A Fantastic Thriller/Mystery: A Journey Back in Time

This thrilling and mysterious story is set in a time when cell phones were not yet common, and smart phones were still a distant dream. It takes the reader on a captivating adventure that is both exciting and engaging.

The lack of modern communication devices adds an extra layer of tension and mystery to the plot. Without the convenience of a cell phone, the characters must rely on their wits and instincts to solve the mystery and overcome the challenges that come their way.

The story is a fun romp that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. It is filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. I really enjoyed this thrilling and mysterious tale, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller.

Just finished and really enjoyed it.

I'm glad I've read a significant amount of Simmons' GREAT work before this. This allowed me to clearly perceive that the author was playfully winking at the reader throughout. It was evident that it wasn't meant to be taken seriously. Otherwise, it would have been extremely difficult to refrain from constantly thinking, "Is this guy f%*&ing serious? I mean COME ON." However, it's so outrageously tongue in cheek that even without that awareness, I'm not sure I could have stopped myself from laughing.

One aspect that stood out to me early in the book, despite the silly plot devices, is the ingenious techniques Simmons incorporates into his writing to make the reader quickly bond with Dar Minor. For instance, the device of having Dar hate when people turn nouns into verbs, like "Mirandizing," was a very clever, swift, and effortless way to draw the reader into the character. It's probably my main takeaway.

Blatantly over-the-top, a spoof of an overcrowded'suspense' genre loosely connected with some fun related to the Darwin Awards, it was definitely an enjoyable read as long as one knew not to take it literally. It's so outrageously absurd that if you did otherwise, you'd go crazy banging your head over how truly ridiculous much of it is. My best advice is to simply relax, enjoy, and if the urge to laugh at this book strikes - go for it - I'm quite certain that's the intention.

After reading other reviews and realizing that Simmons' parody is so excellent that almost no one recognized how tongue-in-cheek it is, I'm tempted to give him more stars. haha

Being an accident reconstructionist is an exacting science that Darwin Minor, PhD, is highly proficient in. Over the years of performing this job, Dar has amassed a plethora of memories from various accidents, which span from the ordinary to the bizarre and even the unbelievable. However, until now, no one has ever attempted to kill him for it, and that is precisely what he is currently striving to avoid.

As Dar, along with a team of co-workers and a newly befriended FBI Agent, meticulously comb through years of research, opinions, and insurance fraud, a pattern begins to emerge. In some aspects, it makes sense, but the complete picture is not yet fully formed. The deeper they delve, the more complex the crime syndicate is revealed, and the image painted of what is transpiring is truly sickening. Dar has witnessed battles and overcome personal tragedies, but this situation has the blood of countless innocent victims staining the waters, making it impossible to see the bottom.

I respectfully dissent from those who did not appreciate this book. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire story from the very first page. The writing is detailed and well-structured, with just the right amount of bizarreness and a touch of the unusual to keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

Favorite line: "Readers always gravitate to other readers' bookshelves and try to figure out the filing system."

Simmons' work is truly a disappointment.

It is filled with an excessive amount of detailed descriptions of guns, various types of firearms, tanks, and bullets. The narrative also delves deeply into sniper tactics, killings, and murders, which becomes rather monotonous and tiresome.

Moreover, the protagonist is dull and uninteresting, and the several adventures and escapes he experiences seem highly unlikely and lack credibility.

Overall, Simmons fails to engage the reader and create a captivating story. The overemphasis on violent and often gratuitous elements detracts from any potential depth or substance the work might have had. It is clear that more effort and creativity were needed to bring this piece to life and make it a worthwhile read.

This is the third time that I have read this book, and truly, each time I do so, I find myself enjoying it even more.

The story is so engaging, filled with vivid characters and a captivating plot that keeps me hooked from start to finish.

Dar, in particular, is a character that I have grown to love. His adventures and experiences are both thrilling and heartwarming.

I can't help but wonder if there will be another novel featuring Dar in the future. I truly hope so, as I would love to continue following his journey and see what new challenges and triumphs he will face.

The author has done an excellent job of creating a world that I never want to leave, and I can only imagine what other wonderful stories they have in store for us.

Until then, I will continue to cherish this book and look forward to the day when I can once again step into the world of Dar.

I truly had a great liking for this book, and the reason behind it was that it was a remarkable display of highly improbable Mary Sue nonsense.

This book is analogous to watching every single Nicholas Cage movie and reading every Dan Brown novel all at the same time. It only holds any semblance of sense if one is willing to completely shut off their brain and simply engage with the spectacle according to its own peculiar terms.

If you happen to be like me and have literally zero knowledge about cars, guns, airplanes, or mobility scooters, you will begin to feel an urge, approximately two chapters in, to start looking up various terms on Google, firmly believing that all of these technical details must be leading up to something significant. However, they are not. You could substitute the majority of the details with words like "big" or "impressive sounding" and still follow the so-called "plot" as well as is feasibly possible.

Go ahead and read it. While reading, have a glass of your favorite alcoholic beverage by your side. It will surely be an enjoyable experience.

I was truly in a state of conflict regarding this particular work.

Certainly, there were some parts that could easily be rated as 5-star. These were the sections that had a resemblance to the writing style of Dan Simmons, which was quite captivating.

However, on the other hand, there were also some parts that seemed more like a 1-star effort. They resembled the cheesiest aspects of James Patterson's writing.

Nonetheless, I did have a great deal of enjoyment from all of the insurance fraud anecdotes that were interspersed throughout the text. Additionally, the insurance investigative mysteries that formed the central core of the plot were quite engaging.

While this may not be my absolute favorite work by Simmons, it is by no means a bad one. It has its strengths and weaknesses, but overall, it managed to hold my attention and provide an interesting reading experience.

Ehh... This third loose off-shoot of Summer of Night was disappointingly less impressive than I had hoped.

Dan Simmons is indeed a versatile writer, but this shoot-'em-up semi-comedic thriller seemed rather forced. Many of the same incidents were not only included in the compilation of the Darwin Awards but also brought to life on screen in that Darwin Awards movie. If less cliched selections had been made, it would have been a much more interesting twist.

The attempts at humor were only about half successful. The beginning's quirk of Dar's grammar-Nazism was more annoying than endearing, and I was relieved that once the plot barreled forward, that trait was left behind.

The military aspect and really the plot overall was a bit... boring. Moreover, the author is surely a bad advertisement for that over-and-under shotgun. This is the second time (well, chronologically speaking, the first time) that it has conveniently failed to fire, and the new-lease-on-life hero has saved the special, dented shell...

However, it was nice to see Lawrence all grown up, and he was one of the more charming characters. The romance, though, felt flat and forced. While there were brief moments (like the rare occasions when the humor actually did make me smile) that this reminded me of Linwood Barclay's books, this just wasn't Simmons' finest work, though it does speak well of his versatility.

Summer of Night

Simmons, Dan – Darwin’s Blade – G

Darwin Minor, a former NTSB investigator with a Ph.D. in physics, is truly a master in his field. Renowned as the nation's top "accident reconstruction specialist," he has not only safeguarded the insurance industry from losing millions but also cracked the most perplexing cases of vehicular idiocy.

However, his life takes a drastic turn when he suddenly becomes the target of assassins. What follows is a frenzied car chase that is just the beginning of a series of captivating set pieces. The question looms large: is Darwin being targeted due to business motives, or does this attack have some connection to the ongoing federal investigation of the Alliance, a Russian mafia-like group infamous for staging accidents to commit insurance fraud?

This is an action-packed narrative centered around an insurance investigator. Although it may not reach the heights of Hardcase or Hard Freeze, it still manages to provide an enjoyable reading experience.

I picked up this book solely because I have a great deal of trust in Dan Simmons. However, before I was even aware of what was unfolding, I found myself engrossed in a thrilling tale of insurance fraud. This was most definitely not what I had anticipated based on my previous forays into Simmons' works such as "Hyperion" and "Children of the Night" and others.

Surprisingly, though, I ended up liking it. It didn't quite reach the same heights as the ones I had mentioned earlier, but for a sick day, it was still an acceptably entertaining read. Indeed, I learned far more about insurance scams than I had ever thought possible. I must confess that I did skip through the numerous pages of descriptions regarding different types of weapons and munitions. Nevertheless, the pace of the story was rapid, and the characters were interesting enough to keep me turning the pages. In the end, I am not disappointed that I decided to read it.

Overall, while it may not be Simmons' best work, it still managed to provide an enjoyable escape for a while. It shows that even when an author ventures into a different genre, they can still produce something that is engaging and worth the read.

If possible, 3.5 would be my rating.

I have a great love for Simmons. This particular one was a bit distinct from the others, yet it was an absolute blast.

The unique nature of this experience made it stand out. It had its own charm and characteristics that set it apart.

Despite the differences, the fun factor was still very high. There were moments that made me smile and enjoy myself thoroughly.

Overall, it was a memorable encounter with Simmons, and even though it wasn't a perfect 5, the 3.5 rating reflects my appreciation for the different and enjoyable aspects it brought.

I look forward to more experiences with Simmons in the future, hoping for more fun and excitement.

This book was truly a mess. It was so all over the place that I had to double-check that it was indeed written by Dan Simmons, an author who usually shows the exact opposite of such chaos.

The novel seemed to struggle with defining our hero. Was he a brilliant accident inspector and reconstructor or an expert-level military sniper? It couldn't quite make up its mind.

The plot was rather mysterious, not in the sense that it centered around a traditional mystery, but more so that I remained unsure of what was actually happening and why. And even when all the secrets were finally revealed, it was a bit of a letdown, almost putting me to sleep.

Moreover, large portions of the book didn't age well. A decade or so after its publication, it became evident that some of the storylines were based on relatively well-known urban legends involving cars. This might be somewhat forgivable considering that, more than a decade later, we have better access to shows like Mythbusters and the wealth of information on the internet.

It's a quick read, and if you enjoy reading junk, you could do worse. However, I can't in good conscience recommend this book.