My husband and I chose Dark Intercept by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson as a road trip listen. I thought this thriller with a military tie-in and lack of romance would appeal to my husband. We diligently listened to the end, but our take-away was that the writing was just okay, the plot a bit ludicrous, and the adult language and graphic violence somewhat offensive. This book was a 2022 Christy Award finalist and a Carol Award winner in the Speculative category. It is heavy on spiritual warfare which we had no problem with, but it was difficult for us to buy into the scenario presented. It does have non-stop action if that is what you are looking for, but as I said the violence was jarring, especially at the end, and both the bad guys and good guys use adult language. There is a twist at the end that we saw coming that will probably be addressed in the next book in the series. However, my husband and I will not be joining in on that mission. 😉
(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
When dark forces rise, are faith and firepower enough?
On the eve of his medical retirement, Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson receives a frantic call from his estranged childhood best friend David Yarnell. David’s daughter has been kidnapped off the streets of Nashville in broad daylight. The police have no suspects and no leads. The only clue: the body of a dead priest left behind at the scene. With the clock ticking, David is growing desperate, as is his wife, Rachel . . . Jed’s first love.
Despite his painful history with David and Rachel, Jed agrees to help. But he’s spent his career as a door-kicking Navy SEAL, not an investigator. His presence immediately draws unwanted attention, creates friction with the local police, and triggers a mysterious attempt on his life. Just when he thinks things can’t get worse, it starts to happen again—the voices in his head, the nightmares, the visions. Dark memories and strange abilities, things he believed he’d left behind when he fled Nashville for the Navy at eighteen, begin to resurface.
Jed realizes that to save the missing girl, he must take a leap of faith and embrace the gifts he’s denied for all these years. To foil this dark intercept, he’ll need more than just his years as a SEAL operator, because he has no choice now but to take up arms and join the battle in the unseen spiritual warfare raging all around him. And there is far more at stake than just a missing girl: the world is not the place he thought it was—and he is not alone.
Follow the military heroes of The Shepherds series as they bring the power of light into the dark mystery of Sara Beth’s abduction.
Nice review, Beckie!