Thou Shalt never get caught..... Review on Eleventh Commandment, The - Jeffrey Archer

Thou shalt never get caught..........The Eleventh Commandment!

This is the story of Connon Fitzerald who is a CIA assassin, a devoted husband and a responsible father. This is the story about his bravery and how he manages to double cross the devious Helen Dexter who thinks she would save her neck by crossing Connon. This is yet another action filled and topsyturvy novel by Jeffrey Archer.

But I was slightly disappointed because The Eleventh Commandment isn't as interesting and intriguing as rest of Archer's works. Although the book is non-put-downable and the story takes dramatic turns almost with every page, it however isn't convincing enough. The story begins with Connon assassinating a Colombian presidential candidate. It's an open secret that CIA is involved in this assassination but the Director of CIA, Helen Dexter, would go to any length to deny this fact. After successfully completing the mission, Connon is hired once again

to accomplish what would be his last mission. But what happens henceforth keeps your intrest till the very last page of the book.

Archer has some love or contempt for Russia I guess. Because like his previous novel 'Matter of Honour' there is a lot of Russian element involved. The novel is set into the present time or maybe a bit into the future for there are refrences of Mandela as aslo Yeltsin dying. Also the American president Tom Lawerence says at one point,'' If Clinton can afford such a risk, so can I''. So one can easily say it's set into future but the characters don't seem to be well acquainted with the technology. Therefore some of the incidents are very unrealistic but fascinating nonetheless. However I may be horribly wrong about the plot being set into future.

All the characters in the book are brought about very well but still

the characters like Maggie, Connon' wife and D'Cleasy are a bit too mysterious. Archer could have well expounded and made this novel over 500 pages, but thankfully it's a mere 337 pages. And I personally feel that the book was some 50 pages too long. The author could have easily done away with unnecessary situations.

The best thing about the book......

The Eleventh Commandment is extremely fast paced. One thing follows

another quickly without giving the reader time to wander away from the plot. However the best part is it's more like a narrative, and within a few paragraphs we are taken from one place to another, back to the first place. Another thing I liked about the book is the sacrifice Connon's friend makes for him. 'You are lucky to have a friend like him'......truely what a friend can do for friend is glorified by this one sentence. Apart from this emotional element the novel could be described as action-thriller overall. A must read if you read for entertainment purpose.

Happy Reading and a very Happy new year to you all

Comments are most welcome....