Avenger

Rating:
Summary: SUPERBLY READ SUSPENSE
Review: Veteran voice performer Eric Conger gives satisfying and suitably suspenseful readings to the latest from a master of international suspense novels, Frederick Forsyth. Fans of The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, et al, will not be disappointed with Forsyth's fourteenth offering.

Young Ricky Colenso goes to Bosnia as a relief worker. In only a matter of weeks he disappears, and is never seen again. He has been murdered. This is, of course, an irredeemable loss to his grandfather, an immensely wealthy but now grief stricken man.

At the same time in New Jersey attorney Calvin Dexter lives and works. He leads a quiet rather predictable existence, a switch from his Viet Nam service. Dexter is also a man who feels compelled to right wrongs, thus he embarks on a worldwide chase to find the killer.

Frederick Forsyth has served up another compelling thriller thick with murder, vengeance, foreign intrigue, and suspense. Eric Conger delivers it exceedingly well.

- Gail Cooke

Rating:
Summary: WAY too much backstory!
Review: You want details? You want backstory? Then this is the book for you. I bet there are not 70 pages in this book that take place in the "now" of the story!

EVERY time a new character is introduced the author has to give us pages and pages of backstory - school, war stories, etc. Toss in asides about the "real story" of Vietnam or the troubles in the Middle East (in the author's opinion). This all turns what is an OK story in a long and twisted read.

As to some of the plot devices - the Avenger is smart enough to get his entry visa when they didn't think to look and engineered on purpose what happens at the end of the book. Sure a lot of it is a stretch - but I didn't have as much trouble with that part of the story as I did with all the needless, verbose, backstory.

Wait for the paperback on this one - or get it from the library.

Rating:
Summary: Frederick Forsyth turns into John Grisham
Review: A little thing aside first: this is a readable book. But it ain't up to par with what I expect from FF.

The story might have been interesting, if not for the fact that it feels quite contrived in parts, and the author felt the need to push some politcal agendas of his.

Most irritating is the fact that the protagonist is so fricking perfect and has ALL the luck. There is not ONE serious setback for him during the whole book, and he shows not ONE real weakness, wether physical/skillwise or psychological. He can do it all, knows all the right people, and the sun always shines for him. Such a hero is boring.

As a final note: the purely technical writing style is still good if not that exciting. But when the Cold War ended, Frederick Forsyth lost his background and his touch. Read the Devils Alternative if you don't know him, and if you do, read this only if a 'light yarn' is your idea.

Rating:
Summary: Forsyth has done better
Review: Many people will buy this book, as I did, based on Forsyth's past successful writings. And perhaps he deserves to be rewarded for The Dogs of War, The Odessa File, and The Day of the Jackal. But buy the book on that basis, a reward for past efforts, not because this is a good read. Because it isn't.

Because the protagonist is American, and a lot of the narrative takes place among Americans or on our soil, Forsyth has a vehicle for presenting his political views, something I don't like in any novel, where one is able to present fiction as an underpinning for a belief system.

As for the story, Forsyth's ego as an insider privy to state secrets is laughingly portrayed. Republicans are heroes. Democrats are villians, or at least fools. And who hasn't heard of the tunnel rats of Vietnam, that Forsyth says are unknown to most of us. Heck, there's even a tourist attraction in Vietnam that takes people down into the tunnels.

But the most annoying parts of Avenger are those action scenes that work out JUST PERFECT for the protagonist. An area is searched except for the one place our hero is hiding. The villain takes a plane at just the right time. A friend is ordered into several positions to help out just where he is needed. A search is made among all embassies except the one where the fortunate hero gets his visa. A federal holiday occurs just when needed.

You'll find the rest of these many lucky coincidences if you are kind enough (to Forsyth), rich enough, and not busy enough, to buy and read Avenger.

Rating:
Summary: Action Packed Book!
Review: The Avenger is a very good book. In this book a college student
named Ricky Colenso travels to Bosnia to aid in the care of the
citizens who are starving.While in the country Ricky is killed by
Milosevic's hatchet man Zoran Zilic.Colenso's grandfather, a
billionaire mining executive hires the tracker to locate his grandson.After finding his grandson's remains the grandfather
calls upon the Avenger.The Avenger is really Cal Dexter a lawyer
and a former tunnel rat in Vietnam. He has suffered the murder if his daughter which he avenged in spectacular fashion.His wife
overdoses.He then becomes the Avenger specializing is catching
fugitives and returning them for trialHe tracks Zoran Zilic worldwide before locating him in San Martin. He is protected by
an enclosed fortress with a small army protecting him.Zilic also has the CIA in the form of Paul Devereaux protecting him as well.
The Avenger comes up with a daring plan to capture Zoran Zilic.
The ending of this book is noteworthy as well.Read this book,you
will find it to be very entertaining.Another winner from Frederick Forsyth.

Rating:
Summary: Did Forsyth really write this trash?
Review: I've been a huge fan of Forsyth since reading The Dogs of War. I've always loved his work.

But now this.

This book is filled with a amateurish writing style, barely-plausible plot points, and various inaccuracies which make me wonder if the author actually researched the subject matter. The story isn't even that interesting, but this is probably due to the lack of believability.

The short, choppy writing style makes this difficult to read, exacerbated by the story line suddenly going back in time to explain something or other. And just as suddenly you're back in the present, and worse for the wear since the transitions simply aren't done well. They're more like afterthoughts.

It would not surprise me to learn that Foryth did not write this. The writing style isn't like his books of old, the plot is far below par, and it is just not very good at all.

Rating:
Summary: Thrilling
Review: Forsyth does it again and proves that he still is a master of suspense and intrigue. As always, the book has you gripped in excitement and is informative as well. Another new author who is worth reading for her informative suspense-writing, is Glynnis Hayward ,whose debut novel "A TELLING TIME,"(ISBN 1591295912)set in the violence of a troubled South Africa, is every bit as nail-biting as Forsyth's work.

Rating:
Summary: Almost But Not Quite
Review: Cal Dexter started as a fascinating character. He is a Vietnam hero, a lawyer but his major occupation is as an avenger of wrongs. Other reviewers describe the story.

My comments are that he seemed just a bit too hard to believe. Also the 9/11 angle just was too far fetched.

In summary the book was fun to read but thinking about it afterward it did not hang together.

Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 Stars -- Some Crimes Are Better Left Unpunished!
Review: With Forsyth's latest, Avenger, he has catapulted himself back to the forefront of thriller writers. Avenger is for anyone interested in a very well written book with a highly intelligent plot, excellent character development and a pace that -- while not always fast-moving -- will keep your eyes glued to the pages. I should warn you, though, that if you looking for a thriller with lot of slam-bang action, Avenger may not be for you. The basic plot is about a young American volunteer who is killed in Bosnia and the hiring of the Avenger to try to seek vengeance on the person responsible. However, the real plot of this book is much more involved and covert than this -- but is one that I won't describe further so as to not reveal the story line that really makes Avenger suspenseful. All I will say again is what I said in my title for this review -- Some crimes are better left unpunished.

Rating:
Summary: Forsyth at the top of his form.
Review: Even the venerable Tom Clancy, during a PBS interview, called Forsyth "the best in the business." The other reviews will tell you what this book is about. I'll tell you how well its written. It's written great. Truly one of Forsyth's best. I'm a big fan of Forsyth & I like some of his books better than others. This one is right up there at the top for keeping the reader in the story. He doesn't make this stuff up. He has been out there & gotten to know people like this. That's how he can write truly about the subject.