Backfire: FBI Thriller #16 [Unabridged] [Audible Audio Edition]

by Catherine Coulter (Author), Jim Meskimen (Narrator), Deanna Hurst (Narrator)

Editorial Reviews

San Francisco judge Ramsey Hunt, longtime friend to FBI agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich, begins the murder trial of Clive and Cindy Cahill only to have federal prosecutor Mickey O'Rourke, known for his relentless, aggressive style, suddenly turn tentative and distracted. Hunt suspects that something is very wrong - and then O'Rourke goes missing, and Judge Hunt gets shot in the back.

Savich and Sherlock receive news of the attack as a mysterious note is delivered to Savich at the Hoover Building: FOR WHAT YOU DID YOU DESERVE THIS. Who sent the note? What does it mean?

As Ramsey Hunt's life hangs in the balance, Savich and Sherlock race to San Francisco to answer the question: Why would anyone shoot the judge? When they discover one answer, more questions arise, until Savich and Sherlock face the final shock.

Product Details

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 11 hours and 42 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Audible.com Release Date: July 10, 2012
• Whispersync for Voice: Ready
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008J9F52C
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (259 customer reviews)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another must-read July 10, 2012

By Annie

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Terrific book! The intrigue and suspense in the plot takes you on a thrill ride with new surprises at every turn, making it impossible to put the book down! This, combined with Coulter's engaging writing style and truly wonderful characters makes this book a must-read. Ramsey Hunt is a favorite of mine, and I was thrilled to see his character reprised in this latest addition to the FBI series.

I won't go too far into the details of the plot, because I don't like to include spoilers in reviews. I will give a little background: this book is set five years after The Target (FBI Series). It reprises the characters of Ramsey, Molly, and Emma (and of course Sherlock and Savich), and further has mention of past characters such as Cheney Stone. It also introduces two new characters: FBI Agent Harry Christoff and Federal Marshall Eve Barbieri. All of these characters come together in a complex investigation prompted by the shooting of Judge Ramsey Hunt, in a plot that has Coulter's usual spice and suspense, present in all of the FBI thrillers.

This book gives the best of both worlds: a continuation of Ramsey and Molly's (and Emma's) story, the development of two new characters (Harry and Eve), along with a thrilling ride of suspense, thrills, and crime-solving. Not to mention Savich, Sherlock, and the brief mention of old friends such as Cheney Stone.

My only negative comment about this book doesn't pertain to the main plot, but the development of Harry and Eve's relationship: while this relationship was developed throughout the book, I would have liked to see a bit more closure at the end, as things came to a close and the book finished. Backfire is not a romance novel; it's a suspense/thriller. However, as a reader interested in the personal relationships that Coulter weaves, I would have appreciated just a bit more in that area, a sense of resolution when the book closed. However, while it's worth mentioning, this lack did not significantly detract from my enjoyment of the book; it still gets 5 stars, and I sincerely recommend it!

All in all, those who are veteran readers of Coulter's FBI series are guaranteed to love this book! For those who are unfamiliar with the series, I suggest you first read The Target (FBI Series), as this book draws on the story line from that previous book (which also happens to be my personal favorite). Together, The Target (FBI Series) and Backfire (An FBI Thriller) make quite a pair.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspenseful from beginning to end! July 10, 2012

By Sharon R. Schall

Format:Hardcover

Wow! What a book! The action is jam packed and the book has more twists and turns than that famous street in San Francisco.
Judge Ramsey Hunt is shot at home shortly after halting a murder trial he has been presiding over. The Federal Prosecutor is missing and the defendants are sitting pretty. U.S. Federal Marshall Eve Barbieri is one of the dozens of law enforcement people called in when Judge Hunt is attacked. The FBI, SFPD, and even the CIA make an appearance. Eve has a close relationship with Judge Hunt and his entire family which makes this case all the more important to her.
Around the same time, FBI Agent Dillon Savich gets a cryptic note that might be a threat. When he and his wife, fellow FBI Agent Sherlock hear about Hunt, they head off to be part of the team working on the case. They bring their five year old son, Sean along with them as Sherlock's parents live in San Francisco, and the whole family knows the Hunt family well.
Harry Christoff is the FBI Agent assigned to liaison with Eve and the sparks fly from the first moment they meet. However, the romance aspect of this book takes a back seat to the Hunt case. The presumed attacker is a busy guy or maybe gal and everyone involved is in danger throughout the entire book. The sender of the note to Savich makes an appearance and adds more excitement to the mix.
One of the things I love about this series is the continuity of the characters. Several of the ones we have met before in earlier books make an appearance and it is never gratuitous. The new characters blend in seamlessly and you learn enough about them to care fairly quickly. Of course, Sherlock and Savich are the linchpin of the story and they have some scary times in this book but their relationship is a strong as ever. I remember Ramsey, Molly and twelve year old Emma from The Target, book Three in the series, and I also remembered how much I enjoyed that book. Emma is the center of a delightful subplot involving her being a piano prodigy that adds a nice light touch to offset the tenseness of the story. Sean's crush on her and future plans to marry the "older woman" someday is just too cute.
This series just keeps getting better and better which each book. My only complaint is that there is way too long between books!

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best! July 12, 2012

By Jpp

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I won't go into any of the book's details. I assume that by this point in the series, readers are well aware of the characters and their jobs. After reading the other reviews, I have to say that I do not agree. Out of the four books I downloaded on 7/10/12, this is the one I was most excited to start reading. However, I found it redundant and unfortunately, so very boring. Buy the book and stay up with the series, but I certainly wouldn't pay full price for this one.