Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe–a department only known as “Other.” When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she’ll be back in DC within a few days. But that’s before she knows where the designs are stored–and who’s after them.
With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where criminal minds and unlikely strategies compete for access to the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault that hovers in the mesosphere. But is Tyler actually helping her? Or is he using her for his own dark purposes?
“James Hannibal has crafted a story slam full of mystery, danger, twists, and turns. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough–or bother to stop to breathe. You don’t want to miss this one!”–Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Blue Justice series
“The Gryphon Heist plunges readers into a world where no one can be trusted, nothing is as it seems, and choosing the wrong side could be catastrophic.”–Lynn H. Blackburn, award-winning and bestselling author of the Dive Team Investigations series
“Leap on board The Gryphon Heist and ride the whirlwind of suspense. Don’t let go!”–DiAnn Mills, bestselling author of Burden of Proof
“The greater good is shifting sand. You can’t trust it.”
The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal is an incredible mix of espionage and spy craft that bombards the reader with explosions, betrayal, high-density ceramic bullets, high-tech capers, and a hefty dose of humor. While many spy thrillers are steeped in complicated narrative discussions and explanations, The Gryphon Heist relies more on character interaction and is only minimally mired in scientific jargon and complexities. That does not mean Hannibal’s fantastic story is any less entertaining. In fact, The Gryphon Heist turns the traditional spy novel on its head by interspersing fun, lighthearted banter throughout the serious action as well as injecting a bit of contemporary Christianity that lends some impressive intricacy to at least two of the main characters.
Talia Inger is a new CIA recruit, eager for her first assignment that, at first glance, appears to be less than interesting. With her teammate, Eddie Gupta, in tow, they set out for Transnistria near Ukraine in what they hope will be a brief stint. What follows is rip-roaring international high jinks, involving a deadly plan, high-stakes greed and subterfuge, and a motley team of diverse characters that offers shades of Dewey Gram’s Ocean’s 11.
Aside from some fragmented flirtation and a sweet case of puppy love, The Gryphon Heist lacks any steamy romance, and no character comes even close to spouting strong language. But these missing elements prove to be unnecessary because Hannibal’s remarkable plot, varied characters, and action scenes that deserve to be on the big screen will keep you fully engaged in pondering each character’s level of trustworthiness, laughing full belly laughs (oh, that Eddie), and quickly flipping the pages as the action picks up and the danger goes from a simple thrill of the hunt to a fast-paced and quite deadly race against the clock.
As a former stealth pilot, Hannibal clearly knows his business and has skillfully brought a fantastical plot to life, filled with immense energy, surprising twists, and unforgettable personalities. Hannibal’s writing is sharp, precise, and easily navigated, which is perfect because the characters are constantly on the move, and the action never lets up. Hannibal’s character development is spot on. For example, Talia is smart right out of the CIA training gate, but she’s a rookie on her first assignment. Her character often feels unapproachable; however, her backstory provides a good reason for that. Other than trusting her loyal-to-a-fault sidekick, Eddie, Talia struggles with trust issues and is still haunted by the mysterious death of her father when she was a small child. As the story progresses, some likability seeps through the cracks in her self-imposed armor. She is a good protagonist because her character experiences tremendous growth, but it takes awhile to warm up to her. On the other hand, Eddie will steal your heart from the first page.
The Gryphon Heist ends with a glimpse at the beginning of book two that appears to be on the horizon. Although, waiting even one day for Chasing the White Lion will be one day too long.
Enter the giveaway below on or before October 6, 2019, for a chance to win a ton of fun prizes!
Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his Section 13 mysteries for kids and a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series for adults. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. He lives in Houston, Texas.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
+ Gryphon Ornament + Clip Bookmarks + $10 Starbucks Gift Card;
SECOND PRIZE: Copy of The Gryphon Heist + $25 Barnes and Noble Gift Card;
THIRD PRIZE: Copy of The Gryphon Heist + $10 Starbucks Gift Card
September 26-October 6, 2019
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
| 9/26/19 | Notable Quotable | The Clueless Gent |
| 9/26/19 | BONUS Post | Hall Ways Blog |
| 9/27/19 | Review | Reading by Moonlight |
| 9/28/19 | Author Interview | All the Ups and Downs |
| 9/29/19 | Review | Max Knight |
| 9/30/19 | Excerpt | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 10/1/19 | Review | The Page Unbound |
| 10/2/19 | Top Ten List | That’s What She’s Reading |
| 10/3/19 | Author Interview | Missus Gonzo |
| 10/4/19 | Review | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 10/5/19 | Review | Momma on the Rocks |
COMING MARCH, 2020!
Another stellar review — you are bad for my bank account because I want to get every single one you review!