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Alex Mason #1
Odin
Nobody has ever heard of ODIN.
ODIN is about as secret as a government agency can get.
Because within ODIN there is General Operations, which speaks for itself; ODIN 5i, which deals with intelligence gathering, and then there is ODIN 1i which deals in operations so sensitive not even the CIA can touch them. All three are run with an iron first by The Chief, a giant with a gigantic IQ. His top agent is Alex Mason, hard and cool – he's a law unto himself.
But when an ODIN 5i agent based at the US Embassy in Manila, goes missing, and his encrypted laptop disappears with him, the whole ODIN structure is put in peril. Then the agents he was managing start to disappear one by one, and things start to look ugly.
So Alex Mason is sent to Manila, and what he finds there is the growing shadow of Chinese imperialism threatening not only America’s presence in the Pacific, but the security of the whole Western World…
This is a job for ODIN 1i
And for Alex Mason.
ODIN is about as secret as a government agency can get.
Because within ODIN there is General Operations, which speaks for itself; ODIN 5i, which deals with intelligence gathering, and then there is ODIN 1i which deals in operations so sensitive not even the CIA can touch them. All three are run with an iron first by The Chief, a giant with a gigantic IQ. His top agent is Alex Mason, hard and cool – he's a law unto himself.
But when an ODIN 5i agent based at the US Embassy in Manila, goes missing, and his encrypted laptop disappears with him, the whole ODIN structure is put in peril. Then the agents he was managing start to disappear one by one, and things start to look ugly.
So Alex Mason is sent to Manila, and what he finds there is the growing shadow of Chinese imperialism threatening not only America’s presence in the Pacific, but the security of the whole Western World…
This is a job for ODIN 1i
And for Alex Mason.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2021
8395 people are currently reading
1545 people want to read
About the author
David Archer
190 books503 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
David Archer was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a fiction author and novelist, writing in the mysteries and thrillers genre. His approach to writing is to hit deep, keep you entertained, and leave you wanting MORE with every turn of the page. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, all of which are primed to get your heart pumping.
David Archer was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. He is a fiction author and novelist, writing in the mysteries and thrillers genre. His approach to writing is to hit deep, keep you entertained, and leave you wanting MORE with every turn of the page. He writes mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, all of which are primed to get your heart pumping.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 361 reviews
June 11, 2022
Made it through this, which was a miracle and the only reason I'm giving it two stars instead of one. Overall, I'm kinda stunned by the positive reviews from other readers.
Even though this is evidently some kind of 007 knockoff, I still found it unnecessarily sexist and disturbingly racist in its descriptions of southeast Asia and the people living there.
Even though this is evidently some kind of 007 knockoff, I still found it unnecessarily sexist and disturbingly racist in its descriptions of southeast Asia and the people living there.
October 5, 2021
Nobody has ever heard of ODIN.
ODIN is about as secret as a government agency can get.
Because within ODIN there is General Operations, which speaks for itself; ODIN 5i, which deals with intelligence gathering, and then there is ODIN 1i which deals in operations so sensitive not even the CIA can touch them. All three are run with an iron first by The Chief, a giant with a gigantic IQ. His top agent is Alex Mason, hard and cool – he's a law unto himself.
But when an ODIN agent based at the US Embassy in Manila, goes missing, and his encrypted laptop disappears with him, the whole ODIN structure is put in peril. Then the agents he was managing start to disappear one by one, and things start to look ugly.
So Alex Mason is sent to Manila, and what he finds there is the growing shadow of Chinese imperialism threatening not only America’s presence in the Pacific, but the security of the whole Western World…
This is a job for ODIN
And for Alex Mason.
Always difficult with two authors, they have to get their own styles and bring them together, sometimes it does not work, and sometimes it's great.
These was a struggle to start with, quite slow, lots of "talking" and not enough action, slow and heavy.
But what saved this book is the last few chapters where the action and pace was good, with two great characters in Alex Mason and Gallin. The tension built well, the pace was good, and at last it was exciting, took a while.
Also I know it's the first in a series and you have to get used to the new characters, so I have ordered the second book, always willing to give an authors a second chance, this case authors.
Three Stars.
ODIN is about as secret as a government agency can get.
Because within ODIN there is General Operations, which speaks for itself; ODIN 5i, which deals with intelligence gathering, and then there is ODIN 1i which deals in operations so sensitive not even the CIA can touch them. All three are run with an iron first by The Chief, a giant with a gigantic IQ. His top agent is Alex Mason, hard and cool – he's a law unto himself.
But when an ODIN agent based at the US Embassy in Manila, goes missing, and his encrypted laptop disappears with him, the whole ODIN structure is put in peril. Then the agents he was managing start to disappear one by one, and things start to look ugly.
So Alex Mason is sent to Manila, and what he finds there is the growing shadow of Chinese imperialism threatening not only America’s presence in the Pacific, but the security of the whole Western World…
This is a job for ODIN
And for Alex Mason.
Always difficult with two authors, they have to get their own styles and bring them together, sometimes it does not work, and sometimes it's great.
These was a struggle to start with, quite slow, lots of "talking" and not enough action, slow and heavy.
But what saved this book is the last few chapters where the action and pace was good, with two great characters in Alex Mason and Gallin. The tension built well, the pace was good, and at last it was exciting, took a while.
Also I know it's the first in a series and you have to get used to the new characters, so I have ordered the second book, always willing to give an authors a second chance, this case authors.
Three Stars.
December 28, 2022
Goodness no. This was not for me. Too much stereotyping of the Asian culture. Too much chest thumping - I am a man's man. A woman in the story even gives a big speech about it. I could barely get through this. And it was boring at the beginning? Nope.
Next!
Next!
May 12, 2022
Competent Thriller
I enjoyed reading and listening to Alex Mason's first outing, but I cannot honestly say that I couldn't put it down. I am sufficiently interested that I will no doubt read the next in the series - but it will not be first in my list. I am a great fan of Blake Banner's "Dead cold" series, but this book lacked the sparkling dialogue and the chemistry between Stone and Dehan. There may be the beginnings of a partnership between Mason and a Mossad agent - not sure if she will be a recurring character - but the chemistry isn't there yet.
So - a competent thriller but a long way to go to compete with the likes of Orphan X or John Rain in the "I must read it as soon as it comes out. " stakes.
I enjoyed reading and listening to Alex Mason's first outing, but I cannot honestly say that I couldn't put it down. I am sufficiently interested that I will no doubt read the next in the series - but it will not be first in my list. I am a great fan of Blake Banner's "Dead cold" series, but this book lacked the sparkling dialogue and the chemistry between Stone and Dehan. There may be the beginnings of a partnership between Mason and a Mossad agent - not sure if she will be a recurring character - but the chemistry isn't there yet.
So - a competent thriller but a long way to go to compete with the likes of Orphan X or John Rain in the "I must read it as soon as it comes out. " stakes.
January 10, 2022
An entertaining ride. Quite enjoyable.
Read
August 28, 2023This is the first book of a series, and it reminded me of the series The Man from U.N.C.LE. I found the premise interesting. The writing varies from first person limited to third person omnipotent which I found a little jarring. For an international thriller, the pace and tension was very slow at times.
The writing was clear and engaging and didn't big down the action.
It was okay. I'm not sure I'll get the second book.
The writing was clear and engaging and didn't big down the action.
It was okay. I'm not sure I'll get the second book.
August 27, 2023
Another acronym agency spy that thinks he is Bond. US-China controversy about Belts-Bridges-Bits-Bytes. Set in the Philippines. Solid read.
May 25, 2024
Instant insomnia, you will be up late.
I did not want to put the book down. I found that the story kept my head in the game.
I did not want to put the book down. I found that the story kept my head in the game.
October 29, 2025
Action packed and fast paced. A good story to get lost in.
October 8, 2023
Locale and action good - plot and dialog not very good. Not a fan.
December 23, 2023
A fast, exciting read
February 5, 2023
I found it hard to read this book. I admit, I don't have the luxury of reading the entire book at one time. Thus, I found it VERY hard to pick up where I left off (always at a chapter boundary). The issue is with the author/editor style of not re-establishing who is speaking at the beginning of a chapter. That means backtracking (which is annoying) or continuing in the new chapter, hoping to get a clue about who's talking. Also annoying is switching from 3rd person style to 1st person style.
This book also features touristy descriptions of the Phillipines -- replete with 2-4 word, long Filipino names for the cities, suburbs, streeats, and sections of towns that are gratuitous additions that add to the word count but are not necessary to understanding the story.
Finally, I suspect that the author thought that the Russian word for the number one: один (одна for feminine / одно for neuter) would be appropriate as the transliteration of один to English ODIN for the first book of a series. But it's a stretch to then find a suitable four-word agency name based on the letters O,D,I,and N. The full name in the book is very tame and I think unsuitable given the clanestine activities of its employees. The agency charter is never really spelled out, and the reader is left to conjure the purpose of this agency. Similarly, Russia is not a factor in this first book (China is frequently mentioned), so why start with один? Why not use number one in Chinese? Perhaps Wikipedia has the answer: " The number 1 (幺 pinyin: yī; Cantonese Yale: yāt) is neither auspicious nor inauspicious".
This book also features touristy descriptions of the Phillipines -- replete with 2-4 word, long Filipino names for the cities, suburbs, streeats, and sections of towns that are gratuitous additions that add to the word count but are not necessary to understanding the story.
Finally, I suspect that the author thought that the Russian word for the number one: один (одна for feminine / одно for neuter) would be appropriate as the transliteration of один to English ODIN for the first book of a series. But it's a stretch to then find a suitable four-word agency name based on the letters O,D,I,and N. The full name in the book is very tame and I think unsuitable given the clanestine activities of its employees. The agency charter is never really spelled out, and the reader is left to conjure the purpose of this agency. Similarly, Russia is not a factor in this first book (China is frequently mentioned), so why start with один? Why not use number one in Chinese? Perhaps Wikipedia has the answer: " The number 1 (幺 pinyin: yī; Cantonese Yale: yāt) is neither auspicious nor inauspicious".
December 24, 2022
Took a while...
I didn't find this book to be particularly engaging until about 3/4 of the way through, when things did get exciting. Before that the story felt rather listless, with various characters getting introduced and some getting murdered here and there. I didn't feel connected to the characters, and many of them were awful people, killing without remorse, even enjoying it. And the story made the Philippines seem like a horrible place to be, particularly Manila. And China came across as a horrible, sneaky, villainous entity.
Eventually a few likable characters emerged - and some of them even survived all the killing. The good guys' struggle for survival - and to solve the mystery behind all the killings - finally made things interesting.
I also had issues with the editing, particularly the misuse of commas in groups of adjectives. The authors (editors?) seemed to find it necessary to separate all adjectives with commas, whether or not commas were appropriate. Distracting!
I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. Until that last 20%, I was going to give it 3 stars, but the excitment at the end earned the book that final star.
I didn't find this book to be particularly engaging until about 3/4 of the way through, when things did get exciting. Before that the story felt rather listless, with various characters getting introduced and some getting murdered here and there. I didn't feel connected to the characters, and many of them were awful people, killing without remorse, even enjoying it. And the story made the Philippines seem like a horrible place to be, particularly Manila. And China came across as a horrible, sneaky, villainous entity.
Eventually a few likable characters emerged - and some of them even survived all the killing. The good guys' struggle for survival - and to solve the mystery behind all the killings - finally made things interesting.
I also had issues with the editing, particularly the misuse of commas in groups of adjectives. The authors (editors?) seemed to find it necessary to separate all adjectives with commas, whether or not commas were appropriate. Distracting!
I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. Until that last 20%, I was going to give it 3 stars, but the excitment at the end earned the book that final star.
September 28, 2021
ODIN. David Archer. Blake Banner
Odin, a clandestine organization. Assassin's. Alex Mason is partnered with an Mossad operative, Captain Alina Gallin with very similar credentials. They are extremely skilled, deadly and a very good match working together. They are on assignment in the Philippines. China has developed a virus that can compromise the world banking system without anyone's knowledge. The Chinese control the Philippines by intimidation or any other means necessary to accomplish their goals. This is an extremely fast paced action thriller and an immensely enjoyable read!! My highest recommendation!!
Odin, a clandestine organization. Assassin's. Alex Mason is partnered with an Mossad operative, Captain Alina Gallin with very similar credentials. They are extremely skilled, deadly and a very good match working together. They are on assignment in the Philippines. China has developed a virus that can compromise the world banking system without anyone's knowledge. The Chinese control the Philippines by intimidation or any other means necessary to accomplish their goals. This is an extremely fast paced action thriller and an immensely enjoyable read!! My highest recommendation!!
June 13, 2023
Espionage isn't all Action
Some reviewers seem to think life is like a 30-minute television show, where all the world's problems are solved (to their satisfaction) before the commercial break. It's not. A lot of espionage is like police investigations, slow, plodding, piecing together the clues until you know who did what, to whom, why, and how. Only then can a spy take the appropriate action(s) - don't want to assassinate the wrong person, it might ruin his/her whole day - and the paperwork would just be awful. So for those who complain about a slow start, compare it to America's DOJ and their abysmally slow "investigations" of people they like.
Some reviewers seem to think life is like a 30-minute television show, where all the world's problems are solved (to their satisfaction) before the commercial break. It's not. A lot of espionage is like police investigations, slow, plodding, piecing together the clues until you know who did what, to whom, why, and how. Only then can a spy take the appropriate action(s) - don't want to assassinate the wrong person, it might ruin his/her whole day - and the paperwork would just be awful. So for those who complain about a slow start, compare it to America's DOJ and their abysmally slow "investigations" of people they like.
June 21, 2024
Tight storyline with character development
Even minor characters seem to be people. Alex Mason is not a perfect "James Bond", but rather ordinary, smart in some ways, but not as sharp as Gallin. The story moves well, with few stopovers in distraction. It is extremely readable and hard to put down. The reader seems to move along with the story, encountering few external "deus ex machina" disclosures or leaps. You feel like you are on the journey to discovery with him. This is a good start to, hopefully, an enjoyable series of books.
Even minor characters seem to be people. Alex Mason is not a perfect "James Bond", but rather ordinary, smart in some ways, but not as sharp as Gallin. The story moves well, with few stopovers in distraction. It is extremely readable and hard to put down. The reader seems to move along with the story, encountering few external "deus ex machina" disclosures or leaps. You feel like you are on the journey to discovery with him. This is a good start to, hopefully, an enjoyable series of books.
January 27, 2023
I have read some dumb, lazy books before, but Odin (Alex Mason #1: Hopefully the Last) is easily the dumbest, laziest book I've ever read. It's also vaguely racist and casually misogynistic. But mostly it's just breathtakingly dumb. And lazy.
To wit: the authors use the word “Avenue” 40 times. This is because most of the story (if that’s the word for it) takes place in and around Manila. Rather than cluttering up the novel with useless features like character development, clear plot point linkages, or thrilling action, Messrs. Archer and Banner simply list the streets the characters are transiting on their way to their next tedious and nonsensical mission objective. Forty times.
In this same vein, the authors use the phrase “as the crow flies” three times to give the reader a (totally pointless) idea of how far away one character/plot-stop is from another. Three times might not sound like a lot, but the book is only 260 pages long. Trust me, that’s too many times.
Odin’s most howlingly bad crutch is as follows, though: David Archer and Blake Banner use the word “scruffy” 13 times. Yes, that is way too many times to use any adjective, let alone a weird one like scruffy. But here’s the kicker… it is used exclusively to describe one young British woman who has a pivotal role in the caper (such as it is). It is used by the authors to describe this poor woman, of course, but in a truly confounding turn, the word scruffy is also used by numerous characters, independently, to describe her. ‘Hello, sir, I’m looking for a young British woman who may have been in your Bodega yesterday, kinda scruffy,’ followed by a different, unrelated character on the other side of town saying something like ‘We need to use the City’s CCTV footage to find a scruffy young British woman, somewhere near the bus station!’ What. The. Heck.
I would say the book ends with a ridiculously tidy deus ex machina, but that would be an insult to all gods and machines who have come before us. Do not read this book, unless you just awoke from a coma (congrats!) and your doctor has assigned you a rigorous eye rolling regimen to rebuild your extraocular musculature.
PS I asked chatGPT to write a short story about two spies with the same names as Odin’s taking down a Chinese plot in Manila. It responded in 20 seconds with a more plausible and interesting story arc.
To wit: the authors use the word “Avenue” 40 times. This is because most of the story (if that’s the word for it) takes place in and around Manila. Rather than cluttering up the novel with useless features like character development, clear plot point linkages, or thrilling action, Messrs. Archer and Banner simply list the streets the characters are transiting on their way to their next tedious and nonsensical mission objective. Forty times.
In this same vein, the authors use the phrase “as the crow flies” three times to give the reader a (totally pointless) idea of how far away one character/plot-stop is from another. Three times might not sound like a lot, but the book is only 260 pages long. Trust me, that’s too many times.
Odin’s most howlingly bad crutch is as follows, though: David Archer and Blake Banner use the word “scruffy” 13 times. Yes, that is way too many times to use any adjective, let alone a weird one like scruffy. But here’s the kicker… it is used exclusively to describe one young British woman who has a pivotal role in the caper (such as it is). It is used by the authors to describe this poor woman, of course, but in a truly confounding turn, the word scruffy is also used by numerous characters, independently, to describe her. ‘Hello, sir, I’m looking for a young British woman who may have been in your Bodega yesterday, kinda scruffy,’ followed by a different, unrelated character on the other side of town saying something like ‘We need to use the City’s CCTV footage to find a scruffy young British woman, somewhere near the bus station!’ What. The. Heck.
I would say the book ends with a ridiculously tidy deus ex machina, but that would be an insult to all gods and machines who have come before us. Do not read this book, unless you just awoke from a coma (congrats!) and your doctor has assigned you a rigorous eye rolling regimen to rebuild your extraocular musculature.
PS I asked chatGPT to write a short story about two spies with the same names as Odin’s taking down a Chinese plot in Manila. It responded in 20 seconds with a more plausible and interesting story arc.
December 15, 2022
I kind of stumbled into this series because of David Archer's awesome series about Noah Wolf. I can tell you that this series just gets better and better the longer you stay with it. Was ODIN slow? A bit, but in order to get characters established and become attached to, it's a necessary aspect of any great series. I have read through this series so fast that I find myself feeling the same way I did about Reacher, Dirk Pitt and many others.... not wanting to wait until the next in the series comes out! I haven't started Dead Man Talking and I've already pro ordered All the King's Men!! Blake Banner and David Archer have come together to create one awesome hero! Nero assigns Mason cases that up until now were only handled by James Bond or the IMF! HIs travels will take you all over the world to find and save his allies and get to the truth. Their series often includes bits of today's hot topics as well with a bit of humour injected into the plot so as to find yourself laughing out loud. Want to know more about the book? Read it- as I don't want to give away any spoilers for
those that are thinking about jumping in!!
those that are thinking about jumping in!!
June 15, 2023
I’ve only listened to the audiobook release of this book but I can tell I’ll like it if a when I decide to read the e-book format. The story is set in a high spy raft world instead of the MC being from a real world spy agency or special forces group we get an enternaly new spy agency working above but with the western powers to keep the peace in the world.
The plot isnkt a world ender or big villain plan it’s a real setting of how new ideas and information or the future of intelligence groups has the protagonist Mason try’s to save people and stop foreign forces from getting a new gen tool to effect global markets.
Has I finished the story I felt the female lead was rushed up till the end I felt it was organic, but felt was to messy an just played into the fan service of the MC badass getting the hot girl in the end. Also I don’t if you’ve seen the new Amazon prime show Citadel because I feel like someone there stole a lot of the plot ideas for characters from your books.
The plot isnkt a world ender or big villain plan it’s a real setting of how new ideas and information or the future of intelligence groups has the protagonist Mason try’s to save people and stop foreign forces from getting a new gen tool to effect global markets.
Has I finished the story I felt the female lead was rushed up till the end I felt it was organic, but felt was to messy an just played into the fan service of the MC badass getting the hot girl in the end. Also I don’t if you’ve seen the new Amazon prime show Citadel because I feel like someone there stole a lot of the plot ideas for characters from your books.
February 16, 2023
First you need to find an editor. Errors are rampant. Gillin has two different pistols (mistakenly) on the same page in the middle of a fire fight. Manila has more than plantains, rubber trees and palms. Tropical islands are lush with vegetation if one is able to conger up an image of reality. Obviously the author has never been to Manila. The authors view of the Phillipines is really very narrow, both for the people and the environment. I am sure that there are items of clothing in addition to Bermuda shorts and flip-flops. The bad guy Chew seems to have an extensive expense account but only one blue suit.
I would have been able to list the innumerable errors but the Kindle does not permit a written review. I am guessing that the publisher does not really want feedback. In order to write this review, I had to expend tremendous effort and time to find this site.
I would have been able to list the innumerable errors but the Kindle does not permit a written review. I am guessing that the publisher does not really want feedback. In order to write this review, I had to expend tremendous effort and time to find this site.
April 19, 2023
Very slow and not a thriller. Sad start.
This was a sad start to a series. The only good thing that stood out was it is a short book. Poor character development and plot was just one task to the next. You never cared about the MC or anyone else for that matter in the story.
Weak james bond references and parallels that felt stupid and ripped off.
The dialogue was ok but not very engaging. The authors can write, but this was painful. Maybe if you were in middle school level of reading....maybe, it would seem good? Just disappointed with this.
If you have nothing else.....try it, maybe the MC gets better developed in future books, but I just don't know if I care enough to even bother. I gave it three stars because writing is definitely hard, and this was a basic story, just as bland as it gets.
This was a sad start to a series. The only good thing that stood out was it is a short book. Poor character development and plot was just one task to the next. You never cared about the MC or anyone else for that matter in the story.
Weak james bond references and parallels that felt stupid and ripped off.
The dialogue was ok but not very engaging. The authors can write, but this was painful. Maybe if you were in middle school level of reading....maybe, it would seem good? Just disappointed with this.
If you have nothing else.....try it, maybe the MC gets better developed in future books, but I just don't know if I care enough to even bother. I gave it three stars because writing is definitely hard, and this was a basic story, just as bland as it gets.
December 11, 2022
Dropped the book at 10% in.
No characters seem to be linked yet. The one interesting backstory was left at a very boring resolution toward the end of the chapter. There is simply some vague threat about war from another country that feels completely unfounded. There is some sense that we're just supposed to accept this agency is good, yet the only implication I have that the ODIN agency is good is based on the book's summary.
And what's up with quoting author's of 'famous' well known books? I understand if it would be one character's trope, but it seems to come out of nowhere.
There did seem to be some promise of a plotline, but it felt like it was taking far too long to get there. Every chapter and section felt like it was restarting some other story.
No characters seem to be linked yet. The one interesting backstory was left at a very boring resolution toward the end of the chapter. There is simply some vague threat about war from another country that feels completely unfounded. There is some sense that we're just supposed to accept this agency is good, yet the only implication I have that the ODIN agency is good is based on the book's summary.
And what's up with quoting author's of 'famous' well known books? I understand if it would be one character's trope, but it seems to come out of nowhere.
There did seem to be some promise of a plotline, but it felt like it was taking far too long to get there. Every chapter and section felt like it was restarting some other story.
April 3, 2025
I don’t mind a bit of mindless fun in my reading, but I insist on fun.
This novel wasn’t having enough wit to be a satire on Bond, nor good enough to be a parody. About as blunt as Austin Powers and I do hate those movies.
Let’s start with our jain gero Alex Mason, a n agent of ODIN who goes on a field mission with a badge identifying him as such. But he dons an evening suit and orders a Vesper Martini, not stirred of course. We later learns he is driving a Aston Martin DBS.
About the same time he meets his Partner a Captain Gallen of Mossad, equally open in her approach, and going even more full macho than Mason.
I might give the next two novels a shot, because I bought them as a set from the bargain bin, which seems to have been a fair price.
This novel wasn’t having enough wit to be a satire on Bond, nor good enough to be a parody. About as blunt as Austin Powers and I do hate those movies.
Let’s start with our jain gero Alex Mason, a n agent of ODIN who goes on a field mission with a badge identifying him as such. But he dons an evening suit and orders a Vesper Martini, not stirred of course. We later learns he is driving a Aston Martin DBS.
About the same time he meets his Partner a Captain Gallen of Mossad, equally open in her approach, and going even more full macho than Mason.
I might give the next two novels a shot, because I bought them as a set from the bargain bin, which seems to have been a fair price.
January 8, 2022
Very Enjoyable
Plausible, great characters, generally entertaining.
Some sort of American spy agency (ODIN), falls in with Mossad to thwart a dastardly plot.
More cerebral than most genre books: where each chapter has an action sequence (this doesn’t). All that is restrained and it’s carried by great writing.
Bit of an ‘eye roll’ at one point maybe two thirds the way through where there’s a ‘we’ve no idea what’s going on’.
Usually that’s because the author hasn’t got a clue how to tie it all up and give a fulfilling ending.
Not the case here, it’s tied up very cleverly with a ribbon on. Look forward to more books in the series.
Plausible, great characters, generally entertaining.
Some sort of American spy agency (ODIN), falls in with Mossad to thwart a dastardly plot.
More cerebral than most genre books: where each chapter has an action sequence (this doesn’t). All that is restrained and it’s carried by great writing.
Bit of an ‘eye roll’ at one point maybe two thirds the way through where there’s a ‘we’ve no idea what’s going on’.
Usually that’s because the author hasn’t got a clue how to tie it all up and give a fulfilling ending.
Not the case here, it’s tied up very cleverly with a ribbon on. Look forward to more books in the series.
December 14, 2023
Far too similar to others
It's an ok book, nicely written, with potentially interesting characters, but the whole premise has been done so many times before that it needed a quirk of its own and it didn't have one
Mason is a decent enough guy, but you know little about him even after a book, maybe that will improve in future books. ODIN isn't really explained either, it's secret, but everyone seems to know it exists. The Boss seems to be a cross between James Bonds M and Godzilla, with Moneypenny thrown in too
It's good enough, it needs more, everything, but still worth a go at book 2
It's an ok book, nicely written, with potentially interesting characters, but the whole premise has been done so many times before that it needed a quirk of its own and it didn't have one
Mason is a decent enough guy, but you know little about him even after a book, maybe that will improve in future books. ODIN isn't really explained either, it's secret, but everyone seems to know it exists. The Boss seems to be a cross between James Bonds M and Godzilla, with Moneypenny thrown in too
It's good enough, it needs more, everything, but still worth a go at book 2
September 29, 2021
I've read all of Blake Banner's books. I gave most of them a five star rating. But, Odin doesn't measure up to his books which makes me think this is 80% David Archer and 20% Blake Banner.
I've read other David Archer books and they have been pretty good. I would suggest Blake Banner stay true to himself and write his own books and that David Archer stay on his own path. Their joint effort doesn't do either one of them a good service.
I look forward to other books by Blake Banner, but I won't read any more Alex Mason books.
I've read other David Archer books and they have been pretty good. I would suggest Blake Banner stay true to himself and write his own books and that David Archer stay on his own path. Their joint effort doesn't do either one of them a good service.
I look forward to other books by Blake Banner, but I won't read any more Alex Mason books.
January 5, 2022
It was an above average thriller that was set primarily set in Manila, Philippines. The plot seemed to move at different paces (probably due to two authors trying to "glue" together a plot). I believe that the story could have been shorter, and could have spent less time on minute details about the street names. At times it seemed like a SNL skit, The Californians" where the actors are minutely describing every freeway and boulevard they drove on to avoid the always congested traffic in Los Angeles! I thought the ending could have been more stretched out -- much like the story was.
January 7, 2023
This was my first book by either author, I can't say I didn't enjoy it,(gave it four stars), though the book reads very quick, lots of action, lots of characters to keep track of in this particular outing, kind of reminds me of the Executioner series back years ago, if you are one that enjoys fast paced action, not deep in literary character background, this is for you. I am going to try the second novel in the series and go from there, funny, the MC is stuck in my head, rare for this type of book....hmmmmm
January 10, 2023
Man belonging to a shadowy organization called Odin goes missing in the Philippines. He had a cell group working for him and they too are either missing or on the run. Whole story is about following them and trying to save them from their enemy, the Chinese. Only in the last few pages do we find out what this was even all about. This was nothing great, but just good enough to keep me reading. Had a rather abrupt ending. Left me wanting to know so much more. I certainly won't rush to read the second in the series.
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