Hope Rises: an action-packed thriller of a man seeking revenge.

While some sequels can be enjoyed as standalones, with Hope Rises, it's strongly recommended to start with book one, Nash Falls. If you've already read the first installment of the Walter Nash series, you've surely been anticipating this next book about a mild-mannered investment banker who becomes embroiled in an FBI investigation, loses everything, and transforms completely, now seeking vengeance under the alias Dillon Hope. Walter is determined to make Victoria Steers pay for destroying his life. Meanwhile, the FBI aims to apprehend this notorious billionaire global drug dealer responsible for numerous deaths in the U.S. Victoria, on the other hand, seeks to locate and eliminate Walter, the FBI informant. What she doesn't know is that the man she is seeking is Dillon Hope, her new bodyguard in Hong Kong. Victoria has many enemies, yet her greatest one may turn out to be her own mother, imprisoned in Myanmar, and a creative plan is made to help her escape.

Author David Baldacci has created a large cast of characters, most of whom are extremely wealthy and ruthless. The violence is non-stop. Even Walter, who remains a kind and moral man beneath all his new muscles and tattoos, contributes to the high body count in this fast-paced action thriller. It's filled with lots of twists and surprises, and the plotting feels like an intense chess match. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy. 

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the advance.

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Mystery Thriller.

Publication Date: April 14, 2026.

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