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The Shadow Tracer (2013)

by Meg Gardiner(Favorite Author)

3.76 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0525953221 (ISBN13: 9780525953227)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Dutton Adult

review 1: More of a 2.5. Interesting enough idea - woman is the "mother" of a child that turns out not to be her own and when this is discovered she goes on the run, chased by the FBI and a fanatical, religious, drug-dealing clan. She is aided by various people including a US marshall and a nun. He is, of course, handsome, rugged, moody, conflicted, strong and silent. AKA romantic hero. There are plenty of action scenes, car chases and shoot-outs - more than enough for a full-length movie. It was saved from complete disaster by the main character, Sarah Keller, who is strong, resourceful, intelligent and possessed of a fierce mothering instinct. Also saved by a number of minor characters who are also very strong, resourceful and undamsel-like. Even two of the bad "guys" are feisty f... moreemales.
review 2: The vogue for gutsy, gritty female protagonists is a welcome one for this bibliomaniac who grew up reading the "women in jeopardy" genre and being annoyed ceaselessly by the quavering female victims awaiting their manly rescuer. And if you, like me, applaud the kick-ass heroine? Welcome to Gardiner's latest, The Shadow Tracer. Sarah Keller is scarred - physically and emotionally when her sister is murdered by a murdering family led by a self-anointed cult leader, Eldrick Worthe, who embraces his power by engaging in marriage of young girls to older men, polygamy, and, when necessary, a little torture and murder. No one leaves the family and survives. And no one rats out the family either. Sarah is working as a skip tracer and knows the ins and outs of how people successfully, and not, leave their lives behind to become anonymous. And she knows it personally because she and Zoe are not who they appear to be. She's hiding out in the open to save Zoe's life, but when an accident exposes them, she's on the run. She's tough, and determined, but she can't do it all alone and when her boss, another great, grand feisty lady and the Federal Marshall, Michael Lawless, upon whom her life once depended, are drawn into the danger, they're up against Worthe's killing team - a vicious man and two granddaughters so twisted and warped and damaged by the Fiery Branch of the New Covenant. And it's a monstrous grudge match on the horizon. Complicating matters is an FBI agent with his own plans for revenge against the Worthe family. But he's willing to sacrifice anyone else - innocent or child - to get what he wants. The Shadow Tracer is the best of thrillers. Populated with characters wildly diverse, from a wonderfully drawn, precocious 5 year old, to an older ex-soldier, with secondary characters of police, and a perfect anti-hero in Sarah's dead sisters lover. Action-packed, terrifying, a wonderfully creative "last stand" and when the dust clears, you will agree that Gardiner is a master of the action thriller. less

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