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The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva

The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva a former CNN and UPI journalist is exactly what the spy genre needed in 2000 when it was released. I'm going to try and review this without giving too much of it away. Completely fresh with ideas and plot. Well plot is still the same KILL THE TERRORISTS! but its different because the spy is an Israeli Mossad agent when he has to be and a world renowned art restorer, hence the title The Kill Artist. Gabriel Allon lives a quiet life, alone, away from the material set up you and I might live but he is still a human weapon of sorts as he sinks himself into restoring paintings to wash away the nightmarish memory of the night a car bomb blew up his wife and son by a vengeful terrorist. Tariq, is hell bent on upsetting delicate peace talks and a brokered deal to finally bring stability to a divided Arab world. Unfortunately for Mossad, Gabriel, and Palestine he has one last great act of true martyrdom, though when you find out what his resolve to become a martyr is for you wonder why Israel doesn't just let him do it but peace is clearly something Israel wants. Gabriel and Tariq have a small bit of history: Gabriel killed Tariq's brother in a surprise sneak attack thus sealing the fate of their ultimate fight years later. The pace moves fluidly. Introducing a few key characters who maintain credible personalities (seductress/spy/super model/ex lover Jacqueline, Retired/unretired Mossad spy chief Ari, curious playboy Yusef) of course any character is integral only a few have spot parts but especially with Jacqueline when she was first introduced there was a sense of ominous foreboding that I wanted the best to come out of it for her. I like this book for 2 reasons: One, how cool is it to have an art restorer moonlight as an Israeli spy!? Two, how tired do you get of Americans having all the fun killing terrorists? It's VERY cool to have an art restorer secretly harbor his killing nature through painting and finally take over where American spy thrillers seem to tread haphazardly across without some sort of civility. Mr. Silva writes a grade A novel here. It's like a cool refreshing rain after a hot, dry summer drought. I come to appreciate such refreshment so much in fact I've made great progress on his 2nd book in the Gabriel Allon series The English Assassin which was released in 2001.

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Always a good thriller. Vince Flynn's latest best seller. #MitchRapp #Politics #Thriller

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Interesting stories from an American author based in Greece. Yes, I applied. Few filters just to see what I could come up with. Overall, I've started Murder on Mykonos and I am enjoying the story line and plot.

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A bit slow getting started but it should kick up a notch soon #Norway #Books #Murder

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One Shot by Lee Child

Trying to describe Jack Reacher is as tough as he is portrayed by Lee Child. Putting it into words though Lee Child makes it work. Honestly this book is understandably a best seller and why shouldn't it be? It has everything working for it to make it a fan favorite. It has the action, which a Reacher novel is NEVER short on. It has the drama which grips you by the wrist. Last, but not least, it has personality.

“I still need whatever information you have,” Rodin said. Reacher shook his head. “No,” he said. “You really don’t.”

Reacher has always been someone you don't mess with. His persona is blunt without the mess around to get to the point. He is a calculating, menacing brute force when being faced adversely head on. That being said lets talk about the book.

One Shot, the 9th book in the extremely popular Jack Reacher series is pedal to the metal action. When a sniper opens fire on the 5 o' clock rush hour exodus of office workers to their cars killing 5 people everyone is left in bewildered wondering as to why it could happen in a basic suburban American town in Indiana. Quickly getting to work the police find and arrest James Barr who makes one request "Get Jack Reacher for me." Sure, everything fits perfectly to fit James Barr to the crime and even Jack Reacher fits everything to James Barr with whom he has a bit of history with 14 years earlier in his old life of being a Military Policeman in Kuwait City when 4 service members where gunned down. With a bit of political maneuvering Barr gets off for the crime but in typical Reacher style he left him with a warning that he would bring him down if he stepped out of line. To which this is how Reacher is approaching the case.

Mysteriously, someone else is also watching the case, someone who puts Reacher in his sights before he arrives in Indiana. A cute innocent young girl and a bar fight is all it takes as Reacher begins to ask questions things escalate out of control to the point where Reacher starts to doubt the ability of James Barr to even commit this heinous act when everything shows that he was on the up and up from his brush with justice in Kuwait City. With the help of a wet behind the ears Defense Attorney, who just so happens to be the daughter of the District Attorney prosecuting the case, the concerned sister, and a news reporter looking for her big break Reacher pieces together a quieted cover up that without the right person digging for it would have gone unnoticed when it relates to something so obscure that it takes everyone, including Reacher by surprise.

I really felt this novel delivered from the first paragraph. It's brisk and to the point. No lengthy discussions about tactics or strategy. Hardly any filler to make it take up paper and space. Delivery of the dialogue delivers classic Reacher one liners that any true fan of Lee Child and Jack Reacher would instantly start nodding their head with a smirking grin.

"You've got blood on your shirt"... "Not mine."

That delivery is classy and blunt as you will ever find when discussing the kind of person that Jack Reacher is. Though apart from the physical description of 6 foot 5, 250 pounds, and muscles as hard as mahogany. This is just pure characteristic. Brute force, no holds bar, with very little acceptance of rules but his own. Novels live and die by the character written to lead and Jack Reacher leads us down a physical, personal path.

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The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor

What an intricate display of thrilling action for a debut novel! Brad Thor writes this book fluidly but with an occasional ripple but still the writing was smooth enough that the ripple could go unnoticed. A secret clandestine meeting between a powerful industrialist, two opportunistic senators, and the Vice President of the United States of America can only mean one thing: A whole bunch of trouble. When the American President and Daughter are attacked on the snowy slopes of Utah resulting in the mysterious abduction of the President, the action and adventures of Scot Harvath kick into high gear as he gets railroaded and accused of the masterful plan by every level of law enforcement. Using skill and intellect Scot seems to be a few steps in line, never behind since obviously that would get him killed, with the people who are hunting him down and want him eliminated. From the slopes of Utah, the cool brisk air of Washington D.C., the snow capped hills and mountains of Switzerland, Scot Harvath seeks out the explanation of why someone wants to get rid of him and make him worthy of the humiliating charge of high treason against the United States of America. Only when he gets to Switzerland and trying to catch his breath do answers start to become available. With the help of a beautiful Swiss Federal Attorney do details unravel about a high ranking Swiss Intelligence officer and his high society lifestyle along with suspicious but unproven secret dealings. All the facts and details are eloquently woven by Mr. Thor who kind of makes me want to visit Switzerland after detailing it so vividly. The drama is fast and furious. The action is relentless. Scot Harvath isn't necessarily the "New American Hero" but he can definitely make a statement to be included in that discussion. I am anxious to read the other novels by Brad Thor and expect them to live up to the high standard set for them by this debut. It definitely kicks some serious butt.

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NYPD Red by James Patterson and Marshall Karp

I haven't finished this book but I've read enough that I feel I can give an adequate review.

I'm not dampening the skill of Mr. Patterson or Mr. Karp, they both are excellent writers but I think that collaboration on a novel that is over ridden with cliche police dialogue, ex-lovers as partners investigating crime is something grasping and reaching but not really clinging on for dear life. Apart from a few interesting moments between the 2 main characters. The only inspired and I'd have to say original concept was the killer and his lover.

A delusional fringe actor decides to write, direct, and act out the "greatest script ever" to right the wrongs of the film industry as New York City welcomes Hollywood to the bright lights of Times Square for "Hollywood on the Hudson" week. With little inclusions of so called script setting the "scene", The Chameleon goes about his business blending in with the crowd and leaving little trace of his actual identity. He has gone so far down his delusional black hole with his lover that you sort of anticipate the trip up which is something you don't want have an anticipation for but in this case it's acceptable just so the story will move along.

Kylie MacDonald and Zach Jordan. Ex-lovers and Police Academy Alumni apart from the ex-lovers part they are typical generic cops. They aren't written or plotted out for you to want to cheer for them, it's as if they are there to just fill the space on paper. I'll admit, they have an occasional bright moment but in honesty they are about plain and stall as can be. Even when introducing the Psychologist to kind of get a feel on The Chameleon, the dialogue for her is grade A cliche cause in a sense you get the fact that this guy is nuts and completely down the rabbit hole to completely come back to reality without having a fictional shrink tell you that.

The action? If it wasn't for the committing of the crimes then I highly doubt I would have finished 75% of this book. Like your typical middle of the road novel it has the mandatory sexual intercourse and language cause you know this book isn't for children.

I'll keep reading books by Mr. Patterson but from a re-read point of view? This book is one and done.

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Introduction

Well I hope everyone enjoys a good book review cause I aim to give a proper review. I will try to publish one at least once a month.

I have a few line up already and will publish them soon. I read lots of fiction novels. Main genre's are Military/Spy thrillers, Legal, Mysteries (Police, PI).

Some of my favorite authors but not limited too them specifically: Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Michael Connelly, Patricia Cornwell, Jo Nesbo, Arnaldur Indridason, James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, John Sandford, Jefferson Bass, John Grisham just to name a few. There are a lot of excellent writers out there and they all deserve due credit for their skills.