This is a good, fast read - the plot is unpredictable
584285
This is a good, fast read - the plot is unpredictable, the characters are interesting and the issues raised by the book are thought-provoking. Reisfeld has a dry sense of humor and a good ear for dialogue. I'll certainly be looking out for the next one in this series.
3813566
The book was written to read fast - I read the whole thing in one sit (I missed some classes too, oops) The story line is well thought out and flows evenly, but I find that the descriptions of the charecters and scenes a little too perfect for reality, aside from the coruption. However, it is  well made up for with the many plot twists that grip the reader to continue  reading.
3211881
I enjoyed this book, the first in a series. I immediately ordered and read the second one, too. The plot was interesting and unpredictable; the characters were likable and believable. The dialogue was stiff initially; either it grew more realistic as the book moved along, or I got used to it as I read the book. I do not care for the fact that the author described frequently and in detail what the characters were wearing--too chick-like for me. But I enjoyed the book and will watch for the 3rd book which is scheduled to be released later in 2014.
4320999
Yes this is tense. And a good plot. However there were a few things that spoiled this for me. First the heroine, I was very frustrated with her. She simply fell to pieces when her husband was unfaithful. And in doing so failed her daughter. Secondly, it's actually fairly predictable, you get a sense relatively early of what's going on, a sneaky suspicion all is not what it seems and well - you are right. I started to give this 3 but actually it has finished up 4. It is well written, there is a good pace and lots of effort to get to the solution. I won't describe the story further, it would be too easy to give some of the twists away. If you like Ms Gardner's work then fire ahead, it is a good entry to her list and worth the cover price.
2526254
This was my first Kindle download - I picked it randomly.  The characters are very interesting, it is a "relationship" book with lots of twists and turns.  When an unknown event comes to light, everyone is changed by it and their reactions are very believable.  A young woman is strangled, and when the person who did it is identified, all hell breaks loose.  That' about all I should say without spoiling the plot.
2291328
I enjoyed the story line and the twists/turns in the plot.  The transition to the next chapter (book) in the series was unexpectedly awkward.  A captivating read, nonetheless.
3319371
Great story, moves quickly, very feasible fiction plot, outcome has a twist.
3437458
Fast moving - keeps you guessing - a bit on the gory side,but assume that was to make the story more frightening.
1201676
This was a good quick read and definitely a page turner, but I found the end pretty predictable. It was written in a style that I rather enjoy--where each chapter is written by a different character. I feel like it is interesting seeing how the various characters feel. (I felt that this was especially intriguing to see how the other characters felt and reacted to the main character, who has Asperger's Syndrome.) While I do like this writing style, unfortunately it also helped the author to give too much away. Because of what the characters did and said, the ending was the only predicable thing that could have happened. If you want a good summer read, this is good, but don't expect to be rocked off your feet.
2802069
It was a decent, fast read.  It kept me interested and guessing...  the plot line took, in my opinion, a predictable twist.  Story lines and motives seemed so outlandish that I found myself rolling my eyes at times.  I won't say don't read this...what I will say is don't read this expecting it to be the best book ever.  It does have entertainment value.
3573132
The first pages of the book totally grabbed my attention. I love stories about people who have to plot carefully to accomplish something or hide their identity or go on a secret mission. The book is fast-paced and the characters were diverse - not totally three-dimensional but not flat cardboard.

I was hoping the book would be a detective story -- a true mystery -- but it morphs into an action-based thriller.  The action moves around the world -- Chicago, Hawaii, the Middle East.

My first quibble is that this book is REALLY long, with a lot of plot twists. It's fast-paced though, and would be perfect for a long plane ride when you want to escape into fiction and forget where you are.

My second relates to the ending. It's too neat. True, it's not coincidence, but it's definitely a credibility stretch.

I will look for more from this author. Haven't read his earlier works but now I'm tempted.
1629053
Brimstone is a very fast-paced, suspenseful, enjoyable read, but not as good as Relic, Reliquary and The Cabinet Of Curiousities. Nonetheless, Brimstone which reunites FBI Agent Prendergast and former NYPD cop Vincent D'Agosta will grab your attention within the first few pages and not let go until the very last page. Preston and Childs have developed a unique plot in which Prendergast and D'Agosta are involved in trying to solve some murders that are devilsh in nature, or so it seems. In typical Preston/Child fashion, the authors blend science, technology, the supernatural and history in such a way that the result is a highly readble, suspenseful story. My only criticisms, albeit minor, are that the ending is too open-ended paving the way for the authors' next book), and that Prendergast, while an entertaining, memorable character is (for this reader) stretching the limits of credibility. He makes James Bond seem like an amateur. If you have a long flight or vacation coming up, Brimstone is a book that will provide pure escapism and leave you satisfied.
1878485
A familiar plot - some people trying to correct the mistakes of the court system by taking the law into their own hands.  Most of the characters were one-dimensional. The bad guys had no redeeming qualities, and the good guys were all heroic.  Nonetheless, it was interesting to follow through and though predictable (I can't think of one scene that was a surprise), Howard writes well and I enjoyed it.  So, I'm going with 4 stars instead of the 3 I first thought.
4890187
This is a page turner and the plot is intriguing.  However, one must suspend logic to enjoy it.  There are too many holes in the plot.
2047514
Uber-psychological.  Good plot - at times stretches credibility.
2198209
In, Erased, Jeramy Gates creates a fast-paced thriller with an intricate plot that will please most readers, and particularly those who enjoy government conspiracy theories.  The characters are interesting and the plot careens along like a good roller coaster all the way to the finish, with well-written prose that enhance the narrative.  This is a fast and engrossing read, despite its flaws.
 If you start reading this book and find yourself confused and unable to figure out who the characters are and how they relate to each other after the first few chapters, keep reading.  Things will start to sort out and youll be happy that you didn't give up.  But, it is not easy to figure out the many characters in the early chapters.  The reader also has to get used to the authors somewhat unusual literary device of re-telling the same scene from the different perspective of a different character, so that the reader is covering the same temporal ground twice and it takes a little while to figure that out and adjust to it as a reader, but in the end it is an interesting format that does add texture to the narrative.
 There are some gaping plot holes in this story, not the least of which is the bouncing ball (briefcase) that we are trying to follow and which disappears and reappears without much explanation about where it has been.  The very beginning of the complex plot includes a courier who is killed off in an early chapter (no surprise there) by a cab driver without any explanation about how this particular cab driver could possibly have arranged to pick the courier up at the San Francisco airport so that he could fulfill his part in the drama.  There is also another pick-up much later in the story that is important to the plot and which seems impossibly coincidental and is not explained by the author.
 Meanwhile, the central character, Sarah Murphy, is described in lush detail and the reader genuinely cares about what happens to her. She turns out to be more plucky and resourceful than anyone expected (and shes a lawyer, so its nice to see a lawyer portrayed in a heroic way).  The peripheral characters are less well formed, but still interesting.
 This is an enjoyable read and great for a summer weekend at the beach.  Nothing too overly politically heavy-handed, despite some opportunities, which is good.  No deep meaning, but lots of fun and excitement.  Dont think too hard  just keep reading.
 [Spoiler warning  stop here if you're concerned]  the main plot premise of the story is that Sara was kidnapped and brainwashed in a Manchurian Candidate kind of way and ends up acting upon post-hypnotic suggestion and is supposed to be the patsy in a plot to assassinate a rap star who has commissioned a documentary film that will expose terrible conditions in a Chinese manufacturing plant owned by powerful American interests.  The black ops agents who set up the elaborate scheme are using Sara to disguise their intentions, which is why this otherwise unassuming lawyer is suddenly caught up in the grand conspiracy and all the action of the story.  Its a bit implausible to think that this kind of mind control could really work as described, or that the black ops assassins would go through all the trouble to use it rather than just kill people themselves (as they do plenty of in the story).  But, thats the plot device and so we suspend reality enough to buy into it and then let the plot go from there. Im fine with that, and I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and the story despite all the holes and despite the dubious premise.]
1798210
A kidnapping and a brutal murder run on parallel plot lines until finally they merge together into one plot. The plot moves quickly and easily keeps the reader's attention with many twists and turns. The characters were very human and multidimensional throughout. A good fast read.