Review: Twist, Turn, and Enjoy!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 31, 2013
I was dubious opening this book, but woah was it great!!!  JJ Ward knows how to spin a tale, and just when you think you know what's going to happen, he spins it all around in another direction. I found it hard to put down!The novel begins with paparazzi being murdered in multiple countries, and an international "dream team" being assembled out of the most unlikely combination of a young upper class British policeman, a detective from New York who happens to be a  lapsed Hasid, and a subversive Russian agent who want to clean up corruption in his own country, and is thus completely endangered if he ever goes back there. The three are an entertaining crew, and just as it seems to be an odd kind of police tale, JJ Adams turns it all on its head and it's suddenly a secret agent story! I can't go into it much more without giving away some of the surprising delights of the novel, but it's fast paced, the lead characters are interesting, and the minor characters are pretty weird and great, too. Ward also know how to write an action sequence and there is an aerial gun battle pretty early on that is stunning.  He moves the novel along, with the occasional remarkable set piece (like the gun battle) and it just keeps on getting more and more interesting. At the same time, it's full of pop culture, funny detail, and doesn't take itself completely seriously, all while enmeshing you. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes police, spy, or action writing, and I dare you not to enjoy yourself while reading it. As for me, I'm excited to see there are other M17 novels to read!