The Rhythm Section

Rating:
Summary: So So
Review: A good premise used successfully in La Femme Nikita but well-executed in this book. Plot is good, with unexpected twists and turns and in fact hits a little too close to home!!Generally well written.
However, suspend your discriminating thought powers (drug addict prostitute becomes a super slueth and has epiphany re revenge). The lead character is too hokey and her characterization is quite muddled and inconsistent. The plot devices work only if you believe the good guys and the bad guys are selectively stupid, overlooking the obvious and our gal is not.

Rating:
Summary: Too eerie for me!
Review: As the jaded consumer of hundreds of thrillers I'm something of a tough audience, but Mark Burnell's debut novel was a genuine page turner and I was very impressed with it. Yes, the plot bears more than a passing resemblance to "La Femme Nikita" and yes, the book is a little too long and drags a bit in the middle, but Stefanie Patrick is much too interesting a heroine and Burnell much too good a storyteller to let small quibbles get in the way of "a crackling good yarn." The book is about how a drug-taking prostitute a few steps from her final fix is transformed into the dreaded Petra Reuter, unstoppable international assassin. There is plenty of sex and violence and a plethora of repulsive terrorists - in short, enough to keep the average thriller fan happily engaged for hours. I'm looking forward to Mr. Burnell's next foray with bated breath.

Rating:
Summary: A fabulous read!
Review: One of the best books of the genre I have ever read. Read this book!

Rating:
Summary: Slow start
Review: This book should have been a lot longer or a lot shorter. The first 3/4 of the book was devoted to developing the main character, but with her multiple identities, the switch from one to the other was jarring at times. There was too little background development of how she fit into each identity. The italicized passages changing the point of view to her internal thoughts tried to smooth over this flaw, but it failed. If more time had been spent exploring these identities, the book would have been longer, but it would have been smoother. On the other hand, this plot device could have been discarded entirely for a better, but shorter, read. Once the book got started, however, the last hundred pages or so were great.

Rating:
Summary: Slow start
Review: This book should have been a lot longer or a lot shorter. The first 3/4 of the book was devoted to developing the main character, but with her multiple identities, the switch from one to the other was jarring at times. There was too little background development of how she fit into each identity. The italicized passages changing the point of view to her internal thoughts tried to smooth over this flaw, but it failed. If more time had been spent exploring these identities, the book would have been longer, but it would have been smoother. On the other hand, this plot device could have been discarded entirely for a better, but shorter, read. Once the book got started, however, the last hundred pages or so were great.

Rating:
Summary: Too eerie for me!
Review: This book was entertaining, but the similarities to whar's gone on in the world since September 11 are too much for me.