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Citizen Kill
When a devastating explosion kills the new President’s young son, her administration seeks to finally end the war on terror. CIA black-ops agent Justin Raines is among the recruits in a new program that targets for assassination U.S. citizens suspected of radicalizing Muslims.
Haunted by a botched assignment overseas, Justin is determined to redeem himself through the program. But when he is assigned to kill a mysterious Muslim educator that he believes is innocent, he grows disillusioned. Now he must find a way to prove her innocence and derail the program before they both are assassinated.
This explosive political thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat as Washington stops at nothing to protect the nation from terrorists, while Justin Raines risks everything to protect the nation from Washington.
Haunted by a botched assignment overseas, Justin is determined to redeem himself through the program. But when he is assigned to kill a mysterious Muslim educator that he believes is innocent, he grows disillusioned. Now he must find a way to prove her innocence and derail the program before they both are assassinated.
This explosive political thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat as Washington stops at nothing to protect the nation from terrorists, while Justin Raines risks everything to protect the nation from Washington.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2017
3 people are currently reading
1053 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Clark
2 books52 followersStephen Clark is a former award-winning journalist who served as a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and as a politics editor for the Washington, D.C. bureau of FoxNews.com. Stephen grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and now lives in North Jersey with his wife and two kids.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 4, 2017
Find all my book reviews plus author interviews, guest posts and book extracts on my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com
3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)
The author has created an exciting story based around the contemporary issue of Islamist terrorism, how to respond to and prevent it. In response to a bombing outrage at the Presidential inauguration in which the President’s young son is killed, the President is persuaded the way to prevent further outrages is to extend the CIA’s focus beyond suspected terrorists to the suspected influencers of terrorism. Those on the list will be ‘neutralized’ by a select team of trained assassins – there will be no trials or judicial process. The program is named Operation Prevent which will be ironic to UK readers as the UK government’s anti-radicalisation programme is called ‘Prevent’ and certainly does not include ‘neutralization’ of its citizens (as far as we know).
Emotionally scarred from the loss of his fiancée during an overseas operation that went wrong, and languishing on administrative leave with too much time to dwell on past events and hit the bottle, Justin Raines is assigned to the program. Initially unquestioning about the morality of his assignment, Justin begins to have doubts about the guilt of the people he has been sent to ‘neutralize’. These doubts about what he is being asked to do become absolute certainty when he encounters his next target, Zahra al Sharif, the female founder of a Muslim school. Influenced by his growing personal feelings for Zahra, Justin embarks on a path that will bring him up against everything those in government who sponsor the program can throw at him. He turns from assassin to target and will need to draw on all his craft if he and Zahra are to escape with their lives. But in situations like that, who can you trust?
Given recent events, I found the premise of the novel quite chilling; the idea that a secret program could be operating beyond the bounds of the laws that we trust to protect us. I was pleased the author cast a woman as President although I would have liked her to play a more central role. I thought Zahra was a really believable character and the suspicion that fell on her simply because of her religion, family background and educational establishment highlighted the current issues that many Muslims must face. The speed with which her relationship with Justin developed was a little less convincing for me – not quite ‘instalove’ but pretty close. However, I liked the fact that she didn’t play a passive role in the action.
I enjoyed the book, especially its topical theme, and would place it in my ‘plane, train and automobile’ category. In other words, it would definitely keep you well entertained on a long plane or train journey – the time would just fly by. I thought this was a very promising debut – fast-paced, action-packed and entertaining.
I received an advance reader copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest review
3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)
The author has created an exciting story based around the contemporary issue of Islamist terrorism, how to respond to and prevent it. In response to a bombing outrage at the Presidential inauguration in which the President’s young son is killed, the President is persuaded the way to prevent further outrages is to extend the CIA’s focus beyond suspected terrorists to the suspected influencers of terrorism. Those on the list will be ‘neutralized’ by a select team of trained assassins – there will be no trials or judicial process. The program is named Operation Prevent which will be ironic to UK readers as the UK government’s anti-radicalisation programme is called ‘Prevent’ and certainly does not include ‘neutralization’ of its citizens (as far as we know).
Emotionally scarred from the loss of his fiancée during an overseas operation that went wrong, and languishing on administrative leave with too much time to dwell on past events and hit the bottle, Justin Raines is assigned to the program. Initially unquestioning about the morality of his assignment, Justin begins to have doubts about the guilt of the people he has been sent to ‘neutralize’. These doubts about what he is being asked to do become absolute certainty when he encounters his next target, Zahra al Sharif, the female founder of a Muslim school. Influenced by his growing personal feelings for Zahra, Justin embarks on a path that will bring him up against everything those in government who sponsor the program can throw at him. He turns from assassin to target and will need to draw on all his craft if he and Zahra are to escape with their lives. But in situations like that, who can you trust?
Given recent events, I found the premise of the novel quite chilling; the idea that a secret program could be operating beyond the bounds of the laws that we trust to protect us. I was pleased the author cast a woman as President although I would have liked her to play a more central role. I thought Zahra was a really believable character and the suspicion that fell on her simply because of her religion, family background and educational establishment highlighted the current issues that many Muslims must face. The speed with which her relationship with Justin developed was a little less convincing for me – not quite ‘instalove’ but pretty close. However, I liked the fact that she didn’t play a passive role in the action.
I enjoyed the book, especially its topical theme, and would place it in my ‘plane, train and automobile’ category. In other words, it would definitely keep you well entertained on a long plane or train journey – the time would just fly by. I thought this was a very promising debut – fast-paced, action-packed and entertaining.
I received an advance reader copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest review
November 8, 2017
A terrorist explosion on inauguration day horrifically injures and kills a multitude of American citizens, including the new President's 12 year-old-son. This tragedy becomes the catalyst for grieving President Savannah Reed and her administration to declare an end to terrorism on American soil. She gives the go-ahead for a secret operation to exterminate American citizens who are believed guilty of radicalising Muslims. CIA agent Justin Raines, currently on 'enforced leave' pending the outcome of an investigation of a botched operation in Dubai, is offered the job of assassin. He falls in love with target Zahra al Sharif and faces a race against time to prove her innocence and prevent her execution.
Considering the current worldwide political climate, this book is right on-topic. Never a day passes without an act of terrorism somewhere in the world. Citizen Kill offers up an horrific solution - assassinate the converters of the converted. Eliminate the need for a fair trial. Although this is a work of fiction, the characters are American citizens and I can imagine this scenario becoming reality. It's very worrying indeed.
The book is competently written and, taking into account the author's status as a former award-winning journalist, I wouldn't expect anything less. However, a couple of points didn't sit right with me. Firstly, the attempted rape of Zahra, coupled with Justin's timely intervention, seemed too contrived. Also, I don't believe any woman would welcome a sexual encounter so soon after such a traumatic experience; not even with the person who rescued you. Secondly, I was completely bewildered by the suggestion of a 'rest and relaxation' canoe trip whilst being hunted by trained killers. Really? I'd be a dribbling mess, tearing my hair out at the roots and too terrified to step outdoors. Canoeing would be last on my bucket list.
That being said, Citizen Kill is a good, topical read. The pacing is exactly right and the author eloquently tells the story. All loose ends are neatly tied up and the reader is left feeling satisfied.
My thanks to author Stephen Clark for providing me with a copy of this book.
http://barnseybooks.blogspot.co.uk/20...
Considering the current worldwide political climate, this book is right on-topic. Never a day passes without an act of terrorism somewhere in the world. Citizen Kill offers up an horrific solution - assassinate the converters of the converted. Eliminate the need for a fair trial. Although this is a work of fiction, the characters are American citizens and I can imagine this scenario becoming reality. It's very worrying indeed.
The book is competently written and, taking into account the author's status as a former award-winning journalist, I wouldn't expect anything less. However, a couple of points didn't sit right with me. Firstly, the attempted rape of Zahra, coupled with Justin's timely intervention, seemed too contrived. Also, I don't believe any woman would welcome a sexual encounter so soon after such a traumatic experience; not even with the person who rescued you. Secondly, I was completely bewildered by the suggestion of a 'rest and relaxation' canoe trip whilst being hunted by trained killers. Really? I'd be a dribbling mess, tearing my hair out at the roots and too terrified to step outdoors. Canoeing would be last on my bucket list.
That being said, Citizen Kill is a good, topical read. The pacing is exactly right and the author eloquently tells the story. All loose ends are neatly tied up and the reader is left feeling satisfied.
My thanks to author Stephen Clark for providing me with a copy of this book.
http://barnseybooks.blogspot.co.uk/20...
October 25, 2017
The premise of the story was very intriguing and the plot moved at a fantastic pace. I enjoyed the characters - well, most of them - though there were a few unsavoury people, one man in particular who had his own agenda and it didn't matter what anyone else thought about his actions and motives.
The story made me think, ask questions, even try to get into the mind of the lead character, Justin Raines. I experienced joy and happiness, sadness and anger, even sorrow and heartache throughout the pages. I will definitely read other works by this author.
The story made me think, ask questions, even try to get into the mind of the lead character, Justin Raines. I experienced joy and happiness, sadness and anger, even sorrow and heartache throughout the pages. I will definitely read other works by this author.
June 27, 2017
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Let's get this out of the way: yeah, this title is just bad. The book is much better than you'd think from the title.
The first chapter really turned me off -- the assassin spews some sort of pseudo-patriotic babble before he kills the imam (who really doesn't seem to be that much of a bad guy) and I was starting to dread the next 250+ pages and wondered if I could fake something to get out of reading the book. Then I remembered the email from Clark a few weeks back where he said something about the assassin becoming disillusioned, and was able to push on. I'm glad I did. (I guess it's also efficient writing -- it took less than a chapter for me to be convinced that what he was up to was reprehensible)
When the inaugural parade following the ceremony is bombed, and the new president's son is among the dead, she starts looking for new ways to combat terrorism within the US. One of the top men in the CIA has a proposal -- Operation Prevent. Rather than waiting for the FBI to arrest and prosecute people after an attack, or even to try to prevent an attack. He suggests going for the people that "radicalize" US citizens into supporting terrorism or into becoming terrorists. And by "going for" I mean, assassinate. He has some pretty flimsy argument to justify the execution of US citizens without trial -- and the president sends him off to make some fixes. But before long, he's empowered (by someone else) to initiate the Operation anyway.
Enter Justin Raines -- he's currently waiting for an internal investigation into a botched CIA op to determine his future, when he's given the opportunity to join Operation Prevent. He's not utterly convinced it's the way to go, but it's the only chance he sees to stay active, so he takes the position and begins eliminating targets. But doubts start to creep in and when he's assigned to kill a Muslim educator (who happens to be attractive and witty) everything begins to unravel.
Before long, Justin is teaming with old comrades to get more information on the Operation to expose it to the public and bring it down.
I had a lot of trouble buying some of the mechanics of the book -- the Secret Service seemed to talk a lot to the president before doing something to ensure her safety, for example. The same for some other nit-picky things, but you step back from the details and it all worked pretty well (or just pretend that the details are right). Yeah, it's depiction of the CIA and how it works internally and externally is probably closer to Covert Affairs than reality, but the USA show was a lot more entertaining than reality, so bring it on.
The characters could've been a little more fully developed for my tastes, but they were good enough for this kind of book. I liked the fact that it wasn't just Justin vs. the world -- he had allies, some new, some old to get through things. There were also parties acting with the similar goals that had nothing to do with him -- too often this kind of story relies on a single protagonist to be the only one standing up for Truth, Justice and the American Way.
There's some good action and intrigue here, a story that's timely (and, sadly, will likely be so for a while), with some good characters, a nice pace and a satisfying ending. Give this one a shot the next time you're looking for a quick thrill ride.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for this post. I appreciated the book and the opportunity, but it had no bearing on what I said.
---
Let's get this out of the way: yeah, this title is just bad. The book is much better than you'd think from the title.
The first chapter really turned me off -- the assassin spews some sort of pseudo-patriotic babble before he kills the imam (who really doesn't seem to be that much of a bad guy) and I was starting to dread the next 250+ pages and wondered if I could fake something to get out of reading the book. Then I remembered the email from Clark a few weeks back where he said something about the assassin becoming disillusioned, and was able to push on. I'm glad I did. (I guess it's also efficient writing -- it took less than a chapter for me to be convinced that what he was up to was reprehensible)
When the inaugural parade following the ceremony is bombed, and the new president's son is among the dead, she starts looking for new ways to combat terrorism within the US. One of the top men in the CIA has a proposal -- Operation Prevent. Rather than waiting for the FBI to arrest and prosecute people after an attack, or even to try to prevent an attack. He suggests going for the people that "radicalize" US citizens into supporting terrorism or into becoming terrorists. And by "going for" I mean, assassinate. He has some pretty flimsy argument to justify the execution of US citizens without trial -- and the president sends him off to make some fixes. But before long, he's empowered (by someone else) to initiate the Operation anyway.
Enter Justin Raines -- he's currently waiting for an internal investigation into a botched CIA op to determine his future, when he's given the opportunity to join Operation Prevent. He's not utterly convinced it's the way to go, but it's the only chance he sees to stay active, so he takes the position and begins eliminating targets. But doubts start to creep in and when he's assigned to kill a Muslim educator (who happens to be attractive and witty) everything begins to unravel.
Before long, Justin is teaming with old comrades to get more information on the Operation to expose it to the public and bring it down.
I had a lot of trouble buying some of the mechanics of the book -- the Secret Service seemed to talk a lot to the president before doing something to ensure her safety, for example. The same for some other nit-picky things, but you step back from the details and it all worked pretty well (or just pretend that the details are right). Yeah, it's depiction of the CIA and how it works internally and externally is probably closer to Covert Affairs than reality, but the USA show was a lot more entertaining than reality, so bring it on.
The characters could've been a little more fully developed for my tastes, but they were good enough for this kind of book. I liked the fact that it wasn't just Justin vs. the world -- he had allies, some new, some old to get through things. There were also parties acting with the similar goals that had nothing to do with him -- too often this kind of story relies on a single protagonist to be the only one standing up for Truth, Justice and the American Way.
There's some good action and intrigue here, a story that's timely (and, sadly, will likely be so for a while), with some good characters, a nice pace and a satisfying ending. Give this one a shot the next time you're looking for a quick thrill ride.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for this post. I appreciated the book and the opportunity, but it had no bearing on what I said.
July 3, 2017
STORY-LINE CITIZEN KILL BY STEPHEN CLARK:
In Citizen Kill we find America in the continuing battle against terrorism. Since 9-11, America has faced terrorism with small in-roads into their organizations. A new black ops unit, formed after the newly elected President's son's killed in a terrorist bombing, engages eliminators/assassins. Justin Raines, a black ops agent for the CIA, assigned the task of eliminating American citizens who radicalize Muslims, accepts the task.
After the diabolical of his last assignment, this will place him back in the good graces of the government and into a new position in the CIA. Assigned to kill the principle and founder of a Muslin school, Raines becomes close to Zahra. He saw the reality and injustice of this program as he came to know her. His disillusionment grows. Now he must find a way to prove her innocence and stop this assassination program. These are American citizens; innocence until proven guilty. What follows is an amazing fast paced story, my book review of Citizen Kill follows.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
In Citizen Kill, author Stephen Clark created a fast paced novel filled with betrayal, terrorism, injustice, and prominent government officials gone amuck. Of course, for those of us who like a little romance, Clark also included a love interest for Raines. This book will make you stop and think; could this really happen in America? You bet it could, all it takes is a group of government fanatics and the stage is set for a government that kills its citizens under the misplaced guise of eliminating terrorism.
The pace of Citizen Kill, fast and furious, will hold the reader's attention from the first page. This is a roller coaster ride of betrayal and injustice as Raine sets out to stop this dastardly plan. The plotting skillfully developed by Clark, will entertain anyone who enjoys a solid political thriller. With many plot threads to bring together to close the novel, Clark masterfully led us through Citizen Kill. As we rush towards the end of the book, you will find good people and bad; some you will like, others you will hate. I began to wonder how the new President won the election as she appears weak, indecisive, and emotional. Of course, candidates show one face to the world and another in private. Where's the check and balance system for the government? How can so few have so much power?
Clark developed his characters skillfully; revealing villains I never suspected. Watching Raines become a better man was awesome, I must admit I did not like him in the beginning of Citizen Kill. With a last-ditch effort to stop the carnage, will Raines and his fellow supporters be successful? You will find yourself turning the pages fast and furiously to know the outcome. I became invested in the characters as I read this book. A talented author, Clark, has the skill to transport you inside the story. With twists and turns, my attention never wavered. I would not hesitate to buy this book for myself or a friend; a top-notch political thriller.
CITIZEN KILL RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4.5
FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:
Additionally, I borrowed this book from kindle unlimited and received a copy from the author. I chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest review for this contemporary political thriller. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and under my name, are my opinions. No one influenced my voluntary review of this contemporary political thriller.
In Citizen Kill we find America in the continuing battle against terrorism. Since 9-11, America has faced terrorism with small in-roads into their organizations. A new black ops unit, formed after the newly elected President's son's killed in a terrorist bombing, engages eliminators/assassins. Justin Raines, a black ops agent for the CIA, assigned the task of eliminating American citizens who radicalize Muslims, accepts the task.
After the diabolical of his last assignment, this will place him back in the good graces of the government and into a new position in the CIA. Assigned to kill the principle and founder of a Muslin school, Raines becomes close to Zahra. He saw the reality and injustice of this program as he came to know her. His disillusionment grows. Now he must find a way to prove her innocence and stop this assassination program. These are American citizens; innocence until proven guilty. What follows is an amazing fast paced story, my book review of Citizen Kill follows.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
In Citizen Kill, author Stephen Clark created a fast paced novel filled with betrayal, terrorism, injustice, and prominent government officials gone amuck. Of course, for those of us who like a little romance, Clark also included a love interest for Raines. This book will make you stop and think; could this really happen in America? You bet it could, all it takes is a group of government fanatics and the stage is set for a government that kills its citizens under the misplaced guise of eliminating terrorism.
The pace of Citizen Kill, fast and furious, will hold the reader's attention from the first page. This is a roller coaster ride of betrayal and injustice as Raine sets out to stop this dastardly plan. The plotting skillfully developed by Clark, will entertain anyone who enjoys a solid political thriller. With many plot threads to bring together to close the novel, Clark masterfully led us through Citizen Kill. As we rush towards the end of the book, you will find good people and bad; some you will like, others you will hate. I began to wonder how the new President won the election as she appears weak, indecisive, and emotional. Of course, candidates show one face to the world and another in private. Where's the check and balance system for the government? How can so few have so much power?
Clark developed his characters skillfully; revealing villains I never suspected. Watching Raines become a better man was awesome, I must admit I did not like him in the beginning of Citizen Kill. With a last-ditch effort to stop the carnage, will Raines and his fellow supporters be successful? You will find yourself turning the pages fast and furiously to know the outcome. I became invested in the characters as I read this book. A talented author, Clark, has the skill to transport you inside the story. With twists and turns, my attention never wavered. I would not hesitate to buy this book for myself or a friend; a top-notch political thriller.
CITIZEN KILL RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4.5
FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:
Additionally, I borrowed this book from kindle unlimited and received a copy from the author. I chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest review for this contemporary political thriller. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and under my name, are my opinions. No one influenced my voluntary review of this contemporary political thriller.
August 18, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I will admit that I am going into this review with a bit of hesitance. With what has been going on in the USA (and the world, to be honest) lately, there's a fine line between commenting on a book and commenting politically, and as someone who is neither Muslim or American, I would prefer to stay away from the latter. So for purpose of this review, I won't be commenting on the racial and religious aspects of the book, because it is not as though I can give an accurate interpretation or own voices opinion on any side of the matter.
Citizen Kill is a fast paced, action packed adventure of a book that takes you through some of the craziest political drama I've seen in a book to date. It dives into a modern, relevant issue that we're hearing about in the news constantly today and plays off of that, taking you inside the CIA, the American government, and the more general population to see where all this chaos is going. It's one of those books that you'll fly through, if only because you're curious who is going to make it out alive in the end.
I should also throw out there that if this is how the CIA in America actually is, I am terrified, despite not being American. Holy macaroni, what a mess.
The Good Points of Citizen Kill:
The pacing is perfect for this sort of novel. You'll fly through this book no problem, because every time you turn around, something else is exploding, literally or figuratively. It's one of those books that almost feels too short, if only because you flew through it so fast.
The characters are developed well for this type of book. We never get great character development in thrillers, but this one gives you enough that you feel like you actually know the characters enough to feel at least a little invested in their well being. Early on, I worried that there wouldn't be enough character development to actually keep track of who was who in the story, but this was definitely not an issue later on.
I enjoyed the writing in this book. It was that perfect balance of being good enough that you don't get caught up in the writing, but not so much that you get overly focused on the way the words were put together or how fancy it sounds. Which is perfect for this type of book, because it's not in the way of you getting the story.
The Downsides of Citizen Kill:
The title. It's kind of cheesy, and I'm not sure whether it was an intentional play on 'Citizen Kane' or not, but as the book is not based on the film (to my knowledge, anyway. It didn't seem similar if it was), it just made for a strange reference.
It was predictable. Don't get me wrong, the twists and turns were fun and exciting to read, but it was pretty easy to see what was coming and where things were going. It didn't really bring anything new to the table.
Can we please stop with the instalove now? In this particular book, I get that it was a traumatic event that bonded the two lovebirds in the story, but really? One date and they're so in love, which just served to make me sick to my stomach.
All in all, Citizen Kill was a fun, fast paced read. I can definitely see it being a hit for people who are usually into FBI/CIA sorts of stories, and it is nice to read something that is in line with what's going on in the world these days. If you enjoy political thrillers, books with assassins, and fast paced adventures, you'll likely enjoy Citizen Kill.
I will admit that I am going into this review with a bit of hesitance. With what has been going on in the USA (and the world, to be honest) lately, there's a fine line between commenting on a book and commenting politically, and as someone who is neither Muslim or American, I would prefer to stay away from the latter. So for purpose of this review, I won't be commenting on the racial and religious aspects of the book, because it is not as though I can give an accurate interpretation or own voices opinion on any side of the matter.
Citizen Kill is a fast paced, action packed adventure of a book that takes you through some of the craziest political drama I've seen in a book to date. It dives into a modern, relevant issue that we're hearing about in the news constantly today and plays off of that, taking you inside the CIA, the American government, and the more general population to see where all this chaos is going. It's one of those books that you'll fly through, if only because you're curious who is going to make it out alive in the end.
I should also throw out there that if this is how the CIA in America actually is, I am terrified, despite not being American. Holy macaroni, what a mess.
The Good Points of Citizen Kill:
The pacing is perfect for this sort of novel. You'll fly through this book no problem, because every time you turn around, something else is exploding, literally or figuratively. It's one of those books that almost feels too short, if only because you flew through it so fast.
The characters are developed well for this type of book. We never get great character development in thrillers, but this one gives you enough that you feel like you actually know the characters enough to feel at least a little invested in their well being. Early on, I worried that there wouldn't be enough character development to actually keep track of who was who in the story, but this was definitely not an issue later on.
I enjoyed the writing in this book. It was that perfect balance of being good enough that you don't get caught up in the writing, but not so much that you get overly focused on the way the words were put together or how fancy it sounds. Which is perfect for this type of book, because it's not in the way of you getting the story.
The Downsides of Citizen Kill:
The title. It's kind of cheesy, and I'm not sure whether it was an intentional play on 'Citizen Kane' or not, but as the book is not based on the film (to my knowledge, anyway. It didn't seem similar if it was), it just made for a strange reference.
It was predictable. Don't get me wrong, the twists and turns were fun and exciting to read, but it was pretty easy to see what was coming and where things were going. It didn't really bring anything new to the table.
Can we please stop with the instalove now? In this particular book, I get that it was a traumatic event that bonded the two lovebirds in the story, but really? One date and they're so in love, which just served to make me sick to my stomach.
All in all, Citizen Kill was a fun, fast paced read. I can definitely see it being a hit for people who are usually into FBI/CIA sorts of stories, and it is nice to read something that is in line with what's going on in the world these days. If you enjoy political thrillers, books with assassins, and fast paced adventures, you'll likely enjoy Citizen Kill.
June 29, 2017
The debut novel by Stephen Clark, "Citizen Kill" is a start, though I'm still working through some disbelief--okay--it's fiction and we don't have to do any fact-checking here. The premise starts out pretty strong and does pique interest. Billed as a political thriller along with suspense, it builds suspense and weighs heavily on the recent political climate to make a statement. But for me, the statement seems to vacillate between sides, giving us enough information from both sides to gain some understanding for either.
The protagonist, Justin Raines, is a bad-ass CIA black-ops agent--unfortunately in trouble with his own people. He is anxious to get off suspension and back on the job and takes a role in a new program targeting US citizens with the promise they'll make the suspension go away. From the female president freshly on the receiving end of a terrorist attack comes the authorization to take out people on a list of those (suspected) of pushing the radicalization of Muslims--hopefully to curb terrorism where it begins. He seems to have no problem taking out several male targets, but has a sudden radical lobotomy when it comes to the next target, an attractive, intelligent female educator. Here are two people that couldn't have less in common, much less political sensibilities other than that Zahra al Sharif seems a bit needy in the romance department, which is sadly lacking at her school. Of course, Justin recently lost his main squeeze in the last op that also cost he and his team their right to pick up the next assignment. He still has members of his team with whom he can communicate and count on for support, which is good when he decides to go rogue (again) to prove her innocence.
We get Justin fully fleshed, whether he lacks empathy or not, and I never could get Zahra, though I liked the character of her mother. Not wholly thrilled with the character of the president either, though perhaps one could understand why she might take a no-spare policy. Justin and Zahra manage to elude the clutches of the CIA, FBI, and any local badge trying to get the collar and the climax neatly wraps it all up. But Justin and Zahra a thing? I can't buy that one. Neat cover, but the title is awful. I received this ebook in exchange for a review. The plot moves at a fast pace and will provide a quick summer read.
The protagonist, Justin Raines, is a bad-ass CIA black-ops agent--unfortunately in trouble with his own people. He is anxious to get off suspension and back on the job and takes a role in a new program targeting US citizens with the promise they'll make the suspension go away. From the female president freshly on the receiving end of a terrorist attack comes the authorization to take out people on a list of those (suspected) of pushing the radicalization of Muslims--hopefully to curb terrorism where it begins. He seems to have no problem taking out several male targets, but has a sudden radical lobotomy when it comes to the next target, an attractive, intelligent female educator. Here are two people that couldn't have less in common, much less political sensibilities other than that Zahra al Sharif seems a bit needy in the romance department, which is sadly lacking at her school. Of course, Justin recently lost his main squeeze in the last op that also cost he and his team their right to pick up the next assignment. He still has members of his team with whom he can communicate and count on for support, which is good when he decides to go rogue (again) to prove her innocence.
We get Justin fully fleshed, whether he lacks empathy or not, and I never could get Zahra, though I liked the character of her mother. Not wholly thrilled with the character of the president either, though perhaps one could understand why she might take a no-spare policy. Justin and Zahra manage to elude the clutches of the CIA, FBI, and any local badge trying to get the collar and the climax neatly wraps it all up. But Justin and Zahra a thing? I can't buy that one. Neat cover, but the title is awful. I received this ebook in exchange for a review. The plot moves at a fast pace and will provide a quick summer read.
August 28, 2017
It has been quite some time since I read any political thrillers. If my memory serves me right, I think the last book I read in this genre was during my college days. Yet, there is never a scarcity of political thrillers as this appears to be the favorite genre for TV shows and prime time movies – “The President is under attack and here comes the hero still recovering from a traumatic past. He neutralizes the threat and once again gets placed on the golden pedestal after redeeming himself from whatever errors of judgement which he had committed earlier”. Yet, after an abstinence lasting many years, I finally decided to read Citizen Kill by Stephen Clark just to see how the current political thrillers were. Through Citizen Kill, Stephen Clark has made an excellent debut into the literary scene touching upon the present state of affairs in the United States and its War on Terror.
The novel tells the story of Operation Prevent initiated under the First Woman President of America, Savannah Reed, after an Inauguration Day bombing kills her son. Operation Prevent neutralizes American citizens who are believed to be radicalizing Muslims into performing acts of terror. Justin Raines and his team of specialized operatives under the leadership of George Mayer is currently on administrative leave after a botched mission which leaves an operative dead. While recovering from this, Justin is approached by Eric Kindel to assassinate targets under Operation Prevent. When an increasingly disillusioned Raines is assigned with the task of assassinating Zahra al Sharif, a seemingly normal citizen, he starts to question the credibility of the program. Is Zahra a terrorist? Will Justin be able to thwart the system if Zahra is proven innocent? Read this exciting debut to know more!
Read more at : https://bookescapadeblog.wordpress.co...
The novel tells the story of Operation Prevent initiated under the First Woman President of America, Savannah Reed, after an Inauguration Day bombing kills her son. Operation Prevent neutralizes American citizens who are believed to be radicalizing Muslims into performing acts of terror. Justin Raines and his team of specialized operatives under the leadership of George Mayer is currently on administrative leave after a botched mission which leaves an operative dead. While recovering from this, Justin is approached by Eric Kindel to assassinate targets under Operation Prevent. When an increasingly disillusioned Raines is assigned with the task of assassinating Zahra al Sharif, a seemingly normal citizen, he starts to question the credibility of the program. Is Zahra a terrorist? Will Justin be able to thwart the system if Zahra is proven innocent? Read this exciting debut to know more!
Read more at : https://bookescapadeblog.wordpress.co...
December 10, 2017
This is a fast paced, action packed and you can call it as a contemporary political thriller. The readers will be hooked from the first page itself. You can call this one as a political drama and the plotting in this story is well and skillfully developed. A great salute to the author. This book tells the story of Operation Prevent initiated under the First Woman President of America, Savannah Reed. The inauguration Day bombing kills her son. She decides to counter attack and looking for new ways to combat terrorism. The story then revolves round Justin Raines.., He is a hit man operating under a questionable program run by the Feds.He is unfortunately in trouble with his own people. Operation Prevent neutralizes American citizens who are believed to be radicalizing Muslims into performing acts of terror. Justin is approached by Eric Kindel to assassinate targets under Operation Prevent. Raines is assigned with the task of assassinating Zahra al Sharif. A big question comes about Zahra. Is she a terrorist?
Decent political novel, a little slow to start but it picks up the pace very quickly. The plot is engrossing and eye-opening. This will certainly ruffle your feathers if you lean one way or the other politically. The research behind the story is superb and the characters are fascinating. It was a fabulous read! In the end I was wondering how the author would end his book and am happy to say I am 100% satisfied.
Decent political novel, a little slow to start but it picks up the pace very quickly. The plot is engrossing and eye-opening. This will certainly ruffle your feathers if you lean one way or the other politically. The research behind the story is superb and the characters are fascinating. It was a fabulous read! In the end I was wondering how the author would end his book and am happy to say I am 100% satisfied.
January 16, 2019
This was a decent book. I was expecting something a lot heavier than what I saw, even though it is on the heavy side to a degree. Anyone who like political thrillers might like this book.
*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*
November 3, 2017
A decent book that is not as heavy as I expected from the blurb. Fast paced with decent writing.
October 7, 2017
Steven's writing style flows very well. This is usually not the type of book I would read, but his attention to detail and quality writing propelled me forward and allowed me to dig the story. Enjoyable!
October 13, 2017
This is a CIA action thriller. The main character, Justin Raines, is a hit man operating under a questionable program run by the Feds. When he doubts the veracity of one particular contract, he rebels. Bosses and supervisors get in on the action. The novel is very well paced and you will not be inclined to set it down as the action is ongoing from chapter to chapter. Be ready for a lot of executions (hence the title, I guess).
The second half evolves into a heavy-handed political thriller as everyone from the vice president (now, there's a descriptive term for you in this context!) down to normal citizens seem to be involved in nefarious deeds. While we don't get too much of a look into the new president's life, we do get too much of a view (I thought) of CIA operatives but very little background on their families. We have no chance to sympathize with victims or to understand the minds of the active agents. The Agency is not portrayed in a positive light here. But Clark probably knows what he is dealing with. It is not exactly my kind of thriller, but I stuck with it. Many other action adventure readers will find it to be quite okay.
If you accept Clark's up-front premise about these characters (“I'm the CIA. We can get away with anything”), you may enjoy it. I thought the book could have used better editing (“The men raised their guns and aimed it at Justin...”) and fact-checking (one brief suicide scene is strange - “...the sheet squeezed the air out of his lungs” - really?). A few discrepancies threw me off: some dream sequences came with no transition, and at one point, a police officer is referred to as “the pig” for no apparent reason. None of this discredits the overall story, which is decent.
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