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readgina_la_987's review
3.0
It's complicated, Harald. Seriously?? This is not my usual fare but it is good for the car and Alfred Molina has a great reading voice. The story is way too far-fetched for my taste though.
montymerlot's review
3.0
More cohesive than the first one, but for me there were too many twists which actually just felt like "hey, I realized I didn't want to be finished with that person after all/I didn't want it going down that road".
cbrunner11's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed first at Brunner's Bookshelf
This is amazing for the simple reason that this was written by 16 different authors. This is the sequel to The Chopin Manuscript bringing Harold Middleton back for another adventure. The Chopin Manuscript was originally a serial audio book. Every week there was a new chapter written by a different author. My favorite author, Jeffery Deaver, Wrote the first chapter in that one and this book setting the story. After he set every thing up each author wrote the next chapter and steered the story in the direction they wanted. At the very end Jeffery Deaver wrote the last chapter to finish off the book.
This book has a much more intense plot line that takes the story all around the world. In this book there isn't just adventure and action but a massive threat of nuclear war. Some of my favorite characters are back in this book but we also get to meet a few more. The way that each author is able to seamlessly mesh these chapters together and make it seem like one person wrote it is amazing. It really does make me want to check out some of these authors. If they can write this well then I'm sure I would enjoy their individual books. I have read Lee Child before and his stuff is good.
I really liked this book but there were a few things that kept this from a full 5 star review. A lot of reviews I have read as well as interviews with the authors who contributed say this is better than the first book. I disagree. There were a few times that I found my mind wandering away from the story. The Chopin Manuscript held my attention all the way through which is why I think that one was better. The addition of new characters was great, but it came close to Stephen King territory with almost to many to be able to keep straight.
This is a great book and a lot of fun to read/listen too. If audio books aren't your thing, then you can get this book and the Chopin Manuscript in the book called Watchlist. I highly recommend both books to any fans of mystery novels. Especially if you are a fan of any of these authors you will enjoy reading this. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I know the cover is small so here is a list of the authors who wrote this book.
Jeffery Deaver Linda Barnes
Gayle Lynds Jenny Siler
Jim Fusilli P.J. Parrish
John Gilstrap Brett Battles
Joseph Finder Lee Child
Lisa Scottoline Jon Land
David Corbett James Phelan
This is amazing for the simple reason that this was written by 16 different authors. This is the sequel to The Chopin Manuscript bringing Harold Middleton back for another adventure. The Chopin Manuscript was originally a serial audio book. Every week there was a new chapter written by a different author. My favorite author, Jeffery Deaver, Wrote the first chapter in that one and this book setting the story. After he set every thing up each author wrote the next chapter and steered the story in the direction they wanted. At the very end Jeffery Deaver wrote the last chapter to finish off the book.
This book has a much more intense plot line that takes the story all around the world. In this book there isn't just adventure and action but a massive threat of nuclear war. Some of my favorite characters are back in this book but we also get to meet a few more. The way that each author is able to seamlessly mesh these chapters together and make it seem like one person wrote it is amazing. It really does make me want to check out some of these authors. If they can write this well then I'm sure I would enjoy their individual books. I have read Lee Child before and his stuff is good.
I really liked this book but there were a few things that kept this from a full 5 star review. A lot of reviews I have read as well as interviews with the authors who contributed say this is better than the first book. I disagree. There were a few times that I found my mind wandering away from the story. The Chopin Manuscript held my attention all the way through which is why I think that one was better. The addition of new characters was great, but it came close to Stephen King territory with almost to many to be able to keep straight.
This is a great book and a lot of fun to read/listen too. If audio books aren't your thing, then you can get this book and the Chopin Manuscript in the book called Watchlist. I highly recommend both books to any fans of mystery novels. Especially if you are a fan of any of these authors you will enjoy reading this. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I know the cover is small so here is a list of the authors who wrote this book.
Jeffery Deaver Linda Barnes
Gayle Lynds Jenny Siler
Jim Fusilli P.J. Parrish
John Gilstrap Brett Battles
Joseph Finder Lee Child
Lisa Scottoline Jon Land
David Corbett James Phelan
samhend101's review
4.0
I enjoy these compilations. I love the idea of all the authors working together to create an entertaining story for all their followers.
This story continues with characters from The Chopin manuscript. Is fairly current regarding politics and stresses between countries, religions and of course, Power!
This story continues with characters from The Chopin manuscript. Is fairly current regarding politics and stresses between countries, religions and of course, Power!
arthur_pendrgn's review
To borrow a phrase from the book, I think something happened here...I'm not sure what.
This was an intriguing concept for a book, but what a mess. It doesn't earn even one star.
This was an intriguing concept for a book, but what a mess. It doesn't earn even one star.
bookworm_brad's review against another edition
4.0
I love the way this has been written with 16 different authors, Jeffery Deaver writing the first and last chapter and each other author writing one chapter each. Very clever and extremely well done. The story meshes together well despite the different writing styles and ideas of the individual authors.
The story itself is a great read though I did prefer the first in the series, The Chopin Manuscript. Very entertaining and keeps the reader guessing.
The narrator does a good job with the different character voices though there are a number of questionable pronunciation errors.
The story itself is a great read though I did prefer the first in the series, The Chopin Manuscript. Very entertaining and keeps the reader guessing.
The narrator does a good job with the different character voices though there are a number of questionable pronunciation errors.
fday's review against another edition
4.0
A great story line with great content from a stable of accomplished authors. Disappointingly there are a couple of leaps in understanding that are pivotal to the conclusion of the story; however, this can easily happen with so many authors writing one work, a chapter at a time, without a predetermined storyline. Great work on the part of the authors and thank you to audible for making the effort to create this type of work.
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
Under the auspices of a new form of writing project, the International Thriller Writers (ITW) worked to create a second audiobook story in this series with many top-name contributors. This book is again led by the opening and closing chapters by Jeffrey Deaver, along with many other members of the ITW group. Harold Middleton is front a centre for another adventure, hunting down terror suspects with NATO. After a shoot-out, Middleton discovers that one of the victims is sporting a copper bracelet with unique markings. Calling in some assistance from his close friends, Middleton discovers that bracelet has ties to a group with an interest in ‘heavy water’. As Middleton seeks to trace down the potential threat, he discovers that there is more to the story, including a mysterious Scorpion, a faceless leader with plans to bring major devastation in the near future. With a massive construction project in India turning heads around the world, there is speculation that Scorpion might strike. The project, already raising anger between India and Pakistan, could be the tipping point of a new regional war, centred in Kashmir. Middleton thrusts himself into the middle of it all, learning how disastrous things could get if Scorpion is not stopped, only to learn that there are others with invested interest in the terror plot, which could significantly disrupt the international balance of power. Another great collaborative effort that allows the reader to see many writing styles synthesised into a single novel. Recommended to those who like literary patchwork of this nature and fans of international mysteries.
I vaguely remember reading the first two books in this series, when they were newly released on Audible. I enjoy the premise of putting many authors together to carve out a decent story, offering them each a small piece of the pie. The story is strong and the constant character advancement provides the reader a definite treat as things progress, much like the series debut. Harold Middleton returns with more adventure and has shown that his amateur sleuthing, paired with some firepower, leaves him ready to tackle any international situation. Surrounding himself with a handful of returning characters, Middleton is able to work his way through the story, showing both his power and a personal vulnerability in the form of his family. The twists and turns cannot always be predicted, with so many authors in the mix. That said, there is surely succinct development within each chapter, as the author has only a short time before they hand it off to another. The story is a great collaborative effort for something of this size. The reader who can fathom the complexity of intertwining so many writing styles in a single piece will not be as judgmental with the final product. This effort is one that will have me turn to Jeffrey Deaver, who took on a solo effort to pen a third novel in this series.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver et al., for completing another of these unique writing assignments for readers to enjoy. I have always loved the challenge the ITW pushes on its members to work outside their comforts to appease the reading public. A brilliant idea properly executed.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
I vaguely remember reading the first two books in this series, when they were newly released on Audible. I enjoy the premise of putting many authors together to carve out a decent story, offering them each a small piece of the pie. The story is strong and the constant character advancement provides the reader a definite treat as things progress, much like the series debut. Harold Middleton returns with more adventure and has shown that his amateur sleuthing, paired with some firepower, leaves him ready to tackle any international situation. Surrounding himself with a handful of returning characters, Middleton is able to work his way through the story, showing both his power and a personal vulnerability in the form of his family. The twists and turns cannot always be predicted, with so many authors in the mix. That said, there is surely succinct development within each chapter, as the author has only a short time before they hand it off to another. The story is a great collaborative effort for something of this size. The reader who can fathom the complexity of intertwining so many writing styles in a single piece will not be as judgmental with the final product. This effort is one that will have me turn to Jeffrey Deaver, who took on a solo effort to pen a third novel in this series.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver et al., for completing another of these unique writing assignments for readers to enjoy. I have always loved the challenge the ITW pushes on its members to work outside their comforts to appease the reading public. A brilliant idea properly executed.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons