Customer Rating: 



Review Summary: Misdirection, but compelling plot
Review: By definition, a thriller is supposed to take the reader by surprise, plotting suspense with conflict. Archer achieves these objectives with aplomb, detailing the world of art auction and intrigue. The twists, however, aren't completely unexpected if you've seen art heist films like "To Catch a Thief" or "Legal Eagles." "False Impression" is compelling, notching up the stakes with every twist. However, some of the details seemed mis-directions, like the timing of the novel beginning on 9/10/2001, and misleadingly pivoting at the World Trade Towers on the day of the terrorist attacks. That it ends up being merely incidental to the plot leaves a false impression.
Customer Rating: 



Review Summary: No stone left unturned in this thriller
Review: This is a superb classic thriller that offers unsurpassed insight as well as foresight in human passions and foibles in this jittery post 9/11 era. His description of bad acts and bad thoughts are so real, palpable and gripping albeit a bit unreadable at times and yet his noble spirit of statesmanship shines through as I read passages like [he] is straight from "the Bronx to ... Brooks Brothers" attire and room "blazing with light" and finally at the end of the story in a banter where the conversation lends itself to a possibility of disagreement he says, "You are not Irish."
Customer Rating: 



Review Summary: Not a masterpiece, but still a favorable 'Impression'.
Review: Archer mixes intrigue in the art world with the aftermath of 9/11 in this caper. The main plot is interesting, although pacing and character development, two of Archer's trademarks, aren't quite what they have been in previous works. The Romanian background of the main characters makes for a bit of a change from more typical Russian or German characters in stories like this. However, as noted, many of the characters are a bit superficial, and the 'Romanian gymnast' angle seems outdated.
The romance between Anna and Jack, like many others in these 'thrillers', is forced, and, worst of all, too much of the book is taken up with the 'cat and mouse chase' through airports on several continents. This would probably look better on screen than it read on the printed page.
There aren't enough 'digressions' to wreck the story, but they do tend to show up in odd places.
Once the story shifts back to England, the 'twists' are satisfactory, and the plot reaches an agreeable conclusion. The book gets us from point A to point B with visits to just about all points in between.
Good enough to staisfy Archer's fans, or at least anyone who's read him at least once before. Maybe not the best place to start if you're new to his work...try the 'Collected Short Stories' first.
Customer Rating: 



Review Summary: Okay book.
Review: I have the paperback and on the front cover there is a quote saying' "A worthy successor to the Da Vinci Code." So im thinking, 'hey this should be pretty interesting to see how he uses Van Gogh.' The more into the book however, the more I began to notice it is nothing at all like the Da Vinci code, which is fine by me but the book is pretty bland. There is no killer motive behind the crime besides the fact that Fenston, the villain, likes artwork, and there are no real twists that keep you hanging when you put down the book until the morning. In fact, I felt more or less halfway through the book that finishing it is more of a chore. In all it is not a bad book, and there are some pretty intense chapters, but overall does not grab you in my opinion.
Customer Rating: 



Review Summary: Fair At Best
Review: I was hoping for a little more from Jeffrey Archer after the long layoff. He's written a few of my favorite novels, but I was kind of indifferent to this one. The pacing is a little slow and it never really pulled me in.
There's nothing wrong it, but it is definitely not in the same category as K&A or The Fourth Estate.