The Ghost

Sox Nation on The Ghost

This book MUST be good because I saw Stephen King reading it at Fenway Park during game one of the AL Championship Series - and it hasn't even been released yet. If it's more compelling than the Red Sox in post-season play, it needs no further recommendations.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Political Games Galore

The story revolves around politics and the intrigue that surrounds being part the behind the scenes goings on that happens when you are a known political figure. Taking place between England and Martha¿s Vineyard gives you a feel that political games are not limited to one country. Adam Lang, the retired prime minister of Britain, is having his memoirs ghost-written. But, the ¿ghost¿ is killed while returning to Martha¿s Vineyard by ferry. The police are unable to solve the case. Now a new ghostwriter must be found and our hero jumps at the chance. He has worked with aging rock stars before so he figures this can¿t be any worse. Beside, a quarter of a million dollars for a month¿s work? Who could pass that up? Off to America he goes only to find a manuscript that is very lacking in anything that anyone would want to read. He is installed in the dead ¿ghost¿s¿ old room and begins the process of finishing the manuscript. In doing so, he gets caught up in the unsolved death of the first ghost and ends up finding out more than he bargained for. Twists and turns, the book holds your attention to the very end. Even knowing this book is written about political games and the quick and devious turns it can take, the ending was a huge surprise for me. Roger Rees has a wonderful English accent to begin with so he was perfect for our English ghost writer hero. He gives each character enough of a chance in voice to be able to follow who is speaking and Mr. Rees¿ voice is easy on the ear. All in all, this is a good listen so be sure to get a copy for yourself.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Harris writes nail-biting, cerebral suspense

If you enjoy suspenseful tales, Harris writes them. His trademark is a claustrophobic paranoia experienced by his protagonist. This book is a perfectly timed example, with dark settings & creepy characters always one step ahead. This bk was the basis for Polanski's "The Ghost Writer." The movie is very true to book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A near perfect novel!

Robert Harris once again crafts an amazing novel. Being American I felt totally immersed in this world of conflicting political views and ideologies without feeling "out of my element". The main character has a perfect flawed voice and the former Prime Minister, Adam Lang, is a truly interesting character. There tons of twists all of the them believable but still shocking. Overall a near perfect book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Tense and enlightening.

A great read. Well written, interesting characters.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Intriguing

I thought the plot was intriguing and had lots of twists and turns. I certainly was not expecting the ending! Would very much recommend it. Also a fast read....

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Topical political thriller.

This was the first book I read by the author and was very pleased with the story line and characters. After reading an article in the "New York Times" about the movie, "The Ghostwriter", I decided to read the book. The protagonist acts and reacts to the events like a normal person would. If you want a political thriller where the character saves the world from catastrophe, this book is not for you. Am looking forward to the movie.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Exciting read.

Fast paced, well- written political thriller. Thinly disguised characters makes it even more wicked!

Some loose plot threats at the end.

The premis of the book was good and believeable in today's political climate. There were facts that did not hang together at the end of the book though. The character development was weak. There were some powerful characters who could have been more effectively fleshed out.

A Terrific Story

This is a highly enjoyable book that enables readers to simultaneously chuckle at the tongue-in-cheek claim that it's 'pure fiction', its characters and events not based on any real world people or events, and also an involving thriller that encourages the reader to think about the terrible crimes committed by supposedly free and democratic peoples in response to the crimes committed against them.

The ending is superb, and the novel's explanation for what otherwise seems totally inexplicable behavior by the UK government during the 'War on Terror' makes more sense than most serious alternatives that have been offered.

Reviews I've read recently indicate that Polanski has made an excellent movie from this story too, which would be an all too rare and wonderful postscript.

exceeds expectations

Having read mixed reviews about this book, I wasn't expecting a lot. Having read Harris' other works, I gave it a shot. The plot was good and the humor interlaced was great. The ending was top notch! This book is something of a departure for him, and I think his finest work.

Below Par

I have read a number of the author's previous books and enjoyed them immensily. Although 'Ghost' it is seasoned with some delightfully pithy vignettes and vivid alliterations, the story plods forth and degenerates in to a super-duper conspiracy genre. I waited for it improve, but it really never did.

less than thrilling

I had high hopes for this-the blurb sounded like it would be great. But I read over half of the book, hoping that the next page things would pick up, but the real interest and action doesn't start till about 3/4 through. This was a good idea, just poorly thought out.

This Ghost is a Great Companion

Wit, authenticity, politics, assassins and a plot that keeps twisting til the very final pages... what more could you want? This is an intellectual thriller that's marvelously written and a delight to read, but markedly different than Harris' other blockbusters. I was pleasantly surprised, though I've enjoyed his other works as well.

Really Exciting Plot- Poor Execution

I thought the premise of this book sounded fascinating and was excited to read it but because of the really shallow character development I never felt truly connected to the book like I usually do.

A reviewer

Robert Harris seems to excel at this type of suspense novel. His earlier books are all either historical fiction or alternate history novels ('Fatherland' has Germany winning WWII, and Hitler surviving into old age.) In this one, Adam Lang, obviously based on Britain's outgoing prime minister Tony Blair, has accepted a lucrative advance for his memoirs, to be written by a ghostwriter. When the ghostwriter disappears and then is found dead, his replacement discovers that the ex-prime minister possesses dangerous secrets that may account for the first murder - and may lead to his own. While not quite as fast-paced as Harris' earlier books, fans of the genre will find a lot to like in 'The Ghost' - a cynical, acid-tongued hero, loads of contemporary political commentary, and an unusual, satisfying ending.

Rushed a bit, but very nice twists and turns

This novel was enjoyable for both its relevance to current world topics (all in a fictional setting and sequence)and the story format in which it was written. The plot itself was imaginative alone for its premise of actually bringing war crimes charges against one of the former leaders of the world powers - this is stuff we'd never think we'd see happen. The fact that the author wrote the novel from the perspective of the ghost writer made it very easy to read and very entertaining. I will admit that this book's ending seemed a bit rushed and choppy, but overall this was a worthwhile read. With very little free time on my hands, I definitely found time for a few pages here and there and recommend it to anyone!

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