Dark Ambitions

Reviewed by:

G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title:

Dark Ambitions

Author:

Irene Hannon

Publisher:

Revell

Publication Date:

October 2019

Format:

Paperback

Length:

384 pages

OVERVIEW

Rick Jordan feels he’s put his dangerous days behind him. He retired from the Army years ago, runs a camp for foster kids, and in the winter there’s not much to do. Then one day an Army buddy leaves some packages for him, and a blood trail on the snow indicates the friend wasn’t doing well. Jordan hires private investigator Heather Shields to find out what happened. The truth may be beyond what either of them can handle.

Thrillers are a harsh and demanding genre. You have to manipulate how much information readers get throughout, hint at the ending without giving readers enough information to figure it out ahead of time. Hannon not only rises to that challenge, but overcomes it with ease. The twists and turns are surprising yet plausible, complex without being totally confusing.

Since this is a romantic thriller, there are also plenty of twists and turns in the characters’ relationships. Some readers may find these sections a bit melodramatic, but it comes to genre expectations. Hannon deliberately chooses to get into her characters’ heads and show how they react to each other, even little things they find attractive. It’s a technique that readers may not see in other kinds of thrillers, particularly ones that don’t have as many female characters. But in this context it works, and Hannon does a masterful job with it.

All told, a very well-crafted romantic adventure.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

4 out of 5 stars

Suggested Audience

Readers who like romantic suspense thrillers.

Christian Impact

Various characters discuss their experiences with faith, and in some cases we see how those characters have used it to overcome trauma. Other characters come from similarly traumatic backgrounds but don’t handle it nearly as well. Hannon seems to use this to hint at the need for forgiveness and healing to overcome the past, a very important concept for Christians.