Customer Reviews

The Gray Stopgap

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

 

 

This is not the review that I hoped to be writing. When I began reading this book I had high hopes and with good reason. D. L. Tolleson is the brother of a friend of mine. The family has been a member of our church for many years. I have been told that a movie deal was in the works. What I wanted to do was to finish the book and then go to my friend and say, "you really should read your brother's book. It is a good book," so it was major disappointment when I realized that I would not be able to do that and that I would not be able to finish reading the book.

The book is somewhat hard to follow because it jumps between several characters who seem to have little in common and I did not get far enough into the book to tie these pieces together. Very little is said about Karns Gray in the part of the book I read (first hundred pages or so), but the back cover implies that he is the main character. What I have gathered is that he was in Vietnam and was suffering from post traumatic stress. Because of this, he agreed to take part in a experiment with artificial intelligence. The computer attempted to take over his brain. For some reason, this computer was launched into orbit, but was later destroyed. The result was that Karns (frequently called Gray, by the author) regained control of his brain, but now he has some unusual abilities.

Some people will find the language offensive. Colorful metaphors abound in the dialog. More people will find the sex scene offensive, in which a graphic description of a scene that simultaneously involves adultery and incest. Presumably, there are people who do not find these things offensive, but I cannot recommend such a book in good conscience.

Aside from the offensive material and being slow to get to the point, the book was readable. At no point did I have the impression that the author was describing something that could not have happened within the confines of the world he created. However, I felt no emotional attachment to the characters and I could not care less what happened to them, so I quit reading and put the book down.

My biggest disappointment is that I cannot give the book high marks.

If you like suspense, spies, bad guys, heroes and just everyday good guys this is a book you should read. DL Tolleson has done a magnificent job of taking all the different characters and subplots of love and government experiments going disappointingly wrong and connecting them all together with one single thread of intrigue. From the prologue through the very last page you will be captivated by this well written and highly entertaining novel. Prepare for some late nights because once you start reading you won't want to stop.

The first page captured my attention with intense excitement. I could not put the book down after that. The Karns charater I found at first aloof, but sensed he was a very deep and emotional man but with extremely self control. The book was great. I would recommend it to everyone.

The Gray Stopgap is captivating from the very start and nearly impossible to set aside. Tolleson seems to toy with your thoughts throughout by cleverly leading you first one way, then another. Although I'm not a particularly avid reader, with most books I'm able to figure out most of the subplots well in advance. Not so with this author, it's as if he tweaks it after discovering you've cheated and skipped ahead. Carve out a weekend to enjoy this tour de force - you'll be left wanting the sequel, or even a prequel.

I read a lot of best sellers and sooner or later this one should make it to the top. I found the arthur drawing me into the story from the opening and holding me through the entire novel. So, i'm not giving anything away, you'll just have to read it yourself. There's plenty for all types of readers to enjoy. If this were a technical review I could write another novel about the expertise the arthur uses to hold the reader with interest. But, its not so just enjoy the read and lets hound D.L. Tolleson to hurry with the sequel......

The Gray Stopgap, an amazing espionage book. There is so much emotional involvement. The author played my emotions like Jeff Beck plays a guitar; lots of levels, and with class, except for one small faux pas. The novel weaves through a great story and ties up everything with a congenial ending. As with the emotional entanglements, I thought the science was also very credible and respectably complicated. If you are looking for espionage, look in the dictionary, you will find a picture of THE GRAY STOPGAP. It is the definition of Espionage. It will be interesting to see if, in the future, Tolleson can keep up this thrilling, emotional and assiduous standard on which he set for us spy-thriller addicts. What a standard to set for yourself. Of course, the public will now, not accept less. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment.

The Gray Stopgap is a roller coaster of action and emotion. Karns is a complex character who kept me turning the page wondering what he'd do next. His love story is bitter - and not just a backdrop to all the government intrigue and deception - this love story examines the results of when things go tragically wrong.

The adventure alone is well thought out and intricate. Being a native Washingtonian, I especially appreciated the local references. A lot of research must have gone into the making of this book, but more importantly to me, Tolleson really gets into the souls of his characters and makes them believable - making all of their misfortune and grandiose adventure both heartbreaking and irresistible.

This would make the perfect movie (with Pierce Brosnan as Karns!) - I hope there's a sequel!

This reader found from the first page,this author grabs the attention and sends the reader hurtling headlong into a stylishly intricate story whose characters are believably written and humanly complex. Though this book contains many "flashback" sequences, this reader was surprised at being able to "keep up" with where and when in time the story was. These sequences also served as "stepping stones" into the hows and whys of the different characters and how those same characters came to be who they are. This author develops each of the characters in a believable fashion showing not only the perfections that come with a novel such as this, but also the faults of some of these same characters and in doing so, makes them seem more human. This reader found herself rooting for the good guys and booing the bad. As with many governmental intrigue novels, there are many terms that to the average person, is over the head, this authjor however, does a great job explaining the different "agencies" and how they relate within the story. He also takes the time to explain technological terms in a way that the average person can even understand. What surprised this reader was the touching love story that was convincingly and stylishly written into this novel of "spy vs. spy". With the love story, came a better understanding of what drives the main character to be the person he was and then the person he became. That said,for readers who enjoy novels in the Tom Clancy and Ian Fleming vein, I would highly recommend this novel. For those who are not normally drawn to political intrigue novels, you might want to give this one a try. By the way, those of you who are planning a beach get away, take this along and make sure you make plenty of sunscreen as once you start this, you won't want to put it down.