Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Hunting Taylor Brown is a novel written by Rhys Hagan. Returned war vet, Jesse Wishman, is no stranger to controversy or breaking the rules when it comes to saving innocent lives. After having received bad intel in Iraq, the non-compliance of a direct order from their commanding officer had led to Jesse and fellow platoon brother, Ryan Hall, being awarded a medal when it was discovered how many lives they had saved that day. Six years later in Shoremont, local bar owner and mafia boss, Cameron Brown, is a very busy and powerful man, ensuring that things always go his way, while crushing those who’d dared cross him. When his young daughter, Taylor, is kidnapped from school by a man dressed in a police uniform, Cameron offers five million dollars to anyone who brings the kidnapper to him personally, dead or alive, with a further twenty million offered for his daughter’s safe return. Now working as a detective, Jesse is called in urgently for an update on the kidnapping, only to discover that his former platoon brother is the chief suspect. Having been in the wrong place at the right time, Ryan knows the identity of the real kidnapper and has photographic evidence to prove it, but with the entire police force, the local mafia and surrounding biker gangs out for his blood, Jesse tells Ryan to stay hidden, while desperately trying to clear his name without getting them both killed. With time fast running out, Ryan needs to get a scared and injured Taylor safely home to her family before both he and the truth are silenced forever.

I have to say that this is one of the most interesting, action-packed books I have read in a long time. Rhys Hagan’s tale of an honorable soldier wrongly accused while helping an innocent to escape death kept my pulse racing from beginning to end. There are so many stories told within a single novel, and each one portrays characters which are confronting and very realistic. Two soldiers keeping their integrity intact, using their survival skills and continuing to protect the innocent brought a real warmth to the story. Reading the intricate details of every scene was not unlike watching a blockbuster film which keeps the viewer not wanting to blink in case they miss something vital. Hunting Taylor Brown is definitely one of the high-end novels which I have read and I enjoyed every single page. Knowing that there is a sequel on its way excites me to no end, and I can hardly wait to see what is next in store for the people of Shoremont. I recommend this book to mature readers who like a well-rounded, action-packed thriller which keeps you on the edge of your seat from the moment you start reading.