Deep Sleep (Devin Gray Book 1)

I have good news and bad news to report about my First Reads choice, THE DEEP SLEEP. THE DEEP SLEEP is the first novel by prolific author, Steven Konkoly, that I have read. It won't be the last, because I do enjoy a good Spy vs. Spy story.The Good News: THE DEEP SLEEP delighted me right away. It starts out with a BIG BANG and pulled me into the story instantly. A dead woman has left a top secret message for her son, to read after her death. She is a disgraced CIA agent, suspected of being delusional for making unsubstantiated claims regarding a Russian Sleeper network operating in the US. Her family has suffered career setbacks in the 20 years since the CIA cut ties with her. As a result her estrangement from them is complete.When her son gets the message, he is set on the course of an extremely clever treasure hunt, of sorts. This was my favorite part of the book. It was well done and fascinating. The rest of the book is absolutely non stop action. There are several scenes where two opposing clandestine groups face off in battles, leaving a swath of destruction, death and mayhem, to be puzzled out by local authorities. The weapons are awe inspiring and the maneuvering is impressive. THE DEEP SLEEP was a rollicking good fun read. I liked it very muchNow, for the Bad News: THE DEEP SLEEP is the first novel in a 2 part series (I think there is only 2). It is not complete in this volume, nor is there any attempt at a real conclusion. THE DEEP SLEEP is just not a stand alone novel. I (and you) will have to read the next book to get any kind of closure. I know readers hate this, because I do. I would ask that Amazon not include books that are incomplete in future First Read selections. It is such a let down!You'll have to decide for yourself if the good news of it being a great story, outweighs the glaring bad news, that it is not a standalone. For me, It does. Had I known it wasn't a standalone, I probably wouldn't have picked it, so I'm actually glad I didn't know before I selected it.

I'm not the usual audience for suspense/thriller spy stuff, but pickings are slim for First Reads in this new year, & it was more promising than the rest, so...All the acronyms, especially CONTROL, were making me think of Get Smart, lol. Which didn't help set the right mood initially. It's not actually that difficult to figure out which team they're playing for, though some aspects require a modicum of patience.Lots of middle-aged & older spy-guys instead of the young supermen stereotypical to this genre which is a refreshing change. There were some amusing quips related to being the over-the-hill crew. (Don't worry, it's not a mid-life crisis story nor attempting to be a comedy). The protagonists simply use a little dark humor to cope with the ugly stuff they encounter.We get the story from the perspective of Devin, his "crazy" mom & one of the bad guys. And an old girlfriend comes along to help Devin. Enemies become allies, & allies turn out to be enemies.The story is good at building & engaging interest. Devin's mom hands him the puzzle pieces from the grave, & the conspiracy begins to be revealed. With a couple of surprising twists.The middle got to feeling a little bogged down in a couple of places as the convoluted conspiracy becomes untangled , though that might have been my impatience - I don't generally do suspense well, lol. However, as all the pieces are revealed, it races to the exciting conclusion. I was never bored.The ending is good, though it's an 'episode closure' feel for the completion of the main story here, while some of the plot strands remain to-be-continued in future books of this new series.It's got some serious stuff going on & even some gritty moments, but the author isn't heavy-handed about it. I actually enjoyed this enough to share it with my Tom-Clancy-fan husband & to want to read the next installment in the series.Content:Moderate use of swears, including a few f-bombsCasual/irreverent use of the Lord's Name (ie in vain)

After 70 pages of just plain bad writing, I’m quitting. I have no idea who these characters are or what they want or what’s at stake. There’s some action, yes. But what it’s in aid of, I haven’t a clue and really don’t care. The characters are cardboard or derivative (including an apparently psychotic CIA agent/mother convinced of a widespread conspiracy, and her bearded co-worker, somewhat reminiscent of Cary and Sol from “Homeland.”) The settings are described poorly--when they’re described at all. Explanations of the fictional organizations involved are all too vague and confusing. And virtually every page contains some sort of deficiency: a badly written, amateurish sentence, an inappropriate character reaction, an unbelievable or pointless utterance or action, a torturously described meeting—something on every page to interrupt the flow of the novel and keep readers from suspending their disbelief.

When I saw this author's name, I knew this was the novel for me this month. Have read nearly all of his novels and have never been disappointed. And, this one is no exception. The quality of his writing remains superb, as usual.This author has an innate ability to grab the reader's attention from that first page and not let go until the last one... This is also the first one of two novels, but am sure the same intensity will continue in the second.Wishing that I had a Devin Gray at my side as I traverse life's journey. My new hero, for sure. Outstanding, just outstanding.This is a techno-thriller, full of fast paced action, twists and turns which make it an unpredictable read. So, buckle up your seat belt and hang on for this exciting and intense read. Toss in espionage for more twists and turns...Characters are developed well, an outstanding plot and thrills will keep the reader entertained throughout the novel.Most highly recommended.s

I chose this for my Amazon First Reads this month. I like thrillers but wouldn’t necessarily choose ones with the intelligence communities of the USA angle but it was the only book this month that appealed to me. It’s been a while since I have been so impressed with a first reads book. From the prologue that grabbed me through the initial scenes full of action and acronyms a really good thriller emerged. And even though there’s a second book to come which I will want to read as the story is not finished I was pleasantly surprised to find the ending is not a cliffhanger!Helen Gray, disgraced CIA officer, has spent two decades secretly researching a conspiracy that many thought she was losing her mind over, but now she’s dead… will her counter surveillance expert son Devin pick up the pieces and run with it? The future of the United States could depend on it!A fairly complicated setup of characters and scenarios but after reading too many formulaic stories recently I feel it’s all the better for it. I loved it!

It comes within the genre I would choose to read. Loads of action, good plot and limited flowery descriptive prose.I suppose 2 out of 3 is not too bad. I can accept the general idea of the book, Russian spies within the American population.But the way it was handled was unbelievably laboured and ridiculous.But it's biggest crime was the conclusion, if I had set off knowing it was only part 1 I wouldn't have bought it.I wouldn't go and see a film that had no ending.And it certainly wasn't good enough that I'll buy the next book. Anyway by then I will have long forgotten the existence of part 1.

Intriguing story but it finishes and leaves you stranded,this is a Book 1 and as such there should be some kind of warning/info on this,do not expect any conclusion to the story as there wont be any until the next book…..

I got this through Amazon First Reads because I thought it would be a thriller. There is not much that it is thrilling about it. It starts with various groups going around killing people with impunity.Then about a third of the way in we are told about the potential ‘national catastrophe’ mentioned on the Amazon website blurb. That at least gives the book some sort of rationale and structure. But it is as if all the shooting goes on in its own separate world with the participants able to do what they want, immediately and as if by magic, like supermen (and a couple of superwomen) and no members of the public getting in the way or paying much attention. Lots of descriptions of firearms, but the characters seemed to be just cyphers. This reader did not feel involved or concerned at all. Schoolboy stuff, in short.About two thirds of he way through, I thought: ‘Why am I continuing to read this rubbish?’ and stopped.

New series from Steven Konkoly. Devin Gray 1Stopping the most dangerous conspiracy to ever threaten America means believing the unthinkable in an explosive novel by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Steven Konkoly.Countersurveillance expert Devin Gray is unwittingly thrown headfirst into dangerous new territory after the death of his mother. Helen Gray, a paranoid and disgraced former CIA officer, believed she was on the verge of preventing a national catastrophe—a mission worth dying for. Others, including Devin, believe she was chasing delusions. Until he finds what she left behind.With the help of longtime friend and former Marine helicopter pilot Marnie Young and a loyal team of covert operatives Helen summoned just before her death, Devin is propelled into a high-stakes chase across the country. What he uncovers, clue by clue, is a conspiracy more widespread and insidious than anyone could have imagined.A good story, good characters, reasonable pace, but a step below his exciting Ryan Decker books, which was a let down. Read all four of the Ryan Decker series and found this not quite so action packed, humour or strength of characters.Expected a powerful last part of the story, but again not quite as action packed as expected.Still good, but not as good as I would have liked, maybe with improve as the characters grow.Three starsNow it’s Devin’s mission to destroy a covert network poised to deliver a fatal blow to the future of the United States. And also to vindicate his mother, by seeing the mission through to its treacherous end.