Greek Style - Suzanne Slesin, Cliff Stafford

Advantages: Very readable
Disadvantages: None

...Cliff Stoll was a happy-go-lucky 'hippy' astronomer. His politics were broadly leftward leaning and he was a part of the counter culture era. This story tells how Cliff went from a vaguely anti-authority figure to someone who was working hand in glove with the local police, the FBI, the Secret Service and international police and secret services. As well as being an astronomer Cliff was also a computer expert, running the department's computers. One day, Cliff noticed something. A 75 cent accounting error had been shown up by the complicated homemade accounting programme system. Such an error had never occurred before. So why had it happened now? Cliff discovered that an outsider (a hacker) had somehow managed to access the computer system of the astronomical laboratory. Who where they? How had they hacked into the system? Could... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting idea and themes, very atmospheric
Disadvantages: Those themes are really rammed down your throat, and the style removes some of the possible tension

...the rhythmic drums forming an almost constant background, so that when they eventually stop you know something bad is going to happen!), possibly with Humphrey Bogart as the lead character. Back to the actual text (as you can tell, I get distracted quite easily!), and the main character is one Dr. Edward Sanders. For many years, Sanders has worked in a ‘leproserie’ (a clinic for treating lepers), along with a fellow doctor, Max Clair, and his wife Suzanne. Sanders has also had a long-term affair with Suzanne, we learn, and after she and her husband left (somewhat mysteriously), she sends him a letter. It is this which draws him towards the affected jungle. As the book opens, Sanders is unaware of any of the mysterious occurrences - and this is my one complaint with the info from the back of the book. Would it have added to the story... Read review

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Advantages: A psychological thriller
Disadvantages: Unrealistic

...I've read a couple of Hilary Bonner's books in the past and have thoroughly enjoyed them. She is a typical 'cosy' crime writer and usually focuses on police procedurals. This book is slightly different. Billed as a thriller, it is much more along the lines of a Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine or Nicci French novel. It is exactly the type of book that I theoretically enjoy; unfortunately, it did not seem to flow as well as her other books. In fact, in parts, it was positively clumsy. The story Suzanne and Carl live in St Ives and have done ever since Carl rescued 'Suzanne' as she is now known from an abusive marriage, of which she still has nightmares. Slowly beginning to relax and make friends, Suzanne is beginning to feel that at last she can put her violent past away. Then suddenly, the horror of her past returns when she is targeted... Read review

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