Though light on the character development, the story itself is full of peril and excitement, which, let’s be honest, is why we read thrillers. Actually, Tillman Davis seems like he could have been an interesting character after his separation from Gideon, but we didn’t see much of his inner turmoil and growth, which was a shame. Gideon and Kate, the two protagonists, are somewhat bland but just likeable enough that I cared about their story. There was a good variety in the action sequences, though, from land to the air to the water to under the water. All it was missing was outer space, and I wouldn’t want that or suspect it would come into play. ( )

Jihadisten overrompelen het kleine sultanaat Mohar in Zuidoost-Azië. Gideon Davis, een vredestichter krijgt de opdracht van de president van de VS, om zijn broer Tillman, de notoire terrorist Abu Nasir binnen te brengen. Hij loopt echter van de ene hinderlaag in de andere terwijl voor de kust, het booreiland Obelisk door de terroristen onder leiding van Abu Nasir bezet worden.Ze dreigen ermee het booreiland op te blazen. Een opzettende tyfoon lijkt hun plannen echter te dwarsbomen door het booreiland in zee te laten storten in afwezigheid van de gezocht media aandacht! Gideon bereikt niet zonder moeite het booreiland en wordt geholpen door Kate, de bloedmooie manager. Hij valt van de ene verbazing in de andere als blijkt dat Timken, een bloeddorstige huurling de identiteit van Abu Nasir heeft overgenomen. Hij ontrafelt het complot opgezet door de veiligheidsadviseur van de president himself. ( )

The Obelisk (or Gideon’s War in some markets) is the debt novel from Howard Gordon, a producer of the action packed show '24' starring Keifer Sutherland as Jack Bauer.

What at first seems like a simple straight forward mission for the main character quickly becomes a mess of intermingled loyalties and deception. Unlike a lot of modern thrillers which are reliant upon tech gizmos, computers and other crap to advance the plot and provide action The Obelisk stays with the basics and keeps it interesting.

Plenty of twists and paths that lead to unexpected developments (just like an episode of 24) as well as a healthy does of realism.

I shall definitely be checking out the follow up novel 'Hard Target'. ( )

couldn't get into it ( )

There is a rogue agent in Mohan the President wants brought in and Gideon Davis is the only man who can accomplish that feat. Gideon is a negotiator, known for his amazing skills and honesty. The rogue agent is none other than his brother, Tillman. The men were brought up the same way and given the same skill set, but chose vastly different ways to utilize them. Where Gideon is a negotiator, Tillman is army, special ops.
Gideon has only forty-eight hours to bring his brother in before chaos erupts. Upon his arrival in Mohan, instead of being met by his brother—who was to turn himself in—Gideon is met with resistance and major hostility. Not only that, but there is a typhoon headed toward the Obelisk, an oil rig off Mohan’s coast. The typhoon isn’t the only threat to the Obelisk, terrorists have taken it over and now Gideon has a rescue and recover mission to accomplish!
Gideon has to team up with Kate, manager of the Obelisk, if he ever hopes to rescue the hostages and bring his brother in. He has always lived by a strict code of no killing, but he may have to rethink that with this mission.
You will be glued to the pages of this book from start to finish! Fast-paced and exciting!
Reviewed by Ashley Wintters for Suspense Magazine ( )