The List

Joe Konrath has become quite an Internet sensation, so I was interested in his work, but kind of leery of what I might find. After all, Joe seems like a great guy, but it's relatively easy (and somewhat random) to get famous on the Internet, and very hard (and quite unrelated) to write a great book. As it turned out, I needn't have worried.

The List is a sensational thrill ride from the gruesome start to the fiery finish. The action bounces back and forth around the country, and at every stop the story grows more intricate and the danger ratchets up another notch. The characters are by turns sincere and interesting and funny, and Konrath excels at getting his characters into hopeless situations, then letting them get themselves out. The show more plot contains just enough science to be convincing, and just enough fantasy to be fun. And Abe Lincoln is hilarious.

Whether you are a fan of Konrath, a fan of realistic science fiction, or just a fan of sharp action and tight prose, this book is not to be missed. For my part, it was a great introduction to the work of Joe Konrath, and I can't wait to read the rest. show less

YOU WON'T GUESS THE BIGGEST TWIST IN THRILLER FICTION...

"A billionaire Senator with money to burn...
A thirty year old science experiment, about to be revealed...
Seven people, marked for death, not for what they know, but for what they are..."
I had never read a book by this author but truly enjoyed this original story. It may be slightly improbable but if you suspend that thought, it was a really good read.

What is the significance of blue number tattoos found on the bottom of the feet of murder victims? As Det. Tom Mankowski investigates, he has more than a professional interest in finding the connection...he, too, has a blue number tattoo.

Tom's investigation leads to some rather amazing discoveries. The victims were all adopted. The victims were all the same age. The victims had families with some tie to the military--everything just like Tom--and, just like Tom, they were all cloned.

Cloned from the best and the worst in history, their creator had used the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Joan of Arc, William Shakespeare, Attila the Hun, Jack the Ripper, and Einstein as the starting DNA to determine if pure genetics would determine the clones' show more character, intelligence, and talents. But now, someone wanted them dead.

An interesting premise and some quirky characters. show less

This is perhaps the first governmental conspiracy type book that I have read. I hadn't picked any up because I thought that I wouldn't like this particular genre of fiction. I was shocked that I actually enjoyed it. Primarily because it was a trashy read. I haven't read very many books that are absurd or just hysterical, but this book definitely fit into both of these categories.

The plot is about a bunch of clones without giving too much away about the plot line of the book. There are several funny moments in the book as well, but one particularly overused joke is the author's usage of the anal region of the human body. It was the only thing that I felt was overused.

Overall the book was enjoyable because it wasn't asking the author to show more think a lot, even though there was a random area where it was throwing out different technical science terms related to the body. The book is just one of those page-turners where you read and want to know what is next, but you don't get philosophical along the way searching for a deeper meaning. There are times where you need a book without that deeper subtext and this book did not disappoint. The story was richer than I expected and the characters more defined than I thought for a book that I selected randomly from the Amazon Kindle Lending Library for free. I am pleased I did and would recommend this book to anyone wanting a fast-paced interesting read. show less

This book read like a cheesy bad movie. There were a few funny throw-away lines and it was a very quick and easy read, so I can't say that I didn't like it. But I wouldn't recommend it as a good book. Unless you're into bad movies. Then you might like it quite a bit.

I read one of Mr. Konrath's other books, "Afraid", loved his writing style and ability keep readers guessing and in suspense throughout his story. When I saw "The List" posted on one of my daily "Free Kindle Offerings", I didn't hesitate to snatch it up. I was not disappointed!

I was so hooked that I couldn't put it down. Tom and Roy, the Chicago Police Detectives, somewhat remind me of Patterson's Alex Cross and his partner. Now add a fishing lure collector, a kick-ass female film producer and a used car salesman to round out the team of good guys; all five have something physical in common - a tattoo on the bottom of one heel. All are on the same list and maniacs are trying to kill them! The story has humor, terror, gore and show more imagination as this group of five fight off their killers while attempting to find the person(s) responsible for creating the "list" and learning why they are targeted. It's all part of a master plan - thirty years in the making, and they are caught right in the middle of it all. It is possible to stop it, but nobody will believe or help them prevent the catastrophe. They have to try it alone!

Jack Kilborn keeps readers on a high level alert, making it difficult to "relax" while reading his thrilling story. Twists and turns show up without warning - keeping readers up way too late in the night to see what happens next. This book is filled with very descriptive scenes...if you are able to read through zombie or serial killer novels, then you shouldn't have any trouble with "The List". Buyer beware: once you start - it will be difficult to put down. Great job Mr. Kilborn! I look forward to reading more of your work!

John Podlaski, author
[[ASIN:B003R4Z5U6 Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel]] show less

He lost me as soon as I realized this book was about clones. Really? Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, Joan of Arc, Abe Lincoln, Atilla the Hun, Jack the Ripper? Somehow, I powered through anyway, but it just seemed ridiculous. I will say, however, the execution of said ridiculous plot wasn't bad. It was a nice light read with a decent writing style to match. Maybe I'm just not into the 'technothriller' genre enough. One way or another, I'm really looking forward to having a better book than this for middle of the night feedings.