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kevinm56's review against another edition
5.0
I got this because I watched the TV series The Old Man and this guy wrote the book for that series. This is one of the best novels I've read in a long time. I had a difficult time putting it down.
shai3d's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? No
3.5
llkendrick's review against another edition
4.0
Love this series and liked this one better than the last. I just love the main character and wish I was as smart as her!
nickie184's review against another edition
5.0
Jane Whitefield is an incredible character--I love every novel that features her.
marcirenee1974's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
mrsboyko's review against another edition
5.0
Still love Jane Whitefield.
Apparently I've already read books 6 7 and 8. I now anxiously await book #9, out in the fall
Apparently I've already read books 6 7 and 8. I now anxiously await book #9, out in the fall
polywogg's review against another edition
4.0
PLOT OR PREMISE:
Jane Whitefield is happy in her new life as a suburban housewife. But then someone shows up at her door on the reservation, knowing she used to be the-woman-who-makes-people-disappear. And this one needs to disappear -- a young woman who worked for the mob, taking care of the house for an old man who was the mob's moneyman with a photographic memory, keeping it all in his head. When the man escapes, and then gets whacked, Rita knows she needs help to disappear before the mafia finds her and wants her to tell the moneyman's secrets -- secrets only he knew. Jane doesn't want to help, having left that life behind, but she has no real choice -- the girl has come to her door, her real door, in her new life.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
The plot deals with the mafia's money, and their search for Jane. There is a strong sub-plot about the money, and while it is initially a little far-fetched, it takes the premise and breaks it down into manageable chunks that make it seem almost plausible.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Some of the story is pretty predictable -- Rita is flaky, and you know she's going to flake out on the group long before Jane realizes it, or at least, long before she admits it to herself. As well, there is a trigger for the initial premise that I figured out in the first few pages, and yet no one else ever figures it out in the book, leading to a surprise for certain people for no real apparent reason. Finally, there is a long series of circumstances that are either Jane simply driving around the country or a series of near-misses for the mafia spotting her that never feel particularly tense.
.
BOTTOM-LINE:
Good book in a great series
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him on social media.
Jane Whitefield is happy in her new life as a suburban housewife. But then someone shows up at her door on the reservation, knowing she used to be the-woman-who-makes-people-disappear. And this one needs to disappear -- a young woman who worked for the mob, taking care of the house for an old man who was the mob's moneyman with a photographic memory, keeping it all in his head. When the man escapes, and then gets whacked, Rita knows she needs help to disappear before the mafia finds her and wants her to tell the moneyman's secrets -- secrets only he knew. Jane doesn't want to help, having left that life behind, but she has no real choice -- the girl has come to her door, her real door, in her new life.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
The plot deals with the mafia's money, and their search for Jane. There is a strong sub-plot about the money, and while it is initially a little far-fetched, it takes the premise and breaks it down into manageable chunks that make it seem almost plausible.
.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
Some of the story is pretty predictable -- Rita is flaky, and you know she's going to flake out on the group long before Jane realizes it, or at least, long before she admits it to herself. As well, there is a trigger for the initial premise that I figured out in the first few pages, and yet no one else ever figures it out in the book, leading to a surprise for certain people for no real apparent reason. Finally, there is a long series of circumstances that are either Jane simply driving around the country or a series of near-misses for the mafia spotting her that never feel particularly tense.
.
BOTTOM-LINE:
Good book in a great series
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him on social media.
psalmcat's review against another edition
5.0
Very good! I think this was the Jane book to date. It's about stealing several billion (!!) dollars back from the Mob & donating it directly to charities. Fun and rewarding to read.
ericwelch's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. If you ever want to learn how to move money around and hide it and then disappear, this is your textbook. Not having much money, nor having a need to disappear, I was intrigued by the detail, and enthralled by the plot, but sometimes a bit burdened by the detail. The scene in the bus with all the mobsters wondering where their money was disappearing to, was masterfully handled by Joyce Bean. How she managed to keep everyone straight is a wonder.
That Bernie could keep the details of thousands of money transactions all in his head, was a bit implausible, but for the life of me I could never understand why the mob or anyone would think that was a good idea to begin with. Geez, a trip on the stairs and it's all gone. P.S. He's not a hitman.
What bugs me about this book and others in the Jane series is that each is basically the same plot over and over with just different characters. What makes this one unusual is that it has the same plot repeated several times. Jane gets tasked with hiding someone from bad people; she adopts different identities (from an apparently inexhaustible supply of birth certificates and drivers licenses and passports in a Chicago safe deposit box); almost gets caught numerous times; uses her wits to escape; rinse and repeat with interludes examining the bad guy's thinking.
The dream scene was ridiculous, but I hate dream scenes in general, but I also found the activity in the corn field ridiculous. If you've ever worked on a farm in a corn field, you'll agree.
Still, Thomas Perry always delivers and it was a great book to listen to while doing dishes and walking the dog.
That Bernie could keep the details of thousands of money transactions all in his head, was a bit implausible, but for the life of me I could never understand why the mob or anyone would think that was a good idea to begin with. Geez, a trip on the stairs and it's all gone. P.S. He's not a hitman.
What bugs me about this book and others in the Jane series is that each is basically the same plot over and over with just different characters. What makes this one unusual is that it has the same plot repeated several times. Jane gets tasked with hiding someone from bad people; she adopts different identities (from an apparently inexhaustible supply of birth certificates and drivers licenses and passports in a Chicago safe deposit box); almost gets caught numerous times; uses her wits to escape; rinse and repeat with interludes examining the bad guy's thinking.
The dream scene was ridiculous, but I hate dream scenes in general, but I also found the activity in the corn field ridiculous. If you've ever worked on a farm in a corn field, you'll agree.
Still, Thomas Perry always delivers and it was a great book to listen to while doing dishes and walking the dog.
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