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Sequels to the Count of Monte Cristo #6
That Girl Started Her Own Country
International Playgirl Zaydee finds herself in the midst of a crisis fueled by international intrigue, multinational corporate greed, and a convoluted legal system. Imprisoned for computer hacking, this brilliant jet-setter becomes an international media celebrity as she defends herself, an unknown girl labeled Princess Jane Doe, against unknown charges. With complicated and shadowy plots brewing, the book is lush and captivating and perhaps the best addition to the series yet.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2012
37 people are currently reading
1794 people want to read
About the author
Holy Ghost Writer
43 books215 followersWho is The Holy Ghost Writer?
The mystery of the identity of the author is part of an international contest. The first person to discover the identity of the HG Writer, from the clues found in the Count of Monte Cristo sequels, will receive a reward of $2500. Write to prize@sultanofmontecristo.com in order to claim this reward along with letting us know the clues that led you to discovering the identity of the author. Should you wish your discovery to be known in the press, that opportunity will also be afforded. Those that already know the author or have worked with him/her will not qualify. Good luck.
The mystery of the identity of the author is part of an international contest. The first person to discover the identity of the HG Writer, from the clues found in the Count of Monte Cristo sequels, will receive a reward of $2500. Write to prize@sultanofmontecristo.com in order to claim this reward along with letting us know the clues that led you to discovering the identity of the author. Should you wish your discovery to be known in the press, that opportunity will also be afforded. Those that already know the author or have worked with him/her will not qualify. Good luck.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
February 4, 2013
A Badly Written, Poorly Edited Homage to Stieg Larsson’s Novels
“That Girl Started Her Own Country” is technically speaking, a novella, not a full-length novel, and that, I might add, is its most redeeming feature. Having been asked on several occasions by its publisher to review it online, I agreed only after I received a printed copy. While the premise seemed engaging, it is undermined greatly by poor plotting, stilted prose, and bad editing (e. g. referring to a fictitious Alan Dershowitz as either “Allan Dershowitz” or “Alan Dershowitz”), and I found it difficult to read, nearly stopping after reading the first twenty pages. I don’t know who the “Holy Name Writer” – the author of this most dreadful tale – is, nor do I care enough to read the other “novels” in this series, in the hope of discovering his true identity. Nor have I read Stieg Larsson’s novels – or have any interest in reading them – so I have to rely on the views of others in surmising that “That Girl Started Her Own Country” is either a homage or a parody of Larsson’s novels.
“That Girl Started Her Own Country” is technically speaking, a novella, not a full-length novel, and that, I might add, is its most redeeming feature. Having been asked on several occasions by its publisher to review it online, I agreed only after I received a printed copy. While the premise seemed engaging, it is undermined greatly by poor plotting, stilted prose, and bad editing (e. g. referring to a fictitious Alan Dershowitz as either “Allan Dershowitz” or “Alan Dershowitz”), and I found it difficult to read, nearly stopping after reading the first twenty pages. I don’t know who the “Holy Name Writer” – the author of this most dreadful tale – is, nor do I care enough to read the other “novels” in this series, in the hope of discovering his true identity. Nor have I read Stieg Larsson’s novels – or have any interest in reading them – so I have to rely on the views of others in surmising that “That Girl Started Her Own Country” is either a homage or a parody of Larsson’s novels.
September 10, 2012
That Girl Started Her Own Country- An amazingly fast paced crime saga with an unbelievably hot and strong central character
It’s not hard to find novels with women playing the central character and neither is it hard to find novels with serial killers. But how many of you have read novels where the central character is not just a woman but also a serial killer. Add to that the fact that she’s a playgirl and also a feminist in certain ways and you get Zaydee, which by the way means prosperous. She is easily the best part of this amazingly fast-paced novel, “That Girl Started Her Own Country” by the enigmatic “Holy Ghost Writer” known for his previous novel, “The Sultan Of Monte Cristo”.
Right from the very first page you feel that the novel is special in more ways than one. Apart from the unique central character Zaydee, the novel takes you into a world of passion, cyber-crime, financial technicalities and even love. The contrast between the two central characters is simply hard to get a grip on as the tables are completely turned in the stereotypical battle of the sexes. This happens when the innocent journalist, Steven Larson becomes too much of a problem for a secret society Zaydee intends to destroy. But he has a secret protector in Zaydee who realizes that not only is Steve Larson si the man who bring the secret society down but also the only men she ever loved, something she never thought was possible.
The real battle begins when the power of this secret society which resembles “Illuminati” collides with the sheer brutal force of a serial killer in Zaydee along with the intelligence of an honest and innocent journalist in Steve Larson.
The writing style is amazingly fresh, something very difficult to achieve given that a crime novel has its own limitations. Also, the novel maintains its own true character and identity despite being influenced in several ways by Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series. One cannot help but notice the resemblance right from the title of the novel itself. The central character of Zaydee will surely remind you of Lisbeth Salander in every way possible, including her attitude, her modus operandi and even her sexual escapades with both men and women.
But despite the influence, Holy Ghost Writer succeeds in taking it to a whole new level as Zaydee seems to be a lot more ambitious than Salander. Not only does she intend to crush the secret society-she also intends to create a world ruled by women with her at the pinnacle as Typhoon Zaydee.
“The Girl Started Her Own Country” is an amazing read with powerful characters and a strong plot. The refreshing writing style simply helps the cause and is an added bonus for the readers. But be warned, that you must read this book with an open mind as comparing it with Stieg Larsson’s work will not let you appreciate its beauty in its entirety.
It’s not hard to find novels with women playing the central character and neither is it hard to find novels with serial killers. But how many of you have read novels where the central character is not just a woman but also a serial killer. Add to that the fact that she’s a playgirl and also a feminist in certain ways and you get Zaydee, which by the way means prosperous. She is easily the best part of this amazingly fast-paced novel, “That Girl Started Her Own Country” by the enigmatic “Holy Ghost Writer” known for his previous novel, “The Sultan Of Monte Cristo”.
Right from the very first page you feel that the novel is special in more ways than one. Apart from the unique central character Zaydee, the novel takes you into a world of passion, cyber-crime, financial technicalities and even love. The contrast between the two central characters is simply hard to get a grip on as the tables are completely turned in the stereotypical battle of the sexes. This happens when the innocent journalist, Steven Larson becomes too much of a problem for a secret society Zaydee intends to destroy. But he has a secret protector in Zaydee who realizes that not only is Steve Larson si the man who bring the secret society down but also the only men she ever loved, something she never thought was possible.
The real battle begins when the power of this secret society which resembles “Illuminati” collides with the sheer brutal force of a serial killer in Zaydee along with the intelligence of an honest and innocent journalist in Steve Larson.
The writing style is amazingly fresh, something very difficult to achieve given that a crime novel has its own limitations. Also, the novel maintains its own true character and identity despite being influenced in several ways by Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series. One cannot help but notice the resemblance right from the title of the novel itself. The central character of Zaydee will surely remind you of Lisbeth Salander in every way possible, including her attitude, her modus operandi and even her sexual escapades with both men and women.
But despite the influence, Holy Ghost Writer succeeds in taking it to a whole new level as Zaydee seems to be a lot more ambitious than Salander. Not only does she intend to crush the secret society-she also intends to create a world ruled by women with her at the pinnacle as Typhoon Zaydee.
“The Girl Started Her Own Country” is an amazing read with powerful characters and a strong plot. The refreshing writing style simply helps the cause and is an added bonus for the readers. But be warned, that you must read this book with an open mind as comparing it with Stieg Larsson’s work will not let you appreciate its beauty in its entirety.
September 5, 2012
“That Girl Started Her Own Country”
There has been a financial and status metamorphosis of a serial killer. Those changes made and after a couple of plastic surgeries Zydee emerges with even a new name which, in Arabic, means prosperous.
Oh yes, Zaydee is prosperous. She has risen from her poverty stricken childhood to be a jet setting, high finance player in the international markets. She’s passing as a princess and has cultivated her attributes along the way. Enough to infiltrate the notorious Bildenbergers.
Her road as an international playgirl was paved with the broken hearts of men and women. But there was only one love in her life and his name was Steven F. Larson. She had worked with him before and had access to all his computer files, so she could see what he was up to. What he was up to was unbelievably dangerous, he was about to expose the Bilderbergers who were the glue for the most powerful people in the world. You’ve also heard them called One World Order.
Zaydee had many reasons for helping Larson, one of them was she wanted this group taken down and eradicated so that she could create her own nation, a matriarchy where only women will rule and with herself at the helm of course. This could be accomplished if she was able to protect this honest, noble journalist and help him succeed in unmasking the powers behind the power and bringing them down.
I’m relishing the opportunity to see the Holy Ghost Writer’s take on the fascist plans of the Bilderbergers, I know you are to. Just released so get your copy right now at -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009...
There has been a financial and status metamorphosis of a serial killer. Those changes made and after a couple of plastic surgeries Zydee emerges with even a new name which, in Arabic, means prosperous.
Oh yes, Zaydee is prosperous. She has risen from her poverty stricken childhood to be a jet setting, high finance player in the international markets. She’s passing as a princess and has cultivated her attributes along the way. Enough to infiltrate the notorious Bildenbergers.
Her road as an international playgirl was paved with the broken hearts of men and women. But there was only one love in her life and his name was Steven F. Larson. She had worked with him before and had access to all his computer files, so she could see what he was up to. What he was up to was unbelievably dangerous, he was about to expose the Bilderbergers who were the glue for the most powerful people in the world. You’ve also heard them called One World Order.
Zaydee had many reasons for helping Larson, one of them was she wanted this group taken down and eradicated so that she could create her own nation, a matriarchy where only women will rule and with herself at the helm of course. This could be accomplished if she was able to protect this honest, noble journalist and help him succeed in unmasking the powers behind the power and bringing them down.
I’m relishing the opportunity to see the Holy Ghost Writer’s take on the fascist plans of the Bilderbergers, I know you are to. Just released so get your copy right now at -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009...
September 26, 2012
Zaydee reminds me of Lisbeth Salander—but even better! Extremely mysterious, dauntingly brilliant, and highly charismatic, Zaydee will charm anyone.
October 2, 2012
A book with a girl that goes by many names; the main character answers
to Pippi Longstocking, Ester Bilderberg, Her Highness, Prisoner
Princess and finally, Zaydee.
With the zesty entrepreneur now behind bars, the charismatic woman
begins her scheme. She precariously keeps her lover Steven Larson far
enough away so that he won't be hurt, takes pity on jail mate Rickey
Herlick and entices him with her charm, conveys authority to a voodoo
practicing Diablera, and convinces a follower on the inside to give
her a disguise. These are only a few of many riveting details which
take place in That Girl Started Her Own Country, the much awaited
sequel to The Sultan of Monte Cristo.
Written with gusto and heart, I didn't put the book down until I had
finished, and at that point was ready to read the next one.
Unfortunately, I will have to wait, the anticipation is killing me!
Will Zaydee escape prison? Will The FBI agent Michael Binder continue
to breathe down her neck? Will the princess ever meet up with Herlick
again? These are the things I wonder after reading this thrilling book.
The Holy Ghost Writer has proven once again to hold my interest and
provide an amazing read. Well done! I will most definitely encourage my
friends to read this book and series.
to Pippi Longstocking, Ester Bilderberg, Her Highness, Prisoner
Princess and finally, Zaydee.
With the zesty entrepreneur now behind bars, the charismatic woman
begins her scheme. She precariously keeps her lover Steven Larson far
enough away so that he won't be hurt, takes pity on jail mate Rickey
Herlick and entices him with her charm, conveys authority to a voodoo
practicing Diablera, and convinces a follower on the inside to give
her a disguise. These are only a few of many riveting details which
take place in That Girl Started Her Own Country, the much awaited
sequel to The Sultan of Monte Cristo.
Written with gusto and heart, I didn't put the book down until I had
finished, and at that point was ready to read the next one.
Unfortunately, I will have to wait, the anticipation is killing me!
Will Zaydee escape prison? Will The FBI agent Michael Binder continue
to breathe down her neck? Will the princess ever meet up with Herlick
again? These are the things I wonder after reading this thrilling book.
The Holy Ghost Writer has proven once again to hold my interest and
provide an amazing read. Well done! I will most definitely encourage my
friends to read this book and series.
February 27, 2013
I am struggling with this. I have to admit to being seduced by the hype and the incredibly cheap download price and being short on other ideas when I downloaded it. Wasn't prepared for the terrible writing which completely distracts me from the story. Just as I think I'm getting to into the story there's a big clunk and I disengage and stare at the prose not really believing that someone would actually write something so sloppily. I give up.
February 23, 2013
This book is fascinatingly bad, which is almost the only reason I read it cover to cover. It was also mercifully short.
One star is way more than this book deserves.
Your average high school English student, considering both their expected development of writing skills and life experience at their stage in life, could have produced something better than this.
How this book ever got published should to be investigated; it's a crime.
One star is way more than this book deserves.
Your average high school English student, considering both their expected development of writing skills and life experience at their stage in life, could have produced something better than this.
How this book ever got published should to be investigated; it's a crime.
August 24, 2013
This book rips of the story line of the Stieg Larsson books "The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo" etc. It is not well written and has no real ending. Basically an enticement to buy a sequel to continue ripping off this story line.
Good Reads Rating system
My rating system (*]star)
1* couldn't finish book
2* finished book, but didn't like it
3* a good read
4* a very good read often with a novel concept or unusual plot
5* an exceptionally good read, a prominent example of the genre
Good Reads Rating system
My rating system (*]star)
1* couldn't finish book
2* finished book, but didn't like it
3* a good read
4* a very good read often with a novel concept or unusual plot
5* an exceptionally good read, a prominent example of the genre
February 21, 2013
This was horrible. The writing was very basic. The editing was terrible (I finally had to stop reading when "rogue" was misspelled "rouge.") The parallels to Dragon Tattoo were too much; it seemed like a middle schooler trying to plagiarize. This was abysmal.
March 25, 2013
Dragon-Tattoo fan-fic apparently written by a high schooler. Really lame style. Couldn't keep going.
June 22, 2014
Let me point out that I have stopped judging this series against "The Count of Monte Cristo" to which it claims to be a continuation of. I am now solely judging these books on their sole merits alone. My review follows...
That Girl Started Her Own Country is an interesting light read that will not necessarily appeal to all readers. However there are good points in the book and there are also some that I feel were just there for filler. "That Girl" is a continuation of the Sultan of Monte Cristo all thought it is set in the future from that book. This book follows Zaydee and her adventures. The book is hard to get into if you read the previous books due to the lack of tie in. This is rectified by the time you get to the middle of the book. The story has legs and can stand on its own, but at this point in the series they need to let go of the Count of Monte Cristo relations.This story had it's enjoyable parts and its parts where it was so unbelievable that it hurt the the story a bit. It is a good conspiracy book that readers of the genre will likely enjoy.
That Girl Started Her Own Country is an interesting light read that will not necessarily appeal to all readers. However there are good points in the book and there are also some that I feel were just there for filler. "That Girl" is a continuation of the Sultan of Monte Cristo all thought it is set in the future from that book. This book follows Zaydee and her adventures. The book is hard to get into if you read the previous books due to the lack of tie in. This is rectified by the time you get to the middle of the book. The story has legs and can stand on its own, but at this point in the series they need to let go of the Count of Monte Cristo relations.This story had it's enjoyable parts and its parts where it was so unbelievable that it hurt the the story a bit. It is a good conspiracy book that readers of the genre will likely enjoy.
March 20, 2013
Pathetic
April 13, 2013
Unrealistic and choppy. Trying to play on the Stieg Larson name and popularity
August 3, 2014
Making his debut with the delightful sequel to a timeless novel, the Holy Ghost Writer won the hearts of several readers with his complicated, mysterious and thrilling novel "The Sultan of Monte Cristo (First sequel to the Count of Monte Cristo)."Still riding the waves of his recent success, the elusive author has once again managed to steal the limelight with his latest read "That Girl Started Her Own Country (Sixth Sequel to The Count of Monte Cristo). Engaging and gripping in character, the novel stretches all the boundaries of ingenuity and pulls the most reluctant reader to its exciting plot and inspiring action.
Revolving around the lives of `Ritual Serial Killer' turned International Playgirl Zaydee and her one true love Steven Larson, a noble journalist, the novel incorporates all the classic elements of mystery, thrill and adventure, blending together to give us an exciting novel spun around the life of the protagonist Zaydee. In an effort to take down a most powerful secret organization Zaydee 'anonymously' gives Larson secrets about the truth of some very influential beings; secrets that will be the greatest exposé of his career, all the while determined to protect the man she loves. With a deadly network of hactivists, high tech devices and nearly endless supplies of m oney, Zaydee is determined to take down this secret syndicate and rise as the head of a new nation, a nation where women holds the power of authority.
Laced with heavy tones of feminist ideas, the novel brings to light well rounded characters with expertly balanced flaws and emotional depths. Evenly paced, engaging, and with a good premise, the novel takes its readers through a thrilling ride, intimately drawing all its readers to its protagonist's psyche. Along with the mysterious plot also lies the underlying suspense of the writer's true identity and the speculation whether this is the purported dissimilar novel by the Holy Ghost Writer, to Stieg Larsson's Millennium- a Trilogy, leaving Larsson fans wondering if (and hoping) he actually faked his own death. The truth however remains to be seen.
September 1, 2012
That Girl Started her Own Country is a book you cannot put down after you start reading it. It is a story that plays in modern days, but ties in with another publication from Holy Ghost Writer, The Sultan of Monte Cristo: First Sequel to the Count of Monte Cristo. Both books connect to the original work The Count of Monte Cristo, and they could be seen as a trilogy.
Just as in The Sultan of Monte Cristo: First Sequel to the Count of Monte Cristo, the author makes the characters come to life, in such a way that the reader feels drawn into the story. Besides the characters being all-round developed, the environmental description gives you even more food for the brain to get absorbed into the story. After reading a few pages, you might have the feeling that you have become part of the experiences the main characters undergo.
This book is a fantastic new read for fans of the Count of Monte Cristo, and The Sultan of Monte Cristo. It can be read as a stand-alone book, but I recommend reading all three in a row to make it into the perfect reading experience.
For myself as a long fan of the Monte Cristo stories, I was pleased to see that this book is actually a great read by itself, and for the knowledgeable reader, it is very interesting to make the connections to the original stories. I was happy to get a preview copy of this book, and also was amazed to see this book featured on Yahoo News. I did not know there was such a large audience for Monte Cristo influenced stories out there, but after reading the news item on Yahoo I realized it is not just me who likes these kinds of books.
It has only a few months since I read another book from Holy Ghost Writer, The Sultan of Monte Cristo. When I finished that book, I was looking forward to reading more from this author. You can imagine how pleased I was when I realised another book was about to be released.
I can only but recommend this book to anyone who really enjoyed reading the original Monte Cristo. You might become like myself a lifetime fan of Holy Ghost Writer.
Just as in The Sultan of Monte Cristo: First Sequel to the Count of Monte Cristo, the author makes the characters come to life, in such a way that the reader feels drawn into the story. Besides the characters being all-round developed, the environmental description gives you even more food for the brain to get absorbed into the story. After reading a few pages, you might have the feeling that you have become part of the experiences the main characters undergo.
This book is a fantastic new read for fans of the Count of Monte Cristo, and The Sultan of Monte Cristo. It can be read as a stand-alone book, but I recommend reading all three in a row to make it into the perfect reading experience.
For myself as a long fan of the Monte Cristo stories, I was pleased to see that this book is actually a great read by itself, and for the knowledgeable reader, it is very interesting to make the connections to the original stories. I was happy to get a preview copy of this book, and also was amazed to see this book featured on Yahoo News. I did not know there was such a large audience for Monte Cristo influenced stories out there, but after reading the news item on Yahoo I realized it is not just me who likes these kinds of books.
It has only a few months since I read another book from Holy Ghost Writer, The Sultan of Monte Cristo. When I finished that book, I was looking forward to reading more from this author. You can imagine how pleased I was when I realised another book was about to be released.
I can only but recommend this book to anyone who really enjoyed reading the original Monte Cristo. You might become like myself a lifetime fan of Holy Ghost Writer.
September 12, 2012
This novel is about a woman who is able to handle herself quite well in federal prison. It is also connected to two very famous pieces of writing, "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas and Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy.
A woman is arrested in present-day Miami on charges of running a very sophisticated money-laundering operation. She refuses to cooperate with the authorities, but does give the impression that she may be actual royalty. At her arraignment, she represents herself. She shows that she knows, and can argue, the relevant law better than even a first-rate lawyer. Later in the book, she shaves her head to prevent the authorities from getting her DNA from a strand of her hair.
While in prison, and as an experienced hacker, she looks for dirt on the pair of FBI agents who arrested her. With access to seemingly unlimited amounts of money, she starts leaking high-level information to crusading journalist Steven Larsen, the only man who ever meant anything to her. Very strong precautions have to be taken, because this is the sort of information that could get any journalist on the assassination list of many governments. The connection between a present-day suspense story and a famous piece of 19th century literature comes near the end of the book.
Here is a first-rate piece of writing. I may be among the few people who have never read any of Mr. Larsson's books (I will have to do something about that). This book is very contemporary, and I look forward to reading the sequel.
A woman is arrested in present-day Miami on charges of running a very sophisticated money-laundering operation. She refuses to cooperate with the authorities, but does give the impression that she may be actual royalty. At her arraignment, she represents herself. She shows that she knows, and can argue, the relevant law better than even a first-rate lawyer. Later in the book, she shaves her head to prevent the authorities from getting her DNA from a strand of her hair.
While in prison, and as an experienced hacker, she looks for dirt on the pair of FBI agents who arrested her. With access to seemingly unlimited amounts of money, she starts leaking high-level information to crusading journalist Steven Larsen, the only man who ever meant anything to her. Very strong precautions have to be taken, because this is the sort of information that could get any journalist on the assassination list of many governments. The connection between a present-day suspense story and a famous piece of 19th century literature comes near the end of the book.
Here is a first-rate piece of writing. I may be among the few people who have never read any of Mr. Larsson's books (I will have to do something about that). This book is very contemporary, and I look forward to reading the sequel.
December 26, 2012
This surpassed all expectations!
I am a huge fan of mystery and suspense thrillers, as those genres provide such an intriguing overlap of various plots, twists, and characters that ultimately have the potential to create a beautifully woven story. You can say it's one of my favorite genres.
This book was recommended to me so I definitely had expectations for it. Fortunately, it met my standards and provided for a very entertaining read. I'm eager to read the other works by the same author, as her style is sophisticated and fresh.
Throughout the read, you will undoubtedly detect a slight influential hint of many other famous stories out there. The dark and mysterious undertone has a slight romance that naturally structures the ongoing story into a heroic effort of mystic realism. The author does a superb job of emotionally linking you with the story line and if you're a fan of other works such as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoos, among other classics of similar genre, then I recommend this as an excellent addition to your reading list.
I am a huge fan of mystery and suspense thrillers, as those genres provide such an intriguing overlap of various plots, twists, and characters that ultimately have the potential to create a beautifully woven story. You can say it's one of my favorite genres.
This book was recommended to me so I definitely had expectations for it. Fortunately, it met my standards and provided for a very entertaining read. I'm eager to read the other works by the same author, as her style is sophisticated and fresh.
Throughout the read, you will undoubtedly detect a slight influential hint of many other famous stories out there. The dark and mysterious undertone has a slight romance that naturally structures the ongoing story into a heroic effort of mystic realism. The author does a superb job of emotionally linking you with the story line and if you're a fan of other works such as The Count of Monte Cristo and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoos, among other classics of similar genre, then I recommend this as an excellent addition to your reading list.
September 7, 2012
In a word- wow... This book totally blew me away. I had previously read The Sultan of Monte Cristo by HGW, and was both surprised and happy to find That Girl Who Started Her Own Country. The story is full of espionage, intrigue and drew me in from the start- I ended up reading the whole book in an extended sitting, pausing only long enough for necessity breaks.
I also really enjoy the true life mystery surrounding the author- It makes me wonder if author Stieg Larsson really did fake his death! Or, at the outside, Stieg's widow isn't happy with the small amount left to her by the estate, amd is releasing Steig's unpublished works posthumously and anonymously. If you want to delve further into the mysterious author HGW, check out the following link for a good jumping off point:
Did Author Stieg Larsson Fake His Own Death?
http://www.prweb.com/releases/stiegla...
I also really enjoy the true life mystery surrounding the author- It makes me wonder if author Stieg Larsson really did fake his death! Or, at the outside, Stieg's widow isn't happy with the small amount left to her by the estate, amd is releasing Steig's unpublished works posthumously and anonymously. If you want to delve further into the mysterious author HGW, check out the following link for a good jumping off point:
Did Author Stieg Larsson Fake His Own Death?
http://www.prweb.com/releases/stiegla...
September 21, 2012
That Girl Started Her Own Country by the Holy Ghost writer is a very interesting book. It is about a woman named Zaydee who is very mysterious. The more you read the more details are revealed about her. She is somewhat of a 21st century rich playgirl. But it seems her heart belongs to an ex-boyfriend. She is very wealthy and gets arrested while discussing terms to laundry money. But she is charged with assualting an FBI agent. Once she is arrested she never reveals her name. She is booked as Princess Doe. She doesn’t have fingerprints. No one knows who she really is. One thing for sure, she is pro-women. Thoughout the story she is donating to woman causes. While in jail she gets an idea to start her own country. From there she begin to plan. This is a very unique story and it talks about different secret societies and makes me wonder if they really exist. Zaydee is a superhero for women.
February 14, 2013
This book is proof that the ratings of a book can mean absolutely nothing. Goodreads and Amazon both suggested this book to me and with a 4.65 star rating, I thought I'd give it a whirl. Boy were those ratings unfounded! It is glaringly obvious that this book (despite its statements to the contrary in the author's note)is based off of The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo series. The grammatical errors were so frequent as to be obnoxious, and I swear there were product placement ads throughout the entire book. I still can't fathom how it has such a high rating on goodreads--it definitely doesn't deserve it!
April 12, 2013
I got this book as an advanced readers copy:
I was rather excited to read this book, that is, until I got started. It starts off confusing and doesn't ever seem to get better. It has an intriguing storyline, and if it didn't seem to be so jumbled I think I would have enjoyed it. There is also the matter of the flat and undeveloped characters, which you have no reason to care about, and the lack of completion when you finish the book. All in all it was a disappointment.
I was rather excited to read this book, that is, until I got started. It starts off confusing and doesn't ever seem to get better. It has an intriguing storyline, and if it didn't seem to be so jumbled I think I would have enjoyed it. There is also the matter of the flat and undeveloped characters, which you have no reason to care about, and the lack of completion when you finish the book. All in all it was a disappointment.
September 25, 2013
This book is just bad on many levels. I don't know how anyone can give this book 5 stars. It is poorly written; I doubt it was edited at all and just ridiculous. I can only assume the glowing reviews were written by the author, his/her friends and family and/or paid reviewers. I am actually angry that I spent $.99 on this.
August 13, 2016
TERRIBLE. This was chosen for my book club. I am not sure how it has so many 4-5 star reviews. The author must be enlisting his/her friends to write them? It's a very short little novelette and truly terrible. As if it's a joke or written by a child.
September 7, 2014
This has to be a joke.
I really don't understand how it has so many good reviews - it's basically really awful girl with the dragon tattoo fan fiction.
I really don't understand how it has so many good reviews - it's basically really awful girl with the dragon tattoo fan fiction.
September 10, 2016
Sucked. First book I read with ads all the way through. Suckily written. Poor story. No ending. Who reads this stuff and gives it 5 stars??? Another reason to prove that people are f*d up.
March 7, 2017
I give up. can't figure out who is who or what is going on
September 11, 2012
It's slightly odd to find myself reading the sixth sequel in a series of ten, especially when sequels two to five haven't been written yet, and when it's so different to the book it's apparently following. I normally like to start at the beginning of a series and read them in order, so it did feel like being thrown into the middle of something with no warning. It's been a long, long time since I read The Count of Monte Cristo, so I'm sure there's a lot I was missing that I would have picked up if I'd re-read that and then read the first sequel before this. I'll also confess that I haven't read the whole of Stieg Larsson's Millenium Trilogy either. (Or even seen the movies, come to that.) As a result, I suspect there are even more allusions I'm missing. No matter, it's still perfectly readable. Do be aware, though, that the story doesn't finish neatly. As you might expect from a series, it ends on something of a cliff-hanger.
What grabbed me with this book - which I read in a single sitting - was the immense variety of ideas being thrown out. There are legal issues (how many books will quote extensively from the Sovereign Immunity Act, for example?), a look at how to found your own country and the legal position of Sealand, and questions of prison reform and justice for abused women, then there's a lot of stuff about the ethics of hacking, technology for altering fingerprints, and so on. Meanwhile there are secret societies, conspiracies, and all sorts of shenanigans. It's not a simple, predictable book that fits into a defined genre. The main character is also unusual - who exactly is she? And how did she get to be in the position she is? She's not a believable character, in that she's definitely larger than life, but she's interesting and fun.
My only real quibble with the book is that although there's a great story and engaging characters, the writing often lacks depth and finesse. Too many one-sentence paragraphs make it feel choppy and break up the flow, and there's not enough emotional detail. The pseudonymous author too often tells us bluntly how someone is feeling or what they're thinking, when it would be better to give us a scene which lets us deduce what's going on beneath the surface: "show, don't tell," as most editors will tell you. Some of the dialogue also feels contrived and worthy of a B-movie, particularly in scenes featuring Latina characters, and the courtroom scenes come across as far too simplistic, lacking the intricacy of a John Grisham.
On balance, though, it's a fun, easy read which has a lot of potential to develop into an interesting series.
What grabbed me with this book - which I read in a single sitting - was the immense variety of ideas being thrown out. There are legal issues (how many books will quote extensively from the Sovereign Immunity Act, for example?), a look at how to found your own country and the legal position of Sealand, and questions of prison reform and justice for abused women, then there's a lot of stuff about the ethics of hacking, technology for altering fingerprints, and so on. Meanwhile there are secret societies, conspiracies, and all sorts of shenanigans. It's not a simple, predictable book that fits into a defined genre. The main character is also unusual - who exactly is she? And how did she get to be in the position she is? She's not a believable character, in that she's definitely larger than life, but she's interesting and fun.
My only real quibble with the book is that although there's a great story and engaging characters, the writing often lacks depth and finesse. Too many one-sentence paragraphs make it feel choppy and break up the flow, and there's not enough emotional detail. The pseudonymous author too often tells us bluntly how someone is feeling or what they're thinking, when it would be better to give us a scene which lets us deduce what's going on beneath the surface: "show, don't tell," as most editors will tell you. Some of the dialogue also feels contrived and worthy of a B-movie, particularly in scenes featuring Latina characters, and the courtroom scenes come across as far too simplistic, lacking the intricacy of a John Grisham.
On balance, though, it's a fun, easy read which has a lot of potential to develop into an interesting series.
September 18, 2012
That Girl Started Her Own Country was admittedly inspired by the life of journalist, Stieg Larrson, who is also the author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. There are some similarities between this book (the first in a series) and that series. Both feature a heroine with a trouble past who is an accomplished hacker and who is romantically involved with an older journalist. This first book revolves around the adventures of Zaydee, a hactivist who has managed to accrue (steal) a large fortune. Zaydee is captured by the FBI early in the book, but refuses to give them her real name. So the FBI books her as Princess Jane Doe due to intelligence they received naming her as the member of a royal family. The majority of the novel unfolds as Zaydee attempts to outwit the FBI and the federal court system without revealing her true identity.
That Girl Started Her Own Country is a fast paced page turner with all the ingredients for a great thriller. There are secret societies controlling the world’s governments, a federation of hackers, romance (in jail and out) and a long buried family secret. While the overall idea of this book is an intriguing one the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The actual story is very choppy. Scenes whiz and whirl by without much transition or even much scene. The author, who writes under the pseudonym of The Holy Ghost Writer, doesn’t really set up scenes. Instead the reader is thrust into the middle of dialogue without any setting or exposition:
Passing the door to the guard's office, Jane heard a bitchy voice, "Ms. Doe, step into my office."
Ms. Doe complied. Lieutenant Williamson says, "I thought I should give you a heads-up. Several of the inmates here subscribe to the Miami Herald and since you're on the front page you might want to read this and prepare yourself for the repercussions."
Jane Doe thanked the Lieutenant taking the newspaper with her to the computer-room where she logged-on as an administrator.
She went straight to fbi.gov to analyze the web design and interface. Then she sent an encoded email to Icelander that translated to: 'I'm here with Clutch. Need intel on FBI special agents Whitehead and Binder in Miami - also check today's Miami Herald front-page about Princess Jane Doe to see the reason. I'll pay 10k for results today with access to their personal computers from here. Thx'.
The book transitions from one scene to another in three short paragraphs. That Girl Started Her Own Country would be a excellent story if the writer had fleshed out the novel more. All in all, it is still a worthy read.
That Girl Started Her Own Country is a fast paced page turner with all the ingredients for a great thriller. There are secret societies controlling the world’s governments, a federation of hackers, romance (in jail and out) and a long buried family secret. While the overall idea of this book is an intriguing one the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The actual story is very choppy. Scenes whiz and whirl by without much transition or even much scene. The author, who writes under the pseudonym of The Holy Ghost Writer, doesn’t really set up scenes. Instead the reader is thrust into the middle of dialogue without any setting or exposition:
Passing the door to the guard's office, Jane heard a bitchy voice, "Ms. Doe, step into my office."
Ms. Doe complied. Lieutenant Williamson says, "I thought I should give you a heads-up. Several of the inmates here subscribe to the Miami Herald and since you're on the front page you might want to read this and prepare yourself for the repercussions."
Jane Doe thanked the Lieutenant taking the newspaper with her to the computer-room where she logged-on as an administrator.
She went straight to fbi.gov to analyze the web design and interface. Then she sent an encoded email to Icelander that translated to: 'I'm here with Clutch. Need intel on FBI special agents Whitehead and Binder in Miami - also check today's Miami Herald front-page about Princess Jane Doe to see the reason. I'll pay 10k for results today with access to their personal computers from here. Thx'.
The book transitions from one scene to another in three short paragraphs. That Girl Started Her Own Country would be a excellent story if the writer had fleshed out the novel more. All in all, it is still a worthy read.
June 3, 2013
Once again, The Holy Ghost Writer, so full of mystery himself, leaves more mystery in this book of his series. After reading the other two, one is left wondering how on earth they’re all supposed to connect together, and why isn’t he writing in order? Is it on purpose? To create more anticipation and curiosity?
There are once again many questions left unanswered: towards the beginning of the book it seems that he named the book a bit too obviously. At the end, however, the assumption is not fulfilled, and we are left with Zaydee’s trial still hanging. Though some people may find The Holy Ghostwriter’s use of already-written characters and stories to be a bit of a rip-off, it is wholly interesting to see where someone else’s imagination takes a story. Likewise, The Holy Ghostwriter forces the reader to use much of their imagination for various details or character assessments.
The much-loved character of Lisbeth of Steig Larsson continues on as Zaydee with, though a bit more giddiness, the same kick-ass tactics and cleverness. As Zaydee lands herself in prison this time, it is a great game throughout the book to find how she is going to outsmart and outwit the system to retain her elusive identity.
As I started reading The Holy Ghostwriter’s novellas out of desire to find how he was going to write a ten-part sequel to The Count of Monte Cristo, I’ve been wondering and will continue to wait to see how it all pulls together. Throughout this entire story of That Girl Started Her Own Country, I was wondering where in the world there was supposed to be a connection to his first sequel. Though I was finally happy to see his connection in the end, it was briefly disappointing to me. It leaves the reader begging for more information. The details are reviewed in a few brief pages, and when you finally feel that some of your questions are answered, it ends abruptly, as he tends to do. The Holy Ghostwriter is extremely keen on keeping his audience guessing, which always makes for an exciting read.
Lacking a lot of desired detail (I don’t care as much about the details of Larson’s coffees and salads - tell me more about some of the intriguing prisoners who are introduced!) and filler story, the book is, as the others, quite short and easily readable. The use of the Skull and Bones society is a brilliant add-in, adding even more excitement about the tie-in with the stories and assumptions that already surround this exclusive group which has left people guessing for centuries. The continuous intrigue and action of various characters from chapter to chapter will keep you quickly flipping to find more.
There are once again many questions left unanswered: towards the beginning of the book it seems that he named the book a bit too obviously. At the end, however, the assumption is not fulfilled, and we are left with Zaydee’s trial still hanging. Though some people may find The Holy Ghostwriter’s use of already-written characters and stories to be a bit of a rip-off, it is wholly interesting to see where someone else’s imagination takes a story. Likewise, The Holy Ghostwriter forces the reader to use much of their imagination for various details or character assessments.
The much-loved character of Lisbeth of Steig Larsson continues on as Zaydee with, though a bit more giddiness, the same kick-ass tactics and cleverness. As Zaydee lands herself in prison this time, it is a great game throughout the book to find how she is going to outsmart and outwit the system to retain her elusive identity.
As I started reading The Holy Ghostwriter’s novellas out of desire to find how he was going to write a ten-part sequel to The Count of Monte Cristo, I’ve been wondering and will continue to wait to see how it all pulls together. Throughout this entire story of That Girl Started Her Own Country, I was wondering where in the world there was supposed to be a connection to his first sequel. Though I was finally happy to see his connection in the end, it was briefly disappointing to me. It leaves the reader begging for more information. The details are reviewed in a few brief pages, and when you finally feel that some of your questions are answered, it ends abruptly, as he tends to do. The Holy Ghostwriter is extremely keen on keeping his audience guessing, which always makes for an exciting read.
Lacking a lot of desired detail (I don’t care as much about the details of Larson’s coffees and salads - tell me more about some of the intriguing prisoners who are introduced!) and filler story, the book is, as the others, quite short and easily readable. The use of the Skull and Bones society is a brilliant add-in, adding even more excitement about the tie-in with the stories and assumptions that already surround this exclusive group which has left people guessing for centuries. The continuous intrigue and action of various characters from chapter to chapter will keep you quickly flipping to find more.
September 12, 2012
After downloading, “That Girl Started Her Own Country” for my Kindle, I had no idea that I was about to read a mystery/suspense/thriller that would keep me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Due to the brilliant writing, you feel you are there with the main character every step of the way. This book is literally almost impossible to put down!
Zaydee, the violet-eyed protagonist, is mysterious and fascinating on so many levels. She is a jet setter and businessperson extraordinaire, fluent in many languages, and adaptable to any situation. She is sharp and cunning, with a razor’s edge wit. The secondary character is Steve Larson, a journalist, and the only man that Zaydee has ever truly loved. Therefore, Zaydee uses the myriad of resources at her fingertips to protect Steve from evil forces out to destroy him, while providing him with a story that will expose a worldwide conspiracy of epic proportions!
Federal and International agencies have labeled Zaydee as “Princess Jane Doe,” since no one has been able to discover her identity. Could Zaydee really be planning to found an island country populated and ruled mostly by women…an Amazonian culture? How will she achieve this? Will she achieve this? What is next for Zaydee?
This story takes you on a global journey that is exciting, suspenseful, fast paced, and intriguing. Who really controls and manipulates the world? How will this expose´ affect life, as we know it? How does Zaydee play into all of this?
When I finished the book, I wanted more, so I did some research. “The Sultan of Monte Cristo” is the first in this series of books written by Holy Ghost Writer. There will be six books in this series, a sequel to the Alexandre Dumas classic, “The Count of Monte Cristo.” I cannot wait to read “The Sultan of Monte Cristo,” and am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
Since we don’t know the identity of the author, Holy Ghost Writer, it will be intriguing to read the books and look for clues. Is HGW the real life Zaydee, or is he/she someone else connected to the story?
We need to read the books and find the clues…so exciting!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of suspense, mystery, and an extraordinary plot that could have real life connections!
That Girl Started Her Own Country
Zaydee, the violet-eyed protagonist, is mysterious and fascinating on so many levels. She is a jet setter and businessperson extraordinaire, fluent in many languages, and adaptable to any situation. She is sharp and cunning, with a razor’s edge wit. The secondary character is Steve Larson, a journalist, and the only man that Zaydee has ever truly loved. Therefore, Zaydee uses the myriad of resources at her fingertips to protect Steve from evil forces out to destroy him, while providing him with a story that will expose a worldwide conspiracy of epic proportions!
Federal and International agencies have labeled Zaydee as “Princess Jane Doe,” since no one has been able to discover her identity. Could Zaydee really be planning to found an island country populated and ruled mostly by women…an Amazonian culture? How will she achieve this? Will she achieve this? What is next for Zaydee?
This story takes you on a global journey that is exciting, suspenseful, fast paced, and intriguing. Who really controls and manipulates the world? How will this expose´ affect life, as we know it? How does Zaydee play into all of this?
When I finished the book, I wanted more, so I did some research. “The Sultan of Monte Cristo” is the first in this series of books written by Holy Ghost Writer. There will be six books in this series, a sequel to the Alexandre Dumas classic, “The Count of Monte Cristo.” I cannot wait to read “The Sultan of Monte Cristo,” and am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
Since we don’t know the identity of the author, Holy Ghost Writer, it will be intriguing to read the books and look for clues. Is HGW the real life Zaydee, or is he/she someone else connected to the story?
We need to read the books and find the clues…so exciting!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of suspense, mystery, and an extraordinary plot that could have real life connections!
That Girl Started Her Own Country
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