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darth_vader's review against another edition
2.0
My least favorite DeMille novel. In the epilogue DeMille goes to the effort to explain that everything is fact checked. Well, the whole plot of igniting a nuclear weapon below sea level just doesn’t work. For maximum damage nuclear bombs are detonated hundreds of feet above surface. I found that whole part of the plot unbelievable.
A bullet fired from an M4 doe not lose momentum after 6” in the water. They are lethal many feet in to the water.
I found the assassination scene on the boat unnecessarily long and monotonous. How many pages were devoted to killing all those people on the yacht? Too many in my opinion.
Ok at the end of the book where the assassin played dead and made a come back at the end I thought was corny.
A bullet fired from an M4 doe not lose momentum after 6” in the water. They are lethal many feet in to the water.
I found the assassination scene on the boat unnecessarily long and monotonous. How many pages were devoted to killing all those people on the yacht? Too many in my opinion.
Ok at the end of the book where the assassin played dead and made a come back at the end I thought was corny.
tsumommy's review against another edition
4.0
The John Corey books are formulaic, but entertaining. This one was so macho, I grew a couple chest hairs, and I'm a chick. I love the reader of the audiobook, Scott Brick, he totally makes the book a worthwhile listen.
topdragon's review against another edition
5.0
John Corey is back, but alas, no longer a member of the Anti-Terrorism Task Force. He has long realized that while that agency may have good use for his skills, his approach to solving problems is not often a good fit for that bureaucracy or its leaders. He’s returned to New York City to take a job with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group which is an organization with the mission to watch foreign diplomats who may actually be spies. In essence, they spy on spies.
John Corey, well known eliminator of several of the world’s most notorious terrorists is assigned as the team lead to watch a particular Russian diplomat who is suspected of espionage. It’s interesting to note that the DeMille has shifted gears in this novel, mirroring, once again, what many real world Americans are thinking: so much attention to countering Middle Eastern terrorism but are we losing sight of other potential threats, like Russia. Sure enough, John Corey and his team are soon faced with a very real threat that would make 9-11 look minor in comparison. Acts of terror are not the only issues Corey must face in this novel however. His marriage also seems to be suffering and in fact, his wife Kate, who has played major roles in many of the previous books, is nowhere to be found in this one and is instead on assignment in Washington DC. No doubt more on that will unfold in the next novel to come.
As many other reviewers have noted, this 7th book in the John Corey series is a wonderful return to form after the plodding and somewhat painful previous book, [b:The Panther|13526026|The Panther (John Corey, #6)|Nelson DeMille|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338763739s/13526026.jpg|19086732]. First of all this one is quite a bit shorter coming it at only 311 hardback pages as opposed to 629 for The Panther, and yet it seems to be just as much story. Gone are the long “waiting around” chapters with the heavy and plodding observations of character motivations. This one is tightly focused with some very nice action sequences as well as appropriate character development. It does not feel rushed or “short” but rather a good well-rounded novel. I think it also helps (at least for me) that John Corey has returned to the US and is not stuck in Yemen or somewhere that is less relatable to the average reader.
If you’ve had second thoughts about this series or felt it going downhill, I urge you to give this one a go. When DeMille is on, he is very, very good.
John Corey, well known eliminator of several of the world’s most notorious terrorists is assigned as the team lead to watch a particular Russian diplomat who is suspected of espionage. It’s interesting to note that the DeMille has shifted gears in this novel, mirroring, once again, what many real world Americans are thinking: so much attention to countering Middle Eastern terrorism but are we losing sight of other potential threats, like Russia. Sure enough, John Corey and his team are soon faced with a very real threat that would make 9-11 look minor in comparison. Acts of terror are not the only issues Corey must face in this novel however. His marriage also seems to be suffering and in fact, his wife Kate, who has played major roles in many of the previous books, is nowhere to be found in this one and is instead on assignment in Washington DC. No doubt more on that will unfold in the next novel to come.
As many other reviewers have noted, this 7th book in the John Corey series is a wonderful return to form after the plodding and somewhat painful previous book, [b:The Panther|13526026|The Panther (John Corey, #6)|Nelson DeMille|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338763739s/13526026.jpg|19086732]. First of all this one is quite a bit shorter coming it at only 311 hardback pages as opposed to 629 for The Panther, and yet it seems to be just as much story. Gone are the long “waiting around” chapters with the heavy and plodding observations of character motivations. This one is tightly focused with some very nice action sequences as well as appropriate character development. It does not feel rushed or “short” but rather a good well-rounded novel. I think it also helps (at least for me) that John Corey has returned to the US and is not stuck in Yemen or somewhere that is less relatable to the average reader.
If you’ve had second thoughts about this series or felt it going downhill, I urge you to give this one a go. When DeMille is on, he is very, very good.
missyjohnson's review against another edition
3.0
This certainly made the car trip fly by. The narrator was excellent. I wonder, if I had been reading instead of listening, if I would have noticed how often some descriptions were used. The description of what lower Manhattan would look like, or causing the Saudis to be blamed, etc. Maybe if I had been reading and it was a couple of days between reading I might have needed the reminder. Hearing the same descriptions within a couple of hours made them stand out. Seemed as if they were space fillers. I do like the character John Corey and always enjoy the adventure that DeMille takes me on.
apalu's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
Bonus points for being shorter than the last few books. Also some extra points for not focusing on Muslim or Islamic terrorist. It was nice to get a change of pace from the clearly anti-islamic standpoint the author tends to foment. I thought that it was interesting the pairing with the new female lead, and not really discussing but sad breakup of the main character's marriage. That said it's kind of clear from how he interacts with women why a marriage would fall apart. Overall well worth the rain if you like the thriller genre and if you like the author.
jbzar's review against another edition
4.0
Well, what can I say. Pretty typical Nelson DeMille book. But that's what I expected. And it was worth the reading, if just for the relatively mindless entertainment value.
katemoxie's review against another edition
5.0
SO timely! Love snarky John Corey - his attitude provides the much needed comic relief. Do wish "the powers that be" would pay attention - "Ivan" is more of a threat than "Abdul"