Customer Reviews

The Sentinel

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

 

 

"A book that defines, as courts cannot, the real gut choices of law and order on the mean streets." - San Francisco Chronicle

"[Petievich's] writing grows ever more proficient and sleek." - Los Angeles Times

"Petievich writes with economy and authority, a realistic novel. Sharply drawn characters linger long after you've finished." - The Miami Herald

"A fine book, gritty and genuine, with many slimy characters and a few admirable ones." - The New York Times Book Review

"Lots of action, along with characters who can penetrate to the truth by looking each other in the eye." - Kirkus Reviews

Fans of To Live and Die in L.A will be anxious to read Gerald Petievich's latest book. A great read, this book features a tightly woven plot centered in Washington,DC as a Secret Service agent fights against time to protect the President. Petievich kept leading me down paths before revealing that I'd made false assumptions. I read this book in one sitting -- that's how good it is.

This is one of those books I have mixed feelings about. The author is an experienced Secret Service agent, and he brings to the book a wealth of knowledge and an insider's point of view that's probably unparalleled. The premise of the book, that a Secret Service agent is suspected of betraying the secrets of the president's protection detail to a group of white supremacists who have been conducting a bombing campaign. The white supremacists are in turn suspected of receiving money from Libya. The agent in question is cornered, and winds up running, then investigating the plot on his own. Things are complicated by the fact that he's also having an affair with the Fist Lady.

The reason this book gets only three stars instead of five is Petievich's writing, which has always been rather pedestrian. The main character is supposed to be a pulled-himself-up-by-his-bootstraps sort who joined the army straight out of high school. While he's intelligent, he's completely unsophisticated, no mention of books or art or music or anything. When someone accuses him of collaboration with the white supremacists, though, his response is a paragraph concluding with "How utterly absurd." So he's essentially uneducated, but he channels Sir Peter Wimsey. The author, truly, has a tin ear for dialogue, and can't write a suspenseful scene to save his life. When the plot takes what should be a suspenseful turn, things are actually rather boring.

A shame, because the premise, as I said, isn't bad. It's just the writing is awful. Maybe the movie will be better.

"The Sentinel" is vintage Petievich. This is a tough, uncompromising depiction of the Secret Service's highest visibility law enforcement program under maximum stress. Characters include a variety of duplicitous White House denizens and toadies, protected by ambitious, self-serving Secret Service agents and officials. The principals misbehave and have things to hide. Extra-marital activity is a big problem. The Ten Commandments are out, the Seven Deadly Sins are in.

To achieve their plans, flawed (and sometimes outright criminal) officials who run Petievich's Secret Service must somehow outsmart the system of repetitive checks and audit trails built into the agency's intimidatingly thorough security design. The basic honesty and competence of individual agents prove to be an obstacle, too. To find out whether the system prevails under this assault, read the book.

Critics/readers who find the plot line "a stretch" should lighten up and enjoy the ride. Embrace conspiracy and paranoia. After Oklahoma City and Waco, the extra-marital conduct of high-visibility public officials (Clinton, Gingrich, Giuliani, Condit, ad nauseum), September 11, and the documented treason of homegrown moles in the FBI and CIA - it's hard to visualize any fictional event that should be excluded as improbable.

It's past time for the return of ex-Special Agent Petievich, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Military Intelligence (where was he? Guess #1: he was running Treasury's Witness Protection Program under an assumed name; or Guess #2: he was, himself, a witness in hiding). No matter - welcome back.

...

President Jordan is elated that his second term in office is winding down though he knows he will miss the illusion of power. He is tired of the terrorists who have blown up five public buildings in the past eighteen months and looks forward to divorcing his First Lady and marrying his top security advisor.

However even in the final laps, the deadly Aryan Disciples provide a direct threat to Jordan starting with the killing of a Secret Service agent. Now head of the First Lady protection unit, Agent Pete Garrison has a credible threat to Jordan through a reliable (at least in the past) but extremely nervous and somewhat shaky informer. However, Pete has his own problems as someone has photos of he and the First Lady making love. As Pete concludes that his opponent is deep inside the concentric circles surrounding the President, he works closely with Agent Breckinridge on stopping the clear and present danger to the head of the United States as well as keeping himself clean.

Though at times the tale seems a stretch, fans will relish this strong look at the Secret Service. The story line is fast-paced and filled with much irony and characters one cares deeply about. The actual attempt on the President seems incredulous though the audience is warned to "trust no one". Still, readers will immensely enjoy the look at the agency's operations through the eyes of the key characters. THE SENTINEL is an action packed thriller that keeps the heart pumping and the adrenaline flowing.

Harriet Klausner

Or, maybe he never left. I hadn't seen any of his titles since Earth Angel and wondered if he had gone on to other interests. Then, I saw his name on the cover from halfway across the local Barnes & Noble. I grabbed the book and didn't even open it until I had gone through the check out and driven home. After that, I settled into one of the most enjoyable tales I've read in a long time. Gerald Petievich's inside knowledge of law enforcement makes this book come alive in several different ways and directions, all at once. His protagonist, Special Agent Pete Garrison, is believable, attractive, and action-oriented, a character the reader 'pulls for' throughout the entire book. Plot twists lurk in unexpected places, and every page is an absolute banquet of inside information and character development. I have been a fan since reading "To Live and Die in L. A." and I believe that this writer just gets better with each book. Highly recommended.

Fans of To Live and Die in L.A will be anxious to read Gerald Petievich's latest book. A great read, this book features a tightly woven plot centered in Washington,DC as a Secret Service agent fights against time to protect the President. Petievich kept leading me down paths before revealing that I'd made false assumptions. I read this book in one sitting -- that's how good it is.

His fans will be happy to hear that Gerald Petievich's Sentinel measures up to the quality writing they found in To Live and Die in LA, Paramour, and Earth Angels. Fast-paced and well-plotted, this book takes the reader through tense adventure on both coasts as the protagonist, Secret Service Agent Pete Garrison, faces off the Aryan Disciples, blackmailers, and enemies within the White House as he struggles to protect the President. No wonder Michael Douglas bought the screen rights to this book.

Perhaps I'm being picky but shouldn't a former Secret Service agent know that a magazine for a semi-automatic pistol is not called a "clip," and there's no such thing as an effective sound supressor (silencer) for a revolver? The author should know better.

Aside from the amatuerish technical mistakes, the writing is average at best with stilted dialogue and unrealistic characters. There are plenty of other good thriller writers out there, seek them out and pass this book up.

The story is another conspiracy thing and you can see the bad guy 1/3 of the way in. You stay because the author has been there and shares his insider knowledge with you. Always interesting.