Review: Pandora's Succession

Pandora's Succession
By: Russell Brooks
ISBN: 0986751316
ASIN: B00486U6O2
Series: The Ridley Fox/Nita Parris

1. Pandora's Succession
2. Unsavory Delicacies
3. The Demeter Code

Summary:
CIA operative, Ridley Fox, never stopped hunting his fiancée’s killers—a weapons consortium called The Arms of Ares. When an informant leads him to an old bunker outside of Groznyy, Chechnya, Fox is captured, beaten, and left for dead. When the informant rescues him, Fox learns that his capture was no coincidence: someone had set him up—possibly another government agent. Fox barely escapes after learning that Ares has acquired a hyperdeadly microbe—called Pandora—that is believed to have wiped out ancient civilizations. The trail leads Fox to Tokyo where he discovers that people within the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Japanese Intelligence want Pandora for themselves. The only person Fox can trust is a woman from his past who he nearly got killed.

Review
If you liked the Bourne movies you will enjoy this book. In the first fifty pages you are in a constant state of motion as you follow the main character, Ridley Fox. You get a sense that he is a reluctant hero throughout the story. In that he does what he has to for his country but passed that point he doesn't enjoy his work as much as he used to. Russell Brooks rounds out Fox with several different instances in which he remembers past events and you meet characters who show you the man he was before he lost his fiance. However, he does come out a little flat at some points and thus reaches the not exactly believable point but it doesn't stop this book from being enjoyable. Another notch against this story is that some of the action sequences are not as believable because Fox isn't as damaged as he should be. This is the problem with this type of character sometimes you fall into the invincible super soldier mode.

Once you get really into the thick of the story you will become riveted and wonder who is really pulling the strings. I can tell you that this story isn't as predictable as many books of this type. I also like that Russell Brooks gave you little indicators through out that when you go back you are like "Oh! Of course." If I were to add anything to this book it would be a little more of the science behind this bug that threatens the world especially when you are in the scientists' areas. However, this makes sense from the main character's point of view because he is more muscles than brains. Overall, I would recommend this book to someone who loves spy movies and what ifs. I give this book a three for it is enjoyable but not world shattering.

Reason I Read This Book: The author requested a review
Reason I Finished This Book: It was highly enjoyable and I needed to know the end!