Review: A refined and powerful thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 6, 2011
Wallace has crafted something special, a modern thriller with an old-fashioned siege as its centerpiece. His attention to character motivation and his refined style make this one that will keep you up long after your eyelids start complaining.I gave this four stars, but it's a strong four stars, closer to five. The story and pace are just right, starting off with a mystery and shifting quickly into more aggressive intrigue. The main protagonist has an unusual mixture of motivations that keep the story from ever feeling like something you've read before. We want her to succeed, but it's not always clear that success is possible given what drives her.The best thing about this book, however, the thing that kept my eyes glued from the start, was the writing. Wallace has an excellent command of the language, knowing when to be direct and when to dance around. That balance is all too rare, and it's the reason why I plan to check out more of his work in the future.If you're a fan of the non-stop action of a James Rollins or Matthew Reilly (and I like those as well), you won't find those in this book.  Instead you'll find thrills that take some time to build, and a betrayal that while not hard to predict, nevertheless hits you between the eyes when its full extent is revealed.Pick up State of Siege - you won't be disappointed.