This engaging combination of military action thriller and police procedural is a first novel by Marcus Wynne, who has considerable credentials in the same fields of expertise as many of his characters. It pursues an old theme, that of the good soldier gone bad, and does so with a quiet competence that makes it a very convincing read.

Jonny Maxwell was once the top member of Dominance Rain, a secret CIA dirty work team. All of the team are the very best, but Jonny was even a little bit better. Unfortunately, his tastes also ran to violent sex with unwilling victims. Finally discovered, Maxwell was sentenced to a long prison term. Unfortunately, luck and a bit of planning enable him to escape. Dale Miller, once Jonny's best friend, is assigned to aid a team of U.S. Marshals in bringing Jonny back quickly, before the entire special forces group is exposed.

The first part of the book tells the story of Maxwell's escape and the efforts of Dale Miller and the Marshals (led by Jed Loveless) to bring him in. Miller and Loveless have a love/hate relationship that subtly interferes with the effectiveness of the team. As the Marshals bicker, Maxwell cuts a grim swath in the Milwaukee area. Jonny seems to be able to run rings around his pursuit at will. He engineers a deadly bank theft that turns into a major slaughter. Then he manages to fake his death, fool the Marshals, and leave Dale mystified. Maxwell isn't just good at what he does, he is deadly, and hates to leave witnesses.

The story turns to Minneapolis, the next stop on Maxwell's quest for the resources to successfully flee the U.S. and set up a new life. Unfortunately for Jonny (and his victims) his penchant for rape brings him to the attention of Detective Nina Capushek of the Sex Crimes Unit. When Nina recognizes the Jonny Maxwell's signature in a recent rape case she comes into contact with Dale Miller. Fearing the worst, Dale arrives in Minneapolis and, in very short order, is providing assistance to the Minneapolis police.

Characterization is just right for this kind of book. Jonny's behavior unfolds a piece at a time, as the story requires. Rather than long explanations of his childhood trauma, we are given sudden, sharp insights. Indeed, Marcus Wynne is what I would call a 'just enough' author. Each character has just enough detail, there is just enough armament detail to satisfy the military enthusiasm, and just enough violence to keep the reader riveted. No Other Option is far better than just a decent first novel. We are promised that there is more to come, and I'm looking forward to it.

--Marc Ruby