Engrossing. Beats descriptive passages in fiction.
347672
This is engrossing.

I especially enjoy reading how a profiler describes the possible killer, the kind of psychological characteristics that s/he probably has, and even physical characteristics. Such reasoning based on science and experience beats wild guesses or good descriptive passages in fiction, because you know that this is real.

While it is not possible to confirm that the real killers are indeed who the author deduces to be, this is a satisfying read, and makes me even more respectful of such professionals.
4459765
Throughout this story there's an element of truth written into it. I didn't have to suspend disbelief like some fiction requires. Fantastic read, terrible title.
2772165
Far too often, I choose light-weight reading as I read to escape the everyday. Not always, however, and this week I fortunately plucked this novel from my ever-growing list of must-reads.  One of the attractions was its pleasing, engrossing length. It is very well-constructed--so well that one feels it is the only way the story could be, and I found myself surprised quite far in to recognize the parallels. The experience of war here is sufficiently harrowing to allow the experience without being so dreadful that one cannot read it.  The lives unfold as lives do, with sweet moments in the midst of dreadful circumstances, and the wise among us choosing to make the best of the good while putting aside the rest. Poignant.
2998406
Engrossing.  Good character development.  Read the series in order.
1625835
The story engages you very quickly in a way which makes you feel that the subject matter really matters. The characters are lightly drawn yet are convincing and the story provides a powerful sense of place and the atmosphere is deftly sketched. A page turner which challenges conventional notions of the goodies and the badies.
2653433
A novel has several parts.  The final section, the conclusion, ties together all the parts; for example, it is the resolution of the conflicts or problems.  This book is not a complete novel.  It is billed as Book 1, which, perhaps, is a hint that it is not complete.  However, the only statement of this fact is in one of the reviews.  At 236 pages, it is a comfortable read.

Upon reading the first few pages from the "Look inside" feature, I suspected the novel would be an engrossing, enjoyable, thriller type read.  I committed myself to reading both books.  I'm glad I did.

James Pace is not an exceptional guy when you consider the life he has been living, but he is not ordinary either.  The story takes off when suddenly he becomes a hero, which leads to an offer that is monetarily impossible to refuse: to be part of a race through the Amazon rainforest to benefit charity.  It all seems a logical up-an-up deal, an adventure, something different.  What he doesn't know is that terror and death await.

The story begins with deadly action and the promise of more of the same.  Much of the novel is a riveting account of survival under the most horrendous conditions.  Throughout the story there is potential disaster in the form of death, death from the jungle or death from others who wish to kill Pace and the other race participants.

The writing is descriptively tight, at times pleasingly dramatic.  The author also provides the reader a 'real' look at the rainforest.  Characters are finely hones and convincing.  Hold onto your hats, an interesting, exciting ride awaits.  Reviewed by the author of The Children's Story, About Good and Evil.
4880298
Wonderfully written. Copious character descriptors. Not a novel that's a page turner, but one that explores human nature microscopically. Lots of detail writing. Enjoyable read.
4731394
This was a very engrossing story. The characters are well developed and engaging; the story filled with enough reality to be plausible. Looking forward to the next one.
1888744
I had my doubts, as I am not a violence or historical fiction lover. But the characters come to life quickly and the vivid, fascinating detail of a time forgotten is so exciting, I felt I was there. Highly recommend it.
3503620
Engrossing. The author gives a journalistic view of a segment of his life. His writing shows his journalistic training. It's a fluid ride with a n expert observer.
1371613
The characters here are fully imagined, and their relationships are complex. This novel occurs over a sweep of time, yet I continually felt close to each of the major characters. The narration alternates among the major characters, and each one has a distinct voice--which isn't always true in a novel structured this way. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
180113
I pretty much read this in one sitting.  It's very well-written and keeps moving along.  It's not predictable or pedestrian at all.  I was very engrossed in the story.
4872485
What I most enjoyed about The Woman Behind the Waterfall was the complexity of the narrative and in particular that way it switches back and forth between first-person and third-person, and between the perspectives of various characters; this prevented the reading experience from becoming monotonous at those points where the plot seemed to be developing slowly.  Renderings of scene are vivid to the point of being suffocating at times, but the sentences doing the description are often so sonically pleasing that one may want to read one or two of them aloud.  I personally have never been to Ukraine, but I imagine that people who have spent time there will get a nostalgic thrill from the loving yet realistic treatment of the countryside and the language.  The incorporation of some Ukrainian words into the narrative was handled deftly, intensifying the sense of place without becoming confusing.  Some readers may be put off by the fantastical elements of the plot, but the novel is mostly realistic in its portrayal of character and emotion: characters who behave selfishly and sometimes even cruelly are nevertheless treated sympathetically, and the novel does not shy away from the uncomfortable truths that even the most intense feelings can change with circumstances, and that we often resent the ones we should, and indeed do, love.
2230394
I found this novel to to be engrossing.  So engrossing, in fact, I read the entire book in just a few hours.

The story is told in the first person present tense by Mary, a young woman in the Village ruled by the Sisterhood.  The Village is surrounded by a fence that keeps the people separated from the surround forest which is full of the Unconsecrated (zombies).  Constantly, the Unconsecrated are pounding at the fences, trying to get to the villagers.  The people have lived so long with this, that the moans and growls of the Unconsecrated are just background noise to them.

My favorite thing about this novel is the fresh take on Zombies.  Instead of detailing the spread of the infection and the consequent fall of civilization, the story takes place generations later (approx. 200 - 250 years if I'm figuring this out right).  It shows how people have adapted to life after "The Return" and rebuilt their lives.  Strict rules and ceremonies are put into place to ensure survival.  Mary, the heroine, of course questions the status quo and longs to learn of the outside world.  And so begins the adventure....

I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it for a quick read, however, something about the ending was unsatisfying to me.  I can't really say what it was without spoiling the ending, but I feel like I was left hanging slightly.  There is a wrap-up, but the reader is left to imagine what happens next.  I have a love/hate attitude toward this.  On one hand, it is a good thing, in that it keeps the story in your mind after finishing it. On the other hand, I guess I am just used to have concrete endings spelled out for me, and don't know quite what to think.
2837890
I was surprised at how engrossed I was throughout this novel. I'm not a scientist yet still enjoyed the main character's working out the complexities of challenges he had to overcome. Well read. The narrator became the character for me and was quite likable. I worried for him as well as the crew.
2447920
Not having the joy of trekking through the caves and rubble of Afghanistan, this book took me there with poignant realism. Not only did it illustrate the people and place, the story kept me interested and hanging until the last page. The clash of cultures and the American military/intelligence complex was true to life and very believable. I wouldn't want to make an enemy of the main character or his two side kicks. All together, a great read.
3222559
I read at least as much fiction as non fiction and this gem has elements of both. The prose is rich, dense and yet approachable. The subject matter is riveting by itself but the writing makes it even more enjoyable to read. I only wish the events portrayed within were fiction. Then I could continue to believe in the virtue of my fellow humans.