Official Review: Crimson Zero by Ryan Gallant
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Janiac02
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Official Review: Crimson Zero by Ryan Gallant
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Crimson Zero" by Ryan Gallant.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Crimson Zero is an edge of your seat fictional Action/Thriller novel written by author Ryan Gallant for an adult audience. The story begins immediately with action, as we are thrust without preamble into the world of the Ares Syndicate through the voice of a paranoid Russian scientist, Dr. Nevsky, who has helped to create the title chemical warfare substance known as Crimson Zero. As his chapter draws to an end, the reader is left with more questions than answers as the plot takes off running.
John Burke has a murky past and a professional record besmirched by an unspecified dishonorable crime that he committed during his time as a Canadian Army reconnaissance officer. He receives a chance to redeem himself when he is recruited as a CSIS agent, and proves his worth by spotting an inconsistency in some recently received intelligence. He is entrusted with a series of delicate missions but hubris and his own internal demons lead him to make some extremely poor choices along the way.
With his agency’s cover blown he is forced to work with uptight CIA officer Jill Pearce and the good natured British MI6 operative Billy Styles on what is rapidly becoming a matter of international urgency. Working through the tension and dislike, the trio begins to uncover an intricate web of greed and deceit, turning everything they know upside down until there is no one left to trust.
In the author’s bio it is noted that Ryan Gallant has written numerous screenplays and is the co-creator of a graphic novel series that is currently in development. Crimson Zero is his first full-length novel, and Mr. Gallant knocked it out of the park! With the helpful background of writing screenplays, the author infuses the novel with just the right ratio of action and scandal to keep the reader guessing and wanting more.
The plot is masterfully woven so every bit of information given is vital for the reader to store for later usage, from the opening inner dialogue of Dr. Nevsky until the Epilogue. Luckily the author gives us subtle reminders of events and names to keep the reader from having to go back into the book to reread previous events. It is obvious that Mr. Gallant has done his research on weaponry, fighting tactics, and even architecture, so the action scenes are vivid, tense, and believable.
It is worth noting that this is not a cliché “Good vs. Evil” story. While there are some predictable plot twists, the line between right and wrong is blurred so often that it isn’t always easy to pinpoint who is the villain and who is the hero. For some this may make the resolution less satisfying, but I felt that the realism was very refreshing.
The story switches perspective, alternating between the main protagonist (Burke) and his international counterparts (Pearce and Styles) in addition to the occasional supporting character from within the Ares Syndicate. Each character has a distinct and unique voice and I enjoyed getting a peek into the internal workings of the both sides.
If I found any typos or grammatical errors at all in the story they were unobtrusive and minimal. It was a fast paced and easy read, with no hang ups on writing style, odd sentence structure or any detectable plot holes.
I rate Crimson Zero by Ryan Gallant an easy 4 out of 4 stars. I’m extremely gratified to have had the opportunity to read this book, and I would recommend it to any adult (or even late teen) that enjoys the Action genre. I’m hoping to read more about John Burke in the future!
******
Crimson Zero
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Barnes and Noble | on iTunes
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Crimson Zero is an edge of your seat fictional Action/Thriller novel written by author Ryan Gallant for an adult audience. The story begins immediately with action, as we are thrust without preamble into the world of the Ares Syndicate through the voice of a paranoid Russian scientist, Dr. Nevsky, who has helped to create the title chemical warfare substance known as Crimson Zero. As his chapter draws to an end, the reader is left with more questions than answers as the plot takes off running.
John Burke has a murky past and a professional record besmirched by an unspecified dishonorable crime that he committed during his time as a Canadian Army reconnaissance officer. He receives a chance to redeem himself when he is recruited as a CSIS agent, and proves his worth by spotting an inconsistency in some recently received intelligence. He is entrusted with a series of delicate missions but hubris and his own internal demons lead him to make some extremely poor choices along the way.
With his agency’s cover blown he is forced to work with uptight CIA officer Jill Pearce and the good natured British MI6 operative Billy Styles on what is rapidly becoming a matter of international urgency. Working through the tension and dislike, the trio begins to uncover an intricate web of greed and deceit, turning everything they know upside down until there is no one left to trust.
In the author’s bio it is noted that Ryan Gallant has written numerous screenplays and is the co-creator of a graphic novel series that is currently in development. Crimson Zero is his first full-length novel, and Mr. Gallant knocked it out of the park! With the helpful background of writing screenplays, the author infuses the novel with just the right ratio of action and scandal to keep the reader guessing and wanting more.
The plot is masterfully woven so every bit of information given is vital for the reader to store for later usage, from the opening inner dialogue of Dr. Nevsky until the Epilogue. Luckily the author gives us subtle reminders of events and names to keep the reader from having to go back into the book to reread previous events. It is obvious that Mr. Gallant has done his research on weaponry, fighting tactics, and even architecture, so the action scenes are vivid, tense, and believable.
It is worth noting that this is not a cliché “Good vs. Evil” story. While there are some predictable plot twists, the line between right and wrong is blurred so often that it isn’t always easy to pinpoint who is the villain and who is the hero. For some this may make the resolution less satisfying, but I felt that the realism was very refreshing.
The story switches perspective, alternating between the main protagonist (Burke) and his international counterparts (Pearce and Styles) in addition to the occasional supporting character from within the Ares Syndicate. Each character has a distinct and unique voice and I enjoyed getting a peek into the internal workings of the both sides.
If I found any typos or grammatical errors at all in the story they were unobtrusive and minimal. It was a fast paced and easy read, with no hang ups on writing style, odd sentence structure or any detectable plot holes.
I rate Crimson Zero by Ryan Gallant an easy 4 out of 4 stars. I’m extremely gratified to have had the opportunity to read this book, and I would recommend it to any adult (or even late teen) that enjoys the Action genre. I’m hoping to read more about John Burke in the future!
******
Crimson Zero
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Barnes and Noble | on iTunes
Like Janiac02's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: "A Cold Wind" by C. J. Brightley
