Wildcard (MIRA) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rachel Lee (Author)

Book Description

Series: MIRA | Publication Date: February 1, 2005

Following a victorious evening, shots ring out, leaving the Democratic presidential front-runner near death. As the official investigation begins, FBI special agent Tom Lawton is sidelined, given work intended to keep him out of the way. Determined to find out why, he launches an investigation of his own--and uncovers a web of deceit constructed by his own superiors. Tom's only hope of uncovering the truth is a mysterious foreigner, Agent Renate Bachle--a woman with secrets of her own.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Best known for her romantic fiction, Lee (aka Sue Civil-Brown) has shown a flair for suspense in recent works like her paranormal medical mystery Something Deadly. Now she delivers a highly complex thriller, the first in a new series. The titular wildcard, FBI special agent Tom Lawson, is assigned to investigate political fringe groups after an assassination attempt on a Democratic presidential candidate, but is taken off the case after he uncovers evidence that points instead to a sinister, spiderlike conspiracy reaching deep within powerful political, business and religious organizations-and back to 1329 B.C. As the plot flashes from ancient Egypt to medieval Syria to present-day Idaho and Guatemala, mysterious foreigner Renate Bächle persuades frustrated loner Lawson to abandon the FBI for her own secret organization of justice-seeking outsiders. While Lee's fans may be disappointed that there's little room for romance, the author's deft use of dialogue to make her stories convincing works as well with conspiracy theories as with contemporary romances, promising to attract an entirely new readership. Agent, Helen Breitwieser.
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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778321290
• ISBN-13: 978-0778321293
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,989,933 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exhilarating international political thriller, January 25, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wildcard (MIRA) (Mass Market Paperback)

With primary victories in Florida, Texas and Louisiana Senator Grant Lawrence becomes the Democratic Party's nominee for president. As he thanks the voters on national TV, someone shoots him. The FBI begins investigating the assassination attempt, but hot stuff out of the box maverick Tom Lawton is assigned work to keep him out of the prime inquiries. He feels the Los Angeles incident with his superior has turned him into a persona non grata maverick in the minds of his supervisors, but that will not stop him from doing the job.

Tom still manages to find important information so as his reward he is totally yanked from the case. He digs into who and why the removal, but as he uncovers links to a Guatemala group that recently killed the American ambassador and CIA actions in the 1950s, he finds he is now the target of his bosses. He flees with only Agent Renate Bachle willing to help him as long as his needs fit her secret agenda.

WILDCARD is an exhilarating international political thriller that never slows down from the moment Tom sees Grant shot on TV until the final altercation "ghosts" and all. The story line is action-packed and moves at quite a fast clip with Tom going from the frying pan into the fire. The political devices to manipulate people make this a fine tale as the romantic subplot takes a back seat to the global suspense.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO RATE THIS ONE!, April 22, 2006

By 

M. Hartmann "abayyan" (Milan, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wildcard (MIRA) (Mass Market Paperback)

I could follow The Guatemala episodes, with Miriam, as they tied into the information FBI special Agent Tom Lawton was digging out.
And then Agent Renate Blachle shows up and manouvers Tom into following her to Idaho.

Tom's weak spot seems to be a lack of a real instinct for self-preservation. He did not exhibit enough suspecion and was led too easily. He had just come out of a deep cover operation and should have distrusted everyone.

It took quite a while for Kevin Willis to realize that there was a leak in his department.

The connection between the presidential candidate, Harrison Rice and Edward Morgan and his brother-in-law, Dixon, an ex-military man was woven into the fabric of the story with great skill. Way to go, Dad!

The religious aspects were very confusing and seemed a bit far out to the story. But what a plot! the books of Lawton Caine and Renate Bachle might prove to be a completely inthralling set.

This first one is a fair indication of plots and counter-plots.
Characters are neat, just not enough wild instinct for self-preservation.

Will definitely recommend - Hope Lawton keeps in touch [encryption]with Miriam and Terry. Lawton needs to get a snipers' mentality. Not one I will keep, with all the religious slurs.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed!, February 27, 2005

By 

Ms. Miami (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wildcard (MIRA) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've always enjoyed Rachel Lee's books, and looked forward to the same with "Wild Card". Instead, I ended up reading a mix of "Fahrenheit 911", campaign speeches, potshots at the Catholic Church, and a variety of conspiracy theories. No one can claim to be completely free of bias, but I'd rather read a book where they are a little more subtly presented, or better yet, non-existent.