quiraang's review against another edition
2.0
Not one of Baldacci's best novels, but I quite enjoyed it. A good spin on perception management and how the public can be manipulated using the news, social media and the Internet.
My main issue with the story was the lack of depth to the characters. I'm going to read the second of the series, mainly because the reviews I have read have been widely divergent and I'm curious to see if the next book is so good/bad.
My main issue with the story was the lack of depth to the characters. I'm going to read the second of the series, mainly because the reviews I have read have been widely divergent and I'm curious to see if the next book is so good/bad.
drsdon's review
3.0
I haven't picked up a Baldacci book in awhile, having read most of his stuff for awhile and this particularly book always being checked out from the library. It was billed as his first international thriller book, as his other works deal solely with the U.S., primarily around political-government thrillers/conspiracy theories. Compared to the recent books I've read by Khoury or Steve Berry that are international in the scope of their mystery and action, this book took a little longer to get into, a little longer for the story to hit its stride. But it was worth it, I think, in the end, as it allowed for more character development. I always think character development is so important for a really good book; it allows you to feel, with a measured intensity, what the characters are supposedly feeling. It draws you into the book's world better, and thus allows for a better escape from this world. As the book is still based on action and mystery, there's not a ton of time spent on developing the personality and emotions of the characters. But enough is spent that you can tell the difference in this book as compared to others in the genre. Because of that, I think it makes the book a better read.
xkay_readsx's review
4.0
Love Baldacci's books including this one. This was a great read although it started slow. Not a fan of Katie, her character is annoying.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘Why waste time discovering the truth when you can so easily create it?’
[This is another book I read through a sleepless night. My score reflects the fact that the book distracted me mightily. I am fascinated by the world of 'perception management' and I see evidence around me that this is neither entirely fictional nor far-fetched. Each reader can draw his own conclusions. There are definitely character development issues that would have ordinarily reduced my star rating - but not this time....:]
Why indeed? Far outside the world of spin doctors (whose words generally contain at least a kernel of truth) are the ‘perception managers’ whose role it is to create particular situations or the fear of those situations in such a way that people, organisations (and governments) react in specific ways.
Far fetched? Hmm. That may depend upon your own perceptions of the powers of those who are solely motivated either by self-interest or by a view that only they know what is real and what is not. We can each make up our minds there.
The worlds of Nicolas Creel, Shaw, and Katie James are not pleasant places. You may make up your own mind about how far people might actually go in the pursuit of ends they consider important.
This novel was an excellent ‘rainy day read’ for me. I didn’t care for the character development, nor did I always accept some of the reactions. For these reasons I am not giving the novel four stars. However, this is a fast-moving story that does, if you are so minded, catch you up within a world where facts are relative, where some will stoop to nothing in order to try to manipulate for the outcomes they are seeking. A little like someone starting a fire to demonstrate how effectively they might put it out. Some of you may see parallels in other recent world events, others may dismiss it as pure hyperbole. Your choice.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
scott_a_miller's review
5.0
Absolutely everything fun about a thriller. Loved the characters. This is clearly ANOTHER great Baldacci series.
martyfried's review
3.0
This starts out with a premise that seems all too possible, and pertains to a problem that I feel is way too prevalent - the power of social media to spreat fake news to overly-gullible sheeple who don't have the time or inclination to question what they read before spamming it to all their hundreds of "friends" across the world. After all, nobody would make a fake video and post it, would they? Isn't it illegal to post false news on the internet?
midlifehedgewitch's review
2.0
Really? Baldacci is a best selling author with writing as amateurish as this? This book was far too long, the characters one dimensional, the bad guys laughable. One bad dude even says 'I am the chosen one.' Then there's pieces of writing like this: 'To say these facts spread like a California wildlife would have been a bit of an understatement.' And no, that is not a character speaking, that is part of one of the many lazy fact dumps -chapters of them- contained within the book.
Ugh, lazy. Where were Baldacci's editors? Obviously out to lunch slurping champagne...
Ugh, lazy. Where were Baldacci's editors? Obviously out to lunch slurping champagne...
carrolk3's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. Baldacci has a new character, Shaw, which is refreshing. Sometimes after several books with the same characters, the plots start to get stale. There is a lot of action in this book - yes, there are many bodies left along the way, but I found the main theme of "perception management" fascinating, although a bit scary. If you are looking for a fast read in the thiller genre, I'd really recommend this book.
alice2000's review
3.0
The characters in this book- Shaw, Katie James, Nicolas Creel and even Frank- were some of the most three dimensional ones that David Baldacci has ever done. There were many shades of grey and it wasn't easy to decide definitively that the bad guys were, in fact, bad.
I hope he revisits this group of characters again in the future.
I hope he revisits this group of characters again in the future.
magicj_001's review
1.0
Poor book compared to other Baldacci novels. Wouldn't recommend this or the sequel (Deliver us from Evil) no matter how big a fan you are. There are too many better books to spend you time on.
Plot is full of holes. Very difficult to understand motivation of Shaw and his relationship to Frank (his handler) and whoever is giving him orders. Are they trying to kill him? During one gunfight they obviously are trying to kill him, but this is never explained away and a few chapters later he is back following orders? Very disappointing!
Plot is full of holes. Very difficult to understand motivation of Shaw and his relationship to Frank (his handler) and whoever is giving him orders. Are they trying to kill him? During one gunfight they obviously are trying to kill him, but this is never explained away and a few chapters later he is back following orders? Very disappointing!