Barnes & Noble Guide to New Fiction
Readers raved about this book by the author of the page-turner, Digger, who brings us a "captivating" cat-and-mouse suspense story focused on J. D. Cade, a trained killer who is being blackmailed by people who want the next President of the United States, an African-American, dead. Full of "twists," a "well-written, timely thriller."
Publishers Weekly
- Publisher's Weekly
The latest entry in the election year tradition of political thrillers from the campaign trail is this tough, stylish tale about a reluctant assassin who can't bring himself to follow orders to kill the Democratic nominee for the White House. The assassin is successful businessman J.D. Cade, a former army sniper who is being blackmailed into killing Franklin Delano Rawley, the black senator from Wisconsin who's engaged in a tight battle with the incumbent in the 2004 election. Cade knows neither the identity of his blackmailer nor why he wants Rawley eliminated. All he knows is that his nemesis has threatened the life of Cade's 21-year-old son, Evan, if Cade refuses to do his bidding. The blackmailer's leverage is a secret in Cade's past: three decades ago, Cade killed a man named Alvy McCray, the last death in the great Cade/McCray blood feud. Cade fears that revealing the secret will reignite the family vendetta, which has been simmering for more than a century on the Illinois-Kentucky border. Although Cade attempts to kill Rawley in Chicago, his long-range rifle shot just misses. His next step is to ingratiate himself with the Rawley campaign, posing as a major donor. Although he then gets several opportunities, he still cannot liquidate his target. In desperation, Cade decides to try to discover the identity of his blackmailer, whom he plans to murder instead. Flynn (Digger) propels his plot with potent but flexible force, using just the right mix of pressure and release to maintain suspense deep into the story. He also shows a patient touch with his characters, allowing Cade and several others to develop well beyond the status of simple role players. (June) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|
Library Journal
In this second, somewhat disappointing novel by the author of Digger, J.D. Cade--a wealthy Vietnam vet and former super-sniper--must kill black senator and leading presidential contender Del Rawlins or a rogue government group will destroy Cade and his family. As Cade, a cross between Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford, gets to know and like Rawlins, he tries to work his way out of his lethal dilemma. While the book is sometimes exciting, it generally lacks suspense: the reader just knows everything will work out. Also, the plot is convoluted and full of implausibilities, as when Cade, a complete stranger, becomes an almost instant intimate of the candidate. These and other coincidences just don't work. For larger collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/00.]--Robert Conroy, Warren, MI Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\
Kirkus Reviews
The presidential hopeful is African-American, but few are the real changes rung here on the old send-a-sniper-to-kill-the-candidate caper. Whenever crack shot J.D. Cade misses, blame it on something spectacularly unpredictable: front-runner Del Rawley suddenly bending to take a rose from a little girl, for instance, causing Cade's .50-caliber slug to pass harmlessly over his head. In one sense, Cade is relieved. He likes Rawley, thinks he's something special in the way of politicians. All things being equal, he'd be happy to see Rawley's steady hand guiding the US ship of state. But, alas, all things are far from equal. Cade, trained as an assassin during the war in Vietnam, is being blackmailed in a particularly nasty way. Take Rawley out, or your son dies, the mysterious conspirators tell him, and not for a minute does he doubt the capability behind the wicked threat. Thus, when his first attempt fails, he immediately sets about planning a second. Still, he truly would prefer not to kill Rawley, whose presidency would be of such benefit to the country. In addition, there's the matter of sexy Jenny Crenshaw, Rawley's campaign manager, to whom Cade is more than little drawn and who would be immensely let down to discover she's been nurturing a viper in her bosom. Clearly, the only way to fend off a variety of disasters is for Cade to force his enemies into open confrontation, which he does. In a climactic scene set in the Hollywood Bowl, good killer faces bad killer, the fate of the nation hanging in the balance. Once again (Digger, 1997), Flynn provides plenty of plot, but a lethal shortage of characterization.
Publisher's Weekly
- Reed Business
...tough, stylish tale about a reluctant assassin who can't bring himself to follow orders to kill the Democratic nominee for the White House....Flynn propels his plot with potent but flexible force, using just the right mix of pressure and release to maintain suspense deep into the story. He also shows a patient touch with his characters, allowing Cade and several others to develop well beyond the status of simple role players.
amazon.com
- Jane Adams
A decent, resourceful man with his own code of honor, J.D.[Cade] must untangle the web of political deceit and intrigue that dates back to his own service in Vietnam in order to free himself from a shadowy adversary who will stop at nothing. An original, suspenseful thriller that will keep you turning the pages...
