Rating: Summary: Enjoyable Thriller Marred by Errors Review: This is a fast-paced murder mystery that keeps the action moving and the reader guessing. However, there are several errors ranging from the merely annoying to more serious holes in the story. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (General Garber) is presumed murdered and one of many suspects is his Vice (deputy) Chairman, General Markel. Unfortunately, on three occasions, Davis refers to Markel when he clearly meant Garber. Near the end of the book, he writes "Barlow" when he meant Garber. At least this error was funny -- there is no character named "Barlow" in the book!! Was this a test to see if the reader was paying attention??? Perhaps a nitpick, but characters use cell phones in the Pentagon at any time and any location. This literary device of making private phone calls often enables characters to learn case-related facts and keep them from one another (and the reader) until such time as they can make startling and dramatic revelations. However, I can tell you from daily personal experience that there are very few areas in the post 9/11 Pentagon in which cell phone signals are available as one would believe from reading this book. A more serious error is that of a presumed murder in the River Entrance parking lot in which a body is spotted from a Pentagon office window, but the investigating team led by the protagonist (and narrator), OSI investigator Martin Collins, never bothers to verify that the person they presumed to have been killed was actually who they thought it was. Pages later, they conclude that it had been a hoax, but the book never explains the bloodied body they had seen. Huh?? Even with its warts, the book tells an interesting story. Although author Patrick A. Davis has another winner, he was ill-served by the editors and proofreaders he credits in his Acknowledgments page.
Rating: Summary: Enjoyable Thriller Marred by Errors Review: This is a fast-paced murder mystery that keeps the action moving and the reader guessing. However, there are several errors ranging from the merely annoying to more serious holes in the story. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (General Garber) is presumed murdered and one of many suspects is his Vice (deputy) Chairman, General Markel. Unfortunately, on three occasions, Davis refers to Markel when he clearly meant Garber. Near the end of the book, he writes "Barlow" when he meant Garber. At least this error was funny -- there is no character named "Barlow" in the book!! Was this a test to see if the reader was paying attention??? Perhaps a nitpick, but characters use cell phones in the Pentagon at any time and any location. This literary device of making private phone calls often enables characters to learn case-related facts and keep them from one another (and the reader) until such time as they can make startling and dramatic revelations. However, I can tell you from daily personal experience that there are very few areas in the post 9/11 Pentagon in which cell phone signals are available as one would believe from reading this book. A more serious error is that of a presumed murder in the River Entrance parking lot in which a body is spotted from a Pentagon office window, but the investigating team led by the protagonist (and narrator), OSI investigator Martin Collins, never bothers to verify that the person they presumed to have been killed was actually who they thought it was. Pages later, they conclude that it had been a hoax, but the book never explains the bloodied body they had seen. Huh?? Even with its warts, the book tells an interesting story. Although author Patrick A. Davis has another winner, he was ill-served by the editors and proofreaders he credits in his Acknowledgments page.
Rating: Summary: Very Good Read Review: This novel was very entertaining and moved at a fast pace. Loved the idea of everything taking place within a day. Even though Martin Collins is a favorite character of mine, I tend to like Simon even more. Such an intelligent mind and very likable character. My only nitpick with this novel was the editing. This is the worse editing I've ever seen in a novel. Other than that, I really enjoyed and can't wait to see what comes next from Mr Davis. Hopefully it's the same characters with lots of Simon. He's the best.
Rating: Summary: Very Good Read Review: This novel was very entertaining and moved at a fast pace. Loved the idea of everything taking place within a day. Even though Martin Collins is a favorite character of mine, I tend to like Simon even more. Such an intelligent mind and very likable character. My only nitpick with this novel was the editing. This is the worse editing I've ever seen in a novel. Other than that, I really enjoyed and can't wait to see what comes next from Mr Davis. Hopefully it's the same characters with lots of Simon. He's the best.
Rating: Summary: Batman and Robin Review: This was my first read of Davis' and his crime busters and I don't think I will read another. Ditto on the editing and proofreading, worst I've seen too. Three times characters were misnamed and easily spotted. I found it hard to swallow that a week's worth or more of investigating and interviewing was done by 10:30 a.m. With the 8 P.M. deadline pushing them they got more done and more running around than anyone could accomplish in a traffic jammed area and only used a helicopter once I believe. I also thought Collin's growing awareness of Amanda a bit pre-teenish.
Rating: Summary: Batman and Robin Review: This was my first read of Davis' and his crime busters and I don't think I will read another. Ditto on the editing and proofreading, worst I've seen too. Three times characters were misnamed and easily spotted. I found it hard to swallow that a week's worth or more of investigating and interviewing was done by 10:30 a.m. With the 8 P.M. deadline pushing them they got more done and more running around than anyone could accomplish in a traffic jammed area and only used a helicopter once I believe. I also thought Collin's growing awareness of Amanda a bit pre-teenish.
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