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judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. (also purchased audio)
Get ready for some delicious non-stop ACTION thrills, on steroids! Barry Eisler, delivers an (over-the-top) bold, innovative, and sophisticated top-notch riveting suspense thriller-- The GOD’S EYE VIEW, a Top Political Thriller of 2016! (ripped from today’s headlines)
From sex, danger, conspiracy, whistleblowers, journalists, meta data, media, crime, assassins, threats, suspense, mystery, blackmail, terrorists, spies, hitmen, government intelligence, politics, surveillance, NSA, FBI, CIA, an insider, hackers, violence, bombs, threats, espionage, murder, conspiracy, sabotage, cover-ups, security breaches----shall I go on?
Impeccably researched, and brilliantly crafted, you will find yourself extending your reading for days, bookmarking numerous references. More frightening, even though a fictional tale, the events are fairly close to the frightening reality. "Our government is watching and controlling our every move." Has it gone too far?
General Theodore Anders is the director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and he will do anything to protect God’s Eye. He collects everything on everyone. Spying on citizens. This is all he cares about. Everything else was negotiable. As the book opens there has been a breach. He has to find the leak, holding all data and secrets. A murder, a plan. A diversion. Hitmen.
In the meantime, meet Evie Gallagher. A NSA analyst. A thirty-five- year old divorced mother with a young deaf ten- year -old son, Dash currently in private school, a father in an assisted living, and a dead beat husband. She needs her job and cannot afford to risk her financial and career status.
She stumbles upon a covert government program with code name of “God’s Eye.” An extensive government surveillance program. Soon thereafter she makes connections to mysterious deaths of journalists and whistleblowers. What she sees is scary, threatening. . . who will she tell? There is a backstory, which is very interesting—you will sympathize with her situation, and her younger son. Can you imagine discovering something of this nature—what to do with dangerous and incriminating privileged information? Everyone knows what happens to whistleblowers?
An insider threat . . . She has to be eliminated. The thumb drive.
Then there is Manus. He is also deaf (hearing impaired). A hitman? A connection. Can she trust Manus? Some hot action and sex between the two, until they realize they are caught up in the middle of this nightmare. Evie, Dash and Manus are in the crosshairs of a pair of government assassins (they will get the thumb drive no matter how many people they need to kill).
Inspired by Edward Snowden, former CIA infrastructure analyst (fascinating--a fan), and if you have kept abreast of programs such as PRISM, etc…you are going to love Eisler’s writing.
Even though I received an ARC, could not wait to listen to the audiobook. (highly recommend both). You need the digital or hardcopy for reference; however, the audiobook is exceptional. Eisler narrates his own book— (a clever move) --no one could have delivered such an explosive performance with the same intensity. A cautionary tale. Readers are going to love Marcus and Evie. Intense! The author grabs you from the first page to the last.
If you enjoyed the book, highly recommend reading, No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State, by Glenn Greenwald. (great audio)
As the author has reiterated in his interviews regarding the novel, the CIA and FBI have used multiple means of surveillance (nothing new) over the years to discredit and derail movements even back in the sixties and earlier. Of course today, technology has many advances with sophisticated and intrusive tools at the government’s disposal—you can only imagine how easy it would be to facilitate. Nothing is private. You are being tracked. From cell phones to internet, emails, chats, social media, spying, mapping connections, IP addresses, etc. Monitor and Control."
Can you say interconnectivity? The government can hack into anything or anyone’s life. From the internet---corporate, airlines, cars, etc.
As a whistleblower, you have to decide do you want to turn the other way, or bring forward the misconduct and prepare for the fight of your life.
An avid legal, political and crime thriller fan, THE GOD’S EYE VIEW crosses a number of genres to satisfy a wide range of readers. Fans of Lee Child, Michael Connelly, David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, and Michael Lewis’ The Big Short (book/movie tie in) will delight. Ideal front cover and title. (loved the research and liberties taken). Ideal for the Big Screen--I want a front row seat!
On a personal note: “For the Whistleblowers!”
As a former whistleblower (SOX Sarbanes-Oxley 2002); corporate accountability, pales in comparison to the magnitude (biggest security leak in US history) of Edward Snowden, and our US surveillance state, today. Hats off to him, and the many other government security whistleblowers, as well as all the courageous reporters, and journalists—risking their lives and families, to protect others. (as depicted here in the fictional version)—all so true.
Thank you, Barry for the awareness and dedication to whistleblowers, everywhere.
JDCMustReadBooks
Get ready for some delicious non-stop ACTION thrills, on steroids! Barry Eisler, delivers an (over-the-top) bold, innovative, and sophisticated top-notch riveting suspense thriller-- The GOD’S EYE VIEW, a Top Political Thriller of 2016! (ripped from today’s headlines)
From sex, danger, conspiracy, whistleblowers, journalists, meta data, media, crime, assassins, threats, suspense, mystery, blackmail, terrorists, spies, hitmen, government intelligence, politics, surveillance, NSA, FBI, CIA, an insider, hackers, violence, bombs, threats, espionage, murder, conspiracy, sabotage, cover-ups, security breaches----shall I go on?
Impeccably researched, and brilliantly crafted, you will find yourself extending your reading for days, bookmarking numerous references. More frightening, even though a fictional tale, the events are fairly close to the frightening reality. "Our government is watching and controlling our every move." Has it gone too far?
General Theodore Anders is the director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and he will do anything to protect God’s Eye. He collects everything on everyone. Spying on citizens. This is all he cares about. Everything else was negotiable. As the book opens there has been a breach. He has to find the leak, holding all data and secrets. A murder, a plan. A diversion. Hitmen.
In the meantime, meet Evie Gallagher. A NSA analyst. A thirty-five- year old divorced mother with a young deaf ten- year -old son, Dash currently in private school, a father in an assisted living, and a dead beat husband. She needs her job and cannot afford to risk her financial and career status.
She stumbles upon a covert government program with code name of “God’s Eye.” An extensive government surveillance program. Soon thereafter she makes connections to mysterious deaths of journalists and whistleblowers. What she sees is scary, threatening. . . who will she tell? There is a backstory, which is very interesting—you will sympathize with her situation, and her younger son. Can you imagine discovering something of this nature—what to do with dangerous and incriminating privileged information? Everyone knows what happens to whistleblowers?
An insider threat . . . She has to be eliminated. The thumb drive.
Then there is Manus. He is also deaf (hearing impaired). A hitman? A connection. Can she trust Manus? Some hot action and sex between the two, until they realize they are caught up in the middle of this nightmare. Evie, Dash and Manus are in the crosshairs of a pair of government assassins (they will get the thumb drive no matter how many people they need to kill).
Inspired by Edward Snowden, former CIA infrastructure analyst (fascinating--a fan), and if you have kept abreast of programs such as PRISM, etc…you are going to love Eisler’s writing.
Even though I received an ARC, could not wait to listen to the audiobook. (highly recommend both). You need the digital or hardcopy for reference; however, the audiobook is exceptional. Eisler narrates his own book— (a clever move) --no one could have delivered such an explosive performance with the same intensity. A cautionary tale. Readers are going to love Marcus and Evie. Intense! The author grabs you from the first page to the last.
If you enjoyed the book, highly recommend reading, No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State, by Glenn Greenwald. (great audio)
As the author has reiterated in his interviews regarding the novel, the CIA and FBI have used multiple means of surveillance (nothing new) over the years to discredit and derail movements even back in the sixties and earlier. Of course today, technology has many advances with sophisticated and intrusive tools at the government’s disposal—you can only imagine how easy it would be to facilitate. Nothing is private. You are being tracked. From cell phones to internet, emails, chats, social media, spying, mapping connections, IP addresses, etc. Monitor and Control."
Can you say interconnectivity? The government can hack into anything or anyone’s life. From the internet---corporate, airlines, cars, etc.
“And of course, there's news about breaches, which means foreign organizations, criminals, and blackmailers can gain access to that confidential information, as well. You can name your villains--either in reality or in fiction--Russians, Chinese, Iranians, or any mafia organization. If there's a back door to this classified information, these organizations will be there to open and exploit it.”
As a whistleblower, you have to decide do you want to turn the other way, or bring forward the misconduct and prepare for the fight of your life.
An avid legal, political and crime thriller fan, THE GOD’S EYE VIEW crosses a number of genres to satisfy a wide range of readers. Fans of Lee Child, Michael Connelly, David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, and Michael Lewis’ The Big Short (book/movie tie in) will delight. Ideal front cover and title. (loved the research and liberties taken). Ideal for the Big Screen--I want a front row seat!
On a personal note: “For the Whistleblowers!”
As a former whistleblower (SOX Sarbanes-Oxley 2002); corporate accountability, pales in comparison to the magnitude (biggest security leak in US history) of Edward Snowden, and our US surveillance state, today. Hats off to him, and the many other government security whistleblowers, as well as all the courageous reporters, and journalists—risking their lives and families, to protect others. (as depicted here in the fictional version)—all so true.
Thank you, Barry for the awareness and dedication to whistleblowers, everywhere.
JDCMustReadBooks
zare_i's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting book on multiple fronts.
First, the story - it can be summed up in a simple quote "qui custodiet ipsos custodes". What if all the might and data-access of the state cyber security mechanisms are given to zealous few who think they are the righteous ones, ones that are the only capable to see and disseminate huge amount of data, point to nation's enemies and basically control the entire state and everyone within it. Nobody else, just them. This is basically story of a power-corrupts sort told by presenting the acting intelligence chief's fall into abyss of absolutism.
Second, the characters - as always Eisler's action men are people with whole lot of mental baggage. Here we see the Manus, deaf assassin having his entire world crushed when he finds out that his actions weren't always for a good cause, quite the opposite. To some this can sound weird but theme of a warrior losing his ground because his beliefs and faith have proven to be in conflict with his superiors is something that is present in literature for a long, long time.
Third, story again - and this brings us to the point of maltreatment of true devotees who work on their posts with all vigor and zeal of people serving the true cause. And then they come across a deviation, and of course they report it only to be smitten down by the very authority they serve - only because they have questioned that very same authority. If one is so easy to discard the very people that truly believe in the cause how can one expect anybody to be loyal?
I like the comments how far-fetched the story is. I will just say that almost all of the technological advancements first finds purpose in security services and then (years, years after) these same things enters the mass production. So claiming some things do not exists because you never heard of it (or anyone around you, including "experts") is very silly indeed.
And one of the points at the end is very very good - new acting intelligence chief says to our protagonists that no matter what happened service is state service and they are much much better alternative to corporate services. And I have to agree, because in private hands dangers multiply to crazy level because private enterprises will not be responsible to anyone.
Recommended to thriller fans.
First, the story - it can be summed up in a simple quote "qui custodiet ipsos custodes". What if all the might and data-access of the state cyber security mechanisms are given to zealous few who think they are the righteous ones, ones that are the only capable to see and disseminate huge amount of data, point to nation's enemies and basically control the entire state and everyone within it. Nobody else, just them. This is basically story of a power-corrupts sort told by presenting the acting intelligence chief's fall into abyss of absolutism.
Second, the characters - as always Eisler's action men are people with whole lot of mental baggage. Here we see the Manus, deaf assassin having his entire world crushed when he finds out that his actions weren't always for a good cause, quite the opposite. To some this can sound weird but theme of a warrior losing his ground because his beliefs and faith have proven to be in conflict with his superiors is something that is present in literature for a long, long time.
Third, story again - and this brings us to the point of maltreatment of true devotees who work on their posts with all vigor and zeal of people serving the true cause. And then they come across a deviation, and of course they report it only to be smitten down by the very authority they serve - only because they have questioned that very same authority. If one is so easy to discard the very people that truly believe in the cause how can one expect anybody to be loyal?
I like the comments how far-fetched the story is. I will just say that almost all of the technological advancements first finds purpose in security services and then (years, years after) these same things enters the mass production. So claiming some things do not exists because you never heard of it (or anyone around you, including "experts") is very silly indeed.
And one of the points at the end is very very good - new acting intelligence chief says to our protagonists that no matter what happened service is state service and they are much much better alternative to corporate services. And I have to agree, because in private hands dangers multiply to crazy level because private enterprises will not be responsible to anyone.
Recommended to thriller fans.
afox98's review against another edition
3.0
Usually I love Barry Eisler's books, but this one fell a bit flat for me. I had virtually no interest in the characters for about the first third of the book. The story did pick up later, but overall, still not his best work. Evie Gallagher is an NSA analyst who discovers some inconsistencies in the director's story about what's happened to a whistleblower and journalist. She and her deaf son get drawn in to quite a mess with hired killers and NSA operatives. Too slow at beginning, too fast at end. Some other reviewers have complained that the NSA surveillance stuff described in the book is not realistic. My take is that probably some of it is and some of it isn't, but either way, it doesn't detract from the story.
karenu's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Violence
Moderate: Ableism
ralhassan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lazy0718's review against another edition
4.0
A fast-paced techno-thriller, this book is a product of its time. As the author notes in his Author's note, if this book had come out after Snowden's leaks, this would seem way more fictional than it does now. Eisler takes the revelations we've learned about the NSA and its domestic surveillance apparatus, and shows what it could be like just a few steps further down the road.
I enjoyed some of the characters, which has some nice depth to them. I think the one real misstep here is the main villain, who comes off a bit too one-dimensional and "mustache-twirling" to be convincing. The villain's selfish motivation is clear, though, which helps keep the plot moving along at a brisk pace.
Right before I read this book, I watched the documentary Citizenfour, which let me understand most of the backstory and the concerns of all the characters. If you're like me and didn't follow the Edward Snowden leaks (or worse, just assumed Snowden and Chelsea Manning were leaking the same info), then check out the Citizenfour documentary as a good primer for the world this book inhabits.
I enjoyed some of the characters, which has some nice depth to them. I think the one real misstep here is the main villain, who comes off a bit too one-dimensional and "mustache-twirling" to be convincing. The villain's selfish motivation is clear, though, which helps keep the plot moving along at a brisk pace.
Right before I read this book, I watched the documentary Citizenfour, which let me understand most of the backstory and the concerns of all the characters. If you're like me and didn't follow the Edward Snowden leaks (or worse, just assumed Snowden and Chelsea Manning were leaking the same info), then check out the Citizenfour documentary as a good primer for the world this book inhabits.
dburgbacher's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
doug1's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
wrdtrvlr's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome! I couldn't stop reading it, even though at one point I wasn't even sure the author was on my side.
Eisler includes pages of references on the research he did in order to write this only-too-believable novel.
Eisler includes pages of references on the research he did in order to write this only-too-believable novel.
verafran's review against another edition
4.0
4 and half stars
This was a hard book to read, not because it's not well written - it really is very well done - but because of the subject matter and some characters. The plot, to me, is scarier than many horror books and movies out there.
Too much power concentrated at the hands of one single person who turns out to be a megalomaniac sociopath it's terrifying.
I had to read it in small doses, cringing at the insanity of one of the main characters, scared for others. They were all well written, real and scarily believable.
Not all characters are crazy sociopaths and psychopaths, but all of them are broken one way or another.
This book has some graphic violence and graphic sex scenes. If you're comfortable with those, you're good to go. If you're not, you get enough warning that let you skip these parts and not miss the great plot.
The main plot is solved in a way that makes sense, but the ending.... I won't spoil you.
This is a book worth reading but not for the faint of heart. There are enough twist, turns and surprises to make a fan of great thrillers very happy.
Maybe you'll finish this book a little bit paranoid, but that's not really a bad thing, right?
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and author [a:Barry Eisler|603|Barry Eisler|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1271016603p2/603.jpg] for sending me an ARC of The God's Eye View in exchange for an honest review.