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Invisible Armies
Evans, who has been carving a niche for himself as the author of travel thrillers — Dark Places (2004), The Blood Price (2005) — returns with another entertaining adventure. Danielle Leaf was just doing a favor for a friend, delivering a passport to a woman in India. Abducted and thrown in a dank cell, Danielle is utterly confused until a fellow prisoner explains that she has stumbled into the middle of a battle between a multinational mining company and a determined and potentially violent group of protesters. Escaping from their captors, Danielle and her new friend, the charming Laurent, run for safety. Moving at a brisk clip, the story ranges from rural India to Paris to London, blurring the line between good and evil along the way until it pretty much ceases to exist. Evans, something of a globetrotting adventurer himself, keeps growing as a storyteller, and this is his most accomplished thriller yet. Pitt, David
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 24, 2008
This is the first Jon Evans novel I have read. What an adventure in reading! This book is positively vibrating with intensity and action. If you want a book that you will not want to put down, this is the book for you. The action is constant with occasional breaks where you can catch your breath before again boarding that rollercoaster ride through the pages. I found that with all the switchbacks and turnabouts I was holding my breath. This book spun me around and topsy-turvy with every change in direction. At first I found the narrative bits a bit unsettling, somewhat like watching a TV program with voice-over narration for the blind, but I soon overcame that feeling with the dialogue and action.
The story begins with a somewhat typical girl, Danielle, doing a favour for a friend. She is soon literally fighting for her life and for humanity. Nobody is who they seem, nobody wants to trust anyone else. This book will amaze you in how far the world has actually come in technology, but don’t concern yourself with whether you will understand technobabble; it will usually be explained. I guess you could say technology is one of the heroes. Jon Evans has built a brilliant story which includes the best and worst in people, greed, awareness, and the survival instinct in all of us. It takes us to different countries and in dark places and communities which seem worlds away. I highly recommend this book, it is outstanding in its genre. If it weren’t for the few calm spots in the book, I would have had to read it cover-to-cover in one sitting. In fact, I finished it at 3:00 in the morning. You will not be unaffected.
The story begins with a somewhat typical girl, Danielle, doing a favour for a friend. She is soon literally fighting for her life and for humanity. Nobody is who they seem, nobody wants to trust anyone else. This book will amaze you in how far the world has actually come in technology, but don’t concern yourself with whether you will understand technobabble; it will usually be explained. I guess you could say technology is one of the heroes. Jon Evans has built a brilliant story which includes the best and worst in people, greed, awareness, and the survival instinct in all of us. It takes us to different countries and in dark places and communities which seem worlds away. I highly recommend this book, it is outstanding in its genre. If it weren’t for the few calm spots in the book, I would have had to read it cover-to-cover in one sitting. In fact, I finished it at 3:00 in the morning. You will not be unaffected.
December 16, 2013
Sorry, Mr. Evans, this book was a big ol' pile of stinking poo. I gave it two stars only because I was so fascinated with what a train-wreck it is that I had to finish it.
I liked Jon Evans' previous works, in that I applauded him for creating a unique niche for himself in the mystery genre and while some aspects of his niche were more interesting to me: trekking, travel, and his protagonists solving crimes with technology from a hacker/geek perspective; personally, others were miserable for me: the whole "Burner", hippie/tripper/raver culture. I understand how these subcultures intermingle in the real world, so I found it valid, if insufferable.
With Invisible Armies, those less favorable aspects made the work completely unbelievable and cannibalized the believability of his other portions with more merit. Also, I felt that his techno-hacker angle both Jumped the Shark on this one AND felt more pedantic than ever �����in that, "I am going to prove to you that I know this stuff!" sort of way.
Mix that in with horrible bouts of expository dialogue and the cliche Man Behind the Enemy tactic and, uggghhhh!
Piece of poo!
I liked Jon Evans' previous works, in that I applauded him for creating a unique niche for himself in the mystery genre and while some aspects of his niche were more interesting to me: trekking, travel, and his protagonists solving crimes with technology from a hacker/geek perspective; personally, others were miserable for me: the whole "Burner", hippie/tripper/raver culture. I understand how these subcultures intermingle in the real world, so I found it valid, if insufferable.
With Invisible Armies, those less favorable aspects made the work completely unbelievable and cannibalized the believability of his other portions with more merit. Also, I felt that his techno-hacker angle both Jumped the Shark on this one AND felt more pedantic than ever �����in that, "I am going to prove to you that I know this stuff!" sort of way.
Mix that in with horrible bouts of expository dialogue and the cliche Man Behind the Enemy tactic and, uggghhhh!
Piece of poo!
April 12, 2008
an enjoyable novel of escape into a reality-based world of activist action. there were a lot of things i liked about this book and the characters, but none of it was very deep. this was a lovely distraction.
however, there was a point in the novel where i started feeling a bit dirty for reading an action-adventure tale about anti-globalisation protests and direct action. it's like anarchist porn. but hey, we all need that sometimes.
reading a hardback novel from harpercollins that talks about the wobblies and the black bloc made me feel that my dignity needed a shower, but i'd still pass this on as a well-written novel for a ferry ride or bedtime book.
however, there was a point in the novel where i started feeling a bit dirty for reading an action-adventure tale about anti-globalisation protests and direct action. it's like anarchist porn. but hey, we all need that sometimes.
reading a hardback novel from harpercollins that talks about the wobblies and the black bloc made me feel that my dignity needed a shower, but i'd still pass this on as a well-written novel for a ferry ride or bedtime book.
October 6, 2007
I'm not normally a reader of thrillers, but this book is a notable exception. Sure, it isn't Ulysses, but it is thoughtfully-written and tightly plotted. As a geek, I was especially charmed by Evans' cranky black-hat hacker, Keiran Kell. I couldn't tell you how well Evans captures the atmosphere in exotic locales such as Bangladore and Goa, but I can say that he sketches out DEFCON and hacker culture with a deft hand. It's no easy task to write a book about hacking without falling victim to the worst and most idiotic movie cliches - I am, for example, willing to pay good money for the disembodied heads of the people who wrote the screenplay for Swordfish - but this book avoids every one of those pitfalls.
Read this, my geek friends. Read it now.
July 16, 2013
This is a thriller. It at first appears to be about selfless anti-corporate investigators probing diseases around a mine in India. It morphs into a love story between the main protagonist Danielle Leaf and Laurent Cing-Mars, and then into a diabolical plot by a billionaire to keep himself alive despite his cancer. Evans does a fine job with settings---India, London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and so on---imparting the sense that he's been to each. Hacking is one of the prime themes and there is much to learn about it as Keiran and Danielle move from place to place, first allied with the investigators and then running from the plotters. Characters are well done and the action amps up nicely. All in all a quite good read.
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January 11, 2008Love the genre of thriller, and this was very well paced and I always enjoy the international venue.
January 22, 2015
I really enjoyed the plot line of this book but I was really bothered by the frequent use of the "f" word thus the reason for the low rating.
December 2, 2015
I kept reading this book and the whole time i was like "Holy Crap!"...it was one thrilling ride to the next after every page.
April 7, 2016
Wow!
Exciting book, couldn't put it down. First book I've read from this author, what a great read it was!highly recommend this book!
Exciting book, couldn't put it down. First book I've read from this author, what a great read it was!highly recommend this book!
June 30, 2021
Once in a while, I like to escape and indulge in some edge of my seat action-adventure movie. This was the book form of my escape. Unlikely characters get caught up in criminal plots by evil rich companies or people and find themselves fighting for their lives and the greater good.
"You say businesses exploit the Third World, and that’s why its people are so pitiable and deprived? You stupid selfish cunt. The Third World is hopelessly poor and sick and ignorant because it’s been hopelessly poor and sick and ignorant forever, and its governments are corrupt sociopathic kleptocracies. Free trade, big business, capital investment, globalization, all the things you hate, those are the only fucking hope of the people you say you want to save."
In the last twenty-four hours of terror and misery she has been pursued, bruised, bloodied, nearly drowned and frozen, and now falsely accused of mass murder in the eyes of all the world – all for nothing more than the sin of knowing too much, trusting too much, and wanting to help people. She is sick of running. She wants revenge.
Danielle is a wealthy young woman drifting through life trying to find some kind of anchor. While staying in an ashram in India she goes off to do a favor for a friend. She finds herself entangled in a scheme with a handsome hero, Laurent, a former Foreign Legionnaire. Daniel ends up reconnecting with Kieran, a (cyber underworld) renowned computer genius. The story gets into the technicalities of hacking but it’s not eye-glazing. Just when you think it is clear cut who the evildoers are, there are unexpected twists and turns.
This book was actually one of those lingering on my Kindle that I wanted to clear. I usually do not have high expectations of the ninety-nine cent deals. This was a pleasant surprise.
"You say businesses exploit the Third World, and that’s why its people are so pitiable and deprived? You stupid selfish cunt. The Third World is hopelessly poor and sick and ignorant because it’s been hopelessly poor and sick and ignorant forever, and its governments are corrupt sociopathic kleptocracies. Free trade, big business, capital investment, globalization, all the things you hate, those are the only fucking hope of the people you say you want to save."
In the last twenty-four hours of terror and misery she has been pursued, bruised, bloodied, nearly drowned and frozen, and now falsely accused of mass murder in the eyes of all the world – all for nothing more than the sin of knowing too much, trusting too much, and wanting to help people. She is sick of running. She wants revenge.
Danielle is a wealthy young woman drifting through life trying to find some kind of anchor. While staying in an ashram in India she goes off to do a favor for a friend. She finds herself entangled in a scheme with a handsome hero, Laurent, a former Foreign Legionnaire. Daniel ends up reconnecting with Kieran, a (cyber underworld) renowned computer genius. The story gets into the technicalities of hacking but it’s not eye-glazing. Just when you think it is clear cut who the evildoers are, there are unexpected twists and turns.
This book was actually one of those lingering on my Kindle that I wanted to clear. I usually do not have high expectations of the ninety-nine cent deals. This was a pleasant surprise.
September 6, 2021
Another charity find....a new author for me. When I read the description, I expected an entirely different book to the one I read. To be honest, in places I was thinking that this was 'twee' but then the story developed in to something far more gritty. I know nothing about computers or hacking but found myself becoming increasingly intrigued by this hidden world. I am genuinely not sure whether anything he wrote could be possible, but I am sure it is. Frighteningly so!
I found the characters that Jon Evans presents us with foolishly naive but so often people become entwined with their passions and don't examine the bigger the bigger picture.
Jon Evans has a talent for description and tells a story that is pacy and has complex plot, but the dialogue is at times too stilted. However, I enjoyed the read and am sure this will be a film one day!
I found the characters that Jon Evans presents us with foolishly naive but so often people become entwined with their passions and don't examine the bigger the bigger picture.
Jon Evans has a talent for description and tells a story that is pacy and has complex plot, but the dialogue is at times too stilted. However, I enjoyed the read and am sure this will be a film one day!
January 25, 2019
1invisible armies makes you happy not to be involved with this group
Just when you think things look fine you get shot down. This didn’t have a HEA ending....just hopeful that folks would behave. And do good rather than evil. It does look as if the really awful people are dead or gone but the way it was going anything could happen. I was sorry the way it ended, but it was a good ending
Just when you think things look fine you get shot down. This didn’t have a HEA ending....just hopeful that folks would behave. And do good rather than evil. It does look as if the really awful people are dead or gone but the way it was going anything could happen. I was sorry the way it ended, but it was a good ending
February 1, 2024
It holds surprisingly well after more than 10 years (not obvious for a techno-travel-thriller), it has unexpected depths, there were twists that surprised me, the protagonist was very believable (and a bit irritating), the hackers were great. The writing was adequate, sometimes good. Served well my pontual need for intelligent but not demanding fun.
June 5, 2017
A pretty good techno thriller, but I feel Jon Evans has some repeating topics to work with. While a stand alone book it felt eerily similar to night of knifes.
August 4, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
November 18, 2017
Decent story
Naive woman losses her innocence on how the world works. An insight into what money can buy without morality. Silence, hackers, killers.
Naive woman losses her innocence on how the world works. An insight into what money can buy without morality. Silence, hackers, killers.
July 17, 2016
The book explores issues such as the exploitation of third-world countries, extreme anti-capitalist activism and takes a look behind the power of public protest and the politics of big business. It shows that in today’s modern world, where security cameras record every move you make and databases determine who you are, a select few play god by manipulating and controlling our technology. Those would-be gods can make themselves rich, save lives or ruin people on a whim, even change history and get away with murder.
This is the painful truth that Danielle Leaf, the main character in this story, learns.
When Danielle, in India studying Yoga, is asked by her old boyfriend Keiran to deliver a passport to a woman in a remote village she doesn’t think too much about it and sets out on an afternoon motorcycle ride to deliver it. However she could never have imagined how dramatically that errand would change her safe and secure life. So much so that she ends up a wanted fugitive running from the authorities and fearing for her life. Before she knows it she and Keiran find themselves caught in a war between a multinational corporation and an anti globalization movement.
Danielle quickly learns that things are not always black and white and finds out the hard way how an obvious conspiracy can be used to cover up dark secrets. While Keiran, a genius hacker, helps to get them out of the hairy situations that follow he sometimes makes things worse, getting them into even more trouble.
The characters are interesting and well developed and take you on a journey of self-discovery as they learn that things are not always black and white, thereby forcing them to make up their own minds about what is right and wrong. The story flows well and is thought provoking at times, making the reader consider issues like internet privacy, public surveillance or how safe they really are in the modern highly digital world where all their information is potentially stored on the cloud.
Overall this is a captivating story and well written around fascinating concepts. It’s definitely a bit different and more engaging than your average action and adventure suspense novel.
This is the painful truth that Danielle Leaf, the main character in this story, learns.
When Danielle, in India studying Yoga, is asked by her old boyfriend Keiran to deliver a passport to a woman in a remote village she doesn’t think too much about it and sets out on an afternoon motorcycle ride to deliver it. However she could never have imagined how dramatically that errand would change her safe and secure life. So much so that she ends up a wanted fugitive running from the authorities and fearing for her life. Before she knows it she and Keiran find themselves caught in a war between a multinational corporation and an anti globalization movement.
Danielle quickly learns that things are not always black and white and finds out the hard way how an obvious conspiracy can be used to cover up dark secrets. While Keiran, a genius hacker, helps to get them out of the hairy situations that follow he sometimes makes things worse, getting them into even more trouble.
The characters are interesting and well developed and take you on a journey of self-discovery as they learn that things are not always black and white, thereby forcing them to make up their own minds about what is right and wrong. The story flows well and is thought provoking at times, making the reader consider issues like internet privacy, public surveillance or how safe they really are in the modern highly digital world where all their information is potentially stored on the cloud.
Overall this is a captivating story and well written around fascinating concepts. It’s definitely a bit different and more engaging than your average action and adventure suspense novel.
September 28, 2008
Young lady gets asked to deliver a passport to a friend of a friend in some outback part of India. Gets stopped by some dudes in uniforms who search her pack and plant a bag of weed and then put her in a cell. Soon after that a guy gets thrown in with her (after being beaten outside her cell). He’s a macho ex-French Foreign Legion dude and together they break out and make their escape. And then things really get going.
A pretty good high tech thriller with lots of hacker stuff and terrorists and super rich dudes. I liked it. I’ll keep an eye out for more from Jon Evans.
A pretty good high tech thriller with lots of hacker stuff and terrorists and super rich dudes. I liked it. I’ll keep an eye out for more from Jon Evans.
December 29, 2010
Picture improbable action movies and you've got this book. But I still enjoyed it. Danielle gets sucked into a world of corporate espionage, Indian thugs, sexy French military men, computer hackers and pharmaceutical malpractice. Everything happens to this girl and she doesn't know who to trust and what is going to happen next. It's a whirlwind, but pretty darn exciting. From now on, I'm never connecting to a hotel wireless connection again! I have also read The Blood Price from this author, and it was pretty exciting, too.
November 7, 2015
A really good book. Lots of twists and turns. Requires little suspension of disbelief if you already have a paranoid streak about greedy people and corporations.
The most remarkable part is how uncomfortable the book managed to make me feel about the main characters as they went through their story arcs. There is true tension between liking and relating to them, and being repulsed by what they're doing. I won't say any more.
Overall, another good read, found by way of Bruce Sterling'a recommendations on Twitter.
The most remarkable part is how uncomfortable the book managed to make me feel about the main characters as they went through their story arcs. There is true tension between liking and relating to them, and being repulsed by what they're doing. I won't say any more.
Overall, another good read, found by way of Bruce Sterling'a recommendations on Twitter.
September 14, 2010
I was in the mood to read a book about hackers and voilá, someone recommended this one to me (thanks Boing Boing). It is a good book if You happen to be a nerd or in love with all things tech (I am in between) so It was a fast read and Evans took me for a ride telling me exactly what a hacker can and can't do. So if You like thrillers this particular book will appeal to You too. Go get It It is worth your time.
April 2, 2013
Sometimes I pull things off my wishlist without knowing why I put it on there in the first place. (I have a long wishlist.) In this case the acknowledgements include a bunch of my friends, so probably that’s why.
It’s a thriller, with a eco-terrorism theme. The first half is superb. The second half dissatisfied me–it felt (to me) that the later plot twists were there to be twisty, rather than emerging from the characters and situation.
It’s a thriller, with a eco-terrorism theme. The first half is superb. The second half dissatisfied me–it felt (to me) that the later plot twists were there to be twisty, rather than emerging from the characters and situation.
September 4, 2011
The idea of the book was interesting. I loved the concept and I think over all the book would make a fantastic movie but the way it is written is sometimes hard to read. The author often drags on the narrative and some sections of the book feel clunky. The book could have easily been 100 pages shorty and arrived at the exact same point and it would have been a better book.
June 12, 2012
I bought this book on Pixel of Ink yesterday morning (free Kindle book) and I am really enjoying the setting (modern India) and the thriller espionage plot! I will want to read more of his books, for sure.
Just finished it...very exciting and lots of fun to read. I guess I love computer hacker novels. For a book published in 2005 about technology, it was surprisingly current.
Just finished it...very exciting and lots of fun to read. I guess I love computer hacker novels. For a book published in 2005 about technology, it was surprisingly current.
November 4, 2016
Jon Evans is a talented writer. Dark Places was a great book with fantastic descriptions of travel destinations, and countries around the world.
I guess the disappointment of this book, is that is starts so strong, set in rural India, and then kind of fades to just another book set in America.
Is it bad when you hope the bad guys win?
I guess the disappointment of this book, is that is starts so strong, set in rural India, and then kind of fades to just another book set in America.
Is it bad when you hope the bad guys win?
January 10, 2017
Even after ten years, this book holds up pretty well. Yeah, some of the technology references are a bit dated (people using hiptops instead of our now ubiquitous cell phones), but it still a really solid infosec thriller and the use of botnets and zero-day exploits feel just as relevant a decade later.
January 11, 2008
An interesting thriller that taps into computer geek culture. Fast read but so good I picked the other two books by this author.
July 6, 2008
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Very smart. Great character development. It's nice to see modern cyberpunk treat computer technology in a semi-realistic manner.
November 24, 2008
The basics of hacking.
February 11, 2010
Entertaining and fast-paced with a good story. Read the full review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews