Reviews

The Final Cut by Michael Dobbs

jonniemis's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

dyslexzak's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A fitting end to the trilogy.

I didn’t like To Play the King, but loved House of Cards enough to return for the final book in the series and I’m glad I did.

aherreroparareda's review against another edition

5.0

Francis Urguhart is not ready to go...
His urge to be immortal frces him to fight for power and a bright future ahead, but, as you shall discover, timing is everything.
Michael Dobbs ends his first trilogy with the certainty that being remembered is the purpose of life. Not being capable of having children, "FU" has decided to butcher every single person who would dare putting themselves in his way to remembrance.
This final book gives all closure you may imagine. But I couldn't possibly comment.

tarmstrong112's review against another edition

1.0

I wanted to love it, but much like the TV show, it's the weakest of the three parts by a wide margin.

tharina's review

An interesting conclusion to an intriguing series. I thoroughly enjoyed the sarcastic comments, quips and off-the-cuff insults the politicians hurled at each other.

The character of Elizabeth is a mixed success. She is an intelligent force to be reckoned with in this book, far more like her counterpart in the Netflix series than in the previous two books. However, therein lies the rub - the previous books firmly established her as a bit of a silly, shallow socialite. It's hard to take the change seriously.

canada_matt's review

4.0

Dobbs ties off the House of Cards series with a bang and pens, perhaps, his best novel of the trilogy. Diving head-on into a Thatcheresque prime ministership, our main character, aptly nicknamed “F.U.” forges ahead and tries to lay the groundwork for a place in the history books as the longest serving prime minister of the 20th century. Little does he know that his actions from decades past will come back to haunt him as his own party stands fractured and on the brink of disaster. Add to that, a cocky election call and all Britons are looking at how things will play out at 10 Downing Street, as well as around the world. Layering this main story with the potential reunification of Cypress, led by F.U. and his Foreign Minister, the story’s pushes through like something out of the world of Jeffrey Archer. Highly entertaining and while perhaps somewhat predictable, Dobbs pushes F.U. to the brink of his wretchedness in order to lie and steal his way into the minds and books of schoolchildren everywhere.

I am now prepared to find and watch the BBC series, sure not to have any spoilers ruin the book for me. Dobbs paints wonderful political and character imagery throughout the series and leaves the best for last. The two bookend books are, by far, the better of the three and make the series come alive and injects just enough intrigue to sate any political nut, particularly of the British parliamentary system.

Kudos Mr. Dobbs on the completion of an excellent series and on this, the literal final chapter,of our beloved set of characters.

amosnoyun's review against another edition

5.0

To quote another book, "Govinda Shauri always has a plan." The same can be said for Francis Urquhart, the longest serving British PM.
Honestly, after the first two novels, I thought 'The Final Cut' was going to be another dull read, extolling the sins of politics without getting into it properly.
But, 'The Final Cut' impressed me. It was what a political thriller should be: absolute power, a shaky edifice and lots of sacrifices. Lots of them.
Tom Makepeace was too principled for the book. It made for a dull read that way.

However, I honestly thought Tom Makepeaces's march would destroy Francis. In a way, it kinda did. The ending was typical of Indian political thrillers, but in this context, it made for the best climax I have read.