arthur_pendrgn's review
2.0
No fault of Mr. Deaver's; cult settings are not my favorite--I find the manipulation difficult to read about. The fact that Deaver spent so many pages on Master Eli's speeches was originally enlightening and then just tedious.
I had to check when this book was written to see if the narcissistic cult leader was based on a particular person.
Two things didn't ring true to me--the Companion's reaction to Shaw's reveal and Victoria's presence. Not that Shaw couldn't have a female foil, but that both of them would be there at the same time.
I had to check when this book was written to see if the narcissistic cult leader was based on a particular person.
Two things didn't ring true to me--the Companion's reaction to Shaw's reveal and Victoria's presence. Not that Shaw couldn't have a female foil, but that both of them would be there at the same time.
furzy's review against another edition
1.0
Utter tripe from start to finish. I persisted in the vain hope that the wooden characters would come to life and that there would be some sort of satisfactory resolution to the hollow disjointed plot. I was wrong - very wrong ... it actually gets worse as the book progresses. I’m astonished that this book was written by the same person who wrote Jeffrey Deaver’s early books.
doonera's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
llkendrick's review
2.0
The beginning and ending were great but the middle was so boring. I was close to not finishing it.
cjeanne99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
3.75
Multiple story lines - I guess because Colter Shaw tracking down his father’s murderers is going to be an ongoing theme until that is resolved.
Colter is looking for two teenage boys who have been accused of defacing a church with neo-Nazi symbols and then shooting at the pastor and a deacon. Colter finds them - and one of the boys leaps off a cliff to his death - leading Colter on the sub path of the Osiris Foundation. Led by David Giles - aka Brother Eli - the Osiris Foundation (cult) offers a residential training program to teach you the “process” - getting you to learn that “the best is yet to come” - so that after you pay large sums and then put the Osiris Foundation in your will - they convince you to commit suicide.
Colter gets himself a new identity and successfully becomes a Novice at the Foundaiton. He finds some friends among the residents - they work together to find evidence that Brother Eli is a fraud and is actually responsible for the murders of some investigative journalists as well as other cult members. One of these friends may turn out to be a future collaborator for Colter - especially after she saves his hide - and he in turn saves her.
We have some usual Deaver plot twists - and a couple of convenient adjustments to the story line. But - we meet Colter’s mother - his Florida based “handlers” make an appearance as does his “arch rival” in the tracking world.
All in all this is shaping up to be a good series.
Colter is looking for two teenage boys who have been accused of defacing a church with neo-Nazi symbols and then shooting at the pastor and a deacon. Colter finds them - and one of the boys leaps off a cliff to his death - leading Colter on the sub path of the Osiris Foundation. Led by David Giles - aka Brother Eli - the Osiris Foundation (cult) offers a residential training program to teach you the “process” - getting you to learn that “the best is yet to come” - so that after you pay large sums and then put the Osiris Foundation in your will - they convince you to commit suicide.
Colter gets himself a new identity and successfully becomes a Novice at the Foundaiton. He finds some friends among the residents - they work together to find evidence that Brother Eli is a fraud and is actually responsible for the murders of some investigative journalists as well as other cult members. One of these friends may turn out to be a future collaborator for Colter - especially after she saves his hide - and he in turn saves her.
We have some usual Deaver plot twists - and a couple of convenient adjustments to the story line. But - we meet Colter’s mother - his Florida based “handlers” make an appearance as does his “arch rival” in the tracking world.
All in all this is shaping up to be a good series.
hera90's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
meggm1202's review
5.0
This book had a great suspenseful plot and lots of intriguing twists. I did not realize this was the second of the series and I still really enjoyed it.
johntra44's review against another edition
3.0
The book could be more better in the first part. I think this book takes so much time on building an introduction to the cult, the place in that cult, and the system working within it. But, once 100 pages you get through, it was one of the most thrilling part of the novel. I think the story is smart. The cult is not just some cash-grab organization that deceived the people, it is way more darker than that, that involves its attendees' life.
I thought at first the idea to veer to investigating a cult in the second Colter Shaw series was a serious setback from the clever, first in the series The Never Game. The Never Game uses more of its protagonist intellect than this second installment. But, The Goodbye Man delivers in how it works up its story. I hoped Shaw had used more his ability, but I'm still satisfied with the book (Could have been a four, honestly)
I thought at first the idea to veer to investigating a cult in the second Colter Shaw series was a serious setback from the clever, first in the series The Never Game. The Never Game uses more of its protagonist intellect than this second installment. But, The Goodbye Man delivers in how it works up its story. I hoped Shaw had used more his ability, but I'm still satisfied with the book (Could have been a four, honestly)