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Jump to navigationJump to searchTerror's Reach by Tom Bale (view source)
Revision as of 16:06, 28 January 2011
, 16:06, 28 January 2011no edit summary
And it's not just an opportunistic robbery (which would, in any case, be pretty useless with all the sophisticated security systems around this area), no, it's a carefully planned team effort. It also includes a cast of undesirables. And they are ruthless to get what they want. Bale has chosen the area's name well - ''Terror's Reach.'' And within this thriller-type read there's plenty of characters who are larger than life, with axes to grind etc. For example, there's a Russian multi-millionaire and his meek, little wife, a rich father and a very disturbed son, a man called Joe (well, that's his current name) and so on. It all makes for a good read.
Bale has a very effective line in suspense. Time and time again he'll end a chapter or section just as it was getting to the good bit, to the crunch ... then he'll switch to another character. He'll have his readers in a stew which is great. You could almost call this a book of two halves. The first sets up the plan engineered by this motley bunch of individuals as they infiltrate ''Terror's Reach'' by degrees. But in such a smart and exclusive location anything or anyone out of the ordinary, will not go unnoticed. Will the plan work? Is there a plan B? Bale is happy to give his readers all the meticulous details of this master plan. I found that the second part of the book was all about action, action and more action. Hold on to your armchairs for this bit. Lots of frenzied dialogue with half a dozen people trying to speak all at once. It can, at times, be a little too frenetic. A lot of names get bandied about on a regular basis. That's not a criticism but merely a comment on my part. I had no issues and no problem keeping up with the action-packed story.
I also found Bale's characterisations to be excellent. He mixes up with apparent ease, the rich, the criminal, the underdog, the disaffected ... to very good effect indeed. I also found myself being drawn to some, more than others. Oliver, for example. He is one compelling character and I wanted even more of him. He could easily star in his own novel, in my opinion. For readers of thrillers, this book should tick most of the boxes. A thoroughly good read. Recommended.
