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Formats
Paperback Details
  • 08/2022
  • 9781737164043
  • 270 pages
  • $17.99
Hardcover Details
  • 08/2022
  • 9781737164050
  • 270 pages
  • $27.99
Ebook Details
  • 08/2022
  • B0B83VT6W5
  • 270 pages
  • $8.99
J. Denison Reed
Author
Clifford's War: Without End
In this action-packed, twisty, and fast-paced continuation of the PI Clifford Dee crime/thriller series, private investigator Clifford Dee is back with his team, this time in Northern Virginia, working with his former Army commander, Doyle Hamilton, in Washington D.C. A U.S. Senator was murdered and Doyle has been chosen to run in a special election to fill his office. To qualify, Doyle has to step down from his army command and decides to hand the division over to a former military rival of Clifford’s, Kevin Burr, who shuts him off from work out of spite. While his teammate, Bailey, takes on a minor copyright case involving a budding rap star, Clifford uncovers connections between the government department that Burr used to run and another famous rap artist, Dark Fenix, who was about to tour overseas as a cover to smuggle weapons into Africa for Burr. Things worsen when he also finds a connection between Burr and a ring of assassins for hire. Clifford discloses this information to Doyle, which makes things worse and gets Clifford’s team targeted. He must now work with Special Agent Sims of the FBI to find who is targeting them, running the assassins, and dig up evidence to incriminate Burr…all without getting killed. Clifford's team gets Dark Fenix’s Africa tour canceled and Burr is in the hot seat because he cannot deliver the weapons to the African warlords as promised. Stretched too thin, Burr finds himself in a deadly bind. Clifford and Sims take on the assassins, resulting in one of them ending up in the hospital and an office fire being set to cover up evidence. More assassins are sent to finish the job, which turns into an all-out brawl, but they manage to escape. The assassin’s leader then kidnaps the entire team and takes them to a desolate hideout, planning to force Clifford to watch his team die, one by one. And there doesn’t seem to be any escape this time… Fans of action thrillers and crime suspense like the TV series Burn Notice are sure to enjoy this mile-a-minute story of government conspiracy, car chases, lethal encounters, and humorous situations.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 7 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 7.75 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: In this addition to the PI Clifford Dee series, the plot is fast-paced and engrossing, adding unexpected developments that will keep readers on their toes as the story progresses.

Prose: This dialogue-heavy narrative packs in plenty of repartee between characters. Though the text is not overly descriptive, the prose is enjoyable and never feels contrived.

Originality: This story occasionally struggles with formulaic writing, but the author expertly balances plot threads--from government conspiracies to rap stars--and maintains tension throughout. 

Character Development/Execution: Reed's skills in characterization are on full display in this book, and readers will quickly familiarize themselves with the main players, who are all equally rich.

Date Submitted: July 29, 2022

Reviews
In the explosive second installment of the Clifford’s War series, Reed crafts another gripping and fast paced crime-and-intelligence thriller that plunges readers back into the world of P.I. Clifford Dee and his close knit team of investigators, as a nation-shaking murder leads them to uncover a criminal conspiracy fuelled by military and political interests. Along the way, Dee and his team face ruthless enemies, repeated assassination attempts, political corruption, and attempts to malign their legitimacy through false criminal charges. Still, nothing gets in the way of his team’s efforts to uncover what’s truly happening and bring the conspirators to justice.

The plot is quickly set in motion as Dee and his team are hired by a woman to spy on her senator husband, whom she believes is involved in an extramarital affair. While working the case, Sara and Daniel—two of the four members of Dee’s team—are shocked to witness the senator’s murder. Reed doesn’t let up on the jolts, as a series of political assassinations follow, including the murder of a former CIA agent who is Dee’s close associate. Meanwhile, Bailey, the IT expert, uncovers something sinister while investigating a second case, one concerning a rapper’s original music being leaked to another more famous musician. With strong pacing and clever revelations, these seemingly disparate elements come together seamlessly to form a complex and surprising—yet still believable—nexus of criminal activities.

Despite the tension and high stakes, the camaraderie and engaging banter among Dee’s team keeps the novel feeling human, and even hardened FBI agents have moments of vulnerability. Getting readers to care about the characters, of course, also serves to ramp up the suspense, especially when those Dee cares about face danger themselves—and he seems helpless to save them. Though sometimes a touch wordy, the action is clear and hard edged.

Takeaway: A well crafted, fast paced action thriller blending detective, espionage, and political genres.

Great for fans of: David Baldacci, William Tyree.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

Independent Book Review

"Reed is back with another smashing, mysterious thriller!" -Independent Book Review

"chock-full of unanticipated twists and turns, suspense, and just enough humor!" -Independent Book Review

"...it’ll have you gripped and guessing until the end!" -Independent Book Review

"An action-packed, page-turning crime thriller with surprises at every
turn!" - Independent Book Review

News
08/30/2022
Former Army Rangers, Assassins and Illegal Arms Dealers: Army Veteran Author...

Charleston, SC, Aug. 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When author J. Denison Reed set out to create an action hero, he imbued his character with the kind of grit and resolve needed to survive, whether in battle or when dealing with crime syndicates. And Reed has done it again in his new book Clifford’s War: Without End. Like his hero, Reed served in the army, and it was his experience that helped to inform his writing of intense action scenes. 

In this gripping continuation of the series, private investigator Clifford Dee is back, this time working with his former Army Rangers commander. When he uncovers a government conspiracy, he and his team soon find themselves the target of hired assassins. There is no shortage of fast-paced action and drama, as high-speed car chases, murder and kidnapping ensue. And for readers looking for some relief from the suspense, Reed employs plenty of humor to diffuse stressful scenarios. Fans of action thrillers and crime dramas like the TV series Burn Notice are sure to enjoy this high-stakes game of cat and mouse. 

"An action-packed, page-turning crime thriller with surprises at every
turn…it’ll have you gripped and guessing until the end!"- Independent Book Review

Clifford’s War: Without End is available for purchase online at Amazon.com. For more information on the book and the author, please visit jdenisonreed.com or any of his social media platforms.

Facebook: JDenisonReed

Instagram: @jdenisonreed

Twitter: @DenisonReed

Good Reads: jdenisonreed

About the Author:

J. Denison Reed is the author of the novel Clifford’s War: The Bluegrass Battleground and Shadows of Light, a collection of short stories. He joined the US Army after graduating high school and later became a network engineer. When not writing books, he enjoys writing poetry and dabbling in photography. He currently lives in Virginia with his wife, children, and their two cats, where he and his wife own and operate a small business making candles.

Formats
Paperback Details
  • 08/2022
  • 9781737164043
  • 270 pages
  • $17.99
Hardcover Details
  • 08/2022
  • 9781737164050
  • 270 pages
  • $27.99
Ebook Details
  • 08/2022
  • B0B83VT6W5
  • 270 pages
  • $8.99
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