Customer Reviews

Solo

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

 

 

I was in the mood for a quick read and this book fit the bill at just under 200 pages. This is a superb international good vs evil tale. I gave 4 out of 5 stars simply because the ultimate resolution to the story was very quick and the protagonist finds out who the killer is almost by coincidence. Truth be told, this would have been a far more satisfying story if it was a little longer and relied a little more on the cunning of the characters at finding each other rather than coincidence.

Solo is mainly the story of John Mikali, grandson of a wealthy Greek business man. He's a sensitive person who loses both of his parents during infancy. He is raised by his maternal grandmother and a doting Greek woman who could have no children of her own. His grandfather, an equally sensitive person is a central figure in his life as well, but lives far away from the boy on an island in Greece. His grandmother dies leaving him alone with his Greek nanny and the grandfather who lives far away. He is a character who has some part of his soul missing. Though he loves the nanny and grandfather dearly, there is a coldness in his heart. Finally, when they are both killed, something in John Mikali snaps. He takes revenge on those who were responsible for their deaths and finds that he enjoys killing. He becomes an international hit man. At least half of the book is devoted to telling the story of John Mikali. It is extremely well crafted and, though he is evil through and through, you understand his character and care what happens to him.

Where John Mikali is the mouse in this cat and mouse tale, Asa Morgan is the cat. Asa Morgan is a soldier of great cunning and is off at war when he is called home because his 14 year old daughter has been hit by the getaway car of Mikali as he flees the scene of an assassination he has committed. Asa Morgan builds up a fury in his heart toward John Mikali and will stop at nothing to find him and kill him. He is a fundamentally good character, but also enjoys war and killing. His character isn't built up to the extent that Mikali's character is.

Enter, Dr. Katherine Riley, a foremost authority on terrorist mentality. She meets and falls in love with John Mikali. She becomes the only person that Mikali actually cares about. Asa Morgan meets her as well when British intelligence brings her in to analyze an ongoing case. He develops an attraction to her, but his desire for revenge is foremost in his mind. She is a minor character in this cat and mouse tale, a minor diversion.

I don't want to tell much more as it could ruin the story for those who wish to read it. I haven't given anything away that isn't brought out from the beginning. It rates 4 out of 5 for the reasons stated in the first paragraph of this review. All in all, this was a satisfying read.

This is one of the best thrillers I've ever read. Fast-paced, well-written, exciting. The characters are alive, the story is perfectly woven. Read it if you want a good thriller!

I FOUND THIS BOOK AT MY PARENTS HOUSE 3 YRS AGO ITZ A ORIGINAL HARDCOVER. I'VE READ IT 3 TIMES AND ITS ONE OF THE BEST IF NOT THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. I COULD PICTURE THE WHOLE STORY AS IF I WAS WATCHING IT. CHARACTERS ARE GREAT AND THE STORY IS WRITTEN WONDERFULLY.JACK HIGGINS WAS ON HIS JOB WHEN HE WROTE THIS ONE.THIS BOOK HAD ME WANTING TO BE JOHN MIKALI. GREAT READ I RECCOMENT TO EVERYONE WHO LOVES MOVIES LIKE SHOOTER OR THE BOURNE SERIES

A True Great suspense thriller by the author of "Eagle Has Landed"! Higgins can keep the pages flying!