Customer Reviews

Deception

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The stories and characters are immensely alive, well-plotted, and consistently engaging;give yourself a gift of this (along with his other books!)...

What I really like about his books is that his main characters are always women -- and they're never entirely evil or entirely good. In this one, Hannah makes one mistake that blows up in her face -- and it's the kind of thing that could happen to anyone. A spy thriller with great action and suspense, but characters who remind you of people you meet in the street? Altman and maybe Ken Follett when he was at the top of his game are the only two people who I think do that.
Read it in about two hours -- it's shorter than the first two for some reason.

Altman is a new favorite author of mine. I began with his "Gathering of Spies" and have just now finished "Deception." I think its a close call between which two is the best book. Both stories are good and compelling.

Hannah, like the character of Katerina Heinrich before her, is an ambivalent woman whose motivations and longings are not the typical heroine's. It makes her all the more human, all the more realistic, because she isn't some grand, holy protagonist, but just a young woman who's made some bad choices in her life and is now mixed up in a situation that ordinary people aren't suited for.

I liked the dichotomy between Hannah and Keyes, as each character is pressured further and further by the events that bombard them. It was interesting to watch how they each responded and how they dealt with what was before them.

I've been a fan of John Altman's since "A Gathering of Spies" and his latest book continues the scenic, fast-paced writing which is his trademark. I liked this one even better than the first two. If you've ever been on a cruise ship, the opening scenes will really resonate!

This book is pure escapism. It's a great read on a plane or on vacation. I give it 5 stars and recommend it highly.

At last, a modern heroine with a slightly sordid past.Hannah Gray, by chance, find herself propelled into an adventure that spans continents . Pursued because she has unwittingly ended up with a valuable mathematical formula, Ms. Gray discovers resources she never knew she had. It's an atmospheric ride, and pure escapism, but presented in a thoughtful as well as entertaining way.

What an incredible ride! Altman comes through again. In A Gathering of Spies and A Game of Spies, Altman proved himself a master of suspense and period detail. In Deception, Altman delivers a compelling story with nuanced characters and a scientific riddle that laymen will understand and physicists will love. Keep spinning these fabulous yarns, John!

Ms. Hannah Gray, an ordinary woman living in Chicago with job and boyfriend problems, escapes her humdrum life by going on a cruise where all hell breaks loose. This fast paced thriller has it all - plot, characters, suspense, good writing - and is the perfect beach book or vacation bring along. Angelina Jolie should play Hannah (or Vicky, her pseudo identity) is the movie version. Highly recommended for a fun read!

\I never heard of this author but the cover of the book was intriguing at the airport bookstore. I finished the book during a 5 hour flight and was impressed with its quality. Great action, interesting plot, fast paced and just what I needed to pass the time enjoyably. I'll be looking for this author's next books. You should, too!

Intrigued by the cover, I bought this book never having heard of the author. Now I'm going to look for his prior novels. This book is clever, fast-moving, never dull, and thoroughly entertaining. Despite the math formula at the heart of the novel, you don't need to know higher mathematics to enjoy the book. It's just a plot device by Mr. Altman to take you to a series of exotic locales. I thought the ending was a tad contrived which is the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars.