Hard to Break by Michael Ledwidge ~ a Review

by MK French

Mike Gannon had looked forward to visiting Alaska, but hunters in the area aren’t looking for grizzly bears. Captured and heading toward a lethal encounter, Mike has nothing left to lose in order to survive.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

January 2023; Hanover Square Press; 978-1335449337
audio, ebook, print (384 pages); mystery

While this is the third in the Gannon series, it’s a standalone story. We have a bit of backstory in the beginning, referencing a suitcase of money that he found and corrupt FBI agents after him, which must have been the previous books. We also are told that he had been a Navy SEAL special forces operator. In other words, he’s tough, he’s capable, and this is the kind of book with nonstop action once it gets going. Our first enemy glimpse shows us the same kind of skill and heartlessness, as he literally slices a random child’s balloon string just for kicks. (Not a spoiler, that’s chapter 3!) Chapters are short, each scene direct and showing us clearly who they are and why they’re in Alaska before the action and the main story begins. Think of this book as an action thriller movie, because I can see this perfectly adapted to watch in a movie theater. 

Between the rapid pace of shifting scenes and the menace in them, the tension increases as the story progresses. There's Gannon trying to take stock of the situation and look for avenues to escape, the groups of people that took him or planning to harm them, then his son and friend who are trying to track him down. Gannon goes from one impossible situation to the next, but he's not immune to being hurt. He gets concussed, hit, threatened, tied up, shackled, and kidnapped repeatedly. He pushes through the pain, continuing to fight back whenever possible. Because he had training in the military, he's comfortable with whatever weapon he can find or make as well as hand-to-hand. In the second half of the novel, we find out who is really behind it all and why.

This is a fast-paced action thriller, and I didn't always predict what direction it was going to go. This is a fun read, guaranteed to get your adrenaline racing. 

Buy Hard to Break at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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