Customer Reviews

Dead Aim

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Dead Aim is a fun read...hard to believe but it could happen.
Alex Graham, a photojournalist, is on location when a dam collapses in Colorado. The authorities believe it to be a natural disaster, but after several days of digging through the rubble to find survivors, Alex leaves the scene to try to get pictures from a better altitude. She becomes an unhappy witness to the destruction of the helicopter that is to pick her up and then overhears plans to cover up what has actually been a terrible sabatoge. The action picks up as her friend Sara Logan is wounded...We remember Sara and her rescue dog from previous Johansen thrillers. Sara is now married to a mega rich businessman with political connections all the way to the White House as well as contacts who are either CIA or former CIA operatives.

The characters in Dead Aim have been introduced in previous Johansen books, and while it is not necessary to have read them, it makes understanding Dead Aim easier. Alex is an unlikely hero,however, she does save the country in the end. It's a fun, quick and easy read and would make a good mini series.

This is an easy read as are most of Johansen's books; however, I was disappointed in the story itself. Most of the book focuses on what is considered a natural disaster with the underlying theme being "whodunit". A government conspiracy involving the FBI, CIA and a congressman from Texas as well as <gasp> the vice president of the United States! You spend most of the book getting pieces of information culminating to an anti-climactic, quick resolution.

I enjoy the returning characters like Galen (and references to his now pregnant wife Elena), Logan, Sarah & Monty, Salazar and Andreas (the president). Sarah & Monty are only in for a short period of time while Galen has a more prominent role. John Logan is in and out and a powerful voice on the phone. Andreas re-appears as the president who's life is in jeopardy. This story focuses on Judd Morgan (still hiding and being tracked by a trained killer, Runne, as retribution for killing his father) and a new addition to the cast, Alex Graham, a photo journalist trying to discover what exactly happened in the mud slide that killed hundreds of people, how it happened as she witnessed an event that made her realize there was nothing "natural" about it and why all of a sudden she's being deemed public enemy #1 after trying to help in the search and rescue mission. She's also struggling with her feelings for Morgan (no surprise there) who was recruited by Galen (at Sarah's request to John Logan)to protect her.

It gets a little confusing with all the CIA, FBI and congressmen's names as they refer to Z1, Z2 & Z3 (targets) and how all these people are linked -- especially to Runne who has been recruited for Z3 and to eliminate Morgan.

Predictably, the guy gets the girl and they live happily ever after. If your a Johansen fan, you won't be disappointed, same-old-same-old.

If you've read one Iris Johansen novel, you've read all of them. You have the strong willed, hard headed, and emotionally crippled heroine. And then there's the equally strong willed, hard headed, sexual, and martial arts/weapons trained mercenery/cop/independently wealthy through suspicious means hero. Put those two together and you got your typical Iris Johansen book. The first time I read one of her novels ("the Ugly Duckling"), it was very enjoyable. It's refreshing to see an author describe women as the aggressor and not another damsel in distress. It's also good to read about the less than perfect hero, though jaded and harden in their own way, tried their best to seduce the heroine with their intellect and heart instead of flawless goodlooks. However, after the 5th novel of the same type of characters, just with different names, I grew tired of the same old stories.

What confused me most about this novel is that the heroine, Alex Graham, behaved with complete lack of common sense for a person in her position. If I was forced to be on the run, hunted by top US government agencies, and am protected by a trained mercenery (the hero) with years of experiences over me, I'd would do whatever I was told and not go against my protector's advice. It amazed me that 1) she hadn't been caught or killed within the first chapter 2) the hero hadn't slapped her for her stupidity 3) the hero actually falls in love with someone like her and 4) that after all the clumsy dumb moves she made dispite his advice, at the end he still had the patience to want her around.

Also what confused me was the inability of the combination of Homeland Security, CIA, FBI, and a well trained North Korean assassin to take down one mere woman. Considering the vast resources of just one of those above mentioned agencies, let alone the combination of all three, how had it been possible that the characters had not been caught? It may be possible to hide out for a week or so, but I refuse to believe that as long as they lived in the US, with such detailed backgrounds on them as the government agencies had, that they can hide out for as long as the author discribed.

Towards the end I had to constantly remind myself the novel is almost over with. When I did get to the end, it was as anti-climatic as could be. Definitely not one of Iris Johansen's finest work.

Okay! I've read three of the latest Iris Johansen books and I must say that all three were pure and complete drivel! Don't get me wrong, the plot was okay and I think it would have been more interesting if Robert Ludlum had been writing the book. However, the characters made me so angry, I actually threw this particular book at the wall in hopes that it would be dashed to pieces. Alpha males are one thing,but good lord! Morgan was absolutely ridiculous. And Alex!! What was her deal??!! That woman did not have the sense of a gnat. So far in all three books (And Then You Die, Body of Lies, Dead Aim) I have been severely disappointed in these women who are supposed to be tough, modern day women and they turn out to be stupid, hard-headed idiots! Imagine international terrorists coming after you and the government offering you protection and you refuse it because you don't want to kept in the dark. Sorry, sister. I'm staying in the dark if it means staying alive> You feel me? Anyway, I didn't like any of the characters and the plot seemed very formulaic. As in,"I've read this same story in another book. Only the names were changed." I shudder to think what the next book(s) will be like. This is my first and last time for this author. Sorry to those who are fans. I'll stick with Nora Roberts.

I have been reading some mixed reviews about this book with some people loving it and some people (mostly longtime Iris Johansen readers) finding it not up to par. I have read 2-3 books by Iris Johansen and find that this book is one of my favorites.

Dead Aim is about photographer Alex Graham who is taking pictures of what appears to be a natural disaster. She soon finds out otherwise--as she overhears the conspirators and witnesses them murder one of her friends. Alex is soon on the run from the killers and from the government, who mistakenly think she may have something to do with the disaster.

Judd Morgan is a loner who is persuaded to help, protect and guard Alex. He is a man with a complicated past and is also on the run from an assassin as well as the CIA. Helping them is Galen and billionaire John Logan.

I thought that the plot about conspiracy, terrorists and government was fast paced and well done. It is a suspenseful mystery as Alex and Judd find out who they can trust. Instead of focusing on international terrorism, the terrorists are actually working within the government...so no one is what they seem.

It was nice to revisit with old characters like John Logan, Galen/Elena and Sarah/monty the dog. The ending was exciting as Alex runs from the killer and they try to stop a terrorist plot. Dead Aim was a great read and one that will keep readers turning the page!

I'm sorry to say that I am a die hard Johansen fan. I'll read her stuff even if it gets a bad review from others. I can not believe how many people thought Dead Aim sucked. It's been a few years since I read this book, but found it on my book shelf and began skimming through it to refresh my memory. It has repeat characters in it that I've enjoyed reading about for some time. To have a president like Andreas would be a welcome change to the country. Galen is always enjoyable to read about. Sarah and Logan also have small parts, but Johansen still manages to introduce two new characters that capture your attention all the same. It also introduces a character that appears in Fatal Tide. Fans who started reading anywhere from the wind dancer series to the Eve Duncan series will find comfort in the reoccuring characters.
As for the plot being unbelievable, who says that a photo journalist couldn't accidentally come across a terrorist's deadly plot? In today's day and age, anything is possible. Don't read fiction if you want reality and don't read romantic suspense if you don't like a happy ending to a relationship that seems unlikely in the first place.

First of all, I am an Iris Johansen fan and love most all of her work with very few exceptions. Secondly, I was shocked to see a review of this book by an 8th grader!! What is this kid's parents thinking? These are NOT young people's books but adult mystery/romance. Yes to some reviewers, Ms. Johansen does seem to follow a bit of a formula but I enjoy it.

I especially enjoyed this story as many of the characters are from her other novels of this type (John and Sarah Logan, Sean Galen, Judd Morgan) and we as readers got to learn more about them.

This story begins at a mudslide and collapse of the Arapahoe Dam where photojournalist Alex Graham is taking pics and digging for survivors along side her friend and ERT worker Sarah Logan and her dog Monty. It is exhausting work and depressing to see so many bodies and few found alive. Alex receives a call from her editor to hurry and send in her pics and the issue goes to press in a few days. After digging some more, she takes some shots around the work area and then decides it would be a good idea to get an overall view. She has her friend Ken, the Rescue team pilot, take her up in his helicopter and get some aerial shots and also has him set her down on the opposite hillside from the dam. She takes shot after shot going down the hill and into the trees for over an hour when she hears shouts and voices talking saying the name Powers and "let's go" so she starts coming back up the hill to the top where she sees a helicopter landing with no lights on landed and several men. Suddenly come the lights of Ken's helicopter and she sees the pilot of the dark helicopter with a rifle and he fires and hits Ken's 'copter so that it explodes. Alex screams and suddenly the men are after her. They shoot at her but stop and say "Let it bury the b----!" She runs down the hill toward the flood waters as her side of the hill suddenly seems to rumble and break apart. She goes into the water and manages to get to a floating rooftop and the next thing she wakes up in the hospital!!

Sarah Logan is with her and no one knows anything or saw the other helicopter. Alex tells her and Det. Leopold from the police but they tell her no evidence of anything than an earthquake caused the second landslide and no evidence in the wreck of the helicopter that shows a bullet brought it down.

Alex goes to the police station to look at mug shots with no results and starts on the way back to the dam with Sarah and Monty. Monty starts barking at a car following them and someone in the car shoots Sarah who is driving and they go off the side nearly getting all of them killed. Now John Logan is in the picture!!

The rest is quite exciting trying to find out who, what, when, where and why with some romance between Alex and Judd mixed in.

A great read!

Ok. Can we please, please stop with the cookie-cutter books? I mean it's been girl gets in trouble. Male protects girl. Male has troubles of his own. Male beats up people. Female gets pissed. Female beats up people. Male and female get together when the female "gives in". Male and female live happily ever after. Until for some odd reason Iris can't think up NEW characters so she recycles her old ones. Bangs head against table repeatedly. The last book of hers I read; I knew the villain when you first meet him. I mean c'mon. This road's been trampled to death. Either think up a new story or stop wasting trees.

Johansen books seem to be hit or miss. This book is definitely a miss. The characters reminded me of two teenagers trying to be cool, but just couldn't pull it off. Alex was too confident and pretty much told Morgan how it's going to be. Also, the constant sarcastic remarks between the two were overkill. There was no depth to the characters or plot. I think I will pass on reading anymore of Johansen's book. I'd rather spend my money on a hit.

How can I say this? I almost never read "grocery store" books, or what might otherwise be referred to as mass market paperback. But a few years ago I read an Iris Johansen novel, Reap the Wind, while on vacation in Mexico and was blown away. It's a fabulous book and I could't put it down. My husband even read it and enjoyed it, and he's NEVER read a action/intrigue/romance type novel. So I bought a few more and pretty much enjoyed them all up until about a year ago. Her last few books - it's hard to believe it's the same author - expect the same characters keep appearing in convoluted ways. Dead Aim is the worst yet. The story is not interesting and the characters are lifeless. It seems she's cranking out after another on auto pilot. Iris - Please - write something new and substantial. It's an insult to your fans to put out these crappy books twice a year. These recent Johansen books are about half as long as some of her previous work, with no where near the intrigue, romance, or refreshing writing style as some of her previous books. I almost thing they are being ghost written by a formula flunky.

A much better choice is Reap the Wind which is a well developed page turner with real story and substance. Or if you're interested in historical fiction, The Tiger Prince. The same thing happened with Johansen's historical fiction. This one great book and then a bunch of "crank it out" junk. Iris needs to change genre's again if she can't do better than Dead Aim in the suspence/intrigue/romance genre. If Amazon had the option, I would give this book zero stars.