Number seven in the Pike Logan series is another edge-of-your-seat adventure that has the Taskforce chasing down the bad guys from the British Isles to Honduras and back to the continent. Perhaps the most challenging part of the chase is trying to figure out who the bad guys are. Intelligence reports have come in with descriptions of Somalian men, a terrorist with an Irish accent and some jewel thieves that may be Serbs. Despite the many red herrings they encounter, Pike and his team never stop working to complete their mission.

Included among the missing is the niece of Colonel Kurt Hale, commander of the Taskforce. He knows that Pike is the only man he can trust to track down and rescue Kylie, but Pike has just been fired because of some overreaching actions during his last mission. Never mind that he and his partner, Jennifer Cahill, saved thousands of lives --- the Oversight Council has thrown them under the bus. As in real life, not all the intrigue occurs with our enemies. The political machinations that accompany every decision made by the government can be every bit as ominous.

"Whether he is picturing a country vista in some remote village or describing the antics of a spoiled military scion, Taylor writes with the accuracy of one who has been there. Thus, his own experiences in Special Forces lend an authenticity to every operation his team undertakes."

Despite the fact that the Taskforce works outside the boundaries set for other agencies, there are still rules that must be followed. And, while not a fanatic about rules, Kurt does not bend them lightly. Since Pike and Jennifer have been officially fired, he cannot provide them with Taskforce support, yet he needs their expertise for the mission. So he hires them at his own expense to find his niece. If they happen to locate the other victims in the process, all the better.

As meticulously as an investigator in the best police procedurals, Pike takes whatever tiny thread of information he finds and doggedly follows it, clue by clue. Soon the impossible task becomes possible. He and Jennifer are able to find the needle in the haystack. But the enemy is as devious as any they have ever encountered, and a mistake on their part could cause the death of one or all of the victims.

However, regardless of their considerable skills, two people are not enough to combat a cadre of ruthless men from several different terrorist groups. Getting the Oversight Council to okay support from the Taskforce is out of the question. Kurt's own job would be at risk. The difficult choices are numerous. Give in to the kidnappers demands? Risk the future of the Taskforce? Allow the victims to be killed in horrific ways?

Fans of Brad Taylor have come to expect an intriguing story, full of unexpected events and breathtaking obstacles. While there are countless authors who have tackled telling the stories of heroic men and women, only a few combine the ingredients of suspense, action, larger-than-life characters and some very appropriate dark humor in such satisfying measures.

Whether he is picturing a country vista in some remote village or describing the antics of a spoiled military scion, Taylor writes with the accuracy of one who has been there. Thus, his own experiences in Special Forces lend an authenticity to every operation his team undertakes. His expertise is real and has made him not only a bestselling writer but also a commentator on national news broadcasts.