Steve Manke

The book was entertaining enough, it just felt a little phoned in. The characters we two-dimensional and far less inspired than was justified by the events taking place in the plot. Maybe the first book was good enough that it set unrealistic expectations for the next release but I was left with higher hopes that just didn't feel met by the end of the book. Certainly worth the read... just not all it could have been.

Action packed, creative, and endlessly entertaining. This series is an ongoing favorite. Rather than let the stories become template based, the author is already keeping things fresh and letting the protagonist get mixed up in things impossible for even the most skilled operative to anticipate. It makes for a brilliant adventure.

This might be my favorite new series of the year. Well, the books are new to me. There are four already in the series so I feel like I caught it early. This series has legs. I see it going for many books to come.

Book #1 not only introduces an interesting protagonist, but it tells a captivating story that takes some fascinating plot twists on the way to a satisfying conclusion. These aren't just twists to keep the reader guessing, we're talking well crafted, organic, and natural shifts to the storyline. Twists that fit, but stuff the reader would never see coming. In short, fantastic writing.

Finder is known for writing plots that could, at least in theory, happen to anyone. The idea being that the protagonist isn't someone of extraordinary means who does something outlandish to trigger the events of the story. In this case, it's the story of a woman's single lapse in judgment that causes a series of peripheral events that threaten to send her life spiraling forever out of control. And the “mission” being, what can one normal person do to pull that life back from the precipice and bring order to the chaos. Maybe even stay out of prison.

Mr. Finder continues to excel in this niche as Judgement is another thriller that kept me reading long into the night. It was also something of a blend of my favorite concepts from his early books, titles where CIA spooks lurked in the shadows and government intrigue was at the heart of the plot. The CIA and government-related motivation isn't front and center in this book, but it's hiding in the shadows. All in all, a fun and intriguing thriller.

Part mystery, part ghost story. Set in Wales, it's a glimpse of the rural UK. Perhaps all the more interesting and exotic for an American to read. Though life isn't all that much different in the part of the world where the story takes place, the story is set at a writers retreat recently start at an old home built on the site of an old slate mine. The region is steeped in a superstition that goes back more than a generation. Unraveling the source of that phenomenon lies at the heart of the story.

An absolute home run. Rollins never fails to disappoint, but this Sigma adventure was a real treat. The technological aspects of this novel were pivotal to its success and the detail captured was comprehensive without being overdone. Something not easily achieved. Writers hoping to deliver an exceptional techno-thriller tend to either overindulge in the tech aspects of the tale, or skimp to the point where they lose credibility. Rollins continues to walk this delicate line with precision and finesse to deliver a spellbinding thriller that keeps the pages flying by from begging to end.

A wealth assassin trained by the US military before taking his work to the private sector. He doesn't hire out his services, rather he's all about removing bad guys from the gene pool free of charge. There's something Batman/Punisher like in the premise, though the protagonist seems to have as much fun playing the wealthy playboy as he does with his avenging alter ego. There's room for character development and I'm interested to see where things go with the character in future books.

Put simply, I hope this is the start of a new series. The protagonist is interesting and has a personality and backstory that could easily fuel another couple of books at minimum. This book not only sets up the character for future tales, but this book delivers a first-class stand-alone adventure all its own. Another quality novel from Baldacci.

Not my favorite book of the month. It was a little slow going most of the time. Things got more interesting near the end, perhaps interesting enough for me to take a look at the next book in the series. Time will tell...

Book #2 in the series is every bit as good as the first, if not better. I can't wait for #3.

Fans of the original Alien movie will enjoy this book. It appears to take place after the first film. If you don't think too hard about how that impacts the timeline or the events of Aliens (my favorite in the movie series), it's fairly easy to get lost in the narrative. I listened to the Audible Originals production of the story so I can't say how it might compare to the original book, assuming there was one. Since Audible does it's productions of this kind with a full cast of voice actors, it also alters the story in such a way that all exposition is removed from the experience. This makes it more akin to the old style radio plays of the 1930-40's. All things considered, a good story and a fun way to experience it.

The assassin with a moral code. It makes for a compelling protagonist. A man willing to pull the trigger if it's for the right reason. This time around, he'll have to take a couple of the good guys to make it far enough to end the really big bad one. Absolutely a job for the Gray Man.

This release is perhaps more character driven than even the last character driven release in the series since the threats faced by the survivors are not entirely represented by the infected. The protagonists really go through the grinder on this one, and it makes for great storytelling.

The series continues to impress. The virus takes a turn that pushes the characters in a dangerous new direction. As is always the case with the genre, the real challenge is having the entire planet in peril without having circumstances so dire that the story becomes utterly depressing. Smith does a fantastic job walking the line of hope and despair as his characters fight for the fate of those who survived the initial outbreak.

It's the end of the world as we know it... Not really giving anything away there, this is dystopian fiction after all. But the book is well written, character driven, and very fast paced. Just don't expect things to wrap up in a single volume. It looks like this tale will run for numerous books... and I'm glad to see that. I'm jumping right into book #2!

Pendergast gets a partner and a new boss to go with his new case. Both have it in for him. It's another entertaining addition to the series, though not one that will stand out as one of the pillars that define the character or changes the course of the series.

Hard times for the McBride family, but that could be nothing compared to what the United States will face if a new WMD is set loose. The stakes are high this time around and no characters are safe from the fallout. Book #7 is a solid addition to the series and it with an impact on McBride that will be seen in upcoming books.

The Gray Man series appears to be moving more into the espionage genre as Gentry becomes less tactical and more secret agent. He's less of a lone wolf as he builds alliances. It could be an evolutionary shift in the series, or it could just be a divergence from a plot perspective. We'll have to see what direction the next book takes. While the book didn't go in the directions I expected, it was enjoyable.

I'll admit to being disappointed that this audiobook wasn't narrated by Kristen Bell. Having the actress from the show/movie narrate that previous audiobook added to the experience. That said, this book fits with everything viewers/readers have come to expect from the world. There's a clever mystery at the heart of the story, great character-based writing, and most of our favorite characters are represented. The timeline dovetails masterfully with the series, subsequent movie, and previous book, so there's a cohesiveness that's also highly rewarding to fans. And with another web streamed season of the show upcoming, it will be interesting to see if that season is a rehash of one of these books or if it builds on the events which took place in the books.

Nate and Harv come to the rescue of a team member from their time in the CIA. There's some solid adventure but a couple of the fights are overly protracted. Unnecessarily so, it felt to me. Maybe I just wasn't feeling it with this book. Though the twist that takes place at the end was entertaining. I can't say it came entirely out of nowhere, but it was a nice additional payoff that pulled some of the threads together at the close.

The answer to Gentry's sanction order is revealed, finally. It was a great mystery that was played out to great effect over 5 books. The reveal ends up being a little complicated but makes great sense and absolutely changes the course of the series.

This ties the first book in the series for being my favorite. While the first was wall to wall action with a killer new protagonist, this book has more clandestine operations, intrigue, and extensive character manipulation.

The Gray Man matches wits with another assassin who is as skilled, though arguably more cutthroat. The twists and turns taken along the way are action-packed, explosive, and the stuff of 90's action movies. In short, action, and lots of it. A great read. A lot of fun.

I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but this book was a great exception to my routine. Felicia Day has made character appearances in different shows that I watch and for a bunch of years it was difficult to pay attention to podcasts, webcasts, and Youtube without hearing her name or seeing her face. She has worked with a lot of talented people and she seems to be one of those genuinely nice online personalities. This book not only proves she's one of the genuine personality, it proves she can write and that she's really damn funny.

And since I listened to the audiobook, I had the added benefit of experiencing the book narrated in her very own voice. It made the experience even more humorous.

The plot for this story is launched by a character who was at best peripheral way back in book number one. For fans of the series, they will likely recognize the character soon after reading. It's interesting to see the author have fun with an old throwaway character, then use him to such great effect in this book. Where things go from there is a massive shift in scale as a new, large-scale military contractor is pulled into the story for the first time. And thanks to the politics of the situation, McBride's father plays a big role for the first time.

This series continues to impress me. The characters continue to evolve and the proverbial pages fly by.

The Jack West Series continues to impress. The series grows more intricate with each release, and this book, like the last, contains a cross-over character from another of Matthew Reilly's other series. For hardcore fan's this is an amazing treat. A word of warning... it's a Reilly book so brace yourself for a hell of an ending.