The Shadow Operation

The Center #4

by M.C. Lee

Sequel to Like I Know Jack In a mission more twisted than usual, sixteen-year-old agent Jack is assigned to play the role of Jack Elliot. Jack Elliot is the new identity created for Alex Sutherland, a teenager whose father’s criminal activities have forced the family into a witness relocation program. Alex’s family was supposed to be safe, but two previous relocations have already been compromised, so the Center is brought in to investigate. Is there a leak within the witness relocation program, or has somebody in the Sutherland family inadvertently betrayed them? Jack finds himself in the field with Sean and Instructor Clare Colson acting as the Elliot family―setting themselves up as targets to flush out the truth. With Matt returning to the team, and Martin and Leo as backup, they must figure out how the family's secret identities are being blown and deal with the dangerous consequences.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Thriller, Romance

266 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2016

Reviews

[Mike Oaks · Rating 4 out of 5]

More answers, more questions

Book 4 gives us high drama as Jack and company go under cover to phish out a leak. Jack also learns more about his family tree. I love the sex scenes in this series...Jack and Leo hug, sparks fly and they catch their breath. Can’t even call him a one-minute man. Ha! I actually like that bit of the story telling. I don’t need details on what things look like and how sticky things get. This leaves more pages that advance the story’s heart; who is Jack and is this what he really wants. 3.75 for a taste of freedom.

[Fritz42 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just wow. On top of that complicated case both Jack and Leo are on, the revelations about Jack's family were a punch in the gut. I have a fair amount of anger being directed towards what Jack had to go through in the past. I'll just leave it there.

[Theodora IK · Rating 4 out of 5]

At least Jack didn't get beat up this time and got to experience life as a 'normal' teenager. I also liked that we finally got more info about Jack and his family.

I wanted to hate his guardian; he did raise his nephew in a fuck up way. Jack didn't have normal childhood, and to know that his own uncle knowingly put an innocent child through all that misery made me want to kill said uncle. But, it seemed he had reasons (it had to be an exceptional one to not make me go on murderous rampage on his ass) to do that. Somehow, I didn't think wife running off with his brother gave him leave to treat Jack so cruelly, so I need a better reason than that.

Well, book 5 will likely give me clearer picture about Jack's situation. Obviously, I'm looking forward to it.

[Pablito · Rating 4 out of 5]

while this novel was more involved than its predecessors, The Shadow Operation was less plausible and less tightly constructed, but still very much worth the ride. Jack and Leo's commitment to each other deepens as they go undercover as waitstaff in a diner to create a sting. Their devotion to each other as they face some heart-thumping moments makes this as much a romance as a thriller.

Just a reminder: start with the first novel in The Center series; don't start here.

[Rosina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a total favourite. This one made me smile a lot with Jack really getting to experience some of the realities of teen life and family. What he learns about his own circumstances and family added a level of bittersweetness.

I can't believe the next book is the final one. I'm not ready!

[Jax · Rating 3 out of 5]

The books in this series are way too similar, hitting the same beats each time (see my review of #3). And they’re just too long. There’s lots of repetition that could be edited out. On top of that, there were some glaring flaws this time the biggest being J.D. leaving Jack & Sean alone together near the end, things that were too conveniently handled and explained after the fact. It’s a lot to get through for very little development in terms of Jack’s personal life. I can’t believe that he never thinks to plot his escape or that Leo remains so loyal to the Center given his less-brainwashy childhood & how badly they treat Jack.

Nevertheless, there’s something that keeps me coming back to this series; questions to be answered and to see if my own hopes for Jack are fulfilled. There had better be a satisfying payoff in book 5 (the last??).

[Riina Y.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE STARS !!!

No doubt one of my favorite series ever.

Favorite characters ever.

LOVED this installment - CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK 5!!!