Book Review: Puerto Rico Payback (Ray Ramage, #2) by Jack Heape

Puerto Rico Payback: A Ray Ramage Novel by Jack Heape
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Riveting geopolitical thriller pitting the US against Chinese incursions into the Caribbean.

Puerto Rico Payback is the second book in veteran author Jack Heape's thrilling Ray Ramage series, and this time, the "retired" naval intelligence officer's unique instincts and special skills are needed in Puerto Rico. Ray is tasked with uncovering suspected wrongdoing in San Juan's busy seaport, which could have far-reaching impacts on the balance of power in the strategically critical Caribbean. Ray has been recuperating on his yacht, moored in the Turks and Caicos archipelago, since his experiences in the Virgin Islands months earlier, and he's almost relieved when he gets the call from now-Director of Homeland Security Cynthia Clarkson that he is needed for an off-the-books mission in Puerto Rico. He allowed himself to be talked back into action to 'return a favor,' but his life in luxury was getting a bit stale. However, once in San Juan and embedded in his cover story role, he soon realizes that the problem he's there to investigate is just the tip of a much bigger scheme, one that may have ties to his previous operation in the Virgin Islands.

Ray Ramage is a likable and accomplished operator who gives off plenty of the classic men's action series vibes of characters like Matt Helm, but with the modern-day sensibilities and knight-errantry of a Jack Reacher. Monied and living on a yacht with a private captain and crew, including a chef, and a personal assistant holding down the fort in Charleston, Ray is mobile and ready to move at a moment's notice. His situational awareness makes for exciting on-the-fly action that occasionally incurs collateral damage, which Ray carries in his head and heart, repeatedly rethinking his actions and riddled with guilt. However, Ray and his hand-picked veteran support team plan their operations to the nth degree, accounting for a variety of alternate scenarios. Still, they can't cover every possibility, and the plot's twists and turns provided big surprises.

The San Juan setting provides a unique and colorful backdrop for the fast-paced action. With the author's vibrant descriptions, the wonderfully sun-drenched location comes alive with vivid sights, the sounds of salsa music, and the scents of the local cuisine. Sprinkled throughout the narrative are the names of actual places that those familiar with the city will recognize and that those who are not will hope to experience for themselves one day.

The action is nonstop as Ray and his local contact, Ruth Ramos, infiltrate operations at Zoros Integrated Shipping Services, ground zero and pivot point in the suspected Chinese takeover. Their adversaries are heavy hitters working both inside and outside the company, including Rita Acosta, the firm's own security director; Miguel Rojas, an evil assassin Acosta's brought in as an enforcer for her local misdeeds; and a behind-the-scenes Chinese mastermind and Acosta's play caller. While the Chinese link remains hidden, Acosta must deal with Ray's daily presence on-site in his role as a 'security consultant' and is immediately suspicious of his probing questions. Rojas also operates from the shadows, but vignettes from his past reveal his motivations for his life choices. His skills and planning acumen make him a perfect nemesis. I enjoyed the fun subplot of what was going on back home on the yacht between Jay, the captain of the Two Deuces, and an unusually territorial and aggressive seagull that had launched its own takeover.

The author's writing style is compelling yet easy to read. At times, there was a tendency to repeat facts unnecessarily, which seemed to occur in consecutive chapters. One quibble I had with the plot was that Ruth Ramos, a major character involved in Ray's infiltration of Voros, drops out of the action for noticeable blocks of time, only to reappear later without comment. As she is part of Ray's cover story, she is also long overlooked by his adversaries.

Although this book is the second in the series and can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel, there's not much backstory or introduction provided for many recurring characters. Readers may have to figure out relationships from context clues alone. For the best enjoyment of the series, I suggest reading the books in order.

I recommend PUERTO RICO PAYBACK to readers of action-adventure and geopolitical thrillers.

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