TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

This strange novel is replete with CIA dirty tricksters and men ready to give their lives for their country. Cynicism prevails throughout this story of American pilots who are flying a Soviet-built MiG-17 on bombing missions to confuse the enemy during the War in Vietnam. Yet that cynicism disappears in the romance scenes, in which hero Brad Austin is a bit of a bumpkin. Narrator J. Charles builds the suspense while maintaining the steely reserve of a combat pilot, a combination that is not easy. It’s also a tough job to make Austin sound like a man smart enough to fly such missions yet naive in many other ways. His performance will have the listener rooting for the good guy and hissing at the cold CIA bosses. M.S. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2009]