Thursday, January 12, 2012

Avalanche Pass-John A Flanagan

Avalanche Pass


John A Flanagan

Berkley, Feb 7 2012, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425245408



Although his broken leg has healed, Steamboat Springs ski patrol officer Jesse Parker remains emotionally traumatized from the accident. Jesse takes a leave of absence to emotionally heal by getting on the skis without an audience like Routt County Sheriff Lee Torrens. He goes to Snow Eagles resort in Utah, but his efforts fail. Deciding to leave in the morning, Jesse pays his tab, but has time for a one-nighter with Tina Bowden, resort security.



Washington State Senator Carling arrives with a group of business executives. Roger Kormann and a group he leads come to Snow Eagles and take over the resort. After accounting for the staff and the guest list, which includes people staying tomorrow only, Kormman shows he has no qualms about killing anyone. Meanwhile FBI hostage negotiator FBI Agent Denton Colby comes to Snow Eagle to work out the freeing of the captives. However, the only hope for those held by Kormman is the former Denver cop who since he is leaving in the morning is no longer on the guest list.



The latest Parker thriller (see Snow Peak) is an action-packed suspense in which a psychopath leads other amoral predators with the attitude mass killing is expected. Readers and the Fed quickly believe money is not the object of this game. Parker is a fascinating protagonist as he remains traumatized from his Denver police partner killed in a friendly fire incident during a shoot-out in which his bullet is the cause. However, with a second trauma, he loses empathy as a tormented hero; while his opponent is over the top of Pike’s Peak. Still this is an entertaining cat and mouse tale.



Harriet Klausner



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