Steve Manke
Reznick is back and he's teamed up with the FBI once more. That a bit of an unexpected turn for the character given that he was first introduced as an assassin. Now he's forsaken his full-black operational status to team up with the FBI as a consultant? The transition isn't logical and it's never appropriately explained over the course of the book. It almost feels like Reznick is just going with the flow, even if that flow involves terrorists and counterespionage investigations.
I'm not entirely sure I understand the character's career motivations, but the book makes for a compelling adventure. Bring on book #3!
Shameless abuse of the word ‘towards,' but I think we all have a phrase we abuse until someone points it out. I figured it was a mannerism that would've been kicked by book #4. Objectively, the use of the word seems to be getting more frequent. I think it's even more obvious in audio format. Characters are always going ‘towards' something.
That aside, a thrilling adventure with just the right mix of sci-fi, espionage, and mystery. I stand by my earlier assessment: I'm hooked on the series. Also of note: the death count seems to be rising. This book had characters been snuffed with Matthew Reilly like efficiency.
I read the first book in the series several years ago and always meant to get back to see what happened next. It took me longer than it should have, but I'm glad I finally picked the series back up. I recall enjoying book #1. Dark Rising was outstanding with strong character development and a great plot. In a way I'm glad I lollygagged on this series because it means there are now more books to catch up on.
A psychopath on a killing spree and a talent for using the electronic devices of the victims against them? It's a clever concept for a novel. The relationship drama of the main characters is a little undercooked but aside from that, the characters are compelling. The book also has a compelling crossover tie-in with Rum Runner, also by Konrath. That was interesting and amusing for anyone who read Rum Runner. It was a quick read and worth the time.
Not my favorite book in the series, but worth the time to read. The characters are going through a low point in their lives and the reader is sort of dragged along for the ride. We're dragged along a little too long in my opinion, even if it's all for the eventual plot turn and the payoff near the end. Still, I think fans of the series are heavily invested in the characters by the time they reach book #9. The last thing any of us wants to read is how life sucks for them. It's depressing.
Once that painfully long part of the book is over, things take off again and Jack gets her bad-ass on. She just takes a LONG time getting motivated. Be warned.
The audiobook felt a little schizophrenic. There were a number of different narrators tuning in to contribute in ways that felt disjointed for reasons I could never fully understand. I think it was due to the way different chapters were told from different points of view but without tagging hinting at the charact at a given point. Added to that, there were excerpts from legal and public records that, while interesting and insightful, were not tagged in a way that made them instantly understandable when something unusual was happening from a storytelling perspective.
That aside, this was a very different experience when compared to Ender's Game. The interview at the end of the book explains this. The author originally had this book in mind when he created the series. Ender's Game was the story that had to be told before this book could be written. Interesting that Ender's Game ended up being the smash hit of the series.
This book is well worth the read. Just don't go into expecting Ender's Game Part II.
I'm relatively new to the Dewey Andreas series. I blasted through the first 7 books within the last year. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, I was eager to get my ears on the new book. I wasn't disappointed. Dewey continues to prove himself a character with character; his grit, determination, and patriotism particularly inspiring given all that is taking place in the real world. Another 5-star read, in my opinion. I can't wait for book #9!
This was a fantastic new perspective on the alien abduction phenomenon. They say there are no new stories left in the world. Jeremy Robinson disproves the notion once more with a unique and compelling tale that explains much of the classic alien green/grey experience as something decidedly terrestrial in origin. The premise is as interesting as it is plausible, at least when compared to the concept of little green men snatching people from desolate country roads simply to probe their tailgates.
A 5-star read for action, mayhem, humor, creativity, and heart. In short, a whole lot of fun!
This version of the audiobook was a special production by Audible. Each character was represented by a separate narrator, so there was a pervasive cast of voice talent. The experience was much more like the radio dramas of a pre-television era. All in all, a unique and enjoyable experience.
I'll have to compare this version of the book to the original at some point because this recreation is entirely dialog based. There is absolutely no exposition in the telling of the tale. Only spoken action is represented in the dramatic portrayal. That must have required some editorial work because the story holds up. I suspect some revision was made to give the narrators a unique preset point of view for this to work the way it did.
Credit to Audible for bringing these talented narrators together and making this production successful.
Jack takes a serious trip to the dark side with this book. The antagonist is about as bad as one can get. He's got his kill-on for just about every single character in the book with the exception of Jack. He wants to leave her for last. It's fairly brutal, but true to Konrath's earlier work in this series, readers are spared explicit exposure to gorry descriptors. That said, there is a whole lot of killing done in truly creative and dastardly ways.
The sequence in the killer's funhouse goes on a little longer than I would have liked, but the twist at the end makes both Jack and the reader look at the gathered evidence in an entirely new perspective. Everything we knew from page one shifts and alters what we thought we knew about the killer and his motives. This results in a creative twist that made for an interesting conclusion.
The narrative unfolds for the protagonist in three separate time periods; the present is supplemented by two additional insights into Jack's past. Since they are all from the first person perspective, it's an interesting challenge for the writer. Ultimately the book comes together nicely and the effort works to great effect. Being the first book in the series to attempt something, Konrath deserves credit for attempting the fairly unconventional maneuver. It wouldn't have been as impactful earlier in the series. Now that readers are more in tune with the main character, this was the perfect time for a plot like this. Readers are invested enough for this roller coaster ride to be more consuming. It really works and made for a fun read.
I'll admit to having seen the movie years ago. Since I have very little experience with Deaver's work, this seemed like a good place to help get reacquainted. As is almost always the case, the book had greater depth and nuance than the movie. Knowing how many books already exist in this series, I'm surprised. I wouldn't think these characters would have that sort of longevity. Certainly compelling for a single book. I can even imagine spinning them into a two or three book series. But knowing there are currently 14 books? I'm interested to see where things go from here.
The narration for this audiobook was a little challenging, in my opinion. It lacked the ability to differentiate characters in a meaningful way and the flow of the voicework was less dynamic than most of the books I've listed to over the last couple of years.
This book has one seriously good villain. He's vicious, crazed, and entirely off his nut. There's a fair amount of carnage. Aside from this being a good book, that might be what stands out the most for me. For all of the villain's rampaging badness, Konrath manages to write everything in a way that is neither too graphic or distasteful. I would have thought it a fine line to navigate, but he does it will skill and subtly. The end result is a compelling book with one hell of a whack-a-do antagonist and a plot that doesn't lose the audience in the unpleasant and unnecessary details of that character's acts.
I thought I had read all of Joe's books. I missed this one, and I really missed out. I'm glad I went back to double check his catalog. The technology, specifically the hacking and references to domestic terrorism are dated now, the latter making me somewhat nostalgic for simpler times. Regardless, the story holds up. Everything I've come to expect from a Finder book: strong characters, a fast plat, suspense, and action. As a reader, it's easy to become invested in the good guys; it's even easier to love hating the bad guys. The primary antagonist in this book is particularly interesting. He's intriguing in a way that makes him almost likable. Even when he's doing the unthinkable. His boss... that's the real problem. All the trouble really started there.
A good police procedural with clever branding. I wouldn't call it a mystery since the reader is highly exposed to the antagonist. There isn't enough rapid action for it to be a thriller, at least in my mind. Still, it remains interesting from beginning to end with engaging characters and compelling breadcrumbs for the investigation side of the narrative. I'll continue reading/listening to the series.
An amazing book! I couldn't put it down. A creative and well-crafted narrative, thrilling twists, killer tech, and engaging characters. One of the best books I've read this year. If you like sci-fi, consider this book. The description sounds a bit dystopian; that can be hit or miss in my opinion. This was the perfect blend of crazy things happening in a not-so-distant-future where the world has cascaded to the brink of destruction and now struggles to find new social and political footing. Surprisingly light-hearted and optimistic, the protagonist stumbles along with surprising and refreshingly good luck as a war-torn Chicago of the future hangs in the balance.
This was my first experience with J.A. Konrath's writing. He's been on to list for a while. I should have gotten to one of his books quicker. This was an entertaining, character-driven story that kept the proverbial pages flying by. Though book 6.5 in the Jack Daniels series, I was struck by how much of the story focused on the bad guys. I enjoyed that since they were far more interesting than the fairly straightlaced police detectives. It makes me wonder if the rest of the series is written from a similar perspective. I need to start from the beginning and find out. I think the series will be worth the investment of time.
Like many, I saw the TV series before I read the book. There are many similarities, but many more differences. The book was good but I'm struck by what a good job they did adapting the novel for the small screen. Two entirely different tales in the end since most of the characters have different motivations. While many share names, they have entirely different roles. The important observation being, if you've seen the show, it's still worth reading the book. And if you've read the book, the show tells a version of the story that's nearly independent and well worth your time.