Black Ice by Brad Thor continues the adventures of Scot Harvath in Book 20 of The Scot Harvath Series.
Scot Harvath watched his wife, mentor and friend, and others get murdered in cold blood by ruthless Russians who planned to give Harvath a violent torturous death, but they were unsuccessful in their efforts. However, he was almost eaten by wolves while nearly freezing to death. After surviving that ordeal, he attempted to drink himself to death but was unsuccessful at that.
In Black Ice he's been enjoying and developing his relationship with a Norwegian equivalent to a CIA operative (Solvi), but he and she know soon he will have to return to the USA to his job with the Carlton Group. As it turns out, work comes to him sooner rather than later in the Norway area. It seems the Russians and the Chinese have formed an unusual partnership to launch a clandestine project to thwart any interference with their nefarious plans from the USA and others. The name of this specific device developed to do this is called Black Ice.
Harvath's mission is to find the device and bring it in for examination before it can be moved and/or put into full operation. In order to do that, he needs his team who are immediately dispatched to help him. With their help he can snare the Chinese operative (Han) and the Russian (Sarov) sent to accompany Han and extract the information he needs. With the Russian it's easy - he wants a deal to live out his life in California. With Han he's willing to take incredible abuse before Scot is able to convince him to make a deal for his information. As soon as Harvath has what he needs, his team takes care of the two prisoners, and Harvath is on the mission in the Arctic area to confiscate the Black Ice.
Maybe it's because he's getting older, maybe it's because he wants some happiness in his life again, or maybe it's because he's finally facing his own mortality and even possible retirement, but Scot Harvath wants the new love he's found to have some permanence. He's still the same operative, still the same ruthless opponent when necessary, and he's still got that desire for the hunt to eliminate evil ones and itching to get started again, but he can't deny his desire to make a go of it with Solvi, someone who returns his love and has a complete understanding of his profession.
In Black Ice Harvath is reminded of who he is as a man and as an operative. As a man, he's fallen hard for this woman, and as an operative he's still in the game, the take charge, do anything and everything it takes to get whatever is necessary, and where failure is not an option. This inevitably leads him into real danger, chaos, "Murphy's Law", and seemingly the worst case scenarios where all of his past training and experience is used to the max. But it's what he knows and where he thrives.
After reading Black Ice, you will have a fresh appreciation for summer heat and mild weather. Major change for Scot Harvath at the end of Book 20. What that means for the next story in The Scot Harvath Series will be an interesting choice for Brad Thor.
(Some profanity.)
Father, only you know hearts and minds. Please continue to provide the inspiration for Brad that only you can give. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.