Use of Force

As the Mediterranean summer builds toward what intelligence agencies fear will be a spectacular terrorist attack, a body washes ashore on an Italian beach and is identified as a high-value suspect who disappeared three years ago. Navy SEAL turned covert operator Scot Harvath is pulled in on a black contract to find out where the man was going and what he was planning, following a trail that runs from Italy's coast into the heart of a conspiracy that has been meticulously prepared. Brad Thor's sixteenth Harvath novel is built around the specific dread of an attack that is known to be coming but whose form and timing remain unknown.

Armand Schultz brings the Harvath series' combination of tactical thriller and procedural tradecraft to life with practiced command, giving the Mediterranean setting its proper summer-heat tension. His Harvath is decisive and resourceful without being superhuman, and Schultz keeps the supporting cast distinct across the international ensemble. At just under twelve hours, this is a tightly constructed thriller that delivers on its premise.