Nefarious (The Blackwell Files #1) by Steven F. Freeman

Steven F. Freeman has written nine books in The Blackwell Files series. I had already read Tears of God and The Dig (books 7 and 9) and enjoyed them so much I wanted to start at the beginning. That brought me to Nefarious. (The precis is below this review)

I am not usually a reader of war stories and although Nefarious begins during the war in Afghanistan I would not class it as a war story. I think it would be described better as action, mystery, thriller and intrigue, sweetened with just a touch of romance. 

The story starts in Afghanistan then switches to what appears to be an unrelated story back in the USA. Having read two of Mr Freeman’s other Blackwell Files stories I trusted he would bring these together. He did and he did it skilfully.

The combination of alternating locations and stories with short chapters has the reader turning the pages to read “just one more chapter”. 

There is never a dull moment. Mr Freeman is a skilled writer able to combine effective descriptive passages with conciseness.

The greatest appreciation I had of Mr Freeman’s writing was when it came to military terminology and jargon. Being totally ignorant in this field I did not struggle with the war zone or military descriptors.  Any acronyms used are explained and don’t have the reader running to Google to find out what it is about.

Although the first of a series, like Mr Freeman’s other Blackwell Files, it can be read as a stand-alone. You won’t want to stop at one though; his stories and characters are addictive and will have you coming back for more.

The characters are strong and very likeable (well, the goodies are anyway).

Having read later books in the series, I was familiar with the main characters and already liked their personalities, intelligence and compassion. I was particularly interested in how the relationship came about between Alton and Mallory and also how they met Mastana. I wasn’t disappointed and look forward to their personalities and relationships developing as I read the other stories. The other characters are also well developed and easy to like or dislike according to their actions and beliefs in the story.

My rating 4*

Precis

When Army Communications Captain Alton Blackwell takes a hit to the leg while on active duty in Afghanistan, his self-confidence and leg are equally shattered in the explosion. Assigned to a desk job while recovering, Blackwell nonetheless manages to prove his resourcefulness as he matches wits with Al-Qaeda operatives in the dangerous regions of Kabul. Unable to fully heal, he resigns himself to the abrupt end of his military career as well as any hope to win the affections of the beautiful and intelligent Lieutenant Mallory Wilson.

Upon returning state-side, the quiet civilian life is quickly left far behind when Blackwell’s colleague Zach Lambert calls him from a weekend camping trip in the throes of a devastating illness with forbidding implications.

In a story out of today’s headlines, Blackwell and now-FBI Agent Wilson explore the possible diversion of a biotech’s project to develop an improved vaccine, scouring leads at the CDC and biotec company, putting their Army and professional skills to the test, and narrowly escaping agents with a murderous agenda at every turn. The closer they come to the truth, the quicker the bodies pile up, along with the suspects. To get to the bottom of the sinister scheme, can Blackwell still use wits when his body has failed him? And will he survive long enough to tell his colleague of the feelings for her he has long kept secret?