For Agent X, finding his target was easy. Knowing who to trust was the hard part. And surviving the day could prove to be impossible...Review:
Assigned to track down suspected corporate extortionist and multi-millionaire Derek Slyrind, Agent X gets more than he bargained for. Between the local police and a trained assassin hot on their trail, Agent X and Slyrind must expose a nefarious plot that could have dire implications for both men.
What I was expecting - a hardcore James Bond-esque agent who kicked butt and took names, but what I got was a gun-slinging super spy with the capability for greatness, but whose thoughts and odd mannerisms left me confused and slightly agitated. I never really got into spy novels, but there are a few out there that have sparked my interest over the years, so I decided to look into Nicholas T. Rodda's Agent X which seemed dark and covert - just my style. However, after reading about 100 pages, I knew the book was not for me. Agent X - the only name given to our "hero", started out as a more complex, emotionally solid character; cool, calculating, and ready for action, but as the story progressed, it became hard to enjoy reading about him. I couldn't relate to him, he wasn't appealing in the usual sense, and I felt like he wasn't prepared for his role as an agent. There were moments when I believed that the representation of him could turn around, but I was usually disappointed; the other characters had the same effect on me. As for the plot-line, I was completely intrigued in the beginning. The Agency was described very well, and the possible future of America's justice system was strangely realistic. The levels of justice - police, agents, government - were still around, but there were slight differences that made Agent X's world seem colder, more defined, and ultimately more interesting to read about/experience. The books abrupt beginnings allowed for a spark in the pace, (gunfights and car chases only added to the action), and Agent X's tactics for tracking down suspects, (and running from an assassin himself), immediately intrigued me; but alas, the thrills and suspense did not last. As for dialogue, there were moments when I got lost in what Agent X was actually saying/thinking. He went on a couple tangents that really did not add any additional value to the book, and just left me bored. Overall, I was left feeling like there was something missing from the book, although I cannot place it. Maybe it needs some more editing, (I did see quite a few grammatical typos), or some updates in character development. Sadly, overall I was not satisfied by Agent X even though there were a few aspects of it that I did enjoy.
Rating: DNR (2.5/5)
*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
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