A Disappointing Placeholder

There is virtually no "standalone" merit to this book - character interactions get confusing if you haven't read Book One and Brian Shea clearly expects you to buy Book Three to see what the heck is going on - the plot resolution at the end of this book is essentially non-existent.
The first installment of the 'Nick Lawrence' series was more Geopolitical Spy-Thriller (with a heavy military tactic focus) than FBI Case File.. but to be honest, I was impressed enough with the pacing, characterization,  and imagination to keep going with the series. This episode deals with more of an "investigation" than an adventure - which is appreciated -  but it falls somewhat flat.
Agent Lawrence tackles a human trafficking ring in this novel - helping a teenager that gets caught up in a scheme sponsored by Shea's fictional recurring villains ("The Seven"). Why the girl ('Mouse') is being hunted and victimized and the motives of the bad guys are intriguing questions. Are they International Terrorists? Religious Zealots?
The investigation is fairly scattered but intuitive, the dialogue is melodramatic but realistic, and the action is a little over-the-top but well-scripted.
Unfortunately, as mentioned, Shea doesn't answer those plot questions - instead using this book as a furtherance in his overall series plot sweep. Second, the author is not very effective with his revelations - dropping clues and discoveries without paying attention to either logic or flow. Third, the book comes across as moderately sophomoric (readers/listeners definitely have to overlook some glaring plot holes). And finallly, the level of intensity in Shea's narrative is striking (giving the impression that the safety of humanity depends on Nick and his colleagues)
..but if you can set aside reservations, 'Pursuit Of Justice' is rollercoaster-ride fun.. just unable to match the quality of 'Kill List'.

There are some deficiencies in narration, too (Conner Goff has a sharp sibilance that Silverton Agency sound engineers struggle to soften, for example).. but Goff's exemplary tone definitely makes the suspension of disbelief easier. He maybe treats the text a little bit too seriously (this isn't "End-Of-The-World" stuff, after all) - but he's clearly following the author's lead. The performance is notably above-average.

If you're looking for an action-heavy Procedural (and can put up with being left hanging, improbable plot points, a scattershot storytelling approach, and a baffling level of gravitas), this 4.5/10 star effort might be worth your time. I'm personally fairly disappointed with this effort but at the same time grateful to Audible for offering the first two books of this series as 'Plus' selections. I likely wouldn't have tried them otherwise - and they're actually worth a Credit to open-minded diversion-seeking dedicated fans of the genre. I won't be continuing with the unmasking of "The Seven" and "The Pastor", but you're not crazy to do so.

[Incidentally: A Child Protective Services worker in Austin, Texas who doesn't speak Spanish is one of the most laughably implausible characters I have read in a long time. 🤣Thank you for the chuckle, Mr. Shea]

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