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Jericho's Fall
A riveting spy thriller, Jericho's Fall is the spellbinding story of a young woman running for her life from shadowy government forces. In a secluded mountain retreat, Jericho Ainsley, former CIA director and former secretary of defense, is dying of cancer. To his bedside he has called Rebecca DeForde, a young, single mother, who was once his lover. Instead of simply bidding farewell, however, Ainsley imparts an explosive secret and DeForde finds herself thrown into a world of international intrigue, involving ex-CIA executives, local police, private investigators, and even a US senator. With no one to trust, DeForde is suddenly on the run, relying on her own wits and the lessons she learned from Ainsley to stay alive.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
65 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Stephen L. Carter
27 books455 followersStephen L. Carter is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Yale where he has taught since 1982. He has published seven critically acclaimed nonfiction books on topics ranging from affirmative action to religion and politics. His first novel, The Emperor of Ocean Park (2002), was an immediate national best seller. His latest novel is New England White (Knopf, 2007). A recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literature-Fiction, he lives near New Haven, Connecticut."
Also writes under the pen name A.L Shields.
Also writes under the pen name A.L Shields.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
February 26, 2023
More, in real time, thoughts can be found in this vlog
In some ways this is some of Carter's best writing; the atmosphere of the book and the way he was able to really get you to feel the paranoia of the main character is unrivaled in anything else he's done. It's also the shortest of the novels that I've read from him and coupled with the plot of the book I definitely went in expecting to find myself in a page turning thriller where a former Director of the CIA had really let the cat out of the bag and now everything was going to shit.
In some ways that's definitely an aspect of the book. As executed it's probably a better book thatn I'm giving it credit for. I definitely don't think it's bad, because at this point I'm inclined to believe that Carter doesn't know how to write a bad book, just books that aren't as good as some of the others.
I think that there is a level of restraint present here, both in terms of the number of settings and the way the character count doesn't spiral to anything that feels excessive. Even the extended third act action sequences here felt lifted out of a film that would be highly entertaining. Which ultimately might be it's biggest problem. If The Emperor of Ocean Park showed me how in a characters mind Carter likes to get, this showed me that pure pulpy thrillers fro Carter might not be what I want either, even when they're executed at the level they are here. This same story in film or television with the right cast could easily be a new go to background noise movie when I'm looking for something cozy.
I had a good time, maybe not as good as I've had with Carter before, but definitely isn't worth skipping over when making your way through Carter's catalogue.
In some ways this is some of Carter's best writing; the atmosphere of the book and the way he was able to really get you to feel the paranoia of the main character is unrivaled in anything else he's done. It's also the shortest of the novels that I've read from him and coupled with the plot of the book I definitely went in expecting to find myself in a page turning thriller where a former Director of the CIA had really let the cat out of the bag and now everything was going to shit.
In some ways that's definitely an aspect of the book. As executed it's probably a better book thatn I'm giving it credit for. I definitely don't think it's bad, because at this point I'm inclined to believe that Carter doesn't know how to write a bad book, just books that aren't as good as some of the others.
I think that there is a level of restraint present here, both in terms of the number of settings and the way the character count doesn't spiral to anything that feels excessive. Even the extended third act action sequences here felt lifted out of a film that would be highly entertaining. Which ultimately might be it's biggest problem. If The Emperor of Ocean Park showed me how in a characters mind Carter likes to get, this showed me that pure pulpy thrillers fro Carter might not be what I want either, even when they're executed at the level they are here. This same story in film or television with the right cast could easily be a new go to background noise movie when I'm looking for something cozy.
I had a good time, maybe not as good as I've had with Carter before, but definitely isn't worth skipping over when making your way through Carter's catalogue.
September 19, 2009
I had the same reaction to all three of Stephen L. Carter's previous three novels: great suspense, a little long, a tad bit pretentious on the 50-cent words but well written, intriguing discussion of race relations. Jericho's Fall is none of these things. I was suprised that Carter came out with a novel so soon after Palace Council, but after reading Jericho's Fall, I think I understand why. Unlike his previous three novels, Jericho's Fall simply isn't that intelligent. The writing is unsophisticated and the suspense utterly lacking. The basic premise is that former head of the CIA, Jericho Ainsley is on his death bed. Isolated up in the Colorado Rockies (where we are told over and over again that there is NO CELL PHONE RECEPTION), he summons Beck DeForde, a woman with whom he once had a career and marriage-ending affair. They have not seen each other in years, and DeForde is irritated having to leave her young daughter to respond to the whims of this selfish and egotistical man (but of course she does it anyway). Then for the next 150 pages or so - nothing happens. Jericho speaks to her in code, or possible derangement. His daughters, still angry at the homewrecker after all these years, are rude to her. And of course, there's just something weird going on with DeForde's cell phone - it rings, and strange messages are played back, it turns on and off - but every time it does so we are reminded that cell phones don't even work in the house! By the time some mystery was injected into the story, beyond Jericho's paranoid delusions, I just wanted it to end. DeForde strikes up a flirtation with a married cop in town - despite the fact that they appear to have no chemistry, and it's clear it's going to end badly. There's also a new librarian in town - the only black woman around we learn (for no reason in particular), who is clearly out of her element. DeForde takes it upon herself to figure out what exactly Jericho has got himself involved in - but she has no investigation skills, no common sense, and no intuition. The foreshadowing is so obvious, if only DeForde could have read the book along with us, she would have known to get out and save herself much sooner. With intelligence operations, foreign governments, and financial scandal involved, perhaps people more jazzed by espionage stories would have found something exciting in this one. But, after Carter's past novels, I've come to expect so much more from him, and I was truly disappointed.
April 20, 2010
I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed in this book. As another reviewer wrote, "NOTHING HAPPENS!" I have to agree with that reviewer. I just kept waiting for the book to take off, but it never did. There was one big surprise for me toward the end, but all in all it was just okay.
Now, I did give the book three stars. I wouldn't say not to read it at all, just that if you did read The Emperor of Ocean Park you will probably be disappointed in this book.
Now, I did give the book three stars. I wouldn't say not to read it at all, just that if you did read The Emperor of Ocean Park you will probably be disappointed in this book.
October 21, 2009
This book falls short on character development. Stephen Carter clearly doesn't understand women enough to write about them and how they relate to one another. The book was a fairly quick read, but the ending was very disappointing. I felt like we never got to understand the main character or how/why she ever cared about Jericho in the first place, much less why she was so compelled to return to him for the "death march". Very unrealistic, but someone entertaining.
February 16, 2011
This book just plain didn't work for me. The basic plot line is that the main character, Becky DeForde, is called to the bedside of her dying former lover, Jericho Ainsley. Jericho used to be the head of the CIA, but has isolated himself in a mountain retreat and descended into paranoid delusions -- or are they delusions?
The problem with the book, for me, is that there just wasn't any suspense. Becky gets more and more suspicious that there's something really going on here -- kind of. She's suspicious enough to poke around and make all kinds of enemies, she's not suspicious enough to plan to stay around any longer than she's already planned to. And there never seemed to be any justification for why should be getting quite so suspicious. She's also angry enough at how Jericho treated her to constantly have flashbacks towards vague memories of emotional abuse, but not angry enough to have ignored his summons to her bedside. And there never seems to be any compelling reason why we should sympathize with her feelings of mistreatment. She's hostile towards Jericho's daughters, but not hostile enough to keep away from them or actually express her hostility in any sort of overt way. And we can never figure out why she's so hostile in the first place.
So more or less, nothing Becky did ever really made that much sense to me -- she's running around and reacting to all kinds of situations with all kinds of imagined motives, but nothing ever gets revealed to the reader that would justify or explain how she's acting. Meanwhile, the plot, such as it is, never really gets off the ground -- halfway into the book, nothing has actually happened. Shortly after the halfway point, I just decided I was hopelessly bored and started skimming. Nothing in the rest of the book grabbed my attention enough to care how this was all going to turn out.
Yawn.
The problem with the book, for me, is that there just wasn't any suspense. Becky gets more and more suspicious that there's something really going on here -- kind of. She's suspicious enough to poke around and make all kinds of enemies, she's not suspicious enough to plan to stay around any longer than she's already planned to. And there never seemed to be any justification for why should be getting quite so suspicious. She's also angry enough at how Jericho treated her to constantly have flashbacks towards vague memories of emotional abuse, but not angry enough to have ignored his summons to her bedside. And there never seems to be any compelling reason why we should sympathize with her feelings of mistreatment. She's hostile towards Jericho's daughters, but not hostile enough to keep away from them or actually express her hostility in any sort of overt way. And we can never figure out why she's so hostile in the first place.
So more or less, nothing Becky did ever really made that much sense to me -- she's running around and reacting to all kinds of situations with all kinds of imagined motives, but nothing ever gets revealed to the reader that would justify or explain how she's acting. Meanwhile, the plot, such as it is, never really gets off the ground -- halfway into the book, nothing has actually happened. Shortly after the halfway point, I just decided I was hopelessly bored and started skimming. Nothing in the rest of the book grabbed my attention enough to care how this was all going to turn out.
Yawn.
August 18, 2009
Started this one as a change of pace from Vanity Fair and Jane Eyre.
I had decided not to read anymore of Stephen L Carter because he was in desperate need of a good editor. And then I found this book which was shorter in length than his previous issues and I thought he had finally found an editor. And, indeed, he found one who must have said hurry up with the ending already. And he rushed the last chapter or two and I don't have a clue what happened in the end of this book. Honestly, no more Stephen L Carter. Really Ruth!
I had decided not to read anymore of Stephen L Carter because he was in desperate need of a good editor. And then I found this book which was shorter in length than his previous issues and I thought he had finally found an editor. And, indeed, he found one who must have said hurry up with the ending already. And he rushed the last chapter or two and I don't have a clue what happened in the end of this book. Honestly, no more Stephen L Carter. Really Ruth!
June 22, 2012
While not getting the hoopla of his Elm Harbor series, I find this to be the best of Carter's novels to date. Taking us away from the fictitious lives of the 'darker nation' in New England, we head west and dive head-first into a complex and very interesting tale in the mountains of Colorado, where a former political heavyweight has gone to die. But before he does, he has some secrets, and some enemies, to reveal to the world. Stuck in the middle is his former mistress, called to town to (apparently) say her final goodbyes. However, what appears an easy task ends up being a momentous trek to the depths of her inner soul and to discover her former lover has no soul at all.
Carter breaks away from what I felt was a longer, more complicated book series and takes the reader on more of a mystery that seeks to tell a story for its plot, not the social and ethnic affairs that take place in society as the story progresses. As I mentioned above, this was his best work yet, letting the story and its characters lead the way, rather that the politics of it all. Part suspense and part thriller, the book kept me turning pages right to the end.
Kudos Mr. Carter. This is surely a book to reel in a wayward reader!
Carter breaks away from what I felt was a longer, more complicated book series and takes the reader on more of a mystery that seeks to tell a story for its plot, not the social and ethnic affairs that take place in society as the story progresses. As I mentioned above, this was his best work yet, letting the story and its characters lead the way, rather that the politics of it all. Part suspense and part thriller, the book kept me turning pages right to the end.
Kudos Mr. Carter. This is surely a book to reel in a wayward reader!
January 9, 2010
I really like Stephen Carter's other novels which manage to be both interesting thrillers and intelligent observation of politics and of the African American upper classes. Carter is smart and writes well and I look forward to his books even though I don't always agree with his politics.
This one, however, was utterly disappointing. I suspect that Carter wanted to write something fast and easy and this book is certainly that - and that's the problem. There are many many thrillers out there and many many people writing them. This one doesn't distinguish itself from any of the others out there and, in fact, isn't really quite as good as many of them. It feels contrived and reads like that novel you bought at the airport to read on the plane. There's nothing inherently wrong with that kind of novel, but Carter can do a whole lot more so this just flat out disappoints.
This one, however, was utterly disappointing. I suspect that Carter wanted to write something fast and easy and this book is certainly that - and that's the problem. There are many many thrillers out there and many many people writing them. This one doesn't distinguish itself from any of the others out there and, in fact, isn't really quite as good as many of them. It feels contrived and reads like that novel you bought at the airport to read on the plane. There's nothing inherently wrong with that kind of novel, but Carter can do a whole lot more so this just flat out disappoints.
July 26, 2009
NOTHING HAPPENS! 350 pages, and nothing happens. And (spoiler to follow), don't try to figure out who is on whose side--you'll never learn. Ack!
December 21, 2012
I can’t remember the last time I read such a pointless story with such a ridiculous premise. Rebecca de Forde is the divorced, thirtysomething mother of a nine year old girl who learns that a former lover is dying. Jericho Ainsley is in his 60’s and resting in his home in the Colorado Rockies when Beck is summoned to his bedside. Beck and Jericho had been lovers 15 years earlier when Jericho threw his career away and left his wife for Beck, then an 18-year-old college student. He bought Stone Heights, his home in the mountains, and he and Beck escaped from a judgmental world there. The relationship was not fated to last, though, fizzling after just 18 months.
Naturally, Jericho’s two daughters, Audrey and Pamela, don’t think highly of Beck, and when she returns to Stone Heights to visit Jericho for the last time, Pamela is especially snide to her. Audrey is an Episcopal nun and works hard at playing peacemaker. Beck spends very little time with Jericho, chasing off after oblique clues he gives her when he could simply have told her what he was up to. The whole time everyone was working themselves into a lather over Jericho’s secrets, I kept thinking, “Who cares?” Why would anyone tie herself in knots over some man’s secrets when that man occupies a bed in the same house? And why, when he refused to give clear answers, did Beck stick around to dig up the story instead of getting back to her own life? Beck’s annoyingly recriminating mother needed a good, hard slap, but she did have a point. Why had Beck run off without her daughter and put her job in jeopardy to spend a couple of days in Colorado for an ex-lover? Her presence and the danger she puts herself in are absolutely pointless, and those couple of days felt like a month.
Had I not suddenly come upon a page saying “Author’s Note,” I would not have realized the book was finally over, such was the number of loose ends out in the wind. I���m sure the author intended to weave a twisting, turning plot, but unfortunately, with the book’s silly premise, it came across as a jumbled mess, circling around and around the reasons I just didn’t buy. Then, in the end, several questions went unanswered, like the truth of Pamela’s accusations about Beck. Perhaps it was done intentionally to keep me thinking about the story, but the attempt failed miserably. Had I not felt obligated to review this book, I don’t think I could have forced myself to read all the way through it.
Naturally, Jericho’s two daughters, Audrey and Pamela, don’t think highly of Beck, and when she returns to Stone Heights to visit Jericho for the last time, Pamela is especially snide to her. Audrey is an Episcopal nun and works hard at playing peacemaker. Beck spends very little time with Jericho, chasing off after oblique clues he gives her when he could simply have told her what he was up to. The whole time everyone was working themselves into a lather over Jericho’s secrets, I kept thinking, “Who cares?” Why would anyone tie herself in knots over some man’s secrets when that man occupies a bed in the same house? And why, when he refused to give clear answers, did Beck stick around to dig up the story instead of getting back to her own life? Beck’s annoyingly recriminating mother needed a good, hard slap, but she did have a point. Why had Beck run off without her daughter and put her job in jeopardy to spend a couple of days in Colorado for an ex-lover? Her presence and the danger she puts herself in are absolutely pointless, and those couple of days felt like a month.
Had I not suddenly come upon a page saying “Author’s Note,” I would not have realized the book was finally over, such was the number of loose ends out in the wind. I���m sure the author intended to weave a twisting, turning plot, but unfortunately, with the book’s silly premise, it came across as a jumbled mess, circling around and around the reasons I just didn’t buy. Then, in the end, several questions went unanswered, like the truth of Pamela’s accusations about Beck. Perhaps it was done intentionally to keep me thinking about the story, but the attempt failed miserably. Had I not felt obligated to review this book, I don’t think I could have forced myself to read all the way through it.
January 22, 2015
Well this is my fourth book from this author and I must say easily the most accesible and easy to understand..With his huge books The Emperor of Ocean Park, New England White and Palace Council there was a lot to digest, a very verbose intricate way of saying anything and a way of meandering off topic to expound on the side relationships,scenery and whatever..In this book I didnt find any of that, it was concise and actually readable with a plot, however I didnt find the plot resolved well as you still feel like you dont know the "secret", what the paper contained and basically what was so huge and mysterious...The book traces a young ex girlfriend of a powerful older man who returns to visit him as he lies on his deathbed..Surrounded by his daughers, both older than her and his crazy paranoia about being watched, and hunted she is drawn in his world and as the reader you follow and never really figure out why..Also aside from the detour I found in his writing style this book Mr Carter also did not make his charactes affluent blacks of the "darker nation" --a phrase he reiterates in his other books..It actually shocked me to find out the main character Jericho Ainsley was in reality a white man, I mean he was Former Secretary of Defense, Former CIA, Former everything as they say in the book but I thought the whole time he was black--it was a shocker, it is never even mentioned if Rebecca is black or white but he will definitely get a pass because the only black character mentioned is an absolute badass chick..so overall I enjoyed and will look for others from him, he is an intelligent and interesting author I never fail to be entertained or at least positively occupied by with expanding my vocabulary whenever I pick up his novels..
August 21, 2009
Good build-up and suspense but a major letdown of an ending. Here is a breakdown of my rating:
Enjoyability: 2.5
Re-Readability: 1
Character Development: 3.5
Complexity: 4
Writing Style: 4
Believability: 3.5
Overall: 3.08
This was the first book I read by this author. I had high expectations, as he is a law professor and a writer of many opinion and political books and commentary. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
The book started out well and was pretty suspenseful throughout. I am always a fan of books that deal with governments and secrets and conspiracies, as long as things are tied together well at the end. Unfortunately, this book fell short in that area. There was no “surprise-ending,” and it was a major anticlimax.
Character development was very good throughout the novel, and the author did keep the reader guessing as to what was going to happen next. There was only one story line; however, there was enough mystery to still make it complex enough to be interesting. It is due to all this that I didn't give the book a lower rating, though 3 stars may still be rather generous.
In conclusion, there was definitely good potential, but the author squandered it. I would not recommend this book, simply due to the ending. But if you like to read for the overall reading experience, it could be enjoyable.
Enjoyability: 2.5
Re-Readability: 1
Character Development: 3.5
Complexity: 4
Writing Style: 4
Believability: 3.5
Overall: 3.08
This was the first book I read by this author. I had high expectations, as he is a law professor and a writer of many opinion and political books and commentary. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
The book started out well and was pretty suspenseful throughout. I am always a fan of books that deal with governments and secrets and conspiracies, as long as things are tied together well at the end. Unfortunately, this book fell short in that area. There was no “surprise-ending,” and it was a major anticlimax.
Character development was very good throughout the novel, and the author did keep the reader guessing as to what was going to happen next. There was only one story line; however, there was enough mystery to still make it complex enough to be interesting. It is due to all this that I didn't give the book a lower rating, though 3 stars may still be rather generous.
In conclusion, there was definitely good potential, but the author squandered it. I would not recommend this book, simply due to the ending. But if you like to read for the overall reading experience, it could be enjoyable.
August 5, 2011
I don't read many thriller novels, but I've recently been trying to expand the types of books I read to get a better variety. A friend suggested that I read The Emperor of Ocean Park, but I decided to try this one out instead since I had the opportunity.
In Jericho's Fall, Beck, a former CIA member, is summoned to the home of her once-lover as he lays dying. She assumes that she was called to say her goodbyes, but things quickly become more than they seem and she becomes pulled into a web of spies and secrets.
The novel wasn't at all what I was expecting from a suspense/thriller novel. Where was the suspense? Where was the thrill of the mystery? While the writing was fairly well done and characters were somewhat interesting, I found the overall plot boring. It didn't keep me flipping pages or even engaged. I put the book down after the first one hundred pages and haven't touched it sense.
I know that not every author hits it out of the park every time, and this certainly isn't the time for Stephen L. Carter. He has some good ideas bouncing around here, but they just aren't quite realized....at least not fast enough to keep the reader engaged.
If you're looking for a good suspense/thriller, look elsewhere.
In Jericho's Fall, Beck, a former CIA member, is summoned to the home of her once-lover as he lays dying. She assumes that she was called to say her goodbyes, but things quickly become more than they seem and she becomes pulled into a web of spies and secrets.
The novel wasn't at all what I was expecting from a suspense/thriller novel. Where was the suspense? Where was the thrill of the mystery? While the writing was fairly well done and characters were somewhat interesting, I found the overall plot boring. It didn't keep me flipping pages or even engaged. I put the book down after the first one hundred pages and haven't touched it sense.
I know that not every author hits it out of the park every time, and this certainly isn't the time for Stephen L. Carter. He has some good ideas bouncing around here, but they just aren't quite realized....at least not fast enough to keep the reader engaged.
If you're looking for a good suspense/thriller, look elsewhere.
April 2, 2010
This books started off well, with interesting premises. A dying man, who was Former Everything (Director of CIA, Nation Security Advisor, to name a few) summoned her former lover to his sickbed. As she cooped up in the house they built together years ago in the little mountain town in Colorado, a sleuth of strangers descended on the town, all with an agenda, eiether to try to stop him from spilling secrets that might hurt national security or to try to extract secrets from him that might have something to do with a major financial scandal years ago where billions of dollars disappeared. I enjoyed the first 100 pages or so, but it seemed to me that the author lost track of various leads and various personality and how they all tied to each other soon enough. There were a lot of loopholes in the plot and in the end, I just couldn't care less about what happened to everybody. The ending was downright ridiculous. If this is the "best espionage thriller I've read in the last 20 years" according Vince Flynn, then I can only imagine what kind of crap Vince Flynn writes.
June 18, 2010
I grabbed this book impulsively, having enjoyed "the emperor of ocean park", but would not recommend it. the characters are all sketchy and one-dimensional and (I hate this) all use very similar styles of speaking - eg, everyone calls each other "honey". that doesn't ring true to me at all for at least 3 of the characters, all supposedly members of a patrician new england family; if a book doesn't involve children and doesn't take place below the mason-dixon, then drop the "honey".
so where the writing and characters in a book are weak, sometimes that can be made up for by a strong, fast-paced plot...but again, not in this case. all the action takes place in a huge compound outside a tiny colorado town, which eventually felt boring and claustrophobic. and when one character after another turned out to be harboring dark secrets, it just started to feel repetitive.
disappointing!
so where the writing and characters in a book are weak, sometimes that can be made up for by a strong, fast-paced plot...but again, not in this case. all the action takes place in a huge compound outside a tiny colorado town, which eventually felt boring and claustrophobic. and when one character after another turned out to be harboring dark secrets, it just started to feel repetitive.
disappointing!
August 10, 2014
I can't remember the last time I gave a one-star. I liked two of Carter's previous books: The Emperor of Ocean Park and the Palace Council, but this book actually did fail the 50 page test, but for some reason I shouldered on, probably disbelieving that something by this author could be so bad. Poor plot development (a total lack of the reader's 'aha!' moment at the end of the book, because the progression of characterization and plot made little sense, even after the denouement), characters that did things that never were explained or fell within their characterization, even at the end, and that horrible bunching of most of the action and clearing of motivation into the final ten pages of the book. There's so much else waiting for you to read; this isn't the book you're looking for. You can move along. :)
October 4, 2015
The audiobook narrator, Kirsten Potter's voice undoubtedly contributed to the annoyance I felt listening to this book, which was described on the cover as fast moving, but by the time I got to disk 4 (of 9) it made the Congressional Record look like a fast-moving mystery.
After thoroughly enjoying Carter's Emperor of Ocean Drive I was shocked at how dull and poorly written this book seemed to me -- at the point I quit, it seemed even the long ago affair between a professor and his sophomore student was stupid. Conversations were so bad I wanted to argue with the characters - Jericho's daughters, who lives in a house with all kinds of precautions against assassination of their father act like the heroine is crazy for being concerned about danger. One conversation establishes that Jericho is broke, yet later the same people talk as if he is a millionaire.
After thoroughly enjoying Carter's Emperor of Ocean Drive I was shocked at how dull and poorly written this book seemed to me -- at the point I quit, it seemed even the long ago affair between a professor and his sophomore student was stupid. Conversations were so bad I wanted to argue with the characters - Jericho's daughters, who lives in a house with all kinds of precautions against assassination of their father act like the heroine is crazy for being concerned about danger. One conversation establishes that Jericho is broke, yet later the same people talk as if he is a millionaire.
May 26, 2020
Not much to say about it...lots of espionage-related intrigue in an isolated, enclosed space involving 4 main characters. The protagonist, Rebecca, 34, once had a stormy affair with a 50-something millionaire, professor and former CIA director, who threw away his career and reputation to be with a 19 year old student. Now on his deathbed - reportedly - he summons her to his compound in the Colorado mountains. Strange things begin to happen on what Rebecca thought was a goodbye visit, and she ignores her survival instincts to unravel the mysteries planted by the creepy spymaster Jericho Ainsley. Great concept, but the ending didn't come together effectively at all. I was surprised, and not in a pleasant way. Stephen L. Carter authored one of my all-time favorite novels, The Emperor of Ocean Park. I was disappointed with this one....sorry.
May 20, 2011
Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed in this one. The writing style is nothing like his other books; in this beach novel, it's all about racing through the action, no concern with the character development or eloquent descriptive passages that I like in his other works. Basic story is that a young woman is summoned to an isolated house in Colorado where a former flame is on his deathbed. He was connected with various operations over the years, federal and private, and appears to have some critical information secreted somewhere that everybody wants to get their hands on. She quickly becomes embroiled in the mess, and it takes off from there. It sets a good pace, keeps the interest, has lots of twists and turns.
September 14, 2012
I didn't think much of this book, despite the high recommendations I had read. The writing is ok, and there's an interesting plot, but...none of it makes sense, and the characters aren't "real". I think the little things help define the characters and set the scene--but the author doesn't seem to have decided what he intends. For example, at one point, the "heroine" says that she's thin because she doesn't find time to eat. Then, she complains inwardly when someone is cooking good, but fattening foods. Later, the same cook is suddenly cooking "health" foods that no one in the house likes. None of this has anything to do with the plotlines, though--just an example of how confusing the author and the book is.
October 12, 2013
I have read this author before, Palace Council, gave it five stars and thought I had discovered a new favorite author. Wrong. I found this one by accident at the library with the comment by Lincoln Child on the cover, "The best espionage novel I've come across in twenty years."
"Wow," I thought and put it in my bag.
We are introduced to Jericho Ainsley, ex Secretary of Defense and CIA Director, as he lays dying from a terminal disease and are subjected to his rambling, oblique diatribes and thoughts along with the suspicions of his cohorts and friends. I occasionally read for enlightenment but most of the time it is for entertainment. My philosophy is that I don't want to work too hard at having a good time and this was entirely too much work. I didn't finish it.
"Wow," I thought and put it in my bag.
We are introduced to Jericho Ainsley, ex Secretary of Defense and CIA Director, as he lays dying from a terminal disease and are subjected to his rambling, oblique diatribes and thoughts along with the suspicions of his cohorts and friends. I occasionally read for enlightenment but most of the time it is for entertainment. My philosophy is that I don't want to work too hard at having a good time and this was entirely too much work. I didn't finish it.
February 5, 2010
I checked this book out of the library for Scott to read -- he enjoys a good spy novel as much as the next guy. When I ran out of reading material myself, I decided to give Jericho's Fall a try and I kind of wish that I hadn't. The lead in -- a former CIA director lies dying and the plucky mistress who ruined his career treks all the way to his mountain retreat to bid him farewell-- seemed interesting enough, but then the novel got bogged down in bizarre plot twists involving important "secrets", shadowy conspirators, paranoia, revenge, and the like. I tried to suspend disbelief (really I did) but the story just doesn't work. Trust me. Go read something else.
September 1, 2009
This book was loaned to me by one of my favorite sources, but I was glad
to finish. The story involves the "shadowy world of spies, official secrecy and financial fraud." I'm thinking I need a character I like to
really enjoy a book. Otherwise, who cares what happens. The story was
way too "drug out" and there was too much looking back at past events
that were equally boring and not getting on with the current intrigue.
By the time we had flashed up to the present, I'd lost interest in what
was happening.
to finish. The story involves the "shadowy world of spies, official secrecy and financial fraud." I'm thinking I need a character I like to
really enjoy a book. Otherwise, who cares what happens. The story was
way too "drug out" and there was too much looking back at past events
that were equally boring and not getting on with the current intrigue.
By the time we had flashed up to the present, I'd lost interest in what
was happening.
August 6, 2009
I was very excited to read this book, especially since I had the opportunity to meet the author at the RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, NH earlier this month. I thought the book was okay but I doubt I'll ever read another book by Carter. Although the book is a thriller, I never felt nervous about what would happen next. And, I scare quite easily! The plot was slow moving and the characters were not too interesting.
November 14, 2009
Heard a review on NPR this morning. The author talked about this story of a (fictional) former head of the CIA who is slowly losing his mind. What happens when a mind full of state secrets starts to fall apart?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
I couldn't get into it. I wanted to and I tried, but it wallowed around too long in the "old flame romance resentful family members" part and didn't get to the espinoge top secret spy stuff fast enough for my taste.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
I couldn't get into it. I wanted to and I tried, but it wallowed around too long in the "old flame romance resentful family members" part and didn't get to the espinoge top secret spy stuff fast enough for my taste.
August 23, 2009
Definitely a fast thriller--like most in this genre, it takes place within a few days when Jericho [used to be head of CIA, National Security Council:] calls Rebecca, his one-time mistress, to his bedside. Jericho has secrets, and he's let it be known that when he dies, those secrets will be exposed. So A LOT of people descend on his fortress in Colorado to make sure that doesn't happen. Whom can Beck trust?
December 31, 2009
The story draws the reader in at the beginning, but slows in the middle. There's a lot of back story the author takes the reader through. By the end of the book, the pace and action picks up. Stephen L. Carter did a good job of putting everything together, but I did find it difficult to like any of the characters in this story. Also, the publishers pushed the novel as a thriller misleading the readers. Jericho's Fall is suspenseful but in no way would I consider it a thriller.
February 28, 2010
If I could give 2.5 stars, that would be it. It was somewhere between "OK" and "liked it" -- and yes I was disappointed. It moved pretty slowly and it was WAY off the charts via reality (required a massive dose of suspension of disbelief) and it all fell apart the last 80 pages or so.
I think I will still request Carter's books because when he writes well, it is SOOOO good. I just need to lower my expectations.
I think I will still request Carter's books because when he writes well, it is SOOOO good. I just need to lower my expectations.
April 1, 2017
Rating - 6.1
Full of misses despite glimpses of potential & promise - too many plot points that don't have a satisfying explanation & no real finish/conclusion; Characters are not intriguing nor inspirational - flat & flatter
The affair never really fits into the storyline & Jericho should have been portrayed to be more machiavellian than weak; Carter also seems to lack expertise on the subject & the CIA content is superficial
Full of misses despite glimpses of potential & promise - too many plot points that don't have a satisfying explanation & no real finish/conclusion; Characters are not intriguing nor inspirational - flat & flatter
The affair never really fits into the storyline & Jericho should have been portrayed to be more machiavellian than weak; Carter also seems to lack expertise on the subject & the CIA content is superficial
February 23, 2018
This was a disappointment, I found myself vaguely irritated by the book all the way through. Trying to pinpoint why, I would say the main character was irritating for sure, silly nicknames, silly plot with about 40 twists too many, unconvincing relationships at the heart of the story. I enjoyed Emperor of Ocean Park and New England White very much, but this read like a first novel (which it is not).
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