The Pledge

Rating:
Summary: A refreshing novel
Review: I picked up this book not knowing what to expect. It started off slow but once I got into it I couldn't put it down! Its fast moving, exciting, and it makes you think. It amazing that this is the author's first novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who like a mystery/thriller book.

Rating:
Summary: Greek Mafia in New England
Review: Imagine the nice college boy, the son of your neighbors, this well-educated guy being member of one of the most famous fraternities, this friendly person is about to become a member of a corrupt trust undermining the market, political power, law, and order. In order to maintain and enlarge their world wide web of business, money, and power, this mafia recruits young students for their fraternity Sigma Delta Phi. The selection process for the "pledges" is pretty hard, and it is vital for the fraternity that the "wrong" people never become brothers. They have to be removed from the pledges, from the brothers.

Chad Ewing is removed from the list of pledges by his untimely death. For some strange reasons, the only official investigation of his passing is in the hands of a "disciplinary squad" formed of three students: Former Sigma brother Mark Jessy, his girlfriend Shawn, and Simon, a prospective law-school student. This gang is headed by Dean Templeton, a corrupt man without reasonable qualification besides the fact that he is from Oxford.

The book describes the squad's search for evidence to relate Chad Ewings death to the pledge activities of Sigma. Their efforts are permanently undermined by the Dean and by the mighty alumni of Sigma. The description of this process is well written, gripping, and makes it hard to put the book down. The effect is enhanced since for quite a while, no happy ending is in sight (and I leave it to the reader to judge the actual end of the book).

"The Pledge" reminds me a bit of the good old "Dallas"/"Dynasty" soap operas: A few good guys surrounded by a world of evil brothers. The power of money and economic strength is clearly displayed. However, like in "Dallas" the characters remain relatively simple (although the author grants some of them - especially Mark, the main figure of the novel - at least a certain evolution).

Another question is of course why reasonably intelligent people should want to become members of a fraternity with those pledge activities.

An interesting plot - conspiracy - students - sex&crime (I must have been at the wrong university) - silly rituals - a strong polarization of characters - 3 stars.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK
Review: This book is quite possibly the best novel I have read this year and I read a lot. Rob Kean should be praised for his debut work. This novel has many pages, which some consider a fault, but it reads so fast. The story begins with the mysterious death of a Pledge, hence the title, at a rich, powerful and shady Frat house. This fraternity will do anything in it's power to conceal the truth, and they do have the resources at their fingertips! This is a story of money, power, greed, love, and the author combines them so well. The characters are deep and you will feel for them. You get to know them and how they think. Mark Jessy is the Super hero, a mysterious, yet intelligent young man with a complicated past. Shawn Jakes is the beautiful, extremely intelligent, motivated star. There are so many well developed characters. The Dean is a interesting person, to say the least. The frat brothers are muscular, brainy, good looking and Dangerous. My favorite, of course, is the former Marine who will crush anyone who crosses his path. The freshman Pledges are so perfectly portrayed. This book will make you cry, be happy, smile and imagine the possibility of this really happening. You won't be able to put it down. I can't wait to read his next book, which I hope is on the horizon. The movie, which he was reportedly advanced $1,000,000 for the rights, should be spectacular. Critics have also stated that the events in this book are farfetched, they must have not noticed the words FICTION in the cover. Enjoy this book, I did.

Rating:
Summary: Fraternities Can Be Bad For Your Health
Review: This is a fine debut novel from an an author I hope we see more from. Rob Kean has given his readers a gripping story on how power corrupts and things that people will do to maintain that power.

Being a young man not too far removed from his own college days has also permitted Mr Kean to keep his details current, lively and informative. This is a book that could be read by college students AND their parents and both groups would be able to enjoy it. In addition to a deftly paced plot, the author also provides a morality play within the courtroom and murder subplots that co-exist within the pages of this great read.

While set on a fictional college campus, this is primarily a murder mystery with some really well done courtroom drama thrown in for amplification. Kean does a fine job of building his characters as well and by book's end, I am sure every reader will have found a new level of respect and admiration for Kean's hero, Mark Jessy.

I really enjoyed this book and can heartily recommend it to to college aged folks and their parents with equal fervor. Pick it up and read a great debut novel. I don't think you'll be sorry you did.