Empire of Lies by Andrew Klavan - Revision history

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1 revision

Sue at 15:13, 26 September 2008

2008-09-26T15:13:08Z

New review

{{infobox
|title= Empire of Lies
|author= Andrew Klavan
|reviewer= Chris Bradshaw
|genre=General Fiction
|summary= If George W Bush had a thriller on the bedside table of his Texas ranch then I'd imagine it would be something like ''Empire Of Lies''.
|rating=3
|buy= No
|borrow= Maybe
|format= Hardback
|pages=352
|publisher= Quercus Publishing plc
|date= September 2008
|isbn=978-1847244079
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847244076</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0151012237</amazonus>
}}

In this US presidential election year much has been written about the influence of the Christian right. With both feet set firmly in the conservative camp Andrew Klavan uses the novel, rather than commentary and reportage to take his pot shots at the American Liberal elite and what he perceives as their 'Empire of Lies'.

The action centres on real estate developer Jason Harrow, a former drinker, stoner and rough sex addict who has turned away from his hardcore lifestyle and found redemption in God, family and flag. He's drawn away from his new found mid-western idyll (only the picket fences and apple pie are missing) by a mysterious call from his New York based ex partner about her disturbed young daughter Serena. Finding Serena drunk and high at a student nightclub he stumbles across the story of a missing student which in turn leads to Islamists, charismatic professors and murder. It all points to a terrorist conspiracy and only Jason can prevent the impending catastrophe.

While in many ways a very conventional thriller the conceit of telling the story through the eyes of a Christian conservative is an interesting one. The action moves with pace and there are plenty of twists as you'd expect from the man behind ''Don't Say A Word'' and ''True Crime''. The set pieces are handled nicely and the dialogue is largely snappy.

So far so interesting then. What lets the book down though is the relentless preaching. Jason Harrow is a thoroughly unlikeable central character, never missing a chance to whine about some politically correct dogma which is damaging the good white, Christian folk of America. It's as if there is a list of PC sacred cows which must be destroyed by the end of the book. Muslims check, working mothers check, Hollywood do gooders check, liberal university professors check.

All of these things are politically fair game of course. It's just the incessantness of the sermonising which grates. When a bit of subtlety is called for the sledgehammer comes out rather than the fine chisel.

''Empire Of Lies'' is nearly a good yarn. Indeed it could have been very good if Klavan had spent more time on the story and less time trying to shoehorn in every political gripe he could think of. If your view of the world comes from the Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and the like then ''Empire Of Lies'' will only deepen your beliefs, for the general reader it is a missed opportunity.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

If this type of story appeals to you then we think that you might enjoy [[Palace Council by Stephen L Carter]]. For a non-fiction approach we can recommend [[The Second Plane by Martin Amis]].

{{amazontext|amazon=1847244076}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6193271}}

{{commenthead}}

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
-If this type of story appeals to you then we think that you might enjoy [[Palace Council by Stephen L Carter]].  For a non-fiction approach, we can recommend [[The Second Plane by Martin Amis]].  You might also enjoy [[From Blood by Edward Wright]].  You might also enjoy [[If We Were Villains by M L Rio]].
+If this type of story appeals to you then we think that you might enjoy [[Palace Council by Stephen L Carter]].  For a non-fiction approach, we can recommend [[The Second Plane by Martin Amis]].  You might also enjoy [[From Blood by Edward Wright]].  You might also enjoy [[If We Were Villains by M L Rio]] and [[The Long Dark Road by P R Black]].
 {{amazontext|amazon=1593155980}}

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
-If this type of story appeals to you then we think that you might enjoy [[Palace Council by Stephen L Carter]].  For a non-fiction approach we can recommend [[The Second Plane by Martin Amis]].  You might also enjoy [[From Blood by Edward Wright]].
+If this type of story appeals to you then we think that you might enjoy [[Palace Council by Stephen L Carter]].  For a non-fiction approach, we can recommend [[The Second Plane by Martin Amis]].  You might also enjoy [[From Blood by Edward Wright]].  You might also enjoy [[If We Were Villains by M L Rio]].
 {{amazontext|amazon=1593155980}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{infobox
+{{infobox1
 |title=An Empire of Lies
 |sort=Empire of Lies
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 |date= September 2008
 |isbn=978-1847244079
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1593155980</amazonuk>
+|cover=1593155980
-|amazonus=<amazonus>0151012237</amazonus>
+|aznuk=1593155980
 }}

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:54, 8 September 2012
Line 36:		Line 36:

	{{commenthead}}		{{commenthead}}
		+	[[Category:Thrillers]]

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 While in many ways a very conventional thriller the conceit of telling the story through the eyes of a Christian conservative is an interesting one. The action moves with pace and there are plenty of twists as you'd expect from the man behind ''Don't Say A Word'' and ''True Crime''. The set pieces are handled nicely and the dialogue is largely snappy.
-So far so interesting then. What lets the book down though is the relentless preaching. Jason Harrow is a thoroughly unlikeable central character, never missing a chance to whine about some politically correct dogma which is damaging the good white, Christian folk of America. It's as if there is a list of PC sacred cows which must be destroyed by the end of the book. Muslims check, working mothers check, Hollywood do gooders check, liberal university professors check.
+So far so interesting then. What lets the book down though is the relentless preaching. Jason Harrow is a thoroughly unlikeable central character, never missing a chance to whine about some politically correct dogma which is damaging the good white, Christian folk of America. It's as if there is a list of PC sacred cows which must be destroyed by the end of the book. Muslims check, working mothers check, Hollywood do-gooders check, liberal university professors check.
 All of these things are politically fair game of course. It's just the incessantness of the sermonising which grates. When a bit of subtlety is called for the sledgehammer comes out rather than the fine chisel.
-''Empire Of Lies'' is nearly a good yarn. Indeed it could have been very good if Klavan had spent more time on the story and less time trying to shoehorn in every political gripe he could think of. If your view of the world comes from the Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and the like then ''Empire Of Lies'' will only deepen your beliefs, for the general reader it is a missed opportunity.
+''Empire Of Lies'' is nearly a good yarn. Indeed it could have been very good if Klavan had spent more time on the story and less time trying to shoehorn in every political gripe he could think of. If your view of the world comes from the Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and the like then ''Empire Of Lies'' will only deepen your beliefs, for the general reader, it is a missed opportunity.
 I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
-If this type of story appeals to you then we think that you might enjoy [[Palace Council by Stephen L Carter]].  For a non-fiction approach we can recommend [[The Second Plane by Martin Amis]].
+If this type of story appeals to you then we think that you might enjoy [[Palace Council by Stephen L Carter]].  For a non-fiction approach we can recommend [[The Second Plane by Martin Amis]].  You might also enjoy [[From Blood by Edward Wright]].
 {{amazontext|amazon=1593155980}}

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 |buy= No
 |borrow= Maybe
 |pages=352
 |publisher= Quercus Publishing plc
@@ Line 37: / Line 33: @@
 If this type of story appeals to you then we think that you might enjoy [[Palace Council by Stephen L Carter]].  For a non-fiction approach we can recommend [[The Second Plane by Martin Amis]].
-{{amazontext|amazon=1593155980}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6193271}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=1593155980}}
 {{commenthead}}
 [[Category:Thrillers]]

← Older revision	Revision as of 17:17, 24 October 2009
(No difference)