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richter10's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
crufts's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Genre: Thriller, Action, World War II Alternate History
Summary: Gripping plot-based thriller which completely fails the Bechdel test
When Paul Osborn was a boy, he saw his father murdered, but the murderer escaped. Years later, he sees the murderer while sitting at a cafe in Paris. Pursuing the murderer at all costs, Paul is quickly sucked into a huge international conspiracy.
Pros:
- Compelling story hook!
- Explosions! Chases! Fighting against Nazis!
- Establishes [SciFi Plot Device] without beating you over the head with jargon.
- Absolute killer of a final paragraph.
- You can tell the author loves his villains - their characterization is splendid. [Main Antagonist] is particularly three-dimensional.
- Character motivations are strongly defined and consistently adhered to; there's no out-of-character-for-the-sake-of-the-plot nonsense.
Cons:
- All the female characters are either romantic interests (or trying to be), or dead bodies.
- The pace seriously drags in the middle act of the book.
- The story is relatively plot-focused with some rather blank-faced action heroes, which may not be to your taste if you prefer character-focused stories.
Overall: Pretty good. I think a movie version with a simplified plot would be even better.
Summary: Gripping plot-based thriller which completely fails the Bechdel test
When Paul Osborn was a boy, he saw his father murdered, but the murderer escaped. Years later, he sees the murderer while sitting at a cafe in Paris. Pursuing the murderer at all costs, Paul is quickly sucked into a huge international conspiracy.
Pros:
- Compelling story hook!
- Explosions! Chases! Fighting against Nazis!
- Establishes [SciFi Plot Device] without beating you over the head with jargon.
- Absolute killer of a final paragraph.
- You can tell the author loves his villains - their characterization is splendid. [Main Antagonist] is particularly three-dimensional.
- Character motivations are strongly defined and consistently adhered to; there's no out-of-character-for-the-sake-of-the-plot nonsense.
Cons:
- All the female characters are either romantic interests (or trying to be), or dead bodies.
- The pace seriously drags in the middle act of the book.
- The story is relatively plot-focused with some rather blank-faced action heroes, which may not be to your taste if you prefer character-focused stories.
Overall: Pretty good. I think a movie version with a simplified plot would be even better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, and Gun violence
maa_pix's review against another edition
2.0
I found the book's style, characters, settings, and descriptions all to be above average.
The two things that kept me from rating the book higher:
First, the "Organization" -- the cabal of bad guys in this story -- seemed way too organized and omnipotent to be believable.
Second, the ridiculous ending, which I and probably most readers saw coming miles away. In a strange way, the possibility of such an ending is what kept me going through the book. "Oh no, the author couldn't REALLY be taking us THERE, could he? I've gotta keep reading just to find out."
Well, he really WAS taking us there. Props to the author for saving the reveal for the final page of the book.
Contrary to generally accepted practice, I highly recommend your reading the last page before starting this book. If it makes you roll your eyes, save yourself the trouble and skip the book. If you can tolerate the final page, go ahead and read the whole thing.
The two things that kept me from rating the book higher:
First, the "Organization" -- the cabal of bad guys in this story -- seemed way too organized and omnipotent to be believable.
Second, the ridiculous ending, which I and probably most readers saw coming miles away. In a strange way, the possibility of such an ending is what kept me going through the book. "Oh no, the author couldn't REALLY be taking us THERE, could he? I've gotta keep reading just to find out."
Well, he really WAS taking us there. Props to the author for saving the reveal for the final page of the book.
Contrary to generally accepted practice, I highly recommend your reading the last page before starting this book. If it makes you roll your eyes, save yourself the trouble and skip the book. If you can tolerate the final page, go ahead and read the whole thing.
carlylottsofbookz's review
4.0
As I was cruising through book choices from my library, this book was listed as a mystery thriller, and while I hate to admit it, when I first downloaded it, i thought it was the book that the movie that came out a few years ago was--how wrong I was (and happily so)!
This story is the story of how being in the wrought place at the right time can drastically change your life. For Paul, an American doctor from LA who is visiting Paris for a conference, it is the right time and place. However, for the contract killer who killed Paul's father years ago, who is having a cup of coffee after work in the same cafe as Paul, it is definitely the wrong time. Paul recognizes this man who killed his father in front of him and immediately attacks him. The waiters obviously don't know what provoked this attack, and stop him long enough for the killer to escape.
This is merely the beginning for Paul, however.
He hires a detective to find out who this man is and vows to kill him. What he doesn't know, however, is that there is way more to the story than just this man. There is a conspiracy afoot--that will cause Paul, his newly found love interest, international police, a lot of heart pounding excitement. This was a book I didn't want to put down. A very good read!
This story is the story of how being in the wrought place at the right time can drastically change your life. For Paul, an American doctor from LA who is visiting Paris for a conference, it is the right time and place. However, for the contract killer who killed Paul's father years ago, who is having a cup of coffee after work in the same cafe as Paul, it is definitely the wrong time. Paul recognizes this man who killed his father in front of him and immediately attacks him. The waiters obviously don't know what provoked this attack, and stop him long enough for the killer to escape.
This is merely the beginning for Paul, however.
He hires a detective to find out who this man is and vows to kill him. What he doesn't know, however, is that there is way more to the story than just this man. There is a conspiracy afoot--that will cause Paul, his newly found love interest, international police, a lot of heart pounding excitement. This was a book I didn't want to put down. A very good read!
_askthebookbug's review
4.0
• r e v i e w •
The Day After Tomorrow is the sort of book that draws you in and imprints itself onto your mind. Although I was initially sceptical about having to read 600 pages, the uncertainty quickly disappeared. Published in 1994, this book is unputdownable right from the start. It pumps you with adrenaline, pushing you to unearth secrets that binds the book together. Paul Osborn, the protagonist witnesses his father's murder in 1966 by a man and never forgives/forgets his face. Almost thirty years later, in a café in Paris he sees the same face opposite to him and loses his calm. Osborn, who struggled with numerous questions about his father's death all his life finally finds a chance to confront the killer. What initially seems like a simple task, turns out to be something sinister leading back to WWII. Osborn with the help of McVey, a renowned American homicide detective sets out to learn the truth behind a series of murders that they uncover.
Folsom's writing is surprisingly approachable, making it easier for the readers to stay connected to the story. The first half gets over effortlessly, making it impossible for the audience to not think about the story at almost all times. Osborn's discovery of the killer and his pursuit of seeking revenge spins out of control, leading him into a deeper problem much like a quick sand. With every secret, he feels more lost and the realisation of a presence of something larger and darker looms over his head. McVey, on the other hand accidentally learns of Osborn while investigating a range of murders spread across couple of countries. I enjoyed McVey's character much more than anyone else's. Although the story gets a bit dramatic in the second-half, it somehow manages to stay in the right track. I wouldn't want to give away many details but this big book ultimately became one of my favourite thrillers. I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't for @s.n.avinash but now that I have, it turned out to be such a brilliant read.
4.5/5.
The Day After Tomorrow is the sort of book that draws you in and imprints itself onto your mind. Although I was initially sceptical about having to read 600 pages, the uncertainty quickly disappeared. Published in 1994, this book is unputdownable right from the start. It pumps you with adrenaline, pushing you to unearth secrets that binds the book together. Paul Osborn, the protagonist witnesses his father's murder in 1966 by a man and never forgives/forgets his face. Almost thirty years later, in a café in Paris he sees the same face opposite to him and loses his calm. Osborn, who struggled with numerous questions about his father's death all his life finally finds a chance to confront the killer. What initially seems like a simple task, turns out to be something sinister leading back to WWII. Osborn with the help of McVey, a renowned American homicide detective sets out to learn the truth behind a series of murders that they uncover.
Folsom's writing is surprisingly approachable, making it easier for the readers to stay connected to the story. The first half gets over effortlessly, making it impossible for the audience to not think about the story at almost all times. Osborn's discovery of the killer and his pursuit of seeking revenge spins out of control, leading him into a deeper problem much like a quick sand. With every secret, he feels more lost and the realisation of a presence of something larger and darker looms over his head. McVey, on the other hand accidentally learns of Osborn while investigating a range of murders spread across couple of countries. I enjoyed McVey's character much more than anyone else's. Although the story gets a bit dramatic in the second-half, it somehow manages to stay in the right track. I wouldn't want to give away many details but this big book ultimately became one of my favourite thrillers. I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't for @s.n.avinash but now that I have, it turned out to be such a brilliant read.
4.5/5.
elief's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
pbrown12303's review
4.0
An engaging read
While the plot pushes the edge in credibility at times, the story holds your attention and you end up caring for the protagonists.. Makes me want to read more by this author.
While the plot pushes the edge in credibility at times, the story holds your attention and you end up caring for the protagonists.. Makes me want to read more by this author.
michaelavanr's review
I put it down almost 2 years ago and picked up a fantasy book. I have not looked back and am yet to pick this up again. Too complex with too many characters to get back in now
sunset_farm_library's review
5.0
This was an incredible book. I couldn't put it down! It's a roller coaster ride with so many twists and turns, you never know which direction it will go in next. Seriously, an exciting book!! You gotta read it!!
bpsalinas's review
2.0
Not one plot point is believable. Every page is more absurd than the last. The protagonist is the luckiest idiot in the world, bumbling his way through a series of events that should kill him, but fail to do so in order to keep the plot moving along. The only two women are hugely and offensively misused. And the villain’s weakness that leads to the story’s resolution makes not one lick of sense. I can’t believe I read this whole thing.