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casadelibros's review against another edition
slow-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
3.75
zare_i's review against another edition
4.0
Unlike most thrillers I read this one does not start with hundred's question marks on what exactly is going on. Event that will drive the plot are given in first couple of chapters - young married couple Jason and Sydney Archer, IT engineer and successful lawyer respectively, both working for huge international mega-corporation aiming to acquire the pioneer AI company in order to create the portfolio that will enable them full monopoly in the field of software and hardware development. From the very beginning it is visible that Jason is working on something secret but not to the very end is the reader aware of what is truly going on. Then we have a huge disaster where hundreds are killed and no-one knows why exactly. What seems like a reasonable premise soon is discarded when new facts come to light.
Book is full of twists (main antagonists do not hesitate to bring down the entire commercial airplane to further their agenda) and concerns that ring true even 23 years after the book was published - mass surveillance, personal data collection and use of AI to control the populace. All the reasons for ruthless businessmen to do whatever it takes to gain the power and money. What I like about the book is that although high financial and technology world is constantly in the front, actual reasons for crime are as mundane as they can be.
Some would say that characters are bland and I would say they are your standard off-the-mill thriller characters, especially police officers (i.e. grizzled old veteran with problems in family). Our main protagonists are not stranded in financial issues and they all work in rather prestigious companies, they are loyal to each other and work hard to figure out what is going on. Point here is that you need to read the book to the end to figure out what is happening - trust me even if you read half the book there is great chance you are on a wrong trail. If you are prone to building views of others on incomplete data then you will find characters in the book rather difficult to root for. But when you get to the end of the book a lot of things get clear and true criminals are exposed.
Interesting book. Recommended to all fans of thrillers.
Book is full of twists (main antagonists do not hesitate to bring down the entire commercial airplane to further their agenda) and concerns that ring true even 23 years after the book was published - mass surveillance, personal data collection and use of AI to control the populace. All the reasons for ruthless businessmen to do whatever it takes to gain the power and money. What I like about the book is that although high financial and technology world is constantly in the front, actual reasons for crime are as mundane as they can be.
Some would say that characters are bland and I would say they are your standard off-the-mill thriller characters, especially police officers (i.e. grizzled old veteran with problems in family). Our main protagonists are not stranded in financial issues and they all work in rather prestigious companies, they are loyal to each other and work hard to figure out what is going on. Point here is that you need to read the book to the end to figure out what is happening - trust me even if you read half the book there is great chance you are on a wrong trail. If you are prone to building views of others on incomplete data then you will find characters in the book rather difficult to root for. But when you get to the end of the book a lot of things get clear and true criminals are exposed.
Interesting book. Recommended to all fans of thrillers.
retiredlibrarylady's review against another edition
4.0
Really exciting; complicated plot. It's dated now in terms of the computer stuff which is central to the story (modems!) but that doesn't detract from the story.
emilyisreading2024's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this suspenseful story that involved the Federal Reserve & banking, computer technology, aviation, and law. However, I thought the ending was somewhat preposterous. I admit that I took notes to keep track of the many different characters.
gsatori's review against another edition
3.0
I think it took me longer to finish War and Peace.
The book is evidence of a writer struggling with craft. It goes on top long and there are too many contrived complications. The ending was forced.
The book is evidence of a writer struggling with craft. It goes on top long and there are too many contrived complications. The ending was forced.
xenlinde's review against another edition
3.0
He's definitely grown as an author as this book is terrible compared to more recent works. The dialog was awful and the "mastermind" behind everything predictable BUT it was still a good read.
booknerdgamer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-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
kkellymsu's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book but it took me quite a while to really get sucked in. The book is quite dated and the descriptions of 1997 computer technology were key to the plot, particularly in the beginning. It was hard for me to get past how dated everything was in the first half of the book. Once I got more into the plot parts that were less tech-focused it was a much faster read.
jennchandler's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second or third time I’ve read this. I think it’s excellent, and I very much enjoy it.