🚨 ✈️ "The Escape" (US Marshals #1) (2020) ✈️ 🚨 - Book Review

MY REVIEW

Series: U.S Marshals (Book #1)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Revell (November 3, 2020)
Language: English        
ISBN-10: 080073730X
ISBN-13: 978-0800737306
⬅️ Click Picture for Purchase Information

“How do you catch a fugitive who has nothing to lose?

US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn have orders to transport two high-profile prisoners across the country on a private plane. But when the plane experiences engine trouble en route from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado, the pilots crash-land the aircraft deep in the heart of the sprawling Salmon-Challis National Forest. 

With both pilots and one prisoner dead--and one fugitive on the run--Madison and Jonas must negotiate the rugged and remote backcountry as they track a murderer who is desperate to disappear . . . and will do anything to stop them.”

Thank you in advance to Revell (a division of Baker Books) for providing a complimentary review copy through Interviews & Reviews. A positive review was not required and all words are my own.

This is not first book I’ve read by Lisa Harris (and likely won’t be the last either). Earlier this year I read The Traitor’s Pawn. As a fan of Suspense and Romantic suspense, along with enjoying stories about law enforcement agencies, I couldn’t wait to read this.

My draw was not only the genre – but the fact that this is the first book in Harris’ U.S Marshals series. I loved the 1998 movie of the same name, which was a sequel of “The Fugitive” (1993), so this was definitely a “must grab” book, especially when the real action for both of them begins following a plane crash of a JPATS (Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System) flight that leads to a fugitive chase. [Side note: these flights are also nicknamed “Con Air”] 

With that noted, the cover on this is very eye-catching and grabbed my attention which made me quite curious.

The characters – Madison and Jonas are both well-rounded and solid leads. Each one having their own tragic back story that still connects them.

Madison’s is the unsolved shooting of her husband some five (5) years earlier, and Jonas’ is the shooting/wounding of an ex-girlfriend. But, Harris leaves little time for romance between the two in this non-stop, action-packed, whirlwind read that is far more suspense than romance.

Madison and Jonas are too busy tracking down the other survivor. Damon Barrick is not only dangerous (a presumed killer), but a master-manipulator as well. There is little time to investigate his claims of being innocent. But, is he?  

Right off, the first sentence of chapter one grabbed me: 

“There is a razor-thin edge between justice and revenge, where the two easily blur if left unchecked”. 

How can you not want to continue reading this? Very seldom has a first line grabbed me like that. In addition, the first chapter ended on a creepy note as well.

The end of chapter one reminded me of the 1996-2000 NBC series “Profiler”. The main plot revolved around FBI Profiler Sam Waters being stalked by a serial killer – Jack of All Trades. Jack also killed Sam’s husband and continued to stalk her over three (3) seasons. In this story, Madison doesn’t know her husband’s killer. But, the similarities are interesting.

Another connection I had was one of the transportees – Paul Riley who feared (rightfully so) about a plane crash going so far as to reference MH370 (2014), which has still not been found. I flew to Newark, N.J after that incident. And, Newark (though not specified which one) was mentioned as a possible destination for this fugitive. I found that a bit interesting.

Getting back to the story …

I thought I had a feeling about Barrick, and when I closed this book I didn’t know whether I was right or wrong as an incident with Madison’s sister was not really solved per se.

Whether or not this is the author’s fault – towards the last few chapters, I almost devoured an entire HERSHEY’S XL chocolate bar as I was nervously reading this anxiously awaiting the end, and at one point, almost in tears. To state it is an exciting read would be grossly understated. This felt more like an edge-of-the-seat thrill ride through an uncharted wilderness territory with never-ending loops, twists, and turns. And, after it stopped I wondered what just happened? I definitely needed time to catch my breath.

The references to Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, two well known U.S Marshals also added to the thrill of this, along with a Gunsmoke reference. My mother definitely schooled me in those old Western T.V. shows.

Written in short chapters, this is definitely a highly addictive book that is hard to let go of and made me hold my breath in a few places. Although, there were a few issues with present/past scene transitions, it didn’t seem to hinder my enjoyment of the book. And, after seeing “U.S Marshals”, this definitely played out like an action movie.

Readers should be warned that this is NOT a standalone read. The end is left “open” (meaning a few unresolved plot lines) and the sneak peak from the next book clearly indicates this is a series that will need to be read together. And, I will definitely be reading book #2.

There is a slight “plot hole” though it may reveal itself in book #2 – one character who had a connection to Barrick, is somewhat “missing” by the end of the book (Bianca). I was trying to figure out who Barrick was and if this case was personal to Madison, yet at the end there was nothing – or was there? Harris definitely left several things open whether intentionally or not.

This does have a high “body” count with reference to murder. Harris spares the readers the graphic details though.

Although distributed by a Christian/faith themed publisher, there are few references to faith in this book. There is a slight mention of God and some faith talk; but no bible quotes, church talks, or character insights.

Readers who are fans of Lisa Harris, and particularly her romantic suspense/suspense books, will definitely want to check this out.

FYI –> The author did some research regarding these flights. As someone who was once interested in working with the U.S Marshals Service, I did and still have some information about their work.

About the JPATS flights:

“JPATS completes more than 260,000 prisoner/alien movements per year.  Air fleet operations are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with hubs in Las Vegas, Nevada; Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Additionally, the Federal Transfer Center at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport was built especially to facilitate prisoner transport on JPATS.

Usually, the airline employs Boeing 737-400 aircraft to transport convicts and illegal residents of the United States for extradition. Smaller jets and turboprops are also used to transport individual prisoners who are considered particularly dangerous or notorious, as well as individuals in the witness protection program.” (Service (USMS), U. S. Marshals. "U.S. Marshals Service". www.usmarshals.gov.).”

 

RATING:

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LISA HARRIS is a bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel from Romantic Times for her novels Blood Covenant and Vendetta. The author of more than 40 books, including The Escape, The Traitor's Pawn, Vanishing Point, A Secret to Die For, and Deadly Intentions, as well as The Nikki Boyd Files and the Southern Crimes series, Harris and her family have spent over 17 years living as missionaries in southern Africa. She is currently stateside in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.

 

You can follow her on the following social media accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaHarris

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heartofafrica

 

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