Sometimes the hardest battle is learning to heal.
There are thriller protagonists you enjoy reading, and then there are the ones who earn a permanent place in your heart. Peter Ash has become one of mine.
If you've never met Peter before, he's a military veteran who returned home carrying invisible wounds. His PTSD manifests itself as severe claustrophobia, what he calls "white static", making it nearly impossible for him to stay indoors for any length of time. It's an unusual obstacle for an action hero, and it's one of the reasons Peter feels so real. He doesn't overcome his fears by pretending they don't exist. He works around them, one impossible situation at a time. And Burning Bright wastes no time throwing him into another impossible situation.
While hiking through a California redwood forest, Peter unexpectedly comes face-to-face with a hungry grizzly bear. His only escape is to climb the nearest tree. Near the top, he discovers a series of climbing ropes leading from tree to tree, eventually reaching a platform occupied by a woman named June Cassidy ... who greets him by pointing a gun at him. If that opening doesn't hook you, see your doctor.
June has escaped from kidnappers after her mother's mysterious hit-and-run death, and she has no idea why she's being hunted. Before long, Peter and June find themselves trapped high above the forest floor while heavily armed men close in beneath them. From that point forward, Nick Petrie grabbed my attention and refused to let go.
As exciting as the action is, though, the real strength of this novel is its characters. One of my favorite aspects of the Peter Ash series is the loyalty between Peter and the people he trusts. When Peter needs help, Lewis and Manny don't hesitate. They simply show up.
Lewis has become one of my favorite supporting characters. He's rough around the edges, has a (very) questionable past, and makes me laugh. He is delightfully sarcastic, and he's exactly the kind of friend you want when everything goes sideways. Manny, one of Peter's brothers-in-arms, is equally dependable. Together they remind us that some bonds, especially those forged through military service, don't fade with time or distance.
I also appreciated the mystery. I suspected several different people as the story unfolded, but Nick Petrie stayed one step ahead of me the entire time. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, I realized I'd been looking exactly where Mr. Petrie wanted me to look.
What elevates Burning Bright above many thrillers, however, is Peter's personal journey. Peter has learned how to survive with his PTSD. In this book, he begins to realize that surviving isn't the same thing as healing. His growing relationship with June doesn't magically fix him, nor should it. Instead, it helps him recognize that seeking professional help isn't weakness. It's hope for a future. June simply wants a man who can come inside and build a life with her, and that's a perfectly reasonable thing to ask. Peter's decision at the end of the novel felt honest and earned. Lewis sums it up perfectly: "Jarhead gotta stop camping out someday."
As someone with veterans in my own family, stories like Peter's resonate with me. They remind me that freedom isn't free, and that some battles continue long after soldiers return home. Peter's military service is part of who he is, but it doesn't define him. What defines him is his unwavering commitment to doing the right thing, even when it's difficult, uncomfortable, or terrifying. And that's what makes him such a remarkable hero. Jack Reacher may be fearless. Peter Ash isn't. He carries his fear with him every day and still chooses to step forward when someone needs help.
To me, that's an even greater kind of courage.
Nick Petrie has officially become one of my favorite thriller authors, and Peter Ash has become one of my favorite fictional characters. I can't wait to see where their journey takes me next. Yes, I have already purchased the next book in the series.
