Tall figures loomed over her, leaching the unpleasant smell of cigarettes and body odor. Their scent mixed with the mustiness of the warehouse and the coppery smell of blood. Her blood. ~ C. B Samet, McMillan File
McMillan File (The Rider Files #3) by C.B. Samet
272 pages
Published by the author
Genre: Romantic suspense
Re-readability: I probably won’t re-read this one
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Pete
Spoiler-free review
This book was given to me in audiobook form by my friend Quentin Hudspeth, who provided the narration.
Thrillers are not my go-to for light reading, but I enjoyed this fast-paced standalone adventure featuring an unlikely crime-fighting duo.
Mica McMillan is a former FBI agent who turned to private investigation—but her preferred title is “fugitive recovery agent.” She’s young and unassuming in appearance, but her lifetime of self-defense training and experience in the field make her more than equipped for chasing down criminals of all types and turning them in, usually without much violence.
When David Rider, an emergency room doctor, treats Mica after a mission gone awry, the two connect quickly, and David starts tagging along when Mica goes after target after target. As they inevitably grow closer, both Mica and David must consider the danger of her career and how it will affect their relationship.
The story alternates between action scenes in which Mica impressively takes down a half dozen baddies at a time and quieter moments between our protagonists as they get to know one another. While the action sequences are well-written, I never doubted Mica’s ability, and she never seemed to be in any real danger. Additionally, the deeper plot of the crime ring Mica is working to dismantle was not particularly gripping.
Samet’s dialogue is well-written and her characters are convincing and dynamic. It’s clear that she did her research to create the detailed (but not tedious) medical scenes. There are a few enjoyable sub-plots and characters who, from my understanding, tie in with the other Rider File books. Hudspeth’s narration was excellent, his many character voices and accents standing out.
Aside from this not being my genre of choice, I was disappointed by the lack of tension. The scenes are snappy and things happen quickly, but I never felt that the characters were in significant danger. There is no “all hope is lost” moment or a buildup of suspense—it’s simply a pattern of action scenes followed by recovery scenes. That’s not to say the book isn’t enjoyable—it’s a lighthearted romance with a good dose of action that failed to grip me with a strong overarching plot or direction.
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