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Dire Means
Can love be extorted? An ingenious vigilante launches a bizarre mission to end homelessness in the coveted beach-side city of Santa Monica. Randomly-chosen citizens mysteriously disappear after they are secretly videotaped ignoring or exhibiting cruelty to the homeless. Days later, their corpses show up in the streets, bearing a message. The vigilante's demand is clear: Be kind to the homeless or risk the same horrifying fate. With law enforcement stymied, Santa Monica becomes a virtual armed encampment.
Citizens engage in flagrant displays of public kindness as the only way to feel safe outside their homes. Businesses join in, using storefront window signs to flaunt perks for the homeless and avoid being targeted. Mark Denny, a computer technician, is lured and then trapped in the vigilante's scheme to maintain the public's fear-fueled generosity. Matching technological wits is the only way he can end the city's terror, but it could cost his life.
This taut thriller brings you page after page of nail-biting tension laced with moral quandaries.
Citizens engage in flagrant displays of public kindness as the only way to feel safe outside their homes. Businesses join in, using storefront window signs to flaunt perks for the homeless and avoid being targeted. Mark Denny, a computer technician, is lured and then trapped in the vigilante's scheme to maintain the public's fear-fueled generosity. Matching technological wits is the only way he can end the city's terror, but it could cost his life.
This taut thriller brings you page after page of nail-biting tension laced with moral quandaries.
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2009
51 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Geoffrey Neil
9 books19 followersGeoffrey Neil, his wife and talkative son live in Los Angeles with a useless, ungrateful fish that Geoffrey threatens at least once daily. Completing a novel is a grueling process for Geoffrey, but he can't break his writing obsession even though he likes sleep, TV and people more than keyboards. His stories use disturbing implications more than graphic depictions to provide a satisfying thrill with little blood--a tactic many readers find equally assaulting on the senses. Geoffrey's overactive imagination and genuine fear of almost everything (You'd be shocked.) are tools that help him write thrillers, but also get him wound tighter than an eight-day clock. His wife calls him the mayor of Stress Town. That scares him. See?
Geoffrey is busy finishing his fourth novel, "Prey for Us", which will be released in 2016. For advance notice and other coveted perks, join his private Reader Group on his website. Meanwhile, why not try one of his other books? You never know ... that could boost Geoffrey's spirits enough to save a pathetic fish. Do the right thing. Do it for the fish.
Geoffrey is busy finishing his fourth novel, "Prey for Us", which will be released in 2016. For advance notice and other coveted perks, join his private Reader Group on his website. Meanwhile, why not try one of his other books? You never know ... that could boost Geoffrey's spirits enough to save a pathetic fish. Do the right thing. Do it for the fish.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 30, 2013
Once I started reading, I just wanted to keep reading, which is generally a quality I consider good in a novel. This story has a lot going for it, from a interesting and bizarre plot to a great main character, tied together with writing that was easy to read and be involved by.
Unfortunately, it took a little while to get there.
I thought this when I just a short way into the novel and still think it now that the first four or six chapters (or however many there are until Mark was introduced) are the worst part of this novel. They're written in a super cheesy thriller type way with clumsy attempts at invoking suspense and absolutely nothing that makes me care about what's happening. Even after reading the entire novel I still feel like they weren't at all necessary to tell the story and the novel would have been better off without them.
Fortunately, it wasn't too much of that until Mark was introduced. And once he was, it didn't take long for the story to develop into one that I wanted to read, with a character I liked and cared about. The suspense and tension that I think the author was trying to build in the first paragraphs did start to happen much better through the news reports and stuff mentioned in the background of Bonfiglio's. For that matter, that diner was a perfect setting: absolutely believable and enjoyable while still doing a great job establishing the setting and moving the plot.
As far as the plot, well, it was super contrived. But I don't think that was a bad thing. Just the fact that it's tied so closely to homelessness makes it odd; while I appreciate the wacko and amusing plot to go with the anvils, it is kind of weird to have the over the top ridiculousness tied to something so serious and mundane. At the same time, if the author wrote this book for the intention of drawing attention to the homeless, then the plot is almost a problem because it starts to overshadow that topic with its later questions about ethics.
Like that makes any sense. What I'm trying to say is that I liked the plot and the questions it evoked. It's just odd that while the homelessness thing was almost excessive and almost a turn off, the things I was thinking about at the end were not about homeless folks. But they were interesting nonetheless.
So, while I would probably recommend this book to most people and I really enjoyed it (except for a few unnecessary paragraphs), it's not perfect. While the side characters and varied, interesting and amusing, they're all still various degrees of flat. Morana's probably the most interesting one just because it takes a while to figure out her thinking/ethics/motivation/whatever word it is I want.
Uncle Leon is interesting. I enjoyed his conversation with Mark. However, it was odd how he wasn't actually part of the story. He was introduced and in the one paragraph established as if he was going to be a part, but then it turned out he was at most a catalyst. Which is kind of too bad. On the one hand, written like that he wasn't obviously the cliché wise old man who gives the perfect advice to tie up a story, which is good because that's super cheesy and usually not something I like in my stories. On the other hand, once the story is finished, in retrospect that's exactly what he was, giving the perfect advice to start the story. I guess I just wish there were a bit more natural way for Mark to change. Also, his one loose thread was never used:
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only bad plot device. The TellTale, just in general. Ugh. Besides the fact that it is totally impossible and the fact that the explanation given of how it works doesn't make sense and the fact that Flash isn't hardware so Jim using a newer revision wouldn't make it smaller, it was just entirely too convenient. When it was mentioned originally, even then it was the most obvious Chekov's Gun ever, to the point that now that I'm finished it really feels more like an Ass Pull that was retconned in to make it less terrible, even though that didn't actually help to make it less terrible.
Sorry, I just felt like TVTroping. By the way, don't click those links.
Where was I? Dunno, I've been looking at TVTropes and forgot if there was anything else...
Oh, right, one last complaint is that I felt that there was a conspicuous lack of background about Pop. He's this And we're just supposed to go with that with no explanation of how he got where he is or why he suddenly now is doing something. Ultimately it just made him a caricature of a villain, which is less than ideal.
But, despite those things, I definitely enjoyed the story.
Unfortunately, it took a little while to get there.
I thought this when I just a short way into the novel and still think it now that the first four or six chapters (or however many there are until Mark was introduced) are the worst part of this novel. They're written in a super cheesy thriller type way with clumsy attempts at invoking suspense and absolutely nothing that makes me care about what's happening. Even after reading the entire novel I still feel like they weren't at all necessary to tell the story and the novel would have been better off without them.
Fortunately, it wasn't too much of that until Mark was introduced. And once he was, it didn't take long for the story to develop into one that I wanted to read, with a character I liked and cared about. The suspense and tension that I think the author was trying to build in the first paragraphs did start to happen much better through the news reports and stuff mentioned in the background of Bonfiglio's. For that matter, that diner was a perfect setting: absolutely believable and enjoyable while still doing a great job establishing the setting and moving the plot.
As far as the plot, well, it was super contrived. But I don't think that was a bad thing. Just the fact that it's tied so closely to homelessness makes it odd; while I appreciate the wacko and amusing plot to go with the anvils, it is kind of weird to have the over the top ridiculousness tied to something so serious and mundane. At the same time, if the author wrote this book for the intention of drawing attention to the homeless, then the plot is almost a problem because it starts to overshadow that topic with its later questions about ethics.
Like that makes any sense. What I'm trying to say is that I liked the plot and the questions it evoked. It's just odd that while the homelessness thing was almost excessive and almost a turn off, the things I was thinking about at the end were not about homeless folks. But they were interesting nonetheless.
So, while I would probably recommend this book to most people and I really enjoyed it (except for a few unnecessary paragraphs), it's not perfect. While the side characters and varied, interesting and amusing, they're all still various degrees of flat. Morana's probably the most interesting one just because it takes a while to figure out her thinking/ethics/motivation/whatever word it is I want.
Uncle Leon is interesting. I enjoyed his conversation with Mark. However, it was odd how he wasn't actually part of the story. He was introduced and in the one paragraph established as if he was going to be a part, but then it turned out he was at most a catalyst. Which is kind of too bad. On the one hand, written like that he wasn't obviously the cliché wise old man who gives the perfect advice to tie up a story, which is good because that's super cheesy and usually not something I like in my stories. On the other hand, once the story is finished, in retrospect that's exactly what he was, giving the perfect advice to start the story. I guess I just wish there were a bit more natural way for Mark to change. Also, his one loose thread was never used:
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only bad plot device. The TellTale, just in general. Ugh. Besides the fact that it is totally impossible and the fact that the explanation given of how it works doesn't make sense and the fact that Flash isn't hardware so Jim using a newer revision wouldn't make it smaller, it was just entirely too convenient. When it was mentioned originally, even then it was the most obvious Chekov's Gun ever, to the point that now that I'm finished it really feels more like an Ass Pull that was retconned in to make it less terrible, even though that didn't actually help to make it less terrible.
Sorry, I just felt like TVTroping. By the way, don't click those links.
Where was I? Dunno, I've been looking at TVTropes and forgot if there was anything else...
Oh, right, one last complaint is that I felt that there was a conspicuous lack of background about Pop. He's this And we're just supposed to go with that with no explanation of how he got where he is or why he suddenly now is doing something. Ultimately it just made him a caricature of a villain, which is less than ideal.
But, despite those things, I definitely enjoyed the story.
June 30, 2014
Moves along briskly enough but requires a large dollop of suspended disbelief. The overall scenario and establishment response it a shade too much to swallow although the writing style is readable but needs sharpening.
The characters are a trifle thin and a few could be dismissed entirely, or their actions limited, which might tighten up the whole tale. For instance, Uncle Leon takes a hunk of text and yet adds very little to the story overall. (Favors {UK favours} explanation takes up several Kindle pages and goes nowhere relevant). Neva has a drawn out prayer session that could be reduced from several pages to a paragraph and not lose anything.
There is also a lot of minor detail that reduces the chance of letting the reader's imagination give its own colour. The sort of thing like, 'Despite the crisp coastal evening air, the sidewalks bustled with shoppers.' This is fine and sets the scene. The reader can fill in the detail unconsciously. The next sentence does the opposite of its intention and curtails rather than allows the picture to develop in the reader's head. 'Some carried shopping bags while others sipped steaming drinks cupped with both hands...etc.'
Occasionally adverbs detract from the crispness: 'absolutely delicious', 'absolutely amazing', 'absolutely fine', absolutely adorable', 'absolutely exquisite' to name but a few.
Despite the cavils, the observation is good and the flow is maintained, the plot is merely a little ambitious and the editing too light.
The characters are a trifle thin and a few could be dismissed entirely, or their actions limited, which might tighten up the whole tale. For instance, Uncle Leon takes a hunk of text and yet adds very little to the story overall. (Favors {UK favours} explanation takes up several Kindle pages and goes nowhere relevant). Neva has a drawn out prayer session that could be reduced from several pages to a paragraph and not lose anything.
There is also a lot of minor detail that reduces the chance of letting the reader's imagination give its own colour. The sort of thing like, 'Despite the crisp coastal evening air, the sidewalks bustled with shoppers.' This is fine and sets the scene. The reader can fill in the detail unconsciously. The next sentence does the opposite of its intention and curtails rather than allows the picture to develop in the reader's head. 'Some carried shopping bags while others sipped steaming drinks cupped with both hands...etc.'
Occasionally adverbs detract from the crispness: 'absolutely delicious', 'absolutely amazing', 'absolutely fine', absolutely adorable', 'absolutely exquisite' to name but a few.
Despite the cavils, the observation is good and the flow is maintained, the plot is merely a little ambitious and the editing too light.
June 19, 2019
A book that starts out kind and ends up so scary it promises to put you at the edge of your seat. A must read !
November 21, 2024
"The sun-kissed shores of Santa Monica hide a city gripped by terror. Beneath the picturesque façade, a relentless vigilante known as "Pop" unleashes a reign of twisted justice, forcing the citizens to confront a deep moral dilemma. He embarks on an ingenious mission to end homelessness, but his methods are anything but virtuous. With an icy determination, he wages a gruesome campaign to force compassion from a callous world, effectively blurring the lines between justice and revenge. Random citizens who exhibit cruelty to the homeless are secretly recorded and then vanish—until their corpses soon reappear one by one, randomly deposited in the streets bearing a macabre message: Be kind or face the same horrifying fate. The city descends into panic, kindness transforms from a virtue into a flagrant, desperate act of self-preservation.
In this lethal game, where love is both a currency and a weapon, Mark Denny, an unassuming computer technician, becomes the unwitting pawn. With a risky opportunity to stop the carnage, Mark grapples with the weight of a city's fear-fueled generosity, knowing that his solution could cost him everything."
The idea for this story was very unique and thought provoking. The characters were interesting and the scenes were very clearly thought out and conveyed to the reader. What is abundantly clear is that even the best of ideas can turn deadly.
In this lethal game, where love is both a currency and a weapon, Mark Denny, an unassuming computer technician, becomes the unwitting pawn. With a risky opportunity to stop the carnage, Mark grapples with the weight of a city's fear-fueled generosity, knowing that his solution could cost him everything."
The idea for this story was very unique and thought provoking. The characters were interesting and the scenes were very clearly thought out and conveyed to the reader. What is abundantly clear is that even the best of ideas can turn deadly.
November 29, 2019
Dire Means by Geoffrey Neil
This book is not for the faint of heart but it deals with a problem in our country that affects us all. The problem is dealt with in the book & leaves you cheering the hero & touches your heart...the it spirals in a totally different direction. Just hold on for the ride. And for those of you with hardened hearts & tight with your wallets...think about it! Great book Mr. Neil!! ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
This book is not for the faint of heart but it deals with a problem in our country that affects us all. The problem is dealt with in the book & leaves you cheering the hero & touches your heart...the it spirals in a totally different direction. Just hold on for the ride. And for those of you with hardened hearts & tight with your wallets...think about it! Great book Mr. Neil!! ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
May 22, 2022
Dire Means
Usually I have the stories figured out pretty quickly, this one armored me and held me captive, pun intended.
It is an interesting take on homelessness and curing it, I will agree with Mark, it was doomed to fail.
The story was gripping and kept me reading to the end. Thank you for an education in dire means for the benefit of all who could learn valuable morals and ethics from this story.
Usually I have the stories figured out pretty quickly, this one armored me and held me captive, pun intended.
It is an interesting take on homelessness and curing it, I will agree with Mark, it was doomed to fail.
The story was gripping and kept me reading to the end. Thank you for an education in dire means for the benefit of all who could learn valuable morals and ethics from this story.
November 27, 2017
Great book good story enjoyed it a lot.
June 7, 2020
Couldn't Wait
This book was great! I could not wait for the antagonist to get it! The premise for this book was really unique, and really enjoyable!
This book was great! I could not wait for the antagonist to get it! The premise for this book was really unique, and really enjoyable!
December 5, 2012
I found Dire Means thanks entirely to the Storybundle.com Mystery & Suspense bundle earlier this year - something I bought intending to give as a gift to my mother-in-law, an avid mystery reader. While I find myself more easily satisfied in a good history book or sci-fi piece, something made Dire Means stick out among the other books in the bundle and I found myself hanging onto it even while letting the others go on as gifts.
Dire Means grabbed my interest immediately. The first six or so chapters detail something happening without an explanation. Suddenly, the book changes settings and writing styles completely to begin a character story about someone previously unmentioned. I spent the remainder of the book juggling two fascinations: 1) who is this new character and why do I find myself relating to him so much; and 2) how in the world does this character get tangled up in what transpired at the beginning of the book? The result of the two fascinations combining was an inability to read a magazine, preview another book, watch a TV show at night or listen to music on the treadmill in the morning until I had completed this book.
Geoffrey Neil's writing style was easy to read, his story was easy to care about, his characters were easy to love and hate (depending on the character, of course) and his narrative moved at just the right pace and chapters broke at just the right places that I was never bored and always telling myself, "Well, I can't stop here! One more chapter..."
I've said nothing to the plot or morals of the book, both of which I loved. Get Mr. Neil's book - as well as his latest, "HR", as I have just done - and enjoy the ride. He'll surely be a great author to follow as he continues to work and grow.
Dire Means grabbed my interest immediately. The first six or so chapters detail something happening without an explanation. Suddenly, the book changes settings and writing styles completely to begin a character story about someone previously unmentioned. I spent the remainder of the book juggling two fascinations: 1) who is this new character and why do I find myself relating to him so much; and 2) how in the world does this character get tangled up in what transpired at the beginning of the book? The result of the two fascinations combining was an inability to read a magazine, preview another book, watch a TV show at night or listen to music on the treadmill in the morning until I had completed this book.
Geoffrey Neil's writing style was easy to read, his story was easy to care about, his characters were easy to love and hate (depending on the character, of course) and his narrative moved at just the right pace and chapters broke at just the right places that I was never bored and always telling myself, "Well, I can't stop here! One more chapter..."
I've said nothing to the plot or morals of the book, both of which I loved. Get Mr. Neil's book - as well as his latest, "HR", as I have just done - and enjoy the ride. He'll surely be a great author to follow as he continues to work and grow.
September 29, 2012
I read Dire Means quite some time ago and am finally getting to the review. (I am reader and not a writer, is my only excuse.) The story is clever and different, which is not a statement that comes lightly to an avid reader. I enjoyed the suspense and especially, the kick-*** female character, Morana. She's one of those types you have a love-hate relationship with as you read.
The crux of the novel is that a criminally minded homeless advocate takes revenge on the well-to-do, cruel-to-the-homeless citizens of Santa Monica, CA. The city is in a fear-induced state of lockdown, but law enforcement can't seem to get even a small break in the case. Until slightly bumbling, but technologically gifted Mark Denny gets caught up in the fray and becomes suspect number one. He ends up in the dangerous snare of the real mastermind and his cult-like company, a departure from his relatively routine, quiet life. To save his own life and stop the murderous rampage of the villains, he must use every bit of technological genius he has at his disposal, as well as summon courage he never knew he had.
I truly enjoyed this book, and despite a bit of a lag in the middle, I am won-over by new author, Geoffrey Neil's ability to spin a wild tale of suspense and terror. I definitely took the stairs a few times after reading this book...and you probably will, too.
The crux of the novel is that a criminally minded homeless advocate takes revenge on the well-to-do, cruel-to-the-homeless citizens of Santa Monica, CA. The city is in a fear-induced state of lockdown, but law enforcement can't seem to get even a small break in the case. Until slightly bumbling, but technologically gifted Mark Denny gets caught up in the fray and becomes suspect number one. He ends up in the dangerous snare of the real mastermind and his cult-like company, a departure from his relatively routine, quiet life. To save his own life and stop the murderous rampage of the villains, he must use every bit of technological genius he has at his disposal, as well as summon courage he never knew he had.
I truly enjoyed this book, and despite a bit of a lag in the middle, I am won-over by new author, Geoffrey Neil's ability to spin a wild tale of suspense and terror. I definitely took the stairs a few times after reading this book...and you probably will, too.
June 28, 2012
I entered the elevator willingly, and couldn't get off until the ride was over. Geoff Neil's writing style flows easily from one chapter to the next and I found it easy to keep sliding my finger across the ipad screen, craving more.
I got a bit emotional as I wended my way through this story. I groaned at Mark's stupidity with the gas station guys, and thought, "Well, duh! How did you think that was going to turn out?" I also worried far too often for Mark's safety (I may have to charge the author for my next hair color job...I'm sure I have a few more gray's). So many characters came to life for me, they were painted so vividly. Some you adore, some you think are quirky, and some are so easy to loathe. I think I know just who should play Pop in the movie - can't you just see Morgan Freeman? I liked that we had a really strong female character to root for as well.
On a more serious tone, I appreciate that Mr. Neil is using his writing gift for the benefit of othes. I like that a portion of the sales of his book, a bit of my money, is going to support organizations that do outreach with the homeless.
Definately looking forward to Mr. Neil's next piece of writing.
I got a bit emotional as I wended my way through this story. I groaned at Mark's stupidity with the gas station guys, and thought, "Well, duh! How did you think that was going to turn out?" I also worried far too often for Mark's safety (I may have to charge the author for my next hair color job...I'm sure I have a few more gray's). So many characters came to life for me, they were painted so vividly. Some you adore, some you think are quirky, and some are so easy to loathe. I think I know just who should play Pop in the movie - can't you just see Morgan Freeman? I liked that we had a really strong female character to root for as well.
On a more serious tone, I appreciate that Mr. Neil is using his writing gift for the benefit of othes. I like that a portion of the sales of his book, a bit of my money, is going to support organizations that do outreach with the homeless.
Definately looking forward to Mr. Neil's next piece of writing.
September 7, 2016
My review from amazon.com dated 11/13/2013
Title: An Unique Twist to the Mystery/Thriller
The main character of this book is just a nice guy trying to do nice things for others. However, when he attempts to stop someone from jumping off a building, he life changes drastically. All of a sudden is a superstar of Santa Monica, a hero during a time of disappearances. He gets an invitation to see something that "he will like" and takes the bait. Unfortunately it turns his life around even more and he is now in deep trouble.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book and was actually was quite surprised where the book went. The author definitely knows how to set a book up, by having the main character personally deal with the attitude most people have with the homeless. I also really liked how the very beginning told how some of the victims were captured--had a Criminal Minds or Without A Trace feel to it.
I definitely recommend this book and there is a high chance that I will read the other book by this author that has a character from this book. It certainly takes a twist on the normal mystery/thriller.
Title: An Unique Twist to the Mystery/Thriller
The main character of this book is just a nice guy trying to do nice things for others. However, when he attempts to stop someone from jumping off a building, he life changes drastically. All of a sudden is a superstar of Santa Monica, a hero during a time of disappearances. He gets an invitation to see something that "he will like" and takes the bait. Unfortunately it turns his life around even more and he is now in deep trouble.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book and was actually was quite surprised where the book went. The author definitely knows how to set a book up, by having the main character personally deal with the attitude most people have with the homeless. I also really liked how the very beginning told how some of the victims were captured--had a Criminal Minds or Without A Trace feel to it.
I definitely recommend this book and there is a high chance that I will read the other book by this author that has a character from this book. It certainly takes a twist on the normal mystery/thriller.
March 24, 2013
I'm not totally sure what I think about this book -- I just know I couldn't stop reading it. Sort of like trying to look away from a car accident, maybe. Not that the book wasn't well written. It was. There were an awful lot of characters and they weren't all well developed. However, the concept and the plot were fascinating. Even though I love mysteries, I'm more into the gentle or, at least, less bloody (most of the time) British type. I even caught myself looking away from the page a few times here just to get a break. But, as I hinted, this book is addictive. It isn't really gorg most of the time. But, it has just enough of the horrible and the insane. Sticks in the mind and makes me wonder how far away we are from something like this!
January 20, 2013
No Solitaire for me last night! I had to finish reading Dire Means. The concept was compelling, and Neil's treatment of it was engrossing. Thanks a lot for keeping me up until 2:45 AM, Mr. Neil. Dire Means is a novel that treats a dilemma I find myself thinking about from time to time--how to respond to the homeless I encounter. I'd like to be more like the hero, Mark Denny. I'm not like the worst people in the book, but just where on the spectrum do I fall? Lots of food for thought after reading Dire Means.
March 14, 2013
Very good reading that deals with an issue affecting countless cities and states not only across America but globally as well. The issue is homelessness and this story takes place in Los Angeles CA- one big reason I wanted to read the book since I live in Los Angeles. Great descriptions of Santa Monica and the author describes most of the characters nicely, enabling the reader to make a connection with them.The last couple of chapters were intense!! Unable to put the Kindle down until I read the ending. Recommended!
October 24, 2012
Geoffrey Neil has a new fan. This book is a twisted mystery adventure similar to what I'd expect from a young Dean Koontz. The protagonist is twisted and manipulated masterfully, leaving me wondering who would respond differently. The novel looks at the coldness of the world from the standpoint of the homeless. I've always tried to help the poor, but this novel made me think in new directions...a sign of a wonderful writer.
May 1, 2013
Another super winner from Geoffrey Neil. The book captures you at the beginning and never let's go. The characters are well defined with a plot with lots of twists and turns. I found myself staying up through the night reading. I never wanted it to end. Having just visited the book's main site, Santa Monica, I could easily identify with witnessing the many homeless people in the area. Mr. Neil possesses an excellent writing style and I cannot wait for his next book.
June 25, 2013
Interesting premise but I felt the ending was much too abrupt. One character in particular was left flapping in the breeze, clearly with the intent of bringing her back in a later book. I say this with a great degree of certainty as the Kindle version I read had an excerpt from "Human Resources", the author's follow-up to "Dire Means", and the character is prominently featured. Wish the ending was fleshed-out more. The brief epilogue was wholly unfulfilling and somewhat ambiguous.
November 1, 2012
I think what didn't work in this book was the lack of subtlety. The moralising, the characters, the plot development all felt very blunt, with no hidden layers or complexity. Very much a case of what you see is what you get. That might be purely a matter of personal taste, but it got in the way of my enjoyment of the book.
An interesting concept, but done clumsily. 2 stars
An interesting concept, but done clumsily. 2 stars
March 16, 2014
This was a very good story. I enjoyed it and found the book hard to put down. It was interesting to think about someone coming up with this as a way to end hunger and homelessness. Yikes.
It moved along well and the characters were well developed. I would recommend this book to others. Well worth your time.
It moved along well and the characters were well developed. I would recommend this book to others. Well worth your time.
November 18, 2014
From the very first chapter I was hooked. Alot of books take a few minutes to draw you in, but not this one, and that's exactly how I like my books.I really like the direction to the homeless and it made me look at how people treat the homeless everyday. Sadly, the story seems like something like this could actually happen someday. Really good book that I couldn't put down!
August 22, 2014
I READ TO 9% AND I CANNOT GO ON, I THINK THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME. AFTE EACH PAGE I READ IT GOT TOO MUCH FOR ME TO CONTINUE. I GAVE THIS A ONE STAR, IN ALL FAIRNESS I MUST SAY IT MAY BE A FIVE STAR BUT IT'S NOT FOR ME. THE FEELING THIS BOOK GAVE ME AFTER READING A FEW PAGES, IF I TRIED TO COMELETE, IT WOULD DEPRESS-THE HELL-OUTA-ME. PEACE OUT! :(
August 29, 2014
A Santa Monica computer tech does a good deed by saving the life of a homeless man determined to commit suicide. What follows is a chilling and often bizarre series of events as a secret cult attempts to rid Santa Monica of homelessness through terror and murder. A surreal story but still intriguing enough to keep the interest at a high level.
October 5, 2014
This book started out so good. I was fascinated by the moral dilemma presented as the theme of the book - the treatment of homeless people. Sadly the author chose to make the "villian" so nasty that the moral ambiguity of his scheme was totally lost. This book could have been so much better if the moral ambiguity had remained intact. Sigh.
September 11, 2015
Great read!
Definitely not a preachy read! Sometimes authors try too hard to get a Christian message across to the reader and end up making a book that's filled with too much "preachy speak". I truly enjoyed this book because the main character's actions speak a much louder message than words, and all within a great story that kept me reading through the wee hours!
Definitely not a preachy read! Sometimes authors try too hard to get a Christian message across to the reader and end up making a book that's filled with too much "preachy speak". I truly enjoyed this book because the main character's actions speak a much louder message than words, and all within a great story that kept me reading through the wee hours!
April 1, 2013
This was a great suspense novel! The story line was twisted and a very fresh subject matter. I could not put it down! Whether you are hardened against the homeless, tender or indifferent... this book will make you think.
May 2, 2013
I willing "entered an elevator" and was intrigued with this compelling look at the treatment of our country's homeless by those with the means to help. As I learned the logic of the vigilantes, I became more uncomfortable. Perhaps that was the author's intent.
June 5, 2013
Really enjoyed this spellbinding book by Geoffrey Neil. Dire Means is such a twisted journey into our psyche as well as that of a madman with a truly noble cause. The development of the story, exposing bits and pieces of the plan slowly were painful.
February 24, 2016
Glad it's over
Well all I can or want to say is that I finally got to the end. This book had way too much description for me. Obsession know me the abridged version. As for the story line, it left me.
Well all I can or want to say is that I finally got to the end. This book had way too much description for me. Obsession know me the abridged version. As for the story line, it left me.
March 16, 2016
Interesting
This is book number 2 that I have read by Mr Neil. I didn't put this one down either. It's a far out plot but so different and that's what keeps you from putting the book down. I loved it.
This is book number 2 that I have read by Mr Neil. I didn't put this one down either. It's a far out plot but so different and that's what keeps you from putting the book down. I loved it.
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