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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Echoes of National Treasure at first, this is an intriguing mystery involving history and the National Archives.
Mysterious to the end, it sets up for a sequel.
Mysterious to the end, it sets up for a sequel.
This was a LFL find and WOW. If you were a fan of Michael Palmer’s White House story line, this is for you. I absolutely loved this. Everyone in the US is curious about what it’s really like to live or work in the White House. And this story is absolutely nuts. this is a trilogy, focused on a small group of people dedicated to protecting the sanctity of the Presidency. They’re not official WH members, but they’ve been around for 100+ years in secret. This has a lot of mystery, history, and action!
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Gut Instinct Rating: 10
Characters: 9
Believability: 9.5
Uniqueness: 10
Writing Style: 10
Excitement Factor: 10
Story Line: 10
Title Relevance: 9
Artwork Relevance: 10
Audiobook Narration: N/A
Overall: 4.86
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Gut Instinct Rating: 10
Characters: 9
Believability: 9.5
Uniqueness: 10
Writing Style: 10
Excitement Factor: 10
Story Line: 10
Title Relevance: 9
Artwork Relevance: 10
Audiobook Narration: N/A
Overall: 4.86
Don't even waste your money- as if the book wasn't boring enough, it turns out to be basically a setup for a series of books bssed on the main character. Written for young adults, no- that is insulting young adults---written at an eighth grade level this is lazy writing. Last book by Meltzer I will ever buy!!
I picked this book up expecting a dip into home-grown espionage. It felt a bit like a letdown. Beecher is contacted by his schoolboy crush, who turns out to be connected to the madman who attempted to kill the president. Beecher works at the National Archives, and invites said girl into a secure room about to be used by the President. In a domino-fall of events, Beecher, the girl, and a security guard find what appears to be George Washington's dictionary in a hidden compartment. The President must be involved! Within a very short time, the security guard is dead and Beecher and the girl are pulled into the mystery. Who is the President communicating with? What does the communication mean? Is there a hidden message? Is the Culper Ring, started by Washington, still in existence? There was so much to this story, so many possibilities, but I just couldn't get excited about it. The best part of the story was a peek into the inner workings of the National Archives.
Complete and total waste of time....it makes a Dan Brown book appear both plausible by comparison and literary.
I have read other Brad Meltzer books. Overall the story was good. And on audio, Scott Brick was excellent, as usual. However, it was a 14 hour book, which probably could have been completed in half the time. There is too much dialogue and unneeded speculation between the characters pretty much all the way through the 14+ hours. There is much repetition, how many times can 1 character repeat,"You're not listening to me." And numerous other examples. I paid for it and started it, deciding half way through to stick with it. But the final outcome left the main story line unresolved and served as a teaser for the next book in the series. I will likely pass on the next one.
Certainly not brilliant writing but so few books are out there that feature archives and archivists that it was still an OK read. Standard political intrigue, although the author (and his reviewers) seem to think it's all quite innovative.
Another book that builds off of some historical fact into a mystery.
Benjamin "Beecher" White is a young archivist for the National Archives who is visited by his first girlfriend who he still has feelings towards even though he has not seen her since she moved away in 10th grade. "I forgot how good a simple crush can feel. But it is not a crush. There are some people in your life who bring back old memories. And there are others--your first kiss, your first love, your first sex--who, the moment you see them, bring a spark...and something far more potent. And possibilities. And feelings if you are back in time, life could be so very different from where you're stuck right now."
She needs his help in locating her father, a man her mother never communicated his identify. Quickly the story changes as they uncover a book that leads them to a bigger set of questions, one of which she poses to Beecher, "I don't think you are afraid of the past. I think you 're scared of the future." 3 rating basically because this book did not really end or answer all the questions, now I need to read the next book to get rest of the answers.
Benjamin "Beecher" White is a young archivist for the National Archives who is visited by his first girlfriend who he still has feelings towards even though he has not seen her since she moved away in 10th grade. "I forgot how good a simple crush can feel. But it is not a crush. There are some people in your life who bring back old memories. And there are others--your first kiss, your first love, your first sex--who, the moment you see them, bring a spark...and something far more potent. And possibilities. And feelings if you are back in time, life could be so very different from where you're stuck right now."
She needs his help in locating her father, a man her mother never communicated his identify. Quickly the story changes as they uncover a book that leads them to a bigger set of questions, one of which she poses to Beecher, "I don't think you are afraid of the past. I think you 're scared of the future." 3 rating basically because this book did not really end or answer all the questions, now I need to read the next book to get rest of the answers.
A fun read. Not the best written book i have ever read, but I couldn't put it down. Some minor changes ie didn't need to have so many "you don't know who is who" moments. A very enjoyable read.