Last Snow combines political intrigue with a Jason Bourne-style adventure and a dazzling, resourceful Russian woman who can save or destroy the president’s strategic advisor and former ATF agent, Jack McClure.
First Daughter Continues with New Intrigue
While the story starts slow with Jack’s inertia regarding the disintegration of his marriage, Last Snow quickly steps up after President Carson assigns Jack with the special task of watching over his adult daughter Alli Carson.
Carson and Jack’s long friendship and mutual trust irrevocably solidified after Jack rescued Alli from her torture and abduction described in Van Lustbader’s First Daughter. More poignant, Alli is the only daughter figure that Jack has left after a car crash killed his only child and Alli’s best friend, Emma.
Alli may be 22 but between her teenage looks due to illness and her fragile mental state, Jack feels a deep responsibility to her even though her presence complicates his life personally and professionally.
Russian Mafia Threatens Jack’s Mission
The presidential family and accompanying entourage are in Russia for the first-year President Carson’s delicate negotiations with Russian President Yukin, whose domination of the Russian political and economic scenes loudly echo his similarly-named real-life counter-part.
The situation becomes even more tense when Carson’s political ally Senate Minority Whip Lloyd Berns dies in mysterious circumstances while in Capri with his mistress.
Neither Carson nor Jack could anticipate Jack’s accidental participation in a vengeful Russian mob member’s death, which throws FSB agent Annika Dementieva into a forced quick escape with Jack and Alli.
Memorable Characters
Although the trio spend most of their time on the run, Last Snow takes the time to describe several memorable characters, whether it’s Annika’s “Uncle” or Milla, the Russian Dominatrix who positively impacts one character in an unexpected way.
Eric Van Lustbader and the Jason Bourne Series
Van Lustbader's interest in foreign affairs and the intricacies of political alliances serve him well in this second of his books about Jack McClure and also in his continuation of the late Robert Ludlum's Bourne series.
Readers who enjoyed Van Lustbader's The Bourne Deception, The Bourne Legacy or The Bourne Betrayal will probably enjoy his foray into the world of Jack and his close presidential ties.
Last Snow Thrills in Chilly Russia
Jack McClure's advanced problem-solving skills separate him from the genre's other well-trained government agents in a thriller whose themes touch on the harsh toll and surprising gifts of illness, the heartbreak of parenting, and the supernatural shadows that haunt those who pay attention.
Publishing Information
Van Lustbader, Eric. Last Snow. New York: Forge Books. 2010. ISBN: 978-0-7653-2515-0
Bonnye Good - Bonnye Busbice Good received an Editor's Choice award for her article on Your Historic Home's Interior Design Secrets and has also written ...
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