Shadow Strike - Book Review
Another Outstanding Thrill Ride for Pike Logan
The 20th(!!) book in the Pike Logan series doesn’t disappoint, bringing back one of Pike’s most formidable enemies.
After its proxies are devastated and its offensive capability pummeled in the latest war in the middle east, a rogue group of Iranian regime officials create a brazen plot to strike back at their hated enemies once and for all. They envision a series of operational dominos culminating in a devastating attack, and the first step is the assassination of the Israeli prime minister. And there’s only one assassin with the skills to pull it off: Abdul Rahman, known in the shadows as the Ghost.
When a routine prison transfer is ambushed, the Ghost escapes and is given the assignment. The only Operator who can hunt him down is the man who stopped him before: Pike Logan.
Pike and his team soon learn that the mission involves something bigger than just the escape of his old enemy. Working with Mossad agents, the pursuit leads the Taskforce to Argentina. They work to unravel the scope of the attack, and the chase leads them through the tempestuous waterfalls of Iguazu and the Triple Frontier, to the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires, and the tiny village of Ushuaia at the “End of the World”.
As the team races against the clock, Pike learns the stakes are much greater than a single life – the consequences extend into the heartland of America itself. The Ghost may hold the key to an escalation that will upend the worldwide balance of power, and if Pike fails, the fallout won’t just be personal – it’ll be global.
I loved The Ghost in both of his prior appearances. He is a complex antagonist with his own motivations and moral code, and I like the way that he and Pike/Jennifer have developed a kind of mutual respect for each other. The Ghost is a worthy opponent for the team, working hard to stay one step ahead of them.
The plot is well-crafted, with Taylor’s usual blend of plausible geopolitics, cutting-edge technology, and exotic locations. It's a bit more of a chase thriller than many of the Taskforce books, but I enjoyed the change of pace. I particularly enjoyed the opening chapter, which shook up the team dynamics by having them orchestrating a training exercise. It was fun to see them in a different environment, especially the way they worked in Pike and Jennifer's adopted daughter, Amena.
Ghost and his team have set up a three-pronged attack spanning multiple continents. While the audacious scope of their operation raises the stakes considerably, thwarting three separate attacks is a lot for one story. A few bits seem a little rushed as a result. Still, the central cat-and-mouse game between Pike and The Ghost makes it all worth it. Highly recommended!
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher, but I'd already pre-ordered it too.
The Pitt Season 1 - TV Review