Rules of Deception | Christopher Reich | Rules of Deception and Stealing Trinity

Rules of Deception | Christopher Reich | Author Reviews on back cover

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Rules of Deception

	Rules of Deception Christopher Reich Doubleday, 2008 - 400 pages average customer review:based on 67 reviews view larger image
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Dr. Jonathan Ransom, world-class mountaineer and surgeon for Doctors Without Borders, is climbing in the Swiss Alps with his beautiful wife, Emma, when a blizzard sets in. In their bid to escape the storm, Emma is killed when she falls into a hidden crevasse.

Twenty-four hours later, Jonathan receives an envelope addressed to his wife containing two baggage-claim tickets. Puzzled, he journeys to a remote railway station only to find himself in a life-and-death struggle for his wife?s possessions. In the aftermath of the assault, he discovers that his attackers?one dead, the other mortally wounded?were, in fact, Swiss police officers. More frightening still is evidence of an extraordinary act of betrayal that leaves Jonathan stunned.

Suddenly the subject of an international manhunt and the target of a master assassin, Jonathan is forced on the run. His only chance at survival lies in uncovering the devastating truth behind the secret his wife kept from him and in stopping the terrifying conspiracy that threatens to bring the world to the brink of annihilation. Step by step, he is drawn deeper into a world of spies, high-tech weaponry, and global terrorism?a world where no one is whom they appear to be and where the end always justifies the means.

Rules of Deception is a brilliantly conceived, twisting tale of intrigue and deceit written by the master of the espionage thriller for the twenty-first century.

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Rules of Deception and Stealing Trinity

I loved this fast paced spy thriller. Geopolitical stakes are sky high and today's technology is awesome. On the other hand, I just read a fantastic espionage thriller, "Stealing Trinity" by Ward Larsen, a World War Two spy story based on the Manhattan Project. Lower tech,as judged by today's standard, but unbelievable for that era. Both exhilerating reads.

Author Reviews on back cover

I have seen CR's books in the library and bookstores before, but I have never read them--until this one. I read it because of the positive review by Lee Child on the back cover.

I was not disappointed by the plot. It moved quickly and was an interesting read. Yes, at times I had to suspend by belief and try not to roll my eyes at some of the adjectives or other descriptors used to describe characters or places. This was the perfect book to read after a long weekend of mid-term grading.

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Too Far-Fetched and Complex

Reich's books have all been believable and logical spending more time on character development than on complex plots; however Rules of Deception gets bogged down in complexity and complicated connections.

The story involves competing United States clandestine counter-terrorism groups from the Dept. of Defense and the CIA. In the unlikely plot, they are both trying to frame Iran in different scenarios involving terrorism and nuclear weapons. One of these rogue, secret groups is trying to ignite WWIII by framing Iran in an attack. This US group is willing to kill hundreds of innocents to bring about its leaders perverted idea of Armageddon.

In the midst of the above scenario that ranges across Europe, is Dr. Ransom and well-intentioned doctor. His wife apparently dies in a mountain accident and he learns that she was involved in a double life as a spy.

The plot really goes off the deep edge when we learn that the master criminal is not the usual suspect of an Islamic Jihadist or terrorist state. No, it is an American Major General. The General seems like a genuine evangelical Christian who has changed his life since a near-death experience brought him to the light of Jesus. However, instead of inspiring him to lead a life of charity, his Christianity has somehow inspired him to kill millions of innocent people in starting a world war that he imagines will usher the return of Christ. I think Riech got his religions confused here as this is not typical of any Christians who otherwise lead lives according to Scripture for the most part. This character is unbelievable and non-sensical. It makes me wonder if Reich wanted to avoid offending muslims so he chose to offend Christians. The result is an undermining effect in the plot.

There are some other mysteries in the novel but to reveal them would give away too much of the plot.

Unfortunately, this is not up to the standard of Reich's previous books. I hope he can rebound with the next one.

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