Official Review: The Theseus Conspiracy

[Sarah Schmidt]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Theseus Conspiracy" by Victor Manuel Alvarez.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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The Theseus Conspiracy is a thriller fiction book written by Victor Manual Alvarez. The second instalment in the CID Agent Jacqueline Sinclair series, this fast-paced novel can be read on its own or in the order of the series.

Matthew Banks, a CIA double agent, is sent to infiltrate the Russian FSB as Anisi Sverchinksy. Betrayed by and on the run from both the Russian and American governments, Banks vows revenge, concocting a diabolical plot to critically injure both nations. With a team of mercenaries at his service, he steals seven nuclear suitcase bombs, devising a scheme that will launch the countries into all-out war. U.S. Army CID Special Agent Jacqueline Sinclair is pulled into the hunt for Banks after her best friend, Jessica Wayne, is murdered on her doorstep. A trail of bodies and cover-ups is her only lead in her search for the vengeful madman behind it all. When her loved ones’ lives become endangered, Jacqueline will do everything in her power to finally put a stop to Banks’ schemes.

I liked that this story followed detective-based canon. The perspective isn’t limited to one character’s viewpoint. There were so many factions that had conflicting objectives, layered so much upon one another that, when they finally combined, it made for an explosive climax. I experienced slight difficulty with remembering all the characters, but Alvarez combines them well enough that this occurred infrequently.

I did dislike the strong misogynistic bent the novel seemed to have. There was a contrived animosity between the protagonist, Jacqueline Sinclair, and the only other relevant female character, Patricia Courtney. Upon their first meeting, they developed an instant dislike of each other that really made no sense. Added to that, the male characters were prone to making sexist remarks that appeared thrown in only for effect. This wasn’t done to the extent that it detracted from the overall quality of the book, though it did slightly bother me.

While reading, I found myself distracted by the poor writing quality. Apart from having numerous errors, there was a constant placing of commas where they should not be, giving The Theseus Conspiracy an unnatural reading rhythm. Because of this, I assume this book was not professionally edited. Readers should also be made aware of some light erotic scenes and profanity.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. The error count of The Theseus Conspiracy is rather high, so I think a deduction of one star is justified. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy action-filled stories, particularly in the thriller and detective fiction genres. I do not think that readers who enjoy character-driven stories would prefer this book.

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The Theseus Conspiracy
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[NetMassimo]

I have mixed feelings towards this novel: it seems like an engaging thriller, but some choices such as the unexplained animosity between the two women are puzzling and the many errors can be distracting. Regardless, thank you for your great review!

[iammiape]

A presence of a mad person truly spice a story. It's very unfortunate the book requires a major revision. I think I will skip adding it in my bookshelves.