Review: Wonderfully written but disturbingly off-centered
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 6, 2014
I liked the first-person, narrow-focus style. I really liked aspects of Jane's character, and Nathan won me over completely. I like the flawed nature and constant testing and self-examination of the characters, though the harsh language was off-putting. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? What are the motivations and the real, underlying character qualities that make these people tick? I understand the need to keep readers interested in continuing a series, but if we have to wait until future episodes to learn basic answers to the questions about why the Gatehouse and the Sacks really exist, I think that's expecting too much of the reader. The reformations, the betrayals, the moles, the gyrating "who can you trust?" issues clogged up the flow for me. I got worn out by the chaos over who is really a good guy and a bad guy. The moral compass is spinning too fast for me. I need good guys and bad guys, not and endless cycle of revenge versus thrill-kill. I hope Kaufmann finds some sort of true north before the next book.