The Outside Man by Don Bentley is the second book in the Matt Drake Series.
For me, there are a few qualifications for espionage/political/military thrillers: solid heroes (or heroines or both), action-packed, necessary violence, wicked antagonist(s), and a fast pace. Usually, these kinds of thrillers have those unbelievable, unfathomable, illogical, and impossible moments. Can't be helped and unless you, the reader, are or has been in Spec Ops, CIA, even law enforcement, or are weapons specialists, etc., then it's probably best if you don't mention these "implausibles" in the story in your review because what the people in these professions have seen and done in unthinkable situations is no doubt in some cases stranger than fiction - and even physics.
Having described what I expect from thrillers, Don Bentley managed to include them all in a horror story of sex-trafficking, betrayals, and rescues that never should have happened. While Matt Drake drives down a street in Austin, Texas, a team of assassins come after him. Managing to survive the attack while convincing a stroller-pushing mom he's the good guy in the mess, and watching them gun down a young cop, naturally he wants to know who wants him dead. Former Army Ranger who's worked lots of clandestine ops, Matt's managed to accumulate enemies, but at present he's out of the game with some evidence of PTSD - until this happens.
Finding the culprit of the assassination attempt leads him to the Middle East after a disturbing anniversary dinner with his wife (Laila). After calling on an old informant who he assumed was his friend, now a highly successful Syrian smuggler (Zain), things take an unexpected turn but expose "The Devil" who assigned the attack back home. Turns out The Devil needs something from Drake (or Drake would be dead) and what he holds as leverage for Drake to do the job shocks him to his core.
Three quarters of The Outside Man rushes at the reader, leading Matt Drake into one race after another against death for him and others close to him at breakneck speed. If it could go wrong, it did. Time and time again. And yet . . . the conclusion is not a cliffhanger in the truest sense, but it does leave the basis for a satisfying hope to come along in the next novel(s).
I did appreciate the accurate Bible references. A refreshing change from most thriller characters even while establishing that this character was not a Christian man of faith.
(Profanity present.)
Father, you give talents and gifts generously. May each one know from whom their talents and gifts come. Please bless Don for using his. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.