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The Blue Zone

Author: Andrew Gross
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

20 reviews
Sales Rank: 5085

Media: Paperback
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.4 x 1.4

ISBN: 0007242514
EAN: 9780007242511
ASIN: 0007242514

Publication Date: June 18, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Paperback. Slight creasing to spine otherwise no damage, internally clean. Very good condition.

Also Available In:

•	Hardcover - The Blue Zone
•	Mass Market Paperback - The Blue Zone
•	Paperback - The Blue Zone

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Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

An 'airport read' January 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

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.

3 out of 5 stars

An easy read and not too much more January 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

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.

5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic solo debut January 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

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.

2 out of 5 stars

Misses the Patterson panache December 5, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful

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.

4 out of 5 stars

Better without Patterson October 3, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

The author has written a number of novels with James Patterson - of variable quality. This is his first solo work and is superior to anything he's written with Patterson on a number of levels. The plot is more substantial; there is more going on and twists are not telegraphed from miles away. The characterisation and dialogue feel much more credible, and the characters are worth caring about.

Let's hope that Mr Gross continues unaided in future.