Nightshade. If you’re in search of a deadly plant, look elsewhere. But if you’re after the Discarded Heroes—a team of former military special ops men who take assignments no one can talk about, but every wants to see handled—look no further.

Maybe I’m late to the party. After all, Nightshade, the first book in Ronie Kendig’s series came out in 2010. Still, I’m glad I made it at all. And I want to make sure others don’t miss it.

I can’t recommend Nightshade highly enough.

First of all, the characters! When Max Jacobs is recruited to command Nightshade, he resists. Too broken, too volatile, too apt to screw everything up, he is convinced he’s better off dead. After all, his wife has just filed for separation and gotten a restraining order, because he can’t control his rage and she can’t live in fear. But the black ops team renews his purpose, and gives him the hand up that he needs. Of course it does! These guys are all so deeply flawed and human, but so powerfully striving to protect the hopeless, that you can’t help but cheer for them! (Honestly, I am pumped that there are more books in the series, because I put it down thinking, “But I have to know more about Cowboy! And Midas! And the Kid!”)

But Ronie Kendig didn’t fail me. I get to.

The plot has so many turns, twists, and about faces that were it not for Night Vision Goggles, I’d have had no idea where it was going. Nightshade was far from predictable, unless you count the fact that—at any point—anything can go wrong. Well-crafted, designed to make you think all hope is lost, determined to make you call out to the only One who can rescue, the story gripped my heart tighter with every page.

The highest compliment I can pay is that every detail was believable. Ronie, an Army brat, has impeccable research skills and an understanding of the human condition that work themselves out in each relationship, each strategy, and each location. Following Nightshade all around the globe and through one adrenaline rush after another, I experienced their pain, hopelessness, loss, and victory of the deepest and truest kind.

While the book isn’t preachy at all, there are such strong threads of faith that you can’t miss the healing power of Christ or His strength—enough for any challenge.

Honestly, I’d write more if I didn’t have Digitalis on my desk. But I can’t say no to Cowboy’s story.