Crisis Four

Rating:
Summary: Like drinking pure alcohol
Review: As with such a drink, reading this book has two effects. First, with few exceptions, other "action" thrillers suddenly appear miserably inadequate in real secret agent knowledge and fieldcraft. Armchair novelists - even those who are gifted, work hard and do lots of research - just can't know how it's really done. McNab does, from his contemporary SAS training. Any of several episodes from this book will give you more true action than a whole set of novels by the many hack writers around. Reading the hero's approach to the guarded house, and his invasion of it, is an experience to be savored. You could pick up "Crisis Four" for this alone. More, Mr. McNab, please!

But while the pure stuff has a great effect, you badly miss the other elements of a really fine drink. McNab does a decent job of putting together a character, and placing him in a situation. But like so many authors, he can't handle his own plot. Events go increasingly overboard, and the characters and their actions become decreasingly believable, as he struggles to a conclusion. It finally degenerates into superhero antics.

Why do thriller writers seek ever more outrageous plots, with complexities they can't begin to handle? (And why do ex-SAS authors always have to include a gorgeous but deadly MI5 agent of uncertain loyalties?) It seems like paint-by-numbers after a while. Chris Ryan's "Greed" is a similar book, ruined by its ludicrous plot and development.

Having said all this... I will certainly grab the next McNab.

Rating:
Summary: Crisis Four is a great continuation of the Nick Stone series
Review: Crisis Four picks up were 'Remote Control' left off. Nick Stone the Ex SAS trooper does deniable operations for the British Intelligence Service. In this story Nick Stone is Blackmailed to hunt down an old 'friend' believed to have changed her allegiance.

This story is great, I really enjoy reading Andy McNab's books, his writing style is so down to Earth, and he gets his point across with remarkable ease. I like the way he emphasizes that although Nick Stone is well trained, he isn't superman. He can't bust down a door, dive on in and take out 5 bad guys with 5 well aimed shots as he would if he was starring in a Hollywood movie. Life isn't like that, as McNab served in the SAS and is, himself, a well trained soldier, there is no one better to write this kind of book.

Its fiction but its believable, and as the events in this book unfold, you realize that Nick Stone is just a human and years and years of SAS training can only do so much. The poor guy is still a sucker to his emotions.

This is a really great book but I really recommend reading it in order, McNab doesn't spend much time explaining what happened in the previous book so in order to fully get the story I recommend reading 'Remote Control' First.

4 Stars, although a great book, its not the best of the series. Stone series

Rating:
Summary: Crisis Four is a great continuation of the Nick Stone series
Review: Crisis Four picks up were 'Remote Control' left off. Nick Stone the Ex SAS trooper does deniable operations for the British Intelligence Service. In this story Nick Stone is Blackmailed to hunt down an old 'friend' believed to have changed her allegiance.

This story is great, I really enjoy reading Andy McNab's books, his writing style is so down to Earth, and he gets his point across with remarkable ease. I like the way he emphasizes that although Nick Stone is well trained, he isn't superman. He can't bust down a door, dive on in and take out 5 bad guys with 5 well aimed shots as he would if he was starring in a Hollywood movie. Life isn't like that, as McNab served in the SAS and is, himself, a well trained soldier, there is no one better to write this kind of book.

Its fiction but its believable, and as the events in this book unfold, you realize that Nick Stone is just a human and years and years of SAS training can only do so much. The poor guy is still a sucker to his emotions.

This is a really great book but I really recommend reading it in order, McNab doesn't spend much time explaining what happened in the previous book so in order to fully get the story I recommend reading 'Remote Control' First.

4 Stars, although a great book, its not the best of the series. Stone series

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as Remote Control
Review: First things first. I absolutely loved Remote Control. I scanned Amazon regularly to see when Andy McNab's next book was out and ordered it the day it appeared. I put down another book the minute Crisis Four showed up.

Now that I've read it, I'm a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong - it's not bad. It just pales in comparison to Remote Control.

Oh, sure, most of the action will knock you out of your chair (two insanely great scenes - clearing the lake house and the pursuit through the woods). The tradecraft has an authentic feel to it. The characters are a bit less flat than Remote Control.

So why the disappointment? The components are all there, but they don't add up to a very exciting whole. McNab is an entertaining writer, once he gets going. It's just that the basic premise of this story is not all that compelling.

In addition, the characters, while a little bit less flat than Remote Control's, are also less interesting. Sarah is not very sympathetic. Lynn and Elizabeth are barely there. Josh is just a sap. Compare these characters to Slack Pat and Euan - there might not have been much detail to them, but they were memorable.

So, bottom line: Crisis Four is pretty good. It's not as good as Remote Control. Even still, I look forward to the next adventure of Nick Stone.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, unforgettable piece of work, I LOVE IT!
Review: I have been a McNab fan since his very first book and have read every one several times over and McNab gets better with every book he writes

I have just finished Crisis Four for the second time and the story is his most gripping yet and the attention to detail is outstanding, so good in fact that it makes you wonder whether the events are real or close to real.
It's just great and thrilling.

I can't wait for the next Nick Stone instalment. Keep writing Andy! jou're doing a great job.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: This book is great, McNab writes very detailled, so you found yourselve wondering if the events are real ore close to real.
it's like you'are being the main character, The tension is unbelieveble.
it's a real page turner, on every page you just can't sit still.
A book that's worth five stars and a must for every McNab fan.

Rating:
Summary: Just soooooooo Good!
Review: This book is totally everything you ever wanted, good plot, action and a great tension.
I simply couldn't put it down, it was that good.
It was very well writen, very detailled, sometimes i wondered whether the events were real or not.
It's the best book i've ever read,
You won't be sorry if you buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Fast Start, Slow Middle, Predictable Ending
Review: this is another very adequate thriller by McNab. The plot and plotting seem more mature than in his first novel - which was good anyway. The writing style is relatively simple, but this makes this very much the "normal man's thriller", with good action, good macho thrills, women, fighting, none too taxing twists...(which are sometimes very welcome). McNab's use of cliches is also strangely endearing...Nick Stone is definitely a normal guy, doing and saying and acting in the way normal people do. He's a human character, and McNab develops him well. Sarah Greenwood, the woman he is sent by his superiors to hunt down is also a very strong presence in the novel...

To anyone who wants good action, thrills, adequate writing and a human lead, coupled with a good plot, i would reccomend they give McNab try.

Rating:
Summary: Just soooooooo Good!
Review: Totally great this book of Chris Ryan, it's totally my kind of story and of many people i think.
I wouldn't say much about it, just one thing: BUY IT!
you won't be sorry.