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3D Home Architect Deluxe 4.0 Average Customer Review:  CD-ROM (27 April, 2001) list price: $39.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Consumer-grade home design software is no substitute for the services ofa skilled architect, but it can certainly aid in expressing your idea of theperfect home. Broderbund's 3D Home Architect Deluxe 4.0 is a competent tool forcreating sophisticated home designs. Designing a house with 3D Home Architect is fun. Users can start from scratch ormodify one of dozens of included plans into a dream house. Thanks to a snappydrawing interface, scratching out a floor plan is almost as simple as sketchinga doodle in Microsoft Paint. Detail work, like laying out doors, creatingcomplex staircases, and restructuring already plotted walls, is a little moretricky, but 3D Home Architect's friendly help system supplies thoroughexplanations of even the most complex features. 3D Home Architect not only helps users lay down floor plans, but it also triesto deal with the less obvious tribulations of home building. For example, itkeeps a running spreadsheet listing the building materials required to constructa design, which can be edited as needed. It will look over a design for commoncode violations and other technical problems, but warns that it's unaware oflocal housing codes. Having hashed out a basic floor plan, users can populate it with furniture,counters, plumbing fixtures, landscaping, and other household items through acool drag-and-drop browser. It's also possible to run electric wiring and aplumbing system, although those facets aren't quite as simple. The program becomes clumsy when you leave the 2-D floor plan module and govertical. Some folks may wish for the simple interface of the floor planworkspace when they try to, for instance, adjust the heights of doorways,counters, and windows. And, although it allows users to see a 3-D-renderedrepresentation of a design and create walkthroughs of a house, applying colorsand textures to floors, walls, doors, furniture, and other items is tedious. Even worse, the 3-D engine is incredibly slow, taking several seconds to rendereach frame--even on a fast PC. That's utterly inexcusable, considering thatBroderbund could have licensed a simple 3-D game engine, or even used one ofmany public domain 3-D engines capable of fluidly rendering dynamic 3-Denvironments. Despite its more clumsy aspects, 3D Home Architect Deluxe 4.0 makes home designeasy and enjoyable with a minimal learning curve. If you're thinking of buildinga new home, it's worth spending some time with this program to visualize yourideas. --Joel Durham Jr. ... Read more Reviews (58)
Asin: B00005B0BW |
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TurboTax 2001 for Windows Average Customer Review: CD-ROM (29 November, 2001) list price: $24.95 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Quicken TurboTax guides users through their returns step by step and is updated with the latest tax laws. EasyStep Interview asks easy-to-understand questions and places answers directly onto IRS-approved forms. It double-checks for errors and overlooked deductions and points out entries that might flag an audit. It also prints IRS-approved forms on plain paper or files returns electronically to get refunds faster. This version is revised and updated with the latest tax law changes to guide users through their taxes and help take advantage of more deductions. You can import information from last year's tax return so you don't need to reenter data. The Tax Advisor gives custom money-saving tax advice while completing the return. Receive a tax report in the form of a customized, printable action plan you can refer to all year to save money on next year's taxes. The Refund Monitor constantly displays refund amounts or taxes due, and updates itself automatically while entering new information. To see a snapshot of taxable income and deductions in addition to the user's bottom line, double-click on the Refund Monitor and view the Tax Summary. The new TurboTax features a streamlined interface that puts everything in plain sight and makes doing taxes easier than ever. ... Read more Features Reviews (30)
Asin: B00005R81X |
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Overpriced junk made even worse this year!
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TurboTax 2001 Deluxe Average Customer Review:  CD-ROM (29 November, 2001) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Taxpayers who have progressed beyond the 1040EZ know that money can'tbuy happiness until after April 15. TurboTax 2001 Deluxe can't deliverhappiness, but it can make federal tax preparation a lot easier for just abouteveryone. Installation of TurboTax Deluxe is quick, and a linked series of wizards helpsusers compile all the information they need. Back-and-forth navigation issimple; the software keeps track of which steps have been skipped and returns asnecessary. Users who must pay state taxes need only type in their informationonce if they use a TurboTax state package (free after rebate with TurboTaxDeluxe, Premier, or Home & Business). First-time users would be well-advised to ask a knowledgeable friend to helpout. Although much of the hard work is done automatically, some decisions arefar from intuitive and may require some detective work. The copious online helpfunctions are both smart (they often answer questions before they're asked) andthorough; this goes a long way toward easing users' troubled minds. Data entryis relatively painless, especially for returning users, who can port in lastyear's information and edit as needed. When it's all over, every form is printedout complete with everything but signatures, or users can opt for easyelectronic filing. New features such as the Tax Law Advisor will not only help with your 2001return but help you plan for the future as well. And everyone knows thatplanning ahead is always a good investment. --Rob Lightner ... Read more Reviews (44)
TT never correctly calculates "Credit to Other Taxing Juristdictions"; I usually end up forcing the correct entries in the Forms view. If you have this credit; you also can't file your state return electronically. For 2001, TT insistence on loading their version of IE 5.5 gave me grief from the start.One touch updates and downloads of the State product left me on the phone for hours.Finally the tech emailed me an external link to download from.It so screwed up my system that I ended up reformatting my hard disk and reloading all my programs. Asin: B00005R81Y |
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TaxCut from H&R Block 2001 Deluxe Filing Edition Average Customer Review:  CD-ROM (29 November, 2001) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Fun isn't the first thing that comes to mind when preparing your taxes.TaxCut Deluxe won't change this; however, it can make the process easy andpainless. Plus, the software is backed by one of the most recognizable namesin accounting: H&R Block. TaxCut Deluxe installs quickly, and before long you're on your way. Be sureto follow the prompts to update the tax forms, worksheets, and publicationsin the software to meet the final IRS requirements. You can get the updatefree of charge over the Internet. TaxCut gives you a jump-start on fillingout your tax forms with options to import tax and financial information fromMicrosoft Money, Quicken, and last year's TurboTax or TaxCut federal return.It will also import your W-2 wage and 1099 investment data from participatingemployers and financial institutions. You enter information via a simple question-and-answer interview process.Along the way, you'll be cued for possible deductions, and a meter allowsyou to follow the status of your refund or the amount due as you enter data.Instant interview help is available at any time should the questions gettrickier. At the end of the interview the software performs its own audit,searching out missing information or items that may trigger an IRS audit.During our test run, it found a missed deduction and flagged some data thatwas input incorrectly. If you're not comfortable with the results, for $29.95 you can send your returnto an H&R Block tax advisor who will check it over and answer questions. Whenyou're finished, you can file the return electronically or print the completedforms for mailing. Once your federal taxes are complete, you have the option of purchasing TaxCutState software--free with the included rebate--from within TaxCut Deluxe. Theprogram will then automatically fill any necessary federal information into yourstate return. The package also includes rebates that give you a free e-filing anda free copy of Microsoft Money Standard (up to $34.95). And if you think thissoftware becomes useless after your taxes are done, you're wrong. The Deluxeversion comes with a built-in tax and financial library that contains informationon buying and selling a home, investing, and retirement. It also includes financialplanners for education and retirement. The elimination of mathematical headaches and confusing jargon alone is worth theprice of TaxCut Deluxe. Throw in ease of use, a library of financial information,rebates, and the possibility of finding a missed deduction, and you may actuallyenjoy doing your taxes. --Joshua Goldman ... Read more Reviews (48)
I ended owing money this year so waited til the last minute (4/14/2004) to file.That's when the fun began.Got a notice from the IRS today that the filing of the claim was accepted but that could not access my financial institute for payment.Called Taxcut and they threw there hands up, "We sent them your claim and they (the IRS) accepted it, we're done."Taxcut was able to process their $14.95 processing fee, the IRS could not.Contacted my credit card company, "no problem on this end". Have yet to get a hold of the IRS for there end of the story.My tact next year, file the old paper way at a cost of a stamp. In my opinion, Taxcut was gutless in trying help.Poor business practice.
I have used TaxCut for the past 8 or 9 years, but this year will be my last time.I don't know if Turbo Tax will be any better, but I feel it couldn't possibly be any worse!
Asin: B00005S8KN |
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Quicken 2002 Deluxe Average Customer Review: CD-ROM (26 August, 2001) list price: $59.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Whether planning a retirement strategy or just balancing a checkbook, itcan be tough to deal with financial data sensibly and securely. Quicken 2002Deluxe helps new and upgrading users devise the best arrangements for theirinformation and plan for the future. The program's Web-page-based trackingsystem (which integrates Internet Explorer thoroughly) is simple, customizable,and easy on the eyes. Installing the upgrade is practically transparent, and new users will only haveto pay attention for a few minutes before taking a quick coffee break andletting the computer do the work. Data entry is painless now that nearly everymajor bank and investment house has online information access, though this canbe moderately tricky to implement, depending on the business in question. Those who are a bit more daring can branch out from basic data maintenance andask the onboard experts for advice on debt reduction, college payment, and manyother common financial milestones. Links to helpful online servicesabound--though they're incomplete, they're a good start--and users should be able tofind information on just about any topic they need. Upgraders will find the 2002 version a bit slicker and better suited to Webtransactions, but little is otherwise different. Those shifting from otherpackages or new to personal financial management software will have a short butsteep learning curve. Will Quicken make up for sloppy budgeting, bad investment advice, or theheartbreak of tax day? No, but it will help users committed to financialresponsibility achieve their goals without going crazy, and that's more thanenough. --Rob Lightner ... Read more Reviews (95)
Asin: B00005LA8Y |
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GoBack 3 Deluxe Average Customer Review: CD-ROM (03 May, 2001) list price: $49.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review The latest in Roxio's system recovery line, GoBack 3 Deluxe is full of data recovery and system restoration features aimed at restoring a troubled system to a functional state in as short a time as possible. Among its arsenal of quick fixes are a file recovery system that restores files deleted from the Windows recycle bin, a boot manager that allows users to repair operating systems that won't start at all, and more. The meat of the program is its drive restoration function, which creates periodic system safe points to which GoBack can revert a system. For example, if a recently installed program causes some sort of failure, GoBack can restore the system to its state prior to the program's installation. Or if the PC worked when the system was booted up but some unknown factor has hosed it, GoBack can revert the system to its startup state. GoBack can catalog several restore points, depending on the amount of available disk drive space it has. One feature even allows GoBack to revert a system to a particular safe point on a regular basis, which is ideal for PCs in controlled environments. GoBack 3 caters to newbies and experienced users alike. The application is capable of automating everything for hands-off drive preservation, but is also completely configurable. The documentation, both online and physical, is thorough and friendly, as are the tutorials, so anyone willing to spend the necessary time will be able to take full advantage of GoBack's layered features. The major flaw with GoBack is its propensity to churn the hard drive almost incessantly. It's especially noticeable right after the program is installed and after the user installs new software. This victimizes owners of older systems lacking DMA hard drives by bogging down almost everything, from simple Windows Explorer file management to application loading. Modern systems are more forgiving; however, writes (saving data to the hard drive) are noticeably bottlenecked. GoBack 3 Deluxe isn't a replacement for regular backups of your important data files--it can't save your system in the case of a catastrophic hardware failure--but its wide range of system restore features can greatly cut down the time necessary for recovery from a virus, a failed program installation, driver corruption, or other common data problems. --Joel Durham, Jr. ... Read more Reviews (44)
There is NO support from Symantec for their products unless you want to spend $30.00.You can email Symantec Tech Support after spending 20 minutes researching their site for Tech Support email site, but after 3 days, still no response back from Symantec. Save yourself ALOT of problems and DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT install GoBack on your system if you are running Win XP. Restoreit 3.0 seems to work better. Check most of the reviews, which give GoBack one star at best.After spending 12 hours reformating and installing software three (3) times, never again will I use GoBack!
Asin: B00005JAFF |
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TaxCut from H&R Block 2001 Basic Filing Edition Average Customer Review:  CD-ROM (29 November, 2001) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review TaxCut can make preparing taxes fast, easy, and stress-free. TaxCut eliminates the confusion from this year's new tax laws. Every detail in the new tax laws is included in the program, so users have the opportunity to receive every new tax break to which they are entitled. The program asks simple questions, automatically selects and completes the necessary forms, and double-checks the return like a personal accountant. You can then print the return and mail it in, or file it electronically to get the refund faster. ... Read more Reviews (14)
Taxcut took me twice as long to file then when I use Turbo Tax. Errors were hard to correct and manual corrections would void your ability to file electronicaly. A full day went into preparing my taxes and now I will have to spend another day redoing my taxes with Turbo Tax. I do not think I will ever use Taxcut again. I would like to close this review on a positive note, but I can only say that I am positive that I will not use H&R's products again.
Asin: B00005S8KK |
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Quicken 2002 Basic Average Customer Review: CD-ROM (26 August, 2001) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Quicken 2002 Basic is the easy way to start organizing your finances. Quicken Basic works just like your checkbook, so it's easy to get started. Balance your checkbook and pay bills easily. Bank online conveniently and track where your money goes with reports and graphs. Reconcile your bank statement in minutes and see all your account balances at a glance. Write checks, print checks, or send payments online--all conveniently and quickly. You can schedule payments and get reminders of when they are due. Download your data from the Web. Access your account balances, transfer funds, and pay bills, all online. Quicken works with more than 1,700 banks, credit card institutions, and brokerage companies. Track your spending and see where your money goes using customized reports and graphs. Find quick and easy answers to questions about your spending, budget, net worth, and more. Quicken even allows you to keep track of your investments so you can manage and optimize them. You can also download the latest prices on stocks and mutual funds into Quicken from Quicken.com, and download your records from participating brokerages so you don't have to type them in. You can then transfer all of this data directly into TurboTax, cutting tax preparation time. ... Read more Reviews (95)
Asin: B00005LA90 |
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Adobe Acrobat 5.0 Average Customer Review:  CD-ROM (12 April, 2001) list price: $249.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Any business that requires documents to be shared, reviewed, and editedacross broad networks will undoubtedly benefit from Adobe Acrobat 5.0. If you'venever used Acrobat before, you'll be amazed at how easy it is to convert Officedocuments and Web pages to PDF files (portable document format). If you alreadyuse Acrobat, new features and enhancements--including the ability to uploaddocuments to Web sites and intranets--make this version a worthwhile upgrade. Installation is quick and easy; within 15 minutes of opening the box we weresaving Web pages as PDF files and adding comments to our documents. New usersmay want to take a tour around the help sections (either online Help or tooltips) to get acquainted with the program. In addition, checking out the helpsection will ensure you don't miss out on some of the more hidden featureswithin the application, such as color management and timesaving Windows and Macshortcuts. One of the most important new features of version 5.0 is the ability to developnew documents from PDF files. You can now save the PDF file to Rich Text Format(RTF), and then edit the document using your word processor. Another importantnew feature is the ability to create interactive forms, which actually look alot like their paper counterparts. And once you figure out how to upload theseforms to your company intranet, you can share them with all relevant teammembers. Team members can even sign these forms, using a password-protecteddigital signature. As always, the ability to comment on documents and Web pages remains animportant reason to use Acrobat. A toolbar on the left-hand side gives userseasy access to the list of comment tools, which range from highlighting tools,note boxes, pencil and line tools, and strikeout tools which let you erase linesof text. Once you've marked up a file or Web page, you can send the file to teammembers, business contacts and clients. As long as they have the Acrobat Reader(available free from Adobe's Web site), they should be able to read these files. And Acrobat retains the quality of your documents when you print them, so youdon't have any nasty surprises when you pick up your documents from theprinter. Companies with employees in different physical locations can only benefit fromAcrobat 5.0. While version 4.0 is obviously still a strong and very usefulproduct, upgrading to Acrobat 5.0 promises a host of Internet-ready new featuresdesigned to accompany your business to the next level of high-speedcommunication. --Gisele Toueg ... Read more Features Reviews (41)
My personal needs are to create PDF files, encrypt them, require passwords to view, and restrict the user from printing and copying. After testing a couple other PDF products, I quickly discovered that their security was overly easy to bypass, no I take that back, they were *ridiculously* easy to bypass. Adobe's security has so far proven to be usefully solid. Since Adobe provides limited public information about their products, I recommend that you first buy a book teaching how to use an Adobe package and read it through so that you will know what the software actually does and does not do. Yes, I agree, having to purchase a book and spend the time studying is not the prefered way to learn about any product, but the few dollars invested can easily pay for itself by your knowing which software to buy (or more specifically, what not to buy!). What has amazed me the most with my Acrobat experience is when I had to call Adobe customer service to get a complex upgrade to version 6. Not only did the girl answering know what I was talking about, she also accomplished the entire order within that one phone call! WOW! Customer service like that is unheard of today. Apparently Adobe does care about its products enough to hire quality employees, and with that level of care, I feel more confident that I made the right decision choosing Adobe. Too, I purchased Acrobat from Amazon for the same reason of wanting quality service. There are other PDF products available, some are even free, but for those of us who prefer quality and usefulness over initially lower costs, Acrobat is an intelligence choice. Choosing the right product today, the one that does not crash nor take time away from our work to fiddle with settings, gives us more time to whine about the costs later. If Acrobat were less expensive, I would give it five stars.
The Distiller acts like a virtual printer, and saves a web page view as a PDF file, complete with images. Unlike saving a web page, which relies on being on the internet to bring up linked photos, the PDF captures the pictures and creates a document that you can store away. Even if the webpage is taken down or altered, you have a copy of it. Web pages are rather ephemeral; they come and they go. This is a good way to document them. I don't find the interface particularly easy to use--it's not like the Microsoft Office package and the icons are all new to figure out. The price is somewhat steep, though it's been lowered recently. Despite these criticisms, I would not be without this software. It's probably one I use more than almost any other on my PC. ... Read more Asin: B00005ATST |
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TurboTax 2001 CA State Average Customer Review:  CD-ROM (06 January, 2002) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Complete your state tax returns quickly and easily with TurboTax State. This easy-to-use program works with TurboTax 1040 programs to transfer your federal data to your TurboTax State return. An interactive interview tool asks you questions, places your answers directly onto state-approved forms, and automatically performs all calculations for you. There's also a built-in feature to check your return for errors and omissions to help ensure that it is accurate and complete. State-tax electronic filing is available for 41 states plus Washington, D.C., so you can get your refund faster. Note: TurboTax State is for use with TurboTax, TurboTax Deluxe, TurboTax Premier, or TurboTax Home & Business. This version is for California state taxes only. ... Read more Reviews (1)
Audit advice, deductions and charitable contributions are also an option when you do your state taxes with TT state. My one complaint is that there is an electronic filing fee -- why isn't this free? If Turbo Tax can file my return online, why can't I do the same thing -- by emailing or transmitting an electronic file through my franchise tax board? ... Read more Asin: B00005UL15 |
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Microsoft Window XP Home Edition Upgrade Average Customer Review: CD-ROM (25 October, 2001) list price: $99.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Packed with multimedia features, Windows XP Home Edition aims to unlock the full potential of your personal computer. It also looks great, with rounded window corners, larger and more detailed icons, and a clean-look desktop. The best thing about Windows XP is that, because it belongs to the Windows NT/2000 product family, it's designed from the ground up for reliability, security, and networking. XP Home users will soon see the benefits of this. The dreaded Windows crash-and-reboot cycle really is much less common with XP, and, provided the hardware is up to scratch, XP's performance is better, too. The downside is that using a different code base can make compatibility with old applications less assured. Business applications normally run fine, but older games, MIDI software, and system utilities may well cause problems. Windows XP is more customizable than previous versions, including its visual themes that let you change the whole appearance of Windows in an instant. Fast User Switching is a neat feature for computers used by more than one person--it lets another user log on without killing the previous user's session, and when you switch back, running applications and open documents are as you left them. This is impressive, but what really counts is that XP understands how to deal with multiple users. Each user has their own special folders, such as My Documents, which cannot be seen by other users. And for those with more than one computer, the network setup wizard simplifies setting up a network. Windows XP Home has many strong multimedia features. New Media Player lets you copy music from CD to hard disk, create your own playlist, and write your own music CDs if you have a CD writer. You can also play back DVD-Video (but only if a hardware or software DVD decoder is already installed) and play MP3 audio files and MPEG videos (but sadly not the popular RealMedia formats). Admittedly, Media Player does nothing that you cannot also do with free alternatives, but it is slick and nicely integrated. There is also Windows Movie Maker, a basic tool for capturing and editing videos that's fun to use, although too limited for serious work. For Web browsing, XP Home comes with Internet Explorer 6.0 and MSN Explorer. The most significant new feature for Internet users is the built-in firewall. A firewall protects against one of the most disturbing security risks, in which other users unknown to you might connect to your computer while it is online, reading private files or causing other damage. XP's built-in firewall is a simple affair, but it does prevent most types of unauthorized connections. The XP user interface is not a radical departure from earlier versions of Windows, but there are a number of small changes that together add up to a significant improvement. For example, you can add and remove shortcuts from the Start menu by right-clicking on the icon and selecting Pin or Unpin from the pop-up menu. Windows online help is integrated into a Help and Support Center that works like an internal Web site, with searchable help, tutorials, and walkthroughs. Laptop or other flat-screen users can set Windows to use ClearType for screen fonts, for a more readable display. There are, of course, some pitfalls. Windows XP Home is demanding on hardware, and it would be a mistake to install it on less than Microsoft's recommended minimum. Business users note: unlike Windows 98 or Me, XP Home Edition cannot join a Windows server domain, so the networking is peer-to-peer only--see Windows XP Professional Edition Upgrade for this functionality. There is also no multiprocessor support, and a mildly annoying anti-piracy measure requires you to obtain a code from Microsoft for full installation and any future system changes. But don't let that put you off: this is Microsoft's best Windows yet. --Tim Anderson ... Read more Features Reviews (605)
Asin: B00005MOTE |
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TaxCut from H&R Block 2001 State Filing Edition Average Customer Review: CD-ROM (14 December, 2001) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review TaxCut State automatically transfers users' federal data to their state returns, then double-checks the results to make sure they're complete. With TaxCut State, all the latest tax laws and calculations are built in, so there's no need to worry. Every state with an income tax is available for Windows, including the District of Columbia. And users can file their state returns electronically to ensure accuracy and get their return faster. Not all states allow electronic filing, however. ... Read more Reviews (9)
Asin: B00005T413 |
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Strike Hard by Average Customer Review: Paperback (23 February, 2001) list price: $21.95 -- our price: $21.95 (price subject to change: see help) US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Reviews (29)
The plot line is very straightforward. this is supposedly an account of an attempt by a group of neo-Naxi's to steal gold bullion from Fort Knox to finance their political activities. The author was actually based there during two tours of duty while in the US Army, and thus utilized his knowledge to provide the background for the storyline and create a credible operation logistically. His feel for military routine and procedure provides an authentic feel to the military elements of the story; however, on occasion he assumes reader familiarity withmilitary terminology (especially acronyms and abbreviations) which need explanation. The central character is Sgt. Tony Wilson, a drill instuctor about to leave the Army and taking classes in criminology. The first few chapters introduce us to Tony andsupply Sgt. Karen Harris, who has become a good friend (in a platonic relationship) while also stationed at Fort Knox. Meanwhile, weapons have been disappearing from several military posts and armories in the region; Tony brings fresh eyes to the investigation while temporarily assigned to assist Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Hooks. Several promising leads turn into dead ends when the suspects are murdered but the investigation gradually uncovers evidence of neo-Nazi involvement. Finally, as you might gues Tony and Karen become increasing attracted to each other but afraid to reveal their true feelings. If it sounds like a plot with a lot of potential, it is. Unfortunately, the development of the story in this book seems more likean outline or an early draft. The characters need a lot more development; only Tony is fleshed out in much detail, including such interesting angles as his interest in cooking. The storyproceeds in too linear a fashion, there should be more misdirection and intrigue to hold the reader's interest. Also, as is true of most books from small publishing houses the proofreading and editing appear non-existent; there are a lot of typos and grammatical errors. The author clearly has potential, on a few occasions there are flashes of brillance and in a few instances he creates real tension regarding the outcome of violent events. My final criticism is the opposite of my usual complaint regarding this genre, this story should be longer. There is a middle ground between the brevity of STRIKE HARD and the mind numbing detail of Tom Clancy's RED RABBIT .... Kevin Grover has a very long way to go before the comparisons with Clancy are apt, but his subject matter is similar and if he continues to write about subjects of which he has this much in depth knowledge he will move in that direction . However, the story's brevity doesn't allow enough time to provide the necessary detail and color in his stories to maintain the reader's interest in the action and the characters. More detail would paradoxically make a somewhat longer book more cohesive and therefore fast moving by involving the reader (as Clancy and Ludlum do) rather than leaving him (or her) only an outside observer. I do plan to read the sequel, STRIKE SWIFTLY, which involves many of the same characters and hopefully will benefit from the feedback which he received from readers of this novel. The subject matter of that appears quite interesting, and it is worth encouraging new literary voices with the determination and thought provoking plots of Kevin Grover.
Despite an interesting plot line, this book was hard to read, and hard to follow.While there were some hints of solid writing, the book was overall pretty boring. ... Read more Isbn: 158851322X |
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