ending was contrived and unrealistic

Finn is a Navy SEAL sniper who is trying to get home. His transport is the USS Abraham Lincoln. He can tell that something is wrong, but his concerns are raised several levels when crew members begin to disappear. In the beginning, they are believed to be suicides, but as the numbers increase it becomes evident that a serial killer is on board. Finn is at the top of the suspect list since he is the new guy on the ship. He has gaps in his memories, but this mystery might just be what he needs to prove he is still worthy to be called a Navy SEAL.

Steel Fear is a stand-alone thriller that takes a bit of time to get rolling. For the first third of the book, I was wondering why I chose this book to review. Once I was able to make it to the halfway mark, though, the pages almost turned themselves. The point of view changes often so that the reader can have more knowledge than any one character, but these changes are not distracting. I wouldn’t say this is a must-read, but in the end, it was a good escape read.

Military fiction is not usually my preferred genre, but this came highly recommended and it is a great book, IF you like your suspense on the open sea on a Navy ship.

This writing team, Brandon Webb and John David Mann, comes with an impressive pair of resumes. Navy Seal, rich entrepreneurs, Ivy League educations, etc. seem to assure readers that they are in good hands.

This is the story of a traumatized Navy Seal with memory lapses. He is being sent home on a ship and now a serial killer is on the loose in this floating prison. Everyone thinks HE is the killer, including the incompetent ship's captain. This is one smart, crafty Seal and there is plenty of doubt scattered throughout as to what is really happening.

Worth a look. Some strong female military types are featured.

A fun thriller set on an aircraft carrier, which was very interesting to me. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

The beginning was pretty slow i thought and the setting (US Naval ship) wasn’t my favorite but I kept on reading because I was on a plane and had nothing else to do and I’m glad I did. The last 200 pages of this book was so good and i liked how the author kept switching perspectives to different characters. would definitely recommend just gotta stick it out

Awesome book and story. Loved the tempo and the basis of the story. Highly recommend.

A pretty good military technology thriller about a serial killer on an aircraft carrier. Entertaining but loses its momentum towards the end. The captain is stereotypically incompetent and the hero is smart but a bit bland.

An aircraft killer thriller…when the being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean means there’s nowhere to run…

Steel Fear: A Thriller by Brandon Tyler Webb and John David Mann is a tense murder mystery documenting life aboard an aicraft carrier shared by thousands of personnel…

The first hundred pages or so of this book are probably the most interesting as it shows activities aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln with two POV characters…one a long time crewman and the other a new temporary arrival…as they view the ship and its crew from different perspectives…

Unfortunately, things don’t remain so business as usual…as two suicide lead to suspicion that someone is murdering members of the crew and covering it up.

The story was pretty tense as you start to wonder who it might be and why…and a partial map of the aircraft carrier is provided.

While the killer is eventually revealed…I was dissatisfied by the limited resolution on the why…but I still had a good time until that unsatisfying resolution…

For those interested in Tom Clancy, Lee Child, or Rick Campbell type stories…

Steel Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann is suspenseful, gripping, and intense military thriller set on board the USS Abraham Lincoln. A helicopter crew from the aircraft carrier picks up Chief Finn, a combat decorated SEAL, in Bahrain. Finn is being sent back to the United States on ‘special assignment’ which can mean debrief, disgrace, or worse. However, once Finn is aboard, he notices that morale is low. Then, crew members begin disappearing. Is it suicide or something much worse?

Finn is a well-developed character with courage, resilience, and great observation skills. However, he is also experiencing memory lapses and doesn’t feel comradery like others do. This ups the impact and intrigue as the story unfolds. There is a wide range of supporting characters that provide conflict and interest.

The story started out strong, but got even better as the characters became better known and the action amps up. The last half was excellently paced and kept this reader fully engaged. It was interesting to see the different methods and steps taken in the investigations of the same events. There are some red herrings and a twist or two. While the ending brings the reader closure on most things, there is one important item that isn’t fully resolved.

Those that enjoy military crime novels and locked room mysteries will likely enjoy this novel. It was not a light read, but it was well written and atmospheric. Will this be the first novel in a new series featuring Chief Finn? With high stakes, great characterization, and plenty of action; I certainly hope so.

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Brandon Webb, and John David Mann provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 24, 2021.