I started reading Van Lustbader's Nicholas Linnear novels as a teenager and thoroughly enjoyed them. Over the years I read a few of his stand alone novels as well. So I was interested in checking out this series. Overall, I enjoyed the read. It was an intriguing novel with the expected twists and turns for the genre.POTENTIAL SPOILERSMost intriguing for me was the way the current events tied back in to the main character's past. That was an interesting twist, though by the end it was almost too neat.That said, I felt like the red herring of the atheist movements was a bit contrived and forced, and it made the novel read more at times as propaganda for the "spiritual but not religious" movement. There are good people who are very religious and bad people who are not and vice versa, so to paint either side with such broad strokes was unnecessary and annoying. The first half of this whiny, child beating, dyslexic bating, religious zealots, mutilation, mayhem, death and torture story should have never made it to publication. Finally, halfway through Lustbader’s excellent description of religion’s role in society helps explain the mayhem. Too bad the first half made it to publication and the second part is not worthy enough to salvage this novel. 3 of 10 stars.
What do You think about First Daughter (2008)?
I was very surprisingly entertained by this book. I did not want to put it down! :)
—Mary55
Hated it! Confusing, and preposterous at times.
—mazhar
