Rules of Vengeance

Dr. Jonathan Ransom, Book 2

By: Christopher Reich

Narrated by: Paul Michael

A riveting sequel to The New York Times best seller Rules of Deception that confirms Christopher Reich as the master of the espionage thriller.

Months after foiling an attack on a commercial jetliner, Doctors Without Borders physician Jonathan Ransom is working under an assumed name in a remote corner of Africa while his wife, Emma, desperate to escape the wrath of Division, the secret American intelligence agency she betrayed, has vanished into the netherworld of international espionage. Both look forward to sharing a stolen weekend in London - until an ambush on a convoy of limousines turns their romantic rendezvous into a terrorist bloodbath.

In the aftermath, Emma disappears, and Jonathan is apprehended by the police and threatened with life imprisonment unless he helps secure his wife’s capture. Faced with an impossible decision, Jonathan makes a daring escape. On the run, he realizes that his only option is to become a spy himself in order to track down Emma and discover the true nature of the conspiracy she appears to be masterminding. In the process, Jonathan begins to realize that all along he’s been a pawn in a high-stakes game of international intrigue and one-upsmanship far beyond his imagining.

©2009 Christopher Reich (P)2009 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

" Rules of Deception develops an entertainingly serpentine complexity . . . And his finale lives up to the level of suspense he has created." ( New York Times)
"Un-put-downable . . . This first-class adrenaline fest will leave readers guessing until the last page." ( Publishers Weekly)

A solid Sequel

This sequel is, in some ways, better than the previous book "Rules of Deception", in my opinion.
The protagonist is a bit less believable in the second in this series, suffering from a touch of "Jack Ryan" syndrome. (Unbelievable perfection.) But overall, he's still better than most action heroes.

The reader was "transparent", the production was never the focus of my attention.
I've listened to the entire book a couple of time, and will probably listen to it again in the future.

Excellent light entertainment.

Captivating!

What did you love best about Rules of Vengeance?

Excellent series. Love the intrigue. The characterization of the bureaucratic red-tape made the story all the more realistic.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Emma (Laura) is fascinating and tireless.

International Keystone Cops

I read the first book "Rules of Deception" and really enjoyed it. I immediately downloaded the second book in the series, only to find out the story is the same as the first book. There are a few twist that kept it interesting, but the story is still the same. The hero is chased all over the world by a bunch of bumbling cops. He is injured repeatedly, even seems to die, like the heroin died in the first book, and comes back to life.

When the heroin is about to blowup the world the hero, while trying to stop her with only minutes to spare, he takes the time to ask her if she really loved him.

I am tempted to buy the third book only to see how many times a character can die and come back to life and if the hero quits being so innocent and naive. Unfortunately I do not want to spend the money or time on the third book to find out the plot is repeated.

Paul Michael did an excellent presentation, as he always does.

Fun, Exciting, and Complex

Fun and exciting listening. This is a continuation of characters and story for Chritopher Reich's earlier book "Rules of Deception". They are both great listens but I would recommend hearing the first, first to get the full fun out of the second.

Lots of action. Lots of attention to detail. Well researched and believable. Great reader is the icing on the cake.

Lots of twists and turns. One of those books that keeps you glued the headphones on your ipod. Get it.

Did not meet the orginal

I enjoyed Christopher Reich's Rules of Deception, it was fast moving and the plot was intriguing, but Rules of Vengeance has too many subplots to keep your interest. It is like many of the sequels that do not attain the same interest as the original. The narration of Paul Michael was good and kept the multiple characters identifiable. I certain will not listen to a sequel.

Ransom is back

First, Paul Michael is a great narrator and doesn’t disappoint here.

Second, Dr Ransom is going on another journey and searching for answers about his wife yet again. What will he learn and who can he trust?

Excellent reader, weak story

This is the second book featuring the protagonist Jonathan Ransom. Adventure writers take one of two approaches when their narrative crosses the line into unbelievability. The better ones will subtly break the fourth wall and wink at the reader indicating that they know that the reader knows the story cannot be rational, and the poorer ones plod on with all seriousness. This book is the latter. While Ransom is a meatball surgeon, whose expertise for decades as been in working people in terrible circumstances, magically displays mental acuity greater than that of intelligence and police professionals, international spies and the physical ability to regularly trounce professional killers. When pursued by law enforcement he only encounters the most incompetent ones imaginable and even the passing intelligent drop the ball every time. When others are blown up, he gets a scratch. When he jumps from a car going at 100 km/h he dislocates a shoulder and bruises some ribs. One does not need a medical background to know that this is complete nonsense. This book feels, smells and ends up like a poor afterthought to a more successful first book with the character. Too bad, because this writer can and has done much better. Excellent reader though.