The Acolyte

Rating:
Summary: Grisham's Acolyte Missed It By That Much...
Review: Good first effort from David Compton, but in desperate need of an editor. The story is rambling and un-focused at times, but when it clicks, this tale of espionage takes some interesting twists and turns, coupled with heavy doses of violence and sex. Compton, a University of Memphis grad and acquaintance of John Grisham, shows real potential, and I look forward to reading his next novel.

Rating:
Summary: Puerile, contrived and totally predictable. A waste of time.
Review: I sent in a review a while ago; I think you should let people know whether you'll use what they send you or not. Thanks AC

Rating:
Summary: acceptable first effort
Review: I started this book three times before I was able to get past the first 100 pages. If a book does not captivate me in the first 25 pages I rarely bother. For some reason I hung on to this one forced myself past the beginning and I am glad I did. Compton did an acceptable job overall, but to me it was tad bit too predictable. I think Compton was inspired by Frederick Forsyth, but Forsyth makes for a more interesting read with a much simpler plot. The Acolyte's plot is a bit overdone and this would have been a better book had he kept it simpler and developed the conflicts better. I never really "felt" Greers danger and fear, they all happened too fast and resolved way too easily. I recommend this book, and feel that Compton will improve with practice. To D.C.: re-read some more Forsyth books.

Rating:
Summary: Ambitious but Unsophisticated
Review: In this novel, the author tackled an ambitious subject; to where spy stories should go after the cold war. The author did not shift to terrorism or international crime but wrote straightforwardly the espionage between nations. I appreciated that. But unfortunately, the story itself was not so sophisticated; it was sometimes boring; it contained too many unnecessary sex and violence. And the characters were not so attractive. I would have given this novel only two stars if I had not appreciated the ambition of the subject. I expect the author will write better next time.

Rating:
Summary: Fast moving CIA thriller - Loved it!
Review: It was easy to immerse oneself into the characters of the Acolyte. A fast moving thriller in the Crichton/Grisham/Stuart Woods genre, this book rarely lept into stories too far-fetched, but kept the excitement building throughout. Well thought out and apparently thoroughly research story makes for an exciting, pleasurable read!I can't wait for the next one

Rating:
Summary: Limp plot
Review: PuhLEEZE.....I don't find the gratuitous violence and the puerile characters remotely captivating. Yawn. Thumbs down.

Rating:
Summary: Sounded good in summary, but characters were boring.
Review: This book got a great review, and every book I've ordered from amazon.com has been a 9 0r 10. But this one just lost my interest after a hundred pages. I either get a buzz from a book or I don't. This one sputtered

Rating:
Summary: Take a chance on Comptons first book
Review: Very captivating after a brief slow start. If you read The Firm with passion, pick up this one. Ever since I've tried to find another book I've read so feverishly.

Rating:
Summary: great vacation read
Review: Working in DC I can see where Compton has spent a great deal of time researching or either knows first-hand about how the CIA and other US government agencies really operate. Admittedly I was reading this from an "insider's" perspective, but I'm a real fan of how he put together the intricate spy plot. Some others have pooh-poohed the book, but I'd say they just don't have an appreciation for a story that's a cut well above a Grisham thriller. A great read.

Rating:
Summary: Twisted minds....you'll love this book
Review: Written for the tired executive with a long flight ahead, or for the husband who is involved in a clandestine affaire with a woman who is slated for promotion sooner than he....this book will captivate you with a twisted mind's version of his ultimate sexual and career fantasty. Will be a favorite of all political wannabes.