Thursday At Noon - Reviews - 12/24/12

4-Stars    “A solid spy thriller.  This is my second William Brown spy novel and I enjoyed it at least as much as Amongst My Enemies. Reading it was comforting, like stepping into a world I’ve visited before …   Brown is very skilled at keeping up the pace by alternating the points of view of several major players, giving an insight into their characters and histories, and they are all very different and very interesting. In fact, the alternation of protagonists was my favorite thing about this book, it gave a fuller picture of what was going on and made the events and the characters seem more real. 

                Olga, Amazon Reviewer, 12/24/12

 

5-Stars!   “An enjoyable espionage tale.”  I’ve enjoyed reading William Brown’s novels in the past, and I welcomed the chance to read and review Thursday at Noon. It’s an interesting espionage tale set back in the 60′s, when the Middle East and Egypt were in turmoil. Of course, that could just as well be said for now. Some things never change … Thursday at Noon was a fun read that I’d definitely recommend to people who like the spy genre. Brown creates a strong sense of time and place, and the characters have depth and complexity. The plot pacing works well, and I kept thinking “just one more chapter” as I was reading (knowing I had other things I should be doing). I’m definitely looking forward to his next novel…

Thomas Duff – Duffbert, Amazon Reviewer, 12/22/12   done

5-Stars!   “Thrilling.   This story is suspense and thrill filled …  Richard Thomson is CIA … He’s in a race for time because former Nazis and the Muslim Brotherhood have targets in their sights to destroy Israel, and he knows that on Thursday at noon the Middle East may never be the same again … This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters come to life, and makes the plot very believable. The twists and turns in it are so surprising, there’s no way to predict the outcome of this story. Author William Brown is a very talented writer, that knows how to make a story real so that it pulls you in and makes you anything but unsatisfied.

Crystal Trent Dobson, Amazon Reviewer, 12/19/12

 

5-Stars!    “Prophetic!    While this story takes place in the 60s’ it could just as well take place today. In fact it probably is. The hero is Die Hard’s John MCClane in spades and the situations he’s placed in are every bit as exciting as the visuals from the movies. A good read with enough intrigue and surprises to keep you awake much longer than you’d planned.

Jerry K., Amazon Reviewer, 10/13/12   done

 

5-Stars!    “Bond Meets Indy Jones!  This is my first review of any book. I’m glad I can promote “Thursday at Noon.” The settings were real and the characters believable — esp. the cynically incompetent officials above Thomsen. I was left wondering, actually, if this was based on some actual incident or similar situation. I’d buy more books by this author.” 

                Ralph Glaser,  Amazon Reviewer   9/25/12

 5-Stars!    “Non-stop energizing plot!   Thursday At Noon is a thrilling, adrenaline rush novel by terrific author William F. Brown. I read and reviewed his novel, Amongst My Enemies, earlier this year and thought it was spectacular.

Richard Thomson is not wanted. The CIA doesn’t and neither does the American Ambassador. After a flubbed up case, he’s been assigned to a case in Cairo, Egypt. When he finds a beheaded man on his doorstep, Thomson finds himself in the middle of something much bigger than his screwed up case.

No one wants Thomson around, so he figures it won’t matter none if he investigates. The Arabs and the Germans are seeking the destruction of Israel and it’s rumored to happen Thursday at Noon. Can Thomson stop it and save his own life? He’s already in question for the murder on his doorstep, the CIA aren’t happy with him and neither is anyone else right now. What has he got to lose?

William F. Brown pens a thrilling espionage adventure that will capture the reader from page one. I could see the events unfold like you would in a movie, with great character depiction, vivid backgrounds and a non-stop energizing plot. If you enjoy espionage thrillers that will keep you thoroughly entertained, pick up Thursday at Noon! 

            Wendy L. Hines, Minding Spot Book Reviews, 8-23-12

5-Stars!   “Things that go Boom!     A worn-out, alcoholic CIA agent, the ruler of Egypt, Abdel Gamal Nasser, two of his best friends, and English bartender, a German scientist and his daughter make up the main folk in this thriller about rockets, loyalty and the next Cold War.  A total study in contrasts in the early 1960′s of Egypt as the Moslems want it, as the Us Ambassador thinks he wants it and as Thomson, the agent knows it really is.  Something is in the works and several men have died for it.  Thomson was nearly on of them but his body recalls maneuvers his mind has forgotten and, while he does manage to take his share of hits and kicks; he manages to survive.  A Metro Police Detective thinks he has the answers but doesn’t, the idiot Ambassador knows he does, but doesn’t.  In fact, the only person with the real answers is no of Nasser’s boyhood friends, the Colonel Ali Rashid, whom Nasser trusts completely and Thomson, whom no one believes.   What a ride this book was!  Reading about this time in our past was worth the reading but the plot – what a plot!  It could have happened, it may have happened.  We don’t really know but it is one heckuva good tale and it all becomes scarily clear – Thursday at Noon.

            By NLE, Amazon Reviewer,  8-22-12

5-Stars!   “Another Winner!  Brown has penned another great read! This story pulls you in and won’t let go — taking you through twists and turns you could never predict. As in the other Brown novels I have read, it was hard to read quickly enough to learn about what would happen next. The CIA, Embassy appointments, the religious fanaticism in parts of the Middle East and even the Nazis, all play into the plot. Though it was set in the early 1960′s, the reader might easily imagine it happening in today’s world. Following washed-up CIA operative Richard Thomson as he snakes his way into a foreign government is an unparalleled rush. References to the Bay of Pigs and the Kennedy administration create a brilliant historical slant. I am looking forward to the next book Brown will share with Kindle readers!”

GinnyReader, Amazon Reviewer,  8/19/12

5-Stars!    Spies Don’t Trust Spies!  Richard Thomson is in big trouble with the CIA for whom he works. He flubbed his last case and now has been assigned to Cairo, Egypt where he is treated like a virtual pariah.  One night while he’s drowning his sorrows in a bar, he’s approached by an Arab fellow who says he has some significant information that he needs to get to a particular person.  But Thomson thinks he’s part of a grand trap to finish off Thomson’s career for good and tells him to scoot.  The Arab is petrified but Thomson’s not buying the story.  So imagine his thoughts and feelings when he later finds that the man has been decapitated and that Thomson is believed to be either the murderer or the one responsible for his murder. Here the terror really begins!

This is a story where Arabs and former SS Germans are seeking one goal, the destruction of Israel. How will they do it? When will it happen, if at all?  Why?  Are the Arabs and Germans cooperating? What do they think of each other? Readers will be riveted as the skills and depths of cruelty vie with each other for these two groups. And add to that there are Arab groups with different motives and goals and the same for the Germans. Thomson who has been previously pickled in his own alcoholic pity party, now awakens to find out why the Israeli Landau has disappeared and perhaps been killed and more what he was after that seems to have caused his demise.

William F. Brown never disappoints! His espionage/spy/political thrillers are very different and so very well-written. A thrill to read and deserving of best-seller status! Thursday at Noon is no exception!

Viviane, at Crystal Book Reviews, 8/11/12

5-Stars!   “Great Thriller and Suspenseful Story! I have always loved a good mystery and its one of my favorite genres and I normally don’t stray far from the who done it type of books.  And am generally bored by the end of these books because I have already figured out who had done what halfway through.   The twists and turn of this book were incredibly well thought and played till the end!  Thursday at Noon is not a book I probably would have picked straight out but the description sounded like a really good deep mystery!! I will say I thought the beginning was slightly confusing but it really made the book into what it is!!  The ending of this book is one that really catches you off guard and its awesome how all the pieces fall in together with the who, what, why, and how!  This book will have you guessing till the end who and why!

Jennyjij, Amazon Reviewer, 8/11/12

4-Stars!   “Thrilling Read!   This is another thrilling historical novel from William F. Brown. I read his book Amongst My Enemies a few months ago and I was hooked.  He has a style of writing that pulls you in and doesn’t let you go.  It’s obvious that he does his research and that he enjoys his history.  Thursday at Noon is an action packed spy thriller that combines politics, ambition and religious fanaticism for an explosive story. Richard Thomson is a down and out CIA operative who gets caught up in a race against time to prevent a major catastrophe that would change the Middle East forever.  German rocket scientists, Muslim extremists and Egyptian cops all cross paths and make for quite an interesting tale that will leave you breathless by the end.  Another blockbuster from this author that gets a 4/5 from me!

             Jenn’s Book Review Blog, 8/11/12

4-Stars!   “William Brown, author of “Amongst My Enemies” and several other books, made a action packed thriller in “Thursday at Noon.”  He has real people and other made up people to make a page turning story.  You can never tell who’s gonna get who next!!  You can’t help but to turn the page and see where William Brown is gonna take you.

If you like gripping page turners, and thrillers this is the book for you!  Thursday at noon has action, suspense and conspiracy all in one!  There’s never a dull moment and a must have for anyone that’s into suspense thrillers!!

            From Rhonda C., Amazon Reviewer, 8/10/12

3-Stars!    “Blending historical figures and fictional scenarios, Mr. Brown has written a exciting story in “Thursday at Noon”.   Even though it is set in 1962, some of the events feel as if they could have been taken from today’s new stories . . . Filled with action, suspense, and a sense of never knowing who to trust, Mr. Brown will keep you intrigued with this thrilling story.

                From Star, Amazon Reviewer, 8/10/12

5-Stars!  “ Another great tale from a master of the genre!   Thursday at Noon is one of the more entertaining tales I’ve read this year. Set during the tumultuous 1960′s in the days of Egypt’s Gamal Abel Nasser, the tale focuses on a broken CIA agent dumped into the backwaters of Cairo to end his days in a bottle. Instead he finds himself dragged into the political firestorm of an attempted coup – German rocket scientists, Muslim extremists and Egyptian cops and one drunken spy.  And a woman, of course.   This is not the first of Bill Brown’s novels that I have read and enjoyed, and it will not be the last. Good show, Bill!

Gary Showalter, Author of Mystery and Suspense Novels, 7/28/12

5 Stars!    “Excellent writing a la Forsyth!  I’ve reviewed some of Bill’s books for Bookpleasures  —  all excellent and worth reading.  In many ways, this eBook is comparable to his Amongst My Enemies.  It is historical fiction that is also a thriller — a very good, fast-paced, suspenseful thriller.  In the style of Frederick Forsyth (The Odessa File comes to mind).  As with Forsyth, the reader is not quite sure where truth ends and fiction takes over.  Highly entertaining and a recommended read.”

                Steven M. Moore, Thriller and Sci-Fi Author,  7/18/12

 5 Stars!  “A Terrific, Action-packed Read!   Richard Thomson is a CIA agent, sitting in a backstreet British bar in Cairo in 1962. He’s been sent away from Damascus after a failed operation, and no one in Cairo, especially the American ambassador, wants to have anything to do with him. An Egyptian comes into the bar and wants to give him an envelope of photographs. Thomson refuses, and a short time later the Egyptian is found – beheaded.

Something is going on, and the more Thomson tries to avoid it, the more ensnared he becomes. Captain Hassan Saleh of the Cairo Metropolitan Police suspects him of involvement in the beheading. Colonel Ali Rashid of Egyptian state security would like to see him dead. The American ambassador would like to see him out of the country. And a few former SS officers are hunting him.

Something is going on, all right, and it’s happening at an old British air base at Heliopolis, 15 miles south of Cairo. It may well change the Middle East forever. And it’s happening within a few short days – on Thursday, at noon. Elements of the Muslim Brotherhood and former Nazis have two targets in their sights – Tel Aviv and Haifa.

William Brown, author of “Amongst My Enemies” and several other books, has written one terrific, action-packed story in “Thursday at Noon.”  While it’s set in 1962, it feels as contemporary as the protests in Tabriz Square and the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.  The passion, the politics, the explosive combination of personal ambition and religious fervor all sound straight out of today’s newspaper headlines.

The author uses historical figures like Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egypt’s president at the time, along with fictitious characters to create a riveting story if intrigue and duplicity. You’re never quite sure who’s going to betray whom next, or what new near-death experience Thomson is going to have, and that fills the story with tension that won’t stop.

Brown deftly swirls all of this together into a tight, readable story. “Thursday at Noon” is one terrific read.

Glynn Young, Amazon Reviewer, 7/9/12

3 ½  Stars!    “Spy Thriller!  Set in Egypt in the early 60′s this is a spy story.  CIA agent Richard Thomson is drawn into a mystery revolving around an old military base filled with Nazi’s.  It is a nice read but just misses the mark.  Brown sometimes is too verbose and often trips with the words.  I also didn’t accept the instant love affair with Ilsa and without out it the story stumbles. Mr. Brown is going to write a real winner one day. This one isn’t it.  But…recommended.”

James L. Woolridge,  6/19/12