The American Boys

Rating:
Summary: You could call it a political thriller, but...
Review: that would be missing the point.
On the surface this is the story of a washed up CIA operative and an attempt at a coup by high ranking CIA officers. And that alone is entertaining enough for three stars.
But then there's the real story: An examination of a man's willing self-destruction and the way he terrorizes and places in harm's way the people he supposedly loves.
Harrington's best was his previous novel, Dia De Los Muertos, but this comes in at a tie for second with his first novel, the equally good Dark Ride. Got all 3. Harrington doesn't disappoint.

P.S. Does anyone out there know if this is the same Kent Harrington who wrote some miserable fantasy novels? I'd be surprised that such a stunning writer would have wasted his talent on such vapid nonsense.

Rating:
Summary: You could call it a political thriller, but...
Review: that would be missing the point.
On the surface this is the story of a washed up CIA operative and an attempt at a coup by high ranking CIA officers. And that alone is entertaining enough for three stars.
But then there's the real story: An examination of a man's willing self-destruction and the way he terrorizes and places in harm's way the people he supposedly loves.
Harrington's best was his previous novel, Dia De Los Muertos, but this comes in at a tie for second with his first novel, the equally good Dark Ride. Got all 3. Harrington doesn't disappoint.

P.S.Does anyone out there know if this is the same Kent Harrington who wrote some miserable fantasy novels? I'd be surprised that such a stunning writer would have wasted his talent on such vapid nonsense.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good if you squint a little
Review: There are moments of noir brilliance (ouch) in this political thriller, but these moments are counterbalanced by a plot which leaves the reader slightly incredulous. (An assassination attempt on the President of the United States by the CIA? I guess if anything is possible, then this is.)

Harrington is great at depicting strong and ruthless characters who have been broken by time and liquor and bad women (try his really great Dark Ride) but the plot in the American Boys is stretched to the limit. It works, but just barely.