Although I began "The Jericho Deception" with some misgivings, the first few chapters drew me in so deeply --- I just couldn't put it down. Recipe --- put in some terrorists, an explosion, a quest to be able to "give " people an experience with God -- "up close and personal", thugs on steroids, an top-secret underground facility, a righteous Muslim, an old, beloved Jewish mentor, a "sorta" agnositic hero --- then add an "unsolvable" code, a cute and brainy assistant and MONKEYS (!!!) - who could possibly resist this unusual and intriguing scientific, philosophical mystery. Not me!!!!

This is the first book I've read by a Japanese author. So, to clear the air, I'd like to say that I had difficulty keeping track of the Japanese names---never exactly sure who were male and who were female. So this was more of a challenge to follow than I normally have. So that was one "star" down. The plot---murder, adultery, "the perfect crime"---and coffee---was interesting enough for me to persevere. I was glad I did---the ending made it all worthwhile. Reading a "police procedural" novel from Japan was a novel (!) experience. The characters--once I figured out who they were---were not very carefully described. (Perhaps this is one in a series where the reader would be expected to know the "back story" on the main dectectives already. I don't know.) But , as wise ones suggested to me( when I bogged down in reading the great Russian novels)----if you read this, write down the names (and gender!) and function of the characters and keep referring to it till you know who's who. I would have enjoyed the book more if I had done this. I would recommend this to mystery-lovers who would like to try "something different."

Before I read Sentinel, I read Spycatcher. I liked the first---but I think reading the second adventure was too much for me--too many spies, too many twists, too many difficult Russian names, too many descriptions of esoteric weapons (there was even a glossary!), too many locations and rapid transit between them. In the 1st of the series, I cared about the hero and the other "cast" members. But in this one, I got lost in the complicated spy-plot and place names and the multitudes of people. I must admit, I like spy novels---but this one was, for me, over the top.

Startling. Creepy. Violent. Funny. Unique. Unpredictable. Puzzling. I could not put this amazing tale down. If only Josh Whedon would make it into a movie! It's not for the faint-hearted, but it's a rollicking good read.

It caught my attention. I could see what mystery was going to be and was interested. I like secrets shrouded in the past. The writing was good. HOWEVER! The novel was too long! The same ground was covered again and again. Good editing would have tightened this up and made it better. I kept reading because I did want the solution. But the heroine did not engage my affections, so I wouldn't give it a very good rating.

From the very first paragraph..."I was born twice. First in a wooden room...,and then again...in the Highway, when the tiger took me in his mouth...." - this novel was full of terrible and awful events.

Jaffey's adventures are terrifying and amazing , nothing like I have read before. This is wild, raw excitement - whaling,, shipwrecks, dragons - no description is too graphic for author Birch. I put the book down several times - but was compelled to return.

"Jamrach's Menagerie" is not for the faint of heart. But the narrative - so alive with winds, waves, horror - also has tender and poetic moments and characters who are very well drawn and worth the effort to get to know.

"Suicide bomber are easy to spot." Gone Tomorrow grabbed my throat from the get-go and never let loose till Jack Reacher was on his way again. Plot twists and reversals and surprises abound--plausible implausibilities-- and I couldn't put this book down. Caution: a couple of scenes with graphic descriptions made me skip a few pages. But this book made me a Jack Reacher fan forever.