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Precio de Lista: $26.95
Ud. Ahorra: $9.16 (34%)
a partir de 09/08/2010 23:56 PDT

Evaluación: - ..a tightly plotted story that moves quickly
This is a tightly plotted story that moves quickly. The action starts with a home invasion where a man and his entire family including the babysitter are murdered. Joe Pike, the protagonist, is a former military colleague of this man. Pike focuses on solving this murder and extracting revenge for his friend. Along the way we encounter the Serbian mob, Crips gang members and the smuggling of Chinese weapons. As in most of Crais's books, law enforcement (here the LAPD and the AFT) is characterized as incompetent and standing in the way of justice. Several characters from earlier books support Pike, but no real character development occurs. There are no surprises as the mystery is solved.

In this book Crais has turned away from his primary protagonist, Elvis Cole and focused on Joe Pike, Cole's muscled sidekick. All of the attributes that make Cole such a likable character - a sense of humor, a full range of emotions, reasonable social interactions - are absent in Pike. As a central ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - Driving action
Crais has learned how to integrate his taste for the double hero story into a form of plot that drives to a conclusion and keeps his reader turning the pages. Many of today's action writers have fallen into the trap of the aging heroes whose biographies over forty years or so have become tests of creditability. Crais has managed to avoid the time trap and in this novel he brings in Elvis Cole as Pike's sideman to a greater degree than in THE Watchman. This is good entertainment for a couple evenings after time at the beach or when the TV gives a nasty recipe of idols and obscure sporting events. Of course if you can't wait, read it when you get it. It's worth the ticket.

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Evaluación: - Joe Pike brought to life
The best part of this second Joe Pike book is the decidedly different tone that the book uses to tell the story from Joe Pike's point of view. We have had many descriptions of Joe from the point of view of Elvis Cole from the previous books in the series, but this book really speaks in Joe's voice. As a result, we don't get the wisecracking and the same fast pace as the Elvis Cole books. I really think Robert Crais did a fantastic job of allowing us to truly experience this book through Joe Pike's eyes.

There are instances throughout the book where we get glimpses of how Joe Pike thinks and feels, which is not something that we get from an Elvis Cole book. For example, Joe was at Elvis' house and thinking about how happy he is when he spends time there. We know from Elvis how much the cat loves him when he is there, but we never knew what Joe Pike himself was feeling when he was there. Now we do. It is those little nuances that made me really appreciate that we were being ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - Great opening...weak finish
I have been a Robert Crais fan since THE MONKEY"S RAINCOAT. He has written three of the finest crime novels I've ever read: THE WATCHMAN, THE TWO-MINUTE RULE, and the classic L.A. REQUIEM. This book is not in their class. He takes a great opening, and an interesting premise, and it all sort of deflates toward a weak conclusion. One of the most interesting details is never explained. Joe Pike is softer at the end of this novel than in any other book in the series, and it weakens the character. It's a fast read, and will hold your interest. It may even keep you in suspense at times. There is an absolutely terrific scene at a trailer park. I wish the rest of the novel had that caliber of writing.

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Evaluación: - Crais Keeps Getting Better and Better
There is nothing better than good storytelling in a novel. I love the experience of sitting down during the course of an afternoon, cracking a book open and wondering where the time went some several hours later, with 300-plus pages having flown by. Robert Crais is one of those authors who consistently delivers the goods, developing a straightforward plot line but throwing in a surprising twist or two before all is resolved.

Until recently, Crais has earned his bread and butter almost exclusively with a stretch of novels featuring wisecracking private investigator Elvis Cole. In 2007's THE WATCHMAN, his focus switched to Joe Pike, Cole's more or less silent partner in the firm. Following the brilliant CHASING DARKNESS, Pike returns as the center of attention in THE FIRST RULE. Set aside an afternoon; you won't want to stop reading once you start.

Loyalty is the fuel that runs the engine of Pike's personality. Pike used to be a professional military contractor, unapologetically ... Leer Más

Evaluación: - Fast paced
Here we have the author's take on the action/conspiracy thriller. Rich girl sees something she shouldn't and after two failed murder attempts, a favour is called in and Joe Pike is brought in to protect her. After a couple more failed attempts, Pike brings in his partner Elvis and decides to take the fight to the bad guys. Not knowing who to trust, Pike decides to cut everybody out of the loop and do things his way.........

This moves with pace and is, like all the author's novels, thrilling and entertaining with more then a few great one-liners thrown in. The focus here is more on Joe Pike then Elvis Cole and we see some flashbacks into his early Police years, all helping us to understand Pike's character.

A slightly rushed ending, but good stuff from Crais once again.

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Evaluación: - PROTECTING A SPOILED HEIRESS WAS MORE THAN PIKE BARGAINED FOR
Heiress Larkin Barkley has always had it her own way. If she feels like tearing up the street in her fast sports car, she does it. She clubs like Paris Hilton, lives a life unlike most her age and never has to deal with the reality of danger. Until it hits her in the face after she's involved in an auto accident.

All of a sudden, she's fleeing for her life and her only hope of staying alive is Joe Pike. Since she doesn't march with reality, she minimizes the fact that she could wind up dead, and gives Joe one of his biggest challenges yet--babysitting a spoiled brat with a target on her back.

Someone inside her father's realm is tracking her every move. Safe houses aren't safe. Enter loveable detective Elvis Cole, Joe Pike's partner. Between the two of them they are determined to save Larkin in spite of herself.

I listened to this on audio tape, and as with all Robert Crais books thoroughly enjoyed it. He has become one of my favorite writers. And when it comes to ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - The Watchman
One of the best books I've read in a long time!!!! {I'm 75 years old so that is a "LONG TIME!!"}

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Evaluación: - Dissappointing below average read
The story is WEAK! It rest on us believing that the bad guys are trying to kill a traffic accident witness in order to protect a 'secret' relationship between a bad guy and a money launderer. It just is illogical that they'd go through all this just to discredit an eyewitness!! It's like killing a fly with a bazooka! To make matters worse the characters are flat and unappealing. Frankly I was hoping the bad guys would kill her and end my misery so I didn't have to hear her whine anymore!!!

Basically don't waste your time with this book.

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Evaluación: - Scorching pace - wonderful detail - great read
Synopsis

Joe Pike is the consumate "good cop," a former special forces SWAT team standout of almost super-hero proportions. To pay back an old debt, Pike is coerced into playing bodyguard to a wealthy young heiress whose life is in danger after getting involved in an auto accident with some unscrupulous types that are set on her destruction. Pike must figure out the who, how, and the why while on the run as the bullets and the body count soar. The plot is revealed at breakneck speed with a twist in the end that will leave your head spinning. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

In my quest to find new authors and fresh material, I picked up The Watchman by Robert Crais. This was my first book with the Cole/Pike characters. The Watchman was simply plucked from the double stack of books waiting to be read and I jumped in with both feet.

I read about 80 pages with the first sitting, enough to feel comfortable with both the characters and the plot; in fact, I felt almost ... Leer Más

Evaluación: - Entertaining!
I borrowed this book from a friend to help me pass time on a business trip. I honestly was not expecting very much, having never heard of the author or Elvis Cole. I was not disappointed! The book is action packed from beginning to end. Very fast paced and easy to follow. In the end, I really liked Elvis Cole so I will be looking for more of his novels from now on!

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Evaluación: - Heart-pounding, heart-breaking at the same time
Really great book with one of the best endings I've ever read in a mystery. Had my heart racing at the same time as my tears were welling up. My all time favorite author is Robert Parker for his dialogue. But here's the new contender for the crown...along with Lashner...and a notch above Lehane and Iles.

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Evaluación: - Robert Crais never disappoints
Fast paced action and wonderful character development. I feel like I know Elvis & Joe personally.

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Evaluación: - The Forgotten Man - An Elvis Cole Novel
Robert Crais is one of the most talented writers I have ever read. The plots are so exciting I find myself reading all night, unable to stop. When the book ends, there's an empty feeling - I miss the characters and feel as if a friend has moved away. I've read every book Crais has written and eagerly await the next one! My only complaint is that there aren't MORE writers with his talent for creating high suspense, realistic, intricate plots played out by complex characters shrewdly drawn with deep insight into human nature, depicted with almost poetic description, yet imbued with a touch of humor. Rich, multitextured stories flawlessly written!

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Evaluación: - Great Read!
Another great book by Crais! I never get tired of Elvis Cole and the ever cool Joe Pike!

Evaluación: - Pike has left the building
Other reviewers have mentioned that Pike plays a minor role in this one, and that is a shame. But Elvis Cole is still a great character and here an old case comes back to haunt him. Evidence provided by Cole freed a man now discovered dead in the LA fires and it looks like he actually was guilty of a number of gruesome murders. And the Police and the relatives are gunning for Cole. At the same time, senior police officers seem to be hindering the investigation and keeping the truth from everyone.

Well I enjoyed it, good characters, witty dialogue and a twisting plot. The usual quality stuff from the author, maybe not up to the quality of his best works, but still entertaining.

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Evaluación: - Great Read!
If you read one Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel by Robert Crais, you have to read them all!

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Evaluación: - Top Notch Mystery
In this installment, Elvis Cole is forced to re-examine a series of murders when the suspect found was helped freed by Cole years earlier. During a fire evacuation in Los Angeles, police stumble upon the body of Lionel Byrd. It is an apparent suicide, but at his feet is a photo album of seven girls brutally murdered. Years ago, Cole helped Byrd go free for Debra Repko's murder because at the time of the murder, Cole found a videotape showing Byrd at a bar. Cole doesn't believe that he helped a guilty man go free, but feels compelled to find the truth.

I've read an Elvis Cole novel previously, so I'm up to speed on whom the characters are. Crais used to inject more humor into his novels, but this is still a solid thriller. There were enough twists and turns to keep me sufficiently interested, and many characters were repeaters to bring a level of comfort and familiarity. I would definitely recommend it.

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Evaluación: - Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais
If you're a Robert Crais fan - you've already read this and it's excellent! As usual, Crais never disappoints!

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Evaluación: - Robert Crais, where have you been?
It's amazing that I never read any of his books before this one. I came across this by chance and decided to take a chance.

I really liked it. It's your basic LA private eye mystery, but Crais is a good writer and the book flows smoothly. It was easy to read and I like the characters. Medium paced, but the important thing was that the book was easy to follow and read. I can't get enough of LA murder mysteries as I'm a great fan of Michael Connolly's Bush series. In fact, it might be that I like this book so much is because Elvis Cole lives in the same city and the books are very similar. In fact, Elvis Cole meets Harry Bosch at the Hollywood station in one chapter. He doesn't get mentioned by name, but if you're a Harry Bosch fan, you'll recognize him right away. Elvis even lives in the same area, on the same road I think and has the same pet.

All in all, I enjoyed the setting, the mystery and the characters. Since then, I've actually read 3 more and I've ordered 4 more in this series ... Leer Más

Evaluación: - Glad to find me a new Auther
Thia is my 3rd book of Robert Crais, and I liked that one as well. So added him to my favorite writers, which means another one to collect his books.
I usually like the CIA-FBI type of book, wnd was glad to see some police good ones here.

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Evaluación: - Good, Kept Me Engaged
I didn't (need to) skip any pages whilst reading this as I have tended to with the other books I have struggled to finish recently. Thanks to the author for restoring an old delight! I am tempted to look up some of his other more popular books in the same series.
P.S. Good for Joe for imparting Daryl a much-deserved lesson.

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Evaluación: - L.A. Requiem - A page-turner
This is the first Robert Crais book I've read, but now I want to read all of them! What a page-turner with great characters and a complex mystery that kept me guessing and enthralled. Great dialogue and a sense of place that almost becomes a character, L.A. Requiem offers an investigative team who are perfect foils for each other, one light, one dark. I stayed up long into the night to finish reading this. I had to know whodunnit and how everything would shake out at the end. Well paced and with superb character crafting.

One little beef. One secondary character had the last name Chen and another had the last name Chenier.

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Evaluación: - An uneven book, periods of excellence and of mediocrity
This was my first Crais novel. I'm not sure there will be a second.

Don't get me wrong. I didn't dislike this book at all. Parts of it riveted me. One personality (Joe's) was fleshed out beautifully. But the cardboard police figures, the silly one-line summations of tense or tragic situations by Elvis and the insufficient development of the personality of the criminal were drawbacks in what could have been a truly ingenious book.

There's a lot of potential here (whence 3 stars): maybe someone will comment to let me know if this potential was realized in future Cole/Pike novels.

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Evaluación: - For Crais' sake!
Robert, I must tell you that page after page in italics is somewhat like mixing stripes with plaids, only much worse.

Forget about Pike's childhood. A psychologist, you ain't.

You embarrass yourself when you try to delve into the Mexican mystique. You are from LA, not L.A.

Evaluación: - Elvis Cole is the King of the Tough Guys
Elvis Cole is watching 10-year-old Ben Chenier, the son of his girlfriend Lucy, who is away on a journalistic assignment. Ben wanders out behind the house one evening while Cole is on the phone. When he's finished with the call, Ben is gone.

A man calls and says he has the boy and that he is acting in revenge because Cole got some rangers and innocent civilians killed in Vietnam. Cole denies the accusations, but now he's got something to work with.

Cole and his lethal pal, ex-marine, ex-cop Joe Pike learn that the kidnappers are three soldiers of fortune whose leader is wanted as a war criminal for his part in genocide in Sierra Leone. The man was a ranger, like Cole. He's one tough character and he's buried Ben in a box with a tube for him to breath by. Ben is brave, but he is no match for his kidnappers.

Cole's enemy is younger and better trained and he has two professional aides. But that doesn't matter. Cole and Pike live by a sort of Hemingwayesque code combined with a ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - cant say enough
this guy is currently (and for the last year or so) one of my top 10 all time authors! This whole series of Joe Pike and Elvis Cole are incredibly well drawn, witty and in the cawe of Joe Pike, fascinating to read about. Great, if unusual characters that one gets very involved with. Love Elvis' sarcasm and wry wit. Love Joes' stoicism.
This book along with L.A. Requiem are, to me, probably the best out of them all.
Well up there with Asimovs Robot series just to give you a idea what I truly think about (these) book(s)
Wanta be entertained with a book you cannot! put down? This is one of 'em

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Evaluación: - I Loved It!
Mr Crais has another winner on his hand. The story was so compelling and the Elvis Cole series gets better with each novel. Moving on to the next in the very entertaining series.

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Evaluación: - Flashback to my own experience
I have no idea if Crais has served in a Ranger Company or in Nam but the back story action of his Elvis character on patrol was tuned in and on the mark of my own experience in Nam 40 odd years ago. What a flashback! The book itself is gripping and the story believably real in a nonfantasy style I simply could not lay it aside. For several years I've been a fan of RA Salvatore and his Drizzit series. In Crais I have found a more realistic and believable series that I can now relate to. I'm gonna download everyone and read them in order. Congratulations Robert, you now have a solid fan and I'm going to go over to your web site and cruise so see what's coming next. BTW Robert - I've known men like Elvis and Joe Pike, I've served with them and love every one still today. To me Elvis and Joe are real people.

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Evaluación: - Well done with this book
This novel is plotted well and moves quickly. It's a great read and it was imposible to put down. It`s a well written book. One of the best Detective titles I`ve red.

If you`re realy a fanatic of detective books you can't go without these:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Secret Adversary: A Tommy and Tuppence Mystery!

Evaluación: - Reading fun.
I have read all the Crais books,and have never been disappointed. Elvis and Joe and nowhere to go except my LazyBoy to read.

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Evaluación: - The Two Minute Rule
Another great read. I usually only read the Elvis Cole books but this one was just as good.

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Evaluación: - A crime novel with shades of 'an afterschool special'
The Plot: Max Holman, a nice-guy bank-robber is released from the Big House only to find out, on the day of his release, that his estranged police officer son has been gunned down along with three other cops. It quickly becomes apparent to our hero that there's a cover up and that the murders are somehow connected to a string of recent bank robberies. Max hooks up with a former FBI agent, the woman who busted him, and the two of them set out to uncover the truth.

Fans of Crais will notice a notable lack of humor in this novel. There is none of the witty banter that a reader might expect to find in an Elvis Cole novel for example. The novel has an over-riding theme of redemption and is filled with overwrought emotion. A lot of people respond favorably to this sort of thing, but personally I prefer cynical novels over sentimental ones. (Some people might consider this a character flaw on my part but that's just the way I am. Nothing can make me avoid a movie or a novel more than for someone to ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - see other low rated reviews
this is a major disappointment from crais. i can critisize it on many levels, but i won't bother...read other reviews. i hope you read other crais works because he has talent; but it's not evident in this.

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Evaluación: - What a Book!!!!!
This story is superb and it is memorable. One of the best Detective titles I`ve red. Oh, man, man, MAN.... what a book! I have just now read the final words. The dialogue is tight, gritty, realistic, and essentially as good as it gets for a book full of characters living on the marginal fringe of polite society.

For the lovers of these titles, I highly recomend these ones:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Secret Adversary: A Tommy and Tuppence Mystery!

Evaluación: - implausible, but entertaining
I have only read a few of Crais' books, and this is the first time that I am walking away from one where I feel the story ends with a few more chips on the positive side than negative. From what I have read of Crais, this guy really enjoys pushing believability out of the window and going all out in an ever rising tide of one-upsmanship.

We start out with the main character, a hostage negotiator, blowing a case where he ends up getting a kid killed. The story then shifts a couple of years into the future where this negotiator, 'Talley', is now the chief of a small towns police department. His wife and kid have been pushed away by this guy, and it seems he might be on the brink of suicide.

In another story, three young adults rob a mini-market, shoot and kill the clerk, shoot a cop, run into a house, and take the father, daughter, son hostage. Wallah, now Talley is set up for a redemption moment. Quickly, the three suspects are surrounded, the house is cornered by cops and Talley is negotiating ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - Great read
Great fun, although there is a problem. You might not be able to put it down. The story is one cliff hanger after another. It starts out as a simple home invasion but then quickly morphs into much more. I also enjoyed that there were several differt perspectives happening simultaneously.

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Evaluación: - Not A Hostage
Great purchase, no problems at all. Loved the "Hostage" audiobook and have read or listened to many Robert Crais novels. I listen to about 3 books/month and it was nice to put a face to the character. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a great story. Crais has been writing for years and puts all the pieces in place, and some surprises too. James Daniels also does a great job in telling the story. After listening to many of his works, I can put a familiar voice to the words when I slow down to actually read a book by Crais.

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Evaluación: - tedious
sooooooooo long a nd boring. huge disappointment from an author who has written some very good books. i absolutely hated this one. too predictable. terrible writing. for example, i counted 12 exclamation points on one page. don't waste your time on this dredge.

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Evaluación: - They Took the Wrong Guy Hostage
Jeff Talley was a front-line negotiator for LAPD's SWAT team, but the stress cost him his marriage, so he resigned and took a a job as Chief of Police in the fictional town of Bristo Camino, a well to do suburban bedroom community of Los Angeles. But his peaceful small town existence comes to a screeching halt when three young men rob a mini-mart, then, when the robbery goes haywire, invade a home and take a man and his two children hostage. However the loser bad guys picked the wrong house, because it just so happens that the guy they're holding hostage is the accountant for a Palm Spring mobster. Somehow it seems getting caught by the cops would be preferable to being nabbed by the mob.

This is a thriller that had me up all night long. Robert Crais has developed living, breathing characters here and that is the key to a the kind of story that will have you on pins and needles as you shiver your way through a cold and dark night with a spine-tingling book.

Evaluación: - Impossible to Put Down
In Demolition Angel, Robert Crais tells the story of Carol Starkey, the LAPD bomb tech who was killed when an earthquake occurred while she was on a bomb call and was brought back to life. I first met Carol Starkey when I read The Forgotten Man and have kind of worked my way back in the series to learn her story.

Robert Crais is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I enjoy the seamless way he blends the personal lives of his characters with their professional lives and appreciate the way that he makes me care about them and want to know more about them. In this book, three years after Carol Starkey was brought back to life, she is still trying to put her life together, trying to deal with her death and resurrection and the lasting death of her partner and lover. Now a detective in the Criminal Conspiracy Department of the LAPD, she is the lead on another case involving a detonation that kills another bomb squad detective.

I found this book impossible to put down. Not only is it a great ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - 3 stars is generous
I read Hostage a few years back and found that to be a TRUE keep-you-awake-all-night compelling read. I finally got around to reading Demolition Angel and figured it would be as good, if not better, based on the premise. Unfortunately it fell far short of my hopes and expectations. Too much of the character development was overly drawn out; at 375 pages, the book perhaps could have been cut down by a good 75 of them by simply not being so thorough in that development. Where Hostage just seemed to flow at a great pace, this one was nearly laborious to get through. Good plot and good characters - but just not enough to rate above 3 stars. Two and a half would be the most accurate rating in my humble world.

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Evaluación: - Extremly great.
I closed the book slowly, running my hands all over it, before I held it tightly to my heart for a few moments. I do that after great reads. One of the best Detective titles I`ve red. Oh, man, man, MAN.... what a book! I have just now read the final words.

Along similar titles I also recomend these books:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
The Secret Adversary: A Tommy and Tuppence Mystery!

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Evaluación: - If At First Your Books Aren't Optioned...
Actually, Robert Crais is so talented and so hip to the Hollywood jive, I can't understand why any number of his books haven't made the leap to the big screen. Apart from "Hostage", a lousy film from his poorest (in a relative way, so to speak) novel, This lack of success remains a mystery. Enter "Demolition Angel", an obvious attempt to kick-start his cinema career. An okay plot with a wholly preposterous denouement, an unfullfilling reading experience and a wish that RC hadn't pandered so! Is anyone besides me sick to death of hard-bitten, self-alienating, alcoholic wimmen cops what live on antacids, breathmints, cigarettes (in no-smoking allowed workspaces, yet!) who chase the whole unwholesome trio guzzling neat Bombay Sapphire Gin??!! I sure as shootin' am! Tired! Of! It! Crais is so much better than this book and his legion fans deserve better than predictable drivel. So does the LAPD Bomb Squad! I had the privelege to watch them in action one time twenty or so years ago, from call-out to resolution of the incident ... Leer Más

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Evaluación: - MR. RED
A substantial mystery thriller, however with not too much character substance other than the famed Mr. red. He is Obviously the best character in the book. starkey is great but, she is an extreme bore. Mr. red, although not much of an explored character has the most intriguing personality with a strong mentality for destruction. It is apparent that this book is nothing without a great anagonist like him.

Precio de Lista: $26.95
Ud. Ahorra: $10.78 (40%)
a partir de 09/08/2010 23:56 PDT