Hostile Intent by Don Bentley is the third book in A Matt Drake Novel Series.
Matt Drake is back. And for all the sarcasm, smart a*$ commentary, he's a dangerous man who has a code of honor. He pays his debts. When a man who saved not only his life but the life of his wife (Laila), shows up in Vienna at the American Embassy to share critical information and says he'll only talk to Matt Drake, the DIA's top case officer heads directly there.
As is always the case with Matt, everything goes south, north, east, and west in trying to find a safe place to get the information from "the Irishman" Nolan Burke, former member of the Real IRA. And when there's critical information involved, you can bet the farm that one of the parties involved will be the Russian contingent of whatever elements of their alphabet spec ops agencies is sent to procure that information or silence it. It appears that this information is exactly as Nolan hinted because not too long after Matt finds Nolan, they're separated.
When Matt is finally able to locate Nolan after a run-in with Vienna's blonde first female Director of the BVT (Intelligence), he is forced to take on the Russian special unit that is "holding" Burke. With little time to plan, he manages to get a few words with Nolan. Needless to say, utter chaos precluded those words.
Timing is at critical mass as the invasion of Ukraine seems imminent. The hidden discovery about the whole chaotic swirl of countries, agencies, contingencies, war, operators, assists and debts owed and paid, presents a heretofore unknown threat.
And there you have the multiple storylines within a story that gives you Russia, Ukraine, Vienna, Israel, and the USA. It's no small endeavor to pay back the riddle of Burke's request.
Hostile Intent is an orderly - but convoluted - account of the severe dangers following Matt Drake around as he and his best friend Frodo try to out-maneuver what turns out to be more than one enemy. Unbelievable risks, requests, new "partners," and dread are all part of the scary task. Matt's humorous thoughts and sarcastic chitchat with his Israeli counterpart will at times make the reader laugh - or at least smile. There's some great dialogue involved. Matt's heroics as well as his vulnerabilities are evident in the struggle.
Bottom line: If you want to read thrillers, you want to read a Don Bentley series. A Matt Drake Novel Series will definitely give you an uptick in your heartbeat.
(Some profanity.)
Father, only you know our hearts and desires. I pray you would continue to shine your face upon Don and his family and fill him up with stories for his next projects. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.