The Pledge

Rating:
Summary: Gripping read-for a first effort.
Review: This being Rob Kean's debut novel, there are two elements of this book which can be forgiven which might not with a more experienced novelist. First and foremost, after about 350 pages of very well-crafted confusion keeping the reader involved hoping to unravel the mystery, a character appears and lays it all out on the table in 5 pages. Never mind that the explanation for this character being in the know is fairly weak; we just don't want to have it handed to us after the air of suspense has been built.

The second problem is with the believability of the plot. Without going into spoilers, the chances that the powers-that-be in the book would go unnoticed for so long are low, especially considering the particular way that Simsbury College is portrayed: as a fine but small liberal arts school. My college was in the US News and World Report top ten every year as well, and there's no way a rise to power inolving *my* school would go unnoticed by some form of outside authority.

If the preceding paragraph seemed cryptic, by all means, read the book. It kept me involved even as the aforementioned doubts crept into my mind. Rob Kean has a knack for unique prose and strong characterization. I look forward to his next book.

Rating:
Summary: smashing debut
Review: amazing talent and this first novel is a showcase of what is yet to come - i can't wait. the setting is a college back east, the first chapter indeed the first few pages are horrific, there is a mysterious death, a chanting fraternity, and the evil presence of the unknown. i don't want to give too much away, but the writing style was smooth, the characters believable. enjoyed this book immensely.

Rating:
Summary: Unreadable!
Review: It's not often that I can't finish a book; usually if I can't it's due to a lack of plot interest. This is the first book I haven't been able to finish because I disliked every single character, even the two so-called good guys. The first hundred pages had nothing but evil characters manipulating and getting away with everything. I disliked the main good guy (can't even remember his name) for ever being involved in such a disgusting frat, and his girlfriend for going out with him; for someone who was so against frats, it seems strange that she should be going out with a former frat member.

One hundred pages into the book, and there was not even a glimmer of hope that the evils of the frat would be punished. All of the actions of the characters were infuriating and just depressing to read.

Thanks goodness I didn't buy even the paperback version of this book; it would be one that I couldn't even display on my bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting story of cover-up's
Review: As a first novel for this author, I thought that he wrote an excellent novel! I enjoyed this book so much! The story revolves around a fraternity and the secrets they keep at the expense of others. A former member of the fraternity is conflicted about the novelty of brotherhood or the truth that must be found! There are questions of who to trust and who really is behind all of the bad things happening! This was a mystery which also showed how dangerous greek life can be. Although it was fiction, I think that there are some real issues with hazing in this story. I would definately recommend reading this story!

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down- Buy this book!
Review: This book invited me inside and made me wish the story would continue even after I had finished the last sentence, primarily because of the feeling underlying what Mr. Kean has written. Kean obviously has passion for the craft of writing. It's apparent in every paragraph that he loves words and goes nuts when he has a good story to tell. The plot is interesting, though in places it is needlessly obfuscated. The main character, Mark Jessy, is beautifully drawn, fully realized, and totally believable. On the other hand, the females in the book are less believable, tending more to sound like juvenile fantasy figures than real women, but that's forgiven because the book works.

Rating:
Summary: A Triumph for Maine and Robby
Review: I was most impressed reading Rob Kean's book, "The Pledge." The storyline flowed remarkably well, and I found myself unable to put the book down. In fact, it took me two sittings to finish, the second one of which ended at 5:15am one Saturday night/Sunday morning. The characters are well developed, and I found myself laughing (yes, out loud) at their mishaps, cheering their triumphs, and scowling at their foolishness. I highly recommend this book to those in college (for its relevance) as well as for suspense lovers of all ages who enjoy a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad but not "classic"
Review: I picked up this novel as a way to spend some time at the pool and while I wasn't disappointed, I was surprised at how predictable the plot line was written. It is a novel that explores that element of what makes frat houses and their inhabitants "connect" to one another, but this frat house, Sigma Delta Phi, not only expects psychological support from their members, they expect a kind of pseudo/robotic loyalty. Naturally, this enslavement comes with an incredibly high pricetag-namely being willing to forego any comfortable moral or ethical considerations. A subplot, involving the interactions of males versus how women interact, is, again, interesting yet shallow. The females that inhabit the book are either heavyset, hateful lesbian types or the sultry, intellectually vacuous ones. The only positive female of Rob Kean's novel is a blonde(naturally), yet brilliant and serious student whose first goal was to make Mark Jessy fit her preconceived ideas of what "frat boys" are really all about. This gorgeous protagonist, Shawn Jakes, then learns more of the human side of Mark Jessy (after convicting him on a date-rape charge as a member of the school disciplinary team). This relationship seems quite contrived--a man's pov that men perhaps don't view this crime in quite the same way that women do and perhaps don't wish to. All-in-all a pleasant read, although not enough to make me hope for a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Not Your Average Freshman Year
Review: Set in Maine at an exclusive private college, The Pledge is a worthwhile first effort by Rob Kean.

The Pledge, not surprisingly, is set in a long established and incredibly wealthy fraternity. Alumni support and ongoing involvement is a way of life.

While fraternity pledging seems to have been tamed down in recent years by most colleges, the Brothers have apparently not heard. The process of belonging seems to be a traumatic series of events aimed at degrading, humiliating and absolutely breaking down the new candidates. There is an uncomfortable air of torture in the actions of the Brotherhood toward their aspirants.

The reader becomes quickly engaged in the bizarre life of this fraternity in the death of freshman pledge, Chad Ewing. Cover-up becomes the order of the day when Ewing loses his life after a night of horrifying pledge activity. The college administration responds quickly to limit it's responsibility and any fair investigation of what took place the night Ewing died. College leadership seems primarily invested in the second in charge, Dean Templeton, an unsavory human being if there ever was one. Everything he touches is dishonest and seemingly rigged.

The fraternity shows its true colors in the diabolical actions that its members take to absolve themselves of any responsibility for Ewing's death.

There is saving grace to the horrors of the actions at the college found in two students, Shawn Jakes and Mark Jessy who are charged with leading the Student Review Board, which has responsibility for reviewing the death.

While the fraternity brothers and the Dean are not at all worried about the Student Review, complication after complication occurs as the investigation proceeds.

Ultimately and at great odds, justice is finally served as the story winds down. We are rocked from the depths of evil to the refreshing integrity of two college students whose lives are literally at great risk.

Readers and reviewers have had mixed reactions to The Pledge. While I might agree that it could have been pared down by probably more than a hundred pages, the story is indeed gripping for those willing to stick with the story.

As a reader, Kean tapped into an enormous range of emotions that don't usually surface in most things I read.

I believe those who enjoy a good mystery and undaunted by a long one will enjoy The Pledge. Some bumps and wrong turns here and there. However, Kean does a fine job in his first work. He will undoubtedly develop as an important writer. A following is definitely in Rob Kean's future if he continues to work as hard as he has in crafting The Pledge!

Rating:
Summary: Fastest 700-plus pages I've ever read!
Review: Simply written, with the pace of a James Patterson, the story line of a Sydney Sheldon and the plot of a Pat Conroy (Lords of Discipline) - this book held my attention for the three nights it took me to read it. Though reviewers seem to worry about whether it could happen or not, I'm thinking "who cares?" It's a good read, there are NO slow parts, and Mark Jessy is a hero, a la Will McClean of Conroy fame. Good for you Rob Kean, good for you. I eagerly await your next syllable.

Rating:
Summary: An exciting thriller
Review: At Simsbury College at Sigma Delta Phi, the most exclusive frathouse on campus, pledge Chad Ewing is found dead, with vicious, sickpoetry scrawled on his body. While the powers that be try to pass off his death as a suicide, Mark Jessy a former Sigma brother and his beautiful girlfriend Shawn Jakes begin an investigation into Chad's death, and uncover scandal, extortion and corruption that dates back to the fraternity's inception two hundred years before. Kean writes well and has delivered an exciting page turner, and in Mark Jessy, has given us a reluctant, yet honorbale hero. This is the perfect summer thriller.