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Janac's Games #1
The Defector
What will you do, when it's you or them?
This is the dilemma at the heart of The Defector - can Martin Cormac turn his back on his ruthless past as a major city player, and do the right thing? Not when he's looking for answers in a succession of sleazy Thai dives...
One night, Cormac gets caught trying to chat up the bar owner's girlfriend and soon needs rescuing. Unfortunately, his white knight is anything but - Janac's a big-time drug baron with a psychotic urge to test people to the limit, and if possible... over it.
And soon Cormac is running from more than his past, he's running from the most dangerous game he will ever play. When he runs into the arms of his ex-girlfriend - and his only real love - even the wide open spaces of the ocean may not be a big enough place to hide.
This is the dilemma at the heart of The Defector - can Martin Cormac turn his back on his ruthless past as a major city player, and do the right thing? Not when he's looking for answers in a succession of sleazy Thai dives...
One night, Cormac gets caught trying to chat up the bar owner's girlfriend and soon needs rescuing. Unfortunately, his white knight is anything but - Janac's a big-time drug baron with a psychotic urge to test people to the limit, and if possible... over it.
And soon Cormac is running from more than his past, he's running from the most dangerous game he will ever play. When he runs into the arms of his ex-girlfriend - and his only real love - even the wide open spaces of the ocean may not be a big enough place to hide.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1996
80 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
About the author
Mark Chisnell
35 books61 followersMark Chisnell has written 16 books, they’ve been translated into five languages and topped sales and download charts in the USA, UK, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Mark writes suspense and mystery thrillers, technical books on the art and science of racing sailboats, along with non-fiction books and journalism on travel, sport and technology for some of the world's leading magazines and newspapers, including Esquire and the Guardian.
Mark began his writing with travel stories, while hitch-hiking around the world. He got a job sweeping up and making tea with the British America’s Cup team in Australia in 1987 to earn the money to get home. He worked his way onto the boat as navigator and has sailed and worked with six more America’s Cup teams since then. He’s also won three World Championships in sailing, and currently runs the Technical Innovation Group at Land Rover BAR, Sir Ben Ainslie’s British America’s Cup team.
Mark now lives by a river in the UK with his wife, two young sons and a dog – whenever he gets a couple of minutes peace he can usually be found reading a Jack Reacher novel, or the latest from Michael Lewis or Malcolm Gladwell.
Mark writes suspense and mystery thrillers, technical books on the art and science of racing sailboats, along with non-fiction books and journalism on travel, sport and technology for some of the world's leading magazines and newspapers, including Esquire and the Guardian.
Mark began his writing with travel stories, while hitch-hiking around the world. He got a job sweeping up and making tea with the British America’s Cup team in Australia in 1987 to earn the money to get home. He worked his way onto the boat as navigator and has sailed and worked with six more America’s Cup teams since then. He’s also won three World Championships in sailing, and currently runs the Technical Innovation Group at Land Rover BAR, Sir Ben Ainslie’s British America’s Cup team.
Mark now lives by a river in the UK with his wife, two young sons and a dog – whenever he gets a couple of minutes peace he can usually be found reading a Jack Reacher novel, or the latest from Michael Lewis or Malcolm Gladwell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 18, 2023
Janac's Ganes #1
Dilemma: can Martin Cormac turn his back on his ruthless past as a dealer, a major city player, and do the right thing? Not when he's looking for answers in a succession of sleazy dives.
Psychotic: one night Cormac is running from more than his past he's running from the most dangerous game he will ever play. When he runs into the arms of his ex-girlfriend - his only real love - even wide-open spaces of the ocean may not be a big enough place to hide.
It did take quite a few chapters for me to get into this fast-paced book. Janac is a psychopath who gets pleasure from torturing. people and making them play a sick game where the end result could end in death if they lost the game. The characters are believable but not all of them are likeable. It has been descriptively written. The story did end a bit abruptly, but there is a second book so maybe it's explained more there.
#FreeKindleBook
Dilemma: can Martin Cormac turn his back on his ruthless past as a dealer, a major city player, and do the right thing? Not when he's looking for answers in a succession of sleazy dives.
Psychotic: one night Cormac is running from more than his past he's running from the most dangerous game he will ever play. When he runs into the arms of his ex-girlfriend - his only real love - even wide-open spaces of the ocean may not be a big enough place to hide.
It did take quite a few chapters for me to get into this fast-paced book. Janac is a psychopath who gets pleasure from torturing. people and making them play a sick game where the end result could end in death if they lost the game. The characters are believable but not all of them are likeable. It has been descriptively written. The story did end a bit abruptly, but there is a second book so maybe it's explained more there.
#FreeKindleBook
September 29, 2011
The Defector explores the premise that the instinct for self preservation outweighs the the desire to contribute to the greater good. People choose to be either 'defectors' or 'cooperators', and when the stakes are high enough, morality is not the only casualty.
Cormac lived the high life as a trader in the financial market until it all began to fall apart. Overwhelmed, he fled his life in London, ending up in Thailand where he is rescued from a bar fight by a stranger. A drink or three with Janec leads to an offer Cormac can't refuse, trapping him in a deadly game of psychological torment and physical punishment. This is one trade Cormac can't lose.
I was quickly pulled into this fast paced thriller, intrigued by Cormac and then fascinated by Janec. The Prisoner's Dilemma was an only vaguely familiar concept, until Chisnell so clearly demonstrates the practical application of the game theory. These are two men who like games but Janec ups the ante considerably manipulating Cormac into a position whereby he has very few choices, none of them good. With each meeting, in Sydney Australia and then the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Janec pushes the limits in a chilling game of life and death.
There is a fair bit of chasing involved in The Defector, and in some parts the story lagged for me. Not being particularly interested in sailing I felt the initial stage of their ocean crossing was a bit too long though all was forgiven in the stunning climax.
The Defector is an exciting thriller with an original premise that creatively blends psychological theory with fast-paced action. If you are a fan of the genre then this novel, formerly published by HarperCollins and now re-released by the author in eformat - and for a bargain price, should be on your reading list.
Cormac lived the high life as a trader in the financial market until it all began to fall apart. Overwhelmed, he fled his life in London, ending up in Thailand where he is rescued from a bar fight by a stranger. A drink or three with Janec leads to an offer Cormac can't refuse, trapping him in a deadly game of psychological torment and physical punishment. This is one trade Cormac can't lose.
I was quickly pulled into this fast paced thriller, intrigued by Cormac and then fascinated by Janec. The Prisoner's Dilemma was an only vaguely familiar concept, until Chisnell so clearly demonstrates the practical application of the game theory. These are two men who like games but Janec ups the ante considerably manipulating Cormac into a position whereby he has very few choices, none of them good. With each meeting, in Sydney Australia and then the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Janec pushes the limits in a chilling game of life and death.
There is a fair bit of chasing involved in The Defector, and in some parts the story lagged for me. Not being particularly interested in sailing I felt the initial stage of their ocean crossing was a bit too long though all was forgiven in the stunning climax.
The Defector is an exciting thriller with an original premise that creatively blends psychological theory with fast-paced action. If you are a fan of the genre then this novel, formerly published by HarperCollins and now re-released by the author in eformat - and for a bargain price, should be on your reading list.
January 6, 2012
Some of the best books out there are the ones that focus on the complexities of human nature. We all believe we are great people, that we have our limits, our morals, and that regardless of the situation we will stick to them, but the reality of that is naive. Hypothetical’s are just that…hypothetical; questions we can toss about like tennis balls on an empty court with no fear of consequence or loss. It’s not until that choice is staring you in the face that you find out who you REALLY are. Are you selfish, focused on your own preservation, with little or no thought to the trickle effect that inevitably ensues as a result of your decision, or are you a sacrificer; willing to put your morals, or even life aside for the greater good?
In Mark Chisnell’s thriller “The Defector,” Martin Cormac is about find himself knee deep in a labyrinth of life threatening games that will ultimately determine which one of these people he REALLY is.
Cormac is on the run, but not from what you would think. Though his job is kaput and his ego is scorned, these are just sidelines to what really has him scared. His conscience. Following a wicked wreck in which Cormac was ultimately responsible for, he high-tails it out of the country in seek of solitude and fistfuls of liquor, but…like most men unsure of their path his drunken stooper causes him to lash out at the wrong person. Thankfully for him, someone had his back, however…nothing in life is free. Suddenly finding himself indebted to a stranger he does the only thing he can think, make nice and save face, but before he knows it he is sucked into the seedy underbelly of a man addicted to extremely high-stakes games. Will Martin find a way to leave town before he gets in too deep? What will happen when the stakes suddenly include the only woman he has ever loved, and will Martin ever be able to fully trust anyone with his life again?
When I was first introduced to Chisnell’s book my gut said “Blah.” I’m not sure exactly what threw me off, (maybe the words “currency trader,” or the less than appealing cover art) but something had me heavy footing it in the opposite direction. Thankfully for Mark, my head is much more stubborn than my gut, and I decided to turn back around and give it a chance, (you know…don’t judge a book by it’s cover and all that of hokey BS.) To my surprise, MY gamble paid off. (insert victory lap) I was not immediately gone with the book (as I usually am when I like something) but quickly realized I couldn’t put it down. (which for anyone is a clear indication of good story telling.) The story however, (though well plotted and as smoothly written as anything else I’ve read lately) was not what had me so entranced, instead it was Chisnell’s characters and their tortured internal dialogue that kept me going. The games themselves (think…SAW only PG…if that’s even possible) served as an added emotional complexity to an already desperately confused man, and in the end resulted in a very pleasurable read.
So what did I learn from all of this? My gut, though loud, is NOT the boss of me, AND that Chisnell’s book, (regardless of the need for a good cover make-over) is a GOOD book. I’m glad I read it, and for those of you that like to THINK when they read…it’s worth the download.
Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: People are capable of moving past their instincts, it just takes a little more effort.
Click image for complete details.
In Mark Chisnell’s thriller “The Defector,” Martin Cormac is about find himself knee deep in a labyrinth of life threatening games that will ultimately determine which one of these people he REALLY is.
Cormac is on the run, but not from what you would think. Though his job is kaput and his ego is scorned, these are just sidelines to what really has him scared. His conscience. Following a wicked wreck in which Cormac was ultimately responsible for, he high-tails it out of the country in seek of solitude and fistfuls of liquor, but…like most men unsure of their path his drunken stooper causes him to lash out at the wrong person. Thankfully for him, someone had his back, however…nothing in life is free. Suddenly finding himself indebted to a stranger he does the only thing he can think, make nice and save face, but before he knows it he is sucked into the seedy underbelly of a man addicted to extremely high-stakes games. Will Martin find a way to leave town before he gets in too deep? What will happen when the stakes suddenly include the only woman he has ever loved, and will Martin ever be able to fully trust anyone with his life again?
When I was first introduced to Chisnell’s book my gut said “Blah.” I’m not sure exactly what threw me off, (maybe the words “currency trader,” or the less than appealing cover art) but something had me heavy footing it in the opposite direction. Thankfully for Mark, my head is much more stubborn than my gut, and I decided to turn back around and give it a chance, (you know…don’t judge a book by it’s cover and all that of hokey BS.) To my surprise, MY gamble paid off. (insert victory lap) I was not immediately gone with the book (as I usually am when I like something) but quickly realized I couldn’t put it down. (which for anyone is a clear indication of good story telling.) The story however, (though well plotted and as smoothly written as anything else I’ve read lately) was not what had me so entranced, instead it was Chisnell’s characters and their tortured internal dialogue that kept me going. The games themselves (think…SAW only PG…if that’s even possible) served as an added emotional complexity to an already desperately confused man, and in the end resulted in a very pleasurable read.
So what did I learn from all of this? My gut, though loud, is NOT the boss of me, AND that Chisnell’s book, (regardless of the need for a good cover make-over) is a GOOD book. I’m glad I read it, and for those of you that like to THINK when they read…it’s worth the download.
Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: People are capable of moving past their instincts, it just takes a little more effort.
Click image for complete details.
May 28, 2011
I truly didn’t expect to find a gem like this on Smashwords, especially since it’s being given away as a free e-book.
But a gem it is, if you like very, very bad villains and fast-paced thrillers.
It’s so good, in fact, that it went into my Read/Keep category (I usually delete ebooks when I’m done reading them). I’ll try not to give away too much of the plot, which is always the fine line in any book review.
What I like about the villain in this piece is the way he plays mind games with his victims. It totally raises the thrill level. This isn’t a guy who just guns down his opponents. After reading this book, you’ll consider THAT kind of villain crude and crass – and probably not worthy of your time.
Starting with Martin Cormac, the main character of the book, this book plays with your mind from beginning to end. Cormac experiences one of those life-changing events and chooses to react by getting drunk in a variety of locations around Southeast Asia. A chance encounter in a bar brings him in contact with the villain and sets off another chain of life-changing events for Cormac – and a rollercoaster ride of a thriller for the reader. This time, however, Cormac isn’t trying to drown his guilt, he’s trying to stay alive.
I don’t know anything about sailing; obviously, it’s a passion for Chisnell, and a centerpiece of the thrill portion of this book. However, you don’t need to know anything about sailing or racing to realize that the middle of any ocean is a great setting for a thriller (Dead Calm, anyone?) The action had me reading as fast as I could and turning the pages, anxious and yet reluctant to reach the end of the story. Don’t you just hate/ love it when you’re dying to know how things turn out – but that will also mean the end of the book? Only a really good author can create such a dilemma in a reader, and Chisnell certainly accomplishes it with this book.
I also have to credit Chisnell with having the balls to acquaint readers with characters and make us like them before they get killed. You just don’t see that very often in fiction. (Why develop a character if you know he or she is going to be dead soon?) It makes the killing all that much more shocking, because we’ve come to expect that when an author develops a character, it isn’t for the purpose of brutally killing them in a couple of chapters, right? Chisnell has no such restraint, and it makes the story even better. (Trying really hard here not to give much away, but I have to give props to the author for this.)
If you’re a fan of fast-paced psychological thrillers, you’ll love The Defector. Chances are, you’ll be so wrapped up in it, you’ll go out and read the sequel, The Wrecking Crew (also available for free at Smashwords) before I have a chance to review it.
But a gem it is, if you like very, very bad villains and fast-paced thrillers.
It’s so good, in fact, that it went into my Read/Keep category (I usually delete ebooks when I’m done reading them). I’ll try not to give away too much of the plot, which is always the fine line in any book review.
What I like about the villain in this piece is the way he plays mind games with his victims. It totally raises the thrill level. This isn’t a guy who just guns down his opponents. After reading this book, you’ll consider THAT kind of villain crude and crass – and probably not worthy of your time.
Starting with Martin Cormac, the main character of the book, this book plays with your mind from beginning to end. Cormac experiences one of those life-changing events and chooses to react by getting drunk in a variety of locations around Southeast Asia. A chance encounter in a bar brings him in contact with the villain and sets off another chain of life-changing events for Cormac – and a rollercoaster ride of a thriller for the reader. This time, however, Cormac isn’t trying to drown his guilt, he’s trying to stay alive.
I don’t know anything about sailing; obviously, it’s a passion for Chisnell, and a centerpiece of the thrill portion of this book. However, you don’t need to know anything about sailing or racing to realize that the middle of any ocean is a great setting for a thriller (Dead Calm, anyone?) The action had me reading as fast as I could and turning the pages, anxious and yet reluctant to reach the end of the story. Don’t you just hate/ love it when you’re dying to know how things turn out – but that will also mean the end of the book? Only a really good author can create such a dilemma in a reader, and Chisnell certainly accomplishes it with this book.
I also have to credit Chisnell with having the balls to acquaint readers with characters and make us like them before they get killed. You just don’t see that very often in fiction. (Why develop a character if you know he or she is going to be dead soon?) It makes the killing all that much more shocking, because we’ve come to expect that when an author develops a character, it isn’t for the purpose of brutally killing them in a couple of chapters, right? Chisnell has no such restraint, and it makes the story even better. (Trying really hard here not to give much away, but I have to give props to the author for this.)
If you’re a fan of fast-paced psychological thrillers, you’ll love The Defector. Chances are, you’ll be so wrapped up in it, you’ll go out and read the sequel, The Wrecking Crew (also available for free at Smashwords) before I have a chance to review it.
October 13, 2011
What should come first, the individual or the greater good of society? In the past Martin has looked out for number 1. However after the city trader loses his girlfriend and his job and causes a major accident he disappears off travelling. After getting caught up in a bar fight he is saved by tough guy Janac. Friend quickly turns to foe though, Janac gets his kicks through testing people to their limit. His particular interest is the Prisoner's Dilemma. Martin soon finds himself caught up in Janac's deadly game, threatening him and those around him. He flees for his life, and it's not just Janac on his trail.
The Prisoner's Dilemma revolves around whether two prisoners working separately can both co-operate and keep quiet to minimise the sentence they receive, whether both will defect, giving the other up, and end up with a longer sentence, or whether one will co-operate and one defect, resulting in one going free and the other serving a longer sentence again. The book explains it far better than this, but the dilemma revolves around whether you can trust the other person to act for the good of both, or whether self-interest will win every time. This is the basis of the psychological games Janac plays with his unfortunate pawn, Martin and it makes for some very interesting and though-provoking material.
Martin isn't an entirely sympathetic character, and some of the choices he makes early on in the book aren't the smartest, but I was certainly rooting for him to escape Janac's clutches. I also felt sorry for him as the collateral damage grew and threatened people who had no part in what was going on. Janac on the other hand is out and out evil, but in a smart Hannibal Lecter kind of way (although physically tougher) His background is quite mysterious and I'd be interested to find out more about his past, which I hope might be part of the next book The Wrecking Crew.
The action moves from Thailand to Australia then to sea. Moving the action to a yacht forces the characters into close quarters and creates a new dynamic that I thought made for a good spin on this sort of plot. However while the author obviously knows his stuff my sailing knowledge is pretty limited, and while most of the narrative was within my grasp there were some description of nautical things and technical names thrown in that didn't mean a lot to me. It wasn't often enough to greatly affect my appreciation of what was happening but I did feel like I might be missing out on something.
I really enjoyed this book, it's a tense action thriller with a great psychological edge & the teaser for the next book appearing at the end has piqued my interest.
The Prisoner's Dilemma revolves around whether two prisoners working separately can both co-operate and keep quiet to minimise the sentence they receive, whether both will defect, giving the other up, and end up with a longer sentence, or whether one will co-operate and one defect, resulting in one going free and the other serving a longer sentence again. The book explains it far better than this, but the dilemma revolves around whether you can trust the other person to act for the good of both, or whether self-interest will win every time. This is the basis of the psychological games Janac plays with his unfortunate pawn, Martin and it makes for some very interesting and though-provoking material.
Martin isn't an entirely sympathetic character, and some of the choices he makes early on in the book aren't the smartest, but I was certainly rooting for him to escape Janac's clutches. I also felt sorry for him as the collateral damage grew and threatened people who had no part in what was going on. Janac on the other hand is out and out evil, but in a smart Hannibal Lecter kind of way (although physically tougher) His background is quite mysterious and I'd be interested to find out more about his past, which I hope might be part of the next book The Wrecking Crew.
The action moves from Thailand to Australia then to sea. Moving the action to a yacht forces the characters into close quarters and creates a new dynamic that I thought made for a good spin on this sort of plot. However while the author obviously knows his stuff my sailing knowledge is pretty limited, and while most of the narrative was within my grasp there were some description of nautical things and technical names thrown in that didn't mean a lot to me. It wasn't often enough to greatly affect my appreciation of what was happening but I did feel like I might be missing out on something.
I really enjoyed this book, it's a tense action thriller with a great psychological edge & the teaser for the next book appearing at the end has piqued my interest.
November 25, 2011
Games, drugs, risks, and lots of illegal money....that is what Janac was made of, and what he underhandedly pulled Martin into whether Martin wanted in or not.
Martin had flown to Thailand because of his guilt from a traffic accident, a girl, and the loss of his lucrative job. Martin had been a successful financial banker until an accident that ruined his life. He wasn't in this accident, but he had been the cause of it and the cause of the deaths of eighteen people. You will like Martin and feel his agony and concerns about what he unintentionally got himself into with Janac and how he realizes there is no way out.
Janac is someone you at first think is going to be a good friend since he saved Martin from some thugs. It turned into exactly the opposite...Janac was evil and someone to be feared and someone who made it lethal and fatal if you didn't comply with his requests. You will hate Janac as quickly as you were thankful for his appearing on the scene to rescue Martin.
Janac is a player of dangerous mind games. The "games" Janac plans for Martin and others get more dangerous each time, and Martin can't escape Janac's grip and power. Much to Martin's disgust, the games continue with nothing he can to do but comply.
The first and recurring game Martin's fate was hinging on was a game called: The Prisoner's Dilemma. This game involved decisions of choosing to care only for oneself or caring for others with major consequences for either choice. Janac's games were a means of control that gave him the power he wanted and gave his "victims" no choice but to play along.
Martin described the evilness of Janac like this: "I can't convey the nature of that voice. It was beyond bad, beyond threatening, beyond evil.". Page 57
THE DEFECTOR is an outstanding thriller right until the last page...you never know when Janac or any of his counterparts may appear or who really is working with him. It is all about control, cruelty, and payback in the name of money and drugs. You will follow Martin through all of the terror and hope he makes the correct decision in Janac's games.
This book has a decision after decision plot.....decisions that yield only an outcome of life or death.....nothing in between.
So, dear reader, you have no choice but to read this book….make that very smart decision. You won’t regret it….gripping, intense, intriguing. 5/5
Martin had flown to Thailand because of his guilt from a traffic accident, a girl, and the loss of his lucrative job. Martin had been a successful financial banker until an accident that ruined his life. He wasn't in this accident, but he had been the cause of it and the cause of the deaths of eighteen people. You will like Martin and feel his agony and concerns about what he unintentionally got himself into with Janac and how he realizes there is no way out.
Janac is someone you at first think is going to be a good friend since he saved Martin from some thugs. It turned into exactly the opposite...Janac was evil and someone to be feared and someone who made it lethal and fatal if you didn't comply with his requests. You will hate Janac as quickly as you were thankful for his appearing on the scene to rescue Martin.
Janac is a player of dangerous mind games. The "games" Janac plans for Martin and others get more dangerous each time, and Martin can't escape Janac's grip and power. Much to Martin's disgust, the games continue with nothing he can to do but comply.
The first and recurring game Martin's fate was hinging on was a game called: The Prisoner's Dilemma. This game involved decisions of choosing to care only for oneself or caring for others with major consequences for either choice. Janac's games were a means of control that gave him the power he wanted and gave his "victims" no choice but to play along.
Martin described the evilness of Janac like this: "I can't convey the nature of that voice. It was beyond bad, beyond threatening, beyond evil.". Page 57
THE DEFECTOR is an outstanding thriller right until the last page...you never know when Janac or any of his counterparts may appear or who really is working with him. It is all about control, cruelty, and payback in the name of money and drugs. You will follow Martin through all of the terror and hope he makes the correct decision in Janac's games.
This book has a decision after decision plot.....decisions that yield only an outcome of life or death.....nothing in between.
So, dear reader, you have no choice but to read this book….make that very smart decision. You won’t regret it….gripping, intense, intriguing. 5/5
March 17, 2013
There are many familiar action-suspense-thriller themes running through this story, but there are a couple of important ones that make this more than just another frenetic chase book.
The main character, Martin Cormac, isn't an ex-cop, spec-ops, military police or any other of the usual types, he's a former stock broker/investment banker whose life has spiraled out of control after an car accident.
The two big differences are the antagonist, Janac and the psychological game, The Prisoner's Dilemma.
Janac is a former covert operator who has turned to drug smuggling and ensnares Martin in a plot to smuggle drugs. Even after finishing the book, there are still many unknowns about his motivations. We do know is he is sadistic, capable, smart and has many contacts, seemingly everywhere.
I'm still not clear on whether Janac picked Martin at random or if he was targeted because of his situation.
The Prisoner's Dilemma is a scenario where two people are kept separate and are then given the choice between defecting or cooperating. The punishment for each depends on the combination of their choices. This psychological predicament is at the heart of this story and drives Janac as well as Martin throughout. How far would you go to save yourself? Is the fate of the group more important than your own fate? What wold you do?
The main character, Martin Cormac, isn't an ex-cop, spec-ops, military police or any other of the usual types, he's a former stock broker/investment banker whose life has spiraled out of control after an car accident.
The two big differences are the antagonist, Janac and the psychological game, The Prisoner's Dilemma.
Janac is a former covert operator who has turned to drug smuggling and ensnares Martin in a plot to smuggle drugs. Even after finishing the book, there are still many unknowns about his motivations. We do know is he is sadistic, capable, smart and has many contacts, seemingly everywhere.
I'm still not clear on whether Janac picked Martin at random or if he was targeted because of his situation.
The Prisoner's Dilemma is a scenario where two people are kept separate and are then given the choice between defecting or cooperating. The punishment for each depends on the combination of their choices. This psychological predicament is at the heart of this story and drives Janac as well as Martin throughout. How far would you go to save yourself? Is the fate of the group more important than your own fate? What wold you do?
February 19, 2013
It's not often that I really enjoy a book where the main character is unlikable (to me anyway) but for some reason, in this book, it really works!
Based around Game Theory's "The Prisoner's Dilemma", the author weaves an intriguing storyline with strong action and believable characters which whips along at a fast pace, occasionally letting up to give the reader a short respite breather!
I felt that, for me, there was the right balance between moving the story on and background and character development, there were also some great descriptive sections describing the wonderful areas that the book was set in.
I did lose my way a little during some of the boat scenes but that's more to do with my lack of interest in those things rather than the author's lack of skill in relating them and this did not in any way distract me from what else was going on at the time.
Other than that, the book kept my attention for the rest of the story, I felt that I wanted to read on, eager to see where the next twist would take me. Towards the end, the action ramped up a notch and delivered an explosive ending that thoroughly satisfied.
I am off to read the next in the series now...
Based around Game Theory's "The Prisoner's Dilemma", the author weaves an intriguing storyline with strong action and believable characters which whips along at a fast pace, occasionally letting up to give the reader a short respite breather!
I felt that, for me, there was the right balance between moving the story on and background and character development, there were also some great descriptive sections describing the wonderful areas that the book was set in.
I did lose my way a little during some of the boat scenes but that's more to do with my lack of interest in those things rather than the author's lack of skill in relating them and this did not in any way distract me from what else was going on at the time.
Other than that, the book kept my attention for the rest of the story, I felt that I wanted to read on, eager to see where the next twist would take me. Towards the end, the action ramped up a notch and delivered an explosive ending that thoroughly satisfied.
I am off to read the next in the series now...
June 22, 2011
I picked this free e-book along with some other books on Smashwords, and was not expecting too much...but I was pleasantly surprised. This book was amazing.What a fast-paced thriller.
The villain in this novel plays mind games with his victims. It totally raises the thrill level.
Martin Cormac, the main character of the book, plays with your mind from beginning to end. Cormac experiences one of those life-changing events and chooses to react by getting drunk in a variety of locations around Southeast Asia. A chance encounter in a bar brings him in contact with the villain and sets off another chain of life-changing events for Cormac – and a rollercoaster ride of a thriller for the reader. This time, however, Cormac isn’t trying to drown his guilt, he’s trying to stay alive.
If you’re a fan of fast-paced psychological thrillers, you’ll love The Defector. Chances are, you’ll be so wrapped up in it, you’ll go out and read the sequel, The Wrecking Crew (also available for free at Smashwords) before I have a chance to review it.
The villain in this novel plays mind games with his victims. It totally raises the thrill level.
Martin Cormac, the main character of the book, plays with your mind from beginning to end. Cormac experiences one of those life-changing events and chooses to react by getting drunk in a variety of locations around Southeast Asia. A chance encounter in a bar brings him in contact with the villain and sets off another chain of life-changing events for Cormac – and a rollercoaster ride of a thriller for the reader. This time, however, Cormac isn’t trying to drown his guilt, he’s trying to stay alive.
If you’re a fan of fast-paced psychological thrillers, you’ll love The Defector. Chances are, you’ll be so wrapped up in it, you’ll go out and read the sequel, The Wrecking Crew (also available for free at Smashwords) before I have a chance to review it.
June 6, 2021
The Defector (Janac's Games, #1) by Mark Chisnell
I really didn't get a lot out of this book. It has a strange plot that is not well executed. It is in first person, in effect telling the tale. so, although there is a great deal of exciting events, I never felt a part of them. The dilemma is real, and I have read it portrayed in many ways, but I will not need to read more of these.
I really didn't get a lot out of this book. It has a strange plot that is not well executed. It is in first person, in effect telling the tale. so, although there is a great deal of exciting events, I never felt a part of them. The dilemma is real, and I have read it portrayed in many ways, but I will not need to read more of these.
January 11, 2019
It had all this story then a rushed ending!
February 5, 2019
Fast paced easy read. Perfectly enjoyable for a holiday read.
October 28, 2011
Someone should have really prepared me for this book before I started ... or maybe it was better that I found out for myself. This is one dark puppy! I may be dating myself here but, do you remember the short story 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson? Great short story - another dark puppy! I loved 'The Lottery'. I guess it appealed to my dark side. 'The Defector' appealed to that same side.
Janec is likely the most evil character I have ever met in a work of fiction. The games he came up with were bizarre, genius, really, really, really sick and twisted. The book does explain what the Prisoner's Dilemma is in detail. In fact the entire plot is basically an enactment of how the dilemma can be used for evil. I don't think I can do it justice by explaining it here but the first paragraph in the foreword gives an overview:
The Prisoner's Dilemma - n. A philosophical conundrum enacted through a game with two participants which gives an insight into the behavior of the individual in society.
OK, the definition is dull but the book is definitely not dull. Ever.
Martin is the protagonist in the story. He is just your average Joe off the street. Until he gets mixed up with Janec and the games begin. Janec loves his games. Martin isn't too fond of them. I was impressed with Martin's resilience and luck. He pulled off some fantastic escapes! He was smarter than either he or Janec expected. I loved that Martin learned so much about himself as the novel progressed.
Kate was the love interest in the book. She provided the love triangle angle and the perfect pawn for Janec. I didn't like her at all. She seemed so shallow to me. Not really worth fighting for. But what I thought of her really doesn't matter. It's what Marin thought of her that made all the difference to the story.
There were definitely times, when reading the book, that I just wanted to stop. Some of Janec's evil games were almost too evil for me. But Mark Chisnell's writing style drew me in and wouldn't let me go. Just the same way Janec wouldn't let Martin go. The fear, felt by those unlucky enough to get on Janec's bad side, was palpable. In fact, I finished the book over an hour ago and my stomach is still in a small knot. Decompression could take a while.
This is definitely a book for the Halloween season. You want scary, this book has it in spades. Nothing paranormal or otherworldly, but weird for sure.
April 27, 2011
‘It’s the game, and the game is everything.’
The prisoner’s dilemma
n. a philosophical conundrum enacted through a game with two participants which gives an insight into the behaviour of the individual in society.
And the players? Martin Cormac, a man with a ruthless past in business and Janac, the man who seems to rescue him from the consequences of a poor choice in a bar in Thailand. But rescue isn’t may not be the right word: Janac has plans for Cormac which could ultimately involve a choice between life and death. Can Cormac be selfless, or will his choices remain self-interested? What if Cormac’s is not the only life at stake?
The action in this novel moves from Thailand to Sydney, and then to the Pacific Ocean and further north as Cormac tries to escape the consequences of his choices while Janac wants to play the game to a conclusion.
I enjoyed this novel: the story moves quickly and while Martin Cormac is not a particularly likeable hero he has his moments. Janac is a suitably awful villain who is committed only to ‘playing the game’. Much of the action takes place at sea, in circumstances that heighten the tension and the drama. Can Cormac ‘win’ – despite the odds?
‘There were only consequences left.’
Note: I was offered, and accepted, a copy of this book for review purposes. This novel was published in hard copy as ‘The Delivery’; it is now available in electronic format as ‘The Defector’.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
The prisoner’s dilemma
n. a philosophical conundrum enacted through a game with two participants which gives an insight into the behaviour of the individual in society.
And the players? Martin Cormac, a man with a ruthless past in business and Janac, the man who seems to rescue him from the consequences of a poor choice in a bar in Thailand. But rescue isn’t may not be the right word: Janac has plans for Cormac which could ultimately involve a choice between life and death. Can Cormac be selfless, or will his choices remain self-interested? What if Cormac’s is not the only life at stake?
The action in this novel moves from Thailand to Sydney, and then to the Pacific Ocean and further north as Cormac tries to escape the consequences of his choices while Janac wants to play the game to a conclusion.
I enjoyed this novel: the story moves quickly and while Martin Cormac is not a particularly likeable hero he has his moments. Janac is a suitably awful villain who is committed only to ‘playing the game’. Much of the action takes place at sea, in circumstances that heighten the tension and the drama. Can Cormac ‘win’ – despite the odds?
‘There were only consequences left.’
Note: I was offered, and accepted, a copy of this book for review purposes. This novel was published in hard copy as ‘The Delivery’; it is now available in electronic format as ‘The Defector’.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
January 15, 2012
Martin Cormac feels responsible for the death of eighteen people. He drowns his sorrows in Bangkok, until the flirtatious nature of a beautiful girl gets him into hot water. Thankfully, Janac comes to his rescue, a stranger who saves Martin from brutal thugs.
Janac has other things in mind for Martin though. Janac likes to play games, and Martin soon finds himself an unwilling pawn. Even though he would prefer not to play them, he knows his life hangs in the balance.
Janac's favorite game is called The Prisoner's Dilemma. Basically, there are two participants and their behavior of the game decides their fate. In this particular instance, their fate is life or death. Janac has other games he likes to play as well, and Martin does a remarkable job of trying to succeed, using cleverness and ingenuity. Janac is one of the most pure forms of evil I have ever come across in this genre.
I really liked Martin. His anguish and vulnerability really shine even through all of the horror, cruelty and power plays. High action, drug smuggling, games with life and death stakes and most of all, remarkable writing shoot The Defector to the top of must read thrillers! You won't want to miss this one!
Janac has other things in mind for Martin though. Janac likes to play games, and Martin soon finds himself an unwilling pawn. Even though he would prefer not to play them, he knows his life hangs in the balance.
Janac's favorite game is called The Prisoner's Dilemma. Basically, there are two participants and their behavior of the game decides their fate. In this particular instance, their fate is life or death. Janac has other games he likes to play as well, and Martin does a remarkable job of trying to succeed, using cleverness and ingenuity. Janac is one of the most pure forms of evil I have ever come across in this genre.
I really liked Martin. His anguish and vulnerability really shine even through all of the horror, cruelty and power plays. High action, drug smuggling, games with life and death stakes and most of all, remarkable writing shoot The Defector to the top of must read thrillers! You won't want to miss this one!
August 21, 2013
I did enjoy reading this suspenseful thriller. Janac is indeed a creepy guy. I liked the beginning with the intro of Janac and his sick games and the run down chase on the high seas was well done as well.
The middle part dragged a bit as the main "good-guy" character (Dillion) was on the run from Janac on a racing sail boat,,,,the author went into a lot of details about how the ship runs and such. This part dragged a bit with the characters whining about things.....but then the thrilling end as the characters on the boat were forced to play a game with Janac with their lives on the line.
When all is said and done, I do plan to read the next Chisnell thriller featuring Janac in the near future:
.
The middle part dragged a bit as the main "good-guy" character (Dillion) was on the run from Janac on a racing sail boat,,,,the author went into a lot of details about how the ship runs and such. This part dragged a bit with the characters whining about things.....but then the thrilling end as the characters on the boat were forced to play a game with Janac with their lives on the line.
When all is said and done, I do plan to read the next Chisnell thriller featuring Janac in the near future:
.
August 16, 2011
I’m only on Chapter 4 at the minute but I must admit that I’m not feeling a great deal of love for the main protagonist – the guy needs a bit of a beating to make him a little more likeable, but no doubt Janac (the only other character so far and even more dislikeable than Martin (who is the main dude)) will turn out to be a very bad influence…..I think I can see where this book is going
Want to read
December 19, 2012This is the original publication of the book that became The Defector - so if you've read that, you don't need to bother with this one.
There's lots more information on the book, and links to free ebook and audiobook versions here:
http://www.markchisnell.com/defector.htm
There's lots more information on the book, and links to free ebook and audiobook versions here:
http://www.markchisnell.com/defector.htm
May 27, 2011
I thought the start of this book was fantastic. However it started to tail off towards the middle and end for me was a little disappointing. A decent enough read nonetheless. I downloaded it free from amazon so I can't complain too much.
Want to read
December 19, 2012There's lots more information on the writing of The Defector, and links to free ebook and audiobook versions here:
http://www.markchisnell.com/defector.htm
http://www.markchisnell.com/defector.htm
Read
April 26, 2011Have read two of his books
August 8, 2011
quick read
August 22, 2011
Not bad for a free Kindle download. Liked the concept of "Prisoners Dilemma".
December 28, 2011
Three and a half stars.Not bad adventure yard
June 13, 2012
I just couldn't get into this one.
July 23, 2012
Don't normally give up on a book but I was just finding this so boring I gave up after 17%.
September 11, 2012
This book was fast paced and action packed but I felt the characters were a little one dimensional at best. With a little more character development this would have been one of my best reads.
October 25, 2015
Interesting idea and story line but something was missing for me.
August 11, 2016
Might have given it another star if the storyline hadn't ended so abruptly....presumably a lead-in to #2 in the series.
July 6, 2015
Had the potential to be a good story, but character development seemed lacking, and there was way too much sailing terminology. The concept of the Prisoner's Dilemma is intriguing though.
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