Book Review: Final Second by John Ryder

Panic over everybody ... I've finally managed to get Final Second to the top of my TBR pile and, let me tell you, what a thrill it was to read it and to top up on my Grant Fletcher fix. Final Second is published by Bookouture and is the second of John Ryder's Grant Fletcher and Zoey Quadrado series

First up, here's the blurb

Sometimes it takes a stranger to find a killer…

In a small farming town in rural Wisconsin—where generations of families have lived in peace for decades—no one expects trouble to come calling.

But then a farmer’s beautiful young wife is found brutally murdered, with a chilling calling card that suggests she’s just the first victim of a serial killer. And the FBI elect not to send one of their own. Instead they send a stranger to town—former Royal Marine turned mercenary, Grant Fletcher. And they’re giving him no choice. Find the killer. Because we know what you’ve done.

With the threat of the executioner’s chair hanging over him, Fletcher finds himself in an impossible situation—and a race against time. Catch a murderer whose killings are escalating with every day that passes. Or face certain death…

My Thoughts

Well, I've already made it clear how much I love Grant Fletcher. He's a thinking man, but one who is not afraid to use his fists if he has to. With a daughter to provide for and the threat of the electric chair hanging over him, Grant is forced to do the FBI's bidding under the careful management of his handler FBI agent Zoey Quadrado. 

Final Second takes us into rural Wisconsin, where crime is almost non-existent, yet the brutal slaying of Zoey's friend, says two things - the first is that a serial killer is just getting started and the second is that it is personal to Quadrado and that means Grant Fletcher is brought in. I love the fact that despite not being a trained investigator, Fletcher has an uncanny perception that makes him analyse human behaviour and come to conclusions that more traditional investigators might miss. 

As I've come to expect with JohnRyder's books, this is action packed and Adrenalin fused - but make no mistake - it's also an emotional roller coaster. Whilst Ryder injects a healthy amount of action, he balances this with Fletcher's perceptions and intelligent observations. We find ourselves in the midst of a rural community that Ryder has through dexterous characterization brought to life. As the plot unfolds we find out more about the secrets this small community holds and it is truly addictive. 

If I was to point to single element of Ryder's writing that draws me in it would be difficult - however, I am completely envious (as a fellow author) of the way in which he brings even the minor characters to life through Fletcher's eyes by naming them - in a few short phrases each character is easy to visualize and that is a knack I envy. 

Definite five stars from me. 

About John Ryder

John 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.