The super-short version: l loved it and could hardly put it down over the few days I spent racing through Max Barry’s latest.
A good book will set up some kind of question early on that draws you to keep turning the pages. In mysteries, it’s who dunnit?. In thrillers, it’s will Jack Reacher punch that dude who he said he was going to punch? In Young Adult Dystopian books, it’s will the plucky teenage hero girl overthrow the crooked government while winning the heart of that boy who at first seemed to be a jerk but is actually totally a sweetheart and was only acting like a jerk because of his troubled past?
You get the idea.
This is the kind of book that grabs you by the wrist and yanks you forward. Each chapter thickens the mystery by doling out just enough detail to make you crave more. It’s chock-full of plot twists that don’t feel coincidental. Plus, I loved all the bits about Australia, since I used to live there.
VERDICT: I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller. It hits the ground running on page one and doesn’t let up until the end. I can’t remember the last book I read that had me so excited to find out what happens next. Best thriller of 2013, hands down.
Plus, I respect Barry’s stance on piracy.
I knew nothing about this book when I picked it up, and I recommend you take the same road. Don’t read the dust jacket, just got buy it. You won’t be sorry.