Review of Waterworks
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Lisa M Murray
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Review of Waterworks
[Following is a volunteer review of "Waterworks" by Jack Winnick.]
On a sunny California day, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power learns from the FBI that there is a terrorist plot to contaminate the water supply that serves the entire metropolitan area. Soon thereafter the FBI’s Department of Homeland Security agent contacts two revered foreign agents and arranges for them to infiltrate the suspected country behind the attack. The US must determine who is behind this horror and stop them from any attempt to do it again.
Thus begins Waterworks, the fifth installment of the Lara and Uri series by Jack Winnick.
Married foreign agents, Lara Edmond and Uri Levin, are tasked with going undercover in Tehran, where the US government believes the terrorists are based. Due to their being known to the foreign government, Lara and Uri are required to don elaborate disguises and, because time is of the essence, to memorize their new identities within a handful of days.
They are dropped off at their respective home bases in Tehran and soon infiltrate different departments of the government. The terrorists are planning an attack on another major U.S. city. Will Lara and Uri succeed in thwarting another attempt to sabotage the water supply?
With scenes alternating between Uri and Lara as they work on their assignments, the narrative moves along steadily. While the plot is fairly predictable, there are moments that provide some intrigue, but, in general the story line isn’t very engaging. Both Lara and Uri embed themselves into their new roles and find information about the next planned attack nearly as soon as they arrive. Everything miraculously falls into place which leaves little room for surprises. Even when things go a bit sideways and one of their cover’s is blown, the other agent is conveniently placed into a situation to aid their partner within 24 hours of learning of their partner’s demise.
Also, most of the characters are two-dimensional and can be classified as being either a “good guy” or “bad guy.” The dialogue is predictable and stereotypical on both sides. If the author had taken more time, they could have developed these characters more to explore their back stories and any inner conflicts they may or may not have. This would have made the story much more engaging.
Even though this is the fifth book of a series, Waterworks doesn’t require reading the prior four installments. Lara and Uri refer to past events periodically, but nothing they say renders the reader lost.
Overall, I would rate this book as a 1 out of 4. I love reading an exciting spy novel, but I didn’t find any characters in this book engaging enough to feel connected to them. I really wanted to like it since, per the author’s notes, the plot is based on real science and military information. But, alas, it did not live up to expectations.
******
Waterworks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
On a sunny California day, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power learns from the FBI that there is a terrorist plot to contaminate the water supply that serves the entire metropolitan area. Soon thereafter the FBI’s Department of Homeland Security agent contacts two revered foreign agents and arranges for them to infiltrate the suspected country behind the attack. The US must determine who is behind this horror and stop them from any attempt to do it again.
Thus begins Waterworks, the fifth installment of the Lara and Uri series by Jack Winnick.
Married foreign agents, Lara Edmond and Uri Levin, are tasked with going undercover in Tehran, where the US government believes the terrorists are based. Due to their being known to the foreign government, Lara and Uri are required to don elaborate disguises and, because time is of the essence, to memorize their new identities within a handful of days.
They are dropped off at their respective home bases in Tehran and soon infiltrate different departments of the government. The terrorists are planning an attack on another major U.S. city. Will Lara and Uri succeed in thwarting another attempt to sabotage the water supply?
With scenes alternating between Uri and Lara as they work on their assignments, the narrative moves along steadily. While the plot is fairly predictable, there are moments that provide some intrigue, but, in general the story line isn’t very engaging. Both Lara and Uri embed themselves into their new roles and find information about the next planned attack nearly as soon as they arrive. Everything miraculously falls into place which leaves little room for surprises. Even when things go a bit sideways and one of their cover’s is blown, the other agent is conveniently placed into a situation to aid their partner within 24 hours of learning of their partner’s demise.
Also, most of the characters are two-dimensional and can be classified as being either a “good guy” or “bad guy.” The dialogue is predictable and stereotypical on both sides. If the author had taken more time, they could have developed these characters more to explore their back stories and any inner conflicts they may or may not have. This would have made the story much more engaging.
Even though this is the fifth book of a series, Waterworks doesn’t require reading the prior four installments. Lara and Uri refer to past events periodically, but nothing they say renders the reader lost.
Overall, I would rate this book as a 1 out of 4. I love reading an exciting spy novel, but I didn’t find any characters in this book engaging enough to feel connected to them. I really wanted to like it since, per the author’s notes, the plot is based on real science and military information. But, alas, it did not live up to expectations.
******
Waterworks
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Freedom Building by Martin Kendall
