Rating: 
Summary: Interesting...but wait for the paperback
Review: The premise of this book is quite exciting, and the dust jacket blurbs will make you pick it up. Alas, Follett does not seem to do all that could have been done with the scenario he created. Much of the dialogue seems mechanical, and it's interesting that Follett frequently uses the odd construction: "Jeannie said: '....'" to have dialogue, which adds to the detached feel of the character interaction. While Follett's premise of a misuse of genetic engineering is interesting, he cops out on the answer to the "nature vs. nurture" argument that the lead charracter is trying to answer. This is worthwhile poolside reading, but wait for the paperback or tv movie
Rating: 
Summary: mediocre
Review: The premise of the story is quite interesting, and it could have
made for a very enjoyable novel. Unfortunately, Follett's execution
is mediocre at best. Much of the dialog between characters is painfully
contrived, and the proliferation of clones becomes laughable
after a while (thus reducing their dramatic impact). It's quite
apparent that Follett knows very little about the Internet, given
the awkward, outdated way in which it's used throughout the book.
It's equally apparent that Follett doesn't know much about the real
American universities that are mentioned in the book. These errors,
while not central to the plot, become very distracting. The lack
of research is in stark contrast to other authors in the same genre.
Bottom line: Wait for the paperback. Better yet, borrow it from
the library, if you must read it at all. It's hard to believe the
same author who wrote Eye of the Needle penned this uninspired
piece.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting idea, but plot peters out by mid book.
Review: The concept of this novel is an interesting one, and involves cloning of embryos and misuse of IV fertilization. The plot is intriguing and captivating in the first half of the book, but Follett loses steam (and probably interest) there onwards. Not one of his better novels, but it may do well as a made-for-TV movie. I should have waited for it to come out in paperback, and read it on a plane
Rating: 
Summary: Three Identical People Are Not Twins!
Review: The Third Twin was a sort of wierd title for this book i thought. Wouldnt three identical people be triplets and not twins? Anyway, the main character is Dr. Ferrami and she is studying nature vs. nurture and how even if twins are seperated at birth they still end up acting, looking, and dressing alike. She finally meets the perfect subject with a twin that is a convicted rapist.
The story uncovers truth about three power hungry individuals and she has the power to stop one of them from getting into power. This book captures you with its story plot and vivid descriptions of their life. The plot takes a twist and keeps you in suspense.
What i liked about this book was the vivid descriptions and the plot twists. This really kept me hooked and made me turn the pages to find out what would happen next. I had totally different views of some of the characters because of the good descriptions of them.
I really hope everyone that reads this book will enjoy it as much as i did.
Rating:
Summary: Big Disappointment
Review: On a recent trip to Florida I stopped in at the airport book shop and purchased a book for the return flight to Italy. I had read Ken Follet's excellent "Pillars of the Earth" a few years ago and decided to try another of his books. This book did not even approach the level of the first Follet novel I read. Unlike "Pillars", in "The Third Twin" Follet does not appear to have done any research on his subject matter. In one section he has a character reminiscing about his father who was a SECOND LIEUTENANT in the US NAVY. The US Navy has never had second lieutenants; junior officers of that pay grade are called Ensigns. But this is only the beginning of technical errors that destroy an otherwise compelling story line. One of the main weapons of the protagonist is a computer program that she wrote to compare elements in database to develop genetic comparisons. Unfortunately, the way the thing is supposed to work is closer to something that Gandalf or Harry Potter would whip up rather than something out of computer science class. The poorly researched and unbelievable stuff goes on and worsens throughout the book. More examples - people out on bail without a security clearance wandering the halls of the Pentagon and putting magic floppy disks into the Pentagon computers - you guessed it - so they could search the databases on those computers. All in all, I was very, very glad when the book drew to its predictable close. Follet is a good writer, but he really needs to research his subjects better before writing a book.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Another good read from the master.
Ken Follett weaves in alot of twists and turns with good action and a really great plot. You love to love the protagonists and love to hate the villains.
What I liked about this book, and with most of Follett's books is that there's never an absolute good and bad. Everyone has their motivations for doing what they do and it makes everyone more beleivable. I like that his characters are fallible just like real people and try to do the best they can.
Scandals, mergers, genetic engineering, action...great book. couldn't turn the pages fast enough.
Rating:
Summary: Three Identical People Are Not Twins!
Review: I haven't read anything else by Ken Follett, and based on this book, I don't plan to. The story line was unbelievable, the plot full of holes, and I didn't care about the characters. Don't waste your money buying this book.
Rating:
Summary: Jeannie, lose the nose ring!
Review: On one level I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read as a mystery-thriller. But I agree with a number of the criticisms voiced already. I didn't like the main character Jeannie & I didn't like the gratuitous political moralizing where all the bad guys were conservatives. If you want to make your bad guys evil for their attempts at genetic manipulation & white supremacist rantings, fine, but don't throw in that they're against gun control & against welfare! And, Jeannie, I just couldn't warm up to. I know Follett likes his heroines feisty, which is fine, but Jeannie was just too counter-cultural for me. The swearing, the free & easy sex life, the "smoking a little weed," and, ugh, the nose ring. Is that really necessary? I also agree that Follett's presentation of academic life is unrealistic. (I am an academic.) Follett's books with a World War II theme are much better.
Rating:
Summary: Sharkey
Review: Can't believe this was required reading in a German high school English class. What is that focus? Sensationalism in pulp. Come on Ken.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Awful!
Review: What happened to Ken Follett? His earlier works, such as "The Key to Rebecca" and "Eye of the Needle," were well-crafted thrillers. "The Third Twin" is sophomorically episodic with every character as stereotypically painted as imaginable. The novel has little suspense, no interesting characterizations, with foolish plot devices and juvenile twists abound. Ken must be simply churning out the pulp to make a few bucks. Save your money.
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