Customer Reviews

Agent of Influence

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought the book because it was the first one under the category "Crime/Thrillers" in my bookstore... and wasn't I surprised! This book is packed with suspense! I found the plot highly detailed and plausible. It's also a bit different from many novels in the same genré: In the financial world of media giants of the US and Europe, a major takeover is planned by a French magnate, who contracts a successful Wall Street dealmaker to set the deal up - but (of course) everything is not what it seems to be, and the consequences of it all could change the power balance of the world forever. Who can our hero trust - his employer or the US Intelligence Services? And why do people with critical information die along the path his work is leading him? It's really obvious to compare this book to Ludlum's work. When you think you've got the plot all worked out, there's some little ingredient added to it, and it leaves you with that lovely "got-to-find-out-what-happens-in-the-next-chapter" feeling (I finished the book in two days). Aaron also uses the same technique to tell his story as Ludlum - the book is really based on dialogue. Furthermore, you can't help to recognize the same kind of sutle comedy you'll find in Ludlum's "The Road to Gandolfo" - I found parts of "Agent of Influence" simply hilarious! I guess it's the way the dialogue is written and how our hero is propelled into stuff he just can't believe is happening to him. So - like Chicago Tribune's review says - "For all those Robert Ludlum fans growing a little weary of the sameness of his plots, consider David Aaron"

Interesting book. I appreciated that the story moved quickly, but thought it was very cliche. The usual lack of female characters...(only one) and the usual hype about the fed agencies fighting each other every step of the way. The aspect of high finance was interest but again...it's been done.

It was a nice beach day read, I'll give it that.

I found the characters Jason Lyman, Heidi and Sean to be interesting, though I thought Sean Gordon could have been more developed. The description of the finanical world is a bit out of date along with the politics but the story is a good one. I'm surprised this hasn't been made into a movie yet. It could easily be tweaked into one.

PLOT SPOILER!
I thought the lack of CIA involvement because Marcel being a double agent was brought out to late in the game. Sean Gordon could have been given more description about what he's doing and why he was following up on Heidi's tip from the mere fact that she asked him too. I also thought her character taking things into her own hands at the press conference was too much, along wiht parading out the mother. So it had a weak ending hence the 2 stars