Rating: 
Summary: Gaps in Logic Sink "The Straw Men"
Review: "The Straw Men" 's strong beginning, with keen observations on our relationships with long lost friends and relatives and good commentary on society, is left almost forgotten by the time the final page is read. Our first protagonist's (Ward Hopkins) regrets about not fully knowing his parents is right-on and--as with the whole book--is well-written. His search for his mother and father is the best of the three concurrent stories that eventually come together in the last 100 pages. The other story lines concerning a former cop looking for a serial killer, and (far shorter story) a girl's ordeal with her kidnapper, are fine, too, but all three tales are awkwardly combined. When our first hero, Ward, finally discovers the truth about his parents, the parents' small circle of past friends' reactions are not what the reader expects, and those reactions are never explained. For instance: Ward, upon finding one of his mother's and father's acquaintances, says, "My parents are dead." The friend replies, "Good". Why does he have this feeling? We don't learn why. Even the double-crosses at the end make no sense. Marshall's description of how a kidnapping takes place in front of a self-centered populace always on the run, is done very well. In our next story, former policeman John Zandt's explanation to his (completely-miffed) female partner about how he found one of the Straw Men is totally far-fetched. He says, more or less, "a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend....told me..." We are left out of this detective work, and are asked to just take this character's word on what he has found out. This is a mystery-suspense novel that allows us to follow how the characters get to where they are except when it counts the most: during the last quarter of the book, when it seems Marshall has simply run out of ways to tie things together. It's not even that we're disappointed with the end, though I found it odd; it's simply wondering how exactly we got to this point that lessens the book's overall affect.
Rating:
Summary: Gaps in Logic Sink "The Straw Men"
Review: "The Straw Men" 's strong beginning, with keen observations on our relationships with long lost friends and relatives and good commentary on society, is left almost forgotten by the time the final page is read. Our first protagonist's (Ward Hopkins) regrets about not fully knowing his parents is right-on and--as with the whole book--is well-written. His search for his mother and father is the best of the three concurrent stories that eventually come together in the last 100 pages. The other story lines concerning a former cop looking for a serial killer, and (far shorter story) a girl's ordeal with her kidnapper, are fine, too, but all three tales are awkwardly combined. When our first hero, Ward, finally discovers the truth about his parents, the parents' small circle of past friends' reactions are not what the reader expects, and those reactions are never explained. For instance: Ward, upon finding one of his mother's and father's acquaintances, says, "My parents are dead." The friend replies, "Good". Why does he have this feeling? We don't learn why. Even the double-crosses at the end make no sense. Marshall's description of how a kidnapping takes place in front of a self-centered populace always on the run, is done very well. In our next story, former policeman John Zandt's explanation to his (completley-miffed) female partner about how he found one of the Straw Men is totally far-fetched. He says, more or less, "a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend....told me..." We are left out of this detective work, and are asked to just take this character's word on what he has found out. This is a mystery-suspense novel that allows us to follow how the characters get to where they are except when it counts the most: during the last quarter of the book, when it seems Marshall has simply run out of ways to tie things together. It's not even that we're disappointed with the end, though I found it odd; it's simply wondering how exactly we got to this point that lessens the book's overall affect.
Rating: 
Summary: New voice is heard loud and clear
Review: "The Straw Men" is one of those rare thrillers that gets under your skin. I couldn't help but talk to myself, outloud, about the actions transpiring in the novel. Michael Marshall is an astonishing new voice in the mystery genre. His plots did waver a bit, but the overall effect was outrageous. The multiple story lines provide something for all fans. If there is no sequel, there will be a riot!
Rating:
Summary: Be prepared to feel cheated...
Review: At this point I don't think I need to go over what the book is about, the other reviews do that quite well. I am not the type of person who has to have all the loose ends tied up for me when I read a story or watch a film. I do not need everything neatly concluded and explained at the end. However, this book has some major issues with the believability of the circumstances that result in the twists and turns of the plot. It also has a problem with bringing the numerous story lines of the novel together. I don't mind a novel that leaves me with a little thinking to do, a need to perhaps go back over what has happened in the story to piece together some clues on my own. What I do mind, however, is an ending that is almost deliberately void of ANY conclusions regarding the mysteries that have kept me turning page after page. It is very easy to start a story, very easy to build suspense. It's not so easy, I guess, to end a story in a coherent and believable fashion. People want some reward for the suspense the author has easily created, not to be completely let down for their efforts----their efforts in following the story, keeping all the different plot twists and characters in mind, etc. I felt that the characters in this novel were not very well drawn. The main character, Ward Hopkins---not once could I even remotely picture him as a CIA agent, ex- or otherwise. The FBI agent, Nina---not one glimpse of who she was as a person ever came across, she seemed to be simply a mannequin used to fill the need for a certain type of character in the story. The characters of CIA agent Bobby, and detective Zandt, seemed more real. In one chapter, Ward goes to visit his childhood home, in which someone else is now living. It seems as though this would have something to do with the plot----it occurs smack in the middle of the heightened suspense of the novel. But nothing happens---Nothing. In the middle of the gun battles, the murder, the serial kidnappings, etc., the main character just pays a visit to the house. The lady of the house offers him coffee, he looks around at his old bedroom, and leaves. That's it. The reason stated for his visiting the house doesn't mesh with where the plot is going at that point in the novel. At some other place in the storyline, it may have fit. The main "bad guy" in the novel---who was he? I was never given a glimpse. Yes, he's identified with a name and his relationship to one of the other characters, but that's it. And the twists and turns that would have to occur for him to turn out to be who he is, and for him to even know about how he is related to one of the main characters, and for them to meet each other under the circumstances they meet under---it just strains the bonds of believability past the breaking point. Who the Straw Men are, and how they live and operate, can not be reconciled with the way in which Ward finds out about their building complex when he is at a local realtor's office. The other characters---Ward's parents and their friends---the motivation for their actions in this novel are the flimsiest I think I've ever encountered. The plot has more holes than a Swiss cheese, more loose ends than a tatty old afghan knitted a couple of decades ago and used as the family cat's favorite blanky.
Rating:
Summary: Did You Hear That? Quick, Check The Windows.
Review: Because from start to finish this book will keep you on the edge of your seat. One extremely freaky book, a secret society of people who do what they want, when they want, how they want and with whom ever they want. No one but themselves know they exist, and of course they're fingers reach into everything. But the worst one of the bunch just so happens to be our lead character's brother. His twin brother. More scary and disturbing than any horror book (though not really a horror novel) I ever read, and why? Because it deals with a tangible issue, and one that was happened in the past and occurs everyday, though maybe not so organized. This group will make the Nazis seem like pansey's. You'll be begging to know just who the Straw Men are what they've done. Though if you want to the whole story you'll have to read the sequel, Upright Man.
Rating: 
Summary: Yet another wonderful novel
Review: Despite what this book might tell you, it is not the first work of Michael Marshall. Look for his other three novels under the name of Michael Marshall Smith which included, "Only Forward", "Spares" and "One Of Us". Those books have a very sci-fi, Douglas Adams, type feel tot hem while "The Straw Men" has a lot more of a horror slant. It takes a little bit to get running and could have benefited from being a little longer so some of the explanations could have been more detailed. Also the switch from first to third person when jumping from character to character was a bit jarring. That said, the novel is a brilliant work, truly scary with a sharp sense of humor that you will not expect.
Rating:
Summary: Will leave you pining for the sequel
Review: Excellent read. The Straw Men has it all. Intriguing main characters, compelling plot, and mind-blowing plot twists. I have no idea why others hated it. I guess there's no in-between. I would highly recommend The Straw Men. I cant wait for the follow up novel.
Rating:
Summary: Will leave you pining for the sequel
Review: Excellent read. The Straw Men has it all. Intriguing main characters, compelling plot, and mind-blowing plot twists. I have no idea why others hated it. I guess there's no in-between. I would highly recommend The Straw Men. I cant wait for the follow up novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Great concept
Review: Great concept, well put together and explores some interesting issues. But, unfortunately, I have to say it is certainly not on a par with his previous novels: Only Forward, Spares, One of Us and, if you like scary stuff, his book of short stories: What You Make It. I almost get the impression it was written with the intention to get it on to the big screen. (I am sure it'll make a great movie). We still love you Mikey.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: I agree with one of the other reviews that the plot was muddy, but that didn't detract from the good time I had reading this book. I understand this was Marshall's first book, so he'll probably resolve that with more practice. Obviously this is not great literature, and I don't think it was meant to be. But this book has me practically holding my breath for the next installment (which I'm sure there will be.) I really enjoyed the characters, and would like to see them again in a sequel. The story line had a very relevent message that might not interest everyone, but it sure interested me. It was an idea I'd never thought of, and once presented it grabbed a hold of my imagination to the extent that it actually began to become plausible. The way he brought the characters together was logical, and I appreciate that. Also, a silly little thing, but I really enjoyed Marshall's vocabulary. It's not often you find a paperback with a decent turn of the word. I think this book was a good read, especially for a vacation or travel when you've got the time to read it straight through, because that's what you'll want to do once you buy into the plot. And then you'll do what I'm doing, looking for a way to get a head's up when Michael Marshall writes his next book.
-c
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