Rating: 
Summary: Confusing...but well worth the wait !
Review: In the begining of the book, you aren't sure what the book is about; Russians, oil or terrorists. But layer by layer, the story builds and things become clearer. But still, even at the very end, there are a few unexpected surprises. This isn't a very original spy story, but the writing style and all the surprises in the book, make "The Negotiator" a exciting read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not one of his bests efforts, but not bad
Review: Its not a terrible book, but it definitely is not one of Forsyth's best. The story does get to be interesting after a slow start, and once all of the central characters are introduced it keeps moving at a good clip. I had problems with the Sam character as I felt she was underwritten, and practically screamed "love interest" the moment she was introduced. Just once I would like to see the female lead not be (a) stunningly beautiful, (b) amazingly smart, (c) incredibly willing to fall in love at a plots whim, and (d) unbelievably available with no prior commitments, relationships, boyfriends, etc. holding her back. Please, somebody send out a memo to all mystery/suspense writers about this.Also I must echo a previous review in that the ending seemed kind of lazy, in a "Hello Mr. Bond I have you and I'm going to kill you but first I'm going to tell you all my plans and how I achieved everything" kind of way. Having said that, it is fairly entertaining nonetheless, and I did read the last 100 pages fairly quickly to see what was going to happen. It certainly is not as good as "Day of the Jackal" or "The Odessa File," but its not all bad.
Rating:
Summary: The end is not so good
Review: On one hand, the story keeps you reading with interest on the story. On the other, is a story that can not be true at all, I want to see that the president's son is kidnapped in another country and nobody in America does nothing because they don't want to make an international problem, not telling that the son's bodyguards didn't have any guns.
At the end of the book, the bad guy in Washington could be anybody, Frederic never gives us a clue of him, and in the book he is never bad or do anything suspicious I didn't like this end.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating politics, intricate plot, dull characters
Review: Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I do have some complaints. As stated in other reviews, it takes a bit for the action to pick up. There are also many, many characters and places and too-detailed descriptions that I found unnecessary. My biggest complaint, which was something that started off as a minor annoyance but gradually became more and more irritating, was the author's abysmal, despicable portrayal of the only female character in the entire story. She was nothing more than eye-candy, which I'm sure sounds strange for a novel, with horrible dialogue consisting exclusively of "Are you okay?", "What now?", and "Oh how terrible" lines, seldom more than a sentence at a time. There was really no reason for her to exist in the story as she was written. Aside from these complaints, the story was very good. The politics, subterfuge, espionage, and suspense were very well done. The plot to keep the oil barons rich and the American military budget booming ran a worrisome parallel to our current political situation. I am willing to recommend this book, but I would suggest purchasing it used, or looking for it in your local library. I would also remind the reader that the story was written in the late 1980s and may seem a little dated in its pacing and character development, but ultimately anyone who enjoys a decent political action thriller should enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: excellent, the thrill of the chase, the story in two halves
Review: Several stories in one, the background desire for oil and power over where it comes from, the kidnap of the President's son and then the chase for teh culprits. Wonderfully crafted and woven together. More brilliance from the 'Master storyteller'
Rating:
Summary: Don't get warned off by the editorial reviews. 5 star book!
Review: The Day of the Jackal, despite being a superb book for it's time is starting to get just a little outdated. I mean, it remains one of the greatest intellectual thriller types but fans today like a bit more action, a bit more suprises, a bit more twists. On this aspect, I have to say than in my opinion, The Negotiator is Forsyth's best book to date. It's not as tightly plotted as Jackal or Odessa (a particular sub plot gets wrapped up too quickly in the end) but it certainly is a hell of a sizzling read with plenty of suspense and twists and action. Yes, the details may annoy some but the suspense that forsyth manages to sheath every page with is more than enough to cover any minor flaws and Quinn is simply, the best hero Forsyth has ever come up with (The Jackal was not exactly the hero). Dont get scared by the Publisher's Weekly review, while the book does take some time to delve into the main plot, the beginning too is VERY gripping with the plotting of a coup etc etc and once the story gets started this is one tremendously enjoyable thriller.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Reading.
Review: The first 100 pages sets up the basic premise and characters before launching into a nail-biting hostage drama and a chase across Europe for the kidnappers that leads back to the US. Although the character Quinn, the negotiator, is fully fleshed out along with the kidnapper Zack, the story is far fetched when it comes to the detective work. The kidnapping case comes to a climax half way though the book and I found everything fully believable and enjoyable until then. After this pinnacle part of the story it looses the believable part and just becomes strictly enjoyable. Unlike his other novels "The 4th Protocol etc.", it seems to miss out on keeping the story simple and believable. This novel is a bit like "Hannibal" in many ways. There are lots of disturbed villains with their own tastes and a great memorable character in the form of British gentleman working for the KGB, but alas it really does have some big plot holes and "chance" discoveries that leave you thinking that the book could have been planned a bit better with regards to that. Although the writer does go to great pains to tell us that detective work needs a bit of "luck" or a "break" in the case for things to work out, the breaks that Quinn gets are all too much to really believe. Other than that the novel is extremely easy to read and you will not put it down until you have finished that "next chapter". Good show, shame about the severe bending of reality though. Keep it real Fred!! I much preferred the detective work in "The 4th Protocol" compared to this.
Rating:
Summary: A Non Stop Suspense and Action Thriller
Review: The first book of Forsyth that we've ever read. Catches my attention from the first page itself. Non stop thriller with riveting plot that kept building up along the story. Quinns' character is so well developed through out his adventure. The story line is so real with a clear detail of what happening around the characters environment. The story also gives emphasisation for all the characters making the book a very exciting read. After reading this book we got so hooked up with Frederick Forsyth's books and started buying all these books:- Icon, The Deceiver, Fist of God and Devil's Alternative. This is an ultimate satisfaction for both of us. Keep writting good books.
Rating:
Summary: Thrilling and complex
Review: The negotiator is really a complex book, the several story lines that are Forsyth at his best. Like Dogs of War and Icon he keeps the outcome unpredictable untill the very last page. (BTW if you liked those books you will certanly like this one. Althoug the story is impossible, considering history took a turn even Fredrick Forsyth couldn't predict, it realy is facinating and the plot is almost impossible to tell in e few words so I won't even try. I'll only tell you the story is completly unpredictable but then again witch Fredrich Forsyth story isn't?
Rating:
Summary: A great novel, fresh and full of twists
Review: The thickness of the book is worthwhile the effort going through it. In the Negotiator, Quinn is tasked with negotiating with kidnappers of the son of the US President. But behind the kidnap is a diabolical plot to destabilise the President who is keen on de-armaments, much to the dismay of some of his own countrymen. Fast and furious through much of the story, the author knew how to slow things down to reflect the tension mounting while waiting for the kidnappers to call, and waiting for them to call again. The novel is not a handbook on handling a kidnap crisis but it does highlight certain issues worth bearing in mind, mainly, survival of the victim should be the most important. The author added twists in unexpected places, unlike many writers nowadays who made everything so plain with clear subtexts. Quinn as a character, was driven first to secure the safety of the kidnap victim, and later find himself tracking down the kidnappers, his only clue being the flimsiests of flimsiests. What was not satisfying was the parallel plots introduced early in the book on two militant groups, one Russian, one American, to launch take-over in oil-producing countries of the Middle East to secure the fuel supply for the colossal demand of their respective countries. As the novel progresses, one plot became inexplicably dormant, while the other produced a subplot which was also left hanging in the air. Both plots were too casually concluded at the end of the novel. Also unlike other thrillers, readers are not told that the villains are all-so-powerful that penetrated the highest government and have spies everywhere; it just makes them boring. The novel did provide a few good portrayals of the characters, not too shallow, but enough to make it interesting to watch them act according to their motivations. The author showed that villains did not do bad things because they were evil, they were evil because they did things following their own motivations which had unhealthy impact on others, except for psychopaths, of course. In such light, even characters who are traditionally the villains can be put in a good light, something which the author has accomplished. This book gives pure pleasure while reading because readers would not be able to know the ending, just that it would be ... unexpected.
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