Customer Reviews

October's Ghost

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

 

 

I almost never review books that I haven't finished, and I've gotten through some clinkers, but this misfire thriller just brought me to a standstill. It starts in Cuba as the Soviets are packing up their missiles. The missile crisis has been averted with the Soviet back-down. As the Russians depart, they receive an icy goodbey from their hosts, their fraternal socialist allies - thanks for nothing! We're given clues that the Cubans may not have been left empty-handed by the Russians. Then the novel fasts forward, sort of, and we witness the destruction of an American nuclear submarine. I love subs, and think I know a thing about them. Unfortunately, the author has learnt more about subs than he's capable of coherently describing - I had to re-read the description repeatedly, and could discern only that it involved some catastrophic accident with the sub's reduction gears. It became clear, once I skimmed past that section that "Ghost" demonstrates less a knowledge of technical details than a painful inability to craft them into a coherent narrative. This was a shame. Starting out, I wasn't sure whether this would turn out to be an alternative history or some thriller - but either way, it had the makings of a unique read.

Reading through Pearson's books now. Thoroughly enjoyed this one, as I have his other books.I think this one took more foundation in the beginning, but what am excellent plot.

Confessions was a thought provoking, thoughtful book. I like being surprised, and this one did surprise me. i highly recommend this book.

This is a complex, well-developed thriller that builds to a nail-biting resolution. What if Castro had kept one of the missiles of October? What if it were a threat to the U.S. today? High tech investigation and FBI field agent effort blend in a frantic search to stop a nuclear event. This book's excellent core idea is developed and executed with intelligence and a deft attention to detail. Hopefully an e-edition of this novel will be coming soon.