Just like watching a film! Very fast. Made me jump a few times! - Rated 
I have to confess that I do not normally read for pleasure, only normally factual based information, as a means to an end.
Recently I picked up "Hannibal Rising" by Thomas Harris.
Although that book had me turning pages to discover some of he childhood history of Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs, The Red Dragon, and Hannibal films), there were some very serious flaws in the story. The film "Hannibal Rising" was even more bitty than the book...what went on here Mr. Harris?
I tried "Eagles Conquest" by Simon Scarrow...although I couldn't find anything to fault as such, I struggled to read, and ended up putting that down. Maybe text size, maybe it was full of too much detail...I am a lazy person, I must confess.
Pickup up "The Blue Zone" was different. The book throws you into some action straight away, following one of the characters in a paranoid state, rushing to the safety of her home. Then the story opens up, setting the scene, decribing characters, and their involvement with each other and various other 'characters', gangs.
I found the book fast and sharp. Lots of quick facts and drama, it was like watching a film, essentially, easy to read for me, someone who hasn't read a lot.
I had read about 100 pages and had put the book down, as I was busy on other things, meaning to pick it up again and find out wat was happening to these people...I did, and I couldn't put it back down until I had finished at 5:10am!
A couple of times It did actually make me jump in places...this is a book remember, not a screen film with clashes and bangs!
For 50p I paid in a supermarket (Sorry Amazon)..this book is amazing!
If you are a regular reader of books filled with strong details about every this-and-that, you may find this book to be empty. But, if you enjoy flipping pages, and enjoy following a detective trail, picking up clues, and scratching your head puzzled, then you should really enjoy this! Just like I have.
Thank you Andrew Gross!!!
An 'airport read' - Rated 
This book is what I would class as a 'page-turner' and quite a good one at that. Ideal if you have to wait at an airport or the dentist. I was a bit put off by the poor grammar which often obscured the meaning but perhaps that is colloquial American? The character of the heroine's father is not very credible and the story line pivots on that.
An easy read and not too much more - Rated
Is a reasonably wealthy businessman the honest, wonderful father and husband his family thought him to be? And does he have connections to the drug world that some say he has? These points, more or less, lie at the heart of the story as Kate, the man's eldest daughter, tries to get to the bottom of the trouble the family has found itself in.
There is action aplenty in the very many short and punchy chapters, but I didn't see a great deal of literary skill. There is also little character development, although we align with Kate pretty quickly. But the story (and everything that happens to Kate and others) is so far-fetched that you really need to suspend belief if you are going to enjoy the book.
A "Reviewing the Evidence" review suggests Gross' research on diabetes is pretty poor - this doesn't affect the ride, however, as this issue is not all that central to the plot. However, I do agree with the reviewer in that one unwritten rule was not observed - if a person's thoughts are being disclosed, they ought to be real and not totally contrary to what they clearly are. In other words, give the reader a fair go.
In summary, this is a page-turner, but be prepared for an over-the-top story and plot elements. I'm afraid Gross hasn't done quite enough to get me researching his other solo efforts in a hurry.
Fantastic solo debut - Rated
This is a brilliant debut book. It is fast paced and full of twists and turns. The author kept me gripped from beginning to end and I would highly recommend it.
Misses the Patterson panache - Rated 
I'm not sure how this co-authoring works but always suspected that the main work was done by the little-know co-writer (Andrew Gross) and that the sales were achieved by the inclusion of a famous name (James Patterson).
I was obviously wrong as this first solo effort by Gross is poor whereas his joint efforts with Patterson were generally excellent.
The plot is loose, the characters flat and the ending flawed by an unexplained coincidence that had everyone arriving at the same place and same time for the grand shoot-up.
I was pleased to get to the end before tossing it in the bin and for this reason it gets 2 stars instead of 1.
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