It’s yet another bad day for Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. But really, is there any other kind?

Marc Cerasini’s 24 DECLASSIFIED: TROJAN HORSE – the third in the series – runs Bauer through another ringer of a day, this time to quash terrorists who have taken over an Oscar-esque awards show by hiding in an oversized stage prop and busting out with machine guns mid-broadcast. The crisis proves extra-sensitive for Jack, as his wife Teri is among those audience members being held hostage. Meanwhile, CTU’s Tony Almeida is on an undercover mission in Mexico that holds a direct connection to the situation in Hollywood.

With a plot involving B-movies, Mexican gang members, hookers, computer viruses and a strain of super-meth, TROJAN HORSE has a lot going for it, but isn’t quite sure what to do with it. With that list of ingredients, it had all the makings to be the best 24 novel yet, but unlike the previous installments – VETO POWER and OPERATION HELL GATE – this one isn’t as fine-tuned or well-timed.

Characters suffer from overexplanation at inopportune and unrealistic times, and the story builds up to a crisis that is resolved too quickly, too easily. I also can’t stand when authors use soundalike names for famous people – as Cerasini does here, subbing awards host “Willy Diamond” for Billy Crystal – because it’s distracting and comes off silly. I’d still recommend TROJAN HORSE (if only to 24 fans, who’ll get a kick out of seeing Tony get to be as much of a bad-ass as Jack for a change), but the ride isn’t nearly as smooth this time out. –Rod Lott

Buy it at Amazon.