Bea's Ranty Review of Targets of Revenge by Jeffrey S. Stephens

Publisher: Gallery Books
Series: Jordan Sandor #2
Format Read: Print book
Source: I received both a print ARC and a finished hardcover free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon  Barnes & Noble  The Book Depository

Blurb from goodreads:

COUNTRY FIRST. All the bureaucratic scolding in Washington cannot stop resourceful CIA Agent Jordan Sandor when he’s hungry for revenge. This time he’s on the hunt for the cold-blooded sociopath known as Adina, whose indiscriminate slaughter of innocent people, including Sandor’s close friend, represents man at his worst.

Mobilizing a team of skilled and dedicated agents to carry out his secret operation, Sandor flies in the face of his superiors’ stern warnings—ultimately crash-landing in the heart of the Venezuelan jungle. Armed with little more than a combat knife and a deadly automatic weapon, he infiltrates Adina’s camp and discovers that the ruthless terrorist is smuggling not only cocaine into the United States, but also a deadly substance that could cost tens of thousands of lives.

Sandor develops intel that leads him to Egypt and then Moscow as he fights to prevent this disaster, but after he lands on Interpol’s list of international fugitives, the truth becomes clear: Adina’s evil web extends to the far corners of the globe. Meanwhile, someone Sandor trusts could very well be feeding the agent dangerous lies as he struggles to stay on Adina’s trail.

More focused than ever, Sandor refuses to end his perilous mission, even after he has been taken captive. In the end, when he uncovers the realities of Adina’s deranged plan for a catastrophic assault on New York City, Sandor has no choice but to risk his life to protect his country’s safety and freedom.

Bea's Thoughts:

In 2011, I read and reviewed the first book in this series, "Targets of Opportunity". Looking back at my review, I didn't love the book but it had some good parts. I didn't like the hero, Sandor, and I wish I had re-read my review before agreeing to review this one when the publisher contacted me. I said in that review that "Sandor is more of a cardboard thriller hero - rogue and rule breaker, check; ladies man, check; only man who can save the world, check; a loner, check; a true blue American patriot who sees the world in only black and white." That's still true and Stephens has ramped it up in this book to the point that Sandor is a caricature. He has no depth or complexity but is a cartoon; he is also self-righteous, arrogant, and condescending, and I don't find any of those qualities attractive. Moreover, the politics and morals that Stephens has Sandor espouse are simplistic, condescending, and jingoistic. Sandor is the kind of patriot who makes patriotism into a dirty word. I don't remember him being so obnoxious in the first book and I don't think I've changed drastically in a year and a half but this book just made me want to pull my hair out.

Moreover, Sandor is not any better than the villain, Adina, who is making a return appearance from the first book. Both believe that they are right; both believe the ends justify the means; both have no qualms about breaking laws, torturing people or committing murder; both are utterly intolerant of people whose beliefs differ from theirs; and both refuse to answer to anyone else. The storyline is simplistic and the politics made me rant while reading; there were times I wanted to throw the book across the room but I didn't want to scare the cat or break the window.

"Targets of Revenge" is an action/adventure and it fits solidly into the genre. Ignoring for a moment the many things that infuriated me, the book is decently written, if you're willing to forgo characterization. There are no gaping plot holes, the editing is adequate, and the story moves pretty quickly. There aren't any real twists or turns and I thought the storyline was less plausible than in the first book. If you are looking for something where you can turn your brain off and enjoy reading "Rah rah, America can do no wrong" books, you might like this one.

Now, let's go back to Sandor's utter lack of appeal as a hero, and I don't think he's a hero even if he does succeed in his mission. I do prefer my heroes/protagonists to be at least somewhat likable or relatable. BUT, if the author takes that unlikable character and digs deep, takes the reader inside the mind of the character so we get to know and understand him, then I can accept a less likable hero/protagonist. I may even find I come to like him. If this had been written as a psychological thriller, an examination of the differences, if any, between the hero and the villain, it might have been a good book. But what we get is a fairly standard political thriller with a particularly unlikable hero.

I rarely hate a book but this one....well, it's the second time I've tried this author. I'm done now. He won't get a third chance. The older I get, the more willing I am to DNF a book. However, I agreed to review it for the publisher so I made myself finish it. I am very glad I didn't pay for it; it's bad enough I spent time on it.

I know I shouldn't confuse the author with his characters but I admit to not feeling very friendly towards Stephens after reading this book. Whether or not there's any of Stephens in Sandor, I simply can't accept the BS that gets dished out in this book. I don't like Sandor's morals or behavior; I can't stand the politics espoused (you're poor because you don't work hard enough; the government has no responsibility to you and you deserve no help whatsoever, etc.); the main character Sandor is an obnoxious ass; and given that there's very little difference between Sandor and Adina, the main thing that makes Sandor the hero is that he is an American and Adina is not. Having tried two of these books now, I'm done. They simply are not for me.

The publisher sent me paperbacks of the book one and the sequel and both an ARC and finished hardcover of this book. I will be donating them to my local library. I was going to do a giveaway but it always feel wrong when I hold a giveaway for a book I disliked; "here, I didn't like this book so I want you to have it." :D At least my library can add them to their collection or sell them at their next used book sale and earn some money from them.

Now that I've ranted about the book, check out the trailer below for a completely different take on it. Since it's the book's trailer, basically an advertisement, you'll hear how wonderful the book is. *rolls eyes*

If you have read the book, or you end up reading it, please share your thoughts below. I saw that it has many 3, 4 and 5 star reviews on goodreads. I'm convinced I read a different book. :D Do you like it? Why or why not?

 

Review of "Targets of Opportunity" by Jeffrey S. Stephens

Publisher: Gallery Books

Release Date: Aug. 30, 2011

Buying Info:  Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from Amazon):

THE ENEMY HAS A THOUSAND WAYS TO STRIKE. WE HAVE JUST ONE WAY TO RETALIATE. HIS NAME IS JORDAN SANDOR. 

 In Targets of Deception, which suspense master Robert K. Tanenbaum called “a fast-paced thriller,” Jeffrey Stephens introduced CIA agent Jordan Sandor, whom bestselling author Steve Alten praised as “terrific.” Now Sandor is back, playing for bigger stakes and facing deadlier challenges. 

Whisked from his Manhattan town house to a gabled CIA safe house in Virginia, Sandor faces off with a top terrorist agent from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. In exchange for protection from his own side, Ahmad Jaber is offering the CIA explosive information: word of a secret, unholy alliance forged among operatives in the Middle East, a ruthless South American, and Kim Jong-Il’s North Korea. Jaber claims not to know specific details, only that the strike will target the heart of America. 

The fanatics stage a stunning diversion in the Caribbean, mercilessly downing a passenger jet and unleashing an assault on a French intelligence installation. Sandor, however, has already moved in a different direction. Leveraging Jaber’s information, he assembles a small strike force to penetrate North Korea. The team knows they will not all return, but the intel they gather will be vital to American security.

As a storm rages in the Gulf of Mexico, word comes that two submarines have penetrated U.S. waters. With the U.S. military hampered by the hurricane, Sandor turns to a few daring U.S. Navy SEALs to duel with the enemy they cannot see . . . for now they know only that there are two nuclear weapons aimed at a target of opportunity whose destruction would change the world order forever. 

Brilliantly conceived, electrifyingly paced, Targets of Opportunity captures a terrifying twenty-first century reality: terrorists can—and will—try as many times as they need to attack the United States. For the brave men and women who defend our country, failure is not an option.

Teaser: "If he doesn't give us everything he has, and I mean right now, then all deals are off." "Understood." "You tell him from me, if he screws with us I'll feed him to Jordan Sandor, one piece at a time."

My Thoughts:

Stephens takes current events, mixes them with common thriller and suspense tropes and ends up with a fast paced political thriller that will keep you engrossed to the end. He shows us events from the perspectives of  the book's hero, Sandor; the defector whom Sandor hates but must now deal with, Jaber; and the mastermind of the events, Adina. Adina and Jaber are better fleshed out while Sandor is more of a cardboard thriller hero - rogue and rule breaker, check; ladies man, check; only man who can save the world, check; a loner, check; a true blue American patriot who sees the world in only black and white. There's not a lot of depth to his character. Sandor, like most political thriller heroes (or even other thrillers) is the type of hero who works hard, plays hard, and lives life to the fullest. He's loyal to his country, right or wrong, and his men, and would willingly sacrifice his own life to save theirs. 


Adina started as an idealist, he believed in his causes, but that slowly changed over time. Now, he delights in causing mayhem to his enemies and firmly believes that might makes right. He despises the materialism of Western society while indulging himself in it; he acknowledges his hypocrisy but doesn't care. He is also a master at manipulating events and people and though he's a careful planner, he is able to adjust rapidly when circumstances demand it.

I have to say that I actually sort of liked Jaber. He's a terrorist, and proud of it but Stephens takes us deeper. I wish he had done that with Sandor. Adina is in the middle, more developed than Sandor but less so than Jaber. Anyway, we spend time in Jaber's head and also see his genuine feelings for his country, his religion and his wife. I even, at times, understood why he did what he did while disagreeing with his actions. Stephens presents him in a sympathetic light while never letting us forget the atrocities that he committed.
     
Stephens spins out the story a bit at a time, never completely revealing what's going on but unveiling the details, and the twists and turns, so that most of the time, we learn what's going on at the same time that  Sandor and his associates do. This despite the fact that we spend part of the book in Adina's head. Stephens is careful to not reveal anything before he's ready for us to know it but it never feels like he's straining to hide anything. The plot is complicated and a bit over-the-top but it also felt scarily real. The story is fast paced, there's a lot going on, and with all of the twists and turns and secondary characters, I sometimes felt that I needed a scorecard. It's definitely not a book to read in fits and starts like I did. It's best read in a few sittings.

About one hundred pages into the story I was wondering how on earth the book was going to stretch out to over four hundred pages, things were going so fast. I was worried that Stephens might pad it and unnecessarily stretch it out. Instead, the books length comes from the twists and turns and the details that Stephens sprinkles here and there. It could have a bit of trimming towards the end, but otherwise it's length

 I received this hardcover from the publisher for review.