I am pleased to see the return of John Hayes and Cold Harvest in DEAD MAN SWITCH, Matthew Quirk’s latest novel. Introduced in 2016’s COLD BARREL ZERO, Hayes is cut from the similar, though by no means identical, cloth of other Special Ops members. The difference here is that Hayes --- a member of Cold Harvest, the most secretive and skillful teams operating at the behest of the United States government --- hides in plain sight and is generally regarded as a traitor. His actual status is known only to those at the highest levels of government. It makes life extremely difficult for Hayes, but also allows him access to enemies of the United States he would not otherwise have.

"DEAD MAN SWITCH is a one-sit read that hops from one action-filled vignette to another from first page to last. As exciting as most of the book is, the last quarter is a no-brake roll against the guard rails..."

This is illustrated dramatically in the opening pages of DEAD MAN SWITCH, where Hayes has inserted himself into a secretive group that has tasked itself with hunting down and killing all of the members of Cold Harvest. Hayes’ key to the inner sanctum is his knowledge of the identities and location of the team members. A sudden intervention, however, turns things upside down for Hayes, but confirms that Cold Harvest has been targeted. Members of the team are already being terminated through a series of seemingly unrelated incidents that appear to be accidents, yet in Hayes’ mind are anything but. A diabolical plan is then set in motion to gather all remaining members of the team into one place --- New York City --- where they can be removed in one fell swoop.

Hayes knows that something is going on but isn’t sure where the plan is coming from, even as suspicions fall on Claire Rhodes, an assassin trained by Hayes himself. Rhodes believes that Hayes is a traitor and that she would be doing the country a favor by taking him out. There are any number of twists and turns that take place before the ultimate truth is revealed. However, by that time things are already irrevocably set into motion, not only against Cold Harvest, but against the country as well. Matters quickly come to a head as it no longer becomes a question of whether the plot against Cold Harvest and the US will be carried out, but rather who, if anyone, will survive it.

DEAD MAN SWITCH is a one-sit read that hops from one action-filled vignette to another from first page to last. As exciting as most of the book is, the last quarter is a no-brake roll against the guard rails, and one member in particular is the subject of a revelation no one will see coming. In interviews Quirk has denied any special ops background, relying instead on deep research. Certainly, though, the elements that comprise the novel and make the ultimate situations more interesting seem to have been infused with real-world occurrences in places that most of us would never go by choice.

Quirk, who has achieved well-deserved critical and commercial acclaim for his previous work, hopefully will see fit to return to the world of Hayes and Cold Harvest for a long time to come.