Still Thrills, But...
345759
Let me start by saying, I'm a huge MJ fan and, of course, Thriller is probably THE album that comes to mind for anyone who thinks Michael Jackson.  It's a classic!  ...However, the question one has to ask themselves when it comes to re-releases (especially after the recent 2001 re-release) is, what more am I getting?  Why am I going to spend another $20 on this project?

Obviously, the newly recorded bonus tracks/remixes are a MAJOR plus!  I mean, Michael's recording again!!!  And contrary to some negative reviews, if you're familiar with the "Jackson Sound", these tracks are definitely "jammin'"!

...That, however, is where the perks stop.  Why he/Sony choose to release a "Casebook Edition" is beyond me.  For an extra $5-8 you get...  Pictures.  Pictures any MJ fan have already seen, if not own elsewhere.  To be frank, you may as well buy the "Standard/Classic Edition" for $9-11.  You still get all the bonus tracks plus the bonus DVD.

Do not be fooled into thinking you're getting this huge treat.  ...Even if it is Michael Jackson.
1626022
Entertaining continuation of an exciting story. A little light on character development and the inconsistencies from the previous series drive me nuts. (Addressed by the author, but still frustrating)
4688583
I am enjoying this series, more than I really expected, actually.  However, I don't feel this third book measured up to the first two.  It was much more sensational and yet didn't seem to have as much of a storyline as the others did.  It felt like a "filler" book, to take you from book 2 to a book 4, without as much substance as the previous books.
2269684
However, it's still good.  It took a lot to convince me of Liam Neeson's legitimacy as an action-adventure star.  The first Taken did that.  This sequel has as much action but it's not quite as believeable as the first one.  Don't get me wrong, though.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.
2884817
After reading the fifth in the Left Behind series I guess I should start with the positive. LaHaye and Jenkins manage to keep the momentum moving that for me really just started  with "Soul Harvest." The action kicks off in Israel with a religious summit that culminates in a breakneck escape for Chloe,Buck, & Tsion. This is what these guys do best; Write great action sequences. Unfortunately even these feel strained with unbelievability this time out. To have Buck Williams fall off an ascending plane and only wind up with scratches and abrasions in almost laughable. There is on the other hand a detailed and suspenseful sequence when the destroyer, Apollyon, unleashes his demon locusts to attack the nonbelievers. The interesting thing about all the books is how the authors are going to dramatically handle what the book of Revelations has prophesized. And now that the seals and trumpets are being opened and sounded, there's plenty of obsticles for the protagonists to battle. Still, the problems I've had with the earlier books have maintained their annoying aspects. Dialogue still sounds like a bad 1940s tv show, and characters and relationships are still one dimensional. Hattie still remains the most deplorable victim of this, making her so annoying I wish they'd knock her off and put all of us out of our misery. Not to mention,who knows why the authors chose to make mention  of her one remaining relative who's also unsaved and just happens to be working in an abortion clinic. (Cause that's where bad people would work.) It had nothing to do with the plot, and the character never turned up again. Gee, had they found her in the last book she could've arranged for Hattie to get that abortion she wanted and be rid of the Antichrist's baby sooner.
Whatever.
Again, as I've said at the end of my reviews of the other books in the series, I'll continue to read the rest of them. Despite their abundant flaws I still want to see who makes it to the end.
974824
It seems like ages since loyal readers said goodbye to Rhyme and Sachs in "The Vanished Man," which I read several times to keep myself company until Deaver's newest in the series would arrive--and here it is!

While maybe not as intense as some of his others in the series, "The Twelfth Card" is nevertheless a fun, forensic ride as we join Rhyme et al for two days of solving a potentially unsolveable crime. In this case, it is truly puzzling: Somebody is trying to murder a teenaged student in Harlem, and it's no street murder. The most sophisticated hired guns are after thin, bookish Geneva Settle, but why? Rhyme gets involved after a failed attempt on Geneva's life results in the murder of the librarian in the library where Geneva was studying. And the terrifying attempt on her own life is plain to see. As is the professionalism of the crime scene.

In his now state-of-the-art home office, quadriplegic Rhyme barks out orders in characteristic unpleasant way (but we love him) as he sends his team, all of whom we know well, out in the field to follow each clue.

There is very little of the personal relationship between Rhyme and his protege Amelia Sachs in this outing, and I found that disappointing. Nevertheless, "The Twelfth Card" is, as all of Deaver's works, ingenious, engrossing and intensely satisfying.
4482394
I reviewed the previous Fargo book, "The Eye of Heaven", written by the same co-author.  In that review I was extremely critical of the author and expressed concern over the style of writing.  In this version of the Fargo adventures Mr. Blake has improved over "The Eye of Heaven".  The writing isn't as banal as before and presents the Fargo's more in line with previous tales of the couple.  However, it still lacks the thrills and imagination demonstrated by previous co-authors.  In the earlier versions the action is fast paced, complex and there are no simple way's out of the Fargo's situations.  Here, to his credit, Mr. Blake has attempted to inject more situations where the couple is in peril.  However the uncertainty of the outcome is missing.  The solution to each situation is handled with a broad brush and lack the details that make the outcome uncertain and which send a thrill down one's spine.  Will they, won't they get out of trouble.  In the last 100 pages of the book Mr. Blake appears to have gotten some critical review and/or coaching and his writing picks up.  But it takes far to long to get through the previous 300 pages before the story resembles a good Clive Cussler novel.  Still I'm hopeful that things will only get better from here.
4362814
Still fun. Just not totally what we thought it was going to be.
3709044
Seems I'm been waiting for this one forever.  I've followed this particular series of Deaver's for several years.  And while I have extremely enjoyed the series, this one seems to be a little short of the snap, crackle, pop that the previous books had.

There are multiple plots that begin solitarily and then intertwine until the end. One man is barricading  exits from events where there are many people attending and scaring them with smoke to see them literally crush each other to death trying to get out.  There doesn't seem to be any connection between the venues, or the victims.

Kathryn makes a mistake and lets a hit man for a particular nasty drug dealer go free. She loses her gun and is relegated to desk work, more or less.  But that doesn't seem to stop her from continuing to investigate.

There are a number of hate crimes being committed. Jewish people, black people are having their homes and businesses spray painted with racial epithets that are quite disturbing.

A lot of the book is of her personal life, which has been up and down since Book One.  Her daughter might be getting bullied at school.  Her son has stopped hanging with what was his best friend and is now part of a group of newer friends he's made.  Kathryn's husband was killed a few years earlier and is now back in the dating game .... she's very careful to make sure the kids are accepting of this.  However, Kathryn's new boyfriend is not the man she really loves.

All plots and subplots are tied up neatly. Kathryn's personal life is  sorted out. There's just not a whole lot of tension that usually accompanies Deaver's books.  That being said, it was still a good read ... just not a great one.
3431353
Still plenty of action, but the premise is so over-the-top that it isn't as believable as the ones prior. Also, most conversations were printed one sentence per paragraph. Made it seem like they wanted to make the book fatter, with no extra effort.
2487980
it is a good entry as it is less complex and easier to follow ,
but still delivers the atmosphere and suspense in a highly enjoyable prose that makes this series so special .

For long time followers however, this latest novel is not fully satisfying .
In particular the main murder investigation appears rushed and unconvincing .

On the good side however, some of the side characters are fascinating (Madam Furtseva, Yegor, Itsy,) , and contrary to previous comments I found the subplot with Zhenya and Maya a welcome addition .
Hope to read more about them !
1828231
Lots of plot holes, lots of armchair superheroing.
"Why didn't they just...?"
"Why wouldn't he just..."
"I thought he retired the suit?"
Still a thrill ride and a lot of fun to watch.
758609
I have just finished reading "Apollyon" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, and I will say that, generally, I enjoyed the book.  I liked the addition of new characters, and the twists and turns taken by the old  ones.  I do wish that you (this is to Jenkins and LaHaye) would let Hattie  come to the Lord because it would be extremely tragic to lose both her soul  and her baby at the same time.  One thing that bothered me, though, is that  the book seems to get bogged down in places, especially in the middle of  the book.  I mean, the book starts off at a fast pace, then it kind of  drags.  The excitement starts to build again towards the end of the book.  All in all, though, I did enjoy the book for the most part, even though the  action was a bit uneven and some of the scenes a bit contrived.  And, you  could explore the character of Nicolae Carpathia a little more because I  don't feel I know him as much as I thought I did.  And not only that,he  doesn't come across as scary at all, at least not  like he did in the first  book, for instance.  I do look forward to much more action and tension in  the forthcoming books, such as "Assasins", later on in the year.  Do keep up the good work and, where suggested, improve on what you already  have.  "Bye."
2825205
Still engaging and plot twists still catch a viewer off-guard. Well done!
1055631
This is the sequel to The Mysterious Howling, which I loved when I read it last year. I didn't think The Hidden Gallery reached quite the same level as the first, but it's still an entertaining book and the series as a whole is one that I'd wholeheartedly recommend. I just found this installment a bit frustrating because for about the first two-thirds of the book, no progress at all was made towards resolving the various mysteries that had been introduced in the first one, and even when certain pieces of information were revealed toward the end, we were often left with more questions than answers. One the one hand, this is a good thing because it means that the series can go on longer, and I do enjoy reading about these characters. On the other hand, I'd like the main plot lines to progress at least a bit more in 300+ pages. Maryrose Wood can certainly write a tantalizing story, but in the end it felt like we hadn't gotten very far. Still, Wood remains one of my favourite new authors, and I'm eager to see how the story unfolds in the coming books.
2143223
I really enjoy the tension and suspense the book creates especially in the last few chapters (from Ch 13 onward when the few people left were so frightened and alert). That I think is the strongest point of the book.
The confession of the murderer(s) in the epilogue is ok, though I did expect something more surprising and ... convincing. There are a few points in the murderer(s)'s plan and in the story development itself that are not very believable. [The butler still prepared breakfast after the second murder, as if there's nothing particularly unusual happen???] That is, the book is a bit too contrived.
But over all, if you have 5, 6 hours to spare and like detective stories, why not?
103712
Fun, but getting a little long in the tooth.  I wonder that the NYT hasn't updated it yet.