In author Ryan Steck’s Matthew Redd thriller series, his hero is a former Marine Raider who has traveled all over the globe as part of his military career. When he’s discharged, he sets his sights on his hometown in Montana, eventually settling down on a ranch and starting a family.
But danger still finds Redd in the middle of Big Sky Country. In this post, Ryan tells us what about Montana and the West appeals to him and readers, and why this novel is the perfect time to meet Matthew Redd.
If you like what you read, get access to the entire first chapter of Target Down. Or find your own copy in softcover, e-book, or audiobook at a retailer near you.
From Yellowstone to Marshals, Westerns and cowboys continue to captivate our imaginations. What makes this genre perpetually fascinating to us?
I think there’s just something about Big Sky Country that draws us to it. We live in a high-tech world, where we’re always connected to a device—our phones, MacBooks, iPads, smart devices, you name it. I mean, even refrigerators these days have large computer screens and can tell you the weather. Is it helpful? Absolutely. But at what cost?
The reality is, I think we’ve forgotten how to survive without them, which is why the idea of moving out West and unplugging is so alluring. Who doesn’t want to see the bright stars at night while sitting by the fire? I think we all do . . . just maybe not forever. So, I hope my books can provide a temporary escape from the busy everyday lives of readers and help them enjoy the scenic Montana landscape for a few hours.
You have written about beautiful locations in America, including national parks. What does the setting add to your stories?
We love the lone-wolf operators, right? Well, out West, in the mountains, you’re really on your own. For Redd, backup is hours away on a good day. On a bad day, backup may not get to him for days, and for me as a writer, that just adds so much tension and suspense to each story because every move, every decision, really is life or death.
At the same time, it’s such a beautiful setting. For me, Montana has been perfect. But there’s some bouncing around in Target Down, more than I’ve ever done before, in fact. You’ll see parts of Michigan, Colorado, and then . . . something I’ve been wanting to do for years . . . there’s a big action sequence in Yellowstone. I can’t wait to hear what my readers think of it!
What makes this book a good jumping-in point for new readers?
Well, more than ever, this book really stands on its own. The first four books in the series are closely connected, sharing storylines and threads that carry over from one story to the next. I wouldn’t say Target Down resets the series, but it does offer a clean start in many ways. For one, most of the story centers on a former operator named Aaron Decker, who, after helping Redd in past books, inadvertently puts himself back on the radar of old enemies who suddenly show up at his home in the middle of the night, guns blazing. Decker survives and manages to protect his kids, taking them on the run. But with nowhere else to turn, he calls on Matthew Redd to lend a hand, and a little extra firepower.
So even if you’ve never read any of the previous books, you should be able to jump right in with this one without missing a beat. Just make sure to hold on tight, because I think this is the most action-packed book I’ve written to date.
Target Down by Ryan Steck
Though he’s been living quietly with his family in Michigan since his “death” ended his military career and former life twenty years ago, widower Aaron Decker wakes one night to a home invasion that is clearly not random. Someone has finally found him. After narrowly escaping a Russian mafia hit team, he takes no chances with his children’s safety and relocates them to a remote Upper Peninsula cabin where he awaits the arrival of his old ally and former Marine Raider, Matthew Redd.
When Redd arrives, he’s eager to make good on his promise to repay his debt. Redd and Decker work together under constant threat to transport Decker’s kids to Redd’s ranch in Montana. Then Redd convinces Aaron to leave the kids in his wife Emily’s care, camping at a remote site in Yellowstone National Park under the watchful eye of FBI director Gavin Kline. Meanwhile, the two men take off to investigate the source of the mysterious leak feeding Decker’s whereabouts to the Russian mob.
While Redd and Decker cross the country, following leads that seem to point to a traitor in Decker’s former deep-black ops unit from the early years of the War on Terror, Emily and the kids find they’re not as safe in Yellowstone as they hoped. When they learn of the danger, Redd and Decker can only hope that they’re not too late as they race to protect their families.
Ryan Steck is an editor, an author, and the founder and editor in chief of The Real Book Spy. Ryan has been named an “Online Influencer” by Amazon. TheRealBookSpy.com has been endorsed by #1 New York Times bestselling authors Mark Greaney, C. J. Box, Kyle Mills, Daniel Silva, Brad Thor, and many others. A resident of Michigan, along with his wife and their six kids, Steck cheers on his beloved Detroit Tigers and Lions during the rare moments when he’s not reading or talking about books on social media. He can be reached via email at ryan@therealbookspy.com.