Even Steven (Paperback)

The Martins, Bobby and Susan, have one desire: to have a child of their own. While considering how their marriage could be consolidated by such a gift, the couple undertake a camping trip, little realising that this will utterly change their lives. An unkempt, dirty young boy, shivering with cold, appears at their campsite, and the Martins' parental urges are soon kicking in. But when the boy's kidnappers make a violent appearance, the couple find themselves caught up in the savage killing of a police officer. Soon they are outrunning a band of dangerous criminals, and while struggling to stay alive, dark emotions concerning their failed pregnancies add a disturbing spin to the situation.

Gilstrap has pulled off two difficult tricks in his invigorating tale: the narrative itself is fresh and innovative (very welcome in these days when many thrillers are content to warm over exhausted plot devices); but he has also adopted and customised a device once very popular in the thriller genre--the action takes place over the course of 24 hours, and Gilstrap ensures that the ratcheting up of tension always has a ticking clock as its motor. Finally, of course, however assured a thriller is at dispensing action, it's the characterisation that really lays claim to a reader's attention. And the conflicted couple at the centre of Even Steven are so roundly drawn that few readers will be able to avoid empathising with them. --Barry Forshaw

Review
Environmental engineer Gilstrap has made it to the US bestseller lists with his previous novels and looks set to repeat that performance here. This thriller confronts middle-class America's conceptions, prejudices and thoughts, and the delicate balance which holds them on the straight and narrow. This is familiar Gilstrap territory: innocent teen/family/couple are caught on the wrong side of the law and have to fight against mounting odds to clear their names. This time it's Bobby and Sue Martin, who have longed for a child of their own. Taking a break from it all, the couple go camping, where they find the answer to their prayers. But the filthy urchin they find and take in is not alone. That Gilstrap's last two books have been turned into films reflects the fact that the fast-paced action, which has become a trademark of the author, is also a hit with studio film developers. Gilstrap forgoes characterization for stereotypical dialogue amongst the central characters and saves some of his best lines for the peripheral ones. Gilstrap is a master of pace and this is better than anything else in the genre currently on offer. (Kirkus UK)

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• Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Thrillers
• Books > Fiction > By Period
• Books > Fiction > Genre > Adventure Stories

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