Customer Reviews

Flint

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A foul windy and wet day and 700 odd miles before me was not conducive to a happy day. So I put the first Flint cassette in to the car player. The day took on a new meaning. I was gripped by this extraordinary exciting story. I had already read the book it made no difference to the excitement.The miles fell away even idiot drivers were an irrelevance as I became immersed in the world of Grace Flint, a British under cover detective inspector, who is so real but goes through the kind of reality no one in their right mind would want to experience. It is a very special story and the plot is cunningly crafted by Paul Eddy. I thought ahead but each time the story proved me wrong as I was lead from one direction to another. The story has pathos and incites rage(not traffic) then laughter then satisfaction. It is a very stimulating story with a heroine of courage and beauty, the latter from the delicate hands of a plastic surgeon's scapel as a result of a savage beating. One word -terrific.

...as in a razor-sharp arrowhead. The character of Grace Flint is given a sharp edge by what she has endured. The writing of Paul Eddy is incisive and well-aimed.

I picked up a copy of the UK paperback version of this book here in Tokyo, in spite of the cover line comparing Grace Flint to Clarice Starling. The comparison is off the mark, and suggests that Eddy's novel is somehow derivative of the work of Thomas Harris.

It is more true to say that Paul Eddy is writing in the tradition of John Le Carre. Good character development, excellent plotting, an insider's knowledge of organizations and locales. I particularly enjoyed the confrontation with the President of the Northern Turkish Republic of Cyprus; Eddy shows a keen insight into international affairs, and takes us to a place not often visited in novels.

This book is very difficult to put down; I resented every minute that I was obliged to do something else. I look forward to Eddy's next book.

Time Magazine (cover date August 21) said, "Not since Modesty Blaise has spy literature seen a heroine as determined and spunky as Flint... Her adventures may be more diverting than credible, but Flint, who emerges from it all as a genuinely sympathetic and interesting character, looks as though she may have some pretty good commercial legs."

And the Wall Street Journal (August 18) said, "There are sophisticated technological tools and exotic locales, without the James Bondian touches that often push the genre to ridiculous excesses. `Flint' relies upon the strength of its steely lead character to propel the narrative. A believable trail of clues and the creepiest denouement since Thomas Harris's `Hannibal' more than make up for the occasional patch of clunky writing in this strong first novel."

Finally, Booklist (August) concluded, "Flint is cold, absolutely resolute, and refreshingly original-a fine heroine in an accomplished first novel. Eddy, an investigative reporter for London's Sunday Times, wisely leaves the door open for succeeding volumes in what one hopes will become the Grace Flint series."

When a friend recommends a book you politely listen as they talk about it. When they continue to rave about it you get the book.

One might think, "Oh No, another cop story." However, in this case I and my friends haven't seen or heard (audio books) such realistic excitement since Joseph Wambaugh hit the scene. That's because we're cops and we don't get excited unless it's good, it's real, it can happen, it has happened, been there, done that, seen it and it tells it like it is.

While reading this book you become Grace Flint's partner, the one that can only listen and watch. The one wondering how she'll react, how the rest of the team will react. The action, the plot, all of it invokes feelings that can cause you to leave sweaty prints on the pages.

The book moves fast when it should. It has been said to be slow in certain areas, but in those areas you obtain the information you will need to prepare for the action, just like you would on the job.

Paul Eddy has done a splendid job on the book and Grace Flint. I wonder, have the names and places been changed like Jack Webb would say, is it really fiction?

Treat yourself to what will be one of the best books that your likely to ever read. Prepare yourself to read a book that is hard to put down and will leave you wanting more Flint when you've finshed.

Grace Flint is a detective inspector for the London Metropolitan Police. She is most often used as a decoy or undercover operative. When one of her assignments goes bad, her partner is killed and she is terribly wounded - both physically and mentally. From that point, the book takes off on a wild ride spanning three continents.
There is something that doesn't ring true with Eddy's Flint. Is it because he's tried to make her both SuperWoman and vulnerable, sane and slightly not, reckless and conservative? Whatever it is, Flint is flawed. There is very little character development in the book - the book is not about character development - but the plot is outstanding - the book's strong point. I agree that the book is hard to put down, you may want to read it one sitting. But don't. This book needs to be read slowly lest you miss one of the subtleties the author throws randomly throws in.

Do not believe the border line reviews here. This book has the pace, good writing style and the characters of a an excellent novel. The heroine is flawed in a real world way, In fact the people that populate this novel are more realistic than I have read about in a long long time.

Plot is tight, with a fast pace, but not a break neck speed that usually leaves a reader wondering where the rest of the book is. Eddy uses the whole book to develop his main characters, thus leaving the reader satisfied at the end.

I recommend this book highly.

Many early novels, moreso a first attempt, are usually far from successful. Even great writers have early works that they would rather not be reminded of - Follett's 'Modigliani Scandal, Le Carre's 'Call For The Dead'. That makes this book - a spy thriller in the vein of Le Carre- that much more impressive. Police and money laundering rackets have replaced Le Carre's Spies and Cold War animosities.

Detectives Grace Flint and Paul Pendle are on an sting operation hoping to nab serial rapist Frank Harling and his lawyer Clayton Buller. Doesn't happen, What happens instead is Harling smells a rat. Pendle is shot dead and Grace is gunbutted and beaten and stomped to within an inch of her life - the book is violent - but not needlessly so. Buller, overweight and now overexerted from the beating he just administered, collapses behind the wheel of his car, dead from heart failure, Harling escapes. Grace convalesces slowly, physically she heals, mentally she remains seared, her shattered face mends. She is 'Amazing Grace' for her recuperative powers but moreso because of her determination to return to the Major Crimes Division.

What is truly amazing about the book is that as detailed and developed a character as Grace is, she's not really the main character. On a case which takes her to Miami, Grace eventually picks up Harlings trail - and disappears. It's time for the equally complex and detailed character - Harry Cohen to make his entry, and find Grace. Cohen is reminiscent of well known characters from this genre - he reminds me of George Smiley or Deighton's Harry Palmer - men who seemed like milk toast on the surface but underneath had some steel strengths.

Thoroughly enjoyable. Hurry, write another.

both physically and psychologically. The brittle, cold heroine of Paul Eddy's first fiction thriller is worth more than a glance. It is hard to know what makes Flint tick, even though the book explores her life from the viewpoint of an outsider, in
retrospect. Flint's a British operative, gone awol after she is caught in the crossfire of an international plot.

Harry Cohen, trying to find her, gives us the retrospective. Unlike Flint, Harry's almost too real, too wounded, to be given the task. His character, the best developed in the book, sees every issue from both sides; he's devoted to finding Flint, helping her, and righting the wrong that's been done her.

Meanwhile, Flint uses her powers of deception and persuasion to seek her revenge on an international criminal. The reader is absorbed in her risk-taking, all the while learning what makes her tick. Think Marg Helgenberger for the film or the TV movie.

Not a big fan of spy thrillers, I found Flint engaging, well-written, with a few forgiveable flaws. Looking forward to more from Paul Eddy, he has a new and crisp voice.

From the beginning, this book reeled me in and kept my attention. I liked the writer's style, the storyline, and the characters. Grace is a very likeable strong-willed person who's out to find and get the person that killed her partner and almost killed her just years earlier. The beginning of the book sets up the chase and catches your attention. Unfortunately, after that, the ride, at least for me, got a little bumpy.

Parts of the book were just great and had me racing through it to see what would happen next. Other parts were, well, yawn...not so plausible and seemed to be dragged out forever. I s'pose I found it hard to believe that Grace would set out alone on such a dangerous mission, and pit herself against a ruthless killer and his band of thugs, just to get revenge. I mean, I can understand wanting revenge, but I'd have to have a little back up before I "go in alone" against that type of adversary.

Aside from that, I liked the complexity of the plot and the various characters that helped to propel this book forward. The different locations described in the book added to the story and helped to give it personality. And while I think the author could have ended the story a little earlier than he did, it was nonetheless a good read.

I give it 3.5 stars.

This book has the psychological elements and the multiple levels of treachery long associated with John Le Carre. With the demise of the Cold War, the apparent dangers are driven by international finance, money laundering, etc. As always, the real dangers come from your friends. The book reads quickly, there is ample tension to each incident and the characters evolve well for the genre. The writing in the first few pages is leaden but the author's style picks up quickly. I look forward to Eddy's next novel.