Wrong Town: A Mark Landry Novel

I read Wrong Town at the behest of the author's mother. So you can only imagine what I expected--not much... Boy, was I wrong. Randall Miller is a savvy new author in the field of counter terrorism. He has an impressive military background that shines through every aspect of the plot and character development. His characters are real people with faults and flaws like the rest of us. The plot develops through a long chain of brief chapters with a tiny cliff hanger at the end of everyone of them. There are a lot of folks out there who would love to have Mr Miller's knowledge and skills, but most important is his ability to crFt a believBle plot with believable characters that draw you in to the story and the intrigue. Want something to keep your attention for a few hours? Read this one! Hard to put down!

A new author for me and he wrote one amazing story! So "today" and had me hooked from the first page. So many twists and turns and I did not think it was predictable in any way ! Picking the Wrong Town to have a practice run through of a horrid plan is the icing on cake .
! We get to meet some very interesting people as we weave in and out of the story. I love Clancey and Couch and will now add R.Miller to my fast action gov't - authors! Congratulations , it is quite a read ! Look forward to MORE!

You have to start somewhere and I think that this is a good first effort. I will read the second book when it comes out. But that might be it. Being a fan of Reacher, Robbie, Quinn and many more in this vein, I think that Mr. Miller holds some promise. But I do think that sometimes the book is a bit too predictable and clean. Maybe before heading forward, the next book could take a hard look back at what formed Mark. For what is hinted at, he is too clean and not as complex as one would think. I have no doubt that he will do what needs to be done to get to his objective and what he does at the end of the book hints at that. But he needs to be a bit more affected and formed.

Any book that I can finish gets an automatic two stars from me. The third star is because I enjoyed what Mr. Miller tried to do here.

The lack of any additional stars is due to what I took to be an attempt at too many subplots to manage in the manner to which I feel certain he aspires, and which I expect he will eventually reach.

I have no plans to read any of his older works, but I look forward to the next, and will read it when it becomes available.

Mark Landry returns to his hometown, where he was adopted and raised by Agnes Landry and mentored by Father Peck. After his last mission, he has to decide if he'll return working as a covert operator or is it time to retire. Although he does not know what he'll do for work, he does have a love interest in Luci, the girl from his childhood. Then, terrorists set off a bomb on Founders Field in this small town and Mark has to take action. A reasonably good story! A little complicated with lots going on!

Pretty slow moving story. If you're looking for a good action read, this has very limited amounts of that. Mostly story and character development. I almost set it down after the first 100 pages, but was waiting on another book in the mail the next day, so kept reading. Turned out to be an ok read, but not sure I'll read another in the series. Has the premise to be really good, some of the characters are pretty interesting. And character wise it's an interesting read. But it's just too boring to me.

I don't know if I came into the middle of a series. The writing was good. Character development was good, but things never really got exciting. Where I expected extreme tension, it was treated like another day. The lead is almost scary in the way he compartmentalizes, and that is bothersome. I felt like I let waiting for a climax that never came. Though the ending was satisfying, I just wasn't that moved by the book. Though it was still a fast paced, good read.

Interesting plot. Might very well have been ripped out of today's headlines. Keeps the readers interest, and keeps the pages turning. Did not give 5 stars for two reasons: first there was too much coincidence of extraordinary people who happened to live in the same cul de sac; second there was a huge loose end at the end, that none of the characters seemed the slightest bit concerned about.

I don't see why all the acclaim for this book. The story is very predicable and the character is ok, nothing more. No comparison to Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan or Mitch Rapp. Sorry, but with all the hype, this was a disappointment.

Interesting plot. Might very well have been ripped out of today's headlines. Keeps the readers interest, and keeps the pages turning. Did not give 5 stars for two reasons: first there was too much coincidence of extraordinary people who happened to live in the same cul de sac; second there was a huge loose end at the end, that none of the characters seemed the slightest bit concerned about.

I don't see why all the acclaim for this book. The story is very predicable and the character is ok, nothing more. No comparison to Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan or Mitch Rapp. Sorry, but with all the hype, this was a disappointment.

Congratulations Randall on what I expect will become a hit series. You laid a strong foundation by developing solid characters while telling an exciting story that is extremely relevant in today's society. It is hard to believe this was your first novel. RIP Robert Parker, Jesse Stone could be in for some competition.
Andrew Taylor 99

Average book. Tried to make it epic with many characters and subplots but in reality it is very simple, and things just seem to end including the actual book itself. If there are others coming unless they're $2 I won't be buying.

I'm sitting here trying to figure out why my rating is so different than the others...were we reading the same book? Are they "fake" reviews from friends, etc? No clue. The first half of the book started out pretty well. Decent premise, good background (although even then I felt the character's dialogue was lightweight and unremarkable). Too many subplots without building the characters well. Really unbelievable dialogue between Mark and his long time love interest (he sounded like he was hitting on someone in a bar most of the time). It had some decent elements, and plotting - but just executed in an amateurish way compared to similar genre authors. If I had paid $1.99 for the book I might've felt I was supporting a new author and it was ok; at $9.99, I feel ripped off. All I can say is don't go by the reviews when making your decision. It is simply impossible to believe that they are all "valid".

Usually read 50 - 60 books a yr. from the library. This was my first on a new Fire. Sure will not be my last. Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!! Great Author, excellent character & very in tune with current events. MORE! MORE! MORE!

Agonizingly slow,with little plot development in its progression, and too many random characters that add nothing to the read. A time killer at best. This should draw no comparison at all to Lee Child or his character Jack Teacher,which was the reason this book was recommended to me in the first place by a ad on Facebook.

The story could have been interesting but a series of flat, undredeveloped characters marred the book. The dialogue between characters rang hollow and unrealistic most of the time, and in a few cases, the resolution of conflicts was predictable. This writing, character development, and plot line was not on a par with Vince Flynn, as advertised. It was far from it.

It was worth the read not worth what I paid. Too many facets and not involved enough to keep all the characters going. Slow down fella the idea behind this book is fabulous. I agree with one of the other critics he needs an editor. Did I enjoy it? Sure! Will I read another? Probably and will complain about the price. :-)

Fascinating book and inline with the times. I didn't love this book. At times, I was hoping the author would move on in a more timely manner. I was fascinated by the reviews saying they could not put it down. There were places where it felt like that but only in a few situations.

I would call this a mediocre story at best. It's like watching a movie made from your favorite book and having the movie turned back into a book. The level of descriptive narratives that I've come to enjoy In Lee Child, Stephen King and Louis LaMour was exponential ally missing. I suppose it is a good story with contemporary perils but I was never fully engaged in the lives or the actions of the hero Mark or the heroine love interest. I didn't care for the story jumps. It was as if the author wouldn't or couldn't tell the reader how hew pull resolve the conflict. By the next chapter it was resolved with no thought of bringing me the reader along for the adventure or at least to observe from the shadows. I will stick with my initial assessment: my favorite book made into a movie and then back into a book with a bunch of pages missing.

I read about a book per week. 431 pages is a hefty read for a few days, but this book kept my attention and I finished it in less than 4 days.

The dialog among the main characters is realistic -- not manufactured, as in many books. The plot twists kept my attention way past my bedtime. I look for a good story, with captivating characters, and good writing -- thus 5 stars for this book.

I'm not a military person and I was skeptical that there might be too much jargon, but the content is deep enough for military buffs and the story will develop interest among people who just like good books. This promises to be a great series.

There is not much I can say but, LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT. The people in the story were so great. I really felt for Frank who I l wanted to do the right thing. Mark however is a really great guy in this story. There was the letter from Agnes that I could not believe a man really wrote that for a book. It brought me to tears as a couple of other places.

If you have ever read a David Baldacci book, then you will love this one. Don't pass it up.

Story line was pretty slow....the action didn't start until about 75% of the way through the book and then it was resolved quickly. Overall I like the main character but too much time was spent on his day to day in a small town and not enough on something actually happening. There were lots of threads that mandered and didn't really contribute to the story line. I might read the second book, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so like I do with the series from Lee Child, Baldacci, and Vince Flynn.

I want to go find another Mark Landry novel ASAP, and even as an the store.com Prime member I can get it for free I will pay for this one. Randall Miller has the chops of a seasoned literary veteran. I have not read his author background yet but it probably is military. WT is tightly written for the most part; maybe a few too many subplots but it all resolves satisfactorily. I will definitely follow this author.

This was a very enjoyable read. Unlike many books that dwell on the "action" with page after page of "... then his right fist hit the killer's left eye socket ...." More than one book has caused me to either read one sentence per paragraph or to just skip whole pages. This book was smart and had great sense of what it wanted to say. I'm looking forward to his next book.

Pretty darn good yarn for the first book in an expected series. If you like Ben Coes, Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, or similar authors then you should like this book. Numerous story lines that warp into a final conclusion in generally satisfying manner. Great characters which I'm looking forward to hearing more about in the future. Enjoyable read.

Read this in two nights, nice to read something without pages of boring sex scenes. Someday I'm sure there will be a movie. Will probably read again, slower this time. Will defiantly read more of series.

If you like Jack Reacher type of books, you're going to love Wrong Town. My biggest complaint was my lack of sleep for the week -- I couldn't put the book down! Masterfully written, the story goes from randomly scattered to beautifully entwined, with twists you never saw coming. Worth every penny. Can't wait for Randall H. Miller's next book in the series!

Wow! Wow! Wow! What a great book! Very interesting and detailed character development for a large number of loosely connected people that become VERY connected! Mark Landry is a spec ops warrior contemplating his future after a recently completed mission when his home town is targeted for a terrorist attack...

Authentic, obviously well-researched, and current. The dialogue and the characters were very believable and the plot well-developed. It was fast moving and the short chapters gave the story a feeling of urgency which added to the suspense. Read it in one sitting fully engrossed.

Phenomenal book.

It's an intricately woven story that hits on so many aspects of the complex world in which we all now live. The character development is thorough and compelling, while the plot itself is a literal powder keg, employing a long, crackling fuse that explodes with spectacular effect.

Like Jack Ryan and Jason Bourne before him, Miller's Mark Landry is a character with tremendous potential—the difference being that Landry's battles are playing out in a theater of operations that's becoming all too familiar.

"Wrong Town" is a novel that speaks to a nation wound pretty tight right now, yet avoids exploiting those fears. Not just some jingoistic shoot 'em-up (like so many others in the contemporary military fiction genre), this book is insightful and obviously well-researched.

There are plenty of pragmatic takeaways from "Wrong Town," well beyond the tactical proficiency of the chief protagonist.

Looking forward to the next installment...

Fantastic read, quick pace, keeps you turning the pages terror plot book. Even better, set in my hometown area of the Merrimack Valley. If you like Lee Child, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, etc you must read this book. The plot twists keep you wanting more and keeping you up way past your bedtime. Can not wait for the next one!

I'm a long-time Tom Clancy & Vince Flynn fan and found that this book fits very well into that genre although Miller certainly has his own unique style. As other customers have pointed out the character development in the book is outstanding. But what really brought it to life for me was the exquisite detail. It's obvious that Miller has done extensive research--although that shouldn't be surprising given all of his non-fiction titles. I'm very much looking forward to the next in this series.

I thought Mr. Miller's book was a pretty good read. I'm a big Tom Clancy fan - Mr. Miller's work reminds me more of Mark Greaney, the fellow who continued Clancy's work after his death. While Mr. Miller doesn't go into the level of detail that Clancy does, he did a good job of fleshing out the characters, and weaving the plot lines into a satisfying climax.

Great new thriller. I found this new book a real page turner and can't wait for the next one. Mark Landry is the next Mitch Rapp and Scott Harvath. Miller's style is unique and keeps you glued throughout. If you love thrillers, make sure you don't miss this exciting new series!

Great book that wasn't your typical nuke bomb or similar terrorism scenario. Characters were developed well and it was nice to see civilians helping out! I've also seen Randy Miller train with and without firearms so I know he knows what he's doing compared to just reading about it. Randall Miller will be one of my authors with Thor, Silva, Coes, Child, etc.

A great book - most enjoyable - possessing elements consistent with the real political and international challenges facing America and the American people.
Now - it’s onto the next novel in the series - Mark Landry embodies the present day hero Americans long for.

I absolutely loved it. Great character development. And the most important to me was the way that all the sub stories created throughout the book were wrapped up in a solid way that left me content at the end and not hanging. I understand real life doesn't work like that, but I read these books and expect them to be realistic but also provide a form of entertainment when means that they complete the circle. I can't wait for the next one.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, and thought the author did a great job developing them and making them very realistic. He must have done a lot of research and talked to alot of people that had actually been there and done that to get such a good feel for what the people who do this kind of work are like and how they talk and interact. I thought the plot was first rate also. It was very well developed and suspenseful. I could hardly put the book down! I cant wait for the next one!

Having worked in Law Enforcement and on anti-terrorism issues, I found "Wrong Town" to be a very interesting novel. The theme is quite plausible in light of the "soft target" scenario and one that local law enforcement needs to keep in mind as we continue to deal with terrorism in the world. I am looking forward to Mr. Miller's next novel.

I loved this book! The story is plausible and Landry is a much more believable and realistic operator than most of the characters in the terrorism/special ops thriller genre. He’s not some bulletproof spook performing miracle after miracle. He’s your 39 year old neighbor who just retired with 20 years of special ops service. Laid back and friendly but definitely not a guy you want to mess with. Surrounded by a cast of well developed characters with cool subplots. Bring on the next book already!

Totally enjoyed this book! Being a fan of Vince Flynn, David Baldacci, Mark Dawson and others, this was right up my alley. Author does a great job with weaving the relevant characters into the story. This book had suspense, action, humor and emotion all rolled up into one great story. Looking forward to the next one!

Great read!!..Miller brings you up close and personal.. grabs you off the chair and throws you right into the action. He's a master of blending real world issues, with a "could happen" situational story. I will read it again, and look forward to another Randall H. Miller novel.

A great book filled with interesting characters. The plot was full of surprising twists and turns but always remained plausible. The book compels the reader to ponder important issues of the modern world in an entertaining way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – I read a lot of action adventure. The main character (Mark Landry), while not quite Mitch Rapp or Jack Reacher, is very believable and kicks ass! I'm looking forward to Randall Miller's next book!

This was a thrilling book. I had trouble putting it down. In light of what's happening with terrorism today, this book illustrates what could actually happe. Highly recommend. Looking forward to reading Family Matters.

I can't wait for the next Mark Landry novel. Good story but rather predictable. That's about as much as I can say without giving the plot away.
Would love to see a prequel showing Mark Landry's missions with the Family. Keep up the good work.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – I read a lot of action adventure. The main character (Mark Landry), while not quite Mitch Rapp or Jack Reacher, is very believable and kicks ass! I'm looking forward to Randall Miller's next book!

This was a thrilling book. I had trouble putting it down. In light of what's happening with terrorism today, this book illustrates what could actually happe. Highly recommend. Looking forward to reading Family Matters.

I can't wait for the next Mark Landry novel. Good story but rather predictable. That's about as much as I can say without giving the plot away.
Would love to see a prequel showing Mark Landry's missions with the Family. Keep up the good work.