I've read several books by Gerald Seymour and liked them very much. He has a very unique approach to the story but sometimes that can be a double-edged sword..... For example in this book story pace is pretty uneven - you have slow, slooow parts where we are introduced to thoughts of main characters, way they think about everything from weather outside to the issues at hand and then you have fast paced parts where main plot moves on. Fortunately after very slow start pace gets faster and faster ending in a cathartic finale.

Due to the above mentioned slow parts book may not appeal to everybody but if you remain persistent you'll be rewarded with a great story.

I think that ending is slightly melodramatic but authors portrayal of Balkan's (South-East Europe, although many nations from ex-Yugoslavia would say they are part of Central Europe and that Balkan's starts south from them) is unfortunately very true. Being place where interest zones of many a empire past and present, east and west clash constantly it is a place where past never dies and where century old grudges are still fresh and just waiting to be used by demagogues to stir up blood. Hopefully this will change in next century or four.

If you like thrillers this one is recommended. ( )

This is such a fine book.... The great themes of betrayal, honor, integrity, and redemption are played out against a backdrop of old European conflicts, modern English politics and police work, the weapons trade, and old fashion retribution. It's about topics I hadn't thought much about, but the manner by which he pulls them together works so well.

I've had a bit of a problem in the past with Seymour's technique of switching the focus of his narrative back and forth among different characters, but in this case it helped paint a intricate backdrop to the story and developed the cast of strong characters in great detail. It's extremely well written and, although the plot is a bit dense and complicated, a thoroughly satisfying read.

This is a great book by an author who seems to just get better and better. ( )

If Gerald Seymour has a formula, it is this: Lay out a situation with life and death potential, introduce characters, build plot, make the characters come alive, and finally – bring them together in a detailed, choreographed, inexorable, and highly suspenseful blast of a conclusion.

The good guys don’t always win and the bad guys don’t always get their due. Sometimes the good guys are bad and the bad guys are something approaching good. And they’re not always guys. Women have a substantial place in Seymour’s stories.

In this case, a Croatian village hires a hit man to kill British arms dealer Harvey Gillott after they identify him nineteen years after he betrayed them by not delivering weapons they paid for to hold off murdering Serb forces. The hit mobilizes several characters from competing law enforcement, intelligence, and non-government agencies.

Filled with moral ambiguities, choices, and consequences, The Dealer and the Dead is more than the standard suspense story, as are all of Seymour’s books. ( )