Customer Reviews

Day of Confession

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

Unlike most of Folsom's other fans, I read this, his second book, first and am currently devouring "the day after tomorrow". Most people liked the latter better, I disagree so far. "Day of confession" is an athmospherically dense and gripping thriller that will not let you put the book down until the last page is turned. Folsom is a gifted and well-informed writer who has no trouble creating believable scenarios on three continents at the same time. He carefully develops his charcters and puts together a complex, yet not too confusing and improbably plot that remains fast-paced until the end. Folsom's protagonist is a wealthy LA lawyer from the glitz world of movie moguls who flies to Italy in response to an emergency phone message by a brother he has not seen or heard from in years. Before he knows what hit him, he is engulfed in a major international crisis with the Vatican at the center. This book is up there in quality with Higgins' and Ludlum's finest. Don't plan anything else for the weekend once you start reading.

I was really disappointed by "Day of Confession." I had loved "the Day After Tomorrow," and when an uncle recommended Folsom's latest, I ran out and bought it as the first read for a trip to Hawaii.

Boy was I disappointed. Although the basic premise of the story is rather preposterous (the Vatican as architect of global genocide-c'mon people, the Middle Ages are over!), I still found it to be intriguing-Folsom essentially substitutes the Vatican's walls for the Kremlin's, as an impenetrable home for secret dealings. Many of the characters are interesting, and the action in the first half really moves you along. Unfortunately, the ending, and events leading up to it, are completely ridiculous.

The love tryst, the raid on the Vatican, the brothers chanting guttural Marine Corps slogans before "doing-in" the bad guy (who slaughtered just about everyone who crossed his path)--all preposterous.

All in all, I'm sorry I wasted my moeny on this book. Come to think of it, I didn't like the last book my uncle recommended either (Road to Omaha).

There's plenty of better thrillers out there than this. Let's hope that Folsom gets back on track with his next novel.

I'm really glad I didn't buy this book (even in paperback). I've done a lot of reading over the last four months and have rediscovered the joys (and money saving value) of the public library system. My disappointment with this book is based on a level of expectations created by Mr. Folsom's captivating debut novel.

From the start, I had difficulty getting into this book and staying with it. For some reason, I just didn't care about Harry and Danny Addison and that's a shame because the premise behind the plot was actually a good one. It should have made for an exciting read and yet somehow, it just fell flat.

The most interesting character (and the one Mr. Folsom seems to have spent the most time developing) is the terrorist, Thomas Kind. The author's descriptions of his background and the perverse sexual pleasure he receives from his barbaric murders of numerous members of the cast is chilling when you read it. Despite his anti- social behavior, Thomas Kind is the most interesting character in this novel that runs approximately 200 pages too long.

Allan Folsom has written two bestsellers back to back. Just because the book is a bestseller doesn't mean it's a captivating read. Day of Confession isn't. That means Mr. Folsom is batting .500 (which isn't bad). But, based on this experience, when his next book comes out--I'm going to the library.

I consider "The Day After Tomorrow" one of the finest thrillers I've ever read - a must read.

"Day of Confession", though, reads as if Folsom took all the basic plot elements of his first book, and just put new conspiracies behind them. I walked away only mildly entertained.

If you like 667 pages ( paperback version ) of endless and senseless violence, this book is for you. If you are already past the sub-teen years and you are looking for a believable plot, recognizable characters, sensible people doing sensible things, you will search in vain through page after page of violence, violence and more violence. The central theme, that the Vatican plans to become the superpower of the twentyfirst century by first converting 1.3 billion Chinese to Catholicism and then enslaving these new converts to enrich a cadre of aging Italians, defies all sense ! And the story goes downhill from there.

In a scene reminiscent of the assassination attempt on General De Gaulle in "Day of the Jackal', Allan Folsom stages a terrorist "kill' on a high ranking Vatican Official as the opening gambit in his terrifically suspenseful and exciting thriller "Day of Confession". Intrigue, corruption, politics, murder and blackmail are just some of the pleasantries associated with Cardinal Palestrino, possibly the most seductively evil character in recent popular fiction. His total disregard for his fellow man (so wonderfully expressed through his influence as a power broker and confidante of the ageing Pope) is equalled if not surpassed by two henchmen ---- the ruthless Jacov Farel head of the Vatican Police and Thoimas Kind an international terrorist who makes "Carlos " the real life "jackal" seemingly inept. To make the plot line of international interest, Folsom has as his major "good guys" an American Entertainment Lawyer and his priest brother --- Harry and Daniel Addison --- who must endure more violence and mayhem than any crack "Anti Terrorist" group. Added to this are, corrupt Chinese Officials, a disenchanted Catholic Nun, a "Ballsy" news reporter, the CIA and the overworked but methodical Italian Police. With a climactic scene straight out of Hollywood, we are left breathless and determined that if a movie is made perhaps it should be called "Die Hard in the Vatican". Top marks for the Thriller of the year .... What's next Alan?

This is my favorite Folsom novel to date. It is much better paced than The Exile or Day After Tomorrow. The main character is better developed and you get the sense that he truly is confused, which is important. It makes him more believable. Some of the other reviews have mentioned that the plot is improbable, which it is probably is. But like The DaVinci Code, it is just a story. I don't think Folsom is claiming his novel is true. It is a good page turner. My husband bought this for me to read on vacation and made the mistake of giving it to me a few days before we left. I had finished it before boarding the plane.....it's good.

I was drawn into this book within the first 10 pages. I started reading it on vacation abroad, and couldn't wait to find some down time so I could catch up on where I left off in the book. It is the best book I've EVER read. I HIGHLY recommended this book and have recommended it to many others who have also agreed that this book was a true page turner and suspense-filled thriller. This book is far better than Folsom's other book "The Day After Tomorrow."

Tremendously compelling page turner. Conspiracies abound in The Vatican. A Cardinal is murdered, water supplies in China are poisoned. Is a CIA deep cover mole planted in The Vatican? An American entertainment lawyer finds himself in the middle of this fast moving novel. Even though it's almost 700 pages the reader can hardly stop turning those pages. There are about 25 characters in the book that are well developed and relevant and believable. I really can't rave enough!

I read the first 100 pages of this book and was disappointed, put it down for a few months, and then picked it up again and got into it much easier. Once the plot finally gets rolling, it is a great ride at times. But I would have to agree with those who say this book is not as good as Folsom's previous effort - The Day After Tomorrow.

I guess my main problem with this book is that, for me at least, it more or less just ends. I was expecting more from the ending, considering all the possibilities laid out during the story.

The romance between protagonist Harry Addison and nursing sister Elena Voso seems to come out of nowhere. The author tells us of her strong feelings for Addison, strong enough to make her break her vows, but he doesn't really show this.

Although I enjoyed this book for the most part, it also at times seems almost like a "write-by-numbers" imitation of The Day After Tomorrow, with a somewhat conflicted, but still truly evil murderer, an incredibly high body count (including characters who seem to be introduced solely to add to the carnage), and just a sense of missed storytelling opportunities.