Quite ridiculous and unbelievable
923451
But I suppose it still could be fun if you can suspend your disbelief and you like this sort of farce.
3836334
It was OK, but too many things happen that are too unbelievable.  The author is imitating other writers, and combining their story lines.
3566680
Sadly, I must completely agree with the Publishers Weekly reviewer who noted: "Lively yet ridiculous, the narrative loses all plausibility as it becomes clear that the characters do what they do solely in order to keep the plot churning to its conclusion". The yarn Preston spins out is simply too implausible and contrived.  And all the characters are just SO one-dimensional.  And all the major characters -- including the three protagonists, Jim, Sally and Ford -- apparently possess superhuman strength and endurance (and are clearly bullet-proof, or at least can apparently dodge bullets; and are also missile-proof, to boot!).  These are characteristics normally reserved for comic book superheroes; yet this is clearly not intended as a comic.  It simply becomes too unbelievable as they trek miles across the scorching desert-and-canyon landscape without water, without shelter, without food... with Preston repeatedly referencing their overwhelming thirst & hunger and their impending heat stroke (but of course it never comes). I mean, give me a break.  Yes, science fiction is in fact fiction.  I get that.  And many of the best science fiction novels and movies require the 'temporary suspension of disbelief'.  But this is simply TOO preposterouly over-blown for its own good.  [And I haven't even mentioned the whole virus-on-an-asteroid premise.]  And yet I must admit: there was a certain page-turning fascination that settled upon me towards the climax of the story: I simply had to see how this train wreck of a book was going to end.

A much better read from the Preston-Childs team, also set in the amazing canyonlands of the great Southwest, is "Thunderhead".  Equally implausible at times, but a bit less difficult to swallow, and never boring.
4250887
I'm having a hard time understanding the glowing reviews of this novel.  The beginning of the book was promising.  The premise of the grieving Aimee being told by a mystery woman that her fianc was still alive was a good "hook".  It's a shame the rest of the book was increasingly ridiculous.  Aimee's actions made no sense and the big "reveal" toward the end was absolutely absurd.  Since Aimee was involved with all of the important players in the story, you would think that all she'd experienced would have prompted her to question the circumstances of her fianc' death.  Her pursuit of the "truth" took a leisurely year and a half.  The author throws a bunch of stuff into the story - worst reasoning/timing of secondary relationship, "mistaken" identity, fugue, multi named psychic, bizarre incestual relationship, criminal enterprise, sexual assault, suspicious siblings, and many more ludicrous plot points. The final couple of chapters, not to mention the awful epilogue, were a total disaster.
1209603
Implausible plots are sort of a given for these kinds of novels, but this is just too far disconnected to make it even remotely believable.  A two day coup to save the world from nuclear destruction and it winds up only being a sub-plot?  The real plot is Fortuna's efforts to kill Andreas.  The coup itself is the most unbelievable part of the novel. Combine the plot problems with the B-novel descriptions of Andreas (how many times can we say "heavily muscled"?) and it adds up to a cheap beach novel, I'm afraid.  I will say Coes has lots of potential, but he needs to read Daniel Silva's novels for how to create plots and realistic heroes who don't come across as Marvel comic figures.  Brad Thor could use a dose of Silva as well, Flynn a little less so.
3227281
Ridiculous insta-love, unbelievable science, and a poorly imagined premise- mix them together, and you get The Murder Complex. Clearly, the author has never taken a science course and believes fiction shouldn't have a scrap of it to make it credible. We readers can tell because she glosses over her explanations, hopeful no one will notice. To hide if further-Dr. Lark-the brilliant mad scientist- tosses out to her daughter Meadow-"you're not smart enough to understand it." The premise of a society that has children robot killing machines because no one can die is laughable. It made no sense and was a poor attempt at originality. The insta-love was also concerning-Meadow and Zephyr- their relationship's start-she has waist length blond hair and he has dark green eyes. As Isaac Asimov, the greatest science fiction writer said, "Anyone who writes about science must know about science, which cuts down competition considerably."
3136843
A ridiculous and totally preposterous story.  I was bamboozled by the reviews which led me to think this was an action/adventure novel.  About 75% of the way through it turned into (incredulous sci-fi to boot). I'm pretty sure all the reviewers that have given this 5 stars must be related to the author.
1632503
How anyone gave this five stars is amazing.  The characters are over-drawn and unbelievable.  The plot bounces around from one unbelievable disaster to another.  The science and medical theories are absurd and numerous plot lines are left hanging.  For instance, one main character is somehow turned into an completely alien being due to something -- a virus? -- acting on his DNA.  Other similar aliens appear throughout the book for no particular reason, with no connections drawn and no resolution of their existence other than as plot fillers.  Several times I stopped reading, resolved not to waste my time further.  Alas, I hate to leave a book in the middle and I drudged through it to the silly ending.  Very poor...
4211678
You have to suspend ALL your beliefs and or sense to enjoy this novel. I found it much too unbelievable and unrealistic to make for good reading. NOTHING about this book makes it worth spending time with. The ONLY reason I finished it is that I never toss aside a book before I read to the end.
3043268
The series is certainly packed full of implausible action.  At first, I was able to suspend disbelief....for a little while.  Then it just kept getting more unbelievable!!!!  It was so over the top, I couldn't finish the series.
2050378
I'm at a loss as to why this novel has such high ratings.  It is historically inaccurate, the characters are unbelievable, the plot twists ridiculous, and it gives an excruciatingly detailed account of how to build a cathedral.  I had to drag myself through the 973 pages.
4722684
Ridiculous story line. And that ending,really?
220337
Author goes way overboard to make a very unrealistic novel.
3479990
What a waste of a couple hours of my life. I totally don't see the point of twisting the characters sex around then revealing it in one chapter? Not only that, it is unbelievable and unrealistic. I Get that a man can suffer abuse too, or it can be a mutually abusive relationship, but this was just ridiculous. Boooo. Lame.
1556396
Too long and disjointed and highly improbable.
4972772
Merely the Groom is the most Ridiculous, Unbelievable story I have ever read!! I loved bk1 Barely a Bride and gave it 5 stars. But this story is a absolute Disappointment!! After BAB bk1 I was hoping Colin Viscount Grantham would marry a women like Alyssa in bk1. Instead he marries the stupidest women I think I have ever read. The story is not believable. The author Ms. Lee would have readers believe that a Viscount heir to an Earldom would marry a women who eloped to Gretna Green with another man she barely knew. Gave up her Maiden Head/Virginity to a man she thought was her husband, but not. He steals her jewels and money and leaves her stranded with nothing in a cheap dockside Inn the Blue Bottle were all sorts of unsavory men stay. On top of that Gillian my be pregnant by this Bigamist. The Bigamist husband also is asking Gillian's father the very rich but recent lowly titled merchant for 50 thousand pound ransom. Come On this is unbelievable!!

I really love Colin in bk 1 and wanted to see so much more for him. His father the Earl has gambled away there fortune and all Colin will inherit is a title and a mountain of debt. So he goes along with Baron Davies, Gillian's father scheme and marries her. No title as old as Colin's would jeopardize giving his title to a child that wasn't his blood heir. Colin had his friends and the Free Fellows. He also, was a spy at the war office. So he was not totally bankrupt. He had managed to invest an make some money. The story makes Colin look so weak and less of a man. Gillian is just and idiot and I could not recover any respect for her and what she had done!! So why would the author write such an unbelievable story? I think I will return this story. Not worth my money.

I Cannot Recommend Merely the Groom Sorry!!
2241260
Though it was a relatively good story there were so many minor issues that bothered me throughout it put a damper on my enthusiasm about this book.  Without giving the plot away, why didn't these people use cell phones or email?  It was written in 2009.  Many of the actions by the characters were just unbelievable... police and legal procedures, parental issues, etc.  While all of Hilderbrand's fictional stories have some bending of plausibility (that's why they are fiction), this one was way over the top.