The Midnight Hour is a perfectly acceptable variation on several familiar plots, and not much more. It's a book I might recommend to readers who enjoy these storylines, because they'll probably like it just fine. Readers who don't are unlikely to be converted by the author's competent, but unremarkable, handling of the material.
Drake Warren was once deeply in love with a fellow Marine, Sandy Carroll. When a South American drug lord blamed Drake for the death of his wife, Sandy became the target of his revenge. She died in an explosion, while the drug lord evaded capture. Drake joined the CIA and spent the next five years taking on dangerous missions with no concern for his own life. What he didn't know was that she didn't really die.
Multiple surgeries gave her a new face, damage to her throat gave her a new voice, and the CIA gave her a new identity. Sandy Carroll became CIA operative Victoria Green. There's nothing that connects her to her former life. She's not even right-handed anymore. Only a select few know the truth, and she's not allowed to see Drake or reveal herself to him. Then a new CIA bureau chief unaware of the truth pairs them up on a mission.
From the moment he meets her, Tori reminds Drake of the woman he loved, though she's obviously not Sandy. Still, the attraction between them ignites again, and they make love. Once the mission is over, Tori does her best to repair the damage, quickly resigning from the CIA while Drake is on another mission. Except their one night together leaves her pregnant, with a baby she can't tell Drake about. Meanwhile, the drug lord's thirst for vengeance sets him after Tori, and Drake is determined to protect her the way he couldn't protect Sandy.
The book gets off to a very slow start, with a lot of excessive exposition. It was hard to get into the story when the author focused more on explaining her complicated premise than easing the reader into the characters' lives. Once the groundwork has been laid and the story moves forward, it does improve. There's a lot of action, and the military and intelligence elements feel realistic. The characters are both likable, even if the book's short length and complicated plot didn't really offer enough room to know them too much. Tori's a tough heroine who gets to kick butt. Her handling of the secret baby issue, though, falls strictly into clichés and was just as annoying as every other heroine who ends up keeping the secret too long for shaky reasons.
I'll mention that this book is part of a series with a cast of thousands. Anyone who's read the previous books will probably enjoy seeing all these people, but anyone who hasn't will likely be overwhelmed by the flood of characters who rush onto the scene at different points in the book. There are so many of them it was impossible to figure out who everyone was and how they were connected to each other. The four page family tree in the front of the book may come in handy for anyone who's more invested in figuring it out than I was.
For the most part, The Midnight Hour is an easy read. Once it gets going, it moves quickly. Jackson's writing is smooth and mostly strong, with only the occasional odd moment. For instance, it didn't ring true when Drake, Mr. Macho Marine and CIA Agent, mentioned that Touched By An Angel was one of his favorite shows and he always tried to catch it when he was in one place long enough. (Although I did appreciate the sense of spirituality both character exhibited.) There's also one sex scene late in the book that includes either the funniest moment I've seen in a long time or the creepiest. Drake takes his clothes off and stands naked in front of Tori. Then this happens:
Get ready to meet your daddy, she silently communicated to the child she carried within her womb. He's coming for a visit and Mommy intends to make him feel very welcome.
Yuck.
Still, The Midnight Hour is mostly a pleasant read. The action is heavy, the sex is plentiful and the people are nice. It's also nothing new and there's nothing that really stands out about Jackson's version of the material. It's capable, but mostly more of the same. It's the kind of book I had a hard time finding much to say about, or even remembering, when it came time to write this review. If you're a fan of secret babies and/or secret identity stories, it may please you. Otherwise, you can probably do better.
Sensuality: Hot
Publication Date: 2004
Recent Comments …
Yes, sorry, I meant e-books – I don’t read anything else these days. My library is county-wide, too, but I…
You’re welcome. If you want to know more, I can add some information to the spoiler, just let me know.
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