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hswright0404's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
shannonw19's review against another edition
4.0
Will Cochrane is a British spy, code name Spartan. Only one Spartan exists at a time. If the training doesn't kill them, they hold the title until they die.
When an operation in Central Park to bring in an Iranian asset goes wrong, Will is drawn into a plot to destroy the West and Isreal. I am not going to say anything else about the plot because I don't want to ruin it. But it you like spy novels and thrillers, this book does not disappoint.
Matthew Dunn has given us a character who is part James Bond, part Jason Borne, but yet unique on his own. I enjoyed the book. I have two small complaints. One is that it is sometimes a bit wordy. The second is that the ending leaves one small thing untied and I will just have to assume it worked out the way I wanted it to.
Spycatcher is definitely worth the read.
When an operation in Central Park to bring in an Iranian asset goes wrong, Will is drawn into a plot to destroy the West and Isreal. I am not going to say anything else about the plot because I don't want to ruin it. But it you like spy novels and thrillers, this book does not disappoint.
Matthew Dunn has given us a character who is part James Bond, part Jason Borne, but yet unique on his own. I enjoyed the book. I have two small complaints. One is that it is sometimes a bit wordy. The second is that the ending leaves one small thing untied and I will just have to assume it worked out the way I wanted it to.
Spycatcher is definitely worth the read.
dantastic's review against another edition
2.0
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard is plannign a terror attack against the West and it's up to MI6's top agent Will Cochrane to ferret out the terrorist mastermind, a fellow spy calling himself Meggido. But what is the connection between Cochrane and Meggido? And is Cochrane willing to use the woman he's falling for to bait a trap for Meggido?
I won this in a Firstreads giveway.
The good parts:
Spycatcher is a decent thriller. Since Matthew Dunn is a former MI6 agent, the action has a gritty authenticity to it. Will Cochrane reminds me of Daniel Craig as James Bond, only tougher and less pretty. It was suspenseful at the appropriate times but not an orgy of violence.
One of the things I liked most about Spycatcher was that while the villains were Muslim terrorists, Dunn didn't beat me over the head with his political beliefs. Not once did I feel like I was being preached to about the evils of the Muslim religion. Brad Thor could learn a thing or two from Dunn's even-handedness.
The not so good parts:
The writing was pretty bland. Maybe it's because I'm a cynical curmudgeon but I found 90% of the twists to be fairly predictable, from Meggido's connection to Cochrane's past to Cochrane falling for Lana. I pretty sure the publisher was banking on Dunn's past as a MI6 operative to sell the book. At no time did I feel like Cochrane was in any real danger and frequently had the urge to skip to the end.
Other observations:
All of the Americans' dialogue seemed British to me. I'd chalk this up to Dunn's inexperience.
The "thrilling" conclusion:
Spycatcher isn't a bad book. It was a gripping way to spend a few hours. Just don't expect it to revolutionize the thriller genre.
I won this in a Firstreads giveway.
The good parts:
Spycatcher is a decent thriller. Since Matthew Dunn is a former MI6 agent, the action has a gritty authenticity to it. Will Cochrane reminds me of Daniel Craig as James Bond, only tougher and less pretty. It was suspenseful at the appropriate times but not an orgy of violence.
One of the things I liked most about Spycatcher was that while the villains were Muslim terrorists, Dunn didn't beat me over the head with his political beliefs. Not once did I feel like I was being preached to about the evils of the Muslim religion. Brad Thor could learn a thing or two from Dunn's even-handedness.
The not so good parts:
The writing was pretty bland. Maybe it's because I'm a cynical curmudgeon but I found 90% of the twists to be fairly predictable, from Meggido's connection to Cochrane's past to Cochrane falling for Lana. I pretty sure the publisher was banking on Dunn's past as a MI6 operative to sell the book. At no time did I feel like Cochrane was in any real danger and frequently had the urge to skip to the end.
Other observations:
All of the Americans' dialogue seemed British to me. I'd chalk this up to Dunn's inexperience.
The "thrilling" conclusion:
Spycatcher isn't a bad book. It was a gripping way to spend a few hours. Just don't expect it to revolutionize the thriller genre.
joestewart's review against another edition
2.0
The writing, especially the dialog, was weak. I found it hard to get through the book due to the inadequate writing.
scottpm's review against another edition
3.0
Good but not great spy story. Not quite a thriller either. The main problem was the pacing, the story lagged. I enjoyed the characters and the story. It was suspenseful until the end.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
3.0
This spy thriller is written by a veteran of the British intelligence agency MI6 – it has the ring of authenticity and lots of plot twists!
Recommended by Andrea
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1417139__Sspycatcher%20dunn__Orightresult__X2?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Recommended by Andrea
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1417139__Sspycatcher%20dunn__Orightresult__X2?lang=eng&suite=pearl
scottyb's review against another edition
1.0
Absolutely terrible. Cliches galore. Hilariously contrived dialogue. Horrible treatment of women. I would suggest no one read this book.
tinabaich's review against another edition
4.0
Spycatcher is the debut novel of Matthew Dunn, a former MI6 field officer. The main character is Will Cochrane, the top MI6 agent of his age. His MI6 handler assigns him to a joint MI6 / CIA mission to capture an Iranian terrorist mastermind code-named Megiddo. Megiddo is so masterful that only Cochrane has any hope of getting to him before he unleashes a monstrous attack. The mission soon becomes both personal and professional as Cochrane tracks Megiddo across Europe and to the U.S. while avoiding his own execution.
Matthew Dunn obviously has the expertise to create a realistic tale of international espionage. Luckily for the reader, he is also an excellent writer and weaves a compelling and heart racing narrative. Cochrane is a natural agent who follows his own instincts even when they run counter to his direct orders. The twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat until the very end wondering if Will could really succeed in defeating Megiddo and his men with only his own wits and a small, out-manned band of American soldiers.
If you are a fan of thrillers, you will certainly love Spycatcher. Matthew Dunn has certainly made his mark on the genre, and I can’t wait to see what he gives us next.
http://iubookgirl.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-spycatcher.html
Matthew Dunn obviously has the expertise to create a realistic tale of international espionage. Luckily for the reader, he is also an excellent writer and weaves a compelling and heart racing narrative. Cochrane is a natural agent who follows his own instincts even when they run counter to his direct orders. The twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat until the very end wondering if Will could really succeed in defeating Megiddo and his men with only his own wits and a small, out-manned band of American soldiers.
If you are a fan of thrillers, you will certainly love Spycatcher. Matthew Dunn has certainly made his mark on the genre, and I can’t wait to see what he gives us next.
http://iubookgirl.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-spycatcher.html