China Card

Rating:
Summary: Blood Bloodies Clancy's "Bear"
Review: As a first time novelist, Blood has, right out of the gate, blown way past Clancy in a head to head between China Card and Clancy's latest. I just can't get through the latter and could not put down the former.

Every chapter in China Card has a great punch in it. For commuters, it leaves you satisfied that you have gotten off the train with a great finish to your literary as well as literal journey. At least the book give you something to look forward to on the return trip. For those like me who just sit an read for relaxation, the writting keeps you moving through chapter after chapter as quickly as possible.

In a blind review of the two manuscripts, any editor worth his salt would be sending the rejection slip to Clancy. Blood has written one of the most engaging political-espionage books of all time, in my view. It is extremely well written and I really enjoyed the tart-tongued protaganist who actually clearly was a loyal friend with the right priorities.

Wicked good suprise ending as well.

The book also is a quick tutorial on the realities of Washington DC and its money men and politics. Beats a political science text -- and actually living in DC -- for those who want to experience vicariously one-the-ground political realities.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read- A Real Washington Insider!
Review: Blood is an obvious insider on the Washington circuit. This is an explosive read from start to finish.

Rating:
Summary: Taut, fast-paced thriller...great read!
Review: I almost ran to the computer to warn others to save their money. I could go on and on about how poorly this is written and how unrealistic the plot and the characters are but suffice it to say it is a mess. I can't understand how anyone rated this higher than 1 star and I wouldn't have given it that if there was a zero rating. I only rate books that are outstanding or outstandingly bad and this is certainly the latter.

Rating:
Summary: Return to Great Thiller Writing
Review: I simply must give Mr. Blood full marks for an excellent effort. China Card, quite simply, represents a return to fresh, clean, action-centered writing in the thriller genre. I wish such a statement was unremarkeable, but the fact is the most well known popular novelists have taken up writing ponderous, overweight tomes that are disrespectful toward the readers' need to be swept along by the story. Mr. Blood eschews this trend with a consistently clear hand and a visual style that gives each reader's imagination a front row seat on the action. As a foreigner, I probably should not weigh in on the character development of that peculiar species known as the Washington political operative. On the other hand, I was posted on official duty in Washington for several years. While there, I got to know many such zoo exhibits, and I can attest to the fact that Mr. Blood is spot on, although my own assessment would be much harsher and more cynical in some respects.

It was only a stroke of good luck that a Washington friend of mine recommended the book. That was advice well taken and I offer the same advice to the readers of this review.

Rating:
Summary: Keep 'em coming!
Review: It's hard to believe that China Card is only Mr. Blood's first novel. The intricately-woven plot, and the development of the main character, are every bit as good as in a Clancy or Follett thriller. Yes, there are a few minor editing problems, but they really don't detract from the flow of action as the reader becomes engrossed in the story via Mr. Blood's punchy writing and strong imagery. As a former Washington political junkie, I can see in Mr. Blood's work the factual realities that underlie all great fiction. And, most interestingly, the book holds up well in the post 9/11 world, and would translate easily to the screen. In the meantime, there's no reason the main character in this story can't find himself on another adventure. Mr. Blood, let's see a sequel!

Rating:
Summary: Keep 'em coming!
Review: It's hard to believe that China Card is only Mr. Blood's first novel. The intricately-woven plot, and the development of the main character, are every bit as good as in a Clancy or Follett thriller. Yes, there are a few minor editing problems, but they really don't detract from the flow of action as the reader becomes engrossed in the story via Mr. Blood's punchy writing and strong imagery. As a former Washington political junkie, I can see in Mr. Blood's work the factual realities that underlie all great fiction. And, most interestingly, the book holds up well in the post 9/11 world, and would translate easily to the screen. In the meantime, there's no reason the main character in this story can't find himself on another adventure. Mr. Blood, let's see a sequel!

Rating:
Summary: As biased as "The West Wing"
Review: The author worked for the Carter administration, and it shows. All of the Democrats in the book are depicted as great people, whereas the Republicans are either evil or outright buffoons.

The story, along with the "insider" writing style (which is quite good), earns the book four stars out of five. The bias brings it down to three. If you like "The West Wing" and lean left politically, or if you enjoy reading the New York Times, this is the book for you. If the bias of that show and that paper bother you, skip it.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: This book proved to be a page turner.You get a good insight into Washington D.C. You are able to get a good scenario into the running of a Presidential campaign.You are shown various methods of fundraising. Our hero Mike Hanson is a political
operative who is in the middle of the fray. You have a young prostitute murdered who has ties to Hanson.You also have some
very vivious and deadly villains in the persons of Devon and
the Chief.The plots and subplots provide many surprises and
shocks throughout the book.You are also introduced to Danielle
Harris,Tom Griffin,and the "Bundlemeister" as well.This is a very
good book that makes for very good reading.You will not be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Close, But now cigar
Review: This book should be title loose ends.... not worth the money.... Too bad because the premise was pretty good, however the execution of this premise is very poor..

Rating:
Summary: Great novel...
Review: This book would work great as a movie. I love the politics. Wow! I hope them types of things really don't go on in D.C.. The ending caught me off guard, and I usually figure these novels out early on.