The Outlaws

Griffin and Butterworth's (www.ebgriffin.com) once-excellent No. 1 New York Times best-selling "Presidential Agent" series continues its sad, slow slide into mediocrity with this sixth title, following Black Ops (2009). The authors seem to have forgotten much of the well-established backstories, especially that of our protagonist, covert operative Charley Castillo, and introduce some major revisions of the past. Also, in the two weeks since the end of the last novel, the President died and key cabinet officials were replaced—a bit much. Inconsequential events are needlessly retold while critical parts of the story are sketched out at best. All that said, the narration by actor Jonathan Davis, who is new to this series, is nicely paced and enjoyable. Only for hard-core fans of the series. [An alternate unabridged library-edition CD of this title is also available from Blackstone Audio; the Putnam hc was recommended for purchase "where there is demand," LJ Xpress Reviews, 12/3/10.—Ed.]—Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.