Critical Space
Penzler Pick,September 2001:Greg Rucka has created a remarkable  character named Atticus Kodiak, a bodyguard who, together with assorted friends  and associates, has appeared in four previous books. Before readingCritical  Space, it's not necessary to know the sometimes complicated history of  Atticus and his professional and personal relationships, but it helps.It helps, for instance, to know that Atticus has been romantically involved with  Bridget and Natalie, both of whom have worked on cases with him. It helps to  know that Bridget has a very complicated past, which Rucka chronicled in his  fourth book,Shooting at  Midnight. And it helps to know that he has already had a run-in with one  of the most deadly international assassins working--a beautiful woman who goes  by the name of Drama.It is Drama who takes center stage in this latest tale. After quitting a     high-profile case as bodyguard to spoiled movie star Skye Van Brandt, Kodiak is  approached by an old friend from England who is bringing the famous abused  children's advocate, Lady Antonia Ainsley-Hunter, to the States for some  appearances. After one near-miss with Lady Antonia, another attempt to abduct  her is successful. But it is not a ransom or publicity that the kidnapper   wants--she is merely bait for the real target: Atticus. A game of cat and mouse  leads through the subways of New York, out to Staten Island, and back over to  New Jersey, where Atticus is once again in the presence of Drama, who now needs  his help. She has become a target of an assassin named Oxford, who is every bit  as good as she is. Drama, who has some idea who might have put the hit on her,  needs backup to combat this elite killer.What is remarkable about this book, and the series as a whole, is not only the  writing, which is crisp and concise, but the inside information from Rucka about  what it takes to be a bodyguard, what the training is like, and how certain  situations are defused. Rucka knows his stuff and deserves a wider audience.--Otto Penzler--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.