Overseer, The

Rating:
Summary: Best summer read in years!
Review: Loved this book. I was drawn in right from the start (the opening is one of the best I've ever read in a thriller). The characters are lively, the plot cruises along, and the historical stuff is eye-opening. I also like how Rabb doesn't make this into one more of those "the conservatives are the bad guys" kind of book, even though the conspirators are all hardliners. In one of the best scenes, he makes it pretty clear what differentiates conservative politics and ultra-right wing fanaticism. Great job! Keep it up.

Rating:
Summary: a truly compelling story
Review: Mr. Rabb's exceedingly smart novel was truly compelling. I was most impressed by his facility with creating a whirlwind plot while incorporating a clever philosophical treatise, completely accessible to expert and novice alike. I have been somewhat dismayed by some responses to the book in which people seem to write off the "coincidences" of certain events taking place and the fact that the protagonist, Xander Jaspers, happens to have studied or worked in cities around the world that happen to be relevant to the manuscript. Perhaps it was impatience or laziness, but the moderately-careful reader will understand that the men in the story responsible for the chaos have planned out every aspect of their scheme cleverly and ingeniously, incorporateing Jaspers into their scenario long before he even becomes involved! I can say without hesitation that the book is very easy to follow as evidenced by my 13 year old son who energetically finished the story in three! days. For those critics who found it necessary to read passages two or three times in order to follow the story, I would recommend that they tackle something a little easier in the world of literature before jumping to erroneous conclusions. I also wasn't aware that writing a sophisticated political document was "cliched" as some readers have suggested. This book will appeal to any novel-enthusiast who doesn't feel threatened by a writer who obviously knows a lot more about philosophy and engaging story-writing than most of us.

Rating:
Summary: Kept my interest
Review: While I do agree with the previous reviewer who did not find the characters particularly compelling, I did find enough interest in the plot alone to zip through the book. I got the feeling that Rabb himself was more interested in the plot than the characters. That said, the plot is fascinating and believable. There are a few plot twists that completely surprised me, so overall it was an enjoyable book to read. The writing and editing were unobtrusive. However, the characters are pretty flat and not memorable...hence only three stars.