If You Like Forsyth, You Should Love This
923169
Another great Forsyth thriller, bringing back old characters to fight, once again, against evil.
And very smoothly done.
622354
There is no doubt, Forsythe is a master of the thriller, with his "Day of the Jackal" and "The Odessa File," some of my favorites of all times. In "The Afghan," he deftly blends fiction with real facts and real people but the characters could be more memorable. I recently read a credible international suspense, "Facing Justice, by new comers Diane and David Munson, and found the characters genuine and believable by camparism. Still, Forsyth's newest is worth the read.
3784838
Forsyth always starts with a verifiable truth and then builds his story on it.  It makes for a most interesting and factual read.
82387
More of the same fantastic Midsomer Murders style, for now, while we have leads like John Nettles (DCI Barnaby), Jason Hughes (assistant copper), Jane Wymark (wife Joyce), and Laura Howard as daughter, Cully. That alone guarantees 5 stars for performers, add the writing for plots to the multiple murders (a signature must) and don't forget the divine looks at country life in England. These "sets" are the real thing, great locations scouted for picture perfection. Sure adds to the complex murder investigations and the suspense that is sustained throughout each episode. Add a bit of good family life of the cops and some family humor at times, and you have above-and-beyond the best British Mystery Murder Crime series ever produced. OK, that's an opinion, but one shared by millions on both sides of the Atlantic.

No foul language issues, but plenty of good family murder mystery--the murder is almost never seen, just the moments up to the kill, and then of course the body. How many ways can a person be murdered? The shows seem to be released to DVD faster than ever, considering showing schedules in multiple countries. A tip of the had to Acorn Media. Also SUBTITLES. Not rated by good for teens and older.

The episodes each about 100 min.: Inspired by Caroline Graham novels.
The Dogleg Murders, aired March 2009
Whiteoak golf course in Worthy is found Crisp's Folly, hole 13 and a blind dogleg. While searching for a ball, a rude golfer is ironed to death, his own club. Suspicious death! As in the Barnaby and Midsomer tradition, the murders accumulate faster than pars. And a club member tells Barnaby about gambling on the greens. Duh, it's golf for Pete's sake. What a delicious golf course to see, outstanding scenic tour, as is all of Midsomer Murder episodes. Is that another murderous ball sliced? Fore!

The Black Book, aired March 2009
18th Century art lovers will enjoy this forgery, swindling, murderous episode. A lady sells a newly discovered local artist, Henry Hogson, oil for a bundle and is immediately murdered. Don't seek Hogson under real Art History. Midsomer's art community, or forgery club, is a tough group to crack. Barnaby is up to the challenge but will the body count be higher than the forgery count at the end?

Secrets and Spies, aired July 2009
A `safe house' run by an ex-spy for other agents may not be as safe as believed. The keeper of the spy house is the first to find out how truly unsafe it is. Then his son is killed in a similar fashion, apparently by an animal or wolfman. Barnaby's too quick to fall for that one and heightens his search for clues. A spy vs spy thriller with Barnaby to save the day.

The Glitch, aired July 2009
Bucketman comes to the rescue, avenging all those mistreated by Midsomer road hogs, by tossing red paint at them. There is plenty of action scenes to impress paint-ball fans. Locals think it fun, till murder catches on as well. There is also espionage and blackmail plots at work, keeping Barnaby and his helper, DS Jones (Jason Hughes), very busy. Then comes "The Glitch".

If you've missed out on some of the past Midsomer Murders releases then you can find catchup sets to save money. "Midsomer Murders-The Early Cases Collection", "Midsomer Murders: Barnaby's Casebook" & "Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files". Those 3 sets will get you 51 more feature length mysteries.
51764
Not his best work, but certainly better than most other authors in this genre. Forsyth has a knack for drawing you in with the details. His characters are always strong and well defined, just thought this story was  a little too contrived.
4322082
First, let me just say that I adore Freys work. Not only is it intelligent, inclusive, and well-written, its also a refreshingly solid addition to the fantasy genre and a heck of a lot of fun. Its the perfect example of fantasy written for modern times, with all the charm and appeal of its predecessors, and none of the staleness. And as a long-time fan of the fantasy genre, that trait alone is highly appealing.

But I think the thing that truly sets Freys work apart is the depth of emotional resonance she manages to pack into everything, be it novel or short story  or, in this case, novella. Written in the same fluid, yet classic-feeling style as the rest of the series, Ghosts gives readers a look into the inner mind of one Bevel Dom, sidekick to the infamous Kintyre Turn. Happening just before the events of The Untold Tale, Ghosts lays the groundwork for one of the novels twists, and expands upon the richly textured world of the series as a whole.

Bevels voice sings off the page with lively (and sometimes crass) wit, a stark contrast to the more refined notes Frey gave us in Forsyth, and the ensuing shenanigans paint a layer of the ridiculous over what is actually a rather heart-wrenching tale. Those who have read the novel will find the insight into the lives of Forsyths heroic brother and his lesser-known squire to be a satisfying extension of the arc seen in The Untold Tale. But you don't have to read the novel to enjoy this small taste of the series. It can most definitely be read as a standalone, and I highly recommend that anyone looking for a new voice in fantasy give this novella a try. It packs a lot of punch for little investment and will introduce you to what is potentially one of the best new fantasy series out there. And I don't just say that because I happened to have the honor of editing it, I truly believe that Freys work is not to be missed.

**Disclaimer: As stated above, I was the acquiring editor for this title; however, all opinions stated are my own and were not influenced by bias or compensation.**
1519648
Those who collect or just appreciate Indiana art of days gone by will know William Forsyth's name as one of five artists known as the Hoosier Group.  They exhibited together around the turn of the 20th century.  Unfortunately, until now, most of the attention has been given to artist T.C. Steele.  Rachel Perry adds immeasurably to our appreciation and understanding of the life and work of Forsyth.  His life somewhat mirrors that of William Merritt Chase, another Indiana native.  They both studied in Munich but later lightened their palette, and they both left a legacy beyond their own fine work by teaching hundreds of students.  Forsyth's letters add spice to Perry's research and writing.  We find that all was not rosy between Steele and Forsyth, and we are pained (at least I was) in reading about his firing (with eight other faculty members) from the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, where he had been an instructor for almost 30 years. We even find out who he pins that on!  Completing the package are loads of great color images of his work.
4741573
I have always been a fan of Frederick Forsyth's novels, but have neglected to read this classic suspense thriller until now.  I am so glad I finally picked this one up.  This is not really a spy novel; however it has many of the elements that make good spy novels so much fun to read.  It is an international story focusing on the battle between the French Government and a far-fight French Nationalist organization - the OAS - which has become determined to assassinate the French leader - President Charles DeGaulle.  Having failed at all attempts within their own organization, they turn to a non-affiliated assassin - who is the Jackal himself.  This is the beginning of the Jackal methodology in Spy Thriller novels, and in reality.  However, the real Jackal was not the assassin portrayed in this story.  The real Jackal was a Venezuelan whom police officers found a copy of this Forsythe book in his room during one capture attempt.  This book led to all the Jackal fact and reality.  The read itself is quick and pleasant.  A guaranteed page-turner.
305204
These five stories, ranging from weak to strong, are nevertheless the unmistakable craft of a master storyteller. The words flow from the page as if spoken aloud in a quiet firelit room by someone accustomed to entertaining a rapt audience.

Forsyth, like a distinct cuisine, should be sampled, and this collection is the perfect opportunity to do so. Not all the stories will be appealing, but they are all masterful.
3975614
I love watching shows in this period of time and The Forsythe Saga is so well done.  I binged watched and when I couldn't watch, I couldn't wait to get back to it.  I know  that I will be sad when it's over.
2697999
Forsyth is one of our favorite authors, so we were looking forward to this, his latest. Even though it was clear the plot involved an all-out war on the cocaine cartel of Columbia, and the worldwide distribution of that dangerous drug, once we got beyond the tutorial on how the cocaine market works, the book settled down into actually a rather light adventure yarn about double-crossing on the land, on the sea, and in the air. The research was clearly deep, and the use of technology quite intriguing - yet the book had a rather light feel, almost as though meant for a few entertaining hours at the beach than for some chills and thrills in front of a winter's fireplace. And of course the trademark Forsyth twist at the very end provided our sundae with a cherry on the top!

We were indeed amused, albeit only briefly as it seemed we zoomed through it in no time. While some readers complain about a plethora of characters and acronyms, we decided not to bother trying to digest all those, just going with the flow worked out fine. Other than the basically serious topic under discussion, actually a fun little outing - not too stressful, not too violent really, not too intriguing, just quite adept at pleasing away a few hours!
938661
The only thing I regret about The Day of the Jackal is that I saw the movie first, so I knew basically what the storyline was before I ever picked up the book.
However, what kept my interest up in reading the book  was Forsyth's constant attention to intricate details, fascinating details  that really painted the picture a lot more fully and clearly--and without  giving away what was going to happen.
And let's not forget the basic  characters of the book--they were quite realistic in their thinking and in  their actions based upon that thinking.  The mark of a great author, at  least as far as I see it, is the ability to create such realistic  characters and not have to resort to contrivance to make a point.
I  touched on this a bit earlier, but I don't want to forget to mention  specifically about the way Forsyth expertly kept the suspense building  until the climactic point near the end.
I could go on, but I would be  giving away specific plot details by doing so.
I strongly recommend for  anyone to read this book.  I can virtually guarantee that (s)he will not be  disappointed in the least.  Whether the reader's main interest is history,  suspense, or just a good story doesn't matter.
1680689
My wife and I really enjoyed all of these Swedish versions of Wallander. The characters and the acting were very good, and the stories seemed much more real than so many other crime stories on TV. I've watched just about every Law and Order made, and especially Law and Order: SVU can be incredibly good sometimes. But I liked Wallander better. Some of them have music from Anna Ternheim and I really liked that, too. Great TV, worth a look, not seen by that many people, you might see it on public TV sometimes. The US version of Wallander is good, too, but this one, is the best. Maybe I just identified with the lead character a bit more than I'd like to admit.
3285239
Believe it or not, this was the first Forsyth book that I have read.  At first, I did not know just what I was in store for, perhaps a 3.5-3.67 out of 5 star book.  Oh, how wrong could I have been.
Maybe this book started out just a tad slow.  This is, in part, due to Forsyths immaculate attention to detail of every aspect of this assassin/spy thriller - and believe me there are a lot of aspects to cover.  Forsyth does an excellent job of accomplishing this while keeping the writer guessing along the way and asking themselves questions.  Oh, yes, one will talk to oneself.  This is a very admirable trait in my humble opinion.
I did mention that I did not know just what I was in store for.  That is an understatement to say the least.  This book just keeps gathering a head of steam and grabs the readers attention with elements of plot and character.  The book keeps getting more and more interesting like a snowball rolling downhill.  By the last segment of the book (there are three segments to this novel) I found myself literally gripping the book tightly and anxiously turning the pages.  There were some nights with too little sleep.
The Day of the Jackal is set in the early sixties when Charles De Gaulle is in power in France.  There is considerable opposition to him.  Much of this resistance comes from a group called the OAS which consists of defected soldiers, ex-French Legionnaire soldiers and Algerian as well as a few French paratroopers.  Several unsuccessful assassination attempts have been made upon De Gaulles life.  The leadership of the OAS finally concludes that they are too heavily infiltrated by the French in power.  So, they decide to seek to hire the services of a professional assassin with no ties to the OAS and with only three members having this knowledge.
This novel, along with John Le Carre spy novels, mark a big turning point in the spy/assassin novel.  These novels become a lot more realistic, the characters a lot more true-to-life, and the plots a lot closer to history.  Now, one might think that this would make the novel much more boring, but this is not the case at all.  The novel becomes much more interesting, and much more realistic.  This coupled with the attention to detail captivates the readers attention and since all details are nicely tied up and covered, one does not ever think like,  yeah, right like that would really happen.  One does not think about it but these little things really add to the greatness of The Day of the Jackal.
The English assassin constantly keeps one step ahead of law enforcement agencies.  Law enforcement is perplexed.  Each time that it seems that the killer is about to be caught, he eludes captivity once again.  It is a real cat-and-mouse book.  The French must stop the Englishman from assassinating Charles De Gaulle.  Very few people know about the plot in the OAS, very few people in the law enforcement community at all know about any on-goings.  Very few details are shared.  Moreover, the Englishman does not even keep the three people who hired him very well informed at all.  For example, they do not even know where he stays from day to day or his identity.
All of these things combined make Frederick Forsyths The Day of the Jackal one of the greatest spy/assassin novels of all time.  If, as a reader, one has any interest in this type of book, please read this book.  You will not be disappointed.  Just remember that this is a very realistic book with tremendous attention to detail.  This makes the book seem to start out a little slow but oh boy does it really take off and gather the readers interest.
Cameron
4194799
The ABC Murders is something between a lengthy short-story and a full-on novel.

Christie's genius is that she has created, in Poirot, a man who is incredibly proud, incredibly justified in his pride, and yet, somehow, incredibly endearing. Thus, if you love Poirot mysteries because you enjoy the company of M. Poirot and Captain Hastings, this one will leave you smiling, but looking to the next one on your shelf.

However, if your preferences lay in following the mechanism of his searching, pensive, relentless investigations, you will likely enjoy this one.
3368497
Huge fan of R&ouml;yksopp so when I found out they had a hand-picked selection of music, courtesy of LateNightTales, I was naturally intrigued.

There are 2 Royksopp originals--Daddy's Groove and Ice Machine. The rest of the songs are mixed versions which have been curated by Royksopp. As with many LateNightTales albums, the final song is a spoken story. In this album's case, the amazing Benedict Cumberbatch of the Star Trek/Sherlock Holmes films speaks the second part of the story Flat of Angles (the first part is found on LateNightTales: Friendly Fires).

I thoroughly enjoyed the album, which is diverse and eccentric. No wonder R&ouml;yksopp has such good music, considering that they have so many things to pull inspiration from. I bought the Limited Edition, which comes with a CD, an LP, and an art print of the album cover. The CD has the mixes while the LP offers unmixed versions.

For those who aren't sure about it, there are selections of each song at LateNightTales official website available for listening. Definitely a must have for any R&ouml;yksopp fan, and those who enjoy the more eclectic oldies and smooth electronica should also take note.
4282816
It's not the usual Forsyth style but is still very entertaining. I would recommend for someone looking for a short getaway.