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lazy_raven's review against another edition
2.0
Not my style of writing. These authors are kind of hit or miss for me. DNF at 4%
posies23's review against another edition
3.0
Preston & Child's new series follows Gideon Crew, a former art thief with a dark past. Gideon Crew is pretty much a James Bond ripoff -- a master of disguise, a martial artist, and, of course, a hit with the ladies.
This book really didn't do much for me. It's very "by the numbers" and lacked the strong narrative and depth of Preston & Child's other books. It was OKAY, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it over any of their other books.
There are a few links to the PENDERGAST novels, which is sort of fun and interesting, but they don't amount to much more than maybe 10 pages in the entire book.
Meh.
This book really didn't do much for me. It's very "by the numbers" and lacked the strong narrative and depth of Preston & Child's other books. It was OKAY, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it over any of their other books.
There are a few links to the PENDERGAST novels, which is sort of fun and interesting, but they don't amount to much more than maybe 10 pages in the entire book.
Meh.
gingirl7001's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
traci1974's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think I'll ever love this series as much as the Pendergast books, but it was a fun, fast paced ride. 3.5 stars round up.
jacqueshol's review against another edition
3.0
Although the story had its moments, it wasn't as tightly edited as I have become accustomed to with Preston and Child books. I just could've form an opinion of the protagonist, Gideon Crew. I simply didn't "get" him. At times he appeared to be a smooth operator and at other times, he seemed goofy.
In summary, the storyline was good (4/5) and got better towards the end. I found the protagonist confusing and vanilla (2/5). Hence my average rating of 3/5. I am hoping the Gideon character will find his way in the series and that it will get better. I am a huge fan of Preston and Child's Pendergast series and I'm hoping for more of the same in this series.
In summary, the storyline was good (4/5) and got better towards the end. I found the protagonist confusing and vanilla (2/5). Hence my average rating of 3/5. I am hoping the Gideon character will find his way in the series and that it will get better. I am a huge fan of Preston and Child's Pendergast series and I'm hoping for more of the same in this series.
ayaktruk's review against another edition
2.0
All right, I'm a sucker for anything that these two write and typical to their style, two chapters in and I'm down and dirty with this new creation of theirs.
Not my favorite. Found myself scoffing midway through at some of the absurd characters and situations (Mindy...c'mon guys, she's a little too shallow in her characterization). Had to take back a few of those scoffs when the ending was revealed.
And what an ending.
Still ad all, fun to see Eli Glinn return -- know that Pendergast is lurking nearby, watching the events unfold from the privacy of his estate.
Not my favorite. Found myself scoffing midway through at some of the absurd characters and situations (Mindy...c'mon guys, she's a little too shallow in her characterization). Had to take back a few of those scoffs when the ending was revealed.
And what an ending.
Still ad all, fun to see Eli Glinn return -- know that Pendergast is lurking nearby, watching the events unfold from the privacy of his estate.
professorfate's review against another edition
3.0
I am a fan of Preston and Child’s Agent Pendergast series (although I will admit that I am a few books behind and will try to catch up someday). In a way, they are like the Repairman Jack series: action mysteries, usually with a slight supernatural flavor to them. So when I saw that they were starting a new series, I was eager to try it out.
Gideon Crew, as a young boy, sees his father, a brilliant mathematician, accused of treason and gunned down. Later, when his mother is dying, he learns from her that his father was actually framed for a treasonous act by a military leader and is deliberately killed. Gideon spends the next years going to school and concocting a plan to get back at the official who got his father slaughtered. His plan is eventually successful.
He is then brought to a group who claim to be a subcontractor for the Department of Homeland Security and given a mission to help a Chinese scientist who appears to be trying to defect to the United States. The head of this group also shows him xrays showing that he has a rare disease and has only a year or so to live. Gideon takes the mission and adventure ensues.
This series is not as “cerebral”—in the words of Preston/Child—as the Pendergast series; it is straight-up action/adventure ala Gabriel Hunt or The Destroyer. In that, it succeeds—it is a quick, fun read that you are drawn into and compelled to complete.
My problem is the setup. This boy has no formal training, concocts a plan of vengeance, carries it out and suddenly he is qualified to be a spy? Really? I can accept the disease portion, since it basically takes away the fear of dying on the mission, but I would think it would be impossible for somebody with no training to be a master spy. For me, it was a HUGE suspension of disbelief.
If you can buy (or at least rent) the setup, you’ll enjoy the book. If that is going to stop you, don’t try.
Gideon Crew, as a young boy, sees his father, a brilliant mathematician, accused of treason and gunned down. Later, when his mother is dying, he learns from her that his father was actually framed for a treasonous act by a military leader and is deliberately killed. Gideon spends the next years going to school and concocting a plan to get back at the official who got his father slaughtered. His plan is eventually successful.
He is then brought to a group who claim to be a subcontractor for the Department of Homeland Security and given a mission to help a Chinese scientist who appears to be trying to defect to the United States. The head of this group also shows him xrays showing that he has a rare disease and has only a year or so to live. Gideon takes the mission and adventure ensues.
This series is not as “cerebral”—in the words of Preston/Child—as the Pendergast series; it is straight-up action/adventure ala Gabriel Hunt or The Destroyer. In that, it succeeds—it is a quick, fun read that you are drawn into and compelled to complete.
My problem is the setup. This boy has no formal training, concocts a plan of vengeance, carries it out and suddenly he is qualified to be a spy? Really? I can accept the disease portion, since it basically takes away the fear of dying on the mission, but I would think it would be impossible for somebody with no training to be a master spy. For me, it was a HUGE suspension of disbelief.
If you can buy (or at least rent) the setup, you’ll enjoy the book. If that is going to stop you, don’t try.
johnbreeden's review against another edition
3.0
I feel a little bad trying to compare this story with the Pendergast stories. Gideon seems to be an attempt to go with the polar opposite of the detective. Brash and unpredictable, he's a wild card on the last all in. Any attempt to compare these two characters because they share creators is unfair, and unavoidable. It is unavoidable because Pendergast's fan base is the most obvious pool of readers for these works.
Other works by our authors also have similar protagonists, the introduction of Eli Glynn, The Ice Limit for example. McFarlane was somewhat roguish, but has a few threads grounding him. Gideon does not have such a lifeline. For me, he was a missed opportunity. I also felt like he didn't really change during the story. It was a fun adventure in ways, but could have been more.
There were other aspects that I didn't quite enjoy as much as I hoped. Some things I did get into, but I kept hoping for more in areas that didn't pan out.
Other works by our authors also have similar protagonists, the introduction of Eli Glynn, The Ice Limit for example. McFarlane was somewhat roguish, but has a few threads grounding him. Gideon does not have such a lifeline. For me, he was a missed opportunity. I also felt like he didn't really change during the story. It was a fun adventure in ways, but could have been more.
There were other aspects that I didn't quite enjoy as much as I hoped. Some things I did get into, but I kept hoping for more in areas that didn't pan out.