The Overseer

Rating:
Summary: Excellent "Hitchcockian" spy yarn
Review: Hitchcock comes to mind. Many of his themes turn up in fresh clothing in Overseer. The "McGuffin," for example (Hitchcock's name for what everyone is after) is ingenious. In Overseer, it is an ancient censored manuscript that reveals the secret of total control. All the alphabet soups must find it to prevent world chaos. In particular the COS and heroine Sarah, a James Bond Type female, who is as cool as Alaska.

Another Hitchcock theme; Innocent Hero caught up in events. Jasper is an intriguing, young professor. He has no knowledge of spying, but is thrown into confusing events and must struggle through by logic and wits. Like many a Hitchcock hero, he finds help from total strangers. His big threat is a mysterious enemy group already in possesssion of part of the deadly manuscript, and prepared to bring about its initial localized holocaust.

This novel juxtaposes between intellectual thought and raw action. It tweeks our brains and our brawn. Exciting? I'll say. It's bound to be the best spy novel of the year. E-mail: [e-mail] Name David F. Eustace

Rating:
Summary: Best I have read this year
Review: I am from Germany and just read the German edition of this book (in Germany called The Eisenreich Conspiracy). I thought the book was fascinating. I like very much the characters and the philosophy. The action was also superb. I am waiting for the next book by Jonathan Rabb very much.

Rating:
Summary: Best thriller of 1998.
Review: I completely enjoyed this thriller. It is extemely intelligent and has a completely original premise. It has plenty of thrills and twists and turns. The author manages to convey his absolute expertise on modern political thought in a very entertaining way. For those of you who love thrillers but are sick of the same old-same old ----this novel is for you!

This novel is a breath of fresh air and the launch of big new talent in the thriller field.

Rating:
Summary: Another conspiracy read.
Review: I had read the reviews of this and thought it might be worth reading. There's nothing like a good conspiracy novel to keep your attention. Unfortunately, Rabb must have called Ludlum up and asked for his writing template, but he is not as good at it.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic book with political and global intregue.
Review: I liked this book because the race to find an anceint text becomes a fight to save the American government. The relationship between the two main characters and the identey of the Overseer held some of the best parts of the book. If you like thrillers with modern day implications, I recommend this book highly.

Rating:
Summary: Finally a woman in a thriller who runs the show
Review: I loved this book, but not for the obvious reasons. Yes it's well written and the plot is really exciting, but what I liked most was the fact that a woman, Sarah Trent, is the James Bond of the story. She's the one who thinks on her feet and rescues the male hero, professor Xander Jaspers, whenever he gets in trouble. She's a complex and totally believable character.

Thank you Mr. Rabb for turning the tables on the usual thriller formula and showing what a woman can do. Maybe Mr. Clancy and Mr. Grisham could learn a thing or two.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't finish this book!
Review: I ordinarily enjoy 'thrillers', but this one was terrible. The characters were so poorly developed that I couldn't remember who was who. I will not be reading any more by this author.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, but easy to figure out.
Review: I picked this book up at the library after reading the description in an advertisement. It seemed, from the description to be similar in feel to the wonderful Katherine Neville novel "The Eight."

"The Overseer" is intriguing, and the story idea enough is to keep one going, but it just seems like a run-of-the-mill suspense thriller with a good central element, the Eisenreich manuscript. It's a quick read, and entertaining, and the characters are likeable despite being predictable. Not a bad book, but it could have been better.

Rating:
Summary: Boring to the point of despair !!!
Review: I purchased this book based on the comments by the other readers and never have I been most disappointed.How can 16 readers be right and me wrong.I just don't know.The author although an expert in history and philosophy lacks to create a plausible plot.A slow read it took me ages to complete.Hope to be more lucky next time.

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Rabb wrote this book using a copy of Roget's Thesaurus
Review: I read a lot of fiction. I can't remember the last time I came across a writer who used such "flowery" language--unless I count the stories that students write for Beginning Creative Writing classes. I can't tell you what the plot of the story is because the multitude of adjectives and adverbs Mr. Rabb uses in almost every sentence of the book overwhelmed me. Quote: " ...but will the yelping car to ignite a hidden burst of energy..." I rest my case. I decided to not waste my time and so returned the book to the library pronto!