Author: J.A. Konrath, Ann Voss Peterson
Genre: Thriller
Published on: June 25, 2013 by Thomas & Mercer
Time is running out for Chandler, the elite assassin whose mission to rescue her sister from a notorious black ops prison landed her at the top of the nation’s Most Wanted list. Burned by her handlers and forced to work with her mortal enemy in a race to preserve the very government that wants her dead, the living weapon has become a ticking time bomb.
In saving her sister, Chandler unleashed a power-mad American president dead set on controlling the world—no matter how many millions of innocent people he must kill to do it. To stop him, Chandler will go deeper than she’s ever gone before, pushing her body and mind to their absolute limits. All the while she is hunted by the one man who knows her every secret, her every hiding place—and her every weakness. Infiltrating the White House, crashing a bullfight in Mexico City, hijacking a blimp in Toronto…these are just the beginning of the end, as the Codename: Chandler trilogy races towards its stunning conclusion.
This is a satisfying conclusion (or is it?) to the Codename: Chandler trilogy. I'm questioning the conclusion part because I wonder whether there will be a sequel. I don't know anything for sure, so I'll continue with my review of Three. The story picks up where Spree left off. Chandler is really burning the candle at both ends, and she's facing her most difficult mission yet. After her failed relationship at the end of book 2, Chandler finds herself struggling to avoid crumbling down. She's wondering whether she has any humanity left inside her, after all the people she's killed.
Meanwhile, The Instructor has done a Ra's Al Ghul and turned on his former students. He used Chandler to get rid of the former President and aid the new one in a heinous plot. To stop him, Chandler and her twin/former handler Fleming will have to ally with their old enemy, Hammett. She happens to be their identical sister. Hammett's not thrilled that The Instructor's plan to discredit her siblings also affects her. They have the exact same face.
The feisty trio go to a secluded island whose only resident is a young woman named Julie. Just when Chandler thinks they've found safe refuge, a team of trained killers attacks them. Chandler, Fleming, and Hammett are easily overwhelmed and the attackers kidnap Julie. Chandler deduces that The Instructor is behind the kidnapping, and forms a plan to stop him. Since Julie carries a deadly and contagious virus, rescuing her is imperative. Old allies return, including detective Jack Daniels and obnoxious PI Harry McGlade. (Anyway, have you noticed something about the detective's name? You'll laugh once you get it.)
Surprisingly, Chandler and Fleming warm up to Hammett during their mission together. They still don't trust her, though. One thing I found funny is that Hammett has a soft spot for dogs. A merciless, psychopathic, trained killer who loves pooches. That was quite a surprise. It's not every day you meet a woman who believes dogs are more important than her own race.
Fleming returns...and more badass than ever. This woman practically steals the spotlight in the last two books. One of the coolest scenes is Fleming riding a mini-tank to engage a few guards. Yes, I did say mini-tank. The things Fleming builds! Chandler almost tops that feat by taking out a horde of drug cartel thugs in her b-day suit. Also, Fleming manages to do what Chandler seems afraid of: stop thinking of her training like a religion and actually be a human. Fleming does this by forming a relationship with a civilian, Bradley (who helps her build something). She comes to his rescue when he's in danger, without hesitation. That's something The Instructor warned her not to do.
With such odds against them, Chandler, Fleming, and Hammett must work quickly before an epic catastrophe begins. This is the most thrilling installment in the Codename: Chandler series yet. I enjoyed reading it very much. These books have awesome characters and pulse-pounding action. They're definitely must-read thrillers.
My rating: ★★★★★
5 stars - Absolutely must-read. It's outstanding!!!
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