Conspiracy Game (GhostWalkers, Book 4)

Warning: If you decide to read the first book, have the others waiting for you on your nightstand because you won't be able to wait to read the next book. This is actually my favorite of Feehan's series and I have read everything of hers I can get my hands on. In this one, with each book she reveals a little more of a complex scientific experiment with human paranormal abilities that has been going on for years. From the first book we know the experiment has been repeated at least once but were there other times and other subjects? Where are the subjects of the original experiment? And do they know what was done to them? There are betrayals of everything the characters believed was true. There may be conspiracies going on at the highest level of government - maybe more than one government. With each book, Feehan peels back another layer and reveals to the reader that the sheer scope of the project was even greater than we thought. The characters - not innocent pawns, but strong, smart people, are ultimately flawed each in their own way. These characters, each subjects of the experiment, are endowed with special paranormal abilities (we readers have all secretly fantasised about having such powers.) Feehan shows how those abilities would inevitably come only at a price to the human body. The characters must fight the effects the experiment has had on their systems, they must work out the flaws in their natures to form friendships and romantic relationships, and they must work together to figure out what was done to them, what was the true purpose of the experiment, and who amongst the others, changed like themselves, can they trust. It is an exciting, fantastic, and totally addictive series.

As an avid Christine Feehan reader, I enjoy all of her books. This book is about Jack Norton, a ghost walker who is part of another group experimented on by Dr. Whitney, (Jack is psychicly and genetically enhanced). In the first book Shadow Game, we are led to believe that Dr. Whitney is dead. In the book before this one, Night Game, evidence is strong that he is still alive. More groups of people he has enhanced are coming forward. Jack goes on a mission to retrieve his twin brother, Ken, who was captured and tortured in the Congo. Jack is successful is getting Ken out, but is captured himself by the same group. Jack and his brother are both very skillful snipers. Jack escapes, but does not leave the area before destroying the camp where they held and tortured him. While trying to get help in leaving the country, he meets Briony (she is one the infant girls Dr. Whitney first experimented on) and together they fight to survive a meeting with enemy soldiers. In close proximity to her, Jack reacts physically to her presence. Something he did not expect. As a killer and someone who suffered great abuse in his home life, he thought his emotions died a long time ago. He never wanted a woman in his life for fear that he would be like his father. The dialogue between the two brothers is great. Jack's struggle to come to grips with his strong feelings for Briony is compelling. They both believe Dr. Whitney created their attraction to one another and put them together in the hopes of creating the next generation of soldiers. Dr. Whitney may be able to create a physical attraction, but can he create an emotional attraction or is that still up to them? At first, I was disappointed that this book was not about one of the original ghost walkers form the first book; but after reading it, I have changed my mind. The next book is about Jack's brother, Ken. Briony discovers she has a twin also. Guess who Ken's match is? This story due out the end of February '07. Can't wait to read it.

After rescuing his brother, GhostWalker Jack Norton is taken captive and subsequently tortured by a sadistic, evil man. When he escapes, Jack knows that his chances of getting away are about 50/50. While he has skills that his enemies aren't prepared for or expecting, he's also outnumbered. When he finds another GhostWalker in the jungle where he's hiding, he's immediately suspicious. Briony Jenkins and her four brothers came to Africa to perform in their family owned circus. Adopted as a young girl, Briony has never been able to stand the touch of even her own family. Being in Africa is one of the hardest things Briony has ever had to endure because she can feels the emotions of those around her. When she literally runs into someone during one of her nightly runs, she's mystified by the fact that she feels none of those emotions which plague her daily. Jack and Briony soon learn that they are nothing more than puppets in a show that is being run by the crazy Dr. Peter Whitney. Jack, with demons of his own, tries to be noble and let Briony go. However, when she turns up on his doorstep begging for his help, there is little he can do but help her. He knows that he'll never let her go now that she sought him out. Together, along with Jack's brother, Ken, they must protect more than themselves. They must protect their future and that of their families. Jack Norton is one tortured hero, that's for sure. He may have come off as "overly" tortured until Feehan really brought the reader into his past. After that, you have no doubt that Jack and his brother Ken are extremely tortured men who are afraid of ending up like the man that fathered them. While I did like Briony, she cried too much for my taste. Other than that, I had no problem with her. :) The book was extremely fast moving and really flowed. It didn't seem like it was as long as it was. In March 2007, we'll get Ken Norton's book!

Let me say that I was hesident to read this book, much less buy it. After the disapointment of Gators story, I was more than uneasy about continueing with the series. However, I was so wrong! The book was an absolute delight! I loved reading about Jack Norton and Briony Jenkins romance. There was heat, passion, and there was clear love between the character. The story line was fast paced, and you learned more things about the enemy Dr. Whitney than in any of the other Ghostwalker books. The family relationship between Jack and his twin brother Ken was touching and very believably written. I have to say that the only part that sort of turned me away from the book was the very discriptive scenes of torture at the beginning of the book. I felt it was a little unnecessary. Other than that, I give this book the five stars it deserves. A great job, and a necessary part of any Christine Feehan's fan collection.

Jack, like his twin brother Ken, is a Ghostwalker. And like other Ghostwalkers, he and his brother have lived hard lives, beginning with a traumatic childhood that included Jack killing his father in self-defense. Ken and his Ghostwalker team are sent on a mission to save a US Senator and a team of scientists who have been kidnapped by an African warlord and held for ransom. Ken is captured in the process so Jack and his team go in to recover him. Jack is captured. He, however, makes his escape and runs into Briony and his brothers. They agree to help him, but before he leaves, he and Briony have an affair. Several months later, Briony is told that she is pregnant and is suddenly on the run because a shadowy group wants her and her baby. Out of options, Briony turns to Jack for help and protection. Her intention is to stay only long enough until things cool down. But Jack has other plans. He walked away from Briony once and he wasn't going to let her go again. This is the fourth Christine Feehan book I've read and so far it's my favorite. It's easy to fall in love with Jack and Briony. They're both stubborn, can't keep their hands off each other, but I suppose it's something about their love and devotion to each other that eventually won me over. Well, it's more than that. Jack, ruthless and cold-blooded in carrying out his missions, is suddenly trying to adjust to becoming a father, and a husband. He devotes himself to reading baby books, building a cradle, and tries to "manage" Briony's pregnancy. Briony, on the other hand, is used to dealing with guys, after growing up with four over-protective and pushy brothers. She simply ignores Jack's orders and does exactly what she wants to do. You'll enjoy reading this book. It's entertaining, lively, and mesmerizing.