The Fourth Option Review
On May 12, Justice rolls into town in a vintage Volkswagen camper van, a canine by his side. The Fourth Option isn’t just a reimagining of the classic western—it’s a warning of what happens when one of the nation’s most lethal warriors refuses to stand aside and make peace with evil.
The Fourth Option introduces readers to former Navy SEAL and CIA Ground Branch operator Chris Walker. When his ghosts become too much to bear, he’s on the verge of taking his own life, but a call from his past and a chance to pay a debt save him. After learning that violence has visited the family of his fallen brother-in-arms, Walker sets himself on a path of reckoning to the humid bayou of New Orleans, Louisiana, in his Volkswagen camper van with his canine companion, Paladin.
Armed with only a handful of clues—and even more questions—Chris Walker goes to work, applying the skills of his former trade to dismantle an enemy drug network with tentacles in every level of the justice system. While Walker takes justice into his own hands in the shadows of the Crescent City, FBI Special Agent Jarrett Stanton investigates tales of a specter rampaging across Louisiana, sending Walker, Stanton, and a drug ring on a violent collision course.
Jack Carr is a former Navy SEAL sniper and the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling James Reece series and the #1 New York Times bestseller Targeted: Beirut. His renowned storytelling prowess extends beyond the page to the screen with the hit series The Terminal List and The Terminal List: Dark Wolf. Carr delivers masterpiece after masterpiece, continuing that run with his first co-written thriller, The Fourth Option. While retaining his signature hallmarks—visceral action, captivating narratives, and unmatched authenticity—Carr ventures deeper into artistic and poetic territory.
Carr’s latest outing is an exceptionally enjoyable read. New Orleans makes for an intriguing setting for a brilliant telling of the classic “stranger comes to town” narrative. Chris Walker is a unique and compelling protagonist, fighting a battle within his soul while waging war through the streets and bayous of New Orleans. One of Carr’s staples is gritty action, and The Fourth Option undoubtedly raises the bar.
The novel delivers a riveting mix of a cerebral investigative story and a brutal “stranger comes to town” thriller. Carr takes the stakes to a new level with some of his most brutal fight and torture scenes yet. The Fourth Option is a book that begs to be read and is hard to put down. I highly recommend that readers add this thrilling read to their shelves.
Readers will remember Chris Walker long after they turn the final page.
