No Easy Target

February 13, 2017
Margaret Douglas, who’s been a supporting player in bestseller Johansen’s Eve Duncan series (Silencing Eve, etc.), takes center stage in this exciting standalone. As a volunteer at the San Diego Zoo in California, Margaret has been making good use of her psychic ability to communicate with animals such as Zaran, a stubborn tigress who refuses to accept her cub. Late one night, just as she shuts Zaran’s cage, Margaret feels a gun in her back. John Lassiter, a former CIA operative, is prepared to use force to ensure that she joins him on a mission to rescue his mentor, CIA agent Sean Patrick. Patrick has been captured by Stan Nicos, a sadistic criminal who once held Margaret captive and killed her friend Rosa. Lassiter intends to let Nicos, who covets Margaret’s skills as an animal communicator, think that he’s willing to trade her for Patrick while actually keeping her safe. Margaret, who doesn’t trust Lassiter at first, has plans of her own. Johansen keeps the suspense high as Lassiter and Margaret work together to ensure Patrick’s survival. Agent: Andrea Cirillo, Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Margaret Douglas has a secret talent. She can communicate with animals. Living off the grid, hiding from a powerful enemy who would exploit her talent, Margaret becomes a pawn in powerful, sexy John Lassiter's plan to rescue a friend. Narrator Elisabeth Rodgers's slow pacing, effective use of tonal differences, clear enunciation, and fine acting talent ratchet up this interesting story to a much higher level. Rodgers gives Lassiter a hint of steel in his voice and Margaret a playfulness that is both at odds and totally appropriate with her emotional grit. This is an entertaining and exciting listen with twists and turns aplenty. A.C.P. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine