Ryan Steck

Eight stars

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Ryan Steck, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Ted Bell’s Lord Alex Hawke series, I approached this fourteenth installment with cautious optimism following Bell’s passing. Handing over a long-running, beloved series is never easy—and too often the results are uneven. Ryan Steck, however, proves once again that he is more than equal to the task in his second novel within the series. This novel doesn’t merely continue Alex Hawke’s adventures; it honors Bell’s legacy while confidently pushing the series forward.

Lord Alexander Hawke has never lacked formidable adversaries, but his latest foe—the shadowy and destabilising Warmonger—raises the stakes considerably. As alliances fracture and global tensions mount, Hawke uncovers a dangerous web that points toward a far larger and more elusive power. Tasked with an audacious mission for the Crown, Hawke must travel into Russia to retrieve a letter of immense historical and political significance—one that could alter how the British monarchy is viewed on the world stage. Working alongside a document expert, Hawke is forced to confront not only the dangers of the mission but deeper truths about himself and his family’s past.

Running parallel to Hawke’s journey is an equally compelling storyline involving Ambrose Congreve, who finds himself tracking a mysterious assassin known only as Silence—an operative with their own chaotic agenda. Steck skillfully weaves these threads together, mirroring Hawke’s present-day mission with a historical undertaking by one of his ancestors. The result is a layered, fast-moving narrative that blends espionage, history, and personal sacrifice with impressive control.

What stands out most is how naturally Steck inhabits this world. The pacing is relentless—short chapters propel the story forward at breakneck speed—yet the novel never feels rushed. Instead, it feels purposeful. Steck preserves the sharp dialogue, globe-trotting adventure, and unapologetic swagger that defined Bell’s work, while adding emotional depth and thoughtful character development. Hawke, in particular, emerges as a more fully realised figure here, shaped not only by duty and danger but by legacy.

Characterisation across the board is strong. Familiar faces retain their voices and energy, while historical figures are woven into the narrative with the same bold, unfiltered approach longtime readers expect. Secondary characters are given room to breathe, reinforcing the foundation Bell built while expanding the series’ emotional range.

Plotwise, this novel delivers exactly what fans hope for—high-stakes intrigue, expertly planted twists, and genuinely surprising developments. At times, the story hints at a sense of reckoning or possible finality, but rather than diminishing the experience, this only heightens the tension. If anything, it left me eager to see where Steck might take Hawke next.

As a self-confessed purist, I don’t say this lightly: Ryan Steck has proven himself a worthy steward of the Alex Hawke legacy. This is not just a continuation—it’s a confident, thrilling evolution of the series. Longtime fans will be more than satisfied, and new readers will find a polished, exhilarating entry point into one of modern spy fiction’s most enduring franchises.

Kudos, Mr. Steck, for keeping Alex Hawke as an edgy and worthy protagonist throughout.

Eight stars

Having enjoyed the Lord Alex Hawke series by Ted Bell, I was not sure where things might go when the author passed away. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Ryan Steck had taken up the cause and penned the lucky thirteenth novel in the series, if only to extend Hawke’s adventures a bit. This was surely a great addition to the series, as the new British king has been abducted for reasons as yet unknown. Hawke and his team are sent in to investigate under the radar and return Charles III before it becomes public knowledge. What begins as a simple rescue soon opens up as family trees and a group wanting to open old wounds emerges. How will Hawke handle it all and where are things headed next? All this and more come to light in Steck’s great continuation of the well-established series.

Lord Alexander Hawke has never shied away from adventure and dramatic outcomes. His latest mission quelling an attack on the high seas outside of Antarctica is an example of that, though it was also highly costly. The only thing that Hawke needs to salve his wounds is time away from the action at his Teakettle Cottage in Bermuda. However, they say that rest is for the wicked and the lazy, neither of which describe the man. Hawke soon finds himself pulled into a mission that is more than just capturing criminals, but might be the one chance to save the realm from complete disaster.

Longtime friend and former Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard Ambrose Congreve calls on Lord Hawke with sensational news. As Britain is set to watch another vote on Scotland’s independence, the new monarch has disappeared from his vacation home at Balmoral Castle. Charles III was apparently abducted while out on a stroll and panic is rife within the British Government. While no one wants to leak it to the press, there is a dire need to find the king before the vote. Hawke is tasked by the new prime minister to locate Charles III within 72 hours or the news will have to come out. Worries that the truth will derail the current Scottish vote are compiled when it is clear that other parts of the British realm are in danger without a clear Head of State.

While Hawke tries to track down the king, news out of Cuba is just as troubling. It appears as though someone has been shipping a highly destructive nerve agent across th Atlantic, with hopes of using it to stir up trouble in Northern Ireland. Hawke’s partner, Stokely Jones, will have to use his mental acuity to follow that lead in order to keep the peace and provide some direction. With Charles III and the threat to the British monarchy in trouble, the truth surrounding the kidnapping becomes clear to Hawke. A dissident group claiming that they have the ‘true’ monarch ready to take the throne stirs up history and old skirmishes with the various Houses involved in the transfer of power during the Stuart era. With time working against them and the vote on the horizon, Lord Hawke will have to work swiftly or face more than personal disappointment. A great addition to the serie that leaves things open to see if Ryan Steck hs more plans for Lord Alex Hawke in the future.

While I am a purist at heart, I realise that, sometimes, a good series cannot end simply when the author passes on. I have seen a mix of great successes and utter failures when new authors arrive to grab the reins. In reading this first novel after Ted Bell has died, I was impressed with how Ryan Steck handled things. His attention to detail is clear in capturing the essence of the piece and adding new angles in the narrative. The foundation of the story mirrors what Bell might have done and delves deeply into the Hawke connection to all things royal. The characters keep their flavrouing and left me feeling as though this was Bell writing. as Steck has been able to keep things moving in ways that are familiar to series fans. The story itself moved along well, with plot points I would expect from the series and keeps the reader on edge as they push through this adventure. I was eager to see what Steck would do and he has not disappointed. I hope there is more Lord Hawke to come and that Ryan Steck remains a part of things. as he ‘gets’ the Bell nuances and works them well!

Kudos, Mr. Steck, for taking up the torch to shed light on this great series.