Rating: 
Summary: GRIPPING, FABULOUS READ
Review: Robert Crais is the best mystery-thriller writer today. In "Hostage" he once again demonstrates his talent in weaving an action filled plot with many twists and turns. "Hostage" is a nonstop page-turner, a well-crafted thriller. Crais wastes no verbiage here. Robert has a knack of getting into the heads of his characters and explaining to you what drives them. And, here in "Hostage", as in Crais' previous novels, you literally get to know the characters individual temperaments and emotions. Another gift/talent of Crais, which he demonstrates in "Hostage", is the ability to create descriptive visuals, allowing you to feel as though you are standing right there, in the middle of all the action, watching with great intensity, waiting to see what happens next. "Hostage" grabs you from the first page and only lets you go on the final. This is a riveting novel, a many layered exploration of love, hate, fear, courage and revenge. A definite MUST read!!
Rating: 
Summary: "Hostage" could have held me totally captive!
Review: I have been a fan of the Robert Crais Elvis Cole mysteries. They reflect the old private eye film noir school.Mr Crais is an author of very diverse talents. " Hostage" could have been a masterpiece of suspense. It had all the elements and the twists. The factor which defeated it and blunted its effectiveness was gratuitous and graphic language and hijacked plot similarities from old movies. The author has reworked a variation of the Joseph Hayes thriller " The Desperate Hours", a home invasion scenario by three criminal losers, one a psychotic who could have been a cousin of Norman Bates. The hostage negotator's family also held captive by organized crime in return for mob financial records on diskettes from the original house is a plot innovation. Yet the conversations consisted of long strands of expletives which by the middle of the book were both cumbersome and offensive, similar to that of a movie bound for short-lived TV glory within the next season or two."Hostage" does have thrills and certain sequences of excitement. A slight refinement of dialogue would have enhanced my personal enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: The next Bruce Willis Movie
Review: Although the story did a great job of keeping my interest, I felt the writing and dialogue were taken from an action movie (or written for one); I did not feel like I was reading a book but a screen play. In fact, I would be surprised if this book is not optioned for film, with Bruce Willis playing the leading role of Talley. If you have a passion for provocative story and the written word, you may want to pass this one over. However, if you like traditional Hollywood movies such as "Die Hard" you'll love this book and it's characters.
Rating:
Summary: A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.
Review: This is the first Robert Crais novel I've read, and it was awesome, explosive, fast-paced, and very entertaining. And, not for the squeamish. This is the way all novels should be written. This story goes from good to excellent, without a lot of useless information. Every detail and clue leads to a great conclusion. Robert Crais is a great storyteller, and I will enjoy reading more of his books.
Rating:
Summary: He Just Keeps Getting Better
Review: "Hostage” takes an over-used concept and jacks it up to an entirely new level of excellence. It goes without saying; “Hostage” is a page-turner. Any halfway competent thriller writer can make this type basic plot exciting. What Mr. Crais does is give us a myriad of views from the angle of the negotiator, mobster, penny-ante punk, not one, but two psychopaths; an immature but kind teenage girl; and a detestable but oddly heroic 10- year old boy. The suspense keeps ratcheting up as each of the players take the stage and insist we walk hand-in-hand with them for a while. Rattling around in the head of a stone killer is unnerving, and so tension producing that I was actually relieved when Mr. Crais turned our attention to the thoughts of an ignorant, whiney, third-rate punk. Apocalypse is staring at us, but we don’t know how and from which direction it will come. This is not the sort of novel where you just know the good guys are going to win and ride off into the sunset while the grateful family smiles and waves from their now-safe home. You know everyone will be scarred, but in what way? And who will be standing or at least alive at the end? After Mr. Crais has so masterfully involved you in the lives of all these people, the reader’s anxiety is acute as to what will happen to all of them/us. No one is faceless, and no one is a stereotype. I even developed a certain fondness for some very bad people, i.e. a mobster who is very entertaining, but no Damon Runyon lovable bad guy. I particularly liked the 78-year old boss of bosses, full of all the aches and pains that flesh is heir to, spent the entire book in his favorite bathrobe which was emblazoned on the back: “Don’t Bug Me” (given to him by his grandchildren). A very practical man... “Hostage”is a comment on man’s inhumanity/humanity to man, a powerful reminder of “no man is an island,” and ---- a rip roaring thriller! Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: I Liked the book a lot but,
Review: I didn't especially care for the way the story was told, even though I think Robert Crais is a very good writer. My favorite book was L A Requiem. I hope he uses the Elvis Cole character again.
Rating: 
Summary: Made for tv novel.............
Review: I have read all of Robert Crais' novels and have enjoyed them all until this one which I found extremely disappointing. I think it belongs on some night this fall as the 'movie of the week'. However, I hear that Bruce Willis bought it. This means automatically that I have no interest in seeing it, if and when it comes to the 'big' screen. Too bad someone did not bother to buy some of his earlier stuff that was worthwhile seeing on the big screen or in the case of HOSTAGE, on the little screen where it belongs.
Rating:
Summary: Hostage more than just a beach read
Review: Although Robert Crais is probably best known for his Elvis Cole series, his recent forays into the stand alone novel show a more complicated and intriguing craft and style. I bought Hostage on a Tuesday night, promising myself I'd save it for my vacation the following week. By dinnertime Wednesday it was read. The occasional stretches of credibility are forgivable. His characters are conflicted and engrossing.
Rating:
Summary: Billiant storytelling
Review: Former Los Angeles hostage negotiator Jeff Talley left the force when he failed to save a young victim, whose eyes still haunt him. Jeff accepts the job as Chief of Police of Bristo Bay, California because he expects to ignore his depressing memories. However, his life of avoidance ends when his skills honed during his LA SWAT days become needed. Two siblings and a maniac commit murder during a robbery. They take shelter in the wealthy home of accountant Walter Smith in Bristo Bay. The three thugs knock out Walter and hold hostage his teenage daughter and preadolescent son. However, Walter is no ordinary bean counter. He keeps the books for mobster Sonny Benza, who knows the cops and probably the FBI will have access to damaging records. As Jeff negotiates with the kidnappers, the Benza gang is coming to end everything Sonny's style. The latest thriller from Robert Crais is the usual action packed, never a moment to breath tale. The story line is fast paced and loaded, but what turns this novel into a winner is Talley. Readers will feel his demons as if they looked into the dying eyes of that victim several years ago and feel all the pain eating at the hero's soul even when he fears déjà vu. Though Mr. Crais occasionally writes as if he is developing a screenplay, HOSTAGE happens so quickly, fans will barely notice, but will remain a captive of the plot from start to finish. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Better than Demolition Angel
Review: I very much enjoyed Demolition Angel, however, I have to say I enjoyed Hostage even more. This novel moves at a pace beyond breakneck, more like light-speed. At one point in my reading of the book I got up around 3 a.m. in the morning to continue my reading as I couldn't sleep trying to anticipate what was going to happen next. But even at the acclerated pace Mr. Crais has not neglected characterization, writing believable characters and describing their reactions to intense, almost unbearable pressure. As much as I enjoyed the characters of Jeff Talley and the kids trapped in the house with three psychopaths, I also enjoyed the development of the bad guys. This is where I believe the book surpasses Demolition Angel. I felt that the character of Mr. Red in Demolition Angel might have been further developed with a little more of his past and why he became Mr. Red. The baddies in Hostage have a history which is displayed in description, word, and deed. Read this book. Mr. Crais, particularly in his last three novels - L. A. Requiem, Demolition Angel, and now Hostage - has taken chances with his personal style which are paying off, demonstrated in the confidence of his writing. This bodes well for the future of his Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series (which will be continuing) and for his future stand-alones. The biggest complaint: it sure can seem a long time between his books, but with his development I would rather see Robert Crais take his time with his craft, ensuring the creation of characters that live and breathe, rather than create characters that become caricatures. Hostage is an outstanding novel.
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