What do you think?
Rate this book
Jason Green #1
The Snowman of Zanzibar
The books in the Jason Green series are stand-alone novels and can be read in any order.'A cracking thriller series. Gordon Wallis' vivid descriptions blend seamlessly with all of the mystery, intrigue and high-octane action his readers love. Absolutely riveting!'The Snowman Of ZanzibarThe azure waters of a serene tropical paradise hide a sinister and murderous criminal undercurrent. A dark secret exposed leads to appalling bloodshed and chaos. How did it all go so dreadfully wrong?Ex-soldier Jason Green was grappling with depression and drowning in alcohol. The endless London winter had been bitterly cold. The freelance insurance fraud work was mundane, but all of this changes on a frigid February morning.The wealthy client was desperate. Just how was his high-flying young son making so much money?It sounded like a dream assignment. An escape from the city and a bit of travel. And for a while it was. But on an idyllic island utopia, someone is watching, and a ruthless drug empire operates quietly in the shadows.As Green digs deeper he uncovers the truth, but a series of unfortunate events occur. Events far beyond his control. Events that result in unspeakable violence and horror.The cartel must be stopped, but the body count is rising.In this electrifying first instalment of the smash-hit series, the action escalates to a fever pitch, ensnaring you in a whirlwind of suspense.Steel yourself for a climax so profoundly shocking, it will haunt your thoughts for a long time after the final page is turned.
A very, very long time.This is nail-biting, hardcore entertainment delivered at breakneck speed.Read it now!
A very, very long time.This is nail-biting, hardcore entertainment delivered at breakneck speed.Read it now!
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2018
371 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
June 19, 2024
A new to me series which I read because I have been to Zanzibar and absolutely loved it, so of course I had to read a book which was set there.
I liked the main character of Jason Green immediately. He is an ex Selous Scout from the Rhodesian army so it is apparent from the beginning that he will have some serious talents in guerrilla warfare. I suppose his usual work as a PI in England would not require these skills but up against a drug lord in Zanzibar he shows up well!
I enjoyed the whole book up until the end which the blurb describes as "profoundly shocking" and I thought was page after endless page of gratuitous nonsense. But that's just me, and it will not put me off trying more of this series in the future. One complete star off for a pointless ending and four stars for the rest of the book.
I liked the main character of Jason Green immediately. He is an ex Selous Scout from the Rhodesian army so it is apparent from the beginning that he will have some serious talents in guerrilla warfare. I suppose his usual work as a PI in England would not require these skills but up against a drug lord in Zanzibar he shows up well!
I enjoyed the whole book up until the end which the blurb describes as "profoundly shocking" and I thought was page after endless page of gratuitous nonsense. But that's just me, and it will not put me off trying more of this series in the future. One complete star off for a pointless ending and four stars for the rest of the book.
March 29, 2019
The Snowman of Zanzibar starts off slow, giving the reader time to get to know the characters and the location. Then, when the action picks up, the book takes you on a wild ride.
I love the writing style of Gordon Wallis. He has beautifully descriptive sentences that took me away and dropped me into the story, making me feel as though I was there. He’s also an expert at creating characters you feel like you know. I really got to know and sympathized with Jason Green.
Once the action started, there wasn’t really time to put the book down. I was glued to the pages the entire time. The synopsis isn’t over exaggerating, when the end came, I had to take a minute to catch my breath and process.
I loved this book. I’m a fan of Gordon Wallis and I’m really looking forward to reading more from him. I recommend checking this one out!
*I received a copy of this book for a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
I love the writing style of Gordon Wallis. He has beautifully descriptive sentences that took me away and dropped me into the story, making me feel as though I was there. He’s also an expert at creating characters you feel like you know. I really got to know and sympathized with Jason Green.
Once the action started, there wasn’t really time to put the book down. I was glued to the pages the entire time. The synopsis isn’t over exaggerating, when the end came, I had to take a minute to catch my breath and process.
I loved this book. I’m a fan of Gordon Wallis and I’m really looking forward to reading more from him. I recommend checking this one out!
*I received a copy of this book for a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
March 30, 2019
The Snowman of Zanzibar by Gordon Wallis is easy to read….by this I don’t mean simple, but his writing style is a joy to read…..not fast paced, but slowly building the compelling atmosphere and mystery in this clever thriller.
An ex- Rhodesian soldier who now works as an insurance fraud investigator. Jason is hired by a London investment banker to look into his son’s seemingly inexplicable spending, just where did he get his money ?..and so the story starts , first London, then to Cape Town and to Zanzibar…
Jason seems quite a lonely person his unexpected friendship with his target, Richard makes for an interesting situation….
Wallis has written a wonderfully detailed and well crafted story to take your time over and enjoy, hard to put down, full of emotion and yet an action filled detective and mystery thriller with a marvellously explosive end…..
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
An ex- Rhodesian soldier who now works as an insurance fraud investigator. Jason is hired by a London investment banker to look into his son’s seemingly inexplicable spending, just where did he get his money ?..and so the story starts , first London, then to Cape Town and to Zanzibar…
Jason seems quite a lonely person his unexpected friendship with his target, Richard makes for an interesting situation….
Wallis has written a wonderfully detailed and well crafted story to take your time over and enjoy, hard to put down, full of emotion and yet an action filled detective and mystery thriller with a marvellously explosive end…..
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
June 4, 2018
Gordon Wallis' writing style makes for easy reading. His use of short, highly descriptive sentences efficiently transports the reader through time and space. The book is good; in fact, it is very good. The somewhat slow start allows the author to fully develop the characters to the point where I, for one, had become quite endeared to all of them (villains excepted) before the real action began. It also allowed the detailed descriptions of Cape Town (and surrounds) and Zanzibar to take the reader there.
A great first book by Mr. Wallis - I look forward to the sequel and/or his next book.
A great first book by Mr. Wallis - I look forward to the sequel and/or his next book.
February 7, 2020
Loved this Book!...
I am not a 'kindle' kind of person... (I love the feel of paper in my hands...so give me a book any day!)... However... my daughter kindly downloaded the book and lent me her kindle! From the beginning.... I fell in love with Jason Green!
I enjoyed Gordon Wallis's writing style tremendously - since I live in South Africa. His descriptions made London real to me... and it was a trip I really enjoyed going on. Arriving in Cape Town, South Africa.... was a breath of fresh air as it too - was the 'real thing'! No peculiar descriptions of a place I know so well - (some authors present the city is such a way in their writings.... it fails to sound familiar to me. I saw the story develop through Jason Green's eyes.... and my trip alongside him..... to Zanzibar was a treat! I felt like I was finally getting to 'see' and experience this 'want-to-visit' Holiday destination in a interesting way.
High drama.... throughout.... which began with the descriptions of places and people in the story mounted to a true thriller senario as the story continued to unfold. I found that not wanting to put the book down until the ending was revealed had me reading far into the night. And... hoping against hope all the time... that the new-found hero, Jason Green would come to no harm as he continued to out-think and outwit a cruel villain!
A good story, well told. For me... an enjoyable read from an author who bears the same surname as myself. (Which in truth....was my first attaction to this book!) Well done, Gordon Wallis in creating for us.... an enterprising, capable 'African' hero. Totally refreshing and believeable!
I am not a 'kindle' kind of person... (I love the feel of paper in my hands...so give me a book any day!)... However... my daughter kindly downloaded the book and lent me her kindle! From the beginning.... I fell in love with Jason Green!
I enjoyed Gordon Wallis's writing style tremendously - since I live in South Africa. His descriptions made London real to me... and it was a trip I really enjoyed going on. Arriving in Cape Town, South Africa.... was a breath of fresh air as it too - was the 'real thing'! No peculiar descriptions of a place I know so well - (some authors present the city is such a way in their writings.... it fails to sound familiar to me. I saw the story develop through Jason Green's eyes.... and my trip alongside him..... to Zanzibar was a treat! I felt like I was finally getting to 'see' and experience this 'want-to-visit' Holiday destination in a interesting way.
High drama.... throughout.... which began with the descriptions of places and people in the story mounted to a true thriller senario as the story continued to unfold. I found that not wanting to put the book down until the ending was revealed had me reading far into the night. And... hoping against hope all the time... that the new-found hero, Jason Green would come to no harm as he continued to out-think and outwit a cruel villain!
A good story, well told. For me... an enjoyable read from an author who bears the same surname as myself. (Which in truth....was my first attaction to this book!) Well done, Gordon Wallis in creating for us.... an enterprising, capable 'African' hero. Totally refreshing and believeable!
Want to read
September 2, 2020🎁FREE on Amazon today (9/2/2020)! 🎁
March 26, 2019
Gordon Wallis' The Snowman of Zanzibar is a fantastic story that hits all the right buttons for a thriller mystery. While the story proceeds at a fairly fast pace, the telling of it is anything but rushed. The book goes along at a pace that feels almost sluggish until you think about what has happened so far. However, despite the fact that it feels like it's taking forever to get anywhere, the story and writing are compelling enough that you keep going. The writing reminds me of Jon Land's Blaine McCracken series. The investigation and mystery are far more important than the action, but the action is integral to the resolution.
I think what really made the story something that I had to finish was the way that Richard and Jason start to become part of each others' lives. The wall between investigator and target begins to crumble. This is where you start to really see the growth in Jason. In all his interactions with others, he keeps his distance. He never has a moment where he meets friends, leading to a very lonely and depressing picture of his life. The accidental friendship he cultivates with Richard, his target, seems entirely out of character for the man in London. However, you can see that the Jason Green of London is not the same Jason Green in Africa. The bits of him that were suppressed by his exile to the UK seem to come out more and more. Interestingly enough, he doesn't turn into the hardened spec ops character of his past. Death and torture affect him in very real ways, and his friendship with Richard turns the job into something very personal. However, it is this training that makes the whole story plausible, as without it his reactions to what happens on Zanzibar would be largely different.
Wallis takes care and time in setting up the entire story. What feels like a sluggish start to the story is actually a well-crafted backstory. Wallis drops minor details that seem unimportant, but generally come out later as the key to understanding motivations for Jason as well as extremely well-hidden foreshadowing.
I really enjoyed this read. It's been a long time since I've delved into this sort of story and I realized, again, why I liked it. I definitely found it hard to put down and recommend it for anybody who likes realistic characters and some action with your mystery.
I think what really made the story something that I had to finish was the way that Richard and Jason start to become part of each others' lives. The wall between investigator and target begins to crumble. This is where you start to really see the growth in Jason. In all his interactions with others, he keeps his distance. He never has a moment where he meets friends, leading to a very lonely and depressing picture of his life. The accidental friendship he cultivates with Richard, his target, seems entirely out of character for the man in London. However, you can see that the Jason Green of London is not the same Jason Green in Africa. The bits of him that were suppressed by his exile to the UK seem to come out more and more. Interestingly enough, he doesn't turn into the hardened spec ops character of his past. Death and torture affect him in very real ways, and his friendship with Richard turns the job into something very personal. However, it is this training that makes the whole story plausible, as without it his reactions to what happens on Zanzibar would be largely different.
Wallis takes care and time in setting up the entire story. What feels like a sluggish start to the story is actually a well-crafted backstory. Wallis drops minor details that seem unimportant, but generally come out later as the key to understanding motivations for Jason as well as extremely well-hidden foreshadowing.
I really enjoyed this read. It's been a long time since I've delved into this sort of story and I realized, again, why I liked it. I definitely found it hard to put down and recommend it for anybody who likes realistic characters and some action with your mystery.
March 29, 2019
The snowman of Zanzibar is a story that travels around the world. Jason Green is an ex Rhodesian soldier and now is he working in London as a freelance insurance fraud investigator and is a bit depressed. Then he got an interesting and well paid job to search, what, the son of a wealthy businessman is doing to make money. In this case he has to travel to Zimbabwe and Tanzania, where he ends in a cruel and sad history. By this novel I get an intriguing glimpse of the African way of living and the lovely people who live there. The bad ones are in fact evil and the good ones will do what they can to protect each other.
The snowman of Zanzibar is an easy written book and the characters are well developed. It’s a fast paced novel with a good plot line and with a message inside. The atmosphere and locations are well-described and the personalities are lively.
This is a book full of action, but besides that it looks between the lines is some depth in it and I am looking forward to read other adventures of Jason Green.
https://indeboekenkast.wordpress.com/...+
The snowman of Zanzibar is an easy written book and the characters are well developed. It’s a fast paced novel with a good plot line and with a message inside. The atmosphere and locations are well-described and the personalities are lively.
This is a book full of action, but besides that it looks between the lines is some depth in it and I am looking forward to read other adventures of Jason Green.
https://indeboekenkast.wordpress.com/...+
December 15, 2018
Just finished: The Snowman of Zanzibar - Gordon Wallis.
Ex Rhodesian solder who works as a freelance insurance fraud investigator is hired by a wealthy London investment banker to look into his son’s inexplicable spending sprees and so the story begins in London, moves to Cape Town and then on to Zanzibar. I thoroughly enjoyed this great action packed story line which had my attention throughout the book. Looking forward to Gordon Wallis’ next book.
Ex Rhodesian solder who works as a freelance insurance fraud investigator is hired by a wealthy London investment banker to look into his son’s inexplicable spending sprees and so the story begins in London, moves to Cape Town and then on to Zanzibar. I thoroughly enjoyed this great action packed story line which had my attention throughout the book. Looking forward to Gordon Wallis’ next book.
June 5, 2018
Through the dreary world of an almost has been , comes a thrilling tale of suspence and intrigue. A rollercoaster ride of emotion. This page turning thriller will keep you riveted and perplexed until its final explosive conclusion....... A modern day masterpiece
June 13, 2019
This is a great book introducing a new character to our reading world. The author does not make it easy to see what is coming next and some of the twists in the story made me wonder what just happened! I am looking for the next chapter!
June 13, 2019
Gordon Wallis captured my attention from the very first chapter. His writing style makes for a page turning read and being from Africa myself, it was easy to identify with the main character Jason Green. Well done and I hope to see more of these novels in the years to come.
July 4, 2019
I just finished your book and greatly enjoyed it. Jason Green's exploits to follow a client from the London area to Zanzibar was quite descriptive and entertaining. Can't wait to see what next lies for Jason.
Thanks,
Derrick
December 3, 2018
Crime and retribution ?
Everything comes to him who waits a fantastic story with a very satisfactory ending of a crime lords punishment of his own making.
Everything comes to him who waits a fantastic story with a very satisfactory ending of a crime lords punishment of his own making.
July 9, 2019
Enjoyed it. Nice easy read.
July 17, 2018
Great read which draws you into a web of darkness.
The. contrasting backdrops of dreary London in the winter and vibrant Zanzibar lend this detective story atmosphere and surprise. The character of Jason Green reveals his hidden depths when back in African territory. The story has passion and a strong message.
The. contrasting backdrops of dreary London in the winter and vibrant Zanzibar lend this detective story atmosphere and surprise. The character of Jason Green reveals his hidden depths when back in African territory. The story has passion and a strong message.
June 5, 2019
Really enjoyed the story which is written well and keeps you reading 💪💪
August 8, 2024
It doesnt happen often but I could not finish this book. They always say that stake outs arent exciting and in reality they are very boring. I read half the book and we were on a stake out and had a blow by blow discription of all the boring details.The most exciting events were the streak dinners with blue cheese sauce, beers and smoking lots of cigarettes.All of this could have been covered in a few chapters . I was generous with giving this book 2 stars.
June 27, 2018
Got it free and unlike so many freebies I have got it was a pleasant surprise. Really good read - couldn't put it down. The main character was very believable unlike the super hero which is so common in African books of this type. I would rate this Author in the same league as Tony Park. Look forward to the next book!
August 21, 2019
An enthralling tale of a latter day crusader who is caught up in an exciting modern day mystery. The pace is fast moving but can be read in chunks. Very descriptive writing brings the characters alive and the surroundings can be felt and sometimes even smelt! Looking forward to reading the next adventure of Jason Green.... Thank you Gordon for writing this tale.
October 3, 2019
Is my book after all!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
I was looking for a thriller with an African twist, and The Snowman of Zanzibar filled the bill. It is one of those books you need to work through the first few chapters to get to the good stuff. I can understand Gordon Wallis as he describes the weather in wintery London. This was one of the main reasons I left too!
Jason Green, the protagonist of this thriller, is suffering under the weight of a cold and wet winter and fondly remembers his homeland in Africa. I was taught that when I am writing the protagonist must start to move and keep moving forward as the story progresses. Unfortunately, Gordon does not follow this rule in the first half of the book. Jason wanders around London grumbling about the weather, smoking cigarettes, and drinking too much. I felt I was kept in London for way too long, and I almost put the book down. But I was glad I didn’t.
Once you get used to Gordon’s writing style of short and punchy sentences, you can relax and start to get into the character of Jason Green.
As soon as we leave London and head to Africa the book takes on a new life. The descriptions of South Africa are accurate and well-written. In South Africa, the story takes on a different pace and develops into a thriller. I found a little intrigue to keep me reading and a beautiful fem fatale to keep me interested. The Snowman of Zanzibar starts to build to an excellent crescendo as we move on to Zanzibar where the story unfolds. The descriptions of Zanzibar are good and reasonably accurate. Paje is a lovely part of the island, which is where Jason Green ends up and it is well described.
The change in Jason from the guy in London to the masterful spy come special forces expert in Zanzibar was a little hard to take, and the second character was way too weak for someone who had spent the last few years in his occupation. The special forces stuff does come a bit too quickly to a 49-year-old guy who left the army some twenty years ago. But, we can suspend our disbelief as the story unfolds. I found the spy stuff was a little too easy. Breaking into a well-fortified house and not even having a dog present is odd in Africa.
Jason’s skills as a private eye and a special forces expert come into their own as he manages to save the day. There are a few unexpected incidents that keep you on your toes. Gordon’s writing style takes on an even more punchy attitude with great short hard-hitting sentences. A little like Lee Child, with a no-nonsense attitude and attention to detail. I found the last three chapters to be excellently written. I felt the emotions and fear and could not stop turning the pages!
Overall, The Snowman of Zanzibar, although slow to start when it gets into its stride is well worth the read. When you get used to the author's writing style which is first person and fast short sentences with a lot of attention to detail then the book is engaging and different.
I enjoyed the read and look forward to picking up another one of Gordon Wallis’ books very soon.
Jason Green, the protagonist of this thriller, is suffering under the weight of a cold and wet winter and fondly remembers his homeland in Africa. I was taught that when I am writing the protagonist must start to move and keep moving forward as the story progresses. Unfortunately, Gordon does not follow this rule in the first half of the book. Jason wanders around London grumbling about the weather, smoking cigarettes, and drinking too much. I felt I was kept in London for way too long, and I almost put the book down. But I was glad I didn’t.
Once you get used to Gordon’s writing style of short and punchy sentences, you can relax and start to get into the character of Jason Green.
As soon as we leave London and head to Africa the book takes on a new life. The descriptions of South Africa are accurate and well-written. In South Africa, the story takes on a different pace and develops into a thriller. I found a little intrigue to keep me reading and a beautiful fem fatale to keep me interested. The Snowman of Zanzibar starts to build to an excellent crescendo as we move on to Zanzibar where the story unfolds. The descriptions of Zanzibar are good and reasonably accurate. Paje is a lovely part of the island, which is where Jason Green ends up and it is well described.
The change in Jason from the guy in London to the masterful spy come special forces expert in Zanzibar was a little hard to take, and the second character was way too weak for someone who had spent the last few years in his occupation. The special forces stuff does come a bit too quickly to a 49-year-old guy who left the army some twenty years ago. But, we can suspend our disbelief as the story unfolds. I found the spy stuff was a little too easy. Breaking into a well-fortified house and not even having a dog present is odd in Africa.
Jason’s skills as a private eye and a special forces expert come into their own as he manages to save the day. There are a few unexpected incidents that keep you on your toes. Gordon’s writing style takes on an even more punchy attitude with great short hard-hitting sentences. A little like Lee Child, with a no-nonsense attitude and attention to detail. I found the last three chapters to be excellently written. I felt the emotions and fear and could not stop turning the pages!
Overall, The Snowman of Zanzibar, although slow to start when it gets into its stride is well worth the read. When you get used to the author's writing style which is first person and fast short sentences with a lot of attention to detail then the book is engaging and different.
I enjoyed the read and look forward to picking up another one of Gordon Wallis’ books very soon.
May 7, 2021
This novel was provided free of charge by the author and the folks at books2read.com in return for an honest review(at least that is my assumption, considering word of mouth is an independent author's best marketing tool).
That said, the book is about a former soldier, Jason Green, living and working in London (England) as a freelance insurance/private investigator, trying to make ends meet.
The story starts out with Green working a case, when seemingly out of the blue he gets a call from a rich socialite to investigate the son for his source of income - as the patriarch believes that the son is not able to live the opulent lifestyle that he currently lives as the owner of a surfboard shop in England (and likely fearing damage to the socialite's professional reputation). In the course of his investigation, Green is asked to follow the n'er-do-well son to Zanzibar, Africa.
In the course of reading this book, which I find now that I am reading for review ( and tending to be more critical) as opposed to reading for simple pleasure, I realize that this author goes to great lengths to paint a vivid mental picture (especially with chapters being in excess of nineteen pages for the majority of the book ( at least 17/20 chapters). In the process of painting his mental pictures, the author appeared to not know the function of a comma (as it seemed that some of his descriptive prose was a tad verbose).
One of the major critiques that I had was how Wallis would include conversations between multiple parties in a single paragraph. This is the major issue that I had with his novel.
Also, in the course of reading this novel, I was exposed to some of the differences between "proper" English and American English (the primary example being the "proper" English of spelling words, such as "adrenalin" and "faeces" and the American English methodology of spelling "adrenaline"). However, while this did take some getting used to, I believe that the proofreader could have done a better job and not use both spellings (be a little more consistent).
Critiques aside, the story resembles "The Cask of Amontillado " in that Green takes revenge on the malefactors of the story by locking him away from his ventures (albeit in a rusted shipping container rather than bricking the transgressors in an subterranean chamber) with the end result being that both characters end up taking leave of their faculties prior to their respective demise.
That being said, in the course of giving my review, I would rate this somewhere between three to three and a quarter stars out a a possible five stars (and with goodreads.com, this translates to a soft three stars).
As with all reviews, this is just my five cents worth.
That said, the book is about a former soldier, Jason Green, living and working in London (England) as a freelance insurance/private investigator, trying to make ends meet.
The story starts out with Green working a case, when seemingly out of the blue he gets a call from a rich socialite to investigate the son for his source of income - as the patriarch believes that the son is not able to live the opulent lifestyle that he currently lives as the owner of a surfboard shop in England (and likely fearing damage to the socialite's professional reputation). In the course of his investigation, Green is asked to follow the n'er-do-well son to Zanzibar, Africa.
In the course of reading this book, which I find now that I am reading for review ( and tending to be more critical) as opposed to reading for simple pleasure, I realize that this author goes to great lengths to paint a vivid mental picture (especially with chapters being in excess of nineteen pages for the majority of the book ( at least 17/20 chapters). In the process of painting his mental pictures, the author appeared to not know the function of a comma (as it seemed that some of his descriptive prose was a tad verbose).
One of the major critiques that I had was how Wallis would include conversations between multiple parties in a single paragraph. This is the major issue that I had with his novel.
Also, in the course of reading this novel, I was exposed to some of the differences between "proper" English and American English (the primary example being the "proper" English of spelling words, such as "adrenalin" and "faeces" and the American English methodology of spelling "adrenaline"). However, while this did take some getting used to, I believe that the proofreader could have done a better job and not use both spellings (be a little more consistent).
Critiques aside, the story resembles "The Cask of Amontillado " in that Green takes revenge on the malefactors of the story by locking him away from his ventures (albeit in a rusted shipping container rather than bricking the transgressors in an subterranean chamber) with the end result being that both characters end up taking leave of their faculties prior to their respective demise.
That being said, in the course of giving my review, I would rate this somewhere between three to three and a quarter stars out a a possible five stars (and with goodreads.com, this translates to a soft three stars).
As with all reviews, this is just my five cents worth.
March 15, 2025
Jason Green is a retired soldier turned insurance fraud investigator. He doesn't find investigating insurance fraud very exciting, so he takes side-job as a private investigator. Usually, his side jobs are simply things like investigating spouses who are suspected of cheating. However, he is contacted by a very wealthy potential client who wants to hire him to find out out how his son, whom he doesn't really give money too, is suddenly making enough money to live a pretty luxurious life.
Green's investigation takes him around the streets of London to first Cape Town and the Zanzibar, where things quickly grow complicated as he accidentally runs into the subject of his investigation in a bar and a rather odd sort of kinship grows between Jason and Richard, the focus of his investigation.
The premise of this book held promise, but the plot turned out to be a bit predictable in some ways. What I found most frustrating about the book was that it was very slow going in the beginning because if felt like Wallis needed to include every single detail that Green observed during his investigation of Richard along with every single detail about how he went about his detective work. This made the writing, in the beginning a bit repetitive, and it felt like the writing in this beginning section of the book was a bunch of short, choppy sentences that only led to the writing feeling more repetitive and, frankly, a bit boring.
The second aspect of the book that I also found frustrating was that when the mystery and the tension began to build, the rest of the book seemed rushed until the last three chapters that seemed completely unnecessary. The last three chapters switched from Jason Green's point of view as the former soldier, turned investigator, to that of the criminal that Green deals with. These chapters seemed completely unnecessary and did not bring to fruition a resolution regarding Green's and Richard's characters even though it did bring a resolution to how the criminal was dealt with as a way to protect Richard (as the son of Green's client).
2.25 stars, round down to 2 here on GR since I can't do partial stars.
Green's investigation takes him around the streets of London to first Cape Town and the Zanzibar, where things quickly grow complicated as he accidentally runs into the subject of his investigation in a bar and a rather odd sort of kinship grows between Jason and Richard, the focus of his investigation.
The premise of this book held promise, but the plot turned out to be a bit predictable in some ways. What I found most frustrating about the book was that it was very slow going in the beginning because if felt like Wallis needed to include every single detail that Green observed during his investigation of Richard along with every single detail about how he went about his detective work. This made the writing, in the beginning a bit repetitive, and it felt like the writing in this beginning section of the book was a bunch of short, choppy sentences that only led to the writing feeling more repetitive and, frankly, a bit boring.
The second aspect of the book that I also found frustrating was that when the mystery and the tension began to build, the rest of the book seemed rushed until the last three chapters that seemed completely unnecessary. The last three chapters switched from Jason Green's point of view as the former soldier, turned investigator, to that of the criminal that Green deals with. These chapters seemed completely unnecessary and did not bring to fruition a resolution regarding Green's and Richard's characters even though it did bring a resolution to how the criminal was dealt with as a way to protect Richard (as the son of Green's client).
2.25 stars, round down to 2 here on GR since I can't do partial stars.
August 3, 2021
My first Jason Green.....
I wish I had the luck of Jason Green. At the start of the book he seemed a complicated soul earning a crust. However as he ventures abroad, and has to find work arounds, for the case he has undertaken, it seems his plans always work, his brief encounters never seem to have a real element of danger. The plot is fairly staid, none of the characters are anyone you would honestly care about. The final pages, with a change from a first person perspective to the third, I found gratuitous. An attempt to really make the “villain“ get what was coming in full glorious Technicolour! A simple synopsis of what ensued would have been more fitting perhaps?
But it passed a few evenings for a cheap price, just not wishing to continue Jason’s further adventures anytime soon.
I wish I had the luck of Jason Green. At the start of the book he seemed a complicated soul earning a crust. However as he ventures abroad, and has to find work arounds, for the case he has undertaken, it seems his plans always work, his brief encounters never seem to have a real element of danger. The plot is fairly staid, none of the characters are anyone you would honestly care about. The final pages, with a change from a first person perspective to the third, I found gratuitous. An attempt to really make the “villain“ get what was coming in full glorious Technicolour! A simple synopsis of what ensued would have been more fitting perhaps?
But it passed a few evenings for a cheap price, just not wishing to continue Jason’s further adventures anytime soon.
June 2, 2023
I found the story quite a reasonable one, and enjoyed the unfamiliar settings in Africa. There's a good load of intrigue to keep up with and some well dealt with romance (all the detail left to the reader's imagination).
Downsides for me: It's written in the first person, but doesn't have much of a sparkle in the writing. It took me back to junior school and being told about all the things that were wrong with my "what I did in the holidays" essay.
The march of technology has not been kind, and what was probably cutting-edge when the book was written is now quite old-hat.
And the last section, where the main villain gets his come-uppance, seemed overly long, unnecessary and rather took away some of the pleasure in rest of the book.
I shan't be in a hurry to read any more in this series.
Downsides for me: It's written in the first person, but doesn't have much of a sparkle in the writing. It took me back to junior school and being told about all the things that were wrong with my "what I did in the holidays" essay.
The march of technology has not been kind, and what was probably cutting-edge when the book was written is now quite old-hat.
And the last section, where the main villain gets his come-uppance, seemed overly long, unnecessary and rather took away some of the pleasure in rest of the book.
I shan't be in a hurry to read any more in this series.
April 18, 2021
I don't know if it is just me who could not bear page after page of description of Jason's actions in details. (Many other reviewers praise the easy style and say they enjoy them very much.) Jason often told the readers that he didn't have a full plan before doing something but everything turned out to be smooth without even a slightest fault. After one-third of the book, I scanned the pages just want to know the main plots which are good enough but not too exciting. If you want a book with the last three chapters describing the suffer in alone confinement Jason designed for the villain, it would be a good one for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2020
Paradise in Zanzibar - not!
An interesting read, but at times the writing style was frustrating. Present tense, first person needed some variety. Lots of “I did this”. “ Next, I did that” in short sentences or phrases.
The story line wasn’t bad, but the execution of revenge at the end was well planned, and the last section was chilling!
I will certainly read the other Jason Green novels.
An interesting read, but at times the writing style was frustrating. Present tense, first person needed some variety. Lots of “I did this”. “ Next, I did that” in short sentences or phrases.
The story line wasn’t bad, but the execution of revenge at the end was well planned, and the last section was chilling!
I will certainly read the other Jason Green novels.
April 4, 2020
If you like books that take place in Africa, Gordon Wallis is the right person for you. "ThE Snowman of Zanzibar" offers a lot of entertain nf thrilling action, a bit of sex and a lot of description of the various landscapes: everything you need for an enjyoyful reading.
For all you visited the island paradise of Zanzibar it is a must read - the book enables you to return to this wonderful place in your mind.
For all you visited the island paradise of Zanzibar it is a must read - the book enables you to return to this wonderful place in your mind.
August 24, 2020
Brutal is right. But I could not put it down.
I usually don't read books like this. It is just a little to close to the reality of the violent, evil, brutal world we stay away from or ignore. The characters are realistic and frightening in their greed, culpability and self indulgence. There is satisfaction in bringing the bad guys down, but even more in knowing they no longer exist in. the world. Just don't start this book at night!
I usually don't read books like this. It is just a little to close to the reality of the violent, evil, brutal world we stay away from or ignore. The characters are realistic and frightening in their greed, culpability and self indulgence. There is satisfaction in bringing the bad guys down, but even more in knowing they no longer exist in. the world. Just don't start this book at night!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews