Enemies of the State (The Executive Office #1) in Q&A with Josh Lanyon

Mar 06, 2016 Buda rated it it was ok · review of another edition

If Tom Clancy knew people were invoking his name in relation to this book, he would be either spinning in his grave or laughing his ass off, I can't figure out which. If you're looking to Bauer's effort as a substitute for Clancy, let me just assure you, you need to keep looking. Enemies of the State is high on potential and low on execution.

If you've followed my reviews, you know I'm rabid about poor grammar and sentence structure. Enemies is rife with both. Adjectives are repeated in the same If Tom Clancy knew people were invoking his name in relation to this book, he would be either spinning in his grave or laughing his ass off, I can't figure out which. If you're looking to Bauer's effort as a substitute for Clancy, let me just assure you, you need to keep looking. Enemies of the State is high on potential and low on execution.

If you've followed my reviews, you know I'm rabid about poor grammar and sentence structure. Enemies is rife with both. Adjectives are repeated in the same paragraph, often in back-to-back sentences. For example: "Smug superiority leached from [the bad guy]. He stood in a cascade of smugness, a rush of vindictive pride...."Also, "[Dude 1] slammed his fist into [Dude 2]'s face, punching him back to the ground. [Dude 2] fell to his knees, blood weeping from his nose. Broken, by the crunch of bones and watering of his eyes." Dude 2 must be an alien, because last I knew, humans didn't have bones in their noses. And really? The blood was weeping from his nose? I suppose I should be grateful his dick didn't weep, though I admit to skimming the extraordinarily boring anal sex scene at the end of the book, so I may have just missed it.

Then there was this: "An empty box of donuts, demolished by the team, lay on the floorboards." So is someone just shit at cleaning out his SUV or were the guys on the team pissed that they'd flown half way around the world to be greeted by an empty box of donuts? Or...could the writer not simply say they'd eaten the goddamn things and then thrown the empty box on the floor?

This type of thing is littered along the floorboards of the book, if you will, from beginning to end. But what really irritated the hell out of me through the first 60% was that the important scenes, the slow build of the relationship between Jack and Ethan was mostly presented in memories or we're just TOLD it happened. Therefore, I was hard-pressed to build any sort of interest in them as a couple.

The bomb angle really bothered me. It didn't make sense. If you read it, you'll understand my reservations. (view spoiler)

Lastly, every single chapter begins with what is supposedly a newspaper story. Except that they're all so horrifically written that no newspaper would publish them. They're so awful they pulled me out of the story every time. It became a game to see if the next one would be worse than the last.

I love political thrillers. Unfortunately I love well-edited books better. This one if half-baked at best. My advice? Take your $7 and buy an actual Tom Clancy novel. Just beware of the ghost-written ones.

Need one last example of tortured English? It's spoiler-worthy because it gives away details of the plot, so read at your own risk.
(view spoiler)
...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Feb 23, 2016 Ayesh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: most-fav, favorite-cop

Well, what can I say!! This book has everything. Romance, action, thriller - everything. Absolutely loved every moment and great chemistry between the MCs.

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 07, 2016 Melyna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, recommended-by-janice-enabler-extr

4.5/5.0
I did not expect to be swept away by this book. I am not usually looking for political thrillers. It came highly recommended and now I can see why. It is a political thriller, with lots of action and a wonderful romance too. It definitely had some edge of your seat moments and a few where I had to set the book down only to rush back because I had to see what happened next.
The book does leave us set up for the next in the series, so not a cliffhanger really but definitely open.

Michelle at ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 11, 2017 Lisa rated it it was amazing

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this book. I will probably pick it up in paperback, something I rarely do with my kindle books. Why do I like it?? I’m not sure I can even say why and do it justice, but I’ll give it a shot.

I started the book on Friday night and finished it Saturday evening. I literally could not put it down and then started book two then 3. The mystery was intriguing. The story moved rapidly leaving you wanting to know what was coming next. Jack and Ethan were gre ...more

Like · see review

Apr 07, 2017 liz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bisexual-mc

4.5 stars
Really good. I glommed all the books in about a week. The series could use some copy editing, checks for consistency, and research, and each book is about 100 pages too long. But overall? Cracktastic.

Like · see review

Aug 19, 2017 2mmommy rated it it was amazing

Great storytelling

Wow! What an incredible story. It's like watching an action movie. I was constantly on e edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. Love these two guys. I cannot wait to jump int the next book. ...more

Like · see review