Book Review - Gideon's War by Howard Gordon

Some action books really get the blood pumping; the author does such a great job of visualizing the action that you almost feel like you're watching a movie or TV show.

Other times, you get TV show writers who want to write books, but they don't seem to be able to make the transition. They wallow in television tropes, unable to break free of what they're used to.

Howard Gordon was the executive producer of 24, and his first novel, Gideon's War, falls into that trap somewhat. It's not necessarily a *bad* book, but it's very frothy and not very satisfying.

My review has now been posted on Curled Up With a Good Book:

"Gideon Davis is the President's go-to guy whenever he needs a particularly delicate negotiation done. He is being honored at the UN for his latest accomplishment when he's pulled away by the President and his advisors, including old family friend Earl Parker. They ask him to help bring in a rogue agent, Tillman Davis - who just happens to be Gideon's brother. He'll only surrender himself to Gideon. When the situation explodes, Gideon is forced to make his way to the Obelisk, a huge oil platform off the coast of the war-torn country of Mohan. Terrorists have taken it over, and one of them may be Gideon's brother. He has to stop them before they blow the platform to pieces."

Unfortunately, the character development is almost non-existent, and the writing style just smacks you in the head with TV tropes. Weird perspective changes are the most egregious example of this. How can you have five perspective changes in one 3-page section of a novel? It almost gave me whiplash.

Anyway, check out my review on Curled Up. Who knows? This might actually be your cup of tea.

It wasn't mine.