Fast, fun and furious!

This book had me hooked from the first page. I could hardly put it down!

A little silly at times

About the “seductive world of entertainment.” A lawyer turned writer conspires to outwit the big guys. I found the first 95 pgs slow, and the plot confused by the many characters that I found difficult to separate. When he starts getting very graphic about horrific spouse abuse, I quit.

Good!

For the first third of the book the plot seemed trite to me, but it eventually turned into a real page turner.

Kirkus Reviews
So you thought it was all fun and games having a breakout novel? Come listen to Martini, on leave from his series about defense attorney Paul Madriani (The Judge, 1996, etc.), spin this wild and wooly tale of a pseudonym caper from hell. Life hasn't been kind to Abby Chandlis. She's going nowhere in her Seattle law firm; her second career as a novelist is stalled; her shiftless ex is behind in his payments, leaving her dining on cat food. But Abby has an ace in the hole: a new novel that could hit the bestseller list with the force of a pile- driver. Could hit, if only Abby weren't so unglamorous (she's pushing 40), so shopworn (those old novels turn out to be worse than no help), so unpromotable. So Abby and her roommate Theresa decide to find a front, some male model who'll masquerade as
··Gable Cooper" for a percentage of a take that stretches higher than Jack's beanstalk. And even though the front that Abby ends up with, soldier-of­ fortune/ failed novelist Jack Jermaine, isn't exactly what she was looking for, the two storm through a brightly malicious pipe dream of literary celebrity, as Abby sticks like glue to her supposed client's side while big-ticket agents, publishers,
and producers fight over them like so many jackals. But even before ta ke-charge Jermaine spirits his dazzled ghostwriter off to the Caribbean for some sun and sex, clouds have gathered on the horizon. Theresa has died in a suspicious accident
that seems meant for Abby; Theresa 's low-life husband Joey follows apace; the Seattle police are looking for Abby; so is a scandal-sheet reporter; and finally Abby wonders whether her own legal claim to her chart-busting novel might be a lot more slender than she thought--and might be based a little too exclusively on the testimony of her late friend. Absolutely irresistible balderdash- -The Pelican Brief for everybody who isn't John Grisham

Totally not his best. Not even close to his best. Not that Martini's all that hot, but at least his other books aren't so trite. I would have put it down but I had nothing else to read. It's an intriguing idea that turns stupid, fast. If the main character is so smart, how come she makes so many lame brained mistakes. You know how you're watching a horror movie and you start getting mad at the main character because they don't turn the lights on, or call the cops, or do something that demonstrates even a modicum of intelligence? Yeah, it's like that.

4.5

I'd call this a Thriller Romance with a bit of Mystery in the subplot. The romance and the mystery taking a somewhat backseat behind the characters as we further get to know them.
Spencer's betrayal wasn't something that was expected, but Steve did hint on it in the very beginning and true to most great mysteries, the answer is always right in front of you, you just don't know it yet.

Suspense with a Twist

As an author myself, I found the plot of The List compelling! With twists and turns galore, The List kept me guessing right to the end.

Не знам какво да кажа. Възможно най-динамичен и овъртян трилър-сюжет и възможно най-слабото изпълнение като литература. Книга, която четеш и се ядосваш на безумно плоските образи, на слабите диалози, на изсмуканите от пръстите любовни сцени и екшън-гонитби, на тоновете клишета, а в същото време ти се иска да стигнеш до развръзката, защото сюжетът е интересен, по дяволите! И се развива на фона на една доста реалистично звучаща картина на издателския бизнес. Впрочем, ако изобщо в книгата има силна страна, то това е тя. Личеше си, че авторът има лично отношение по въпроса и например преговорите по правата върху бъдещи книги бяха сред малкото сцени, които четох с интерес и известно удоволствие.

Иначе, "Класацията" е сготвена по рецепта за тюрлюгювеч: вътре са напъхани 5-6 убийства, 2-3 взрива, загадъчен красавец, суперталантлива и супернаивна хубавица, латиноамерикански милиардер, голи къпания, алчен бивш съпруг, нахални журналисти, подозрителни следователи, семейно насилие, стрелба, уличен бой, тайни и лъжи на кило и много милиони. Абе, от всичко по малко. Ако готвачът беше качествен или поне имаше някакво по-осезателно чувство за хумор, можеше да се получи дори истинска пародия на рецептите за сготвяне на бестселър. Защото, пак повтарям, плотът е интригуващ и държи в напрежение до края. Но тая книга е като скелет без плът.