The Sentinel

Rating:
Summary: Trust No One But Petievich
Review: "The Sentinel" is vintage Petievich. This is a tough, uncompromising depiction of the Secret Service's highest visibility law enforcement program under maximum stress. Characters include a variety of duplicitous White House denizens and toadies, protected by ambitious, self-serving Secret Service agents and officials. The principals misbehave and have things to hide. Extra-marital activity is a big problem. The Ten Commandments are out, the Seven Deadly Sins are in.

To achieve their plans, flawed (and sometimes outright criminal) officials who run Petievich's Secret Service must somehow outsmart the system of repetitive checks and audit trails built into the agency's intimidatingly thorough security design. The basic honesty and competence of individual agents prove to be an obstacle, too. To find out whether the system prevails under this assault, read the book.

Critics/readers who find the plot line "a stretch" should lighten up and enjoy the ride. Embrace conspiracy and paranoia. After Oklahoma City and Waco, the extra-marital conduct of high-visibility public officials (Clinton, Gingrich, Giuliani, Condit, ad nauseum), September 11, and the documented treason of homegrown moles in the FBI and CIA - it's hard to visualize any fictional event that should be excluded as improbable.

It's past time for the return of ex-Special Agent Petievich, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Military Intelligence (where was he? Guess #1: he was running Treasury's Witness Protection Program under an assumed name; or Guess #2: he was, himself, a witness in hiding). No matter - welcome back.

...

Rating:
Summary: Petievich Scores Again!
Review: Fans of To Live and Die in L.A will be anxious to read Gerald Petievich's latest book. A great read, this book features a tightly woven plot centered in Washington,DC as a Secret Service agent fights against time to protect the President. Petievich kept leading me down paths before revealing that I'd made false assumptions. I read this book in one sitting -- that's how good it is.

Rating:
Summary: Buy this book!
Review: His fans will be happy to hear that Gerald Petievich's Sentinel measures up to the quality writing they found in To Live and Die in LA, Paramour, and Earth Angels. Fast-paced and well-plotted, this book takes the reader through tense adventure on both coasts as the protagonist, Secret Service Agent Pete Garrison, faces off the Aryan Disciples, blackmailers, and enemies within the White House as he struggles to protect the President. No wonder Michael Douglas bought the screen rights to this book.

Rating:
Summary: Petievich good, publisher bad!
Review: It's been much too long since Gerald Petievich, the author of such action classics as "To Live and Die in LA", "The Quality of the Informant" and "Money Men", has published a new novel. However, "The Sentinel" is a mixed blessing, with perhaps its most positive aspect being that it has got Petievich back in current print. He has taken one of his standard themes - the nasty, self-centered Secret Service/FBI boss versus the righteous agent in the field - to an extreme (perhaps implausible) conclusion, with a large dose of dirty DC political linen and modern terrorism hype thrown in for good measure. There is nothing wrong with the novel's story line per se and it carries the reader's interest, but as a quality novel this work is unfortunately flawed. During the writer, agent, and publishing editor process a significant number of annoying typos and little slips of grammar were allowed to remain, and these pop up to such an extent that the readability of the novel is compromised. Such errors happen with all writers but it is up to the hired help to catch these things before it is offered to the paying reader. Hopefully, Petievich will rectify this situation for his next eagerly anticipated novel.

Rating:
Summary: Petievich good, publisher bad!
Review: It's been much too long since Gerald Petievich, the author of such action classics as "To Live and Die in LA", "The Quality of the Informant" and "Money Men", has published a new novel. However, "The Sentinel" is a mixed blessing, with perhaps its most positive aspect being that it has got Petievich back in current print. He has taken one of his standard themes - the nasty, self-centered Secret Service/FBI boss versus the righteous agent in the field - to an extreme (perhaps implausible) conclusion, with a large dose of dirty DC political linen and modern terrorism hype thrown in for good measure. There is nothing wrong with the novel's story line per se and it carries the reader's interest, but as a quality novel this work is unfortunately flawed. During the writer, agent, and publishing editor process a significant number of annoying typos and little slips of grammar were allowed to remain, and these pop up to such an extent that the readability of the novel is compromised. Such errors happen with all writers but it is up to the hired help to catch these things before it is offered to the paying reader. Hopefully, Petievich will rectify this situation for his next eagerly anticipated novel.

Rating:
Summary: Petievich is back with a vengeance
Review: Or, maybe he never left. I hadn't seen any of his titles since Earth Angel and wondered if he had gone on to other interests. Then, I saw his name on the cover from halfway across the local Barnes & Noble. I grabbed the book and didn't even open it until I had gone through the check out and driven home. After that, I settled into one of the most enjoyable tales I've read in a long time. Gerald Petievich's inside knowledge of law enforcement makes this book come alive in several different ways and directions, all at once. His protagonist, Special Agent Pete Garrison, is believable, attractive, and action-oriented, a character the reader 'pulls for' throughout the entire book. Plot twists lurk in unexpected places, and every page is an absolute banquet of inside information and character development. I have been a fan since reading "To Live and Die in L. A." and I believe that this writer just gets better with each book. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Petievich is back with a vengeance
Review: Or, maybe he never left. I hadn't seen any of his titles since Earth Angel and wondered if he had gone on to other interests. Then, I saw his name on the cover from halfway across the local Barnes & Noble. I grabbed the book and didn't even open it until I had gone through the check out and driven home. After that, I settled into one of the most enjoyable tales I've read in a long time. Gerald Petievich's inside knowledge of law enforcement makes this book come alive in several different ways and directions, all at once. His protagonist, Special Agent Pete Garrison, is believable, attractive, and action-oriented, a character the reader 'pulls for' throughout the entire book. Plot twists lurk in unexpected places, and every page is an absolute banquet of inside information and character development. I have been a fan since reading "To Live and Die in L. A." and I believe that this writer just gets better with each book. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: action packed thriller
Review: President Jordan is elated that his second term in office is winding down though he knows he will miss the illusion of power. He is tired of the terrorists who have blown up five public buildings in the past eighteen months and looks forward to divorcing his First Lady and marrying his top security advisor.

However even in the final laps, the deadly Aryan Disciples provide a direct threat to Jordan starting with the killing of a Secret Service agent. Now head of the First Lady protection unit, Agent Pete Garrison has a credible threat to Jordan through a reliable (at least in the past) but extremely nervous and somewhat shaky informer. However, Pete has his own problems as someone has photos of he and the First Lady making love. As Pete concludes that his opponent is deep inside the concentric circles surrounding the President, he works closely with Agent Breckinridge on stopping the clear and present danger to the head of the United States as well as keeping himself clean.

Though at times the tale seems a stretch, fans will relish this strong look at the Secret Service. The story line is fast-paced and filled with much irony and characters one cares deeply about. The actual attempt on the President seems incredulous though the audience is warned to "trust no one". Still, readers will immensely enjoy the look at the agency's operations through the eyes of the key characters. THE SENTINEL is an action packed thriller that keeps the heart pumping and the adrenaline flowing.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: action packed thriller
Review: President Jordan is elated that his second term in office is winding down though he knows he will miss the illusion of power. He is tired of the terrorists who have blown up five public buildings in the past eighteen months and looks forward to divorcing his First Lady and marrying his top security advisor.

However even in the final laps, the deadly Aryan Disciples provide a direct threat to Jordan starting with the killing of a Secret Service agent. Now head of the First Lady protection unit, Agent Pete Garrison has a credible threat to Jordan through a reliable (at least in the past) but extremely nervous and somewhat shaky informer. However, Pete has his own problems as someone has photos of he and the First Lady making love. As Pete concludes that his opponent is deep inside the concentric circles surrounding the President, he works closely with Agent Breckinridge on stopping the clear and present danger to the head of the United States as well as keeping himself clean.

Though at times the tale seems a stretch, fans will relish this strong look at the Secret Service. The story line is fast-paced and filled with much irony and characters one cares deeply about. The actual attempt on the President seems incredulous though the audience is warned to "trust no one". Still, readers will immensely enjoy the look at the agency's operations through the eyes of the key characters. THE SENTINEL is an action packed thriller that keeps the heart pumping and the adrenaline flowing.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Insider
Review: The story is another conspiracy thing and you can see the bad guy 1/3 of the way in. You stay because the author has been there and shares his insider knowledge with you. Always interesting.