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Alex Duarte #1
Field of Fire
ATF agent Alex Duarte finds himself on the trail of a serial bomber, a case during which he teams up with a Department of Justice lawyer and realizes that he has enemies dangerously close to home.
340 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
54 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
James O. Born
31 books169 followersJames 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
Series:
* Bill Tasker
* Alex Duarte
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 10, 2021
Really good read
I choose this book because he coauthored a book with James Patterson that was really good. And this one was just as good. Good character development and lots of twists and turns. A new author with a bright future.
I choose this book because he coauthored a book with James Patterson that was really good. And this one was just as good. Good character development and lots of twists and turns. A new author with a bright future.
July 1, 2017
I loved this book. It's my first boo with this character from the ATB and I love the narrator. He does the Jack Swytek series
June 15, 2010
I first listened to the Audio book while driving. Early in the book the author tells you what's coming when he gives the philosophy followed by Alberto Salez the escapee ATF agent Alex Duarte is chasing. The best way to solve any problem is to kill it, and he does in various and sundry ways with which the author seems very familiar.
There is a sort-of black humor in this book stemming mostly from Salez's inability to dispose of a body of a women he killed to get her car. He is also chased by a hit-man, a very-righteous and pompous hit-man. The body gets traded back and forth between Salas and the hit-man (don't ask me to explain it)and even a second is added.
Other bodies are scattered around the county side, unsuspecting people killed in various ways. People who happen to be in the wrong place.
At first Duarte doesn't know about the hit-man but his partner of sorts from the Justice Department might. A second plot now links Salez and the hit-man and other deaths that the Justice Department local bureau chief tries to play down.
Interesting, convoluted plot but also depressing. I doubt I'd listen to it again.
There is a sort-of black humor in this book stemming mostly from Salez's inability to dispose of a body of a women he killed to get her car. He is also chased by a hit-man, a very-righteous and pompous hit-man. The body gets traded back and forth between Salas and the hit-man (don't ask me to explain it)and even a second is added.
Other bodies are scattered around the county side, unsuspecting people killed in various ways. People who happen to be in the wrong place.
At first Duarte doesn't know about the hit-man but his partner of sorts from the Justice Department might. A second plot now links Salez and the hit-man and other deaths that the Justice Department local bureau chief tries to play down.
Interesting, convoluted plot but also depressing. I doubt I'd listen to it again.
March 29, 2008
Alex Duarte is an ATF agent and former member of the Army. After arresting and then losing Alberto Salez on a gunrunning charge, he vows to set things straight. But setting things straight winds Duarte square in the middle of a serial bombing/murder investigation.
I found the writing in this book a bit on the flat side. There was really no humor interspersed or great use of literary devices; it was just pretty "everyday."
Alex Duarte struck me as the "too good to be true" type of character, sometimes I even had flashbacks of McGyver. I enjoy characters, especially protagonists, who are human and have flaws and shortcomings. He wasn't a bad character by any means, but he also wasn't a character who stayed with me after I finished reading the book, either.
The plot was decent and focused. A little on the predictable side, but for the most part the story was interesting.
I found the writing in this book a bit on the flat side. There was really no humor interspersed or great use of literary devices; it was just pretty "everyday."
Alex Duarte struck me as the "too good to be true" type of character, sometimes I even had flashbacks of McGyver. I enjoy characters, especially protagonists, who are human and have flaws and shortcomings. He wasn't a bad character by any means, but he also wasn't a character who stayed with me after I finished reading the book, either.
The plot was decent and focused. A little on the predictable side, but for the most part the story was interesting.
June 6, 2008
Alex Duarte is an ATF agent with a lot of explosives expertise learned from his tour in Bosnia in the army. He's called in to investigate a bombing, and eventually realizes that he can't trust anyone involved with the case.
I was interested enough in the story to keep reading, but I don't think I'll rush out for another book by this author. The characterization bordered on the cartoonish, especially for the principal villain and also for the comic-book-worthy combat skills of the protagonist. You could almost hear the "Pow! Crunch! Wham!" during the fight scenes. The most interesting part of the book were the descriptions of explosives techniques, clearly the author's area of expertise and true passion.
I actually think this would make a better script than a novel, and the right actors could bring a depth to the characterization not present in the writing.
I was interested enough in the story to keep reading, but I don't think I'll rush out for another book by this author. The characterization bordered on the cartoonish, especially for the principal villain and also for the comic-book-worthy combat skills of the protagonist. You could almost hear the "Pow! Crunch! Wham!" during the fight scenes. The most interesting part of the book were the descriptions of explosives techniques, clearly the author's area of expertise and true passion.
I actually think this would make a better script than a novel, and the right actors could bring a depth to the characterization not present in the writing.
April 4, 2008
FIELD OF FIRE (Thriller-Alex Duarte-US-Cont) – DNF
Born, James O. – 1st in series
Berkeley Prime Crime, 2007, US Paperback- ISBN: 9780425221839
First Sentence: The looked over the dash of the new Ford Taurus, already littered with PowerBar wrappers, thanks to his partner.
Recently returned from Bosnia, Alex Duarte is an ATF agent in South Florida. Partnered with attorney Caren Larson, they are on the trail of a serial bomber. But they are not the only ones on the hunt.
If you like noir, this may be for you but it was just not the book for me. I didn’t care about the characters, which is always the kiss of death. The violence against innocent people was the clincher. After 79 pages, I decided it was time to move on to another book.
Born, James O. – 1st in series
Berkeley Prime Crime, 2007, US Paperback- ISBN: 9780425221839
First Sentence: The looked over the dash of the new Ford Taurus, already littered with PowerBar wrappers, thanks to his partner.
Recently returned from Bosnia, Alex Duarte is an ATF agent in South Florida. Partnered with attorney Caren Larson, they are on the trail of a serial bomber. But they are not the only ones on the hunt.
If you like noir, this may be for you but it was just not the book for me. I didn’t care about the characters, which is always the kiss of death. The violence against innocent people was the clincher. After 79 pages, I decided it was time to move on to another book.
May 18, 2013
Born introduces an ATF character that is called in to investigate a series of bombings said to be labor union related. However after seeing the evidence the suspicions build. Teamed with a female character from the DOJ the reader is also treated to a little love interest tossed in. Don't worry because this does not distract from the shootings, stabbings and explosions as the body count mounts up. I also enjoyed the bad guys as they quite humorously attempted to kill people like they saw it in the movies. It seems as if that doesn't always work out so good. Born has definitely shown himself to be a very talented writer with this novel and i look forward to reading more of his works.
August 2, 2007
***Bias Review coming up***
This is my favorite of Jim's books although I enjoy all of his funny cop novels. This review might be bias because Jim is a friend of mine and I am beholden to a good review!!! Just kidding I really do enjoy his books and you should read them.
This is my favorite of Jim's books although I enjoy all of his funny cop novels. This review might be bias because Jim is a friend of mine and I am beholden to a good review!!! Just kidding I really do enjoy his books and you should read them.
July 20, 2008
very good, look for his books
March 13, 2013
Loved Alex the main character, but this book was too corny in some areas. I would read the next book because I liked the main character.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews