Review – Checkmate

Steven James, three time Christy Awards winner for best suspense, concludes his decades long, adrenaline-laced series with Checkmate, number seven in  The Bowers Files series. While previous books of The Bowers Files could be read out-of-sequence or as standalone titles, (see list at reviews end) "Checkmate" cannot. There are no questions about characters or plot left once the last page is turned.   The intense, page-turning account begins at a seemingly typical lawnmower supply warehouse in Charlotte, North Carolina that in reality houses "The Bureaus National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crimes" unit. The "necessary illusion" conceals panes of bulletproof glass, an armed receptionist and the "lightweight body armor" everyone wears.  Even the semi-trucks that deliver and pick up orders from the buildings loading docks are driven by secret service agents.   After a DEA shooting last week security was tighter than usual when Patrick and Ralph, the NCVAC director handed their credentials to Special Agent Debra Guirret to inspect. Satisfied Debra waved them through to the door with the "numbered keypad" beside it.   Minutes later they arrive in Ralph's office, who's known for what some called his "organized clutter," and what Ralph describes as his "added security" since he alone can find anything in the piles that clutter his office.   Neither one suspects a deadly attack is minutes away from their secure setting, an attack that will cost the lives of six FBI agents and fill the air with an acrid odor of "burned flesh," a scenario intended to breed terror and confusion. Thus begins another action-packed episode that draws the curtain on "The Bowers Files" series, with an investigation that Patrick says moves forward in "jumps and starts." Patrick calls it "failing our way forward" to the explosive, spine-chilling, impossible to foresee finish that pits Patrick against two of his worst, most vicious arch enemies. Steven James, the master of motivation, never disappoints! Each book in this series is as spine-chillingly complete as the one before, an extraordinary accomplishment in any series, especially one of this length. Although I'm sad to see the series end I suspect James will continue with Bower's grown daughter Tessa in a "spin-off series" because of her involvement in "Checkmate" that closes "The Bowers Files" series. I've read and enjoyed every book in James complex series, even though some characters are sinister and dark, each one is well-researched and developed without swearing, overt sex and blood and gore. That in itself is a well-deserved compliment. When coupled with James extraordinary writing talent readers have a "must read" suspense writer. James penned "nearly a million words in this series." For readers who like intense, multi-layered, thriller/suspense Steven James is an author not to miss! To learn more about future series check out John Raab's, November 30, 2014  interview with Steven James for Big Thrill.