Rating: 
Summary: Osama bin Laden with No Comma bin Used
Review: Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S., 'Joshua's Hammer' showed up frequently on my Amazon list of recommendations. Being a fan of the international suspense/thriller genre anyway, I was particularly interested in reading this book due to its obvious connection to recent all-too-real life events. Unfortunately, it was one of the worst books I've ever read, not because the story wasn't compelling or the characterizations weren't believable, but because the author butchered the English language to an extent I've never seen in a mass-market paperback. And what's worse, apparently no one cared enough to edit it since there are glaring mistakes throughout.If it's not bad enough to pepper a book with comma-spliced sentences followed by run-on sentences and even more coma-spliced sentences, try throwing in a good dose of misspelled words that even the most basic computer spell checker would catch if given a chance. Then, just for fun, frequently misuse other words (like 'worse' when you should use 'worst,' for example). The end result is a book that any author or publisher should be ashamed of, and which any reader with an ounce of intelligence should be offended by. The decision was obviously made by somebody, somewhere, that readers would buy the book, even if the writing style was worse than that of an average 7th grader. Reading this book is like listening to a seemingly endless raw recording by a tone-deaf singer who has no rhythm ' the song might actually have beautiful lyrics, but you don't notice because you're too busy thinking about how you'd rather scratch your fingernails on a chalkboard than to keep listening to such a bad performance. To be fair, the author does a decent job of developing an intriguing plot, which is the only reason I was able to finish the book. However, for me, the complete disregard for the English language by the author and editors (if there were any) ruined the book. I'll not be reading any David Hagberg novels in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Osama bin Laden with No Comma bin Used
Review: Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S., �Joshua�s Hammer� showed up frequently on my Amazon list of recommendations. Being a fan of the international suspense/thriller genre anyway, I was particularly interested in reading this book due to its obvious connection to recent all-too-real life events. Unfortunately, it was one of the worst books I�ve ever read, not because the story wasn�t compelling or the characterizations weren�t believable, but because the author butchered the English language to an extent I�ve never seen in a mass-market paperback. And what�s worse, apparently no one cared enough to edit it since there are glaring mistakes throughout. If it�s not bad enough to pepper a book with comma-spliced sentences followed by run-on sentences and even more coma-spliced sentences, try throwing in a good dose of misspelled words that even the most basic computer spell checker would catch if given a chance. Then, just for fun, frequently misuse other words (like �worse� when you should use �worst,� for example). The end result is a book that any author or publisher should be ashamed of, and which any reader with an ounce of intelligence should be offended by. The decision was obviously made by somebody, somewhere, that readers would buy the book, even if the writing style was worse than that of an average 7th grader. Reading this book is like listening to a seemingly endless raw recording by a tone-deaf singer who has no rhythm � the song might actually have beautiful lyrics, but you don�t notice because you�re too busy thinking about how you�d rather scratch your fingernails on a chalkboard than to keep listening to such a bad performance. To be fair, the author does a decent job of developing an intriguing plot, which is the only reason I was able to finish the book. However, for me, the complete disregard for the English language by the author and editors (if there were any) ruined the book. I'll not be reading any David Hagberg novels in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: Relatively realistic; relatively pedestrian.
Review: Good airplane novel with the occasional passage that chills you to the bone, based on how prescient Hagberg was - given current events. It's written in a plodding style, and would have benefitted from an editor - the words shear/sheer, worse/worst being misused constantly, among others. A decent tale; didn't toss it, didn't cut my fingers racing to turn the page.
Rating:
Summary: Relatively realistic; relatively pedestrian.
Review: Good airplane novel with the occasional passage that chills you to the bone, based on how prescient Hagberg was - given current events. It's written in a plodding style, and would have benefitted from an editor - the words shear/sheer, worse/worst being misused constantly, among others. A decent tale; didn't toss it, didn't cut my fingers racing to turn the page.
Rating: 
Summary: Frighteningly Real
Review: I am not a huge fan of the spy novel genre but this book is almost prophetic in light of recent events. It was extremely difficult to put down. Osama bin Laden is portrayed convincingly and the plot is believable post 9/11. Had the recent attacks not happened this would have made one hell of a movie.
Hagberg writes in a brisk moving style and seems to know his stuff when it comes to espionage and geopolitics. His CIA man McGarvey is a James Bond type who is bit too invincible but if you enjoy this type of fiction then this should not be missed.
Rating: 
Summary: Too close to reality.
Review: I had not read a military thriller by Hagberg before this novel; but when I read the blurb on the back cover in the store, I quickly bought it. In light of the events of 9/11, this book borders on fiction/non-fiction in a big way! The character of bin Laden really stands out and gives you a picture of the man behind the monster. Since Hagberg wrote this a year or so ago, it really is a scary premonition of a terrorist's plans to destroy the U.S.A. I found the story fascinating and literally ripped through the pages. If there is to be a sequel to this book, I pray it does NOT become reality as JOSHUA'S HAMMER is too close to reality for comfort.
Rating:
Summary: Too close to reality.
Review: I had not read a military thriller by Hagberg before this novel; but when I read the blurb on the back cover in the store, I quickly bought it. In light of the events of 9/11, this book borders on fiction/non-fiction in a big way! The character of bin Laden really stands out and gives you a picture of the man behind the monster. Since Hagberg wrote this a year or so ago, it really is a scary premonition of a terrorist's plans to destroy the U.S.A. I found the story fascinating and literally ripped through the pages. If there is to be a sequel to this book, I pray it does NOT become reality as JOSHUA'S HAMMER is too close to reality for comfort.
Rating:
Summary: Joshua's Hammer continues the story...and quite well
Review: I have been a fan of David Hagberg and Kirk Mcgarvey since High Flight. This book is slightly off the caliber of the previous efforts, but not enough to cause one to change their reading habits. The character of Osama bin Laden is well drawn and the insights one gets into the psyche of one of the world's great terrorists is compelling. Kirk McGarvey is still dealing with those in our own government who wish him no particular well, but there is always Otto Rencke, McGarvey's secret weapon, who manages, barely, to keep our hero on mission. I thought the story was fascinating and plausable until the action at the end when McGarvey attempts to stop the terrorists from setting off a small neuclear weapon at a very inoportune time and place for the President of the United States and his daughter, Elizabeth McGarvey and several thousand others. I will leave each reader to make his or her own judgement on that. One thing is for sure...as we learn in the last words of the book...there WILL be a sequel....and I will look forward to it.
Rating:
Summary: Hagberg does it again!
Review: I have been an avid reader of David Hagberg since Countdown. Each novel is better than the last. Joshua's Hammer gave me the feeling that I was able to get a look into the life of Osama bin Laden; realizing of course it is fiction. I have always found Hagberg's knowledge of "the secret" world of spys and high-tech intelligence a little creepy to say the least. Joshua's Hammer is no exception. To anyone who has never read Hagberg, you are missing out. I anticipate ever new "work of art" he puts out.
Rating:
Summary: For Lovers of Cussler, Ludlum, and Land
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Dirk Pitt and Blain McCracken could add Kirk McGarvey to their partnership without even blinking. Of particular interest is the discussion between McGarvey and Osama bin Lauden (sp) and the east-west thoughts. Terrorism is a key problem for Americans these days. The more we can understand the "Why", perhaps we can do our part to stop the tide. This was a great book for lovers of action, adventure, and mature relationships.
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