Into the Fire

Jack Noble has had enough of his line of work, but he owes an old friend, which in Jack's business usually means a former working associate, a favor, and in order to complete what he's intended to be his last job, he must go to London to do it. His former SIS boss Frank Skinner has erased all red flags on his name worldwide, clearing the way for his freedom from government attention being drawn to him – or so Jack thinks. As it turns out, for this trip, as with so many others in his life: nothing is as it seems.

Jack Noble is spotted upon his arrival at Heathrow by multiple government agencies. However, one former SAS individual in particular is eventually able to catch up to him after Jack dodges him at the airport. He later discovers this is his "friend's" bodyguard, and he is taken to see her during which time her niece Erin arrives with her striking little daughter Mia. Erin and Jack have a history and it goes beyond what Jack remembers.

Suffice it to say, unknown to either of them, both Clarissa and Jack are on "jobs" which will eventually intersect. Clarissa is undercover and assigned to discover what kind of terrorist operation her "boyfriend" Naseer is planning. Naseer's plan includes Jack's target, but neither Clarissa nor Jack are aware of the operation.

Jack can't shake the feeling that he's being set up, that things don't add up, and he's stumped as to how certain events aren't making sense. When there is a huge explosion at a hotel where he was supposed to stay but never checked into, "coincidences" are proving to be decoys. Suddenly the Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff show up at the rubble, and Jack reunites with the PM and his main man, all having served together years ago. With news erupting in the states about the supposed terrorist act at the hotel, Bear and Mandy show up to make sure Jack's okay, and all of them head to the Prime Minister's lodging.

The convoluted mess has them all suspicious of one another with the exception of Bear and Jack and the PM. It's looking very much like there is a mole in MI5 – and maybe more than one. Nobody trusts anybody, and Jack is beginning to wonder who's conducting this chaos.

L. T. Ryan creates a chaotic mess with perfect misleading characters and circumstances. His novels defintely don't give you literary masterpieces, but they certainly keep you guessing and wondering and hoping for good outcomes. Jack is always at the center of everything, often not expecting to be, but undeniably so. People inevitably die, there are many surprises, and fear always plays a huge role when certain individuals are threatened and endure undue pain.

Jack's efforts to do this one last job end up compromised with interferences he never expected. The resolution to get to the source of all the threats and betrayals without complete knowledge of who to trust makes for a final effort.

The ending is a semi-resolved cliffhanger, the kind you expect with those loose ends dangling at the finish. Exciting, conflicted, and hard-hitting, Noble Intentions (Season Three) by L. T. Ryan keeps the game going and Jack Noble just keeps getting better with age.

Father, you know hearts and souls. Please minister to those who don't know you and bless their use of the talent you've given them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.