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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Putnam Adult
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 480
Printing Date: January 03, 2006
Publishing house: Putnam Adult
Sale Popularity Level: 84474
Studio: Putnam Adult
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Delta Force Major Charley Castillo returns in the second dynamic novel in W. E. B. Griffin's bestselling contemporary series.
Abridged CDs - 5 CDs, 6 hours
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I have to admit this is my very first W.E.B. Griffin thriller, although I have had several people suggest that I would like his writing style. So when loaned this book, I gave it a chance and found that I am torn about how I really feel about it. I guess although I am not new to thrillers, this kind of political thriller was a first. I am not sure if it was the length of the book, several references to things that I really didn't care about or the lengthy explanations about things that I didn't really think were important that made me keep putting this book down. Eventually I did finish it, but......I am not sure if I would read another Griffin novel.
Major Charlie Castillo, sharpshooter turned political mover-and-shaker/go to man, who has the ears of not only the Secretary of State and Homeland Security, but the President of the United States (who also has unwavering faith in Charlie's abilities to solve difficult challenges, like stealing a plane back from the enemy), has been given the duty (by the President no less) to go to Buenos Aires, discover how a diplomat's wife was kidnapped, and later how that same diplomat (Jack "the Stack" Masterson) was murdered. [This is one of the problems that I had with the story, while Griffin was attempting to give some other explanation about the possible kidnapping, I thought that it was kind of silly how they kept mentioning how Masterson was a promising basketball star when he was hit by a beer truck, suing and given several million dollars as a settlement. Therefore, providing a potential motive for the crimes, but it was said so many times, you knew that it couldn't be the real motive for the crime, merely a diversion.] While interviewing people concerning the incident, there are a series of misadventures (like a promising young officer getting killed and Castillo's love interest being shot) that eventually led to the real motive for the crimes. In the meantime, there are continuous references made to Castillo's background and wealth that I didn't think really added to the story, but added fluff to an already lengthy tale. And it definitely would have been better had Griffin not introduced a love interest who ended up being injured and disappeared for most of the novel, with only vague references made to her condition while he "solved" the mystery of "what is going on in Buenos Aires"?
Anyway, as the plot unfolds, you soon discover that the series of events are the direct result of the "Oil for Food" scandal, the Iraq conflict, corruption, terrorism, gas and oil (all issues that our government is dealing with today). The entire thing end ups boiling down to the age old theme of greed, and a desire for wealth and privilege.
What then merits a "3"? Well, I will break it down into positives and negatives. Positives about the book: It was interesting to learn some of the political stuff that goes on behind the scenes. The interactions between the different governmental agencies (Secret Service, CIA, FBI, Homeland Security) and their attempts to work with and against each other seems to be a realistic view of how things in politics and government works. Negatives about the book: I thought it was a little too long and some of the focus should not have been on Masterson's failed basketball attempt, Castillo's endeavor at romance seemed a little forced. He was declaring his undying and unwavering love for Betty Snyder (the agent who was injured during an assassination attempt) after one night of passion (although maybe this romance was explained in the very first book that I never read). I also thought the continuous discussions about his "great wealth" (living and staying at expensive hotels, etc.) was irrelevant. And some of the build up to Castillo's epiphany concerning who and what was really responsible for the death of Masterson also seemed a little forced (i.e., visiting his uncle, talking to people who acted like they didn't trust him, but spilled their guts easily concerning what they knew) and the truth was not the result of good investigative work, but deductive reasoning and listening. I also feel that the beginning of the book seemed totally different from the middle and the end. While the very first portion appeared to be setting the stage for the kidnapping of Masterson's wife, the subsequent thing you know, she is acting squirrelly and not telling the truth about the death of her husband, and although the rest of the novel was about that, it moved in another direction. And while I don't mind an author meandering around the plot, keeping it stupid simple is always best. Either way, although I am not sure if I would read another Griffin novel, I will give this one a "3". It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible either. It just could have been streamlined!
Rated by buyers 
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Almost 500 pages with no action. The author seems to try to write occasional sentences that trail on forever as if in search of an editor. The final result is proof that the search was fruitless. Despite some likable characters and a romp through cabinet-level (and up) power brokers, this is easily the worst book (other than self-published) I've read in years,
Rated by buyers -
horrible writing style albeit old fashioned. snail-crawling storyline, textbook-like sentences, every page was a tormenting, lot of italic paragraphs that were supposed to be the thoughts of all those moronic characters in this book. none of the characters looked realistic and capable. have tried several of this writer's novels, but failed every time after 10 to 30 pages. never again.
Rated by buyers 
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I really enjoy reading this book despite its length. It has lots of action that will take you places. Perhaps one thing I enjoy most is the Argentina. I highly recomment if you like reading hair raising thriller.
Rated by buyers -
I am so dissapointed with this book, its so lame and drags for so long... no where near Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum's work.
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