Guest Review: Targets of Deception – Jeffrey S. Stephens

Ex-CIA agent Jordan Sandor races against time to prevent a worldwide terrorist plot in the page-turning thrilling prequel to Targets of Opportunity.When Jordan Sandor resigned from active service with the Central Intelligence Agency, it was before September 11th, before the fall of Saddam Hussein, and before the world had so dramatically changed. He is reluctantly drawn back into action when a series of violent events leads him to suss out a new al-Qaeda conspiracy to initiate cataclysmic assaults with poison gas.

Sandor follows the deadly trail from New York to Florida to Paris and, ultimately, to the small town of Portofino on the Italian Riviera. Never sure who he can trust and who may be an enemy, Jordan relies on his experience, instincts, and skills as he risks his life to uncover plans for attacks against the United States and its allies. When Sandor discovers a rogue agent behind the plot, he realizes he is the one man who can prevent the catastrophe that could put the lives of millions of people at stake.

Series:  Jordan Sandor Series .5
Release Date:  May 8, 2012
Publisher:  Pocket Books
Source:  Provided by Publisher
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

The only way I know how to describe this book?  Wow!  I have read a lot of spy/espionage thrillers in my lifetime, but this one absolutely blew me away.  From the very beginning, I was captivated, as the author takes you through the exciting world of secret government agencies and their dangerous yet exciting sacrifices to keep people like me safe and sound.  I actually read this book from cover to cover without a break.  I walked through the house with it, did laundry while I was reading, and stayed up late to finish it.  It was unbelievably good!  And the best part?  You find out that the characters in this book are based off of ACTUAL people and ACTUAL events.  Holy cow!!!  That made what I read all the more awesome.

The main character in the story, Jordan, is an ex-CIA agent who is brought in to stop a rogue agent (his former mentor!) from helping al-Qaeda from using a poison gas in a terror scheme.  His character is in the same ranks with Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan and so many other beloved spy-like characters who totally kick butt!  He is smart, determined, stubborn, strong, and the author has done a wonderful job developing him to a point that you can relate to him, feeling every bit of his emotion as he travels the globe to save so many.  The secondary characters add depth and mystery to an already spine tingling plot that takes you through exciting twists and turns to an ending that leaves you screaming for more.

This is one of the best thrillers I’ve ever read.  I cannot wait to find out what the next book in this series has in store.  Because if it’s anything like this one, I am in for one hell of a great ride!