The Birthday Girl

by Stephen Leather

Mersiha was adopted from war-torn Yugoslavia, and has grown up to be an all-American teenager. When she discovers that her adoptive father is in financial trouble, she decides to intervene—whatever the risks. However, the consequences of her actions are lethal, for Mersiha has unearthed a conspiracy of terrifying proportions.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Mystery

528 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Stephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. For much of 2011 his self-published eBooks - including The Bestseller, The Basement, Once Bitten and Dreamer's Cat - dominated the UK eBook bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies. The Basement topped the Kindle charts in the UK and the US, and in total he has sold more than two million eBooks. His bestselling book The Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and grossing more than $100 million.

Reviews

[C.S. Boag · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is easy to be contemptuous of best sellers. That's half the problem with the book industry- pretentious stuff like The Road by Cormac McCarthy, they waltz away with all the prizes. Leather himself can write rubbish, - after a couple of pages of his "True Colours" I had to come up for air.
But the Birthday a girl is a classic - an edge - of - your- seat thriller that's also well written and funny. "Take out the dog" said the hood, and the other guy shot it!
The action is quick paced; the characters as well rounded as you can get in the thriller genre; and every action is accounted for by motive.
There is not supposed to be anything subtle in a thriller. The Birthday Girl is compelling reading, it won't win any prizes for great literature but it doesn't have to: it has a strong plot and the book is well crafted. The reader is more than willing to suspend disbelief and at no point did I find myself muttering "Bullshit!" This is genuine Leather 5/5

[Ilinca · Rating 1 out of 5]

This isn't an action or thriller book. It is a collection of rape scenes, sex scenes, almost-rape scenes, erection descriptions and female body parts descriptions, all loosely hanging together by way of some Russian mobsters chasing some good guys. You can get more action and more character development in any cartoon.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was torn between giving this 3 or 4 stars but finally settled on 3, how I wish there was a bigger rating range. I am a Stephen Leather fan and have read a lot of his books, finding them entertaining, well thought out and full of strong character. This book is certainly entertaining but maybe a little too predictable. Nevertheless I did enjoy it and have already started another one of his novels, which I would say is a recommendation of Stephen Leather books.
The story follows Tony Freeman who is been held in war torn Yugoslavia by a young girl named Mersiha. When Tony is rescued he chooses to adopt Mersiha as his daughter and return to America.
But Mersiha has been trained to kill. And when she discovers that Freeman's company is subject to a sinister takeover bid, she decides to help.

[Deri Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book could not put down.

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't stand this book. The unfeasible story was made even worse by Martyn Read's cringe-worthy narration. Aside from falling in and out if accents, the pathetic voices made this a frustrating story.

I'm not quite sure where Stephen was coming from here portraying an unlikeable Yugoslavian as the main character proving that once tainted, a character cannot be changed by good-parenting or a safe environment. In fact once a killer, always a killer. In fact maybe the only credit here is conjuring up so much frustration (and disappointment when she doesn't die after more escapes than Copperfield).

I found the story extremely long-winded, especially the 'end' scene getting away from the gangsters, with far too many erotic scenes for a 'thriller' and a predictable ending making the whole read one I wished I'd skipped.

I am disappointed that Read narrates so many of Leather's books, especially any involving Americans which is an accent that he just can't do, as I'm sure he's ruining the experience...

I think it's time to change author for a while...maybe until the next Spider Shepherd book comes out.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical over the top silliness from Leather's non-series books. Best part of this book was the ending chapters, which take place in Estes Park, CO... which I didn't know going in. The geography of the chapter is accurate more or less, though nothing more than what one could grab from google maps. (For some reason, books that purport to depict some degree of realism, then screw up the easily researched geography always piss me off. For example, the Harry Bosch stories seem to have a high degree of accuracy for LA geography. King's Colorado references are wacky.)

[Asha Stark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty average, but readable.

The one thing that will stick with me, even long after I've forgotten the rest of this book and its characters, is that half the plot was the protag's wife shagging every man she came across... And then nothing came of it. Just happily ever after lmao.

[Erna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re-read this book when I am looking for something really good to read.

[Simon C Duckworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read this year. (and I've read many!) A highly recommended read.

[Bob Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

very different than most of the other Stephen Leather books I have read, all be it very enjoyable. Set in Baltimore on the US East Coast, the story is of a man and his step daughter. He was held hostage by her and her brother in Sarajevo, he then rescued her from certain death and took her with him to the US, where he and his wife adopted her. She had constant nightmares about her time in Bosnia and the violence and death her family had experienced. What follows is a Father & Daughter story that is difficult to comprehend and understand. A little slow to start with but once you begin to understand you cannot put it down. I throughly enjoyed it.

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCITEMENT ON EVERY PAGE
A fast-moving story, exciting, thrilling, and page-turning. Fascinating read about Marisha and her family, and the dangers they encounter.

[Richard Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my old faves. The book that hooked me on Leather I think this is my third read of it. Still enjoyed it, but a wee bit less.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not mine but my father's but he told me I should read this. We do not have similar taste in books, unlike my mom and me, but I thought let's try.
At first I was worried it would all be about war, or business but then I really started to get into it and yes dad, I liked it. I told him yesterday and he was very pleased. ;) I'd promise to give this book 100 pages but in the end i read it all and did enjoy it.

[Karen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was brilliant . Plenty of action and extremely gritty . There are also some heartbreaking moments in here too . I can’t rate this book highly enough .. Excellent as usual from this quality author .

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good thriller, but warning: torture scenes.

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://mikesfilmtalk.com/2012/12/09/t...

[Ruven Naidoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Keeps you wanting to know what will happen next. First book I have read by Stephan leather, impressive.

[gerald morson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Once again Stephen Leather gives us a great book,fast moving great characters and a brilliant story line enjoyed it no end

[Mumma]

if you love Vietnam and its history, this is one for you

[Steffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good novel...
Found it a bit slow in the beginning but thrilling towards the ends!!

[Peter Wrobbel · Rating 3 out of 5]

predictable and a slow starter

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story line, really enjoyed this book.

[Simon Gelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok