Reviews

The Boy from Reactor 4 by Orest Stelmach

blackwolf1489's review against another edition

5.0

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It is the best suspense novel that I have read since "Angels and Demons" in 2005. It seriously keeps you guessing until the very last page. I hope to see more from this author in the future, especially more about Nadia Tesla because she's a character that I would like to get to know in more detail.

efabri123's review against another edition

1.0

I really wanted to like this book. It's rare that I become so disinterested that I can't even bring myself to finish. I got a little over halfway through but I was forcing myself. I found that I didn't care much for any of the characters, I couldn't identify with them and I wasn't sucked into the plot. I constantly felt like I was being strung along on a trip I tried my best to avoid. I hate bashing another author's work as I'm sure a lot of effort went into this as with any novel but it wasn't for me.

little_red_dragon's review against another edition

3.0

More than anything, The Boy from Reactor 4 is a look into Ukrainian culture and history, both in Ukraine and America. This backdrop makes for a startling read for anyone who's unfamiliar with this culture. The action is top-notch and the twists and turns will leave you gasping. Overall, it's very well-written.

But,

Spoiler

the prologue, which has Bobby playing hockey in America with Nadia as his guardian, gives away so much of the story that the tension isn't there. You know that everything is going to work out and the two of them will make it back to the States before you even meet Bobby. For me, that made the entire chase lose some interest, since there weren't really high stakes.

It's still a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

iconoclastthinker's review against another edition

4.0

A fantastic thriller with a unique heroine and a great, albeit large, cast of characters.

gregtrob's review against another edition

4.0

Good suspenseful fast moving story.

austinstorm's review against another edition

2.0

A globe-trotting thriller / adventure story. The setting helped to elevate the material - the Chernobyl details were the best part and had the most veracity. The central antagonist Victor is also great. The book moves well, especially once the action heats up. The protagonists are a little flat and underdeveloped, and the book frequently references a prior caper - perhaps the author is planning to write a prequel in addition to the sequel.

morepagesplease's review against another edition

3.0

Good, if unremarkable read. I did find the information about Chernobyl to be very interesting.

affiknittyreads's review against another edition

4.0

I picked up this book as one of the Kindle Unlimited offerings. I was really pleasantly surprised with it. It is a good mix of action, suspense, and color about the settings and the characters. I thought that the background information about Chernobyl and Ukrainian culture was well-incorporated into the story.

nyctei's review against another edition

5.0

Could not put this book down! Good pacing, good characters, good read. I couldn't wait to see how it would all work out.

maria_jaujou's review against another edition

4.0

Fun little read that feels a bit more researched than Dan Brown and a little less sexual/gritty than The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but mostly along the same lines -- regular woman living in New York suddenly sees a man shot in front of her after he delivers a message from an uncle she thought has been dead for decades. Adventure across NYC, Ukraine, Russia, and Alaska ensues.

Recommended for those looking for an adventure story. Not recommended for people who speak fluent Ukrainian or know a lot about Eastern European crime in the Communist era -- I bet the parts that the author made up would be quite grating to someone who knows better.

Also, there's no actual hockey in this book, despite the hints at such.