Customer Reviews

Hot Pursuit (Troubleshooters Series)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

While definitely written in the typical Troubleshooters's format of interleaved subplots told by specific characters' points of view, this novel is a bit different. This one is more suspense plot driven and the subplots stay closer to the main plot throughout the whole story. Not to worry romance devotees. Because most of the romantic relationships are already established and the one that's new moves pretty fast, there are a lot of people getting it on in this book. If you've thought some of the recent books didn't have as much feel-good romance action going on as you'd prefer, this book rather makes up for lost time. There is still character and relationship growth and development but the whodunit is the primary payoff.

Basic plot is that Alyssa takes (yet another "easy") assignment to coach a public figure in self defense while bringing along Sam and some Navy SEALS to decorate the office for a while and thus convince the heckler(s) to back off. But one heckler is close. And far from backing off, amps it up to 11. The easy assignment becomes intense and the pressure mounts. Alyssa and Sam, then Jules and Robin, work on coping with the fact that their chosen mate works in the line of fire as a matter of course, and how to leave their non-pro family members out of the action. Alyssa is also a nursing mom. Having spent last Saturday hiking with a nursing mom who left baby with grandma, the problems Alyssa encountered rang hilariously true.

The subplot with Dan Gillman I found amusing. For everyone who has ever complained that Suz's guys are too idealistic approaching relationships? Meet Dan. Here's a good looking guy looking to get some action on vacation with minimum hassle, while trying to follow the campsite rule of leave 'em better off than you found 'em. He's hot and successful and it's campy good fun until his typical vacation relationship gets thrown a few curve balls. He's got issues, yes, and he starts to work through them and has to do it with annoying BIL Izzy hanging around. (Izzy also gets a few POV scenes, but Eden is not around.)

The character Jenn adds a useful point of view - I'm so used to Jules and Robin, I forget that Robin is supposed to famous. So when Jenn muses that "the award winning actor has come to babysit, will Susan Sarandon be dropping in to do the laundry?" it reminded me again to pay attention. Plus, I think I lived in her apartment for several years. 400 sq foot studio that averaged 90F in the winter with the windows open? Check. Also had her wardrobe - not quite a 16, but really not a 14 either. Check. Lots of uber-beauties in this story, so it was nice to have a sensible, average looking, average sized, average budgeted character I related to more easily.

While the serial killer aspect is creepy, it's was not as creepy for me as the Into the Storm subplot. There was a distance to the gruesome that allowed me not to dwell on the details. For the whodunit, I guessed the killer early on. Go me. There were red herrings. I don't know if I wasn't thrown because I'm so familiar with SB's writing or because it was easy or because I'm just that good. I still enjoyed finding out if I was right and "knowing" didn't affect my ability to enjoy how the story was laid out. I only had a couple quibbles which I won't mention in case they aren't your quibbles as they were easily overlooked. (If you noticed one word being used a LOT, mention it in the comments and see if it's the one I always notice or if I just have special radar for that word.)

I had a great plan to only read a couple chapters at a time and stretch the book out all week to spend more time lingering in the story. So much for that plan; I tore through the book. The book sucked me in, pacing was excellent, I found all the subplots very balanced and I was never tempted to skip one (only a big problem for me previously in Into the Fire). The book focuses heavily on characters trying to do the right thing for themselves, their friends, their colleagues, and their families which I found refreshing and entertaining. Highly recommended, even for people who haven't followed the series.

3 1/2 stars

The fifteenth installment of the Troubleshooters series brings back fan favorites, Sam and Alyssa. Alyssa brings her family along on an "easy" assignment to teach Assemblywoman Maria Bonavida and her staff about personal safety and give a little added protection for someone threatening the Assemblywoman. She also brings along "big bad SEALs" Dan Gillman, Jay Lopez, and Izzy Zanella to do a little scaring off by being themselves. It is supposed to be a boondoggle trip for the SEALs who are on liberty and not getting paid for the trip except for airfare and housing. The assignment stops being fun when the threats become more serious. FBI agent Jules Cassidy arrives with his husband, Robin, in tow to add to the investigation.

I'm a bit disappointed in this book. I'm a Sam/Alyssa fan and their story worked of fairly well...though I think Sam was a bit over-the-top in places. Jules and Robin bothered me the most. I loved Robin in Force of Nature because he was fun and smart and in this one he seems to have lost a lot that...he is treated like a small child...a lot. I found it to be a bit demeaning. He was the just "the spouse," who needed a lot of hand holding.

As far as the suspense/mystery goes, Brockmann puts in plenty of red herrings, but I figured the killer out long before it was revealed. A good mystery, but not great.

This is an "in-between" book. Brockmann has put in story arcs with both Gillman and Zanella leaving me a little confused and missing something. There was definitely not enough resolution in this one. I'm thinking this is one of those books you could actually skip in a series and not feel like you missed out on much.

I'm looking forward to the 16th installment (Izzy's story) for more resolution. I also love Izzy. I understand it is the last book for a while. The books will return, but it may be a while.

For Sam & Alyssa fans, you'll love it. If you are an Izzy fan, you'll love this one, too. He was my favorite part of this story.

I'm not sure what was up with the reviewer ahead of me giving it one star for the price, but having read this book I just have to say it was everything I want in a Suzanne Brockmann book, it made me laugh, it made me happy and at the end it mad me so sad..... that I have to wait so long for the next one. Even with the same characters in the books every book has its own story line and it never feels repetative, unlike some authors I've read lately. I love the relationship between Gillman and Jen and I love that I hated it at first but that Brockmanns writing drew me into loving it anyway. Jeni is one of my favorite characters in a troubleshooter book, not more than Alyssa but she's pretty up there. I was also so glad to catch up with Izzy and what was going on with him, which is one of the reasons I can't wait for the next book because I really want him to get his HEA and I'm hoping in the next book it happens for him. Honestly if you love the troubleshooter books you will love this one too.

This latest installment of the Troubleshooters series is an enjoyable read with lots of suspense, good character interaction and little soapbox preaching on the part of Brockmann (although she gets in her usual digs against the church, the right wing and talk show hosts).

We first encountered The Dentist in a short story at the back of Flashpoint. It was great to see him finally taken down by Sam and Alyssa in this book. Sam really took care of business with a 'bang'! I'm looking forward to the next book featuring Dan and Jenn and (hopefully)learning more about Izzy and Eden.

In the back of Flashpoint (Troubleshooters, Book 7) published in 2004, there is a short story that first introduces us to Alyssa Locke's pursuit of the serial killer known only as The Dentist. At the end of the short story he gets away and that left the door open to the possibility that we'd not seen the end of that particular character.

Well fast forward to 2009 and we get Hot Pursuit. A full on suspense thriller/mystery story that focuses on Alyssa's - Hot Pursuit -- of The Dentist.

For those not in the know, this book stars Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke, arguably Suzanne Brockmann's most popular couple from her long running Troubleshooters series. They first meet as very minor characters in book #1 The Unsung Hero (Troubleshooters, Book 1) and it is disdain at first sight. Throughout the next four books in the series, they begin a secondary character romance arc that is both wonderful and agonizing to watch. Until finally they get their own book with Gone Too Far (Troubleshooters, Book 6) and all the angst of the previous books culminates (in true Sam and Alyssa fashion) in a dramatic and final ending where they get married and begin to settle in married and professional life. We get more glimpses of the happy couple throughout the following 8 troubleshooter books, including three mini-short stories.

As an unabashed Sam & Alyssa fan, I was always happy to get those small glimpses of them in the other books but with them being front and center again in a book I am over the moon.

This book starts out with us learning pretty early on that The Dentist has developed something of an obsession with Alyssa. In the typical crazy way that books have with dealing with serial killers we learn that he has a need to kill and now a lot of what he is doing is completely because of and focused on Alyssa. So much so that, through a byzantine series of machinations, he manages to lure Alyssa to NYC. Alyssa, for her part, doesn't know that she's on the trail of The Dentist at first. She thinks she is doing her friend Savannah a favor by helping out a newly elected Assemblywoman, Maria Bonavita who has received some vague threats, with security set up and self defense. To that end, Alyssa brings along Sam, Ash (their 10 month old son) and a group of Navy SEALs as visible muscle. It is supposed to be a quick two week easy assignment, a vacation of sorts for all involved.

But from almost the moment they arrive things start to go downhill. They are thrust right into the middle of a murder mystery with a slew of suspects and lots of questions. Added to that two of the SEALs, Dan Gilman and Izzy Zanella (old foes from previous books) continue on with their dislike of each other. Zanella is also dealing with the aftermath of his break-up with his wife and Dan is dealing with possible PTSD from a recent stint in Afghanistan. Dan also embarks on a brief romance with Jenn, Maria's Chief of Staff. And although it seems like containing the threat to Maria is one of simply trying to figure out the who and the why, for Sam something doesn't quite fit right. Slowly the threads of all the various stories (red herrings abound) come together and the group is stunned to realize that they are in fact chasing the serial killer known as The Dentist and that Maria may not be his real target at all.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Like I said above, whenever I can get a Sam & Alyssa fix, I am happy (and as an added bonus we also get plenty of face time with Robin and Jules). But I do believe I would not categorize this story as true romance novel. I think Brockmann has moved firmly into the Suspense category with this and in fact this almost reads like a whodunnit is places. While the reader knows exactly what is going on (except for the actual true identity of The Dentist), Alyssa and her team are completely in the dark until almost the end of the book. What romance there is (aside from the gushingly happy couples Sam/Alyssa and Robin/Jules) is not within a normal romance framework. Dan and Jenn are ostensibly the main romance couple here. However, their ending isn't what regular romance readers would consider a typical HEA. First, Dan's pursuit of Jenn is ,imo, somewhat manipulative with some less than wonderful motivation. He does redeem himself to the reader because through his inner dialogue we understand that he truly is emotionally involved with her, but he damages her trust in him through some hurtful comments she overhears. And while she accepts his apology, she doesn't let him off the hook easily. These two don't ride into the sunset HEA in the end. Don't get me wrong, they are in love and we have every right to assume that they will be ok, but I think the ending will leave some romance readers who like a written in stone HEA, a bit put off.

Which brings me to Izzy. The interesting thing about this story is that while the suspense plot is resolved, it is the romance elements that end in cliffhanger. In addition to Dan and Jenn, there is Izzy. For anyone who has followed the series, Izzy is married to Dan's sister Eden. As far as marriages go, it has a very rocky foundation. Eden isn't in this book at all, but Izzy's thoughts are on her a lot. However, another woman has her eye on Izzy. The reader is left with the suggestion that if things don't work out with Eden this woman may be the one in the wings for Izzy? I am sure Brockmann left that suggestion out there intentionally. For myself, I wouldn't mind. I couldn't stand the Izzy/Eden pairing and would find this new Izzy pairing quite intriguing.

And finally, there is a lot of inner dialogue of The Dentist himself. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. I actually found his inner dialogue a little tedious. I think my love of the suspense novel works against me here because I've been in the head of a lot of fictional psychos. LOL! Rather than being scary, it was more been-there-done-that.

But even with that little quibble, this book was a very, very good read. I enjoyed it immensely and the ending was really awesome. No wonder Sam Starret is in my top three favorite fictional heroes of all time.

It's supposed to be a cakewalk. Alyssa Locke takes her husband/business partner and a group of off-duty Navy Seals to New York. An assemblywoman there has been threatened and they'll talk about security, see what the problem is, and, at least for the Navy Seals, do their best to get laid. But when they get there, they're directed to a heart stuck in a desk drawer--and the cakewalk starts looking more troublesome.

Serial killer 'the Dentist' has had a weird crush on Alyssa since she began investigating his case. He's set the stage and he intends to end it here, in New York, on his home turf. He'll manipulate the team, kill the husband, capture Alyssa, and maybe he'll even kidnap their child and raise him as his own.

Navy Seal Dan Gillman knows he's about to be sent to Afghanistan...again. But two weeks in New York should give him the loving he needs to keep going. Not for him, though, are one-night stands. Two week stands are more like it and the assembly-woman's chunky but smart assistant seems like just the woman to take away his cares. Gillman likes his women, but with his job, he knows he isn't boyfriend material. He'll show her a good time and then move on. Except when Jenn is kidnapped (twice), Gillman discovers a feeling he's never had before. Could he really be falling?

In her Troubleshooter series, author Suzanne Brockmann interweaves the lives of the men and women of Troubleshooters and their Navy Seal allies. HOT PURSUIT gives us an update on many of them (Sam and Alyssa are doing fine except for the serial killer thing, Jules and Robin are also doing well and happy to be living in Massachusetts where gay marriage is legal). Not doing so well is Izzy, who is pining for Gillman's sister, Eden...who won't even talk to him. The assemblywoman likes Izzy and it would be easy to fall into bed with her, but Izzy is married...even though his wife is in Germany avoiding him. For me, all the time spent on updates got in the way of enjoying the current romance (Gillman and Jenn) and the suspense (will they figure out who the 'dentist' is before it's too late?) Too, the mystery was a bit too easy, although Brockmann gave us readers clues she didn't give to Alyssa and company so I guess we can't blame her for being slow.

Brockmann is a highly skilled writer and HOT PURSUIT is an easy book to read. If she'd focused a bit more on this story, it could have been great. As it was, it's just an acceptable read.

Suzanne Brockmann's early books were captivating....could hardly put them down. Her later books have become choppy and not as good. Hot Pursuit falls into this catalog. I was very disappointed in the slow read but higher ratings by viewers sucked me in. If you really want to read this book, wait until it comes out in paperback...not worth the money in hardback.

Troubleshooters Series:

Unsung Hero 1 ** (Good characters but story is too interrupted)

Defiant Hero 2 ****(Still interrupted, but better story)

Over the Edge 3 ****(Ditto, but liking more as I get used to reading three stories at once)

Out of Control 4 *****(Terrific stories, still the jumping around can be hard)

Into the Night 5 ****(Side stories better than main story, but very good book)

Gone Too Far 6 *****(Best of the series so far. Excellent story)

Flashpoint 7 ****(Very good story. A bit longer than it should have been.)

Hot Target 8 *****(Jules's story was the bullet. Main couple story very good, too.)

Breaking Point 9 *****(Wanted more Jules. Got a little/not enough of him. Main couple's story good but typical. [Negotiator & young girl from plane jacking])

Into the Storm 10 *****(Excellent drama, adventure, romance, mystery. Heroine held out a bit too much, but not enough to ruin the story)

Force of Nature 11 ***** For Jules and Robin (Awesomely emotional!)/ ** For the other couple (heroine was a witch/ hero was a wimp)

All Through the Night (Xmas) 12 ****1/2(Terrific for romance/ light on action and mystery)

Into the Fire 13 *****(Izzy is awesome! Murphy's story is touching. Tons of action. Lots of unexpected twists.)

Dark of Night 14 ****(Liked Deck, Bored with Dave, Missed Izzy, Glad to see Jules back in action)

Hot Pursuit 15 *****(Sam & Alyssa are awesome in their job, marriage, & parenthood. Gillman gets the lesson he's been needing. I want something better for Izzy. Jules & Robin are still heartrendingly sweet.)

I've read so many disappointing books lately, I was beginning to think I was just getting bored with romance novels in general. Then "Hot Pursuit" arrived on my doorstep. I began reading it right away. For the first time in a long while, I found myself glued to a book. Brockmann did not disappoint. Plenty of chilling mystery, adrenaline pounding action, steamy love scenes, and true romance. The mystery kept me guessing. No "too easy solution". Each time I thought I had it solved, there was another new twist. Many scenes were so well written, I felt as if I was in the midst of the danger myself. (Ever walk down a dark street at night and feel your heart pound as you pass a slightly opened door... fearing what might be hiding behind it? Brockmann takes you there.) Even as all of this occurs, we get to enjoy Izzy's mountain- sized heart, Robin's kindness, Sam's devotion to his wife and son, and the demise of Gillman's cold facade.

Admittedly, Alyssa was never a favorite character for me. She was always a bit too cold. In fact, I never bothered reading the short stories about her and Sam at the end of the other books. (Thankfully, that didn't diminish my ability to follow this book at all.) I didn't like seeing a heart & soul man like Sam paired with an ice queen. However I now have a new respect for Alyssa's character. Brockmann seems to have made her more human. The chip on her shoulder has eased up. Alyssa still takes no BS, but she also has a soul. She's strong and independent, but she doesn't get absurdly offended when Sam is concerned for her safety. There is a softness to the edges of her character that really lacked in the past. Whether male or female, every character needs a heart. Alyssa's is now wide open.

Major bullets in this book:

~Sam and Alyssa are still thoroughly in love, with their baby son bringing them joy... and a lack of sleep. Both are major players in solving the mystery of the serial killer known as "The Dentist".

~Dan Gillman, who has made an a** of himself many times in the past, is now about to learn his lesson. He gets what he deserves... and what he desperately needs. The anger and sorrow in his soul are about to be shattered by a plus-sized woman who brings him to his knees.

~Izzy is still mourning the loss of "Pinky" and Eden. He plans to try one more time to get Eden back. (That tale, according to the Author's Note at the end of Hot Pursuit, is due in Brockmann's next book. She claims it will be the last TS book..."at least for a while". Is she trying to hurt us?? Ouch!) Personally, I'd rather see Izzy with a mature woman who will appreciate him. We'll see what happens...

~Jules and Robin are still 100% in love. Jules plays a major role in solving the case of "The Dentist".

New to this series? Start from the beginning. The first few books can be slow at times, but then BAM you are in for a ride.

The series begins here:

The Unsung Hero (Troubleshooters, Book 1)

Want to try Brockmann out, without getting hooked into a series? This is a great stand-alone title:

Bodyguard

...Suzanne Brockmann reeled me back in, by creating a relationship I enjoyed. And no, it wasn't the revisiting of Sam/Alyssa or Jules/Robin (I'm a little tired of both of those, but at least Sam didn't sound like a self-help relationship book in this one, thank goodness), it was Dan/Jenn. I've come to realize that the things that make a relationship electric for me are probably very personal ones, because I do see a pattern--damaged guy, less than perfect woman, initially a superficial relationship that has a defined end built in from the beginning, but the way the personalities fit together, the attraction that the two people experience above the sexual level, changes that. That's how I'd describe the Dan/Jenn relationship, and it felt much more satisfying to me than recent (i.e. "Dark of Night") ones. It's an interesting set-up in this series--the male cast is like a chorus line with each one or two coming forward for his star turn, but the women seem to be brought on from offstage, to partner the current male(s). What this means is that some characters have been around for a long time without getting developed much, and this was really the case with Gillman--his main role in the past has been to be an angry brother. Now his personality is more fully developed, and it isn't exactly pretty, but somehow he's still compelling (at least to me). I was reminded of the character Wes Kelly from "Night Watch", in Brockmann's other series--also an angry brother, also carries a lot of baggage, also enters the relationship intending for it to be superficial and limited. And that was a favorite of mine, too. I could completely understand someone not liking the book because the really disliked Gillman, but he really worked for me. Although this is still a library book for me (I have too many books to buy new ones indiscriminately) it is a definite recommendation.

Hello, I am usually a great fan of Suzanne Brockmann's books but I am finding this on - Hot Pursuit slow going. I am currently on page 218 and I feel that the book could have ended already, not that the plot has gotten to that stage yet but there seem to be too many insignificances, and there is not enough suspense to grip your attention and keep you reading. But it is a Brockmann book so I will see it through to the end. :0