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Michael Chase #1
Lethal Circuit
A Chinese satellite is on crash course with Earth.
It contains enough plutonium to irradiate a large city.
And that's the good news...
In the tradition of Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton, and Robert Ludlum, comes a new hero.
Michael Chase is a twenty-six year old backpacker, a recent college grad, an amateur. He flew to Hong Kong to find his missing father. Four hours later, he's running for his life. The Chinese Secret Police want him dead. The Conspiracy wants him dead. And the one person who he thinks is on his side, may want him dead too. If Michael is going to live, he'll need to find a hidden piece of Nazi technology lost since World War II. And he'll have to do it before anyone else. Because if he doesn't, a little plutonium is going to be the least of his problems.
It contains enough plutonium to irradiate a large city.
And that's the good news...
In the tradition of Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton, and Robert Ludlum, comes a new hero.
Michael Chase is a twenty-six year old backpacker, a recent college grad, an amateur. He flew to Hong Kong to find his missing father. Four hours later, he's running for his life. The Chinese Secret Police want him dead. The Conspiracy wants him dead. And the one person who he thinks is on his side, may want him dead too. If Michael is going to live, he'll need to find a hidden piece of Nazi technology lost since World War II. And he'll have to do it before anyone else. Because if he doesn't, a little plutonium is going to be the least of his problems.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2011
156 people are currently reading
2238 people want to read
About the author
Lars Guignard
10 books406 followersLars Guignard is the author of the bestselling Zoe & Zak Adventure series and the Circuit series of novels.
Ever since attending high school in the Indian Himalayas, Lars has been an avid backpacker and traveler. After a stint spent circling the globe, he settled down long enough to attend the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. He then went on to work as screenwriter in the film and television industry.
After way too much California sunshine, Lars moved to the Pacific Northwest where he now devotes his time to getting rained on and writing books.
Lars can be contacted at his website (www.larsguignard.com) He would love to hear from you.
Ever since attending high school in the Indian Himalayas, Lars has been an avid backpacker and traveler. After a stint spent circling the globe, he settled down long enough to attend the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. He then went on to work as screenwriter in the film and television industry.
After way too much California sunshine, Lars moved to the Pacific Northwest where he now devotes his time to getting rained on and writing books.
Lars can be contacted at his website (www.larsguignard.com) He would love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
November 8, 2013
I don't read books in this genre much at all, but when it comes to audiobooks I'm usually willing to try anything (except horror). So while I may have enjoyed this less if I had read it, it was a thrilling ride on audio!
It's an action packed story about Michael Chase who has gone to China to find some answers about his father. Almost immediately crazy things start happening and he's running for his life. He's a very smart and resourceful guy, he can figure things out remarkably well. And he's pretty likable too, he seems like he might not know much at times, but what he does know, he takes a long way.
This is a book with twists and turns and things thrown in that change the whole game. Writing a review that's spoiler free is far more difficult then I had initially thought. Especially since so much is revealed at the end it has my head swimming still, days later. It's just safe to say that it's a wild and crazy ride, but I found it entertaining. And an added bonus was the fantastic setting of China (most of the time).
The narrator worked for this story for me. I'm not sure I would have liked him for another story, but strangely enough I felt like he really fit Michael's voice and the tone of the story. Sometimes I felt like he accentuated words a bit too much, but then again, I found it kind of fit the story too. So really, things that may have bothered me, just didn't really. I noticed them, made note of them, but never really dwelled on it. At times you could tell the difference when he had gone off and then came back on, the cadence of his voice had changed. A positive thing is that I liked that he had a different cadence to his voice when talking about Michael's past. There were parts that were kind of like memories of Michael's that needed to be separate from the story and I felt like he really pulled that off well.
Overall, I found this to an enjoyable listen. A bit outside what I normally read/listen to, but a nice change. And I'll definitely be watching for the next one!
It's an action packed story about Michael Chase who has gone to China to find some answers about his father. Almost immediately crazy things start happening and he's running for his life. He's a very smart and resourceful guy, he can figure things out remarkably well. And he's pretty likable too, he seems like he might not know much at times, but what he does know, he takes a long way.
This is a book with twists and turns and things thrown in that change the whole game. Writing a review that's spoiler free is far more difficult then I had initially thought. Especially since so much is revealed at the end it has my head swimming still, days later. It's just safe to say that it's a wild and crazy ride, but I found it entertaining. And an added bonus was the fantastic setting of China (most of the time).
The narrator worked for this story for me. I'm not sure I would have liked him for another story, but strangely enough I felt like he really fit Michael's voice and the tone of the story. Sometimes I felt like he accentuated words a bit too much, but then again, I found it kind of fit the story too. So really, things that may have bothered me, just didn't really. I noticed them, made note of them, but never really dwelled on it. At times you could tell the difference when he had gone off and then came back on, the cadence of his voice had changed. A positive thing is that I liked that he had a different cadence to his voice when talking about Michael's past. There were parts that were kind of like memories of Michael's that needed to be separate from the story and I felt like he really pulled that off well.
Overall, I found this to an enjoyable listen. A bit outside what I normally read/listen to, but a nice change. And I'll definitely be watching for the next one!
May 12, 2020
I feel Lethal Circuit by Lars Guignard reads like a Clive Cussler novel or an Indiana Jones movie and I do love a grand adventure.
Michael flies to China to investigate his father’s so called accidental death. The shit hits the fan as soon as he lands…and thank goodness Kate was there. Was it by coincidence?
Well, there are plenty of twists, turns, and betrayal that kept me reading until the last page was turned. I do love book surprises, and Lethal Circuit has its fair share.
See more at fundinmental
Michael flies to China to investigate his father’s so called accidental death. The shit hits the fan as soon as he lands…and thank goodness Kate was there. Was it by coincidence?
Well, there are plenty of twists, turns, and betrayal that kept me reading until the last page was turned. I do love book surprises, and Lethal Circuit has its fair share.
See more at fundinmental
January 4, 2012
Michael Chase is on a hunt for his father. He was told his father had died about 6 months ago, but with no body and no evidence, it was pretty hard to believe. So when he’s told that his father is still alive somewhere in China, he’s determined to find him, whatever the cost. Upon his arrival in Asia, he learns his father worked for the CIA and was deeply involved in a case involving a Nazi-related aircraft.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific Ocean, scientists are tracking a satellite that has been launched into space, has spiraled out of control, and is now heading directly for America’s West Coast.
How are these two things related? And how does Michael Chase find his father and save millions of people in California without getting himself killed? He meets up with Kate Shaw, another agent on a mission and together they work to uncover some of his father’s secrets. But she’s not the only one lending Michael Chase a helping hand.
I’ll admit, when I first began reading Lethal Circuit, I had trouble getting into it. I couldn’t keep track of all the characters that were so suddenly introduced — many of them with Chinese and Japanese names. I had trouble determining who was “good” and who was “bad,” and I didn’t understand how the two seemingly separate plots were connected. Not to mention, the beginning felt like any thriller I’d ever read before. Nothing new here.
But as the story continued, the relationship between Michael and Kate grows stronger, and they become closer to locating the Nazi aircraft. That’s when I couldn’t put the book down. In retrospect, I realize that my frustrations with keeping track of who was a “good” and who was “bad” were not accidental. That was the point of the story — to keep the reader guessing, questioning who to trust. Initially, I thought obvious foreshadowing about the “bad guys” gave the whole story away. But in the end, I realized it was a huge set-up for a major twist ending. Lars Guignard makes us realize there are so few people we can honestly trust, and perception is everything.
Upon finishing the novel, I’m excited to see what comes next. Lethal Circuit is meant to be the first in a series of Michael Chase spy thrillers by Guignard. The major storyline was left wide open — a perfect setup for more books to come. But how will Michael Chase grow? How will Guignard keep us guessing? It’s hard to say, but I have every intention of reading on and finding out.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific Ocean, scientists are tracking a satellite that has been launched into space, has spiraled out of control, and is now heading directly for America’s West Coast.
How are these two things related? And how does Michael Chase find his father and save millions of people in California without getting himself killed? He meets up with Kate Shaw, another agent on a mission and together they work to uncover some of his father’s secrets. But she’s not the only one lending Michael Chase a helping hand.
I’ll admit, when I first began reading Lethal Circuit, I had trouble getting into it. I couldn’t keep track of all the characters that were so suddenly introduced — many of them with Chinese and Japanese names. I had trouble determining who was “good” and who was “bad,” and I didn’t understand how the two seemingly separate plots were connected. Not to mention, the beginning felt like any thriller I’d ever read before. Nothing new here.
But as the story continued, the relationship between Michael and Kate grows stronger, and they become closer to locating the Nazi aircraft. That’s when I couldn’t put the book down. In retrospect, I realize that my frustrations with keeping track of who was a “good” and who was “bad” were not accidental. That was the point of the story — to keep the reader guessing, questioning who to trust. Initially, I thought obvious foreshadowing about the “bad guys” gave the whole story away. But in the end, I realized it was a huge set-up for a major twist ending. Lars Guignard makes us realize there are so few people we can honestly trust, and perception is everything.
Upon finishing the novel, I’m excited to see what comes next. Lethal Circuit is meant to be the first in a series of Michael Chase spy thrillers by Guignard. The major storyline was left wide open — a perfect setup for more books to come. But how will Michael Chase grow? How will Guignard keep us guessing? It’s hard to say, but I have every intention of reading on and finding out.
August 6, 2016
This is thriller entertainment par excellence! Gripping -- strong settings -- complex characters -- full of surprises!
Lethal Circuit grips the reader from the first pages, with sympathy for our young hero Michael Chase amid a growing web of dangers from Hong Kong far into mainland China. Guignard's sense of setting is impeccable, allowing us uninitiated readers to imagine and even smell the streets, buildings, and streams. His character development is superb, as Chase confronts multi-layered intrigues while seeking explanations for his father's death. Guignard's short flashbacks of the father-child relationship are just right, leaving the novel to flow and Chase's character to unfold, memorable weeks after the cover-to-cover reading.
Various close-calls and twists along with constant dangers keep the overarching plot moving and exciting. Besides his strong sense of place, Guignard has clearly done his research for very accurate representation of the various East Asian political and economic forces competing throughout the plot.
In a well executed balancing act, Guignard brings his surprise ending to a fine resolution while pointing clearly to a sequel, which I eagerly await. In this way reminiscent of Stieg Larsson, in others of Robert Ludlum and Michael Crichton, Lars Guignard brings his own polished voice to the thriller genre to stay.
Lethal Circuit grips the reader from the first pages, with sympathy for our young hero Michael Chase amid a growing web of dangers from Hong Kong far into mainland China. Guignard's sense of setting is impeccable, allowing us uninitiated readers to imagine and even smell the streets, buildings, and streams. His character development is superb, as Chase confronts multi-layered intrigues while seeking explanations for his father's death. Guignard's short flashbacks of the father-child relationship are just right, leaving the novel to flow and Chase's character to unfold, memorable weeks after the cover-to-cover reading.
Various close-calls and twists along with constant dangers keep the overarching plot moving and exciting. Besides his strong sense of place, Guignard has clearly done his research for very accurate representation of the various East Asian political and economic forces competing throughout the plot.
In a well executed balancing act, Guignard brings his surprise ending to a fine resolution while pointing clearly to a sequel, which I eagerly await. In this way reminiscent of Stieg Larsson, in others of Robert Ludlum and Michael Crichton, Lars Guignard brings his own polished voice to the thriller genre to stay.
February 25, 2012
Strap yourself in for a wild ride as backpacker Michael Chase gets caught up in the world of spies and secret agents. The action is pretty much non-stop and will keep you turning the pages (or if you read it on a Kindle like me, clicking on the "next page" arrow) relentlessly - you will not be able to let it go until you read to the very last page. The twists and turns keep coming as our fearless hero goes from adventure to adventure on the trail of his lost father, but gets redirected to a higher purpose, drawing in spy agencies, triads, and secret societies, all competing to locate lost Nazi technology buried in the ground for 60 years. This highly-branded "junior Bond" novel refreshingly updates the genre - Ian Flemming would be proud.
March 10, 2012
Innovative plot, well developed characters, and an ending I didn't anticipate! This was a book I couldn't put down. I stayed up 'til four in the morning to finish it! Michael who has just buried his father who died in an accident but whose body was never recovered. Michael goes to Hong Kong to find out what happened to his father and the adventure begins. This is certainly an author I want to hear lots more from!
January 8, 2012
Loved this book! It was very suspenseful with great twists and turned. Couldn't put it down, and can't wait for the next one!
December 17, 2013
Michael Chase just wants to find his father. Unfortunately, his father disappeared without a trace in China and a little digging reveals that his death was no accident. In fact, it appears his father was involved with a search for a Nazi airplane which various governments and organizations have coveted since WWII. The discovery that a Chinese satellite controlled by the same technology is falling out of orbit makes his search both urgent and a matter of life and death for more than just his father.
Most books that I rate three stars, it’s because I think they deserve exactly three stars. This book has three stars because it’s the middle rating and I have very mixed feelings about it. There are some parts that make me want to give it one or two stars (the main character accidentally ends up in the shower naked with an attractive woman, for crying out loud). But there are also parts that make me want to give it five stars, mostly the refreshingly different protagonist.
So let me get the two things that othered me about it out of the way and then I’ll tell you what made this such a unique thriller. My biggest problem was that we had two storylines with a male protagonist working with a woman who, based on their relative occupations, should have been more skillful than he was. But, of course, the male protagonist solved all of the problems with the woman acting as a sidekick. At the end of each storyline, there was a twist which made me rethink this character dynamic. However, that didn’t negate the fact that I’d spent most of the book really annoyed about it. The other problem I had was with one of these twists, which was a possibility that had occurred to me but which I ruled out because our narrator seemed to be third person omniscient. It bothered me because it made a big difference to how I experienced the story.
That said, if you like thrillers, but like me are getting a bit tired of the standard formula, you should probably give this book a shot. There are a few things that really made this book stand out to me. First of all, the main character has a background that gives him a reasonable chance of doing well after being thrown into a thriller. He isn’t just an average guy who somehow manages to do strangely well acting like a spy. Second, we know about his background because there are flashbacks to his early years with the father he’s searching for. This made me feel like we got to know our protagonist as a person a lot more than in most thrillers. It also added a bit of emotional impact to his search for his father. The twists were also pretty unpredictable, something I think it’s hard for an author to accomplish.
Finally, the narration was perfect for this type of story, but the women often ended up sounding like men. Some might argue this is an improvement over the breathy voice some male narrators use, but I found it a bit off-putting. Otherwise, the narration perfectly captured the drama of a thriller and did a great job making the story come to life.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
Most books that I rate three stars, it’s because I think they deserve exactly three stars. This book has three stars because it’s the middle rating and I have very mixed feelings about it. There are some parts that make me want to give it one or two stars (the main character accidentally ends up in the shower naked with an attractive woman, for crying out loud). But there are also parts that make me want to give it five stars, mostly the refreshingly different protagonist.
So let me get the two things that othered me about it out of the way and then I’ll tell you what made this such a unique thriller. My biggest problem was that we had two storylines with a male protagonist working with a woman who, based on their relative occupations, should have been more skillful than he was. But, of course, the male protagonist solved all of the problems with the woman acting as a sidekick. At the end of each storyline, there was a twist which made me rethink this character dynamic. However, that didn’t negate the fact that I’d spent most of the book really annoyed about it. The other problem I had was with one of these twists, which was a possibility that had occurred to me but which I ruled out because our narrator seemed to be third person omniscient. It bothered me because it made a big difference to how I experienced the story.
That said, if you like thrillers, but like me are getting a bit tired of the standard formula, you should probably give this book a shot. There are a few things that really made this book stand out to me. First of all, the main character has a background that gives him a reasonable chance of doing well after being thrown into a thriller. He isn’t just an average guy who somehow manages to do strangely well acting like a spy. Second, we know about his background because there are flashbacks to his early years with the father he’s searching for. This made me feel like we got to know our protagonist as a person a lot more than in most thrillers. It also added a bit of emotional impact to his search for his father. The twists were also pretty unpredictable, something I think it’s hard for an author to accomplish.
Finally, the narration was perfect for this type of story, but the women often ended up sounding like men. Some might argue this is an improvement over the breathy voice some male narrators use, but I found it a bit off-putting. Otherwise, the narration perfectly captured the drama of a thriller and did a great job making the story come to life.
This review first published at Doing Dewey.
November 18, 2013
When I was first approached to do the tour for this audiobook I was more than a little hesitant. I'm not a huge fan of audios unless I've already read the book because my mind wanders and I tend to tune the story out but since I usually only listen to ones I've read before I don't mind that so much. With this one I listened to the audio without having read the book and I'm really glad that in the end I came around and signed up for the tour.
Back before I was a blogger I was a huge fan of books like Lethal Circuit, but I find that since I started blogging my love for the genre has been pushed to the side a bit so it was really good to be able to get back into it with this audio. As I mentioned, I was nervous about the tour but in the end I really didn't need to be since it turned out quite well.
I enjoyed listening to the audio version of Lethal Circuit a lot. I think the narrator Ben Sullivan did a stand up job reading the book and he really made the characters come alive and I thought the way that that he would build up the suspense for the book by using different tones was fantastic. As for the author, I think Lars wrote a great thriller and I was able to get invested with the characters he created and I thought Michael was just awesome.
The plot of the novel was well written (and read). I thought that Michael was a wonderful son to go all the way to China to find his father even though he ended up going through hell and back as well as uncovering some secrets. There was lots of times during the reading that I would have to stop what I was doing just to listen closer because the tension would build and I couldn't wait to find out what was about to go on next.
Overall, I thought that the audiobook was well read. I didn't tune out nearly as much as I thought I might and all I did during those few times when my mind did wander I just went back and listened to what I missed. This is definitely a book I'll be listening to again as well as reading and it is a series I will absolutely be following from here on in.
I would recommend Lethal Circuit to fans who enjoy thrillers, heart pounding adventure with high stakes and a well rounded cast of characters to match a superb plot. The narrator was fantastic and made the story come alive so I'd recommend this one to all audiobook lovers out there who want something that will hold their attention.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.
Back before I was a blogger I was a huge fan of books like Lethal Circuit, but I find that since I started blogging my love for the genre has been pushed to the side a bit so it was really good to be able to get back into it with this audio. As I mentioned, I was nervous about the tour but in the end I really didn't need to be since it turned out quite well.
I enjoyed listening to the audio version of Lethal Circuit a lot. I think the narrator Ben Sullivan did a stand up job reading the book and he really made the characters come alive and I thought the way that that he would build up the suspense for the book by using different tones was fantastic. As for the author, I think Lars wrote a great thriller and I was able to get invested with the characters he created and I thought Michael was just awesome.
The plot of the novel was well written (and read). I thought that Michael was a wonderful son to go all the way to China to find his father even though he ended up going through hell and back as well as uncovering some secrets. There was lots of times during the reading that I would have to stop what I was doing just to listen closer because the tension would build and I couldn't wait to find out what was about to go on next.
Overall, I thought that the audiobook was well read. I didn't tune out nearly as much as I thought I might and all I did during those few times when my mind did wander I just went back and listened to what I missed. This is definitely a book I'll be listening to again as well as reading and it is a series I will absolutely be following from here on in.
I would recommend Lethal Circuit to fans who enjoy thrillers, heart pounding adventure with high stakes and a well rounded cast of characters to match a superb plot. The narrator was fantastic and made the story come alive so I'd recommend this one to all audiobook lovers out there who want something that will hold their attention.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.
November 20, 2013
*Book source ~ Many thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Michael Chase is told his dad died in China, but months later he’s led to believe that his dad is alive. An experienced backpacker, he travels to Hong Kong under the guise of traveling the world’s backpacking trails in order to discover what has happened to his dad. However, he barely sets foot in Hong Kong before he’s running for his life, trusting people on blind faith and following the clues that put him on the path to finding an historical relic that could change the world. He finds out that, not only is his dad not the person Michael thought he was, but he’s been searching for this relic for decades. Michael’s world has been turned upside down, but he has no time to dwell on this surprising new reality. With agents of several factions on his trail, he has to stay a step ahead, find the relic and stay alive.
A true thriller the story unfolds quickly from the beginning and careens to the finish. Michael arrives in Hong Kong, all hell breaks loose and it’s a race to the end. It was fun riding along as Michael figured out the clues and with each one it brought him closer to finding out what happened to his dad. As with any good thriller (well, in my opinion anyway) the story is told from several viewpoints and I had to figure out who were the bad guys and who were the good. It also helped to ratchet up the tension as well as pull the pieces together. The story was an interesting one even if the relic was a bit farfetched. But then, who knows what secrets governments around the world have buried. While I did enjoy the multiple viewpoints, it was at times a bit confusing. There were times when I didn’t have a clue how anyone fit in this puzzle and instead of being intriguing it was frustrating. On the whole though, this is an excellent thriller.
Also, since I listened to the audiobook, I have to say that the narration was often irritating. While the voice was pleasant to listen to, it was if parts were edited in and sounded completely different from the regular narration. If they had not been done in the middle of passages it might not have been as noticeable. As it is, I would be extremely hesitant to listen to another Fantasy Press audiobook. Though I would be more than happy to read Book 2 in the Michael Chase series, Blown Circuit.
Michael Chase is told his dad died in China, but months later he’s led to believe that his dad is alive. An experienced backpacker, he travels to Hong Kong under the guise of traveling the world’s backpacking trails in order to discover what has happened to his dad. However, he barely sets foot in Hong Kong before he’s running for his life, trusting people on blind faith and following the clues that put him on the path to finding an historical relic that could change the world. He finds out that, not only is his dad not the person Michael thought he was, but he’s been searching for this relic for decades. Michael’s world has been turned upside down, but he has no time to dwell on this surprising new reality. With agents of several factions on his trail, he has to stay a step ahead, find the relic and stay alive.
A true thriller the story unfolds quickly from the beginning and careens to the finish. Michael arrives in Hong Kong, all hell breaks loose and it’s a race to the end. It was fun riding along as Michael figured out the clues and with each one it brought him closer to finding out what happened to his dad. As with any good thriller (well, in my opinion anyway) the story is told from several viewpoints and I had to figure out who were the bad guys and who were the good. It also helped to ratchet up the tension as well as pull the pieces together. The story was an interesting one even if the relic was a bit farfetched. But then, who knows what secrets governments around the world have buried. While I did enjoy the multiple viewpoints, it was at times a bit confusing. There were times when I didn’t have a clue how anyone fit in this puzzle and instead of being intriguing it was frustrating. On the whole though, this is an excellent thriller.
Also, since I listened to the audiobook, I have to say that the narration was often irritating. While the voice was pleasant to listen to, it was if parts were edited in and sounded completely different from the regular narration. If they had not been done in the middle of passages it might not have been as noticeable. As it is, I would be extremely hesitant to listen to another Fantasy Press audiobook. Though I would be more than happy to read Book 2 in the Michael Chase series, Blown Circuit.
October 12, 2013
In the two years since I started The Nocturnal Library, I’ve never once reviewed a spy thriller, and Lethal Circuit was such an excellent choice for a beginner. The fact remains, however, that I have no experience reviewing these, but I’ll try my best.
Although Michael’s father is a businessman who was mostly absent during his childhood, he raised Michael lovingly and they are, even in Michael’s adulthood, very close. So when his father suddenly goes missing somewhere in China, Michael is devastated, until he learns, several months late, that his father might just be alive after all. Upon receiving the news and the video to confirm it, Michael packs his bags and travels to Asia to locate his dad. But what awaits him in this foreign and often hostile country is more danger than he’d anticipated and quite a few surprises along the way.
The story is told mostly from Michael’s perspective, but Guidnard included short chapters that focus on Michael’s pursuers. I must admit I found those chapters somewhat disruptive, especially since there was very little to indicate the change in perspectives. I’m not a fan of multiple points of view at best of times, but at least these chapters were short. While I could have done without them, they didn’t bother me nearly as much as I’d assumed when the first one started.
I quite liked Michael. There’s certain calmness in him that was reflected perfectly in Ben Sullivan’s excellent narration. Some might consider it dry at times, but he never slipped into an overly dramatic mode, which was especially important during the action scenes.
Reviewing a book like Lethal Circuit is extremely tricky. Everything I write or even hint at is potentially a spoiler, and I’d like to avoid those at all costs. I enjoyed every curveball this book threw at me and I wouldn’t want to rob you of the same experience. Suffice it to say that nothing is as it seems in Michael’s life. If you decide to read this, and you should, be ready for quite a few surprises.
Although Michael’s father is a businessman who was mostly absent during his childhood, he raised Michael lovingly and they are, even in Michael’s adulthood, very close. So when his father suddenly goes missing somewhere in China, Michael is devastated, until he learns, several months late, that his father might just be alive after all. Upon receiving the news and the video to confirm it, Michael packs his bags and travels to Asia to locate his dad. But what awaits him in this foreign and often hostile country is more danger than he’d anticipated and quite a few surprises along the way.
The story is told mostly from Michael’s perspective, but Guidnard included short chapters that focus on Michael’s pursuers. I must admit I found those chapters somewhat disruptive, especially since there was very little to indicate the change in perspectives. I’m not a fan of multiple points of view at best of times, but at least these chapters were short. While I could have done without them, they didn’t bother me nearly as much as I’d assumed when the first one started.
I quite liked Michael. There’s certain calmness in him that was reflected perfectly in Ben Sullivan’s excellent narration. Some might consider it dry at times, but he never slipped into an overly dramatic mode, which was especially important during the action scenes.
Reviewing a book like Lethal Circuit is extremely tricky. Everything I write or even hint at is potentially a spoiler, and I’d like to avoid those at all costs. I enjoyed every curveball this book threw at me and I wouldn’t want to rob you of the same experience. Suffice it to say that nothing is as it seems in Michael’s life. If you decide to read this, and you should, be ready for quite a few surprises.
July 16, 2012
I discovered with this book that I am just not a backpacking-thriller kind of girl.
It wasn't bad. I just didn't care. I didn't want to care. I went into this knowing this isn't my genre of choice, but it sounded so entertaining! Yeah, this isn't my genre. If however, it IS your genre, I would suggest giving it a shot.
**NOTE: I'm a nook girl, but this book is an Amazon exclusive, or some such irritating nonsense. You can get it on Kindle for dirt cheap, but you have to buy a not so cheap hard copy from Barnes and Noble. As this is becoming a trend that I am just catching on to, I think a cheap Kindle purchase is in order...
It wasn't bad. I just didn't care. I didn't want to care. I went into this knowing this isn't my genre of choice, but it sounded so entertaining! Yeah, this isn't my genre. If however, it IS your genre, I would suggest giving it a shot.
**NOTE: I'm a nook girl, but this book is an Amazon exclusive, or some such irritating nonsense. You can get it on Kindle for dirt cheap, but you have to buy a not so cheap hard copy from Barnes and Noble. As this is becoming a trend that I am just catching on to, I think a cheap Kindle purchase is in order...
July 7, 2012
A spy thriller with an intriguing plot and a cast of interesting characters, many of whom are not who they appear to be.
The pace quickens as lost technology from World War two is unearthed that can correct the decaying orbit of a satellite that is about to release a large amount of radiation over the west coast of the US. It depends on who gains control of the technology and how quickly they do so.
An enjoyable read for spy buffs with a fast-paced ending.
The pace quickens as lost technology from World War two is unearthed that can correct the decaying orbit of a satellite that is about to release a large amount of radiation over the west coast of the US. It depends on who gains control of the technology and how quickly they do so.
An enjoyable read for spy buffs with a fast-paced ending.
April 27, 2012
Plot is too quick paced to really make much sense. To much of action. Too many players. Double Crossing. Triple Crossing. People coming back from the dead. Seems like author was in a hurry to cram in as many characters and plots as possible. Not a lot of fun.
May 2, 2012
Action-packed book that will keep you guessing until the end. I am old enough to remember the MacGyver series and the character of Michael Chase is like James Bond meets MacGyver. I would recommend this book and I am looking forward to the next one.
June 27, 2015
Good book, fast paced, I'm looking forward to the second book in the series.
June 18, 2012
No good! poorly written.
June 4, 2012
Not sure that his escape would pass the Myth Busters test, but a fun read nonetheless.
June 19, 2012
Terrific. Really good stuff.
September 4, 2012
Fast and furious pace.Want to read more Chase character in next book Blown Circuit.
September 11, 2012
A little contrived, and unrealistic. Fair overall read.
May 26, 2025
Billed as a techno-thriller, the characters are not convincing. I’ve never liked the insertions of “memories” or flashbacks in stories of any form. They may be necessary in small doses in some cases, but it is not a literary technique that I appreciate. The worst parts for me were the total ignorance or disregard for science. Even in science fiction the reader at least knows that it is speculative. The combination of poor science (an underlying principle of the crisis in the book) and poor character development made the action sequences and double-crosses more like a comic book than solid fiction.
April 11, 2023
A page turner, that keeps you guessing.
This is the first title I’ve read by this author. Although I use a term page turner, I find it very interesting and enjoyable read is the story the definitely keep you guessing. One group of characters almost seems to be obsolete in the story. The ending was not too much of a surprise, but as I mentioned the secondary group was unnecessary.
This is the first title I’ve read by this author. Although I use a term page turner, I find it very interesting and enjoyable read is the story the definitely keep you guessing. One group of characters almost seems to be obsolete in the story. The ending was not too much of a surprise, but as I mentioned the secondary group was unnecessary.
May 29, 2021
This book was fast paced and entertaining. I would consider reading the next one in the series and I really liked the spy theme as well as the interaction with China in the book. The main character was really relatable and I liked learning about all of the lessons that his father taught him at the start of the chapters. I’d recommend this book to others li
March 22, 2019
Legal circuit
Too dumb to finish. I made it to the 50% mark but just can't go on. I did give it 2 stars instead of one because it seems like the author has some talent but I'm throwing in the towel.
Too dumb to finish. I made it to the 50% mark but just can't go on. I did give it 2 stars instead of one because it seems like the author has some talent but I'm throwing in the towel.
November 14, 2019
I think I'd actually give this 3.5 stars. It was almost too much; each chapter trying to end with a Da, Da, Da! The last 1/4 earned it the extra .5 star. I'm pretty sure I got this as a free book so certainly worth it but I won't be looking for the seguel.
September 29, 2024
good novel, could have been better
The book started out well, however the middle part is muddled and some logical inconsistencies make the book less than stellar. Even the end is bit confusing and a bit far fetched.
The book started out well, however the middle part is muddled and some logical inconsistencies make the book less than stellar. Even the end is bit confusing and a bit far fetched.
July 7, 2017
Great Read!
December 31, 2019
Michael Chase's father is dead but no body recovered. He takes a backpack and goes to China to find out the truth. CIA & M16 involvement and betrayal. Fast ready. I rate this a 4.9.
December 22, 2021
It was a fun read, like watching a Shwarzenegger movie.
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