Customer Reviews

Shock & Awe (Macmillan New Wrting)

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

 

 

My attention was first grabbed by this book's cover art, and while one should never judge a book by its cover, I'm glad I did this time. Isaak delivers an extremely original tale filled with great action and amazing attention to detail, authenticity, and realism. The plot is complex, diverse, and full of suspense and surprises. Also, while the story deals deeply with politics and religion, the author never uses the novel as a pulpit to preach opinions at the reader.

My only complaint is that the transitions were sometimes hard to follow, as they often are with globe-spanning thrillers, but that certainly didn't ruin my enjoyment of the novel. I recommend it, and I look forward to seeing what this author will come up with next.

This was okay, but not special enough to make me want to read `just one more chapter'.
Billionaire decides to sort the Muslim fundamentalist problem by using a small tactical nuke on Mecca to knock back the Muslim faith. Using a group of US cultists and ex SF military, a team is put together to put the plan into action...
A nice change is that one or two of the lead characters are women (ex `Rangers') which is an interesting dynamic. Add an undercover FBI agent who has been under for too long and is reaching the point where he needs to get out.
The plot seemed a little trite and I have seen many previous versions, and where it should have been tense and exciting this did not come over although, in fairness, there is a plot twist three quarters of the way through that was a little unexpected but still not enough of a wow factor.
Shame the author did not stick with the female `Rangers', this was an interesting aspect and might have made for a better story. This was a first novel and I am sure the next one will be an improvement, especially if the author does a back story on the ladies...

This is a superb novel. No other way to say it. Strong female characters. Action. An audacious story line with a plot that frequently surprises. A peculiar thing is that in some cases you have difficulty deciding who you want to be a good guy and who a bad guy, yet you get attached to the characters anyway.

His command of language is amazing: colorful and picture-creating, but easy. Cleverly colloquial; yet underneath this you see what is plainly a deep (and broad) knowledge of the world. It is so well written, I often forgot I was reading.

Grisham, Patterson, Ludlum, Cussler and the others: don't look over your shoulder just now, but here comes some guy called David Isaak. We want more, Mr. Isaak.

Carla is one of the great main characters. Quirky and unexpected, you want her to be in all the scenes. But the FBI guy is human and compelling as well. So are the other characters. As for the plot, this isn't one you can guess the ending to. Suspenseful clear to the end, the twists and turns are anything but predictable. The author has apparently spent time in the Middle East, because those settings have the feel of authenticity. His U.S. settings are also detail-rich and real, down to the true-believing "good ol' boys" the FBI guy is studying. On the surface it's good adventure/suspense writing, but his style delivers some exceptional moments along the way. I hope this book is the first of many.

I am not an avid reader. I can't compare this novel to those of other authors. Hell, I don't know if I could even name many other authors. All I know is when a friend said, "Hey, read this book my (family member) wrote," I was like, "Oh great. Now not only do I have to read something, I have to actually finish it and pretend it isn't crap."

But then I was laughing my arse off before the end of page one. I was reading during my break time at work. I was reading during my work time at work. I was pissed that after two or three days I was finished and there wasn't another one to start.

Buy this book. You will not have to pretend it's not crap.