Into the Storm
4 Stars

A joint raid-and-rescue training mission between SEAL Team 16 and Troubleshooters, Inc. takes a dangerous turn when one of the team members vanishes without a trace. Petty Officer Mark Jenkins and former police officer Lindsay Fontaine must put aside their personal history stemming from a one-night-stand in order to work together before the missing woman becomes the latest victim of a sadistic serial killer.

While this is more enjoyable than the previous book, especially in terms of Mark and Lindsay's romance, there are still some issues.

To begin with, for a group of well-trained Navy SEALs and covert operatives, there is a great deal of immaturity, drama, and angst with the characters. They all gossip like teenagers in high school, and Sophia and Decker's behavior is particularly childish.

Moreover, there has been a sense over the series that Brockmann is recycling character types. This is particularly evident here with Mark's preoccupation with Tracey, which is comparable to Ken Carmody and his ex. While Mark's actions in this regard are questionable, Lindsay's reactions are appropriate, and it is all resolved in a realistic, believable and satisfying way.

On a side note Tracey, unlike some of the "other women" characters in the series, actually proves to be quite likable. Her experiences over the course of the book reveal hidden depths and it will be interesting to see where Brockmann goes with her.

In terms of the suspense, the serial killer plot is new to the series, which has until now focused mainly on terrorists and assassins. This change is compelling as the villain is very disturbing and the POV of one of his victims ratchets up the tension. The climax and resolution are well-written and exciting.

All in all, this is an entertaining read overall, and I look forward to the next installment in which we return to the FBI... ( )

Los hombres del equipo dieciséis de los SEAL se enfrentan a un oponente verdaderamente exigente: Troubleshooter, Inc, el equipo civil antiterrorista de ex SEAL, comandados por Tom Paoletti. Los dos grupos se enfrentan como parte de unas maniobras de invierno en las montañas de New Hampshire, donde, pese a la fría climatología y al precario alojamiento, la misión les resulta placentera; sobre todo para el contramaestre Mark Jenkins, que ha ayudado a su hermana a encontrar un trabajo a su mejor amiga, Tracy Shapiro, (su amor de séptimo grado), como recepcionista de los Troubleshooters.
Pero es la agente de los Troubleshooters y ex detective de policía de Los Angeles, Lindsey Fontaine, quien comprende todas sus bromas. Jenk y Lindsey se hacen amigos, y mucho más, mientras los dos equipos entrenan juntos.
Pero el mundo real se inmiscuye cuando Tracy desaparece en los fríos bosques. A medida que las horas se convierten en días, la búsqueda se amplía, pero Tracy parece haber desaparecido sin dejar rastro. No tardan en descubrir los cadáveres de unas mujeres brutalmente torturadas bajo el hielo de una cantera inundada, y queda de manifiesto que un asesino en serie ha hecho de ese área su hogar.
Lindsey no tarda en encontrarse aislada en la guarida bloqueada por la nieve del asesino, mientras que Jenk inicia una carrera contra el reloj, luchando contra los elementos para llegar hasta ella. ¿Podrán llevar a un violento asesino ante la justicia y rescatar a la mujer desaparecida?

This is the first Brockmann I read. Loved it and had to go back read the whole series. This one deals with a serial killer and boy is he creepy. Lindsey is my favorite of the heroines in this story. She's small and cute and capable. Jenk is adorable and he's pretty straight forward in his love for Lindsey after he gets over his crush on Tracy.

Lots of Team 16 in this one.

Tracy is coming into her own here. You get your first hint that she is going to develop into a more major character. This is also the first time you really get in the head of the love of my life, Izzy Zanella.
( )

I'm still looking for another romantic suspense novelist who can write with this level of wit and fun. All her characters are winners. Lindsey, Jenkins, Izzy, Tracy, Decker and Sophia, Dave, Gilman - and more - the motel owners in New Hampshire – it's all terrific. Unfortunately, the undercurrent story of the tortured woman is ugly and the juxtaposition of the two is jarring - otherwise this would get 5 stars. I loved the cold weather setting in New Hampshire. ( )

SEAL Mark Jenkins, nicknamed Jenk, was really never on my radar in the previous Troubleshooters novels. He seemed like a nice guy but nothing about him really stood out. In the prologue he almost gets killed and decides he wants to get married and move on with that life before it’s too late. He picks out a girl he's always liked, Tracy, arranges for her to be hired as a receptionist at the Troubleshooters office, and starts working toward the goal. He's hoping to see more of her now that SEAL Team 16 and the Troubleshooters gang are working together in a joint exercise in the freezing cold of northern New Hampshire.

But it's Troubleshooters operative and former LAPD detective Lindsey Fontaine who understands all his jokes. Jenk and Lindsey becomes friends, and maybe more, as the two teams train together.

The real star of this book, in my opinion, was Izzy Zannella, Jenks' best friend. Another SEAL who wasn't on my radar either, but now I can't wait to get to his story. We also get some Sophia, Deck, and Dave. I know Sophia and Deck are destined to get together in some future book, but he's still a jerk.

The suspense comes in the form of a serial killer, whereabouts unknown. We get the occasional chapter which seems to be narrated by a woman being tortured and imprisoned by a serial killer. Those sections leave the reader anxious and wondering who the killer will choose from the list of women working the joint training.

I felt like the various threads and numerous characters never came together cohesively until the final third of the book. But, Troubleshooters is one of my favorite series, so I still enjoyed it for the most part. ( )