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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great solo novel for Andrew Gross!, Aug 8 2007
Benjamin Raab has been buying gold for Argot Manufacturing. Suddenly, the FBI arrests him for money laundering, aiding and abetting a criminal enterprise, and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government. Benjamin is aghast to learn that the law believes he works for the Mercado family of the Colombian drug cartel. Benjamin insists he is innocent, but the only way out is his testimony against his accomplices and for his family to immediately disappear within the Witness Protection Program. But just before it happens, one of them get cold feet. Kate Raab is devastated at learning her father has gotten the family into such trouble. Kate marries Greg Herrera, they adopt a dog, and slowly life becomes bearable. But only fourteen months after the mess her father had caused Kate's life begins to fall apart again. Kate keeps seeing strange people watching her. Then her best friend is shot and rushed to the hospital. Someone begins following Kate. But her world totally shatters when she hears that her father has suddenly disappeared into what the WITSEC agency calls "the blue zone" and someone close to him (whom Kate knows as well) is murdered. Kate begins to dig into her father's life. She must find her missing father and, somehow, uncover the secrets someone will kill to keep buried. **** This thriller is extremely fast paced. Readers must pay close attention or risk missing critical parts of the plot and story. This is the first time that author Andrew Gross has published a solo thriller. In my opinion, it is very well done. This author is one to keep your eye on. I feel that Gross is going to have a long and successful career! **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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1.0 out of 5 stars
Fluff, Aug 30 2007
I've read deeper material in a Harlequin Romance. Its so "girlie", I nearly gagged. Hardly adult reading material.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Family Undone, Nov 9 2008
By Terry A. Benedict-Devine "Terry" - Published on Amazon.com
This novel is great writing from beginning to end. The story delves into the ins and outs of the Witness Protection Program and what happens when it is compromised. To summarize, Benjamin Raab and family have lived an extremely comfortable life for more than twenty years. The children, Kate (a research analyst), Emily and Justin (high school students) as well as wife, Sharon, are happy and content with each other as well. All this comfort falls apart abruptly as Ben's influential "gold business" becomes infiltrated by the FBI and he is accused of conspiracy and money laundering. It is soon discovered by Kate that all the secrecy that begins from that moment on has been traced to the Mercado family - a sprawling drug cartel home-based in Columbia. Kate becomes increasingly leery of the "protection" her family is provided. The reader, as well as our heroine, is under a veil of confusion on who it is they can trust; the WITSEC program, the FBI, or the sincerity of a man Kate had always believed was her great protector. She is determined to clear her father's name and get to the truth at any cost. The story takes the reader for a roller coaster ride of suspense and surprise revelations as Kate works very hard to protect what family she has left. The Blue Zone is an extremely well-written story and will have it's readers on the edge of their seat until the very last page is turned.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Read in one sitting, but left unfulfilled, Mar 11 2008
By NewDiane "I live to read!" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Blue Zone (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a fast, easy read, with just enough good writing to hold your attention...and plenty of undeveloped characters, weak backstory, and unrealistic dialogue to annoy you. After a prologue that basically tells you nothing, the adventure begins. How a lab technician manages to penetrate the Witness Protection Program to find her family is only one of many discrepancies that made me say "Hello? Can we have a dash of reality here?" The enigmatic "fraternidad" is not given enough weight to justify the rest of the plot. That said, it was the kind of enjoyable book that is good to read while commuting on a train - you don't have to pay much attention, and you won't miss your stop. But then you're going to want to read something more substantial afterwards.
25 of 31 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
A Big Letdown, May 18 2007
By Thriller Lover - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: THE BLUE ZONE (Hardcover)
I've read hundreds of thrillers, and was eagerly looking forward to THE BLUE ZONE, largely because I enjoyed two of the novels Andrew Gross wrote with James Patterson (JUDGE & JURY and LIFEGUARD). Unfortunately, Gross's debut as a solo author was a big disappointment for me. This novel has two major problems. The first is its lack of good characterization. Nearly all of the characters in THE BLUE ZONE are stereotypes and lack personality. The heroine, in particular, is remarkably bland. Most of the dialogue in THE BLUE ZONE is trite and cliched. Most of the supporting characters are sketchy and underdeveloped. In the end, I cared for nobody in this book. I might forgive this problem if the plot was decent. Unfortunately, the whole "witness protection" plot is far-fetched and lacks realism. All of the plot twists in THE BLUE ZONE are labored and overblown. I found much of the plot awkwardly structured, and I was more confused than enthralled by how all the events played out. In short, avoid this book. There are far superior thriller writers out there -- Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Tess Gerritsen, Lee Child, Greg Iles, and Laura Lippman come to mind.
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