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Sam Capra #1
Adrenaline
Adrenaline by Abbott, Jeff. Published by Grand Central Publishing,2011, Hardcover
512 pages, Paperback
Published June 24, 2010
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3464 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Abbott
53 books1,233 followersJeff Abbott (born 1963) is a U.S. suspense novelist. He has a degree in History and English from Rice University. He lives in Austin, Texas. His early novels were traditional detective fiction but in recent years he has turned to writing thriller fiction. A theme of his work is the idea of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary danger and fighting to return to their normal lives. His novels are published in several countries and have also been bestsellers in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and France.
Series:
* Whit Mosley
* Jordan Poteet
Series:
* Whit Mosley
* Jordan Poteet
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 830 reviews
October 25, 2021
*3.5 stars*
Sam Capra is a UK based CIA operative. He’s married to Lucy, and the two are expecting their first child any time, but then a disaster strikes , changing everything. He enters a meeting, and gets a call from his Lucy telling him to leave the building immediately, and as he stands outside, the building is completely destroyed by a bomb. Many of his colleagues, and others in the place are killed, and as he stares in disbelief, he sees his wife being driven away, clearly in a state of distress.
This is a compelling start to this thriller. The beginning is tense and very gripping. The story goes through Capra’s doubts about his wife, the questioning, and the demolition of his career in the CIA, because his colleagues think he may be a traitor, why else would he leave the building just before a bomb goes off? But then he gets some clues about the perpetrators, and is soon on their trail, helped by a lady who works for another shadowy organisation. Apparently, she wants them as badly as he does.
The story moves from England to the US, to Holland, and back to the US again, and the action never stops. I did end up feeling that the middle part of the book was a little slow, and had to suspend disbelief at times, but it was an exciting read, with plenty of tension, and I enjoyed it.
Sam Capra is a UK based CIA operative. He’s married to Lucy, and the two are expecting their first child any time, but then a disaster strikes , changing everything. He enters a meeting, and gets a call from his Lucy telling him to leave the building immediately, and as he stands outside, the building is completely destroyed by a bomb. Many of his colleagues, and others in the place are killed, and as he stares in disbelief, he sees his wife being driven away, clearly in a state of distress.
This is a compelling start to this thriller. The beginning is tense and very gripping. The story goes through Capra’s doubts about his wife, the questioning, and the demolition of his career in the CIA, because his colleagues think he may be a traitor, why else would he leave the building just before a bomb goes off? But then he gets some clues about the perpetrators, and is soon on their trail, helped by a lady who works for another shadowy organisation. Apparently, she wants them as badly as he does.
The story moves from England to the US, to Holland, and back to the US again, and the action never stops. I did end up feeling that the middle part of the book was a little slow, and had to suspend disbelief at times, but it was an exciting read, with plenty of tension, and I enjoyed it.
November 5, 2017
Q: He was probably good at handling contracts and subordinates and accounts. I was none of those things. (c)
Q: Silence is my most powerful weapon. Most people literally cannot sit in silence with another human being around, especially in a café over drinks. We consider it odd. (c)
Q: Nic, the wannabe badass, was a computer geek who lived with his mother. (c)
Q: Parkour is about effective movement from place to place. Efficiency. I made my mind a knife. I cut the problem into small steps that could be done in one fluid movement. I had been hanging on to the windowsill for less than ten seconds. I had no time to spare. (c)
Q: I don’t want to have a boss who thinks he’s a ninja. (c)
Q: She goes nowhere without her three sons. I suspect their father is the devil and Mrs. Ling won custody. (c)
Q: “Let me get this straight,” I said. “I have just told you that the guy who bombed the London office is smuggling seriously dangerous goods into America, and you want to know what hostel I stayed at?”(c)
Q: We weren’t exactly a pair of badasses. (c)
Q: Silence is my most powerful weapon. Most people literally cannot sit in silence with another human being around, especially in a café over drinks. We consider it odd. (c)
Q: Nic, the wannabe badass, was a computer geek who lived with his mother. (c)
Q: Parkour is about effective movement from place to place. Efficiency. I made my mind a knife. I cut the problem into small steps that could be done in one fluid movement. I had been hanging on to the windowsill for less than ten seconds. I had no time to spare. (c)
Q: I don’t want to have a boss who thinks he’s a ninja. (c)
Q: She goes nowhere without her three sons. I suspect their father is the devil and Mrs. Ling won custody. (c)
Q: “Let me get this straight,” I said. “I have just told you that the guy who bombed the London office is smuggling seriously dangerous goods into America, and you want to know what hostel I stayed at?”(c)
Q: We weren’t exactly a pair of badasses. (c)
August 20, 2011
Here's the litmus test to determine if you'd like this book:
If, in the middle of an action/combat scene in which the main character is attacked by a swarthy sailor with a switchblade, the main character's reaction is to think to himself, 'The 1980s called and wants its weapon back', do you dig it or almost throw your Kindle into the nearby swimming pool?
There's a reason I'm writing this from my iPad.
If you have nothing else to read except deodorant packaging, sure, pick up this book. It's a predictable thriller starring Sam Capra, who's entirely one-dimensional and seems never to struggle with things most protagonists do, like self-doubt, making mistakes, and being human. He's cocksure and slick, and Abbott never seem to tire of explaining how Capras gets through sticky situations using parkour, which gets tiresome quickly. (I'm guessing it's also Abbott's passion.)
But whatever. I got this from Harlan Corbin's recommended summer thriller list, but I'm now convinced that Corbin (a) was drunk, or (b) is a good friend of Abbott, because no way this book makes a shortlist of best thrillers without some altered judgment or greased palms.
The heir apparent to Jason Bourne Sam Capra is not. Not a chance.
Average at best. If you're looking for a quick junk read, you found it. If you want more, keep looking.
If, in the middle of an action/combat scene in which the main character is attacked by a swarthy sailor with a switchblade, the main character's reaction is to think to himself, 'The 1980s called and wants its weapon back', do you dig it or almost throw your Kindle into the nearby swimming pool?
There's a reason I'm writing this from my iPad.
If you have nothing else to read except deodorant packaging, sure, pick up this book. It's a predictable thriller starring Sam Capra, who's entirely one-dimensional and seems never to struggle with things most protagonists do, like self-doubt, making mistakes, and being human. He's cocksure and slick, and Abbott never seem to tire of explaining how Capras gets through sticky situations using parkour, which gets tiresome quickly. (I'm guessing it's also Abbott's passion.)
But whatever. I got this from Harlan Corbin's recommended summer thriller list, but I'm now convinced that Corbin (a) was drunk, or (b) is a good friend of Abbott, because no way this book makes a shortlist of best thrillers without some altered judgment or greased palms.
The heir apparent to Jason Bourne Sam Capra is not. Not a chance.
Average at best. If you're looking for a quick junk read, you found it. If you want more, keep looking.
October 22, 2023
Was a bit too farfetched for me. I've enjoyed some of his other books but this one not as much. Too much gunfire and blood.
Three stars.
Three stars.
August 26, 2012
This is the book that made me the reader that I am today. I am so thankful with this book because it got me started into reading. Before this book i did not read anything at all, dont ask me why because i dont know ( i was missing out) but now i have read 14 books just this year. To me that is a great accomplishment because i used to not read anything, so to go from nothing to 14 is awsome! One of my friends asked me if i could go with him to barnes and noble to get some books. While i was there i was looking around when i saw the title of this book, it was in big red letters, i picked it up and read the back of it and i liked what it showed it was about. Am a really big fan of 007 movies and books, i think that is why i decided to give it a chance. I am so glad i got the book, it is one of the best decisions i have made.
I was hooked instantly, i was surprised that i read it until 1 am that night. I ended up finishing it in four days. I really liked the fact that it was a really fast paced easy to read book because i was or am a novice reader. The story itself is great, it is action packed throughout the whole book, it actually never ends. It has many twists and some suspense moments. Overall it is a great book to read. I highly recomend it to anyone, but you would like it best if you are into spy, action, guns, 007 type of books and movies. I cant wait for the paperback edition of the sequel ( the last minute ) to come out in december!
January 29, 2012
"Adrenaline" is the first novel written by Jeff Abbott that I've read. The premise of the book sounded promising, the beginning chapters were exciting, and then the story simply ran out of steam. In fact, it was about 100 pages too long. I read a fair amount of mysteries and spy thrillers, most of them more suspenseful and better written than "Adrenaline". In my opinion, this book deserves a C+ to B rating.
Without warning, CIA operative Sam Capra's happy life and the world as he knows it are blasted to smithereens, his family is torn apart, and he is accused of being a traitor. Sam spends the rest of the book tracking down and ultimately triumphing over a legion of bad guys using his wits, athleticism, guns, bare fists, flying feet and whatever objects happen to be handy.
About midway through the book, I became aware that the near misses were too numerous, the twists were too tangled and implausible, and the turns too numerous to count. Notwithstanding my overall disappointment, it's likely that I'll give the sequel a try in the hope that the author's next book will deliver more punch and less drag.
Without warning, CIA operative Sam Capra's happy life and the world as he knows it are blasted to smithereens, his family is torn apart, and he is accused of being a traitor. Sam spends the rest of the book tracking down and ultimately triumphing over a legion of bad guys using his wits, athleticism, guns, bare fists, flying feet and whatever objects happen to be handy.
About midway through the book, I became aware that the near misses were too numerous, the twists were too tangled and implausible, and the turns too numerous to count. Notwithstanding my overall disappointment, it's likely that I'll give the sequel a try in the hope that the author's next book will deliver more punch and less drag.
November 23, 2016
This is the second book, I've read by this author and it is the first one in his Sam Capra series. It was great to get the back story on Sam, because I've already read the 5th one in this series. I actually liked this one. It was fast paced and entertaining. Some of the plot was a little far fetched, but I didn't care.....the ride was fun and I could almost believe this world the author described.
I liked the characters. They were fun and interesting. Sam, the MC, wasn't overly defined in this one, but it was interesting to see his beginnings with this new organization. So 4 stars.
I liked the characters. They were fun and interesting. Sam, the MC, wasn't overly defined in this one, but it was interesting to see his beginnings with this new organization. So 4 stars.
January 20, 2018
This started out really well, a 4 star read. Unfortunately, it jumped the shark about halfway through & kept doing so. I don't know why the author felt he had to have a guy jump off a bridge on to a truck doing 70 mph down a highway, but that's TV garbage. Up until that point, it had been pretty realistic, too.
The hero & story starts out really well. He's into parkour & that was well used at first. His life is shattered & he never gives up. Well done. The bars were a good touch & some of the snappy dialog was fun. Some was overdone (He sees a switchblade & thinks, "The 80s want their weapon back." Seriously?) but that was forgivable. The scum & situations that he has to deal with were great & the twists excellent.
The story got worse as it went on until I was glad it was over. It's a shame. There were so many good elements in the book. Toning down just a few things would have made a far better story. Shortening the book by 20% or a bit more would have helped, too. At least it wrapped up well enough that I don't need to read further into the series. Yes, there are a couple of strings for further books, but I don't really care to follow them.
I'm tempted to give this 2 stars, but it's a little better than that. I'll give it 3 stars without recommending it unless you're out of other stuff to read.
The hero & story starts out really well. He's into parkour & that was well used at first. His life is shattered & he never gives up. Well done. The bars were a good touch & some of the snappy dialog was fun. Some was overdone (He sees a switchblade & thinks, "The 80s want their weapon back." Seriously?) but that was forgivable. The scum & situations that he has to deal with were great & the twists excellent.
The story got worse as it went on until I was glad it was over. It's a shame. There were so many good elements in the book. Toning down just a few things would have made a far better story. Shortening the book by 20% or a bit more would have helped, too. At least it wrapped up well enough that I don't need to read further into the series. Yes, there are a couple of strings for further books, but I don't really care to follow them.
I'm tempted to give this 2 stars, but it's a little better than that. I'll give it 3 stars without recommending it unless you're out of other stuff to read.
January 19, 2014
Sam Capra is off to work. Things are going well. His wife, Lucy, is 8 months pregnant and he loves his job as part of a special team that tracks down bad guys through their networks. He is just about to make an important report when Lucy calls telling him to meet her downstairs and then when he gets there, to run. He spots her in a car across the street and runs toward the car just as the top floor of the building, where his offices are located, blows up.
Soon, the next thing he knows is being locked in a dungeon, where he and Lucy are accused of being traitors. After being held several months being tortured, all the while maintaining his innocence, he escapes and flees to Rotterdam with the assistance of a shadowy group which he doesn’t understand, but whose help certainly willing to accept. Weird weapons, groups within groups, psychotic killers, Patty Hearst parallels, and parkour (I had never heard of this, slug that I am.) Not to mention Roger Cadet.
A bit too James Bond at times, nevertheless a fun time-waster. This book delivers what the title suggests; it's a frenetic rush. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 since I happen to be in a good mood this morning.
Soon, the next thing he knows is being locked in a dungeon, where he and Lucy are accused of being traitors. After being held several months being tortured, all the while maintaining his innocence, he escapes and flees to Rotterdam with the assistance of a shadowy group which he doesn’t understand, but whose help certainly willing to accept. Weird weapons, groups within groups, psychotic killers, Patty Hearst parallels, and parkour (I had never heard of this, slug that I am.) Not to mention Roger Cadet.
A bit too James Bond at times, nevertheless a fun time-waster. This book delivers what the title suggests; it's a frenetic rush. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 since I happen to be in a good mood this morning.
November 14, 2017
I don’t normally read stories like Adrenaline. You know the kind: the generic dime store thriller you see among the likes of James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell. I never, ever, pick up these books. It’s not that I have a discriminatory sensibility about them. Obviously, they’re popular books and sell lots of copies. It’s just something that I’ve never had a compelling desire to read. So, since I just had Adrenaline lying around I thought I would try something different as a sort of palate cleanser.
This is the beginning of the Sam Capra series. Sam Capra is a CIA operative who studies the money flow between criminal organizations. Next, cut to his life in disarray because his pregnant wife Lucy has been taken and his CIA office blows up within a minute of Sam leaving the building. Sam then goes on a rogue mission to find his wife and child. Along the way is helped by a shadowy organization as he uncovers an even larger and more insidious plot that he has to stop. I assume that there will be similar adventures in the rest of the series where Sam is thrust into a dangerous situation and must save the day.
The one thing that kept ringing false was that Sam is basically just an analyst. Yes, he did some undercover work before as a smuggler but never anything involving combat. The only combat training that he seemed to possess was parkour skills. Then he’s under cover and kicking ass and firing guns with precision accuracy Jason Bourne style. This would make sense if his cover persona of the Ex Canadian Special Forces operative was true. However, Sam was recruited directly out of College into the CIA. Where did all this combat training come from?
Also, I really want to put in a trigger warning for rape and sexual assault. Seriously, there was so much rape in Adrenaline it was unbelievable. I think almost every woman in the story was a victim of sexual assault. This bothered and disappointed me for all of the very apparent reasons. There are so many other avenues that could have gone down besides raping literally almost every woman in the story. In fact, this is the main reason this is getting a lower rating from me. It was just gratuitous and in poor taste to have that level of sexual assault throughout the story.
Adrenaline was essentially the same for me as a Jason Bourne movie. I liked it just fine and it’s quite thrilling and if it happens to be on TV I’ll probably watch it for a bit. However, other than it coming to me randomly, I don’t spend much of my time thinking about it. This is a single serving adventure for me. It was fun but not something I’m going to ever be obsessed with.
This is the beginning of the Sam Capra series. Sam Capra is a CIA operative who studies the money flow between criminal organizations. Next, cut to his life in disarray because his pregnant wife Lucy has been taken and his CIA office blows up within a minute of Sam leaving the building. Sam then goes on a rogue mission to find his wife and child. Along the way is helped by a shadowy organization as he uncovers an even larger and more insidious plot that he has to stop. I assume that there will be similar adventures in the rest of the series where Sam is thrust into a dangerous situation and must save the day.
The one thing that kept ringing false was that Sam is basically just an analyst. Yes, he did some undercover work before as a smuggler but never anything involving combat. The only combat training that he seemed to possess was parkour skills. Then he’s under cover and kicking ass and firing guns with precision accuracy Jason Bourne style. This would make sense if his cover persona of the Ex Canadian Special Forces operative was true. However, Sam was recruited directly out of College into the CIA. Where did all this combat training come from?
Also, I really want to put in a trigger warning for rape and sexual assault. Seriously, there was so much rape in Adrenaline it was unbelievable. I think almost every woman in the story was a victim of sexual assault. This bothered and disappointed me for all of the very apparent reasons. There are so many other avenues that could have gone down besides raping literally almost every woman in the story. In fact, this is the main reason this is getting a lower rating from me. It was just gratuitous and in poor taste to have that level of sexual assault throughout the story.
Adrenaline was essentially the same for me as a Jason Bourne movie. I liked it just fine and it’s quite thrilling and if it happens to be on TV I’ll probably watch it for a bit. However, other than it coming to me randomly, I don’t spend much of my time thinking about it. This is a single serving adventure for me. It was fun but not something I’m going to ever be obsessed with.
August 14, 2012
This is the first book I've read by Jeff Abbott. The only reason I bought it is because I won the second book in the series through a goodread giveaway. I wanted background information on this Sam Capra character that is the focus of the series.
The book starts off with Capra showing off his parkour skills and explaining his love for it. Initially, Capra thinks his life that he has made with his wife is perfect. A CIA operative who's about to embark on a great journey of normalcy has no idea his picturesque life is about to change. He will soon find his self trying to find his wife and son and that sets the stage for this book.
I actually enjoyed reading this novel. It was fast-paced and held my attention. The author doesn't go in too deep into the characters psyche which is something I didn't like. They all only show what's on the surface. There is almost no history or depth to any of the main cast. I'm hoping that the next book in the series will help with this aspect in character development.
Essentially this book seems to be laying down the ground work for what's to come. I recommend this read to anyone who likes fast paced spy thrillers. There's action, suspense, and death. The necessary ingredients.
The book starts off with Capra showing off his parkour skills and explaining his love for it. Initially, Capra thinks his life that he has made with his wife is perfect. A CIA operative who's about to embark on a great journey of normalcy has no idea his picturesque life is about to change. He will soon find his self trying to find his wife and son and that sets the stage for this book.
I actually enjoyed reading this novel. It was fast-paced and held my attention. The author doesn't go in too deep into the characters psyche which is something I didn't like. They all only show what's on the surface. There is almost no history or depth to any of the main cast. I'm hoping that the next book in the series will help with this aspect in character development.
Essentially this book seems to be laying down the ground work for what's to come. I recommend this read to anyone who likes fast paced spy thrillers. There's action, suspense, and death. The necessary ingredients.
March 29, 2016
Very exciting book about a man who works for the CIA and so does his wife. She warns him to get out of the building just before a bomb blows it up and kills everyone. Is she a traitor, or was she forced to? Kidnapped? What about their son? She is seven months pregnant when she disappears. The CIA won't let Sam look for her. How will he get out and start searching? Plays like an action movie, very gripping, fast-paced and exciting. Twists and turns in every chapter.
July 20, 2016
It might be 3.5 stars, not 3, but we'll have to see after the story has had time to settle in my mind. This was the genre of book that I needed in the moment, so I may be rating it higher for that reason.
I really felt that this was many short stories tied together with the same characters and plotlines that flowed (sort of). I found myself thinking more than once "really? more?" Sometimes, when a spy/thriller novel is well-written, you feel like you're being swept away, and you feel the urgency of every scene - the breakneck pace is part of what ties the hurdles together. For this book, though, I found that the stories just happened next to each other. By the end of the book, I was just looking forward to the end of the book. Then I found out that there were major plotlines that were going to be explained in the next book, which is always a crummy surprise.
I also got the feeling that the protagonist was really just playing at being a spy. I don't know why I thought that, whether it was that he started out in an office giving a presentation, or whether it was just the way he was written - either way, the bottom line was that I didn't buy that he had the skills that he exhibited in the fight scenes.
Lastly, if I read about parkour one more time, I think that I was actually going to barf. Not just a little bit of puke in the mouth, actually a heaving, retching, purging barf. Hope that's visual enough to illustrate how much I'd really had enough of this unbelievable skill that he had that saved his ass time after time.
Yeah...maybe after some thought, I might reduce the number of stars to 2.
I really felt that this was many short stories tied together with the same characters and plotlines that flowed (sort of). I found myself thinking more than once "really? more?" Sometimes, when a spy/thriller novel is well-written, you feel like you're being swept away, and you feel the urgency of every scene - the breakneck pace is part of what ties the hurdles together. For this book, though, I found that the stories just happened next to each other. By the end of the book, I was just looking forward to the end of the book. Then I found out that there were major plotlines that were going to be explained in the next book, which is always a crummy surprise.
I also got the feeling that the protagonist was really just playing at being a spy. I don't know why I thought that, whether it was that he started out in an office giving a presentation, or whether it was just the way he was written - either way, the bottom line was that I didn't buy that he had the skills that he exhibited in the fight scenes.
Lastly, if I read about parkour one more time, I think that I was actually going to barf. Not just a little bit of puke in the mouth, actually a heaving, retching, purging barf. Hope that's visual enough to illustrate how much I'd really had enough of this unbelievable skill that he had that saved his ass time after time.
Yeah...maybe after some thought, I might reduce the number of stars to 2.
October 25, 2018
Thank you to Barnes & Noble for this "Serial Read". If it hadn't been a serial read, I would have devoured it in a couple of sittings!
October 25, 2023
Chapter 16 almost made me quit. As it turned out, I should’ve gone with that instinct. It wasn’t all as gross as that bit (which featured using rape to turn a young woman into a terrorist) but it lays bare a pretty ugly world. It may be realistic, but I don't want to read about it.
And contrary to what the title might suggest, this was dull. DNF @ p. 239.
And contrary to what the title might suggest, this was dull. DNF @ p. 239.
September 13, 2011
I received this audiobook for review from Hachette Audio. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.
Adrenaline is a fast-paced thriller that will leave you wanting more!
Sam Capra is a CIA agent whose pregnant wife, Lucy (also a CIA agent), has been kidnapped after a bombing of the CIA offices. A phone call Lucy makes to Sam telling him to leave the building moments before the bomb goes off leads the CIA to believe that Lucy double-crossed the CIA and planted the bomb and that Sam was involved in the duplicitous scheme as well. Sam’s mission is to find his wife and clear her name, as well as his own.
Sam is a bit of a smart-ass, and I love that about him! He is extremely sharp, and his loyalty to his wife is unerring. I love the character of Mila as well, the Russian woman who recruits Sam to help her find the daughter of a very rich businessman/scientist.
The pace of book is fast and enjoyable. I did successfully deduce the identity of the mastermind behind the operation, but that did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book. Abbott has created a very interesting cast of characters (which I think would translate very well to the big screen, by the way!), and I think this book is a fantastic start to a new series! The end of the book sets up the next one in the series beautifully, and I cannot wait to see what is next in store for Capra! I hope that we will learn more about mysterious Mila and that she will stick around for a long time!
Abbott is a new-to-me author, and I am definitely planning to check out his previous novels while I anxiously await the next Capra novel!
This is my first audiobook narrated by Kevin T. Collins, and he had me totally captivated. Not only did he create unique voices for each of the characters, but his narration had varied levels of intensity that dripped with emotion. I thought Collins did a superb job!
MY RATING: 5 stars!! I loved it, and I wait with anticipation for the next in the series! Thank you, Hachette Audio!
Adrenaline is a fast-paced thriller that will leave you wanting more!
Sam Capra is a CIA agent whose pregnant wife, Lucy (also a CIA agent), has been kidnapped after a bombing of the CIA offices. A phone call Lucy makes to Sam telling him to leave the building moments before the bomb goes off leads the CIA to believe that Lucy double-crossed the CIA and planted the bomb and that Sam was involved in the duplicitous scheme as well. Sam’s mission is to find his wife and clear her name, as well as his own.
Sam is a bit of a smart-ass, and I love that about him! He is extremely sharp, and his loyalty to his wife is unerring. I love the character of Mila as well, the Russian woman who recruits Sam to help her find the daughter of a very rich businessman/scientist.
The pace of book is fast and enjoyable. I did successfully deduce the identity of the mastermind behind the operation, but that did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book. Abbott has created a very interesting cast of characters (which I think would translate very well to the big screen, by the way!), and I think this book is a fantastic start to a new series! The end of the book sets up the next one in the series beautifully, and I cannot wait to see what is next in store for Capra! I hope that we will learn more about mysterious Mila and that she will stick around for a long time!
Abbott is a new-to-me author, and I am definitely planning to check out his previous novels while I anxiously await the next Capra novel!
This is my first audiobook narrated by Kevin T. Collins, and he had me totally captivated. Not only did he create unique voices for each of the characters, but his narration had varied levels of intensity that dripped with emotion. I thought Collins did a superb job!
MY RATING: 5 stars!! I loved it, and I wait with anticipation for the next in the series! Thank you, Hachette Audio!
January 29, 2014
I don't read many thrillers, but I enjoy one every now and then. This one in particular didn't do it for me on almost every level. I'm actually kind of shocked this guy is an established author, this feels like a "first time" kind of book.
For one, the author is constantly telling with almost no showing. I know thrillers have to move fast, which sometimes requires just straight up telling, but you have to put the reader in the shoes of the main character too. I need to feel the sweaty palms, the staccato heartbeat, the racing thoughts.
This leads to a bigger problem: the main character does not act like a guy who just lost his family. These would all be believable reactions for someone whose pregnant wife was just kidnapped: screaming, anger, frustration, feelings of helplessness, throwing things, etc. Sam displays almost none of these emotions. It would be one thing to say "He relied on his CIA training to keep calm, knowing a clear head was the only way he would find his wife. He choked the scream rising in his throat". THAT tells me he is in control on purpose. But the author doesn't say that. Sam just basically never reacts, except for the obligatory "I wonder where my wife and baby are" every 20-30 pages. He never strikes me as a guy who has lost everything.
I was also able to guess at the twist endings. But the kicker is that the author didn't even finish his plot thread. An important character is still missing at the end, which is essentially the author trying to force the readers to buy his next book. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one
For one, the author is constantly telling with almost no showing. I know thrillers have to move fast, which sometimes requires just straight up telling, but you have to put the reader in the shoes of the main character too. I need to feel the sweaty palms, the staccato heartbeat, the racing thoughts.
This leads to a bigger problem: the main character does not act like a guy who just lost his family. These would all be believable reactions for someone whose pregnant wife was just kidnapped: screaming, anger, frustration, feelings of helplessness, throwing things, etc. Sam displays almost none of these emotions. It would be one thing to say "He relied on his CIA training to keep calm, knowing a clear head was the only way he would find his wife. He choked the scream rising in his throat". THAT tells me he is in control on purpose. But the author doesn't say that. Sam just basically never reacts, except for the obligatory "I wonder where my wife and baby are" every 20-30 pages. He never strikes me as a guy who has lost everything.
I was also able to guess at the twist endings. But the kicker is that the author didn't even finish his plot thread. An important character is still missing at the end, which is essentially the author trying to force the readers to buy his next book. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one
July 3, 2024
3.5 stars cause I loved the non stop action. Every thing else in this book is worth maybe 2.5.
I liked this novel better than Panic though.
The writing style lacks detail. Scene’s seem to skip from one to another.
Example: Beginning of the book Sam witnesses his office building being bombed and his wife kidnapped. Next chapter he’s suddenly in jail.
It’d make more sense to me if a police car pulled up in front of Sam and then the next chapter is him in jail.
Saying “Take the gun down” instead of “put the gun down” when Sam has a gun on his back doesn’t sound right.
The main character doesn’t seem to have any flaws throughout the story (exactly like the main character in Panic) no self-doubt, not much emotion except wanting to find his wife and new born son. Sam does mention missing his brother Daniel and that his brother was killed, but no other details on the background of his brother.
I do say though that the villains in this story are some of the most evil I’ve ever read about, Piet being the darkest who smiles and enjoys rapeing the innocent victims! 10 times worse than what the joker could accomplish!
I kind of want to read more of this series, but at the same time there are better books to be read!
I liked this novel better than Panic though.
The writing style lacks detail. Scene’s seem to skip from one to another.
Example: Beginning of the book Sam witnesses his office building being bombed and his wife kidnapped. Next chapter he’s suddenly in jail.
It’d make more sense to me if a police car pulled up in front of Sam and then the next chapter is him in jail.
Saying “Take the gun down” instead of “put the gun down” when Sam has a gun on his back doesn’t sound right.
The main character doesn’t seem to have any flaws throughout the story (exactly like the main character in Panic) no self-doubt, not much emotion except wanting to find his wife and new born son. Sam does mention missing his brother Daniel and that his brother was killed, but no other details on the background of his brother.
I do say though that the villains in this story are some of the most evil I’ve ever read about, Piet being the darkest who smiles and enjoys rapeing the innocent victims! 10 times worse than what the joker could accomplish!
I kind of want to read more of this series, but at the same time there are better books to be read!
July 2, 2011
The protagonist, Sam Capra, works for the CIA. He is in his mid-twenties, tall, with dark blond hair, and keeps fit by practicing Olympic sorts of jumps and flips off of walls and ceilings and stairways – this will come in handy! (Called "Parkour", this is the real-life non-competitive sport originating in France of traversing mainly urban landscapes by running, climbing, vaulting, and other acrobatic movements.) There is terrorism, betrayal, treason, lots of deaths, and an international chase. There is definitely a lot of adrenaline.
I had fun reading this, although I had to make a BIG effort to suspend believability.
I had fun reading this, although I had to make a BIG effort to suspend believability.
March 17, 2025
I was recommended this book who is a friend here on goodreads. We both are avid readers and I break books into categories. Summer poolside thrillers are a category, ( useful for long flights as well. I had discussed a Lee Child novel with my friend and he suggested this after I stated the Jack Reacher series was becoming too formulaic.
This was definitely a fast paced thrill ride and while some of the writing was predictable, I did enjoy the book and their were definitely some twists that I did not foresee. I highly recommend this for a quick summer poolside thriller. It's not Dickens or Dostoevsky but for entertainment, it's quite fun and better than a lot of the copy cats writing thrillers now.
This was definitely a fast paced thrill ride and while some of the writing was predictable, I did enjoy the book and their were definitely some twists that I did not foresee. I highly recommend this for a quick summer poolside thriller. It's not Dickens or Dostoevsky but for entertainment, it's quite fun and better than a lot of the copy cats writing thrillers now.
August 14, 2018
Mind boggling.
This is one fast paced book. It had me up late reading because I had to know what happened next. Looking for book 2.
This is one fast paced book. It had me up late reading because I had to know what happened next. Looking for book 2.
July 21, 2011
This is another book nominated for the TLA Lariat List. It is one of the most action packed books I have ever read. Sam Capra is a traceur, a parkour runner. He is also a CIA operative. Living in London, he leaves for work one morning, kisses his expectant wife goodbye and heads into the office to give a briefing on "The Money King." The next thing he knows, his wife has called him, told him to leave the office and meet her downstairs, it is urgent. He leaves the meeting in time to see his wife being kidnapped and then his office explodes with everyone inside dead. He is arrested on the spot and sent to black prisons in Eastern Europe where he is interrogated, waterboarded and tortured by the CIA to give up his and his wife's involvement with terrorists. Only problem is, Sam has no idea what is going on around him. Eventually, the CIA eases up and sends him to New York where he gets a job in a bar and starts plotting to escape his leash and his watchers and find his wife and his child. One thing leads to another and it's all very complicated but exciting in the extreme. Jeff Abbott is a veteran author and he controls the chaos he creates quite well. Sam Capra is a great character the reader is rooting for all the way. This is obviously the beginning of a series because Sam's adventures have only just begun. I am looking forward to the next chapter.
September 2, 2011
WOW WOW WOW!!!
This book started off with a lot of action, and it never let up. In a lot of books, I get to the end of a chapter and it's a good stopping point -- in this book, the end of the chapter just meant I needed to flip the page and continue the story. It was very intense and kept my attention very well.
I have been a fan of James Rollins, James Twining, James Patterson, Brad Meltzer, and some others for a while since their books tend to be action oriented and they can be considered "thrillers" or "suspense" novels. Not due to blood or gore, but just due to the fact that the story moves well and you never quite know who is the bad-guy and what their plans are. I can now add Jeff Abbott to that same list.
I won this book as part of the First Reads giveaways; and I don't know that I would have looked up Jeff Abbott before that because I had never heard of him. Needless to say, I will be looking for more of his books and I am definitely looking forward to his next Sam Capra book being published.
This book started off with a lot of action, and it never let up. In a lot of books, I get to the end of a chapter and it's a good stopping point -- in this book, the end of the chapter just meant I needed to flip the page and continue the story. It was very intense and kept my attention very well.
I have been a fan of James Rollins, James Twining, James Patterson, Brad Meltzer, and some others for a while since their books tend to be action oriented and they can be considered "thrillers" or "suspense" novels. Not due to blood or gore, but just due to the fact that the story moves well and you never quite know who is the bad-guy and what their plans are. I can now add Jeff Abbott to that same list.
I won this book as part of the First Reads giveaways; and I don't know that I would have looked up Jeff Abbott before that because I had never heard of him. Needless to say, I will be looking for more of his books and I am definitely looking forward to his next Sam Capra book being published.
January 23, 2012
3.5 stars
If you are a fan of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series than you will enjoy this book. I almost gave up at the very beginning because the protagonist (Sam Capra) is someone who is in the practice of parkour (Google it) and I had a tough time keeping my mind from thinking about the episode of The Office when Michael, Dwight and Andy are practicing their parkour skills and Andy jumps into an empty refrigerator box! It was hard for me to take that part of Capra's character seriously but the rest of the book was pretty well put together with some interesting twists and turns. The ending is obviously set up for the next in the series. The final 150 pages or so fly by and this was worth the read.
If you are a fan of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series than you will enjoy this book. I almost gave up at the very beginning because the protagonist (Sam Capra) is someone who is in the practice of parkour (Google it) and I had a tough time keeping my mind from thinking about the episode of The Office when Michael, Dwight and Andy are practicing their parkour skills and Andy jumps into an empty refrigerator box! It was hard for me to take that part of Capra's character seriously but the rest of the book was pretty well put together with some interesting twists and turns. The ending is obviously set up for the next in the series. The final 150 pages or so fly by and this was worth the read.
September 13, 2015
It is really hard for me to stick with thrillers, but I thought Abbott did a great job with this.
I found Sam Capra to be a bit more of a colored in character than other thriller leads, which I so appreciate. I also like that Adrenaline opens with Sam in his happy, interesting life. He may be forced to be a loner, but it is not his complete nature. Sam has an openness to people and seems experienced, but not hardened. I was rooting for him. I really wasn't sure for a long time whether another main character was good or bad, and usually I find it easy to guess the purported surprise.
The ending leaves the door more than open for follow ups. Sam's new cover could make for some great scenes and leaves the whole world open for his quest.
I found Sam Capra to be a bit more of a colored in character than other thriller leads, which I so appreciate. I also like that Adrenaline opens with Sam in his happy, interesting life. He may be forced to be a loner, but it is not his complete nature. Sam has an openness to people and seems experienced, but not hardened. I was rooting for him. I really wasn't sure for a long time whether another main character was good or bad, and usually I find it easy to guess the purported surprise.
The ending leaves the door more than open for follow ups. Sam's new cover could make for some great scenes and leaves the whole world open for his quest.
February 13, 2013
While there are some moving scenes of violence in this novel, there is really only one, "adrenaline" rush that occurs. This novel is much too long for just one. Yes, there are different scenes of action, but much of it is negatively induced. I found myself hoping the main character would take care of business and eventually he does to a point, but that too is limited. Perhaps in the follow up. 6 of 10 stars
March 25, 2019
Enjoyed it. Sam is a likable character, tough, smart, courageous, and, most importantly, human. Will enjoy reading future tales of Sam.!
July 10, 2017
Electrifying!
October 27, 2022
Page Turner
July 14, 2017
First Sentence: Once my wife asked me: if you knew this was our final day together, what would you say to me?
CIA agent Sam Capra is deeply in love with his pregnant wife. However, his life turns into a nightmare when his office is blown up killing everyone but him due to a call from Lucy telling him to leave the building, and she then disappears. The CIA accuses Sam of treason and murder, yet he remains determined to prove both his, and Lucy’s innocence. But first, he needs to find her and their child.
It is sometimes hard to start a book with a rather sad opening. It requires the author to have a strong voice and the making of an interesting character. Abbott has both.
To have a protagonist who does Parkour; aka extreme running, is not something we’ve seen before. What is even better is that the author truly gives one a sense of it, of the movement. But then, Abbott is a very visceral writer. He doesn’t just make one see, he makes on feel. While this is a very good trait, it can also be painful for the reader. The descriptions of the interrogation are real, uncomfortable, and disturbing as you know they are utilized.
The information on nanotechnology—the study of the control of matter on an atoms at the molecular level—is fascinating and frightening. The inclusion of Patty Hearst and the techniques of the Symbionese Liberation Army brings one back to a terrible period in time.
Abbott has a very good voice and uses humor in a subtle, wry manner to offset the darkness of the plot—“Then he flicked open a switchblade. A switchblade? The eighties want their weapon back.”—and shades of the television show Sherlock Holmes—“She’s not a traitor.” “I should get you a T-shirt with that on it,” Mila said. “And then my Christmas Shopping is done.” The sense of place is always apparent—“The Grijs Gander wasn’t just a dump bar. It was a karaoke bar. That made it about a thousand times more evil.”
Sam Capra is an interesting character whose background is very neatly provided to us as he finds himself in various situations. He is neither an amateur nor a professional at dealing with his situation. Although he has some actual experience in what he must do, he is not a fully-trained field agent. This heightens the suspense.
The plot is definitely one of high action and suspense. However, it is unfortunate that there needs be the stereotypical bad guy. The story is filled with very effective plot twists, yet it is still fairly predictable. Even so, Abbott statement about mankind is true and quite pitiable--“God or nature of biological accident gives us these awesome brains and this is what we do with them. We think of better ways to kill. Ways that make murder as easy as taking a breath.”
“Adrenaline” is an exciting, sometimes painful, read with an ending that’s a perfect set up for the next book, and the series.
ADRENALINE (Thriller-Sam Capra-London-Contemp) – Good
Abbott, Jeff – 1st in series
Grand Central Publishing – July 2011
CIA agent Sam Capra is deeply in love with his pregnant wife. However, his life turns into a nightmare when his office is blown up killing everyone but him due to a call from Lucy telling him to leave the building, and she then disappears. The CIA accuses Sam of treason and murder, yet he remains determined to prove both his, and Lucy’s innocence. But first, he needs to find her and their child.
It is sometimes hard to start a book with a rather sad opening. It requires the author to have a strong voice and the making of an interesting character. Abbott has both.
To have a protagonist who does Parkour; aka extreme running, is not something we’ve seen before. What is even better is that the author truly gives one a sense of it, of the movement. But then, Abbott is a very visceral writer. He doesn’t just make one see, he makes on feel. While this is a very good trait, it can also be painful for the reader. The descriptions of the interrogation are real, uncomfortable, and disturbing as you know they are utilized.
The information on nanotechnology—the study of the control of matter on an atoms at the molecular level—is fascinating and frightening. The inclusion of Patty Hearst and the techniques of the Symbionese Liberation Army brings one back to a terrible period in time.
Abbott has a very good voice and uses humor in a subtle, wry manner to offset the darkness of the plot—“Then he flicked open a switchblade. A switchblade? The eighties want their weapon back.”—and shades of the television show Sherlock Holmes—“She’s not a traitor.” “I should get you a T-shirt with that on it,” Mila said. “And then my Christmas Shopping is done.” The sense of place is always apparent—“The Grijs Gander wasn’t just a dump bar. It was a karaoke bar. That made it about a thousand times more evil.”
Sam Capra is an interesting character whose background is very neatly provided to us as he finds himself in various situations. He is neither an amateur nor a professional at dealing with his situation. Although he has some actual experience in what he must do, he is not a fully-trained field agent. This heightens the suspense.
The plot is definitely one of high action and suspense. However, it is unfortunate that there needs be the stereotypical bad guy. The story is filled with very effective plot twists, yet it is still fairly predictable. Even so, Abbott statement about mankind is true and quite pitiable--“God or nature of biological accident gives us these awesome brains and this is what we do with them. We think of better ways to kill. Ways that make murder as easy as taking a breath.”
“Adrenaline” is an exciting, sometimes painful, read with an ending that’s a perfect set up for the next book, and the series.
ADRENALINE (Thriller-Sam Capra-London-Contemp) – Good
Abbott, Jeff – 1st in series
Grand Central Publishing – July 2011
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