laurennb's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
izzy14's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars!! My first thriller and what an introduction to the genre. Surprising, gripping and impossible to put down!
hornsounder's review against another edition
medium-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? It's complicated
3.25
callikat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-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
3.0
I thought it was very interesting, it just took way too long to get to the point. I was 70% of the way through the book before the plot is revealed -- and while some books hinge on that mystery/guessing though context clues, I don't think it added anything here. It wasn't so much a mystery thriller, more like an action film, so I think not knowing what's going on for most of the novel didn't really do anything for me, I was just bored. The ending was good, I just think the pacing was off.
antkneeomonster's review against another edition
4.0
Only Ira Levin could sell a twist as absurd as this one, and it's completely credible until you finish the book and go, "what a second. This is bullshit!"
Not quite at the same level as Rosemary's Baby, but still typically compulsive reading and razor sharp dialogue.
Not quite at the same level as Rosemary's Baby, but still typically compulsive reading and razor sharp dialogue.
bundy23's review against another edition
4.0
I've never seen the film so I went in blind with a slight fear that it was going to be some hokey Hollywood garbage but instead I got a pretty fun little thriller(?) about Mengele, 90-odd Hitler clones and a determined Nazi hunter. It was full of Hollywood-esqe cliches but not as bad as it could've been and it was always entertaining and short enough to not overstay it's welcome.
tab2004's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book even though it is dated in alot of ways. I don't think many people realize that a certain amount of our medical knowledge on subjects such as hypothermia and first aid come from the horrible experiments that the Nazi's performed on death camp inmates. Due to this background I can completely see them trying out cloning and adding the psychological triggers to go along with it. In that regard I feel the plot works. I sometimes wish that Levin would dig a little deeper into the characters though. Overall a good read in my opinion.
theresanels's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
ktrain3900's review against another edition
4.0
Who knew Nazis could be so much fun? Oh wait, hold on there...who knew Nazi-hunting could be so much fun? Equal parts humor, nightmare, sci-fi, and action, this is a book that's hard to put down once you start. It's got both heart and horror, suspense and rumination; it's both uplifting and chilling. I couldn't tell you the last time I enjoyed a book without a female lead to be found, yet enjoy this I did, and very much. There was a nice balance between the exposition and denouement, and no one got off easy, except perhaps some of the boys. Why this hasn't yet become a classic, in our age of neo-Nazis and white supremacism, I don't know.