3.25 ( )

Robert Ludlum’s bestselling books had always centered on a theme of suspense and action. He was the author of 26 novels; each one was a New York Times best seller. Robert died in 2001, but his legacy of characters live on through additional novels written by an array of authors who continued to captivate the developed audience of 225 million readers. Paul Garrison has picked up the baton and has written a spine tingling novel the “Janson Command.”

Paul Garrison is a renowned author of critically acclaimed thrillers, “Fire and Ice,” “Red Sky at Morning,” “Buried at Sea,” “Sea Hunter,” and “The Ripple Effect.” His ability to create scenarios, which are compelling, complete, and challenging were hone to perfection so that when he wrote the “Janson Command” he was able to pick up the pace to perfection.
Readers will marvel at the first one hundred pages where the intensity of past encounters, new characters, and thrilling exploits move so fast that you cannot escape the compulsion to read on and turn the pages as fast as you can. Paul Janson is an outstanding lead character who introduces his ingénue Jessica Kincaid by demonstrating her skills as a crack shot and afraid of nothing in her quest to get the bad people. The involvement between Paul and Jessica make this an adult book, but do not be distracted by the side play between them, this book does not center upon their relationship, it is about a country which had been over thrown by a despot and is trying to regain its democracy through its previously deposed president.

To keep you entertained, there are plenty of murders, battles in murky waters, travel in luxurious jets, and this is all in the first segment of the book. One of the outstanding features of Paul Garrison’s writing is his ability to set the scene and then swiftly describe the action in detail, but with a paucity of words so that the reader does not get bored. His description of Janson’s personal jet makes you feel as though you are riding in one of the empty seats. Private jets now seem to be only for those who are engaged in high finance and Paul is no exception. A select clientele who pay millions for him to accomplish his assignments finances his activities.

Paul Janson’s background is interspersed throughout this novel so that as you go along you get a good understanding of what he is capable of doing. In his past, he had been a government assassin who would accept missions of eliminating _targets of the United States. He was extremely good at his job earning the title ‘The Machine.’ This stood for the acknowledgement that he was methodical and performed extremely efficient.

A thriller that once again ends with a happy conclusion that leaves you satisfied, but at the same time opens the door for the next assignment that Janson and his associates will undertake. This is a five star book, which appeals to the thriller in all of us. ( )