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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Murder
Minor: Child death
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good novel but he can include long stretches where what he is writing about is not pertinent to the plot at all. And it took half the book for the "main characters" to get together. Seemed a bit strange.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fun pulpy spy novel! The beginning took a while to get me pulled in because it jumped around between many locations and people but once I got the bigger picture I couldn't stop turning the pages!
When I was in high school, I read lots of spy thrillers, starting with John LeCarre and including almost everything by Robert Ludlum. I remember summer weekends where I read virtually nonstop, skimming the last chapters so quickly I'd have a headache.
I was hoping to find this same immersion in The Kill Artist, which a friend recommended last summer. Sadly, my expectations were more than the book could carry. There were some good elements: I liked the bits about art and there were enough hints along the way about the final plot twist that I didn't feel ripped off when it took me by surprise. And, the author's background as a journalist showed well in the passages discussing recent Middle East history. But, there were too many holes and the characters weren't engaging enough for me to become really engaged. My timing - starting the book when the headlines about Isreal bear particularly unpleasant news - also probably made it harder for me to sympathize with Mosad agents. Perhaps 20 (gasp!) years ago, the twisting plot would have been enough. Not anymore, both for better and for worse.
I was hoping to find this same immersion in The Kill Artist, which a friend recommended last summer. Sadly, my expectations were more than the book could carry. There were some good elements: I liked the bits about art and there were enough hints along the way about the final plot twist that I didn't feel ripped off when it took me by surprise. And, the author's background as a journalist showed well in the passages discussing recent Middle East history. But, there were too many holes and the characters weren't engaging enough for me to become really engaged. My timing - starting the book when the headlines about Isreal bear particularly unpleasant news - also probably made it harder for me to sympathize with Mosad agents. Perhaps 20 (gasp!) years ago, the twisting plot would have been enough. Not anymore, both for better and for worse.
Heard a lot about this series, so thought I'd check it out. A spy/art restorer? Sounds great!
Sadly, not so great.
The dialog is so melodramatic it's hard not to chuckle. "Gabriel, why do you hate your country so?" Really?
The art restorer thing is just a cliche metaphor: he restores beautiful art because (wait for it) he can't restore HIMSELF.
The plot was okay, and there were times when I was compelled to keep reading, but overall not worth it.
Sadly, not so great.
The dialog is so melodramatic it's hard not to chuckle. "Gabriel, why do you hate your country so?" Really?
The art restorer thing is just a cliche metaphor: he restores beautiful art because (wait for it) he can't restore HIMSELF.
The plot was okay, and there were times when I was compelled to keep reading, but overall not worth it.
I love a good detective/murder mystery without too much gore and The Kill Artist delivers on all accounts. There is an interesting Palestinian/Israel thing going on where perspective on both sides is given without excusing the inexcusable on each side. I didn't necessarily love the ending, but I accept it. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.