The Bank of Fear

Rating:
Summary: Five stars for its good characters, fast read, guts...
Review: Bank of Fear is a "no-brains-required" spy thriller with all the usual cliches: heroes who are quick to fall in love and even quicker to rush into danger; villains with unlimited power and unquenchable thirsts for violence; complicated computer systems that (surprise!) a novice hacker learns to crack; and an abundance of utterly silly plot twists, double crosses, and character surprises. The story is so completely nonsensical I had a hard time remembering what happened to the characters ten minutes after I put the book down.

The one redeeming quality of the book is that it's a very fast read. Things happen so quickly and the pages keep turning, so you don't ever think to ask yourself why you're wasting time reading it.

Rating:
Summary: IGNATIUS, THE CIA'S FRONT MAN, "PREDICTS" THE FUTURE
Review: In The Bank of Fear, Ignatius continues his revelations about the CIA's clandestine activities in the Middle East and at home, this time against the backdrop of the death of "The Ruler," Saddam Hussein. [Hooah!]

If you read his other brilliant books, and you also follow world news & current events, you begin to see a pattern: Ignatius accurately predicts the future of Middle Eastern intelligence and security.

How?

He's the CIA's front man in the media. Or so it would seem. He's spent so much time in the shadows, in the Middle East, that he's absorbed practically every detail about CIA operations.

His books are even on various reading lists at the CIA, not to mention are personal favorites of hundreds of members of various governments. Don't ask me how I know. I could tell you, then I'd have to, well, you know.

The tale of "The Ruler's" death is tightly and convincingly woven among an intricate romantic subplot. One has the intimate feeling of being right there, on the shoulder of Sam Hoffman, son of the bad-assed CIA operative Frank Hoffman who appeared colorfully in Ignatius's first novel, Agents of Innocence.

Sam didn't follow in Frank's footsteps, refusing to get involved with that organization. As a financial investigator, he researches the shady Coyote Investment, a London-based front for Iraqi billions that have been hidden away by "The Ruler" and his family. Along the way, he falls for the exotic and intelligent, not to mention lovely, Lina Alwan, who gambles her life to reveal the true nature of Coyote.

Does Sam get the girl in the end?

Read this first-rate thriller and see for yourself.

Forget Graham Greene. David Ignatius will draw you in and not let go!

Please say hello to Lina for me. Like Industrial Light and Magic, she's secretly ensconced somewhere in Marin County.

Dean Garner
KNI Literary
Santa Barbara

Rating:
Summary: IGNATIUS, THE CIA'S FRONT MAN, "PREDICTS" THE FUTURE
Review: In The Bank of Fear, Ignatius continues his revelations about the CIA's clandestine activities in the Middle East and at home, this time against the backdrop of the death of "The Ruler," Saddam Hussein. [Hooah!]

If you read his other brilliant books, and you also follow world news & current events, you begin to see a pattern: Ignatius accurately predicts the future of Middle Eastern intelligence and security.

How?

He's the CIA's front man in the media. Or so it would seem. He's spent so much time in the shadows, in the Middle East, that he's absorbed practically every detail about CIA operations.

His books are even on various reading lists at the CIA, not to mention are personal favorites of hundreds of members of various governments. Don't ask me how I know. I could tell you, then I'd have to, well, you know.

The tale of "The Ruler's" death is tightly and convincingly woven among an intricate romantic subplot. One has the intimate feeling of being right there, on the shoulder of Sam Hoffman, son of the bad-assed CIA operative Frank Hoffman who appeared colorfully in Ignatius's first novel, Agents of Innocence.

Sam didn't follow in Frank's footsteps, refusing to get involved with that organization. As a financial investigator, he researches the shady Coyote Investment, a London-based front for Iraqi billions that have been hidden away by "The Ruler" and his family. Along the way, he falls for the exotic and intelligent, not to mention lovely, Lina Alwan, who gambles her life to reveal the true nature of Coyote.

Does Sam get the girl in the end?

Read this first-rate thriller and see for yourself.

Forget Graham Greene. David Ignatius will draw you in and not let go!

Please say hello to Lina for me. Like Industrial Light and Magic, she's secretly ensconced somewhere in Marin County.

Dean Garner
KNI Literary
Santa Barbara

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Read
Review: No, it may not be 'Nostromo' or 'Brighton Rock', but Ignatius has spun some enjoyably indentifiable characters in this spy thriller. Given the world's current state of affairs, a Hollywood producer would be wise to pick up the options on this novel for film adaptation (assuming it hasn't happened already). Taken in context, this is a wonderfully crafted novel with vivid scenery and palpable suspence. Ignatius creates such lush scenes and characters, while also highlighting America's covert involvement in the Arab world. Taking into account his experience in Middle-Eastern affairs, Ignatius' accounts of Iraqi intimidation on its own citizens, along with the presumption that many of his assertions are based on factual information, this is a frightening look inside the rule of this Iraqi dictator. I happened upon this book while in Thailand and have since read 'Siro' and 'A Firing Offence'. Of the three, I enjoyed this the most. If you're a fan of spy novels, this is as good a read as any.

Rating:
Summary: Five stars for its good characters, fast read, guts...
Review: This is a superb "spy" thriller surrounding the mysterious
and often cruel military regime of Iraq. It took guts to write
a book exposing torture practices of such a regime, and
the nasty financial practices and human rights grievances
of what the author disguises: the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. Those in exile from their country are
blackmailed into working for corrupt Iraqi agents...it depicts
this as a multi-tentacled octopus that chokes the life out
of these exiles and forces them to live lives of slavery and terror.

Sam Hoffman is a very likeable hero, and Lena a frightened woman who discovers reserves of bravery. A great read.
I don't know what the previous reviewer was thinking, when he called it a "cliche'd" thriller...I found it very unique and couldn't put it down.