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Kate Raab's life seems almost perfect: her boyfriend, her job, her family...until her father runs into trouble with the law. His only recourse is to testify against his former accomplices in exchange for his family's placement in the Witness Protection Program. But one of them gets cold feet. In a flash, everything Kate can count on is gone.
Now, a year later, her worst fears have materialized: Her father has disappeared into what the WITSEC agency calls "the blue zone", and someone close to him is found brutally murdered.
With her family under surveillance, the FBI untrustworthy, and her father's menacing "friends" circling with increasing intensity, Kate sets off to find her father and uncover the secrets someone will kill to keep buried.
Now, a year later, her worst fears have materialized: Her father has disappeared into what the WITSEC agency calls "the blue zone", and someone close to him is found brutally murdered.
With her family under surveillance, the FBI untrustworthy, and her father's menacing "friends" circling with increasing intensity, Kate sets off to find her father and uncover the secrets someone will kill to keep buried.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2007
246 people are currently reading
3084 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Gross
94 books1,779 followersHoward Andrew Gross was an American author of thriller novels, including four New York Times bestsellers. He is best known for his collaborations with suspense writer James Patterson. Gross's books feature close family bonds, relationships characterized by loss or betrayal, and a large degree of emotional resonance which generally leads to wider crimes and cover-ups. The books have all been published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 576 reviews
August 9, 2008
Meh.
James Patterson says this is "a tense and chilling thriller." That statement, like much of Patterson's writing, is overrated. Since Gross is someone who Pattersonleans on to churn out pap has written a few books with, it seems to me his recommendation should be viewed with a somewhat jaundiced eye.
This book isn't terrible, it just isn't that good. And really, that ending was visible miles off.
James Patterson says this is "a tense and chilling thriller." That statement, like much of Patterson's writing, is overrated. Since Gross is someone who Patterson
This book isn't terrible, it just isn't that good. And really, that ending was visible miles off.
April 2, 2020
4 Stars for The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross read by Ilyana Kadushin. This was Fast paced with lots of twists. I really enjoyed it. The narration was great too...1
May 21, 2018
This my third Andrew Gross book and so far so good.
In the past Andrew Gross has written books in collaboration with James Patterson and it's not hard to miss the Patterson influence here. Short chapters and tight plotting.
Kate Rabb's, the central character, life is devastated when her father is arrested by the FBI for money laundering for a Colombian cartel. The entire family is to be taken into protective custody but Kate, who is in her mid twenties and married, refuses to go. She can look after herself, or so she thinks.
Kate is convinced that her father is innocent and works towards proving his innocence. As time goes by the FBI and the State Marshals give information to Kate that brings her father's innocence into question.
Kate can't believe the thing that are being said about her father but the evidence seems to be overwhelming. Kate can't trust anyone. The FBI are lying to her, the State Marshals are lying to her and worst of all, it seems, her father is lying to her.
Little by little the truth unfolds and when that truth is revealed Kate's life will change for ever.
I really enjoyed this book. Easy to read and a definite page turner.
A four star recommendation.
In the past Andrew Gross has written books in collaboration with James Patterson and it's not hard to miss the Patterson influence here. Short chapters and tight plotting.
Kate Rabb's, the central character, life is devastated when her father is arrested by the FBI for money laundering for a Colombian cartel. The entire family is to be taken into protective custody but Kate, who is in her mid twenties and married, refuses to go. She can look after herself, or so she thinks.
Kate is convinced that her father is innocent and works towards proving his innocence. As time goes by the FBI and the State Marshals give information to Kate that brings her father's innocence into question.
Kate can't believe the thing that are being said about her father but the evidence seems to be overwhelming. Kate can't trust anyone. The FBI are lying to her, the State Marshals are lying to her and worst of all, it seems, her father is lying to her.
Little by little the truth unfolds and when that truth is revealed Kate's life will change for ever.
I really enjoyed this book. Easy to read and a definite page turner.
A four star recommendation.
January 15, 2012
Rating: 3.5* of five
Told from the PoV of the daughter of a nasty criminal, this is one fast book. My hair blew back from the speed I was turning pages, and I don't have a lot of hair. (Unless you count my shoulders. Oh, and back. They don't blow around so much, though.) I was awake an entire night finishing the book, and am I glad I did!
So, the girl in question is in her first year at Snazzmatazz U, thinking her life is about perfect: Daddy's rich, kind, attentive, and mommy's adequately drugged, and she's just so happy she could spit, right?
*FLOOEY*
Her father tells her the truth at last, he's not the sweetie-punkin she thought, and all five of her family are headed for the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). Well, that's worse than a broken heel on your Jimmy Choos! She goes into the program, expecting all will go well, after all it's a government run program, right?
*FLOOEY*
A year later, her WITSEC agent-pal is found tortured and murdered and the WITSEC guys show her pictures of the remains before telling her that Pops is missing. She has to help them figure this out!!
Well, nothing here to strain the brain of a thriller reader, and all unfolds like one would want and expect it to do. Gross co-wrote a couple novels with James Patterson, who returns the kindness with a very nice blurb. He knows his onions about pacing and about plot twists. He's got some grasp of character development, too. He's not up there with Steve Berry, but he's a darn good day's entertainment.
Told from the PoV of the daughter of a nasty criminal, this is one fast book. My hair blew back from the speed I was turning pages, and I don't have a lot of hair. (Unless you count my shoulders. Oh, and back. They don't blow around so much, though.) I was awake an entire night finishing the book, and am I glad I did!
So, the girl in question is in her first year at Snazzmatazz U, thinking her life is about perfect: Daddy's rich, kind, attentive, and mommy's adequately drugged, and she's just so happy she could spit, right?
*FLOOEY*
Her father tells her the truth at last, he's not the sweetie-punkin she thought, and all five of her family are headed for the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). Well, that's worse than a broken heel on your Jimmy Choos! She goes into the program, expecting all will go well, after all it's a government run program, right?
*FLOOEY*
A year later, her WITSEC agent-pal is found tortured and murdered and the WITSEC guys show her pictures of the remains before telling her that Pops is missing. She has to help them figure this out!!
Well, nothing here to strain the brain of a thriller reader, and all unfolds like one would want and expect it to do. Gross co-wrote a couple novels with James Patterson, who returns the kindness with a very nice blurb. He knows his onions about pacing and about plot twists. He's got some grasp of character development, too. He's not up there with Steve Berry, but he's a darn good day's entertainment.
March 2, 2020
Let's cut to the chaff... the reason I was reading James Patterson factory books around this time, was solely because they are easy reads, not very demanding, large text and short chapters. So this James Patterson factory / Andrew Gross book, I had limited expectations other than that I was going to read it quickly. So my thoughts on this book? Well, I read it quickly. A run-of-the-mill not too badly put together conspiracy thriller involving criminal cartels, the FBI and the Witness Protection Programme. 4 out of 12.
October 27, 2020
I have read and enjoyed 3 or 4 of the books Gross did with Patterson and thought I give this a try. I’m glad I did. The mystery was solid and the characters well developed albeit tough to really like and root for. That is until Gross pulled it together, making sense of everything and actually allowing the switch to flip in Kate’s favor.
WITSEC is vital and this book shed a little light on it, even though most of it’s inner workings will never be known. At least we hope we won’t ever really know too much about it. Gross had an interesting and believable way of taking us inside, and I’m glad it was in a good book, not real life.
WITSEC is vital and this book shed a little light on it, even though most of it’s inner workings will never be known. At least we hope we won’t ever really know too much about it. Gross had an interesting and believable way of taking us inside, and I’m glad it was in a good book, not real life.
October 18, 2009
As any sardonic old-time native New Yorker would know, if you're from NYC, you don't call 6th Avenue "Avenue of the Americas," no matter what the street signs say. So, first page, Chapter One, we're introducted to one of the main characters, whose office is on 47th and 6th, which the author calls "Avenue of the Americas." Oh well, disappointing start, but then again, the author lives in Westchester and not in The City, so what does he know? This particular main character is introduced as someone who deals with Hasids and Puerto Ricans in his current position as a major diamond trader, a bicultural scenario I'm well-acquainted with. He inserts the Colombian cartel into the action, uses gramatically incorrect Spanish, and beyond that, even tries to include some neurosurgical trivia into the mix, also incorrect. Guess a Puerto Rican neurosurgeon with my background should not have bothered to read this book. Beyond that, the author's writing style consists of short sentences, few descriptions of interest (presumably to keep the action going), and the action consists of ... well, should I say this? Overkill! Literally, figuratively and every other way you wish to interpret it. The ending was not really a surprise either, so I really didn't think much of this book - but what the hey? It didn't take too long to read and I didn't spend any money on it.
September 19, 2025
The Blue Zone is a fast paced thriller. It was very formulaic and if I didn’t know differently, I would have said it was written by James Patterson. I have read a lot of James Patterson and at one time I enjoyed his books. After a while they all kind of sounded the same just with different characters. That’s how this book came across. It was a reasonable story and an easy read, but quite predictable. Unfortunately with the MC, FBI and the witness protection program….far too many things happened which would never have happen in the real world. When this occurs the author loses credibility for me. Whilst I understand this is a work of fiction, I think that mostly applies to the characters and the story itself. The events within the story I would prefer to be as close to real life as possible (unless the genre is fantasy or sci fi etc - which this isn’t). Three stars for a tension filled fast paced story.
October 14, 2022
This wasn’t a bad story. In fact, it was a pretty good story. But the main character was ridiculous. Despite knowing there was danger she would constantly talk herself out of being fearful or getting help. I don’t think I have ever yelled at a book in frustration as much. Especially not through the entire book!! So it’s only getting three stars from me. I think the story could have moved along without making the heroine so stupid, especially a woman working on her doctoral thesis in biology. I wanted to know what happened so I kept going but Kate was a total annoyance for me.
April 22, 2012
Kate Raab's life is turned upside down the day she finds out that her father is being arrested on RICO charges and the family must enter the Witness Protection Program. At age 23, her life has been near perfect. She is a biologist working in a lab for a future Nobel Prize winning medical biologist, finishing up her master's degree (with plans for a doctorate), and half-living with her boyfriend who is finishing up medical school.
Kate chooses not to enter the witness protection program with the rest of the family and her boyfriend chooses this time to propose. As the stunned family (Mom Sharon, sister Emily, and brother Justin) is taken away into the Witness Protection Program and her dad is carried off to spend a year locked up before testifying against the Colombian drug lords and his own best friend, Kate feels all alone and decides to marry Greg.
A year later, her world becomes a roller coaster ride. The agent in charge of her family and others being protected from the same Colombians is found tortured and murdered. Her dad has gone missing or , as the feds say, in the blue zone. Another man in the same program also goes into the blue zone. When someone shoots her co-worker and friend Tina in the head at the lab (after Kate leaves early unexpectedly) and leaves her in a coma, events start to unfold that leaves a trail of dead bodies and Kate as a target. But who is targeting her- the feds, the Columbians, or her own dad?
The story is exciting- I read it in one afternoon/evening. What would any of us do if we found ourselves in Kate's situation? She makes some dangerous mistakes and finds she can't trust anyone- not even her own husband. The secrets her mother, her father, and even a stranger in the park hold could get a girl murdered.
Kate chooses not to enter the witness protection program with the rest of the family and her boyfriend chooses this time to propose. As the stunned family (Mom Sharon, sister Emily, and brother Justin) is taken away into the Witness Protection Program and her dad is carried off to spend a year locked up before testifying against the Colombian drug lords and his own best friend, Kate feels all alone and decides to marry Greg.
A year later, her world becomes a roller coaster ride. The agent in charge of her family and others being protected from the same Colombians is found tortured and murdered. Her dad has gone missing or , as the feds say, in the blue zone. Another man in the same program also goes into the blue zone. When someone shoots her co-worker and friend Tina in the head at the lab (after Kate leaves early unexpectedly) and leaves her in a coma, events start to unfold that leaves a trail of dead bodies and Kate as a target. But who is targeting her- the feds, the Columbians, or her own dad?
The story is exciting- I read it in one afternoon/evening. What would any of us do if we found ourselves in Kate's situation? She makes some dangerous mistakes and finds she can't trust anyone- not even her own husband. The secrets her mother, her father, and even a stranger in the park hold could get a girl murdered.
October 22, 2011
THE BLUE ZONE is a rather pedestrian thriller, but if you like the work of James Patterson or Harlen Coben you won't be too disappointed, yet you most likely will not be thrilled.
The title refers to a classification within the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). "Blue Zone" means that a subject's new identity has been blown, and is no longer under the protection of the program. THE BLUE ZONE relates the tale of a happy American family that is essentially destroyed because of the father's dark and dangerous past. Ben Raab is a very successful businessman, but decades earlier he had a strong and compelling connection to an evil South American drug cartel. Presently, he is under indictment by US authorities for his involvement, and violent elements within the cartel force Mr. Raab and his family to enter a government protection program. His eldest daughter, Kate, becomes the heroine of the novel and must uncover her father's real motivations, and seeks to determine his true identity.
This is an ideal novel if you just want to pass the time, and is about on the level of a better-than-average Made for TV Movie.
The title refers to a classification within the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC). "Blue Zone" means that a subject's new identity has been blown, and is no longer under the protection of the program. THE BLUE ZONE relates the tale of a happy American family that is essentially destroyed because of the father's dark and dangerous past. Ben Raab is a very successful businessman, but decades earlier he had a strong and compelling connection to an evil South American drug cartel. Presently, he is under indictment by US authorities for his involvement, and violent elements within the cartel force Mr. Raab and his family to enter a government protection program. His eldest daughter, Kate, becomes the heroine of the novel and must uncover her father's real motivations, and seeks to determine his true identity.
This is an ideal novel if you just want to pass the time, and is about on the level of a better-than-average Made for TV Movie.
September 13, 2016
Kate Raab's life seems perfect, she has a boyfriend, her job, and her family until
her father runs into trouble with the law. The only thing that he can do is to testify
against his former accomplices in exchange for his families placement in the Witness
Protection Program. But one of his family backs out and everything Kate can count
on is gone. Now a year later her worst fears happen. Her father has disappeared and
someone close to him is murdered. Kate's family is under surveillance, the FBI is
untrustworthy and her father's menacing friends are circling. Kate sets out to find
her father and uncover the secrets someone will kill for to keep buried. This is an
older book from 2007 and one that I missed. It is right up there with all the other
Andrew Gross tales and will keep you turning pages. I gave it a 5.
her father runs into trouble with the law. The only thing that he can do is to testify
against his former accomplices in exchange for his families placement in the Witness
Protection Program. But one of his family backs out and everything Kate can count
on is gone. Now a year later her worst fears happen. Her father has disappeared and
someone close to him is murdered. Kate's family is under surveillance, the FBI is
untrustworthy and her father's menacing friends are circling. Kate sets out to find
her father and uncover the secrets someone will kill for to keep buried. This is an
older book from 2007 and one that I missed. It is right up there with all the other
Andrew Gross tales and will keep you turning pages. I gave it a 5.
July 28, 2008
I've come down with a cold this last week. I took Thursday off work to try to rest and get better, but I don't think it really helped. I still feel like I've got a pool cue ball lodged at the top of my throat and it's not a very pleasant feeling.
Yesterday, this somewhat painful and uncomfortable sensation in my throat begat the beginnings of a scratchy cough and I knew (actually, my wife knew) once I tried to lay down in bed and go to sleep, that scratchy cough would become a pesky inhibitor to sleep.
Sure enough, when I tried to lay down and go to sleep last night, the itchy throat kicked in and I was overcome with a compelling need to cough.
Knowing I had to do something about this in order to sleep, I threw some clothes on and drove over to the neighborhood Smith's grocery store in search for some sugar free (because I'm diabetic) cough drops. I quickly found a couple flavors and headed in the direction of the self-checkout station. On my way, I passed their selection of books for sale and I decided to see what they had. I was pleasantly surprised to see they had Glenn Beck's book in stock. It's only been in stock one other time before that I can remember looking. After looking through the hardcover books, I decided to do a quick pass through the paperbacks to see if there was anything interesting. That's when I found "The Blue Zone" by Andrew Gross. I had heard Gross talking about his new book "A Dark Tide" on the radio and thought I might like this book.
That was between 1:30 and 2:00 in the morning.
I decided to let the cough drops work their magic for a little while before I attempted to sleep again, so I started reading "The Blue Zone." I ended up reading about 150 pages of the book before climbing back in bed (fell to sleep without any problems at all). Then, I read some more this morning, and then finished it tonight- about 22 hours after purchasing it.
I think it goes without saying that it's an easy read.
The story is also an easy one to get into. Kate Raab is the central character in the story and is a graduate student doing some kind of research in genetic biology in the New York City area. Her father is a respected and well known trader of gold and other jewelry commodities.
The story begins with Kate's father being arrested for being involved in a money laundering scheme that was connected to Colombian drug cartels, a charge he firmly denied any knowledge of.
As the government explains the evidence they have against him, they also explain they can work a deal wherein he and his family get witness protection in exchange for his testimony against other people higher up in this scheme. After much deliberation, he decides to go ahead and take the deal. While it seemed he really didn't know what his clients were actually doing with the gold he was selling to them, he knew enough about the transactions and the people involved for the government to build a strong case.
Kate is 23 years-old, about to get married, and working on groundbreaking research in her field. When offered the opportunity to flee into the witness protection program, she declines despite knowing it will be very difficult for her to maintain communication with her family once they go into the program.
Several months later, government authorities go to Kate with news that her father has disappeared and they believe he may be involved in a murder and that her life may be in danger. From here, it seems Kate's whole world gets turned upside down as she tries to figure out why her father was charged in the first place, why he's gone into "the blue zone" (a phrase used for someone in witness protection who has gone missing), and who these people are that he was allegedly involved with and testifying against.
Gross's writing style seems very contemporary and somewhat formulaic. While he does a good job of building suspense and mystery, I can't say he did it completely convincingly. There were a couple times, albeit rare, when I saw something coming that was intended to draw a big gasp of shock from the reader.
In the story, Kate is an insulin-dependent diabetic and was diagnosed just a few years prior to the events in the book. That's interesting to me because I am also a type-1 diabetic and have only been for seven years or so. Gross's handling of the diabetes was a little weak. I think he could have done his research better on the symptoms of high blood sugar and low blood sugar because I didn't buy everything he said about Kate's condition throughout the story.
Twice in the story, a character receives a surprise call on their cell phone. In each case, the character is shocked to hear the voice on the other end of the call because they assumed the call was from someone else. This bothered me because it's a cell phone! Come on! Every cell phone has Caller ID and if it wasn't whoever they thought it was, they would at least see that the number was different or that the Caller ID information was being blocked. I mean, who answers their cell phone blindly anymore and says, "Hey, honey"?!
That being said, this guy is a good storyteller. I'll probably get his next book when it goes to paperback because the premise is interesting.
If you like suspenseful thrillers where the protagonist is thrown into a situation they don't understand and they have to work against all odds to find their way out, you'll probably enjoy The Blue Zone.
May 25, 2020
Read 2010
October 18, 2016
The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross begins when the FBI investigates respected and wealthy businessman Ben Rabb for his involvement in a money laundering scheme with a vicious Columbian crime family.
The story unfolds through the eyes of eldest daughter Kate, 23, who has a solid medical research career trajectory and the ideal boyfriend/husband.
Ben professes his innocence, saying all he did was buy gold on behalf of a customer over a lengthy period. The FBI counters that Ben had knowledge that not all things were legit and under RICO laws, that's enough for a long stretch in prison.
The feds want him to testify against the others he dealt with including a long-time friend. Rabb and family, minus eldest daughter Kate, are brought into the Witness Security Program [WITSEC].
We've seen this story before or so we think. The family settles into its new life and then everything falls apart. The body of a key WITSEC agent is found tortured and murdered. Ben enters the Blue Zone, the alert given when a witness' whereabouts is unknown. Kate believes she's being targeted and when she tracks down her family, her worse fears are realized.
The Blue Zone has plenty of twists that divert the plot. I love twists and I am more than willing to suspend disbelief to accept zig-zags that amp anxiety. In this case, however, I found the key twists to be so contrived. I could not accept them as actions human beings would take.
The setup at the end was so blunt, I expected the story to turn again to deliver that final satisfying jolt.
In my opinion, the biggest surprise of all was the lack of a final twist. I found the ending crossed the line of what I consider to be credible. It rendered all of the previous twists as pure contrivances that made a very mediocre story seem like it was heading somewhere.
The story unfolds through the eyes of eldest daughter Kate, 23, who has a solid medical research career trajectory and the ideal boyfriend/husband.
Ben professes his innocence, saying all he did was buy gold on behalf of a customer over a lengthy period. The FBI counters that Ben had knowledge that not all things were legit and under RICO laws, that's enough for a long stretch in prison.
The feds want him to testify against the others he dealt with including a long-time friend. Rabb and family, minus eldest daughter Kate, are brought into the Witness Security Program [WITSEC].
We've seen this story before or so we think. The family settles into its new life and then everything falls apart. The body of a key WITSEC agent is found tortured and murdered. Ben enters the Blue Zone, the alert given when a witness' whereabouts is unknown. Kate believes she's being targeted and when she tracks down her family, her worse fears are realized.
The Blue Zone has plenty of twists that divert the plot. I love twists and I am more than willing to suspend disbelief to accept zig-zags that amp anxiety. In this case, however, I found the key twists to be so contrived. I could not accept them as actions human beings would take.
The setup at the end was so blunt, I expected the story to turn again to deliver that final satisfying jolt.
In my opinion, the biggest surprise of all was the lack of a final twist. I found the ending crossed the line of what I consider to be credible. It rendered all of the previous twists as pure contrivances that made a very mediocre story seem like it was heading somewhere.
May 20, 2013
Well this book was certainly a thriller. It had suspense, mystery and my heart was definitely racing throughout. James Patterson had a quote on the front cover of this book, `Tense and Chilling'. I agree with the tense. Chilling? Not so much.
The story is about a family that has to go into witness protection because the father, Ben, has to testify against some dangerous criminals. He then goes missing. The eldest daughter, Kate, gets involved in finding him and soon finds herself questioning everything she has ever known. Will she find him? Will she find out the truth?
I enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting, there were twists, a complex plot and enough suspense to get the heart pumping. It was very clever, even if it was a bit predictable. However i feel that the ending didn't do the rest of the book justice. It was like a huge buildup with a tiny ping instead of fireworks.
There is a part in the book that is a little disturbing - the FBI show Kate some pictures of a murder. I think that because you aren't reading the murder as it's happening but reading the FBI telling someone else about it, it is not as disturbing. If Andrew Gross had described the murder as it was happening, then maybe chilling would have been fit to describe the book - and i wouldn't have read it. That's where i draw the line. If you read it, i think you will understand.
If you like thrillers, then this is for you. I don't know if i would read it again. I would recommend it though, also for people who like crime and mystery.
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
The story is about a family that has to go into witness protection because the father, Ben, has to testify against some dangerous criminals. He then goes missing. The eldest daughter, Kate, gets involved in finding him and soon finds herself questioning everything she has ever known. Will she find him? Will she find out the truth?
I enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting, there were twists, a complex plot and enough suspense to get the heart pumping. It was very clever, even if it was a bit predictable. However i feel that the ending didn't do the rest of the book justice. It was like a huge buildup with a tiny ping instead of fireworks.
There is a part in the book that is a little disturbing - the FBI show Kate some pictures of a murder. I think that because you aren't reading the murder as it's happening but reading the FBI telling someone else about it, it is not as disturbing. If Andrew Gross had described the murder as it was happening, then maybe chilling would have been fit to describe the book - and i wouldn't have read it. That's where i draw the line. If you read it, i think you will understand.
If you like thrillers, then this is for you. I don't know if i would read it again. I would recommend it though, also for people who like crime and mystery.
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
March 12, 2011
Kate Raab is 23 years old and life is perfect. She has a close relationship with her parents and siblings, a loving boyfriend, Greg, and a promising career as a biologist. Then things start to go wrong: her father is arrested for racketeering; he has to testify against a Columbian drug cartel; her family has to abandon their wealthy lifestyle and enter the FBI’s Witness Protection Program. Allowed no contact, Kate learns to live without them: at least she has Greg to love and support her. But, just when things seem to be back on an even keel, her life turns upside down. Her best friend is shot and fighting for her life; her father has gone missing from the Program; her family’s case worker is found brutally murdered. Is the FBI lying to her? Is someone trying to kill her? Then she stumbles upon a family secret that has her wondering if everything she has trusted in her whole life has been a lie. She needs to find her father, but she no longer knows in whom she can trust.
Andrew Gross’s debut into solo writing is a fast-moving nail-biter. His heroine is believable, and he makes it easy for us to identify with her thoughts, feelings and emotions. Having set the scene, he keeps the plot twists coming at full speed. Once you start reading, this one is impossible to put down. Let’s see more from Andrew Gross!
Andrew Gross’s debut into solo writing is a fast-moving nail-biter. His heroine is believable, and he makes it easy for us to identify with her thoughts, feelings and emotions. Having set the scene, he keeps the plot twists coming at full speed. Once you start reading, this one is impossible to put down. Let’s see more from Andrew Gross!
July 2, 2012
Enjoyed this book, which is an easy read. Characters are fleshed out through an action filled plot. Character development also occurs through the action of the plot. The characters seem a little flat and superficial except for Kate Raab, who is a very likeable and engaging protagonist. Her character is much more developed. Unfortunately, no other characters are so well developed. We're introduced to Kate's parents, her fiancee, her siblings and various FBI agents, and criminal moguls. Some of these characters create interest, especially Kate's sister, Emily, but they're dropped as the action leads away from them. As Kate's family is swept into the Witness Protection Program, Kate opts not to enter the program. She decides to stay with her boyfriend, Greg, who is in medical school. Greg's characted is superficially developed also. Other than one lovemaking scene, the relationship between Kate and Greg would appear to be fairly bland. This seems to serve the author's purpose of hiding secrets so that he can reveal them at the end of the book. The books readability and strength of plot rate a 3.5 with me, and fill an important niche on my bookshelf.
February 19, 2014
Another terrific read by Andrew Gross. No wonder James Patterson asked Andrew to work with him. I read several of the books he wrote with Patterson and thought the Murder Club was wonderful when Patterson began it himself. Andrew did not miss a beat when he took over the writing of books 2 & 3. I loved the series and followed it after Maxine Paetro took over. However, I was disappointed by unrealistic relationship between Lindsay and Joe in 11th Hour and the series fell of my list after I had to force myself to finish the disjointed 12th of Never-- the unrealistic male attitude was unsatisfying.
Gross is my new favorite. Of the 8 stand alone novels, there was only one I could not rate a 4 or 5 star--the was Eyes Wide Open--it just wasn't for me. No Way Back is my absolute favorite. It is one I wished I had written. This book is being adapted for an ABC TV series--really looking forward to it. I thought I read all of the Gross books but found I missed one which I have just ordered I have also pre-ordered his most recent which will be launched in April. His page turning suspense novel have a moral or family core which can be counted upon.
Gross is my new favorite. Of the 8 stand alone novels, there was only one I could not rate a 4 or 5 star--the was Eyes Wide Open--it just wasn't for me. No Way Back is my absolute favorite. It is one I wished I had written. This book is being adapted for an ABC TV series--really looking forward to it. I thought I read all of the Gross books but found I missed one which I have just ordered I have also pre-ordered his most recent which will be launched in April. His page turning suspense novel have a moral or family core which can be counted upon.
April 7, 2014
I decided to read this after meeting and hearing Andrew Gross at the Southwest Florida Reading Festival. Gross paired with James Patterson for 6 books before striking out on his own. I was a little disappointed in the book. Kate's family is placed in witness protection after her father testifies against a Columbian drug cartel. Kate decides not to go into the program, as she is over 21. Don't know about the legality of that and seems kind of dumb on her part. Lots of action, but it left me questioning the decisions made by the characters.
June 12, 2010
Fun to read. Not terribly hard to piece together but somewhat suspenseful, at times.
I cringed each time one character called another character "Baby". Ugh! It seemed to happen a lot.
Kate, the main character, seemed rather naive throughout the book and didn't seem to catch on to the seriousness of her situation but, still, it was a fun mystery thriller.
This book won't rock your world but it's still pretty good.
I cringed each time one character called another character "Baby". Ugh! It seemed to happen a lot.
Kate, the main character, seemed rather naive throughout the book and didn't seem to catch on to the seriousness of her situation but, still, it was a fun mystery thriller.
This book won't rock your world but it's still pretty good.
February 10, 2012
Abandoned this at the 50 page stage. I remember now why I can't take this guy's books. Every time someone speaks they say the name of the person they're speaking to, sometimes more than once in the same sentence. It drives me batty! In real life you don't say, "Hello, Paul. How are you today, Paul? Did you see the stockmarket's taken a turn for the worse, Paul."
This supposedly famous writer does it ALL THE TIME. Where are the editors/copy editors?
This supposedly famous writer does it ALL THE TIME. Where are the editors/copy editors?
August 10, 2017
Thanks for recommending this one Lawrence! I loved the way it plays out and all the unexpected twists and turns this one takes. Gross is a pretty talented writer and I enjoy his style. The unraveling at the end was a tad confusing for a minute but when the big reveal happens the big aha is well earned.
June 7, 2022
4,5 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Quote blz 8: " Ja" moppelde Varga, " Vwrtel je broers over mij". Hij draaide zich weer naar de oude man. Kijk dan, klootzakken, zelfs dood ben je nog gevaarlijk.
Quote blz 29: Diabetes type 1. De heftige variant. Kate was in eerste instantie een beetje gedeprimeerd geraakt. Haar leven veranderde radicaal. Ze most stoppen met voetbal en goed in de gaten houden wanneer ze at, terwijl iedereen om haar heen pizza's naar binnen werkte en op zaterdag avond uit zijn dak ging.
Wat een geweldig, goed geschreven verhaal. Grotendeels verteld uit de ik-vorm KATE. Kate heeft een vader met een verleden.Het sleept haar familie in witness protection. En dan begint de rollercoaster echt. Pagina naar pagina plot twists.
De korte hoofdstukken maken het makkelijk om te lezen. En het einde, die zag ik niet aan komen. Ik had wel vermoedens, .aar het uiteindelijke eind, dat het toch nog een staartje.
Quote blz 8: " Ja" moppelde Varga, " Vwrtel je broers over mij". Hij draaide zich weer naar de oude man. Kijk dan, klootzakken, zelfs dood ben je nog gevaarlijk.
Quote blz 29: Diabetes type 1. De heftige variant. Kate was in eerste instantie een beetje gedeprimeerd geraakt. Haar leven veranderde radicaal. Ze most stoppen met voetbal en goed in de gaten houden wanneer ze at, terwijl iedereen om haar heen pizza's naar binnen werkte en op zaterdag avond uit zijn dak ging.
Wat een geweldig, goed geschreven verhaal. Grotendeels verteld uit de ik-vorm KATE. Kate heeft een vader met een verleden.Het sleept haar familie in witness protection. En dan begint de rollercoaster echt. Pagina naar pagina plot twists.
De korte hoofdstukken maken het makkelijk om te lezen. En het einde, die zag ik niet aan komen. Ik had wel vermoedens, .aar het uiteindelijke eind, dat het toch nog een staartje.
April 7, 2017
Benjamin Raab ist ein fürsorglicher Familienvater, der immer für seine Kinder da ist und sich sehr um sie kümmert. Darum ist es für alle ein heftiger Schock, als er wegen Geldwäsche verhaftet wird. Das FBI übt Druck aus und bringt ihn schließlich dazu, gegen Aufnahme ins Zeugenschutzprogramm gegen einige Geschäftspartner auszusagen. Die ganze Familie wird unter neuem Namen an einen anderen Ort gebracht, außer Tochter Kate, die lieber mit ihrem Freund untertaucht.
Aber im Zeugenschutzprogramm läuft bald vieles aus dem Ruder. Und Kate fühlt sich verfolgt. Zudem findet sie Hinweise darauf, dass ihr Vater wohl Geheimnisse hatte und nicht ganz so unschuldig ist, wie er erst schien. Allmählich löst sich ihre Welt auf...
Das Buch ist eine gute und spannende Geschichte, die einen fesselt. Warum also nicht mehr Sterne? Weil mich die Charaktere teilweise doch sehr nerven - ihre Reaktionen und Aktionen sind manchmal nicht nachvollziehbar und für mich nicht normal. Außerdem driftet die Geschichte gelegentlich ein wenig ins Melodramatische ab.
Aber im Zeugenschutzprogramm läuft bald vieles aus dem Ruder. Und Kate fühlt sich verfolgt. Zudem findet sie Hinweise darauf, dass ihr Vater wohl Geheimnisse hatte und nicht ganz so unschuldig ist, wie er erst schien. Allmählich löst sich ihre Welt auf...
Das Buch ist eine gute und spannende Geschichte, die einen fesselt. Warum also nicht mehr Sterne? Weil mich die Charaktere teilweise doch sehr nerven - ihre Reaktionen und Aktionen sind manchmal nicht nachvollziehbar und für mich nicht normal. Außerdem driftet die Geschichte gelegentlich ein wenig ins Melodramatische ab.
July 8, 2020
27. The Blue Zone • Andrew Gross // this one will leave you guessing until the very end!! Absolutely loved it!! ❤️ couldn’t put it down 📖 so well written! When her family are forced into witness protection, Kate decides to stay on the outside to live life as she knew it.. but is it ever that simple? Kate is forced to navigate her past to piece together what’s really going on.. and NO ONE is exactly who you think they are. Everything seems to be going wrong.. but is there anyone she can she really trust?? 5/5 ⭐️ #withacolourinthetitle
October 10, 2023
This was my first time reading a book that Andrew Gross wrote by himself. I read one that he co authored with James Patterson a few years ago and I liked it. This was a great book. Maybe 4 to 4.5 stars. At first it wasn’t a page turner, but the more I got into it, the more it became a page turner. So many twists and lots of secrets and lies. I just had to know what was going to happen next. I only hate that Kate had to go through what she went through to find out the truth about some things.
January 13, 2024
Código Azul está lleno de giros inesperados y momentos destacados, sin embargo no lograron impactar a criterio propio, Los personajes algunos un tanto aburridos en especial la protagonista, Considero que hay varias inconsistencias en la trama y poco creíble. No es un mal libro, tiene sus momentos de virtud con sus giros inesperados pero solo eso, una historia que podia dar mas pero lamentablemente no la ejecutaron con mayor fuerza. 2.5/5.
October 12, 2018
A Gripping Thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
January 14, 2021
The Blue Zone is suspense from beginning to end. A chilling thriller, a great read.
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