Book Description
Make-or-break decisions involving millions of dollars are all in a day’s work for Christian Gillette, chairman of Everest Capital, New York’s most renowned private equity firm. He’s taken on the toughest, most powerful, and often most dangerous adversaries and prevailed–all the while honing his skill for being cool under fire, literally. But now Gillette will be put to the ultimate test. He’s offered the chance to seal a deal unlike any other, one that goes beyond boardrooms, balance sheets, and even Everest itself–one that will leave its mark on history.
Gillette is no stranger to Jesse Wood, the first African American president of the United States, having been Wood’s chosen running mate in his historic bid for the White House. Though still slightly upset over being dropped from the ticket at the eleventh hour, Gillette’s not about to ignore the chief executive’s summons to a top-secret meeting at Camp David. There, Wood drops a bombshell: The president of Cuba is dead. Cuba’s communist regime has kept the dictator’s demise hush while it races to fill the power vacuum. And the United States is poised to support a cabal of Cuban professionals plotting a coup. The President wants Gillette to meet with the conspirators and size up the chances for a successful capitalist revolution. But by no means can his mission be traced back to the White House. If anything goes wrong, Gillette is on his own.
And if certain people have their way, something will go wrong. For the conspiracy to liberate Cuba isn’t the only one afoot. Enemies in high places, who will go to any lengths to wreak revenge on Gillette and to unseat President Wood, have set in motion a campaign of deception, sabotage, and murder whose shockwaves will resonate from the streets of Havana to the Oval Office. But for Gillette, who has just named his alluring and ambitious protégé, Allison Wallace, as his successor at Everest, the greatest peril may lie much closer to home.
The Successor is blue-chip Stephen Frey, marshaling his flawless instincts for edgy, provocative, breathtaking suspense with a master’s touch.
Customer Reviews:
The Political Bore Fest..........2007-08-15
I normally like reading Stephen Frey novels, and have enjoyed the Christian Gillette series over the past couple of years, so much so that I've overlooked some of the shortcomings in the writing style, and character development skill of the author.
However, this novel has to be one of the most poorly written I've read in a long time. Also, although politically I'm a moderate (sometimes I'm a Democrat and sometimes I'm a Republican), I find it amusing that the author in at least the last two Christian Gillette series, would depict all Democrats as the good guys and people who really care about their fellow man; while all Republicans are depicted as evil, heartless, racist against minorities, in league with big business, and whose main agenda is to maintain the status quo. This type of storytelling is of course geared towards one political leaning class of readers, however most level headed and fair minded people will know that the depictions described in the novel are much too simplistic.
The nagging feeling that there is an unmistakable political agenda in the storyline that the author presents to us is all too powerful. Reading this novel gave me the impression that the author was more concerned with trying his best to sell me a bill of goods: to think Democrat and to vote Democrat (which I may or may not)...but in doing so, he forgot to add basic key elements required in any story --- good character development.
Then again, the question remains, how can one develop multiple "complex" human characters in a novel, when one apparently clearly appears to see his readers as simplistic human beings?
And that's my "take".
Redux.......2007-05-28
I liked the first few Frey novels of high finance and the people who deal with money - good and especially the bad, but now I have the feeling that I am re-reading the same book over and over. The writing is adequete, and the characters are interesting, but sorry to say it seems to be the same plot over and over. The author has come to a point where he needs to stretch a little more or risk losing his audience.
4 1/2 Stars.......2007-03-21
Is Christian Gillette wise to leave protégé Allison Wallace in charge of Everest Capital while he runs off on another scary international mission? Though this has little to do with most of this novel, it has about all there is to do with Everest.
I thought this to be a highly entertaining 'Christian Gillette' novel. Sure, this time it was more political thriller than financial thriller.
I welcome the change.
Sure I questioned Christian's relationship with the 'younger woman'. It made no sense logically, but the author tried to convince the reader he would do it because of his sister.
I'm sure there will be another novel featuring C. Gillette, and I think it will be full of surprises. Including bringing back someone. You know who.
Not Impressed.......2007-03-16
I have always liked Stephen Frey's books, but this one seem to be hum drum. The logic behind main character Christian's actions is subpar and naive for a tough, savvy wall street executive. Blah and disappointing ending.
Ummm, typical Frey, not happy with the end.......2007-03-01
Well, well, well, it's all over for Christian Gillette. I read all four books in this series and, at least, I hope it's over.
If I could turn back the clock and not have had to read the last 15 pages of the book, I would do so.
An absolutely miserable, formulatic ending that Frey obviously had no idea how to wrap up. It took 275 pages to set up and 10 pages to reach a climax that never really occurred. And the ending's ending was woeful, I wasn't expecting to get a Hallmark card and, wouldn't you know, there it was, plasterd all over the final 3 pages.
As well, one of the main, and outside of Gillette, the most important, characters is killed off with a few words and very little substance. It was miserably anticlimatic and, way worse, totally unnecessary and he nothing to do with advancing the plot or allowing the story to reach its final resolution. It was kind of tossed in as an aside, as a matter of fact.
That's how you treat characters the readers spend multiple books reading about and getting to know?
Terrible job by the author and it really left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth about the whole series.
Book Description
A powerful novel by a Wall Street veteran based on his 29 years experience. Through this story, the author reveals his proven investment principles, which he has taught and practiced around the world. Austin is a young man unprepared for a life-shattering experience. His deceased father, whom he never really knew, has left him a million dollars, with a promise of five million more IF Austin meets the strict conditions.
He must invest the one million dollars and earn 15% a year for 3 years, or he will lose the five million. But he could easily lose the million he has by trying.
Play it safe?
Take the million and run.
Or risk it all, and go for the five million?
What will Austin do?
What would YOU do?
Customer Reviews:
The Best Book on Investing I've Read!.......2007-01-06
If you're one of those know-it-all money people, this book is not for you. But if you are serious about finding a growth strategy that has made people hundreds of millions over the last 30 years, I highly recommend this book. In fact, I gave it out to numerous friends for Christmas. Look, I had to read the book twice before realizing whay is really going on.
The book reads like a novel, but it is really an instructional piece on this Mr. Mallach's investment strategy. At first, I didn't believe it, partly because I was expecting more of a novel than a primer. The story helps you digest things, though. That's the point I missed the first time around. The second time through, it all clicked for me. Let me tell you... it's unbelievable.
Having done subsequent research of Mr. Mallach, I found out that Merrill Lynch is planning to take over his strategy for their own! That in itself is amazing. This is no ordinary broker peddling wares. It's like that McDonald's franchisee who invented the Egg McMuffin! Now it's the number one breakfast sandwich in the fast food biz.
I contacted some of the people who wrote reviews here, and the stories are all true! I even created a mock portfolio and GHod do I wish I put the money in for real! Read the book as an insturctional tale and reap the rewards.
A disciplined strategy.......2006-08-10
Don't be fooled by the fictional setting of this story. There are important lessons to be learned on investing and the journey undertaken by the main character. Mallach is an incredibly successful Wall Street veteran and the Strategy works!
Excellent.......2005-09-16
This is an outstanding book. It presents a strategy for investing that is very simple and straightforward. It is also a strategy that works! It is presented in a fictional way, but the results are anything but fictional. The author works for a major wall street firm and if you follow the strategy using the firm's research, you have generated a 26% annualized return since 1990. The entire key to the sucess is the sell strategy, which prevents you from selling the winners to soon and allows you to actually hold stocks that go up 30 times or more. I find some of the other reviews funny to read, as they have no idea this is a real strategy that has made people very wealthy over the years.
A must read!.......2005-05-07
This book is very enjoyable to read and very easy to follow. It may be the only financial book that I have read where I am BOTH enjoying the story, as well as learning some valuable investment practices. From my experiences, it is usuallly just one or the other. "Dancing with the Analysts," while explaining this impressive investment strategy, takes the reader into the shoes of the main character and takes you through a roller coaster of real-life events in the life of a young man. It is an exciting book and very educational to anyone who works, or is interested in the world of investments.
One of the Best Investment Books Ever.......2005-01-07
Learn from an industry veteran. A must read for anyone who is, or will be, investing in equities. Writing in story format, Mr. Mallach conveys 30 plus years of wisdom that investment professionals pay to learn. Read beyond the characters to find out what drives equity prices.
Average customer rating:
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Against a Brick Wall
T. Weldon Garrett
Manufacturer: Writers Club Press
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 059522072X |
Book Description
Gregory McGregor grew up on the tough streets of New York where his cronies were criminals. Once a vibrant student, he becomes a truant. But, with help, he turns his life around and becomes a successful businessman in the world of high finance. Then corporate intrigue, lust, and deception teach McGregor a lesson that even the streets couldn't teach him.
Robert Page is the business executive who recruits McGregor. To stay on top, Page is willing to pay any price, including selling McGregor out, but is he willing to pay the ultimate price?
Shelly Walker is a woman on the fast track to corporate America's executive suite. She knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. And despite McGregor's girlfriend, she wants him.
Patrick Donovan is a cunning, conniving, and ruthless businessman around whom nobody is safe. To Donovan, aspiring to the executive office is a game and he plays the game well—until he meets McGregor. Now, only time will tell who will be the victor in this corporate game of intrigue and deception.
Customer Reviews:
Cutthroat..........2004-09-07
Despite the overwhelming odds he faced growing up on the streets of New York, Gregory McGregor went on to become college graduate, and to secure an internship with a highly prestigious firm as an investment banker. Little does he know, he was only hired to fill a "color quotient." Even though he works hard to prove himself, he is still not respected as he should be. When he is promoted to manager, his situation gets worse instead of better. Will Gregory discover the secrets of the company, and if so, will he take steps to correct them, no matter what the cost?
When I read the synopsis of AGAINST A BRICK WALL, I expected high drama from the very first page to the last. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Instead, it was a long, rambling story of one man's attempt to make his mark in corporate America, and the injustices he faced. The action doesn't happen until the very end of the book, which left me very unfulfilled. It did not end as I hoped it would. I do, however, feel that with a little less attention to scene detail, and more attention focused on developing a gripping plot, Garrett has the ability to become a good mystery writer.
Reviewed by Renee Williams
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Average customer rating:
- A Bit About Jeff
- This Jeff Long effort is not what I expected.
- Soo close to being good . . . but the ending
- Subtly creepy on a primal level
- LONG IS TOO LONG
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The Wall
Jeff Long
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
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ASIN: 0743498704 |
Book Description
A half mile up the sunlit walls of Yosemite, a rope breaks, a young woman plunges to her death, and the rescue from hell begins.
Thirty-five years ago, Hugh Glass found glory on El Cap, and met the woman he would marry and lose. Now he's back to climb the wall again, and make a fresh start. But when disaster strikes a team of women high above, Hugh finds himself drawn into a dead vertical race against time. Plagued by fire, ice, and old demons, he reaches the wreckage of the fall, where the rescuers become the victims. Caught between the golden summit and terminal velocity, they cannot retreat, but may not survive the harrowing mystery of the wall.
Download Description
On the vast, sunlit walls of the world's greatest monolith, two veteran climbers unwittingly ascend into a vertical underworld. In a place where obsession kills, they quickly fall prey to past loves, old demons, and ghostly revenge.
Customer Reviews:
A Bit About Jeff.......2007-09-03
I've had the priviledge of meeting Jeff several times. He's the kind of writer that takes you by surprise. Not only is he one of the greatest writers in the entire world (not just my opinion) but he's an "older brother" or, at least, I consider him an older brother type. My actual older brother used to read to my when I was younger and now Jeff "reads to me" by telling me wonderful stories about human beings and the glories and tragedies of being human. He's reserved, quiet kind of guy, very personable, intelligent and also a gentleman.
The first of Jeff's books that I read was "The RECKONING." Now, it's very hard for me to describe what it's like for me to read any of Jeff's novels (those of you who've read Jeff's books already know). From the first page I'm lured into the story as an interested viewer - an outsider. Before too long, I'm swept along as a PARTICIPANT, living and striving right along with the characters!
People who LOVE to read know this pleasure of being INSIDE the story, and the satisfaction and sadness that comes when reaching the last page and closing the book with a loving hand an a sigh. This is what is readily available within the pages of a JEFF LONG novel - from the heights of the Himalayas to the depths of the earth, the human spirit is a force to be RECKONED with.
Pick up one of Jeff's books. Treat yourself.
This Jeff Long effort is not what I expected........2007-06-20
I started reading Jeff Long with "Descent". I thoroughly enjoyed it and sought out other works by him.
"The Wall" was my second book by Jeff. I'm still not sure if I liked it. I don't want to spoil it, but it was too open ended in my opinion. Ends were left loose. Things were left unexplained. It was an extremely well written and enjoyable novel, until the last 30 pages. Then things got weird. I need a sequel Jeff!
Soo close to being good . . . but the ending.......2007-05-16
I was totally sucked in by this book--the ambiguous supernatural elements, the main character you feel like you know, the pacing--it's really pretty good. The characters are well-developed and intriguing. There are really only 2 problems: a lot of technical jargon about climbing (which if you are a climber I'm sure you would totally love but sometimes presented an obstacle to the uninformed in visualizing the action)--but I could overlook that because this is, after all, a story about climbing. Unfortunately the "shocker" ending I would call a complete disappointment. Sometimes going for too much shock ruins what was up to that point a good story.
Subtly creepy on a primal level.......2007-05-05
I've been a big fan of all of Long's novels and this one is just as good as the rest. It's a lot like "The Reckoning" in that he taps into primal human fears and adds a thin layer of supernatural menace on top of it that makes it familiar enough for the reader to really become immersed... and then he gives you another nudge into the darkness.
Despite the fact that it was a relatively short novel, the character development was excellent and you really grew attached to them. The surprise ending will blow you out of your pants.
LONG IS TOO LONG.......2007-02-10
THE WALL is one of those stories you expect from writers like Ernest Hemingway as man faces off with the forces of nature. Jeff Long's paean is way toooo long; it would have been better as a short story. It seems like it takes forever for anything to happen and the characters while constructed nicely are not that likeable or involving. Perhaps as a movie, it might be more entertaining to watch than read all the technical terms and flashback diversions. As it is, though, THE WALL is just not that exciting, and its ending, though surprising, seems anticlimactic.
Book Description
Thomas Bolden grew up on the streets, his childhood a blur of fragmented memories. But now he’s managed to put his past behind him, find the woman he wants to share his life with, and carve out a successful career on Wall Street. Until, in the blink of an eye, his world is turned upside down. A bizarre kidnapping sends him fleeing for his life, his face everywhere on the TV news, and a violent, shadowy organization is framing him for crimes he did not commit.
Desperately trying to get back to where he was just a day before, Bolden must re-learn the survival skills of his hardscrabble boyhood. But as Bolden–with just eleven dollars in his pocket and hunters all around him–survives one violent, harrowing hour after another, he makes a series of startling discoveries: about a mysterious woman wanted for murder…about an astounding secret rooted in history, among the country’s Founding Fathers and families…about a conspiracy lurking in the darkest corners of corporate America–and a deadly plan that only he can stop. And in the process, maybe Bolden will also find out who he really is....
Furiously paced, filled with brilliantly drawn characters from politicians to patriots, from Wall Street players to
battle-hardened cops, The Patriots Club is vintage Reich: brilliant, breathtaking, and impossible to put down until the final unforgettable page is turned.
Download Description
Christopher Reich was born in Tokyo in 1961. A graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin, he worked in Switzerland before returning to the United States to pursue a career as a novelist. The bestselling author of four other acclaimed novels, Numbered Account, The Runner, The First Billion, and The Devil’s Banker, he lives in California with his wife and children.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
A good diversion........2007-01-06
I found this book enjoyable. The story was plotted and executed well. The main character was able to do a lot of implausible things like escape from professional soldiers, avoid gunshots and things like that, but that is the norm for a lot of these types of novels. There were a couple of characters that could have been developed further and interacted more, Guilfoyle and Franciscus, which would have made it more interesting. I guess the author's point was to make a statement that the industrial-military complex controls the world.
Preposterous Plot.......2006-12-16
I love good conspiracy books. I like a believable super hero. The plot of this novel is absurd. The hero, Thomas Bolden, was abandoned at age 6 by his mother. She was an extreme left wing radical who had been pursued by police for participating in a bombing. Bolden grew up in foster homes and after a tough childhood worked his way up enjoying a successful Wall Street career. He is also just about Mr. Perfect. All of a sudden he is targeted by a high powered right wing group called The Patriots Club. The Club has existed and evolved since the days of George Washington. According to the author this club, which has included all Presidents,has secretly and behind the scenes determined U.S. policy since the country's inception. A master computer selects Bolden as a threat and and a bizarre kidnapping of him and his girlfriend ensues. Bolden takes on everything and everyone in his path and ultimately saves the Republic from The Evil. It was tough to get thru all this nonsense.
Best Book of the Summer .......2006-09-12
I picked up The Patriots Club after learning it had won the inaugural "Thriller" Award for Best Novel of the year bestowed by the International Thriller Writers Association. I have read all of Reich's books and enjoyed them, so I am a fan to begin with. His first novel "Numbered Account" stands among my favorite thrillers of the past decade. There is no dobut he is a talent to be reckoned with!
I'm happy to say that "The Patriots Club" was every bit as exciting and interesting as "Numbered Account." Reich does write a different kind of thriller. Namely, his stories are smart and extremely well researched, a quality I've found in writers like Frederick Forsyth and Tom Clancy. What Reich does better is create three dimensional characters that stick with the reader.
Enough said...I'm happy to give the Patriots Club my highest award of five stars. A thoroughly entertaining, suspenseful, and thought provoking read. Highly recommended!
Below Average Predictable Characters and Very Unlikely Plot.......2006-09-05
I bought this book as a last minute effort to quickly read something from an author I don't know as I left for a trip on an airplane.
My overall thought was that this novel had promise, but the story was way too over the top. The hero is brought into the mess for an outlandish reason, and escapes situations in unbelievable ways. There are too many different conspiracies" that are all tied in together too neatly. The "twist" at the end was almost laughable. In fact, I found myself thinking, "you're kidding me, right?" I realize this is a work of fiction, but in the end the storyline should be somewhat believable. This one wasn't even close.
I have read other comments about this author that indicate his other novels are better. Sorry, but after spending too much time reading this one, I'm not willing to take the chance on any others. I'll stick to known commodities.
Ridiculous Plot and Cardboard Characters.......2006-08-03
This is the second Christopher Reich book I've read and although I liked it slightly better than THE FIRST BILLION, I still can't recommend it.
The plot of THE PATRIOTS CLUB is fairly ridiculous. The hero of the book, 32-year old investment banker Thomas Bolden, runs afoul of a right-wing "Patriots Club." Since the beginning of its history, the foreign policy of the US has been effectively controlled by this secret club, whose members include the President, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the head of the FBI, and prominent members of the media. The club tries to kill Bolden (repeatedly), and he ends up fleeing for his life.
This books starts strongly, but eventually runs out of steam. There are way too many characters in this book, and Reich keeps on shifting the perspective of the book from one character to another. As a result, most of them end up underdeveloped and one-dimensional -- the dashing hero, his loyal girlfriend, the grizzled detective, etc.
Also, the complicated conspiracy plot has so many twists and turns that it was hard for me to keep track of what was going on. Reich is a good writer, and this book is certainly readable, but I wish he would streamline his plots better.
This book is also something of a political tract. Reich obviously dislikes the right-wing, because almost every villain in this book is Republican and conservative. I have no problems with thoughtful political criticism, but Reich doesn't do that here. Instead, he pretty much caricatures the Republicans in this novel, portraying them as racist, sexist, and anti-democracy. After awhile, the political soapboxing gets rather tiresome.
In short, avoid this book. If you want a good political thriller, read David Baldacci instead.
Average customer rating:
- pierce the veil
- An ever-escalating saga of power and fierce competition
- Pierce The Veil
- Enjoyed not being able to put it down.
- A Great Escape
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Pierce the Veil: From Put-in-bay to Wall Street
Bob Adamov
Manufacturer: Packard Island Publishing
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1929774338 |
Product Description
Max Ratek, the notorious Michelangelo of Wall Street takeover artists, quietly plots a takeover battle for a Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio headquartered tire company. Ratek's plan goes awry when the tire company's investor relations professional, who is battling the ravages of MS, prematurely discovers Ratek's scheme and launches a preemptive first strike against this titanic robber baron. Meanwhile, Put-in-Bay resident and Washington Post investigative reporter, Emerson Moore, discovers Ratek's sinister plan. Emerson is drawn into the abyss of corporate intrigue as he chases the story in the midst of sailing adventures, an executive's mysterious death, an explosion at Perry's Monument, a ruthless CEO and a dangerous blonde ice queen who works for Ratek. Pierce the Veil and its extraordinary cast of characters takes readers behind the chilling scenes of corporate life to an unexpected, thrilling climax.
Customer Reviews:
pierce the veil.......2005-02-18
I just finished reading Pierce the Veil. This is a must read book. I also read Rainbow's End the first book to the sequel. I recommond both of these book. If you like drama you will love these books. I can't wait for the next one to come out. It was really hard to put the book down. I really love to read and the book must be good and this book is so good. I think anyone who read it will really like. As I said a must read book.
Michele
An ever-escalating saga of power and fierce competition.......2004-10-30
Pierce the Veil by author Bob Adamov is the sequel to his earlier novel, Rainbow's End. Another adventure featuring "Washington Post" investigative reporter Emerson Moore, Pierce the Veil draws its irrepressible newshound into a cat-and-mouse game of corporate intrigue. Sailing adventures, a prominent executive's early demise, an utterly unforgiving CEO and a blonde ice queen who cannot be trusted all figure in an ever-escalating saga of power and fierce competition, heating up to a spectacular climax.
Pierce The Veil.......2004-07-30
I found this book intriguing, at the least. Once you start, you can't put it down. Bob obviously has a gift for good story telling. My question is: when's the MOVIE coming out?
Enjoyed not being able to put it down........2004-07-07
As In his first book, "Rainbow's End," Bob Adamov kept my attention throughout the book with many of the same characters, numerous subtle hints to the outcomes, as well as twists and turns that were totally unexpected to me. The reading was comfortable, exciting, and easy, almost reminding me of my younger years reading Hardy Boys mysteries (albeit much more in-depth). I really enjoyed how Bob uses real places like restaurants and bars in Put-In-Bay and elsewhere that I've visited, describing them to a "T." I'd suspect many of the people are real with only their names changed in his stories. It was fun trying to discern the fiction from the facts!
The ending was again different than I expected (as also in "Rainbow's End"), but again left me somewhat emotionally touched in a very positive way. I'm looking forward to his third in this series and hopefully more after that. Bob's books are also very appropriate for younger readers (I'm in my early 50's).
A Great Escape.......2004-06-27
Bob uses local color and history to create a background for an exciting and absorbing adventure. His villan is "villanous" and his hero is believable. Great reading!
Book Description
Twelve years ago, Agent Briggs Tanner was sent into China to help strategic mastermind General Han Soong defect to the West. The escape went perfectly, until, somehow, the secret police interrupted them at the final rendezvous. Tanner barely escaped the country -- but Soong and his family were arrested, and made to disappear...
Now, Soong has resurfaced. He's contacted the CIA with the message that he is alive and must get out of China -- and the only person he will trust is Briggs Tanner. But even as Tanner prepares to confront the chaos of his own past and once again go up against China's brutal secret police, forces around the globe are watching him, waiting for the moment that will secure their power, lead the world to the brink of war -- and seal Tanner's fate once and for all...
Customer Reviews:
Even more suspensful than End of Enemies.......2002-07-31
I literally read the last 200 pages of this book in one night staying up until 3 am to do so. Espionage and entrigue all over the place, this book is great.
However, I have to hope that Grant based some of the events of this book on reality or other fiction (particularly the early escapades of the Zi's), because if he thought about that on his own, then he is really one sick cookie.
Another winner!.......2002-07-29
I found Blackwood's second Tanner novel even better than the first, and I can only see Blackwood's books getting better and better in the future!
Tanner is a man with a past, and in The Wall of Night he's given an opportunity to make right something in his past that went terribly wrong. Briggs Tanner is a refreshing everyday hero who isn't "super human" or "all action". He's an average man with a very above average job. He's humble. And I find that very appealing in a character.
I can only hope that we see more novels from Grant Blackwood featuring Briggs Tanner. I want to learn more about him and his life while watching him as he continues to do jobs that others aren't willing, or have the training, to do.
Espionage/Thrillers usually aren't the kinds of books I read, but for Blackwood I will continue to make the exception. Highly entertaining reads!!
Great thriller from a new author.......2002-06-04
This is the second book I have read by Mr. Blackwood and it was as thrilling as the first. This is pure escapism action with a fairly plausible plot line. Briggs Tanner is a great protaginist although he seems almost super human sometimes and is able to escape from impossible situations. This story is similar to those of Clancy and others, but with less technical detail and more focus on plot and characters. The only fault I can find is with the editing. There were quite a few typographical errors that should have been caught. I have seen similar errors in other books from this publisher.
I hope Mr. Blackwood brings back this cast of characters in future novels.
Second Time's a charm........2002-05-09
I enjoyed Blackwood's End of Enemies...it was fast paced, exciting and well written, so I had high expectations for his follow-up novel, The Wall of Night.
My expectations were exceeded.
The writing is tighter, the plot even more compelling, and Blackwood seems to have developed an even greater ability to place you in the action ( see the Fighter jet scene). No Sophomore jinx here.
Tanner once again shows himself to be a fully developed and engaging hero. His loyalty to Soong is both laudable and believable and the pain he feels after one of the plot twist'a is palpable.
The Wall of Night is a great read, but if you haven't read Blackwod's End of Enemies, I'd start there. You'll appreciate the growth of Tanner's character and Blackwood's skill as a writer.
Second Time's a charm........2002-05-09
I enjoyed Blackwood's End of Enemies...it was fast paced, exciting and well written, so I had high expectations for his follow-up novel, The Wall of Night.
My expectations were exceeded.
The writing is tighter, the plot even more compelling, and Blackwood seems to have developed an even greater ability to place you in the action ( see the Fighter jet scene). No Sophomore jinx here.
Tanner once again shows himself to be a fully developed and engaging hero. His loyalty to Soong is both laudable and believable and the pain he feels after one of the plot twist'a is palpable.
The Wall of Night is a great read, but if you haven't read Blackwod's End of Enemies, I'd start there. You'll appreciate the growth of Tanner's character and Blackwood's skill as a writer.
Average customer rating:
- Too many characters and settings
- this is a mess
- OK, But .....
- Entertaining, but series is running out of steam.
- The protege is much better!
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The Power Broker
Stephen Frey
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
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The Protégé: A Novel
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The Chairman: A Novel
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ASIN: 0786289864 |
Customer Reviews:
Too many characters and settings.......2007-07-14
Deceit, trust and honesty are themes that are repeatedly surfacing in Frey's novel "The Power Broker." All relationships are questioned and tested in this action and crime packed story.
The novel encompasses several original story lines that did not seem to mesh together until the second half of the book. The two powerful, secret orders one of white and the other of black men entailed a large amount of detail on both sides that left the reader confused as to which characters belonged to which orders. Each of the orders had separate goals for a presidential hopeful.
I had great difficulty keeping track of the dozen or more characters in this novel, even though many were killed off during the course of the novel.
I did quickly become attached to the true main characters of the book Christian, Quentin, Nigel and Allison. I found that my favorite part of the novel was the dialogue between these individuals. The story that was told with these characters through their business practices was easy to follow and believable.
In all honesty, I had to force myself to read past the first few complicated and intricate chapters. There were too many characters and settings introduced in the first few chapters. I especially found myself very perplexed as to how the prologue fit in with the beginning of the novel. As the story progressed, the amount of story lines seemed to increase and did not converge until the final few chapters.
This novel could have used a character chart or map to prevent the reader being lost with too many characters and settings.
this is a mess.......2007-06-29
For some reason I keep picking up Frey books with the expectation that they will be knock down thrillers filled with intrigue. You will find a little of that here, but the Power Broker is so filled with compositional flaws that anything approaching readability is quickly overwhelmed by Frey's need to jump around from one character to the next. I lost count of how many first person chapters Frey pushes in here that orient themselves around someone new. Also, for the first half of the book Frey is constantly adding new major... very major plot threads that are as cumbersome as car wrecks.
This could have been a pretty good book I think if Frey had approached it through the eyes of a single character such as the predominant protagonist, Christian Gillette. I am always game for a political thriller and it seems that Frey has managed to pit several sides against each other in a unique bid for power. Sadly, Frey is a pretty good writer of prose, has interesting ideas, basically, he has everything you need for a darn good genre writer... everything that is except a will to force his thoughts into a tract that would allow for another to follow along.
OK, But ............2007-05-30
I was pretty disappointed with this effort by Stephen Frey. After awhile mentioning billions as if it has any meaning to the average reader, makes my eyes glaze over. The supposed good guy, Christian, is set up and fooled on a regular basis. If he is this gullible how did he become such a financial wizard? Too many unexplained happenings. He swims in icy Maine waters and his shoes don't squish? Is he wearing shoes? Don't his clothes drip all over the place. No, no and no. The author fills up a lot of pages and has a secret club a power club that has been written about many times before. It is an old plot idea and one can only hope this type of organization does not actually exist. If it does, expect your brain to be pulled out through your nose; the fate of one hapless character. Don't waste your time. I suffered so that you would not!
Entertaining, but series is running out of steam........2007-02-07
Somehow between "The Chairman" and this book, Christian Gillette morphed from a cutthroat chairman looking to protect himself from other nefarious characters and cutthroats, a truly fascinating enigma - into a hero-for-everyman type of character. The book still kept me interested, but the series' high note was the 1st book, and the overall quality of the story has descended steadily since. Hopefully, "The Successor" will reverse that trend.
The protege is much better!.......2007-02-07
This book is the sequence of the Protege. I recommend the original book!
Average customer rating:
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Life Means Noting Behind the Green Wall
Professor Z
Manufacturer: Tfm Pub Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
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ASIN: 0966524055 |
Average customer rating:
- Drama! Mystery! Suspense!
- Great book
- Worth the read, but don't think too hard
- Lost interest with the unexpected and unbelievable turns
- 5 star read with one Caveat.
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Wall of Silence
Gabrielle Goldsby
Manufacturer: Regal Crest Enterprises, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
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ASIN: 1932300015 |
Book Description
It was supposed to be an average bust. Minimal backup. Minimal trouble. But everyone has their limit and Foster Everett has just reached hers.
In a blinding rage she made the first mistake that she couldn't talk her way out of. A cover-up ensues, and Foster's guilt is left to fester. Ultimately, the death of a close friend proves to be her undoing and Foster begins numbing herself at a neighborhood bar. There she meets 26-year-old Riley Medeiros, the one person strong enough to see Foster's painful secrets and not turn away. And when Foster is forced to run, it's Riley who offers her sanctuary. A small cabin on the California coast becomes Foster's safe haven, and it is there that she begins to get to know the extraordinary woman that is Riley Medeiros. But, like all secrets, Foster's will come back to haunt her. And like even the most carefully built walls, the ones surrounding Foster will eventually crumble and she will find that not all secrets are what they seem.
Customer Reviews:
Drama! Mystery! Suspense!.......2004-11-30
What happens when you blank out and think you've done something unforgivable and there seems to be no way out? One woman, a female police officer, finds herself asking just that. The only thing she can think to do is run where she can't be found. Offering her aid and a place of refuge is a female bouncer from a bar frequented by the police officer.
As they work to unravel the mystery of what was done questions begin to arise. What caused the police officer to blank out? How did the situation lead to the death of someone close to her? And what secrets does the bouncer herself hold? And finally, will the proverbial "Wall of Silence" of the police department prove an unbreachable obstacle?
Also showing up in the mix, are feelings for each other that the two women try to deny. As they spend more time together unraveling the clues, they are finally forced to acknowledge what they mean to each other. Will this newfound relationship help or hinder? Will they be able to solve the mystery before someone else dies?
Intriguing, dynamic and suspenseful, Wall of Silence is a great story of life, love, friendship, and seemingly overwhelming odds.
Great book.......2004-07-12
After I read "Caretacker's Daughter" by G Goldsby I wanted to see what else she had written. I got this book and even tho its totally different from what I was looking for I loved this book.
I could not put it down. I immediatly fell in love with Foster and Riley, they honest relationship and true love. A great combination of romance and mystery.
Worth the read, but don't think too hard.......2004-03-23
I enjoyed this book as I read it.
Thinking about it afterwards however, there were some flaws that perhaps I did overlook because I enjoyed the characters and the voice of the first person narrator. The main character, the narrator is really insightfully written and likeable if endearingly flawed.
The use of the first person narrative however, is in the end wasted here. A mystery where the safety of characters we enjoy is at risk... unfolds slowly until the end. The very end begins a down hill run that is exciting up until...
We meet the bad guy. And turns out, we've never really seen him before, so that although his position makes him kind of a surprise... he then begins to spill his guts... describing all kinds of stuff that Foster, the MC could have found out along the way, but didn't. We never find out why these guys knew so much about all kinds of people but were after Foster when she was really a bystander.
Either way... the only way to show us what's going on when you've got a first person narrative... is for the narrator to discover it. Kind of felt like cheating in the end when the bad guy just started confessing. He had no relationship with the MC... so his motivation for confessing was a bit confusing.
Details aside. I wasn't dissapointed until I thought about it a bit in the end.
Worth the read.
Lost interest with the unexpected and unbelievable turns.......2003-12-10
Although I enjoyed the first person narration of the story, it wasn't as humorous as the reviews lead me to believe. This book was written with proper grammar and did have a believable plot. The novel did have a couple of reasonable characters in wounded police officer, Foster Everett, as she learns mysterious Riley Medeiros, is a woman with secrets. Together they attempt to solve a perilous plot that threatens their lives. Everett and Riley have to pass personal limitations to accept each other and a life a life with each other. At times, I found them somewhat clichéd, with the growing affection, but it didn't seem to hinder the mysterious unknown factors surrounding them, but I did find myself knowing the end results.
Foster's realization of her own pain and the difficulty she is in makes did keep me interested in the story for a short time, but I soon lost interest with the unexpected and unbelievable turns the plot attempted.
Not being impressed by Goldsby's cross-genre of the novel, I can't say that I truly enjoyed this book, but I'm willing to give the writer another chance and will probably buy her next book.
5 star read with one Caveat........2003-09-30
I have never in my life read such huge discrepancies in reviews, therefore I felt it necessary to add my two cents. This book, in a word, is wonderful. The author deftly took me, the reader, by the nose and made me feel everything from anger to fear to arousal. The very first sentence had me thinking I had better pay attention. That to me is the definition of a good read. The main characters just felt real. I kept thinking they were patterned after different people I had met in my life. If I have one complaint about this book its the price tag. I was lucky enough to get my book while it was on sale. However upon returning to Amazon to purchase another for a Christmas present I noticed the price was back up. I understand that books of this nature might be difficult to market however I think a effort should be made make wymens books more affordable. If you can go into a store and purchase a mystery for 7 bucks why not these?Regardless I will purchase this book and any others this author may write in the future.
Books:
- The Transit of Venus
- The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Series #1)
- The Underdogs
- Things Fall Apart: A Novel
- Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, Eleventh Edition (Times Atlas of the World Comprehensive Edition)
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
- Visions in Death (In Death)
- Watchmen
- When Bad Things Happen to Good People
- Where the Heart Is (Oprah's Book Club)
Books Index
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The Power Broker: A Novel
Simple Genius
