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stamdl99's review
2.0
My least favorite Richard North Patterson book by far. I couldn't relate to any of the characters and it just kind of plodded along.
cjhubbs's review against another edition
2.0
Not bad, but not great either. Patterson should really stay away from spy thrillers. He doesn't hold up well in comparison to the masters of the genre.
2000ace's review against another edition
4.0
Better as a on a primer on how nuclear weapons could be deployed from Lebanon, The Devil's Light is only a so-so novel. I hate saying this, because I normally enjoy Richard North Patterson's work. This one kept me going because it was jam-packed with interesting information, maps, and theories of things that could happen in the real world. His novel Exile, centered around Israel and Palestine was a much more moving work, while still imparting much about the area and people.
The story moves along at a good clip, but the action overwhelms the characters. There are times when they are making speeches solely to impart information to the reader: a vehicle I understand the necessity for, but, at the same time, find diminishing to the people in the story.
I know that atomic weaponry is and will continue to be a real and present danger. Maybe I am a little burned out on the story line, though. I would like to give this book 3.5 stars: 3 as a novel, but a 4 or maybe even a 5 for information. I recommend this book on the basis that it makes the reader consider how easily we could all go up in a mushroom cloud of nuclear annihilation.
The story moves along at a good clip, but the action overwhelms the characters. There are times when they are making speeches solely to impart information to the reader: a vehicle I understand the necessity for, but, at the same time, find diminishing to the people in the story.
I know that atomic weaponry is and will continue to be a real and present danger. Maybe I am a little burned out on the story line, though. I would like to give this book 3.5 stars: 3 as a novel, but a 4 or maybe even a 5 for information. I recommend this book on the basis that it makes the reader consider how easily we could all go up in a mushroom cloud of nuclear annihilation.
canada_matt's review against another edition
3.0
While I love Patterson's books, this one felt much to heavy for me. I have read a few summaries that hit the nail on the head, that it is so full of detail and history, but really makes the storyline slow down. I could not agree more. The interesting background info provided could really turn a reader off, unless he/she is strongly invested in Middle East politics.
I do wish Patterson would return to his legal thrillers, which always kept me wanting more. Some of these spy/thrillers are just out of what I would call his comfort zone. I have no idea what Patterson has in the pipeline, but can onily hope mystery is the genre, not historically-rich thrillers.
I do wish Patterson would return to his legal thrillers, which always kept me wanting more. Some of these spy/thrillers are just out of what I would call his comfort zone. I have no idea what Patterson has in the pipeline, but can onily hope mystery is the genre, not historically-rich thrillers.
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