Helpful Score: 2
Black Friday a novel by Alex Kava starts off with three college kids returning to Minneapolis to visit one of the kid's family for Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving they go to the mall so that they can meet with one of the kid's high school friends. The story proceeds by the three kids agreeing to carry identical back packs that they have been recruited to carry. These backpacks are locked but they think they are going to jam security systems in the mall. However, the backpacks have bombs in them, which ends up causing mass destruction and loss of lives.
Maggie O'Dell is called into the situation, later realizing that one of the bombers is thought to be her half brother. Can Maggie figure out what is going on? Why did these kids do this?
I enjoyed Black Friday but I was also bored with this story. The first part of the book seemed extremely repetitious with the story not going anywhere. I also had to question whether the author was paid by Diet Pepsi to do a product placement. I have never seen a product continually repeated in a book like this. Maybe the author just really likes Diet Pepsi but it was strange.
I did get interested in the last 50 pages when the story really took on a conspiracy angle but living near Oklahoma City during the bombing, I had to question some of her facts. She talks about John Doe #2 and I love that she weaves this person into this story because it really makes you question whether John Doe #2 from the OKC bombing is still out there. However, the alleged John Doe #2 was never described wearing a Carolina Panthers hat and some other facts were not quite right.
So to wrap up this review, the beginning and ending were lacking but I do love the premise of this story. It could really have been a winner, but because it was lacking, I gave it three stars. Definitely read her books though, she is a great writer.
Maggie O'Dell is called into the situation, later realizing that one of the bombers is thought to be her half brother. Can Maggie figure out what is going on? Why did these kids do this?
I enjoyed Black Friday but I was also bored with this story. The first part of the book seemed extremely repetitious with the story not going anywhere. I also had to question whether the author was paid by Diet Pepsi to do a product placement. I have never seen a product continually repeated in a book like this. Maybe the author just really likes Diet Pepsi but it was strange.
I did get interested in the last 50 pages when the story really took on a conspiracy angle but living near Oklahoma City during the bombing, I had to question some of her facts. She talks about John Doe #2 and I love that she weaves this person into this story because it really makes you question whether John Doe #2 from the OKC bombing is still out there. However, the alleged John Doe #2 was never described wearing a Carolina Panthers hat and some other facts were not quite right.
So to wrap up this review, the beginning and ending were lacking but I do love the premise of this story. It could really have been a winner, but because it was lacking, I gave it three stars. Definitely read her books though, she is a great writer.
Helpful Score: 1
I love Alex Kava books, but this ending fell flat. The rest of the book was riveting and a great thriller, but with an ending like this you only realize the poor quality of the book until you are upset about reading it, if you have a huge TBR leave this one, it is not worth it. If you are a Kava fan and a fan of Maggie ODell then read it, but beware, the only hope I have is that this story will continue in another book to help tie up some loose ends!
Helpful Score: 1
I didn't read the book but listened to the unabridged version on CD. I am putting my review under the book because I read the previous review that someone had written but I don't agree with what was said.
This is my second Alex Kava audiobook that I have listened to (the first was EXPOSED). I liked BLACK FRIDAY. My husband liked it too. Actually he is the one who wanted to know if there were any more titles by this author.
I didn't find the ending disappointing and not all questions ever get answered.
This is my second Alex Kava audiobook that I have listened to (the first was EXPOSED). I liked BLACK FRIDAY. My husband liked it too. Actually he is the one who wanted to know if there were any more titles by this author.
I didn't find the ending disappointing and not all questions ever get answered.
GAIL L. (my2luvsemmyandmally) reviewed Black Friday (Maggie O'Dell, Bk 7) on + 758 more book reviews
Good book with a lot of fast-moving excitement that keeps you on the edge of your seat! If you like Alex Kava you will enjoy this one!
short chapters with cliffhanger endings all the way through. The Maggie O'Dell character is one you will want to keep tabs on. Very good, don't miss it.
Found the book somewhat choppy. Could not relate well to the characters. If I had read previous Maggie O'Dell books, it might have helped. Did not care for it.
Great book! I have read others in the Maggie O'Dell series and not been impressed! But this one makes me want to read more!
I didn't like this book much couldn't get to know any of the characters and it was jumping around too much3
I love the Maggie O'Dell books by Alex Kava. She grips your senses from the 1st page, and then you have to hang on from there.
This book was riveting and a great thriller, The Black Friday concept is what caught my attention. I would never have thought about when I go out to a mall the day after Thanksgiving, that there would be a bomb at a place I would be shopping. This book will make you think about that, with the way the world is today.
All in all I really enjoyed this book, but the ending fell a little flat. If you are a Kava fan and a fan of Maggie ODell then you will enjoy this book. I hope that this story will continue in another book to help tie up some loose ends!
This book was riveting and a great thriller, The Black Friday concept is what caught my attention. I would never have thought about when I go out to a mall the day after Thanksgiving, that there would be a bomb at a place I would be shopping. This book will make you think about that, with the way the world is today.
All in all I really enjoyed this book, but the ending fell a little flat. If you are a Kava fan and a fan of Maggie ODell then you will enjoy this book. I hope that this story will continue in another book to help tie up some loose ends!
Americans are rushing to the Mall of America on the Nation's biggest shopping day of the year. No one expects three deadly bombs to be detonated inside that mall. FBI Profiler Maggie O'Dell is called to the scene to construct a profile of the bombers. Why would three young men each carry a red backpack with a lock into the mall? Who were the young man and woman seen on the security tapes entering the mall with one of the bombers? Maggie has her work cut out for her to discover the motive behind the explosions, especially when she learns that there are more incidents planned for this weekend.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It was fast moving and suspenseful. I liked that Maggie uses her strengths to help determine what exactly happened in that mall and who is behind the deadly bombings. But I didn't like the non-resolution of the story. My rating: 4 Stars.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It was fast moving and suspenseful. I liked that Maggie uses her strengths to help determine what exactly happened in that mall and who is behind the deadly bombings. But I didn't like the non-resolution of the story. My rating: 4 Stars.
This book was better then expected.
