Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

My excitement and anticipation of a new release from Brad Thor has steadily declined with the last several books. The Russia, Russia, Russia theme echoes throughout the book as does the author's own dislike for Russians. They are very weak villains as portrayed in the book. The repeating theme of Scott meets Girl, Scott Wins Girl, Scott loses Girl to Death, Scott seeks Vengeance, Scott mourns loss, Scott meets new girl continues in this book with his latest Love interest and I am guessing third or fourth fiance' who will likely meet her death in next years novel. The book opens with a part near the ending then immediately jumps backward to 72 hours previously where it began similar to lots of action movies. There is minimal character growth or appearance of the team that surrounds and supports Scott from the Carlson group. They are used more as filler to push the story forward to the next stage of progress with little or no care by the reader. The Communist Chinese agitators are never really that much of a threat, nor are the scenarios in which they are written very thrilling. There is no sense of impending possible disaster or unknown threat to Scott or other characters. Not a lot of detail about the Communist Chinese technology of Black Ice is really portrayed in the story, nor is it used in a life threatening scenario to any of the characters. The only redeeming part of the entire book was the introduction of a man and former fellow spy to Reed Carlton who plays a pivotal and important role in the story. He gives the backstory on Reed Carlton's nickname of Peaches telling Scott the story. It would have been more effetive for it to have been told in a flashback manner where it is written in detail as if it were happening at the moment. This would have given the readers greater appreciation of and understanding of the character Reed Carlton. If you TRULY want the BEST of the Scott Harvath story and Brad Thor's work, then start with The Lions of Lucerne and his earlier novels in the series. They are far more Thrilling, edge of your seat reading that has been missing for several books now.