Crossfire

The hair-raising second installment of Eason's Extreme Measures series (after Life Flight) pits a hostage negotiator against an unhinged killer. After three assailants take a Charlotte, N.C., courtroom captive, FBI negotiator Julianna Jameson saves the hostages with the help of Clay Fox, a former Army Ranger whose sister, Reese, was among the hostages and sent him intel from inside the building. Julianna takes a liking to Clay, and they go out for a meal with Reese and Julianna's teenage sister, Dottie, after the incident. A week later, a copycat holds up a bank and asks for Julianna by name to lead negotiations, causing Julianna to suspect the culprit might be a figure from her past. The perpetrator escapes, but not before killing several hostages, leading Julianna and Clay on a cat-and-mouse chase that compels Julianna to lean on her faith and lands Dottie in the killer's crosshairs. In between the action, Julianna discusses her views on God with Clay and helps him to rediscover his Christian faith, which he has doubted since he mistakenly killed a fellow U.S. soldier while posted in Afghanistan. Expertly plotted and relentlessly paced, the narrative drives home its message that "God is there to get us through whatever we have to face." This high-octane thriller keeps up the momentum through the final page. (Aug.)