Rating: 
Summary: Grant Blackwood Just keeps Getting Better!
Review: The highest compliment I can pay Grant Blackwood is that I don't ordinarily read novels in this genre, but I can't put his books down. Simply put, this is a page-turner with a brain and a heart. An Echo of War continues the adventures of Briggs Tanner, the dashing but gallant protagonist of his previous volumes, The End of Enemies and Wall of Night. Tanner is no cardboard cutout of a hero, but a three-dimensional man of his times whose courage, ingenuity and physical prowess are balanced with a sharp wit and consistent moral center. Tanner's compatriots and enemies are complex characters as well. Blackwood's world is fully realized, leavening espionage, action and politics with humor, familial concerns, and the odd touch of romance. Most worthy of praise is the fact that he manages to provide enough detail about the necessary trappings of such matters as geography, weapons, and both military and quasi-military procedures to give the reader a clear understanding of what's hapeening without ever drowning the reader in minutae or appearing to simply be showing off (yes, I'm looking at you, Tom Clancy!). There is more mystery and suspense here than in Blackwood's previous efforts, and An Echo of War really benefits. Blackwood deftly weaves the acts of diverse characters and seemingly unrelated events spread across time and earth into a swirling plot that packs twists and turns to the end but never veers into artifice or strained coincidence. Great stuff, and I can't wait for the next one! Do yourself a favor -- make Grant Blackwood the new writer you discover this year.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad research, horrible editing but still of interest
Review: The use of french and german language in this book reeks! It appears that the author used primers as his main, if not sole, source with laugh provoking results.
The ridiculous massacre of the two languages goes on throughout the book. As for editing,at one point, a poor soul expresses himself in "halted" english, which would render any communication impossible compared to "halting". In the prologue, one can only bow to the acumen of the chief raider, who, in 1918, hears german voices belt the first four lines of "Lili Marlene", a song which was eventually composed in 1938! All this foolishness, and I skipped through the juicier examples, is not really german... drat... germane to the plot although it becomes a tad annoying by chapter 45, but it casts a shadow of doubt over the content of what is really a fair thriller. Mr. Blackwood and his editor, or whatever alias the latter uses, should cling as closely as possible to the english language, apparently a challenge in itself, and not force asinine foreign dialogue on his protagonists. At least someone had the grace to include an english translation after most of the abuses, On a positive note, I will probably read more of Mr, ,Blackwood's prose, with one proviso. The whole plot will have to take place in an english speaking environment and within 5 years of publication!
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