James Reece is a beast. Son of a Vietnam-era sniper. Now a former SEAL who has contracted with the CIA to do what must be done quietly, lethally, and waaaay off the books. And he’s survived (see The Terminal List, True Believer, Devil’s Hand). But like all assassins, time has a way of tapping on a shoulder and asking, ‘are you sure?’
Jack is living the dream in the Montana mountains with Katie
(see how they met in the earlier books). Thinking he has put that life behind him (didn't Michael Corleone said the much same thing?) A call comes telling him to turn on
CNN. An airliner has been shot down after takeoff from the Burkina Faso international
airport. 120 or so killed. As the passenger photos are arrayed on the screen,
Jack recognizes this female Mossad killer. She’d been in country to do what she
does, kill someone who didn’t have Israel’s best interests at heart. But someone else knew she’d
be there, what her travel plans were, and supplied a local revolutionary group
with a couple shoulder-fired missiles.
And the heat inside Jack builds. First stop is DC and the CIA. Then the Mossad. Then into Africa. All the while he is picking up info bit by bit. Turns out he is chasing a Syrian hired by Moscow (why would Moscow have any interest?) and his French partner. And the Mossad agent wasn’t the main target. Reece is the target and killing the Israeli would draw Reece to them. Further stops in the chase include a coastal Italian town, then Serbia. Each stop presents Reece with challenges only a former SEAL/author can dream up.
Carr is the pseudonym of a former career SEAL/sniper. The
challenge is to pen a story that is entirely believable while just nudging the envelope
of reality a touch. And Carr is learning his trade admirably. If you haven’t
jumped on board the James Reece bandwagon . . . you just aren’t paying attention. Quality plot, well-developed characters, and not too over-the-top. Add James Reece to your list that includes Steve Harvath (Brad Thor), Jack Reacher (Lee Child), Bob Lee Swagger (Stephan Hunter), et al.
BTW, I see that Terminal List is in production for a multi-episode series due to start July 1, 2022 on Amazon Prime with Chris Pratt in the lead. If it’s any good, expect the next book to be green-lit before the first series is even done.
As usual, pay attention to the publisher. Another winner (aren’t they all?) from Emily Bestler Books, an imprint of Atria Books under the Simon & Schuster umbrella.
East Coast Don
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