PAR-TEE

I'm conflicted about how I feel about this book. It is my first Silva novel, I almost called it quits in the beginning. I found the characters mundane and the plot moving to slowly, I think in an attempt to be cerebral... I hung in there to then came to the thought that this novel is nothing more than an author making a political statement in support of the Zionists... The last third of the book the pace picked up and became a novel of suspense, action, and intrigue. The final chapter was anti-climatic and did nothing for me. I really don't know whether I thought this was a novel that was as good as other reviews said it to be. I rated it good, not great will try another Silva novel, "the messenger" to give him a fair shake but say if you are a fan of John Corey,r John Wells, or Mitch Rapp this may be a little to slow and political for your taste...

This book started out like gangbusters, and I thought wow the reviews were right on and this is going to be a great novel.. Then we went to South America and the book became a poor version of the African Queen. The book bogged down in the swamp and became the story of a drunks survival in the swamp... I could not finish this book it became boring and the cadence of the narrator during most of the book just put me to sleep. I bought this book because of the GREAT reviews put failed to see any greatness in this novel... Disappointed!!!

I tried but this guy puts me to sleep... Pace is too slow, narration sound like a kiddie book, character voices not bad, but overall terrible. I give up!!! sad! Probably a great story!

This is a great series and all the SUPERLATIVES are 100% right on... I can add no more as to the quality of the story and the narration. This is a story meant to be absorbed and meditated on. The characters are soooo real and the trial and tribulations make you question how they survived and how can so called civilized societies commit such atrocities... Many great and brave characters as well as scoundrels... But I will always think of Carla, her bravery, self sacrifice, and tenacity to keep trying to make the world a better place. Carla is my hero!!! I highly enjoyed and recommend this book. It is heart wrenching at times and will bring a tear to your eye...

I will not be redundant and repeat what has already been said about the greatness of this story. I will simply state I echo all the superlatives others have stated. This is a long meaty book, but by the end you will want more and hurry to start the 2nd book of the trilogy. I love the characters all of them, their trials and tribulations, their joys and successes. The narration is superb!!! I do not give 5 stars easily, but this book deserves at least that. History was never so exciting and easy to consume... This is not a book to skim thru in parts, it must be taken in small bites and completely digested for maximum enjoyment; savor it!!! Meditate on it!!! This book is not an action packed, high energy, fast read thriller; but a narrative of people dealing with the cards they have been dealt in a place and time, confronting issues of the day and the impact their decisions had on their world, the future, and us all. Highly recommended.

Jeffrey Archer is a great story teller. His characters are well developed and empathetic. You can relate to their trials and tribulations, so you can feel the draw of each character as the story evolves. The problem is the storyline is a story that has been told many times in many different ways. The story is totally predictable and takes you right were you knew it would. The journey is enjoyable, but the ending is predictable. The author tells the story from each characters point of view, which while informative in character development, it can be boring and repetitious at times. What kept me listening was the great narration, the empathetic characters, and as I said the great story telling ability of the author. I believe Jeffery Archer could tell you the story of "Humpty Dumpty" and make it sound great even though you heard it a 100 times before. One could describe this book as a tempting soap opera, enticing you to keep listening to the next episode just to see if your hunches were right; and guess what? They are! I am going to give the sequel a listen. You guessed it, to see if I am right!!!

I enjoy the trials and tribulations of Andy Carpenter. Along with a good mystery he makes me laugh and look forward to the next book... A light, enjoyable winter/summer read... Recommended to those who like sarcasm, wit, and humor with the drama of a courtroom battle while solving a mystery.

This is my third Silva novel and I find I am enjoying and appreciating his novels more with each book. This is a great story with all the elements of a great espionage thriller. The line between fact and fiction is blurred as the author weaves a tale of terror that could be tomorrows headlines. The narration is great and I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy the genre...

If you enjoy a lighthearted mystery with a protagonist who is full of humor, sarcasm, and wit this is a book I would recommend to you. The storyline is good with a whodunnit that takes on some twists and surprises, but it was the regional slant that I enjoyed living in "Jersey"... Narration was excellent, characters real, and dialogue well worth your time... Enjoy!!!

After reading my first Silva novel, Prince of Fire, I was not sold on this series. I was "conflicted" as I put it on his story telling. I said I would give him a second try and WOW I am glad I did!!! What a great story, full of realism, intrigue, and suspense. I highly recommend this book, but give the same advise I was given; jump in at Prince of Fire first. I don't think it is as good and exciting as the Messenger but the background I gained allowed me to enjoy the Messenger more. Narration was great, I hope the Secret Servant my next Silva novel is as interesting and exciting a journey as this one... Highly recommended.