Final Target
by Iris Johansen

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Book Reviews of Final Target

Book Review: Exciting ride.... with a little "X-files" feel to it......
Summary: 3 Stars

The book's beginning brings us into the middle of a kidnapping in process. The target of the plot is the US president's daughter, Cassie Andreas. Fortunately, she's saved by the hero of this story, Michael Travis. However, after experiencing the traumatic event, the 7 year old girl became a mute and mentally detached person.

The president hired Jessica Reily, a pychologist, to help Cassie. Jessica's sister, Melissa, was a patient herself. Melissa was mentally detached for 6 years before Jessica brought her back. However, she has formed some sort of psychic ability after the incident. Lately, she's been having nightmares that forebodes bad events to come. Also, Melissa has also developed some sort of psychic connection to Cassie.

Michael Travis is not a good man. He's been part of the underworld (smuggling and other illegal acts) since his birth. That's why he sneaked away after saving Cassie. He's been on the run with his own problems on hand. Therefore, he agreed to help the president find the kidnapper in exchange for protection. So he was placed in the same facility as Jessica, Melissa, and Cassie. There, he helps Jessica when Cassie has nightmares since Cassie views him as her savior and hero.

Unfortunately, circumstances wouldn't allow Travis to stay at the facility. So he orchestrates an escape plan and brings along Jessica, Melissa, and Cassie with him too. While the president is after them, the kidnapper/killer is also on the lookout for them. A trail of murder and violence follows the group while they try to cure Cassie...

Unlike some other readers, I wasn't disappointed with this book. Yes, it is slightly different than her past novels in that it concentrates more on the pyschological interplay between the characters, especially Melissa and Cassie's mental interchanges, but it still have its fair share of action, especially parts with Galen in them. It does have some level of X-files intrigue and as a fan of the show, it's easy to follow these lines of thought.

The only thing I think could have been better is the villain, Edward Deschamps. The author does show his violent and murderous characteristics, but didn't really show the readers his mentally twisted mind. Compared to Rudzak (the villain in the "The Search"), Deschamps' character was not as fully developed and didn't really give us a chill. The final resolution(the fall and death of Deschamps) was simple and not brilliantly thought out.

Overall enjoyable read. A good addition to the author's suspense collection. Again, I would like to see more Sean Galen in the future.

Summary of Final Target

Iris Johansen (The Killing Game, The Search) ratchets up the suspense in this fast-moving thriller, which ranges across international borders from Washington to Amsterdam to Paris with the help of Air Force One and Two. While the president isn't very satisfactorily developed except as a frightened father who'll do almost anything to save his daughter, Travis and Melissa are fascinating characters who linger in the mind after the last explosive page; hopefully, Johansen will revisit them in a future adventure. Meanwhile, this is her best and most engaging read in years. --Jane Adams

Political Books

• Subjects > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Political
• Literary
• Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers > Suspense