Blown Away

Rating:
Summary: Dismal Plot and Characters Make This Wiltse's Nadir
Review: David Wiltse's A PRAYER FOR THE DEAD and INTO THE FIRE are full-throttle, imaginative, spellbindingly terrifying novels that really get the job done. And John Becker has emerged from them as one of the most interesting series characters in fiction today. Unfortunately, after the remarkably poor BONE DEEP, Wiltse has plummeted even further to banality with BLOWN AWAY, a true stinker of a novel. The villian of the piece, Swan, is a laughable creation, and his association with a repressed homosexual gangster is uninteresting and poorly shaped and detailed. There's no suspense, no plot worth engaging in, and Becker is left with practically nothing to do. The result is a complete disaster from a usual first-rate writer.

Rating:
Summary: THE BOOK WAS OK.NOT THE BEST.NEED ANOTHER BECKER SOON.
Review: DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE DAVID WILTSE IS? ITS GOT TO BE TIME FOR ANOTHER BECKER. I'VE ENJOYED ALL HIS BOOKS. AM DYING FOR ANOTHER ONE.

Rating:
Summary: Blown Away
Review: I read this astounding book by chance only last week, with the horrors of 9/11 still haunting us all. Wiltse seemed to be looking into the future with this plot that reveals how terribly vulnerable to attack New York, or any city in the country really is. There seem to be enough characters to populate a city, and what an interesting city that would be for he draws them quickly, deeply, and with a reality that is often funny at the same time it frightens.

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Summary: New Discovery
Review: I've just discovered John Becker and David Wiltse (where have I been?)and what a fortuitous discovery it is! If John Becker is not the most fascinating, complicated, sexy, clever, dangerous--and most interestingly of all--oddly virtuous character in this whole genre, I don't know of any other contenders that even come close. His villains may be be even better. Evil enough even for Dubya's list, but tantalizingly human as well. Most exciting of all for me as a reader is the author's command of the language. The words, the words! This is a genuine writer, not just a potboiler. If Blown Away is any example, I'm going to have a wonderful time with the rest of Mr. Wiltse's work.

Rating:
Summary: If you liked Wiltse before, he doesn't disappoint
Review: I've read and loved all of David Wiltse's Becker novels, so I would have probably loved this one no matter how bad it was. Luckily, there was enough action and dialogue to keep me entertained throughout the book. The only problem I have with his later novels is that Wiltse has been making Becker too witty and light, forgetting how tormented he usually is when on the hunt. The humor's always a nice counterpoint to the psychos though, so the light tone works effectively in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Becker is the Best
Review: Just when I thought David Wiltse could not write a better book, I got "Blown Away". You have all of the edge of the first Becker books with the added humor of bit players. He has you chewing your nails one moment and laughing out loud in the next. Wiltse has perfected the serial killer books and John Becker is the most intriguing characther I've read. With his wife slowly recovering from injuries and coming upon an unknown 'type' of killer, Becker could not rely on the instincts that has guided him in the past books. I cannot recommend David Wiltse enough. He is the best kept secret in fiction. If you haven't tried any of his books, take some time off work and read all of the Becker series.Erma Arthur, Reading Forum Assistant, MS

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Summary: please, does anybody know if another wiltse is due?
Review: see above==i keep looking for wiltse books to no avail

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional
Review: Since this book is several years old, I won't bother with a precis of the plot, that having been done by others. But I do want to say how happily I was struck by the author's use of character. That's an ingredient missing all too often in crime fiction. Sure, the plot is twisting and involving and there is plenty of tension, etc, but, almost uniquely, it is all performed by some very real, very complicated characters. I found it quite exceptional.

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Summary: Blown Away: David Wiltse, review by Jessica Lackie
Review: The book takes place in New York City. What happenes is this guy named Jason Cole is a terrorist, and is blowing up trancars and bridges. He disguises himself as "Spring". He told the FBI that if they didn't give him $5Million in cash then he would blow up the whole New York City. One of the FBI agents named Karen takes matters into her own hands. She decides to pretend to be this women named Robin. She heard of the guy Spring and told him she would like to go on a date with him. He calls her and tells her where to meet him at. So she gets a rental car and buys a new outfit, to fit the description of Robin. She drove to the place spring told her to meet him at. She was waiting at a red light when someone opened the door, got in and another guy had her at gun point. The other guys name is Donny. He had cole tell her where to go. They drove all the way to Ithica, and Donny had the gun to her head the whole time.
Cole made her drive to the middle of nowhere. He had an abandoned house back there. By this time no one knew where Karen was. One of the other agents got information about this "Spring" guy and drove up to his house, the agents name was Meisner. Donny had a feeling someone was there. So he hid until he heard him come near the house. All of a sudden there was a knock on the door. "Hello,anyone home"? Cole heard the door open slowly , but he could barely see because of the darkness. Then he heard a shot and donny came running. Then out of coles mouth came an evil laugh.
You'll have to read the book to find out what happens to Karen, Donny, and Spring.
These are the literary elements the author used; Foreshadowing, surprise ending, and conflict.
For foreshadowing he gave hints about spring and you always knew when he was going to blow something else up.
The surprise ending wasn't what I expected it to be. I can't tell you what happens so you'll have to read the book!
and for the conflict spring has a problem with the FBI and wants $5million or he'll blow up the city.
Foreshadowing- The use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur.
Surprise ending- a conclusion that violates the expectations of the reader.
Conflict- A struggle between opposing forces

I really liked this book because you never knew what was going to happen next unless the author used foreshadowing, it made you wanting to read more.

Rating:
Summary: Not this time, Wiltse.
Review: The plot was rather weak, and the conclusion unsatisfactory.