Library Journal
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Modern piracy has become a major scourge, particularly in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. When an ocean liner with a thousand people on board, many of them Americans, is seized by Somali pirates in a bloody assault, the United States must decide how to save the captives without appearing to cave in to the pirates' demands. Of course there are political and diplomatic considerations restraining military efforts to rescue the crew and passengers. While Washington dithers, the pirates have no intention of honoring their part of any bargain. Instead, they plan to murder the captives after collecting a huge ransom. The job of organizing a rescue falls to Jake Grafton and his partner in arms Tommy Carmellini. Verdict Coonts's latest Grafton and Carmellini adventure (after The Disciple and The Traitor) is tense, timely, exciting, and totally enjoyable. Even though part of a series, the novel stands alone more than nicely. [See Prepub Alert, 11/12/12.]-Robert Conroy, Warren, MI (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

After a decade-long absence, Coonts' first and most popular protagonist, Jake Grafton, returns to action, ably assisted by Tommy Carmellini, who in addition to costarring in a few previous Grafton novels has also top-lined a handful of books of his own. When a cruise ship is taken by Somali pirates, Jake and Tommy attack the problem on different fronts, Jake trying to broker a truce with the pirate overlord while Tommy spearheads an undercover mission to rescue the hostages. Full of action and anchored by a pair of strong protagonists (not to mention an equally strong supporting cast, most notably the captain of the cruise ship), this one will definitely appeal to Coonts' legion of fans, who have been eagerly awaiting the return of Grafton and Carmellini. Coonts is one of those writers whose name on the cover pretty much guarantees a certain level of quality, and he doesn't disappoint here. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The track record tells the story: there have been 16 New York Times best-sellers with Coonts' name on the spine.--Pitt, David Copyright 2010 Booklist