A True Kill

FBI Special Agent Garrett Mann tries to rebuild his secret task force and fend off longtime foes in Konkoly’s overstuffed sequel to A Hired Kill. Paralyzed after leaping from a helicopter in the previous installment, series villain Harrison Greely remains in control of a dangerous secret data device. Meanwhile, True America—a political party who’s a client of the evil AXIOM organization and backed by dirty Russian money—is threatening to win the next U.S. presidential election. In response, Mann seeks replacements for the four colleagues who died on his last mission. The new crew’s first mission is a raid of AXIOM’s Montana hideout. Though Mann expects little opposition, the team is ambushed, resulting in significant bloodshed. Afterward, they’re suspended and must continue to fight Greely and AXIOM without government resources. The narrative culminates in the takedown of an enemy yacht during a hurricane, which feels curiously robbed of its stakes by an epilogue that puts Mann right back where he began: resting and readying himself to take on new enemies. Konkoly provides plenty of pulse-pounding action, but the plot’s momentum is frequently stalled by leaden backstory. In a crowded field, this fails to stand out. (Mar.)