Customer Reviews

False Impression

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Jeffrey Archer does two types of books. On the one hand he does the epic family thing, typically following a group of two or more people through their lives, observing their families, friendships, business triumphs and defeats, and loves and losses. Typically his characters in something like this are either business tycoons or politicians. On the other hand, he also does suspense novels, a sort of poor man's Ken Follett, with a writing style more on par with someone like Jack Higgins, though Archer's books are longer. False Impression falls into the latter category.

The plot centers around a millionaire art collector and megalomaniac who contrives to have people killed and wind up with their property without having to pay for it. He specializes in loaning money to people who have expensive art, and who won't be able to pay off their loans, especially not with the terms he negotiates. The book starts the day before 9/11/01, with him finalizing a "deal" that will bring him one of Van Gogh's self-portraits, worth tens of millions, for next to nothing. He runs into a snag, though, in that his office is in the World Trade Center. Though he escapes unharmed, he finds former and current employees working to sabotage the deal and see that the Van Gogh winds up in proper hands.

This is a reasonably good book, but it definitely has its flaws. The protagonists all sound British, and there's one scene in particular where a pair of truckers attack a woman, intending to rape her, for no other reason than that the author needed the plot device, and of course most Europeans think that sort of thing happens in America all the time. A few days after 9/11, it seems doubtful, to say the least. All of the characters come across as cardboard cut-outs, other than the English Lady who shows up way too rarely in the plot.

The above objections aside, the plot is relatively entertaining, and at least it reads fast. Whatever else he says or does, Archer has no pretensions: he's writing a potboiler, he knows it, and he doesn't bother to try and convince you otherwise. It's a good thing he doesn't.

A favourite writer goes to prison, keeps a diary which proves to be an enjoyable read, then, upon his release, writes the worst book of his career. The concept of the book is good, as is the idea to blend the characters into the 9-11 tragedy. The first 20 pages flow with typical Archer style. Then the characters begin to make a series of continuously irrational decisions.

My personnal favourite is when 2 characters independantly consider driving either to Canada or Mexico in order to fly to Europe during the 9-11 grounding of air traffic. The idea that New Yorkers wouldn't know that Montreal is the nearest international airport seem laughable. While there is a direct highway to Montreal, Archer sends the main character to Toronto which reqires a least 6 different highway changes, is in the wrong direction and nearly twice the drive. Once at the border, the border patrol guard turns out to be a world class art historian who apparantly doesn't know that McGill University is in Montreal not Toronto as is claimed by our hero. The guard then remarks that he will "meet" a collegue of the hero when that peron travels up to the conference. The idea that only one border guard is working the dozens of eastern US/Canadian border crossings, with multi-lane checkpoints 24/7 is simply the work of a mind out of touch with reality.

Its fine to change details to enhance the plot and structure of a story, but there is simply no benefit to this sillyness.

Dan Cormier

September 10, 2001. Victoria Wentworth, an heiress whose family fortune has declined tremendously due to financial mismanagement, is murdered in her home after deciding to sell a Van Gogh painting to pay off her debts. Dr. Anna Petrescu, an employee of her creditor, recommended this course of action in a report given to both Wentworth and Petrescu's employer, Bryce Fenston. But Fentson wanted the painting, not the money, and will stop at nothing to get it.

Fenston fires Petrescu, and as she is cleaning out her desk in the North Tower of the World Trade Center, disaster strikes. Assumed dead, Petrescu determines to prevent Fenston from getting the Van Gogh, if it's the last thing she does. And with an assasin on her tail, it just might be ...

Jeffrey Archer has written a suspensful masterpiece in False Impression. Even though you know almost from the beginning who killed Wentworth, and why, it doesn't matter - Archer creates plenty of edge-of-your-seat action. And this is a thriller that doesn't skimp on characterization, even though the "single, intelligent woman meets single, intelligent cop/FBI agent" theme has been done before.

Anna Petrescu is a very intelligent protagonist, who recognizes exactly what kind of danger she is in at every turn. You never know who is going to get to her first - the FBI agent who isn't quite sure if she's an innocent woman trying to do the right thing or an accessory to murder, or the hired assasin who has killed so many times already. Archer sends her running across the globe, but she always knows exactly where she's going, and why she's going there - and how to throw her pursuers off her trail.

I've never studied art history - I wouldn't know a Monet from a Manet. But I enjoyed this book, and even learned a little bit in the process. The only problem I had with the book was that one plot point (why Petrescu's friend Tina worked for Fenston) wasn't mentioned very often in the book, even though it got a big mention on the back cover. But that didn't mar my enjoyment of this book. Make sure you have some time to read, though, beause you won't want to put this one down until you finish it. I haven't read any Jeffrey Archer before, but I think I may have to start.

I always wonder if Jeffrey Archer could ever surpass the quality standards he set in his "Kane and Abel" and his short story collections; and this novel proves he probably could never do that .....

The plot is ridiculous; it is so formulaic even Hollywood directors would throw it to dust. Moreover the use of 9/11 in such an insensitive context proves that he really is after the quick buck these days. If anyone would be kind enough to explain what 9/11 has to do in any shape or form that affects the story in a significant way except for alluding in the book's jacket covers.....

The characters are shallow, the villain very typical (sort of a Tom Cruise movie villaness), the hero and heroine having no chemistry or worthwhile detail whatsoever, trying to piece together a Dan Brown (who I don't fancy either) and a Frederick Forsyth (who I hold dear), and above all with such a predictable and unintelligent storyline.

Archer probably needs to spend more time in Her Majesty's prisons again, and possibly in our own Federal Prisons for using such a sensitive topic mindlessly and for producing drivel that is inferior in quality as well; probably needs to read back his books while he is there..

I have been an admirer of his work and always hold Kane and Abel to be one of the best told stories with sharp characters; so is his short story collections; his other books... but of late, he is spurning some mediocre drivel in the name of twin-based-usual stuff like "Sons of Fortune" (tell me if you don't find that TOO similar to Kane and Abel or Fourth Estate or The Prodigal Daughter)

Romanian-born Anna Petrescu is the spunky, brainy, and beautiful heroine of "False Impression," a new thriller by Jeffrey Archer. Anna is not only a former track star, but she also has a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Pennsylvania. She started her career at Sotheby's and later took a job working for a banking concern, Fenston Finance, whose chairman, Bryce Fenston, is a major art collector. Bryce, on more than one occasion, has confiscated the paintings of clients who could not pay their outstanding loans to his bank. When an unknown assailant murders three of Bryce's clients, FBI agent Jack Delaney starts investigating the wealthy Fenston and his assistant, ex-con Karl Leapman. Meanwhile, Anna, who narrowly escapes from the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11, soon realizes that her own life is in danger. Fenston, she soon realizes, is an unscrupulous and dangerous monster who would kill anyone in order to get his hands on a valuable painting, "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear," by Vincent Van Gogh.

Although she is book-smart, Anna must quickly hone her survival skills in order to elude the brutal Fenston and his hired assassin, Olga Krantz. Anna travels around the world, touching base in London, Bucharest, and Tokyo, and always managing to stay one step ahead of her pursuers. Can Anna outsmart Fenston and keep the Van Gogh safe for her client, Arabella Wentworth?

As the story wears on, the dialogue becomes increasingly stilted and the plot ever more implausible. Anna is clever and cool under pressure, but she is no superwoman. Therefore, her ability to stay alive when Fenston wants her dead is nothing short of amazing. Nevertheless, Archer's reputation guarantees that "False Impression" will become a best seller--especially since it has all of the elements that readers crave: good vs. evil, the uncertain fate of a priceless work of art, several vicious murders, a dollop of romance, crosses and double crosses, and the obligatory surprise ending. Archer breaks no new ground here, but there definitely is an audience for this brand of escapist and formulaic fiction.

I started reading this book at 11am on Sunday morning, and was genuinely frustrated when I had to put it down to have lunch. I finished the book by the evening. It is fast paced and highly enjoyable. The story is told with real skill and detail (esp the escape form the world trade centre). The characters pull you in to the story, and it is nearly impossible to put it down. I think it will make an amazing movie. After being in prison for so long, I was worried he might have lost his touch. No chance, Archer is back with an incredible read. Well done.

Another great thriller from Jeffrey Archer. His first novel in seven yeras, and his first since his release from prison and the diaries of his time there. False Imnpression is an amazing chase around the world, told with his usual style and speed.

The book starts with a breathtaking account of an escape from the World Trade Centre on 9/11. The story follows the heroine (Anna Petrescu who is missing presumed dead) race across the globe, after she uncovers why Lady Victoria Wentworth was brutally murdered. All the time she must stay one step ahead of various villains (a New York banker and his Lawyer / a hit woman and even the FBI).

A priceless Van Gogh is the prize for all the characters, including Nakamura San.

The book is also well researched, and peppered with facts about the art world, the world trade centre, and Van Gogh's paintings. Anyone who liked the mix of the art world, espionage and intrigue in The Da Vinci code, will be equally happy with this novel.

We recommend *****.

This suspenseful tale trails heroine Anne Petrescu as she tracks the legendary Van Gogh painting, a rare self portrait with his bandaged ear. The owner of the painting, Lady Victoria Wentworth, is brutally murdered at her estate.

Anna works for Bryce Fenston of Fenston Finance. Bryce is an avid art collector but doesn't necessarily acquire his pieces in a legit way.

It's not long before Anna realizes just how shady of a character Fenston really is. With her life in danger, Anna must think fast to avoid being the next victim as Fenston attempts to get his hands on the Van Gogh.

Fenston and Anna are both in their Twin Towers offices when the 911 tragedy takes place. They both try to use the catastrophe to their advantage. The coveted Van Gogh is set to be transferred to its rightful owner when the unthinkable and unimaginable happens.

False Impression is a cleverly thought out addition to the thriller and suspense genre. This fast-paced, murder-filled adventure will leave Archer fans craving more.

Add Jeffery Archer to the list of successful authors who have sullied their once good names. This novel is so bad it's embarrassing.

The use of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre is frankly bizarre. Archer uses the 9/11 incident as a plot device to create the false impression that our heroine, Anna, perished in the attack and in order to re-route the delivery of a Van Gogh portrait that is pivotal to the plot. There is a significant disconnect between the gravity of the 9/11 attack and the art scam plot. After escaping from the WTC with her life Anna finds refuge with a friend. The two women briefly discuss how awful the attack was, and then proceed to devise plans to stop their boss from swindling an old lady (at the time they don't know she has been murdered). The two women's conversation and behavior is completely unnatural (after all, everyone they work with is now dead, the City is in chaos and the Nation is in mourning). The actions they take are inconceivable but are necessary to advance Archer's weak plot.

The dialogue in this novel is painfully bad, the characters are 2 dimensional, and Archer's prose is filled with some of the cheesiest similes ever put to paper. The plot itself has gaping holes in logic, is predictable, and tedious (chase scenes are reasonably entertaining on the big screen, but much less so on the written page).

With False Impressions Archer joins the ranks of authors like James Patterson (London Bridges) and Thomas Harris (Hannibal Rising) who would rather make a buck off their reputations, than write a decent novel.

FALSE IMPRESSION is, unfortunately, a pretty bad book. I've read hundreds of thrillers, and this is the weakest I've read in a while.

Archer spends little time developing his characters, all of whom little more than cardboard cutouts. The art theft plot is highly predictable, and seems to consist of an endless series of boring car and airport chases. Most of the dialogue in FALSE IMPRESSION is flat and unnatural, especially the painfully awkward romantic exchanges between two of the main characters.

There's some interesting information about art in FALSE IMPRESSION, but Archer makes no effort to integrate any of this data into the plot. Although this novel openly compares itself to THE DA VINCI CODE, it's nowhere near as informative or tightly plotted as Dan Brown's novel. In the end, I found this novel an uninteresting, unsatisfying experience.

You can do much better than this. Try thriller authors like Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritsen, and Greg Iles. They write stories that are far more absorbing and suspenseful than FALSE IMPRESSION.