Thomas Ryan opens The Field of Blackbirds with a captivating scene wherein Arben Shala finds he must get out of Kosovo—and quickly. There to check on a vineyard his family has long owned for his employer, Jeff Bradley, a New Zealand vineyard owner, Shala is caught in a web of governmental deceit and corruption. Bradley leaves his home, promising Shala’s wife that he will find Arben and bring him back. Once in Kosovo, he meets up with Sulla, his driver, Morgan Delaney, an American who assists him in identifying the local crooks who plan to steal Shala’s land, and others connected with local law enforcement and the UN. Meanwhile, Lee Caldwell (is he CIA or not?) tracks terrorists from country to country, finally landing in Kosovo. Together, Bradley and Caldwell lead their friends and cohorts to solve the mysteries of who is trying to steal Shala’s land, what government official is behind the corruption, what interest do international terrorists have in Kosovo, and what exactly happened to Shala?

In The Field of Blackbirds, Thomas Ryan takes readers to a land where bureaucratic corruption is the rule and honesty the exception. Readers witness first-hand what comes of a people when its government can be bought and sold through illegal shenanigans. It is a healthy reminder that “character” matters, that we should require honesty as a key trait in those who govern, and of what transpires when principles of honesty and holding no man above the law are not followed. I particularly enjoyed visiting the land of Kosovo, one long held in the grip of war. Thomas Ryan reminds readers that without guiding principles, moving from poverty to plenty, from shackles to freedom, is a difficult if not impossible task.

The Field Of Blackbirds: A Jeff Bradley Thriller by Thomas Ryan introduces us to the disappearance of Arben Shala and shows Jeff Bradley promising Arben’s wife that he will find out what happened to her husband and bring him home. Jeff uncovers a dangerous conspiracy that spreads across the majority of Europe and, despite death threats, he and his team continue to dig into the mystery. With Kosovo on the brink of civil war and threats everywhere he turns, will Jeff be able to find Arben and stop all out-war from happening?

When you read a thriller, this is exactly what you want to read. The story is gripping, fast paced and well written. There are a lot of turns in the plot that keep you guessing but do not overwhelm you. While reading this book, I just could not set it down. I wanted to keep going to the next page to find out what was going to happen next. Thomas Ryan has really done a fantastic job with the writing of this one and I enjoyed Jeff Bradley as a character. I personally had a little more trouble connecting with his team, but it could just have been because I connected with Jeff so well; nothing to do with the writing. If you want a truly well written and well thought out thriller, this is going to be the book for you. It was the perfect 4th of July read for me.

Arben Shala is the manager of a vineyard that Jeff Bradley owns, but Arben is not just Jeff’s employee; he is also a good friend. So when Arben turns up missing in Kosovo on business that Jeff sent him to do, Jeff didn’t hesitate to follow his friend to this dangerous place and look for him. Jeff’s search turns risky when big time officials and famous criminals are discovered to be involved in his friend’s disappearance. With the help of new friends from the UN, USAID and a big, private security firm, Jeff will expose a conspiracy that might include not just land disputes but also terrorists and bombings. Hopefully, he will also find his missing friend in The Field of Blackbirds: A Jeff Bradley Thriller by Thomas Ryan.

The Field Of Blackbirds: A Jeff Bradley Thriller is a fast, exciting and dramatic novel by Thomas Ryan. It was absorbing and there were no dull moments. Settings and scenarios were written skillfully and the characters were believable. The story flowed easily and developed well, and the climax was also incredible. Many characters and subplots were introduced in the beginning, but it all came together and made sense as the story progressed. Jeff seemed like an intense person, but he got things done. His new allies were funny, likable and credible people. I enjoyed how everything concluded except for what happened to Arben, but I guess it was a crucial part of the plot. Recommended to readers who love fast paced and action packed thriller novels.

Thomas Ryan writes an interesting tale of intrigue, weaving an elaborate web of mystery that entangles a mass of characters in his novel, The Field of Blackbirds. When a good man dies miserably, due to a property scam in Kosovo, a deployment of international agencies collides to find the truth surrounding his death. Property disputes, organized crime rings, dirty cops, corrupt judicial government, explosives ... this is Kosovo. Each agency has its own agenda. However, when they join forces in a dangerous mission, exposing the criminal master-mind behind it all, a deep-seated bond of camaraderie develops. Who will live? Who will die? as they fight a new battle on an ancient battleground. Will history repeat itself in The Field of the Blackbirds? “The old people say thousands of blackbirds flew into the bloodied fields and picked over the bones of the fallen and carried away their souls.”

Thomas Ryan did his homework in preparing for his thriller, The Field of the Blackbirds. He writes with knowledge of military operations and describes his setting locations with finesse. His multi- cultural characters are developed in depth; they come to life on the pages. You hear their voices in the slang and at times in the slur of their speech. As a reader, you appreciate their uniqueness by how they prefer to drink their beer, worship their God, what sports team they cheer for, and in the unspoken thoughts and hidden motives of their minds. Thomas Ryan paints his characters by overlapping them, building upon the storyline’s captivating canvas. Each character intersects into the plot as a car would merge into traffic, crashing into inescapable obstacles, and rushing into blind curves. Ultimately, Mr. Ryan coerces his characters down a trail of unforeseen events that leads to a suspenseful denouement in The Field of Blackbirds.