LOST HIGHWAY

Ex–Special Forces operative John Tyler uses his skills to protect an endangered pop star in Fowler’s third installment in his thriller series.

The story opens with Tyler, an Army veteran, about to begin a longed-for career as an antique car mechanic. The name he gives to his fledgling car shop, Special Operations Classic Car Repair, is a nod to his time as a Green Beret, and it also hints at his undiminished hankering for the thrills he experienced during those glory days. So, when Tyler’s former boss, Cliff, presents him with the opportunity to complete a “simple protection detail” for up-and-coming singer Alex Anne, it doesn’t take Tyler long to rationalize his decision to take the gig: “On the off chance the job provided any excitement, he could use it. The money wouldn’t hurt, either.” After just a few days of keeping close tabs on the young musician, Tyler’s job turns into a missing person operation, as Alex is kidnapped by an international ring of human traffickers. He decides to take on the rescue operation solo, and, using his tactical training, he soon finds that the mission has an unexpected connection to his own time in the military. The rescue makes for an exhilarating, if somewhat predictable, narrative pitting a heroic American veteran against a sinister Middle Eastern antagonist in an effort to liberate damsels in distress. What makes this fast-paced workstand out, though, is its emphasis on the trauma that arises from combat. Fowler makes it clear that Tyler suffers from PTSD, and he also equips his hero with the wisdom to offer comfort and advice, illustrating that he’s not just about steely bravado: “Talk to someone. A professional,” he says to another character after she goes through a trauma of her own. “You’re going to need to deal with this, or it’ll eat you alive.”

An effective and suspenseful novel despite its clichéd scenario.