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Summary: What a ride!! Best thriller I have read in a long time.
Review: For a first novel, this author has put together a fast paced, edge of your seat thriller. Nick Merchant and his partner Alex Moreno have a nice little business finding missing heirs and pocketing a percentage of the estate. Then the Big One comes along and so do big problems - like people trying to kill them, heirs meeting gruesome ends, and the FBI in cahoots with the bad guys. An original premise and tight suspense make for an exciting read. Can't wait for the second novel from this author!
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Summary: This book is an AWESOME first effort!
Review: I couldn't put this book down! The best story I've read in years. The characters are well developed, and I really liked them. There is A LOT of action, and the ending is great.I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is looking for something to do over a weekend. Just make sure you don't have plans, because you'll have a hard time leaving this story!
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Summary: Dynamite debut!
Review: I had a general impression of what heir hunting was, but I had the sense that a blown computer was about as dangerous as it got. Boy, was I wrong! Nick Merchant and Alex Moreno are heir hunters who've lucked onto a multi-million-dollar estate. If they can track down the dead man's lawful heirs before the competition does, they'll earn the payday of a lifetime. Unfortunately, they aren't the only ones searching for the heirs of the enigmatic corpse. Nick and Alex are poleaxed by competitors, bombed and shot at by assassins, framed for crimes they didn't commit, and threatened by the FBI which has a vested interest in sticking by their story that the dead man never existed. Forced into fleeing under assumed names, Nick and Alex are determined to clear their names and solve the case, even as the bodies pile up around them. Nick and Alex have a past and, hopefully, a future! The chemistry between them works and I hope to see them again in the talented Chris Larsgaard's next book.
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Summary: heir hunter gripping
Review: If you're tired of the same old detective stories, you're ready for Larsgaard's Heir Hunter. Nick Merchant, the protagonist is anything but cliche. His brand of investigative work has not been explored in fiction before, and I found the concept quite interesting. This business of searching for heirs in order to recover a percentage of the estate involves some curious moral dilemmas, and Nick Merchant grapples with these issues in a very human way. At no point in the novel does Nick transform into a stereotype. Both he and his job are complex, and Larsgaard does a nice job in creating a character that seems to do the right things, without being arrogant. Nick is likable and the story is gripping from beginning to end. If you enjoy suspense, this novel, which braids several interesting storylines into one unforgettable tale, is something that you should experience.
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Summary: Interesting Premise But...
Review: Nicholas Merchant is a sort of private detective, who finds the relatives of wealthy individuals who leave no immediate relatives and no will. One case in particular, involving an old man with a multi-million dollar estate leads to government cover-ups and Nazi millions in secret Swiss Accounts. While the story seemed rather derivative (Nazi hidden treasure), I also had a difficult time keeping all the villians straigh. And quite frankly, the secret that was being protected just didn't seem that big. I would read a sequel because the writing was good and the premise sound but hopefully the plot would improve on another outing.
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Summary: Good strong first novel.
Review: Nick Merchant is a heir hunter. That means he tracks down heirs to estates and takes a finders fee for his efforts. When rich Gerald Jacobs dies with no apparent heirs it looks like a case made in heaven for Nick and his partner Alex Moreno. But they soon discover they've got more than they bargained for when the FBI tries to warn them off the case and someone comes gunning for Merchant and Moreno. I enjoyed this first novel by professional heir hunter Chris Larsgaard. It has a clever plot, interesting characters, good dialogue, and a clever ending. I only gave it three stars because the writing isn't quite as polished as some more experienced writers but I'm sure that will come in time. Mr. Larsgaard has made a good beginning and I'm hoping we'll see more of Nick Merchant in the future. Good mystery. I recommend it.
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Summary: Not just your ordinary PI...
Review: Nick Merchant, former San Francisco cop, is in the business of finding heirs. Along with his former girlfriend Alex Moreno, they are on their most lucrative and dangerous job yet. When Gerald Jacobs is found dead in upstate New York, Nick and Alex have a week to find the three heirs to Jacobs' 22 million dollar fortune, as they try to elude the competition out to get them. Although you don't get the chance to really know what makes Nick and Alex human, THE HEIR HUNTER is a fast-paced page-turner, and a refreshingly original twist on the PI genre.
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Summary: Private Investigators With A Difference
Review: The Heir Hunter is a book of suspense with a difference. The difference here is that the occupation of the protagonist is an heir hunter. A what? Nick Merchant is a private investigator, but he specialises in tracking down heirs to estates and matches them up, taking a percentage of the estate as a fee. It's this aspect that gives this story it's uniqueness and added appeal. When Nick and his partner, Alex Moreno, find out about an estate that contains assets in excess of twenty-two million dollars, they think this could be the payday they've dreamt of. As with all things that seem too good to be true, there has to be a problem, and in this case, competition from the opposition is the least of Nick's worries - only he doesn't know that. The deceased was in the FBI's witness protection program, and they're pretty keen for things to remain nice and quiet. Producing heirs to the estate would not be desirable. On top of that, there appears to be an unknown group of killers who use a far more permanent means of keeping things quiet. This is a face-paced story that takes place on both coasts of America as well as places in between, Germany and Switzerland. Nick and Alex make a very likable couple who work well together with none of the sexual tension other authors seem to feel is necessary when using a male / female combination. It's a first-class thriller that reminds me of the best work produced by the likes of Thomas Perry.
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Summary: An Exciting Read - One Great New Author!!!
Review: The Heir Hunter is the first novel by Chris Larsgaard, and boy is it a good one. This suspensful book has well defined characters and grabs your attention from the start. The two main characters, Nick and Alex, are believable and likeable; I found myself rooting for them during their adventure. The topic of this book, hunting for heirs, is unique and new, which makes the book all the more interesting. This book weaves together a great story line, fascinating characters, and a fast paced adventure for a very good read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense, adventure and mystery books. I can't wait until Mr. Larsgaard writes again.
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Summary: A So-So thriller
Review: This book began promising, but I felt it strayed and became formulaic toward the finish. I felt that the characters were fairly cardboard, although the premise was interesting. I read about a thriller a week and this is one that I wished I had passed on. The book does have its moments, but for me, they were too far and few between. In a nutshell, there were not too many things that this book offerred, that others in the past and future have or will not.
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