Book Review: Unknown Rider by Jack Stewart

The Top Gun franchise meets NCIS in Jack Stewart’s debut. Authenticity oozes out of every page since Stewart has a background as a U.S. Navy Top Gun instructor pilot. He also knows how to deliver a page-turner. Strange lights appear close to an aircraft carrier, and Colt Bancroft, who has just launched off the vessel in his F-35C Fighter, tries to uncover what is causing the unusual phenomena. When he gets close, his plane loses control, and he almost makes a kamikaze move into the aircraft carrier. However, he’s able to right things at the last second. A study of the plane diagnostics confirms nothing was wrong with the equipment, so Colt is blamed. He has to work outside the military to recover his reputation and career. But he doesn’t realize the conspiracy he’s about to uncover, assuming he stays alive long enough to bring the enemies from the shadows into the spotlight.

Stewart inserts the reader directly into the world of Navy pilots and military life, creating a fly-on-the-wall perspective, which adds to the suspense. He also makes it exciting for those who might not be familiar with the jargon. Unknown Rider is only the start of a long career for Stewart, and it is a long time waiting for Colt’s next adventure.