Ok, not gripping
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It takes me a while to get involved in books but this one I stuck with. Although the idea behind it was good there is no real story, and eventually the writer goes off at a tangent and is not talking about the present story line, but another one set 50 years in the past.
He also spends far too much time describing the 'passion' between the two lead characters which seemed to come from no where but still be a dominant part of the story for some reason.
I think the writer was too involved in this story, and as such kept leading off at tangents which ultimately made me lose interest.
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A rather plodding 'thriller'.
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This was my first reading of 'Sam Bourne' and I don't think I will read another one. It was good enough to carry on reading till the end of course, but I found that the mixing of real second world war history within a 'thriller' plot was really artificial and the inserpt of flashbacks here and there felt easy to get the book going. The relationship between Tom the lawyer and Rebecca is simply to silly for words, crashing straight into obvious devices. Their common search of the 'truth' feels artificial again with awkward moves and the resolution I found utterly unconvincing, especially when you learn a certain something about Rebecca. Why take us on this long lasting inquest when you learn that rather crucial bit at the end ?
A real history book on the 'Avengers' themselves would certainly be more gripping !
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Entertaining and historically interesting
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The Daily Mirror is quoted on the cover as saying that this is "The biggest challenge to Dan Brown's crown" and unlike another review (taken from the Jewish Chronicle) I see this as a compliment for the simple reason that both writers make you interested in finding out more when you've finished the book. Whether it be more about art and paintings, religion, or in the case of 'The Final Reckoning', the photographs of George Kadish.
Kadish was a Lithuanian Jewish photographer who documented life in the Kovno Ghetto during the Holocaust by constructing small cameras that could take photographs through his coat buttonhole.
Surely a book that inspires us to learn more about any subject has to be worth a read?
The novel itself begins well, and keeps a good pace throughout. Some of the plot 'discoveries' were over explained, which could be a bit insulting to the readers intelligence, and some of the plot developments could be anticipated (certainly before the two main characters anyway).
However the plot as a whole and the way the story moves between the past and the present worked well and the facts were obviously well researched.
Definitely worth a read.
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Sam Bourne back on track
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I loved the book the Righteous men and after finishing it went and bought the Last Testament. Although I loved the first book, the second did nothing for me. This book had blown me away. I just cant put it down.
Well worth a read.
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Stunning thriller
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Jonathan Freedland, in his alternative persona of thriller-writer Sam Bourne, should wince when the Daily Mirror seeks to shower praise on him by calling him "the biggest challenger to Dan Brown's crown". It is a barbed compliment. Freedland, after all, can write, while the jury is still out as to whether Dan Brown has yet to acquire such a skill.
The story begins, with a shooting within the grounds of the United Nations in New York. The action then moves rapidly to London. Here, the victim's entire life history is discovered and his daughter becomes involved with a former UN lawyer.
The victim turns out to be a Holocaust survivor - and avenger.
The Final Reckoning is rooted in fact, following the story of a group of young Jews who, having survived the Holocaust, set out to exact as much revenge as they can on as many Nazis as they can identify.
Hugely entertaining, The Final Reckoning is tense thriller and a superb read.
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