This is an interesting and unique thriller, and I feel bad because I wanted to like it more than I did. Don't get me wrong I did find it entertaining but it did not keep me engaged for part of the story. Let us get into it a little bit.

We have a nonlinear time line. What does this mean? The story is told in both present time and via flashbacks. The flashbacks are not in any particular order but used to propel the present timeline forward and help you understand the choices the MC is making. We start out with our MC, Teagan, hiding out in a hotel room as a terrorist group attacks her building. Then we go back and forth for a while to see how she got there. Basically Teagan wants to be a mother, she's struggling, she decides to start a group to rescue people from this random terrorist group, KIL, and she gets herself caught up in a mess. That would be cool except we kind of go into some details that become rather not interesting, and can be a bit irrelevant. The first part of the book really had me hooked. The action and intrigue how this ordinary woman got into the extraordinary situation, amazing. The middle, lost me, I found my self zoning out and not really paying much attention. Then the story got me back in the end. This story focuses 90% of the time on Teagan, but then we add this other agents POV into the mix and we get his view, I think, to understand what his motivations are to be this bad guy. Really his story doesn't matter all that much except to show that this organization that has hooked him are really bad guys. Also, we have KIL which is such a big part of the first act that by the end of the book you wonder "what ever happened to those guys?"

We have this story that is interesting, one you don't see everyday, but there are some pretty unbelievable parts. Like would a crime syndicate really wait 9 months for an operative to have a baby before they send her out on a mission? No, they don't care. Would a crime syndicate pick a reporter with no training or loyalty to perform a mission? I highly doubt it. I'm not a crime person, so maybe? I don't know, it was alright, like I said I really enjoyed about 2/3 of the book, but there were parts that just couldn't keep me in. It is very action packed though, I like that, the characters are always plotting and going.

The narration choice is one I don't understand. I think the narrator did a great job in keeping you as engaged in the story as possible. He was able to convey all the right emotions and intensity, he was fabulous. My confusion is that you have a female protagonist but you have a male narrator. I know that in the grand scheme of things it is not a big deal because the narrator did great, but maybe that is just a preference I have.

This story has already received a lot of high praise on Goodreads, and I think it is worth the read on an action packed thriller with a bit of a different spin on things.

I honestly wasn’t sure what I was getting with this book not being familiar with the author’s previous work. I typically skim the first line of a blurb and reviews and lately I am really into spy thrillers and books where normal people get thrust into desperate dangerous situations—while this is not a spy thriller it mentioned terrorists and one review mentioned Seattle—growing up a ferry ride away from Seattle I am a sucker for books set in the Pacific Northwest—and it seemed like it may fit with my current book obsession so I decided to request it.

I am so glad I did for many reasons:
*Teagan is a character that you want to root for
*It’s a series starter and that means—hopefully—more Teagan to come
*The action and ‘adventure’ was top notch
*The narration was excellent
*Karma is getting what’s coming to bad characters is my dirty pleasure and Teagan can dish it out
*Real issues faced by real people are a part of Teagan’s story—she has a complex history and depth to her character

I can’t wait to see where this series goes from here and I will eagerly await the next installment!

This story had so much promise. A journalist struggling with infertility follows a story filled with international intrigue and then plunges into a project meant to fix the problem she uncovered. But that leads her into the arms of organized crime and takes her back and forth across oceans to be the badass new superhero of the underworld. Meanwhile, the Mafia hangs out for 8 months waiting for her to have her baby before sending her off to take care of a problem they failed to deal with for over a decade. She knocks that out in 12 days, but at a high personal cost.

It could have all worked if the story didn't ratchet around so much and there wasn't so much "telling, not showing" going on and so much disbelief to suspend. I may pick up the next book in the series, I dunno.

Thank NetGalley and Pen and Picture for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

#TheNewBadThing is a wild ride from Seattle, Washington to Paris and on to secret hideouts in the hills of Italy and Teagan Penn is driving! She's a dynamic and determined protagonist who gets caught up in way more than she ever signed on for. Teagan's original entry into this wild ride was launched out of the purest intentions: to support Middle Eastern girls who were being kidnapped by KIL-- a nefarious, shadowy terrorist organization -- by funding a project which would rescue these girls from peril. From there you'll have to read (or listen to a well-narrated audiobook) to see how wildly things spin out of control as CIA counter-terrorist agents, the Italian mafia, and KIL all intertwine to put Teagan (and her family) in mortal danger. This is the beginning of a New Bad Thing series and Teagan is a compelling and dynamic main character. THANKS to #NetGalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next installment -- Blood Fire (Michael Ebner).

The New Bad Thing kept my interest the whole way through the book with an unexpected ending. Recommend!

Crime thriller readers of ordinary-people-in-extraordinary-circumstances will enjoy this acclaimed new series – where espionage and mafia worlds collide with Seattle reporter, Teagan Penn. By award-winning author, Michael Ebner, a Kirkus Reviews ‘Best Books of the Year’ author.

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There was a LOT going on in this book. I’m not sure if it was simply because I listened on audio but I had a lot of trouble keeping up with what was going on in this story. Between the shady deals, jumping back and forth in time and a narrator I didn’t love (men trying to sound like women never really works in my opinion).

That being said, it was an interesting premise and I was able to make my way through it but I would definitely recommend getting a physical copy of this book - unless you’re REALLY good at following along to audiobooks, I am not.

For those of you who are into the mafia, terrorist, crime thriller reads this is definitely the book for you - and, it’s a series so you’ll have more to look forward to in the future!

This is a book I would recommend, and will certainly be buying in print to see how much I missed while listening along.

The New Bad Thing by Michael Ebner
Narrated by Braden Wright
Publisher: Pen and Picture
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Expected Publication Date: August 15, 2023

The New Bad Thing by Michael Ebner is a fascinating, thrill ride! This book had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. There was so much going on and it kept taking unexpected turns!

This book really asks the question "What would you do for your family? WOW!!!!

I really can't say enough about this book! I really hope the next book is released soon because I need more!!!

The narration by Braden Wright was fantastic!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

An exciting thriller read with twists that keep you guessing till the end! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Danger, desperation, hope, devisitation. Called to meet the needs of women, deceived by another, causes Teagen Penn to take on a mission that endangers herself and her family.
The narrator, Braden Wright was very soothing with great character distinction, varying fluctuations for dramatic effect and effective pace. Very enjoyable.
Overall, the book was action packed, exciting, and a definite page-turner. I loved the mystery of not knowing what happens next. Props to Michael Ebner.
I recommend this book to mystery/thriller lovers and adult fiction lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pen and Picture for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

The New Bad Thing - Michael Ebner

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Some novels have too much scattered action taking place, it makes it too difficult to track everything, and for me, this novel fas into that category.

.In this story the main character, eagen, is a Washington reporter who feels she has sold out; she craves the idealism of her youth when she planned on her writing "making a difference" in the world... Teagen develops a plan that will keep her right in the middle of the action; a plan which also places her right in the path of danger. Add to this marital strife as she struggles to add a child to her family, and throw a conspiracy or two into the mix...

I am a dedicated diehard mystery fan (no cozies or romances please, think: Jo Nesbo, Ivy Pochoda, or Hannah Morrissey) but I personally found this story somewhat convoluted and hard to follow, too ''busy".

That said, your experience may differ, t garnered a TON of top reviews!

Until next time...

Stretching the tale of deception across many countries is a story that explores human deficiencies, which sends you in to a world of exploitation, deceit and horror.
It took a while to grab, but once hooked you cant escape!

I had expected to like The New Bad Thing a lot. It has everything I usually enjoy in a novel—international settings, political intrigue, mysterious characters, and a fierce protagonist. Unfortunately, the plot lurched from one disconnected storyline to another and never coalesced into anything whole.

Teagan is a likable main character who starts off as a journalist and inadvertently becomes an asset for an Italian crime syndicate. The first third of the story features an Islamic terrorist organization but that plot is dropped and never returned to. Another long tangent featured Teagan’s backstory in Japan.

Thrown into the plot is a side story arc of Teagan and her husband Todd doing fertility treatments. The author uses the term “fell pregnant” repeatedly (as in “the first time Teagan fell pregnant”) and that irritated me. I have never heard that phrase in my life and I hope never to hear it again! Mr. Ebner, have you never had any conversations about pregnancy in your life at all?! A person gets pregnant or falls ill, never “falls pregnant.”

I’m giving this book 2.5 stars and I always round up.

Thank you NetGalley and Pen and Picture audio for the audio ARC in exchange for my opinion.

The first in a new series of thrilling and well written book. Tiegan wakes up in the middle of a terrorist assault on the hotel where she is staying, from then on things begin to take her on a deadly journey to protect her family. Braden Wright narrates this book perfectly hope he stays for the next book.
I received this audiobook from Pen & Picture and Netgalley for a review.

When the book starts Teagan is at a hotel in France and it’s being attacked by terrorists but when she calls her “friend “back in New York who she thinks is the only person who can help only to find out he was the one who sent the hit on her in the first place I thought there’s no way this book can get better Teagan doesn’t have a large family her mom left her dead after getting their life savings to a Ponzi scheme and then ran off with the man who introduced the Ponzi scheme to her so it’s just Teagan her dad her husband Todd and eventually their new baby Ellise so needless to say Teagan would do anything to protect anyone of them and eventually she’ll have to prove that. This book is toll from the past and the present and it all comes together to make for one action packed OMG filled story I didn’t give a detailed summary only because I don’t like reading reviews where they pretty much tell the whole story so I will just say if you like books with strong likable female leads then you will Love The New Bad Thing what Teagan goes through is every new mother‘s nightmare but the ending makes it worth it I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I thought the narrator did a pretty good job and set a great tone for the book. I received it from NetGalley and a publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A mad-as-hell reporter determined to save her family in a murky, international espionage situation doesn’t really sum this story up. This book was a great surprise, and is the first in The New Bad Thing series by Michael Ebner. There are origin stories, double-crosses, touching moments, international scenery and peaks and troughs of refreshing action. There is darkness, light, hope and gun fights. Narrator, Braden Wright, is a good fit for the material.
My full review is on Goodreads.

Thrilling, powerful and entertaining

It’s all about the choices we make in life and this book is very much about that with our lead character Teagan and other two main characters, Roman and Lexington. This is an espionage crime thriller with lots of flashbacks to provide rich backstories of our key players. I am an avid reader of crime from Michael Connelly, Richard Price and Dennis LeHane, and this was right up my alley. I am withholding any spoilers. Thank you to Netgalley and Pen and Picture for advance copy. I will be reading the next book in this new series.

Book Title: The New Bad Thing
Author: Michael Ebner
Series: The New Bad Things Book #1
Narrator: Braden Wright
Publisher: Pen and Picture
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: May 16, 2023
Pages: 270
My Rating: 3.4 Stars

Journalist Teagan Penn and her husband Todd are in their later thirties and have wanted to start a family; so far no success. It appears nothing it wrong with either one of them` but decided to see a fertility doctor. Meds and a diet are supposed to help. Teagan has always wanted to be a mother perhaps not a stay-at-home mom but still a mother.
Trying not to stress over her personal situation a foreign news story gets her attention.
She takes matters into her own hands and starts a special project and ends up in Paris and soon finds herself in the middle of a terrorist siege. She fears this might be a planned attack on her life.
She is now forced to make a decision that may affect her and her family forever.
It is indeed ~ the new bad thing.

Story had me curious right from the beginning.
However, I have a low tolerance for profanity and was sure cruel nasty terrorist were going to be using a lot of nasty language.
Glad I hung in as the story did turn out better than I expected.

This is the first in the series with Book #2 [book: Blood Fire] in the works.

Want to thank NetGalley and Pen and Picture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 16, 2023

The New Bad Thing is a story that just failed to grab me. From the summary of the book I expected a story about a journalist who is going to be a badass. While we did get that from our main character Teagan, there was not enough.

The first part of the book shows how desperately Teagan wants a family and goes into a lot of detail about her past and her mission of having a baby. While most of this was well written it was not what I expected.

Teagan wants to make a difference and she starts an organization to free women who are captured by a terrorist group, this is when we get a glimpse of the badass journalist but I just didn’t find it captivating.

Teagan woke up in a hotel under a terrorist attack in Paris and I found myself getting bored. I can’t explain what it was exactly but something in the back half of this story just pushed me away. This is when the action I wanted was starting and I had already lost interest.

I wanted more from this book. I want the badass journalist story. I think this is a book I will revisit down the road and try again with a different mindset but for now, I find it hard to recommend.

Tiegan is a journalist in Seattle that has allowed her to interview many superstars. However, there is one thing that Tiegan wants which is a family more than anything. To take her mind off her desire she starts an organization that has to remain off the radar because she’s saving woman and their children from terrorist. Her organization that she has started introduces her to a dangerous man and puts herself in danger. Tiegan wakes up in the middle of a terrorist attack at a Paris hotel that she’s staying at. At that moment her life starts to unravel and she has to fight for her life.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy