James Rollins and Grant Blackwood’s ‘War Hawk’ Terrifies Us While Winning Our Hearts [REVIEW]

Will former Army Ranger Tucker Wayne and Kane, his military working dog, be able to find a killer before it is too late? Find out in James Rollins and Grant Blackwood’s WAR HAWK. (Photo by U.S. Army Pfc. Julian Turner)

In James Rollins and Grant Blackwood’s War Hawk, a woman and her son are on the run from assassins, and only Tucker Wayne can keep them safe. To do so, he starts a global manhunt in search of a killer. The truth will lead him and his faithful canine companion to uncover deeply buried secrets which date back to World War II and a startling true event that will redefine humanity.

William Morrow

Although I’m a faithful fan of Rollins’ Sigma series, this is the first novel I’ve read in the new spin-off featuring Tucker Wayne. The authors do a phenomenal job scaring us with the all-too-real threat of a madman seeking to control the world using drone technology.

But I actually fell in love with Wayne, a former Army Ranger, and the relationship he has with Kane, who is described as “a Belgian Malinois, a breed of compact shepherd commonly used by military and law enforcement. Know for their fierce loyalty and sharp intelligence, the breed was also well respected for their nimbleness and raw power in a battlefield environment” (16).

Rollins, himself a veterinarian, does a brilliant job depicting Wayne and Kane’s close relationship, tethered with emotion and trust. In fact, Rollins characterizes Kane so well I simply forgot he was an animal on four legs. But as a longtime dog lover, the depth of their bond is plausible to me because it reminds me of how close I was to animals I’ve had in the past, such as my Labrador Retriever, Leonardo, who I am firmly convinced understood my every thought, action and feeling, just like Kane does here.

Blackwood, on the other hand, uses his military training during his time in the U.S. Navy to bring the intensity, intrigue and tactical descriptions of the story to vivid life. Together, both authors utilize the tight bond between man and beast to their advantage as they craft a tightly woven story packed with thrills, danger, and enough science to scare even the most jaded techno geek.

So the next time you’re looking for an action-packed, intensely plotted espionage novel, remember Rollins and Blackwood’s Tucker Wayne series and its newest volume, War Hawk. You won’t regret it!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

James Rollins
(Photo by David Sylvian)

James Rollins is the New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers like The Bone Labyrinth and The 6th Extinction. 

His breathtaking novels have been translated into more than 40 languages and his Sigma series has been lauded as one of the “top crowd pleasers” (New York Times) and one of the “hottest summer reads” (People Magazine).

In each critically acclaimed novel, Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets—and he does it all at breakneck speed and with stunning insight.

Visit James at his home on the Web at JamesRollins.com, like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Grant Blackwood is the New York Times bestselling author of the Briggs Tanner series, including The End of Enemies, The Wall of Night, and An Echo of War. 

Grant Blackwood
(Photo by Julie Blackwood)

He has also written numerous books in collaboration with some of the world’s best known thriller writers, including the Fargo Adventure Series with Clive Cussler (Spartan Gold, Lost Empire, and The Kingdom), the number one New York Times bestseller Dead or Alive with Tom Clancy, and The Kill Switch with James Rollins.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Grant spent three years as an Operations Specialist and a Pilot Rescue Swimmer.

He currently lives in Colorado but you can visit him at his home on the Web at GrantBlackwood.com, like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

WAR HAWK
By James Rollins and Grant Blackwood
384 pgs. William Morrow. $27.99.