Prairie Fire is a work of fiction in the espionage thriller genre and is a sequel to Recover and Terminate. It is aimed at mature readers and was penned by author Mike Shellenbergar. The novel follows the heroes of Recover and Terminate, Cowboy and Hawk, as they uncover a plot to assassinate the president of the United States of America. Hunting down the cartel behind the devious plot, Cowboy and Hawk – accompanied by the new member of the team, Liz – struggle to end the threat against the president all whilst Hawk’s most dangerous foe to date makes their presence known.

Prairie Fire focuses on Cowboy and Hawk as they race against the clock to halt an assassination plot against the president, which presents a classic conundrum for readers to connect to, but the ways in which they enact the plot are highly inventive. One of the things that struck me the most about this novel was Shellanbergar’s supreme awareness of building atmosphere and tension. The novel is action-packed and fast-paced, and none of the scenes fall flat. I found myself unable to put the book down as I didn’t want to miss a moment. Cowboy and Hawk are the perfect protagonists, fearless but human, and newcomer Liz fits in with the established bond well. This is the second book in the series, but that didn’t matter when accessing the story. The characters are relatable and the world well explained. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to fans of espionage thrillers and those who enjoy an action-packed story.

In Mike Shellenbergar's Prairie Fire—the follow-up to Recover and Terminate—Cowboy and Hawk continue their highly covert mission of working for the president of the United States and trying to stop drugs and human trafficking in different countries. This time, they have a seriously dangerous enemy who keeps slipping away: the Cuban Sniper. Plus Liz, the striking beauty who was rescued from a Mexican drug lord by Hawk and Cowboy, is now part of the team. The team must find the mole who is compromising their mission and proceed to take out different targets to stop drugs from coming into the US from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. However the drug lords are out for vengeance, and the president of the United States might be their next target.

Interrogations, shootouts, kidnappings, infiltration strategies, and more! Prairie Fire is action-packed and highly detailed: I could almost feel the punches, hear the explosions, and smell the smoke, and it was exhilarating. From one surprising twist to another, Mike Shellenbergar's book had me wondering what would happen next. I particularly liked the interrogations as the expressions and reactions of the characters involved are humorous and vibrant. However, not every part of the book is engaging as some scenes seem to drag, with nothing exciting happening in them. But this doesn't take away from the merits of the book. In fact, I would love to read the other installments in the series, and I enjoyed the story even though I hadn't read Recover and Terminate. If you love stories that include the cartels, the CIA, international missions, attacks against the president, and greatly skilled secret agents, you should check out Prairie Fire.