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Die Trying

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: Lee Child

April 01, 1999
This is the second Jack Reacher book I've read, chosen after I found One Shot quite un-put-downable. It was a bit silly but enjoyable in a satisfying-action-movie kind of way, but if 'One Shot' is a slick Hollywood production, 'Die Trying' turns out to be straight-to-video poor-man's-Chuck-Norris dross.

It starts well enough with the punchy narrative setting up an intriguing mystery, and maintains some good pace until about half-way through the book where the plot just turns to mush, becoming a sequence of characters being captured, escaping, re-captured, re-escaping, being on the verge of execution, escaping, and so on and so on. It is filled with repetition and cliche and it builds to a feeble climax.

Writing this ... Read More:

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Agatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison (Agatha Raisin) (Agatha Raisin)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: M.C. Beaton

October 02, 2008
Agatha Raisin is asked to publicise a village fete by her friend Mrs Bloxby. Before long she has taken on the task with her usual enthusiasm and the village of Comfrey Magna is inundated with reporters when a well known star is persuaded to open proceedings. Everything is going well until someone jumps to their death from the church tower. Agatha feels responsible and sets out to investigate ably assisted by staff from her detective agency. As ever this is a fast paced and intriguing mystery with a far from perfect heroine who is all the more endearing for her very human faults. I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in less than 24 hours. If you want an intriguing mystery without an overload of violence this could be one to try. The product description above ... Read More:

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The Righteous Men

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: Sam Bourne

June 19, 2006
This did'nt get me from the first page but once I got into the story I could'nt put it down. I did guess though who the baddie in the book was long before the end and having studied theology I did know where this book was going but that did'nt spoil it for me, I was gripped !
If you are a thriller ( with a theological stance ) buff, just enjoy this for what it is, a fine good read !

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Dead Line

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: Stella Rimington

October 02, 2008
Having now read all four of Stella Rimington's books, I think this is far and away the best. It is very well written, pacey, and with a strong plot that had me racing through to the end -- there is lots of action.The characters are well drawn and Liz, the protagonist, has become an increasingly alluring heroine -- resolute yet human, clever but intuitive as well. The repeat appearances of Liz's sidekick Peggy and Liz's boss Charles Wetherby are starting to give an ensemble feel to the cast which I like, but there are some new figures -- an embittered CIA officer named Bokus; a Mossad veteran who's seen it all -- who are equally intriguing.

All in all, I thought this was a great read.

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Relentless

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: Simon Kernick

May 21, 2007
Absolute page turner. I am at that age when I want to be entertained and although there are a few bits that maybe one could knock a hole in it is a fast thrilling read. I didn't have time to be critical - the book lifts you up and sprints to the end. There are very few books that can do that and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone - especially those who don't like reading much. I defy anyone not to be caught up in the excitement. I read til I finished it at 5am and still couldn't sleep because my heart rate was through the roof!

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Skin Privilege

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: Karin Slaughter

March 27, 2008
One or two people have put massive spoilers in some of their reviews for this book so unfortunately I knew what was coming and when it did it was totally shocking. If you have followed the `Grant County' series from book 1 (Blindsighted) through to this possibly final one (I say possibly because I've read somewhere that Karin Slaughter is taking a few years off from `Grant County'), you will have appreciated how as a writer Slaughter has matured and developed her characters. This is especially so in the fifth book (Faithless) in which she incorporates Sara and Jeffrey first meeting into the up to date story and gives the reader great insight into their relationship which puts into perspective some of the feelings and emotions of the previous books, and indeed into Skin ... Read More:

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Seven Ancient Wonders

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: Matthew Reilly

August 04, 2006
I loved this book and wondered if I had read the same book as some of the previous reviews. What this book is is a tongue in cheek, fast paced adventure. So Reilly may have taken a few liberties with historical facts, specially adapted weapons and 747's but this is 'fiction' not real life. I couldn't put the book down and my 13 year old son has already started reading it. Don't take it too seriously, don't analyse every fact, don't wonder if things that happen are even possible, just read and enjoy it!

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Arctic Drift

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: Clive Cussler, Dirk Cussler

November 06, 2008
I loved this book and wondered if I had read the same book as some of the previous reviews. What this book is is a tongue in cheek, fast paced adventure. So Reilly may have taken a few liberties with historical facts, specially adapted weapons and 747's but this is 'fiction' not real life. I couldn't put the book down and my 13 year old son has already started reading it. Don't take it too seriously, don't analyse every fact, don't wonder if things that happen are even possible, just read and enjoy it!

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The Six Sacred Stones

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: Matthew Reilly

August 01, 2008
I read a wide variety of books (styles and subjects) and was looking for a holiday easy read so I wasn't expecting Goethe...I was expecting a Dan Brown or a Grisham kind of easy read. But this is bordering on childish matinee movie pap.

As many reviews have said this isn't a whole novel merely part of a ongoing story (who cares if it's 2 or 3?)so don't expect to know if the heroes save the world (I kinda guess they will but at one stage I wanted the world to end).

Ridiculous plots, gizmos and gadgets I can deal with...but the writing is atrocious. There is only so many "in the nick of times" you can endure and the dialogue has to be the worst I have ever read...it really is awful.

I've never reviewed a book on Amazon before and hate being ... Read More:

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Stone Cold

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Crime- Thrillers and Mystery
by: David Baldacci

June 26, 2008
I love Baldacci's Camel Club and its characters, especially Oliver Stone. This book is fantastic, never boring and full of surprises... a must have in your books collection!