Assassins : Assignment--Jerusalem, Target--Antichrist (Left Behind #6)

Rating:
Summary: Sheer commercialism, with only mediocre literary merit.
Review: This book (and series) is nearly unreadable, and evidently millions have been suckered into shelling out the bucks for each new installment. Any perceptive reader would realize that the scenarios plotted are absolutely implausible, that the world would not nearly sustain the kind of technological infrastructure remaining in the wake of such catastrophic disaster, and the errors in characterization (Rayford, anyone?) are annoying to the point of distraction. Never let it be said that these authors shine with brilliance, for such obtuseness will be met with right vindictive emotive capacity.

Rating:
Summary: Were the collateral damage not so severe, they'd be revised.
Review: Even a cursory analysis of the characterization and plot devices of this volume indicates a general decline in the overall qualitative effect of the series. Most readers are no longer gripped by the minutiae of the Israeli conflagration, nor are the impending catastrophes presented with plausibility or satisfactory allocation of pagination. Major events are dealt with in a summarily dismissive manner, and minor characters consume far too much dialogue space. A more credible reading of the eschatological importment would provide far more casualties and more attention to such details as food and water and other such life sustaining materiel. In short, the heavily perfunctory and homiletic approach of the authors prevents literary and theological appreciation from taking place to any major extent.

Rating:
Summary: WHO DONE IT? WHO CARES?
Review: THIS SERIES OF BOOKS IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO THOSE WHO FIND THE BIBLE HARD TO INTERPRET--ASSUMING OF COURSE YOU HAVE THE SAME FAITH LEHAYE AND JENKINS ASSERT INTO THE MATERIAL--AND TAKE THEIR INTERPRETATONS OF REVELATIONS AS GOSPEL. I TEND TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR IDEAS, BUT WHY MAKE A MYSTERY OUT OF WHO DONE IT--OR DRAG IT OUT AND MAKE A SOAP OPERA OUT OF IT--GET TO THE POINT BOYS AND TELL US THE REST BEFORE THE RAPTURE REALLY HITS--OK??????

Rating:
Summary: Very intense and true to the series, does not let you down.
Review: Assasains is a very fast paced book, probably the most intense of the six books so far. The only problem I have with this book is that I have to wait until spring to get the next book in the series.

Rating:
Summary: From Seven to Twelve?
Review: I am always cautious when stating something that could be construed as "ill" about another Believer, but, guys, enough is enough. I thoroughly enjoy this series and what it is doing to further the Great Commission. However, I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees a bit of excessively crass commercialism creeping into this series. The "cliff hanger" ending to this volume was bush league - Messrs. LaHaye & Jenkins, you've got a winner here and such tactics are unnecessary to get devotees to purchase the next volume; instead, they dilute your (His) message with readers' scorn. Second, this type of ending continues the shift from the more direct style of Left Behind & Trib Force - a shift that seemed to begin with Nicolae. The shift in style since Nicolae involves the addition of excessive "character development" filler. Apparently, this was less needed for literary precision that it was to expand the series from seven to (at last report) twelve volumes. Like the one on-line review said, you're turning an engaging story-line with the most powerful message of the ages into soap opera.

Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!!!!!
Review: All of the books in this series create an amazing and hard to ignore view of the times after Jesus takes his people back. I just finished this book a week or so ago and I CANNOT wait for the next one to be available! They are VERY hard to put down once you begin to read them. I am thankful that these men took it upon themselves to write about the end in an understandable way - through fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I guess I'm giving up on this series, each new book is worse than the last. I have read a number of other books in this genre which have been recommended in these reader reviews, including Nichols THE FIST OF GOD, Peretti's THE VISITATION, and Kleier's THE LAST DAY. Of all these, THE LAST DAY is by far the very best read. It has complex plotting, tight-scripted prose and dialogue, fast pace, and one of the most surprising, exciting stories I've read in years. If you're looking for a good book recommendation, that is my two cents worth!

Rating:
Summary: Leaves you Hanging for Book 7 Great!!!!!
Review: I have thououghly enjoyed all the books in this series. Can't wait for the next. The authors keep to biblical text and weave the characters throughout.

Rating:
Summary: An update
Review: This book passed the one million mark in sales just a few weeks since its release. All six books in the series are over a million in sales with six more titles to come. We are overwhelmed, but more important are the many stories of affected lives. Thanks to fans and critics alike for caring, and for the word-of-mouth that keeps this going.

Rating:
Summary: Has success spoiled Mr. Jenkins and Mr. LaHaye?
Review: I've read and recommended this series to a number of friends since the first book came out. However, Apollyon and Assassins do not begin to equate in quality with the initial books. I have read other reviews saying the "cash cow" has come into play here and I regret that I must agree. With the upcoming movie of "Left Behind", I felt that the authors were writing Assassins more as a screenplay than a novel. Please Mr. Jenkins and Mr. LaHaye, return to your prior quality writing. The movie rights will take care of themselves as will the screenplay! Leave the "who-dun-it" theatrics out because it just cheapens an otherwise invaluable series of books.