LIVE THIS FRIDAY. Things Are Going Dark: Ryan Steck on Thrillers, Real Life Battles, and Writing with Purpose.
Live this Friday on The Writing Community Chat Show. 8pm UK time. The WCCS - Episode 17.
“Gone Dark powers forward, with each scene slamming into the next like colliding freight cars. Matthew Redd is my new favorite thriller hero.”
– Robert Crais, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Big Empty
There are action thrillers that entertain, and then there are thrillers that leave bruises. Ryan Steck’s new novel Gone Dark is the fourth book in the Matthew Redd series, and it’s already being hailed as his best work yet. With stakes that burn as hot as the Montana wildfires it portrays, this book doesn't just throw its characters into danger, it sets the whole page ablaze.
This Friday at 8PM UK time, The Writing Community Chat Show will sit down with Ryan Steck for a live, unfiltered, members-only conversation. If you’ve followed Ryan’s journey from industry insider to breakout author, this is a rare chance to hear directly from the man behind the mayhem, and the mission.
Why Ryan Steck Matters
Known to many as The Real Book Spy, Ryan Steck made his name as the thriller genre’s most trusted voice, championing authors, breaking down books, and bringing fans into the world of high-stakes fiction. But his shift from reviewer to author has been nothing short of remarkable.
Now, with Gone Dark, Steck proves again why he’s called “a force to be reckoned with” by none other than Jack Carr, and “the go-to man in a bad situation” by Brad Taylor.
Gone Dark: The Story That Lights Up the Series
Former Marine Raider Matthew Redd isn’t looking for trouble, but trouble finds him in the middle of a blazing Montana inferno. A team of smokejumpers has vanished, a young boy is the only survivor, and as Redd investigates, he uncovers something far deadlier than fire: murder, corruption, and the scars of the opioid crisis.
What makes Gone Dark stand out isn’t just the action, though there’s plenty of that, but the emotional core. Redd’s wife, Emily, is grappling with the loss of a young patient and the broken system that let it happen. As both of them uncover different pieces of the puzzle, they’re forced to ask: What are we willing to risk to protect the truth?
Praise from the Best in the Game
“Gone Dark fans the flames of a wildfire of a series!”
– Craig Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of the Walt Longmire Series“Gone Dark is wildly entertaining... vivid imagery, pulse-pounding suspense, and an all-time great dog.”
– Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of The Oligarch’s Daughter
What We'll Be Talking About Friday Night
How Ryan’s personal experience shaped Gone Dark's opioid storyline.
Why Matthew Redd might be one of the most human action heroes on the shelves.
The journey from The Real Book Spy to bestselling novelist.
Behind-the-scenes of writing wildfire suspense and grounded family drama.
Building a thriller brand while raising six kids (yes, really!)
And: What’s next for the Redd series and Ryan’s mission-driven writing.
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