I think the best plot of the series ... so far

I've read most but not all of the Jack Reacher series. I think The Vistor has the best detective plot. It kept me guessing throughout the book and then when the conclusion came - it made perfect sense. Sometimes this doesn't happen in the books - the plots are always good but sometimes they are obvious enough to work out or sometimes frankly bizarre. This one is right on the money and I recommend it without reservation.

A fantastic pre-Alex Cross/WMC novel from Patterson

'Black Market' (also known as Black Friday) is one of the first of James Patterson's many novels, originally published back in 1986. The story begins in the early hours of a cold December day in New York City where several of the biggest banks and investment and financial buildings on Wall Street are blown up by a terrorist organisation called The Green Band, a highly skilled group of Vietnam veterans who have a personal vendetta against the United States and plan to attack in one of the worst ways possible, by causing a complete financial crash where literally billions of dollars will be lost. FBI agent Archer Carroll and Wall Street lawyer Caitlin Dillon are on the case to find out the identities and the motive behind Green Band's terrorist acts.<br /><br />Out of all of the pre-Alex Cross and Women's Murder Club novels, this is definitely the best (with Hide & Seek at a very close second). The action is fast and exciting and the usual short chapters kept me flying through the pages until I got to the end. There's the usual Patterson twist in the last few pages that was a real shock in the story when I read it. The bombings of the Wall Street buildings is scarily like the 9/11 events, with America being in a total crisis as they hadn't had a terrorist attack on them before. Being written in the mid-80's some of the facts about Wall Street are now a bit out of date, but this aside it is a great read from the master of the thriller genre and one that anyone who has read and enjoyed any of Patterson's more recent novels should enjoy. <br />

Buy, buy, buy this book!

I couln't put this book down, reading until 2am and up for work at 6am! 30 reviewers before me have explained it all but I just wanted to say it has been a while since a book has caused me to miss my sleep and it was worth every hour lost! I will be looking out for Mr. Smith's next book.<br />*** I would like to add that it has been a couple of weeks since I wrote the review above and since then my husband and daughter have both read the book and they were totally hooked too and we are three very different people. Mr. Smith, if you are reading this, please get book number two out soon.

Better than Blood Brothers

This book is the second in the sign of seven Trilogy. We meet Fox and Layla. Fox's fight with the evil that skims the edges of the Hollow is more personal - and heartbreaking as a result.The tension in this book is cranked up a notch, as the stakes being played for are threateningly real.<br /><br />You won't be disappointed with this book, but am looking towards book 3, since Gage has some serious issues that he needs to deal with.

Total Trash - but still, quite fun

I feel vaguely ashamed of myself for reading and enjoying this one. The plot was complete codswallop - I didn't believe a word of it - but somehow I kept turning the pages! This is the first Jack Reacher book I have read, and I found him an irritating sort of hero. It was soon apparent that the guy is completely invincible, which rather takes the edge of any sticky situations he gets into - you know he will overcome, so where's the tension? The way he keeps philosophising when he wants to make a point, made me want to smack his face and say, look, I understand what you're saying - no need to bang on and on about Copernicus or whatever. I don't know how Alice put up with him, meekly doing everything he ordered her to. <br />The writing style was atrocious - repetitive and packed full of cliches. What seriously got on my nerves (as well as all the 'he said nothing's that someone else has commented on - was the constant references to the air conditioning! I know it's Texas. I know it's hot. I know these machines make a lot of noise. But why, whenever Reacher enters a room, does there have to be a description of the sound of the A/C? Presumably a complete lack of imagination on Lee Child's part, and sloppy editing - surely a decent editor would have tactfully suggested that there might be some alternative ways of summing up the atmosphere of a place?<br />Yes, utter rubbish - but it kept me going all the way to the end, so there must have been something good about it!!

Pedestrian pace and far too much padding out

I have to go with the significant minority here who are critical of this book. <br /><br />I read just over 200 pages, and what happened in those pages could be summarised in a paragraph (one person has been killed and a possible witness has had a virus on his laptop - that really is about it!). Even padding it out to the level of characterisation and other detail you would normally expect, it would run to no more than 20-30 pages, max.<br /><br />Every time a character enters a room or gets out of the car etc, you get 2-3 pages explaining the room/street etc in fine detail. It's not just scene-setting, its extreme padding-out at it's worst. One chapter describes one of the characters sitting in his garden during a family barbeque; it describes his wife & daughter dancing to a CD and a neighbour walking past the fence (apparently you can just see the top of his head). This goes on for the entire chapter, and nothing actually happens!

Very enjoyable

I enjoyed this very much and loved the characters of Acland and Jackson so that I found myself, at the end of the novel, wondering what would happen to them.

Good but not the best

This latest installment from Val McDermid was eagerly anticipated. However, I found that unlike all her other books, I didn't race through it as I usually do. There simply wasn't that anticipation and suspense of whodunnit? for me. <br />Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it, and I liked certain aspects of it, such as the look at Tony Hill's past and how Val used topical crimes. She's still a darn good storyteller though so I'm not too disappointed.<br />However I felt that there we didn't get to 'know' the serial killer very well. There was no insight into his mind at all and all felt a bit rushed at the end.<br />Perhaps what I'm missing is the blood and gore?! There was none here, and none of Val's usual intricately woven plot. <br />I won't be reading it again, but Val left lots of loose ends so will defiantely be looking forward to the next one!<br />

T Is for Tremendously Told Tale

Sue Grafton is always exploring new subjects and new ways of writing for her readers. T is for Trespass continues that worthy heritage for this terrific series.<br /><br />If you haven't read any books in this series, I suggest you go back and read them in alphabetical order beginning with A is for Alibi. You have a major treat ahead of you. The series develops over a number of years, and many references are clearer throughout if you've read the earlier books.<br /><br />The writing innovation here is to have two narrators, Kinsey Millhone, and Kinsey's nemesis, named Solana Rojas, whom fate brings together in Kinsey's neighborhood to create a taut suspense story. You will see the future conflict clearly coming, but won't know what to expect. Sue Grafton does a wonderful job of filling the story with lots of surprises to heighten the suspense. The struggle between the two women is intensified by Solana being portrayed from the beginning as being the psychological opposite of Kinsey. You'll enjoy a heightened sense of tension by knowing what the two determined women are thinking about and planning to do.<br /><br />The new topic is how some people prey on others in particularly chilling ways by taking advantage of the presumption we hold that we are surrounded by trustworthy people. It's a cautionary tale that will leave you wanting to do more to check out those with whom you and your family come into contact. The book is so powerful in this dimension that at times you'll feel like you are reading a nonfiction book about a tragedy.<br /><br />As the book opens, Solana is looking for opportunity and Kinsey is looking for some work. Solana has just left her last job and explains what her objectives are in Chapter One. Kinsey picks up in Chapter Two to describe how detecting hasn't been very good lately. To make up for that, Kinsey has been serving summonses. Kinsey hears a sound while she's on her way to work, and that sound leads both women onto a collision course.<br /><br />In the book, Kinsey works on several assignments . . . looking for evidence to clear a defendant in a car accident, assisting a landlord to remove deadbeat tenants, and checking out references for a new employee. She also finds that being a caring neighbor can be time consuming.<br /><br />Kinsey's personal life is at a low ebb. She's not seeing anyone. She's stopped exercising, and her landlord Henry is her main source of company although he's increasingly taken up by a new woman.<br /><br />As I started the book, I didn't expect much. After all, seeing that two characters are going to come into contact in unpleasant ways usually makes for good writing but weak plots. Well, I was wrong. The plot is even stronger than the excellent writing.<br /><br />In typical Sue Grafton fashion, she brings in touches of the moment, winter 1987, to give the story a strong sense of time. In this case, she employs the fascination with old muscle cars that had developed by then to give a sense of two points in time. I was most impressed by this choice of a story-telling device.<br /><br />Her sense of place is equally strong. I grew up not far from where"Santa Teresa" is set. In reading this book, I was called back into dark misty nights in that area when threat seemed to lurk in every shadow.<br /><br />The story is so successful that it reminded me of the Greek tragedies, dressed up on modern circumstances. It's a remarkable accomplishment.<br /><br />Brava, Ms. Grafton!

Doesn't matter if you guess the twist

I was surprised some readers weren't wild about 'Not Dead Enough', the Brighton detective thriller. I liked the fact it seemed to focus more on <br />Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and was less preposterous than the previous book in the series,'Looking Good Dead'. One of the aspects I enjoy about the Roy Grace series is that as a Detective Superintendent, Grace isn't just a detective out and about doing his own thing. He is a complex man in charge of a substantial team and he has to think about their strengths and weaknesses. For me the most interesting part of a detective novel is the characterisation of the detective and his interaction with others and therefore although I guessed the main twist very early in the novel, it didn't matter because that part of the story isn't what kept me reading. Plus I wanted to read to discover how Grace and Cleo progressed (a favourite part, for me) and Glenn too. I'm off to read 'Dead Man's Footsteps', the next in the series.

The Camel Club gets a bit darker

This is the third in the Camel Club series. A series that started off very light-hearted and got more serious as it has moved on. The author has also taken the focus off many of the characters to focus on just two or three and almost as much time is given to the main bad guy, an ex-special forces operator who is killing ex intelligence agents.<br /><br />No light touch in this one and the author is comfortable with the characters and the supporting players. The plot blends the back-story of Annabel as her past starts to catch up and likewise with Stone his past also starts to come back to haunt him and he has to decide how to protect those he cares for.<br /><br />This is an efficient thriller and possibly the best of the Camel Club books. No classic but good enough to keep you well entertained for a few hours.<br />

Breath of fresh air

Not your typical fast-paced, dangerous, Grisham fare but well worth a read.<br />American Football set in Parma, Italy - a strange but engaging combination.<br />Light-hearted; guaranteed to put a smile on your face (especially if, like me, you're a fan of the NFL)

Disappointing

Reading this book is an odd experience. You keep turning the pages, but you're not always quite sure why. The whodunnit (or who'sthreateningtodoit) is powerful enough and threats come up often enough to keep you hooked. But the problem is that the story slides sideways a lot of the time and the way clues are followed is clumsy.

The magic of Alexander the Great - a fast paced thriller

Alexander the Great and his long lost resting place is the core and background for this fast paced thriller, even tough it needs a bit of time to gain that pace. Several different stories interwine and lead to a dramtic end. Here all the right ingredients are in place to hook the readers quickly and wanting them to learn how the story continues to find the long lost treasure - the tomb of Alexander the Great. It is a great debut novel.

Great writer, poor novel

As a previous reviewer stated, I regard John Grisham as a great writer. I judge this book only against his own high standards. This book is simply a political statement on the power of lobbyists in america. The coincidences in the book are hard to take which I will not go into for fear of spoiling it for others. Every part of the book was so predictable. The ending was rushed, leaving the reader feeling robbed. The actions of the main players are ridiculous that you get angry because you know the author is creating the scenarios in order to present his own political views. <br /><br />Grisham has and will produce top class thrillers in the future but this is not one of them.

Brilliant!

What a book! I really enjoyed this book, I thought this was a brilliant book,the characters kept on developing and just when you thought it was going to be good she really turns the screw! I am making the assuption that this was the last in the collection! The story line is is one of the best she has written, Lena is her usual troublesome self, with Sarah and Jeffery bailing her out again, and to what cost to themselves!!<br />Read this book it really is brilliant!

Not as"traditionally built" as the others...

What I want to say has probably already been said: I love Precious and the gang and, having lived in Africa (though not Botswana per se) for a time, I can relate to the"slower tempo of life" mentality, so to speak, but this book was not up to AMS' usual standard....Which is not to say that I am not eagerly waiting for his latest in the series to be put out in paperback, because I am!

Dexter is distinctly different!

Dexter Morgan knows exactly why monstrous serial killers do what they do - because Dexter is himself a serial killer, even if he confines his chopping up of bodies to child killers and other unpleasant murderers who have somehow escaped justice. He tells us cheerfully that he likes nothing more than a long night with his very sharp knives and a helpless, bound victim. And he works for the Miami homicide police as a blood spatter analyst (he ought to know). Every instinct told me to disapprove of this book and to condemn its flippancy about depravity but, dammit, Dexter has a way of er. . . getting under your skin, and making you like him. His one-liners are exquisitely funny (in a very dark way) and the plots are excellent - to the extent that I rushed out to buy the first Dexter book before writing this review. In this second outing, Dexter is forced to team up with his nemesis, the forbidding Sergeant Doakes, to track down a hideous monster who spends weeks torturing his victims. Dexter is the most original sleuth to have appeared for years, and sharp as a razor. . .