As with all of the John Cory books I thoroughly enjoyed this one. My only criticism is that I wish the author had spent a little more time fleshing out the Panther character a little better. My opinion is that the character in the Lyon was more enjoyable to me because I felt I know him more personally due to the efforts of the author. Never the less I thoroughly enjoyed the Panther and I have recommended it to my friends. As with all the other John Cory books Scott Brick does a masterful job of bringing all the characters in the story to life. I continue to be a Nelson DeMille/Scott Brick fan.

*rubs eyes. pinches bridge of nose* You know that annoying uncle at the family reunion who uses every opportunity to either 1) make a pun, 2) drop the f-bomb, or 3) look around to see if anyone finds him funny?

That is the main character, John Corey. Now, I *get* that's he's supposed to be this sort of 'lovable scoundrel' type that women seemingly find themselves attracted to - but let's be honest. He's the guy who would be so much more likeable if he'd shut his piehole more often and just be the good guy he is instead of always trying to be the funny guy.

I suppose none of that is really here or there - it's just that less then a third of the way in the book, I feel like I married the guy and already can't wait to divorce him just so I don't have to listen to his awful jokes.

Okay, what do I like the best? Well, I generally like DeMille and it's brainlessly interesting enough that I'm not bored. I realize that isn't exactly a glowing review - but sometimes I do just want some brain fluff and this one fits that bill. I was neither enthralled but I was also not bored.

What do I like the least? The aforementioned bad jokes by smug uncle. Lord, that is tiring.

Eh. In fact, this is my reaction to the beginning, middle and end. See? No spoilers.

Breathy. Serious. Manly.

Overall, I like Scott Brick. It's safe to say he breathes life into characters since most of them end up sort of dramatic sounding.

No, I can't see this as a movie. Hmm, who would be John Corey... not sure. But no one really awesome. I want to enjoy hating him a little while I still cheer him on. You know.

I have read everything written by DeMille. This is the very worst. The story didn't get the least bit interesting until the end. I agree with the other review writers that the wise cracks were very annoying and pretty much ruined the book for me.

I've loved every one of Nelson DeMille's books -- read them all, listened to all but a few. But this one is the best. It's funny, it's fascinating, it's informative -- one of those books it's just impossible to stop listening to.

Aside from the fact that anything with John Corey is great, this book is -- as are several of DeMille's books, actually -- very timely. He set this book in Yemen, with John and his wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, traveling to Yemen as "bait" to smoke out -- and kill, if possible -- a deadly Al qaeda terrorist known as "The Panther." But what I found absolutely fascinating was DeMille's description of Yemen, mostly because it sounds a good deal like Libya -- two different countries, obviously, yet they share many similarities in terms of impoverished, hopeless population, dangerous, barren landscape, with radicalized terror groups mostly running things. All I could think of, listening, is that this must have been what life was like for the late and still-mourned US Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, who, together with four other US officers, was killed several months ago in a situation not terribly different from what DeMille gets his protagonist into, in this book. Right -- it's not exactly the same, of course. But life for US diplomats, life for US citizens who travel to these dangerous positions in radicalized Muslim countries, must have been very much like what DeMille describes here. It's absolutely fascinating.

Not that it's just educational -- Corey is at his witty best, with lots of laugh out loud one liners, performed to perfection by Scott Brick. Example? At several points in the book, things look grim indeed for the embattled group of Americans. "What's your evacuation plan?" one asks, wondering what the last-ditch plans are for getting out of the country, if need be. "Breaststroke," Corey says. Ah, right! That'll work.

It's a great book, a brilliant audiobook -- not to be missed, and one I will enjoy again and again.

Nelson DeMille is one of my favorite (top ten) authors. I say that up front as I most often have no difficulty rating books by these authors (including DeMille) five stars....and, although I generally liked "The Panther", I found myself troubled by the basic premises that drove the book and its conclusion. Perhaps that was DeMille's purpose? If so, I think that he has done better......"Up Country" and "Night Fall" come to mind.

It does appear that, as a nation and society, we are tipping toward the troubling assertion that ends justify means; this is a basic premise and plot driver of "The Panther". As chapter after chapter builds the case for "justice" and revenge through Corey's relentless cynicism and distain, I became depressed and started to wish the story would reach it's inevitable conclusion quickly. The depression came from growing certainty that, if we believe that Corey's situation and the attitudes and capabilities of the world situation possible, how will we ever bridge the culture gap?

Previous novels by Mr DeMille had a bit more "meat on their bones". This book was just not interesting or engaging. The little snatches of historical detail felt presented only begrudgingly and in a very small-minded way. I have the impression that Yemen and its people have no redeeming value whatsoever. The characters were poorly developed as well. John Cory, while usually a pompous, arrogant New York cop, was here just insufferable. The constant one liners excused one after another by his unusually spineless wife Ms Mayfield, almost made me not finish the book. The main theme of the book could be summed up as "payback at any cost". Not very interesting or thought provoking.
Scott Brick, usually a bit more subtle in his portrayal, was just aggravating. Here's only so many times you can hear that grating "Right.", before you go through the car roof...

If I were you, I'd skip this one, it's just not up to Mr De Mille's usual standard.

I had forgotten what a bad writer Nelson DeMille is. he spins a good yarn, lots of suspense, but after a couple of hours i couldn't stand hearing "she informed me," "I advised him," etc., all in the misguided attempt to avoid "I said" (which isn't even noticeable and moves a story along), I gave up. There are other aspects to his bad writing, which i won't list, except to say that he writes the same book over and over, longer and longer.

The narration was fine.

Great mix of current day technology, Cory and Brenner wit, and a captivating story. Can you call an audio book a "page turner"....?

sarcasm

i have loved all of DeMille's books. was so looking forward to his latest. I'm not even halfway through and dont know if I can even finish this. It goes on and on about nothing. I am so sick and tired of the main characters sarcatic jokes totally ruined the story for me.

The whole book seems to be Corey making wisecracks...way more than necessary...dumb too. In earlier books his wisecracks were great fun but in this one it seems like every time he says something it's a wisecrack and too often not funny. In other Corey books the interchange between John and Kay is fun but in this book we hear barely a peep from her. Final scene (I won't spoil it by telling) is way over the top...more than the Corey of previous books.

Scott Brick is terrific as always.

Cary