Very disappointing book for Steve Martini. I got the sense that he was bound by a certain number of words in his contract. All of the backstory behind the terrorist plot with asteroids was so convoluted and bloated, I began to skim through it. Martini is at his best when he has Modriani narrating the story. His character of Liquida was again awesome, and those parts were told well. But the rest could have been pared down significantly and it would have been a better story. I also detected some product placement stuff - why the need to mention that the plane's engines were Allison engines TWICE in the space of a few paragraphs? Seemed fishy to me. Martini spent too much time explaining things - when Thorpe and Britain, the two FBI guys spend their whole meetings together giving us the story, it was such a false bunch of scenes. The conversations should have been sparse, with a lot of the dialogue reduced to mere words, because these two guys would understand the culture of the FBI, CIA, etc. and not have to expound on it. I felt those parts were written for 6th graders. martini tended to define an object or program more than once, using the same language each time, and I really began to wonder what island his editor was vacationing on.I hope Martini can get back in the saddle again soon. He needs Modriani to dump Joselyn. She is annoying and their banter is just plain stupid and silly. Upon reading this book a second time, I have a completely different take. Steve Martini is a good writer, but the subject matter in this one defies all logic and reason. Now Paul Madriani and Harry Hinds, who are LAWYERS, decide to take it upon themselves to chase after their old nemesis Liquida and hunt down a secret terrorist plot to steal a NASA project that aims to control asteroids. Oh my god. It's silly beyond belief. For one thing, there is absolutely no credible reason why two lawyers would abandon their practice and turn amateur private eye, doing things that even the government agencies can't do. And then for this Thor Project to be about harnessing asteroids in outer space? And of course, once again the terrorists' hideaway is in the jungles of Mexico. I also didn't like the way Martini makes the women of the book - Paul's daughter Sarah and his girlfriend Joselyn - act in silly, stereotypical "female" ways. And of course, he still makes his feelings about liberals known, although he's more subtle than some authors. This is the last Martini book I own, and I won't be buying any more.
What do You think about Trader Of Secrets (2011)?
Very easy read, the ending was hard to believe, but the good guys win again.
—Pablito
The story defied logic in some areas,but I do enjoy this author's books.
—ambi7
A nice read except the story puts the family in undue danger.
—Mary
