Sunday, August 9, 2026

Movie Review: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is an Evolution for Our Friendly Web Slinger


By Jon Brooks

“Sometimes, Spider-Man has to do the hard thing. Even if it breaks Peter Parker’s heart.” — Peter Parker in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” 

As I was standing in the restroom, waiting for an open urinal after watching “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” one of my fellow viewers was rattling off all the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies he hadn’t watched since 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” (read my review).  

It’s a pretty common affliction. 

One of the challenges in the “post-Thanos” era of the MCU is the fact that a number of the movies haven’t been nearly as compelling. 

Sure, there have been some gems like “Shang-Chi” (read my review) and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (read my review), but many of the characters that moviegoers had grown to love (like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers) are no longer the beating heart of the series. 

I’ll admit that I have found myself less motivated in recent years to head to a multiplex to see the latest Marvel movie. I haven’t yet seen “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “Captain America: Brave New World,” or “Thunderbolts” (but plan to view them on Disney+ at some point). 


So it was with a bit of trepidation that I sat down to watch “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” 

My Spidey senses were tingling as I took my seat. 

Since the Marvel movies have been intertwined like a soapy TV series, I was wondering if I had missed something pertinent along the way. 

I’m sure other viewers have felt the same way. 

One thing I can say up front is that “Spider Man: Brand New Day” continues the Tom Holland-led franchise with all the wit, charm, and excitement that fans have grown to love in this series. 

SPIDEY’S MOVIE JOURNEY HAS BEEN FASCINATING 

Spider-Man’s theatrical history has been an interesting one. Creative choices haven't always come easy due to the fact that multiple entities have been involved with the property. 


Sony has owned the theatrical rights to the character since the 1990s. They also own the rights to hundreds of supporting “Spiderverse” characters. 

This came as a result of financial troubles at Marvel Entertainment Group during that decade (prior to Disney acquiring the company in 2009). 

At that time, the theatrical rights to other Marvel characters like the Hulk (purchased by Universal) and the X-Men and the Fantastic Four (both controlled by 20th Century Fox until Disney bought the studio) were sold for “peanuts” to generate quick cash. 

This is why it took awhile for the Spider-Man character to be integrated into Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe. Creative decisions have been a continual negotiation between Sony and Disney. 

Despite all the legal hangups, it has been pretty remarkable how well the “collaboration” has worked as it regards the Spider-Man franchise. 

WORKIN’ FOR A LIVIN’

In the early stages of “Brand New Day” we find Spider-Man (Tom Holland) working on his own, fighting crime in New York City. 

A spell was cast by Doctor Strange at the end of 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home” that resulted in the world forgetting who Peter Parker is (done in order to save the world from a “multiverse” of problems). 


That meant girlfriend Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson (Holland’s real-life wife Zendaya) and his buddy Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) are no longer in Parker’s life. 

The events in “No Way Home” were set into motion due to a disgraced Parker (who was publicly outed as Spider-Man by the Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson) trying to find a way for his two friends to get into MIT (all three were rejected by the school as a result of Parker’s alleged exploits). 

MJ and Ned were ultimately able to attend MIT, but our hero (whose alter-ego is no longer known to the world) has abandoned his academic endeavors. 

“Brand New Day” starts off with Spider-Man stopping various crimes around the city. Our hero is no longer a heretic. In fact, he’s a local hero. 


The character is evolving. As the movie progresses, we see emotional and physical changes in Parker. 

As much as I love Holland’s Spider-Man films, the character sometimes felt like a mere cog in the Avengers engine. 

Being Tony Stark’s protege was a cool hook for Parker. But being the “Iron Spider” kept the character from fully realizing his full potential. 

It’s readily apparent that the folks running Marvel Studios wanted to make the character’s powers less “gadget-based” and more “organic” in nature (similar to Tobey Maguire’s version of Spider-Man featured in the Sam Raimi movies). 

Like a teenager going through puberty, Parker’s “inner arachnid” is coming to the surface. For example, he develops organic web slingers (and has to ditch the mechanical version he’s been using), but the issues facing our hero go further than that. 

I have a theory on why this is taking place, and I will get to that in a little bit…

Anyhow, our hero comes across a new threat as he is chasing down ne’er-do-wells in the form of a mysterious individual (known only as V-Max) who is able to perform a “mind-control-possession” thing on unsuspecting victims. 


For some reason, this new “villain” isn’t able to control Parker’s mind, but he also can’t trust the words and actions of those around him. 

As a result, Spider-Man has to play a game of “who do you trust” as the narrative unfolds. 

WHERE IS SPIDER-MAN HEADED?

Parker also has to come to terms with how he is going to control his own biological changes… and how he is going to thwart the mind-control abilities of his antagonist. 

This becomes the crux of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s” second and third acts. 


We find Parker reaching out to Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), a man who has considerable experience concocting methods to “hamper” his inner Hulk. 

This eventually leads Parker to a moral dilemma, questioning whether or not these unique biological abilities should be controlled. 

The fundamental question is this: “Where is all of this leading?” 

It is apparent that Marvel Studios honcho Kevin Feige is laying the groundwork for a new X-Men movie. 

The mysterious V-Max (played by “Stranger Things” actress Sadie Sink) is revealed to be a character with “unique abilities”… a character that keen Marvel observers should be very familiar with.  

But how does Peter Parker/Spider-Man fit into all of this? There has to be a salient reason his metamorphosis is taking place.


My theory is that the genetically evolving Parker will be part of the new-look X-Men group. Yes, I know that sounds bizarre, but the possibility is there. 

Including Spider-Man in an upcoming X-Men reboot would be a smart way to spur interest. Moreover, it would pave the way for better box office potential. 

We’ve seen a lot of attempts to revitalize the X-Men movie franchise in the past. They need a new hook to get wary (and weary) viewers interested again.  

Practical considerations like this have to be considered in the current theatrical climate. 

I could be wrong, but that’s how I’m reading the tea leaves at the moment.

SOME THINGS I LIKED

One of the stronger characters featured in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is Frank Castle/Punisher (Jon Bernthal). 

This incarnation of the character is pulled from Marvel’s “The Punisher” TV series (that also starred Bernthal). 


I haven’t watched the series, but I think I might check it out after seeing Castle in action in “Brand New Day.” 

Castle provides a rough-and-tumble “blue collar” sensibility to the movie. The character ends up aiding and working alongside Spider-Man. The odd-couple dynamic between the two is pretty entertaining. Overall, Castle was a nice addition to the lineup. 

It was also nice to see “red-hot” actor Tramell Tillman in the film playing Bill Metzger (who is head of the Department of Damage Control). 


Tillman is best known for playing Seth Milchick in the Apple TV series “Severance” (a terrific show, by the way). He also played a naval officer in last year’s “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.” 

Even though it isn’t the biggest role, Tillman gives you a lot with what little he has to work with. 

In addition to the new characters, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has a new director on board. 

The previous head of the “current era” Spider-Man franchise was Jon Watts. 

This time out, Destin Daniel Cretton was tasked with the directing duties. 

Cretton previously directed the 2018 Marvel movie “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (read my review). 

In my review of “Shang-Chi” I wrote, “the likable vibe of [“Shang-Chi”] makes for a surprisingly strong viewing experience.”  

I think he was an effective choice to lead this entry in the “Spider-Man” series. 

The overall look and feel of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is different than the past films in the series. I liked the new vibe. 

I am hoping he directs more Marvel movies down the road. 

FRIENDS FOREVER, RIGHT? 

A key theme winding its way through “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is the future of Peter’s relationship with MJ and Ned. 

The three were a capable trio in the previous Spider-Man movies. More than that, there was a likable dynamic between the characters. 


I think one of the reasons “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is doing as well as it is at the box office has to do with Peter’s inner-turmoil as he lives a life without them, while yearning to be reunited with them. 

It has been a difficult four years for Parker. 

All of this makes Spider-Man a very relatable hero for the moviegoing audience. 

In my opinion, that is what ranks him among the best in the current crop of Marvel Cinematic Universe characters.

FINAL THOUGHTS 

For more than a decade, Marvel movies largely shaped the theater-going experience. They stood as stalwart tentpoles annually at the box office. 

It has been a rocky road for the Marvel Cinematic Universe the past five years, but there are hopeful signs on the horizon. 


“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is a step in the right direction. It is an exciting movie with great visual effects and some terrific action sequences (although, my littlest nephew said he wished there was MORE action in the movie 😉). 

All that said, the key selling point of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is the human side of the story. We feel for Peter Parker as he deals with the emotional turmoil brought on by the decisions he has made. 

We sense his inner struggle as he attempts to reconcile an existential crisis brought on by factors outside of his control. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is at its best when the human dynamic is at its strongest. 

This is one of the strongest superhero movies in recent memory. 

Rated PG-13, Runtime: 2 hrs, 25 min 


>> If you enjoyed my review of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” consider following me on X/Twitter: @TheJonCrunch 

Additional blog posts on “Spider-Man”: 





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Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Movie Review: “Project Hail Mary” is Amazing


By Jon Brooks 

The last time I watched a movie in the theater was July 2025. We took our nephew to see “Jurassic World Rebirth.” 

It was one of only two movies I viewed in a theater last year (the other was “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”). 

My movie habits have certainly changed in recent years. But for most of my life, attending movies in the theater was a near weekly occurrence. 

I’m not going to be one of those people who complains that there “aren’t any good movies anymore.” There are plenty of movies I enjoy. 

But the reality is that I yearn for the sort of original, non-sequel “popcorn movies” we saw in the 1980s and 90s. 

Studios desperately cling to the idea that viewers want 52 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies that — with each passing year — feel more and more like homework to keep track of than a light, fun movie-going experience.

“Project Hail Mary” arrived in theaters this past weekend, reminding viewers how much fun a standalone spectacle can be at the movies. 


“Project Hail Mary” is the theatrical adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name. 

Weir also wrote “The Martian,” which was adapted into a hit 2015 film starring Matt Damon. His second novel “Artemis” (read my review) is also being developed into a movie. 

Weir has a knack for writing sci-fi novels with likable characters and intriguing premises, mixing it all together a heaping dose of techno jargon. Through three novels, the concoction has proved itself to be surprisingly compelling. 

Each time I read one of his novels, I’m curious to see how they are going to adapt it for the big screen. 


“Project Hail Mary” centers around middle school science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling). Grace is also a former molecular biologist. 

But in the early stages of the story, our protagonist doesn’t recall those facts… or any salient details of his life. He wakes up from a medically-induced coma on a space ship — a vessel heading to a distant solar system far away from Earth. 

His two crew mates died at some point during the ship’s multi-year journey. Grace is alone, confused, and scared as he tries to wrap his head around his current predicament. 


The movie (like the book) alternates between present day scenes and a series of flashbacks as our hero pieces together details of his past and tries to solve what brought him to this point. 

Overall, the narrative structure works. 

We soon learn that Grace and his compatriots were sent on a mission to save Earth. Specifically, the Sun is dimming. A mysterious microorganism dubbed “Astrophage” is causing the problem. If it isn’t stopped, the amount of sunlight reaching Earth will be too dim to sustain life in its present form. 


This effort creates the main hook for the storyline in “Project Hail Mary.” 

I know what you’re thinking. The plot sounds fairly similar to Christopher Nolan’s 2014 film “Interstellar.” 

While “Project Hail Mary” does hit some of the same beats, the tone is decidedly less brooding in nature. 


The stakes are just as high, but “Project Hail Mary” infuses doses of humor and levity to keep the audience engaged. 

It’s a smart choice that sets it apart from similar sci-fi fare. 

Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller deserve much of the credit for that. 

Lord and Miller have directed family-friendly flicks like “The Lego Movie” and the comedic “21 Jump Street” franchise. They produced and co-wrote the animated “Spider-Verse” movies for Sony (read my review of “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”). 

They were also originally at the helm of “Solo: A Star Wars Movie” (read my review), but were fired after four-and-a-half months of filming. Ron Howard was brought in to reshoot much of that movie. I have always wondered what the Lord and Miller version of “Solo” would have been like (had they been given leeway to do what they wanted to do). 

The talented pair has shown an ability to bring a stylistic flair and energy to the projects they work on. 

Those talents are certainly on display in “Project Hail Mary.” 

The movie is bright and colorful, and the set of the Hail Mary spaceship is fascinating to look at. 


The screenplay adaptation of Weir’s novel was written by Drew Goddard. Goddard also wrote the screenplay for Weir’s 2011 novel “The Martian.” 

Having read all three of Weir’s novels, it seems like it would be quite a challenge to synthesize his stories into a sensible screenplay. “Project Hail Mary” is Weir’s most ambitious novel to date (the book is more than 500 pages long).

But Goddard seems to have the “Midas touch” in that regard.  


While there are certain parts of the novel that were tweaked and/or removed for the movie, Goddard did an excellent job whittling things down to fit in the 156-minute runtime. 

The film is paced well and it retains the unique DNA of Weir’s novel. 

In my opinion, the biggest challenge for the filmmakers was the alien creature Rocky. The character is encountered by Grace during his mission and has been featured in various trailers and promotional materials for the film. 


Weir spent considerable time in the novel describing the melodic language of the character (musical notes were used in the book’s printed text) and put a lot of effort into creating a rationale for the creature’s physiology.

I wasn’t sure how it would translate to the screen, but they did a credible job pulling it off. It could have been really cheesy, but the character worked. It is an impressive feat considering the fact that the filmmakers opted to primarily use a puppet for Rocky (with CGI enhancements where needed). 


There were also a few nice supporting performances in the movie. 

One character that should be highlighted is Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller). She leads the international task force addressing the global Astrophage crisis and is the individual who recruits Grace for the project. 


Hüller does a good job creating the “blunt school marm” vibe of the character in the novel. You can see the weight she carries as she’s tasked with saving humanity. 

(In the movie, the character mentions that she grew up in East Germany. In the book, she was Dutch.) 

One other aspect of the production I’d like to highlight is the film’s score by Daniel Pemberton. I’m actually listening to the soundtrack as I type this. 

Pemberton’s score takes a different approach than the soundtracks often featured in these sorts of films. It would have been very easy to do some sort of grandiose orchestral score that sounded like a cheap Hans Zimmer ripoff. 

Instead, Pemberton’s score has moments of electronic bouyancy and whimsy. There are also passages that sound almost tribal in nature. 


In addition, there are some haunting choral arrangements in the soundtrack that bring a religious flavor to certain heady moments in the movie. 

Put together with the pop music featured in the film (such as Harry Styles’ hit “Sign of the Times”), the musical underpinnings give “Project Hail Mary” a unique spirit. 


I want to mention what a fan of Ryan Gosling I’ve become the past decade. 

I remember thinking how much presence he had (with very little dialogue) in 2017’s “Blade Runner 2049” (read my review). 

While he has proven his chops doing brooding protagonists, he’s also shown considerable range creating endearing characters in broad comedies like “The Fall Guy” and the stylish hipster musical “La La Land” (read my review). 

In an age where people say there “aren’t really any movie stars anymore,” Gosling is one of this generation’s most compelling actors. 

He did a terrific job balancing the comedic, poignant, and tragic moments in “Project Hail Mary.”  

Ryland Grace epitomizes the “reluctant hero” in fiction. Gosling’s performance fits the character’s self-effacing demeanor to a T. 


Gosling is starring in the upcoming film “Star Wars: Starfighter” (directed by Shawn Levy). I’m curious to see if he can infuse new life into the “Star Wars” franchise (which has had its struggles in recent years). He might just be the actor to pull it off.

I could probably type a thousand more words about “Project Hail Mary,” but I’m going to leave you with this thought. 

Numerous fans online have pointed out the religious undertones in “Project Hail Mary.” In particular, the ship in the movie is called the Hail Mary and our protagonist’s name is Ryland Grace. 

It has been theorized that it could be a nod to the Catholic prayer "Hail Mary, full of Grace." 

At a time when movie theaters are struggling to bring back audiences to pre-pandemic levels, “Project Hail Mary” reminds us what a magical experience it can be to watch an original, energetic, and lovingly-crafted “popcorn movie” at the cinema. 

Gosling himself addressed this issue to fans at a recent screening of “Project Hail Mary.” The video clip has gone viral, and what he said to the attendees has struck a chord: 


“It’s not your job to keep [theaters] open, it’s our job to make things that make it worth you coming out…” 

“Project Hail Mary” is one of those movies that’s worth the price of admission. 

See it on the biggest screen you can find (I watched it on an IMAX screen… and it was amazing!) 

Totally recommended. 

Rated PG-13, Runtime: 2 hrs, 36 min 


>> If you enjoyed my review of “Project Hail Mary,” be sure to follow me on Twitter/X: @TheJonCrunch 


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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Book Review: "Without Sanction" By Don Bentley


By Jon Brooks  

This review is long overdue. 

I have been following Don Bentley since his debut novel “Without Sanction” was published in 2020. 

I have subsequently purchased all four novels in his Matt Drake thriller series, the four Jack Ryan, Jr. novels he wrote for the Tom Clancy estate, and the two Mitch Rapp novels he has written for the Vince Flynn estate (a third — titled “Double Tap” — is on the way later this year). 

I first read “Without Sanction” in 2023. In fact, I tweeted on March 27 of that year that I was gearing up to write my review. 


My plan had been to read and review all of Bentley’s novels leading up to the publication of his novel “Capture or Kill” (his first contribution to the Mitch Rapp franchise — read my review). 

So what happened? Why didn’t I stay on course?

I’m not exactly sure. A lot was going on at the time. 

We were still dealing with the aftermath of my dad’s death. It was also the last month of college hockey season (we run a fan site and do a podcast in support of the University of Nebraska at Omaha Maverick Hockey team). 

And — let’s face it — my mind darts from one thing to another like a cat tracking a laser pointer. 

As a result of all this, I didn’t get my review done, and have been in something of a holding pattern ever since. 

I’ve wanted to read and review the Matt Drake novels Bentley has penned, but the “completionist” in me couldn’t move forward until I reviewed his first contribution to the literary world. 


The particulars of “Without Sanction” had started to fade in my mind during the intervening years. 

I don’t often re-read novels, but a few weeks ago I said, “I think I’m going to read ‘Without Sanction’ again.” 

So I spent a week doing that very thing. 

I was immediately reminded what a terrific debut novel it is. (I was also reminded how many details I had forgotten.)

“Without Sanction” introduces readers to Defense Intelligence Agency case officer and former Army Ranger Matt Drake. 

As the novel begins, we find our protagonist sitting at a shoe-shine stand in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, having hallucinations about a Syrian toddler he had met while he was working with her family in the field — a family that ultimately ended up getting murdered.  

As a result of his psychological trauma, our hero has abandoned both his job and his wife Laila.

It has become a Monday/Friday ritual for Drake to hang out at the stand as he attempts to reunite with his wife, who travels through the airport each week. 

Each time he sees her, she morphs into a vision of Abir’s dead mother — something he just can’t deal with. 

As he is sitting at the shoe-shine stand on this particular day, weighing whether or not to board the plane to D.C. with his wife, he is approached by a man with a gun and he receives a phone call from his former boss, DIA Branch Chief James Glass. 

A CIA paramilitary team’s covert mission to take down a chemical weapons lab in Syria went awry, resulting in the loss of operators and a Black Hawk helicopter. 

A new chemical weapon was discovered during the operation, but the team failed to get a usable sample. The facility itself wasn’t where the weapon was being developed. 

The Pakistani scientist who created it, code named Einstein, contacts the intelligence community. He is willing to turn over the weapon and reveal the location of the lab. 

But he will only do it on the condition that former handler Matt Drake is the individual who extracts him. 

Drake, having no desire to get pulled back into his former life, soon finds himself in the Middle East. 

As he maneuvers across Syria, he learns that things aren’t as they seem. The mission is anything but cut-and-dry. To make matters worse, there are forces beyond his control that would like to see the operation (and Drake) fail. 

The disillusioned Drake will have to fight tooth and nail as he tries to stay alive and save the free world. 

”This operation was going to be one for the record books.”  

Bentley does a good job weaving various plot threads together throughout “Without Sanction.” 

He uses an alternating “first person/third person” structure for the novel’s narrative. 

Drake’s chapters are told in the first person point of view, employing the character’s voice in those passages. 

The other chapters — largely centered around White House Chief of Staff Peter Redman — are written in the third person point of view. 

You don’t often see alternating points of view in the same novel, but it is a technique that I have enjoyed in the past. 

The first time I read a novel structured in such a manner was Nelson DeMille’s 2000 thriller “The Lion’s Game.” It was DeMille’s second novel featuring protagonist John Corey, and it created a distinct contrast between the protagonist and the antagonist in the story. 

The technique works well in “Without Sanction.” Having read numerous novels in this genre, you’ll sometimes find that authors’ protagonists start to blur together. The first-person voice helps Matt Drake stand out among his literary peers. 

The supporting cast in “Without Sanction” is also pretty compelling. 

Drake’s friend, colleague, and former bodyguard Frederick Cates — call sign Frodo — is one such character. 

The former Delta Force sniper was “on loan” to the DIA when he sustained debilitating injuries during an operation with Drake. 

Frodo lost an arm and walks with the assistance of a cane, but the former operator still has Drake’s back (albeit, in a much different capacity). 

Protagonists in these sorts of novels often have a sidekick, and Frodo is one of the more uniquely drawn characters I’ve seen in this space. 

Another supporting character I enjoyed was Zain. Zain is one of Drake’s Syrian assets — a rough-and-tumble businessman who transports weapons to rebel groups across the country. 

I also enjoyed the chapters featuring the “political maneuverings” in “Without Sanction.” 

Watching Peter Redman (who is working to get President Jorge Gonzales re-elected) go toe-to-toe with CIA Director Beverly Castle (who has presidential aspirations of her own) reminded me of the kind of D.C. scheming we’ve seen in the best Vince Flynn and Brad Thor novels. 

“Men like us don’t quit. We stay until they carry us out in a wooden box.” 

Bentley also isn’t afraid to put his protagonist through the wringer. 

As I mentioned earlier, Matt Drake has to fight “tooth and nail” during his operation (and sacrifices a few teeth and nails along the way). Our hero has flaws and weaknesses, and Bentley wisely avoided making his protagonist invincible (which is all too tempting in this genre). 

It takes skill to do that using a first person point of view for the lead character, and Bentley did a masterful job creating doubt about Drake’s fate as he got tossed around Syria like a rag doll. 

Through my affiliation with the Mitch Rapp Ambassador program, I have been able to get to know Bentley a bit in recent years. It is fun to get to meet the authors behind the books I enjoy. 


Bentley’s publisher just released the cover art for his next Mitch Rapp thriller (for the Vince Flynn estate) titled “Double Tap.” I am looking forward to reading that book and am excited to see Bentley on tour later this year. 


In the meantime, you might want to dive into Bentley’s Matt Drake series. 

I really enjoyed “Without Sanction.” It is a solid debut that introduces a compelling protagonist in Matt Drake. The story is crisp, fast-paced, and is a great example of why I love this genre so much.

Highly recommended! 

To learn more about Don Bentley, visit his website at donbentleybooks.com. 

Click here to order “Without Sanction.” 

Click here to order his upcoming thriller “Double Tap.” 

>> If you enjoyed my review of Don Bentley’s “Without Sanction,” be sure to follow me on Twitter/X: @TheJonCrunch 

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Sunday, February 1, 2026

Book Review: “Cold Zero” By Brad Thor and Ward Larsen


By Jon Brooks 

Aviation-centered thrillers have certainly grabbed the public’s imagination recently. 

Whether we are talking about T.J. Newman’s thriller “Falling” (read my review) or the Netflix movie “Carry-On” (which ranks as one of the streamer’s most-watched movies), we’ve seen some terrific stories built around airplanes, airports, and the world of aviation. 

Brad Thor and fellow novelist Ward Larsen have entered the fray with “Cold Zero.” 

Both writers have had fruitful careers in the thriller genre — Thor with his venerable Scot Harvath series and Larsen with his David Slaton thrillers. (Larsen has also published a number of standalone novels.) 

I have read and reviewed books by both authors on this blog and was thrilled to receive an advance reader copy of “Cold Zero” from the publisher.  

The narrative in “Cold Zero” centers around Hemisphere Airlines Flight 777, an ultra first-class carrier geared toward high-end clients. 

In the opening pages of the novel, the CIA manages to extract Dr. Chen Li (a computer scientist) from China and puts him on the Hemisphere flight— a flight that is bound for New York City. 

Along for the ride is a technology he invented called Sky Fire — a suite of software that has the ability to give geopolitical superiority to those who control it. 

Dr. Li is under the watch of a CIA officer named Kasey Sheridan. 

When the airliner crashes in the Arctic Circle under mysterious circumstances, Li and Sheridan find themselves in a fight to survive and a fight to keep Sky Fire from falling into the wrong hands. 

Forces from the United States, Russia, and China are soon in the game as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. 

“Cold Zero” is a survival story with touches of Tom Clancy’s “The Hunt for Red October” and Alistair MacLean’s “Ice Station Zebra.” 

Despite the novel’s frigid setting, “Cold Zero” is a cool “beach read.” The chapters are short and snappy and the overall story chugs along at top speed. 

Larsen’s experience as a pilot is on display in the novel. He flew more than 20 missions while serving in the U.S. Air Force during Operation Desert Storm. He has also been an airline pilot and is a trained aircraft accident investigator. 

Aviation-related sequences have been solid in his previous novels and they are strong again in “Cold Zero.”  

Thor recently announced on NBC’s “Today” that “Cold Zero” is set to be made into a movie by Netflix. 

According to Deadline, “True Detective” creator Nic Pizzolatto will adapt the screenplay and Peter Berg (who directed “Lone Survivor” and the underrated thriller “The Kingdom”) is set to produce under his Film 44 banner (which has a first-look deal with Netflix). 

Overall, the Thor/Larsen “team up” for “Cold Zero” has resulted in an action-packed novel that serves as a terrific introduction to two of today’s best thriller writers. 

Highly recommended. 

Click here to order your copy of “Cold Zero” 

To learn more about Brad Thor, visit bradthor.com. 

To learn more about Ward Larsen, visit wardlarsen.com. 

>> If you enjoyed my review of “Cold Zero,” please follow me on Twitter/X - @TheJonCrunch 

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