Scan barcode
kkellymsu's review
This book was good, witty and fun to read, but it was much more gruesome than some of the other DeMille books I've read. You could tell it was an early post-9/11 anti-terrorism thriller.
mrsfligs's review
4.0
2 words that describe the book―Smart-Ass Cop Thriller
3 setting where the book took place or characters I met
* Setting: New York City, modern day
* Former NYPD Detective, terrorist task force member and perennial smart-ass John Corey returns to face-off against the "one that got away."
* Libyan terrorist Asad Kahil ("The Lion") previously faced off with Corey in The Lion's Game, but the stand-off ended in a stalemate. This time, only one will be left standing.
4 things I liked or disliked about the book
* I liked visiting with my favorite smart-ass cop John Corey. I've been a fan of DeMille's Corey books since I first read Plum Island, and I always look forward to the next installment. There is just something about Corey that I find incredibly amusing.
* I disliked that this book felt a bit tired. I'm not sure if it is me or DeMille, but I didn't enjoy this Corey installment as much as I did previous outings. Perhaps it was the plot, which had quite a lot of "sitting around waiting for the other guy to make a move."
* I liked the intense sky-diving scene. As I was reading, I could totally envision it happening in a movie. (And I wonder if there are any Corey movies in the works? He seems tailor-made for the silver screen.) Perhaps part of my disappointment with the book was that this scene took place near the beginning, and I felt the rest of the book never lived up to that level of excitement.
* I disliked that I found myself actually wishing for one of the major characters to die. After the set-up that DeMille gives, I felt it should have happened, and I think it was a bit of a cop-out to have the character recover so easily. Plus, it would have made for more of an emotional read, which I think the series has been lacking.
5 stars or less for my rating:
I'm giving the book 4 stars. I'm a big fan of John Corey books, and although I thought this was one of the weaker books in the series, it was still a fast, exciting read. Even when he isn't at his best, I think DeMille does thrillers better than most writers out there. For Corey fans, you'll enjoy seeing your favorite wise-ass back in action. For newbies, start with Plum Island and work your way through the books to get to know Corey better. If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers with a smart-ass edge, this book would be a fine choice.
3 setting where the book took place or characters I met
* Setting: New York City, modern day
* Former NYPD Detective, terrorist task force member and perennial smart-ass John Corey returns to face-off against the "one that got away."
* Libyan terrorist Asad Kahil ("The Lion") previously faced off with Corey in The Lion's Game, but the stand-off ended in a stalemate. This time, only one will be left standing.
4 things I liked or disliked about the book
* I liked visiting with my favorite smart-ass cop John Corey. I've been a fan of DeMille's Corey books since I first read Plum Island, and I always look forward to the next installment. There is just something about Corey that I find incredibly amusing.
* I disliked that this book felt a bit tired. I'm not sure if it is me or DeMille, but I didn't enjoy this Corey installment as much as I did previous outings. Perhaps it was the plot, which had quite a lot of "sitting around waiting for the other guy to make a move."
* I liked the intense sky-diving scene. As I was reading, I could totally envision it happening in a movie. (And I wonder if there are any Corey movies in the works? He seems tailor-made for the silver screen.) Perhaps part of my disappointment with the book was that this scene took place near the beginning, and I felt the rest of the book never lived up to that level of excitement.
* I disliked that I found myself actually wishing for one of the major characters to die. After the set-up that DeMille gives, I felt it should have happened, and I think it was a bit of a cop-out to have the character recover so easily. Plus, it would have made for more of an emotional read, which I think the series has been lacking.
5 stars or less for my rating:
I'm giving the book 4 stars. I'm a big fan of John Corey books, and although I thought this was one of the weaker books in the series, it was still a fast, exciting read. Even when he isn't at his best, I think DeMille does thrillers better than most writers out there. For Corey fans, you'll enjoy seeing your favorite wise-ass back in action. For newbies, start with Plum Island and work your way through the books to get to know Corey better. If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers with a smart-ass edge, this book would be a fine choice.
mdunnbass's review
4.0
This is the 5th book about Detective John Corey by Nelson DeMille, and provides the conclusion to the events that began in his earlier novel The Lion's Game. It was good. Maybe not as good as it's predecessor, but I am a sucker for the hyper-macho, smart-ass, sexist asshole that is John Corey. I love reading from his POV, because he is everything I am not. But, understandably, it's not for everyone. Recommended, if you're a DeMille fan.
orygunn's review
4.0
Spoiler alert: I'm really glad Assad Kalil is dead. The book took too long to get there. Thankfully Corey can move on. Maybe he'll someday actually get a line on the shooters.
balthazarlawson's review against another edition
2.0
This is the 5th book in the John Corey series and seems to follow on from the action that took place in the 2nd book, which I've not read. It didn't take much to work out what was going on, a story of revenge. But I found it rather slow and didn't really grab me and make want to read more. It only got exciting in the last fifty pages. There was just to much sitting around waiting for something to happen and then nothing did.
I wouldn't miss it if I hadn't read it.
I wouldn't miss it if I hadn't read it.
kjbrown92's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mad_about_books's review against another edition
5.0
After reading THE LION'S GAME, I was sorely tempted to skip over the next two books in the John Corey series and jump right into the sequel… THE LION. Generally speaking, I like to read books in the order in which they are meant to be read. I'm glad I did. Sometimes the intervening stories are as important to the overall story as is the direct sequel.
The John Corey stories tend to start out as interesting tidbits in the life of a man, his wife, and his job. They end with pulse-pounding drama that sets your heart beating and your adrenalin pumping. Such is the story in THE LION'S GAME.
When writing about Nelson DeMille's John Corey series, it is a given that no spoilers is the name of the game. As much as you might want to know what's going to happen, it is the journey through the ups and downs, the serious and the snarky that makes you read on. John Corey is a great New York City cop character. He is smart, cagey, and the tour of his thoughts ring true. Memorable characters are three dimensional with a flesh-and-blood persona. John and Kate Mayfield become the folks you know… your friends, your neighbors, maybe even your family.
This is a series for the serious adrenalin junky.
The John Corey stories tend to start out as interesting tidbits in the life of a man, his wife, and his job. They end with pulse-pounding drama that sets your heart beating and your adrenalin pumping. Such is the story in THE LION'S GAME.
When writing about Nelson DeMille's John Corey series, it is a given that no spoilers is the name of the game. As much as you might want to know what's going to happen, it is the journey through the ups and downs, the serious and the snarky that makes you read on. John Corey is a great New York City cop character. He is smart, cagey, and the tour of his thoughts ring true. Memorable characters are three dimensional with a flesh-and-blood persona. John and Kate Mayfield become the folks you know… your friends, your neighbors, maybe even your family.
This is a series for the serious adrenalin junky.
kathyemmons's review
1.0
Sorry, this was over the top. The telling of the story is nasty and crass, and the story itself is marginal at best. Nelson, you've left excellent writing behind and embraced garbage! What the heck?? Go back to "The Rivers of Babylon!"
gracenow's review
4.0
Second time through. Really enjoyed it again. Lots of violence, to be expected, and John Corey is his usual "doesn't do well with authority" figure. I really appreciated the ending to the Lion saga, started with The Lion's Game. This is one of DeMille's best books, in my mind, although I've not read every single one of them.