Iraqi Desert, 2007
Ryan Drake is sprawled on the sand, a bullet wound in his abdomen. He's bleeding out. His final thoughts are how she said he was a good man.
2 weeks earlier
Mosul, IraqA predator drone has gone offline. When command regains control, they discover that it has fired its complement of Hellfire missiles and flattened part of Mosul. Someone has hacked the system.
Washington, D.C.
Ryan Drake receives a call from his friend and superior, Dan Franklin. Franklin needs a team to extract a valuable target from a Russian prison in Siberia. He has less than a week to get the job done. Drake accepts the job and learns he is recovering a rogue operative who goes by the codename of Maras. When he sees the picture, he is seduced by her beauty and the mettle in her eyes. Franklin refuses to provide any further intel on her. Drake quickly assembles a team, which is not entirely to his liking, but time is short. The team will parachute in, secure the operative, and egress via a helicopter. Sounds easy but it proves a challenging operation. Maras has been in solitary for several years and isn't the most grateful rescuee. They have hardly returned her to Washington when she's snatched from her handlers and the team has to chase her across the United States and even overseas.
Overall, a great spy thriller with twists and turns, plenty of action, and some engaging characters. I liked Drake though some of his emotional issues didn't fit his line of work. Maras was the strong female and just too overpowered. I didn't mind that she was a great shot, an excellent tactician, or could read people like a book. However, when she easily defeats trained fighters who are much bigger and stronger than her, it went a little too far. The villain, Munro, had that magical ability to vanish while the heroes were occupied with something else.
Of particular note, the author is Will Jordan AKA The Critical Drinker. He can write a story, which shows that he can create as well as criticize.
Recommended.
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