Thin characterization mars Hunt's formulaic fourth novel featuring St. Louis homicide detective George Hastings (after 2009's The Assailant
). After a falling-out with the police brass, Hastings gets assigned to the security detail of presidential aspirant Sen. Alan Preston, a Missouri Republican and former federal prosecutor. When John Reese, an ex-CIA operative Preston convicted for selling arms to Syria more than a decade earlier, escapes from prison bent on revenge, Preston declines FBI protection because he fears attracting unfavorable national media attention. Hastings, who takes an instant dislike to the politician, soon suspects Preston is being less than frank. Hunt adds nothing new to the familiar device of alternating between the perspectives of the would-be assassin and the person working frantically to thwart him. Since Preston comes across as such an unlikable phony, readers may root more for the assassin than the senator. (June)
