Abigail Roux – Crash & Burn

Crash & Burn by Abigail Roux

Series: Cut & Run #9
Source: Personal Library
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s been five years since Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett first worked together to solve the Tri-State murders, and time has been both harsh and kind. Engaged now, they face the challenge of planning a deeply uncertain future together. Zane is at the pinnacle of his career with one last mystery to solve, while Ty is at sea in a world where he’s no longer the tip of a spear.

There’s just one more hurdle in the way of their happy ever after: a traitor from their inner circle who threatens to burn their world to the ground.

Squeezed between the Vega cartel, an unknown mole, and too many alphabet agencies to count, Ty and Zane must gather all their strength and resources to beat the longest odds they’ve ever faced. To make it out alive, they’ll need help from every friend they’ve got. Even the friends who might betray their trust.

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No punches pulled in the final book of the Cut & Run series!

“I want you with me. ‘Til the end. That may be selfish, too, but I don’t care.”

“The world out there is burning, Ty.”

Ty ran his finger down Zane’s cheek, nodding. “But we were born in a kiln.”

Zane grinned. “I’m game.”

“I think the word you’re looking for there is prey,” Ty growled before smashing their mouths together.

I mean, let’s face it… Ty and Zane have a tendency to attract explosions… How could this series NOT go out with a bang?

There were so many twists, turns, and absolute shockers in this book. I might need a bit of therapy.

We learned things that put the rest of the series into an entirely new perspective. I can’t wait to re-read the series with the revelations from this book. I’m telling you… The twists in Crash & Burn reveal plots that have been in motion since the very fist Cut & Run book.

I laughed,
I cried real tears,
The suspense left me short of breath!

This was practically an immersive experience.
I am a little blown away…

Any time I’m faced with the conclusion of a series, it’s a bittersweet experience. I don’t want to let these characters go, but I’m grateful that I was able to get to know them. Of course this isn’t really the end, is it? I mean we still have the Sidewinder books and who knows what else Abigail Roux might surprise us with. We’ve had cross-overs and spin-offs and little short stories…

But I digress…
We’re here to talk about THIS book and THIS moment, yes?

ZANE GARRETT

Finding their mole was Zane’s final mission, and it was eating him alive. The mole who’d been spying on them for god knew how long. The mole whose connections and motivations were still mysteries to them. The mole who’d damn near gotten them killed in New Orleans. The mole who’d caused Richard Burns to be murdered.

Zane took over the role of acting Director of the FBI’s Baltimore field office after Director Burns was killed in Ball & Chain. Even though significantly fewer bullets fly at a man practically trapped behind a desk, Zane has never forgotten the danger he faces.

The cartel is still after him…
There is a mole in the FBI…
And he’s not a single step closer to solving either problem…

TY GRADY

“…I didn’t think we’d live long enough to be here. And something about today feels like borrowed time.”

Zane’s brow furrowed, and he took a tiny step closer. “Then let’s take that time and ride it hard and put it up wet, baby.”

Ty laughed, closed his eyes, and nodded. “I love you.”

Ty has been playing Mr. Fix-it around the row-home and renovating what will one day be the book store he’ll run with his future husband.
But Zane has to retire first,
he has to deal with the mole and the cartel before that can happen…
Oh, and they have to actually get married…

Who seriously thought that a man like Ty could retire?
When the shit hits the fan, Zane is going to need all the help he can get.
Not just his trusted partner, Ty, but everyone else who has ever had his back…

CAMEO APPERANCES

“This shit is getting on my nerves,” Kelly finally said. “I liked it better when they showed us a picture, and we went in and killed it.”

Nick raised an eyebrow.

“What? It was sort of fun.”

“If it was only sort of fun, you were doing it wrong,” Liam offered.

“I’ve decided I like you,” Julian said as he passed through the living room to the kitchen.

Liam frowned as if that didn’t sit right with him. “It took you this long?”

“I don’t make rash decisions.”

What would a finale be without a star-studded look back on all the people who love you… or hate you… or have tried to kill you… or all of the above?

Seriously, I can only think of three or four characters in the entire Cut & Run Universe who didn’t show up in this book. And I’m going to warn you right now… Not everyone is going to make it out of this alive.

Friends turn against each other,
Buildings explode,
FBI, CIA, NIA,
Car chases,
Espionage,
Bullets fly,
Assassins,
Betrayal,
Cartels,
Lies…
and Ty and Zane are caught in the middle of this edge-of-your-seat-hold-your-breath-I-can’t-believe-what-just-happened-holy-fuck-thrill-ride.

Side Note: Chester Motherfucking Grady had like two lines in this whole book, and he is now officially one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. I know I’ve mentioned in previous reviews that Abigail Roux has an amazing talent for writing intriguing secondary and tertiary characters… But man… Chester Grady. Love that old man! He really shines 🙂

I’m not afraid to pick favorites… I’m actually quite eager to share my various infatuations when it comes to books. I can stand before you and say that the Cut & Run series is one that I could re-read over and over and over again and never get tired of it. If I were stranded on an island and could only bring one series of books with me to pass the time – it would be the Cut & Run series. I wouldn’t even hesitate. It is that fucking brilliant.

This book is a wonderful end to an amazing series. It took every thing I love about Cut & Run – The Action, intrigue, romance, sex, suspense, honor, humor, intelligence, and fantastic dialogue – and turned it up to eleven.

Well fucking done.

I’d also like to point out that Abigail Roux is really fucking sweet to her fans – she completely understands our love of the Cut & Run universe and has several badass Tumblr pages you should check out if you ever have series withdrawals:

Abi Roux
The author’s personal Tumblr is a treasure trove of general awesomeness

Questions and Answers
Fans can ask Cut & Run/ Sidewinder characters anything

Texts from Nick
Screenshots of text conversations between Sidewinder members

In the lead up to the release of Cut & Run 9, I spent an embarrassing amount of time on those blogs! 🙂

Aaaaaaand one FINAL (I mean it this time) message:
If you read the book and you skipped over all of the notes to the reader and author acknowledgements in the back… SHAME ON YOU! Guess what was hidden after all of that?!?!?! An extended motherfucking epilogue! And it was amazeballs!

View All my Review in the Cut & Run Universe:
(This List will be updated as more books are published!)

Cut & Run
(Cut & Run #1)

Sticks & Stones
(Cut & Run #2)

Fish & Chips
(Cut & Run #3)

Divide & Conquer
(Cut & Run #4)

Armed & Dangerous
(Cut & Run #5)

Dine & Dash
(Cut & Run #5.5)

Stars & Stripes
(Cut & Run #6)

Touch & Geaux
(Cut & Run #7)

Ball & Chain
(Cut & Run #8)

Crash & Burn
(Cut & Run #9)

Warrior’s Cross
(Cut & Run Spin-Off)

Shock & Awe
(Sidewinder #1)

Cross & Crown
(Sidewinder #2)