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ETA - Estimated Time of Arrest

by Delphine Pontvieux (Goodreads Author)

4.11 · rating details · 28 ratings · 13 reviews

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After participating in a pro-separatist march that turned violent in January of 1992, 21-year-old Lorenzo Lartaun Izcoa is wrongly charged with the fatal bombing of a police station in his home town. Irun is a small city located in the heart of the Basque country, trapped between France and Spain, and struggling for independence. Lartaun finds him...more

Hardcover, first, 344 pages

Published December 8th 2009 by Miss Nyet Publishing, LLC (first published 2009)

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Jul 27, 2011

Buzz Ryan rated it

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My exposure to political thrillers being limited to Robert Ludlum is my fault. I am an unrepentant SciFi geek so I don’t branch out a lot. Which is why after striking up a budding friendship with Delphine Pontvieux I felt morally compelled to partake of her work and boy am I glad for it!

ETA: Estimated Time of Arrest grabbed me with the instant familiarly I developed with the characters. Within a couple well crafted sentences I knew who these people were. The story of a pretty young ...moreMy exposure to political thrillers being limited to Robert Ludlum is my fault. I am an unrepentant SciFi geek so I don’t branch out a lot. Which is why after striking up a budding friendship with Delphine Pontvieux I felt morally compelled to partake of her work and boy am I glad for it!

ETA: Estimated Time of Arrest grabbed me with the instant familiarly I developed with the characters. Within a couple well crafted sentences I knew who these people were. The story of a pretty young man falsely accused of a heinous crime and his continual manipulation of those he loves. A good reviewer would probably give you more of a plot synopsis than that, but I am just a reader.

The mechanics of the story worked for me, I wasn’t beat up with the Basque Separatist agenda of the villains, and the romances were not overly syrupy. She made me feel for the Basque people, but not those whose agenda is morally repugnant.

Nothing is wasted in the writing. Given the limited time I had to read this was a blessing. The story flowed and never bogged down. Ms. Pontvieux spared me the need to read twenty paragraphs of the description of snow on the Alps. Like her characters I feel like I spent a week in her European locales after a few well turned sentences.

The plot is straight forward. This is a thriller after all! I wanted to like the protagonist, but I really didn’t. Whether this was me or intentional I can’t say. He just kept getting tugged one way to the other by his associations and it isn’t until the end with the motivation of the woman, a positive influence, he has fallen in love with that he takes matters in his own hands. I don’t blame him because I fell in love with her too. In the end it wasn’t really him that directly stops the bad guys but it was his conduct that influenced its final gruesome ending. For that I have to give him points for even though it prompts him to go on the run again.

Delphine’s biography reads like that of the adventuress of my dreams, and I hope beyond hope that her next work takes us underwater in which she is an expert and gives Clive Custler a run for his money.
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Mar 30, 2010

Jason Pettus rated it

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com:]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

As I've said here several times before, I think it unfair to directly compare the worth of a book by a full-time writer on a major press with one by a part-time self-publishing author, if for no other reason than the tremendous amount of editorial advantages held by the former -- after all, a fu...more(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com:]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

As I've said here several times before, I think it unfair to directly compare the worth of a book by a full-time writer on a major press with one by a part-time self-publishing author, if for no other reason than the tremendous amount of editorial advantages held by the former -- after all, a full-time author signed to a large publishing company will have at least a full-time editor, copy editor, proofreader and agent at their disposal, all of them making fine-tuned changes to that manuscript that a self-published one simply doesn't receive, not to mention the entire army of student volunteers that full-time writers sometimes have if they are a professor as well, which they are in so many cases. So it's always a real delight to come across a book like Delphine Pontvieux's ETA: Estimated Time of Arrest; because although you should be aware from the start that it's not much more than a beach-and-airport political thriller, it's a good enough one that it could literally be picked up right this second by Random House for a million-copy print run with no changes needed, a rare occurrence for a book like this which is basically one step above being self-published. (So that is, it's put out by an actual company called Miss Nyet Publishing, but which was started by the author specifically to put out this book, the situation that many people are referring to when they use the term "basement press.")

And in fact I suspect one of the reasons this book is so effective is that it's set in a milieu that's rarely discussed here in the US; that of the Basque separatists who live in the borderland between Spain and France, a place that the French-born, globetrotting Pontvieux (now a Chicagoan) is obviously quite familiar with, and which turns out makes for an almost perfect setting in which to base an exciting political potboiler. For those who need a little primer (and forgive me if I get some of this wrong -- I'm getting most of my info from the novel itself), you can think of the situation in Basque in much the same terms as the more well-known Northern Ireland; for a long time a tiny independent nation surrounded by the various Great Powers (much like its nearby neighbors Monaco and Luxembourg), during the fascist Franco years it was taken over by Spain and subjected to a brutal process of assimilation, which like the Irish Republican Army (or IRA) inspired the formation of a paramilitary nationalist organization, known there as the ETA. But by the 1990s, twenty years after the fall of the Franco regime, a compromise of sorts had been struck, which gave the Basque region an autonomous political status while still officially remaining a part of Spanish and French territory, with an end to imperialistic hostilities and the official public right again to celebrate Basque history and culture; and again, much like the IRA, it was at this point that even more and more locals started questioning the effectiveness or even need of a continued ETA, making them much more controversial and not nearly as automatically supported by separatists as when they were fighting literal fascists hellbent on destroying them.

And like the best political thrillers, Pontvieux takes no official sides in ETA, but rather uses the complex situation itself to tell an epic and far-reaching story, essentially centered around a young good-guy named Lorenzo Izcoa, swept up as a teen into the romanticism of the paramilitary movement but then eventually falsely accused of blowing up a police station, during a mass protest that turned chaotic. Like the early work of Tom Clancy, then (which I happen to like a lot), Pontvieux uses Izcoa's situation to examine a whole series of communities and locations related to the issue of Basque independence -- from rural Mexico where he spends time as a fugitive, to the alps of southern France where he is brought in by the group to do one last favor, from a mountain hippie community full of environmental activists to the weary police inspectors of big-city Espana. Pontvieux uses all these settings to examine the issue of Basque separatism and terrorist violence from all kinds of different angles, thankfully enfolding these more philosophical issues into the action itself, instead of simply lecturing us like so many mediocre political thrillers do; and along the way, she bases an important aspect of the plot on her personal love for freehand rock-climbing, a natural addition within the beautiful yet treacherous mountain terrain of southern France and northern Spain where our story largely takes place.

Now, like I said, this is a genre project through and through, and you will need to be an existing fan of people like John LeCarre to have even a chance of enjoying ETA; but as far as that's concerned, this is definitely on the high end of the quality scale for that genre, a quickly-paced page-turner that I imagine most fans of political thrillers will find themselves flying through. What a great week it always is when I get a chance to stumble across a book like this, one that far exceeds both my expectations and its publishing circumstances. It comes highly recommended today to those who are fans of such work.

Out of 10: 8.9, or 9.4 for fans of political thrillers (less)

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May 09, 2011

aobibliophile™ rated it

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"Arranoak lumak behar, txepetxak ere bai" - The eagle needs feathers, and the wren does too. (Basque Proverbs, Wikiquote)

during a pro-separatist march, Lorenzo Lartaun Izcoa is wrongly accused of bombing a police station in Irun, a small Basque city. he is branded a terrorist and flees to Mexico. two years later, his childhood friend Patxi shows up and offers him a passport and the chance to return to Europe in exchange for a "small favor."
Lartaun, now kn...more"Arranoak lumak behar, txepetxak ere bai" - The eagle needs feathers, and the wren does too. (Basque Proverbs, Wikiquote)

during a pro-separatist march, Lorenzo Lartaun Izcoa is wrongly accused of bombing a police station in Irun, a small Basque city. he is branded a terrorist and flees to Mexico. two years later, his childhood friend Patxi shows up and offers him a passport and the chance to return to Europe in exchange for a "small favor."
Lartaun, now known as Rafael, hides in a commune in the French Pyrenees where he meets and falls in love with Faustine Laroche. keeping his true identity and history a secret from Faustine, Rafael realizes too late that the small favor he owes Patxi poses a threat and is larger and deadlier than he imagined.
author Delphine Pontvieux delivers a beautiful and compelling story of a man on the run. from the colorful Basque country to the dizzying heights of the Pyrenees, i was treated to a visual and emotional rollercoaster ride. this book is part political thriller, romance and adventure filled with well-drawn characters and a very interesting plot.
i have never read a book before that explored in rich detail the plight of the Basque people. Delphine Pontvieux did an amazing job of presenting their history without sounding biased and without inundating the reader with boring historical facts. in fact, my interest was piqued to the point that i had to explore a bit about how things are now with the Euskaldunak (Basque speakers).
the author's love for the outdoors also shines through and it was a vicarious thrill to go hiking and mountain climbing with Rafael and Faustine. years ago, i experienced doing a reverse rappel from a height of 120 feet. another thing i did was traversing a distance of 100 meters of dense tropical jungle 20 meters below me while attached to a secure harness and cable system. i tell you everything was an incredible rush!
even the book's title is catchy and shows the author's ingenious play with words. ETA is commonly known as Estimated Time of Arrival. Delphine replaced the last word with Arrest. ETA also stands for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (Euskara or Basque for Basque Homeland and Freedom). this is the name of the terrorist group that figures so much in the story.
i liked the way the chapters are laid out. the numbers are handwritten and below them are Basque words. each chapter is also stamped with the time, day, month and year. this style spoke highly of the author's flair for organization and kept me on track with what was going on in the story. by the way, you have to take a second look at the book's cover and see if you notice something striking!
it is hard to believe that ETA: Estimated Time of Arrest is the author's first book. for a debut novel, it manages not only to entertain but also to educate and inform as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: i was gifted a Kindle copy of ETA: Estimated Time of Arrest by the author herself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.(less)

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Oct 25, 2010

Carole rated it

They say that a debut author should write about what they know and Delphine Pontvieux has done just that ....... she obviously knows a great deal about rock climbing and the Basque country, and her knowledge shines through as the Pyrenees mountains and climbing them forms an integral part of this fascinating and exciting political thriller based upon the activities of the Separatist Group ETA. The story of their inception and rise without any bias on either side was handled very sensitively as w...moreThey say that a debut author should write about what they know and Delphine Pontvieux has done just that ....... she obviously knows a great deal about rock climbing and the Basque country, and her knowledge shines through as the Pyrenees mountains and climbing them forms an integral part of this fascinating and exciting political thriller based upon the activities of the Separatist Group ETA. The story of their inception and rise without any bias on either side was handled very sensitively as well.

I loved this description (Lartaun is staring at something on the ground while mountain climbing) ----

He was transfixed by the sight of a tiny Rock Jasmine. The frail plant was growing on a miniscule patch of soil encased in a crack between two sheets of rock ........ Whatever miracle had caused this little seed to travel all the way up there and find a piece of earth to call home seemed like a true wonder. It was so ironic and yet made him think about the Basque country. The flower was just like his people, fighting an ongoing battle against all odds so that they could flourish and grow on their small piece of land.

The central characters are the tall, slender and extremely good looking 23 year old Lartaun and the pretty enviromentalist Faustine, 18, "with a gift for reading people's thoughts". They are both incredibly likeable figures and I found their relationship totally believable.

Lartaun is drawn into a world in which he starts to feel uncomfortable with as he has to repay his friend's favour, the suspense is very slowly and skilfully drawn to an exciting conclusion.

This isn't just a tale of political terrorists it is an absorbing thriller showing different sides of people's characters and of how they come to terms with the consequences of their actions, of romance, all the while with a backdrop of the beautiful mountainous scenery which is wonderfully described throughout.

I thought the storyline was strong and the characters were all well-defined with fascinating back stories.(less)

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Apr 28, 2010

William Messner rated it

ETA brought me enthusiastically back to something I had not done in over a decade. Read a terrific story, wonderfully told, in an unusual location with a culture and historical background I had never known. The fluidity with which Delphine moves between the genuine emotions of a love story, the descriptive details of landscapes I had never seen, the technical skills of a dangerous “sport” I’d never try, and the historical motivation for each character’s decision was fresh, fast paced and exhi...more

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May 16, 2010

Phil Bolos rated it

A great novel with wonderfully written character development and setting descriptions. From the beginning, the story holds the readers attention and leaves them wanting more. The relationships between the characters are genuine and heartfelt, and the characters are easy to relate to in a very positive way. The storyline progresses quickly and does an excellent job of enticing the reader to go on. I recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a suspense filled roller coaster of a story. ETA...more

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Apr 14, 2011

Debbie Smith rated it

I do not typically read fiction and especially mystery fiction but the author being from France is what interested me and what a fascinating surprise! I would love to meet Delphine personally to learn more about what made her write this book. She certainly appears to have a great insight into the radical pressures of the pasts Spanish government, and an expanded knowledge of mountain climbing. Delphine does an extraordinary job of engaging the reader in the events and the characters so that y...more

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Feb 21, 2011

William rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 09, 2010

Rick F. rated it

This is one of the most original, touching and gripping novels I have read in many years. Lorenzo Lartaun Izcoa is a character that I immediately felt a connection to, not an easy feat for an author.
Delphine Pontvieux is spot on in her character development as well as plot. I started reading this on a Friday- and finished early Sunday- as I could not put it down - it is THAT GOOD. The internationallocations. France and Spain, the Basque movement all provide a backdrop that distingishes th...more

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Apr 13, 2010

John Flaherty rated it

A great political thriller that draws you in with its characters and settings. I read it in a few sittings. I've never been to the Basque country, but sort of fell like I have now. The book has rock climbing, dynamite, hippie communes, and bull-running. Totally fun read.

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Nov 01, 2011

The TBR Pile *Book review site* rated it

I tried really hard to finish this book. The excerpt had me very intrigued, however when I started reading I began to realize this was not the book for me. The author is very detail oriented and that just slowed down the pace considerably. I struggled to get through the first half of it and eventually gave up.

I have not completely written this author off. If there is ever a time that I come across another book from this author, I will give it a shot.

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Feb 27, 2011

Leigh MacCallum rated it

How often do you get to read a thriller that enlightens, educates and excites with such seamless equality? Ms Pontvieux has, in her debut novel, accomplished just such a feat. Extremely well written, with engaging characters and story! Six stars!!

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Dec 18, 2011

D.L. Fowler rated it

I couldn't escape the thought Hugo would write like this if he was alive today. Each character was craftily drawn and evoked my empathy. The theme was insightful, challenging and carefully woven into the plot. Backstory was meted out patiently and blended with tension filled action. Highly recommended.

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About Delphine Pontvieux

Delphine Pontvieux was born in Versailles and grew up in France. She studied at Stetson University in Deland, Florida and graduated from the University of Burgundy in Dijon. She also lived, studied and worked in Australia, the USA, Spain and the Netherlands until she moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1998, where she still lives today. She has 10 years of international sales and promotion experience i...more

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