Steve Manke
Good book. Everything I've come to expect from a Harvath thriller. The politics of the book are certainly in context with the headlines of the times, not unusual for Brad Thor. But, seriously—what's with that ending? Not cool, man. I mean, cool—but not cool! The next book is a long way off and I am not a patient person.
I don't know what to call this... a relaunch of the series? A second wind? Either way, things are going in a new direction as a new generation of Guard start to understand their abilities and learn of a new threat to their kind. This is essentially a new series predicated on the world of the first, and perhaps peripherally touching on some of the main characters from the original series.
Maybe not my favorite book in the series so far, but certainly worth the time to read (or in my case, listen to). This is book #17 in the series and unique in the way it picks up a thread resulting from the conclusion of a case which took place much earlier in the series. For longtime fans, this is a great call back. For anyone new to the series, this book's intersection with that earlier work is explained completely enough that one doesn't need to go back and read the earlier book in order to understand what is now taking place. Credit to Reichs in this regard. Authors too often make mistakes in the regard when they attempt something this ambitious.
This is one of those Baldacci books that seems such a prime candidate for the silver screen. While the plot is primarily a drawn-out chase at the heart of the plot, the twists taken and the way the characters tangle among the Washington power-elite keep sending the story in different directions. Like any good thriller, the reader is prompted to constantly ask themselves, how can this possibly wrap up to a satisfactory conclusion? Hang in there. They make it in the end.
This book was a pair of shorter stories that did a lot to illustrate the development of the world in which the characters exist. The occult predators seem less few and far between, or at least the primary characters are getting better at identifying their targets. And while these stories are quick reads, fun and interesting, with no end of bad things happening in the world today, who's to say how fanciful all of this fiction might actually be? ;-)
Another Wolf adventure delivering all that fans of the series expect. More time is spent on the political motivations of the antagonists, something of a departure from earlier books. That might be an effort by the author to expand the scope beyond the protagonist. I'm classifying it as an exploratory effort since the political machinations were disjointed, at times contradictory, and end up feeling improvised from a plotting point of view. Still a fun, quick read.
There was a darkness to the way the series wrapped up. That's not to say it wasn't fitting or satisfying... the book and the series don't end on what I would call the happiest of chapters. The more I think about it, there is wisdom in this. Closure is brought in a way fans are likely to find compelling in that they are perhaps more likely to feel satisfied knowing the characters are outer —at least most of them—still doing their thing without us tagging along for the ride.
Otherwise, how does the author of a long-running fan favorite draw threads to a conclusion likely to satisfy loyal readers? There will always be readers left wishing for more. Can one close out a series in a way that satisfies expectations while still clearly ending a serial? While not the happy ending I might have wished for all characters, I think these vital objectives were accomplished with rare grace and skill.
The phrase, meah, comes to mind. It was a good enough adventure in the end, but if you're a fan of the Gideon Crew books and the Ice Limit releases specifically, this just falls short. The characters are watercolor versions of their prior representations and I was hard pressed to become invested as a reader. It's worth reading. It's just not a book that brings anything of consequence to the series. In that, I am disappointed.
This book does a lot to pull dangling plot points together. Some fun surprises right at the end to counter the sad stuff that popped up along the way. There's an entropy that suggests the series is drawing to a conclusion. I can't see how it could be wound to an end that will satisfy fans since it seems like the kind of serial that could go on for another 10 books.
This book is a fantastic modern ghost story. It leverages all of the classic tropes and sets it all against a reality TV/ghost hunters style backdrop. The cast of characters is nuanced, likable, and well balanced resulting in people you're solidly rooting for or against. Beneath the entire tale is a mystery teased out over the course of hundreds of pages (or hours if you listen to the audiobook). It's time well spent and handsomely rewarded with the reveal at the end.
My only regret is not having read the book sooner.
This book was nearly equal parts supernatural-suspense, horror, superhero, and mystery. It started a little on the slow side but the mystery component kept me tuned in long enough for things to heat up, the monsters to arrive, and the action to start. Things took some crazy turns after that and culminated in a pretty badass fight when the protagonist and his friends threw down with a WHOLE LOT of monsters.
Another fantastic adventure taking place while Atticus cleans up the mess generated by events earlier in the series. One must read these books in order. More great humor, a staple of the series and a core element that keeps the pages flying by every bit as much as the action. In short, another great book.
