Reading old books of science experiments for children, it's easy to become nostalgic for the days when you could buy jugs of sulfur and mercury at...
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Artist/not-so-secret agent Gabriel Allon is lured from his idyllic Umbria honeymoon by a request for a "small favor" from his mentor/father surrogate, former head of the Mussad. The favor turns out to be lethal. Although the mission that develops is a crucial one, involving covert arms sales and global terrorism, Gabriel has learned to subjugate what his heart tells him in order to do what he deems right. Somehow, Moscow Rules is missing the edge that all previous Allon novels have offered. While there is menace and violence to spare, Gabriel himself seems to be going through the paces because, well, that's what he does. The villain of the piece, Ivan Kharkov, seems a caricature designed to personify all the tyrannical elements that persist even in modern Russia, and his wife, who rats him out, doesn't come across as strong or committed enough to fulfill her mission. Nevertheless, I'd rather read a Silva covert-ops novel than one by virtually anyone else writing today, and Moscow isn't bad, simply not quite as sharp as its predecessors.
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Ace FBI "Sweeper" Edwin Kreiss has retired in disgrace, having uncovered evidence against the wishes of his government. Novice Special Agent Janet Carter, with the same "weakness" for insisting on telling the truth, is assigned to the investigation when Kreiss's daughter disappears on a camping trip. Kreiss has agreed to abstain from anything remotely connected to police work, but when the local Bureau rolls the case over to Missing Persons, he decides he'll have to take matters into his own hands. And all hell breaks loose. With bomb cells, a derelict arsenal, mountain men, Christian militia, and treacherous political infighting, Carter is hard pressed to identify the "enemy" and Kreiss doesn't care who he has to take out in order to recover his daughter. The hunters become the hunted in this no holds barred techno-thriller, filled with secret weapons, double dealing, and non-stop, ever perilous action.
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Recently widowed Lilia leaves her overbearing in-laws in England, to tour Italy, which her brother in law assures her is enchanting. Completely entranced by the Italian lifestyle and culture, Lilia falls for a handsome but penniless younger man and impulsively marries him. Her scandalized mother-in-law immediately disowns her for bringing shame upon the family. A year later, Lilia is dead in childbirth, and while her English in-laws have no genuine interest in her infant son, a chance remark from a family friend impels them to seek custody in order to save him from a "savage" upbringing.
Where Angels Fear to Tread is no love story. Forster began his writing career with this book of contrasts, introducing themes that would occupy him for the rest of his life. The sterility and pretensions of upper middle class Edwardian society are scrutinized against the passionate (and heavily stereotyped) lifestyle of the Italians, and come up short. What matters more, duty or happiness, self control or self expression, intention or outcome? This novel is described as social satire, and it has its amusing, farcical elements, but the subject matter is serious and the ending, tragic.
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Former NYC cop Coop, recovering from cancer treatments and a bitter divorce, is struck yet another terrible blow when his daughter is brutally murdered. There's something ritualistic about her death, and Coop can't ignore all his training, all his instincts, and allow the police to handle the investigation. It's not long before he meets an eccentric true crime writer, Deni, who believes there's a serial killer skulking around. Soon she convinces Coop, but the authorities aren't buying the theory.
Naturally, there is a serial killer, and the remainder of this plot should come as no surprise. There's lots of talk, a new love interest, and the dogged pursuit of evidence, which is sparse. The climax is predictable as well, but what breathes life into this thriller is the appeal of this detective (labelled by the newspapers The Distraught Dad) and the sporadic, cat-and-mouse-style of suspense. I never knew you could murder someone with a can opener!
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Linda Pagliuco has commented on (4) products.
Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva
Linda Pagliuco, June 11, 2009
Artist/not-so-secret agent Gabriel Allon is lured from his idyllic Umbria honeymoon by a request for a "small favor" from his mentor/father surrogate, former head of the Mussad. The favor turns out to be lethal. Although the mission that develops is a crucial one, involving covert arms sales and global terrorism, Gabriel has learned to subjugate what his heart tells him in order to do what he deems right. Somehow, Moscow Rules is missing the edge that all previous Allon novels have offered. While there is menace and violence to spare, Gabriel himself seems to be going through the paces because, well, that's what he does. The villain of the piece, Ivan Kharkov, seems a caricature designed to personify all the tyrannical elements that persist even in modern Russia, and his wife, who rats him out, doesn't come across as strong or committed enough to fulfill her mission. Nevertheless, I'd rather read a Silva covert-ops novel than one by virtually anyone else writing today, and Moscow isn't bad, simply not quite as sharp as its predecessors.(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Hunting Season by P T Deutermann
Linda Pagliuco, May 16, 2009
Ace FBI "Sweeper" Edwin Kreiss has retired in disgrace, having uncovered evidence against the wishes of his government. Novice Special Agent Janet Carter, with the same "weakness" for insisting on telling the truth, is assigned to the investigation when Kreiss's daughter disappears on a camping trip. Kreiss has agreed to abstain from anything remotely connected to police work, but when the local Bureau rolls the case over to Missing Persons, he decides he'll have to take matters into his own hands. And all hell breaks loose. With bomb cells, a derelict arsenal, mountain men, Christian militia, and treacherous political infighting, Carter is hard pressed to identify the "enemy" and Kreiss doesn't care who he has to take out in order to recover his daughter. The hunters become the hunted in this no holds barred techno-thriller, filled with secret weapons, double dealing, and non-stop, ever perilous action.(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Where Angels Fear to Tread (Dover Thrift Editions) by E M Forster
Linda Pagliuco, April 20, 2009
Recently widowed Lilia leaves her overbearing in-laws in England, to tour Italy, which her brother in law assures her is enchanting. Completely entranced by the Italian lifestyle and culture, Lilia falls for a handsome but penniless younger man and impulsively marries him. Her scandalized mother-in-law immediately disowns her for bringing shame upon the family. A year later, Lilia is dead in childbirth, and while her English in-laws have no genuine interest in her infant son, a chance remark from a family friend impels them to seek custody in order to save him from a "savage" upbringing.Where Angels Fear to Tread is no love story. Forster began his writing career with this book of contrasts, introducing themes that would occupy him for the rest of his life. The sterility and pretensions of upper middle class Edwardian society are scrutinized against the passionate (and heavily stereotyped) lifestyle of the Italians, and come up short. What matters more, duty or happiness, self control or self expression, intention or outcome? This novel is described as social satire, and it has its amusing, farcical elements, but the subject matter is serious and the ending, tragic.
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
The Night Caller by John Lutz
Linda Pagliuco, April 20, 2009
Former NYC cop Coop, recovering from cancer treatments and a bitter divorce, is struck yet another terrible blow when his daughter is brutally murdered. There's something ritualistic about her death, and Coop can't ignore all his training, all his instincts, and allow the police to handle the investigation. It's not long before he meets an eccentric true crime writer, Deni, who believes there's a serial killer skulking around. Soon she convinces Coop, but the authorities aren't buying the theory.Naturally, there is a serial killer, and the remainder of this plot should come as no surprise. There's lots of talk, a new love interest, and the dogged pursuit of evidence, which is sparse. The climax is predictable as well, but what breathes life into this thriller is the appeal of this detective (labelled by the newspapers The Distraught Dad) and the sporadic, cat-and-mouse-style of suspense. I never knew you could murder someone with a can opener!
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)