Rating: 
Summary: John Grisham meets Stephen King
Review: This book very much has the feel of John Grisham's "Disclosure" to it, and Larry Brooks even mentions the book in the opening chapters. The business intrigue and politics quickly turn sinister, however, and you're rushing along a plot that keeps you guessing on what is going on behind the scenes. Although somewhat predictable, and definitely unrealistic at times, the book warrants 4-1/2 stars, so I'll round up to 5. I'd love to see more books with a business setting like this, as opposed to the current trend of representing power struggles through politics and not business.
Rating: 
Summary: Meets this critic's "seminar gone awry" novel standards!
Review: This book was not what I expected. I did not purchase it because of any prior knowledge of Larry Brooks. I purchased it because it looked like the most interesting and suspenseful item of about 25 books in a hospital gift shop, and I had plenty of time on my hands.From the back and front covers of the paperback edition, the book appeared to be more of a "people getting hunted in the woods" type - that genre so thrillingly explored in Ice-T's 4 star classic "Surviving the Game." Man contracts to go to some activity in the deep woods. Man finds that HE is the activity in the deep woods. Man becomes crafty outdoors expert and methodically kills off venal pursuers. You know the type. Alas, Pressure Points is really a "motivational seminar gone awry" type book. And it's good at that. The plot takes a bit to kick in - there is some backstory that gets a bit tiresome - but once it does, it is pretty satisfying. The author could have put more work into threshing out the supporting characters at the seminar - several people emerge to play key roles and the reader wonders "who the heck is that guy?" I'd encourage readers to take notes, but come on people! This is only a "motivational seminar gone awry" book! Not a motivational seminar itself. Anyway, there are multiple plot twists, which keep you guessing, and I do like the depictions of the main characters. Which is why I'll give this 4 stars. I'm not going to fault the book on its misleading packaging, it would be unfair to its talented and motivated author, Mr Larry Brooks. Guess I'll go watch "Surviving the Game" again. Sigh . . .
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST THRILLER I HAVE READ IN A YEAR
Review: this gem is a real sleeper. i had never heard of the author or title before i ran across it in a used bookstore. why anyone would want to sell their copy is beyond me. the plot is astoundingly unique. the characters are well-drawn and interesting. the reader is manipulated time and time again by plot twists and double-crosses. just try to read this book in more than one sitting.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST THRILLER I HAVE READ IN A YEAR
Review: this gem is a real sleeper. i had never heard of the author or title before i ran across it in a used bookstore. why anyone would want to sell their copy is beyond me. the plot is astoundingly unique. the characters are well-drawn and interesting. the reader is manipulated time and time again by plot twists and double-crosses. just try to read this book in more than one sitting.
Rating:
Summary: The author certainly knows what he likes...
Review: this is one of those times when the "Amazon Recommendations" came up with a book I'd not heard of before, in "Pressure Points". Then a Marketplace seller had one that was used for a good price, which they shipped quickly. Then I couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting.... and enjoyed it thoroughly! Pressure Points departs from the norm of the psychological chiller by setting it at a high-level corporate motivational seminar. Many of us who have attended them think they put something in the kool-aid, and Brooks does nothing to dispel that notion. From the name of the advertising agency where the seminar attendees work (Wright & Wong) to the
countdown to the seminar, to the seesaw back and forth between the seminar, Seattle, and Brad Teeters' journal, Larry Brooks knows how to set a stage. The seminar events are somewhat predictable, but, just when you relax, Brooks pulls another stunt that wakes you back up and makes you wonder if you really know how this is gonna end! I've given it 4 stars instead of 5, because Brooks' male character development (Brad, Mark, Ken) is excellent, but his females ( Beth and Pamela ) are less than believable. Pamela, especially, completely changes her character while attending the seminar in a way that makes little sense, and Beth is just a little too over the top as the puppeteer of so many characters. That said, there is little else to critique about Pressure Points, and believe me, you will find it difficult to put down!
Rating:
Summary: Amazon Success Story....
Review: this is one of those times when the "Amazon Recommendations" came up with a book I'd not heard of before, in "Pressure Points". Then a Marketplace seller had one that was used for a good price, which they shipped quickly. Then I couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting.... and enjoyed it thoroughly! Pressure Points departs from the norm of the psychological chiller by setting it at a high-level corporate motivational seminar. Many of us who have attended them think they put something in the kool-aid, and Brooks does nothing to dispel that notion. From the name of the advertising agency where the seminar attendees work (Wright & Wong) to the
countdown to the seminar, to the seesaw back and forth between the seminar, Seattle, and Brad Teeters' journal, Larry Brooks knows how to set a stage. The seminar events are somewhat predictable, but, just when you relax, Brooks pulls another stunt that wakes you back up and makes you wonder if you really know how this is gonna end! I've given it 4 stars instead of 5, because Brooks' male character development (Brad, Mark, Ken) is excellent, but his females ( Beth and Pamela ) are less than believable. Pamela, especially, completely changes her character while attending the seminar in a way that makes little sense, and Beth is just a little too over the top as the puppeteer of so many characters. That said, there is little else to critique about Pressure Points, and believe me, you will find it difficult to put down!
Rating:
Summary: INTELLIGENT, THRILLING AND SCARY
Review: Want a book that you can't put down? Want a story that stimulates your brain cells? Want to be scared out of your shorts? "Pressure Points" is definitely for you. I read Mr. Brooks' first book "Darkness Bound" and was immensely impressed by his imaginative plotting and intelligent writing. "Pressure Points", if anything, is even more compelling. It is the story of three ad agency employees attempting to buy out their company from the remaining partner, Ken Wong (love the cleverly named firm: Wright and Wong) All they need to do is attend a mysterious seminar and prove their mettle. Depending on who excels, one of them will be designated CEO. Reluctant at first, they finally decide to attend. After all, owning the business is worth tolerating some "feel good" seminar for a week. Or is it? The only thing you can count on in this book is that you can't count on anything. No one is who they appear to be, and everyone changes partners. Sort of a literary Dance Macabre. Don't even try to guess the outcome -- just enjoy the bumpy ride to the end. Brooks is clearly a very intelligent man himself. He raises questions most of us would rather avoid in our own lives, but become unavoidable while reading this extraordinary book. You will come out of it feeling like you've just been through your own "seminar". I can't say enough good things about "Pressure Points", and you will need to read it yourself to fully appreciate the unique and incredibly compelling aspects of this story. Just don't plan to attend any seminars in the near future . . . . . .
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