Nothing is ever as it seems when deadly enemies clash in the latest entry in the long-running Ludlum series continued by Freeman.
As his many fans already know, Jason Bourne has neither memory nor past because of a gunshot that nearly killed him. His secretive employer, Treadstone, has him protecting Grigori Kotov, a Russian ex–double agent and former KGB killer who is plotting to overthrow Putin. Throughout Bourne’s adventures, he leaves a trail of beautiful women behind, casualties of his complicated, messy world. The latest is the heavily tattooed and unbelievably sexy spy Nova, thought to have been killed in an Estonian harbor explosion three years ago. Bourne’s frightful and worthy foe is Lennon, whom the CIA wants him to kill and who thinks his frequent Beatles references are amusing. There’s also the Gaia Crusade, a group of hyperenvironmentalists who believe that world leaders are raping Mother Earth and who will kill to protect her. “Praise Gaia,” their members say. The past, or lack thereof, is the recurring theme threading through the whole series and plaguing the hero. The past either didn’t exist or was never over, but the apparently contradictory thoughts come to the same thing. Anyway, Bourne had better deal with the present, which is filled with bloody violence and the prospect of great sex. All those tattoos, oh my. But as the title says, there’s treachery. And Lennon has surprises for Bourne and for the reader. This is a tightly plotted, complex yarn with the fast pace that will keep readers flipping the pages. Never mind that it’s formulaic; readers won’t care. Of course Bourne will never recall his past. Of course he’ll face mortal combat with an evil equal. And of course a beautiful, strong, intelligent woman will enter his life, but she won’t change it. The man’s a good guy, but he’s also a killer.
This may wind up on the big screen, but don’t wait for the movie. It’s a fun read.Pub Date: July 27, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-525-54265-0
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021
Categories: THRILLER | ESPIONAGE | POLITICAL, MILITARY & TERRORISM | GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE
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Celebrity scandal and a haunted lake drive the narrative in this bestselling author’s latest serving of subtly ironic suspense.
Sager’s debut, Final Girls (2017), was fun and beautifully crafted. His most recent novels—Home Before Dark (2020) and Survive the Night (2021) —have been fun and a bit rickety. His new novel fits that mold. Narrator Casey Fletcher grew up watching her mother dazzle audiences, and then she became an actor herself. While she never achieves the “America’s sweetheart” status her mother enjoyed, Casey makes a career out of bit parts in movies and on TV and meatier parts onstage. Then the death of her husband sends her into an alcoholic spiral that ends with her getting fired from a Broadway play. When paparazzi document her substance abuse, her mother exiles her to the family retreat in Vermont. Casey has a dry, droll perspective that persists until circumstances overwhelm her, and if you’re getting a Carrie Fisher vibe from Casey Fletcher, that is almost certainly not an accident. Once in Vermont, she passes the time drinking bourbon and watching the former supermodel and the tech mogul who live across the lake through a pair of binoculars. Casey befriends Katherine Royce after rescuing her when she almost drowns and soon concludes that all is not well in Katherine and Tom’s marriage. Then Katherine disappears….It would be unfair to say too much about what happens next, but creepy coincidences start piling up, and eventually, Casey has to face the possibility that maybe some of the eerie legends about Lake Greene might have some truth to them. Sager certainly delivers a lot of twists, and he ventures into what is, for him, new territory. Are there some things that don’t quite add up at the end? Maybe, but asking that question does nothing but spoil a highly entertaining read.
A weird, wild ride.Pub Date: June 21, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-18319-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2022
Categories: PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER | SUSPENSE | THRILLER | SUSPENSE | GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE | GENERAL FICTION
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An aimless young musician meets the girl of his dreams only to have his newfound happiness threatened by several inexplicable—and possibly supernatural—events.
The story opens as Leeds Gabriel meets with a detective while his girlfriend, Layla, is restrained in a room one flight above them. Through the interview, readers learn that Leeds was wasting both his time and his musical talent playing backup for a small-town wedding troupe called Garrett’s Band when he spied Layla dancing her heart out to their mediocre music at a wedding. When Leeds approaches Layla, their connection is both instant and intense. A blissful courtship follows, but then Leeds makes the mistake of posting a picture of himself with Layla on social media. A former girlfriend–turned-stalker wastes no time in finding and attacking Layla. Layla spends months recovering in a hospital, and it seems the girl Leeds fell for might be forever changed. Gone is her special spark, her quirkiness, and the connection that had entranced Leeds months before. In a last-ditch effort to save their relationship, he brings Layla back to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. When they get there, though, Leeds meets Willow, another guest, and finds himself drawn to her in spite of himself. As events unfold, it becomes clear that Willow will either be the key to saving Leeds’ relationship with Layla or the catalyst that finally extinguishes the last shreds of their epic romance. Told entirely from Leeds’ point of view, the author’s first foray into paranormal romance does not disappoint. Peppered with elements of mystery, psychological thriller, and contemporary romance, the novel explores questions about how quickly true love can develop, as well as the conflicts that can imperil even the strongest connections. Despite a limited cast of characters and very few setting changes, the narrative manages to remain both fast-paced and engaging. The conclusion leaves a few too many loose ends, but the chemistry between the characters and unexpected twists throughout make for a satisfying read.
A unique story of transcendent love.Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5420-0017-8
Page Count: 301
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2020
Categories: PARANORMAL FICTION | ROMANCE | SUPERNATURAL THRILLER | THRILLER | GENERAL ROMANCE | GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE
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