Showing posts with label Thriller Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thriller Review. Show all posts

Sunday, 14 May 2017

THRILLER REVIEW: Beyond the Ice Limit - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Release Date: 06/04/17
Publisher: Head of Zeus

SYNOPSIS:

Five years ago, the mysterious and inscrutable head of Effective Engineering Solutions, Eli Glinn, led a mission to recover a 25,000-ton meteorite – the largest ever discovered – from a remote island off the coast of South America. The mission ended in disaster when their ship foundered in a vicious storm and broke apart, sinking – along with its unique cargo – into the abyss of the Hesperides Deep. One hundred and eight crew members perished, and Eli Glinn was left paralyzed.

But now, two miles down in dark Antarctic waters, something is growing. A vast, grotesque structure is simultaneously reaching up towards the waves and burrowing deep into the sea floor. Eli Glinn's worst fear has been realised. He has no choice but to return to the Southern Ocean with the right team and the right weaponry and attempt to annihilate an entity that threatens the existence of the planet.

But, as he will discover, the entity has no intention of going quietly.


REVIEW:

Recently I've been spoilt with a huge range of books to sit back and choose from. I love having variety but when it comes to certain genres I do have firm favourites that make thier way up my TBR list so that I get maximum pleasure for my time.

One duo who always earn my time as Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child who always give me a tale that I love to devour and spend time with. The characters are delightful, easy to firm bonds with and with writing that is so seemless that you can't tell who wrote which bits really makes it a pure joy.

As with thier other works, the prose is sharp, the overall arc filled with some wonderful twists and all round delivered a book that for me was perhaps thier best yet. Finally throw into the mix an entity that is unpredictable as to its wants as well as abilities and all round you know you've got some sleepless nights ahead. Cracking.

Friday, 12 May 2017

THRILLER REVIEW: Ararat - Christopher Golden

Release Date: 18/04/17
Publisher: Headline

SYNOPSIS:

In Ararat, by New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden, an ancient evil inhabits a cave on the snow-capped, dormant volcano, in the most Eastern reaches of Turkey, that is Mount Ararat. Golden's writing is 'the real deal' (Stephen King) and Ararat will thrill and fascinate in equal measure.

Meryam and Adam take risks for a living. But neither is prepared for what lies in the legendary heights of Mount Ararat, Turkey.

First to reach a massive cave revealed by an avalanche, they discover the hole in the mountain's heart is really an ancient ship, buried in time. A relic that some fervently believe is Noah's Ark.

Deep in its recesses stands a coffin inscribed with mysterious symbols that no one in their team of scholars, archaeologists and filmmakers can identify. Inside is a twisted, horned cadaver. Outside a storm threatens to break.

As terror begins to infiltrate their every thought, is it the raging blizzard that chases them down the mountain - or something far worse?


REVIEW:

Christopher is not only a prolific author but one that generates a whole host of stories that thrill and entice the reader deep into his own eldritch spell until the final page it turned and such is the case with his latest novel.

The book has cracking prose, a return of reader favourites Meryam and Adam, and of course a plot that blends ancient tales with a twist for modern readers. As with his other work, the tale takes the reader on not only a journey but one that has you questioning beliefs all whilst keeping a high octane pace going with some top notch twists. Its addictive, it has you gripped to the final page and all round was a title that more than sated my thriller need. Cracking.




Monday, 3 April 2017

THRILLER REVIEW: Joe Pickett 17: Vicious Circle - CJ Box

Release Date: 23/03/17
Publisher: Head of Zeus

SYNOPSIS:

One man hell-bent on avenging his family,

the other dead-set on protecting his...

Joe Pickett always knew there'd be a day of reckoning. And now that day has come.

Two years ago, his daughter was beaten and dumped by the side of a country road. Joe's determination to avenge her forced him into a catastrophic confrontation with the Cates clan that left three of their number dead and put the two survivors behind bars. Now the youngest son, Dallas, is out of prison and back in town. Joe knows exactly why he's returned – an eye for an eye.

All Joe can do is wait for Dallas to make the first move...


REVIEW:

I love it when events from the past come back to haunt a principle character and for me CJ has really worked this revenge thriller well as his principle hero has to withstand the wrath of Dallas Cates whose pulling no punches coming after him and his family.

Its a book that works wonderfully well with cracking prose, top notch pace and of course a principle character that you just love to spend time around. Don't worry if you haven't read the previous book featuring thier last encounter "Endangered" as CJ presents an overview for the reader. All round cracking fun.

Sunday, 2 April 2017

THRILLER REVIEW: Sometimes I Lie - Alice Feeney

Release Date: 23/03/17
Publisher: Harper Collins

SYNOPSIS:

My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me.

1. I’m in a coma

2. My husband doesn’t love me any more

3. Sometimes I lie

Unnerving, twisted and utterly compelling, you won’t be able to put this new thriller down. Set to be the most talked about book in 2017, it’s perfect for fans of Behind Closed Doors, The Girl on the Train and The Widow.


REVIEW:

As many people know I love books that are a little different and take the reader on a journey, the more dysfunctional the characters alongside many weaknesses help bring them to life and for me this outing by Alice, really does give you the best of all with a whole cast of people that you could step outside and meet on the street.

It's defintiely a quirky book and with many twists and turns leave you wondering which way is up as each piece of the puzzle throws another spanner into the works. Its definitely a book that I was pleased I took the time to read, the prose sharp, the plotline solid and whilst at times I was left trying to figure things out so that they made sense, I had a lot of fun each night as I put it down as I imagined what would occur next. All round a book that was a cracking journey and a title thats made me pay attention to Alice. Magic.

Saturday, 14 January 2017

THRILLER REVIEW: The Voices 1: The Defender - GX Todd

Release Date: 12/01/17
Publisher: Headline

SYNOPSIS:

Defender by G X Todd is an imaginative thriller that draws on influences from Stephen King, Clive Barker and Neil Gaiman to create a new world - where the biggest threat mankind faces is from the voices inside your own head. If you loved The Stand, you'll love Defender, the first in a four part series.

'Compelling, suspenseful, and altogether extraordinary' Lee Child

'So accomplished that it's difficult to believe it's a first novel, Defender is already worthy to take its place alongside The Stand in the canon. An absolute gem of a book' John Connolly

'On the cusp of sleep, have we not all heard a voice call out our name?'

In a world where long drinks are in short supply, a stranger listens to the voice in his head telling him to buy a lemonade from the girl sitting on a dusty road.

The moment locks them together.

Here and now it's dangerous to listen to your inner voice. Those who do, keep it quiet.

These voices have purpose.

And when Pilgrim meets Lacey, there is a reason. He just doesn't know it yet.

Defender pulls you on a wild ride to a place where the voices in your head will save or slaughter you.

#HearTheVoices


REVIEW:

For a reader perhaps the best books are the one that ask a question of you. In Todd's case, if you were virtually alone, would you listen to the voices in your head and if new ones arrive how much of it is you and how much an invader.

As you can tell from this question the story is indeed incredible dark, with events within the pages at times making you feel ill but that is perhaps what makes this book so unique. The fact that no punches are pulled, no subject taboo and with what feels like open writing into the mind all round just adds to the authors prowess. Back this up with a solid arc, decent dialogue and all round I was one disturbed bunny by books end. Definitely something to read for fans of Stephen King and Neil Gaiman as it links into the darkness that lurks within thiem.

Wednesday, 4 January 2017

THRILLER REVIEW: Finisterre - Graham Hurley

Release Date: 01/12/16
Publisher: Head of Zeus

SYNOPSIS:

Germany, September 1944: Dozens of cities lie in ruins. Enemy armies are at the gates. For the Thousand Year Reich, time is running out. Desperate to avoid the humiliation of unconditional surrender, German intelligence launch Operation Finisterre – a last-ditch plan to enable Hitler to deny the savage logic of a war on two fronts and bluff his way to the negotiating table.

Success depends on two individuals: Stefan Portisch, a German naval officer washed ashore on the coast of Spain after the loss of his U-boat, and Hector Gómez, an ex-FBI detective, planted by Director J. Edgar Hoover in the middle of the most secret place on earth: the American atomic bomb complex. Both men will find themselves fighting for survival as Operation Finisterre plays itself out.


REVIEW:

When a title is set in a different world or time period to the one in which we live now the author has to do quite a few things in order to help immerse the reader, firstly they have to give you information without it feeling lie an infodump and secondly the characters within have to be approachable so that you can form bonds. Both of these traits are hard to manage but Graham has managed it with plenty of talent to spare.

The story is gripping, the dialogue sharp and for me the real star of the piece is each of the myriad of the characters that are contained within the page's They feel real, I care about their lives and perhaps best of all I like the way that they're brought across despite which side of the ware they fall. All round the story is wonderful descriptive and feels quite authorative almost as if its been lifted from secret files and brought to the reader. Cracking.

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

THRILLER REVIEW: Agent Pendergast 16: The Obsidian Chamber - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Release Date: 01/12/16
Publisher: Head of Zeus

SYNOPSIS:

A TRAGIC DISAPPEARANCE.
After a harrowing, otherworldly confrontation on the shores of Exmouth, Massachussetts, Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast is missing, presumed dead.

A SHOCKING RETURN.
Sick with grief, Pendergast's ward, Constance, retreats to her chambers beneath the family mansion at 891 Riverside Drive -- only to be taken captive by a shadowy figure from the past.

AN INTERNATIONAL MANHUNT.
Proctor, Pendergast's longtime bodyguard, springs to action, pursuing Constance's kidnapper through cities, across oceans, and into wastelands unknown.

BUT IN THIS WORLD, NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS And by the time Proctor discovers the truth, a terrifying mechanism has stirred -- and it may already be too late..


REVIEW:

If you love a series that is deliciously dark then this thriller series by Douglas and Lincoln really will send a shiver down your spine one minute and hit you with a shot of adrenaline the next. The writing is addictive, has you reading each page carefully so that you don't miss anything NS wraps it all up with top notch characters that you just love to spend time with.

The fact that this is the 16th book in the series doesn't diminish the writing in any way and if anything helps give the reader a fuller flavour as characters return alongside new friends being introduced. All round a cracking read and one that I can't wait to see what comes next with,

Sunday, 13 November 2016

THRILLER REVIEW: Vanishing Games - Roger Hobbs

Release Date: 19/03/16
Publisher: Corgi

SYNOPSIS:

The perfect blend of a Lee Child novel and a Quentin Tarantino film, this is the latest from the bestselling author of GHOSTMAN.

I work alone.

I may be the best thief in the world but no one will ever know a single thing about me. Well, almost no one.

A lifetime ago I had a mentor, Angela. She taught me how to be a criminal, how to run a heist.

And now, six years after she vanished and left me high and dry on a job in Kuala Lumpur, she’s sent me an SOS.

Or at least I think it’s her. If it is, then I've got to go. I owe her that much.

So soon I'll be on a plane to Macau, either to see a friend or walk into a trap. Or both.

But that's the way I like it. Sometimes the only thing that makes me happy is risking my life.

Time to go.


REVIEW:

There are times when you want a book that isn't going to hurt your brain when you read it as you try to remember all the twists and turns alongside who's betrayed who and double dealt with whom throughout. So I was more than happy when this title landed. Not that its a bad thing to have a simpler plot but it does allow you to concentrate on giving the reader what they want, in this case high octane action with great kick ass sequences and characters that have stepped right out of a film set to keep the story moving forward.

Yes its not going to win anything for complexity but for me, getting onto a title where I'm allowed to just drift away in an almost computer game cornacopia tale of action more than sated my spirit having gone through quite a few more complex titles recently. All round, the characters are solid, the book does wht it promises and when you throw into the mix a cracking overall arc, I was a more than satisfied reader. Great stuff.

Saturday, 12 November 2016

THRILLER REVIEW: John Hart 3: The Templar Succession - Mario Reading

Release Date: 07/04/16
Publisher: Corvus

SYNOPSIS:

1998. Kosovo is in the grip of civil war, and John Hart is an aspiring photojournalist determined to capture the devastating scenes. On his mission to shed light on the atrocities he discovers a house where women are enslaved purely for the pleasure of the Serbian soldiers. Hart risks his own life to free the imprisoned women.

2015. John Hart has his world turned upside down when he is left to care for a young woman - the daughter of one of the women he freed that fateful day in Kosovo. She is determined to track down the man known as the Captain: a war criminal, and her father. Unable to turn his back on the girl, Hart sets out to find the Captain. His quest takes him across Europe and into Africa where, on an isolated plateau in the mountains of Ethiopia, he confronts the man who shows no remorse, and no regard for life...


REVIEW:

I love a story that takes you on a journey and in this outing, John Hart returns to take on a mission that not only has repercussions from the characters own past but allows the reader to take the emotional journey with him.

The writing is pretty addicitive and with top notch action sequences (although some are quite bloody) the reader is treated to a Thriller that delivers on all angles. Finally throw into the mix a wonderful set of circumstances, a solid story arc and all round I was a more than happy reader

Friday, 7 October 2016

THRILLER REVIEW: The Brother - Joakim Zander

Release Date: 06/10/16
Publisher: Head of Zeus

SYNOPSIS:

Smart, gripping and urgent, the new blockbuster from the bestselling author of The Swimmer.

Growing up poor, Yasmine vowed she would always protect her little brother from harm. She broke her promise on the day she left home, abandoning Fadi to his life in the Stockholm slums.

Now, five years later, Yasmine still carries the guilt of leaving him behind. Then she hears a rumour that he is dead, killed by a US drone in Syria. What happened to turn her sweet-natured brother into one of the CIA’s most wanted men?

The answer will shock her. It will shock you too.


REVIEW:

Joakkim is an author that likes to get the reader eased into his titles with a slow burn accompanied by multiple cross story plots. They work well and as a reader of the Thriller, at times I want the careful built as it makes the impact of what is to happen all the more tragic. Its well written, the prose sharp and whilst for some it may feel like it takes to long to get where its going, I found the chance to get to know the characters involved better refreshing.

Back this up with a realistic feel and players you can identify with in some ways due to their foibles and all round I was a reader that loved having a slower read in amongst a whole host of fast paced action sequences. Cracking.


Thursday, 22 September 2016

THRILLER REVIEW: Nick Stone 17: Detonator - Andy McNab

Release Date: 22/10/16
Publisher:  Transworld

SYNOPSIS:

Ex-deniable operator Nick Stone has spent a lifetime in harm's way - but when someone he cares for very deeply is murdered in cold blood, he can no longer just take the pain.

A high-level internecine conflict at the dark heart of the resurgent Russian Empire and an assassin's bullet on an isolated Alpine pass propel him from an apparently run-of-the-mill close-protection task into his most brutal and challenging mission yet.

As the body count increases, Stone becomes one of Europe's Most Wanted. He must evade the elite police forces of three nations in his pursuit of faceless men who trade in human misery, and a lone wolf terrorist who threatens to unleash the Western World's worst nightmare.

Vengeance of the most explosive kind is top of Stone's agenda. The fuse has been ignited - but who really holds the detonator?


REVIEW:

OK, you like Thrillers and want something spectacular, you also want something with a historical context alongside a huge sense of danger accompanied by consequences for choices made throughout. So where are you going to go? Well, this recommendation from me is from an author I’ve not read before and whilst I know he has a back catalogue, it was the premise of this title that really grabbed me. Taking us back to the days of World War 2 with a tale of a daring rescue from Auschwitz. Its gripping from page one. Has a cracking protagonist and keeps you glued throughout as the knowledge that it’s all being done for could end the world.

The dialogue is cracking, the time period brought to life and really lets you feel that you are walking through that dark period of history which when backed with a good sense of pace really does deliver a book that I’d put top of any Thriller fans list for the Christmas period. Yes it’s a little early to be thinking that far ahead but this book really was that good. Cracker.



THRILLER REVIEW: The One Man - Andrew Gross

Release Date: 22/09/16
Publisher:  Pan

SYNOPSIS:

Auschwitz, 1944. Alfred Mendl's days are numbered. But he has little left to live for - his family were torn away from him, his life's work burned in front of his eyes - until a glimmer of hope arises as he watches a game of chess. To the guards Mendl is just another prisoner, but in fact he holds knowledge that only two people in the world possess. The other is working hard for the Nazi war machine.

Four thousand miles away, in Washington DC, intelligence lieutenant Nathan Blum decodes messages from occupied Poland. After the Nazis murdered his family, Nathan escaped the Krakow ghetto and is determined to support his new country - and the US government knows exactly how he can. They want to send Nathan on a mission to rescue one man from a place no one can break in to - or out of.

Even if Nathan does make it in and finds him, can they escape the most heavily guarded place on earth?


REVIEW:

OK, you like Thrillers and want something spectacular, you also want something with a historical context alongside a huge sense of danger accompanied by consequences for choices made throughout. So where are you going to go? Well, this recommendation from me is from an author I’ve not read before and whilst I know he has a back catalogue, it was the premise of this title that really grabbed me. Taking us back to the days of World War 2 with a tale of a daring rescue from Auschwitz. Its gripping from page one. Has a cracking protagonist and keeps you glued throughout as the knowledge that it’s all being done for could end the world.

The dialogue is cracking, the time period brought to life and really lets you feel that you are walking through that dark period of history which when backed with a good sense of pace really does deliver a book that I’d put top of any Thriller fans list for the Christmas period. Yes it’s a little early to be thinking that far ahead but this book really was that good. Cracker.

Wednesday, 20 January 2016

THRILLER REVIEW: Highbridge - Phil Redman

Release Date: 19/01/16
Publisher:  Century

SYNOPSIS:

The dramatic novel from the writer and creator of Brookside, Hollyoaks and Grange Hill.

Three years ago, Janey Nolan was murdered in the centre of town.

Today, no one knows who did it.

Sick of waiting for the powers that be to rid the streets and school gates of dealers, druggies and parasites, Janey’s brothers want to avenge her death. While Sean decides to explore the routes and corridors of political power, Joey chooses more direct action in and among the alleys and pathways of the neighbourhood itself.

But can the brothers find Janey’s killer without bringing more danger to their town?

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

THIS IS HIGHBRIDGE.


REVIEW:

To be honest I know Phil’s name from a lot of TV programmes and whilst I enjoyed them I wasn’t sure how well he’d manage the change from screen writing to book format as it requires a lot of different skills. I shouldn’t have as for me, he brought the skills over wonderfully with solidly created characters, dialogue that really allowed the reader to associate with them as well as an overall plot line that drew me in wonderfully well.

Add to this an overall arc that delivered on the titles promise as well as allowing you to thoroughly get into the players minds and for me this was a departure and a treat. I’ll be recommending Phil to other readers wanting something a little different.

Sunday, 10 January 2016

THRILLER REVIEW: Disclaimer - Renee Knight

Release Date: 31/12/15
Publisher:  Black Swan

SYNOPSIS:

When an intriguing novel appears on Catherine’s bedside table, she curls up and begins to read.

But as she turns the pages she is horrified to realize she is a key character, a main player.

This story will reveal her darkest secret.

A secret she thought no one else knew…


REVIEW:

OK, this is the review of the paperback and whilst the book blurb really hooked me I found that it was really hard to stick with. It didn’t flow for me and with an incredible snail like pace made it a struggle to get into and whilst the characters were OK, overall the book only really picked up in the last quarter partly as if it was a story that would have worked better had it been a novella rather than a novel.

All round I was disappointed however with the characterisation being well executed I will give Renee another go in the future.



Monday, 31 August 2015

THRILLER REVIEW: The Killing Kind - Chris Holm

Release Date: 27/08/15
Publisher:  Mulholland Books

SYNOPSIS:

Michael Hendricks is not a good man.
He doesn't deserve a good life.
But he is very good at his job.

He's the killing kind.

He doesn't accept contract kills. He doesn't work for any criminal organisation. And he never kills civilians. He only hits hitters.

He's not the kind of guy you call if you want to pop somebody who's pissed you off or done you wrong.

He's not a guy you call at all - he calls you.

And when he does, you'd be advised to take his call. Because it means that someone wants you dead, and time is running out to save your life.

It's not a bad way to make a living, but it's a great way to make enemies.

And now both the FBI and the mafia have Hendricks in their sights, he's about to learn just how good he really is...


REVIEW:

OK, this book isn’t going to set the world alight but there are times you want a high octane thriller that has plenty of action and a plot that you don’t really have to think about relying more on the friction generated by the principle hero and villain in much the same way you go for the odd early Arnie film.

Chris knows what he does well and brings in in spades with this thriller. Add to this reasonable prose and some fairly basic dialogue and all round it’ll entertain as well as help you relax.

Tuesday, 16 June 2015

THRILLER REVIEW: The Agent Runner - Simon Conway

Release Date: 23/09/14
Publisher:  Pembury Publishing

SYNOPSIS:

Ed found it difficult to explain why he felt such a strong allegiance to Britain, perhaps because he found it difficult to define what it meant to be British. British by birth, foreign by descent and agnostic by conviction, Edward Henry Malik is an MI6 agent-runner. For four years he has been running an agent codenamed Nightingale inside the ISI, Pakistan’s Hydra-headed spying agency. Then, in the aftermath of the death of Osama bin Laden, Nightingale is unmasked and Ed’s world dramatically falls apart. Dismissed from MI6 and with his reputation in tatters, Ed returns to his roots in the immigrant enclave of Whitechapel in London’s East End. He finds a job at a freight forwarding office and unexpectedly falls in love with the proprietor’s daughter. It seems as if he has finally found respite from his demons. But you can’t escape your past. Ed knows too much and he has come to the attention of the Hidden Hand – Pakistan’s legendary spy of spies – Major-General Javid Aslam Khan. From the teeming city of Lahore to the anarchic tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, with a plot to detonate the dirtiest bomb imaginable, The Agent Runner carves a dramatic arc across modern Pakistan and reaches a thunderous climax in the mountains of the Hindu Kush.


REVIEW:

OK, whilst we do love a thriller here at Falcata Times a lot of the time they’re written by people who just look at what they think makes a great thriller. Here we have a book that not only hits all the marks for genre fans but one that is written by a man that has lived a military life and knows how the various institutions within work. Whilst for some, this title with its themes may be a little close to the bone, the author has created a thriller that not only will have readers glued to the pages but one that will generate a lot of thoughts as some of the current news articles meet head on within the titles pages.

All round a book that has the clipped prose of a military man that works exceedingly for the title alongside an overall arc that has a great many twists will al round give you a read that whilst making you feel a little uncomfortable as a voyeur all round will hopefully give you a better look at a secret war that many can allude to but few can comprehend on such a scale. Magic.

Friday, 29 May 2015

THRILLER REVIEW: The Atlantis Gene - A G Riddle

Release Date: 29/04/15
Publisher:  Head of Zeus

SYNOPSIS:

THE BATTLE TO SAVE HUMANITY HAS BEGUN. Off the coast of Antarctica, a research vessel discovers a mysterious structure buried deep within an iceberg. Entombed for thousands of years, it can't possibly be man-made. But a secretive and ruthless cabal think they know what it is...and what it means. The Immari have spent millennia preparing for the return of humanity's ancient enemy. Faced with an extinction-level threat, they believe mankind's only chance of survival will mean sacrificing 99.9% of the planet's population. It's a price the Immari are prepared to pay. Geneticist Kate Warner and intelligence agent David Vale may have a chance to avert the looming catastrophe, but only if they can decode the secrets of the Atlantis Gene and unlock the truth about humanity's origins.


REVIEW:

Whilst I do love to spend time with a good thriller, there are times when you find yourself wondering what the hell happened and sadly left wondering how the book managed to get published. For me, this is one of those books as to be honest with you, I felt that this book was a little bit too predictable, had way to many coincidences within and when added to a huge amount of conspiracy theory alongside Aliens, huge cover ups and of course the obligatory Nazi’s.

All round, it felt convoluted, badly written and all round was a book that I really had to dig deep to finish, so much so that I wish that I could get the time I spent on this book back.



Thursday, 28 May 2015

THRILLER REVIEW: The Washington Stratagem - Adam Lebor

Release Date: 21/05/15
Publisher:  Head of Zeus

SYNOPSIS:

A LONE AGENT. AN UNIMAGINABLE CONSPIRACY.

UN covert negotiator Yael Azoulay went rogue in Geneva and nearly lost her life. Her physical wounds are healed, but she will never be able to forget what happened.

Now back in New York, Yael uncovers a chilling conspiracy whose end game is a devastating new war in the Middle East. But as Yael draws closer to the truth, she is forced to confront the ghosts of her past.

As the few certainties of her life begin to crumble around her, a terrifying truth is laid bare: Yael has enormously powerful enemies who neither forgive, nor forget.


REVIEW:

To be honest when I want a thriller, I want to be kept on the edge of my seat right the way through. I love being in the middle of the excitement and whilst this book promised everything I love, it was title that didn’t supply me with the octane I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong it was an OK read but for me it was more of a mystery than a Thriller with huge lulls in the pace throughout.

The characters within were OK, the prose middle of the roadish and all round wasn’t a title that, for me, stood out from the masses of others out there. Sadly for me, not a title I’ll be returning to any time soon and sadly Adam will be further down my TBR pile.



Saturday, 13 December 2014

THRILLER REVIEW: Spark - John Twelve Hawks


Release Date: 09/10/14
Publisher:  Bantam Press

SYNOPSIS:

Jacob Underwood is not like other people. He has Cotard's Syndrome. He believes he is dead. Which makes his job as a hired assassin neutralising 'problems' for DBG, a massive multinational corporation, very simple. He carries out the task - and feels nothing. Now DBG has such a problem. A key employee, Emily Buchanan, has disappeared, taking with her a fortune and priceless information which could destroy the company. Jacob must track her down. In previous assignments, he had worked with cold logical precision, but this time he has to confront a threat that he first must understand before it destroys him.


REVIEW:

Having read John’s work before I pretty much knew what I was getting into with him, a book that had not only a kickas plot but one that once grabbed wouldn’t let you go until the final page and to be honest that’s what I got.

Here within this brand new series we have a set of futuristic circumstances that when added to John’s unique writing style, really works wonderfully well as the high octane action rarely lets up and when it does, the plot throws another spanner into the works that many readers won’t see coming.

All round an absolutely cracking read and one that will appeal to quite a few Thriller reader alongside Sci-Fi fans looking for something a little different. Back this up with great pose and dialogue and I was a more than happy reader.

Saturday, 6 December 2014

THRILLER REVIEW: Darkest Fear - Ethan Cross

Release Date: 09/10/14
Publisher:  Arrow Books

SYNOPSIS:

This is the third gripping novel in the Shepherd series from America's most exciting new thriller writer. A father returns home to find that his family has been kidnapped and the only way to save their lives is for him to kill another innocent person. So begins a journey that will force Special Agent Marcus Williams of the Shepherd Organization to question all that he believes, unearth his family's dark legacy, and sacrifice everything to save those he loves. In order to stop this brutal and deadly game, Williams must enlist the help of one of the world's most infamous and wanted men ...the serial killer Francis Ackerman Jr.


REVIEW:

The third outing for Ethan’s Marcus Shepard who faces difficult choices in this title as his ethics are waged against his family Its definitely a book that is definitely hardcore action, backed up with hard hitting prose and of course a plot that doesn’t let up from start to finish.

Add to this a principle character that doesn’t take it easy on those he encounters and all round I suspect he may well inspire a film or two.