Fault Line

Ben Treven, Book 1

De: Barry Eisler

Narrado por: Barry Eisler

In Silicon Valley, the eccentric inventor of a new encryption application is murdered in an apparent drug deal.

In Istanbul, a cynical undercover operator receives a frantic call from his estranged brother, a patent lawyer who believes he is the next victim.

And on the sun-drenched slopes of Sand Hill Road, Silicon Valley's nerve center of money and technology, old family hurts sting anew as two brothers who share nothing but blood and bitterness wage a desperate battle against a faceless enemy.

Alex Treven has sacrificed everything to achieve his sole ambition: making partner in his high-tech law firm. But then the inventor of a technology Alex is banking on is murdered...and the patent examiner who reviewed it dies...and Alex himself narrowly escapes an attack in his own home. Off balance, out of ideas, and running out of time, he knows the one person who can help him is the last person he'd ever ask: his brother.

Ben Treven is a Military Liaison Element, an elite undercover soldier paid to "find, fix, and finish" high-value targets in America's Global War on Terror. Disenchanted with what he sees as America's culture of denial and decadence, Ben lives his detached life in the shadows because the black ops world is all he really knows - and because other than Alex, who he hasn't spoken to since their mother died, his family is long gone.

But blood is thicker than water, and when he receives Alex's frantic call, Ben hurries to San Francisco to help him. Only then does Alex reveal that there's another player who knows of the technology: Sarah Hosseini, a young Iranian American lawyer who Alex has long secretly desired...and who Ben immediately distrusts. As these three radically different people struggle to identify the forces attempting to silence them, Ben and Alex are forced to examine the events that drove them apart - even as Sarah's presence, and her own secret wants, deepens the fault line between them.

Fault Line centers on a conspiracy that has spun out of the shadows and into the streets of America, a conspiracy that can be stopped only by three people - three people with different worldviews, different grievances, different motives. To survive the forces arrayed against them, they'll first have to survive each other.

©2009 Barry Eisler (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

A stand-alone novel; back-story to the Rain Series

This is a stand-alone novel that is also backstory for the John Rain series, which is among the best I've read or listened to. Notice how inexpensive they are.

I wrote an enthusiastically positive and extended review for Book 1: "Clean Kill in Tokyo."

Eisler is a smart and accomplished guy. Checkout his website and his Wikipedia bio.

Warrior Tactics in the Suburbs

Alex and Ben, brothers, have been estranged for 8 years. Alex is a lawyer and Ben is in the military but cannot reveal where he is located.

Alex is able to get in contact through the army base and Ben returns home to evaluate Alex's plea for Ben's help.

The novel is exciting and I wanted to keep listening until I reached the end. Fault Line kept me on the edge of my seat. There was a lot of action that kept me wanting more.

The narrator was the author, Barry Eisler, who did a good job. There was one word, " to", when used at the end of a sentence made me cringe. Don't ask we why because I actually don't know but my ears were offended.

I've read many of the John Rain series written by the same author and I've enjoyed them. There are two books in the Ben Treven series. I don't if there are more books but I'm sure that I would read them, too.

The book is enjoyable and worth your money or credit. I think this book was quite inexpensive. I'll purchase and listen to the second book, too.

***reader

this was a fast pace thriller. i am looking forward to next book. The Narrator knew the book and this helped to make the book interesting.

Different Type of Story (In a Good Way)

I think this was a different type of story than I am used to Barry Eisler writing, namely his famous John Rain series. This story took a little time to rev up, but once it did, all the chess pieces that Mr. Eisler put in place made sense. I recommend this book to followers of Barry Eisler’s writings. Even though I am hooked on John Rain, this was an outstanding book.

Always exciting!

I always enjoy Barry Eisler’s books, and his narration. I love the way he lays out the fight scenes in the way we can be a part of it. Mr. Eisler, please never stop writing!

Pretty Decent Rain "Side-story"

I'm a huge fan of the John Rain series; it's fantastic.

Fault Line is #1 of 3 "side-stories" in the Rain series. It's written in identical prose, and follows similar plot lines. Note: this trilogy occurs during the 10 year gap when Rain has fled Tokyo and is working as a 'freelance mercenary'.

Fault Line introduces us to several new characters; however, not nearly enough time was put into their development, therefore, they're not nearly as interesting as Rain. This book also includes the backstory for a character who ultimately becomes one of Rain's primary "future" enemies (hint, he's a tough ex-spec ops leader).

The writing is excellent, the narration is excellent, and the plot is pretty good (that is, until the last three chapters; it's the worst ending Eisler ever wrote). That being said, if you're a fan of Rain, you'll enjoy this. It's about 50% as good as any novel in the Rain series, which is still quite good, nonetheless.

Too much drama for a thriller!

I'm a big fan of Barry Eisler (both his books AND his narrations) but this really didn't do it for me. There was just...TOO.MUCH...DRAMA!!

That's not why I read thrillers. I want action, excitement, kick-assery on an atomic level. Not family fights, recriminations or whining. All of the characters were so annoying that I wanted to repeatedly kick them in the soft parts.

Alex Treven is a lawyer in Silicon Valley. After one of his clients is murdered and he realizes he's next, he calls his big brother for help. Ben is in the military and in the habit of saving his brother from trouble so even though they are estranged, he goes to help. As soon as he returns, he and his brother started fighting and it pretty much didn't stop until the end. It was tiresome. I understand that one of Mr. Eisler's strengths as a writer is the "damaged MC" and only family can damage a person this much but I can take drama when I'm already invested in the character. As the first book in the series, there was just too much of it.

Something else I didn't like was how Ben kept dropping people so obviously that it could get back to him. I was amazed the police didn't show up at some point and arrest him.

I DID like the ending and I'll probably read the next in the series because it connects with Rain #7. Otherwise, I probably would have skipped it.

better than expected

I love Barry Eisler books almost as I love his narration. He really does bring the stories to life! I'm a big John Rain fan and have listened to that entire series and was reluctant to get to know Ben Trevan but I'm glad I did! Great job on character development! a pleasure to listen to.

Really good

Flew by thought it was a great book. Very interesting would definitely recommend for everyone to read

Enjoyed getting to know Ben

It was nice to be able to get to know Ben Treven better. He is usually a more minor character when others like John Rain and Dox are in the story.