The End of Enemies: 5

Mr. Cussler's cover quote says it all: The End of Enemies is pure fun, pure adventure!I picked up this book Friday evening and couldn't put it down all weekend. In fact, that's my only complaint: I lost some sleep because I couldn't tear myself away from it.Suspense, action, intrigue, espionage, globe-trotting adventure, and great characters--including the main guy, Briggs Tanner, who's a real hero's hero--The End of Enemies has got it all. Heck, it's even got a fair amount of mystery for those of you who like your mysteries with a dose of adventure.If you like Cussler, Clancy, Wilbur Smith, Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum, and all the other biggies, The End of Enemies is right up your alley. i highly recommend it. And the ending... Well, let's just say I don't think I took a full breath until the very last page!Only one question: When's Blackwood's next novel? I can't wait!

As a wannabe, I was thrilled to read about local writer Grant Blackwood's new book, The End of Enemies, in our hometown newspaper. I arrived early for the first noted book signing and was pleasantly surprised when Mr. Blackwood took several minutes to discuss the making of his book. I whizzed through the first two chapters before deciding the autographed paper back was too precious to render dog-eared and immediately placed an Internet order for a second, "expendable" copy. The End of Enemies is more than just a great story; it is a first novel by a master storyteller. While some have compared the work to James Bond stories, I found Mr. Blackwood's vast application of real world knowledge and his ability to spin a complex web and then bring it all neatly together more similar to the writing of Tom Clancy. Several chapters into the story-which switches settings and characters at breakneck speed-I forced myself to consider whether I truly understood the many pieces/parts. The answer was a resounding YES! The End of Enemies is written so well that it pushes reading speeds to new heights yet loses not a scintilla of comprehension. Though the frequent use of acronyms was a bit confusing at first, I quickly realized the modern world operates within a sea of abbreviations and that to fully spell out each term would inject an unnatural feeling, especially to dialogue. Bottom line: The End of Enemies is a terrific book and I heartily recommend it to all readers (PG13 and above, that is.) Gifted new writers don't surface often, and my only fear is that Grant Blackwood's talent could easily be overlooked in the light speed flow of new releases ... So, read the book and spread the word so that we may enjoy many, many more Grant Blackwood novels!

Blackwood masterfully mixes fast paced adventure and cliff hanger chapters with full character development that will keep the reader engaged throughout the book. Tanner and Stucky are fully developed and diametrically opposed characters who are sure to clash at every turn.Blackwood puts in enough naval and intel detail to keep fans of Clancy and Cussler on thier toes while his story and character development stand on their own merits. I'm a huge fan of John Sanford's "Prey" series and read this book and Sanford's latest in the same week...I'll be waiting just as eagerly for the next Blackwood as I will for the next Sanford!

I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The End of Enemies. I'd never read a book of this genre before, and was initially quite intimidated by the scope of the plot. I had nothing to fear. The End of Enemies is a fast-paced adventure with enough twists and turns that kept me turning the pages; even some of the more technical aspects of the book didn't slow me down. Threads of the plot weave together to form a tight story from start to finish. No questions are left unanswered, and there are no unnecessary side plots. The dialogue is natural and unforced. There is no gratuitous violence.There are several characters integral to the story, yet each one has a distinctly separate persona. I didn't confuse characters since I did not find them cut from the same cloth. Money and power, of course, drive the villains. Yet even the villains have more substance to them than your average bad guy. They aren't evil simply to be evil. There are real and believable driving forces beneath their actions.And Briggs Tanner isn't a hero simply to be a hero. He does what he does because of an inherently curious nature and a pulsing desire to uncover the truth, even if it puts his own well-being in danger. He's not afraid to put himself out there to protect the lives of those he cares about or the lives of innocent people caught in the crossfire. One could say these things about many fictional heroes, but I find Briggs Tanner to be a multi-dimensional character with fears, self-doubt and an intense loyalty to himself and those he knows he can trust. I look forward to learning more about him in upcoming novels. There is much we do not know about Briggs Tanner, and the author has merely scraped the surface.The End of Enemies will entertain you with a gradually escalating plot that puts you in the action. If you read any books this summer, this is the one to read!