Book Review: Critical Space

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Critical Space     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Greg Rucka
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Series: Atticus Kodiak # 5
Bantam, Oct 2001, $23.95, 368 pp.

Former SAS Robert Moore hires Atticus Kodiak and associates to assist in the protection of media darling Lady Antonia Ainsley-Hunter. Morris worries that Lady Ainsley-Hunter is a perfect target for terrorists because of her visible position on the children's rights issue. A lone gunman comes after Lady Ainsley-Hunter, but Atticus manages to dismantle the weapon with pictures taken that make all the papers and magazines. Atticus knows this was dumb luck.

Atticus is the only known person to have thwarted an assassin attempt by Drama, perhaps the deadliest killer of the notorious murderous row, The Ten. Rumors abound that Lady Ainsley-Hunter is her next target. Atticus admires Lady Ainsley-Hunter for her work and will do anything to keep her safe, but Drama manages the impossible and abducts her. However, Drama uses Lady Ainsley-Hunter as a pawn to obtain Atticus' services as a bodyguard while Drama trains him in her not so gentle art because she knows that a hit man is after her.

CRITICAL SPACE is a character-driven thriller that makes the action seem plausible and thus more exciting. The audience feels and understands the camaraderie between Atticus and his peers, his clients (even the ashtray tossing actress) and Drama. This happens not just because Greg Rucka peels away the essence of Atticus; he also lays bare many other players in the cast. This novel is going to be one on every thriller fans short list for one of the genre's best of the year while causing readers to use the rebate to buy the author's previous keepers.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner