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Summary: Watch out Grisham and Clancy!
Review: A fascinating tale of international intrigue, Rise Desert Man is a must read for those who want an exciting novel. The high quality of the intricate story line shows this book came from an accomplished writer, who has carefully researched his subject matter and the places where the action takes place. Entertaining and fulfilling, with interesting plot twists. This work is quite a find.
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Summary: Irresistible Page Turner
Review: Exquisitely intricate plot infused with perfectly pitched suspense and intrigue. Entirely plausible totally engrossing. A wonderful mingling of research, suspense and character devolpment. A terrific thriller in the tradition of Tom Clancy. A definite must read!
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Summary: Arise from the mundane & enjoy "Rise,Desert Man"
Review: From the initial attack in an Italian Airport, to the well scripted finale, a thoroughly enjoyable and captivating thriller with romance and love as a motivating sidebar!
Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: Having spent the past 9 years flying a private 727 for a royal family in the Middle East, this intriguing and well thought out novel by Ron Strauss captured all of my attention. He makes the reader see and smell as if they were there in person.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: Having spent the past 9 years flying a private 727 for a royal family in the Middle East, this intriguing and well thought out novel by Ron Strauss captured all of my attention. He makes the reader see and smell as if they were there in person.
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Summary: Exciting thriller
Review: In Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, Italy, Arab terrorists attack the El-Al counter, but undercover Israeli agents strike back. When the air settles, many innocent bystanders have died along with most of the attackers. The daughter and grandson of Israel's most deadly undercover agent, Colonel Pasha Ed-Al, are among the dead. The Italian police manage to arrest a few of the surviving terrorists, but the leader, the renowned assassin Nayeff escapes. Israeli Prime Minister Moshe Ben Kadar lost his son at the Munich Games due to Nayeff's actions there. When Pasha demands a shot at Nayeff, Moshe willingly agrees. However, Nayeff raises the stakes with an abduction of a key military official. As war instead of peace seems imminent, Moshe's widowed daughter-in-law, Shoshona, who loves Pasha, makes a last ditch effort to obtain peace between these long time enemies. RISE DESERT MAN is a powerful thriller that focuses on the daily life of living in the shadows of terrorism. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action that starts form the opening page. The characters seem genuine as Nayeff and Pasha share passion for their causes even if they are on opposite sides of the Israeli-Arab question. Ron Strauss writes an exciting tale that seems so appropriate with what is happening to the peace process in the Middle East today. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Exciting thriller
Review: In Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, Italy, Arab terrorists attack the El-Al counter, but undercover Israeli agents strike back. When the air settles, many innocent bystanders have died along with most of the attackers. The daughter and grandson of Israel's most deadly undercover agent, Colonel Pasha Ed-Al, are among the dead. The Italian police manage to arrest a few of the surviving terrorists, but the leader, the renowned assassin Nayeff escapes. Israeli Prime Minister Moshe Ben Kadar lost his son at the Munich Games due to Nayeff's actions there. When Pasha demands a shot at Nayeff, Moshe willingly agrees. However, Nayeff raises the stakes with an abduction of a key military official. As war instead of peace seems imminent, Moshe's widowed daughter-in-law, Shoshona, who loves Pasha, makes a last ditch effort to obtain peace between these long time enemies. RISE DESERT MAN is a powerful thriller that focuses on the daily life of living in the shadows of terrorism. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action that starts form the opening page. The characters seem genuine as Nayeff and Pasha share passion for their causes even if they are on opposite sides of the Israeli-Arab question. Ron Strauss writes an exciting tale that seems so appropriate with what is happening to the peace process in the Middle East today. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Fast-Paced Action and Clever Anticipation
Review: Rise, Desert Man rises above most international thrillers in the intelligence of its plot. As a result, it is much more rewarding than the standard "shoot-em up." People who like the kind of fast-moving novel that never lets up on the tension will find this book hard to put down. Particularly to be praised are the plot complications that keep the story from being a predictable evolution of a formula plot. The thing that I liked most about the book was its insistence on assuming that most people will look out for their own self-interest first. The book is enriched by examining the kind of bureaucratic paper shuffling and excuse-making that annoy each of us daily. Making that interesting is a hard thing to do. Think about that the next time you are standing in a long line being ignored. The book comes awfully close to being a great novel. Its only flaws versus that standard are inadequate development of the story in the opening scene and a slow development of the story line (about how we let small differences divide us) throughout the book. If the story line was as well developed and compelling as the plot is, this book would have been a masterpiece. Given that this is the author's first published novel, the result is a remarkably fine one and better than any other first novel I can remember reading recently. Reading this book will also be rewarding to those who are interested in Arab-Israeli-Palestinian relations. The author obviously has a deep background and interest in the subject and will inform you in ways that will make you a better student of Middle East affairs in the future. Above all, the book has a wonderful optimism of the sort that would be helpful to anyone in finding opportunities in the midst of peril. After you have finished enjoying this book, I suggest that you consider those who oppose you. What are their probable motives? Then see if you can check your assumptions about those motives. You will probably find they are wrong. Then ask yourself how you change change your behavior in ways that will cause your opponents to support you instead. Following Sun Tzu's strategic advice to set the stage so that conflict is unnecessary to achieve your objective may serve you well. Seize opportunity from the midst of others' self-interest!
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Summary: Action packed thriller!
Review: Ron Strauss delivers an excellent, chilling story full of suspense. The writing in this book is phenomenal. From beginning to end, the book takes the reader through moments only a book so detailed could describe. I absolutely loved it and I have recommended it to my mom! (Hi Mom!)
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Summary: spine tingling, action packed, and realistic!
Review: Ron Strauss' first book should elevate him to the status of Tom Clancy and John Grisham. I finished Rise, Desert Man in one afternoon, I was too intrigued to put it down. This realistic, action packed novel provides an exciting insight into the world of terrorism, underworld cooportation with government intelligence agencies, based partially on historical fact and fiction. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who reads Clancy or Grisham novels!
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