Tropic Angel

Archangel Aviation Thrillers, Book 1

By: Nate Van Coops

Narrated by: Scott Brick

THE ONLY WAY OUT IS UP

Former Blackhawk pilot Luke Angel wants nothing more than to enjoy the easy life he’s found in coastal Florida. He’s got a seaplane business, a well-trained dog, and a loyal and lovable crew to throw back margaritas with. But when a plane belonging to a friend goes missing from Luke’s airport, local detectives are understandably baffled. Clues are scattered from the Keys to the far side of the Gulf of Mexico, and Luke may be the only one with the connections to piece the puzzle back together.

The case rips open old family tensions for Luke and the woman he once loved. When his eleven-year-old niece gets dragged into the danger, Luke finds himself facing down elements of his past he thought long buried.

Dipping his floats into murky water has Luke tangling with deadly people who’d love nothing more than to clip his wings.

He’ll have to fly fast if he wants to protect the people he loves, or he’ll end up at the bottom of the bay.

Take off for an unforgettable ride. Get yours today.

©2023, 2024 Skylighter Press (P)2024 Skylighter Press

This story hits all the benchmarks.

Tropic Angel is a break from the typical “who done it”.
Nate has managed to include every element of good story telling and in just the right measure.
Several times I thought I had it figured out just to realize a twist.
I can’t wait to get the next Luke Angel adventure.

Jack Reacher with airplanes

I was familiar with the author's time travel series and was pleasantly surprised to learn he is a pilot and mechanic from a podcast. In the podcast he notes how avgeeks will cringe at most media presentations of aircraft operation and how he wanted to write something that wouldn't do that to his readers. And he delivers. While this story doesn't have any crazy dogfights or races (maybe on the next one?) all of the aviation specific aspects are great and didn't cause me to cringe (except for when an airplane gets damaged). The non-flying part of the story plays out like a Jack-Reacher story.

Thrilling, Intriguing

Luke Angel, a former Blackhawk pilot, has the life he has always wanted, complete with solid friends and a thriving business. Until his good friend goes missing in what is believed to be a suicide by plane. The adventure begins when Luke is faced with his ex-father-in-law and a local and shady businessman seeking to buy into his company.

The author, Nate Van Coops, creates a gripping, fast-paced mystery filled with vivid, immersive details. The dialogue is authentic and engaging flowing smoothly throughout. Each character is fully developed, seamlessly fitting into the narrative. He effectively blends into the narrative suspense, romance, and dynamic action.

The narrator, Scott Brick, provides a solid and exciting performance balancing the genres effectively and highlighting both the action and plot. Brick effectively slips into character, enhancing the action and creating an immersive and engaging experience. His delivery vividly highlights suspense and action.

Overall, this is an entertaining and engaging audiobook. The characters are authentic and the narrative is immersive.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Engaging listen

A seems far-fetched story… but in the end, I want to take flying (pilot) lessons. Would recommend for easy listening.

A good read with an interesting storyline.

I have been enjoying this author’s works, particularly the aviation themes. This book was imaginative and an enjoyable read. The only negative for me was the insistence on having the character. Tyler use poor grammar. It seemed like a gratuitous and intentional stereotype that was totally unnecessary. Otherwise, a very good book. As usual, Scott brick was brilliant with his narration. My favorite narrator of all.