Rating: 
Summary: Not a Very Good Book
Review: I have been a Ridley Pearson fan for years and have read most if not all of his books. This one however, I fould hard to even complete. The characters simply did not click, and it was hard to form a reader's bond with them. The plot was equivilant to a sub "B" movie plot, which would probably not even get made. Sorry, but I did not like this one at all.
Rating: 
Summary: average thriller
Review: Peter Tyler, an ex-homicide detective thats about to lose his house, get's a temporary assignment with the National Transportation Safety Board to find out what is causing a series of train derailments. Almost 2 years ago Umberto Alvarez lost his wife and twins in a collision with a train, where the blame was ultimately put on his wife. Alvarez thinks differently and believes that Northern Union Railroad is at fault and is covering up some major problems. He want's to get even. Peter Tylers pursuit of this so called terrorist drives this story and brings it to it's exciting conclusion.The action and romance move this story at a somewhat average pace. For some reason this latest Pearson novel just doesn't have the oomph I'm used to. More idle time than suspense could be a factor or the simple fact that some of the characters had little depth. Recommend...Library first
Rating: 
Summary: An original story set at a fast pace
Review: Set in the east, goes from fast to unbelievable. Yet is believable. The mystery is new. The technology is cool. The ease with which a smart detective can follow someone's trail in the modern world is scary. We are not anonymous anymore. Great book Mr. Pearson. Still love Lou and Daphne, but Peter and Nel are wonderful too. Will we ever see Umberto again? I hope so.
Rating:
Summary: A Major Disappointment from a Terrific Writer
Review: Ridley Pearson is among my favorite authors, but "Parallel Lies" reads like a first draft. Pearson needed to go back and give us a more well drawn ultimate bad guy, explain how his science teacher vigilante transformed himself into the Rogue Warrior, and make the security expert who looks like a "supermodel" more than a romantic cliche. Hero Peter Tyler, however, is a good creation, and I wouldn't mind seeing him in a better book-- which Pearson's next is likely to be.
Rating:
Summary: Derailed plot
Review: Borrowing a premise from "Trainman", Pearson moves away from his usual characters, and gives us a slow boring ride. Trying to make the bad guy good and populating his story with all the pc stereotypes sucks the life out of this one. Don't write a book a year, if its going to be mediocre.
Rating: 
Summary: Ticket, please....
Review: I was disappointed. I have greatly enjoyed the Lou Boldt novels, but could barely finish this one...and I can read anything. There was no character development...when things got hairy, I found I didn't really care what happened to anyone. The plot was mildly interesting, but had several glaring practical and technological improbabilities...not the least of which was the mutual non-contact orgasm...How does that work? It read more like a script treatment for a Steven Seagal movie. Sorry, better luck next time.
Rating:
Summary: Not Boldt, but an engrossing read
Review: While Mr. Pearson has gained a large measure of his fame through the novels involving Lou Boldt, he occasionally steps outside that set of characters to craft a 'stand alone' novel. This book is one of those cases. While it lacks the familiarity of an established cast, that can also be seen as one of it's strengths. He does an admirable job of drawing us into the story, and truly caring about the fate of both the hero and the villain.
Rating:
Summary: Parallel Lines
Review: Another exciting book from a great author. He always has a new twist around the next corner. Parallel is exciting, breathtaking and downright thrilling in the end. Bravo!!! Can't wait for the next book!
Rating:
Summary: Author of $oft Money says enjoy the ride
Review: Two very differect characters share a common bond in this thriller. One has lost his family, the other has lost his career. While they share the depression that goes along with their individual burdens, they each pursue their grief in all to seperate ways. One man attempts to regain his life and his professional reputation. The other pursues revenge with a vengeance. Umberto Alvarez lost his family. His wife and twins were killed when a train hit their van at a crossing. Peter Tyler lost his job. He lost control and beat a suspect he saw severely abusing a baby. The chase is on, will Tyler become a victim of the system again? What ghosts from the past rise once again to take hold of his fragile life? The suspense builds as the railroads newest project F.A.S.T. is about to emark on its maiden voyage. Everyone is here and the ending is a genuine FAST paced thriller. A recommended read, but avoid reading it while traveling by train. Save this one for the beach or the plane.
Rating:
Summary: Viva Terrorism!
Review: I got hooked on this author's work several years ago, but this book is even more disappointing than his last. That's not to say it isn't an above average read. In spite of the lack of a credible and appropriately evil villain, the author maintains a taught pace and an intricate structure that holds the reader to the final page. But none of the characters are fully developed, and the underlying message of the book is both tired and disturbing. Building the story around trains and railroading was refreshing and interesting. Relying on a heavy dose of technology to create the suspense also added to the book's fascination. But what makes these kinds of thrillers special is the people, and this book lacks compelling characters -- especially an appropriately threatening villain. The hero (are there 2?) has no real weaknesses, and quickly makes almost all the right guesses. We're told he's running from his past, but nothing about his present makes his past believable. His partner, both professionally and romantically, has no backstory at all, so we have no idea how or why she would be attracted to him. What's more, she doesn't have much to do. We would not have missed her, had the author decided his primary hero didn't need a love interest. The primary villain simply doesn't compute -- midwestern science teacher transformed overnight into a successful and sophisticated terrorist and an expert financier. The secondary villain is just too mundane for words. In the end, after a breath-taking final trainride, it's all kind of Grishamesque, with justice decided in spite of the helplessness of an insensitive and inept "system." Viva terrorism! Long live vigilantes!
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