Deadfall [Hardcover]

John Hutchinson (aka "Hutch") and his three closest friends are looking forward to a few days of hunting, fishing, and camping in the remote Canadian wilderness. Each one needs a break from the daily grind, and getting away from it all is the perfect solution.

Meanwhile, the nearby town of Fiddler Falls finds itself in mortal danger as a madman named Declan and his gang of reckless teenagers has taken the town hostage. At their disposal is an advanced satellite weapon that has the power to incinerate any target from space. As they wreak havoc on the citizens of Fiddler Falls, they film every moment hoping to capture enough footage for a new video game they are creating.

Hutch and his buddies soon stumble across the carnage happening in Fiddler Falls and realize they are the town's only hope. Armed with only a bow, Hutch leads the way in a battle for survival and justice as they take on the killers and their deadly new technology.

Robert Liparulo has quickly established himself as one of the preeminent thriller writers around. This latest installment only proves what so many have already discovered: This guy has some serious talent. In Deadfall, Liparulo takes us on an intense thrill ride that is full of suspense, action, and heart. This is a classic good vs. evil tale where both sides are equally fascinating, building up to a climactic battle of intellect and arms that more than pays off.

Liparulo is known for incorporating innovative technology in his novels, and the Slacker (Satellite Laser Cannon) is his most cunning and lethal creation yet. Not only does it bring an extra level of raw tension to the story, its real life potential makes the story that much more frightening.

As usual Liparulo has created deep and intriguing characters that effortlessly pull the narrative along. Declan and his teen cronies are unlikely villains in that they are so young and reveal no obvious threats upon first glance. However, Liparulo reminds us that true darkness abides within, and when evil rears its head it is ugly indeed.

Hutch may just be Liparulo's best character to date. His heroic heart and spirit are infectious, and readers will love to root for him. His personal struggles and triumphs as a father make his character stronger and more human. The truths and realizations he experiences throughout the story will warm readers' hearts and inspire them.

Deadfall is Liparulo at his absolute best. Very rarely does a writer come along who can entertain at the highest level while exploring human character so effectively. With titles like Comes a Horseman, Germ, and now Deadfall under his belt, Liparulo is proving that he is an author who demands to be noticed.

With "Comes a Horseman," Liparulo established himself as a top-notch thriller writer. He showed an ability to mix great characters, villains, and conspiracy details into a pulse-pounding novel. "Germ" continued the trend, with modern technology on the forefront of another conspiracy, and another cast of memorable characters.

I heard good ol' Bob had a new book on the way. The book would pit four friends on a wilderness week-long escape against a band of modern psychopaths, bent on testing out their new technology in the frigid wastelands of Canada. I started frothing for a chance to sink my teeth into it. And then...Publishers Weekly gave it this scathing review.

I wonder if the reviewer is even old enough to have read James Dickey's original "Deliverance," to which he/she compared Liparulo's latest. Plots are a dime a dozen. The basic scenarios of most novels, especially thrillers, have been done many times before. What sets a particular thriller apart--and what sets each of Liparulo's books apart--is the attention to character and detail. How do the characters interact with the plot's elements? It's this human element which allows some thrillers to rise above, and Liparulo is a stellar example of that trait.

Whereas the PW reviewer seems to be getting it all wrong, Liparulo here is getting it all right. He dovetails action and character development with ease. He proves he is a master storyteller with many great stories to tell.

I read 100-120 Thrillers per year, and when Robert's books come out, I put down whatever I'm reading and start his book. I read Deadfall's 450 pages in two nights - and with good reason. For me, the hook here was the concept of a Star Wars-like technology (the Reagan era Star Wars) that's been hijacked for what turns out to be an incredibly "sinister" reason. Robert does a great job of making multiple characters very real each with his/her own set of weaknesses, and positions them in situations that propelled me through the story.

If you haven't read Comes a Horseman or Germ, that's ok, Deadfall is a Thriller in its own rite - and you'll want to know the ending! But after reading Deadfall, pick up Comes a Horseman, Robert mixes all the Thriller elements in one fast read.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 38 reviews  4.4 out of 5 stars