The Naked Edge

David Morrell has been one of my favorite writers over the years, because he has written numerous thrillers that are consistently well-researched, gripping, and interesting. With the release of "Naked Edge" as a Kindle exclusive, Mr. Morrell has accomplished a few things: he has embraced the e-book technology, he has brought back a familiar character from a previous novel for a new adventure, and he has proved yet again that he remains at the top of his game as a writer. "Naked Edge" features the return of Cavanaugh - the protagonist of "The Protector" - though a reader new to Mr. Morrell's work would not really need to know what happened in "The Protector" to jump right into this novel. As the story opens, we find Cavanaugh retired and living in a remote part of Wyoming with his wife. Mr. Morrell doesn't waste any time letting the reader get settled in for a bucolic, relaxing tale. Instead, the reader is rocketed into a breakneck pace, as Cavanaugh and his wife are brought back into the Global Protective Services fold, ambushed by an unknown party, and are trying to stay alive long enough to figure out who their pursuers are - all while other protective agents are being killed all around the country. We come to learn that Cavanaugh's adversary is an old childhood friend, Delta Force colleague, and disgraced protective agent. This former friend means to seek vengance on Cavanaugh for reasons unknown to both he and the reader, as Mr. Morrell skillfully avoids telegraphing that and what is to come, which heightens the suspense and keeps the reader guessing as much as the protagonist. At the same time, we learn that Cavanaugh's adversary is proficient in making and using knives. This is where another of Mr. Morrell's talents comes out; that is, by "teaching" the reader something - whether it be spycraft, weaponry, aviation, or another trade - through the plot. He does so without paralyzingly, agonizingly detailed descriptions that other authors tend to run into; the reader learns while still racing along at top speed. Mr. Morrell is noted for researching the subject - or an aspect - of his novels before writing them, and so he conveys that he did his homework yet again on knives for "Naked Edge". "Naked Edge" really does not let up on you until the very last page, and so the reader is left quite entertained and, in a way that is almost a sort of "adrenalin rush" for readers, leaves you wanting more. Again, Mr. Morrell is a rare breed; he writes a story that is not too short, but not too lengthy, and is paced well. Many of his contemporaries could also learn from his writing style. I thoroughly enjoyed "Naked Edge", and recommend it both to fans of Mr. Morrell's other works and those just in the mood for an action-packed thriller.

Who Protects the Protectors? The Naked Edge is another well crafted suspense thriller by David Morrell pitting former Delta Force operators and boyhood friends white knight Cavanaugh against evil Carl as to who really is the best operator. The Godfather of the modern day action thriller, Mr. Morrell keeps the action moving at a breakneck pace in this second book in the Protector series. The Naked Edge starts with a bang, continues with fast and furious action, and “terminates” with an equally explosive ending. Who’s the best operator? You decide. On another note, Mr. Morrell gives the reader a pretty good inside look at the Protective Services industry today. A burgeoning business, the personal security trade is rapidly expanding with a multitude of former Special Forces Operators seeking to ply their special training skills. As Mr. Morrell dramatically shows, not all these operators are on the side of good as many have slipped into the dark world of killers for hire. Thus the escalating need for more and more protective services companies to protect their charges from fellow special operators gone bad. No gratuitous sex, language or violence. Lots of actions with plenty of violence but all germane to the face paced storyline. Character development was OK concerning the two protagonists but weak concerning the rest of the characters. In particular, Mr. Morrell needed to development the main female character Jamie, Cavanaugh’s special operator wife. There was a lot of potential there that went undeveloped. Hopefully this will be rectified in future Morrell “Protector” series books. In the end I can only give The Naked Edge 4 stars. Yes there was plenty of action but “something” was lacking, short-circuiting any kind of suspenseful reading anticipation. I found it was just too easy to stop reading in the middle of a chapter rather than continuing to the end when I put down the book at the end of the day.

Mr. Morrell is a very talented fellow and this recurrence of Protector Cavanaugh is very welcome. As usual, Morrell's tradecraft is solid and he dumps a lot of hollywood crap to keep his characters accurate. The story winds a bit, but also nicely ties in some history and philosophy found in knife making. A really good read that keeps the reader engaged and that moves quickly so that you don't get tired. Recommended.

I have been a fan of David Morrell since reading my Dad's dog eared copy of First Blood while I was still in grade school. This book was not only a pulse pounder but it provided insight into a very underrated industry. Knife-smiths. It was watching the movie First Blood where the concept of always carrying a knife first was seared in my mind. I really got into collecting them after that. As an adult, I really wanted to design my own blade and after reading this book, I think I will.

The Naked Edge by David Morell is a high octane thriller in Lee Child mode. It explodes into action from page one and never lets up. Morell, consistent, reliable, never disappoints. I have loved his books since I first came across Rambo (First Blood) in the early 1970s. Many books were to follow including The Brotherhood of the Rose in the 1980s, The Fraternity of the Stone (late ‘80s), The Covenant of the Flame (mid-90s), to select only a couple. The great thrillers just kept on coming and The naked Edge is another one in a great line. The protagonist in this tale, Cavanagh, is cut straight from Jack Reacher cloth and, also like Reacher, he is faced with an implacable foe who is equipped with all the military and fighting skills Delta Force could give him but lacking in any form of morality, empathy, or any modicum of restraint. This foe is driven by a hatred so intense that he is prepared to sacrifice everything, his work, his freedom, his very life and the lives of thousands of others, to wreak his vengeance on the man he once called friend. No one does blood, guts and gore better than Morell and inevitably the two men clash in a tense and brutal climax. There is nothing neat or skilful about the pain-racked, groping, grovelling, blood-soaked struggle that brings the climax to an end. The enemy pulls every dirty trick in the book while Cavanaugh, forced into retreat, valiantly tries to improvise responses that merely see him succumbing slowly to the relentless onslaught that threatens to overcome him. Lovers of fast-paced, well written thrillers need look no further the The Naked Edge for their next purchase. A really great story.

I have read a bunch of David Morrell's books in the past, but haven't had time to read much of anything for a number of years. Recently I was on vacation to just relax and I downloaded "The Naked Edge" as a Kindle book. I couldn't put it down. I read the book in two days. It's a great book.

Easy read that flowed easily with a few twists and turns

Good old thrilling adventure. Edge of the seat action. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend. You won't be sorry

This excellent thriller has been available on Kindle-only since last year and has no reviews on Amazon.co.uk so I felt compelled to add one for several reasons. This brings back his character from the Protector in a more personal story about old friends who become enemies. The themes of brotherhood are evident in this book which is a much improved addition to the Cavanuagh series. Morrell has a knack for introducing spy/operator trade craft in his novels in this is no exception, but he also includes some wonderful knife information (the Naked Edge of the title) and images. The plot is fast and the action doesn't let up, keeping you tense and on the edge all the way through. If you enjoy David's other action/thriller novels then do not hesitate to pick this up too!