Author: J.A. Konrath, Ann Voss Peterson
Genre: Thriller
Published on: November 27, 2012 by Thomas & Mercer
Superspy and assassin Chandler has just barely averted nuclear annihilation when the very organization she works for has her brought in on treason charges, trussed up for interrogation. After a run-in with Chicago Homicide cop Jack Daniels, Chandler discovers one of her sister Fleming has been transferred to a black ops site where the modus operandi is torture and death.
Chandler launches a breakneck mission to infiltrate an impossibly secure prison—putting her on a collision course with a squad of violent psychopaths trained to negate her precise skill set. As old enemies reemerge and new ones appear around every corner, Chandler will rely on the help of unexpected allies, including an ex-mob enforcer named Tequila and a firefighter named Lund. But even they may not be enough to stop what lurks within the unlisted military base: a rogue government agency plotting to destabilize the entire nation—and conquer the world.
Female superspy Chandler is back, and this time she's launching a desperate rescue mission. She must work against the clock to save someone who was believed to have been KIA. All in a day’s work, seeing as Chandler recently foiled a plot unleashed by the most unlikely of enemies. These books are really fast-paced. Chandler can barely catch her breath before another task pops up.
Unfortunately, saving the world in Flee did not mean medals for Chandler and Fleming (her handler). The latter is sent to a black site, a secret prison on U.S. soil. Desperate to save her sister from sure death, Chandler enlists the help of a few interesting people. One of them is a guy named Tequila (it appears that's his real name). He’s such an old, short chap that Chandler doubts his ability to help her. She gets her ass kicked by him for the assumption. In fact, surprising as it sounds Chandler kept losing fights during the first parts of Spree. How often do you see the likes of Batman or the Black Widow losing a fight? While trying to save Fleming at the start, Chandler confronted a highly-skilled operative. He boasted a combat skill set that effectively nullifies her own. Only Tequila's help enables Chandler to learn how to defeat this nullifying enemy.
Chandler also gets the help of a firefighter called Lund, who lives near the black site. The two fall for each other, but there are many obstacles standing in the way of a successful relationship between them. Chandler herself is an obstacle. She begins to feel that The Instructor (her former teacher) has stripped her humanity. For the first time, Chandler wishes that she could be a normal person.
Also returning to help is Jack Daniels, a skilled female cop who has helped Chandler in the past. It is interesting that the Codename: Chandler trilogy has characters from books by different authors. For me, that's a first. I haven't read another novel like this. Another character from another book that appears in Spree is Harry McGlade. He’s a private investigator, and is said to be perhaps the most offensive human being ever born. Rather than being unlikable, I found McGlade quite amusing. He spews insults all the time without it bothering him in the slightest. McGlade is one-of-a-kind, that’s for sure.
Hammett, who survived the events of the first book, is back for revenge as well. She has the same goal: to get Fleming out of the prison, but for different reasons. I should mention this novel has one of the most electrifying fight scenes I've read about or seen. Chandler's clash against Hammett is pulse-accelerating, to say the least. Other fights were awesome too, including one where Chandler brings a knife to a balisong fight. She ends up being saved by a salamander. Cool. By the way, can you guess who Hammett hooks up with in Spree? The pair may be kindred spirits, given how unlikable they are.
Unfortunately, my opinion of Chandler was a bit tainted after the ending. She makes a difficult decision with potentially hellish consequences. It sets into motion the events of the last entry in the Codename: Chandler trilogy. There was no choice, but still. Despite the slim chances, Chandler has proved smart enough to have found another way.
Spree is an excellent sequel to Flee, in much the way The Dark Knight topped Batman Begins. There's so much action and suspense in this novel. I highly, highly recommend it. Fans of Jason Bourne, James Bond, and spy novels will find this second entry in the Codename: Chandler trilogy immensely satisfying. This second installment also improves on the first in another way. Spree has chapters that you can navigate through. Not only that, some chapters start with a “nugget of wisdom” from The Instructor, the man who trained Chandler, Fleming, and Hammett. Some of those are quite witty.
My rating: ★★★★ 1/2
4.5 stars - A fantastic page-turner!
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