Customer Reviews

The Enemy Stalks (Hawkman Series) (Hawkman, No 1)

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The Enemy Stalks
#1 of the Hawkman series
by Betty Sullivan La Pierre
SynergEbooks, 2003
ISBN: 1591092043
174 pages
Romance/Suspense


Tom Casey, also known as "Hawkman," has relocated to the small community of Copco Lake. Jennifer Morgan, a freelance writer, saves Casey when he is badly wounded in a gun battle with an unknown assailant. Both widowers, the pair find themselves attracted to each other. But Hawkman is actually a retired spy, living under an assumed name. When it becomes apparent that someone from his former life is out to get him, he reveals his past to Jennifer, making her realize that her quiet world is actually full of danger.

The Enemy Stalks is a combination of romance and suspense. Featuring an unknown but persistent enemy, the story centres on the struggle of two people trying to rebuild their shattered lives. It's a fast moving tale that is also enjoyable to read. One can tell the author tries to balance the two genres to create something interesting for the reader. But I'm not convinced she succeeds.

I'm used to reading suspense authors like Robert B. Parker (the Spenser novels) and John Sanford (the Prey novels). Betty Sullivan La Pierre doesn't bring the depth of character or atmosphere to her story that these other novelists manage. The substance just isn't there. And the same can be said of the romance. Her depiction is sound, but, by today's standards, her character's love relationship is quite tame. I even found the portrayal of the villain unconvincing.

This bothers me, as La Pierre's writing is technically sound. How shall I put this? The Enemy Stalks was an enjoyable lunch that somehow left me wanting more than I received. I understand other books in the series have been well received. Perhaps the author solved these problems in her later novels. I hope so, as I believe La Pierre has real talent.


Copyright © Clayton Clifford Bye 2009

The Enemy Stalks (Hawkman Series) (Hawkman, No 1)In The First Of The Hawkman Series, Tom Casey Has Resigned From The Agency As An Eye Injury Keeps Him Out The Field And He Was Not Cut Out For A Desk Job. He Moves To Yreka California To Decide On Another Career Besides Helping Injured Birds, But Now His Cover Has Been Comprised And Some One Wants Him Dead

I was surprised to see how many high ratings this novel has received. It reminded me of a poorly directed made-for-TV movie. I think the story had merit and could have been made into a above average book, but the blatant dialogue and over the top actions of the characters (i.e. slamming fists down on furniture and exclaiming thoughts out loud) suggests that the author doesn't have confidence in the reader's ability to connect the dots.

While it wasn't a novel I couldn't put down, I did read the whole book. If your looking for an easy read that isn't going to keep you up at night reading "just one more chapter", you might like this one.

Tom "Hawkman" Casey is living a quiet, normal life in the community of Copco Lake. So is Jennifer Morgan, a freelance writer living across the lake. Both are learning to deal with the death of their spouses and trying to rebuild their lives. Hawkman wants to start a private detective agency and Jennifer wants to adopt a boy living in a nearby foster home. All seems calm and idyllic until someone begins to threaten and stalk Hawkman. As Jennifer becomes involved, the danger ramps up, turning both of their worlds upside down. Rather than flee, they choose to stand and fight.

THE ENEMY STALKS is a G-rated, romantic suspense tale of two people who must not only fight an unseen enemy, but deal with their past and uncertainty about the future. Author, Betty Sullivan La Pierre, does a good job of building up the romantic elements and suspense as the villain draws nearer.

Her villain seemed a little too crazed and foolish at times for me, but then crazy people probably do stupid things. I would have liked to have known more about his background and personal life. Still, this is a light, enjoyable read.

Jim Anderson, Tom Casey, Hawkman; three men in one bearded mountain man who wears an eye patch and treats injured birds of prey.

Jim Anderson no longer exists. He worked for the "Agency" as a spy. When he was injured, he chose retirement as opposed to a desk job. He became Tom Casey, Private Investigator, only he doesn't seem very interested in working at anything. But he is always the Hawkman, tending hurt hawks, falcons, or owls.

The mountain lake is quiet and the neighbor on the other side of the water barrier is an attractive widow, Jennifer Morgan. But for the Hawkman there is no real peace, and little chance of a normal life. He soon finds that he's right to be on edge.

Climb the mountain trails with the Hawkman and Jennifer. Send the falcon off to hunt. Fend off intruders and fight off assassins all the while trying to discover who hired them to kill Jim Anderson, and why.

Gripping from page one, the action never stops. If this book had been any longer, my cats would have starved, or at least gone to bed hungry.

Betty Sullivan la Pierre has hooked me on the Hawkman, oh well; my cats need to lose some weight anyway.

This is my first book by Betty Sullivan La Pierre but certainly not my last. I can't wait to see where these characters go in the next 8 books in the series. I found her writing to be simple but very effective. The story just kept moving and was not bogged down by a lot of details. I still got a sense of what was going on and I had plenty of details but everything was wrapped up nicely and not many questions were left unanswered.

I really liked Jim and Jennifer both equally. They were both looking to start over after tragedy and found it in the small community town. Jim was known as the Hawkman and I loved seeing how he would take such good care of animals of all types. I think he should be a veterinarian but he was going into private investigations. Maybe he'll be able to get somewhere and I hope that it is successful.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It took me six months to get it but it was well worth the wait and now I want to go buy the rest of the series. It kept my attention that well. The storyline was good, clean, and suspenseful because you weren't sure what the outcome would be completely. You knew Hawkman had to live since it is the first in a series but what would happen to Jennifer was left up in the air.

Jim Anderson is a former spy who retired from the Agency after an injury that has disabled him from doing field work. He changes his identity to Tom Casey and moves to Copco Lake. Here, in this peaceful and distant place far away from his previous life, he dedicates himself to helping and nursing wounded hawks and falcons. This talent gives him the nickname "Hawkman"When he meets the beautiful Jennifer Morgan, a young widow, he feels attracted to her.

But his new uncomplicated life is about the change when "Dirk Henderson", a double agent and responsible for the death of his wife, learns about Jim's new name and hiding place. After numerous threats and attacks on both Tom's and Jennifer's life, Hawkman realizes it's time to call in the Agency. This is the beginning of a cat and mouse game with no room for failure.

With The Enemy Stalks, Betty Sullivan La Pierre introduces us to Tom Casey, also known as "The Hawkman", a former spy who wants to live a new life as a private investigator. In this debut we get to know more about Hawkman's past and present friends and his major enemy. The Enemy Stalks stands for an exciting reading filled with suspense and a touch of romance. I am looking forward to read the next Hawkman mystery.
[...]

THE ENEMY STALKS is the first in the series of the Hawkman books. In this story, Ms. La Pierre introduces you to the most intriguing characters that you could ever dream of meeting.

Jim Anderson retired from The Agency after his wife, and unborn child were killed in a car bombing. He went into seclusion, at Copco Lake, in the Pacific Northwest, under an assumed name, Tom Casey. Soon after moving there, he captured an injured hawk, nursed it back to health, and the people of the area started calling him The Hawk Man, a name that seemed to stick.

Jennifer Morgan, a young widow, is also living at Copco Lake. She is living a very quiet life in the community, writing wild life stories, and trying to adopt a ten-year-old boy, who desperately needs a home. That is until she meets Hawkman. Her life then turns into anything but quiet.

Someone does not want Jennifer to have anything to do with Hawkman. And that same someone is determined to make sure that Hawkman doesn't live much longer. In trying to eliminate Hawkman, he uses Jennifer as a means to get to his target.

I have to say that I am a big fan of Ms. LaPierre. Her books are absolutely wonderful, and THE ENEMY STALKS just goes to prove my point. Ms. LaPierre has written an incredible, fast moving, story. A story, that keeps you on the edge of your seat. At the same time she has woven this story around the most beautiful scenery. You feel you can not only see the gorgeous sites, but also smell the fresh air, the trees, and actually hear the Canadian geese, as they make their way across the clear blue skies of the Northwest.

Her characters are not only exciting, but also very real, and show many facets to their personalities. Hawkman may be a dangerous man, but he seems everything but that when he is caring for an injured owl, or pulling porcupine quills from a dog that got a little to close for comfort. Ms. LaPierre's characters are all real and interesting. They all soon become old friends who you can't wait to see again, and again.

I absolutely loved THE ENEMY STALKS, and I can't wait to open the sequel, DOUBLE TROUBLE. My only complaint about Ms. LaPierre's books is the fact that she can't write them fast enough for me. I always read that last page, close that book and want more. She is absolutely fantastic, and I can't get enough of her work. And you won't be able to either.

Jennifer felt Hawkman's body move in the direction of the passing helicopter. When the sound of the popping blades finally died in the distance, he stepped away and yanked the orange cap from beneath his shirt, slapping it against his thigh. "It's gone." He plopped the hat onto his head and walked briskly toward the truck as if nothing had happened. What the hell is going on? She wondered, running after him. She grabbed his arm. "Wait! Why did you shove me against that tree?" He kept walking. "Caution. I don't know who's looking for me, but he could have access to a helicopter." She dropped her hand and stared at his back in shocked silence. This whole thing sounded big-time: helicopters and men with guns who didn't care who got hurt. Fear ballooned inside her.

Thus begins the Hawkman series. Ex-Agent Jim Anderson, new identity Tom Casey, relocates to Copco Lake, a remote community in Southern Oregon, to start fresh following an injury that forced his early retirement. Sporting a pirate-like eye patch, a beard and long hair, Casey has recently gained the nickname Hawkman due to his affection for hurt and wayward birds. Content to start a quiet existence as a small-town private eye, he settles into his cabin on the lake, fascinated by Jennifer Morgan, a widow living on the adjacent shore. As their relationship warms, other forces are heating up in a sinister and relentless plot of revenge against Hawkman.

When Agent Jim Anderson had lost his wife to a car bomb meant for him, he embarked upon a very personal vendetta against the killers, eliminating all but one, the leader. That man now stalks Hawkman and anyone he cares for.

With his fondness for Jennifer growing, along with his sense of the danger she's in due to her association with him, he attempts to convince her to leave, trying to remove her from harm's way. But Jennifer is embroiled in an adoption of young Sam and fears being gone at this point may jeopardize its success. Hawkman, frustrated at her stubbornness, decides a crash course in pistol shooting is their best alternative and may just save their lives. During a series of target practices and hawk hunting expeditions, their passion for each other blossoms. There is much danger surrounding the couple. Even an everyday chore, like walking to the mailbox, sets the heart hammering with fear. Staying one step ahead of the assassins is a harrowing experience, for the reader as well as for Hawkman and Jennifer. You'll find yourself wrapped around this cozy mystery with the doors securely locked and an occasional glance over your shoulder.

Ms. LaPierre has written four books, all in the genre of Mystery and Suspense. She thoroughly enjoys the challenge of plotting a good, clean story.

In her debut book, Ms St.Pierre introduces a fascinating detective known as Hawkman. Hawkman is a former Agency operative who is hiding away under an assumed identity. Jennifer Morgan, a young widow, is the equally fascinating heroine who lives across the lake. A woman who knows her own mind and refuses to back off from danger, she is Hawkman's equal for courage. If you like intricate plotting, this is a mystery/suspense book you will truly enjoy. THE ENEMY STALKS takes place in a secluded lakeside community in the Northwest where even the eccentric secondary characters have unique appeal. The first of a series with the second book already released, St. Pierre's Hawkman books are must reads.