Twisted Web

Rating:
Summary: Weak, very weak
Review: At some point, no amount of technological posturing can save a novel; Tom Grace overreaches that point. The hero extricates himself from laughably dire situations, not by his own wits, but by the petty stupidity of his adversaries. This does not make for a satisfying read.

The pacing is obviously abetted by a good editor, as is the dialog, but, like a remake of "The Bad News Bears," even Scorcese could only do so much with bad raw materials.

I tend to alternate between non-fiction reading of some weight and light fiction in the thriller genre. On the light side, I'm generally not too picky. With this prententious drivel, however, I draw the line. Only if you think random, illogical aggregations of high-tech buzzwords are "cool" will you find this engaging.

Rating:
Summary: Weak, very weak
Review: At some point, no amount of technological posturing can save a novel; Tom Grace overreaches that point. The hero extricates himself from laughably dire situations, not by his own wits, but by the petty stupidity of his adversaries. This does not make for a satisfying read.

The pacing is obviously abetted by a good editor, as is the dialog, but, like a remake of "The Bad News Bears," even Scorcese could only do so much with bad raw materials.

I tend to alternate between non-fiction reading of some weight and light fiction in the thriller genre. On the light side, I'm generally not too picky. With this prententious drivel, however, I draw the line. Only if you think random, illogical aggregations of high-tech buzzwords are "cool" will you find this engaging.

Rating:
Summary: Tom Grace Writes Another Page-Turner!
Review: I loved Tom Grace's first two Nolan Kilkenny adventures and Twisted Web shows this writer is really hitting his stride.

This time around, DNA is root of Kilkenny's problems - some of it new, and some older than mankind itself and worth billions. Like Grace's previous novels, Twisted Web races all over the world: from research stations in Antarctica, to pharmaceutical labs in New Jersey, to the French countryside.

Well developed characters, an intricate plot and pacing that keeps the pages flying from cover to cover made this book well worth the wait.

As a librarian, Tom Grace is an author I delight in recommending to all of our adventure/technology/suspense book lovers. They're already asking for his next book!

Twisted Web - a great book that would make a great movie.

Rating:
Summary: strong thriller
Review: Killkenny travels by air to the Lake Vostok research center in Antarctica. Scientists are elated over discovering new life in this isolated ecosystem more inclusive than any other found on the planet. Killkenny tests some new equipment so he sky dives, but seconds after leaving the plane, a surface to air missile destroys the transporter. Killkenny lands safely and manages to disrupt the terrorists who have taken control of the research station. Though he stops one air transport from leaving, the other escapes with the prize of what was found deep in Lake Vostok.

Killkenny informs the CIA even as he begins tracing ice ski planes and investigating a murder by a business associate in which the evidence, including DNA, proves he killed his partner and his ex wife. The CIA assigns reluctant CIA Agent Tao to come in from the cold and work with Killkenny. As the duo begins to follow the international money trail, they realize DNA and immortality is what the bottom line is all about as the murder and the stolen life forms tie together like the double helix.

TWISTED WEB is at its exhilarating best when it is a DNA espionage thriller. When the story line (near the end) turns into a macho action thriller (to include females), the plot remains exciting, but loses some of the edge that made the novel different. Still fans will receive immense pleasure from Tom Grace's adventure novel.

Harriet Klausner