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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I had high hopes for this one when it started as it was brilliantly written especially the dialogue and I felt that even though it was the type of book I don't normally read it could really soar. This one is much more a thriller than Stroby's previous novels and was a turn away from the hardboiled/noir that I usually read. For me, it felt pretty derivative of what the thriller genre is and it sorely lacked any excitement in the climax as the story fizzles out.
Devlin is an ex-soldier who has become somewhat of a recluse after separating from his wife and son. Bell, an ex-colleague, tracks him down with less than noble intentions. Tracy Quinn is a Philadelphia journalist, who is sticking to her principles and continuing to produce investigative stories in the face of increasing job cuts at her paper and under editorial pressure. The two sort of use each other to get information on the people who set Devlin up for their own gains.
The book was pretty solid, but I felt it was stereotypical of the genre with characters with shady pasts looking to go legit through political powers and the journalist and the man of principle looking to take them down. That aside I was enjoying it, but where it loses a star is in the ending where there are no real stakes at play and the main character doesn't actually play much of a part in what unfolds.
I'll still be diving into Stroby's Crissa Stone series as it sounds more up my (noir) alley, but this one ultimately didn't quite do it for me.
Devlin is an ex-soldier who has become somewhat of a recluse after separating from his wife and son. Bell, an ex-colleague, tracks him down with less than noble intentions. Tracy Quinn is a Philadelphia journalist, who is sticking to her principles and continuing to produce investigative stories in the face of increasing job cuts at her paper and under editorial pressure. The two sort of use each other to get information on the people who set Devlin up for their own gains.
The book was pretty solid, but I felt it was stereotypical of the genre with characters with shady pasts looking to go legit through political powers and the journalist and the man of principle looking to take them down. That aside I was enjoying it, but where it loses a star is in the ending where there are no real stakes at play and the main character doesn't actually play much of a part in what unfolds.
I'll still be diving into Stroby's Crissa Stone series as it sounds more up my (noir) alley, but this one ultimately didn't quite do it for me.
Easy to read but so unbelievable. Like a child's action movie
3.5 stars really. Good characters, good story, lots of action and visuals. I like this Wallace Stroby guy.
This started off strong with a lot of frisson over what exactly was going to happen with intrepid reporter Tracy, reluctant former mercenary Devlin, and ruthless killer Lukas, but this fell apart so hard at the end all I could do was shake my fist Well, everyone's dead? I guess? Because no one thought it would be important to make sure that anyone else was on the boat? And Tracy gets a new job, but too bad for Alysha, and whatever oh-baby thing was going on between Devlin and his doctor, which seems to do disservice to the word improper Also cue so much mirthless laughter over the almost quaint revelation that a politician would be so tainted with his involvement in any of these shenanigans to the point that he'd drop a re-election campaign.
Non-series actioner with somebody trying to retire retired mercenaries. Stroby has a tremendous sense of pacing and he writes a good gun battle. The hero here is a little too squeaky, but it barrels along with enough brio so you hardly notice.
This will be Stroby's breakthrough thriller. All the parts mesh beautifully -- pacing, characters, plot. Terrific read by a budding master of the form.