Hard Target

Alan Jacobson does it again, be prepared for a ride with a lot of twists and turns

I am a big fan of Alan Jacobson and Hard Target does it again. He keeps you guessing to the very last page. Hard Target is fast paced with a lot of twists and turns in the plot. The characters come alive and are credible. Chills ran up and down my spine at the end of the book thinking that this could really happen.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome thriller!!!! It was a hard book to put down, and one I

Awesome thriller!!!! It was a hard book to put down, and one I could have read it in a day or two if I'd had nothing else going on, so I really looked forward to sitting down to read! I liked the Karen Vail books, but this one knocked it out of the park! There were so many twists and turns, and so many parallels to current events, but the ending was the real shocker. Totally unprepared for that! So now I'm wondering, will there be a sequel? This would be a fantastic movie, especially considering all the issues of today!!!

Excellent summer read

Don't get me wrong, I loved Alan's Karen Vail novels, but Hard Target was a great break from Karen while not abandoning her altogether. Hard Target takes us on an entirely different journey than we are used to from Alan Jacobson. Now we get into a terrifying world of political intrigue that is frighteningly realistic. Although a new direction from his past works, Alan continues to create story lines with twists and turns that keep you guessing. He does a great job of crafting characters that you are never certain whose side they are really on. This is another great work by Alan Jacobson and a perfect summer read.

Hard Target By Alan Jacobson Review by Russell Ilg Hard Targ

Hard Target
By Alan Jacobson

Review by Russell Ilg

Hard Target, the latest novel by superstar author Alan Jacobson, is the finest thriller I have read this year—and I doubt that there will be anything that even comes close to matching the greatness that Jacobson has brought to the page.

Jacobson took a number of years away from writing to spend time with different law enforcement agencies so that he could gain an insider’s understanding of the inner workings of all phases of the industry. He has transformed this experience into some of the most thrilling writing in many years, and is a prime example of the shift in thrillers toward fact-based fiction, which is an engaging mixture because it brings real world sensibilities to both the stories and the characters.

In Hard Target, you are immediately thrown into the action from the first page, and you get the sense that the emotional, action-packed opening is merely setting the tone for what’s to come. It is the most gripping beginning of any book I have read in a long time, and it pulls you in further with each turn of the page.

Hard Target has the feel of being a “here and now news story” because of it deals with the issues that we as a country face on a daily basis. But more than that, it feels real and compelling not just because of what's happening in the story, but because of the way in which the novel is written, the way Jacobson draws you in and puts you into the mind of the protagonist, FBI Agent "Uzi" Uziel. You feel his urgency, the pain of his failures, and the pressure of the deadline that he faces. As a reader, you are emotionally invested in the issues and in the action. This forces you to read quickly to find out what "train wreck" is around the next bend, and invariably there is one, one that’s bigger than you imagined possible.

Hard Target centers around the attempted assassination of the President-elect on election night. Although no group has claimed responsibility, the investigation brings to light shocking revelations that affect the plot, and the main character, in surprising ways. Many avid readers of the genre usually have the ability to sense where a story is going. But that is never the case with Alan Jacobson, and Hard Target is definitely not an exception. Just when you think you have it solved, you are slammed so hard from left field you wonder how he could have come up with such a huge plot shift that takes the story to a whole new level. But Jacobson’s turn-on-a-dime twists are always sensible, never forced, and always believable. He is adept at leading you down "Path A" while, behind the scenes, he's been constructing "Path B." When the twist comes, it seems logical in retrospect.

And that brings me to the ending--which I won’t reveal here--but it is one of the most surprising, jaw-dropping endings that has been written in years (perhaps even since Jacobson's own False Accusations back in 1999). Upon finishing Hard Target, I sat there with my mouth open, thinking: Did I really just read this ending? No, it cannot be. And I had to read it again. (In fact, as I have done with Jacobson's prior novels, I read the entire book again, to pick up a lot of the fine details I missed the first time through. It's this attention to detail that makes Alan Jacobson one of the best writers today.)

Alan Jacobson may not be a household name for some readers, but he should be at the top of all thriller fans' lists. Lucky for us, Hard Target has come out just in time for your summer reading. Take my word for it: Hard Target will be one of the very best books you read this year, and it will drive you to look up Jacobson's backlist and read all seven of his novels. One book will be all it takes for Alan Jacobson to become your favorite author. You, too, will be waiting (and checking his website or Facebook page) for news of when his next "super hit" will be released.

Hard Target hits home on a number of issues that our country is currently facing, and it does it in page-turning fashion. As one of the most gripping novels I’ve read in a long time, it’s my “thriller of the year” choice. I doubt anything else could come close to topp

Great Read!

I am a big fan of Alan Jacobson and have read all his books. Hard Target was masterfully written. The story line was great and had many unexpected plot twists along the way. Another great one from Alan, can't wait for his next book!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

One of my favorite authors proves why he is one of my favorites.

One of my favorite authors proves why he is one of my favorites. Whether you are a die hard fan or new to Alan's work you will love this one! Hard Target brings back some of the "Karen Vail" side characters as features this time. You will love Uzi and the team from Velocity is on the case. Moves fast, has twists and turns and shocks and emotion. Hard Target really is a can't be missed read.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another Great from Alan Jacobson

Alan has done it again. Hard Target is full of intrigue and suspence. Couldn't put it down and wished it wouldn't end. Even my favorite character from his other books was made mention of. Who doesn't love Karen?

Hard Target Review

Just finished reading Hard Target. I loved it, kept me interested, as do all of Alan's books. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a thriller. Then ending was a surprise, it was not expected. You will not be disappointed if you decided to read this book.

Don't miss this one

Non-stop action and surprises around every corner. Buy this book and clear your weekend for a great read.

A Race to The End

Author Alan Jacobson delivers a taut, mesmerizing story of terrorism, suspense and intrigue. This one kept me guessing from the edge of my seat - start to finish. Hope to see more from these amazing characters - all from Jacobson's well-developed creative mind. Awesome read! 4.5 stars for me

Well, when I heard that Alan Jacobson is coming out with a new b

Well, when I heard that Alan Jacobson is coming out with a new book, I went back to re-read his previous Karen Vail series. But then, I was disappointed to learn that the new book will not be a typical Karen Vail book, although she does make an appearance.=) Regardless, I was super excited to start reading Hard Target. And I could not put the book down the next two days, ended up finishing it at 3am the 2nd day. What a story!!! AJ always manages to introduce so much new information, without making you feel like you're reading some sort of cop/FBI manual, and at the same time, captures your full attention with non-stop actions and twists and turns. He did again with Hard Target, and he did it REALLY REALLY GOOD. It was an extremely entertaining and intellectually-stimulating read that you actually want to read it again from the beginning right after you finish it, which is what I'm doing now - which is rare for thrillers, because you already know the ending, but this one is different!! =) And it's still so good the second time around, and as many thriller-readers would know, you find details you've missed the first time around, and I'm really attached to the characters now. I love how the scale was so much bigger than AJ's other books and the fact that he still managed to keep the story focused on core characters. Alan, seriously, cannot wait for the next one!!!!

Zoroark

Waits

I am such a huge fan of Alan Jacobson's writing and I was anxiou

I am such a huge fan of Alan Jacobson's writing and I was anxiously awaiting the release of his new thriller, Hard Target. I normally do not read political thrillers, but since it was Mr. Jacobson's work, I had to check it out. This is one of those books that starts out with what seems such an Implausible plot (to myself anyway), but by the end of the book, the reader is left thinking, 'wow, this could really happen!'. The characters are completely fleshed out, giving the reader glimpses of their personal lives, their personalities as well as their involvement in the story's plot line. It is very apparent that a ton of research went into the telling of this story, giving the reader lots of insight into our government and it's inner workings. I actually learned of few things from reading Hard Target! I would recommend this book to anyone, even if you are not into the whole political genre, there is a lot going on in this story and it will keep you guessing.

I am one of the biggest Alan Jacobson fans and he didn't disappo

I am one of the biggest Alan Jacobson fans and he didn't disappoint! This is a very intriguing book that would please both men and women. It delves deeply into the inner workings of the government and the anti-terrorist groups. What a way to show us what these brave souls do daily. Very well written plot and very realistic...Great read!

Alan Jacobson does it again. I was hooked from the start. If you

Alan Jacobson does it again. I was hooked from the start. If you haven't read any Alan Jacobson book this is a good one to start with. There is even a cameo from Karen Vail. You check out Alan Jacobson on Facebook he interactw with fans.

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