Eight stars
Jack Carr returns with his third instalment in the James Reece series, which has just as much action as the previous novels. While he coalesces after brain surgery, James Reece has plans to rest up in a Montana cabin. On the other side of the world, Oliver Gray, who was responsible for killing Reece’s father, has his targets set on finishing the job, knowing that it will be a case of strike before being targeted by Reece himself. Gray works with members of the Russian Bratva to secure the attack, one that will require stealth, as Reece was once a SEAL and now has been working for the CIA. When Reece and his new belle settle in the cabin, a strike team inches forward. No one could have predicted that Reece’s long-time friend and fellow SEAL, Rafe Hastings, will also be in the area. After the strike goes awry, Reece knows that he is in big trouble and will not be able to hide for much longer. Even worse, the Russians are able to nab Hastings’ little sister in Europe, only adding pressure to an already jarring situation. It will not be enough that Reece knows the Russians are after him. He must annihilate them and find Gray for a final standoff, while a man who hunts humans for fun arrives to play a little game. A well-paced novel that is full of plot twists and wonderful storytelling. Recommended to those who love a good thriller, as well as the reader who finds an interest in military-type novels, full of gun technology and scouting tactics.
I stumbled upon the first book in this series after a friend recommended it to me. While I am not as keen on military thrillers, I do love the espionage stories that Carr has been able to create. James Reece is an interesting character who continues to grow before the reader’s eyes. Now on the defensive, after a few novels where he was hunting his enemies, Reece must show how sharp he can be without being prepared with everything he might need. He appears to have moved on from the murder of his wife and unborn child, letting the walls down so that he can be happy. There is no lack of action when it comes to Reece or those around him. Other characters do a wonderful job of complementing the protagonist and adding their own added flavour to an action-filled read. The numerous plot lines kept the story interesting and the perspectives of all the characters did well to keep the story on point. The novel itself was quite well paced, even as the reader must leap over some of the redaction pits placed throughout by the US Department of Defence. Carr knows his stuff and does not write in too inflated a manner, but is able to get to the root of the plot without issue and keeps the reader right there with them. Full of military and gun talk, this helps to add depth to the plot rather than lose the reader from the get-go. Carr brings his experiences to the entire novel and the read can bask in the attention to detail. The mix of chapter lengths pull the reader in and sustain their interest in equal measure. There’s little time to catch one’s breath, as the story is so full of action and locales that it will be a fast ride throughout. I hope to see more from Carr, as there always seems to be a thread that is left hanging for Reece to tug upon.
Kudos, Mr. Carr, for another winner. I hope others find your series and enjoy it as much as I have been to this point.
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
Book Reviews to Ponder 