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The Singular Menace #3
Rampage
John Sandford and Michele Cook complete their New York Times bestselling thriller series in this explosive finale. Fans of James Dashner, Harlan Coben, and Suzanne Collins will love this nail-biting trilogy.
Shay Remby and her band of renegade activists have got the corrupt Singular Corporation on the run. Their expose is finally working. Or is it?
Even as revelations about the human experimental subjects break in the news, Singular’s employees are slithering out of sight. And then their CEO is killed in a plane crash... Was it a freak accident? Or a cover-up?
Shay’s gang begins to see signs that there may be even more powerful figures than they knew managing events—publicly expressing outrage and mopping up the mess, but secretly gathering up their scientists and moving the operation further out of sight.
It will take nothing short of a rampage to stop the Singular menace for good...
Praise for Uncaged :
★ “A fabulous mix of outlandish hijinks, techno-noir, and teen cheek--LA style. Not to be missed.”-- Booklist
Shay Remby and her band of renegade activists have got the corrupt Singular Corporation on the run. Their expose is finally working. Or is it?
Even as revelations about the human experimental subjects break in the news, Singular’s employees are slithering out of sight. And then their CEO is killed in a plane crash... Was it a freak accident? Or a cover-up?
Shay’s gang begins to see signs that there may be even more powerful figures than they knew managing events—publicly expressing outrage and mopping up the mess, but secretly gathering up their scientists and moving the operation further out of sight.
It will take nothing short of a rampage to stop the Singular menace for good...
Praise for Uncaged :
★ “A fabulous mix of outlandish hijinks, techno-noir, and teen cheek--LA style. Not to be missed.”-- Booklist
336 pages, ebook
First published July 12, 2016
About the author
John Sandford
196 books9,025 followersJohn Sandford was born John Roswell Camp on February 23, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He attended the public schools in Cedar Rapids, graduating from Washington High School in 1962. He then spent four years at the University of Iowa, graduating with a bachelor's degree in American Studies in 1966. In 1966, he married Susan Lee Jones of Cedar Rapids, a fellow student at the University of Iowa. He was in the U.S. Army from 1966-68, worked as a reporter for the Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian from 1968-1970, and went back to the University of Iowa from 1970-1971, where he received a master's degree in journalism. He was a reporter for The Miami Herald from 1971-78, and then a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer-Press from 1978-1990; in 1980, he was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize, and he won the Pulitzer in 1986 for a series of stories about a midwestern farm crisis. From 1990 to the present he has written thriller novels. He's also the author of two non-fiction books, one on plastic surgery and one on art. He is the principal financial backer of a major archeological project in the Jordan Valley of Israel, with a website at www.rehov.org In addition to archaeology, he is deeply interested in art (painting) and photography. He both hunts and fishes. He has two children, Roswell and Emily, and one grandson, Benjamin. His wife, Susan, died of metastasized breast cancer in May, 2007, and is greatly missed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
September 9, 2023
This is a very good book. I shall give a full review later today.
November 30, 2017
Rampage is a fun and exciting finale to the Singular Menace trilogy. This last installment has a little of a Tom Clancy feel to it if you can fathom Tom Clancy writing a Young Adult story. Shay Remby never utters, "next time Shay, write a goddamn memo..." Tara Sands narrates the audio book I listened to and does a another great job with this book too. Although I didn't get the opportunity, the best way to enjoy this book is with a big bowl of buttered popcorn and your favorite drink.
The story picks up where the second book leaves off. Like the previous books, the story is a bit of Hollywood in believability. The entertainment value, for me, made it easy to overlook. I added this book to my "fantasy" shelf. Shay Remby's character is a strong kick ass teenage heroine. Cade, Harmon, Cruz, Harmon, Odin, Twist, and X the bionic dog all work on how to bring the evil Singular company to its knees. But there are rich and powerful people who are deadly. One wrong move could literally mean the end for Shay and the gang.
The chemistry between the characters is another facet to the story that I liked. The main story is intricate enough to keep it interesting but not so much as to get bogged down. And, as I had hoped, there is teaser at the end of the book for a future book featuring Shay going on another "op."
Rampage and the other books in series are exciting
and easy reads.
The story picks up where the second book leaves off. Like the previous books, the story is a bit of Hollywood in believability. The entertainment value, for me, made it easy to overlook. I added this book to my "fantasy" shelf. Shay Remby's character is a strong kick ass teenage heroine. Cade, Harmon, Cruz, Harmon, Odin, Twist, and X the bionic dog all work on how to bring the evil Singular company to its knees. But there are rich and powerful people who are deadly. One wrong move could literally mean the end for Shay and the gang.
The chemistry between the characters is another facet to the story that I liked. The main story is intricate enough to keep it interesting but not so much as to get bogged down. And, as I had hoped, there is teaser at the end of the book for a future book featuring Shay going on another "op."
Rampage and the other books in series are exciting
and easy reads.
July 17, 2016
Excellent book. Excellent series. Highly recommended.
What? You need more than that? Okay, fine...
I want to start, once again, by praising Sandford and Cook for their respect of the reader. We read so many books and with these series being a year apart, in terms of release, those of us who read them can all use a quick recap at the start of each installment as to where things are and how they got there. The problem is that so many unskilled writers either choose not to do this at all, or basically re-tell the whole story from scratch, to the point that it feels redundant. In the second, and then third installments of this series, Sandford and Cook find plausible ways to update the reader as to where they left off and bring them to date without it being clumsy or redundant or irritating.
I chose to re-read the first two books leading up this release--mostly because I enjoyed them so much, but had I not, the authors respected me enough, as a reader, to both continue the action and bring me back into the story and refresh my memory about what I'd read a year previously.
Too few writers bother to do this or do it so poorly that it's bothersome. It may seem like a tiny detail but it means the world to me when it's done right. That's a writer(s) telling me they understand I may not have time to re-read the first two books in the story before reading the latest installment and caring enough to catch me up and suck me back into the plot. I love that these authors seem committed to that kind of serial storytelling.
Obviously, there's more to this book and series than that though. The cast of characters in this book is phenomenal. I felt connected to all of the protagonists and each had their own, unique and well-drawn personality. Each had their own reasons for being a part of the story and each was well worth rooting for as the story went onward.
The plot was fantastic. It's a great story idea and it's well executed. Like in most of Sandford's books, the pace is crisp and the plot rolls downhill. It's non-stop action and excitement. Every action sequence leads to the next and the plot supported those action sequences with a lot of intelligent framing.
The bad guy were sinister and I really liked that, as the series went on, the bad guys even changed a bit. Some were there for the long haul, but others were conquered and vanquished. Each time our heroes thought they were making a dent, they found that the onion had another layer. In this, final installment, we come to true evil ones, the plot's masterminds and their downfall was delicious.
I'm not without complaint. The first two books set up something of a love triangle and the final book gave it a resolution that seemed disingenuous--and without any real sense of why it was resolved the way it was and without any after effect whatsoever. It's a YA book and the characters are teens and I felt like no love triangle between teens ends that cleanly. It was a bothersome point.
Another point that I felt was overlooked was the failure of Sandford and Cook to channel their inner George RR Martin. A bunch of kids don't take on a high powered corporation and two governments without more carnage. All of the characters were really likable and I'm sure it would have pissed some people off to lose their favorite, but I felt like the characters who did pay the ultimate price were far enough out on the edge that they didn't register on the emotional scale. I feel like story needed one more of the gang to get offed to really strike an emotional tone, in the end.
The resolution was also a little lacking for me. I thought they did a great job of resolving the main character, but when you have a team involved in a story, as this plot did, I think you have to give some idea of what happens next for everyone. That's the price you have to pay for happily ever after.
This is me nitpicking though. I loved these books and I couldn't put any of them down. Even in re-reading the first two I found myself sailing through them at a very fast pace. The final installment was great. It wasn't perfect, but it was everything it needed to be to cement this as a great series to read.
I can happily and easily recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a good action story. It brings in some great issues, like animal experimentation, the good and evil side of science and experimentation, man's inhumanity toward man, the power of the wealthy, the arrogance of those who seek immortality and how power corrupts.
Start at the beginning. Read them all. Enjoy them! Don't wait. Do it now!
WARNING: This book is for a YA audience--though it's perfectly fun for actual adults--however, it does involve a scene where a two dogs have sexual intercourse and make puppies. Parents with sticks up their butts may want to shield their kids from such depravity. And helicopter parents beware! Teens talk like teens in this book and that includes a carefully selected swear word when it's needed. Your poor, sheltered child may freak out upon hearing such terrible and destructive words. They could seriously ruin your kid's life. So, if you're a shitty parent and want to continue to be a shitty parent, please make sure your perfect little child isn't ruined by such filth. Good parents: feel free to buy this series for your kids and thank you for respecting both their intelligence and maturity. They appreciate it--as does society, in general.
What? You need more than that? Okay, fine...
I want to start, once again, by praising Sandford and Cook for their respect of the reader. We read so many books and with these series being a year apart, in terms of release, those of us who read them can all use a quick recap at the start of each installment as to where things are and how they got there. The problem is that so many unskilled writers either choose not to do this at all, or basically re-tell the whole story from scratch, to the point that it feels redundant. In the second, and then third installments of this series, Sandford and Cook find plausible ways to update the reader as to where they left off and bring them to date without it being clumsy or redundant or irritating.
I chose to re-read the first two books leading up this release--mostly because I enjoyed them so much, but had I not, the authors respected me enough, as a reader, to both continue the action and bring me back into the story and refresh my memory about what I'd read a year previously.
Too few writers bother to do this or do it so poorly that it's bothersome. It may seem like a tiny detail but it means the world to me when it's done right. That's a writer(s) telling me they understand I may not have time to re-read the first two books in the story before reading the latest installment and caring enough to catch me up and suck me back into the plot. I love that these authors seem committed to that kind of serial storytelling.
Obviously, there's more to this book and series than that though. The cast of characters in this book is phenomenal. I felt connected to all of the protagonists and each had their own, unique and well-drawn personality. Each had their own reasons for being a part of the story and each was well worth rooting for as the story went onward.
The plot was fantastic. It's a great story idea and it's well executed. Like in most of Sandford's books, the pace is crisp and the plot rolls downhill. It's non-stop action and excitement. Every action sequence leads to the next and the plot supported those action sequences with a lot of intelligent framing.
The bad guy were sinister and I really liked that, as the series went on, the bad guys even changed a bit. Some were there for the long haul, but others were conquered and vanquished. Each time our heroes thought they were making a dent, they found that the onion had another layer. In this, final installment, we come to true evil ones, the plot's masterminds and their downfall was delicious.
I'm not without complaint. The first two books set up something of a love triangle and the final book gave it a resolution that seemed disingenuous--and without any real sense of why it was resolved the way it was and without any after effect whatsoever. It's a YA book and the characters are teens and I felt like no love triangle between teens ends that cleanly. It was a bothersome point.
Another point that I felt was overlooked was the failure of Sandford and Cook to channel their inner George RR Martin. A bunch of kids don't take on a high powered corporation and two governments without more carnage. All of the characters were really likable and I'm sure it would have pissed some people off to lose their favorite, but I felt like the characters who did pay the ultimate price were far enough out on the edge that they didn't register on the emotional scale. I feel like story needed one more of the gang to get offed to really strike an emotional tone, in the end.
The resolution was also a little lacking for me. I thought they did a great job of resolving the main character, but when you have a team involved in a story, as this plot did, I think you have to give some idea of what happens next for everyone. That's the price you have to pay for happily ever after.
This is me nitpicking though. I loved these books and I couldn't put any of them down. Even in re-reading the first two I found myself sailing through them at a very fast pace. The final installment was great. It wasn't perfect, but it was everything it needed to be to cement this as a great series to read.
I can happily and easily recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a good action story. It brings in some great issues, like animal experimentation, the good and evil side of science and experimentation, man's inhumanity toward man, the power of the wealthy, the arrogance of those who seek immortality and how power corrupts.
Start at the beginning. Read them all. Enjoy them! Don't wait. Do it now!
WARNING: This book is for a YA audience--though it's perfectly fun for actual adults--however, it does involve a scene where a two dogs have sexual intercourse and make puppies. Parents with sticks up their butts may want to shield their kids from such depravity. And helicopter parents beware! Teens talk like teens in this book and that includes a carefully selected swear word when it's needed. Your poor, sheltered child may freak out upon hearing such terrible and destructive words. They could seriously ruin your kid's life. So, if you're a shitty parent and want to continue to be a shitty parent, please make sure your perfect little child isn't ruined by such filth. Good parents: feel free to buy this series for your kids and thank you for respecting both their intelligence and maturity. They appreciate it--as does society, in general.
August 6, 2016
#3 in The Singular Menace trilogy. Finale in a fast moving trilogy about a band of (mostly) teen-agers out to bring down the Singular Corporation. They got involved when Odin, an animal rights activist, was captured in a raid on one of their facilities. That got his sister Shay involved and in rescuing Odin, it was revealed that in addition there were human subjects as well as animals being experimented on. Non-stop action and even with the help of some unlikely allies, it's tough to believe that a small group of untrained teens can bring down the politically connected Singular Corp.
The Singular Menace trilogy - YA - Shay Remby and her band of renegade activists have got the corrupt Singular Corporation on the run. Their expose is finally working. Or is it? Even as revelations about the human experimental subjects break in the news, Singular's employees are slithering out of sight. And then their CEO is killed in a plane crash... Was it a freak accident? Or a cover-up? Shay's gang begins to see signs that there may be even more powerful figures than they knew managing events--publicly expressing outrage and mopping up the mess, but secretly gathering up their scientists and moving the operation further out of sight.
The Singular Menace trilogy - YA - Shay Remby and her band of renegade activists have got the corrupt Singular Corporation on the run. Their expose is finally working. Or is it? Even as revelations about the human experimental subjects break in the news, Singular's employees are slithering out of sight. And then their CEO is killed in a plane crash... Was it a freak accident? Or a cover-up? Shay's gang begins to see signs that there may be even more powerful figures than they knew managing events--publicly expressing outrage and mopping up the mess, but secretly gathering up their scientists and moving the operation further out of sight.
February 19, 2017
A satisfying finale to a great trilogy. Ever since the last book, I've been waiting to see how the story would close. I gotta say, it was good. I don't know what the plan is for Shay after this one, but I am excited to see more of her story.
February 5, 2018
“Rampage” the third book in the thrilling series “The Singular Menace” begins after Fenfang is killed and the freighter with its imprisoned human experiments rams a bridge exposing the corruption of the Singular Corporation with all the media sensationalism. But with the human experiments locked away in a hospital, and Singular’s employees working hard to hide corporate records and strip any incriminating information from their computers Singular’s CEO and legal Council are killed.
But Shay, ex-Singular security officer Dallas Harmon and their team of renegade activists have quickly realized that the threat has not been wiped out, that there is a top level of management including a billionaire and key members in the government who still have a base of operations in New Mexico. Yet with every step they take to bring justice to the victims of the experimentation and end Singular’s tyranny the menace grows, especially when a plan is hatched to bring down the leader of the government.
Fast-paced and action-packed the plot heats up when Shay and Harmon not only rescue the Chinese victim called 8 from a local hospital, but when they begin a reconnaissance mission in New Mexico. Intensity and suspense continually build with rescue missions; a suicide; and a conspiracy to overthrow the highest echelon of government. Yet amid all the chaos and death there are dashes of humor with X’s seduction and the resulting litter of puppies as well as Cruz Perez’s failed attempts to spend alone time with Shay. Well-written, the tension escalates as events flow towards an explosive conclusion and a decision about Shay’s future.
Sandford and Cook have created characters with unique and fascinating personalities that bring the story to life with their depth, passionate commitment, and resourcefulness. Among a host of memorable characters are sixteen-year-old Shay Remby a former foster kid who’s physically fit, strong-willed and feisty; her genius but reckless brother Odin; the strong, pragmatic ex-soldier Dallas Harmon; and the artistic and tense Twist. Yet it’s the sinister ruthlessness of a senator and billionaire as well as the cold bloodedness of Singular’s chief killer that adds a terrifying chill to the story.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the “Singular Menace” series, each novel a thrill-ride with the last book being the best of all and I hope we see more of this writing duo in future.
But Shay, ex-Singular security officer Dallas Harmon and their team of renegade activists have quickly realized that the threat has not been wiped out, that there is a top level of management including a billionaire and key members in the government who still have a base of operations in New Mexico. Yet with every step they take to bring justice to the victims of the experimentation and end Singular’s tyranny the menace grows, especially when a plan is hatched to bring down the leader of the government.
Fast-paced and action-packed the plot heats up when Shay and Harmon not only rescue the Chinese victim called 8 from a local hospital, but when they begin a reconnaissance mission in New Mexico. Intensity and suspense continually build with rescue missions; a suicide; and a conspiracy to overthrow the highest echelon of government. Yet amid all the chaos and death there are dashes of humor with X’s seduction and the resulting litter of puppies as well as Cruz Perez’s failed attempts to spend alone time with Shay. Well-written, the tension escalates as events flow towards an explosive conclusion and a decision about Shay’s future.
Sandford and Cook have created characters with unique and fascinating personalities that bring the story to life with their depth, passionate commitment, and resourcefulness. Among a host of memorable characters are sixteen-year-old Shay Remby a former foster kid who’s physically fit, strong-willed and feisty; her genius but reckless brother Odin; the strong, pragmatic ex-soldier Dallas Harmon; and the artistic and tense Twist. Yet it’s the sinister ruthlessness of a senator and billionaire as well as the cold bloodedness of Singular’s chief killer that adds a terrifying chill to the story.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the “Singular Menace” series, each novel a thrill-ride with the last book being the best of all and I hope we see more of this writing duo in future.
February 20, 2019
This final book in the Singular Menace brings every plot thread created throughout the series to a satisfying conclusion. This, while maintaining that same fast paced action and quick dialogue that was introduced in the first book. If anything, the writing improved throughout the series. So did the plot. This is probably because each book remains very true to the hero’s journey, introducing us to Shay’s stasis at the beginning of the book series and bringing us to a truly changed Shay in the very end who is ready to embark on another equally dangerous adventure in the conclusion of the series. I’m not sure if the author’s intend for a continuation of Shay’s story, but I’m pretty confident that it would be unnecessary to write anymore. But I would try a fourth book if I happen to come across it.
October 10, 2019
I LOVED this series !!! This 3rd book in it ties up the loose ends and sends the young adults onto lives of their own.
April 6, 2023
3rd book in the series, fun read. Tied up all the loose ends. The other books were tales that seemed to have no end-I sort of wanted the story to continue and it may. A very unusual character has been created.
September 9, 2020
I enjoyed this as well as the rest of the series. I suspect it was written for young adults, so I guess at 71 I am still young at heart. Engaging characters, interesting plot and lots of action. I have long been a Sandford fan.
December 31, 2019
2.75/4
I can now add The Singular Menace to my ever-increasing list of book series I’ve completed. And though I don’t feel, “Oh my god, I have to start all over again, I can’t get enough of this”, I do feel, “Okay, maybe if I’m careful I could make off with my old mortal enemy teacher’s car and wallet and get away with it.” It’s fun reading something that persuades you that not everything in the world is as it seems.
From the beginning, it’s been war against Singular, a multinational yet hidden institution working on perfection in brain transplantation. Basically, they have definitive research that shows immortality by setting their brains inside a different, younger, healthier body can be possible. Whether it would happen perfectly has always been another story, but they’re catching up, and they’re not afraid to take hostages and use them as subjects for their research. A lot has happened ever since Odin Ramby attempted to rescue a dog from whatever research was being implemented, and he ended up waterboarded before escaping both with the dog and the info, as well as a need for help from his sister, Shay. Well, now Odin and Shay know how multinational this thing has gone; from pretty much every major country in the world, including and especially the tar pit of the world, North Korea. Singular’s menace, boss and bandit Thorne, had Odin’s new girlfriend, a subject named Fenfang they rescued, shot. Vigilantism is over. It’s now time for a showdown in the third book. Twist, businessman and guardian of dozens of kids, friendly drug dealer Danny, loyal canine X, animal activist Odin, Latino brothers Cade and Cruz, Cade being the tech whiz and Cruz being the lover boy, and Shay, the lovee who’s requited.
The first book in the series, Uncaged, was a nice little treat, especially when it empowered kids who were willing to hold up their fists in the face of bad grown-ups. One of my favourite moments was when two of Singular’s men try to abduct Shay at Twist’s hotel and all the roughneck kids sabotage them and not only prevent them from doing so but scaring them off quite effectively. Yeah, these kids scooped off the streets aren’t afraid to make people scared of them. Shay and her new friends also start performing stunts that illegally get the public’s attention way long before the police can, for fear of people being inspired to imitate, take down the evidence. My favourite was when they manage to decorate the Hollywood mountain logo in thousands of Christmas lights in the middle of the night. The second book in the series was also fun but was unfortunately more conventional in the action department. This third book’s approach is basically the most legal way possible, if sneaking past razor-wire fences, abducting the guards and capturing evidence of burned bodies is legal (that last one is, anyway), and that way is reaching out to the press and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Another thing I forgot about prior to starting this book but remembering this book is filled with is these kids are trained in combat and/or spying, but they’re also relatably imperfect. They also use Google Maps and basic research while fretting over the internet connection, and do long last-second road trips and hide out in motels. Most of the things these guys do is things I could see lots of people being able to do in the same way. It’s kind of like Michael Vey, where in that book series, the kids had superpowers and that’s why they had to head out on missions, but they were not only in a war they were never trained for, but there are machines their enemy institution has up its sleeve to render their powers mute. Kind of like how Singular tries to come up with genius dastard ways to discredit the heroes.
This is also not an action book that spends four fifths of its time sitting around planning. That’s not what people were excited to read about in the third and final entry. There’s loads of chapters that spring side missions, and loads of times where you can’t help but wonder if arrests are about to be in order.
One flaw I want to bring up is that it was a little hard to believe the FBI, even with a bit of evidence, would both take what Shay and Twist bring seriously and have their base as connected and up-to-date as they are here. After two years of journalism, I learned that lots of people, even journalists and detectives themselves, will not be interested in someone’s case unless it’s straight to the point and simple, and it feels like too often our heroes bring overly protracted information to new listeners of the case. But at least at the same time, we feel that Singular’s attempts to slither out of the mess are working, and that it’s Shay and Twist that have it rough trying to expose and cancel the criminal organization. Very few times in this series (and in the whole mission the series glides in) have they had the upper hand, and that does get to oneself as feeling simply unfair, making you want to know how this will all end.
What would’ve brought the book back up to when it was as fresh as the first entry, what would’ve been the cherry, would be if the president in this almost congruent-to-ours world had been Barack Obama. Because God knows Obama would not have stood for the Singular corp’s despicable schemes, and if this book were to be published a year later, in 2017, God knows Knopf, this book’s publisher, would’ve made a few big tweaks to keep the storyline modernly acceptable. One example is a supporting Republican Conservative character who, while he admits his base’s reputation would discredit his testimonies, is still on the evil and phony side when it comes to environmental and humanitarian issues. John Sandford and Michele Cook probably would’ve changed this fact had they realized the future. And while I won’t spoil how the book ends, I will say how the characters conclude their tale does make me feel like I didn’t waste my time picking up the rest of the series after Uncaged.
I can now add The Singular Menace to my ever-increasing list of book series I’ve completed. And though I don’t feel, “Oh my god, I have to start all over again, I can’t get enough of this”, I do feel, “Okay, maybe if I’m careful I could make off with my old mortal enemy teacher’s car and wallet and get away with it.” It’s fun reading something that persuades you that not everything in the world is as it seems.
From the beginning, it’s been war against Singular, a multinational yet hidden institution working on perfection in brain transplantation. Basically, they have definitive research that shows immortality by setting their brains inside a different, younger, healthier body can be possible. Whether it would happen perfectly has always been another story, but they’re catching up, and they’re not afraid to take hostages and use them as subjects for their research. A lot has happened ever since Odin Ramby attempted to rescue a dog from whatever research was being implemented, and he ended up waterboarded before escaping both with the dog and the info, as well as a need for help from his sister, Shay. Well, now Odin and Shay know how multinational this thing has gone; from pretty much every major country in the world, including and especially the tar pit of the world, North Korea. Singular’s menace, boss and bandit Thorne, had Odin’s new girlfriend, a subject named Fenfang they rescued, shot. Vigilantism is over. It’s now time for a showdown in the third book. Twist, businessman and guardian of dozens of kids, friendly drug dealer Danny, loyal canine X, animal activist Odin, Latino brothers Cade and Cruz, Cade being the tech whiz and Cruz being the lover boy, and Shay, the lovee who’s requited.
The first book in the series, Uncaged, was a nice little treat, especially when it empowered kids who were willing to hold up their fists in the face of bad grown-ups. One of my favourite moments was when two of Singular’s men try to abduct Shay at Twist’s hotel and all the roughneck kids sabotage them and not only prevent them from doing so but scaring them off quite effectively. Yeah, these kids scooped off the streets aren’t afraid to make people scared of them. Shay and her new friends also start performing stunts that illegally get the public’s attention way long before the police can, for fear of people being inspired to imitate, take down the evidence. My favourite was when they manage to decorate the Hollywood mountain logo in thousands of Christmas lights in the middle of the night. The second book in the series was also fun but was unfortunately more conventional in the action department. This third book’s approach is basically the most legal way possible, if sneaking past razor-wire fences, abducting the guards and capturing evidence of burned bodies is legal (that last one is, anyway), and that way is reaching out to the press and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Another thing I forgot about prior to starting this book but remembering this book is filled with is these kids are trained in combat and/or spying, but they’re also relatably imperfect. They also use Google Maps and basic research while fretting over the internet connection, and do long last-second road trips and hide out in motels. Most of the things these guys do is things I could see lots of people being able to do in the same way. It’s kind of like Michael Vey, where in that book series, the kids had superpowers and that’s why they had to head out on missions, but they were not only in a war they were never trained for, but there are machines their enemy institution has up its sleeve to render their powers mute. Kind of like how Singular tries to come up with genius dastard ways to discredit the heroes.
This is also not an action book that spends four fifths of its time sitting around planning. That’s not what people were excited to read about in the third and final entry. There’s loads of chapters that spring side missions, and loads of times where you can’t help but wonder if arrests are about to be in order.
One flaw I want to bring up is that it was a little hard to believe the FBI, even with a bit of evidence, would both take what Shay and Twist bring seriously and have their base as connected and up-to-date as they are here. After two years of journalism, I learned that lots of people, even journalists and detectives themselves, will not be interested in someone’s case unless it’s straight to the point and simple, and it feels like too often our heroes bring overly protracted information to new listeners of the case. But at least at the same time, we feel that Singular’s attempts to slither out of the mess are working, and that it’s Shay and Twist that have it rough trying to expose and cancel the criminal organization. Very few times in this series (and in the whole mission the series glides in) have they had the upper hand, and that does get to oneself as feeling simply unfair, making you want to know how this will all end.
What would’ve brought the book back up to when it was as fresh as the first entry, what would’ve been the cherry, would be if the president in this almost congruent-to-ours world had been Barack Obama. Because God knows Obama would not have stood for the Singular corp’s despicable schemes, and if this book were to be published a year later, in 2017, God knows Knopf, this book’s publisher, would’ve made a few big tweaks to keep the storyline modernly acceptable. One example is a supporting Republican Conservative character who, while he admits his base’s reputation would discredit his testimonies, is still on the evil and phony side when it comes to environmental and humanitarian issues. John Sandford and Michele Cook probably would’ve changed this fact had they realized the future. And while I won’t spoil how the book ends, I will say how the characters conclude their tale does make me feel like I didn’t waste my time picking up the rest of the series after Uncaged.
February 9, 2017
I'm leaving my review for the full series here. This series is not underrated so much as it isn't well-known enough. If you are looking for a teen espionage series that reads like an adult series, this is the series for you. It's pretty well-written, technical, and has enough action to blend strategy and adrenaline properly. It may be a tad far-fetched, but is close to believable, which says something about the effectiveness of the author's plot and research. I would recommend it heartily for anyone who wants a mature but still not too dense action series that doesn't waste time.
April 28, 2018
I’m a big fan of the Prey novels, though Im not familiar with Cook, and this looked like a fun series. I loved it. The characters were well fleshed-out, complex, and believable. This book was a great way to end the series.
It starts right where the cliffhanger of Outrage left off and pucks up from there. Certain parts were downright fright and something I loved was that Shay and her crew did not escape consequences of their actions.
The action is intense. What’s amazing about this series is while a lot of the goings-in seem utterly far-fetched the authors made the resources realistic, the plans detailed, and the action thoroughly believable. A ton of fun and highly recommended for teens or adults.
It starts right where the cliffhanger of Outrage left off and pucks up from there. Certain parts were downright fright and something I loved was that Shay and her crew did not escape consequences of their actions.
The action is intense. What’s amazing about this series is while a lot of the goings-in seem utterly far-fetched the authors made the resources realistic, the plans detailed, and the action thoroughly believable. A ton of fun and highly recommended for teens or adults.
August 11, 2019
What a finish to this series. I think I read the first book 5 or so years ago. This final one wrapped it up wonderfully and even set the stage for Sanford and his wife to write another one. Hope they do but not sure they will as I haven’t heard anything about more stories for Shay and Harmon and the rest of the gang. X is one of the better dog characters I’ve come across. This last one felt very much like a Davenport or Flowers book. If you like them give these 3 little books a shot.
October 11, 2016
Ok I enjoyed this final book in the trilogy. I was glad to see there may be more about Shay. But if not we know she is continuing her life.
I thought the first book and the one was better than then middle one
But all three were worth a read.
I thought the first book and the one was better than then middle one
But all three were worth a read.
November 25, 2018
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Rampage: The Singular Menace, Book 3
•by John Sandford & Michele Cook
OVERVIEW: Shay Remby and her band of renegade activists (Twist, a wealthy artist and owner of a teen shelter; Harmon, former military and Singular's ex intelligence chief; Odin her hacker/genius brother; Cruz her beau; Cade, the groups invaluable computer specialist; X the Singular enhanced dog and various others) have got the corrupt Singular Corporation on the run. Their expos' is finally working. Or is it?
Even as revelations about the human experimental subjects break in the news, Singular's employees are slithering out of sight. And then the CEO (Micah Cartwell) is killed in a plane crash . . . Convenient accident--or sabotage?
Shay's gang begins to see signs that there may be even more powerful figures managing events--mopping up the mess, and moving the operation further out of sight. It will take nothing short of a rampage to stop the Singular menace for good. . . .
After the dockside gunfight at the conclusion of book 2, Singular's ship of captives slipped away before the cops arrived. Shay, dog X and Harmon are still on board, hiding. The bad guys are headed upriver away from Frisco with kidnapped North Koreans and Chinese human experiments on board.
The Singular Corporation is attempting to provide immortality for select members of the rich and powerful by kidnapping an expendable donor, erasing their memory and transferring the consciousness of an entitled client into the vacant brain/body. Old, ill and filthy rich? You too can extend your life by having your mind placed in a young, healthy body. That's the plan, which is still in the trial-and-error phase. In the meantime the kidnapped test subjects do not live long after the procedure.
Dallas Harmon fires his rifle toward shore to compel someone to call the cops. After shooting toward the gunman on the control deck they jump overboard and swim ashore. When the ship hits the Antioch bridge the Singular crew abandons ship as well. The imprisoned test subjects are very publicly rescued and hospitalized. Shay's gang also releases video telling of Singular's crimes, the death of Fenfang, Senator Dash's involvement--all the gory details.
But this doesn't end the Singular Menace, they're doing damage control and continuing operations at Senator Dash's secluded ranch and lab in New Mexico. Here the Shay gang again rescues test subjects and calls in the FBI who confirm a burn pile of many cremated experiment victims.
Dash appears to have ended herself, suicide on pills and a note. It was actually Thorne's doing as he "cleans up" and prepares for renewed operations in Honduras. Thorne is Singular's enforcer, an all-around useful guy: torturing and waterboarding Cade and Odin when they were captured; a gun expert and many other dirty deeds.
A former SEAL, Thorne's greatest achievement lay before him. He's to assassinate the president from the unbelievable distance of twenty-two hundred yards (a mile and a quarter), using a computer-assisted custom rifle. He'll be payed a fortune and once the mind transfer procedure is perfected he'll live forever. The plan is to kill POTUS so vice president Jeffers can replace him. Since the VP is in collusion with the Singular Menace, he'll be able to squelch investigations with his executive powers.
Shay and company figure out the prez will be shot during his speech at the Intrepid Museum on the Hudson and knowing the distance of the shot they locate the shooter's building.
Shay, X and Twist race to the site and barely overpower Thorne's CIA accomplice. Twist is shot in the leg. On the 12th floor Thorne has just programmed the shot and bumps the rifle when X attacks. Dog, girl and assassin are in a desperate struggle, as Thorne wrenches the gun from her hand she pulls her custom knife, plunging the blade into his chest.
The story ties up loose ends and has some details on various characters. In the hospital POTUS pays her a visit and explains the cover up, Thorne acted alone, Dash died of suicide etc., but promises her all those involved will be punished. The VP, for example, will resign due to health reasons, late-stage cancer. He's not expected to survive.
The new Singular location is in Honduras, planned in cooperation with el presidente. Two JDAM bombs are dropped on the site, ending the three remaining Singular administrators (Dr. Janes, Royce a billionaire client and the money man, neurosurgeon Ian Wyeth).
The story ends with Shay, soon-to-be 17, given the choice of returning to high school or serving as a spy. They need a young girl to befriend Yuri, the ne'er-do-well son of a Russian bigwig living in London, in order to plant a surveillance bug in a wall outlet. Ok, if she gets her confiscated knife back from the Secret Service and can bring her dog along.
.
Best, most entertaining of the three and the most unbelievable.
The Singular Menace series:
(Young adult audience)
1. Uncaged (2014)
2. Outrage (2015)
3. ● Rampage (2016)
.
Rampage: The Singular Menace, Book 3
•by John Sandford & Michele Cook
OVERVIEW: Shay Remby and her band of renegade activists (Twist, a wealthy artist and owner of a teen shelter; Harmon, former military and Singular's ex intelligence chief; Odin her hacker/genius brother; Cruz her beau; Cade, the groups invaluable computer specialist; X the Singular enhanced dog and various others) have got the corrupt Singular Corporation on the run. Their expos' is finally working. Or is it?
Even as revelations about the human experimental subjects break in the news, Singular's employees are slithering out of sight. And then the CEO (Micah Cartwell) is killed in a plane crash . . . Convenient accident--or sabotage?
Shay's gang begins to see signs that there may be even more powerful figures managing events--mopping up the mess, and moving the operation further out of sight. It will take nothing short of a rampage to stop the Singular menace for good. . . .
After the dockside gunfight at the conclusion of book 2, Singular's ship of captives slipped away before the cops arrived. Shay, dog X and Harmon are still on board, hiding. The bad guys are headed upriver away from Frisco with kidnapped North Koreans and Chinese human experiments on board.
The Singular Corporation is attempting to provide immortality for select members of the rich and powerful by kidnapping an expendable donor, erasing their memory and transferring the consciousness of an entitled client into the vacant brain/body. Old, ill and filthy rich? You too can extend your life by having your mind placed in a young, healthy body. That's the plan, which is still in the trial-and-error phase. In the meantime the kidnapped test subjects do not live long after the procedure.
Dallas Harmon fires his rifle toward shore to compel someone to call the cops. After shooting toward the gunman on the control deck they jump overboard and swim ashore. When the ship hits the Antioch bridge the Singular crew abandons ship as well. The imprisoned test subjects are very publicly rescued and hospitalized. Shay's gang also releases video telling of Singular's crimes, the death of Fenfang, Senator Dash's involvement--all the gory details.
But this doesn't end the Singular Menace, they're doing damage control and continuing operations at Senator Dash's secluded ranch and lab in New Mexico. Here the Shay gang again rescues test subjects and calls in the FBI who confirm a burn pile of many cremated experiment victims.
Dash appears to have ended herself, suicide on pills and a note. It was actually Thorne's doing as he "cleans up" and prepares for renewed operations in Honduras. Thorne is Singular's enforcer, an all-around useful guy: torturing and waterboarding Cade and Odin when they were captured; a gun expert and many other dirty deeds.
A former SEAL, Thorne's greatest achievement lay before him. He's to assassinate the president from the unbelievable distance of twenty-two hundred yards (a mile and a quarter), using a computer-assisted custom rifle. He'll be payed a fortune and once the mind transfer procedure is perfected he'll live forever. The plan is to kill POTUS so vice president Jeffers can replace him. Since the VP is in collusion with the Singular Menace, he'll be able to squelch investigations with his executive powers.
Shay and company figure out the prez will be shot during his speech at the Intrepid Museum on the Hudson and knowing the distance of the shot they locate the shooter's building.
Shay, X and Twist race to the site and barely overpower Thorne's CIA accomplice. Twist is shot in the leg. On the 12th floor Thorne has just programmed the shot and bumps the rifle when X attacks. Dog, girl and assassin are in a desperate struggle, as Thorne wrenches the gun from her hand she pulls her custom knife, plunging the blade into his chest.
The story ties up loose ends and has some details on various characters. In the hospital POTUS pays her a visit and explains the cover up, Thorne acted alone, Dash died of suicide etc., but promises her all those involved will be punished. The VP, for example, will resign due to health reasons, late-stage cancer. He's not expected to survive.
The new Singular location is in Honduras, planned in cooperation with el presidente. Two JDAM bombs are dropped on the site, ending the three remaining Singular administrators (Dr. Janes, Royce a billionaire client and the money man, neurosurgeon Ian Wyeth).
The story ends with Shay, soon-to-be 17, given the choice of returning to high school or serving as a spy. They need a young girl to befriend Yuri, the ne'er-do-well son of a Russian bigwig living in London, in order to plant a surveillance bug in a wall outlet. Ok, if she gets her confiscated knife back from the Secret Service and can bring her dog along.
.
Best, most entertaining of the three and the most unbelievable.
The Singular Menace series:
(Young adult audience)
1. Uncaged (2014)
2. Outrage (2015)
3. ● Rampage (2016)
.
March 5, 2018
“Rampage,” the third book in the series The Singular Menace created by John Sandford and Michele Cook, was an excellent finale to the series. I selected this book because I was already hooked on the series after reading the first two books, and I was excited to see how the series would end. It also got my attention because after reading “Rules of Prey” by John Sandford, I wanted to read more of his books. The suspenseful scenes made this book shine above others for me. The suspenseful scenes were so interesting that whenever I encountered one, I always wanted to read more. It became even more interesting as things escalated, and the main characters Shay, Cruz, Twist, Odin, Cade, and the newly aligned ally Harmon pulled through chaos to achieve their goals.
At the beginning of the book, Odin, who is Shay’s brother, was a caring boy who wanted to help Fenfang, a prisoner who befriended the group after they saved her from Singular. She was suffering and slowly dying because of Singular’s experimentation on her. However, her life was cut short when she was shot in a raid against Singular. Odin was right beside her when she died, and was heartbroken and enraged by her death, “How did this happen to her? She lived in China. She was going to college and was living her life, and she ends up in America, with her head cut open like some worthless lab rat.... How did that ever happen?”(Sandford, Cook, 22). This experience caused Odin to change his perspective on life. He realized that many innocent people were dying, so rather than just saving Fenfang, he became an activist to save as many people as he could no matter the cost.
“Rampage” is a book written for teenagers and young adults. These readers will easily relate to the characters and be engaged by the plot. Because of the language utilized throughout the book, it is not fit for younger readers. The readers who will thoroughly enjoy this book are those who enjoy action and suspense, but prior to reading it they should read the first two books in the series to thoroughly understand and enjoy it. Readers will be intrigued by the many confidential missions that define the fate of the world. I loved the story and the suspenseful moments, and I am sure that the ending will leave all readers satisfied.
At the beginning of the book, Odin, who is Shay’s brother, was a caring boy who wanted to help Fenfang, a prisoner who befriended the group after they saved her from Singular. She was suffering and slowly dying because of Singular’s experimentation on her. However, her life was cut short when she was shot in a raid against Singular. Odin was right beside her when she died, and was heartbroken and enraged by her death, “How did this happen to her? She lived in China. She was going to college and was living her life, and she ends up in America, with her head cut open like some worthless lab rat.... How did that ever happen?”(Sandford, Cook, 22). This experience caused Odin to change his perspective on life. He realized that many innocent people were dying, so rather than just saving Fenfang, he became an activist to save as many people as he could no matter the cost.
“Rampage” is a book written for teenagers and young adults. These readers will easily relate to the characters and be engaged by the plot. Because of the language utilized throughout the book, it is not fit for younger readers. The readers who will thoroughly enjoy this book are those who enjoy action and suspense, but prior to reading it they should read the first two books in the series to thoroughly understand and enjoy it. Readers will be intrigued by the many confidential missions that define the fate of the world. I loved the story and the suspenseful moments, and I am sure that the ending will leave all readers satisfied.
March 11, 2020
This book touched me personally because it really threw me back to something I would have been really interested in reading a couple of years ago, but is now a bit repetitive for me. It was also nice reading because it is similar to the concepts of some of my favorite TV shows, so the storyline kept me intrigued throughout. I gained the insight of someone who is in the position of a behind the scenes organization that is not really official according to the government, but chases criminals and evil people because it is their human nature. When Harmon explained why he continues to do these missions even after being shot it really gave me a new perspective of the reasoning behind anyone doing dangerous jobs like these. This book helped me to look at the world from a more conspiracy theory lens. It puts things that could potentially be going on behind the scenes and within the government in my mind and made me realize that for high power figures, their public image could just be a persona, and not the real them. I liked the storyline of the book, but I would’ve liked it more if the plot were a little more advanced and it was a bit more catered towards adults. The author repeating the same concept for every mission was very repetitive to me and kind of got old about halfway through the book. I probably would read another book by the author if I was two years younger, but not now.
July 14, 2017
The horrors of the human experimentation at Singular have been exposed. Their CEO is trying to do damage control when his plane explodes killing all onboard. Will this end the reign of terror sponsored by Singular? Probably not, because the money behind the throne, the people who are desperate to either live forever or live free of a debilitating disease, are still out there, still determined to have what they want.
Thankfully Shay and her friends will not rest until this plan is thwarted. This story neatly wraps up the saga of Singular corporation while still leaving an opening for more novels featuring Shay.
That premise was a bit hokey for my taste, but I do like Shay and I do like the thought that she might have more adventures. I don't especially like the idea that a seventeen-year old would routinely be involved in these life and/or death situations. This smacks greatly of how Sandford has been developing the Letty character in the Prey novels. I may not really like it, but I do like how he handles his characters, so I will wait and see if there are more Shay adventures to come.
Thankfully Shay and her friends will not rest until this plan is thwarted. This story neatly wraps up the saga of Singular corporation while still leaving an opening for more novels featuring Shay.
That premise was a bit hokey for my taste, but I do like Shay and I do like the thought that she might have more adventures. I don't especially like the idea that a seventeen-year old would routinely be involved in these life and/or death situations. This smacks greatly of how Sandford has been developing the Letty character in the Prey novels. I may not really like it, but I do like how he handles his characters, so I will wait and see if there are more Shay adventures to come.
June 16, 2019
Sooooo disappointed. Sandford gives Cruz and Shay sexual appetites like callous, casual sex-ers rather than teenagers--especially Shay, a sixteen year old from the Midwest. Cruz tells her, "Now that we're home, it'd be nice to spend some time with you. In my room. Alone." How romantic. Never mind the fact that they've been on missions for several weeks and hardly know each other , much less had time to have in depth conversations. Never mind that Cruz has already punched an older woman (yes, a despicable criminal, but still) in the mouth and ruined her teeth. Never mind that Sandford and co are treating Shay's character like she's a hardened sex addict instead of a sixteen year old girl--not woman. Girl. This is so nasty; I'm ready to put it down. Epic fail on character creation. It feels like I'm reading some slick franchise-like spy series. Not worthy or in any way beneficial for young adults. Yuck.
January 10, 2020
YAF is young adult fiction.
This novel lies squarely between YAF and grown-up fiction. The main character is a sixteen-year-old girl, a little old for YAF, but too young to be believable. The bad guys put electronic gizmos in their victims’ heads, creating zombies, a staple of YAF. The plot is simple, easy for a YA to understand, but with enough gore to qualify as adult fare.
If you value your reputation as a literary person or general-purpose sophisticate, you won’t want to be seen reading this. However, you can do as I did and read it on line, so people who see you reading it will assume you’re re-reading Middlemarch. But read it you should, if you like John Sandford’s Prey and Flowers novels. This has the same pace, the same really awful bad guys, and the same ability to allow a reader to suspend reality and enjoy.
But I’ll have to deny having recommended Rampage, lest you underestimate my sophistication and taste.
This novel lies squarely between YAF and grown-up fiction. The main character is a sixteen-year-old girl, a little old for YAF, but too young to be believable. The bad guys put electronic gizmos in their victims’ heads, creating zombies, a staple of YAF. The plot is simple, easy for a YA to understand, but with enough gore to qualify as adult fare.
If you value your reputation as a literary person or general-purpose sophisticate, you won’t want to be seen reading this. However, you can do as I did and read it on line, so people who see you reading it will assume you’re re-reading Middlemarch. But read it you should, if you like John Sandford’s Prey and Flowers novels. This has the same pace, the same really awful bad guys, and the same ability to allow a reader to suspend reality and enjoy.
But I’ll have to deny having recommended Rampage, lest you underestimate my sophistication and taste.
October 5, 2019
Initially, this book starts much like the previous two in the series, with Shay, Twist, Harmon and the rest of the ragtag crew running around trying to harass Singular Corporation. I had felt while reading the prior books that the overall plot was rather simplistic for Sandford - the evil corporation opposed by the environmental animal-rights activist troop of sincere but bumbling young people. I have read everything Sandford has written, and his stories are grittier and more complicated than this. However, somewhere in the middle of this one, my opinion shifted more toward the positive, and I really enjoyed the last half and the conclusion. If you've gotten this far in the series, finish it.
Also, as it concludes, it appears that the stage is set for a follow on series. I'm interested to see if this proves to be true.
Also, as it concludes, it appears that the stage is set for a follow on series. I'm interested to see if this proves to be true.
March 30, 2024
Singular is working to develop the technology that would allow them to capture a person's sentience and transfer it to another body. It's an ambitious undertaking, but they've assembled a remarkable cadre of billionaires, politicians, corporate oligarchs, elite soldiers, and scientists to make it happen. The trouble is they've run through the trials on dogs, now they need humans. Since one of the side effects of being a subject of this study is death, they're kidnapping subjects from North Korea and elsewhere. Shay Renby, attempting to help save her brother from the aftermath of one of his anarchist animal saving raids, stumbles onto this plot. She, with the help of Twist, a hippie, anarchist, artist, and Harmon, an elite soldier and former Singular employee, vows to stop them.
This is the final intallation of the trilogy. They are all good. This is the best.
This is the final intallation of the trilogy. They are all good. This is the best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2019
My rating for the books in the series went down with each book. I struggled to finish this third one. The author was very detailed, almost too much at times, about the action in the book but the characters remained flat to me throughout the series. I kept thinking we would get more development of them- occasional little nuggets about them that were never fleshed out. And I know this was not a romance novel but so little was made about the possible love triangle and then romance that I wonder why it was even included. It did nothing to further the story. The first book showed promise but the next 2 almost felt like they had been written by someone else. And the ending was left open for another book but I have not seen anything yet. I would probably read it though.
July 6, 2020
It is hard to say if this was the best of the 3 or tied with the second book in the series. I'd say it edged that second book and is the best of the 3. Oddly enough, it has the least amount of action. The series - The Singular Menace - is unlike the Prey books, Virgil Flowers, the Kidd novels or anything else Sanford has written. And it is definitely better than Saturn Run. The biggest problem in these books is it is kids going after the bad guys. You can almost hear that line from Scooby Doo, "....and I've have gotten away with it if it weren't for you kids." Except those are cartoons. This book is about people and it is not very believable. Still, it is fiction, and if you set your brain aside while you read these books, they are enjoyable.
June 18, 2017
All because some billionaires do not want to die! The conspiracy to use human subjects in illegal experiments with the North Koreans is now found to involve people in the highest levels of our government and includes a plot to assassinate the President. Also seemingly ripped from today's headlines, a number of subjects who have been turned into zombies by the neurological studies done of them are rescued; although most can no longer function and will not survive the experimentation. An exciting story following Shay Remby, her brother Odin, Twist, and the others from Books I and II, which involves twists, sub-plots, and cover-ups. A great read.
September 24, 2023
The Singular Menace series has definitely supplanted The Phantom Menace as the worst trilogy with the word Menace in the title. I am a big fan of the Lucas Davenport novels and decided to try some of John's other works for fun. It turned out to be less than fun. It wasn't until I was finished with the third cheesy book that I realized why this book was nothing like his other books, it is heavily influenced by his wife who apparently is a goofball "social justice" type, vegetarian of course, etc which explains a lot about why the book is so heavy handed with the messaging. Give this one a pass if you are older than 12 and understand issues often have a little more nuance.
July 30, 2018
This is the final installment of a totally implausible plot line. Despite that comment, I loved the series due to the characters. Shay, Odin, Cruz, Cade, Twist, and X were truly memorable. The end was satisfying as the bad guys' plans were all blown up (so were the bad guys). The only thing I missed was some closure on Cade and Cruz. I'm glad I delayed reading the first one until the other two had been published. One last thought - if hackers can really do all the things that Cade did to track people, I'm glad I don't have a cellphone.
September 27, 2018
This book changed my thinking in more ways than one. I've never been a Sci-fi type of reader, but this was John Sandford so, I'm reading it. This is the final book in the three part series. Read in order, read them all and don't wait. Besides being a fan of his Davenport and Flowers characters, I have now become his Sci-fi fan as well. Go figure. His writing kept me motivated to continue reading from start to finish without putting it down. I read all three in less than two days I couldn't wait to find out the rest of the story.
August 24, 2017
Like others, I enjoyed the first two books in the series a lot. The psychological drama seemed equal to the physical action, in a good way. This third book, though, seemed just a wrapping up of the story without the same excitement. Nothing was so surprising in this book that I worried over it, the way I did with the previous two books. The trilogy was a good read, but I don't think I'll read it again.
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