A Jake Grafton Novel (Jake Grafton Series Book 3)

This book may deserve a better rating because it is a monumental story and very well written, however the ending and some of the reaches the author makes throughout this epic make is very unsatisfactory and disappointing. I personally did not read anything else by this author after being an avid reader for many years. The ending is that bad.
Also there is the very 1980's steep to the whole work. It is very anachronistic today and would have been had it been written in the 70's. Much has happened since the depths of the drug wars in the 80's and we have a new understanding of the dynamics involved today. Parts of this work hinge on the desperate fear Americans had then of destruction at the hands of drug cartels which was displaced Cold War apprehension.
No doubt a tremendous work, resurrecting familiar characters into an unlikely setting, the stretches and total collapse at the finale earn this one a single star.

In this brilliant story a man is murdered, and there are no suspects. Then a druglord leader of a major Colombian cartel is captured and brought to the U.S. Then the first strike is struck as a chopper carrying major U.S. officials, including President Bush, is shot down, killing some and putting Bush in critical condition. Dan Quayle is forced to become temporary president. Then terrorists enter the capital and cause much destruction. Quayle declares martial law and people are put in prison camps as the havoc is wrought. Talk of invading Colombia goes around. Then an FBI agent investigating a suspected cocaine dealer finds himself in a tight spot as the dealer and his men close the noose on him, figuring out who he is. Bloodbath ensues. Then an assassin begins sniping important U.S. officials in the time of crisis. Anyway, Jake Grafton and several other military people are put in charge of finding and killing the assassin, the same man who shot down Bush's plane. A final confrontation ensues between Grafton and the assassin in a stadium. The rest is yours.

This was an exciting book by Coonts. This was also a unique concept as a plot. A major drug salesman is arrested and brought back to America to stand trial. Through his wealth the drug salesman hires crack commando squads and an assasin. The assasin wounds President Bush and Dan Quayle has to take over. This is where the action begins. The country is under seige. The government is pushed to the limit trying to deal with the commandos. Vice-President Quayle has his hands full dealing with this crisis. This book also has strong characters. This is a definite read. You will enjoy it.

From the start Coonts gets your attention. The US Govt. brings a drug lord to America to stand trial. He uses Columbian tactics to be released. Everything from commando teams to an assassin to take out the President. The book starts to flow when the assassin wounds President Bush. The story is great. Well developed...until the end. I would have given this book 4 stars if the ending would have lived up to the rest of the interesting story line. With what we have learned in the book about the assassin, it is hard to believe he would act as he does after being so meticulous.

Colombian drug lord apprehended and brought to trial. Cuban revolution and Castro is killed. In this mix even hired killer, several key politicians, Judges and power brokers killed. Attempt on President Bush and his Vice president Quayle.