Ian Smith (1)

The plot was good but not executed in a way that excited me as a reader. Quite obviously there was a lot of research put into this book. The ecological thriller bored me. I was lost with all of the scientific terminology, etc. Ian Smith did ok breaking down concepts. The mystery became so deep that the plot was hard to keep up with. Many of the clues throughout the story were too easy for Sterling to find. If he needed certain information, he found it. The number of supporting characters show more clouded my ability to remember who is who and who did what. For the most part this is a so/so detective story with some racial overtones, which disappear after the first few chapters. He never explained the reason for "Nigger" carved into Wilson's chest. Also, what I found weird was that his brother was murdered but there wasn't a scene with Sterling telling his girlfriend and though he was out of town dealing with this tragedy, she never called to check on him. Smith needed more character development. I do wish there were more detail given regarding the relationship between Agent Sterling Bledsoe and his brother. It also would have been helpful to know how (or why) Sterling decided to leave the Agency to teach part-time. show less

Leaden prose. Appalling dialog. Made it to page 22. Harlan Coben blurbs this; he should be ashamed of himself.