Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Getting lost in the blue nowhere Review: I am not much of a reader and this book was sent to me by a friend. I decided to check it out after a few days. I could not put it down; I read it in less than 24 hours! The plot twists and turns around the concept of one master hacker (working for the good guys) trying to find, stop, and defeat another master hacker gone bad, and to determine the identity of his ally. I figured this out early, and then again, and again, as each was proved wrong, and finally a real surprize at the end. If you have any inklings of paranoia about computers invading ALL areas of life, you may not want to read this. Otherwise an excellent, entertaining book that I have already recommended to others.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Good read Review: This book is good, entertaining, and if you're into computers, very interesting. The main character is quite likeable, and not your average hero. The pacing is good, and you'll find yourself wondering if what happens in the book could actually be happenning in real life (and the scary part is, the author is not that far off from the truth...)Now, Don't get me wrong, I did like this book. So why did I give it three stars? Well, sadly, this book has one too many plot twists. I was reading, enjoying the turn of events, being surprised every now and then, but at a certain point, the plot twist were just too much to digest. They stopped making the story more enjoyable. Still, this is one heck of a book. A virtual rollercoaster like few I've seen.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: great book, some innacurracies Review: I loved this book, and I am a computer(nerd) person. Yes I know there were many innacurracies. I write network code for a living, trust me, I clinched my teeth through parts of this book too, BUT I still loved it. If you are the kind of person who can enjoy a good story, this book is for you, I couldn't put it down. If you are the kind of person who demands perfection, go back to your chat room friends who tolerate you, and quit whining to everyone about the things you hated about this book. J00 are 1337 we are n00bs and I liked this book. 8)
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: compelling, I really recommend this book... Review: I've just finished reading The Blue Nowhere and I can say that it's really a "high-tech page-turner". Even though the author is a non geek he went very deep technically, what impressed me a lot, explaining easily even for a layman he could create an amazing plot! In the book, when he wrote about hacking switching offices, that was beyong reality in my opinion, but no matter, he still deserves my appreciation.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Enjoyable Read Review: This is my 5th Deaver novel, and although not up to the Lincoln Rhyme standards, I thoroughly enjoyed the read. As with his other books, Deaver continually puts his readers through many twists and turns and this novel is no exception (not to give anything away, but I changed my mind on Shelton several times to where I no longer could remember whether I was for him or against him). I was very entertained by the concept of the "Blue Nowhere" and feel that Deaver did a nice job of explaining the (possible) inner-workings of the internet without bogging me down with painful technical jargon and concepts. The continual battle and out-guessing that occurs between Wyatt and Phate was exceptionally fun. Hey, some of the stuff may be far-fetched, but I did buy the book in the fiction section of the bookstore.
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: If you know anything about how computers work, don't bother Review: There is so much deus-ex-machina nonsense and affectation here, that if you know anything about how computers or the internet work, you'll simply be infuriated. It seems too bad when a writer who has given us so many well-woven tales has to stoop to this -- reinventing the internet, like a ranting paranoid, into something nefarious in order to provide his tale with plot.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: MASTERFULLY WRITTEN TECHNOLOGY-BASED THRILLER Review: Seldom do we see a technology-based plot (a plot that uses modern computer technology, the Internet, and data communications networks) woven so masterfully by a novelist. Jeffrey Deaver has done what few modern authors can do - create a believable murder mystery/thriller with modern computer technology at the core of the story. A technology consultant myself, I can honestly say that Deaver did his homework and he defintely gets an A+ for The Blue Nowhere. Every computer professional and system administrator should read this book because, in this day and age, only a small part of it is actually fiction. Most people don't realize that, most of what Deaver writes about happens every single day! A very fun read and hard to put down! Highly-recommended for the technically inclined!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Great exciting read! Review: Highly recommended! Very fun book that is a definate page turner. Offers a lot techincal history which is fun to read however, it's not to the point where someone who is non technical would not enjoy it. Lots of plot twists and tricks. A fun book that will make me look at the authors other works.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: GREAT TIMELY SUBJECT WITH CLASSIC WHODUNNIT ORIGINS Review: I really enjoyed this Deaver book! The setting is present-day, but the plot is reminiscent of the great Agatha Christie mysteries with 8-10 characters appearing regularly throughout the story, any one of whom could be the mysterious "Shawn". I thought the technical aspect of the writing was just about right. I use computers and the internet daily, but am by no means a chip jock or phreak (feel free to substitute whatever term you'd like). When the techno-speak got a little too heavy for me (maybe twice in the whole book), I just skimmed those parts, but for the most part I could follow what was happening. I think readers who aren't yet connected to the net (are there really any left?) or have little computer skills may find the writing a little too much, but I'm sure the ... hackers probably scoff at the elementary explanations. Overall, though, I really enjoyed trying to guess the real identity of Shawn. As I've read almost all Deaver's other books, I've gotten better at guessing the villain's identity ("Speaking in Tongues"' killer was the easiest to guess!!), but in The Blue Nowhere I was confused right up to the disclosure, which makes me love the book. My only complaint was that there were just a few too many "twists", minor though they were. None of them really made a difference in terms of finding out Shawn's identity, and it kept my interest, but twists which don't really matter are gratuitous! I definitely recommend this book, though!
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: "Let's go surfin' now . . . " Review: I like Jeffery Deaver. In a world in which he makes no pretense about being illusional, his characters seem real. At least insofar as they reside in an unreal world. Wyatt Gillette is incarcerated in the California Penal System for . . . something. I liked "The Blue Nowhere." So let me get my solitary criticism out. It seems for us troglodytes and cave dwellers who were alive when HAL made his appearance in 2001, the movie not the year, we are left to surmise that there are bad computer crimes, and then there are good computer crimes. Somehow the latter has a Sherwood Forest smell to it. A gorgeous and loving (but innocent) Maid Marion; rowdy but loyal men singing songs of freedom and togetherness; the smell of pine needles; the squeal of children; and a concerted effort by Robin to screw up the evil empire by robbing them blind. Which by the way, even in King John's time, was a felony. Anyhow, regardless of my cynicism over the "good" crimes, Wyatt Gillette is temporaily freed from prison to help capture the demonic Phate (John Sandford and Thomas Harris come to mind). We are led to believe that given the right set of facts and alignment of the planets, Wyatt might also get his wife back, whom he loves desperately, but oddly enough is still harboring a grudge over his felony conviction. OK. OK. I've run it into the ground. I like Deaver because I can count on him to be truthful to his characters. Wyatt isn't necessarily applauded for joining the team. Most dislike him. All distrust him. And his ex slaps him silly at their first encounter But for the most part there is a lack of grotesque description of the victims and simultaneously, you start to like the characters. It's fiction. You have to suspend a bit of your common sense. Phate's a bad dude (read 'play on words') and Wyatt's at a minimum a not-so-bad-dude. I found the technology to have a ring of credibility to it. I don't believe that Deaver is a hacker, at least so he says in the Author's Notes, and yet he seems to have researched his topic well. His characters are not the stereotypical characters with the stereotypical problems including (1) clean cut sensitive guy, (1) slovenly but darn loyal friend who eats terrible fast food, (2) busted marriages, (3) twists in the narrative, (1) close black friend, (1) close gay friend, man or woman, it doesn't matter, and (1) nagging, whimpering partner who constantly urges the Homeric lead to "give it all up and let's just be together." No. Deaver's characters are a bit bruised by life, not necessarily funny at all, and not too forgiving. And even at the end, most of them still don't like Gillette. I'll read some more.
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