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humatariq's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid novel by David Baldacci. I did felt that it was a bit long and could have been edited better. But I loved reading all the detailed descriptions, even though it went a bit too gory for me at times.
Spoiler Ahead. Consider yourself warned!!
From what I have heard, Baldacci does not have any immediate plans to take this story forward. Even if he wanted to, there is no clear direction for the franchise to go. Does he make the future book only about Shaw? But then how unique would Shaw be from Baldacci's Will Robie and John Puller? It's his partnership (or I guess just his association) with Katie James that makes Shaw stand out from Puller or Robie. I'm not sure if officially Baldacci calls the series "Shaw series" only, but I seem to remember having the series referred to as "Katie James and A. Shaw series" someplace online. If Baldacci wants to explore this partnership further, he has to find a better plot to make Shaw and Katie part of the same story again.
Other than that, I'm still geeking out over the many references Baldacci made to other mystery authors; Agatha Christie, Lee Child and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle!! I presume they were a fanboy'sman's nod to his favorite authors. Now would it have been too meta if Katie had picked up the latest King and Maxwell instead of a Lee Child.
“He rose, placed another small log on the fire, sat back down in his armchair, and opened his book.
"What are you reading?" Reggie asked.
"On a wild night like this? Agatha Christie, of course. I still feel compelled to see if Hercule Poirot's 'little gray cells' will do their job one more time. It seems to often inspire my own brain, however inferior it might be to the diminutive Belgian's.”
“That's because superstition has it that the first person who gets up from a party of thirteen will die?"
"Precisely. I believe Agatha Christie even wrote a mystery about it.”
“Katie James kept waking up. It was nothing unusual; it was just how she was. A noise here, an internal thought there, a nightmare that seemed so real she could touch it, kept hammering away. She finally rose, got some water and settled in an armchair, flicked on a reading light, and picked up the latest Lee Child thriller.”
“And he has guns and dogs that would make the Hound of Baskervilles seem like a bleeding Pekinese.”
Spoiler Ahead. Consider yourself warned!!
From what I have heard, Baldacci does not have any immediate plans to take this story forward. Even if he wanted to, there is no clear direction for the franchise to go. Does he make the future book only about Shaw? But then how unique would Shaw be from Baldacci's Will Robie and John Puller? It's his partnership (or I guess just his association) with Katie James that makes Shaw stand out from Puller or Robie. I'm not sure if officially Baldacci calls the series "Shaw series" only, but I seem to remember having the series referred to as "Katie James and A. Shaw series" someplace online. If Baldacci wants to explore this partnership further, he has to find a better plot to make Shaw and Katie part of the same story again.
Spoiler
The romance-fan-trapped-deep-within-my-brain wonders if Baldacci would leave us hanging after Katie has admitted to herself that she is in love with Shaw.Other than that, I'm still geeking out over the many references Baldacci made to other mystery authors; Agatha Christie, Lee Child and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle!! I presume they were a fan
“He rose, placed another small log on the fire, sat back down in his armchair, and opened his book.
"What are you reading?" Reggie asked.
"On a wild night like this? Agatha Christie, of course. I still feel compelled to see if Hercule Poirot's 'little gray cells' will do their job one more time. It seems to often inspire my own brain, however inferior it might be to the diminutive Belgian's.”
“That's because superstition has it that the first person who gets up from a party of thirteen will die?"
"Precisely. I believe Agatha Christie even wrote a mystery about it.”
“Katie James kept waking up. It was nothing unusual; it was just how she was. A noise here, an internal thought there, a nightmare that seemed so real she could touch it, kept hammering away. She finally rose, got some water and settled in an armchair, flicked on a reading light, and picked up the latest Lee Child thriller.”
“And he has guns and dogs that would make the Hound of Baskervilles seem like a bleeding Pekinese.”
ensnowed's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
chapita4's review against another edition
2.0
Three words.....gory, gory, gory. I am either losing my tolerance for graphic violence or this book is just way over the top. I could barely get through some parts and skipped entire pages because it was just too much. I also found the end pretty ant-climactic and it left the main characters unresolved (probably leading up to another book). I usually like Badlacci's books but this one was not one of my favorites. That being said, I would probably read the follow up book just to find out what happens with the characters.
gabmc's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting take on a typical thriller in that our heroes had to face several complications. I didn't love the characters though - they were too stereotypical for me: a 6'6" dark brooding guy who always saves the day and a petite but kick-ass girl who never loses. All in all a pretty good book
catchjaga's review against another edition
3.0
Gets predictable post half of the novel and becomes dragging towards the end.
hartpndg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jacqueshol's review against another edition
3.0
The book is a decent follow-up on the first book in the series, but the bickering between the two main characters, Reggie and Shaw, just became too much as the book progressed. Shaw's (re)actions towards the end were also disappointing. You would have thought that someone in his line of work would have a better perspective or interpretation of events. I didn't care for his self-pity.
kduffy's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book before I read the first one in this series but it didn't matter. Once I was done, I immediately read the other book. The character, Shaw, is interesting and the stories were exciting. Great, quick read.