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534n's review against another edition
1.0
Really really bad book. Wasted my time getting 2/3 the way through but I am finished with this garbage. I thought the idea was gonna make a great novel but the characters drove me absolutely nuts. Terrible main characters, terrible dialogue and terrible everything. So done with this book
duparker's review against another edition
2.0
So it was a quick read. Downside was that is because there is no meat to it. The bad guy is here mostly in the background, the main character is so racists and arrogant, I think he's the bad guy and his wife is all wha wha wha.
This series was so good, and then the switched flipped and you get this bland, page heavy book that goes nowhere. Waste of time, really.
This series was so good, and then the switched flipped and you get this bland, page heavy book that goes nowhere. Waste of time, really.
katemoxie's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED this book! John Corey is just snarky enough to keep the tension from becoming unbearable. Looking forward to the sequel in May of this year!
jbarr5's review against another edition
5.0
The Panther by Nelson DeMille
600+ pages, but I have read the author's other works and know it will be worth it.
Kate Mayfield and husband John Corey have agreed to an assignment in Yemen. They are to work with a small team to investigate The Cole bombing, they are out for the mastermind behind it all.
Liked hearing of how John accumulates the background on where he's going and what to expect with the travel and restrictions. They are not given much to go on when they arrive.
Chapters also from the panther's side of the story and what he achieves for his country.
Interesting following the story and the capture and how he can perceive danger and seek out other routes to take. They have become the hunted rather than hunting for the panther.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device)also purchased a hardbound copy.
600+ pages, but I have read the author's other works and know it will be worth it.
Kate Mayfield and husband John Corey have agreed to an assignment in Yemen. They are to work with a small team to investigate The Cole bombing, they are out for the mastermind behind it all.
Liked hearing of how John accumulates the background on where he's going and what to expect with the travel and restrictions. They are not given much to go on when they arrive.
Chapters also from the panther's side of the story and what he achieves for his country.
Interesting following the story and the capture and how he can perceive danger and seek out other routes to take. They have become the hunted rather than hunting for the panther.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device)also purchased a hardbound copy.
betty816's review against another edition
4.0
Love John Corey, one of my favorite protagonists! Not my favorite DeMille, but even a bad DeMille is an amazing book for me!
ncalv05's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
ericch's review against another edition
1.0
This book was a slow read. I normally zip through DeMille's John Corey novels in a few days, but this one was a struggle.
The first couple chapters were great, typical DeMille. But then the next 70 were full of Corey's sarcasm, which I love, but which got tiring in the absence of plot or action. The action picked up around chapter 70 and the book had a good finish.
The first couple chapters were great, typical DeMille. But then the next 70 were full of Corey's sarcasm, which I love, but which got tiring in the absence of plot or action. The action picked up around chapter 70 and the book had a good finish.
gbdill's review against another edition
4.0
It is apparent that the author is compensating for his manhood by living vicariously through the character, John Corey. If you can wade through the excessive misogynistic and xenophobic innuendos, along with the nationalistic/America-First propaganda there is actually a good story in this. I suppose I was expecting something more James Bond-like, but instead, I got Jason Bourne a la Donald Trump.
All fanciful machismo aside, it was still a good story. The premise of the story is that FBI Task Force agent John Corey and his wife have been called to Yemen to hunt down and find the lead architect of The USS Cole bombing in 2001, otherwise known as The Panther. Wading through government bureaucracy, political correctness, and dodging Al Quaeda ambushes, Corey and his government-assigned team go undercover with a mock kidnapping to lure The Panther to their trap. The question remains... will The Panther actually take the bait? You might be surprised.
A bit wordy, quite detailed, some of which is unnecessary, but very well written. Could have cut 200 pages from the novel and it would have likely been even more suspenseful. Nevertheless, a good story. I know I learned more about Yemen than any other book I've read on the subject. The historical, geographical, and cultural narratives were fantastic. It's obvious the author did his research about Yemen and its people.
So, if you can get past the obnoxious male chauvinism and xenophobia, you will actually enjoy the read. If not, don't even bother. Otherwise, it's a terrific story.
All fanciful machismo aside, it was still a good story. The premise of the story is that FBI Task Force agent John Corey and his wife have been called to Yemen to hunt down and find the lead architect of The USS Cole bombing in 2001, otherwise known as The Panther. Wading through government bureaucracy, political correctness, and dodging Al Quaeda ambushes, Corey and his government-assigned team go undercover with a mock kidnapping to lure The Panther to their trap. The question remains... will The Panther actually take the bait? You might be surprised.
A bit wordy, quite detailed, some of which is unnecessary, but very well written. Could have cut 200 pages from the novel and it would have likely been even more suspenseful. Nevertheless, a good story. I know I learned more about Yemen than any other book I've read on the subject. The historical, geographical, and cultural narratives were fantastic. It's obvious the author did his research about Yemen and its people.
So, if you can get past the obnoxious male chauvinism and xenophobia, you will actually enjoy the read. If not, don't even bother. Otherwise, it's a terrific story.
kkellymsu's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't a fan of the violence in the last quarter of the book, but I should have assumed that. My first impression with John Corey was that the author had written him to speak about minorities in a very insensitive and unnecessary manner. But on reflection, the character's voice is very accurate to how I know many law enforcement individuals of that generation to sound.
mrsfligs's review against another edition
4.0
John Corey—Nelson DeMille’s smart-ass, wise-cracking, ex-cop turned Anti-Terrorist Task Force agent—is one of my all-time favorite fictional action heroes. From the first time I met him in Plum Island, I knew that Corey had everything I look for: courage, fallibility and (most importantly) a sarcastic sense of humor. I’ve followed Corey’s exploits through all six of his books. By this point, I know what to expect: a fast-paced thrill ride focused on some type of government cover-up or terrorist activity. So I was thrilled when I saw The Panther featured not just John Corey but also Paul Brenner (who made appearances in two other DeMille books, The General’s Daughter and Up Country). What a kick to see two of DeMille’s fictional creations go mano-a-mano!
The plot, as usual, is very topical. Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, are sent to Yemen to track down an Al Qaeda leader named The Panther, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the USS Cole bombing. The Yemen setting is a huge part of the book, and DeMille obviously did his homework. The week after I finished the book, Time magazine had a story on Yemen that touched on many of the things mentioned in the book—including the pervasiveness of khat, the political situation, the landscape and Al Qaeda’s presence. It was like seeing the book come to life.
The book is essentially your basic “cat and mouse” story. This is both a help and a hindrance. On the plus side, DeMille ratchets up the tension by keeping Corey on the perpetual edge of death in one of the most dangerous countries in the Middle East. On the con side, a cat and mouse story ends when the cat gets the mouse (or vice versa) so there was certain amount of repetitiveness and stalling as we waited for our two adversaries to finally meet. DeMille throws in plenty of other machinations (you just never know who to trust … including Corey), but I began to feel like things got a bit repetitive. The saving grace, as always, is Corey himself. With a constant stream of sarcasm and smart-assery flowing from his mouth, you’re never bored with Corey along. (Though I imagine he would be a pain in real life.) Still, I felt this book stalled out in the middle as we waited for the denouement.
All that being said, I enjoyed the book and will continue reading Corey books as long DeMille wants to write them. If you’re new to John Corey, I suggest starting from the beginning (Plum Island) and working your way through the rest. The series is always engaging and humorous—though you might find yourself turning into a bit of a conspiracy theorist. If you’re already a Corey fan, know that this isn’t the strongest Corey book but our guy is still his wonderful sarcastic self.
The plot, as usual, is very topical. Corey and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, are sent to Yemen to track down an Al Qaeda leader named The Panther, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the USS Cole bombing. The Yemen setting is a huge part of the book, and DeMille obviously did his homework. The week after I finished the book, Time magazine had a story on Yemen that touched on many of the things mentioned in the book—including the pervasiveness of khat, the political situation, the landscape and Al Qaeda’s presence. It was like seeing the book come to life.
The book is essentially your basic “cat and mouse” story. This is both a help and a hindrance. On the plus side, DeMille ratchets up the tension by keeping Corey on the perpetual edge of death in one of the most dangerous countries in the Middle East. On the con side, a cat and mouse story ends when the cat gets the mouse (or vice versa) so there was certain amount of repetitiveness and stalling as we waited for our two adversaries to finally meet. DeMille throws in plenty of other machinations (you just never know who to trust … including Corey), but I began to feel like things got a bit repetitive. The saving grace, as always, is Corey himself. With a constant stream of sarcasm and smart-assery flowing from his mouth, you’re never bored with Corey along. (Though I imagine he would be a pain in real life.) Still, I felt this book stalled out in the middle as we waited for the denouement.
All that being said, I enjoyed the book and will continue reading Corey books as long DeMille wants to write them. If you’re new to John Corey, I suggest starting from the beginning (Plum Island) and working your way through the rest. The series is always engaging and humorous—though you might find yourself turning into a bit of a conspiracy theorist. If you’re already a Corey fan, know that this isn’t the strongest Corey book but our guy is still his wonderful sarcastic self.