Review: A Rare Four-Star Book
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 10, 2012
I start out assuming 3 stars for a book--that's the average rating for an average book.  I look for engaging characters, natural dialog, well-paced and intriguing plot, enough background and setting but not too much boring detail."The Prophet Motive" fulfilled all those criteria quite well, better than average.  It had the ring of authenticity when it concerned cults and cult leaders; no so much for other factors, such as the way police and FBI make decisions.Dialog and description were clunky at times and I remember one vignette that stopped me in my tracks.  Bad Guy mounted on horseback.  Good Guy (I'm trying hard not to make it a spoiler here) on foot.  Bad Guy intends to capture or injure Good Guy.  Good Guy walks up to the horse, uncinches the saddle so that Bad Guy falls off, vaults onto horse and rides off bareback.  Oh, really?  Pleeze...and no earlier discussion of Good Guy had given any hint of that person's equestrian experience.  Hmmm....Inspector's reinstatement was miraculously fast, practically overnight.  I don't think so.  Estranged wife introduced, child has a problem in school, never heard from again.  "...as nervous as a hummingbird cleaning hippo teeth" and "He felt as giddy as the morning sun outside his breakfast nook," similes worthy of a high school writing assignment.So it's a 4 rating, instead of a 5.  But don't let the occasional clunkers deter you; this is a book that will keep you up all night.  I'm recommending it highly.