 |
Deal Breaker - Harlan Coben
by milmol7
Having read two of Coben's standalone novels I was keen to get into his "Myron Bolitar" series, and have been looking for the first in the series in order not to miss anything of the characterisation. When I spotted it in my local charity shop, I snapped it up.
The book introduces Myron, a huge sports star in his ... day, who retired due to injury and is now a relative newcomer to the world of being a Sports Agent. The story also introduces other characters who I guess will feature in future books, Esperanza and Win, his "operational" sidekicks, and also Jess, who although an 'ex' at the start of the book, comes across as being the true love of Myron's life. Time will tell on that one.
The gist of the story, without giving too much away goes like this... Myron is representing a young sports star, Christian (fortunate name, as in my mind I thought of him as being as famous as Cristiano Ronaldo!) with one of the biggest sports teams locked in negotiations for his signature. Out of the blue, Christian receives an adult magazine featuring a nude photograph of a girlfriend of his, Kathy, who disappeared in suspicious circumstances 18 months previously, presumed dead - her underwear was found, which was the only trace to her. This girlfriend turns out to be the sister of Myron's ex, Jess, which is a handy personal interest for the central character. The appearance of the magazine is followed by a telephone call to Christian, also believed to be from Kathy. Other characters in the book are also linked back to Kathy as it transpires that they too have received or seen the magazine and/or had calls. To add to the story, Jess & Kathy's father has been murdered in a supposed random botched mugging a short time before the book begins.
The book then follows Myron & Win trying to unravel the mystery and the various theories about where the magazine & calls originated, how the people who received or saw the magazine are linked, why these things happened, what actually happened to kathy, and obviously critically, whether she really is still alive. Various theories are tried out ... whether the team are trying to scandalise Christian to reduce his value, whether Kathy had had affairs, out-and-out blackmail, deeply hidden family secrets, long-buried scandal, etc. Running throughout the story is Myron and Jess's 'love' story as they reaquaint with each other and old feelings return to the surface as they are forced to investigate into the recent and distant past to try and piece the puzzle together. Even though there are lots of strands to the 'mystery' the plot is still relatively easy to follow, and whilst there are a lot of characters in the book I only found myself wondering "now who's that?" on one occasion.
I find Coben's style of writing really easy going, although the language is very American, with some moments needing re-reading on my part. On the subject of language - there is a lot of bad language in the book, again one to avoid if that's a problem for you. Personally I'm not bothered by "F"s in writing as it lends realism to dialogue, although some of this did seem a bit over the top! The other thing to bear in mind is the overall 'setting' of the book - American sports. Again, this should be expected bearing in mind Myron's background and career, but it is very central to the book and a basic understanding may help! Chapters are kept short so it makes great reading in work breaks, although most chapters do leave you wanting to read the next, which is a always a good sign.
There are also elements of sex and violence in the book but again, I found all of these scenes well written, and the violence was not gratuitously gory or anything.
I have definitely enjoyed reading Deal Breaker, it kept me guessing until the end, and was wrapped up nicely and satisfyingly, but I can't say I was as "bowled over" by Myron Bolitar as I hoped to have been. In the crime genre however it was definitely an excellent read, and I will read more of his stories, however, now that I have met the characters.
Read the complete review |
|
|
Dead or Alive - Tom Clancy
by jacketpotato
Dead or Alive continues Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan universe, the series of novels written revolving around the main character John Patrick Ryan. It is the second in the series containing Jack Ryan Jr. as he continues his work with The Campus, a secret organisation conceptualised by his father Jack Ryan Sr. and run as an off the books ... anti-terrorism task force working both intelligence and field work.
I will try not to spoil the book in this review.
This novel directly continues The Teeth of the Tiger, even with its 7 year publication gap, with the hunt for The Emir, a fictional character who is the leader of an radical Islamic terrorist group. The Emir has orchestrated a new series of terrorist acts in an attempt to destroy the United States, from within. Trying to unravel who The Emir is and then find and stop this mad man's actions, are the small group contained at The Campus.
Tom Clancy again does what he is great at. He shows snippets of intertwining stories which build in crescendo with their suspense, leaving you wondering what is being planned and how they are going to go about it.
The characters, both good and bad, have their thoughts and reasoning for their actions explained so that you can better understand why one would choose to commit their deeds (I wrote understand, not approve). And when it comes to action, every minute second is dissected like a CSI slow mo breakdown, and you feel apart of the process, not missing a heartbeat of information.
I like how Tom Clancy has managed to interweave fiction with events that have occurred in the past, throughout the whole Jack Ryan universe. This is continued in Dead or Alive, where 9/11 has occurred and The Emir is clearly a character heavily based upon Osama Bin Laden.
The book also leaves a bit of bait dangling at the end, not a cliffhanger demanding you read the next novel in the series, but something to make you think, well what happens with The Campus from now?
This is another good product from the mind of Tom Clancy. There is a healthy amount of character development, a creative plot able to keep the reader guessing and then doses of action to right the wrongs of the bad guys.
Go buy or borrow this book for a good action thriller.
Read the complete review |
|
|
If the Dead Rise Not - Philip Kerr
by sallyseagull
This is the latest in a series of books with this German detective as the main protagonist. In this novel Bernie Gunther is an unpleasant 'hero' who kills someone within the first pages, albeit accidentally. This is meant to be 'OK' as the dead character is a prototype Nazi.
The novel is set in the mid 1930's and centres ... around the building of the Berlin Olympics Stadium ready for the infamous Hitler Games of 1936. The Nazis are into their second year of power and Jews are being exorcised from public view. Kerr sets the scene clearly though there is often the feeling that, as author, Kerr is relying on you, the reader, already understanding how dangerous the Nazis are to become (because you already KNOW about WWII).
Bernie works as house detective in the famous Adlon hotel (close to the Brandenburg Gate) and a guest is found dead in bed. He sets out to investigate this death and it leads him into a spiral of complications and dangers. He also becomes entangled with Noreen, the femme fatale of the piece.
Kerr writes as if he has read the great Raymond Chandler, decided to copy the style and plots, (albeit in a different setting) then has used Wikkipedia to get all the historical facts together to cram into the book. This book veers between Nazi Germany before the War and Cuba in the 50s. This latter setting is even more unconvincing and involves Hemingway's house and known mobsters.
Characters appear only to prove not vital to the plot. Some of the writing is enormously bad: "he had ears like an Indian elephant, a moustache like a toilet brush and more chins than the Shanghai telephone directory".
If you are a serious reader and like detectives, don't bother. read Chandler, Denise Mina, Ian Rankin, Conan Doyle instead!
Read the complete review |
