Field of Fire.Field of Fire James O. Born G. P. Putnam's Sons 375 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014, 800-847-5515 0399153985 $25.95 www.us.penguingroup.com Alex "Rocket" Duarte, ambitious ATF ATF Molecular virology Activating transcription factor A cellular protein that stimulates transcription of adenovirus E4 transcription unit, which acts early in infection at any of several 'enhancer' binding sites agent and explosives specialist [his nickname was given him in high school--he 'took off fast ... and couldn't change direction once he got going"], is asked to head up an investigation into the latest in a series of bombings in disparate locations across the US, which appear to have implications of union harassment Ask a Lawyer Question Country: United States of America State: Nevada I recently moved to nev.from abut have been going back to ca. every 2 to 3 weeks for med. . The latest incident occurs at the site of a migrant labor migrant labor, term applied in the United States to laborers who travel from place to place harvesting crops that must be picked as soon as they ripen. Although migrant labor patterns exist in other parts of the world (e.g. camp where Duarte tries, and ultimately fails, to arrest a fugitive wanted on an illegal gun trafficking charge. Another interesting character is Mike Garretti, reluctant hitman, who muses at one point that "for a guy who kills people with bombs, he was way too judgmental judg·men·tal adj. 1. Of, relating to, or dependent on judgment: a judgmental error. 2. Inclined to make judgments, especially moral or personal ones: ." Caren Larson is a Dept. of Justice attorney assigned to work with Duarte on the investigation, who must decide whether and to what extent to compromise her ethics on the altar of ambition, something faced by Duarte as well. The death toll mounts as Alex becomes more and more determined to get to the bottom of what increasingly looks like some sort of conspiracy, with intimidation of union organizers A union organizer (sometimes spelled "organiser") is a specific type of trade union member (often elected) or an appointed union official. A majority of unions appoint rather than elect their organizers. being just a smokescreen. The suspense mounts steadily, as it becomes difficult to tell the good guys from the bad. Duarte seemed to this reader to be surprisingly naive for an experienced agent, another trait he shares with Mr. Larson. We are reminded several times that he lacks skill in interviewing and reading people. I thought Duarte's naivete na·ive·té or na·ïve·té n. 1. The state or quality of being inexperienced or unsophisticated, especially in being artless, credulous, or uncritical. 2. An artless, credulous, or uncritical statement or act. extended as well to his social life, though he becomes a bit more adept at both by novel's end. James Born's writing has been compared to that of Elmore Leonard Noun 1. Elmore Leonard - United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925) Dutch Leonard, Elmore John Leonard, Leonard [one of two men to whom Born has dedicated this novel]. I wouldn't go that far, but Duarte's an interesting new protagonist introduced by the author in Field of Fire, and the book is recommended. |
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