- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press; Export Ed edition (1 Aug 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593055098
- ISBN-13: 978-0593055090
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,593,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"'A superb feat of storytelling by a master of his craft' - The Times; 'One of the best plotters in the business' - Time Out; 'One of Britain's foremost pacy thriller writers' - Sunday Express; 'A clever, informed and worldly cynical story about arrogance, obsession and tragedy' - The Times"
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Book Description
The breathtaking new thriller from bestselling author Gerald Seymour.
--This text refers to the
Mass Market Paperback
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Gerald Seymour is one of the most prolific thriller writers. He's written over twenty books in thirty years and has still managed to maintain the same level of qaulity with his newest.
In Rat Run, a disgraced British soldier and veteran of Iraq, where he underwent a particularly bad experience,which is told in flashback throughout the narrative, indifferently tries to maintain some semblance of a life. When his neighbor is attacked by an addict, he becomes personally motivated to go after a drug network, finding a means of redemption. He sets his sights higher in the hierachry of the organization with each successive act, starting with the pushers on the streets, until he crosses paths with a Secret Intelligence Service team pursuing an al-Qaeda terrorist who is going to activate sleeper terrorist cells inside Britain.
Seymour is an absolutely wonderful writer, comparable if not superior to even Clancy and Forsyth, and Rat Run demonstrates his talents of creating a cast of varied, multiple characters and fully fleshing them out and leaving no gurantees as to the outcome of the story or who will survive. I've read several authors, though while good, they often fail to make me actually care about the characters, and that's what drives Seymour's books.
In Rat Run, a disgraced British soldier and veteran of Iraq, where he underwent a particularly bad experience,which is told in flashback throughout the narrative, indifferently tries to maintain some semblance of a life. When his neighbor is attacked by an addict, he becomes personally motivated to go after a drug network, finding a means of redemption. He sets his sights higher in the hierachry of the organization with each successive act, starting with the pushers on the streets, until he crosses paths with a Secret Intelligence Service team pursuing an al-Qaeda terrorist who is going to activate sleeper terrorist cells inside Britain.
Seymour is an absolutely wonderful writer, comparable if not superior to even Clancy and Forsyth, and Rat Run demonstrates his talents of creating a cast of varied, multiple characters and fully fleshing them out and leaving no gurantees as to the outcome of the story or who will survive. I've read several authors, though while good, they often fail to make me actually care about the characters, and that's what drives Seymour's books.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I always look forward to a new Gerald Seymour novel. The storyline is usually a complex entwining of several strands which come together towards the final chapter. Rat Run certainly is no exception but, on this occasion, the story is just too complex for my taste. There are drug dealers, people smugglers, Arab terrorists, a Smiley character with the usual buffoons in MI6, a little love interest and a disgraced soldier making good, all of whom are spread over several countries, all of whom seem to meet a most unsatisfactory ending.
For me, the story breaks down because there are just too many characters. None of them is remotely likeable, well, maybe the Smiley character and just possibly, the little old woman living in a block of run-down flats and that's it. I was really disappointed with this book. For my money, one of the best reads currently available is Will Staeger's `Public Enemy' and for fast paced action, enjoyable characters and a `can't put it down' book, try it. I will buy Gerald Seymour's next book. The writing is always well crafted. I just hope the story will be less complicated!
For me, the story breaks down because there are just too many characters. None of them is remotely likeable, well, maybe the Smiley character and just possibly, the little old woman living in a block of run-down flats and that's it. I was really disappointed with this book. For my money, one of the best reads currently available is Will Staeger's `Public Enemy' and for fast paced action, enjoyable characters and a `can't put it down' book, try it. I will buy Gerald Seymour's next book. The writing is always well crafted. I just hope the story will be less complicated!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This was the first Gerald Seymoor I'd read - and it was the last. I new I wasn't going to get on with this novel after the first few pages, and it took a monumental effort to finish it.
There are so many plot strands to 'Rat Run' that I began to lose track. And, on finishing the book, I realised that many of these strands were utterly pointless and served no purpose other than to stall my progress with the main plot, which involves a disgraced ex-soldier who finds redemption in going after drug dealers. The prose I found distant and hard to like, the protagonist I found unlikeable (even though he says so little throughout the book it's hard to work fathom his character anyway) and the pace I found stuttery and alienating.
Because of 'Rat Run', I won't be reading any other titles by Gerald Seymoor, and I'm surprised how many hold this book in such high esteem. One positive is that occasionally the story flows nicely and becomes very readable, only to return to its old habits soon after.
There are so many plot strands to 'Rat Run' that I began to lose track. And, on finishing the book, I realised that many of these strands were utterly pointless and served no purpose other than to stall my progress with the main plot, which involves a disgraced ex-soldier who finds redemption in going after drug dealers. The prose I found distant and hard to like, the protagonist I found unlikeable (even though he says so little throughout the book it's hard to work fathom his character anyway) and the pace I found stuttery and alienating.
Because of 'Rat Run', I won't be reading any other titles by Gerald Seymoor, and I'm surprised how many hold this book in such high esteem. One positive is that occasionally the story flows nicely and becomes very readable, only to return to its old habits soon after.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Rather poor
I must admit this novel was a bit of a let down. It moved at a slow pace, lacked coherence and clarity, and didn't really feel like a thriller. Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2010 by Emanon
Great after a slow start
I laboured through the first 100 pages which was too much scene setting with little action or intrigue. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2008 by Clive
Not what I expected...
I've read other Gerald Seymour novels and have throughly enjoyed them. On this occasion I was at first a little concerned by the some what snails pace of the story, But the author... Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2008 by Sarah Gooding
Redemption
Gerald Seymour is the only author whose thrillers I savor, both when I contemplate them with delicious anticipation sitting on my shelf awaiting my attention, and when they're... Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2007 by Joseph Haschka
convoluted labyrinth
I see from other reviewers that I am not alone in registering disappointment with Seymour on this occasion. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2007 by R. W. Spiers
Turkey Run
I'm glad to see that some of my fellow thriller enthisiasts share my views on this highly disappointing effort. Read more
Published on 18 April 2007 by Nicko
Bit of a bore.
I went into this book expecting a gritty novel of revenge and was sadly dissapointed when i learned the book was slowly paced and a bit confusing to begin with. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2006 by Richie smith
Another rollercoaster read
This must be the fifteenth Gerald Seymour book I have read and it doesn't disappoint. As usual Seymour's book takes a bit of getting into, but once all the different strands come... Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2006 by Anne Davis
nothing special
This is an ok read. i'm afraid I felt nothing for the characters. This was not a page turner. Nearly as boring as the da vinci code. C'mon Seymour do better!!
Published on 25 May 2006 by D. Mac Daid
From the best thriller writer
I am old enough to remember Gerald Seymour as one of the first I.T.N news readers but ever since his first book I have regarded him as my top thriller writer. Read more
Published on 11 May 2006 by G. J. Weeks
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