Customer Reviews

Point Blank (FBI Thriller (G.P. Putnam's Sons))

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Having read all of the Savitch and Sherlock series I was truly looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the revenge and murder plotline as well as the poorly drawn characters. If you are a first time reader of Cathering Coulter, I would advise you to read the early Savitch/Sherlock books such as "The Maze", "The Edge" and "The Target". They are exciting, well plotted stories that are well worth the time you will invest reading them.

I'm an avid reader who takes pleasure in spending (too much) money on books. Catherine Coulter, being that she's one of my favorite authors, takes up a large amount of space in my book cabinet along with Julie Garwood, Tami Hoag, and Patricia Cornwell. However, I've noticed Ms. Coulter's losing a bit of her pizzaz when it comes to her more recent works.

Before I read this book, although in honesty, I have yet to finish it, I was elated upon seeing that it would soon be in stores. I went to her website each and every day for the longest time, in hope that she'd post a preview as she always does. When I read about Ruth's adventure, I was excited and determined to purchase the book with all haste. Especially after witnessing the panic she was feeling. However, once I'd begun reading Point Blank, I realized she'd put everything she had into a powerful beginning and not so much into the rising action. To say in the least, I'm disappointed.

I'm currently stuck, for lack of a better word, on chapter twenty-one because I've been straying from reading this book. Instead, I've enveloped myself in the wonderfully written novels Julie Garwood has provided. I hate admitting the fact that although Coulter started out as my favorite author with novels such as The Maze, The Edge, Riptide, Eleventh Hour, Blindside, and Blowout, Julie Garwood is beginning to pull ahead with her brilliant works.

The dialogue in this book is so forced, along with the jokes and relationships. I took a bit of a peek ahead and witnessed a kiss between Ruth and Dix that was both expected yet unexpected. You see, he kissed her in a rather awkward moment. The dog had just wet himself (and her borrowed leather jacket) when Dix decides this is the time to kiss her. I'm sorry, but who does that? There was no indication, from what I saw, at that moment to suggest he even desired kissing her. Yes, it's bound to happen eventually- the two of them realizing they care about each other. But at such an awkward time? With no warning or no hint of what he'd been thinking or seeing? It was certainly a moment I'd like to forget because it's one of the worst moments she's written thus far between two characters.

Yes, the dialogue is indeed forced, as are the relationships, jokes, and laughter. I don't understand exactly what happened to my favorite author, but I sense this is perhaps a foreshadowing of the worst.

I have read all of Catherine Coulter's previous FBI thrillers, and was looking forward to this one with anticipation. However, although overall this was a good yarn, this story did not have the coherence of Ms. Coulter's previous forays.

Trying to tie together essentially 2 stories -- the story of Savich & Sherlock and the story of Maestro, ends up shortchanging both stories. Ms. Coulters brings in certain facts in her story, making the read think, and then does not carry through. The reader is left hoping that a sequel will be published soon to answer all the questions, but, is left wondering if maybe Ms. Coulter lost 100 pages somewhere.

The story line is two-fold, and at first glance extremely interesting. We find married FBI agents Savich and Sherlock involved in a case of kidnapping and murder, the victim being a stand-up comic at a club Savich is involved with. The two kidnappers, an old man and his equally young side-kick, seem to be engaged in a personal vendetta against Dillon Savich, and have targeted Lacey Sherlock as one of their next victims.

Meanwhile, Special Agent Ruth Warnecki is treasure-hunting in a cave in Virginia , and stumbles upon something that frightens her enough that she ends up left for dead in the woods, with no memory of who she is or what she was doing. She's found by Dix, the local Sheriff, and although physically in good condition, she seems to have temporary amnesia.

POINT BLANK is definitely a quick read, and the story lines are interesting. But there were too many things that irritated me to let me enjoy the book the way I wanted to. For one, Ruth's amnesia--she went from not knowing who she was, what she did for a living, or what she was doing in Virginia to seeing Savich and Sherlock and "miraculously" having everything come back to her in about two minutes. Second, I have to agree with the reviewer who said the dialogue in the book was "stiff." There were instances during my reading that I knew I should be laughing or at least chuckling, but it didn't happen. The way the sentences were worded, and the dry words used in everyone's conversations, left me with the feeling that something essential was missing from the story.

Overall, POINT BLANK isn't the best Savich and Sherlock story, but it won't stop me from reading Ms. Coulter's next release. As long as you know in advance that you're not getting ready to read Ms. Coulter's best work, you'll be fine.

When I got half way through this novel I asked myself: "Why am I reading this?" It's isn't very interesting. For the first time I can recall I fell asleep midday while reading this book.If a good editor had slashed the manuscript by 50% it might be more readable. My recommendation: Give it a pass.

I have to agree with an earlier reviewer who noted the two disjointed plot lines. Why? Not enough material to write a book which develops just one set of players? I loved Savich and Sherlock when they were in their first book - and that is where they should have stayed. Robert B. Parker and his "Spencer" character they are not! They don't add much to this book except confusion. I miss the good old days...The Maze, The Cove, etc...

The new characters Ruth and Dix almost take a back seat to them and are never fully developed. Will they be the basis for the next book? I think the author needs a vacation...

Ruth Warnecki, an FBI agent goes in pursuit of buried treasure by herself in a West Virginia cave. She ends up being rescued by a local sheriff, Dix and his two boys. Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock, fellow FBI agents come to her rescue. Savich and Sherlock are working on a case; at the same time they want to help find out who almost killed Ruth, a local music student, and an older resident in Maestro, Virginia. The two stories flip back and forth with great frequency. Some story threads such as what happened to Christie, Dixon's wife are not addressed well at all. The dialogue between characters often border on being hackneyed; especially with Dix and his two boys. The two stories rapidly build in suspense as Dix, Ruth, Lacey, Savich, and Sherlock get closer to the subjects. The endings are as expected but manage to keep the reader interested until the end. Look forward to future Savich and Sherlock with more focused storylines and snappier dialogue.

Perhaps this story will make more sense to readers who know the characters but, coming in cold with no foreknowledge, it is almost incomprehensible. An FBI agent, Ruth Warnecki, is hunting for hidden treasure, a cache of stolen Confederate goldbars, supposedly hidden in a cave. She had found a map detailing the exact location, in a book she bought from a secondhand bookshop and, alone, without telling anyone of her plans, set about exploring the deep cave...I thought that FBI agents were supposed to be smart! Overcome by a mysterious gas (which never is explained), she passes out but somehow finds herself out of the cave and in the backyard of the local Sheriff who takes her in and protects her from two baddies who come looking for her with murder in mind. Two more murders occur in this small town and the plot becomes more and more improbable with a cast which includes a coughing, cackling, nasty old man and his Lolita like, 15 year old, murderous companion. I could not in all conscience recommend this book to anyone.

Catherine Coulter usually writes a good book, even if not always the greatest (notible exceptions are her latest historicals, which have been simply awful). But what makes this book great isn't the book itself, but the audio. Dick Hill consistently improves any story he reads, but in this case, he elevates it way above its written material. In the 1st chapter, one of the characters is trapped in a cave. The reading of the panic she felt made me feel like I was trapped too. I listened to a similar type of scene read by Dick Hill almost 10 years ago while I was driving home. By the time the hero got out of the cave, I had taken a wrong turn, and had no idea where I was. Fascinating!

Take my advice. Get this book on MP3, get an arm band for your iPod, and I dare you to even notice you're doing housework! Keep an eye on the clock, though. The hours fly by so fast you won't believe it. Much better than sitting and reading a book, and a clean house to show for it! If you've never listened to an audiobook, this is a great place to start.

I've read every book Catherine Coulter has ever written, but to be honest, what started out as a series of great FBI crime novels, has turned into so much phooey! If she writes one more book with the Tuttles and their talent for "mass hypnosis", I will hurl. And the two main characters in this book, well, I don't think they could be more docile and boring. I think Savach and Sherlock should have been retired after the pitiful excuse for a novel that was Ms. Coulter's last book. Come on!!! Mass Hypnosis??? It's an insult to the reader's intelligence!