The Tears of Odessa

Atlas Hargrove, Book 1

By: R.B. Schow

Narrated by: James Way

Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A kidnapped fifteen-year-old girl in a country this father barely understands. Atlas Hargrove is officially on the hunt.

Former SWAT commander, Atlas Hargrove, just earned himself back-to-back life sentences in a California supermax prison. One wrong moment cost him his wife, his family, his life.

All is not lost, though. On the fringes of polite society, financiers with leverage and influence are in constant search of a brute like Atlas, an unlikely asset with a perfect alibi and the need to raise hell in the middle of hell itself.

Halfway across the globe, a stolen child is being moved from one country to the next. With time as his enemy and the rule of law behind him, Atlas will rely on a dodgy group of mercenaries to hunt down those who took the girl and stamp a single message into the minds of monsters: If Atlas Hargrove comes for you, you don't stand a chance.

This edge-of-your-seat vigilante justice thriller from bestselling author Benjamin Medrano begs the question: what would you do to save the ones you love, and how far would you go to avenge them? More importantly, will you be able to live with who you have become once it’s over?

©2020 R.B. Schow (P)2022 Podium Audio

Keeper Shelf

I enjoyed the storyline in this book, touching on subjects that need to have a serious light shined on them. The narrator was great, and really enhanced the book.
The action was interesting and I never thought to put the book down in boredom. Wonderful read, I hope the whole series is in audiobooks.

Nightmares come to lif

This series does touch on a very real issue on trafficking children and the very real things that can and do happen to them. If people in these reviews think these things don't exist in our world, then they have their heads in the sand. Atlas' situation, yeah, I can see someone seeing/experiencing the very last straw and snapping, just like that out of the blue. It happens. These are very real characters, that I find I can believe that things like this can happen in the real world. Off the books, black ops are a thing. That said, this book can give someone nightmares and make you cry, then pump your fists in victory. Non stop action.

Wow!

I've read all your other type books. The are fantastic. This Atlas Hargrove has it all.
Narrator is great also.

Unfortunate reality

This is an amazing book by Mr. Schow. It touches on a topic I feel most people are oblivious to. Keep telling the story R.B. This needs to be in front of more eyes, these kids hopefully can be saved.

Buy it if you don’t have a weak stomach

This is an amazing book.
It’s true. Harsh. And hurts at times. It brings out the sad truth to the trafficking trade. Story is amazing. Narrator is amazing. Be ready to be pissed though. It’s tough. I am close to people who do this job on the LE side. It’s a painful hurtful business where no one wins in the end. This book shines a brights light on this dark world.
-Greene Sayle

Listen to this series!! Nice job Ryan

I have listened to all of RB’s book series from other genres - top notch character development and original stories.

This series though.. different ballgame altogether in a real, raw, and gritty storyline! This book has a different reader than normal for all other series in a different genre which throws you off a little the first couple chapters, but once you get used to him it’s a great choice for the gritty nature of the story and characters.

I was floored at the level of research and the detail in this story that shows you how horrifying and evil humanity can be to say the least. Primal justice is dispensed by the main character and the cast of characters around him that gives you the proper sense of retribution you want for the victims in this story. The shocking detail and brutal nature of what unfolds in this type of black market sub-culture is eye opening and horrific, but needs to be talked about more.. once again the character development id top notch!

5/5/5 rating and can’t wait to move onto book 2.

Interesting book

A different book from what I’m used to but very interesting. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Atlas Hargrove delivers roadside justice...

I just finished Tears of Odessa and it was brutally raw... and excellent. The subject matter is painful to say the very least and tragically, based on reality of what some people in this world are capable of. A big part of me hopes that the kind of justice Atlas deals out in these works of fiction, is the kind of justice that is dealt out in reality to the real monsters.

S Kaye

Fairly intense and eye opening. Those poor girls. R.B. Schow, your a good writer and James Way you too did an admirable job.

Mixed feelings

Spoilers ahead, be warned. This is a tough one. I liked some parts of this a lot. I believe child trafficking and sexploitation to be about the worst crimes someone can commit. So, seeing the bad people get what is coming to them is very satisfying. It reminds me a little of Livia Lone and her crusade against abusers. Also, the performance was top notch.
Now, on the other hand, I was not thrilled with the character development. The "hero" went from 0 to insane in no time flat. You never knew how he would react. He was rotten as heck to allies if he didn't like something they did and just not a decent person.
Also, what is the deal with him having to go back to prison after every job? It makes no sense. And the violence is extreme, and I don't shy away from graphic violence. It is hard to read about violence and death pertaining to children.
Bottom line, I will probably not buy any more of this series. The writing is only fair and it is not enough to get me back.