I've read this story so many times before. Low level of 'readability'; felt kind of like drinking tar. ( )

This is the first of Christopher Reich's books that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were well developed and the plot was strong. I particularly like the development of the story from multiple perspectives all coming together at the end. I will definitely read more. ( )

Convoluted, confusing plot involving factions of the CIA, Iran, Israel, and banking secrets. Setting is winter in Switzerland. Main character is a doctor with Doctors Without Borders. July "09 ( )

Jonathan Ransom, book1

This is an exciting thriller, it has everything: a likable hero facing enormous amounts of danger and scuttling out of it, exotic locals with amazing settings, an over the edge story that will keep you turning page after page.

The prologue is slow to start, then, what appears to be a butterfly flying around a high-security compound is discovered to be a mechanical device...the alarm is sounded...

Next we meet Jonathan Ransom and his wife Emma both serving with Doctors Without Borders on a ski trip in the Alps. Both risk takers, they encounter severe weather and an avalanche sweeps Emma to her death. Jonathan has to face insurmountable odds to determine what happened, only to find out that his wife has been leading a double life as a spy.

In this first rate fiction, we follow our hero in his quest to dig out the truth about his wife. The numerous characters we encounter along the way are colourful and engaging. The story is sharply written, sophisticated and suspenseful giving us a few surprises on the way. The plot unfolds skilfully, with never ending chases and many miraculous escapes, various murders, double-crosses and lots of deceptions.

Things were a little dramatic at times, implausible but it made for an exciting fantasy, James Bond's style. ( )

I usually "read" my books by listening to audiobooks. I got this one from LT member give-away, so I vowed to finish it no matter what. It turned out to be tough decision.
This book left me feeling less than satisfied. The plot, in my opinion, is not that credible. Two competing U.S. spy agencies killing each other;one of them plots to shoot down an Israeli airliner to frame Iran whose government is busy building a nuclear bomb.
And main character,Dr. Ransom, seems jumping out of a 007 movie. Although he is a medical doctor without no formal spy training he masters every skill of the trade. of course, at end, the good guys prevail.

In general, the story was just not that well planned and paced. ( )

Overall, Rules of Deception provides everything I look for in a thriller. It is full of fast paced action, surprising twists and turns, and a character we care about. I was able to figure a few things out before Reich explicitly revealed them, and way before Ransom did. Of course Ransom did not get to see all the other plot lines unfolding, so I had a clear advantage over him. I loved the book and had a hard time putting it down.

My complete review is on my Blog, Nate's Library, specifically at: http://nates-library.blogspot.com/200... ( )

Good thriller. Lots of twists and turns in this story. ( )

A lot of plotlines here - confusing at times, and even at the end it was hard to get everyone sorted out. But it kept me reading and the overall themes were interesting, if scary. ( )

This isn't the genre of book that I usually read. As a fast moving story of International Espionage, I was never sure where the story would turn next and who or whom could be trusted. The story is set in a post-9/11 era and many of the details reflect our modern world. I have to wonder how much of the story is fiction and how much is true. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a story that makes you question the current events you read in the daily paper or see on the news. ( )

DATE: June 2008
TITLE: Rules of Deception
AUTHOR: Christopher Reich
PUBLISHER: Doubleday
COPYRIGHT: July 2008

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

Christopher Reich absolutely has a winner with this book. Rules of Deception has it all. With a full and varied cast of characters, current political climates in different parts of the world, and enough action it keeps you up all night trying to figure out the roles of everyone. No one should be turned off in the beginning by the large number of players in this world wide tale. They all very quickly melt together and have you picking up speed through each phase of this very complex adventure.

Not only does Mr. Reich weave a great plot of espionage in the 21st century and all very believable, I am hoping that the ending purposely left room for Dr. Ransom and his lovely Emma to come back in a sequel. I took this book on vacation and it did not last two full days. ( )

This was a tough book for me to read not because its subject matter but because I just never could get into the story. First there was the slow build and merge of the major stories and then mixed in with this were these asides in which the author would cut away from the 'action' to other more distant things going on. These distant events never really added much to the overall story and only served to distract me from the story. In the end I struggled to finish this book and figured out the big mystery long before the big reveal. This is the first time that I've read this author and I am not in a hurry to pick up another book by him. This also is not a book that I would recommend to others. Its a slow read and just fails to deliver on all of its promise.

For a more detailed review go here:
http://tickettoanywhere.blogspot.com/... ( )