Reviewed by K T Bowes for Readers' Favorite

In Rescue & Redemption: Toby Miller Adventures Book 2 by Simon Green, former Army Sergeant Toby Miller is cleared of misconduct during his last operation. But not everyone in his chain of command has forgiven his rogue tactics, and his next mission puts him in an impossible situation. He must choose between returning to his deployed army platoon or undertaking a covert placement to salvage his tarnished reputation. He might survive the uncompromising danger of the first, but the second is nothing short of suicide. With his superior maneuvering to bury him under failure, Toby sets out to liberate a high-value jihadi hostage by posing as a journalist and condemning himself to be kidnapped by a militant sect, which beheads Westerners daily and publishes the footage online for the world to see. But a powerful and connected family waits in the wings, watching Toby’s operation from a distance. Their interference could cause the whole plan to come tumbling down, and Sergeant Miller with it.

The thing I liked most about Rescue & Redemption is Simon Green’s honest character study of Toby Miller. I felt like I knew him and became heavily invested in his well-being. He’s heroic but vulnerable and shows moments of incredible wisdom. One of my favourite lines from Toby is, ‘People weren’t as unique as they liked to think they were.’ The skillful narrative highlights the pertinent theme of the underdog. The odds are loaded against the main characters right from the start, and the action is swift and exciting, propelling the reader into the conflict. I loved the sense of camaraderie between strangers, which offers a paradox between the dire circumstances and the human kindness that guides Toby toward his goal. I appreciated Simon Green’s subtle sleight of hand, which withholds salient facts from the reader to create a dramatic rug-pull during the height of the action. I enjoyed this novel very much.