BORN TO RUN by James Grippando
James Grippando has long been one of my favorite authors so when his new novel BORN TO RUN was published I was very eager to read it. This book concerns the further adventures of Grippando’s most celebrated character Jack Swyteck. This time out he is in politics up to his ears and that makes for drama and excitement.
Jack Swyteck is a lawyer in Miami, Florida. He has a girlfriend named Andie who is an FBI agent. He has a best friend named Theo who runs a jazz bar. He has a father named Harry with whom he has had his share of difficulties. Jack is also thisclose to turning forty and to him that is depressing.
Things get a little shaky when the Vice President of the United States is visiting in Florida and has a heart attack and dies. Harry Swyteck is almost immediately contacted about taking the vacated position. Jack is drafted by his father to do some liaison work and to come to Washington, DC with him to meet with the President.
In DC, Jack meets some people who indicate the Vice President’s death was not an accident. Jack begins to investigate these allegations which antagonizes Harry. Jack is soon fired (by his own father) and back in Miami. Still the fallout from his investigation continues and soon Jack finds himself in real danger.
All of Jack’s adventures make for fun reading but somehow this one seems a little less enjoyable than the previous ones. This story does not increase our knowledge of Jack. He seems to be treading water in his life and that does make for much insight. Also Theo, Jack’s best friend, has been a true ally in past novels. In this one he appears self-centered and childish. His antics don’t have the charm they have had in other plots.
The relationship with Jack and Andie also bogs down. It seems neither is willing to commit to a true relationship. They just seem to be using each other for companionship and sexual pleasure.
The basic plot of BORN TO RUN is a good one, and creates some excitement before the story ends. The big reveal which occurs at the end of the story is logical and plays true to all that went before. Still when the book ends it is not on a breathless note but on a subdued one.
James Grippando is a solid writer but BORN TO RUN is not up to his high level of entertainment. It is a good but not great book. With Grippando we have come to expect greatness.
BORN TO RUN is published by HarperCollins. It contains 328 pages and sells for $25.99.