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Done in One

Review

Done in One

DONE IN ONE is an unusual book, and a very good one. It is written by Grant Jerkins, a critically acclaimed author of crime fiction, and Jan Thomas, a screenwriter who is making her debut as a novelist. Jenkins provides the grit to the story, and provides it well, while Thomas infuses the story with her unique perspective as the wife of a now-retired law enforcement sniper. As a result, the novel is not one of those tortured self-examination treatises wherein those on the side of the angels wonder and wheeze at the worthiness of their cause and resultant actions. Those questions were settled several miles back, as is fitting and proper. Rather, it is about Jake Denton, one of those good and rough men who Winston Churchill and George Orwell variously described as standing ready while we sleep peacefully in our beds or otherwise go about our business.

"DONE IN ONE saves many of its twists and turns for its climax, and while you might see a few of them coming, you won’t catch them all. The authors are masters of the in-your-face surprise, and I will confess to jumping more than once as the story progressed to its ending."

Denton is middle-aged, married and a SWAT sniper. It's the latter that informs who he is. His wife, Jill, is a retired first responder and gets who and what her husband is, which doesn’t mean it's always easy. As DONE IN ONE begins, Denton uses his skills to effectively end a deadly hostage situation and save a young woman’s life. It's his 17th kill, and his reward is a psychological fitness evaluation as a condition to return to duty. Denton has Jill’s wholehearted support and understanding, and has his back (platonically) covered by Kathryn Sesak, his spotter and trainee.

None of the parties involved in Denton’s life want him to follow the path of Lee Staley, who trained Denton in the sniper craft. Staley, once a master of the art, lives out his days in a haze of alcohol and remorse. However, when a series of violent attacks occur that could have been carried out only by a master sniper of Staley’s (or Denton’s) caliber, the eye of suspicion is cast on Staley. Denton is certain that his former mentor is not responsible. But if not Staley, then who? The answer, as with many of the events that occur as the novel thunders to a conclusion, is a surprising one.

DONE IN ONE saves many of its twists and turns for the climax, and while you might see a few of them coming, you won’t catch them all. The authors are masters of the in-your-face surprise, and I will confess to jumping more than once as the story progressed to its ending.

I don’t know if Jerkins and Thomas have further collaborative efforts for us --- in a perfect world, the book sales would demand so --- but I look forward to more novels by either or both of these fine writers. Recommended, particularly for those who regard police snipers as a necessary evil. As DONE IN ONE demonstrates, they aren’t evil. Just necessary.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub on February 20, 2015

Done in One
by Grant Jerkins and Jan Thomas

  • Publication Date: January 13, 2015
  • Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
  • ISBN-10: 1250054869
  • ISBN-13: 9781250054869