Rating: 
Summary: Completely absurd.
Review: What happened in this book would never happen in real life. It was wrong on so many different levels. If you can completely suspend your disbelief perhaps you will like this book. There is a lot of action and the story keeps moving.
Rating: 
Summary: Skilled, suspenseful writing makes this book a quick read
Review: When a friend of mine loaned me his copy of this book, I admit, I had my doubts. After reading such adventure novels as Clive Cussler's insipid Dirk Pitt series, I couldn't see what made my friend rave so much about the book. I tossed the book aside for weeks and only read it to kill time while I waited for spagetti to boil one night for dinner. The only reading break I took for the next three hours was to turn of the stove when the pot boiled over!While there is relatively little room for creativity in this genre, the author's fast-paced, seemless prose easily compensates for this intrinsic flaw. He uses suspense to enhance his story line far better than any of his contemporaries, and possibly even better than masters like Poe. While, this book screams to be made into a blockbuster movie, I can only hope that the movie stays close to the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific action!
Review: With Vertical Run, Garber has shown himself to be a master of the action thriller novel. The book operates under a simple premise: lone, innocent businessman is suddenly targeted by hoards of unknown, unfaceless assassins who are out to kill him. But beyond this seemlingly ludicrious opening emerges an intricant story that delves into the psychological darkness of the human mind and the mechanics of fear. The reader takes the perspective of the hunted, and so has as much idea as he of the reason for the price on his head. The chase then not only continues through the levels of his office building, but through the murky reccesses of his hidden past. The prose is descriptive, tense, and at times witty as our reluctant hero's inner voice states his cynical opinion. Overall, the novel was a highly satisfying read which I have enjoyed three times as of yet. It is slightly unbelievable, not for its premise, but for the way events pan out through the course of the book, and so misses out on a perfect rating in my judgement.
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars for sheer exhileration
Review: WOW! The ONLY book I've read that began and kept going with the intensity of 'The Day After Tomorrow'. If you want a story that reads like a fantastic adventure/movie (Yes, Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson or Harrison Ford--are you listening? ) then by all means you have found your next project! Spend a few hours and get to know Joseph Garber. I have been patiently waiting for his follow-up, but to no avail. Until then just re-read it, you'll enjoy it VERRRRY MUCH. It's just FAST, FUN, and even though it has moments of unbelievability (what great adventure book doesn't?) you suspend your belief because it's so darned FUN. The plot moves with all the speed of Barney Fife on an Acid/Adrenaline/ Caffeine high. THIS BOOK MOVES! What more can I say? It's GREAT--but don't expect the Intellectual story of the decade--what you CAN expect is a captivating story where lots of things blow up--the perfect book for the man who loves gun-powder. Let me know what YOU thought: rmgomske@lightcom.net Enjoy.
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