Burn Zone

Alex Duarte #2

by James O. Born

It was supposed to be a low-level bust for ATF agent Alex Duarte, with the hope that he could work it up the ladder to someone important. He just didn't know how important. In New Orleans to check out a mysterious Panamanian named Ortiz who likes to trade guns illegally and import marijuana by the truckload, Duarte suddenly finds himself in the middle of something bigger than he has ever known. Because guns and drugs are bad enough-but there are other things that are much, much worse.

A shadowy colonel who is not what he seems . . . a white supremacist intent on becoming "the man who changed America". . . an attractive FBI agent with a lot of pull and a lot of secrets . . . Alex Duarte knows he's in deep with these characters. He just hopes he's not over his head.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime

320 pages, Hardcover

First published February 14, 2008

About the author

James O. Born is a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). He has been involved in investigations in such areas as organized crime, violent crimes, economic crimes, drug cartels, and public corruption. It has now been fourteen years since Born started writing, and ironically, he has the same editor as W E B Griffin and Tom Clancy - the very authors he spent his time reading during those long surveillances years ago. Born currently lives in suburban Palm Beach County with his wife Donna, and two children, John and Emily.

Series:
* Bill Tasker
* Alex Duarte

Reviews

[pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

suspense

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book's not out yet, but I read an advance copy. Yay for working somewhere that gets those.

Anyway, the story is written pretty decently, for all of its twists and turns. I have a couple of problems with the narrative, though...

-The guy who's into child pornography? Gay. And the author parlays that like it's the most natural thing in the world.

-You feel NOTHING for the main character, who is simply an animatronic robot who happens to be an ATF agent. His girl loves him, but how long can you REALLY be attracted to a dude who keeps asking for favors, won't claim you as his girl, and being so stilted he can't even ask how she is? Bah on that/

-New Orleans plays little to no part in this setting. It coulda been Mobile or Atlanta, or Detroit or Minneapolis, and it wouldn't have lost any flavor.

[Dr. Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was a excellent page turner although the author sold his hand early in the game. page 79. The obvious clue here took out much of the suspense unfortunately. I will not layout the plot and be a spoiler. Although there were technical errors A Glock is not the Same as a Sig Sauer 229!! Unfortunately the author (apparently in law enforcement)or the editor does not get this and his Glock magically transforms into a Sauer at each exchange. This is downright annoying. Anyone who does not know guns would thing that they are identical c.f., the a Glock is a Sauer and vice versa. For that alone I removed a star.

The story is fast pack and very readable, I ploughed through it in a day and a half. If you like tight action thrillers with a suspenseful plot. seasoned with a generous dash of violence and an undercurrent of sexual tension I do not think you'll be disappointed.

[Kenneth Hoss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Initial review - Just completed chapter 19 and this is an intense book. Loving every word. Hard to stop reading.


Finished reading this on Saturday the 10th. I have to say the ending didn't really add anything to the story, and I think it was more of a way to build the word count. As for what other reviewers had to say, I have to agree. As I got deeper into the book a lot of it just didn't work. One moment Alex is pulling a Glock and the next he has a Sig in his hand, as if by magic. And the head hopping lost me at times and I would have to read the passage again to get what was going on.

All in all a decent book, but not a great book.

[Neal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has reasonable character development and the resolution to the conflict works well. I normally don't read police/action books, but my wife checked this one out for me on a whim. It's a decent read and I would imagine if you enjoy the type of novels where the protagonist is an expert in Karate (which seems kind of campy since most major law enforcement entities are teaching jiu jutsu techniques) and one of the antagonists also being an expert in Karate then you'll like this one. I recommend this book if you enjoy police drama with unresolved sub-plots.

[Tobey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I am bias because I know and like Jim Born. As a writer he does get better and better. I like the Alex Duarte character a lot and this is the second book from this series. I am a fan of serial novels and I will say that so far I can honestly say that I look forward to the next Duarte novel.

[Saba N Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alex Duarte takes on a mysterious Panamanian gun and drug dealer. But as his investigation takes him to New Orleans and his partner is sent to South America, things go way wrong when bodies start dropping and an even greater threat than guns and drugs is about to hit US soil. Alex works along side a DEA and FBI agents as well as a dodgy South American colonel.

[Pam]

02/15/08 purchased at MOTB author signing

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read once I got into it.

[Ladiibbug]

Berkley Crime mystery newsletter 1/09

[Donna Kass · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovethe character of Alex Duarte