Customer Reviews

ASSUMED IDENTITY.

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book above all books delivers. The best description of this profound novel is how fast-paced it is. Excellent story-telling from beginning to end. This ranks in the tops. I have never read a novel that has been this continually climatic. Read it and see for yourself.

OK, people- here I go again about Morrell.

There is just no such thing as a "not so good" Morrell book. Some are better than others, that is the case with all authors. But they all deserve 5 stars. if you look at some of the other books I read, I read various types of books. I also like to read books from the same author, one right after the other. All of Morrells books get 5 stars. i wouldn't do that with Laura Lippman, Sidney Sheldon, Dean koontz or Marian Keyes.

Also, recently I emailed DM and you know what? He EMAILED me back- how cool is that? I can't wait for his next book to come out...counting the days.

Assumed Identity is the best book I've ever read. Unbelievable action, exotic locations, great diverse characters, and an ingenious plot. David Morrell is sheer entertainment for any reader. His fantastic storytelling plays out like your watching an action movie. There's a fearsome villain that makes for a great showdown at the end of the book. A pure page-turner and a top-notch novel from Morrell.

This book above all books delivers. The best description of this profound novel is how fast-paced it is. Excellent story-telling from beginning to end. This ranks in the tops. I have never read a novel that has been this continually climatic. Read it and see for yourself.

Assumed Identity starts with a brilliant premise -- an intelligence operative who is as much a Method actor as he is a spy -- and runs with it for over 400 pages. However, what makes this book special is not its intricate plot,but it's character study of a burned-out, tormented figure, Brendan Buchanan.

Certainly the most complex individual I've come across in years of reading spy novels, Buchanan is a masterpiece of characterization. So skilled is he at assuming false identities in the course of his work that his own identity is all but gone. And the battle he wages -- to find his former love, protect his new partner, and save his own life -- is as much to defeat the evil facing him as it is to get his life back, if that's even possible.

Assumed Identity also is one of David Morrell's most plausible works. Morrell has played fast and loose with spy tradecraft and facts in previous books, like The Fraternity of the Stone and The Brotherhood of the Rose, but he's clearly done his homework here.

David Morrell has evoked comparisons with Graham Greene and Ernest Hemingway. I think he deserves them, and Assumed Identity is proof positive of his talent.

No one writes better than Morrell when it comes to the "fugitive" novel - one man hunted by many in a cross-country chase.

In this case, a military intelligence deep cover operative has been accidentally exposed and an operation goes sour. Soon, the operative is being blackmailed and chased by an attractive reporter and the unwanted attention causes the operative's handlers to "terminate" a number of people and the operative comes to believe that his own life is in danger as well. Throw in a damsel in distress (actually two) and a James Bond-esque villain and the chase is on!

Unfortunately, a great story is slightly marred by the protagonist's constant internal psychobabble about who he really is (he confuses himself with the various personas he's become over the years). An even bigger problem is the ultra-rich villain. He's a parody of the James Bond super villain. The climax of the book is hokey and almost laughable. Too bad that a 400+ page book is marred by 10 pages at the end. A worthwhile read but be prepared.

I've never been the type to read a lot of "spy" novels before, but I was constantly hearing such good things about David Morrell that I finally went to the library and checked out Assumed Identity. I'm glad I did!
This was probably one of the best books I have read in the last year. If they decide to make a movie of this, I'm there. I'm not gonna go into all the details, but if you are at all interested in this genre, check this book out. Non-stop action, exciting characters, many locations they visit, it makes you feel like you are right there with Buchanan the whole time. Buy this Book!!!

Not a total waste of time, but he has written better books. The action is forced, the characters are under-developed, and the conclusion is totally absurd. Stick with "Brotherhood of the Rose" or "Fraternity of the Stone."

This was my second Morrell book after 'Brotherhood of the Rose'. I will definately read more of Morrell's books. I don't like mindless action books but a story where the characters are 'human' and their journey involves action-orineted situations. This is that type of journey.

I agree that the ending for me was a bit dissapointing, there was so much left unresolved.

The Kirkus editorial is worng, this is a great book about a man that has many assumed identities. I like these kinds of books, find them hard to find, and so I might be biased in favor of any that I can find in fiction.