Books : Rules of Deception

Rating: - Moscow Rules Not Deception
Straight out: buy Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva and take a pass on Rules of Deception. That is my rule.

Reich is a great writer. Unlike the authors who deliver treats once a year, Reich forces us to wait a while longer. Thus, one is left with a longer period to anticipate greatness. Sadly, Rules of Deception fails to deliver.

Here we follow reluctant hero Jonathan Ransom as he tries to find out who the woman he married really is: wife or spy? A series of subplots are drawn to the inevitable meeting at a woeful conclusion. In the past Reich was a master at weaving these subplots into the fabric of a great story. In Rules of Deception the weak subplots combine to weaken the whole.

In the past Reich was able to provide sufficient character development, usually surrounding an unwillling hero who rises to a great challenge. Perhaps it is just that Reich has become too formulaic. We have seen this story before in the same venues. Are there any other countries beyond Switzerland in which to be chased?

To be able to deliver consistantly great thrillers without falling victim to formula is a great challenge. Reich was able to successfully march rhough the minefield in the past. Sadly, Rules of Deception demonstrates that even a master sometimes fall short.

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Rating: - An okay read, ruined by a preposterous underlying plot issue
In this novel, a doctor who practices in Third World countries as a volunteer with Doctors Without Borders finds himself embroiled in a scheme of international intrigue, terrorism, and government corruption at the highest levels. He must outthink and outfight his opponents while trying to unravel the mystery of why he's the object of an international manhunt, wrongly implicated as a terrorist, and accused of murder.

As an escapist thriller, this book works as far as the mechanics of the action; a lot of shooting in picturesque locales. The realization of the individual characters is pretty thin, though, so it's hard to build up much empathy on more than a very superficial level. I didn't find myself invested in them at all.

Frankly, this book - with the exception of its fatal flaw - works better as a script for a movie than as an engrossing novel.

Now to the real problem.


SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!




The key plot device - the actual perpetrators of the terrorist action - is one that in my opinion fell out of style back in the 70s: the "rogue" US government agency. And the reason it's so hackneyed is that in this day and age of government oversight and extremely partisan politics, it's simply beyond incredible that such an agency would not only be able to gather the resources necessary to carry out this scheme, but that a "competing" agency would let them continue on their path simply to discredit them.

I mean.... HUH?????

It was simply ludicrous beyond belief, and had me laughing out loud.

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Rating: - Great at the start, but fizzles near the end...
The beginning of this novel had a great hook and with the ensuing chapters at an average of 4-5 pages it's a quick read. Alas, towards the end the story finishes with a pop rather than a bang.

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Rating: - Anti American, Anti Christian
CIA, DOD & a Committed Christian are the bad guys. Reich must be part of the "Blame America First" crowd.

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Rating: - Weak
I finished this book last night. A good book usually keeps me reading all weekend...this one did not. It was poorly written and its plot did not hold my attention for more than a chapter or two at a time. Not sure why so many people like it. I bought it because Glen Beck interviewed Reich. There are so many other very good suspense novels. This one was weak.