Review: From "Red Adept Reviews"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 23, 2011
Plot/Storyline: 5 StarsThe plot to the novel was not only unique, but it was wonderfully executed. The book opened with Mark Taylor, the main character, trying to find a specific apartment. Soon, I learned that he was actually looking for a baby that would die if he didn't get there in time to warn someone. The book only got better from there.After Mark was arrested, I thought the tension would lessen, but Ms. McDonald managed to keep ratcheting the suspense with every chapter. The story unfolded skillfully, giving me just enough information at the right times to keep me wanting more without making me feel like I was being dragged.  I just couldn't put the book down. I had to know what happened to Mark and how it would all turn out.One thing that I really liked was how the author handled the political question of whether torture is a viable means of getting answers and information from terrorists. Through different character viewpoints, she showed both sides of the debate. Rather than taking one side or the other, the book allows the reader to really think about the issue and make their own conclusions.There was one instance of severe coincidence that allowed Mark's girlfriend to save some of his personal effects. It was just a matter of lucky timing, I guess, but after so long, it was really lucky timing.  I think that portion could have been done differently to somehow avoid the happenstance measure.I think the description gives away too much of the storyline. So, if you happen to be reading this review on my blog, or reading it prior to reading the description, to get the most out of the suspense, skip the book description on the Amazon Page. I was lucky in that I hadn't read it when I started the book.The ending was especially nice in that, while it wrapped everthing up nicely, it didn't meander around to explain later events. It ended abruptly at a perfect point in the story.Characters: 5 StarsMark Taylor was a deep, complex character. He was a good hero, but had enough flaws to be completely believable. The way he handled his time in prison portrayed him as just a regular guy and pretty much followed that route throughout the book. This gave him a particularly sympathetic feel to which readers could relate.The other characters were pretty well done for side characters. The book mainly focused on Mark, so too much development in the rest would have been tedious. There was just enough information given about one of Mark's "jailers" to give the reader some empathy on that score, but not so much as to overpower the story.Writing Style: 4 3/4 StarsThe sentence structuring was wonderfully fluid with a skill belying a first time novelist. The descriptions were so well done that I could have been watching a movie. The dialogue was great in the first half, but it inexplicably went downhill in the third quarter when Mark seems to develop a Southern accent of sorts. This did clear up by the last quarter.