Having read his previous books in this story line, I eagerly awaited this latest one. I wasn't disappointed. It was by far his best. I had to force myself to take a break from reading it due to nature's insistances. So what's next from this gifted author?
Morty Fink

Patrick Robinson has had a great run with Admiral Arnold Morgan. His crabby protangonist has grown tired saving the United States from various and sundry enemies. To The Death is intended to be the coda to Morgan's tale. Unfortunately, Robinson should have put Morgan to bed one book ago.

To The Death starts out strongly. A terror attack on Logan Airport, some torture in Guantanamo, then a nice bombing in Syria. Things are looking great. However, looks are deceiving. By page 80 or so, To The Death dies! The rapid fire action and dialogue we have come to love disappears. Even a submarine cameo can't bring To The Death back to life.

In a situation similar to Joel Rosenberg's Dead Heat, Robinson faces the dilemna of maintaining action while ending a series. He can't introduce new characters, he can't create new plot lines, he can't leave any loose ends. So, To The Death becomes, almost by necessity, a slow march to the grave.

I would strongly urge new Robinson readers to go back to the beginning. Read Kilo Class and all the early volumes in the series. Then pretend To The Death was never written and create your own ending to Morgan's duties. Not only will you be able to create a better tale than Robinson did here, you will also save yourself 20 bucks.

After I converted these CDs to MP3 for on my iPod, I gave the disks to some Canadian friends. Then I started listening to the book and wanted to take it back before they listened to it. Made me embarrassed to be an American. Patrick Robinson didn't used to be a boorish writer.

I like his stories. I usually prefer him in audio, because he's so detailed. It's easier to listen and multitask. Just don't know where he lost his sensitivity.

--pat

In this newest Robinson book Admiral Morgan is once again the hero. After a terrorist bomb plot is stopped in Boston's Logan Airport the services of Admiral Arnold Morgan are once again called for by President Paul Bedford. One suspect is arrested and shipped to Guantanamo Bay by
Admiral Morgan. After gathering intelligence through intercepts a band
of terrorists are arrested. The discover that Hamas General Ravi Rashood
is the brains behind this operation. In conjunction with the Israelis the
home of Ravi Rashood is blown off the face of the earth. Ravi is not in the house and Shakira survives. The Hamas War Council decides that it is time for Admiral Arnold Morgan to die. Shakira goes to America and gains valuable information from Kathy Morgan's mother about where Admiral Morgan will be traveling on an upcoming vacation. General Rashood attempts to kill Admiral Morgan in London and misses. The President assigns Commander Rick Hunter(SEAL) to be Morgan's bodyguard. This leads to a confrontation in Scotland where there will be a battle "to the Death". This is without question a very good book. Be sure not to miss it.

I enjoy plausible fiction in which means that occasionally the characters in those works of fiction are larger than life, their motives are realistic and the cliches are kept to a minimum.

I didn't find this book to fit that model. I have not read any of Patrick Robinson's other books so I don't know if this is a pattern or if it's unique to this one work. Perhaps if I read the previous Admiral Morgan stories, I would have enjoyed this one more. I felt that it read "flat" and was too stereotypical and to predictable to get a great review from me.

Patrick Robinson must be a fan of Frederick Forsyth... The similarities between this book and "The Day of the Jackal" are almost unbelievable...

I've read all of Mr. Robinson's books in this series; he writes great stories which keep you on edge. This book was the same. I am sorry to see the series end, that's one disappointment; the second I'll let other readers judge so I don't spoil the story.
Although I've read his books faithfully, I've never liked the racism and slurs he uses. While it's fine to have a conservative point of view if you want, it seems odd - even in fiction - to be hailing George W. Bush as a great leader. I suppose that's where the fiction comes in. Mr. Robinson, in writing his book, is certainly entitled to his own opinions - but I can agree on some level with Jack, and I did read the book first. I'm as patriotic an American as any, but the ideologue of all Middle Easterners being evil and hating the West is a bit one sided. I can praise Mr. Robinson for developing a female character who is thoughtful on this. But using epithets like "towelheads" has always taken away from his books. We know people think and use these words, but Mr. Robinson seems to encourage it. Do read his books, they are very entertaining, if a bit one sided, and form your own opinions. Mr. Robinson, please keep in mind, should you write future books, that we understand your objection to leaders who rule without listening to their people, kill innocents who have nothing to do with wars and conflicts, and believe their objectives are the will of God and that God speaks to them. Please also keep in mind, these flaws can be attributed to the United States as well - when you are lumping everyone together as an Islamic towelhead terrorist.
I'll conclude by saying I enjoyed the brilliant investigative mind of Commander Ramshawe, and was glad he was prominently featured. This is a character who would be interesting to see in the future. Thanks for the books Mr. Robinson, I wish you continued success and enlightenment.

This book will grab you page one when a bomb is found in Logan Airport. Then a passenger jet strays from traffic control, and heads directly for the White House. But this is not all guns and glory flying the right-wing political banner of the United States. This is actually a touching tale, of a lonely woman. A lonely Hamas warrior named Shakira - the beautiful wife of Ravi Rashood, the most dangerous criminal mind on earth. This is the story of her inner conflict, trapped in a web of international terrorism from which there is ultimately no escape. This is a wonderful, modern book. Please ignore the 1-star review, which is identically pasted from his nine other reviews of Robinson. What a spiteful man. This book is worth your time. Trust me.

A terrorist's bomb explodes in Logan airport - Admiral Arnold Morgan must hunt down those responsible. "To The Death" is a fast paced political thriller from New York Times Best Selling Author Patrick Robinson, and this is his finale to his much acclaimed Admiral Morgan series. In a plot to foil his own assassination, he must travel all over the world in this deftly written thriller, sure to please his legions of fans. "To The Death" is a must for community library thriller collections.

The guy above, "JACK" copied the same bad review to all of Patrick Robinson's books. Even ones he hasn't read. Just because he didn't like the "Political Undercurrent". Get a life man. It's a fiction story. Dropping in a 1 star review before the book is even out just screws the average for the rest of the people looking at buying it. Robinson's books are awesome. I've read every one of them and I can tell you "JACK" hasn't got a clue.

*

I am so sick of the political undercurrents in Patrick Robinson's books that I have stopped reading them. Though the stories are good, Robinson diminishes them by labeling and pigeonholing and demeaning anybody he does not agree with politically - especially Democrats. I stopped reading Scimiter SL-2 because I got so sick of it. I'm sure HarperCollins would sell more books if they could get him to stop the bashing.

Comment by Jack (1 comments.) -- June 1, 2008 @ 7:58 pm