Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Literally the Best Reviews: The Gryphon Heist

The Gryphon Heist - James R. Hannibal
Revell Publishing
400 Pages

A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed a book, Marah Chase & the Conqueror’s Tomb by Jay Stringer. I mentioned that it was a thriller along the lines of the Indiana Jones franchise. This week, I have another similar comparison with The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal. This is a fast-paced thriller much in the same vein as those adventure stories.

Let me start off by saying that I almost missed this book when I visited the library. For some reason, it was labeled to be shelved with the inspirational books. I tend not to look in that section very often, but this book stuck out while sitting on the shelf. It didn’t seem like it fit in with the other books surrounding it. So, I grabbed it, read the summary, and brought it home with me.

The new recruit class at the CIA includes Talia Inger, the protagonist of the novel. While hoping for a spot at the coveted Moscow desk, she is assigned to some relatively unknown desk in Eastern Europe. What seems like an innocuous posting soon turns into an adventure that challenges her beliefs and her ethics as the line between the legal world and the criminal world blur and cross.

She is partnered with Adam Tyler. His loyalties rest with the people who can do him the most good. Sometimes, Talia doesn’t know whether Tyler is helping or hurting her investigation. As a rookie thrown into a major investigation, she must prove her mettle. She cant doubt herself or overthink all her decisions. At the same time, she must utilize the resources around her. The struggle between these aspects of her life drive the story.

In the end, the resolution is a bit of fantastical events. Think rocketships, dirigibles, rocketpacks, and floating platforms. The build up is all business, while the ending borders on science fiction. There’s a very big James Bond feel to the story at the end. It was enjoyable to read. 

Sometimes, I just like to read fun books. This was a fun book. This is the first book in a series, according to what I’ve read. This will be an interesting concept for the book. I envision Talia maturing and growing as a person as the series continues and becoming a better agent for the CIA. She will develop a network of people she works with, and those characters developing along with her character and Hannibal keeps writing. There is a lot of potential to do. 

Of course, the second book in the series, Chasing the White Lion, came out just as we were entering the isolation, and I have not been able to get to the library to pick it up. Hopefully, once we start to get back to a sense of normalcy, I can grab this second book. I cannot wait to see what adventure Talia Inger takes us on this time. 

Adventure stories are always a good choice for reading. These stories bring me back to my youth when I would walk the railing on the patio in the backyard, daring to jump off, into the unknown. Or sailing a vessel into those uncharted waters of “Here be Dragons.” When I read these books, I am transported back to those days, and it makes me want to write an adventure of my own. Isn’t that a great reason for reading?

Craig Bacon has some adventure stories in his head begging to be released. Sitting at home for this long could mean they finally make their long-awaited escape.