Beloved Enemy

A Jack McClure Thriller, Book 5

By: Eric Van Lustbader

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

In the stunning follow up to Father Night, Jack McClure faces a choice: help the woman he loves, or destroy her as the enemy she is. Shortly after McClure leaves a late night meeting with Dennis Paull, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Paull is found - shot dead. The President is furious but equally frightened of a scandal, since Jack McClure is one of their own - an operative and Paull's friend. Who will protect the country if even McClure cannot be trusted?

With top officials in the CIA and FBI after him, McClure, still devastated over his friend’s death, goes on the run. Someone framed him for Paull's murder, possibly to prevent him from accomplishing Paull's last request - a task vital to U.S. National Security. Someone in the intelligence community has gone rogue and is reporting to The Syrian, one of the most cruel, aggressive terrorists McClure and Paull have ever come across. McClure has been charged with securing the name of the mole, but when Paull’s informant goes missing, McClure realizes his mission has only begun.

Jack may be setting off after a mole, but he knows that ultimately he will have to confront The Syrian. Which also means confronting The Syrian's lover, Annika Dementieva, the woman Jack once loved and lost. On a quest to find the mole before cloaked agents around the world are exposed and murdered, Jack will soon find himself facing his own beloved enemy....

©2013 Eric Van Lustbader (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Wraps up first two books in series

This is the third book in Eric Van Lustbader's Jack McClure series. Narrated by Peter Berkrot, this performer does a great job with the voices of all the characters and their many accents. Peter is really the strength of this audiobook. I started this series and really enjoyed the first two books. They involved the Presidents Daughter and her interaction with Jack McClure. Circumstances have come to pass since the previous book that has put Jack on the run. The government thinks he has murdered the Secretary of Homeland Security Dennis Paul and are trying to kill him. Enemies from the previous two books are looking for revenge and his love Annika Demertieva may once again lead to his downfall. Jack is looking for the real killer as he is himself the hunted.

Several story lines converge in this book that involve issues and characters from the first two books. There is a lot of action but the story did not grab me or keep me interested. It's almost a where are they now filler book for what I hope is a better 4th book. 

Many Twists in this story

If you could sum up Beloved Enemy in three words, what would they be?

Twists, Surprises, Spellbinding

What about Peter Berkrot’s performance did you like?

The reading by Peter Berkrot kept me spellbound the entire book.

Any additional comments?

I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. Great Story!

Bulletin: It wasn't Jack McClure's fault!

Eric you can do better. There were too many obvious situation. Too many throw away lives and nothing to stimulate the mind. The end was obvious. The only way to renew listeners confidence is to write a great story that makes us sit in our cars waiting for a Chapter to end.

The villain had no gravitas, he acted like a spoiled child. The men from the "alphabet divisions" of our country had no class, character or style. It's fine to portray them as idiots or traitors but make them believable. The book didn't flow well. The new characters seemed to be rushed into life without clear development.

The next book is a tremendous challenge. You did it in the past but I'm afraid Jack's at a huge disadvantage after this novel. I'll read Book 6 and anticipate a story that captures my imagination and puts Jack back as a preeminent hero.

The new narrator had a challenge following Richard Ferrone and failed. Berkot didn't do the book justice. Comparing Berkot to Farrone is like comparing Inspector Clusoe to James Bond. I trust you will select a better wordsmith next time.