Customer Reviews

Bannerman Effect, The

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

 

 

One reader claimed that the first 161 pages were a verbatim recap of the previous Bannerman book. That doesn't begin to be true. There is a recap, but almost none of it is verbatim because that action is seen from different, often sinister points of view by characters who made their first appearance in this book. The editor thought the recap was needed because this would be the first Bannerman book for many readers, and, because even the readers of the first one probably needed a reminder of who's who after waiting 18 months for this one to be published. The book was very favorably reviewed by people who had less trouble understanding that it's not so easy to do a sequal that balances the expectations of both old and new readers.

I normally don't like spy stories. But all of the Bannerman novels (four in the series about Bannerman, one more that prequels Bannerman and is about Lesko) are the best! The characters are addicting, Maxim makes you want to become a covert-operative and go hang out with the Bannerman gang yourself. Find these books and read them!!

The Group of people in this book are killers and lunatics, by the forth or fifth chapter you are covinced that they are the good guys. It takes a good writer and an exellent plot to pull that off. Maxim bands together a bunch of social misfits in a close nit if sometimes uncomfortable freindship. These people would make great neighbors. Anyone who gave you a hard time would simply vanish. Lots of fun and lots of action.

I have just finished "The Bannerman Effect" and wow, it is as good as "The Bannerman Solution". But I have a really strange problem, where are the others? I can't find them anywhere, but they must be out there somewhere, other reviews mention them as having been read. I also see in these two that they were published originally 10 years (+ or -) ago. Is the publisher running "The Ripper Effect" on us? How do I get them? rondoyle@instruction.com

After reading the "Bannerman Solution" I found this book to be a dissapointment. The first part of the book was a repeat of the previous book the "Bannerman Solution". It was like rereading the first book the "Bannerman Solution". I was also dissapointed that the Ripper Effect was never fully implemented. This could have made this book a better read. This also caused the book to fall short. The usual cast of characters alone saved this book.Thank god we had Billy,Carla,Anton,Lesko,Elena and company to fall back on. I was also dissapointed about the lightweight villains thar were featured in the "Bannerman Effect". Maxim could have done better here also. I am going to read more of the Bannerman books and hope that they get better.

The Bannerman books are excellent. Every character keeps you glued to the pages until the very end. Wish he would continue the series.

Don't publishing houses have editors anymore? This is no lie: The author spent the first 14 chapters recapping the entire storyline of THE BANNERMAN SOLUTION. I had to skim the first 135 pages to see that I didn't miss anything critical to THIS story. Other authors can handle sequels. Why can't Maxim?

The premise, that the government has developed a software program that can predict what will happen if certain surgical strikes occur among drug distributors and terriorists, and therefore, Bannerman's group of contract assasins could instill panic and confusion amoung various terrorist groups, is quite an interesting idea, but is it ever developed? No.

Finally, everybody in this book speaks with Ivy League/New England diction: all of Bannerman's group (hey, they could have picked it up in Westport...) but also the tough New York cop, all of the Europeans, including the Russians, and even the Jamaican drug dealer. Ridiculous.

Buy The Bannerman Solution, and be sure to skip this one.

I have read all the Bannerman series and just discovered that he is much more prolific than I first thought. I have read other books he has written and liked them as much. I really would like to know if he will be writing more of the Bannerman series though. I thought one was supposed to come out about 2 or 3 years ago. Does anyone have any ideas?

Bannerman is a stick-figure compared to Bond. His miraclous escapades depend upon his "owning" everybody in sight. Just as unbelievable as Bond's dependence upon fantastic "technology." Both rely too heavily on "deus ex machina" solutions to overwhelming threats. rather than on the moral strength of the hero.
The engaging Narrative moves along at a pleasing rate and the other characters seem more alive than the hero. I just couldn't warm up to Bannerman. He's no Harry Bosch, no Elvis Cole, no Rostnikov.

Talk about a recap, the first 161 pages were taken word for word from the previous book. I was very disappointed, and wanted my money back. He redeems himself with the next two Bannerman books.