Fault Line
Overview: Silicon Valley: the eccentric inventor of a new encryption application is murdered in an apparent drug deal. Istanbul: a cynical undercover operative receives a frantic call from his estranged brother, a patent lawyer who believes he’ll be the next victim. And on the sun-drenched slopes of Sand Hill Road, California’s nerve center of money and technology, old family hurts sting anew as two brothers who share nothing but blood and bitterness wage a desperate battle against a faceless enemy. Alex Treven has sacrificed everything to achieve his sole ambition: making partner in his high-tech law firm. But then the inventor of a technology Alex is banking on is murdered, the patent examiner who reviewed the innovation dies–and Alex himself narrowly escapes an attack in his own home. Off balance, out of ideas, and running out of time, he knows that the one person who can help him is the last person he’d ever ask: his brother. Ben Treven is a military liaison element, an elite undercover soldier paid to “find, fix, and finish” high-value targets in the United States global war on terror. Disenchanted with what he sees as America’s culture of denial and decadence, Ben lives his detached life in the shadows because the black ops world is all he really knows–and because other than Alex, whom he hasn’t spoken to since their mother died, his family is long gone. But blood is thicker than water, and when Ben receives Alex’s frantic call he hurries to San Francisco to help him. Only then does Alex reveal that there’s another player who knows of the technology: Sarah Hosseini, a young Iranian American lawyer whom Alex has long secretly desired–and whom Ben immediately distrusts. As these three struggle to identify the forces attempting to silence them, Ben and Alex are forced to examine the events that drove them apart–even as Sarah’s presence, and her own secret yearnings, deepens the fault
Pages: 244 Pages
Writer: Barry Eisler
Recommendations:
This book marks the beginning of a fresh series by Eisler, featuring a new set of protagonists, the Treven brothers, Ben and Alex. These siblings have drifted apart since the passing of their parents. Alex finds himself in a sticky situation when a project at his workplace starts racking up a body count. A break-in at his home puts him on edge, prompting him to seek help from his estranged brother. The bulk of the story revolves around the brothers’ tumultuous relationship, with years of animosity bubbling to the surface.
Upon diving into this book, I must admit, the beginning was a bit of a snooze-fest. The first half struggled to hold my interest, but the second half picked up the pace with a bit more action. The conclusion, however, was where things really started to sizzle, keeping me hooked until the very end. Unlike Eisler’s infamous character, John Rain, I found it difficult to warm up to Ben. Surprisingly, I found myself gravitating more towards Alex. It’s worth noting that the marketing for this book heavily emphasizes Ben as the lead, but it really belonged to Alex.
Overall, I found it challenging to connect with the characters and the prolonged conflicts between them. Despite this, the book did have its moments of brilliance, reminiscent of Eisler’s previous works. There were parts that had me chuckling out loud, adding a touch of humor to the mix. So, while it may not have been a perfect read, it certainly had its entertaining moments.