The Reckoning: A Thriller

Book Description

Bestselling author Jeff Long's apocalyptic thriller Year Zero was hailed as "superbly original...terrifying and exquisite."

-- Dan Brown, ş bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code

Now Long enters new territory with an intricate,suspense-charged journey into the Vietnam War'shaunting legacy.

The killing fields of Cambodia hold nightmarish secrets of the past -- and the present -- for Molly Drake, an intrepid photojournalist covering the U.S. military's search for the remains of an American pilot shot down during the Vietnam War. A flight helmet buried among the Khmer Rouge victims is her first discovery -- and far from the most explosive. Led by a mysterious expatriate to the ruins of an ancient city, Molly embarks on a harrowing search for evidence of an entire GI patrol, lost thirty years ago. Now, as a typhoon descends on the remote jungle fortress, Molly discovers that a war she never knew never ended -- and it's up to her to solve a forgotten murder among the warriors left behind....Jeff Long's unnerving novel of predation, betrayal, and resurrection is a masterwork of "excellent storytelling" (Rocky Mountain News).

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"Enter the territory of Jeff Long, where the unknown is deeply present, death is a constant shadow, and the human spirit is our final hope. Now comes The Reckoning, another superbly original thriller -- a story of predation, betrayal, and resurrection that is at once intricate, haunting, and terrifying. Armed with only a camera and iron determination, thirty-year-old photojournalist Molly Drake arrives in modern-day Cambodia to cover the U.S. military search for the remains of an American pilot shot down during the Vietnam War. In this eerie wasteland pockmarked with human bones and live land mines, the people hold more secrets than the landscape, from aging archaeologist Duncan O'Brian to John Kleat, a caustic vet hunting for his long lost brother. When Molly's camera captures a flight helmet buried among Khmer Rouge victims, diplomatic powers force her and her civilian comrades off the dig. But just as a typhoon looms offshore, the outcasts learn of an even bigger find. A mysterious expatriot guides them into the ruins of an ancient city, where they begin a harrowing search for the remains of an entire patrol of GIs that strayed in combat thirty years ago. With storm winds hammering their jungle fortress, Molly discovers that a war she never knew never died. Her survival comes to depend on her journalistic skills to solve a forgotten murder among these warriors left behind. In the end, her only hope for salvation is to redeem the lost souls that surround her. As stylishly written as it is suspenseful, The Reckoning is a thriller that illuminates the fragile thread between life and death, knowledge and ignorance, hope and horror. Bringing readers ever closer to enemy territory, it is a hair-raising journey into one of modern history's darkest periods and an intense look into the hearts still haunted by it. "

Customer Reviews:

A Little 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.

boring, too short, rushed ending.......2007-04-04

I was a huge fan of the Descent, still one of my favorite books. Year zero was also a great book. This book seemed like it was building up to some climatic finish that never happened. I remember I had kept turning the pages, and as I got closer to the end I started to wonder how he would wrap everything up and have a great finish, it never materialized.

Good Old-Fashioned Thrills.......2006-08-30

When I read The Reckoning, I was impressed. Jeff Long is always to my taste, but with this book he hits a stride. There are fewer story threads than usual (usual for the detail-oriented Long, that is)and the result is a very readable, taut book that still contains plenty of plot. His characters are likable and the adventure into jungle ruins is eerie and fascinating.

Long creates compelling imagery, beautiful or horrifying, and, as always, there's an impending sense of the paranormal to his words, an air of more surrounding the characters than they can see or fathom. This author understands that what we don't see is more frightening than what we do. . . And whether or not something anomalous exists within any Long book is irrelevant. His style haunts.

For me, The Reckoning is the most satisfying of his books. It gave me what I crave most and I didn't even see it coming. When that happens, it's time to eat that cake, not just have it.

But wait, there's more! The cherry on top: I finished The Reckoning and immediately read Scott Smith's much-touted The Ruins. Essentially, it's the same story, but The Reckoning absolutely blows The Ruins out of the water. While The Ruins is a page-turner, it doesn't satisfy and it's difficult to care if the characters live or die. The Reckoning is a good old-fashioned science/adventure thriller with three-dimensional characters to care about. That's what works for me.

A Slump for Long.......2006-06-01

I find Jeff Long to be underrated among his often overrated peers. But he tries something new here, and I hate to say he fails but it just isn't as good or imaginative as The Descent was.

Long's writing is excellent, as always, but the book has a few problems. For one, the twists are virtually non-existent. You can assume what is going on within the first 50 or so pages if you stop and think about coincidences being too great. For another, the plot never feels as if it picks up steam. It meanders, not quite going anywhere. In some cases this is fine, in this book it just feels a bit off. There isn't enough to the characters to meander this much, although the scenary is certainly worth reading about.

Then there's the one enormous factual error. A great deal is made of trees growing, particularly ones with initials in them. However, as any Encyclopedia Brown reader knows, trees don't push up. Carve your name into a tree and the initials will always remain at the same height. Knowing this ruined too much of the story for me. C'mon, fact checking editor, where were you on this one? Certainly someone that read the book before it was published should have picked up on this.

Worth reading to support the author, and to take in Cambodia. But not a particularly great book. I expect more from Long.

It's good but falls off the Wall.......2006-05-23

I read The Wall which I thought was excellent. This book, although good, gets mired down in vagueness. I definitely had an unpleasant sensation while reading this due to the increasing hopelessness of the situation for the two main characters. I will say that the ending does redeem the book a lot but not enough to undo hours of interesting but overall dreary reading. I know a lot of folks will say that we can't get enough of Vietnam War era books but I say enough is enough.

Average customer rating:

This was great !!!!!!!!!!!
You need to read this book!
Good attempt
Horribly Unprofessional
Doesn't measure up.....

Final Destination #1: Dead Reckoning
Natasha Rhodes
Manufacturer: Black Flame
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1844161706

Customer Reviews:

This was great !!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-06-09

This book was fast paced and aweasome.The deaths wern't the best but the characters r aweasome. The jerk off Eric reminded me of the guy Carter in the first movie.But I do have to say the club seen when it collapsed was the best.If u like fd then u should give this book a read.

You need to read this book!.......2006-03-11

This book was awesome! I couldn't put it down it is so much better than the movies! The deaths are way more creative than the movie, they didn't need gore to make it freaky. When some people die they don't really tell what happens take an example from a character who begins with a B.

Now everyone else gives Eric a bad rap but he isn't that horrible he just extremely stubborn. You'll like the ending, it is somewhat like FD2. I will read all of them and I also suggest the movie "Final Destination 3" it is awesome, bloody but awesome. I am so looking foward to the the new book coming out this summer.

Good attempt.......2006-01-23

I'm dying to see Final Destination 3 so I decided to get the books to tie me over until it's out.
I really enjoyed this book, it's a pretty good page turner. It follows the plot to the movies pretty much, opens with an accident, girl has vison and saves a group of people. Said survivors begin dying horribly.
The deaths where pretty cool, nice and gory at times. The book was quite suspencefull and I was hooked on it.

I had a few minor problems with it though. It didn't seem to follow some of the rules, interviening did nothing!
Some of the characters really annoyed me, that damn Eric, I wished for a long and painful demise on that dumbass!
Also some of the deaths where pretty cheap, I wish they spent more time one them. Also there was some sections in the book I didn't really like, I felt they kind of took me out of the story a little.

But I do recommend this, if you are a fan of FD, this book should do you.

Horribly Unprofessional.......2005-10-13

When I finished this book, I put it down and sighed. Wow, this could've been so much better then what was given to me. Since my, A Nightmare on Elm Street 1 review might've been all around and hard to follow, let me break down this review.
First off folks, the storyline. Young, punk-rock, get the hell out of my face Jess Golden has a premonition of the building she's playing in collapsing. Oh my God, what does she do? Why, my friends, she gets her ass out of there of course. But those who follow her, including the terribly annoying, preppy Eric (I'll get to this guy later) and her somewhat boyfriend Jamie, are thankfully saved from the inevitable death that awaits them (big words)! Then they all seem to die off rather slowly, and I wasn't that much interested.
In the creativity department, I guess you can say Rhodes tried her best. Again, it felt kind of repetitive in some points in the book. I rarely felt scared or gloomy like I did in the dark Suffer the Children novel. It seemed too funny to be scary. I never once really, deeply cared about the characters. And by the end of the novel (and only at the end for some reason), the word `cos' was used more than the number of games the Chicago White Sox have won (and they've won a lot for all those who didn't already know). Ugh, what can I say, I only spent $8 on it...
In the fear and gore department....cricket noises please. I was rarely scared, and the gore was kept to a minimum. There's not much I can say without spoiling the plot.
And finally, in the Eric department. My god, he is an annoying son of a bitch. If he were a true person, I would have killed him myself, not saying that he dies or anything...or does he? I can't spoil this book for you, even if I did somewhat dislike it.
Overall, it's an okay read with okay characters and okay ideas. Still, Dead Reckoning could've been so much better. Oh well, maybe Destination Zero (which seems to have helicopters in it, based on the preview in the end of the book) will be more exciting and better.

I give it 2 annoying Erics out of 5

Rated PG-13: language and violence

Doesn't measure up............2005-10-02

I was rather excited about all these new series soming out from Black flame, a nightmare on elm street, friday the thirteenth, etc. And since Final Destination is one of my favs I decided to get the book............

Basic Plotline, same as movies, written okay, the only two characters, Jess and Alex, are pretty likeable, everyone else you don't really care what happens to them....... the death scene at the beginning is very creepy, little like King's prom scene in Carrie, but anyways she saves a couple of people, and they all die off horriblely, yadda yadda yadda ..... u know the story. people die just randomly with out question so don't get to attached.........It didn't measure up to my excpetations, but if ur a fan of the movies, you'll prob. like this book.......

Average customer rating:

For the brain dead only
Don't waste your time...
Predictable and cliche
Don't read this book
Don't read this book

Day of Reckoning
Jack Higgins
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425178773
Release Date: 2001-02-06

Amazon.com

In Jack Higgins's new Mafia, no one wears gold chains or carries a tommy gun. Deals are done quietly and often resemble those in the "legal" business world. In fact, the tentacles of the Cosa Nostra extend into the most public of industries, including TV, film, and publishing. When Truth magazine reporter Katherine Johnson starts looking too closely at the life of millionaire socialite and mob boss Jack Fox, however, the veneer of gentility dissolves immediately. Her body is found one morning floating in the East River, and the coroner suspects foul play.

Wrenched by the pain of his loss, her ex-husband--former FBI agent Blake Johnson--decides to take the law into his own hands. In fact, as part of the secret White House department known as The Basement, Blake actually has the president's permission to take out Fox in the best way he sees fit. As Blake begins his Fox hunt, Day of Reckoning evolves into an international duel between the masterminds of justice and criminality. Blake struggles to exact his revenge by slowly undermining his opponents' businesses. And Fox matches him at every turn.

While the contest between the power brokers is compelling on the surface, Higgins is unable to infuse his characters with enough life to make the story as engaging as it might have been. The heroes and villains borrow heavily from the classic James Bond play book, complete with brandy snifters, brandname cigarettes, Saville Row suits, and secret, world-dominating empires. It's fun to read as a sort of homage to thrillers of the early Cold War period, but Day of Reckoning never matches the success of such earlier Higgins greats as The Eagle Has Landed and seems to fall all too frequently into cliché. --Patrick O'Kelley

Book Description

The master of intrigue and suspense reunites the powerhouse team of Blake Johnson and Sean Dillon from his explosive bestseller The White House Connection to bring down an international crime boss-and this time, there's more at stake than duty and honor.

Customer Reviews:

For the brain dead only.......2007-10-01

Had I not been trapped in a car for hours with nothing better to do I would never have finished this horrid mess of a book. Eventually I decided to enjoy it as camp and parody, as if SNL had done a spoof of spy novels, and that made it a bit more fun. The book proper probably only deserves 2 stars. The characters are charicatures, the plotting vacillates between predictable and inconsistent, and there really isn't anyone to root for in the whole story once we get past the first couple of chapters. The most interesting characters are either killed off or just disappear from the story for no good reason. But this version gets a single star because this has to be one of the worst narrations in the history of recorded books. The breathy, melodramatic reading by Patrick Macnee almost drove me crazy until I decided to shift to parody mode. Then it fit. Maybe Macnee had to go there himself to get through this disaster.

I have great admiration for anyone who makes a living writing, and for Mr. Higgins other successful books, but not every word put to paper has to see print. This one should have been left in a drawer somewhere.

Don't waste your time..........2007-09-05

This book is truly awful. I picked it up to read on my way home labor day - kept stopping to tell my husband how awful it was. Finally put it down and quit torturing myself. There is pitiful character development - characters are introduced by the plenty in the first few chapters, all in under a paragraph. The book is primarily dialogue - and the dialogue is cliched, and forced. Thankfully I didn't pay for this book - it was a hand-down from my Aunt.

I am reassured that I'm not crazy after reading these other reviews. How did this ever make it to the bookshelves? Insane that new authors are turned down every day, and this drivel kills trees.

Predictable and cliche.......2005-02-15

This book was so forgettable I had to search Amazon on the names of the lead characters to find the name of the book only a few days after finishing the novel!
You see this book coming a million miles away. Higgins simply phones in the effort.
I've read other books as part of larger series and I never felt left out. This book was the exception. Unlike the Master and Commander series, or the Leaphorn/Chee mysteries, this book depends on previous books. At least that's my assumption since this book is so lame on its own. For example, you start this book with a lead character, but once we meet the series' principal characters, the first character gets third billing.
This book is NOT recommended. I gave it 2 stars because I was entertained moderately and did finish it. (If it was really bad, I would have cut bait!) The character Dillon is somewhat interesting, perhaps more so if you have interest in the IRA, Northern Ireland, and all that.

Don't read this book.......2004-11-10

The Day of Reckoning is an exemplar of a novel at its worst. Sean Dillon and his all-star cast of superhuman vigilantes hardly inspire, and infact tend to irritate.
My advice: This book is worse than the plague, so run away from it.

Don't read this book.......2004-03-29

Not even same, same. Clearly Higgins and publishers have resorted to churning out mediocrity written by school children for pocket money under the brand name of Higgins. Obviously the best work is now behind us and like so many authors who have established themselves and then cease to respect the readers who established them (Clancy, James Patterson, John Grisham et al) we get insulted by teams of nobodies trying to write a book under a known name using stale ingredients mixed together in a drunken stupor. That's the last Higgins I read.

Average customer rating:

unimpressive
Great theme, shallow characters
Come Back BLackford Oakes!
A Disappointment
Like a "dumbed down" version of a more complete version

Nuremberg: The Reckoning
William F. Buckley Jr.
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 015602747X

Amazon.com

Nuremberg: The Reckoning, William F. Buckley Jr.'s riveting historical novel about the 1945 International Military Tribunal that brought Nazi war criminals to justice, is driven by an illuminating synergy of fact and fiction. While drawing upon the record of furious, real-life events at Nuremberg and writing with mesmerizing authority about such participants as Herman Goering, Albert Speer, and Justice Robert Jackson (the United States' Chief Prosecutor at the Tribunal), Buckley provides readers a helpful, unifying entrée with his invention of the Reinhard family.

On the eve of Germany's 1939 invasion of Poland, building engineer Axel Reinhard and his American wife, Annabelle, finalize secret plans to flee their Hamburg home and, with son Sebastian in tow, emigrate to Phoenix, Arizona. There, Sebastian's grandmother will care for them; at least, that's the plan until the Gestapo forces Axel alone to stay behind. In subsequent years, Axel is pressured to design concentration camps while Sebastian grows into a smart, strapping officer in the U.S. Army. Assigned as a translator-interrogator at Nuremberg, Sebastian is not only thrust into the center of a legal maelstrom, but also finds himself at a crossroads of epic and personal history.

Buckley's work here is enriched by an edifying perspective on the enormous difficulties of developing coherent international law. Particularly fascinating are his insights into shaping a tribunal mentality that can survive generations of second-guessing: Was Nuremberg a perk for the war's victors? Or was it an imperative, delicately realized in the relative absence of legal antecedents? Buckley's superbly researched novel drops us squarely into a thicket of ideas, arguments, and reportage, while grounding our emotions in the Reinhards' collectively compelling story. --Tom Keogh

Book Description

Sebastian Reinhardt, a young German-American, is yanked from routine army duty in America to serve as an interpreter at Nuremberg's Palace of Justice in 1945. He hears the stories of the infamous Nazi killers and war makers, who face prosecutors determined to bring them to justice, and encounters the towering figures of twentieth-century legal, political, and military history, among them Justice Robert Jackson, Albert Speer, Hermann Goering, and the dark, untried shadow of Adolf Hitler. As the trial unfolds, Sebastian must come to terms with his family legacy and national identity.
With his renowned authority and audacity, William F. Buckley Jr. creates a riveting thriller, taking the reader through unforgettable scenes of treachery and vengeance, love and hatred, and the struggle for justice found in a hangman's noose.

Customer Reviews:

unimpressive.......2007-02-13

Yes it will be nice to learn a few things about Nuremberg while following a live personal story. The problem is that this live personal story completely fails to click.

Great theme, shallow characters.......2004-04-26

Buckley's Blackford Oaks novels were always quie riveting, particularly as he used historical personalities as major players in his plots (JFK, Khrushchev, Castro). In "Nuremberg," he uses them only in side roles (Jackson, Biddle, Goering, Speer) and instead creates his own war criminal as the central villain. This already lessens the interest.

Second, the two German-American servicemen (Rheinhardt and Allbright) don't ring true. WWII era US Army soldiers wanting to drink sherry? Very strange. And considering Allbright's heritage and what the Nazis did to his family, one would think he would hardly be so diffident or that he would want to help Sebby in his "act of mercy."

Other characters just seem superfluous. What is really the point of the chapters involving Sebby's Grand Canyon supervisor or even the German girl friend. Neither contributes to the story line or the outcome. These secondary characters and their subplots in the novel were tepid and unnecessary.

I'm afraid Buckley has lost his touch in mixing history with fiction. Too bad -- the Nuremberg trial presents a fascinating backdrop for developing a thoughtful page-turner -- something Buckley failed to do.

Come Back BLackford Oakes!.......2003-05-07

A fan of Buckley's novels with Blackford Oakes as the CIA agent involved in international crises, I looked forward to this historical novel. I was sorely disappointed.

Buckley's main character is flat. The conflict he will face is apparent and obvious early. The "big twist" at the end was predictable and meager.

Worse, I was never sure if Buckley knew what he wanted to write. A novel about a participant in the trials? A novel with a philosophical debate? An expose on the legal tenets used in the Nuremburg trials? Unfortunately, all of these were touched upon in the book, but none satisfactorily probed or developed in depth. Instead, the book was scattered and disorganized with the reader left to want more in each area.

Overall a very disappointing book about a topic that has so much to offer.

A Disappointment.......2003-05-05

William Buckley has a good story line -- a "behind the scenes" look at what was happening at Nuremberg. Indeed, there was plenty of politcal gamesmanship going on at that time. Buckley's book illustrates some of the "sensitivities" that had to be worked out among the allied powers so the Nuremberg Tribunnal could actually have happened. Had Buckley stayed along these story lines, he would have written a very powerful, thoughtful, and provactive account of one of the most famous trials in history. Unfortunately, he didin't.

One should always keep in mind that Nuremberg had a profound impact on the world. That being said, writing about such a serious -- and, emotional -- topic cannot be taken lightly. William Buckley appears to have done just that. For example, he confuses Hess with Hoess. Additionally, introducing a fictional character on the docket with the leaders of the Third Reich trivilizes the importance of this trial. Why "add" another defendent when you already have twenty others that have been indicted for crimes conducted during the war?

Buckley delivered dribble when he could have given the readers something powerful. For this reason, the book is a let down. I was expecting something a lot better.

Like a "dumbed down" version of a more complete version.......2003-03-15

Having read articles by Buckley in the past, but no fiction, I was disappointed by this book. It has all the ingredients of a first rate work, but was taken from the oven half done. None of the characters are really developed, and when the book finally gets through the superficial aspects of the main character's life and into the meat and potatoes of his involvement in the Nuremberg trials, the author dishes out enough to really interest the reader in the subject matter, both the non-fiction and fiction aspects of the plot, then stops far short of fully satisfying the reader's appetite for either.
Every aspect of the book, even the vocabulary, reads as though the book is a 'simplified' version rewritten for younger readers, or a Reader's Digest condensed version of the original. All in all, a wholly unsatisfying treatment of the subject matter.

Average customer rating:

Dick Francis for sailors
Good book for anyone!

Dead Reckoning
Sam Llewellyn
Manufacturer: House of Stratus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0755100026

Book Description

Charlie Agutter is the popular designer of revolutionary ocean-going yachts. But when his brother is killed sailing one of his gleaming boats, everyone suspects the design is at fault - but Charlie knows better and sniffs sabotage. With so much money hanging on the forthcoming Captain's Cup race, it looks like someone has it in for Charlie. He must act fast to win back his good name and livelihood - not to mention the race

Customer Reviews:

Dick Francis for sailors.......2006-04-03

Sam Llewellyn's adult books are similar to Dick Francis' horse racing books with sailing as the setting. If you know a little about sailing and enjoy this type of fiction, you will enjoy these books. They are not as "fast" a read as Francis, but enjoyable.

Good book for anyone!.......2000-12-07

One dead and one paralyzed from a faulty steering system on their boat. The inventor is accused of causing the death of one and paralyzing another. The inventor of the fatal steering system tries to clear his name by declaring someone sabotaged the boat. But in the process of proving the act of malicious damage, he is brutally attacked by somebody. At the same time, while he is trying to clear his name he is trying to win the Captain's Cup trials boat race. This mystery novel is filled with double crossings. Dead Reckoning by Sam Llewellyn is a great mystery book for anyone to read. I think that the tittle contributed to the fact why I choose to read this book. For some odd reason I only paid attention to the title instead of reading what it was about. The title made me think about a mystery that would be interesting to read and packed with action. I would not change the title, since the title was what I thought is good. The book was interesting and had some action with its moments of slowness. At first, the author grabbed my interest and kept through the whole book so I could find out what happened. The book started out with action to pull someone who does not read books that often. What happened to the main character is what I think would happen to someone in real life. If somebody were to be blamed for something they did not do, the person's friends and even family would hate them. I think the author could have been trying to say people believe the first rumor they hear, without finding out the true facts about the situation. Out of all of the characters in Dead Reckoning, I would rather not be the main character, Charlie Agutter. Because he owned a business and had some friends but lost everything because he was thought to be the fault of the boating accident. I would not like the fact that if someone were to blame me for someone else's doings, I would lose everything that I have worked for. This work from Sam Llewellyn reminds me of real life. If someone wants to win a race and sees that someone invented something they do not have, they would sabotage the invention so they could win the race. One suggestion to the author of this work would be to not go into all of the details, since if someone were to write into something to deep, it makes the novel less readable. If the author of Dead Reckoning would have shortened the book and not go into so much detail, the book would have been more readable. But the book is still good. Overall, I think this book is a good book with its ups and downs. I think this book could have been better if the author had not gone into so much detail describing what was going on, which for someone, like me, who does not read many books would be boring. But the author saved his novel by making me want to find out the ending of the Dead Reckoning. This book even refers to the life of humans and how they act when they what to win. Even though the book has its moments of slowness, if is a very good book for someone that likes mystery books to read. I found that it kept making me, a person that falls into the non-reader category read so I could figure out the ending.

Average customer rating:

An eerie tale that keeps you guessing
Very hard to put down! Fun, scary read!
A Force to be Known.
Captivating...
THE RECKONING - A Book Review

The Reckoning
Sarah Pinborough
Manufacturer: Leisure Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0843955503

Customer Reviews:

An eerie tale that keeps you guessing.......2007-09-03

This is a story of three very close childhood friends Rob, Jason and Carrie-Anne, who spent their summer with their new friend Gina at her Estate house Syracousse. This would be a summer un like any other, filled with great memories and the horrible secret that tore them all apart.

The story picks up 25 years later with Rob waking up in a sweat wondering why after all this time he was dreaming of "Teacher" again, and needing to go home to face his past. The story comes together bit by bit like a puzzle until the very end.

This story was well written and had many characters and subplots that weave together. It moves at a fairly fast pace, and the characters have enough personality and depth to allow you to like them and feel for them.
I really enjoyed this book.

Very hard to put down! Fun, scary read!.......2007-08-14

I started with The Taken and thought that was pretty good. Good enough to try another of her books. I liked this one much better. Some of the events became a little bit ridiculous but overall it was a very fun read! I will be ordering another of her books.

A Force to be Known........2007-07-02

The reckoning is one of those novels that you just don't want to put down. It's full of supernatural suspense, and the best of Sarah Pinborough's mind working overtime.
A riveting tale. A joy to read. An all around great story with real-to-life characters and a breathtaking ending.

--Joseph McGee, author of In the Wake of the Night, Phil's Place and Darkness Won't Rest: Phils Place II

Captivating..........2006-07-23

Do not, I repeat, not go home again. It isn't pretty and it never turns out the way you hope it will. Pinborough shows us yet another example of this in a swirl of clichés: an author protagonist, returning home, supernatural powers [that are just accepted and never really questioned], friends reuniting to fight their childhood demons, and [of course] a haunted house. At first glance this is overused material, but much like the history of any old house, there are layers, secrets and intrigue underneath that old wallpaper and the clichés simply hold the story, rather than become the story.

The characters are childhood friends torn apart by the addition and actions of a new friend, reuniting to deal with demons from the past that threaten the future. Wait, don't make that face quite yet. Again, formulaic, but it's the way they're painted that makes all the difference. Pinborough's style takes a big chunk of the credit here, as the characters are a beautifully orchestrated balance of past and present, faults and virtues. You genuinely care about them, even the arrogant.

The atmosphere and pace work hand in hand with the story. A small town setting is a very casual picture to paint for most readers, and the subtly with which she does so is flawless. Keeping the action going at just the right speed is partially style and partially storyline itself; giving you enough clues to move you forward, but not quite enough to figure it all out too soon. And the end was amazing! Using my own first page/last page rule* I can safely say I'll be reading her next book...

A captivating read that borders on beach book but requires you pay attention if you want to figure it out early. Rating is a 3½ [Amazon doesn't have 3 1/2 so we'll round to 4] - grab it or just join Leisure's book club and order it.

*First page/last page rule - the first page gets me to read this book, the last to read your next book.

THE RECKONING - A Book Review.......2005-11-09

You won't find much innovation in this novel, just a good well-told yarn about a haunted house, an author returning home, and the chickens all coming to roost.

There's a few contradictions in this book. The author is quite English, but she writes mostly American. I had to keep reminding myself that it was set in England. Also, she writes in a very male voice. She's very comfortable writing from a male perspective.

Still, Sarah Pinborough pulls no punches. There's a poisoning and a rape and a death by ants that will leave your insides vaguely disturbed. It's not all about poise and attitude, this book delivers.

I recommend it for fans of John Saul and James Moore. THE RECKONING isn't going to take you into anywhere new at all, but it's got a few dark corners uniquely its own.

I reckon I recommend it.

Yours in horror,

Steve Vernon

(the author of LONG HORN, BIG SHAGGY - A Tale of Wild West Terror and Reanimated Buffalo. If you hanker for a ride one the wild side this is the one. Order it from Amazon.)

Dead Reckoning (Cameron Mcgill Mystery Thriller)

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Dead Reckoning (Cameron Mcgill Mystery Thriller)

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: B000HWYLI8

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Plodding, but good.
Excellent espionage thriller

Dead Reckoning (Peter Ashton Novels)
Clive Egleton
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 031224102X

Book Description

A victim of brutal mass murder is discovered to have been using the identity of SIS agent Peter Ashton's wife. It quickly becomes clear that someone has breached the top secret SIS personnel files and that an all-too-deadly game is being played out. With every lead ending in a dead end and dead body, time is running out for Peter Ashton and his deadliest adversary is one step ahead.

Customer Reviews:

Plodding, but good........1999-12-10

I don't recall reading anything by Clive Egleton before "Dead Reckoning." Of course I also admit that the vast number of books I read never quite distinguish themselves in my mind and get dumped into a kind of cerebral soup. "Dead Reckoning" is perfect for several nights pre-sleep reading or, if you're in a warm climate (lucky you), take it to the beach. The opening sets the stage beautifully for the rest of the story. Peter Ashton is revealed to us as a brave, cunning, loving but somewhat limited man, hemmed in by the politics of his bureaucracy. Ashton's first goal is not protecting his nation as a "secret agent," but shielding his very competent wife from harm. The story never stops moving. Egleton reveals one detail after another, introduces one plot twist at a time. The book never becomes heart-stopping, but it never becomes dull either. Egleton's involvement of technology is different than that employed by others (i.e., Dale Brown): Egleton has actually taken the time to research the limited technology he describes - and gets it right. (I am always jarred when I read someone like Brown or Clancy and they describe something that is flat out wrong.) Overall, "Dead Reckoning" is a good read. It will not keep you awake into the early hours, turning pages - but in the end it will leave you with a very satisfying feeling.

Jerry

Excellent espionage thriller.......1999-10-23

Victor Hazlewood, the Director General of England's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), has to tell the bad news to one of his best operatives Peter Ashton. Apparently, Peter's wife Hazel, a former operative, was found brutally murdered in the office of psychiatrist Dr. Ramash. Two other females besides Harriet were also found dead in the doctor's office. However, Peter soon learns that his beloved Harriet is still alive, which leads him to believe that someone obviously penetrated SIS to have obtained the information about Harriet being found in the doctor's office.

Soon evidence surfaces that other secret information has leaked. Peter begins to investigate the situation even though his superiors seem more apt to slow him down if it furthers their personal agenda. Clues fail to lead to anything new and more murders follow. Peter knows one thing is certain. Someone(s) is playing a dangerous game in which major power shifts could occur if they succeed.

Anyone who believes that that espionage thrillers died with the collapse of the Berlin Wall obviously has not read Clive Egleton. With DEAD RECKONING, Mr. Egleton keeps his spy out in the cold even though Peter has family obligations. The story line is typical Egleton as it's filled with head-butting action, twisting plots, and a good mystery. Peter retains his charm even as he swim a bureaucratic ocean filled with sharks and barracudas. Fans of espionage thrillers need only turn to Mr. Egleton for a post Cold War chiller that keeps the audience on the edge from start to finish.

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The Cinco De Mayo Reckoning

The Cinco de Mayo Reckoning
Terry Money
Manufacturer: Outskirts Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1598005340

Book Description

"They have our weapons, Mr. President!" When circumstances spare the life of her target, Grace trails him across the Middle East, the South Pacific and Mexico to uncover the terrorist's plan. Sahm Mahaz bin Batal, terrorist financier and dealer in death, has gained access to the most secret - and least expected - defense weapons the US has ever created. Allied with a bitter enemy of the United States, he is bent on destroying as much of the United States as possible. After gunfights, being blown through the wall of a house and sporting an embarrassing pair of wounds, the President asks Grace to put an end to the madness - a war that should never have happened. She readily undertakes the task, but runs into trouble when escaping with a wounded comrade, after locating the man she considers responsible for enabling the war - and the death of a best friend.

Customer Reviews:

The Cinco De Mayo Reckoning.......2007-08-23

Fantastic book! Hard to find a subject today that has not already been done but somehow the author did! It's one of those books that's hard to put down once you get going! Fantastic book!

3 Titles By Lewis Perdue : The Delphi Betrayal Queens Gate Reckoning The Da Vinci Legacy

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3 Titles By Lewis Perdue : The Delphi Betrayal Queens Gate Reckoning The Da Vinci Legacy
Lewis Perdue
Manufacturer: pinnacle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000QJBSEC

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multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.

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