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Bodyguard Thriller Needs Small Shot Of Realism

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By LARRY GANDLE

Published: December 9, 2007

"Second Shot," by Zoe Sharp (St. Martin's Press, $23.95)
Charlie Fox is a former British army soldier who is working as a bodyguard. The novel opens with her shot and lying in a forest. The next half of the book tells how she got there.

Charlie is hired to protect wealthy Simone Kerse and her young daughter, Ella.

Simone is set on reacquainting herself with her long-lost father, who is living in the United States. Charlie reluctantly goes along, as that is where her last job took place, and it does not bring back good memories.

Simone finds her father, and in spite of Charlie's suspicions that all is not aboveboard, Simone insists on staying with him. Things get especially tense when two assailants invade the home intending to kidnap Ella.

Improbably and almost inexplicably, Simone refuses to leave harm's way. This leads to the inevitable beginning of the book and the searing resolution.
Zoe Sharp has a strong, sure and steady writing style. Charlie takes quite a battering, and the reader sympathizes with her, which makes it all the more painful.

I would like to see Sharp get away from first-person narrative form. The style tends to make Charlie sound pesky and too talkative.

Another problem with the story is the insistence of Simone to remain with her suspicious father despite the danger to her daughter. This just didn't ring true to this reader.

"Second Shot" is recommended, but it is not a great book.

Larry Gandle of Tampa is a freelance writer.

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