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pranjallives's review
adventurous
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jeanetterenee's review against another edition
3.0
I started listening to this talking book on a day when I had a blinding headache and thus could not read anything in print (or do anything else, for that matter). I listened to almost half of the book on that day, but it took me considerably longer to get through the rest of it. Not too bad as suspenseful spy stories go. Sort of Ludlumesque, but not as tightly nor intricately plotted as his stuff.
I found it quite confusing trying to figure out each character's back story and how they fit into the present plot, and in the end, there was still one detail that didn't make sense to me. (I can't say what it is because it would be a major spoiler.)
Anyway, a decent story that held my interest. Never underestimate the power of a red Jaguar and a couple of Vicodin! :D ;)
I found it quite confusing trying to figure out each character's back story and how they fit into the present plot, and in the end, there was still one detail that didn't make sense to me. (I can't say what it is because it would be a major spoiler.)
Anyway, a decent story that held my interest. Never underestimate the power of a red Jaguar and a couple of Vicodin! :D ;)
ericwelch's review against another edition
1.0
I'm actually surprised I finished this. I suppose it's like watching a movie in a theater, you keep hoping it will get better and besides the popcorn is good (assuming lots of extra butter.) The prose is a very deep shade of purple and the euphemisms(the word "wipe" is consistently used in place of "kill") and the relationships really superficial.
snowcrash's review
3.0
I am always seeking a good yarn about spies and the roles they play in the world. This book sounded interesting, as it is about a hunter of those who don't want to be found. Such as former or current spies.
The trade craft part of the book is pretty good. A lot of the plot is similar to many other books, about who do you trust and why. Is the traitor spy a better person than the DCI or DDO? The major plot points and twists were predictable. The minor plot points, subtle in their release and one not until the last couple of pages could have made the whole book even better if explored further. It is the uncomfortable situations those in the spy business find themselves and the crappy decisions they have to make that I like. As long as the story stayed away from technology, it felt solid.
I wanted more of the chase, more about how the hunter really does her job. But as soon as she gets into a groove, the whole book shifts to her figuring out who is loyal and being hunted herself. In this regard, the back of the book is misleading. Watching Elaine do her work would have been enthralling (kind of like Victor in Tom Wood's books).
Note, the book was published in 2006, a year before the iPhone was launched. The technology talked about and supposedly used would be advanced even today. Or not even exist. In such things, I get hyper sensitive. The portions of the book where technology magic was used to advanced the plot felt like 1970's James Bond (fun movies with great stunts not cemented in reality). A lot of use of GPS in phones, but how do the characters use the tracking information to find their prey? Or ability to access a recording from many miles away without the use of a cell system?
In the end, I thought there was more potential. This is a stand alone book, for which I applaud the author. Too many authors build 10 book deep series instead of developing something new. The trade craft felt right, but got bogged down (for me) with sci-fi kind of technology that detracted from how the spies operate in the world.
The trade craft part of the book is pretty good. A lot of the plot is similar to many other books, about who do you trust and why. Is the traitor spy a better person than the DCI or DDO? The major plot points and twists were predictable. The minor plot points, subtle in their release and one not until the last couple of pages could have made the whole book even better if explored further. It is the uncomfortable situations those in the spy business find themselves and the crappy decisions they have to make that I like. As long as the story stayed away from technology, it felt solid.
I wanted more of the chase, more about how the hunter really does her job. But as soon as she gets into a groove, the whole book shifts to her figuring out who is loyal and being hunted herself. In this regard, the back of the book is misleading. Watching Elaine do her work would have been enthralling (kind of like Victor in Tom Wood's books).
Note, the book was published in 2006, a year before the iPhone was launched. The technology talked about and supposedly used would be advanced even today. Or not even exist. In such things, I get hyper sensitive. The portions of the book where technology magic was used to advanced the plot felt like 1970's James Bond (fun movies with great stunts not cemented in reality). A lot of use of GPS in phones, but how do the characters use the tracking information to find their prey? Or ability to access a recording from many miles away without the use of a cell system?
In the end, I thought there was more potential. This is a stand alone book, for which I applaud the author. Too many authors build 10 book deep series instead of developing something new. The trade craft felt right, but got bogged down (for me) with sci-fi kind of technology that detracted from how the spies operate in the world.
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