Rating: Summary: Average, overrated Review: The characters weren't very believable and the plot had too many implausible twists and turns. Sorry, this one didn't cut the mustard with me.
Rating: Summary: Get out! Review: The first half is not so bad. After that "John Case" obviously lost all interest in this ... and so did I. Besides: An author who does not care about details is not to be trusted in general. You can't buy an assault rifle just like that in Switzerland! John Paul I was certainly not killed because of Vatican II. "Case" does not know anything - and did no research - about radiology (especially CAT scans) and he certainly does not speak German: A "hunter store" is no "Speicher fuer Jaeger"!
Rating: Summary: Two Out of Three Isn't Bad Review: The husband and wife team who wrote this book under the pseudonym of John Case have two excellent novels to their credit, i.e. The Gensis Code and The First Horseman. This book, while it has an excellent premise and storyline, somehow doesn't bring the story off with the usual panache as their two previous efforts. The start is quick, but after they establish that things are seldom what they seem with two of their characters, the story, to my mind, bogs down terribly while the sister of one of the story's victims tries to sort things out and understand what is going on. Well, what is going on is the evolution of mind control experiments which began back in the 50's and with the help of some experts in the field she is able to recover the identity of one of the principals in the story. The mystery being solved, the rest of the book is dedicated to getting revenge for the damage that has been caused and the pace of the action picks up considerably. It's not a bad book, but it seems to have sufferred, in this instance, from over writing. I will hope for a better result the next time these two collaberate.
Rating: Summary: Incredible!!! I'd give it 6 stars if that was an option. Review: The night I bought the book I immediately went home and began to read it. And could not put it down. I finally finished it at 4 in the morning, and immediately wanted to read it again. BTW go to the website and, if you can figure it out it will be well worth your while.Q
Rating: Summary: Entertaining, Intriguing Story But Lacks Believability Review: The Syndrome captured my attention and lured me into an exciting story. I read it over a few days whenever I had a chance. It is a page turner. The story involves conspiracy, secret governmental experiments on humans, assassination plots, false memory and mind control. With those topics at the center of the story, the details become blurred and the believability of the events lessens. But even so, the action is exciting, the main characters likable and not too simple, and the writing is pretty good. There are plenty of surprises.
Rating: Summary: Entertaining, Intriguing Story But Lacks Believability Review: The Syndrome captured my attention and lured me into an exciting story. I read it over a few days whenever I had a chance. It is a page turner. The story involves conspiracy, secret governmental experiments on humans, assassination plots, false memory and mind control. With those topics at the center of the story, the details become blurred and the believability of the events lessens. But even so, the action is exciting, the main characters likable and not too simple, and the writing is pretty good. There are plenty of surprises.
Rating: Summary: What a thriller!! Review: The Syndrome is an excellent novel, full of thrills and chills! I spent one whole day (and into the night) reading this novel, I couldn't put it down. John Case has written an exciting story, part spy thriller, part mystery, part romance, all the elements necessary for a spell-binding, edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting read. It is obvious that Mr. Case's considerable knowledge of his chosen topic (also clearly demonstrated in The Genesis Code and The First Horseman) has allowed him to once again write a very realistic and "scary" novel. I highly recommend The Syndrome.
Rating: Summary: Very average book Review: This is a horrible book and took me forever to read, so unfortunately I've probably forgotten a lot of the reasons why I didn't like it. The beginning shows promise, with the kidnapping and mystery surgery on Lou McBride. Then Nicco Cope for no apparent reason assasinates a terminally ill old man. Both are obviously being manipulated by an evil organization. But then the next 400 pages or so switch gears and follow the plight of Dr. Jeffery Duran, Nicco's pshychologist, and Adrienne, her sister. Duran has also been affected by this evil organization, and the reader knows it from the beginning. But it takes 400 pages for Jeffery and Addrienne to figure out. Then in the last few pages or so, Case tells us what the "Syndrome" is all about, then throws in some action in the climax. Case's novels are getting progressivley worse. It'll be awhile before I try his new one.
Rating: Summary: Very average book Review: This is a horrible book and took me forever to read, so unfortunately I've probably forgotten a lot of the reasons why I didn't like it. The beginning shows promise, with the kidnapping and mystery surgery on Lou McBride. Then Nicco Cope for no apparent reason assasinates a terminally ill old man. Both are obviously being manipulated by an evil organization. But then the next 400 pages or so switch gears and follow the plight of Dr. Jeffery Duran, Nicco's pshychologist, and Adrienne, her sister. Duran has also been affected by this evil organization, and the reader knows it from the beginning. But it takes 400 pages for Jeffery and Addrienne to figure out. Then in the last few pages or so, Case tells us what the "Syndrome" is all about, then throws in some action in the climax. Case's novels are getting progressivley worse. It'll be awhile before I try his new one.
Rating: Summary: LET ME PRESENT MY CASE Review: This is my first John Case book (I gather it's a pseudonym for a husband/wife team)--no matter. I loved it. It's a lot of fun, and full of some great surprises. Case manages to inject a lot of sarcasm and humor in the dialogue that really helps relieve the overall "weight" of this book. The opening prologue involving Lew McBride is a real scary one. The young psychologist finds himself strapped to a table, his throat has a tube in it, and they're peeling his face off! Yikes! Then, we hear no more from Mr. McBride. Enter one Nico Cope who is a patient of Dr. Jeffrey Duran. Nico is quite an eccentric, albeit Looney, young woman. She goes to Florida, kills an elderly gentleman, returns home and kills herself in the tub. What you say? Enter half-sister Adrienne who blames Dr. Duran for her sister's demise. What happens after this is let's pull out the plugs excitement. Whether credulous or not,the novel moves along briskly and we realize there is a truly horrible plot afoot. Suffice to say, you'll see what happened to Lew McBRide, and you'll join in the flight with Adrienne and Jeffrey, unlikely partners, but what else can they do? There is some real chemistry that develops between the two, and as the book progresses, we find ourselves really liking both of these "weirdos," so to speak. Although the ending does seem a trifle anti-climactic, I loved this book. It was just pure out and out fun! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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