The Copper Bracelet  --  a collaboration serial thriller

-- conception by Jeffery Deaver

Book 2 of The Watchlist aka the Harold Middleton series

 

Other authors involved:  

Gayle Lynds, David Hewson, Jim Fusilli, John Gilstrap, Joseph Finder, Lisa Scottoline, David Corbett, Linda Barnes, Jenny Siler, David Liss, P.J. Parrish, Brett Battles, Lee Child, Jon Land, James Phelan

 

 

This book is a collaborative effort among various crime thriller novelists, with Jeffery Deaver fronting the project (he created the main protagonist, Harold Middleton, and he also writes the first and last chapters).  I don't know all of these other crime thriller authors, though I think some of them were part of the first book's writing... and some are new names.

I was just as intrigued with it as I had been with The Chopin Manuscript (my review), though I had been worried that the book would be a big mess with so many minds and so many ideas trying to take precedent. And despite The Chopin Manuscript getting slightly out of control towards the middle and the ending, it was still a very enjoyable piece... if you can ignore a lot of the mess.

Whether this book was really a big haphazard, narrative mess, or if it was just me, being distracted at all the wrong times while listening to the audiobook, I can't be sure. But I sure as hell had a hard time following what was going on with so much going on within moments of events.

It's a pretty good concept that has potential to last a few more books, honestly. Harold Middleton is pretty much the leader of a group of Volunteers who are tasked with helping keep the world a safe place by going after potential terrorist threats and the like. And, of course, in The Copper Bracelet, there's a lot of action, and traveling, and secrets, and secret reveals, and death, and destruction, and betrayals, and torture, and... there's just a LOT going on in this book.

Like I said already, I had no idea where the book was going with all the things happening for a good long time.

Still, I had fun with this one. Even if it was a lot of confusing fun.

And once again, Alfred Molina did excellent with his narration; though I can't help but feel that it was better in the first book.

Third book into the series and I'm still intrigued where this is going. We got a little more detail in this one about the Professor, Jack and the Dreamers which was good - I actually like explanations for things like this! I want to understand why things are the way they are but in these books things have happened so quickly there hasn't been time for it. Sam locates another of the Last 13 - who has been there almost all along. I thought this may be a little too easy until I considered the "nature vs. nurture" argument that is discussed in the book and figured that in the circumstances, it does make sense.

Alex is starting to get on my nerves, and Eva seems to be in a bit of a mood because she's being told to stay put. Eva, there is a reason you don't go out climbing mountains by yourself in the middle of the night! Sigh. I hate stupid characters and as we now have the books from both of their perspectives now as well as Sam's I hope it improves!

The only other thing is I don't think any of the characters are emotionally mature enough for what they're doing, which definitely shows. I only hope their guidance under the Professor, Lora and Dr. Dark keeps them on the right track.

I don't love these books exactly and I am a little beyond the readership, but I feel like I'm committed now to the series and I may as well see it through. If the writing wasn't so immature I might like them more but honestly I fly through them so quickly it's not that bad of an issue.

The last time we saw Sam, he was face to face with Solaris fighting for his life. It's not much of a surprise that he manages to get away with the Star of Egypt and continue following the dream sequences which come to him as he sleeps. It has fallen to Sam to track down the rest of The Last 13 as they appear to him in his dreams, a journey that in this book sends him from New York to Egypt to Rome, escaping enemies and relying on the help of friends as he goes.

This book will appeal to young readers who don't like much 'filler' - a lot is happening quite quickly and it's all a bit go, go, go which is good I guess but I prefer a little more fleshing out in the books I read.

Still, onward! On to the next one.

There seemed to be some hype surrounding this book at the bookstore I bought it, part of the whole '50 Books You Can't Put Down' campaign, but I wasn't completely sold on it. I felt it's readership was aimed a little high as 'Young Adult' - I would have recommended it to be more Middle Grade, mainly due to the simplistic language.

The story also felt rushed. I picked up an Alex Rider/Harry Potter vibe, which made me think okay, cool but I feel like there could have been more in it. Does that make sense? I know there will be thirteen books and thirteen people due to 'The Last 13' but rather than feeling the fast pace as good and exciting it felt more rushed than anything else. No need to be hasty! Maybe it will improve with the following books, I'm intrigued enough to want to find out.

Also, I totally don't believe Sam is about to die. Not really the best cliffhanger but I can see what the author meant to do - it just wasn't believable enough!

(spoiler show)

 

Thirteen (The Last Thirteen, #1) - James... Thirteen is the first in what is going to be a thirteen-book series by James Phelan, that follows a group of teens who hold the future of the world in their hands. They're called Dreamers - because they can prophesy the end of the world through their dreams. Thirteen is about Sam, who wakes up one morning after having a terrifying dream of the world ending, and ends up being kidnapped from school.I liked Sam quite a bit - he's always thinking things through and trying to take care of everyone around him. He's not a natural leader, I don't think but the kids he ends up meeting look to him for advice. Of the other characters, I found Alex to be a bit stereotypical (a hot-head who has something to hide), but liked Eva well enough. My favourite character so far is Lora, probably because she's almost the same age as me and thus provides a voice of reason in the midst of all the juvenile characters. She has secrets as well, however, and I'll be looking forward to uncovering what they are.At just over 200 pages, and sporting quite a large font, Thirteen is a quick and easy read (for me anyway). The complexity of the plot kept me engaged, however, because there are new organizations to learn about (like The Enterprise, the Academy, and S), and everyone seems to have a hidden motive. One of the things I liked is that the trio of Dreamers that we meet never take it for granted that one side is 'good' while the other is 'evil' - they are rightly skeptical and hesitant until more information is revealed about what is going on.Refreshingly, the friendships between the trio aren't instantaneous: they are forced to hang around one another and tend to gravitate towards each other because of familiarity, but in the end they all make up their own minds about what they want. I'd be looking forward to seeing them actually develop bonds of trust and friendship.I was disappointed, however, that after being dramatically kidnapped and almost killed, the kids were thrust into the Academy - which is a school. I just feel it's unlikely that anyone, even if they are kids, who hold can see the end of the world would necessarily need to be in a boarding school environment. This development was a letdown for me, but I understand that it's aimed at kids who are still in highschool, so it's relevant to put the main characters into a school for supernaturally gifted children.A final note on the presentation: I really enjoyed the images that are peppered throughout the book because they added to the atmosphere while reading. However, I'm still incredibly confused why a teacher would have aerodynamics on the board (with differentials!) and then ask Sam to explain what F = ma means. It would seem to me that students being taught aerodynamic equations should already be familiar with the basics of Newtonian motion.I liked Thirteen quite a bit, and will probably stick with the series to see what happens, especially if the future instalments are as short and action packed as this one. I think there's a lot of potential here for younger (high school aged?) readers.If you're interested in reading the series, there's an official website and a competition being run with prizes for each book in the series. Check it out here!You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.