Field of Fire

I don't usually read books in this genre, but decided I just had to after reading a variety of reviews, particularly after noticing a distinct difference between those written by women and by men. I spent all day saturday reading Field of Fire, because I just couldn't put it down. I loved it! James Born created characters who are unique individuals and entirely credible. As I read, I could think of a number of interesting folks I've known who share various attributes with James' people in this book. The characters are developed enough that you feel comfortable with who they are and what drives them - well, at least one character made me feel very uncomfortable, but that was a good thing. Just enough information to know them as much as you want to. The storyline kept me engaged and I loved the way he wrapped it up. I'm looking forward to reading more about Alex Duarte in the future, as well as checking out this author's other books. Add one more avid fan to your tally, Mr. Born!

James O Born brings us a new character and a new series -I hope he continues his Tasker books, but it's interesting to see the author branch out with a different Law Enforcement agency (ATF -Alchohol Tobacco and Firearms, this time) and an interesting twist on a sympathetic Hispanic American lead character; his work pressures his folks/culture and sibling issues, his take on the ladies. Florida based crime fiction with a plot that takes us to other parts of the country, too. Bring us more Alex Duarte -and- Bill Tasker books, Jim Born.

After throrougly enjoying the first three James O. Born novels (Walking Money, Shock Wave, & Escape Clause), I was looking forward to the fourth, Field of Fire. Born's years of experience with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement made his first character, Florida law enforcer Bill Tasker, a natural. His keen insight of both the FDLE and FBI and extensive knowledge of the Bureau of ATF make his newest character, ATF agent Alex Duarte, both intriguing and believable. His wealth of real life experience comes shining through once again in this riveting and exciting novel. I would highly recommend it to all!

James O. Born's first three books --- WALKING MONEY, SHOCK WAVE and ESCAPE CLAUSE --- featured Bill Tasker, a believable Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent in a series informed by Born's own FDLE experiences and the two-legged fauna that haunt the dark edges of the South Florida underworld. But none of Born's prior works (as uniformly great as they are) will prepare readers for FIELD OF FIRE, wherein Born breaks his own mold and begins again, with spectacular results. FIELD OF FIRE is a bit disconcerting at first, but in a good, even excellent, way. The source of initial unease is Alex "Rocket" Duarte, a South Florida ATF agent who doesn't drink or smoke and will carry a firearm only with the greatest reluctance. Duarte is inordinately good looking but extremely slow on the uptake with the ladies, independent but living with his parents; he is a bit unsettling at first, but ultimately believable, given that to some degree we all know people like this. Duarte is like a character encountered in some wonderful collaboration between T. Jefferson Parker and Elmore Leonard. The story is set against the insane backdrop of Broward County, in the streets, alleys and shops that are blocks removed from the sand and sun and frat-boy conviviality that deceptively rules the beachfront property. Duarte, gradually reacclimating himself to South Florida after a military tour of Bosnia, is hunting Alberto Salez, a gunrunner who is inordinately lucky and, unbeknownst to Duarte, as coldly vicious and homicidal as one can imagine. Duarte is also unaware that Mike Garretti, an explosives expert with an odd, unexpected tie to Duarte, is after Salez as well. When one of Garretti's explosive efforts to eliminate Salez goes horribly wrong, the U.S. Attorney's office gets involved in the persona of Caren Larson, who has been dispatched by her Washington boss to see if there is any connection between the South Florida bombing and similar incidents in Virginia and Seattle. Larson is immediately attracted to Duarte; her gentle persistence, matched against his snail-like uptake, makes for some interesting reading as the two of them gradually uncover a scheme that leads somewhat uncomfortably back to one of them. While the plot is more than enough to keep the pages turning, it is Born's ability to create off-the-wall yet believable characters that makes the book worth reading. Perhaps the main one of these is Duarte's father, a plumber who dispatches quiet, terse wisdom across the dinner table and who ultimately provides the key that Duarte and Larson need to blow their case open. It is Duarte, however, who is the star of FIELD OF FIRE, and his instinct on when to follow and when to ignore the rules makes for intriguing reading. Similarly, Garretti, while no angel, is not all bad here either, and the rough and uneasy similarity between Garretti and Duarte creates some interesting, if unusual, chemistry. The result is a novel that, with Born's already impressiv

ATF agent Alex "Rocket" Duarte has returned from Bosnia and is working diligently to get a promotion to a supervisory position. At present he and his partner are searching at the migrant camp in western Palm Beach County for Alberto Salez so they can arrest for him violating firearms statutes. The wily man escapes and later that night Salez's car explodes by someone who used it to tripwire it. Caren Larson, a lawyer for the Department of Justice is assigned to work with Duarte because there have been two other G-4 bombings, one in Seattle and one in Virginia. Assistant Attorney General Bob Morales believes that the men who were targeted in the bombings were trying to organize labor and someone wanted them to stop. Duarte's instincts tell him there is a cover-up going on and when another person gets murdered in California, by the same hit man involved in the other bombings; he believes Caren is holding back on him, something that could cost all the people working on the case their lives. FIELD OF FIRE is a fantastic police procedural with a protagonist who once he gets the scent of a crime is like a bloodhound who needs to continue until he gets his prey. Women will adore the hero who is innocent when it comes to females but has superlative investigative skills that allow him to think outside the box. Surprisingly, the hitman has a conscience in spite of how he makes a living as he goes out of his way not to kill Duarte. He needs his own novel. Harriet Klausner