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Final Finesse

Karna Small Bodman
Forge Books (2009)
ISBN 9780765322524
Reviewed by Melissa Koltes for Rebecca’s Reads (6/09)

“Final Finesse” details the frustration of Samantha Reid, the White House Deputy Director for Homeland Security, as she tries to figure out who is bombing US pipelines.  Along the way she meets up with an old crush who now works for the oil company that seems to be targeted.  Together they work against the combative forces within the multiple agencies in the US Government. 

The chapters are choppy and bounce the reader between too many storylines and characters.  As you read it is sometime difficult to remember which characters are doing what.  Many characters are introduced only to be abandoned without much thought and one is left to wonder if this was truly a necessary part of the story.  The characters that are developed have gaping holes that make them boring rather than intriguing.  More time is spent trying to impress the reader with the fineries of the White House cafeteria than giving a compelling story.

The story itself is interesting, leading the reader to wonder if such attacks could really happen. As someone attacks US oil pipelines, the bureaucracy within the Government is displayed in a way that only and insider can truly speak to.  Who has jurisdiction, what can be done without violating rights, etc., all touch on a part of the country that we often forget about. The inner workings are fascinating and make for an excellent story.

The secondary storylines leave much to be desired.  I felt as though the author wanted to incorporate a Harlequin Romance novel into the story but couldn’t determine the best way to go about it.  The book goes from compelling and intriguing to wishy-washy numerous times.  Too many names and titles are thrown at the reader and referenced making it a bit hard to follow at times.

For a quick read that is mildly entertaining, “Final Finesse” by Karna Small Bodman is a good choice.

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