Review – Deadlock

Deadlock continues the story of John “Hutch” Hutchinson from the first book in the series, Deadfall. Over a year earlier, Hutch and some friends had gone hunting in Canada when a rich, crazy man named Brendan Page took a small town hostage and brutally murdered several people with a satellite-based laser weapon prototype. Hutch, while trying to stop the maniacs, made friends with Laura and her son Dillon, a relationship that continues in Deadlock.

Now, Hutch is obsessed with bringing down Brendan Page and his private army. Outis Enterprises trains young men to be killing machines, and advanced technology turns gaming into a bloody reality. They must be stopped, but their reach is nearly unlimited and Hutch is treading on shaky ground.

After Laura and Dillon come to visit Hutch, things heat up when Hutch’s son, Logan, is kidnapped from his home. Hutch races to find his son while avoiding Page’s men, who are bent on murder.

Liparulo never lets up on the tension, creating ever-increasingly dangerous situations for his characters. All the while, he draws the reader in with glimpses into the characters’ hearts. We see the fear and courage of children who have been dropped into an impossible situation. We see the power of friendship, the pitfalls of blind obedience, the danger of obsession, the pull of power, the sacrifice it takes to rescue another from sure destruction.

Deadlock is another winner in my book. I enjoyed it even more than Deadfall. Hopefully, Liparulo will continue this series and we can see what happens next in Hutch’s life.