THE BOURNE ESCAPE by Brian Freeman

4* A good intro for me to a character I'd heard about but never been interested in (because of the actor who played him) until now. Very Bond-y, but strangely believable with digs at current affairs, and because of the motivation of the self-described omniscient playmaker.

OK, well this book doesn't let up from the minute it starts. There are 5 female characters of varying importance, one of whom is blind, who're seemingly as strong, well trained, determined, and emotionally detached as any male killer-for-hire. Wow. Unexpected but strangely believable. I didn't get to like any of them, because all had betrayed each other to a degree, some were double agents, some were blinkered, and all were coldhearted killers. Not even a lovely guide dog loving its owner could redeem said owner. But good on the doggy for not trusting a person who ended up kind of getting what he deserved, but also not, because that kind of evil betrayer deserved to be shown up publicly, not let off the hook to a degree. I wish I could've seen a MAGA meltdown at the actual video reveal, sadly good on abused Annie for getting her revenge. 

Jason/Cain is a more modern, less misogynistic take on 007, 'loving' the woman he's with until the woman (he thinks) he loves comes back into his life. He's actually a far less visible, almost not-quite-as-capable a character as say, Shadow, a future playmaker who's a woman of many secrets, power and mystery. One who's the product of her upbringing and brainwashing at the hands of the playmaker that she'll likely take over from one day. 

I liked the Chinese-agent aspect of the tale, which is pretty much a take on The Cheeto being an agent of Russia, but, what a cop out, worthy of MAGA spinners/strategists. I liked the encounter with 'Putin', although it didn't feel remotely believable. I liked the reveal about 'Putin's' M.O., about his plans for the West, about his manipulation of word events. Did it feel believable? All too much, sadly and scarily. All maybe closer to the truth than most will dare to admit. Where's Seal Team 6 when you need them?

This was a very visual romp of a tale, au Bond. Very entertaining.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury, for my reading pleasure. 


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