Warrior Pose is a high-stakes international thriller that kicks off with a literal bang and doesn’t let up. The story follows Ric Peters, a gritty intelligence operative juggling perilous missions, personal demons, and a complicated relationship with his partner Elaina. From the chaotic streets of Jakarta to the dripping jungles of Bali and the quieter corners of Sydney and New Zealand, the narrative intertwines espionage, betrayal, and just enough romance to keep things grounded. Along the way, the book digs into environmental crimes, global politics, and the human cost of covert operations.

Right off the bat, I was hooked. The opening scene—Patterson faceplanting into his soto soup after taking a bullet to the forehead—was cinematic and brutally efficient. It set the tone for the kind of world we were diving into: sharp, fast, and dangerous. The writing is vivid and smartly paced. Ric’s inner voice, always half-a-step from cracking, added tension and authenticity.

What I liked most was how the authors didn’t shy away from messiness—emotional or otherwise. The romance between Ric and Elaina felt lived-in and real. Their chemistry wasn’t all candlelit dinners; it was jungle ambushes, missed connections, and half-yelled arguments in sweltering heat. Elaina showing up mid-interrogation with two suspects face-down in the dirt? Wild and gutsy. But also, oddly believable for their relationship. It made me root for them, even while I questioned whether Elaina should really be getting this close to Ric’s world. Her voice added a necessary counterweight to Ric’s hardened lens.

Some parts had me grinning. Like the surprise orange wig at Delilah’s salon—a rare light moment in an otherwise intense story. It reminded me that these characters aren’t just agents and assets. They’re people. They get scared. They crack jokes. They write sweet texts like Ric’s glow-in-the-dark engagement note to Elaina. It made the action scenes feel more meaningful because you cared about who was running from the bullets. That’s not easy to pull off in a thriller.

The story packs a lot. Assassins, flash drives, family trauma, espionage, yoga studios—it’s a buffet. The story switches from Ric’s action to Elaina’s introspection. The ride was fun and rich. And Francis Holms was absolutely unhinged in the best way. His scenes were like a twisted blend of Bond villain and IT guy with a grudge.

Warrior Pose is for fans of spy thrillers who want a bit more than bullets and bodies. It’s got heart. It’s got humor. It’s got complex people doing questionable things for the right reasons—or at least convincing themselves they are. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves stories where action meets character, and where danger is never more than a few pages away. If you like Barry Eisler’s John Rain or the TV show Alias, this one’s going to hit your sweet spot.

Pages: 391 | ASIN : B0F2N8TGDM