flowed smoothly.
Fletcher was more of a open book where I got to know his backstory. He was tough and vulnerable with a young daughter. Zoey was an enigma and that made her more exciting. Something to look forward to in the next book.
The writing was like a three dimensional action movie where the action scenes got me on an adrenaline high. All that was missing was popcorn to make it a perfect read.
Overall, a fun book which read like a thriller movie.
Grant's best friend Don's daughter Lila was missing and Grant owed his life to Don. So he went in search for her in the town of Daversile. Zoey too was sent to investigate the case of missing girls. Both join forces and made this book a high octane thriller.
My first book by this author, the story was like a bullet fired from a gun. Absolutely fast paced with evil villains the story was a tough read at times. Both the main characters were hot and happening. They had their pulls and pushes in their temperament, but soon their work chemistry flowed smoothly.
Fletcher was more of a open book where I got to know his backstory. He was tough and vulnerable with a young daughter. Zoey was an enigma and that made her more exciting. Something to look forward to in the next book.
The writing was like a three dimensional action movie where the action scenes got me on an adrenaline high. All that was missing was popcorn to make it a perfect read.
Overall, a fun book which read like a thriller movie.
June 11, 2020
Short review: Blech. Don't bother
Longer review: The book wasn't offensive, much, but it was poorly written and offered nothing new.
First, I read an ARC. Or, more accurately, a rough draft. There weren't just typos and the occasional wrong punctuation. Oh no. We had run-on sentences, sentence fragments, sentences that were stilted, awkwardly written, or just flat out made no sense. Add in the many wrong words, missing words, comma orgies, etc, and at times, I needed a translator to make sense of what I was reading. Hopefully, all of that was cleaned up for a final copy. But really, it was not in good enough shape to be sent out for review. It needed cleaning up first.
Okay, onto the story. A small town in rural Georgia has a pattern of female tourists going missing. Local police make a token attempt at finding them and locals often deny the women were ever there. Grant Fletcher, he of a tortured, sad past (yes, I'm being sarcastic) comes to town and tries to find the missing daughter of a friend. The town is weirdly anachronistic and we never get a satisfactory explanation. There is an explanation provided; I just didn't buy it. And ultimately, that was a problem. There was just so much I couldn't buy into. The story didn't just stretch credulity; it exploded it.
Fletcher is ye basic action hero; he brings nothing new to the table. I already mentioned the requisite tortured past. He's also superman, taking down 4 opponents at once; he has mad skills; thinks fast on his feet; he broods; blah blah blah. The lack of originality would be bearable if the characterization shone or the writing shone or the action was awesome; it needed something, anything, to stand out.
The pacing is awkward, there's way too much internal monolog, the villains are over the top and lack characterization, and I just didn't find their motives credible. Even less credible was the hold they had on the town and how ass-backwards it was. That just never worked. That mystery was more appealing to me than the missing women because the solution to that was obvious. Sadly, I was right.
I also was less than impressed with the other lead, Zoey Quadrado. She's a young and relatively inexperienced FBI agent sent to investigate the missing women. The authorities have noticed a pattern and that the local police are incapable of solving the disappearances. She initially comes off as competent. Then as soon as she encounters Fletcher, her IQ drops. It's not because of attraction. There's no hint of that; that's one trope that Ryder manages to avoid. She's both the token female and the token non-white. Fletcher is the series lead, the hero, so Ryder deprived Quadrado of her intelligence and competence to make Fletcher look better. He also has to rescue her several times. Yawn. And that final chapter. Wow. It sets up the series premise but it was so expected, so trite and so absurd. I've bought into the premise in other books but it didn't work for me in this one.
If you want a long book that is may not make sense and you don't mind cardboard characters, you just need to fill some time, then this might work for you. If you want an exciting action adventure story or an engaging mystery, keep looking.
Longer review: The book wasn't offensive, much, but it was poorly written and offered nothing new.
First, I read an ARC. Or, more accurately, a rough draft. There weren't just typos and the occasional wrong punctuation. Oh no. We had run-on sentences, sentence fragments, sentences that were stilted, awkwardly written, or just flat out made no sense. Add in the many wrong words, missing words, comma orgies, etc, and at times, I needed a translator to make sense of what I was reading. Hopefully, all of that was cleaned up for a final copy. But really, it was not in good enough shape to be sent out for review. It needed cleaning up first.
Okay, onto the story. A small town in rural Georgia has a pattern of female tourists going missing. Local police make a token attempt at finding them and locals often deny the women were ever there. Grant Fletcher, he of a tortured, sad past (yes, I'm being sarcastic) comes to town and tries to find the missing daughter of a friend. The town is weirdly anachronistic and we never get a satisfactory explanation. There is an explanation provided; I just didn't buy it. And ultimately, that was a problem. There was just so much I couldn't buy into. The story didn't just stretch credulity; it exploded it.
Fletcher is ye basic action hero; he brings nothing new to the table. I already mentioned the requisite tortured past. He's also superman, taking down 4 opponents at once; he has mad skills; thinks fast on his feet; he broods; blah blah blah. The lack of originality would be bearable if the characterization shone or the writing shone or the action was awesome; it needed something, anything, to stand out.
The pacing is awkward, there's way too much internal monolog, the villains are over the top and lack characterization, and I just didn't find their motives credible. Even less credible was the hold they had on the town and how ass-backwards it was. That just never worked. That mystery was more appealing to me than the missing women because the solution to that was obvious. Sadly, I was right.
I also was less than impressed with the other lead, Zoey Quadrado. She's a young and relatively inexperienced FBI agent sent to investigate the missing women. The authorities have noticed a pattern and that the local police are incapable of solving the disappearances. She initially comes off as competent. Then as soon as she encounters Fletcher, her IQ drops. It's not because of attraction. There's no hint of that; that's one trope that Ryder manages to avoid. She's both the token female and the token non-white. Fletcher is the series lead, the hero, so Ryder deprived Quadrado of her intelligence and competence to make Fletcher look better. He also has to rescue her several times. Yawn. And that final chapter. Wow. It sets up the series premise but it was so expected, so trite and so absurd. I've bought into the premise in other books but it didn't work for me in this one.
If you want a long book that is may not make sense and you don't mind cardboard characters, you just need to fill some time, then this might work for you. If you want an exciting action adventure story or an engaging mystery, keep looking.
June 3, 2020
This is a great start to a new series.
Grant Fletcher was a Royal Marine and his wife died young, leaving him to raise their daughter alone. An army friend calls in a favour and asks Grant to find his daughter who has disappeared and he can’t refuse.
The locals close ranks on him as an outsider and when a key witness is murdered, Grant wonders what he’s walked into.
This book is similar to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books but different enough to keep your attention.
A good start to a new series and one I will read more of.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Grant Fletcher was a Royal Marine and his wife died young, leaving him to raise their daughter alone. An army friend calls in a favour and asks Grant to find his daughter who has disappeared and he can’t refuse.
The locals close ranks on him as an outsider and when a key witness is murdered, Grant wonders what he’s walked into.
This book is similar to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books but different enough to keep your attention.
A good start to a new series and one I will read more of.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
May 30, 2020
Sadly, missing young women is nothing new. However, when Grant Fletcher learns of the fact that twenty-four-year-old Lila has disappeared, he takes notice. When he was in Afghanistan, Lila's father saved his life. So Fletcher feels a strong sense of duty when it comes to trying to discover what happened to Lila.
So Fletcher starts his search. The deeper he digs, the more unsettled he becomes. His search leads him to Georgia, and danger hits him front and center, as when he is at a motel, Fletcher faces a near-death experience when several men seek to silence him - for good. Why has his search for Lila led to more than one danger? Then when he gets a bit closer, he discovers that a woman connected with Lila has been murdered. This cannot be a coincidence.
Fletcher is not the kind of man who gives up easily. He reluctantly begins working with Special Agent Zoey Quadrado. This leads to more than one intense situation that brings incredible danger to Quadrado. Will helping Fletcher search for Lila bring an end to Quadrado? In addition, through the pages of this book, Fletcher's personal and military life are mentioned, and not without incredible angst. Now a single father to a daughter, Fletcher's responsibilities never come to an end.
This was rather a tough read. It was gritty, shocking and devastating at times. There was peril and action that had me racing through the pages. I love Fletcher and look forward to him and Quadrado working together again. Fletcher is a powerful hero and I can see this book by John Ryder gaining traction for readers of police procedurals who don't mind an imperfect protagonist.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
So Fletcher starts his search. The deeper he digs, the more unsettled he becomes. His search leads him to Georgia, and danger hits him front and center, as when he is at a motel, Fletcher faces a near-death experience when several men seek to silence him - for good. Why has his search for Lila led to more than one danger? Then when he gets a bit closer, he discovers that a woman connected with Lila has been murdered. This cannot be a coincidence.
Fletcher is not the kind of man who gives up easily. He reluctantly begins working with Special Agent Zoey Quadrado. This leads to more than one intense situation that brings incredible danger to Quadrado. Will helping Fletcher search for Lila bring an end to Quadrado? In addition, through the pages of this book, Fletcher's personal and military life are mentioned, and not without incredible angst. Now a single father to a daughter, Fletcher's responsibilities never come to an end.
This was rather a tough read. It was gritty, shocking and devastating at times. There was peril and action that had me racing through the pages. I love Fletcher and look forward to him and Quadrado working together again. Fletcher is a powerful hero and I can see this book by John Ryder gaining traction for readers of police procedurals who don't mind an imperfect protagonist.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
September 17, 2020
First Shot is the first in a new series by John Ryder (pseudonym for Graham Smith author of the Jake Boulder and Beth Young series) and introduces us to ex-military loner Grant Fletcher. This is very much an American action thriller with heavy emphasis on the action!
When 24 year old Lila goes missing from Daversville in rural Georgia, Grant Fletcher goes looking for her as a favour to an old friend from his time in Afghanistan. He soon discovers that Lila isn’t the first to disappear without trace from this small town and that the residents are keeping their mouths shut about what is happening to all these young women. It’s not long before Grant has made an impression (literally) on the locals that attempt to run him out of town and it’s clear that he will get no co-operation, not even from the local police. When a witness who had tried to warn about Lila being in danger is found murdered all suspicion swings Grant’s way and he has to go on the run.
Grant is not alone in his search, Special Agent Zoey Quadrado has been sent by the government to investigate the disappearances and they end up (somewhat reluctantly) working together. I really enjoyed their working relationship and look forward to how this might develop in future.
There is a lot of graphic violence in First Shot and also some sensitive scenes which may not be for the faint hearted but if you’re a fan of the Jack Reacher books you’ll be just fine
An intense start to a new series which shows a lot of promise.
When 24 year old Lila goes missing from Daversville in rural Georgia, Grant Fletcher goes looking for her as a favour to an old friend from his time in Afghanistan. He soon discovers that Lila isn’t the first to disappear without trace from this small town and that the residents are keeping their mouths shut about what is happening to all these young women. It’s not long before Grant has made an impression (literally) on the locals that attempt to run him out of town and it’s clear that he will get no co-operation, not even from the local police. When a witness who had tried to warn about Lila being in danger is found murdered all suspicion swings Grant’s way and he has to go on the run.
Grant is not alone in his search, Special Agent Zoey Quadrado has been sent by the government to investigate the disappearances and they end up (somewhat reluctantly) working together. I really enjoyed their working relationship and look forward to how this might develop in future.
There is a lot of graphic violence in First Shot and also some sensitive scenes which may not be for the faint hearted but if you’re a fan of the Jack Reacher books you’ll be just fine
An intense start to a new series which shows a lot of promise.
August 3, 2021
Ex-military Grant Fletcher receives a call from an old friend. His 20-something daughter has disappeared. It’s the kind of case that ex-military loner Grant Fletcher would normally be happy to take on—he will always seek justice if someone has the money to pay him. But this one he’s doing for free. This one’s personal.
Fletcher owes his life to Lila’s father. And Fletcher knows that returning Lila safe and sound is the only thing that matters to his wheelchair-bound friend.
The only clue Fletcher has is that she last talked to her father from a small town in Georgia.
What he finds there is baffling. Lila is not the first woman to go missing from there ...and probably won't be the last.
He also discovers that he's not the only one looking for these missing women .. .the FBI is interested in finding them .. and in placing Fletcher at the top of the persons of interest list.
This is a compelling well-written action-packed novel. I enjoy small town crimes .. the characters are either quirky and friendly.. or just downright evil. This small town has dark secrets and there are those who will do anything at all to keep secrets in the shadows. I like Fletcher's character, the FBI agent not so much. I think it's mostly that she isn't yet fully formed. There are a few twists and turns leading to an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Fletcher owes his life to Lila’s father. And Fletcher knows that returning Lila safe and sound is the only thing that matters to his wheelchair-bound friend.
The only clue Fletcher has is that she last talked to her father from a small town in Georgia.
What he finds there is baffling. Lila is not the first woman to go missing from there ...and probably won't be the last.
He also discovers that he's not the only one looking for these missing women .. .the FBI is interested in finding them .. and in placing Fletcher at the top of the persons of interest list.
This is a compelling well-written action-packed novel. I enjoy small town crimes .. the characters are either quirky and friendly.. or just downright evil. This small town has dark secrets and there are those who will do anything at all to keep secrets in the shadows. I like Fletcher's character, the FBI agent not so much. I think it's mostly that she isn't yet fully formed. There are a few twists and turns leading to an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 25, 2021
Why did Lisa disappear in Daversville? Well you have to read "First Shot" by John Ryder yourself to find that out. This is the first book about ex British soldier Grant Fletcher. It was so good so I got books two and three directly. It is always fun finding a new author and this makes two in a couple of days. There where some twists in this book I did not see coming and that is really great when an author can surprise you that much.
July 28, 2020
First Shot by John Ryder
A Grant Fletcher Thriller #1
We meet the girl, briefly.
We meet the girl’s beau
We know she is taken
We know he is not
And then
We meet the man sent to rescue her
He is there as a favor to her father
To rescue her if he can
Will he?
Intense, intricate, and intriguing this story tells of abductions leading to disappearances that are taking place in small town Georgia. People don’t comment, the law doesn’t follow-up, and there is something definitely rotten in Daversville, Georgia.
What I liked:
* Grant Fletcher: a man with principles willing to do what was required to find Lila and return her to her father. I also liked that he loved his wife and loves his daughter
* Special Agent Zoey Quadrado: focused career FBI agent with a backstory that indicates why this case is so important to her
* The pace, plotting and writing
* The action scenes
* Trench – could see him in a book of his own
* The fact that there will be another book in this series to look forward to
What I didn’t like:
* The twisted abductors
* Knowing that there are people out there as evil as the twisted abductors
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
What I would like more of: Fletcher’s relationship with his daughter and who takes care of her while he is away
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
A Grant Fletcher Thriller #1
We meet the girl, briefly.
We meet the girl’s beau
We know she is taken
We know he is not
And then
We meet the man sent to rescue her
He is there as a favor to her father
To rescue her if he can
Will he?
Intense, intricate, and intriguing this story tells of abductions leading to disappearances that are taking place in small town Georgia. People don’t comment, the law doesn’t follow-up, and there is something definitely rotten in Daversville, Georgia.
What I liked:
* Grant Fletcher: a man with principles willing to do what was required to find Lila and return her to her father. I also liked that he loved his wife and loves his daughter
* Special Agent Zoey Quadrado: focused career FBI agent with a backstory that indicates why this case is so important to her
* The pace, plotting and writing
* The action scenes
* Trench – could see him in a book of his own
* The fact that there will be another book in this series to look forward to
What I didn’t like:
* The twisted abductors
* Knowing that there are people out there as evil as the twisted abductors
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
What I would like more of: Fletcher’s relationship with his daughter and who takes care of her while he is away
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
June 8, 2020
This is an intriguing mystery as ex-Marine Grant Fletcher tries to find the daughter of the the man who saved his life whilst they were in the military together. She had been travelling with her boyfriend when they stopped to eat. Whilst she went out for a smoke, he paid the bill. By the time he went outside she had disappeared without trace and the locals seem totally uninterested in helping find her.
He's not the only one searching for her. It seems fifteen young women have similarly mysteriously disappeared in that area during the last four years and FBI agent Zoey Quadrado has been sent to investigate.
As both strive to discover just where the girls are and why they had been taken they find themselves working together and in danger. Are the locals involved? Why are they scared? Just who or what is Trench and why does the name appear to strike fear into the townsfolk? Can Grant and Zoey uncover the truth and rescue Lila without being made to disappear themselves?
This is an action packed read with plenty of mystery, lots of danger and peril along with some surprises en route. It is a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read future books featuring Grant and Zoey in future after reading the superb ending to this one!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
He's not the only one searching for her. It seems fifteen young women have similarly mysteriously disappeared in that area during the last four years and FBI agent Zoey Quadrado has been sent to investigate.
As both strive to discover just where the girls are and why they had been taken they find themselves working together and in danger. Are the locals involved? Why are they scared? Just who or what is Trench and why does the name appear to strike fear into the townsfolk? Can Grant and Zoey uncover the truth and rescue Lila without being made to disappear themselves?
This is an action packed read with plenty of mystery, lots of danger and peril along with some surprises en route. It is a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read future books featuring Grant and Zoey in future after reading the superb ending to this one!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
June 4, 2020
I was hooked from the very beginning.
Grant Fletcher, an ex British royal marine, who's been called upon to investigate his friends daughters disappearance.
He finds himself in a town in Georgia, which time has forgotten, and a strange townsfolk whom seem to be under control by the family of a local timber firm
Not only has got to find Lila, but he comes across a FBI agent whom is out there looking for many disappearing girls over a short period of time
This is a great introduction to a new series of stories, which I can see will go far
Grant Fletcher, an ex British royal marine, who's been called upon to investigate his friends daughters disappearance.
He finds himself in a town in Georgia, which time has forgotten, and a strange townsfolk whom seem to be under control by the family of a local timber firm
Not only has got to find Lila, but he comes across a FBI agent whom is out there looking for many disappearing girls over a short period of time
This is a great introduction to a new series of stories, which I can see will go far
May 5, 2020
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book
a stop off in a town to eat and whilst the bill is being paid one of them is abducted, the boyfriend is then run out of town after being threatened...
grant is asked to look into the disappearance and he himself is threatened but he is an ex marine (think reacher) and isnt easily intimidated, but he falls foul of the deputy and finds himself arrested
an fbi agent is also assigned to look into several disappearances, but is it a case of being transferred out of the office, out of sight out of mind...
what is going on in this old fashioned town with its sawmill that has the highest rate of strangers disappearing...
brilliant first book in this new series...kept me guessing and who would have thought it...when you find out the truth...
will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors books
a stop off in a town to eat and whilst the bill is being paid one of them is abducted, the boyfriend is then run out of town after being threatened...
grant is asked to look into the disappearance and he himself is threatened but he is an ex marine (think reacher) and isnt easily intimidated, but he falls foul of the deputy and finds himself arrested
an fbi agent is also assigned to look into several disappearances, but is it a case of being transferred out of the office, out of sight out of mind...
what is going on in this old fashioned town with its sawmill that has the highest rate of strangers disappearing...
brilliant first book in this new series...kept me guessing and who would have thought it...when you find out the truth...
will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors books
June 11, 2020
It seems a lot of women go missing in or near the town of Daversville and one of those is the daughter of Fletcher Grants friend Don. Fletcher owes Don for saving his life during wartime and so he is going to do everything he can to find Lila but it seems the small town is very tight lipped on anything that happens in town.
Not long after asking about a young girl that worked at the diner,who was suppose to have warned Brad to get his woman and leave, is found dead Fletcher takes it as a warning. He also feels bad about getting the young woman killed. He is arrested for the crime by the deputy in town, but there is also a female FBI agent in town looking for what happened to all the missing women. Special Agent Quadrado thinks that Fletcher probably done it but after listening to him and finding out that the deputy did not tell her everything he is soon let go. She wants him to leave town but of course he doesn't do it.
Fletcher has his own way of doing things as he use to be a special branch of the military and he is not leaving till he finds out what happened to Lila. He riles the town up pretty good and gets himself into a lot of trouble. Meanwhile Agent Quadrado does her best to go by the book and look into the missing women but nobody will talk to her.
Soon they will both have to work together a bit to try and figure out what is going on in the town of Daversville.
I really wanted to like this one but in the end it was just sort of an average read. It was very stereotypical with a lot of the things that went on in the small town. It wasn't even hard to figure out what was going on in the town and I had pretty much figured out what was probably happening to the women halfway through the book. There were a few things that I didn't guess but for the most part I got it. I think what kept me reading this the most was wanting to know if Lila was still alive and if I was right about the women.
I wasn't really huge fan of either MC in the book. Fletcher was a very flawed individual and a man of many lives it seems. He was kind of a Rambo type character but got beat up more. Quadrado didn't seem like a very good FBI agent to me. My favorite character was Trench and he wasn't even in it very much but when he was it was good.
I did get a lot of action at the end which was nice but overall I thought the pacing was kind of slow. I think the cool stuff at the end sort of saved the book for me but just verily. I do think it might just be me as it seems to have a lot of praise on goodreads so take what I say with a grain of salt. Maybe it was just my mood as I have been very mood with my reading lately. So if you think it sounds cool give it a try!
Not long after asking about a young girl that worked at the diner,who was suppose to have warned Brad to get his woman and leave, is found dead Fletcher takes it as a warning. He also feels bad about getting the young woman killed. He is arrested for the crime by the deputy in town, but there is also a female FBI agent in town looking for what happened to all the missing women. Special Agent Quadrado thinks that Fletcher probably done it but after listening to him and finding out that the deputy did not tell her everything he is soon let go. She wants him to leave town but of course he doesn't do it.
Fletcher has his own way of doing things as he use to be a special branch of the military and he is not leaving till he finds out what happened to Lila. He riles the town up pretty good and gets himself into a lot of trouble. Meanwhile Agent Quadrado does her best to go by the book and look into the missing women but nobody will talk to her.
Soon they will both have to work together a bit to try and figure out what is going on in the town of Daversville.
I really wanted to like this one but in the end it was just sort of an average read. It was very stereotypical with a lot of the things that went on in the small town. It wasn't even hard to figure out what was going on in the town and I had pretty much figured out what was probably happening to the women halfway through the book. There were a few things that I didn't guess but for the most part I got it. I think what kept me reading this the most was wanting to know if Lila was still alive and if I was right about the women.
I wasn't really huge fan of either MC in the book. Fletcher was a very flawed individual and a man of many lives it seems. He was kind of a Rambo type character but got beat up more. Quadrado didn't seem like a very good FBI agent to me. My favorite character was Trench and he wasn't even in it very much but when he was it was good.
I did get a lot of action at the end which was nice but overall I thought the pacing was kind of slow. I think the cool stuff at the end sort of saved the book for me but just verily. I do think it might just be me as it seems to have a lot of praise on goodreads so take what I say with a grain of salt. Maybe it was just my mood as I have been very mood with my reading lately. So if you think it sounds cool give it a try!
June 5, 2020
I mainly read police procedurals, but occasionally a character acting on their own for justice, drags me into their world and gets their hooks into me. Grant Fletcher, the hero in First Shot, is one such character and I am really pleased to be sharing my review for First Shot, the first in a brand new series by John Ryder.
I'm already champing at the bit to read the second Grant Fletcher story and, without giving too much away, was chuffed to bits with the ending that hinted at the direction the series might unfold into - believe me it'll take your breath away.
Well, the concept of this book is chilling - yet somehow all too believable. The idea of a Georgian town out in the sticks, with a lawlessness that allows out of town women, just passing through, to be abducted, is shockingly not beyond the realms of possibility, bearing in mind the number of people who disappear with no trace in the US annually.
However, Lila is one of the lucky ones - she'd got Grant Fletcher looking out for her and there's no better person for the job. Fletcher is one of those completely dependable , steady people - a dedicated single father, bringing up his child to the best of his ability, but with a shocking secret that haunts him contiually. He is a character I found myself rooting for from the start. He;s not just a one dimensional kick ass soldier. No, he's so much more than that. His character is perfectly nuanced. Yes he's tough, yes he'll take no crap ... but ultimately, his inner moral compass dictates the way he adresses the problems and situations around him.
I loved the way he wasn't afraid to use violence if under threat, but that he also wasn't drawn to use it as a first resort.
One of the things I liked best about this book was the action. And, let me warn you - there is action aplenty. But, more than the action, Ryder manages to balance high tension scenes with an assessment of the thought processes Fletcher goes through. How he reaches his split second decisions credits his intelligence and humanity.
So, basically Fletcher is a good guy, with high moral fibre, a guilty, tortuous secret and a heart of gold. The more I read, the more I was drawn to him. All too often these action men figures have littel character and rely on action to get the reader through to the end of the book. Not so with Grant Fletcher - he is beutifully crafted from the start and that makes him all the more appealing.
So, come on John Ryder, what are you hanging about for? Get cracking on Fletcher #2
I'm already champing at the bit to read the second Grant Fletcher story and, without giving too much away, was chuffed to bits with the ending that hinted at the direction the series might unfold into - believe me it'll take your breath away.
Well, the concept of this book is chilling - yet somehow all too believable. The idea of a Georgian town out in the sticks, with a lawlessness that allows out of town women, just passing through, to be abducted, is shockingly not beyond the realms of possibility, bearing in mind the number of people who disappear with no trace in the US annually.
However, Lila is one of the lucky ones - she'd got Grant Fletcher looking out for her and there's no better person for the job. Fletcher is one of those completely dependable , steady people - a dedicated single father, bringing up his child to the best of his ability, but with a shocking secret that haunts him contiually. He is a character I found myself rooting for from the start. He;s not just a one dimensional kick ass soldier. No, he's so much more than that. His character is perfectly nuanced. Yes he's tough, yes he'll take no crap ... but ultimately, his inner moral compass dictates the way he adresses the problems and situations around him.
I loved the way he wasn't afraid to use violence if under threat, but that he also wasn't drawn to use it as a first resort.
One of the things I liked best about this book was the action. And, let me warn you - there is action aplenty. But, more than the action, Ryder manages to balance high tension scenes with an assessment of the thought processes Fletcher goes through. How he reaches his split second decisions credits his intelligence and humanity.
So, basically Fletcher is a good guy, with high moral fibre, a guilty, tortuous secret and a heart of gold. The more I read, the more I was drawn to him. All too often these action men figures have littel character and rely on action to get the reader through to the end of the book. Not so with Grant Fletcher - he is beutifully crafted from the start and that makes him all the more appealing.
So, come on John Ryder, what are you hanging about for? Get cracking on Fletcher #2
May 6, 2020
When girls go missing here, no one says a word…”
Twenty-four year old Lila has disappeared without trace. It’s the kind of case that ex-military loner Grant Fletcher would normally be happy to take on—he will always seek justice if someone has the money to pay him. But this one he’s doing for free. This one’s personal.
Because Fletcher owes his life to Lila’s father. And Fletcher knows that returning Lila safe and sound is the only thing that matters to his wheelchair-bound friend.
She last called her father from a small town called Daversville, in rural Georgia. A place—Fletcher discovers as he checks into the only motel—where folks are proud to keep themselves to themselves, and almost all the business comes from the giant sawmill that looms large over the town.
Before he’s even started looking for Lila, Fletcher finds trouble. But he also discovers that his friend’s daughter wasn’t the first girl to go missing there. Not the first by far.
Then the last person to have seen Lila before she disappeared is murdered. With Fletcher on the scene when her body is found, he becomes the local deputy’s only suspect, leaving him no choice but to go on the run. Because he knows someone’s abducting girls in this town. And he also knows he’s the only one who can find them…
My thoughts about this fast moving thriller was outstanding ex military Grant Fletcher decides to help his friend who's daughter Lila has gone missing in the small town of Daversville while lila and her boyfriend were passing through and stopping at a dinner to have some food Grant Fletchers journey to find his friends missing daughter when he arrives in Daversville is not easy as it seems to be the things he finds out about the town and its people is shocking what I loved about this was Fletchers journey to find his friends missing daughter was brilliant and the FBI agent also investigating the desapence of not just Lila but other women as well a brilliantly clever written story that grips you from the start to the end loved it an amazing ending that I did not see it coming a fast paced story that tells you about women going missing is a big issue that really happens in real life an Action Packed thriller full on suspense and drama John Ryder's First Shot is surely packs a punch a fantastic book read can not wait for book 2 in October move over Jack Reacher Grant Fletchers here to stay. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💥💥💥💥💥
Twenty-four year old Lila has disappeared without trace. It’s the kind of case that ex-military loner Grant Fletcher would normally be happy to take on—he will always seek justice if someone has the money to pay him. But this one he’s doing for free. This one’s personal.
Because Fletcher owes his life to Lila’s father. And Fletcher knows that returning Lila safe and sound is the only thing that matters to his wheelchair-bound friend.
She last called her father from a small town called Daversville, in rural Georgia. A place—Fletcher discovers as he checks into the only motel—where folks are proud to keep themselves to themselves, and almost all the business comes from the giant sawmill that looms large over the town.
Before he’s even started looking for Lila, Fletcher finds trouble. But he also discovers that his friend’s daughter wasn’t the first girl to go missing there. Not the first by far.
Then the last person to have seen Lila before she disappeared is murdered. With Fletcher on the scene when her body is found, he becomes the local deputy’s only suspect, leaving him no choice but to go on the run. Because he knows someone’s abducting girls in this town. And he also knows he’s the only one who can find them…
My thoughts about this fast moving thriller was outstanding ex military Grant Fletcher decides to help his friend who's daughter Lila has gone missing in the small town of Daversville while lila and her boyfriend were passing through and stopping at a dinner to have some food Grant Fletchers journey to find his friends missing daughter when he arrives in Daversville is not easy as it seems to be the things he finds out about the town and its people is shocking what I loved about this was Fletchers journey to find his friends missing daughter was brilliant and the FBI agent also investigating the desapence of not just Lila but other women as well a brilliantly clever written story that grips you from the start to the end loved it an amazing ending that I did not see it coming a fast paced story that tells you about women going missing is a big issue that really happens in real life an Action Packed thriller full on suspense and drama John Ryder's First Shot is surely packs a punch a fantastic book read can not wait for book 2 in October move over Jack Reacher Grant Fletchers here to stay. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💥💥💥💥💥
June 18, 2020
First Shot by John Ryder
A Grant Fletcher Thriller #1
We meet the girl, briefly.
We meet the girl’s beau
We know she is taken
We know he is not
And then
We meet the man sent to rescue her
He is there as a favor to her father
To rescue her if he can
Will he?
Intense, intricate, and intriguing this story tells of abductions leading to disappearances that are taking place in small town Georgia. People don’t comment, the law doesn’t follow-up, and there is something definitely rotten in Daversville, Georgia.
What I liked:
* Grant Fletcher: a man with principles willing to do what was required to find Lila and return her to her father. I also liked that he loved his wife and loves his daughter
* Special Agent Zoey Quadrado: focused career FBI agent with a backstory that indicates why this case is so important to her
* The pace, plotting and writing
* The action scenes
* Trench – could see him in a book of his own
* The fact that there will be another book in this series to look forward to
What I didn’t like:
* The twisted abductors
* Knowing that there are people out there as evil as the twisted abductors
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
What I would like more of: Fletcher’s relationship with his daughter and who takes care of her while he is away
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
A Grant Fletcher Thriller #1
We meet the girl, briefly.
We meet the girl’s beau
We know she is taken
We know he is not
And then
We meet the man sent to rescue her
He is there as a favor to her father
To rescue her if he can
Will he?
Intense, intricate, and intriguing this story tells of abductions leading to disappearances that are taking place in small town Georgia. People don’t comment, the law doesn’t follow-up, and there is something definitely rotten in Daversville, Georgia.
What I liked:
* Grant Fletcher: a man with principles willing to do what was required to find Lila and return her to her father. I also liked that he loved his wife and loves his daughter
* Special Agent Zoey Quadrado: focused career FBI agent with a backstory that indicates why this case is so important to her
* The pace, plotting and writing
* The action scenes
* Trench – could see him in a book of his own
* The fact that there will be another book in this series to look forward to
What I didn’t like:
* The twisted abductors
* Knowing that there are people out there as evil as the twisted abductors
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
What I would like more of: Fletcher’s relationship with his daughter and who takes care of her while he is away
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
June 6, 2020
This book opens with Lila disappearing from a diner after eating. Her boyfriend was unable to find any trace of her only has what the waitress told him which was “your woman is in danger you need to get her and leave”, he was too late. Now Grant Fletcher has come into town, he owes Lila’s father his life and he is repaying it by looking for her. Well, his mission is to find her and he will not be discouraged.
Who would think that this small town in Georgia would be the cause of the trouble? Daversville is just that though trouble and Fletcher finds it. A former Royal Marine does not need to go looking for it, it comes to him. Even when F.B.I. agent Zoey Quadrado comes to town after noticing the trend of missing women she is looking at him as well.
She will come around and see that he is not part of the problem but one trying to create a solution. This new book is a fast read with action from beginning to end. A very good story that will keep you entertained. I liked everything about this book and especially Fletcher. Very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at
www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Who would think that this small town in Georgia would be the cause of the trouble? Daversville is just that though trouble and Fletcher finds it. A former Royal Marine does not need to go looking for it, it comes to him. Even when F.B.I. agent Zoey Quadrado comes to town after noticing the trend of missing women she is looking at him as well.
She will come around and see that he is not part of the problem but one trying to create a solution. This new book is a fast read with action from beginning to end. A very good story that will keep you entertained. I liked everything about this book and especially Fletcher. Very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at
www.1rad-readerreviews.com
June 9, 2020
This is the first book to a new series and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Lila and her boyfriend were traveling in a small town when Lila disappeared. Fletcher owes her father so he takes on the case to find her. As he is searching for clues the townsfolk are trying to run him out of town. Then he finds out that a lot of women have disappeared while traveling through town. The owners of the sawmill seem to run everything in town and everyone is so grateful to the family.
Special Agent Zoey Quadrado has been sent to the town as well to investigate also and they nneed to work together. We learn of Fletcher's past and his stunt in the military. We also learn he is a single father.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.
Lila and her boyfriend were traveling in a small town when Lila disappeared. Fletcher owes her father so he takes on the case to find her. As he is searching for clues the townsfolk are trying to run him out of town. Then he finds out that a lot of women have disappeared while traveling through town. The owners of the sawmill seem to run everything in town and everyone is so grateful to the family.
Special Agent Zoey Quadrado has been sent to the town as well to investigate also and they nneed to work together. We learn of Fletcher's past and his stunt in the military. We also learn he is a single father.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.
May 13, 2020
Special Agent Zoey Quadrado is not a happy person; sent into the back of beyond to hunt for missing girls, alone, she wonders if this is how her career is going to go. She wants action, responsibility and to be doing something that matters and this case doesn't feel like it will be any of those things but she is determined to prove to her bosses why she is a vital part of the team.
Don Ogilvie's best friend, Grant Fletcher, has a troubled history but knows he would have had nothing if Don hadn't saved his life in Afghanistan. Now confined to a wheelchair because of his heroic act Ogilvie turns to Grant to find out what happened to his daughter Lila, who disappeared without trace while travelling through a small town in Georgia with her boyfriend.
Daversville, where Fletcher and Quadrado meet up, is a town in a time warp. No cell phone signal, no computers, no vaguely twenty first century anything. They both know something is very wrong but can they come together to discover what it is when they are working different sides of a legal line in a closed off world where no one is prepared to offer them any help?
This first book in the Grant Fletcher series First Shot does nothing to make you want to take a road trip through Georgia! I does however provide a very good read. I liked Fletcher immediately; he had personality and perspective from the start. His background and motivation became apparent as the story progressed and he definitely has enough character to drive the series forward.
Zoey Quadrado was more of a challenge! Keen to work by the rules, the lack of edge this gave her wasn't delved into deeply enough for me. I didn't feel in any way confident in her abilities as an FBI agent and never once felt Grant needed her anywhere near as much as she needed him.
The amount of description of the area around Daversville also seemed excessive; but the actual storyline, although not totally original, had more than enough action to keep me focused. There are stereotypes here but also things which surprise and overall the good outweighed the not so good sufficiently to provide a positive and promising start to a very likely successful new series.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone looking to find a new series of books with a personable action hero main protagonist. I will definitely be on the lookout for book two.
Don Ogilvie's best friend, Grant Fletcher, has a troubled history but knows he would have had nothing if Don hadn't saved his life in Afghanistan. Now confined to a wheelchair because of his heroic act Ogilvie turns to Grant to find out what happened to his daughter Lila, who disappeared without trace while travelling through a small town in Georgia with her boyfriend.
Daversville, where Fletcher and Quadrado meet up, is a town in a time warp. No cell phone signal, no computers, no vaguely twenty first century anything. They both know something is very wrong but can they come together to discover what it is when they are working different sides of a legal line in a closed off world where no one is prepared to offer them any help?
This first book in the Grant Fletcher series First Shot does nothing to make you want to take a road trip through Georgia! I does however provide a very good read. I liked Fletcher immediately; he had personality and perspective from the start. His background and motivation became apparent as the story progressed and he definitely has enough character to drive the series forward.
Zoey Quadrado was more of a challenge! Keen to work by the rules, the lack of edge this gave her wasn't delved into deeply enough for me. I didn't feel in any way confident in her abilities as an FBI agent and never once felt Grant needed her anywhere near as much as she needed him.
The amount of description of the area around Daversville also seemed excessive; but the actual storyline, although not totally original, had more than enough action to keep me focused. There are stereotypes here but also things which surprise and overall the good outweighed the not so good sufficiently to provide a positive and promising start to a very likely successful new series.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone looking to find a new series of books with a personable action hero main protagonist. I will definitely be on the lookout for book two.
June 2, 2020
Young women have gone missing after passing thru a small town. Grant, an ex Royal Marine is trying to locate the daughter of a friend who went missing from the town. He runs into opposition that tries to chase him out of town. The citizens see nothing and hear nothing. This is edge of your seat thriller. The ending is set up in such a way that there will probably be a follow up, which I would definitely read. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
October 11, 2020
A Special Forces Brit steps up to show the Yanks how it's done.
A fast-paced story with plenty of action. The bad guys gave new meaning to the term dumb as dirt. Georgia residents may be humming the guitar theme from Deliverance with the portral of country folk
A fast-paced story with plenty of action. The bad guys gave new meaning to the term dumb as dirt. Georgia residents may be humming the guitar theme from Deliverance with the portral of country folk
May 26, 2020
Good start to a new series. The beginning has traces of Lee Child. It's more of an action thriller as the suspense is somewhat predictable. There is some slowing of pace along the way, which could be worked upon in the series. Good luck to the author on his debut. Picked it up after seeing reviews on goodreads and would be definitely recommending it.
May 1, 2020
Fasten your seat belts and hold on tight as John Ryder's first in the series grabs you and pulls you full throttle into his pulse pounding, gripping and exciting thriller First Shot.
A detour to Daversville, a small town seemingly stuck in a time warp, was for Brad and Lila the beginning of a nightmare and a life changing day when Lila mysteriously disappears.
Ex Royal Marine, Grant Fletcher is asked by his old forces buddy, Don, Lila's father to find her and bring her home.
Meanwhile Special Agent Zoey Quadrado is given the task of finding out what happened to several other women who also disappeared when visiting Daversville.
The scene is set so get ready to meet an amazing ensemble of characters, some good, some bad and some downright NASTY.
Loved Grant and finding out more about him and his life and also the interaction between him and Zoey.
The vivid descriptive detail of fights and scenes makes you feel you are part of it and adds a heightened sense of awareness and really brings the town, its people and all the action to life.
Bring on the next book- I for one can't wait to meet up with Grant and Zoey again.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC for my honest review.
June 3, 2020
Why are people going missing in Daversville? When Brad and Lila stop for lunch in a diner in the small town, Lila disappears after going outside.
Grant Fletcher is asked by Lila’s father, Don to go and find his daughter. Fletcher owes Don his life from when he saved him when they were both stationed in Afghhanistan.
Special Agent, Zoey Quadrado is sent to Daversville to look into the cases of all the missing people. Can she find out what has happened to them all?
This is an action packed thriller that certainly got my heart rate up! There is tension throughout the story and I found my nerves were frazzled. The characters are interesting and there are some downright nasty ones where you can only hope they get beaten by the good ones. I found myself cheering every time a bad character got a pasting! An enjoyable read that had me hooked immediately.
This is a great start to a new series and I eagerly await book 2.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book.
Grant Fletcher is asked by Lila’s father, Don to go and find his daughter. Fletcher owes Don his life from when he saved him when they were both stationed in Afghhanistan.
Special Agent, Zoey Quadrado is sent to Daversville to look into the cases of all the missing people. Can she find out what has happened to them all?
This is an action packed thriller that certainly got my heart rate up! There is tension throughout the story and I found my nerves were frazzled. The characters are interesting and there are some downright nasty ones where you can only hope they get beaten by the good ones. I found myself cheering every time a bad character got a pasting! An enjoyable read that had me hooked immediately.
This is a great start to a new series and I eagerly await book 2.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book.
October 9, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
Tall Boy eyed him as if he was a circus freak from bygone days. ‘You’s talkin’ with the tongue outta your shoe… C’mon, let’s get outta here ’fore we catch arthritis from this old coot.’
Daversville was a town that time hadn’t ever known about, let alone forgot. The clothes worn by the townspeople weren’t so much outdated fashion as never having been fashionable. Each item was clean and well presented, but they were clearly worn as an alternative to nudity rather than make the wearer feel or look good.
Fellers wasn’t a bar for tourists, it was a spit and sawdust kind of place with genuine sawdust and extra spit.
With the pace of an arthritic sloth, Fletcher took a few gentle steps forward.
My Review:
I rarely read books of this genre but I would routinely add them to my routine if I could find a bevy of them as easy to fall into and difficult to let go of as First Shot proved to be. Mr. Ryder’s engaging writing was taut with tension, surprisingly emotive, and well packaged with glints of humor and refreshingly clear descriptive details where each perfectly honed word packed a powerful punch while also being smartly strung together in clever arrangements that pulled sharp visuals and defined step-by-step planning and eventful fight scenes that ran like a movie reel behind my eyes. I definitely wanted to give the caustic and surly FBI agent an attitude adjusting whack to the back of her head, although the bad guys eventually did that for me.
I was already duly impressed before I noticed First Shot was the only book listed for this author – could it actually be his first?!? I have just made a new addition to my list of authors to watch for as I now have a taste for an action hero named Grant Fletcher.
Tall Boy eyed him as if he was a circus freak from bygone days. ‘You’s talkin’ with the tongue outta your shoe… C’mon, let’s get outta here ’fore we catch arthritis from this old coot.’
Daversville was a town that time hadn’t ever known about, let alone forgot. The clothes worn by the townspeople weren’t so much outdated fashion as never having been fashionable. Each item was clean and well presented, but they were clearly worn as an alternative to nudity rather than make the wearer feel or look good.
Fellers wasn’t a bar for tourists, it was a spit and sawdust kind of place with genuine sawdust and extra spit.
With the pace of an arthritic sloth, Fletcher took a few gentle steps forward.
My Review:
I rarely read books of this genre but I would routinely add them to my routine if I could find a bevy of them as easy to fall into and difficult to let go of as First Shot proved to be. Mr. Ryder’s engaging writing was taut with tension, surprisingly emotive, and well packaged with glints of humor and refreshingly clear descriptive details where each perfectly honed word packed a powerful punch while also being smartly strung together in clever arrangements that pulled sharp visuals and defined step-by-step planning and eventful fight scenes that ran like a movie reel behind my eyes. I definitely wanted to give the caustic and surly FBI agent an attitude adjusting whack to the back of her head, although the bad guys eventually did that for me.
I was already duly impressed before I noticed First Shot was the only book listed for this author – could it actually be his first?!? I have just made a new addition to my list of authors to watch for as I now have a taste for an action hero named Grant Fletcher.
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