Peter Ash has apparently never once heard the phrase “not my circus, not my monkeys.”
The story begins with Peter Ash walking off his white static on the Appalachian Trail. And because Peter is a trouble magnet, it isn't long before he crosses paths with an armed and decidedly unfriendly old man somewhere in Tennessee. Peter continues on his way, but two days later he encounters the man again, this time being accosted by two professional killers. Peter steps in to help because, well, Peter just doesn't know when to quit. Before long, he's helping an old man who has more secrets than a government file marked CLASSIFIED, being framed for murder in three different states, and running from professional killers while still trying to figure out exactly what he's gotten himself into.
And I loved every minute of it.
Shadow Game is another outstanding entry in Nick Petrie's Peter Ash series. Petrie does his usual excellent job of creating secrets that have secrets, layering in twists and surprises, and making sure almost nobody is quite who they appear to be. I would have happily read this book in one sitting if I'd had the opportunity.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was the way Petrie connected current political events and events surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall to the story. I remember that period, and the combination of those historical elements with today's political drama gave the story an additional sense of authenticity. Rather than feeling tacked onto the thriller, the past becomes an important part of understanding what's happening in the present.
Peter remains one of my absolute favorite fictional characters. His instinct to help someone in trouble regardless of the danger to himself is simultaneously one of his best qualities and the reason he keeps ending up in situations like this. And then there's Lewis. Resourceful, loyal, adaptable Lewis, who would apparently rather hunt bad guys with Peter than help his sweetheart take her kids on a college tour. Their friendship continues to be one of my favorite parts of the series. When Peter needs him, Lewis shows up, no matter the risk. Everyone should have a Lewis.
I really don't have a meaningful criticism of this one. The old man's determination to keep his secrets could easily have become frustrating, but Petrie reveals enough at exactly the right moments that his silence makes sense before it becomes annoying. The pacing stays tight, the mystery keeps unfolding, and the twists keep coming.
Shadow Game can stand alone, but readers will get much more out of Peter, Lewis, and their history if they've spent some time with them before. At the very least, I'd recommend starting with The Drifter. You'll want to meet Peter and shake his hand before inviting him to dinner.
Five stars, hands down. This is exactly what I want from a Peter Ash novel: danger, mystery, loyalty, history, plenty of surprises, and Peter Ash being constitutionally incapable of walking away from trouble.
Content warnings include murder, violence, gun violence, PTSD/trauma, and references to war and political violence.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
