Setting: contemporary Virginia, France, Iran Sensuality: 7
CIA agent John Medina and electronics expert Niemi Burdock share a violent past: the two were part of a covert operation that went tragically wrong, resulting in the death of several people. Now, five years later, their paths cross again and John, whose love for Niemi has only grown over time, is determined to keep her in his life for good. Having spent the intervening five years living a solitary, staid existence--due to feelings of guilt over the ill-fated operation--Niemi is somewhat reluctant to reenter the shadowy world she once inhabited. Still, she can't resist the lure and excitement of danger when John asks her to join him on his latest mission to discover the origins of a deadly new explosive already in use by terrorists.
Concocting a plan to reveal the source of the explosive, the two enter into a dangerous masquerade, walking a tightrope between safety and death, while passion boils beneath the surface. Unaware of John's feelings, Niemi fights her physical response to the legendary agent as her emotions, in frozen limbo for the last five years, thaw with astonishing speed.
First introduced inKill and Tell, agent John Medina is as intriguing as the perilous world he operates in. Watching him in action,à la James Bond, is exhilarating--as is the single-minded intensity of his feelings for Niemi, whose ability to hold her own with John--on both a personal and professional level--and with the host of terrorists, spies, and double-dealers the pair encounter is impressive to say the least. Throw in a couple of chilling chase scenes, some romantic interludes hot enough to peel paint from the walls, and one or two bigger-than-life internationally connected characters, and you've got the latest from Linda Howard--a romantic thriller that's sure to be coming soon to a bestseller list near you.--Lois Faye Dyer
Very Good I enjoyed this book very much. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. It was filled with supense and action as well as romance. I'm not quite sure why it is called "All the Queen's Men" because it has no reference to the Queen or her secret service. I was rather thinking the story line would have a twist or two, but no such luck. That is the only reason I am not rating this at a five. No surprise ending, no unknown killer, just romantic suspense. All in all, a good read.
Missed opportunities but a great read nonetheless! In a covert operation in the mountains of Iran, mission leader "Tucker" gives Dallas the go ahead to detonate explosives that will result in Dallas' death. Dallas' new wife, Niema Burdock, is an electronics expert on the same mission, and tearfully assumes the guilt over his death for the next five years, living a quiet and solitary existence in an unassuming position at the CIA.
When Tucker is re-introduced into her life, she discovers that he is actually John Medina - an elusive black ops agent (first introduced in the novel "Kill&Tell"). Niema does not know that over the last five years, John has silently watched her life from afar, hoping that she can move on with her life and find someone new to love. Since she has not, John decides it is time to make his move.
But John, who has spent his life in the shadows, assuming one identity after another, has no idea to go about getting close to her. He resorts to what he knows, and convinces her to join his latest mission to capture a French arms. She goes undercover to befriend Louis Ronsard. When introduced into Louis' life, she finds that he is not what she expected at all.
There is definitely a deep attraction between John and Niema. Both are damaged and hurt by sudden losses of loved ones (John was forced to kill his own wife). While searching Louis' office and computer, they discover that he is on his way back to the office, and improvising, pretend to be caught up in a moment of passion. At least that is what Niema though, until they actually do have sex (and Louis does not interrupt them - a missed opportunity) The rushed office seduction was not very satisfying (and a bit creepy, actually), though they do make up for it later in the book.
The characters are charismatic, but there are so many unexplored chances that could have been fleshed out to make the story more interesting (like the tension between them as they trained for the mission, and the unexplored relationship between Niema and Louis).
Overall a good read. You have to read "Kiss Me While I Sleep" for an update on John&Niema. There's No Queen in this Book! I'm not really sure how to start this review - I just finished the book Saturday night and my mind is still jumbled by the last few chapters. Up until the ending, it was a fantastic book, but it just seemed as if Linda Howard realized she had written almost 400 pages and needed to end the story. So, she called a halt to it without tying up all the loose ends.
All the Queen's Men starts off with a CIA operation in the Middle East that goes awry. "Tucker" is the head of the Black Ops clandestine maneuver. He stays behind with Niema Burdock, an electronics expert, to make sure everything is readied for their flight to safety after the chemical laboratory is blown up. As he listens to radio transmissions, he and Niema realize the men sent to the factory are in grave danger. Niema's husband, Dallas, is killed as they listen to his final transmission right before he detonates the explosives and himself. "Tucker" gets Niema to safety a few days later and then disappears for five very long years when their paths once again meet.
It seems "Tucker's" real name is John Medina and he is still in love with Niema (though he's never admitted it to anyone). He persuades the CIA administration to let her help him track down the manufacturers of a new explosive called RDX-a, which needs no detonator and cannot be detected by current methods. It seems this explosive has fallen into the hands of terrorists and it's John and Niema's job to stop them. They go to France where the action begins. Louis Ronard is the dealer that has all the information needed by the CIA. Niema goes undercover as a socialite visiting dear family friends who happen to be the French Ambassador and his wife. At an embassy party, Niema meets Louis who is instantly smitten and invites her to his mansion for a few days of parties. John becomes one of his alter egos and lets Louis know he's in the market to purchase large quantities of RDX-a and just happens to get an invitation to the same parties.
I guess it's a bit like some current spy thrillers, but I felt as if Howard had a difficult time deciding if this should be a romance or a mystery and the melding of the two wasn't the best I've read. There were times it was action packed and had your heart thumping; and then would instantly change into a very sensual scene.
**This paragraph will give details of the plot, so do not read if you plan on reading the book** One example is when Niema and John are in Louis' office setting a wire tap and copying his computer files while a house party is going on. Through the security monitor on the desk, they see Louis coming down the hall towards his office. John instantly has Niema lie down on the sofa and remove her undergarments. He begins caressing her with both hands and mouth, while waiting for Louis to enter the office and hoping this ploy diverts attention as to why they are in his office in the first place. Louis doesn't come in right away, so John takes it a step further and actually makes love to Niema, swallowing her screams of passion with his passionate kisses. Louis never comes into the office and Niema is left wondering if this was just "part of the job" or did John really love her. Not only was Niema a bit confused, so was the reader! Definitely not part of most spy thrillers, unless it's James Bond!
Upon leaving the office, they are spotted by a security guard and must flee the estate in a hail of gunfire. After ditching their stolen car, they run on foot for hours and then continue their get-away. After reaching the "company yacht" they upload the files and send to Washington DC and then continue their exploration of each other instead of fleeing for safety. You can only imagine what happens next...
This book leaves too many loose ends dangling, such as the death of Niema's husband and how both she and John feel guilty about it; will they have a relationship or not; will John take over as CIA head when they return; and several other questions that still need answers. None are major components in the story, but together they just leave the reader wondering what is happening with all of the sub-plots.
Overall it's a decent tale with excellent character development. The scenes are described in vivid detail and the reader actually feels like he/she is at the dinner parties at the embassy or at Louis' estate. If the ending wasn't hurried and if all of the loose ends had been tied up in a nice neat package, it would have been an excellent book. Without those, it's only Very Good!
