aspygirlsmom_1995's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jonetta's review against another edition
4.0
Dennis Rooney and his brother, Kevin, decide at the spur of the moment to rob a convenience store in Bristo Camino, California, with a new friend who was recently released from prison. What was supposed to be a simple robbery goes terribly wrong and is compounded when they take refuge in a suburban home with the residents on premises. Jeff Talley, the chief of police in this quiet community, is a former LAPD SWAT negotiator who took this job as an escape from his stressful past. Now, he's faced with a deadly situation that calls for him to use all of his former training to get the hostages released unharmed.
There were quite a few twists and turns in this story that kept me off balance and completely riveted. So many were not as they appeared and the robbers were unpredictable. Tally is a pretty flawed guy who ends up having a personal stake in the outcome. The dynamics between the robbers add another layer of suspense as each has a separate agenda. I normally am attempting to figure out who the real villains are while reading a mystery/suspense but this time I was just trying to keep up with all the emotional and plot shifts. I couldn't put this audiobook down and looked for excuses to drive so I could listen.
This is my first book by Crais and it won't be my last. His writing style works really well with the genre, using an economy of words that effectively tells the story, defines the characters and moves the plot along at a pace that left me breathless. If that's appealing to you, add this book to your shelf.
There were quite a few twists and turns in this story that kept me off balance and completely riveted. So many were not as they appeared and the robbers were unpredictable. Tally is a pretty flawed guy who ends up having a personal stake in the outcome. The dynamics between the robbers add another layer of suspense as each has a separate agenda. I normally am attempting to figure out who the real villains are while reading a mystery/suspense but this time I was just trying to keep up with all the emotional and plot shifts. I couldn't put this audiobook down and looked for excuses to drive so I could listen.
This is my first book by Crais and it won't be my last. His writing style works really well with the genre, using an economy of words that effectively tells the story, defines the characters and moves the plot along at a pace that left me breathless. If that's appealing to you, add this book to your shelf.
helenmcg's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
paulmslima's review against another edition
4.0
This is the third book by Robert Crais that I've read recently. I'm Enjoying his work. His character can be a tad two dimensional, but his main character in this one was the most developed yet. His plots can be a bit cliched, but hey are real page turners. This was a real page turner and then some. The story involves a robbery gone bad that leads to a murder and then kidnapping and shooting of a cop and then a team of police in a small town outside of LA surrounding a house where a father and two kids are held hostage. But oh are there complications. I won't give anything away other than to say if you like page turning thrillers with twists and turns, and murder and mayhem, you will most likely enjoy this book
ericwelch's review against another edition
4.0
Audiobook: What do you get when you mix three men, two of them brothers and the other a psychopath, who decide to rob a convenience store in a sleepy suburban neighborhood; a local chief of police, Jeff Talley, ex-LAPD hostage negotiator trying to recover from a hostage situation that went horribly wrong; and a house where the robbers take refuge just happens to be where a mob accountant lives? A really good story.
This book is not part of Crais’ Joe Pike or Elvis Cole series. Very entertaining listen.
This book is not part of Crais’ Joe Pike or Elvis Cole series. Very entertaining listen.
vailynst's review against another edition
3.0
Notes:
Low end of 3 Stars
This one was not as interesting. It would have been more fun as a B flick action movie. That's more or less how I think of Crais' books. Decent action flicks in book format.
Low end of 3 Stars
This one was not as interesting. It would have been more fun as a B flick action movie. That's more or less how I think of Crais' books. Decent action flicks in book format.
readinglegend's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
video to come later
shazzalovesnovels's review
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Listening to this was such an experience!
We follow a few perspectives in this one. The book kicks off with a very intense hostage situation. A great way to start off because it got my heart beating. Here we are introduced to hostage negotiator, Talley.
In the next scene, three individuals are somewhat introduced to the story. One of them comes up with the intelligent decision to rob a quickie mart and ropes the other two into helping him. They kill the store attendant and flee the scene. Without success. Somehow they end up holding a family hostage as collateral and..it just escalates from there. Soon, Talley is using his mind skills to negotiate with the hostage-takers but things get complicated when one of them finds something in the house..and how did the mafia get in the picture?
I loved the narrator's voice and accent in this one.
We follow a few perspectives in this one. The book kicks off with a very intense hostage situation. A great way to start off because it got my heart beating. Here we are introduced to hostage negotiator, Talley.
In the next scene, three individuals are somewhat introduced to the story. One of them comes up with the intelligent decision to rob a quickie mart and ropes the other two into helping him. They kill the store attendant and flee the scene. Without success. Somehow they end up holding a family hostage as collateral and..it just escalates from there. Soon, Talley is using his mind skills to negotiate with the hostage-takers but things get complicated when one of them finds something in the house..and how did the mafia get in the picture?
I loved the narrator's voice and accent in this one.
perri's review
5.0
Hostage is like a season of "24" in a book-non stop, pulsing, hair raising drama. I like when the villains and heroes have wonderfully,different,complex, human qualities. My first five star Thriller book for 2015
reanne's review
I tried this book because I liked "Suspect" by this author a lot, but I couldn't get into it. Too much plot without character development for me. People who like thrillers might like this, but as I like more character-focused stories, it just didn't do anything for me.