Rating: 
Summary: This would make great vacation reading
Review: Kyle Mills didn't write a novel, he wrote an action movie in novel form. This book just has that action movie feel to it. I have to say that I enjoyed reading it, the way that I enjoy watching a summer release action movie. It was fun. Nothing deep, nothing fantastic, but entertaining nonetheless.The book was written in 2000 and is set in that same year. There is an election in the book which had a few overtones of reality that were potentially a bit cheesy... though they veered far enough away from reality to not be overly so. The republican candidate was a senator who had formerly been head of the CIA. While Bush-the-current wasn't in the CIA, Bush-the-senior was the head of it. The democratic candidate was the current vice president and was considered to be lackluster and dull. Hmmmm. And there was a very strong third party candidate. Another hmmmmm. The book had a lot of detailed info about rock climbing, which is something I know nothing about and which has never particularly interested me; the fact that it did hold my attention speaks for the author's knowledge and ability to write about the topic. The ending wasn't one I predicted, which is another point in its favor... but the ending was one of the things that made it soooo action movie-ish. A lot of things happen in the last 50 pages. Major plot changes. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting a quick and fairly brainless read. It would make a good airplane book.
Rating: 
Summary: "Free Fall" is a cliche-ridden and convoluted thriller.
Review: Kyle Mills had an impressive debut a few years ago with the wonderful novel, "Rising Phoenix". That novel was edgy, taut and original. I didn't like his second book, "Storming Heaven," which deals with religious cults and corruption in politics, and I am disappointed by Mills' latest book, "Free Fall". I do like the protagonist, Mark Beamon, who has appeared in Mills' previous work. Beamon is an iconoclastic hero with a self-deprecating sense of humor. However, the main plot of the book is the shopworn cliche that (GASP!) dirty tricks are being perpetrated by Machiavellian politicians who want power at any cost. In this book, the worst of the bad guys is David Hallorin, a power-crazed third party Presidential candidate who is being helped by a psychpathic campaign mangager named Roland Peck. Beamon has been fired as an FBI agent for political reasons, and he now faces a possible prison sentence. He gets embroiled in a murder case in which a young man named Tristan is murdered because he finds an explosive file that was buried after the J. Edgar Hoover days. This file, if revealed, can embarrass some well-connected political figures. Beamon trails Darby Moore, the best female rock climber in the world, who was Tristan's friend and one of the last people to see him alive. Was Darby somehow involved in Tristan's murder, or is she an innocent victim of circumstances? Darby is an energetic and superhuman heroine who overcomes incredible obstacles in this book. She is an attractive and interesting character. However, the book's plot is unbelievably convoluted and becomes really weak towards the end, when Mills introduces at least three or four twists and turns that strain credulity. I enjoyed the rock climbling sequences, which are realistic and exciting (I understand that the author is a rock climber), but the political plot is tediously drawn-out. The villains are stock characters, who are, for the most part, sadistic, one-dimensional creeps. So many contemporary authors are making the point that today's Presidential races are too media and image driven. Style is more important than substance. The public settles for people who will make them feel good, rather than vote for the most qualified candidate. There is nothing new here, and the novel becomes irritating as it drags on to its long-awaited end.
Rating: 
Summary: Mills Has Become A Must Read
Review: Kyle Mills has written another excellent page turner. Mark Beamon has developed into one of the best characters in fiction today. He's flawed, but not too flawed; a touch rebellious, but an honest, ethical man; caring, but not overly sensitive. In Free Fall, Mills places Beamon squarely in the middle of a politicl crises, but adds unique characters and settings with the rock climbing aspects of the story. I loved the ending of the story. Too often, today's writers wrap everything up in a nice, neat ball. Mills avoids that with a plausible, yet unexpected ending.
Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 Like a free fall..
Review: Kyle Mills Latest novel makes you feel like your in a 'free fall'. Exhilarating, suspenseful and drop dead readable.Mark Beamon is a suspended special agent for the FBI who has a reputation for finding people who don't want to be found. He is hired by an unknown client, whos willing to pay well, to find a world class rock climber that happened to acquire top secret files that could topple some very high level politicians.This book was a great enjoyment to read. The hatred you'll feel towards Hallorin and his 'at all costs' run for the presidency, to the chuckles you'll have as Darby and Beamon ski there way to the tower, are just a couple of emotions you'll have while reading this book.There is very little filler or superfluous narration to bog you down.The ending, to me, was a little disappointing, but yet, justice was served. Keep'em coming Mr. Mills Highly recommended..
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: Kyle Mills' "Free Fall" is proof that you can get a book published in the United States based on an stupidly implausible premise provided you include some of the following: (1) a running (in this case boring) tirade against the dishonesty and outright criminality of all politicians. (2) the inefficiency of all government departments except the police who are only inefficient when they are subject to political interference.(3) individuals triumph against all this inefficiency, dishonesty and criminality when they are eccentric loners, with unusual skills (get serious - rock climbing?) who live "outside the beltway" and are endowed by rich employers with huge amounts of money.
Once all these elements are in place - cobbled together by poorly sketched out character development and a ludicrously zig-zagging excuse for a plot - simply kill most of the black hats and leave the white hats in charge - and there you have it. Free Fall is evidence that "dumbing down" in the US isn't just happening on television, it is well established on the printed page.
Rating: 
Summary: Dont waste your time
Review: Kyle Mills' "Free Fall" is proof that you can get a book published in the United States based on an stupidly implausible premise provided you include some of the following: (1) a running (in this case boring) tirade against the dishonesty and outright criminality of all politicians. (2) the inefficiency of all government departments except the police who are only inefficient when they are subject to political interference.(3) individuals triumph against all this inefficiency, dishonesty and criminality when they are eccentric loners, with unusual skills (get serious - rock climbing?) who live "outside the beltway" and are endowed by rich employers with huge amounts of money.
Once all these elements are in place - cobbled together by poorly sketched out character development and a ludicrously zig-zagging excuse for a plot - simply kill most of the black hats and leave the white hats in charge - and there you have it. Free Fall is evidence that "dumbing down" in the US isn't just happening on television, it is well established on the printed page.
Rating: 
Summary: MORE GREAT STUFF!
Review: Mark Beamon is a back in spades. And we meet a really interesting young lady by the name of Darby Moore. Kyle Mills has not lost any steam. Excellent!
Rating:
Summary: For Climbers Who Like Thrillers
Review: Mike Beamon, suspended FBI agent, but acknowledged master-tracker, is privately hired to locate the World's Best Woman Mountain Climber, Darby Moore, also a suspected murderer. We, the readers, know Darby has been set up by some vile government types and barely escaped with her life. You would think the World's Best Anyone would be a snap to find, but not so in the case of climbers. They tend to be poor, with no fixed address and at any given moment, might be anywhere on the globe. The author gives us captivating information on the lifestyle of climbers, and excellent descriptions of exactly what a major climb is like. The plot is convoluted, but moves well. Mr. Mills does an excellent job of keeping all threads firmly in hand. The story moves back and forth between Mike, the hunter, and Darby, the prey. The body count is high and the action brisk. With the exception of Darby, who is very carefully sketched, it is hard to decipher the various characters' motivations. What they say, and how they act doesn't match with what they do. As the author does not have much use for any politician, none of them mean a word they say and act accordingly; this is acceptable. But what of an almost suicidally depressed passive character that suddenly leaps up, takes charge and runs the show? Was he fooling us before and had a master plan all along? Did he have an epiphany? We never find out. The ending was ironic-I think. "Free Fall" was a fun read, and at times very absorbing, but it needs more continuity. 3-1/2 stars.
Rating:
Summary: For Climbers Who Like Thrillers
Review: Mike Beamon, suspended FBI agent, but acknowledged master-tracker, is privately hired to locate the World's Best Woman Mountain Climber, Darby Moore, also a suspected murderer. We, the readers, know Darby has been set up by some vile government types and barely escaped with her life. You would think the World's Best Anyone would be a snap to find, but not so in the case of climbers. They tend to be poor, with no fixed address and at any given moment, might be anywhere on the globe. The author gives us captivating information on the lifestyle of climbers, and excellent descriptions of exactly what a major climb is like. The plot is convoluted, but moves well. Mr. Mills does an excellent job of keeping all threads firmly in hand. The story moves back and forth between Mike, the hunter, and Darby, the prey. The body count is high and the action brisk. With the exception of Darby, who is very carefully sketched, it is hard to decipher the various characters' motivations. What they say, and how they act doesn't match with what they do. As the author does not have much use for any politician, none of them mean a word they say and act accordingly; this is acceptable. But what of an almost suicidally depressed passive character that suddenly leaps up, takes charge and runs the show? Was he fooling us before and had a master plan all along? Did he have an epiphany? We never find out. The ending was ironic-I think. "Free Fall" was a fun read, and at times very absorbing, but it needs more continuity. 3-1/2 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Great characters, lots of action
Review: My first Mills book and definitely not my last. Mills creates flawed, yet likeable characters like Mark Beamon that are actually INTERESTING! It took some time for the story to initially get off the ground, but it developed into a fun read, with several action sequences. The end was somewhat disappointing, but understandable and believable.
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