Along the way, we discover that Brewer is really a patriot at heart and has an almost superhuman intellect. McCall, we realize, is what we might call a sleaze who will stop at nothing to obtain his own ends, which are more about career enhancement and self enrichment than love of country.There are more plot twists than can be counted. Just to complicate things in the reader's mind, some of these twists turn out to have nothing to do with the plot.
Now that we know who's the "good guy," and who are the "bad guys," the questions to be answered are: Will good triumph over evil? Will Brewer solve his dilemma (patriotism vs. potential loss of life or personal freedom)? Will McCall's triple assassination plot work? Will McCall thwart Brewer?
Phew! Those are a lot of questions, and the answers can only be obtained by reading FOXCATCHER from cover to cover.
FOXCATCHER suffers from a few too many lucky coincidences and near misses, some stereotypical characterization, and a lot of violence. In spite of all of this, it'll keep you awake while you're waiting to have your root canal.
Rating: 
Summary: WHO DO YOU TRUST? ARE YOU SURE?
Review: I always keep a paperback "thriller" or two in my car to read while waiting for my doctor or my dentist or while having a solitary cup of coffee. FOXCATCHER falls into that category.
Charlie Brewer, CIA Agent Extraordinaire, has been set-up by his boss, Robert McCall and is in jail as the book opens. Mysterious Iranian Agent, Attashah, bribes all three members of a parole board (Yes, all three) and arranges a release for Brewer. Brewer has no idea why he has been released but knows that something is fishy. Attashah makes himself known to Brewer and blackmails Brewer into attempting to acquire, and illegally deliver to Iran, certain super-sensitive military parts. Brewer can either take the job, which will probably end up in his death, or return to jail. He takes the job.
Meanwhile, after a failed attempt on his life, McCall (Remember him? Brewer's old boss.) responds by hatching a plot to assassinate three major international arms dealers on the same day. (That'll teach them to try to assassinate him!) He also discover's Attashah's mission and eventually gets wind of Brewer's part in it.
All of the above is just the set-up. The balance of the book is devoted to the progress of these two themes:
1.) McCall's triple assassination plot
2.) Brewer'sprogress in obtaining the parts and <McCall's attempts to catch Brewer.
Along the way, we discover that Brewer is really a patriot at heart and has an almost superhuman intellect. McCall, we realize, is what we might call a sleaze who will stop at nothing to obtain his own ends, which are more about career enhancement and self enrichment than love of country.
There are more plot twists than can be counted. Just to complicate things in the reader's mind, some of these twists turn out to have nothing to do with the plot.
Now that we know who's the "good guy," and who are the "bad guys," the questions to be answered are: Will good triumph over evil? Will Brewer solve his dilemma (patriotism vs. potential loss of life or personal freedom)? Will McCall's triple assassination plot work? Will McCall thwart Brewer?
Phew! Those are a lot of questions, and the answers can only be obtained by reading FOXCATCHER from cover to cover.
FOXCATCHER suffers from a few too many lucky coincidences and near misses, some stereotypical characterization, and a lot of violence. In spite of all of this, it'll keep you awake while you're waiting to have your root canal.
Rating: 
Summary: A good Charlie Brewer thriller
Review: William Hallahan is likely the best suspense author you've never read. Foxcatcher is a good example of his work. It is both wry and suspenseful, managing to capture the essence of the two opposing protagonists: Brewer and McCall. Hallahan's style is measured, precise and professional. He uses an economy of detail to focus the reader's attention, and then hooks him in for the long haul.
Never mind the spoiler laden review below. Check out some Hallahan! You will not regret it.
Rating:
Summary: A good Charlie Brewer thriller
Review: William Hallahan is likely the best suspense author you've never read. Foxcatcher is a good example of his work. It is both wry and suspenseful, managing to capture the essence of the two opposing protagonists: Brewer and McCall. Hallahan's style is measured, precise and professional. He uses an economy of detail to focus the reader's attention, and then hooks him in for the long haul.
Never mind the spoiler laden review below. Check out some Hallahan! You will not regret it.
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