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ycornejo235's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book of this genre that I've read and I really enjoyed it! I thought I had it all figured out near the end but there were still some big twists I didn't expect. Not being up on my history, it did take some time to figure out who was a real person and who was fictional but I'm excited to read the rest!
wahodges's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
adamrbrooks's review against another edition
2.0
Jake Tapper is a smart and interesting journalist and news personality. Unfortunately, his novel is dumb, predictable (except it was even dumber than I thought), poorly written and has a high schooler's tendency to empty the notebook of all research for no real reason.
There's actually a point where someone is driving over a bridge, and Tapper makes sure to note it had just opened, and was the third-longest bridge in the world. Party scenes have to show "Hey! I looked up the top 10 songs of this week in history!"
If this conspiracy theory had been played for farce (like Hiassen) or gone even more over the top (like Brown) it could have worked.
I need to check out some of Tapper's non-fiction; then the random fact dumps will make more sense, and directly explaining someone's motives will be part of the point, not just a sign of poor craftsmanship.
There's actually a point where someone is driving over a bridge, and Tapper makes sure to note it had just opened, and was the third-longest bridge in the world. Party scenes have to show "Hey! I looked up the top 10 songs of this week in history!"
If this conspiracy theory had been played for farce (like Hiassen) or gone even more over the top (like Brown) it could have worked.
I need to check out some of Tapper's non-fiction; then the random fact dumps will make more sense, and directly explaining someone's motives will be part of the point, not just a sign of poor craftsmanship.
pkadams's review against another edition
2.0
Historical fiction set in 1950s DC, so the setting is long on history, historical figures, and historical vignettes. The plot is slow to develop.
kathywadolowski's review against another edition
4.0
Wish you could give half stars on Goodreads, because I'd really rate this a 4.5/5. It wasn't perfect, but this book was damn good. The first few pages set the tone perfectly, because I found myself constantly on edge throughout the book as a result. And that's a mental attitude which, in my view, makes for the perfect thriller. The characters (and moreso their underhanded dealings and flaws) made for a really interesting story arc, and the historical context elevated it even further. Even Margaret's ponies kept me intrigued.
The *only* thing it lacked for me was a more detailed ending; I would've liked to spend some more time with the unraveling of all the story's mysteries, as there was a lot there to unpack and there were so many plot points that had to be tied up and together in the end. So a little more analysis and explanation would've been interesting for me, and would've neatened things up a bit.
Well-written, intriguing, and a lot of fun. Awesome read.
The *only* thing it lacked for me was a more detailed ending; I would've liked to spend some more time with the unraveling of all the story's mysteries, as there was a lot there to unpack and there were so many plot points that had to be tied up and together in the end. So a little more analysis and explanation would've been interesting for me, and would've neatened things up a bit.
Well-written, intriguing, and a lot of fun. Awesome read.
jennahehemann's review against another edition
3.0
As someone who isn’t that in to politics, especially from the 1950s, it was kind of hard to follow who all the people were, but I did enjoy the thrill and suspense of this book.
1outside's review against another edition
4.0
This is obviously no great piece of literature (and I'm sure it was not even intended as such), but it sure is a page-turner, and a lot of fun to read!
I'm personally not a big fan of the recent prevalence of conspiracy theories in both works of art and more worryingly in real life, but I guess I found the one(s) featured here just about plausible for the context of the world of the book. (Note: look, I know cover-ups and conspiracies do exist, but I'm not into paranoiacally seeing them everywhere. That way lies madness.)
I had to suspend my belief a bit more in the case of Margaret, whom I adore and want to be the star of the next book - if there is a next book with these characters.
But I definitely have no problem with her strong intellect and moral compass. She's definitely a woman after my own heart, and somebody to strive to be more like. The best male-written female character I've come across in a while.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between Margaret and the book's main-er character, her husband Charlie. It really is fucking great to see a relationship between husband and wife being portrayed as yes, not always working 100%, but for it to nevertheless not fall apart in any huge way, as is just about the norm in fiction. As if the only drama or interest can be created only when people succumb to seductions or stop communicating with each other completely.
What I found a bit...cute and funny is the way president Eisenhower is kind of presented as God here. I don't know how close the depiction in the book gets to the real man, but just as a character he came off a bit too...speaking-like-a-book-y.
I think Tapper does a good job making the reader feel like he's reading a story really taking place at that time, almost...as if the book was actually written at that time. Almost - because it just inevitably - and thankfully - is more "woke" than a piece of fiction from that time likely would have been.
I gather Tapper is really into history, political history specifically, and you can really tell. He fills the book with many nerdy tid-bits. Sometimes they're incorporated almost seamlessly, sometimes a bit clumsily, but I personally didn't mind even those. Yes, there are writers who can do this better, but Tapper is a first-time fiction author, so I'm cutting him some slack.
I think my favourite flourish in the book are the streams of scraps of conversation that pop up a few times in the book. You can pretty much feel the pool/ocean of babble wash over you.
Oh, and the notes, sources and further-reads at the end are hella cute, and very welcome. A nice touch.
***Might update with fave quotes at some later point.***
I'm personally not a big fan of the recent prevalence of conspiracy theories in both works of art and more worryingly in real life, but I guess I found the one(s) featured here just about plausible for the context of the world of the book. (Note: look, I know cover-ups and conspiracies do exist, but I'm not into paranoiacally seeing them everywhere. That way lies madness.)
I had to suspend my belief a bit more in the case of Margaret, whom I adore and want to be the star of the next book - if there is a next book with these characters.
Spoiler
Nevertheless, by the end of the book I started to suspect her of superhuman-ness. She sure managed to survive a lot in the course of the book, all the while being pregnant. I wish people in my family were made of such stern stuff.But I definitely have no problem with her strong intellect and moral compass. She's definitely a woman after my own heart, and somebody to strive to be more like. The best male-written female character I've come across in a while.
I also really enjoyed the relationship between Margaret and the book's main-er character, her husband Charlie. It really is fucking great to see a relationship between husband and wife being portrayed as yes, not always working 100%, but for it to nevertheless not fall apart in any huge way, as is just about the norm in fiction. As if the only drama or interest can be created only when people succumb to seductions or stop communicating with each other completely.
Spoiler
And it's nice to see married/in relationship people acknowledge attraction to other people w/o it inevitably ending up in cheating. Or treason.What I found a bit...cute and funny is the way president Eisenhower is kind of presented as God here. I don't know how close the depiction in the book gets to the real man, but just as a character he came off a bit too...speaking-like-a-book-y.
Spoiler
Aside: Methinks the personal agent circle the president has here is probably Trump's wet dream. But he could never understand the point about filling it with people of character.I think Tapper does a good job making the reader feel like he's reading a story really taking place at that time, almost...as if the book was actually written at that time. Almost - because it just inevitably - and thankfully - is more "woke" than a piece of fiction from that time likely would have been.
I gather Tapper is really into history, political history specifically, and you can really tell. He fills the book with many nerdy tid-bits. Sometimes they're incorporated almost seamlessly, sometimes a bit clumsily, but I personally didn't mind even those. Yes, there are writers who can do this better, but Tapper is a first-time fiction author, so I'm cutting him some slack.
I think my favourite flourish in the book are the streams of scraps of conversation that pop up a few times in the book. You can pretty much feel the pool/ocean of babble wash over you.
Oh, and the notes, sources and further-reads at the end are hella cute, and very welcome. A nice touch.
***Might update with fave quotes at some later point.***
mhoffrob's review
2.0
While I enjoyed "The Hellfire Club" by Jake Tapper, I wouldn't recommend it. The plot was interesting but extremely tangled. The characters (the fictional ones) were likeable, but transparent and flat. The moments exchanged with "real" historical characters were not entirely believable. Tappers writing relatively well constructed, but neither challenging nor lyrical, it just was. Methinks he should stick to The State of the Nation from now on.
ritabook85's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars! The plot was all over the place and was dry. I did learn a few historical facts despite the fictitious characters and storyline.