Exposure

Rating:
Summary: A great summer read
Review: Alan Russell's latest book is not my favorite. Multiple Wounds still holds that honor. But Exposure is a very compelling read and would make a welcome addition to any beach bag.
Sparked by the idea that a paparazzo was responsible for the death of Princess Diana, the story takes off from there. It pulls the surprisingly likeable paparazzo protagonist (and the reader) into a bizarre confrontation with a monstrous villain through a series of plausibly rendered plot twists. Both the scene that triggers the action and the scene that caps it are edge-of-your-seat vivid. Russell's sense of humor, sometimes slapstick and sometimes sly, plays hide and seek throughout the story, and a good helping of Hollywood trivia rounds out the book's attractions. This is a perfect book to take on a long, lazy summer weekend.

Rating:
Summary: A great summer read
Review: Alan Russell's latest book is not my favorite. Multiple Wounds still holds that honor. But Exposure is a very compelling read and would make a welcome addition to any beach bag.
Sparked by the idea that a paparazzo was responsible for the death of Princess Diana, the story takes off from there. It pulls the surprisingly likeable paparazzo protagonist (and the reader) into a bizarre confrontation with a monstrous villain through a series of plausibly rendered plot twists.
Both the scene that triggers the action and the scene that caps it are edge-of-your-seat vivid. Russell's sense of humor, sometimes slapstick and sometimes sly, plays hide and seek throughout the story, and a good helping of Hollywood trivia rounds out the book's attractions. This is a perfect book to take on a long, lazy summer weekend.

Rating:
Summary: Russell on a Roll
Review: Having read all of Alan Russell's novels, with each new one I find myself more impressed with his range. In EXPOSURE, he takes on the Russian mobsters, White House insiders and the CIA, movie stars and the paparazzi that hound them. He carries us to Rio, Paris, rural Spain, Bosnia, New York, Los Angeles and back country Ojai, and makes all those places come alive.

Graham, the paparazzo, is a complex fellow who very gradually wins our sympathy, which makes the first half of the book less compelling than the last half, when the snowballing action and the evil closing in on the characters we've begun to hurt with and pull for takes us on a wild thrill ride.

Lanie, the movie star Graham can't quite decide whether to exploit or fall for, is a charming and credibly human study in the rewards and snares of celebrity.

EXPOSURE is Russell's most ambitious story, and it succeeds remarkably well.

Rating:
Summary: Russell on a Roll
Review: Having read all of Alan Russell's novels, with each new one I find myself more impressed with his range. In EXPOSURE, he takes on the Russian mobsters, White House insiders and the CIA, movie stars and the paparazzi that hound them. He carries us to Rio, Paris, rural Spain, Bosnia, New York, Los Angeles and back country Ojai, and makes all those places come alive.

Graham, the paparazzo, is a complex fellow who very gradually wins our sympathy, which makes the first half of the book less compelling than the last half, when the snowballing action and the evil closing in on the characters we've begun to hurt with and pull for takes us on a wild thrill ride.

Lanie, the movie star Graham can't quite decide whether to exploit or fall for, is a charming and credibly human study in the rewards and snares of celebrity.

EXPOSURE is Russell's most ambitious story, and it succeeds remarkably well.

Rating:
Summary: Exposure is Russell's Best Yet
Review: In the thriller Exposure, the eminently readable Alan Russell has pulled out all the stops. Excellent writing, complex characters, an intricate plot and colorful settings from Rio to Paris to Hollywood blend to form a terrific read.

The intriguing primary character is Graham Wells, a papparazzo with a secret and a conscience. The reader is pulled into Wells' personal struggle as he grapples with danger, political intrigue and the heady world of celebrity.

Whether you enjoy novels of mystery, adventure or romance, Exposure is sure to satisfy.

Rating:
Summary: exposure
Review: It's hard to say if there is a "typical" Alan Russell novel. He's given us whodunits, funny mysteries, psychological thrillers, and now suspense.

To date, my favorite Russell novel was the hilarious Hotel Detective but this book is equally enjoyable but in a very different way. It's gripping and suspenseful and the kind of book you want to finish in one sitting.

Exposure gives us a very unusual hero, a paparazzo. It was fun learning about the tricks of the trade, and seeing the world through Graham Wells's eyes. I never thought I'd find myself sympathizing or empathizing with a character like this--but Russell fleshes out a very real human being who is both likeable not so likeable.

What I really liked was the triad of villians. Also, there was a lot of fascinating information about German dueling fraternities.

This book has snappy dialog, great action, and characters with legs and baggage. You don't want to miss this read.

Rating:
Summary: Another fun knockout from Alan Russell
Review: Looking for a read that's fast-paced,entertaining,Exposure is it. A real page-turner, I read it in an afternoon. Conflict, love story, suspense, international intrigue, a hero trapped by his own actions, someone you should hate but can't help cheering on! In Exposure Russell gives the reader a unique view into the world of paparrazzi managing to maintain his objectivity and allow his readers to make their own judgements about the professionals we hate but create.

Rating:
Summary: Hallelujah!
Review: My son bought this book and simply couldn't put it down. He insisted that I put it at the top of my reading stack and I'm glad he did - it's a great page turner. Exposure is a book to buy, borrow or steal!

I won't repeat the other detailed reviews on this site, but will throw in my two cents worth to say the plot is very inventive yet utterly believable, the characters are well developed and the twists and turns are varied. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This is the first work by Russell that I have read but it definitely won't be the last.

Rating:
Summary: High Octane Thriller
Review: Russell's EXPOSURE is a roller-coaster ride from Hollywood, to Rio, to Paris, and back. His paparazzo Graham Wells is a great anti-hero. The book is both literary and high octane, and it works for me on all fronts.

Rating:
Summary: Folks, Alan Russell is a treasure!
Review: This is a story of mayhem, intrigue, sex, high-speed suspense, and plain old-fashioned fun. Alan Russell has a way with the turn of phrase and plot that keeps you amused, guessing, and waiting for the next morsel of wit or intrigue. He is a wonder and a man whose work is to be savored like a bite or French gourmet or a taste of exquisite wine. Truly a wonder and despite my own literary efforts, I remain envious.

Bravo! This is his best and they're all terrific. Buy this book.