Father Night

Jack McClure #4

by Eric Van Lustbader

New from Eric Van Lustbader, the author of The Bourne Legacy and The Bourne Betrayal , comes Father Night , the thrilling fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Jack McClure series. A tidal wave of reform is sweeping across the Middle East. Many lurk in the shadows, eager to seize power--giants of a vast criminal underworld, fueled by revenge and vengeance. Their wars know no end. Their power knows no bounds. At the center of it all are two men who are inches away from holding the world in their one is known as Dyadya Gourdjiev and the other is known only as the Syrian. Department of Defense special agent Jack McClure has followed this trail of shadows and lies right into the arms of Gourdjiev's alluring, powerful granddaughter, Annika Dementiev. The lovers are in Moscow when news of Dyadya's failing health draws a slew of vultures--circling, anxious to seize the empire of secrets he spent a lifetime building. Jack and Annika find themselves locked in battle to ensure his safety…but when it comes to Dyadya, nothing is as it seems. Alli Carson, the child of a dead US president, has become Jack's surrogate daughter. While Jack is in Russia, Alli is targeted by a cyber-stalker who knows more about her than anyone should. With no one to trust but her friend, Vera Bard, Alli is determined to discover the truth, but her path forces her to come face-to-face with the nightmarish terror of her past. As these two stories play out, Secretary of Defense Dennis Paull, with the help of detectives Nona Hendryx and Alan Frain, follows a trail of lies, corruption, and secret pacts that begins with Washington D.C.'s Head of Detectives. All paths collide at the feet of one man, an old legend adapting to an ever-changing landscape… a man history might have forsaken, but whose heinous evil is still very much Father Night.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Action

366 pages, Hardcover

First published September 18, 2012

About the author

Eric Van Lustbader was born and raised in Greenwich Village. He is the author of more than twenty-five best-selling novels, including The Ninja, in which he introduced Nicholas Linnear, one of modern fiction's most beloved and enduring heroes. The Ninja was sold to 20th CenturyFox, to be made into a major motion picture. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages.

Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/ericva...

Reviews

[Nicholas George · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you haven't read any of the previous books in this series (and I haven't), it will be all you can do to keep from being totally confused in this one. There are far too many characters, many very similar, and their allegiances, connections and specific roles are almost impossible to decipher. In every chapter there's a life-or-death showdown, with the good guys (presumably) usually prevailing. I kept thinking things would get clearer but they never did. Somehow I still finished it, but I won't be reading another of this author's works.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Moscow, Jack McClure and Annika Dementieva are charged with getting Annika's grandfather, Dyadya Gourdjiev's out of the country to evade those who are trying to seize his powerful secrets. In the meantime, Secretary of Defense Dennis Paull is in Washington, DC, working with two detectives to uncover the secret activities of their chief of detectives. And in another part of the capital, Alli Carson and her friend Vera are trying to expose a cyberstalker who has targeted Alli.

Father Night is Eric Van Lustbader's fourth novel in the Jack McClure series. You can read my reviews of the other three below. It continues the story of Jack, a special agent with an innate ability to see things others miss, and Alli, the former president's daughter who has grown much stronger since her abduction in the first novel of the series. Both experience many changes in their lives in Father Night, particularly in their relationships with others. Several of the other characters who have been featured in the series face their own changes as well.

As with the rest of the series, this book is full of action and intrigue, with plenty of fist fights and gun fights, political corruption, lies and deceit. I will say that Father Night isn't quite as complicated as the others in the series, perhaps because I already knew most of the large cast of characters. There was still plenty of suspense in this fast-paced thriller, though, and a few unexpected twists and turns.

If you've read the other books in the Jack McClure series, you're bound to like this one just as much. A warning though: While some things are wrapped up at the end, the story is far from over. When you turn the last page, you'll be looking for the sequel, which hasn't been published yet! Also, if you haven't read the other books in this series, don't start with this one. You'll be lost. Start at the beginning with First Daughter and move on from there.

[David Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a rather tiresome and hopelessly unrealistic thriller that should only be attempted by people who like fights and then more fights.

http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/0...

[Tom Tischler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two men in the middle east are inches away from holding the
world in their hands. One is called Dyadya Gourdjiev and the
other is known as the Syrian. Special Agent Jack McClure has
followed their trail of shadows and deceit right into the arms of Dyadya's alluring granddaughter Annika. The lovers are in Moscow when new of Dyadya's failing health brings a slew of vultures circling all anxious to steal the secrets he has spent all of his life
building. But when it comes to Dyadya nothing is as it seems. Alli Carson the child of a dead US president has become Jacks
surrogate daughter but while he is in Russia she becomes
the target of a cyper stalker. With no one to trust but her
friend Vera Bard Alli is determined to discover the truth
but her path forces her to come face to face with her nightmarish
past As these two stories play out Secretary of Defense
Dennis Paull with help from detectives Nona Hendryx and and
Alan Frain follow a trail of lies and corruption that begins
with DC's Head of Detectives and lands at the feet of an old
man. A living legend whose heinous evil is very much still
alive and who is known only as Father Night. Another fine page
turner from Eric an Lustbader.

[Burt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been following Eric Van Lustbader novels since he picked up the Jason Bourne series. Thus, when I completed reading all of those novels, it was only natural that I picked up on the Jack McClure series. I am already running into the same problem with this series as I did with the Bourne series, but now after just the 4th story. To me, his storylines no longer allow for continued character development. Certainly there are some 'new' traits and quirks introduced, especially into the life of Alli Carson, but just not enough to keep me into Van Lustbader's Jack McClure. As well, I found that the extremely precise genetic manipulation resulting in polar opposite psychologies toward the respective twins was just too far out there. To me, it moved this story into the fantasy world. I think I shall be taking my leave of the Jack McClure series and Eric Van Lustbader, at least for a while.

[Garbageman]

I hate to admit it, but I couldn't get past page 60. There were to many characters and competing plots with no clear path of just where the author was heading. I try to give every author the benefit of the doubt after all if putting a few words in a row to make a book was so easy, I'd do it, but this effort was barely readable.

[Rhod · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was a bit far fetched to me - reminiscent of serial shorts they used to show in theaters - with characters getting into impossible situations constantly then escaping. It got predictable enough, I really didn't care much about how the book ended. I have read books by Lustbader much better than this, but may not keep him on my list of authors.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being the fourth book in the Jack McClure series, I wasn't lost or left wanting prior information so this series could possibly be read out of sequence. The action is fast, the characters many, some scarier than others, and I didn't expect the ending. It made me wonder about all the power hungry people in the world and what can happen when they go off half cocked.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Van Lustbader's books. I got started when he took over the Jason Bourne series. This book has the usuall twists and turns as he develops the story. Always a good read that keeps you wanting to not put it down. I like Van Lustbader's books.

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very hard to stay with. There seemed to be plots within plots within plots. While I like Jack McClure as a characters, he seemed to be constantly relegated to the background.
My hope is future Van Lustbader books will be less complicated.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a good read...a complex story line with a lot of characters and many twists and turns to keep you turning the pages long into the night.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A VERY SUSPENSEFUL book that will keep your interest from the first. This takes off where Blood Trust left off. I can't wait to read the next book involving Jack McClure and Alli Carson.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first taste of Eric Van Lustbader's thrillers and not only won't I look for another, but I didn't even finish this one. Father Night is the 4th in a series featuring someone named Jack McClure. Reading a book that's not the first in a series should not be a turn off, but this one is. I never developed any empathy for McClure or for any other of the multiple characters in this novel. Further, the story itself didn't hold my interest. I stopped reading at the beginning of the last part not carrying at all how it comes out.

Van Lustbader introduced too many old cliches in this novel. Sets of twins for example and characters who are not who they seem, which we don't find out until late in the story. The worst example is a police detective who is killed by his twin brother. We not only didn't know he had a twin brother, but the situation that allowed the twin to show up made no sense. Then there is McClure's dead daughter who appears here and there, talking to him (and to other characters). Give me a break Eric. You've made your millions. Now try writing something that doesn't substitute quantity for quality.

[Byron · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a challenging read to someone who had not read the first three books in the series. While reading prior books was not strictly required, as a reader I felt somewhat left out when I didn't understand the discussions and references to past events. In addition, many other books do a great job of managing parallel story lines. This book seemed to jump back and forth between characters every 1-3 pages -- maybe it was to convey pace, but it made the book somewhat disjointed.

[Susan B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack McClure rescuing Alli Carson . Alli has been training as an operative since Jack rescued her in a previous book. As usual the book moves along fast and is hard to put down. Slowly it is revealed the medical research from the Nazi's on twins and how Werner is trying to continue on with it.

[John Thurlbeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Eric Van Lustbader's writing, and this book is no exception, though the plot may seem a little far-fetched. For those who have not read his books before, you may struggle to keep up with the characters, who follow through from previous Jack McClure novels.

While not of the calibre of Ninja, I nevertheless enjoyed this story.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack McClure is out saving quite a few , foremost being Alli who he saved from Werner. Slowly we become aware of the twins as the plot develops and slowly we are made aware of the connection to the Nazi's and there obsession with medical research . Fast paced , hard to put down

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lustbader has written an exciting book about 2 stories based in the Middle East that keep you guessing most of the book. The lies, deception, and secret pacts do not give you details about the final outcome. An excellent offering from Lustbader equal to his previous books.

[Bertha Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, fast paced.

[Jerry King · Rating 4 out of 5]

2012

[Kevin Grigg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having loved Ninja, back in the day I was drawn to this in my library. I haven't read any in the series but loved this roller coaster ride full of twists.

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe it's because I didn't read the prior parts of the series, but I had trouble keeping track of all the characters and the hero was unrealistically too heroic.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not impressed. A little too convoluted for my taste.

[Agatha Glowacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

So complicated with so many characters, hard to keep track. But masterful in its complexity.

[Jim Morton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok....probably too complicated. Not my favorite.

[Martial Trevett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack McClure must take down a scientist who has spawned twin killers. Both Allie and Annaka get into much trouble.

[Greynomad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am getting too used to this author's characters and fly by the seat situations to enjoy his books any longer.

[Gae-Lynn Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Eric Van Lustbader's Bourne novels, but found this one hard going. Complex plots are great to get involved with when well delivered, but FATHER NIGHT was a bit too convoluted for me. It was hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys (and I know figuring out who's who is part of the fun, but not when everybody ends up being a bad guy...), and all the characters seemed to be excellent fighters and marksmen. Perhaps they'd all had incredible training at some point and I missed that part of the story.

Will I read another Jack Mcclure novel? Not sure. Might just stick with the Bourne novels.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please see my blog for a review and giveaway (through 10/22/12) http://storeybookreviews.com/2012/10/...

I gave it 3 1/2 paws on my blog and it took about 100 pages to get the flow of the book and understand the characters and how they mixed with each other. It definitely got better but think that if you are going to read this series start with book 1 and not book 4 because there is back story that you don't know about and there are only hints about what happened in the past between characters.

[Sukhwant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember enjoying the first 3 novels a lot more than this one. Maybe it's because I read those several years ago so the memory is faded, but the characters in this one felt very superficial. For a short novel, there was a huge cast of forgettable characters, and it was difficult to remember who was who, and what their secrets and affiliations were. Most of this story was confusing, with a lot of things happening with no explanation or backstory...seemingly random ideas setting together at times. It was still a good read, but felt very out of line from the previous installments.