A highly entertaining and quite fun read from Simmons: well outside his normal genres of work, multiple as they are. This story revolves around an insurance investigator who is called upon to explain a series of horrific car accidents. These accidents seem to be connected to an international network specializing in intimidation and murder.

Certainly, it is suspenseful - as that seems to be the main effect Simmons was writing to achieve. But it is also laugh-out-loud funny at points. Especially in its descriptions of the truly dumb ways in which certain goofs managed to get themselves killed. Following The Crook Factory (1999) in 2000, it would appear that Simmons at this stage was trying out different genres. He had already shown his mastery of scifi, fantasy and horror.

Overall, this work is very, very good. It offers a unique blend of suspense and humor, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. Simmons' ability to venture outside his comfort zone and still produce a captivating story is truly impressive. Whether you're a fan of his previous works or new to his writing, this book is definitely worth a read.

My habit of reading acknowledgements pages truly paid off in this book.

Before delving in, I was aware that the author had conducted research (and in some cases, even practiced) in areas such as "aerial combat," "a sniper instruction manual," "accident reconstruction," and high-performance vehicles. It gives one a sense of what's about to unfold, doesn't it?

Essentially, a CSI-type investigation into various accidents encounters difficulties when it becomes evident that some are actually murders staged to resemble accidents by a powerful organized crime syndicate. As one would anticipate, this continuously involves the reader in gory death, technical description, and profanity.

(The acknowledgements page also asserts that each incident is a composite of real events related to the author by accident reconstruction experts. That concept made those scenes more interesting and immediate, although I'm fairly certain that at least two are actually based on urban legends.)

I'm familiar with Simmons from his science fiction work (Hyperion), but his other works are equally lauded, so this was my first venture into that territory. His stories are engaging, the characters are interesting, and his references are unfailingly erudite (meaning I missed most of them).

I understand and often appreciate the use of technical details to enhance a novel. This is a common technique in thrillers, sci-fi, and other genres to highlight crucial elements, build suspense, or enhance realism. However, when used on nearly every page of the novel, it begins to lose its impact and becomes encyclopedic. Simmons appears to have included almost everything from his research.

Finally, I found Darwin (the protagonist) to be a little too capable. Seriously, how many fields can one actually have expert knowledge in? He is presented as an incredibly well-read intellectual, but still. All those details from Simmons' research seem to have been implanted directly into Darwin's immediate memory.

A good writer.

The plot of this work was extremely far-fetched.

However, he is such a talented writer that he manages to overcome this drawback.

His writing skills are so remarkable that he can turn even the most outlandish plot into an engaging and captivating story.

Despite the initial skepticism due to the unusual plot, as one delves deeper into the text, they are drawn in by the author's masterful use of language, vivid descriptions, and well-developed characters.

The writer's ability to create a world and make the reader believe in it, regardless of how far from reality the plot may seem, is truly a testament to his writing prowess.

It is this unique combination of a wild plot and excellent writing that makes this work stand out and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

This book offers an entertaining twist on the Tom Clancy genre.

It provides a fast-paced and enjoyable reading experience that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

The story is filled with action, adventure, and unexpected turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

However, it does have a bit of a formulaic feel to it.

Some of the plot elements and character archetypes may seem familiar to fans of the genre.

Despite this, the book still manages to be an entertaining read that is sure to please fans of Tom Clancy and similar thrillers.

If you're looking for a fun and exciting book to pass the time, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Just don't expect anything too groundbreaking or original.

Dan Simmons has achieved remarkable feats by winning numerous awards across several genres.

This particular book presents an unusual premise: the detective as an accident investigator. Dr. Darwin Minor, a physics Ph.D. and a former Marine sniper in Vietnam, specializes in reconstructing accidents. It appears that the Los Angeles area has been plagued by a spate of insurance frauds.

Destitute Mexican immigrants are recruited to stage accidents. Subsequently, they enlist the services of lawyers and doctors to defraud insurance companies out of millions. Darwin, who has an obsession with grammatical errors and constantly points them out in conversations, teams up with Sydney, an accident investigator, and several other law enforcement agents to expose a massive conspiracy to defraud insurance agents.

The story takes an over-the-top turn towards the end with Russian snipers attacking Dar's cabin. However, as expected, the good guys emerge victorious with a final, incredible shot. What truly salvaged the book for me were the often humorous, strange, and sometimes grotesque descriptions of accidents.

Simmons notes in his acknowledgments that all the accidents detailed in the book either really happened or were compilations of actual incidents. The book is filled with seemingly bizarre events that are purported to be real. I especially relished some quotes from accident files, such as "I had been driving my car for forty years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident." or "The guy was all over the road. I had to swerve several times before I hit him." or "An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle, and vanished."

Another favorite was the incident involving a Saturn ad being filmed. The dealer wanted to showcase the remarkable strength of the Saturn windshield, which was designed to endure much more significant impacts than regular safety glass. To wow the audience, the dealer borrowed an FAA device known as a chicken cannon. This device was used to fire chickens into airplane engines (a dead chicken representing a large to midsize bird in flight) to test the engine's resilience. Presumably, the effect on the already dead chicken would be minimal.

Anyway, the engineers had assured the dealer that the Saturn windshield could easily withstand the impact of a dead chicken fired from the cannon at two hundred miles per hour. When Darwin arrives on the scene, chaos reigns supreme. The actress dressed as a nun, who was supposed to sit in the driver's seat, has fainted dead away because the chicken has pierced right through the windshield, through the driver's seat, and out the back of the car. "Saturn lied to us," the dealer laments to Darwin. Darwin explains that, no, the windshield could indeed have withstood a chicken at two hundred miles per hour. "But what... how did we... why... how in God's name..." the dealer stammers. Dar decides to be concise. "This time," he says, "the chicken."

Simmons' character, Dar Minor, is an accident reconstructionist.

He finds himself on a hit list because of the work he has done reconstructing an accident that turns out to be a murder.

This book is really good, although it does go a bit over the top with some of the details in the reconstruction area.

It might seem a bit challenging to read at first, but Simmons manages to make it understandable to a certain extent, allowing the reader to still enjoy the book.

Dar Minor covers a lot of fascinating cases, and many of them are actually true events.

These events may seem so bizarre that they are almost unbelievable, but they also give a lot of credit to the incredibly dumb things that people will do.

The book offers a unique perspective on the world of accident reconstruction and the dark side of human nature.

It keeps the reader engaged from start to finish with its thrilling plot and interesting characters.

Overall, it is a great read for anyone who enjoys mystery and crime novels.

An enjoyable thriller awaits readers, filled with the intense creeping and crawling of both good and evil snipers. The story takes an interesting turn as the protagonist finds himself reconstructing accidents. He does this in defense of corporations and insurance companies that utilize his unique expertise. In this 2000 novel, Simmons goes to great lengths to have his heroes attest that O. J. Simpson was guilty. It's an unusual aspect, but it adds an interesting layer to the narrative. Additionally, the discussion of accidents such as the one that claimed the life of Princess Di is thought-provoking. The climax of the story, with the thrilling showdown between the snipers, is truly captivating and keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

A book of two halves as you might say.

Simmons commences his narrative on a promising note. The overall setting of the book, which is centered around the surge of endless insurance scams, is both credible and captivating. It offers a nice dig at the loathsome compensation culture that has permeated our society.

However, as the story progresses, Simmons disappoints. He seems all too eager to kill off and leave important characters underdeveloped. The introduction of the Russian mafia into the plot feels forced, and the two Russian protagonists remain disappointingly one-dimensional throughout.

It's also a pity that Simmons felt compelled to introduce a tiresome love element into the narrative. Avoiding this at the outset was, in my opinion, a significant plus.

Another aspect that may wear on some readers is the excessive detail about sniper rifles and such. Initially, this techno detail enriches the plot, but as the novel unfolds, it devolves into mere decoration, giving the impression that the author is flaunting his knowledge to the readers.

Perhaps this is a book to read in bed, but be prepared to be let down by the conclusion.

1.4 stars.

When I was at the bookstore and read the back of this book, my initial impression was that it seemed rather dumb. Nevertheless, due to my previous positive experiences with Simmons novels, I had faith in him to deliver an engaging story.

Unfortunately, I was let down. This book is, without a doubt, the weakest one among all the Simmons books that I have read so far.

The plot lacks depth and originality, and the characters are not well-developed. The writing style also feels flat and uninteresting.

I was really disappointed because I had high expectations for this book based on Simmons' previous works. It's a shame that it didn't live up to my hopes.

I would not recommend this book to others, especially those who are fans of Simmons and were looking forward to another great novel from him.

Organized Insurance Fraud? Who would have thought? I am constantly amazed by the ingenuity of the criminal element.

To be honest, the plot wasn't all that great. It was a standard action-packed crime investigation love story. It might make an interesting movie, but I expect more from a book. The plot never fully impressed or engrossed me.

However, Simmons utilized his detailed and heavy style to great effect when breaking down accidents. He related interesting and sometimes comical scenarios. Two of them were even tested on the TV show Mythbusters.

There are some heart-racing action scenes in this book, but compared to other Simmons books, those chapters seem slowed down by his incessant fact-dropping. Do I really need to know the rotor speed of a Bell Ranger helicopter to know it's faster than a glide plane?

I know many Simmons fans rave about the way he writes action scenes, but I've never been a fan. Because of Simmons' fact-saturated style, the action parts are hit or miss for me. The glider parts were a miss, but the Russian cabin fight was a hit. The car chase was a miss, but the Vietnam part was a hit!!!

Another complaint is that after spending so much time explaining how the fraud origination worked, he wrapped it up so abruptly with a simple "they were all caught and charges pressed." I understand the climax was involving the Russians and not the lawyers, but it still felt a little anticlimactic in that area.

Simmons teaches me something every time I read one of his books, like sniper tactics, and that's enough to keep me reading his books. But the fact that the anecdotes outshone the plot in Darwin's Blade is the main reason it gets three stars.

This book isn't my typical choice of reading genre.

Some of the sciency parts were a bit long and dry, although they did have their interesting aspects.

Near the end, the damselling of Syd was both annoying and predictable, not to mention the forced romance throughout the story in general.

However, aside from those flaws, it was still an okay read.

Personally, I think I would much rather have a series that follows Lawrence and Trudy. They are truly awesome!

It would be great to see more of their adventures and interactions.

Overall, while this book had its drawbacks, it did have some redeeming qualities as well.

Maybe in the future, the author could focus more on developing the characters and storylines in a more organic way.

That way, the reading experience would be even more enjoyable.

This is my least favorite Simmons novel.

The main character, Darwin Minor, was a medley of things that I didn't quite like. The storyline failed to meet my expectations as a thriller. It moved rather slowly as he reconstructed accidents. And what exactly was the climax? There were a few 'high points', but nothing really stood out as the climax for me, aside from perhaps the first car chase in or around chapter 2, or maybe his flashback days in Vietnam. Simmons surely does his research on car crashes, rifles, and such, but it doesn't compensate for the storyline or what makes Darwin tick.

The ending was overly perfect in the cliché way. The sniper versus sniper scene, where the man who hasn't fired a gun in twenty years, with a rifle just as old (from his military days), defeats the veteran killer with a brand new, top-of-the-line accurate rifle as they approach each other, taking shots from 800 yards away and closing in, was not even engaging. Yaponchik's death was overlooked and poorly described. And the last chapter with the elephant was ridiculous. I was relieved to have finished this book, which is unfortunate, as I've wholeheartedly loved Simmons' other works.