Patriot Acts

Starred review from July 23, 2007
At the start of Rucka’s electrifying sixth thriller featuring bodyguard Atticus Kodiak (after 2001’s Critical Space
), Atticus is ready to settle down after years of chasing the deadly female assassin known as Drama and finally breaking her away from “The Ten”—a group of cold-blooded killers operating around the globe. But when he and Drama, now known as Alena, are ambushed and left for dead, Atticus knows his troubles are far from over. Suddenly, the two find themselves the target of a massive manhunt after being mistakenly identified as Ten members. From a tiny village on the Black Sea to the inner sanctum of the Pentagon, Atticus and Alena race to clear their names and punish those responsible for the shocking death of a close friend. Rucka expertly blends intense shoot-’em-up scenes with biting political commentary as Atticus and Alena uncover just how high the conspiracy reaches within the U.S. government. Kodiak fans who’ve waited a long time for this installment will find it exceeds all expectations.

August 1, 2007
Atticus Kodiak, the splendidly named professional bodyguard, returns in the novel that Ruckas fans have been anticipating for a while. Picking up moments after the conclusion of 2001s Critical Space, this frenetically paced thriller begins with an act of treachery that leaves Atticus reeling. Suddenly finding himself on the run, Attitcus risks everything to protect the people he loves. Rucka, who took a three-book break from the Kodiak series, seems to have returned to the series and his most famous creation convinced that the line between mercenary and murderer is thin enough that the distinction may be purely imaginary. Either way, fans will be glad to have Kodiak back.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)