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Jack Randall #3
Scarcity
A teenage girl is kidnapped in Mexico City as a young boy in Afghanistan is wounded by artillery fire. A plane crashes in Florida while a man desperately waits for a new heart in Maryland. A senator’s daughter is critically injured in a car accident as a captured drug runner makes a deal with the DEA. Before he can settle into his new job with Homeland Security, Jack Randall of the FBI finds himself pulled into the seedy world of black market organ trading. With help from an old friend from Interpol he soon uncovers an evil well fed by the desperation of good people. An evil that strikes with the power to force its deeds on anyone. Jack soon learns that in order to defeat such an enemy, he may have to go to war against his own people, and himself.
423 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2013
212 people are currently reading
517 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 16, 2014
The title of this book, 'Jack Randall #3' is very deceptive. Randall, the protagonist of the previous two novels, is mentioned on about 10 pages. One, lunch with the Interpol agent and another attending a cocktail party, forced upon him by his socialite wife. He has nothing to do with the main story, only a sidebar arrest at the end.
I also learned more than I ever wanted to know about heart transplants. I understand the need to go through some of the procedures to make the reader aware of what is happening. But 50 or so pages containing medical terms and acronyms?
Very disappointed in this. Wood should have made this a stand alone novel. He would have written the novel he wanted to write and not deceived the buyer into thinking it was part of the Jack Randall series.
I also learned more than I ever wanted to know about heart transplants. I understand the need to go through some of the procedures to make the reader aware of what is happening. But 50 or so pages containing medical terms and acronyms?
Very disappointed in this. Wood should have made this a stand alone novel. He would have written the novel he wanted to write and not deceived the buyer into thinking it was part of the Jack Randall series.
October 2, 2017
I can really say these novels are educational. This was about illegal organ harvesting and other things, like the never ending war on drugs. I couldn't put it down. The characters are so captivating you feel like you already know them. Lots of action and suspense. I loved it!
October 16, 2017
A scary look into a dark part of our world dealing with the drug cartel and organ harvesting. These are truly evil people who's only God is money.
December 28, 2014
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and it kept you in suspense of what is going to happen next. Jack Randall is a Interpol agent working on narcotics trafficking which lead him to the sell and murder of organs for money. Politicians, military, and foreign governments were involved. Drugs and money is risky business. In this novel, Jimmy, a hit man for the cartel finds his way out of the business to a new life with the woman of his dreams. His partner Manuel could not find a way out. To make money selling organs, the cartel is willing to killing living people in the must inhumane way to harvest a healthy organ for the right price. The book gives astounding information on the organ for sale business that goes on overseas and the drug trafficking business.
October 6, 2017
Let me first say that this story has a great pace. My interest was hooked early on for several reasons, for one, I wanted to know what major assignment was going to land on Jack Randall’s desk next. Second, I was interested in seeing the continued development of the characters, including the bad guys. Third, as the story progressed and people were put in impossible situations, it made me question if I would cross the line to save some I loved if I had the means to do such a thing.
Throughout the story there are several subplots happening at once but they all strategically come together to support the overall plot. The author doesn’t overdo it. Each character has a credible purpose.
What I love about this series as a whole is that (so far) each book holds up great as a stand-alone story even though it contains an ongoing storyline with the same group of main characters. However, I am a sucker for a well woven storyline. I love in depth series. Wood does a great job with the character dynamics. As a reader, I can see the growth and change in the characters based on their choices in response to the situations that have occurred in the past books.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away but I will say my favorite scene takes place three quarters of the way into the story. I appreciate the in depth detail the author gives to the medical aspects of this story. Some readers may not care for this high level of scene detail but there are some readers who love it and I am one such reader. I feel this comes down to personal preference. How deep do you want the author to go? Do you want the author to just fluff over the details of a surgery? Do you want the author to go just beneath the surface of the scene and share a few character thoughts? Or do you want the author to go in depth, using medical terminology and three dimensional characters? With the latter I felt like I was right in the operating room.
However, I do feel led to warn readers who follow this series. Jack Randall doesn’t make as much of an appearance as he has done in the first two books. For readers who are just coming into the series, this won’t be an issue. New readers won’t be as vested in Jack like the veteran readers of the series may be.
Another point I want to add is that Wood does a great job of building bridges. Although there were no significant loose ends once I reached the end of the story, I still wanted more from the epilogue. The end happened more quickly than I expected it to, given the nature of the story.
Based on my thoughts mentioned herein, I give Scarcity 4 stars. I recommend this book to people who enjoy a good suspense/thriller.
Throughout the story there are several subplots happening at once but they all strategically come together to support the overall plot. The author doesn’t overdo it. Each character has a credible purpose.
What I love about this series as a whole is that (so far) each book holds up great as a stand-alone story even though it contains an ongoing storyline with the same group of main characters. However, I am a sucker for a well woven storyline. I love in depth series. Wood does a great job with the character dynamics. As a reader, I can see the growth and change in the characters based on their choices in response to the situations that have occurred in the past books.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away but I will say my favorite scene takes place three quarters of the way into the story. I appreciate the in depth detail the author gives to the medical aspects of this story. Some readers may not care for this high level of scene detail but there are some readers who love it and I am one such reader. I feel this comes down to personal preference. How deep do you want the author to go? Do you want the author to just fluff over the details of a surgery? Do you want the author to go just beneath the surface of the scene and share a few character thoughts? Or do you want the author to go in depth, using medical terminology and three dimensional characters? With the latter I felt like I was right in the operating room.
However, I do feel led to warn readers who follow this series. Jack Randall doesn’t make as much of an appearance as he has done in the first two books. For readers who are just coming into the series, this won’t be an issue. New readers won’t be as vested in Jack like the veteran readers of the series may be.
Another point I want to add is that Wood does a great job of building bridges. Although there were no significant loose ends once I reached the end of the story, I still wanted more from the epilogue. The end happened more quickly than I expected it to, given the nature of the story.
Based on my thoughts mentioned herein, I give Scarcity 4 stars. I recommend this book to people who enjoy a good suspense/thriller.
December 24, 2019
In Randall Wood's Scarcity, the third installment in the Jack Randall thriller series, this installment deals with organ transplantation across the board. It all started when Anita Ruiz was kidnapped in Mexico City, and Tessa Lamar crashed her car in Washington D.C.--one loses her life and another gets one from Mexico--those two were among other senseless tragedies when one life was stolen for another, when it was scarce for seriously ill patients get a new organ around the world. For FBI Jack Randall, he's on the case when he learned about a secret operation that deals with drug smuggling from Mexico to the USA and a black market sting to procure hearts. And how one notorious drug carter leader is the next victim to get a new heart on the transplant list. That's when Jack and Interpol Agent Lenny Hill deals with serious matters on where these new hearts came from. For two heart surgeons, they deal with two patients whose lives were in their hands and how they kept the hearts freshly going with a POPS machine, a new device for the medical world. In a matter of life and death, this fast-pace thriller would keep you guessing right to the end on how it came to a head and a heartbeat away...
February 7, 2018
Not Your Usual Randall Wood “”Jack Randall” Novel
Randall Wood is an exceptional writer, whose ability to narrate complex scenes in a great detail is uncanny. As usual he uses what appear to be unrelated subplots to tell a single story that gets tightly pulled together at the end. This story about the roll the Mexican drug cartels play in both the cocaine and human organ trades is enlightening and gripping. Unfortunately too little time in the story is spent on the crimes, criminals and how the police fight the battle against the cartels. A great deal of time is spent in a detailed medical narrative of two heart transplants that are at center the the story. Our hero, Jack Randall, was MIA for most of the story. Loose ends dangle at the end leaving a few questions unanswered. Again, exceptionally well written but not as taught and gripping at past Jack Randall books.
Randall Wood is an exceptional writer, whose ability to narrate complex scenes in a great detail is uncanny. As usual he uses what appear to be unrelated subplots to tell a single story that gets tightly pulled together at the end. This story about the roll the Mexican drug cartels play in both the cocaine and human organ trades is enlightening and gripping. Unfortunately too little time in the story is spent on the crimes, criminals and how the police fight the battle against the cartels. A great deal of time is spent in a detailed medical narrative of two heart transplants that are at center the the story. Our hero, Jack Randall, was MIA for most of the story. Loose ends dangle at the end leaving a few questions unanswered. Again, exceptionally well written but not as taught and gripping at past Jack Randall books.
May 14, 2017
This is the third in the Jack Randall series but is very different in many ways. in the prior adventures we get to meet Jack and his entire team as they work to solve the issues at hand. In this book Jack barely makes an appearance in the first 75% of the book and his other team members are nowhere to be seen. In many ways this book should be described as "set in the Jack Randall universe" rather than "Jack Randall #3".
In some ways this book also contains more brutality than the prior two. Key themes are kidnapping and the illegal trade in human organs.
I would also recommend the manuscript be re-edited. There are many grammatical mistakes. As one example the word "then" is repeatedly used where the correct word to use is "than".
I hope Jack makes more of an appearance in book 4. This book was like a James Bond novel without James Bond!
It was an enjoyable enough read but not worth more than 3 out of 5.
In some ways this book also contains more brutality than the prior two. Key themes are kidnapping and the illegal trade in human organs.
I would also recommend the manuscript be re-edited. There are many grammatical mistakes. As one example the word "then" is repeatedly used where the correct word to use is "than".
I hope Jack makes more of an appearance in book 4. This book was like a James Bond novel without James Bond!
It was an enjoyable enough read but not worth more than 3 out of 5.
February 6, 2019
This Book
Having read the first two books and enjoyed them I found this one very hard to get into the story line,it seemed to jump around from story line to story line not giving you enough time to understand them, then all of a sudden they came together and I'm glad I stayed with it towards the end of the book it seemed to get a little disjointed again but all in all I'm glad I stuck with it.
Having read the first two books and enjoyed them I found this one very hard to get into the story line,it seemed to jump around from story line to story line not giving you enough time to understand them, then all of a sudden they came together and I'm glad I stayed with it towards the end of the book it seemed to get a little disjointed again but all in all I'm glad I stuck with it.
August 25, 2017
Where's Jack????
I bought this book because it was a Jack Randall book and I like Jack. However, Jack wasn't in this book very much and I'm kind of ticked off about it! I want Jack back. Gruesome story. Can't say I'm a fan of this one. Hopefully the rest of the series will be better or I'm asking for a refund!
I bought this book because it was a Jack Randall book and I like Jack. However, Jack wasn't in this book very much and I'm kind of ticked off about it! I want Jack back. Gruesome story. Can't say I'm a fan of this one. Hopefully the rest of the series will be better or I'm asking for a refund!
November 17, 2017
If you want to know everything there is about how a heart transplant takes place, this book is for you.
If you want to know something about the seamier side of how donated organs can be supplied, this book is for you. If you want only a few pages about Jack Randall, this book is for you. This book wasn't for me.
If you want to know something about the seamier side of how donated organs can be supplied, this book is for you. If you want only a few pages about Jack Randall, this book is for you. This book wasn't for me.
February 1, 2018
Scarcity
Randall Wood is a new author to me. I started with his first Jack Randall novel and have been trying to read each in order. While he sometimes loses me with all his technical details, he does tell a great story. I was intrigued by his idea of legalizing drugs.
Randall Wood is a new author to me. I started with his first Jack Randall novel and have been trying to read each in order. While he sometimes loses me with all his technical details, he does tell a great story. I was intrigued by his idea of legalizing drugs.
April 11, 2020
This continues the exciting stories involving the protagonist Jack Randall. Weaving together numerous story lines that all come together holds your interest till the very end. Very highly recommend this series.
July 7, 2017
It was a good book to read. The story was excellent and made you think what would you do in the same situation.
September 30, 2017
Clearly not a Jack Randall book. Other than that, it is a pretty good story, but it has nothing to do with him. I guess it was just a way to sell the author's books to his reader list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2018
Real page turner. I enjoyed the medical stuff, though Wood did get into the weeds a bit which might bog some readers down.
January 3, 2019
Awesome read
Just started with this writer. So far so good
Going to start from 1 book ok series Ang go from there
Just started with this writer. So far so good
Going to start from 1 book ok series Ang go from there
April 2, 2019
Good book
You people should just read this novel yourselves write your own review on this novel yourselves and I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so. Shelley Ma
You people should just read this novel yourselves write your own review on this novel yourselves and I really enjoyed reading this novel very much so. Shelley Ma
May 18, 2025
Not a Jack Randall book
Jack was hardly a bit character in the book - much less a character worth his name being on the cover.
Too many medical details. A very boring book.
Jack was hardly a bit character in the book - much less a character worth his name being on the cover.
Too many medical details. A very boring book.
February 1, 2019
Wow, very seldom do moments in written word ever take my breath away. There is one section of this book that will tear your heart out.
March 27, 2016
Huge disappointment! Read #1 and #2 Jack Randall on vacation and found them entertaining and engaging. #3 is a don't bother. Very tough reading on many levels. First, it's not a Jack Randall book. Jack is in two minor, minor scenes in the entire book and his team (Sidney, Eric and Larry) in NONE. This book is about how to do heart surgery, if you're interested in knowing how to do heart surgery. I'm not. Mr. Wood forgot that "the reader must always be the main concern" and not his knowledge of medicine (according to Stephen King's "On Writing"). Second, too many characters and too many story lines going on at the same time. This could have been three books: the organ black market, Mexican kidnapping for ransom money, and the Mexican cartel drug trade and government corruption. And none handled well, in my opinion. Third, I'm for a good horror, grisly, action thriller but this book got too grisly and down-right ugly (disgusting, pure-greed negotiations, kidnapping a 15-year-old-and then killing her instead of giving her back to her parents for the ransom they negotiated). It's probably what really happens but it went too far to be entertaining reading. So I'm on to #4 (because I bought #3 and #4 at the same time) and then I'm done with Randall Wood. Sorry Mr. Wood. You lost me.
November 2, 2014
This novel intertwines Criminal activity and a medical mystery to say anymore might give too much away.
Several seemingly unrelated events converge and as the story progresses you understand how twisted and sick some criminals really are.
I love how the author switches between events. It is almost like watching a made for television movie. Sometimes I wish it was possible to do a split screen but that's TV magic.
I rank this book up there with Robin Cook and Patricia Cornwell for the medical scenes.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys books on crime and medicine. Warning this book has some gory scenes in it.
Several seemingly unrelated events converge and as the story progresses you understand how twisted and sick some criminals really are.
I love how the author switches between events. It is almost like watching a made for television movie. Sometimes I wish it was possible to do a split screen but that's TV magic.
I rank this book up there with Robin Cook and Patricia Cornwell for the medical scenes.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys books on crime and medicine. Warning this book has some gory scenes in it.
December 21, 2014
I am afraid I cannot agree with the review of Jims. Yes the expected Jack Randall appearances are few and far between. However they are sufficient I feel to tie him into the storyline and no doubt to provide a link of many characters in this story into future novels.
Yes the medical procedures are descriptive but even someone like myself with no medical knowledge could feel themselves there in the operating room.
Beyond this I do not feel that I could describe the book with any justice without giving away a host of spoilers and I would never do that.
Yes the medical procedures are descriptive but even someone like myself with no medical knowledge could feel themselves there in the operating room.
Beyond this I do not feel that I could describe the book with any justice without giving away a host of spoilers and I would never do that.
March 8, 2015
Scarcity
I LOVE THIS BOOK. It has everything. There are drug cartels, multiple law enforcement agencies, medical issues, just enough romance to add flavor. It is exciting and every time you think you have something figured out, everything changes so quickly you have to race to keep up. Can't wait to read more by this great author who obviously knows what he is talking about. I am a retired RN and spent almost 40 years with my late husband,a career LEO, so I looked for inaccuracies but found none . Great book highly deserving of five or more stars .
I LOVE THIS BOOK. It has everything. There are drug cartels, multiple law enforcement agencies, medical issues, just enough romance to add flavor. It is exciting and every time you think you have something figured out, everything changes so quickly you have to race to keep up. Can't wait to read more by this great author who obviously knows what he is talking about. I am a retired RN and spent almost 40 years with my late husband,a career LEO, so I looked for inaccuracies but found none . Great book highly deserving of five or more stars .
July 3, 2014
A story of brutality and evil.
This is a fast-paced story that seemed to get away from the main character's action and spend a lot of time in the operating room. There is no doubt about the author's subject knowledge, as he gives good attention to detail. Character development is well done. The reader will have to have plenty of intestinal fortitude to read this, but the author won't disappoint!
This is a fast-paced story that seemed to get away from the main character's action and spend a lot of time in the operating room. There is no doubt about the author's subject knowledge, as he gives good attention to detail. Character development is well done. The reader will have to have plenty of intestinal fortitude to read this, but the author won't disappoint!
August 15, 2014
Medical crime solver
Medical crime solver
I found this a great read. some of the medical gets a bit much, but reminds you just how much doctors and nurses have to know just to do their jobs. great characters and storyline. liked the way it switches back and forth between the subplots. I found it hard to put down. good vs evil with good winning out.
highly recommend if you like crime, mystery, or medical who done it's.
Medical crime solver
I found this a great read. some of the medical gets a bit much, but reminds you just how much doctors and nurses have to know just to do their jobs. great characters and storyline. liked the way it switches back and forth between the subplots. I found it hard to put down. good vs evil with good winning out.
highly recommend if you like crime, mystery, or medical who done it's.
November 5, 2014
So many characters and story lines that I had a bit of a hard time keeping track of everyone. Bad guys galore in several countries doing horrible things and the good guys trying to stop them. There is organ harvesting/selling, drugs, kidnapping - you name it. When it all came together at the end it was gratifying. Good read!
September 28, 2014
Captivating
I was pulled into this story from the beginning. Not sure how much reality is portrayed but I believed these events could happen as greed and desperation makes people do the unthinkable. I also loved that the author portrayed some people with humanity and compassion for others. Hard to put this book down.
I was pulled into this story from the beginning. Not sure how much reality is portrayed but I believed these events could happen as greed and desperation makes people do the unthinkable. I also loved that the author portrayed some people with humanity and compassion for others. Hard to put this book down.
April 1, 2016
Unfortunately I really did not enjoy this book. First of all, it isn't a Jack Randell book...he is barely in it...really disappointing. Secondly, it was down-right depressing...no nice guys in the organ black market, I guess. Thirdly, waaaay too much of the heart transplant surgeries. I liked the medical characters...just too much of it. Oh well, on to the next.
July 6, 2015
I enjoyed the book although the subject matter was horrifying. I thought it was written well. But the characters you met in the first two books were very minor in this book. Suspenseful read if you can get past the theme.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews