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Event Group Thriller #7
Ripper
The real Jack the Ripper is loose, and this time he's brought friends to the darkness of the deep desert in the newest adrenaline rush from David Golemon, The New York Times bestselling author of Legacy. In the tradition of works by James Rollins, Preston and Child and Matthew Reilly, Ripper is the latest in an action-packed series about the nation's most secret agency―The Event Group. In 1887, the British Empire contracted brilliant American professor Lawrence Ambrose to create a mutant gene to turn an ordinary person into an aggressive fighting machine. But all too quickly, Ambrose was found to be behind a streak of vicious murders, and in a cover-up of massive proportions, Queen Victoria ordered the project, and Ambrose, terminated. Thus the legend of Jack the Ripper was born. The killings stopped as suddenly as they had begun―but not because Ambrose was caught. Instead, he escaped and returned home to America where he and his formula faded into history. But in 2012, a raid against a Mexican drug lord uncovers a small cache of antiquated notebooks containing long-buried instructions to create blind killers out of normal men. Enter the Event Group and Col. Jack Collins, who are desperate to stop one of their most feared enemies. When the formula is loosed in the underground halls and vaults of the Event Group complex itself, brother will battle brother, and for the first time in many men's brave lives they will understand the true meaning of fear. The next heart-stopping chapter in the New York Times bestselling Event Group series, Ripper takes readers to new levels of suspense, where death could be hiding around any corner on this non-stop thrill ride.
351 pages, Hardcover
First published July 17, 2012
45 people are currently reading
826 people want to read
About the author
David L. Golemon
26 books530 followersDavid L. Golemon (a.k.a. David Lynn Golemon ) is the author of the Event Group Thrillers, including Event, Ancients, Leviathan and Primeval. Legend, the second book in the series, was nominated for a RITA award for paranormal fiction.
Golemon learned an early love of reading from his father, who told him that the written word, unlike other forms, allows readers to use their own minds, the greatest special effects machines of all—an idea Golemon still believes. The only thing he loves more than writing is research, especially historical research, and he sees the subtext of his Event novels as being that understanding history allows us to create a better future. Golemon grew up in Chino, California, and now makes his home in New York.
Golemon learned an early love of reading from his father, who told him that the written word, unlike other forms, allows readers to use their own minds, the greatest special effects machines of all—an idea Golemon still believes. The only thing he loves more than writing is research, especially historical research, and he sees the subtext of his Event novels as being that understanding history allows us to create a better future. Golemon grew up in Chino, California, and now makes his home in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 4, 2012
What would you say if you found out that the devastation of Jack the Rippers killing spree was paid for by England’s very own Queen Victoria? How would you feel if you found out that Jack the Ripper was also the infamous characters of Strange Cases of Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Louis Stevenson? In 1887, the British government hired Lawrence Ambrose, a genius in botany, to create a compound from different strands of the poppy flowers…this compound's purpose was to produce a super soldier for her majesties military. But something went very wrong, a termination order was given for both his project and Dr. Ambrose himself. Dr. Ambrose escapes capture and returns to his home land of the United States where he disappears.
In 1916, a group from the United State Cavalry Regiment and a secret organization called the Event Group is tasked with crossing the US boarder into Mexico and destroy what is deemed a threat to US security. (Dr. Ambrose and his experiments) At great loss of life, the team was successful in destroying the hacienda that Ambrose where was residing and eliminating the threat (Ambrose himself). Little did they know they missed destroying critical experimental materials.
Present day, 2012, a Mexican drug lord’s action will restart the cycle of devastation once again. Ambrose's material is accidently uncovered during a rescue mission executed by the very same organization, Event Group, from the 1916 mission.
The elixir, created by Ambrose 125 years prior, is then transported to a secured underground facility filled with scientist that are over seen by the Event Group, where hell on earth rains once again.
Let me first say that I am not a thriller reader. That being said, I loved Ripper. Ripper is filled with government mechanizations, nail biting action, political agendas, and a fascinating twist to Jack the Ripper and Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde story. I was a little overwhelmed with the number of characters and organizations, but it quickly was overcome when more of the story was revealed. Extraordinary tale, intriguing characters and captivating till the end, Ripper is a story not to miss.
This ARC copy of Ripper was given to me by Goodreads First Reads and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
In 1916, a group from the United State Cavalry Regiment and a secret organization called the Event Group is tasked with crossing the US boarder into Mexico and destroy what is deemed a threat to US security. (Dr. Ambrose and his experiments) At great loss of life, the team was successful in destroying the hacienda that Ambrose where was residing and eliminating the threat (Ambrose himself). Little did they know they missed destroying critical experimental materials.
Present day, 2012, a Mexican drug lord’s action will restart the cycle of devastation once again. Ambrose's material is accidently uncovered during a rescue mission executed by the very same organization, Event Group, from the 1916 mission.
The elixir, created by Ambrose 125 years prior, is then transported to a secured underground facility filled with scientist that are over seen by the Event Group, where hell on earth rains once again.
Let me first say that I am not a thriller reader. That being said, I loved Ripper. Ripper is filled with government mechanizations, nail biting action, political agendas, and a fascinating twist to Jack the Ripper and Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde story. I was a little overwhelmed with the number of characters and organizations, but it quickly was overcome when more of the story was revealed. Extraordinary tale, intriguing characters and captivating till the end, Ripper is a story not to miss.
This ARC copy of Ripper was given to me by Goodreads First Reads and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2014
Listened to one disk of this book (about 7%) and could not go on. Clearly the author needs to expand his vocabulary; I believe I counted over 20 uses of the word "large" in one particular chapter (he did throw in a "huge" at one point.) I have not read any of the other Event Group books, but if this is an example of his writing style, I think I can safely skip the others.
February 7, 2015
Was not a very good story or plot. It started out well, then fell apart quickly.
September 3, 2022
The Event Group is a secret US government agency, led by Major Jack Collins, that has been tasked with eliminating those threats that many of us dismiss as myth, conspiracy, or sheer fiction. Having first appeared in Event, where the aliens of Roswell were the focus, the team has carried on through to this, their seventh adventure. In Ripper, as the you may guess from the title, David L. Golemon has made Jack the Ripper (or, more accurately, his legacy) the focus.
It's always dangerous to mess around with world history, especially when you're embellishing it with fictional history, but Golemon takes a smart approach here. His book is equal parts science-fiction drama, comic book adventure, and blockbuster action flick. Unlike so many authors who try to imbue these kinds of stories with some sort of artificial significance, or thought-provokingly topical relevance, Golemon simply invites us to grab a bag of popcorn, suspend our disbelief, and enjoy the ride.
The novel begins by introducing us to the 'real' Jack the Ripper, an American scientist who is both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In fact, it's Robert Louis Stevenson himself who tips off Scotland Yard as to the Ripper's identity, much to the displeasure of the Americans . . . and Queen Victoria. Skip ahead a hundred years or so, and we meet the members of the Event Group working to recover the lost notes and samples of the Ripper - who, as it turns out, was largely responsible for shaping the latter stages of Patton's career. In terms of sheer audacity, it's one hell of a way to begin a story, but I loved it.
Detractors of the series will complain that the heroes and villains here are somewhat stereotypical, and that the dialogue is definitely cheesy at times. So what? This isn't high literature, it's the literary equivalent of a summer blockbuster! The heroes are likeable, admirable, and well-worth rooting for. Similarly, the villains are absolutely despicable, but they're damned entertaining. I daresay I can recite more lines of dialogue from this book than any I've read this year, and fellow readers recognize them immediately.
This is a story that's full of action, imagination, and even some morbid humour. The writing is solid, the pacing is quick, and the twists are almost as much fun as the cliffhangers. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am definitely ready for more.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
It's always dangerous to mess around with world history, especially when you're embellishing it with fictional history, but Golemon takes a smart approach here. His book is equal parts science-fiction drama, comic book adventure, and blockbuster action flick. Unlike so many authors who try to imbue these kinds of stories with some sort of artificial significance, or thought-provokingly topical relevance, Golemon simply invites us to grab a bag of popcorn, suspend our disbelief, and enjoy the ride.
The novel begins by introducing us to the 'real' Jack the Ripper, an American scientist who is both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In fact, it's Robert Louis Stevenson himself who tips off Scotland Yard as to the Ripper's identity, much to the displeasure of the Americans . . . and Queen Victoria. Skip ahead a hundred years or so, and we meet the members of the Event Group working to recover the lost notes and samples of the Ripper - who, as it turns out, was largely responsible for shaping the latter stages of Patton's career. In terms of sheer audacity, it's one hell of a way to begin a story, but I loved it.
Detractors of the series will complain that the heroes and villains here are somewhat stereotypical, and that the dialogue is definitely cheesy at times. So what? This isn't high literature, it's the literary equivalent of a summer blockbuster! The heroes are likeable, admirable, and well-worth rooting for. Similarly, the villains are absolutely despicable, but they're damned entertaining. I daresay I can recite more lines of dialogue from this book than any I've read this year, and fellow readers recognize them immediately.
This is a story that's full of action, imagination, and even some morbid humour. The writing is solid, the pacing is quick, and the twists are almost as much fun as the cliffhangers. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am definitely ready for more.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
November 15, 2019
I've always enjoyed David L. Golemon's books. They are always entertaining and insanely bonkers. He takes a well known subject, topic, or idea and then completely runs with it in crazy directions. Take for instance this book. He starts off the book with Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, and Jack the Ripper. From there, he rips into one action set piece after another first in London and then Mexico. Most authors would have used the Golemon's prologue as their final 100 pages. Not Golemon. He opens the book with that much excitement and death. It's a great start for sure.
After that opening, the book kind of settles down before once again throttling into a final 100 pages of action. Without giving away the book, let's just say that much of what happens in the first part of the book comes back to wreak havoc and death on the Event Group. Much to my surprise, Golemon does kill off several characters. This, however, helps to propel the story forward.
My only complaint is the book kind of ends on a cliffhanger. Several plot threads are left wide open, so hopefully, they are resolved in the next book in the series. These books are pure escapist fun, and this one is no exception.
After that opening, the book kind of settles down before once again throttling into a final 100 pages of action. Without giving away the book, let's just say that much of what happens in the first part of the book comes back to wreak havoc and death on the Event Group. Much to my surprise, Golemon does kill off several characters. This, however, helps to propel the story forward.
My only complaint is the book kind of ends on a cliffhanger. Several plot threads are left wide open, so hopefully, they are resolved in the next book in the series. These books are pure escapist fun, and this one is no exception.
February 14, 2018
Easily the worst of the series, and the one with the most errors and technical goofs by author David Lynn Golemon. This book really needed a revision by someone either than Mr Golemon, dont take me wrong, i love the Event series, but sometimes the almost amateurish writing shows. Examples: Mistaking the M14 7.62mm Rifle with the M4 5.56mm Carbine(the lighter variant of the M16), this happens quite often during the book. Having the MP5 9mm (sometimes 10mm or 40SW) HK SMG (short machine gun) firing the same ammo as the M16. During some dialogues switching character names, example calling Niles Compton by Dr. Golding, or switching genders mid sentence, calling Hiram he and then she back to he. Its a shame, really, that this happens in almost all books in the Event series and its something that for example The Sigma Force series by James Rollins nails it, the technical details and machines or guns or technology are really well researched and written, and its the only thing that prevents Mr Golemons books of gaining even more readers.
September 27, 2020
Every nations got a few thousand skeletons
This novel toke a new pace to the world building of previous novels has it gives a new look at the early years of the Event groups’ creation and showed a more natural(ish) side of science exploration in that’s worlds history.
The novel was felt like the author wanted to show things has they happen has fast has possible but the constant change from scene to scene made the ch abit meh has he should’ve kept events more close together from ch to ch.
Spoiler
I also noticed a plot hole the CIA would have had cameras everywhere in the building they should been able to figure who she met and where in the building before her death.
There was also that data company because they had readings of the base location but you made no reference of the group getting rid of that data.
This novel toke a new pace to the world building of previous novels has it gives a new look at the early years of the Event groups’ creation and showed a more natural(ish) side of science exploration in that’s worlds history.
The novel was felt like the author wanted to show things has they happen has fast has possible but the constant change from scene to scene made the ch abit meh has he should’ve kept events more close together from ch to ch.
Spoiler
I also noticed a plot hole the CIA would have had cameras everywhere in the building they should been able to figure who she met and where in the building before her death.
There was also that data company because they had readings of the base location but you made no reference of the group getting rid of that data.
March 29, 2022
A very entertaining installment of the Event Group series. Unlike the previous books, the "event" of this book centers around the creation of a miraculous drug that turns its user into what could best be described as a "berserker." These "super-soldiers" are the by-product of a man who once plagued Whitechapel and who is the model for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
When some of this substance makes its way into the Event Group's complex and a black team is sent into destroy the substance but end up being exposed to the formula, the Event Group will learn that having a massive underground complex might not be the best location to be trapped.
I look forward to the next installment.
When some of this substance makes its way into the Event Group's complex and a black team is sent into destroy the substance but end up being exposed to the formula, the Event Group will learn that having a massive underground complex might not be the best location to be trapped.
I look forward to the next installment.
November 15, 2022
This is a thriller. I was unable to put this book down, once arriving at the ultimate scene of conflict, reading through dinner and absolutely captured by the action. Goleman can write action, not in a way that is boring and tedious, but action that puts you smack in the middle and creates a real feeling of terror, excitement and anxiety! This is about Jack the Ripper (no spoiler, as that is the title) but it provides a real, plausible explanation for the existence of the killer and also his abrupt disappearance in England. The science is fun, the action takes a few years off your life and this book will not let you go until you are finished.
February 27, 2021
Another action packed novel with my beloved Colonel Collins but man he had it rough this time!! He could not catch a break!
Never been much of a fan of Sarah, but she looked pretty bad in this book with that attitude toward The Frenchman.
The storyline was pretty cool, tho I was hoping to see more action from Jack, but he does spend a lot of time heavy wounded here. And that ending gave me a teary eyes! Poor Jack...
Never been much of a fan of Sarah, but she looked pretty bad in this book with that attitude toward The Frenchman.
The storyline was pretty cool, tho I was hoping to see more action from Jack, but he does spend a lot of time heavy wounded here. And that ending gave me a teary eyes! Poor Jack...
December 20, 2018
As you can see, I read everyday to reduce stress and to stay away from TV. This author creates such great, believable stories and characters, all you need is music, a comfortable chair and this author. This one was a real twist and will keep you on your seat. Have fun.
January 19, 2019
Great idea for the book, but the author got lost along the way. This could have been 4 stars at half the pages. This book took me forever to read. I like details, but a lot of the detail could have been omitted.
September 18, 2022
Decent story, but the omniscient author POV, and clunky writing irritated me. I would have given it 2 stars if not for the scene where the MC's 60-something mother killed a thug with the prongs of a yard flamingo. That was worth a star!
June 26, 2017
Awesome
February 27, 2018
3.5 stars. For a hidden top-secret facility with the supposedly best security in the world, they sure have a lot of breaches.
December 16, 2019
good book. new take on jack the ripper.
February 17, 2020
I would give if 3.5 stars
June 10, 2020
I really enjoyed the story but it was at times hard to read due to poor grammar, repetition of words and typos.
July 31, 2020
Good just not up to what I expected after the previous 6 books.
June 4, 2021
I love this series overall but this one was somewhat disappointing. I like Jack Collins to kick butt and I didn't think that was allowed to happen very well in this one.
April 17, 2025
Very interesting take on Jack the ripper enjoyed the fast pace action and the solid character of all in the group which enlist an emotional reaction when someone passes
June 16, 2012
I won this book through the First Reads program so thank you to the folks at Good Reads and St Martins Press, I have since won a copy of Steve Hamiltons "Die a Stranger" which I'm looking forward to reading.
"Ripper" is the latest installment in David Lynn Golemons Event group series which is one of my favorite ongoing series. To simply classify DLGs books as fiction is a bit of an understatement. According to his publisher his books are "reminiscent of the works of James Rollins, Preston and Child and Matthew Reilly". While he certainly belongs in that group of historical fiction/science based action novelists I personally prefer DLGs books to Rollins and Preston/Child (Reilly may be the best of all of them). The term "reminiscent of" makes me cringe a little, it implies a lack of originality that, in DLgs case, is unfair. Every horror novel is "reminiscent of Stephen King", every novel that has some kind of code or cipher or has biblical connatations is "reminiscent of" or "in the tradition of" Dan Brown. While these terms give readers an idea of what to expect and certainly help the booksellers of the world I prefer to judge each author on their own merits instead of judging them upon the works of other novelists in their respective genres.
To "Ripper": Without getting too much into the plot and risk spoiling it for anyone I can heartily recommend "Ripper" as both an action novel and a completely original theory of Jack the Ripper, which is saying something in light of the hundreds of books written about him.
A certain amount of "suspension of disbelief" is required but for pure escapism/beach reading pleasure "Ripper" is right on. Not only does the book posit a very interesting take on JTR but has cameo appearances by Black Jack Pershing, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Patton with a little Alexander the Great and Queen Victoria sprinkled in.
"Ripper" can certainly be read as a stand-alone novel but my personal preference is to read the Event group novels in order, starting with "Event". There is some important character development that you'll be missing out on otherwise. Fans of DLGs backlist may be a little shocked by the very ending of "Ripper" and what it portends for subsequent novels in the Event group series. I was just plain angry, myself, because I've come to know and enjoy the characters and I don't like when books don't end the way I want them too. But that's just me. Having said all that "Ripper" is flawed, particularly in regards to the dialogue, which is cliche-ridden and sometimes just flat out inane. Some of the characters either like to hear themselves talk or are auditioning for a Hollywood movie. But I'm probably being a little picky at this point so I'll wrap this up.
I was a bookseller for 10 years and read around 400 books a year so I know what Im talking about. If you're looking for an action-packed, adventure novel with a little science/history in it for a good summer read, try the Event novels. I recommend them!
"Ripper" is the latest installment in David Lynn Golemons Event group series which is one of my favorite ongoing series. To simply classify DLGs books as fiction is a bit of an understatement. According to his publisher his books are "reminiscent of the works of James Rollins, Preston and Child and Matthew Reilly". While he certainly belongs in that group of historical fiction/science based action novelists I personally prefer DLGs books to Rollins and Preston/Child (Reilly may be the best of all of them). The term "reminiscent of" makes me cringe a little, it implies a lack of originality that, in DLgs case, is unfair. Every horror novel is "reminiscent of Stephen King", every novel that has some kind of code or cipher or has biblical connatations is "reminiscent of" or "in the tradition of" Dan Brown. While these terms give readers an idea of what to expect and certainly help the booksellers of the world I prefer to judge each author on their own merits instead of judging them upon the works of other novelists in their respective genres.
To "Ripper": Without getting too much into the plot and risk spoiling it for anyone I can heartily recommend "Ripper" as both an action novel and a completely original theory of Jack the Ripper, which is saying something in light of the hundreds of books written about him.
A certain amount of "suspension of disbelief" is required but for pure escapism/beach reading pleasure "Ripper" is right on. Not only does the book posit a very interesting take on JTR but has cameo appearances by Black Jack Pershing, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Patton with a little Alexander the Great and Queen Victoria sprinkled in.
"Ripper" can certainly be read as a stand-alone novel but my personal preference is to read the Event group novels in order, starting with "Event". There is some important character development that you'll be missing out on otherwise. Fans of DLGs backlist may be a little shocked by the very ending of "Ripper" and what it portends for subsequent novels in the Event group series. I was just plain angry, myself, because I've come to know and enjoy the characters and I don't like when books don't end the way I want them too. But that's just me. Having said all that "Ripper" is flawed, particularly in regards to the dialogue, which is cliche-ridden and sometimes just flat out inane. Some of the characters either like to hear themselves talk or are auditioning for a Hollywood movie. But I'm probably being a little picky at this point so I'll wrap this up.
I was a bookseller for 10 years and read around 400 books a year so I know what Im talking about. If you're looking for an action-packed, adventure novel with a little science/history in it for a good summer read, try the Event novels. I recommend them!
February 27, 2013
From my Casa de Pitsiladis blog:
Jack the Ripper is a legend among serial killers and the boogie man to the rest of the world. The brutality shown in the five murders attributed to him is just as notorious as the mystery surrounding his identity and abrupt disappearance. However, what if instead of being a homicidal maniac, the Ripper was actually a mad scientist working for the British government? David Golemon explores that possibility in his latest Event Group book, “Ripper”.
Professor Lawrence Ambrose is an American scientist hired by Queen Victoria to create a formula able to turn British soldiers into intelligent killing machines. Using an early version of his concoction, later named Perdition’s Fire, the professor becomes more than anyone can imagine or control. Unfortunately, this forces the Queen to order the formula be destroyed and the doctor terminated. After a battle reminiscent of the Mr. Hyde fights in both “Van Helsing” and “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”, Ambrose escapes to America where he is eventually stopped by a contingency of US Army soldiers led by Lt. George S. Patton.
Per author, David L, Golemon, “The Event Group is the most secret organization in the United States, comprised of the nation’s most brilliant individuals in the branches of science, philosophy, and the military. Led by the valiant Major Jack Collins, they are dedicated to uncovering the hidden truths behind the myths and legends propagated throughout world history—from underground agencies and conspiracy theories to extraterrestrial life and UFOs.” The group is so secret, only the President of the United States (both past and present) knows of their existence. When a member of the group is captured by a ruthless Mexican cartel leader, Major Collins leads a small team to rescue her. During the course of the mission, a secret cache of Perdition’s Fire is discovered with terrifying results. The British government is willing to pay any price to destroy the formula and keep their involvement in its development a secret. Much death and destruction follow.
Being a fan of Jack the Ripper stories, I thought I’d give this book a go and am glad I did. The author weaved the story masterfully to make the historical details seem plausible, and got you caring about certain characters and whether they make it out of the story alive. (Not spoiling a thing, mums the word) As much as I enjoyed the story, however, there were some faults that proved a little bothersome. There were some recurring characters whose presence didn’t seem to add to the story. Also, while I expected a violent story since it is military sci-fi, the amount of headshots taken seemed gratuitous for a non-zombie book. Overall, I rate the story a 4 out of 5 and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Jack the Ripper is a legend among serial killers and the boogie man to the rest of the world. The brutality shown in the five murders attributed to him is just as notorious as the mystery surrounding his identity and abrupt disappearance. However, what if instead of being a homicidal maniac, the Ripper was actually a mad scientist working for the British government? David Golemon explores that possibility in his latest Event Group book, “Ripper”.
Professor Lawrence Ambrose is an American scientist hired by Queen Victoria to create a formula able to turn British soldiers into intelligent killing machines. Using an early version of his concoction, later named Perdition’s Fire, the professor becomes more than anyone can imagine or control. Unfortunately, this forces the Queen to order the formula be destroyed and the doctor terminated. After a battle reminiscent of the Mr. Hyde fights in both “Van Helsing” and “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”, Ambrose escapes to America where he is eventually stopped by a contingency of US Army soldiers led by Lt. George S. Patton.
Per author, David L, Golemon, “The Event Group is the most secret organization in the United States, comprised of the nation’s most brilliant individuals in the branches of science, philosophy, and the military. Led by the valiant Major Jack Collins, they are dedicated to uncovering the hidden truths behind the myths and legends propagated throughout world history—from underground agencies and conspiracy theories to extraterrestrial life and UFOs.” The group is so secret, only the President of the United States (both past and present) knows of their existence. When a member of the group is captured by a ruthless Mexican cartel leader, Major Collins leads a small team to rescue her. During the course of the mission, a secret cache of Perdition’s Fire is discovered with terrifying results. The British government is willing to pay any price to destroy the formula and keep their involvement in its development a secret. Much death and destruction follow.
Being a fan of Jack the Ripper stories, I thought I’d give this book a go and am glad I did. The author weaved the story masterfully to make the historical details seem plausible, and got you caring about certain characters and whether they make it out of the story alive. (Not spoiling a thing, mums the word) As much as I enjoyed the story, however, there were some faults that proved a little bothersome. There were some recurring characters whose presence didn’t seem to add to the story. Also, while I expected a violent story since it is military sci-fi, the amount of headshots taken seemed gratuitous for a non-zombie book. Overall, I rate the story a 4 out of 5 and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
August 21, 2014
MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT
I love this series, but not this book. This book took forever to read. Now some of that was on me and the amount of time that I made available for reading, but a majority of it was that the book was not entertaining enough for me to want to make more time to finish it. I almost danced a jig when I finished this book because it meant I could move on to another one.
I really enjoy the concept, the characters and the books that came before this one, but Ripper just felt very paint-by-numbers. The prologue was way too long and the plot way too simple. When you boil the plot down to its bones, it was that Jack the Ripper was Jeckyl andHyde and that serum/formula was let loose in the Event Group complex. I don't feel like I gave anything away because it was on the book jacket or in the very first couple of chapters (and not much of a secret). In fact, I could have read the jacket by itself and called it a day. What few plot points there were, were telegraphed from about five miles out. The plot was just too simple and too linear and could have benefitted from a twist or two.
Beyond those issues, this book felt like the author was writing on autopilot, like a band that puts out an album to satisfy a contract. There was no energy or excitement and it was generally not very interesting. I don't know how best to put it into words, but more than a few sentence's structures were written in such a way that you couldn't tell what was being said. I had to reread them quite a few times to ascertain their meaning. It just felt like lazy writing.
I hope this series hasn't run out of steam. I hope the author can find a worthwhile subject that he has a passion for so that he can jumpstart this series. When that happens, I will be there to read it.
I love this series, but not this book. This book took forever to read. Now some of that was on me and the amount of time that I made available for reading, but a majority of it was that the book was not entertaining enough for me to want to make more time to finish it. I almost danced a jig when I finished this book because it meant I could move on to another one.
I really enjoy the concept, the characters and the books that came before this one, but Ripper just felt very paint-by-numbers. The prologue was way too long and the plot way too simple. When you boil the plot down to its bones, it was that Jack the Ripper was Jeckyl andHyde and that serum/formula was let loose in the Event Group complex. I don't feel like I gave anything away because it was on the book jacket or in the very first couple of chapters (and not much of a secret). In fact, I could have read the jacket by itself and called it a day. What few plot points there were, were telegraphed from about five miles out. The plot was just too simple and too linear and could have benefitted from a twist or two.
Beyond those issues, this book felt like the author was writing on autopilot, like a band that puts out an album to satisfy a contract. There was no energy or excitement and it was generally not very interesting. I don't know how best to put it into words, but more than a few sentence's structures were written in such a way that you couldn't tell what was being said. I had to reread them quite a few times to ascertain their meaning. It just felt like lazy writing.
I hope this series hasn't run out of steam. I hope the author can find a worthwhile subject that he has a passion for so that he can jumpstart this series. When that happens, I will be there to read it.
November 30, 2012
I'm a big fan of the thriller genre and have read a wide variety of different authors. I've tackled a few of the other books in the Event Group series by David Golemon and thought they were above average for the most part. I was excited to hear an interview with him on Thrillercast and very much enjoyed listening to what he had to say.
That being said, I was disappointed with this latest book. Maybe frustrated is a better word.
The action is brisk and fast-paced as it should be in any thriller. The bad guys are BAD and the good guys are GOOD. The conflict is one of globe staggering proportions. All of the essential ingredients are there in the book. But for some reason it never came together for me.
The prologue was FAR TOO long; actually a "trick" double-prologue. I got the impression that the author was very attached to a very cool but maybe unnecessary plot twist. I got tired of reading the first 50 or so pages, waiting for the actual story to start.
The Event Group characters were almost paper cutouts in certain cases. Rather than have distinct personalities, they almost seemed to be differentiated by the level and depth of personal tragedy which affected them.
Even the tense actions scenes became "color by number" exercises at times and I started to simply not care about what happened to any of the characters. In addition there were a number of what I thought were intentional grammatical errors; normally not a deal-breaker for me, but it becoming irritating to read after a short time.
There are amazing details, great chase scenes and cool firefights throughout the work but in the end it just wasn't enough.
That being said, I was disappointed with this latest book. Maybe frustrated is a better word.
The action is brisk and fast-paced as it should be in any thriller. The bad guys are BAD and the good guys are GOOD. The conflict is one of globe staggering proportions. All of the essential ingredients are there in the book. But for some reason it never came together for me.
The prologue was FAR TOO long; actually a "trick" double-prologue. I got the impression that the author was very attached to a very cool but maybe unnecessary plot twist. I got tired of reading the first 50 or so pages, waiting for the actual story to start.
The Event Group characters were almost paper cutouts in certain cases. Rather than have distinct personalities, they almost seemed to be differentiated by the level and depth of personal tragedy which affected them.
Even the tense actions scenes became "color by number" exercises at times and I started to simply not care about what happened to any of the characters. In addition there were a number of what I thought were intentional grammatical errors; normally not a deal-breaker for me, but it becoming irritating to read after a short time.
There are amazing details, great chase scenes and cool firefights throughout the work but in the end it just wasn't enough.
August 7, 2012
I am over halfway through this book and can't finish it. I'm sorry but it is a huge disappointment to me. The entire Jack the Ripper scenario ends in the very beginning and then after that is all about government conspiracies, kidnappings, and the big race to be the first to get the formula. I wanted a book about Jack the Ripper...the description makes it sound like this would be the central theme - not governments fighting each other to gain a formula that can make ordinary men into monsters. Who gives a shit?
Government conspiracies will never be on my list of books to read and if I had realized this was going to be mostly about that and secret government agencies, I would never have purchased it. Maybe part of it is starting the Event Group series at the end instead of the beginning but they really aren't that interesting to me. I wanted archeology, scary monster stuff, and Jack the Ripper. I will not be reading another of this series and will only read Golemon again if it is a stand alone book. Supernaturals was so awesome - I loved that book and have read it several times - how can they be from the same author? If Golemon did Supernaturals as a side gig, I would say he should abandon the Event Group and write more ghost stories. I am so very disappointed in this book.
His descriptions are well thought out and delivered with umphf - the first few chapters were really quite good and if he had continued in that vein, I would be ranting about what a wonderful book it was. As it is, I give the book a C.
Government conspiracies will never be on my list of books to read and if I had realized this was going to be mostly about that and secret government agencies, I would never have purchased it. Maybe part of it is starting the Event Group series at the end instead of the beginning but they really aren't that interesting to me. I wanted archeology, scary monster stuff, and Jack the Ripper. I will not be reading another of this series and will only read Golemon again if it is a stand alone book. Supernaturals was so awesome - I loved that book and have read it several times - how can they be from the same author? If Golemon did Supernaturals as a side gig, I would say he should abandon the Event Group and write more ghost stories. I am so very disappointed in this book.
His descriptions are well thought out and delivered with umphf - the first few chapters were really quite good and if he had continued in that vein, I would be ranting about what a wonderful book it was. As it is, I give the book a C.
January 12, 2014
What happens when you get a big cauldron and throw in pages from Jack the Ripper, The Incredible Hulk, Men in Black, Contagion, Independence Day, and sheaves of Ian Fleming and Tom Clancy? Bad Tom Clancy. Stir lightly until it oozes. You will then have 'Ripper' by David L. Golemon. All glorious 15 hours and 34 minutes of twaddle. Did I read the whole thing? Yes. Because it was so bad. Because it was like watching 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers,' or 'Godzilla.' You find out quickly that they are awful and fake, but curiosity and the draw to horror keeps you glued to them.
Goleman may have had a good idea. Once. But like his Perdition's Fire featured in this book, it quickly grew out of control and became a monster. The story line is all over the place, shifting from Britain in the 1800's to purportedly set the scene, to Mexico in the 1900's, even reviving General George Patton for a guest appearance, to present day Texas and Mexico, then Nevada.
By the end, I was so weary of the plot and predictable outcome (guy gets girl, kissing ensues), that I was ready for one of the stormtroopers to blow my brains out.
The breathy narration by Richard Poe, interspersed by purported dramatic pauses where I think he was just catching his breath, was torture.
So why 2 stars? A major rewrite with a machete, a few adjectives, and a new narrator could perhaps resuscitate this story. There's a kernel of plot in there. I just hope it's not still infectious.
Goleman may have had a good idea. Once. But like his Perdition's Fire featured in this book, it quickly grew out of control and became a monster. The story line is all over the place, shifting from Britain in the 1800's to purportedly set the scene, to Mexico in the 1900's, even reviving General George Patton for a guest appearance, to present day Texas and Mexico, then Nevada.
By the end, I was so weary of the plot and predictable outcome (guy gets girl, kissing ensues), that I was ready for one of the stormtroopers to blow my brains out.
The breathy narration by Richard Poe, interspersed by purported dramatic pauses where I think he was just catching his breath, was torture.
So why 2 stars? A major rewrite with a machete, a few adjectives, and a new narrator could perhaps resuscitate this story. There's a kernel of plot in there. I just hope it's not still infectious.
February 12, 2023
This is the clear worst so far in an otherwise exciting and well-written series. Think of this book as more of a filler between adventures (aka it's boring). The majority of it is about housekeeping. Remove some characters, add some characters, kill some characters, leadership changes, setting up new potentially long-term baddies, etc. without spoiling too much. One characters is pretty much just "in the hospital recovering" for the whole damn book. There was so little action he had to pull out a character because there would be nothing for them to do. Nobody really does anything and the ties to historical events are tenuous at best, with name-dropping being the only thing tying it to anything historical. I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be historical fiction, horror, thriller, drama, badly-written action, or what. It certainly wasn't the sci-fi angle we've come to know and love (it's mostly badly written action horror, for those who are curious). Don't get your hopes up that this has anything at all to do with any remotely historically accurate Jack the Ripper stories.
I'm not going to give up on the series, but I'm going to be much less patient if this happens again. Every well-written long series always has a couple of installments that are less than stellar. This is hands down the worst so far, which means he wrote six solid books, and I know the odds are good that subsequent novels in the series will be just as good as the first six.
I'm not going to give up on the series, but I'm going to be much less patient if this happens again. Every well-written long series always has a couple of installments that are less than stellar. This is hands down the worst so far, which means he wrote six solid books, and I know the odds are good that subsequent novels in the series will be just as good as the first six.
November 14, 2024
Let's say 3.5 for this review.
THE GOOD:
As with the rest of this series, Golemon does a great job melding multiple myths with historical events. This time, the fictional works of Robert Louis Stevenson may not be as fictional as we though, and that the real life events in Whitechapel may have ties to it. Very cool combination.
THE GREAT:
The monster design was excellent. The description of their transformations, and the sheer presense they held, was very intimidating. Made for some intense & thrilling scenes.
THE NOT SO GREAT:
The setting. Once things were set up, I personally was expecting some kind of rampage through a city or something. Bottling it all into the Event Group base itself was a little disappointing, but it did allow for some previously under utilized Event Group members to have a moment to shine.
My enjoyment order of the series so far;
1. Event
2. Legacy
3. Primeval
4. Ripper
5. Ancients
6. Legend
7. Leviathan
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
THE GOOD:
As with the rest of this series, Golemon does a great job melding multiple myths with historical events. This time, the fictional works of Robert Louis Stevenson may not be as fictional as we though, and that the real life events in Whitechapel may have ties to it. Very cool combination.
THE GREAT:
The monster design was excellent. The description of their transformations, and the sheer presense they held, was very intimidating. Made for some intense & thrilling scenes.
THE NOT SO GREAT:
The setting. Once things were set up, I personally was expecting some kind of rampage through a city or something. Bottling it all into the Event Group base itself was a little disappointing, but it did allow for some previously under utilized Event Group members to have a moment to shine.
My enjoyment order of the series so far;
1. Event
2. Legacy
3. Primeval
4. Ripper
5. Ancients
6. Legend
7. Leviathan
Join the RK King readers' list for an exclusive FREE short story, plus inside info, musings, promos and more: RK King Writes
September 22, 2012
I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway. My biggest regret is that I didn't notice this was a series of books until I was well into the story of this one. If so, I might have tried to read the previous books to gain a better insight into the main characters. None-the-less, this book did fine as a stand alone story with intriguing references to Jack the Ripper and actual historical figures used in a fictional way.
Althought the book had an interesting take on the Jack the Ripper mystery, I have grown a bit weary of the use of the Ripper as a fictional premise. I would overall recommend this book, but would caution the reader that they may find it helpful to read some of the previous books in the series first.
Althought the book had an interesting take on the Jack the Ripper mystery, I have grown a bit weary of the use of the Ripper as a fictional premise. I would overall recommend this book, but would caution the reader that they may find it helpful to read some of the previous books in the series first.
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