Daniel Silva's latest, The Defector, takes up where previous novel, Moscow Rules, left off. Controversial hero Gabriel Allon, was recruited at an early age by the "Office", a covert Israeli group dedicated to one purpose: keeping the state of Israel safe. His specialty is assassination, fed by a vengence after witnessing his wife and young son gunned down.
Gabriel is enjoying an extended honeymoon with new wife Chiara, also an agent with the Office. He is immersed in restoring a painting for the Vatican, art restoration being his second vocation. He and Chiara are staying in an isolated Italian Villa under heavy guard. Gabriel receives word that former Russian intelligience agent, Grigori Bulganov, has gone missing in London. Gabriel had assisted Bulganov in defecting from Russia, and in the process Bulganov had saved Gabriel from a certain death. Against orders from his superiors, Gabriel leaves to investigate and finds numerous strange clues to Bulganov's disappearance.
But the worst is yet to come. Chiara is kidnapped from the villa, and her body guards brutally murdered. The trail to both Chiara and Bulganov leads back to Russia. Gabriel and fellow agents devise a plan to rescue them both, so fraught with danger, success seems impossible.
Silva's reputation as a superb storyteller is well deserved. The characters are well developed and Gabriel Allon is drawn as a true hero. Action packed, and swift moving, this book and past Silva works make for time well spent. However, hostile and violent killing are the norm, and dialogue can be a bit rough. On a scale of 1 to 10 I rate this one a 7.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
The Apostle by Brad Thor
Brad Thor has previously written several best-selling novels dealing with world-wide intrigue, espionage, and deadly conflicts. His latest The Apostle, takes the reader on an exciting ride into international politics and how it can turn dangerous for the innocent.
A young American doctor, Julio Gallo, is kidnapped in Afghanistan and her interpreter brutally murdered. Her captors demand the release of al-Qaeda leader, Mustafe Khan, before Dr. Gallo will be returned. Khan is actually being imprisoned by the Afghan government, who are not willing to trade their dangerous convict for an American.
Scot Harvath, a counterterrorist expert, has recently been relieved of his dutes by the new government administration due to the current President's desire to achieve world peace. He is suddenly called in by the President to deal with the Gallo kidnapping. It appears Julia Gallo is the daughter of the President's close friend and financial supporter Stephanie Gallo. She has pressured the President to do whatever is necessary, no expenses spared, to bring her daughter home alive. It becomes apparent to Harvath the only way to achieve this is to break Khan out of prison himself and present him to the Taliban. He makes contact with old friend "Baba G" Gallagher and they carefully map out their plans.
In a seperate story line, female Secret Service Elise Campbell, who is assigned to guard the President, overhears a conversation between the President and Stephanie Gallo which indicates Stephanie knows a secret which could threaten the presidency. Elise, realizing she is putting her career on the line, goes forward with an investigation of her own.
The author is a master at creating fascinating characters, each with unique and believable personalities. The story itself will keep you glued to the pages, but also will give readers an appreciation for the lifestyle of ordinary Afghanistan citizens. This book is well worth the effort just for the glimpse into the world of terrorism and the ripple effects of its actions.
A young American doctor, Julio Gallo, is kidnapped in Afghanistan and her interpreter brutally murdered. Her captors demand the release of al-Qaeda leader, Mustafe Khan, before Dr. Gallo will be returned. Khan is actually being imprisoned by the Afghan government, who are not willing to trade their dangerous convict for an American.
Scot Harvath, a counterterrorist expert, has recently been relieved of his dutes by the new government administration due to the current President's desire to achieve world peace. He is suddenly called in by the President to deal with the Gallo kidnapping. It appears Julia Gallo is the daughter of the President's close friend and financial supporter Stephanie Gallo. She has pressured the President to do whatever is necessary, no expenses spared, to bring her daughter home alive. It becomes apparent to Harvath the only way to achieve this is to break Khan out of prison himself and present him to the Taliban. He makes contact with old friend "Baba G" Gallagher and they carefully map out their plans.
In a seperate story line, female Secret Service Elise Campbell, who is assigned to guard the President, overhears a conversation between the President and Stephanie Gallo which indicates Stephanie knows a secret which could threaten the presidency. Elise, realizing she is putting her career on the line, goes forward with an investigation of her own.
The author is a master at creating fascinating characters, each with unique and believable personalities. The story itself will keep you glued to the pages, but also will give readers an appreciation for the lifestyle of ordinary Afghanistan citizens. This book is well worth the effort just for the glimpse into the world of terrorism and the ripple effects of its actions.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Knock Out Catherine Coulter
In Catherine Coulter's latest F.B.I. thriller, Knock Out, Special Agents and married couple Sherlock and Dillon Savich become involved in two unrelated but equally dangerous cases.
The Savich's unwittingly embroil themselves in a shoot-out bank robbery. Two of the suspects are killed, one ends up in the hospital, while the driver escapes. The young get-away driver, Victor, manages to spring his girlfriend, Lissy, from her hospital room. Lissy vows deadly revenge for the death of her mother, one of the robbers gunned down in the attempted bank heist. The two go on a bloody rampage, leaving bodies in their wake.
If this incident and the recovery of Sherlock from a past gunshot wound weren't enough, Dillon receives a psychic-vision message from a seven-year-old girl begging for his help. A strange cult-like family ,to which her father once belonged,wants her to join them, and her mother is on the run to protect her. Small town sheriff Ethan Merriweather and Dillon work together to keep little Autumn from these evil people's grasp, but this ruthless group employ strong powers of their own. Keeping up with both cases becomes a challenge for the Saviches as they attempt to keep the hunted from emerging as the hunters.
Coulter's F.B.I. novels are always an exciting reading experience, but "Knock Out" with its psychic conversation between Dillon and Autumn, puts a different slant on things. Expect plenty of unexpected plot twists that will make this book difficult to put down. On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate it a 6.
The Savich's unwittingly embroil themselves in a shoot-out bank robbery. Two of the suspects are killed, one ends up in the hospital, while the driver escapes. The young get-away driver, Victor, manages to spring his girlfriend, Lissy, from her hospital room. Lissy vows deadly revenge for the death of her mother, one of the robbers gunned down in the attempted bank heist. The two go on a bloody rampage, leaving bodies in their wake.
If this incident and the recovery of Sherlock from a past gunshot wound weren't enough, Dillon receives a psychic-vision message from a seven-year-old girl begging for his help. A strange cult-like family ,to which her father once belonged,wants her to join them, and her mother is on the run to protect her. Small town sheriff Ethan Merriweather and Dillon work together to keep little Autumn from these evil people's grasp, but this ruthless group employ strong powers of their own. Keeping up with both cases becomes a challenge for the Saviches as they attempt to keep the hunted from emerging as the hunters.
Coulter's F.B.I. novels are always an exciting reading experience, but "Knock Out" with its psychic conversation between Dillon and Autumn, puts a different slant on things. Expect plenty of unexpected plot twists that will make this book difficult to put down. On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate it a 6.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Bourne Deception by Eric Van Lustbader Robert Ludlum
Although Robert Ludlum, creator of Jason Bourne, died in 2001 his legacy lives on with the latest in the Bourne saga; The Bourne Deception. Written by Eric Van Lustbader in the same precise, researched detail as Ludlum, Jason Bourne is again a haunted, wanted man, trying to stay alive while secretly following any clue that might reveal his past and true identity.
Jason survives a nearly successful attempt on his life, and goes into hiding on beautiful Bali. He is determined to find those who so desperatly want him dead, and the trail takes him to Paris and then Khartoum accompanied by a lovely art dealer with her own deceptive agenda.
Simultaneously, an American passenger plane is shot out of the sky over Egypt, causing a worldwide uproar. Iranian terrorists are suspected, but a special investigative team from the U.S. is sent to definetely determine the missile's source. What they discover seems unbelievable, but one fact is certain. Power-hungry men in many countries are willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to achieve their evil goals.
Previous books and motion pictures have created many die-hard Jason Bourne fans. In this latest installment, Van Lustbader has meticulously created an intelligent and fast-paced novel of international intrigue. However, readers could soon tire of Bourne's story and expect a resolution to his memory loss and past activities. Perhaps in the near future we will see closure for one of the most exciting fictional characters ever created. In the meantime enjoy "The Bourne Deception", undoubtedly the best espionage, spy-thriller of 2009.
Jason survives a nearly successful attempt on his life, and goes into hiding on beautiful Bali. He is determined to find those who so desperatly want him dead, and the trail takes him to Paris and then Khartoum accompanied by a lovely art dealer with her own deceptive agenda.
Simultaneously, an American passenger plane is shot out of the sky over Egypt, causing a worldwide uproar. Iranian terrorists are suspected, but a special investigative team from the U.S. is sent to definetely determine the missile's source. What they discover seems unbelievable, but one fact is certain. Power-hungry men in many countries are willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to achieve their evil goals.
Previous books and motion pictures have created many die-hard Jason Bourne fans. In this latest installment, Van Lustbader has meticulously created an intelligent and fast-paced novel of international intrigue. However, readers could soon tire of Bourne's story and expect a resolution to his memory loss and past activities. Perhaps in the near future we will see closure for one of the most exciting fictional characters ever created. In the meantime enjoy "The Bourne Deception", undoubtedly the best espionage, spy-thriller of 2009.
Friday, June 19, 2009
The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
Michael Connelly, known for The Lincoln Lawyers, The Closers, and the Harry Bosch series, displays his literary talent again with The Scarecrow. He utilizes his background in journalism to produce a thriller pitting the newspaper publishing world against modern technology.
Jack McVoy, veteran reporter for the Los Angeles Times, is given his pink slip, but allowed two weeks to tie up loose ends and train his replacement. His position will be taken over by pretty, perky and ambititious Angela Cook. Still reeling from the bad news, Jack receives a strange phone call complaining about a story he had covered on the brutal murder of Denise Babbit, a dancer in a strip club. The grandmother of Alonzo Winslow, the teenager charged with the crime. accuses Jack of not printing the truth. Jack and Angela begin investigating on their own, not because they believe in the boy's innocence, but because they think it will put a different spin on the story. However, Angela discovers a website describing the crime, and further research reveals other murders with similar MO's. When Angela is discovered murdered exactly as the others, law enforcement takes a different look at the case against Alonzo. Eventually Jack's investigation puts his life in danger and he seeks help from former lover and FBI agent Rachel Walling. They discover a link to Western Data, a huge computer server service that stores and protects data from numerous clients. Here resides the "Scarecrow" whose vast computer knowledge allows him access to anyone's data and files, changing and deleting with ease. But his evil deeds reach much farther than mere hacking or spying. It becomes a race between Jack and the Scarecrow as to whom can bring the other down first.
Though private information has never been absolutely secure, readers may find it a bit disconcerting that those with the precise know-how can reach through cyberworld and mess with our lives. Also interesting is how technology is changing the way we receive information, drastically affecting industries such as newspaper publishing.
This book is well plotted as it gradually presents the facts and clues necessary for Jack and Rachel to solve the crime. Mystery fanatics will love it, as will anyone wanting an exciting and compelling vacation read. On a scale of 1 to 10 I rate it a 7.
Jack McVoy, veteran reporter for the Los Angeles Times, is given his pink slip, but allowed two weeks to tie up loose ends and train his replacement. His position will be taken over by pretty, perky and ambititious Angela Cook. Still reeling from the bad news, Jack receives a strange phone call complaining about a story he had covered on the brutal murder of Denise Babbit, a dancer in a strip club. The grandmother of Alonzo Winslow, the teenager charged with the crime. accuses Jack of not printing the truth. Jack and Angela begin investigating on their own, not because they believe in the boy's innocence, but because they think it will put a different spin on the story. However, Angela discovers a website describing the crime, and further research reveals other murders with similar MO's. When Angela is discovered murdered exactly as the others, law enforcement takes a different look at the case against Alonzo. Eventually Jack's investigation puts his life in danger and he seeks help from former lover and FBI agent Rachel Walling. They discover a link to Western Data, a huge computer server service that stores and protects data from numerous clients. Here resides the "Scarecrow" whose vast computer knowledge allows him access to anyone's data and files, changing and deleting with ease. But his evil deeds reach much farther than mere hacking or spying. It becomes a race between Jack and the Scarecrow as to whom can bring the other down first.
Though private information has never been absolutely secure, readers may find it a bit disconcerting that those with the precise know-how can reach through cyberworld and mess with our lives. Also interesting is how technology is changing the way we receive information, drastically affecting industries such as newspaper publishing.
This book is well plotted as it gradually presents the facts and clues necessary for Jack and Rachel to solve the crime. Mystery fanatics will love it, as will anyone wanting an exciting and compelling vacation read. On a scale of 1 to 10 I rate it a 7.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris, the latest Sookie Stackhouse novel, immediately jumped to No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list upon its release. The public passion for vampire/werewolf stories is evident by the number of authors using this subject matter.
For those of you not familiar with Sookie, she herself has enough fairy blood to be able to read the thoughts and emotions of those in close proximaty. Her roommate, Amelia, is a witch. Sookie has had relationships with were-animals and vampires, but because of a strange ritual is now bound to super-hunk-vampire Eric. Sookie works as a barmaid at Merlotte's, a hangout for many of the mystical creatures.
Because of rumblings in the fairy world, Sookie's life is in danger. Eric and other friends do their best to protect her, but those after her can be very devious.
Sookie's brother Jason's ex-wife is found horribly murdered, crucified on a crude cross. Anti-werecreature activists are suspected in this terrible deed, but Sookie is determined to solve the crime herself.
This book is action-packed and fast moving. However the writing seems a bit amateurish, and the number of creatures and their strange proclavities is a bit hard to keep straight. Expect plenty of violence and sexual entanglements of a non-human, mystical sort. Many readers are intrigued by tales of these potentially dangerous mythical beings and their interaction with the human world. The rest of the literary world would probably prefer something more closely resembling reality. On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate it a 3.
For those of you not familiar with Sookie, she herself has enough fairy blood to be able to read the thoughts and emotions of those in close proximaty. Her roommate, Amelia, is a witch. Sookie has had relationships with were-animals and vampires, but because of a strange ritual is now bound to super-hunk-vampire Eric. Sookie works as a barmaid at Merlotte's, a hangout for many of the mystical creatures.
Because of rumblings in the fairy world, Sookie's life is in danger. Eric and other friends do their best to protect her, but those after her can be very devious.
Sookie's brother Jason's ex-wife is found horribly murdered, crucified on a crude cross. Anti-werecreature activists are suspected in this terrible deed, but Sookie is determined to solve the crime herself.
This book is action-packed and fast moving. However the writing seems a bit amateurish, and the number of creatures and their strange proclavities is a bit hard to keep straight. Expect plenty of violence and sexual entanglements of a non-human, mystical sort. Many readers are intrigued by tales of these potentially dangerous mythical beings and their interaction with the human world. The rest of the literary world would probably prefer something more closely resembling reality. On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate it a 3.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Although recently best known for her Twilight vampire series, Stephenie Meyer has moved to the realm of Science Fiction in The Host. In a brilliantly created story, we learn of an alien invasion of earth unlike any we could imagine.
Tiny parasites known as "souls" must have a host to survive, and on earth are implanted into humans. Although the humans have their original body and mind, complete with memories, the Soul is expected to eventually dominate the Host and completely take over its being. A Soul known as Wanderer is surgically given to a beautiful young female Host whose human name was Melanie. Melanie and Wanderer immediately are able to communicate, and Wanderer realizes that Melanie's love for her younger brother, Jamie, will cause difficulty in subduing her. Ultimately, Wanderer's compassion for Melanie's plight sends them on a journey to locate Jamie.
Host humans are recognizable because their eyes dramatically change when inhabited by a Soul. Therefore when Wanderer and Melanie find the humans keeping Jamie, there is a emotional and violent reaction to her. They have to be persuaded over time that she was not sent to find them by the Souls.
Even those who don't appreciate Science Fiction can soon understand why this book has remained a best seller for over 50 weeks. It is beautifully created tale impelling readers to consider what exists in the universe and how other beings would view our human lifestyle. For readers of all literary taste I recommend this unique and highly imaginative tale. On a scale of 1 to 10 I rate it 8 1/2.
Tiny parasites known as "souls" must have a host to survive, and on earth are implanted into humans. Although the humans have their original body and mind, complete with memories, the Soul is expected to eventually dominate the Host and completely take over its being. A Soul known as Wanderer is surgically given to a beautiful young female Host whose human name was Melanie. Melanie and Wanderer immediately are able to communicate, and Wanderer realizes that Melanie's love for her younger brother, Jamie, will cause difficulty in subduing her. Ultimately, Wanderer's compassion for Melanie's plight sends them on a journey to locate Jamie.
Host humans are recognizable because their eyes dramatically change when inhabited by a Soul. Therefore when Wanderer and Melanie find the humans keeping Jamie, there is a emotional and violent reaction to her. They have to be persuaded over time that she was not sent to find them by the Souls.
Even those who don't appreciate Science Fiction can soon understand why this book has remained a best seller for over 50 weeks. It is beautifully created tale impelling readers to consider what exists in the universe and how other beings would view our human lifestyle. For readers of all literary taste I recommend this unique and highly imaginative tale. On a scale of 1 to 10 I rate it 8 1/2.
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