False impressions - Jeffery Archer
A gripping thriller, one can call it a typical Archer - prodigious protagonists (quick on wit as well as action), unscrupulous antagonists (greedy for money and power, and callous about lives), and innumerable twists and turns (so obviously contrived). The difference is the background - Art. Well-known, and not-so-well-known works of the maestros represent a great amount of money, and forgeries are not uncommon. I have read some fact and some fiction based on this context, but even then, this one introduced me to some new things. This is one thing I like about thrillers by Archer, Follet, McLean, etc - that they are thorough in the research on the background, so you get to know something about it in the bargain.
This novel opens on the 9/11 attack on WTC towers - there is a brief but captivating description of the tragedy. It is cleverly used as a means to cover her trail, by the protagonist, art expert Anna Petrescu; however, it has no bearing on the subsequent events. Anna sets to correct the wrong done by her unscrupulous boss, to an English lady; what follows is a fast track chase through three continents, involving an unaware Anna, a ruthless killer Olga Krantz(who has been a former Olympic level gymnast) hired by her boss, and a FBI agent Jack Delaney who is keeping an eye on both.
The plot is interesting, though there are too many coincidences, and there are times when the story becomes predictable. The story covers a lot of ground, but does not delve deeply anywhere. However, it moves at a fast pace, and keeps up the interest through a lot of action, and I guess that is what matters for a novel of this genre.
A gripping thriller, one can call it a typical Archer - prodigious protagonists (quick on wit as well as action), unscrupulous antagonists (greedy for money and power, and callous about lives), and innumerable twists and turns (so obviously contrived). The difference is the background - Art. Well-known, and not-so-well-known works of the maestros represent a great amount of money, and forgeries are not uncommon. I have read some fact and some fiction based on this context, but even then, this one introduced me to some new things. This is one thing I like about thrillers by Archer, Follet, McLean, etc - that they are thorough in the research on the background, so you get to know something about it in the bargain.
This novel opens on the 9/11 attack on WTC towers - there is a brief but captivating description of the tragedy. It is cleverly used as a means to cover her trail, by the protagonist, art expert Anna Petrescu; however, it has no bearing on the subsequent events. Anna sets to correct the wrong done by her unscrupulous boss, to an English lady; what follows is a fast track chase through three continents, involving an unaware Anna, a ruthless killer Olga Krantz(who has been a former Olympic level gymnast) hired by her boss, and a FBI agent Jack Delaney who is keeping an eye on both.
The plot is interesting, though there are too many coincidences, and there are times when the story becomes predictable. The story covers a lot of ground, but does not delve deeply anywhere. However, it moves at a fast pace, and keeps up the interest through a lot of action, and I guess that is what matters for a novel of this genre.
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