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Fifth Avenue #1
Fifth Avenue
Look beneath all the power and all the wealth that represents New York City's Fifth Avenue, and you'll find greed, blood, revenge. In the thriller Fifth Avenue, each intermingles within a revered society that is unprepared for what's in store for it when one man finally strikes in an effort to destroy another man for murdering his wife thirty-one years ago.
Louis Ryan is that man. George Redman, his wife, two daughters and their close friends are his targets. Both men are self-made billionaires who came from nothing to stake their claim to Fifth Avenue. But when Louis Ryan hires an international assassin to literally rip the Redman family apart, a series of events that can't be stopped catapults them all through a fast-paced, hard-edged thriller in which nobody is safe. Secrets are revealed. The Mafia get involved. And George's two daughters, Celina and Leana Redman, come to the forefront. More than anyone, it's they who are caught in the throes of their father's past as Louis Ryan's blind desire to kill them all takes surprising turns in his all-out effort to see them dead.
Louis Ryan is that man. George Redman, his wife, two daughters and their close friends are his targets. Both men are self-made billionaires who came from nothing to stake their claim to Fifth Avenue. But when Louis Ryan hires an international assassin to literally rip the Redman family apart, a series of events that can't be stopped catapults them all through a fast-paced, hard-edged thriller in which nobody is safe. Secrets are revealed. The Mafia get involved. And George's two daughters, Celina and Leana Redman, come to the forefront. More than anyone, it's they who are caught in the throes of their father's past as Louis Ryan's blind desire to kill them all takes surprising turns in his all-out effort to see them dead.
484 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2010
501 people are currently reading
1687 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Smith
21 books5 followersChristopher Smith is the author of the #1 international bestselling The Fifth Avenue Series, The Bullied Series, You Only Die Twice, and The Cul-de-Sac. He has sold over 3.5 million books worldwide in eighteen different languages. He lives on the coast of Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
July 13, 2016
The people in this book are such nice people....NOT! There are very few books that I dislike or hate as many characters as I did this book. But that is not a bad thing. On the contrary, the characters did not seem like they were meant to be liked. Its New York City, rich drama at its worse!
The book focuses on the Redman family, and a man name Louis Ryan, as well as many of their friends. L. Ryan hates George Redman with a passion and sets up a revenge plot to kill the entire Redman family. However, the Redmans, friends, coworkers and the Mafia throw in some twists that has you wondering who will succeed, who will live and much more. I wish there was at least 1 truly likeable character but even the "good guys" didn't catch my interest. These are some messed up people I would not want to know in my personal life. Also, the sex clubs were a bit much so some warning that those squicky scenes would have been nice. Not that what happens is entirely offending to me (may be to some though), but I could have gone without some details.
Otherwise a good book that keeps you guessing the final outcome. A truly twisted thriller of a tale. If you are looking for something dark to read, that is also realistic, this is it.
Won this in the Goodbooks First Reads, freely given to me. Thank you, Christopher, for hosting this giveaway for your book.
The book focuses on the Redman family, and a man name Louis Ryan, as well as many of their friends. L. Ryan hates George Redman with a passion and sets up a revenge plot to kill the entire Redman family. However, the Redmans, friends, coworkers and the Mafia throw in some twists that has you wondering who will succeed, who will live and much more. I wish there was at least 1 truly likeable character but even the "good guys" didn't catch my interest. These are some messed up people I would not want to know in my personal life. Also, the sex clubs were a bit much so some warning that those squicky scenes would have been nice. Not that what happens is entirely offending to me (may be to some though), but I could have gone without some details.
Otherwise a good book that keeps you guessing the final outcome. A truly twisted thriller of a tale. If you are looking for something dark to read, that is also realistic, this is it.
Won this in the Goodbooks First Reads, freely given to me. Thank you, Christopher, for hosting this giveaway for your book.
October 7, 2011
c2010. So this book started off badly for me with the heroine staring up at 79 stories of building - then a bomb goes off - and "the men on the roof were hurt." then she "hurried into the lobby, shot past the waterfall and stepped into her father's private elevator./ The building was too tall. The elevator was too slow. No matter how quickly she raced to the top, it wasn't fast enough". With this give away that the author had almost certainly never been near a real life urban bomb explosion, the story was already on a downward spiral for me. I did not have any feelings toward the characters, none for the outcome and I think the editor should have slashed more words than he/she did. I have to humbly admit that this book defeated me and it was one of those awful awful DNF - but life is really too short for this. In having a look at the "rave reviews" - who is Chris Truscott who said "Christopher Smith delivers an amazing story that's worth the advance billing. ...His writing is smooth, his observations are sharp and the plot he built is downright stunning." Please forgive me if I am wrong - but this seems to be another self published writer under Smashwords. Open to correction of course but I do think that this is a bit misleading of Amazon! Also a PM Richter had some stunning words of praise and I have not heard of that author (?) either. Again, this seeming lack of integrity with marketing just annoys the Dickens out of me!!!!Of course every one is entitled to their view point but when it is put out there purporting to be a opinion that matters....well, say no more. End of rant.
May 14, 2017
Violence in the Fifth Avenue.
Many rich and wannabe rich characters, not even one likeable one. Was hard to keep up with who is who. Murder, money, favorite child and one left behind. Years of smoldering revenge. Could have been written with less sex and sex clubs. Ending is shocking. Going to read the next one, and hoping it's better than this book.
Wonder what happened to Isabel, the cat?
Many rich and wannabe rich characters, not even one likeable one. Was hard to keep up with who is who. Murder, money, favorite child and one left behind. Years of smoldering revenge. Could have been written with less sex and sex clubs. Ending is shocking. Going to read the next one, and hoping it's better than this book.
Wonder what happened to Isabel, the cat?
April 30, 2012
This would be a great Lifetime movie or a made-for-tv movie or something like that. The rich, have-everything Redmans complete with the perfect daughter, the forgotten daughter are the target of Louis Ryan, the man bent on revenge. Ryan's scope is wide and involves loads of interesting (and not-so interesting) characters including (of course!) the mob! There was probably one-too-many characters - too many business people and I wish there was more of backstory to Celina (the perfect daughter) and Eric (why was their breakup so bad? Why did he still want her and why was she so done with him? What did he do?), and also some more interaction between Celina and Leana (the not-so-perfect daughter -- there was a lot of unspoken feelings there). It fell short of being great because there was too much going on and at times it got a little confusing (especially the plane scene with Jack and Diana). Plus all of a sudden there's Anne's diary! Where did that come from? Isn't that something Louis Ryan should have read all those years ago? What possessed him to finally read it now? And the killer? Really? Because that was completely likely. Couldn't it have been someone that wasn't mentioned less than 10 times the whole book?
I wish the end didn't skip over 6 months. Plus, after focusing so much on how Leana felt like the black sheep, whatever happened to her relationship with George? The end was a little too tidy for a book that had a billion characters in it. If an author is going to raise questions (and point fingers) regarding relationships, he should then answer the questions instead of leaving readers scratching their heads. However, a book within a book -- that was kind of cool.
I wish the end didn't skip over 6 months. Plus, after focusing so much on how Leana felt like the black sheep, whatever happened to her relationship with George? The end was a little too tidy for a book that had a billion characters in it. If an author is going to raise questions (and point fingers) regarding relationships, he should then answer the questions instead of leaving readers scratching their heads. However, a book within a book -- that was kind of cool.
May 21, 2011
A friend loaned me this book through my kindle. I wish that they make Fifth Avenue into a movie or a series. Christopher Smith grabbed my attention by the end of the first page and I continued reading until I finished. His characters are multi-faceted personalities with such depth and richness that they come alive for the reader. It has power, money, glamour, international intrique, crime, murder, love and loss. All of the necessary ingredients for a blockbuster! The twists and turns are riveting and surprising. It is a great summer read!
July 15, 2012
I have to agree with Ruth's assessment of the opening pages of Fifth Avenue. I couldn't put the feeling of unreality better than Ruth, so I'll direct you to her review. I did finish the book, but never really connected, or liked, any of the characters. I felt that most of them were sketched rather than drawn.
This was not really a financial novel, the milieu is just the background for a story of revenge, not just that between the men, but between a combination of the characters. I found the ending not particularly sayisfying.
I downloaded this novel free from Amazon. I was hoping for a financial mystery along the lines of The Samurai Strategy by Thomas Hoover, and I was disappointed. I think this is a 1.5 star rating...only because the writing itself was quite competent.
This was not really a financial novel, the milieu is just the background for a story of revenge, not just that between the men, but between a combination of the characters. I found the ending not particularly sayisfying.
I downloaded this novel free from Amazon. I was hoping for a financial mystery along the lines of The Samurai Strategy by Thomas Hoover, and I was disappointed. I think this is a 1.5 star rating...only because the writing itself was quite competent.
April 10, 2011
I didn't like it very much...not sure why the book received such high reviews from Kindle readers???
May 18, 2017
A decent book. There were a lot of characters to keep straight. And a lot of deaths that made me mad-innocent people I didn't want to see dead. It was interesting story of revenge, though. I'll read the next one in the series because I got it free. :)
Want to read
August 28, 2019Great book to read :)
April 17, 2021
On to second one
September 28, 2015
This book was bonkers. Truly inexplicable. I honestly can't believe it got published and I especially can't believe that it has such great reviews. It read like a collaboration between Tom Clancy and V.C. Andrews.
I won't really go into the plot since there was SO MUCH of it. It was like Game Of Thrones or something. There were like 500 characters. The main plot seems to be about this rich oil tycoon, George Redmond and his two daughters. One of whom he loves and one that he's sort of iffy about for no clearly described reason.
Then there's Louis Ryan, he thinks George killed his wife for no clearly described reason and Michael Archer, an A-list actor and bestselling author who is back in New York after 16 years for no clearly...well, you get it.
There were a lot of characters and not enough motivations to go around.
This book needed to be edited badly. I assume the editor just gave up halfway through and realized that they weren't being paid enough for this bs.
I can't even count how many plotlines were started up and then abandoned a few chapters later (what was the deal with Leana getting threatened by some mysterious killer in the beginning and then never hearing about it again? Was that supposed to be Ryan? I shouldn't have to ask, is my point).
It kinda read like Christopher Smith wrote it over a year or so and just never read back over his work to remember what had happened last. One character died at one point and then it felt like everyone just forgot about her. The guy who claimed to love her was suddenly shacking up with another woman?
Oh, and lets not forget about all the contrived nonsense that these characters got into. I don't wanna say how the above character actually died, because it would be a spoiler but suffice it to say it was on par with a soap opera death. I kept expecting her to show back up with amnesia at some point.
But all of this ALL OF THIS is nothing compared to the character of Michael Archer, the writers self-insert. I figured out he was self-insert quickly, since he was supposed to not only be an A-list actor but also a bestselling author of 6 books (which...isn't a thing? No one is both of those. Pick one) but the fact that he went so far as to have the character actually write the book WITHIN THE BOOK made laugh away the rest of my fucking life force.
You probably think I'm exaggerating. And why not? I wouldn't believe me either. But no, Michael is said to be writing a new novel at two different times in the book and BOTH times the first page of the book (this book) is reprinted just with the name 'Micheal Archer' instead of 'Christopher Smith'. I couldn't make this up. BOTH TIMES. ONCE WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD ENOUGH.
Anyway, this book is terrible. But it was definitely one of those that I kept reading just to see how terrible it was gonna get. So I guess I was entertained. But only read this if you're into books that are basically soap operas.
I won't really go into the plot since there was SO MUCH of it. It was like Game Of Thrones or something. There were like 500 characters. The main plot seems to be about this rich oil tycoon, George Redmond and his two daughters. One of whom he loves and one that he's sort of iffy about for no clearly described reason.
Then there's Louis Ryan, he thinks George killed his wife for no clearly described reason and Michael Archer, an A-list actor and bestselling author who is back in New York after 16 years for no clearly...well, you get it.
There were a lot of characters and not enough motivations to go around.
This book needed to be edited badly. I assume the editor just gave up halfway through and realized that they weren't being paid enough for this bs.
I can't even count how many plotlines were started up and then abandoned a few chapters later (what was the deal with Leana getting threatened by some mysterious killer in the beginning and then never hearing about it again? Was that supposed to be Ryan? I shouldn't have to ask, is my point).
It kinda read like Christopher Smith wrote it over a year or so and just never read back over his work to remember what had happened last. One character died at one point and then it felt like everyone just forgot about her. The guy who claimed to love her was suddenly shacking up with another woman?
Oh, and lets not forget about all the contrived nonsense that these characters got into. I don't wanna say how the above character actually died, because it would be a spoiler but suffice it to say it was on par with a soap opera death. I kept expecting her to show back up with amnesia at some point.
But all of this ALL OF THIS is nothing compared to the character of Michael Archer, the writers self-insert. I figured out he was self-insert quickly, since he was supposed to not only be an A-list actor but also a bestselling author of 6 books (which...isn't a thing? No one is both of those. Pick one) but the fact that he went so far as to have the character actually write the book WITHIN THE BOOK made laugh away the rest of my fucking life force.
You probably think I'm exaggerating. And why not? I wouldn't believe me either. But no, Michael is said to be writing a new novel at two different times in the book and BOTH times the first page of the book (this book) is reprinted just with the name 'Micheal Archer' instead of 'Christopher Smith'. I couldn't make this up. BOTH TIMES. ONCE WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD ENOUGH.
Anyway, this book is terrible. But it was definitely one of those that I kept reading just to see how terrible it was gonna get. So I guess I was entertained. But only read this if you're into books that are basically soap operas.
December 7, 2011
I first learned of Christopher Smith from his Bullied series, as did others. I enjoyed them enough to look for more, and was brought to the world of Fifth Avenue. I have to admit, I don't normally read books written about the corporate world, but as I enjoyed Christopher's other books, I thought I would take a chance. I'm glad that I did.
There are characters to hate, to love, to feel sorry for, and to respect. The story line is fairly intricate, with the point of view coming from several different directions. The world he creates is intriguing, and I found myself not wanting to put my Kindle down until I finished. Yes, there a few sexual situations, but as others have said, the scenes help elaborate on the motivations of the characters and they are not merely token.
Fifth Avenue is worth buying. I ran across very few typographical errors, and the story flows very well. I found myself caring about the fate of the Redmans and all connected to them, and hope to find some of my favorite characters in the next book, "Running of the Bulls." If you're looking for an author to follow, Christopher Smith definitely has the gift of storytelling. He will hook you, drag you along for a ride, piss you off, satisfy your curiosity, and leave you wanting more. His writing only gets better with each subsequent book. Can't wait to see what's next!
There are characters to hate, to love, to feel sorry for, and to respect. The story line is fairly intricate, with the point of view coming from several different directions. The world he creates is intriguing, and I found myself not wanting to put my Kindle down until I finished. Yes, there a few sexual situations, but as others have said, the scenes help elaborate on the motivations of the characters and they are not merely token.
Fifth Avenue is worth buying. I ran across very few typographical errors, and the story flows very well. I found myself caring about the fate of the Redmans and all connected to them, and hope to find some of my favorite characters in the next book, "Running of the Bulls." If you're looking for an author to follow, Christopher Smith definitely has the gift of storytelling. He will hook you, drag you along for a ride, piss you off, satisfy your curiosity, and leave you wanting more. His writing only gets better with each subsequent book. Can't wait to see what's next!
March 13, 2012
Action aplenty, no doubt about that, but a few too many characters and convenient resolutions to make it completely satisfying. I didn't see all the twists coming, so there were some surprises at the end, and it certainly didn't tie everything up with a nice neat bow--and that worked (although I hated the final paragraphs. Totally unnecessary).
From a writing point of view, the non-stop action kept the reader engrossed (although some aspects went a bit too far for my taste. Others won't have a problem, though, I'm sure.). However, the point of view shifts within scenes were annoying. I don't mind shifting to a different character's point of view for a new scene, but it's really hard to pull off an omniscient narrator in most novels, and this was no exception.
The whole novel was very dark, and it certainly felt dark to read.
From a writing point of view, the non-stop action kept the reader engrossed (although some aspects went a bit too far for my taste. Others won't have a problem, though, I'm sure.). However, the point of view shifts within scenes were annoying. I don't mind shifting to a different character's point of view for a new scene, but it's really hard to pull off an omniscient narrator in most novels, and this was no exception.
The whole novel was very dark, and it certainly felt dark to read.
March 15, 2011
Yet another great 99 cent book from the amazon Kindle store.
Very much enjoyed this book. The plot was fantastic and the characters realistic. Of course, you kept wanting to tell some of them: watch out! You don't know what you're in for! Because there were bad guys & nefarious deeds all about, ready to pounce.
There was depth to this book. A wide range of emotions.
I also thought the author handled the numerous characters and point of view shifts expertly. I followed along easily with everything & everyone. I never got lost, even with the 'big financial deals talk'.
This is one of those books you find hard to put down...a very good thriller.
Very much enjoyed this book. The plot was fantastic and the characters realistic. Of course, you kept wanting to tell some of them: watch out! You don't know what you're in for! Because there were bad guys & nefarious deeds all about, ready to pounce.
There was depth to this book. A wide range of emotions.
I also thought the author handled the numerous characters and point of view shifts expertly. I followed along easily with everything & everyone. I never got lost, even with the 'big financial deals talk'.
This is one of those books you find hard to put down...a very good thriller.
November 20, 2010
I liked this book...thought the inter-relationships between characters was interesting...I liked the pace of the book and had a hard time putting it down...if you like mystery books and thrillers this is a good choice.. a great beach read ....oh wait, it's almost winter here in NJ.
January 17, 2013
I really, really enjoyed this book. I had to trudge through the first few chapters...it took me some time to start liking the characters, but at chapter 17 and on, I was hooked. Started book number 2, it's, so far, just as promising.
December 9, 2010
Angry characters. Overly descriptive. Not one character I could empathize with or was likeable. Seemingly powerful characters who were as clueless as a Irish men in a tea shop.
December 13, 2010
Horrible. Freaky sex stuff that didn't add to the story. Chuck Palahniuk knows how to write freaky sex stuff and make it work.
November 3, 2013
I might have enjoyed this novel more if I hadn't been comparing it to Kane And Abel by Jeffrey Archer.
October 11, 2017
Това е идеалната книга за убиване на време при полет с нискотарифна авикомпания. Представлява една забавна с нискотарифния си пълнеж екшън патаклама, гравитираща около адреси по нюйоркското Пето авеню: богатство, блясък, показност, драма, отмъщение, предателство, подозрение, убийство, бомби, стрелби, наркотици, фалити, преследвания с коли, преследвания с таксита, надпревара със самолети, изтезания на хора, изтезания на животни, алчни капиталисти, обществено отговорни капиталисти, предпазливи инвеститори, прилежни счетоводители, сицилиански мафиози, гръцки корабовладелци, френски импресионисти, холивудски знаменитости, наемни убийци, безскрупулни кариеристи, съвестни кариеристи, лоялни партньори, нелоялни партньори, надарени писатели, блондинки, брюнетки, черни очи, сини очи, насинени очи, атлетични тела, потрошени крайници, стъклени небостъргачи, ар деко небостъргачи, приюти за бедни, елитни гей клубове, парвенюшки мезонети, семейни пицарии, сестринска ревност, магнатска ревност, съперничество, омраза, похот, лицемерие, прелъстяване, благотворителност, перчене, изнудване, борсови машинации, комбинативност, злоупотреби ... бънджи скокове! Бях готов да ѝ дам три от пет звезди в рамките на жанра, ако не беше тропосаният със саморазграждащи се бели конци кулминационен момент на задължителното финално противопоставяне лице в лице. До една глава преди него все някакво усещане, ако не за правдоподобност, то поне за физическа осъществимост на отделните актове се поддържаше.
September 23, 2017
This was an excellent book. Not really my regular type of read but I enjoyed it all the same. A good storyline that draws you in and the reader truly doesn’t know which way it’s going to turn.
I don’t want to place any spoilers in here, and this is one of those books it’s hard to review otherwise, but I have no hesitation in recommending this.
I don’t want to place any spoilers in here, and this is one of those books it’s hard to review otherwise, but I have no hesitation in recommending this.
August 25, 2018
Novela comtodos os ingredientes
Novels sensacionalista com personages tipicos Americans...nova York e sua sociedade elitists... Muito novelesco...nao vou continues a series...parei por aqui.. Nao faz meu tipo!
Novels sensacionalista com personages tipicos Americans...nova York e sua sociedade elitists... Muito novelesco...nao vou continues a series...parei por aqui.. Nao faz meu tipo!
July 3, 2019
Fifth Avenue
Couldn’t put it down. I did get a little confused with the amount of people to keep track of but the writer seemed to know that and very soon it was clear. I have to read the series.
Couldn’t put it down. I did get a little confused with the amount of people to keep track of but the writer seemed to know that and very soon it was clear. I have to read the series.
December 27, 2020
For people who are jealous of people with fame and wealth, this book is a harsh reminder that all may not be as good as it looks in their world.
Murder, underhand business deals, adultery, insest, drugs, jealousy and true love all play their part in this busy book.
Murder, underhand business deals, adultery, insest, drugs, jealousy and true love all play their part in this busy book.
May 31, 2023
A true mystery!
I was not expecting anything great from this read, as I hadn't heard of the author. Pleasant surprise! Mr Smith knocked it way out of the park. Excellent Read, that I would never have guessed the ending. Wow! Loved it!
I was not expecting anything great from this read, as I hadn't heard of the author. Pleasant surprise! Mr Smith knocked it way out of the park. Excellent Read, that I would never have guessed the ending. Wow! Loved it!
October 22, 2023
as good as it gets!!
The good,bad and ugly from start to finish,this is one story that will move you,confuse you,make you cry and laugh. But most of all it will make you think.
Imagine,New York City, with all its turmoil focuses on two families and hundreds of employees.
The good,bad and ugly from start to finish,this is one story that will move you,confuse you,make you cry and laugh. But most of all it will make you think.
Imagine,New York City, with all its turmoil focuses on two families and hundreds of employees.
March 2, 2024
Waited to long
I purchased this book years ago and just forgot about it until I seen on Amazon Unlimited on FaceBook. I finished it in one day. Better late than never. Loved the characters and the plots. Highly recommend it.
I purchased this book years ago and just forgot about it until I seen on Amazon Unlimited on FaceBook. I finished it in one day. Better late than never. Loved the characters and the plots. Highly recommend it.
June 30, 2017
Overall I liked this book. It was a fast page turner, though unbelievable.
December 31, 2017
Great beginning to the story
So glad I'm starting this series! From the shocking details to the twisted storyline, I couldn't put this down. So looking forward to book two!
So glad I'm starting this series! From the shocking details to the twisted storyline, I couldn't put this down. So looking forward to book two!
March 14, 2018
Envolving
You start without emotion and ends with total speed reading loving each word and every detail. Read it and you love it
You start without emotion and ends with total speed reading loving each word and every detail. Read it and you love it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews