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   First Impressions: Book Reviews

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Book Jacket

Sentinel:
A Spycatcher Novel
by Matthew Dunn

Publisher: William Morrow
Publication date: 08/07/2012.
Thrillers, 400 pp.

Number of reader reviews: 24
Readers' Consensus: 4.0
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First Impressions: Page 1 of 4
Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Barbara O. (Maryland Heights, MO)

Snowy Thriller
The Sentinel is a heart racing page turner. Matthew Dunn engages the reader from the opening chapter and never lets go until the end. Will Cochrane is a character the reader will want to see more of, tough, resourceful and intriguing. One can't help but wonder at his backstory. Set in snowy Russia, this is a thrilling chiller of a story.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Peggy K. (Long Beach, CA)

Russian Tea
I loved this book. Will Cochrane is Jason Bourne and James Bond in one body and even then still tougher than both. This is a real spy thriller and the tension goes up and up and up until the end. The action is nonstop.

It reminded me most of Ludlum's work but this book is smaller than most of Ludlum's. I would suggest that this book will interest male adult readers mostly but there are women out there like myself who enjoy this genre and I have to say it is the best I've read in a long time.

It has the intelligence of the British spy thriller writers like Le Carre but the action of the American writers. It has it all including a plausible plot, travel, romance and strong characterization. There are so many twists and turns it will make you dizzy.

Perfect summer book but beware you may not be able to put it down once started. If you are like me you will head for the bookstore to find Mr. Dunn's first book and then you'll be waiting for book number three to come out.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Darlene C. (Woodstock, IL)

A tired premise
Spy books about the cold war with Russia seem dated and out of sync to me. I enjoy spy books and this one was well written if that is your bag. It is fast-paced and gives a view of the unglamorous side of being an undercover agent. f you don't mind the old Russia vs. US theme this would be a great summer read

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Cassandra E. (Fort Myers, Florida)

Sentinel by Matthew Dunn
As a spy novel this was very good. It was easy to follow- although the Russian names and places were hard to follow at first. I haven't read the first in the series and I lost some of the background. But I really enjoyed it. It was a fast moving story that kept me wanting to read the next chapter. The story of a disgruntled spy that decided to start a war between the U.S. and Russia was different and kept you wondering who, what and why. I now want to read the first in the series. I hope the hardcover has included maps- I always feel that maps let you know where you are going in the story.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Shirley D. (Amherst, MA)

Sentinel
In this spy catcher novel, Matthew Dunn demonstrates that he is very knowledgeable about all things military, undercover missions and the dangers that accompany them He so portrays with careful precision the place and the dangers that Will and others are in, that the reader is able, sometimes with bated breath, to be right behind them in the snow. Don’t be amazed if certain portions of the novel have you not only a little anxious but even frightened for the safety of the hero. That’s what is supposed to happen. I find it hard to get into a book and feel that although I am following the hero through awful dangers I don’t really know him. This was for me the one flaw. Be sure, however, that you have the time to read undisturbed to the very end. Stopping part way to eat or go to bed or to work is very hard.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Sharon A. (Tierra Verde, FL)

My Bad, Missed the Glossary
I enjoyed the read, wished I had noted the Glossary at the end. I was thinking half way through, all the ABC terms were hard to keep track of, kind of dragged down the reading, he needed to give us a dictionary of terms. I felt bad when I got to the end and found the Glossary, just what I was looking for. The beginning was intriguing, the second half was the best. I'd read something else by this author.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Chris W. (Temple City, CA)

page turner
This book is a page turner, a political/spy thriller, with nonstop action. I am glad I found the glossary at the back of the book before I started reading it because there are a lot of technical military and government terms. I learned enough about the main character to like him but look forward to more character development. I almost read the whole book in one sitting. Can't wait to read his first novel. I would enjoy following a character like Will through several undercover assignments, such as with the Jason Bourne books.

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