Review of The Handler

[Erin Dydek]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Handler" by Jeffrey S. Stephens.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Nicholas Reagan follows rumors of a new technology called the Ghost Chip deep into the underbelly of Shanghai, China. But before the CIA operative can discover whether the microchip that can render a cell phone untraceable and send a high frequency to set off explosives exists, Nick gets pulled back into an orchestrated effort to prevent a series of violent attacks planned for the United States.

As Nick and his partner Carol Gellos try to close in on the attackers, the radical jihadists seem to stay one step ahead. If the rumored Ghost Chip truly exists, will this network of al-Qaida recruits use the technology in their efforts to enact the mandates of the Koran? It's a race against time as Regan and Gellos work to intercept the aggressors before they can harm hundreds of innocent people. But when intelligence efforts indicate that the next round of violence will target the heart of America, will Reagan and Gellos be able to respond in time, or will they fall prey to the cleverly designed distraction planted by the enemy?

Follow Nick Reagan in The Handler, a page-turning thriller by Jeffrey S. Stephens. I loved the non-stop action in this plot-driven novel. From the beginning, it was easy to see that Nick was a confident and highly competent character who was willing to put himself in danger to get the job done. I enjoyed following his thought process as he intercepted the clues and worked toward bringing an end to the vicious acts sponsored by organized hate. There were several heart-wrenching moments along the journey, and this book kept me glued to the pages until the end. A well-rounded conclusion left me satisfied with this novel, and I appreciated how the author addressed the lingering questions. Stephens summarized each loose end through Nick's reflections, leaving me confident that he would handle these ongoing events in future books in the series.

I further appreciated how the author kept the complex storyline engaging and easy to follow. I never felt overwhelmed by the number of characters and moving parts included in the plot, and I thought the author did an excellent job coordinating all the action and suspense. The book had three parts, and I loved how each section built into a climatic end before Nick was off again to work on the following problem. Nick's confidence reassured me that he would find a solution to each crisis he faced, but I was never able to predict how he would do it or how each event would play out. Reading each portion of the book was exciting, and I found nothing to dislike.

There were very few lingering errors in this 438-page book, and the minor things I noticed did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. Therefore, I give The Handler: A Nick Reagan Thriller four out of four stars. Readers who enjoy fast-paced action and espionage will enjoy this novel. There was non-borderline swearing infrequently throughout the novel and little to no sexual content. If you preferer character-driven novels, this book may not be a good fit. The author focused more on the plot than character development, so I didn't notice much growth or change in Nick, Carol, or any supporting characters. Still, the author's imaginative blend of fiction and reality made this book hard to put down, and I highly recommend it!

******
The Handler
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Israel10]

I further appreciated how the author kept the complex storyline engaging and easy to follow. I never felt overwhelmed by the number of characters and moving parts included in the plot, and I thought the author did an excellent job coordinating all the action and suspense.

[Laura Ungureanu]

This plot-driven thriller sounds very engaging to fans of the genre. Presenting a new technology could be quite thought-provoking for the readers. However, it's not something I would enjoy reading. Congrats though!

[Victoria Ukamaka]

The book is action filled. I like that Nick is dedicated and ready to put himself in harm's way to get the job done. I enjoyed reading this review.

[Manang Muyang]

"If the rumored Ghost Chip truly exists, will this network of al-Qaida recruits use the technology in their efforts to enact the mandates of the Koran?"

I wonder if the Koran really contains that mandate. Regardless, I hope nobody discovers that Ghost Chip. The world already has too many problems to grapple with without it.

[Ferdinand_Otieno]

This is an interesting crime thriller fiction novel highlighting a fast-paced captivating plot, and a unique protagonist determined to stop terrorism. The book is temporarily discounted on Amazon Kindle and has an inciteful OnlineBookClub review. Congrats on the BOTD selection.

[AntonelaMaria]

Not the book for me. I don't care about this synopsis at all. However, this technology seems like something that already exist.

[Kabeer Ahmed]

I love thriller books but the ones I read. Actually, I hate when it's against some religion, . . . Sorry, names of a certain religion. I couldn't tell if al-Qaida possessed the Ghost Chip. Don't wanna know. Should be amazing book. I don't wanna see 4 out of 4 starts go waste.

[Pandora10]

This is not a book I would enjoy reading, but I can appreciate that it has an exciting story line and will appeal to fans of this genre that enjoy a plot driven story.

[Riya Sarkar]

I love books which has a lot of characters and is actually well written enough that the characters are memorable and not very hard track. This book sounds just like that!

[Ivan Mukaaga]

“It's a race against time as Regan and Gellos work to intercept the aggressors before they can harm hundreds of innocent people“. This was really not simple task. I am just left wondering, did they succeed in saving the innocent? I loved the characters’ boldness and determination to reach their goal.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

I do prefer character-driven stories, but I can appreciate that it must be incredibly hard to create so many subplots and characters without it being confusing for the reader.
Great review!

[Astan Isaiah]

The new technology aspect sounds interesting and the review is well written. The book itself appears to have factual inconsistencies with actual Islamic beliefs and if it is the authors intention to show the story from a biased American agent's view then they did a good job. However, I wouldn't read this due to the bias and factual inconsistencies.

[Yasmyna Feraru]

Bravo to both the author AND the reviewer. I love the 3-steps journey tha main character has to go through, hopefully increasingly harder, and I particularly enjoy the idea of confident characters who specialize in technology. People are usually bound the idea of "badass" only if you're some high-trained fighter or something.
Compliments to the reviewer too, one of the best I've ever read. Great word using and plot explanation. Can't wait to give it a try

[Candy Candy_]

This kind of books has very specific fans, including me. According to your review, the author really depends on the story-line to keep the reader concerned on Nick's thrilling story.
How enjoyable!