Customer Reviews

Burn Zone

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having read all of James Born's published works, I was pleased to see that he had a new offering. The fact that it reprised Alex Duarte made it seem even better. However, it was a disappointment on a number of levels. The plot wandered, the "romance" between Duarte and his forensics friend was labored, and all in all I kept feeling as if I'd read it all before somewhere... and better written. The main complaint though is the extremely annoying editing, particularly as regards firearms. Glocks become SIGs ( often on the same page), SIGs become Berettas, and while it might be acceptable once or twice, it happened throughout the book. Doesn't anyone read for content anymore?! The book could've stood some editing and while some may whine that I'm being too picky about the guns, I'm sure that Born, and indeed anyone with a law enforcement or military background, know that such details are important.

Write again, Mr. Born. But take better care.

This novel is the second in the series featuring Alex Duarte, ATF agent living and working in Florida. Alex, whose family is from Paraguay, is now nearly thirty years old, and seems to have commitment issues. His nickname is Rocket, because of his focus and drive; he believes "once you hit your stride, you never let up." He is called in by his friend, DEA agent Felix Baez, working out of the agency's headquarters in West Palm Beach, to assist in the attempt to shut down a smuggling operation run by a mysterious Panamanian named Ortiz--guns and drugs seem to be involved, thereby bringing it under Duarte's jurisdiction as well. With the informal help of his girlfriend, a crime scene tech [or `forensic scientist' as he prefers to think of her], Alex joins the hunt for this infamous and slippery criminal.

The ensuing investigation pits them up not only smugglers, but a white supremacist group intent on "changing America." The man called Ortiz is seen to be a sadistic brute, but sadism is the least of his failings. A helluva combination, as it turns out.

This is a thriller which doubtless will be enjoyed by many. This reader was disappointed, however: Having enjoyed Field of Fire, I expected more from its successor novel in the series. The identity of the alter egos of the two `bad buys' was apparent to me early on, which might have been intentional on the part of the author, perhaps to heighten the suspense--if that was the purpose, it didn't work, at least not for me. The book began with a great opening line, addressed to Alex by his ATF partner: "You ever think we should write some of this b***s*** down and put it in a book?" With the author's background, it just may have originated that way, and while I am sure the scenarios laid out are possible, this thriller just didn't hold up for me. I found the characters almost caricatures and the whole not nearly as well written as the prior entry in the series. That said, I would probably read the next chapter in Alex Duarte's life, in the hope that it will come up to the level seen in Field of Fire.

This novel started out well enough, but then seemed to fade. It did not really hold my attention well, and I found myself skimming some parts. It is OK, but not great, and I did not like it as well as an earlier novel by the same author.

I think that the main problem is that the novel has too many characters with too many agendas. Also, the hero came across at some points as an indestructible Fearless Fosdick, and the villains seem to take dumb pills. I would like to think that our Homeland Security can do a bit better than the characters in the novel, but maybe I expect to much from the government. Radiation detectors locked away because people are afraid they might lose them? Hmmm, maybe security procedures need to be reevaluated.

BURN ZONE is the second novel by James O. Born to feature ATF Agent Alex Duarte, one of the most unique, quirky and appealing characters inhabiting contemporary genre fiction. A 30-ish cop's cop who lives in an apartment above his parents' garage (which he shares with his lawyer brother), Duarte is clueless with respect to the women who throw themselves at him and missing a page or two in his Handbook of Social Skills. The only place where he is truly comfortable is on The Job, to which he brings a set of skills both innate and acquired, thus earning the admiration and respect not only of his peers but also (albeit grudgingly) of his adversaries. He is that rare character who is compelling and addicting, the kind of guy men want on their team and women would like by their side.

Duarte is not the only reason that BURN ZONE is required reading for 2008. Born, a special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, knows the territory well, and his wealth of experiences (derived from stints with the DEA and U.S. Marshals Service) serve him, and ultimately the reader, in good stead. There are two incidents out of many here that especially stand out as having the ring of truth. One takes place at the very beginning of the book and involves the hot pursuit of a drug dealer; the other...well, watch for the scene in which Duarte opens the door of a motel room in Texas.

The primary plot in BURN ZONE, however, centers on a drug sting being carried out jointly by Duarte's ATF and the DEA, with a little help from the FBI thrown in for good measure. Duarte and his DEA counterpart, Felix Baez, are trying to catch Ortiz, a shadowy Panamanian crime lord whose fortune is built on the trafficking of illegal drugs and guns. Duarte and Baez guide a shipment of drugs into the country through the Port of New Orleans, hoping to catch Ortiz in the process. What they don't know is that they are being played. What is actually being shipped along with the drugs is a package meant for a group of white supremacists who intend to implement a plan destined to change America forever --- and incidentally provide Ortiz with fulfilling his own revenge against the United States.

As always, Born's plot development is first rate. Things never go smoothly for anyone, whether it be the drug-dealing, closeted Ortiz, the white supremacists, or U.S. law enforcement, which is hampered as much by its own internecine conflicts as it is by the bad guys. Born's narrative is by turns hilarious --- you will never think of the acronym "HBO" in quite the same way again --- and harrowing, with death never more than a heartbeat away. And Duarte? In addition to everything else, he manages to be a part of one of the better conclusions I've read recently. In fact, it's just about perfect. Don't miss BURN ZONE!

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

The book just get's better and better, always something new that you don't expect to happen.

But the reader never buys into all the twisted plotting. A good guy suddenly breaks and wrecks havoc? An ok, but... entry.

Not really well written, but a hard book to put down as the action switched back and forth between several locations and you really get interested in what will come next.

In a sting operation, DEA Agent Felix Baez and ATF Agent Alex "Rocket" Duarte take down drug supplier B. L. Gastlin. They make a deal with him that he goes free if he helps them bring down his supplier, the shadowy Panamanian Mr. Ortiz. Felix guarantees Gastlin's safety to the frightened felon especially if he accompanies the two Feds to Panama where Ortiz's command center allegedly is. They liaison with Panamanian police officer Colonel Lazio Straub, but Ortiz learns of Gaston's betrayal and arranges a successful hit. He knows the next targets will prove more difficult as he must rid himself of the pesky American agents.

Ortiz has a package placed on a ship filled with marijuana that is to be delivered to William "Ike" Flood on behalf of President Jessup of the National Army of White Americans. What is inside the crate will bring American to its knees and force the country to turn isolationist and close its borders. Ortiz wants to destroy the United States for invading his country. He uses his secret persona to gain entrance to America in order to insure his plan works. Duarte follows a hunch that leads back home, but though like a bloodhound he follows the scent, he prays he is not too late as something nasty is coming down.

James O. Born has created a protagonist who is a hero in every sense of the word as he risks his life to enter a FIELD OF FIRE in order to prevent a catastrophe from occurring. Alex thinks outside the box, which enables him to have a chance to prevent a cataclysmic tragedy, but performing outside the bureaucratic crypt is not good for advancement especially when he steps outside the law as the end justifies the means. Although it is hard to accept that Ortiz risks his lucrative business out of a thirst for vengeance, readers will enjoy this action-packed terrorism police procedural.

Harriet Klausner

Born brings us another Alex Duarte book with DEA Drug Agents, out of control Drug heavies, White Supremacists, revenge, awkward times around attractive women, with the safety of the country in the balance... it's got the whole papaya enchilada. It's another entertaining read from a real-life law enforcement agent with a sense of humor, an understanding of the good guy/bad guy world, and a knack for suspense thriller action. Write some more Alex Duarte for us, James O Born- this one was a fun, fast read.

From the first scene, a drug bust in a Florida parking lot, Burn Zone is a fast-paced trip into the world of ATF agent Alex "Rocket" Duarte. Born's writing is better than ever, and his insights into Rocket's character are sharp. Highly recommended.

Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Fire: A Hawaiian Mystery