A quick read. Slow buildup, quick ending. Pulp fiction. ( )

Shock and Awe is a tightly written, fully fleshed out story of a retaliatory strike after 9/11. The team is well designed, with excellently detailed character, without preamble or redundant back-story. There is great deviation between the team, with both links to American funded organisations and the cultural elite vying for power or freedom. The intrigue and action are well focused, as are relationships explored within the book. The finale starts unexpectedly, which although adds to the overall unpredictability of Shock and Awe, somewhat diminished the expertly crafted suspense, leaving readers potentially feeling short-changed. Overall, Isaak should feel proud of a thriller which is a real compulsive read. ( )