Closure: A Jack Randall Thriller

Enjoyed this book, some new info on sniper life, investigations and EMT practice, though pretty predictable storyline. Lots of typos in this Kindle edition, especially in the beginning and later chapters. Too bad. Ok writing otherwise, most entertaining and comfortable with the political views. Not comfortable with young women being described as, “young girls” though. And why is Jack’s wife even mentioned? He doesn’t think of her for 99.9% of the book and when he did at the start it was only about the problem of getting away from her. Yuck.

When I sat down to review this book, I made two columns: positive and negative. I enjoyed the book. Great thriller. On the plus side, the killer was well written, and we got into his head and his life. The hints along the way as to his motivation were very well done. The detail with which the killer planned his work was great character development. Some of the other characters, however, left me cold. I had to keep referring back to remember who they were. Danny got lost somewhere along the way and was thrown in later almost as an after-thought. The protagonist’s wife knew what she was getting into when she married him, yet she’s pissed when he’s called to go on a case. Realistic, but I can see this marriage crumbling. Why did he marry her in the first place? One reviewer suggested that the author could have added romance to make the characters “more human”. We have to remember that the team is on a vital mission to save lives, not stop for kissy-kissy. This is book 1, so I anticipate some relationship shakeups once life gets back to “normal”. The fact that everyday people (and even some in law enforcement) agreed with the killer’s stance that our “justice system” is perverted and were willing to turn a blind eye or even help the killer was realistic. Some of the detail in the book was necessary, but some was not. For example, the long description of making a gun silencer was good, and also necessary. The gun was used. However, the long, detailed scene with a criminologist packing a kit to take to a crime scene was not necessary, as none of the items were used. In future books in the series, the author might want to cut back on some of this. Tell the readers what they need to know and leave it at that. We don’t need all the extras that won’t be used anyway. The scenes in the ambulance built tension, knowing that the life or death of the victim would determine whether the killer’s goal was accomplished. That said, however, I don’t think many readers will plow through all the technical stuff because they won’t understand it. We went from a law enforcement procedural to a medical procedural. It was like switching from Criminal Minds to Grey’s Anatomy. Why did the killer choose his last target? I think it was to show the world that those who support a broken system could suffer just as others have. By the end of the book, the killer’s health takes a turn, and both his health and the medications could have had a major influence on his judgment. The killer left letters at each scene, yet the contents of the final (and obviously most important) letter is never revealed. Why mention it if it’s not going to be used? Yes, there were some minuses, but all in all, I have to say that I liked the book enough to give it five stars.

The author really researched this book. There are lots of info about all the major parts of the story. All the medical info I didn’t understand, but it made the book very real. The characters are good with a good description of each. You will feel like you know parts of the life of the characters. You will have feelings about the characters, even the FBI. The book is well worth reading.

Most of the way through, I considered this a 4-star story. Sympathetic though not quite rational bad guy being tracked by a jet-setting FBI team that reminded me of “Criminal Minds,” but, without all of the unsubbing. The killer’s actions were plausible, had an internal logic, and netted him the positive PR that he sought, even among some in law enforcement. The FBI team’s actions made sense. Storytelling and supporting details were strong… for the most part. There is a bit of anti-gun bias that can be excused for moving the plot along. Then, you’ve got an FBI agent claiming that the killer’s vigilante ways are influencing public behavior. His big example is where a robbery victim gets the upper hand, and beats the robber senseless... with help from bystanders… and, instead of making a police report, they phone in an anonymous tip about an injured person in need of EMS. I found that attempted parallel to be weak, at best.Proofreading in the second half of the book was less rigorous than in the first half.Near the end, there was a long, highly detailed sequence depicting an ambulance ride in which a paramedic struggles to keep a gunshot victim alive. Yes, it was well-written -- even polished -- and very interesting. Yet, it was so out of place, and so much more detailed than any other part of the book, that I decided that the author must have once been a paramedic -- that he was padding out the book, AND, showing off a bit as an author, AND bringing some glory to paramedics. And, I nailed it! At the end of the book, there was a short bio that indicated that the author had, indeed, been a paramedic.It was around the three-quarter point of the book, where it went off the rails [SPOILERS]...The killer’s final target is revealed as a Senator. And, the most damning thing about this lawmaker? He supports gun rights. He had caused the defeat of anti-gun proposals. He had also caused the defeat of a major crime bill that would also have restricted gun rights, and similarly stood in the way of an even broader crime bill that was now pending.Up to this point, our assassin had killed heinous criminals, a KKK sociopath, and a crooked lawyer that had been enabling criminals. He was winning his PR campaign. One of my favorite mental images from the book was when a prisoner ascending the courthouse steps was killed. The bullet had passed through the prisoner, and tagged an escorting LEO in the leg. The injured officer and two others on the scene were captured on camera, smiling at the justice that had just been served.But, killing the Senator makes no sense. First, the assassin would have to be rather naive to believe that a federal crime bill would have much effect on actual crime. More importantly, though, murder of a duly elected Senator for doing his job -- representing voters of his state -- would decimate the killer’s PR campaign. No one would support that. Our serial killer has been a thinker, a rigorous planner. Yet, this climax has no credibility for his motivations.

I was hooked from the first sentence. I loved the detail of the planning and execution of the executions. It was hard for me to root for the FBI knowing what I did about the perpetrator. Good book.

I actually loved this book but have deducted a point for the dreadful grammar, various typos, annoying Americanisms like 'entering' and 'exiting' a car rather than getting in or out of it and some of the spelling!! The spelling mistakes were at times juvenile, such as:- Forth Floor, Egg Yokes, Collage (College), Roid-rage (Road-rage), Pushily furnished (Plushly furnished) and A sea of tourist (tourists). To list but a few.However, the story is really great! It is one of those that grabs you on page one, never letting go until the end. You quickly become empathetic with the vigilante, really get to like him and never want him to get caught. The instructions were perhaps a little lengthy for some readers, but, I learned how to select and prepare the correct firearm for the prevailing distance and conditions, how to make a bomb and got a taste of being a paramedic too. Yes I am being flippant, but was so captivated that it really felt possible that I could do these things. The essence of this story is it's pace and credibility. It would definitely make a great film and I heartily recommend that you read it.

This book is different for me. The subject matter is exactly what I enjoy, the pace can only be described as suitably quick but comfortable. For the first time I have found a book that will take me along at a pleasing speed. Usually I am grabbed by the scruff and forced by the plot at breakneck speed. This book has a cast of human people who have some excellent abilities. Another reviewer put it more succinctly "easy to put down but hard to ignore.The lead player is Jack Randall, FBI agent who is proficient at organisation, field work and networking. Closely matched with his college paramour Sydney Lewis who is a 'Forensic Fool' she lives breathes and loves forensics. The cast goes on to include the local Sheriff's son who just happens to show them what you can do with a laptop to make investigating somewhat easier.The story is basically about a man seeking to right a wrong made by the Government time after time. He was trained by the Government in the military and he uses these skills to his benefit. He is however under a time constraint – but Jack Randall & Co. just cant keep pace with the man's actions. From DC to the mid west and down to Las Vegas, the locations just change like the wind.

I know it's the normal opening for a book review, but in this case it fits the bill.I haven't read any Randall Wood before this book, but I will be looking out for them from now on.I was drawn in to the book in the first few lines, by the end of the chapter I was hooked!A good well thought out plot, extremely well delivered. Lots of information on all subjects from ballistics to emergency first aid.I am a genuine buyer and reader, and this is my honest review.But it, read it, enjoy the experience

Well written - exciting plot, telling the story simultaneously from the terrorist and the investigator point of view.Extremely well researched in a number of areas going into great detail on arms, FBI procedures, medical actions and more. Personally I don't like the extreme detail and am more interested in the flow of the story (which was still good) but I know lots of people will enjoy the detail

I have never read a book by this author before and i found the book really good, it has a great plot, the book keeps you gripped throughout and the characters are really believable. The only thing that stopped me giving it 5 stars is that in some places i feel as though it went into too much detail which then made it either boring or hard to understand, one example is that it described the whole kit for what a forensic scientist would need, it went through every colour of fingerprint powder, every brush, why she had different cameras and what they did etc etc, i was losing the will to live while they described three different bags of stuff, it was just too much, it was the same way for a paramedic who was trying to save a guys life, they were describing what they were doing (with all the medical jargon) what each medicine was for, what it looked like etc, i felt it was just too much and hard to understand. Having said this, its still one of the better crime books i have read for a while.