Avenger

Rating:
Summary: The master is back!
Review: I was asked if this book was good. No, it is spectacular. At first, AVENGER seems like a simple tale of revenge, but it is so much more.

The story begins with the murder of an idealistic college kid in Bosnia in 1995, and a bereaved grandfather who decides to do "one more good thing." The Avenger is Cal Dexter, a kid who made his bones in Vietnam crawling down tunnels and wasting Viet Cong. The rest is waiting for you between the covers of this extraordinary book.

Mr. Forsyth reminds us of what he did when he wrote THE DAY OF THE JACKAL. The same intensity, twists and turns keep you guessing right up to the end.

This book deserves 10 or 15 stars.

Run don't walk to your nearest book store get a copy right now!

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Forsyth
Review: Surviving the underground tunnels of Vietnam gave the avenger certain skills, skills that he uses on very special occasions, when the price and the job are right. Then he accepts a job that involves powerful people on both sides of the law and in high places of US and foreign governments. Will his mission succeed and will he aid his own government or set off more horror. If you enjoy fast-paced intrigue, "Avenger" is the perfect read for you.
Beverly J Scott author of Righteous Revenge and Ruth Fever

Rating:
Summary: Around the world in 7 days
Review: 7 days is how long it took for me to read this book, and I loved it. Mr. Forsyth is a superb author who takes the reader all around the world - geographically, linguistically, culturally - and throws in the suspense as well. I have read several of his books, and this one ranks right up there with many of them (5 stars reserved for the "Jackal" though).

At times a couple of characters merited a turn-back in the book to refresh my recollection, but the book ties everyone all together very well.

Mr. Forsyth, as the editor's review suggests, does educate and entertain at the same time. I highly recommend this book to all Fredrick Forsyth fans or to any international intrigue fans in general.

Rating:
Summary: Good vs....
Review: A true page turner! Up to date topic, which adds to the suspense. Unlike most books of this genre, this one has a twist at the end....whom do you pull for when it is--good vs good vs evil? The winner makes all the difference.
The plot also has a well-placed red herring.
Don't miss this one!

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Look at Capturing a Terrorist
Review: In Avenger, Frederick Forsyth takes an updated look at how wealthy people may pursue private justice against terrorists. In this case, the subject is war crimes in Bosnia and an escaped war criminal who is seemingly safe in a far-away country. I was reminded of the attempts by Israeli agents over the years to capture Nazi war criminals in South America.

Rather than simply building up that story, Mr. Forsyth takes the time to tell you about the private agent, attorney Calvin Dexter, who undertakes to right such wrongs. Dexter is a Paladin-like character who is a gun for hire for the side of the right. For me, one of the most enjoyable parts of the book was how Dexter developed his skills in dealing with dangerous situations as a tunnel rat in Vietnam. But the background of the main story took too long to develop. That will only be justified if Mr. Forsyth now treats us to a long series of books about Calvin Dexter.

The end of the book is superb as Calvin Dexter takes on the security services of small countries and the war criminal. I would have enjoyed the end more, however, if Mr. Forsyth had added a map to portray the scenes of the final adventure. I occasionally had to reread sections to understand the layout of the land and compound.

Overall, I found myself feeling like the book was an average thriller. It has long stretches when not much happens. Thrillers need to get your heart pounding and never let up in order to be totally satisfying. I also didn't find myself connecting too directly at an emotional level with the characters.

As I finished the book, I was intrigued by a question that Mr. Forsyth did not address. How can one safeguard one's children if they choose to serve in dangerous situations abroad? I hope that a future book by Mr. Forsyth will focus on that subject.

Rating:
Summary: A very good thriller
Review: I am a big fan of Mr. Forsyth and have read most of his books. "Avenger" is typical of Forsyth's style with an intriguing plot and a mixture of fiction and facts. At times there is a good deal of exposition providing background or explanations of what is happening in the novel. In other books the author has provided somewhat more than is needed and has indeed bogged down the story with very great detail of procedures used in the plot. "Dogs of War" comes to mind because there was enough details about illegal gun running to be boring and distract from the plot. However the "Avenger" was well balanced, with some very interesting facts(?) provided about the CIA, FBI, counterterroism, Vietnam and the Bosnian war.

It is a fast moving story and a quick read. The protaganist is nearly believable, but not as outlandish as some action heros. It is worth reading just for some of the author's insights. I recommend this book to any fan of Frederick Forsyth or who likes an exciting action/adventure story.

Rating:
Summary: A somewhat fragmented plot
Review: The major portion of this novel is used to develop the characters and motives. As a result, it skips about quite a bit in location and time before getting to the final plot. In between, the author provides essays on various portions of history ranging from Bosnia to Vietnam. I found myself skimming some parts to get on with the story.

The Avenger comes across as an A-Team of one, although he has support from various sources. A former Tunnel Rat in Vietnam, he is smart, cunning, in excellent physical condition (he trains for the triathalon), and is willing to kill (although he usually does not). Lots of money from his client, and good contacts (both legal and illegal), allow him many options and identities, although someone knows his true name.

Considering the amount of effort expended in developing the varuous characters in the novel, one expects that the author is planning a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic tale of terrorism, war and vengeance!
Review: To stop Usama bin Laden and prevent a terrorist attack, the CIA strikes a top-secret deal with an ex-Serbian warlord who is granted immunity in order to entrap the Taliban leader, but Zilic's past comes back to haunt him when the grandfather of one of his victims calls in a mercenary known only as 'Avenger.' Avenger's mission is to capture Zilic and bring him back to the United States for trial--Could 'not knowing' about the secret deal made between the CIA and Zilic allow Usama bin Laden to escape changing the world as we know it forever?

"Avenger" by multi-talented storyteller, Frederick Forsyth, is a story that is so believeable it could have been taken from 'today's headlines.'

I loved this story and know that anyone who is a fan of this exciting genre will fall in love with it too!

(Brava Mr. Forsyth on your creation of the PERFECT READ!)

This fantastic book gets my highest recommendation!

Rating:
Summary: He IS back!
Review: This is Forsyth writing in his genre with the same precision and excitement as The Day of the Jackal. His characters are firmly developed, there are stories within stories and he ties the ending up perfectly. Do not read any reviews, just buy it, clear out an evening or two and read it.

Rating:
Summary: Fulfills High Expectations
Review: The novels of Frederick Forsyth incorporate real-life characters and events into thrilling plots that are ingenious yet plausible.

THE AVENGER is shorter in length than most of Forsyth's other books but no less well-constructed and suspenseful. Cal Dexter, the avenger of the title, is a skilled manhunter who learned his craft from a variety of military experiences, not the least of which was his tours of duty in Viet Nam as a tunnel rat.

In 2001 Dexter is hired by a self made billionaire to avenge the horrific murder of his grandson, killed while working to feed the brutalized masses left homeless during Slobadan Milosevic's genocide in the province of Bosnia. As the story unfolds the reader begins to realize that avenging the murder has greater implications than satisfying the sorrow of loss the grandson's death has created.

As in many of Forsyth's stories, the success of an endeavor has many hidden elements and depends upon many unrevealed relationships. Forsyth doesn't leave the reader disappointed in THE AVENGER. He is like a magician who tells how the trick is done after fooling the audience. After leading the reader down a path of vivid characterization, realistic dialogue and clever action he ties all the loose ends together in a very satisfying climax. He also leaves the reader with thoughts to ponder as you reflect back upon that time in our history. THE AVENGER is a very entertaining, thought provoking thriller that fulfills the high expectations for a Forsyth work of fiction.