Steven Max Russo: The Hunted

Ophelia Harris, is a former CIA analyst employed by a private security firm. After a raid on an insurgent operation goes catastrophically wrong, Ophelia is the only survivor. She escapes with two suitcases of cash and now her employer Mueller, thinking she’s a traitor, wants her dead.

Years earlier Harris was spotted by Austin Medford, an Army Ranger, when she was on an op in Afghanistan. Approaching her at an airport he’s certain that she’s the women he remembers. This changes the trajectory of his life by ultimately, choosing to step into danger.

What makes the novel especially effective is the way Steven Max Russo balances hard-edged action with character tension. This is well evidenced by Ophelia’s cool professionalism alongside a clear vulnerability, and Mueller’s pursuit of her rooted in rage and the need to settle a personal score.

The novel’s biggest strength is momentum – high-octane, non-stop, and loaded with adrenaline. Russo keeps the pressure on once the board is set with a military-inflected thriller, private-contractor intrigue, where the rules are simple: run, fight, or die. The Hunted is a very satisfying ride.