Air Race

Max Fend #3

by Andrew Watts, Chris Bauer

A lavish transcontinental air race turns deadly when a contract killer is sent to disrupt the event at any cost... The world’s eyes are on the Crown Prince of Dubai’s luxurious international air race. The event is meant to celebrate the new Israeli-UAE normalization agreement. Nine national teams will make seven stops over the course of a week. Taking off from the glittering French coast and traveling throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East, the race will narrow down its contestants each leg before finishing in Dubai. When the CIA learns that an infamous contract killer has been secretly sent to disrupt the event, they send Max Fend and partner Renee to join the race and foil any assassination attempt. But as Max and Renee travel throughout the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Middle East, their vision is soon clouded by dust storms, sabotage attempts and hostile acts. Race contestants with fatal secrets threaten to undermine their mission at every step. The stakes are higher than ever before, and a single mistake can send them crashing to their deaths…

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 2, 2022

About the author

Andrew Watts graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2003 and served as a naval officer and helicopter pilot until 2013. During that time, he flew counter-narcotic missions in the Eastern Pacific and counter-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa. He was a flight instructor in Pensacola, FL, and helped to run ship and flight operations while embarked on a nuclear aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East.

Today, he lives with his family in Ohio.

Reviews

[William Donahue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review, so here it goes. I was very familiar with Chris Bauer’s work prior to reading AIR RACE, less so with Andrew Watts. I’m always curious to see how collaborations between two established authors play out, and in this case the results are pretty darned entertaining. I’ll leave the plot details to the synopsis on the book jacket, and instead focus on the characters, dialogue, and other aspects of the story. In Bauer’s other novels (ZERO ISLAND, HIDING AMONG THE DEAD, SCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD, etc.), he writes a taut, hard-hitting story, with well-drawn and troubled characters the reader can invest in, though most of the characters in those books have a bit more of a harder, grittier edge—perhaps because his other books are set in and around Philadelphia. The story craft is certainly here, as is the fast-paced dialogue and attention to detail, so I can see Bauer’s fingerprints all over this story. Watts’s background and interest are rather apparent, too, based on the subject of his other titles. The pages turned quickly, with this reader being pulled in by Max, Renee, and their foils. Throughout I felt myself being reminded of some of the books that made me fall in love with reading when I first started picking up books for enjoyment—thrillers like THE ISLAND and RUMMIES from Peter Benchley, and THUNDERHEAD and MOUNT DRAGON from Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I guess what I’m saying is that this book really scratched an itch for this reader. It also made me curious to go back and read the other books in Watts’s Max Fend series. If Bauer and Watts decide to collaborate again, I’ll gladly take the ride.

[jeremy dierst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very strong premise and a decent continuation of a pretty good series. The plot lines were creative and somewhat almost believable. The characters were well-rounded and easy to figure out whom to root for and against. The finer details and research about air racing and the vehicles used were very educational and entertaining. The political contributions to the storyline were progressive and fairly current. A rather well-done novel overall.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MR CHRISTOPHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Book 3 proves that this is a winning series, the guys put you in the middle action and keep it coming.

Get the coffee on, cookies at the ready kick your shoes off and man your favourite armchair for a belting read.

[Jim Flagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. This is a continuation of a great series. The story keeps the reader guessing and reading. I ended up reading all night to finish it. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

[Jim Rickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book. Loved the plot. I will read the next one in the series

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story grabs your interest right from the beginning with Max sponsoring an air race. As a result of this, Max meets the Crown Prince of Dubai and as a result is invited to participate in a trans-contential race along with others. Max is hesitant to accept, but he is informed by his CIA handler that Max needed to accept so that the CIA could get a handle on an individual known as "Nomad".

The race begins and after the 1st leg, 2 teams are eliminated. At the end of each following leg, one team would be eliminated until there were only two for the final leg. The story explains what Max has to do to be competitive and make it to the end. At the same time, Max is getting no closer to finding "Nomad" and time is getting short. At the end of the next to last leg, events flair and the Crown Prince changes the rules to allow a third team in for the final leg.

To find out how "Nomad" appearance was revealed, why the rule change and how the race ended, then you need to read this book. You won't be disappointed.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good adventure read. Not up to the standards of book 2 in the series, but well worth the read. Layer the foundation for a more intriguing future

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third in the Max Fend series, and I have found them to be consistent. The action revolves around an air race, as you would guess from the title. The plot involves intelligence indicating a notorious and mysterious assassin is planning a hit at some point during the race, but the target and location needs to be determined by Max Fend in order to prevent it.
The stakes are politically high because of the contestants in the race. The action would make some airsick if they were experiencing it first hand. There was creative technology that worked into the story.
Max Fend is a little unbelievable as a spy, but the overall concept was entertaining while I was reading it. There were attempts at twists and turns, but I did figure out the identity of the assassin relatively early on in the story.
I know the character is intended to continue, but a different author is taking over the series. I haven't decided whether I'll continue the series.

[Diane Ewing · Rating 5 out of 5]

fasten your seatbelt

Intrigue in the air. Max Fend thought he was in an air race; turns out he is in a race for his life. A fast paced action story, complicated by being in a plane thousands of feet above the earth. Beware the beautiful woman - she could be the villain. Read on…..

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome

This was a real page turner. A complex convoluted cast of characters that Max Fend and Renee have to figure out who the bad guy really is. Wrapped up in an edge of your seat story I couldn’t put down. Loved it

[C.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was great.

[Ev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Air Race

I love a story with a lot of twists and turns this one had many of those and a large number of side characters to stir the plot. Looking forward to book #4.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many twists!

This story begins with a dose of bickering between love interests, but the plot picks up and becomes a high stakes thriller.

[Mary Ann Wepfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great adventure

This is a great read. Keeps you guessing you is the bad player. Fun and suspenseful until the very end!

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a slow and tedious start,.

Things finally picked up and the action continued. It was a fun read and enjoyed the tidbitsy regarding women’s place in the Arab culture.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max & Renee are back!!!

It’s been four years since I had the pleasure to hang out with Max and Renee and their associated crew. Air Race was a non-stop rollercoaster ride of action and thrills, not to mention intrigue as they hunted Nomad. Is it the team up of Watts and Bauer, or just an awesome story or a combination of both that makes Air Race the best of the series to date? I felt like I was sitting in the back seat of Max & Renee’s plane during each of the legs of the race and in a few spots, I was holding my breath from anticipation of the next maneuver. If you enjoy spies, thrills, action, and intrigue, grab a copy, and settle into your favorite comfortable chair because you aren’t going to be moving for quite a while. I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and chose to provide my review.

After listening to the audiobook for Air Race I felt the need to update my original review. Are you familiar with the max Fend stories? If so, you know they aren’t just espionage stories, they also involve Max’s rich-playboy persona. Michael Wolfe does an awesome job not just bringing the characters to life, but to bring Max’s persona to life without making it feel overdone or fake. Michael’s narration in this book made me feel like I was watching an actual air race on tv. Of course, he also did an awesome job bringing all the espionage/action sense to life as well. I have to say after listening to Air Race I can say it is my favorite of this series. Thanks to Severn River Publishing for providing me with an audiobook review copy of Air Race.

[C.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrote it. Loved it.