The Blue Zone [Paperback]

Andrew Gross (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harper (2009)
• ISBN-10: 0007838751
• ISBN-13: 978-0007838752
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Andrew Gross is the author of New York Times and international bestsellers The Blue Zone, Don't Look Twice, and The Dark Tide, which was nominated for the Best Thriller of the Year award by the International Thriller Writers, Reckless, and most recently, Eyes Wide Open. He is also coauthor of five number one bestsellers with James Patterson, including Judge & Jury and Lifeguard. He lives in Westchester County, New York, with his wife, Lynn. You can follow Andrew Gross on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and at AndrewGross Books.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Family Undone, November 9, 2008

By 

Terry A. Benedict-Devine "Terry" (Barnegat, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blue Zone: A Novel (Hardcover)

This novel is great writing from beginning to end. The story delves into the ins and outs of the Witness Protection Program and what happens when it is compromised. To summarize, Benjamin Raab and family have lived an extremely comfortable life for more than twenty years. The children, Kate (a research analyst), Emily and Justin (high school students) as well as wife, Sharon, are happy and content with each other as well. All this comfort falls apart abruptly as Ben's influential "gold business" becomes infiltrated by the FBI and he is accused of conspiracy and money laundering. It is soon discovered by Kate that all the secrecy that begins from that moment on has been traced to the Mercado family - a sprawling drug cartel home-based in Columbia. Kate becomes increasingly leery of the "protection" her family is provided. The reader, as well as our heroine, is under a veil of confusion on who it is they can trust; the WITSEC program, the FBI, or the sincerity of a man Kate had always believed was her great protector. She is determined to clear her father's name and get to the truth at any cost. The story takes the reader for a roller coaster ride of suspense and surprise revelations as Kate works very hard to protect what family she has left. The Blue Zone is an extremely well-written story and will have it's readers on the edge of their seat until the very last page is turned.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Read in one sitting, but left unfulfilled, March 11, 2008

By 

NewDiane "I live to read!" (NYC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Blue Zone (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a fast, easy read, with just enough good writing to hold your attention...and plenty of undeveloped characters, weak backstory, and unrealistic dialogue to annoy you. After a prologue that basically tells you nothing, the adventure begins. How a lab technician manages to penetrate the Witness Protection Program to find her family is only one of many discrepancies that made me say "Hello? Can we have a dash of reality here?" The enigmatic "fraternidad" is not given enough weight to justify the rest of the plot. That said, it was the kind of enjoyable book that is good to read while commuting on a train - you don't have to pay much attention, and you won't miss your stop. But then you're going to want to read something more substantial afterwards.

23 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Big Letdown, May 18, 2007

By 

Thriller Lover (Las Vegas, Nevada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Blue Zone: A Novel (Hardcover)

I've read hundreds of thrillers, and was eagerly looking forward to THE BLUE ZONE, largely because I enjoyed two of the novels Andrew Gross wrote with James Patterson (JUDGE & JURY and LIFEGUARD). Unfortunately, Gross's debut as a solo author was a big disappointment for me.

This novel has two major problems. The first is its lack of good characterization. Nearly all of the characters in THE BLUE ZONE are stereotypes and lack personality. The heroine, in particular, is remarkably bland. Most of the dialogue in THE BLUE ZONE is trite and cliched. Most of the supporting characters are sketchy and underdeveloped. In the end, I cared for nobody in this book.

I might forgive this problem if the plot was decent. Unfortunately, the whole "witness protection" plot is far-fetched and lacks realism. All of the plot twists in THE BLUE ZONE are labored and overblown. I found much of the plot awkwardly structured, and I was more confused than enthralled by how all the events played out.

In short, avoid this book. There are far superior thriller writers out there -- Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Tess Gerritsen, Lee Child, Greg Iles, and Laura Lippman come to mind.