The Pursuit: A Max Austin Thriller, Book #2 (The Russian Assassin)

Enjoyed The Assassin so purchased the The Pursuit with anticipation. Unfortunately, I found this book disappointing. The plot was incredibly convoluted. I had very little sympathy for - or interest in - most of the characters, including Max Austin himself. The multiple beatings, shootings and stabbings were overkill (pun intended), and my eyes began to glaze over by the third or fourth excruciatingly detailed descriptions of makes, models and capacities of each type of pistol or assault rifle. Also annoyed that the editors could not catch the constant mistakes in spelling (e.g. wrong abbreviation for "okay") and did not know how to conjugate some verbs (e.g., "shown" is not the past tense for "to shine.") Won't read the next 3 books.

I was rereading my Lee Child collection in the few days before Lee Child's Past Tense was due out. I spotted a book on Amazon called “Russian Assassin.” Those are two of my hot button keywords. And the book wasn't in that eyebrow-raising price range of $14-15 for a Kindle ebook. So, okay, I thought. I'll risk it. And I did. And after being tangled up in yards and yards of fishing line (the very clever and unexpected plot lines), I was hooked, tangled, line and sinker.Usually, my leaps into unknown authors disappoint. I often don't even finish them. But then again, sometimes (as with Mark Dawson/John Milton) I am wonderfully surprised. Mr Arbor and Max definitely surprised me. I was in the middle of Max's series when the Reacher book came out. I stayed with Max.Jack Arbor is a relatively new writer, and for all that, I was instantly absorbed in the characters and story. Yes, his newbie status as a writer was sometimes apparent in the first book, The Russian Assassin. But. Don't be put off. Somewhere between Assassin and Cat, Mr Arbor hits a high-stepping stride as a skilled and engaging writer.In Assassin, and only in Assassin, his language sometimes lacked fluidity, structural rhythm and depth, could have used some onomatopoeia in word choices, especially in high action scenes, might have employed set-ups for new scenes to include the mundane and irrelevant before all heck breaks lose. He occasionally used well-worn similes (“muscles hard as a rock”), but by the subsequent books, the plotting, language style (“sharp as a pointed stick in the chest”), canny use of choppy sentences in fast action scenes, had me fully engaged and visualizing. Very quickly I was stumbling over the ruts where I had thought the plot was going, only to find that I had missed the turn, and he had taken the plot off in an entirely unexpected direction.One of Mr Arbor's best qualities is his ability to portray major and minor characters with a deft hand. When he introduces a new face, he describes it with just a few spare lines, like the best sketch artists. One of my frustrations with many authors is that I quickly forget who these smaller characters are, and when they reappear later in the book, I am often having to use the Kindle search function to identify them. Not so with Mr Arbor's minor characters. He makes them simple and he makes them memorable and he makes them stick. Once introduced, not forgotten.I think this is an author on his way up, and I sincerely hope you do too.

Full disclosure, I did receive a free early copy of this book from the author to review and provide feedback. I also just now bought the book because I loved it that much. I loved the character from the first book and the author has a way of engaging you with the character from the first page to the last. The action is non stop and the plot twists keep coming page after page. I love how the author brings each of his books to a conclusion without leaving you in the middle of the story hanging waiting for the next book, yet keeps the story line alive making you anticipate the next chapter in Max Ausin's life as well as those of the other characters he brings to life in his books. If you like the books from Lee Child and those early ones from Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, then you'll love Mr Arbor's just as much. The writing style is smooth making it a fast read and the story line engages you with every page. If you're picking up this 2nd book in the Max Austin series but haven't read the 1st one, do no worry, the book stands on its own and there's sufficient background to move story forward. And if you like this one, you won't go wrong with the 1st book. It's as much a fun read as this one.

Max Austin is attempting to find out who murdered his father and why. Meanwhile, he is being hunted by persons unknown, who want to kill him, his sister, and young nephew, but again, he does not know why. All Max can assume is it has something to do with a memory chip he found at his boyhood home, a chip he cannot open without an encryption key. Max has forged an alliance with the CIA, and while carrying out a mission for the CIA, Max is attacked by an assassin as skilled as he. This is a truly engrossing story, a story that takes us to Russia, and back to the United States, as Max attempts to keep his sister and nephew safe. Max forges an alliance with Wing, the Asian beauty who was attempting to carry out his assassination. When answers start to emerge about who wants Max's family dead, and why, his opponents and their resources amaze Max. This is an intricate and fascinating tale of intrigue, assassination, and dogged determination and discipline. Max Austin is killer, yes, but a killer who loves his family and wants to keep them safe. If you enjoy international thrillers with lots of tactical situations and mayhem as I do, this is a great series for you. Jack Arbor is a master at his craft.

Move over Mark Greaney and Gregg Hurwtiz there's a new action writer in town! Jack Arbor can write with the best of them! This book is fantastic' a serious page turner that doesn't disappoint on any level. Fantastic character development, plot line, ability to move in and out of the various characters seamlessly and non stop believable action! Very complex story line that Arbor never loses the thread of and plenty of twists and turns that I didn't see coming at all.Already into his next book and it's as good as well.He has a new fan in town too, me!