Backlash by Brad Thor (2019) – A Harvath Thriller #18

As I travel my home turf, I can’t help but stop at the occasional Little Free Library and see what’s up for grabs. Last week, I came across this book and thought I’d give it a shot—for two reasons.

First, I’ve a lot of Brad Thor over the years, but I’ve never tried reading him before. He’s like a Brad Meltzer or a David Balducci to me, an obviously popular author, but to me just another name on a flashy book.

Second, I noticed on this cover an obvious Russian theme—a hammer and sickle buried in the snow. I’m a big fan of Cold War novels, and I figured this might be similar. It’s not Cold War, but it’s set in the frigid Russian wilderness against a cold-blooded KGB-type enemy, so hey, close enough.

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Brief Summary of Backlash

Of course, I didn’t have the luxury of beginning with Book #1 in the series, so I jumped into the deep end with book #18. As such, I truly didn’t know what I was getting into. The book opens with a murder scene, a gory room of victims that a regular reader of Thor would have recognized—and, I suppose, been shocked to see dead on the floor! To me, though, it meant nothing.

As the story progresses, we learn that the series protagonist, Agent Harvath, has been kidnapped and whisked away to Russia, where his plane has crashed in the wilderness. The Russians want this fugitive dead, and the hunt is on.

What Works and What Doesn’t

The story initially appealed to me, as it reminded me a great deal of one of my all-time favorite novels, The Last of the Breed by Louis L’Amour. A man on the run in the heartless Russian tundra is an excellent plot point, and that alone kept me reading. In a way, the story’s progression also reminded me of the recent real-life rescue operation of the downed American pilot in the mountains of Iran. Pretty awesome stuff.

What hurt the story for me, though, was my unfamiliarity with Harvath, his wife Lara, or the team backing him up Stateside. I didn’t have the same “relationship” with him as I’ve had with Clive Cussler‘s Dirk Pitt or Joel C. Rosenberg‘s Jon Bennett. I couldn’t think my way through his trials the same way I could with other long-time characters, and I think Thor took that for granted—not considering new readers or weaving in Harvath’s backstory and personality enough.

The story also felt oversimplified, even though one cover of the book proclaims: “As close to perfect as a thriller can be.” Nope. Gotta disagree with that blurb! For that you’ll have to read Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household or Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson.

First Impressions of Brad Thor

Overall, I’d have to say my first impression of Brad Thor is not good. Beyond his weaknesses is backstory and plot depth (at least in Book #18), I found his language way heavier than necessary. Authors like Ian Fleming or Louis L’Amour—plus those already mentioned above—can turn out stories that are more involved and exciting yet without the need to drop F-bombs every few pages.

Sometimes I think these authors need to read more historical novels and watch fewer R-rated thrillers as part of their “research.” But of course, dirt sells.

I was also turned off by Harvath’s character, one filled with hatred and revenge—to the point of committing unsanctioned murders-by-torture of those responsible for the first chapter’s murders. This is very unlike a Cussler’s Juan Cabrillo, Rosenberg’s David Shirazi, or Adam Hall’s Quiller. If he’s not a pure anti-hero akin to Barry Sadler’s Casca or Remo Williams in The Destroyer books, then he’s at least as morally ambiguous as James Bond.

Conclusion

Last week, I picked up another Brad Thor book from another Little Free Library, hoping I’d found a new hero to enjoy at length. Now that I’ve finished Backlash, however, I don’t think I’ll read it. I’ve tried this one out, gotten a taste, and can now consider myself “not a fan.”

That’s all right. Thor’s got his following and he’s cutting his checks. I’m willing to try David Balducci or Brad Meltzer too, since I rarely find my own favorite authors in these boxes. What do you think? Who’s worth trying next?
 

©2026 E.T.

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