Need You Now by James Grippando

A readable but uninspired thriller

Published in 2012 by Harper.

Did you ever read a book that was more interesting for the places that the characters went than it was for the characters themselves? Well, this book is one of those.

Not that this is a bad book - it starts with an interesting underlying plot involving a Bernie Madoff type of ponzi scheme and a hint that the government had worked to keep the scheme going long after it should have been discovered. Bring in contract killers, terrorist connections, a dying former mobster in the witness protection program, cell phones infected with GPS tracking viruses, a love story gone bad (but maybe on the rebound?), secret identities, a mathematical genius and a cub scout leader and you would think that you would have the makings of a fine thriller.

Instead, the book just cruises on autopilot. The characters feel a bit shallow. The story bounds from one twist and turn to another but they just felt a bit forced.

Once again, not a bad book - just not a great one.

I rate this book 3 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a preview copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book can be found on Amazon.com here: Need You Now.

Reviewed on December 17, 2011.