Show Me 5 Saturday: Last Snow by Eric Van Lustbader

Alipet at That's a novel idea started a new MEME called Show Me Five Saturday. Unfortunately, our host has been missing in action but Jenners puts up a Mr. Linky if you would like to play along. This meme will give each blogger an opportunity to give a brief description of a book they have read or reviewed during the week. It will work like this: Each Saturday you will post the answer to these questions.

1. Title of book: Last Snow by Eric Van Lustbader
2. Words to describe book: Geopolitical thriller
3. Characters you met or location:

• US President Edward Carson: While in Russia, Carson is in the process of negotiating details of a nuclear accord with President Yukin. When a US senator is killed by a hit and run accident in Italy, President Carson travels back to the US for the funeral but his special advior, Jack McClure, is dispensed secretly to find out if it were accidental or intentional. The senator had recently been in Russia and had met with K. Rochev but no one knows why or who Rochev is. President Carson is somewhat suspicious as he has numerous enemies from the previous administration who he fears may be trying to sabotage his new presidential nuclear agenda.
• Jack McClure: Such a fantastic main character! Although he is dyslexic, he has a special mental skill to cope with it. Jack has the ability to see the big picture much better than most people. This ability is a big plus for him in his job as strategic advisor to the recently elected President Carson. Since Jack saved the president from an assassination attempt on his inauguration day and also saved Carson's daughter, Alli, from a kidnapper, President Carson trusts Jack implicitly. While complying with Carson's latest request and dealing with his own personal demons at the same time, Jack meets a myriad of characters including Annika and learns of many conspiracies and double dealings. Who can he trust besides himself to extricate them from plenty of sticky situations including murder attempts in Kiev and then the Ukraine? Can his special skill let him see the real reasons so many people are working for or against this nuclear treaty?

• Annika: Before traveling to Kiev to find out about the mysterious K. Rochev, Jack meets Annika in a bar and ends up saving her from two thugs. It turns out that Annika is a rogue agent of the FSB, a Russian Federal Security Bureau. With her numerous connections, Annika ostensibly helps Jack track down Rochev . Not all are what they seem to be though. Even Annika herself has many secrets that are slowly and tantalizingly revealed piece by piece.

4. Things you liked or disliked about the book: Let me say right off there is nothing I disliked about this book. I liked it all, especially:

• The descriptions of the settings whether it was in the Ukraine, Russia or in Italy the prologue's setting. The writing style put me right in the scene. I could easily see the the surroundings through the characters' eyes and feel the atmosphere and emotions. Fantastic writing!
• The diversity and development of supporting characters. There were enough "bad" guys and "good" guys for the perfect balance. This heart pounding thriller has characters you love and trust or hate and wouldn't trust them as far as you could throw them. Great mix!
• The complexity and believeability of the plot along with some major twists and turns were so superbly crafted they kept me turning the pages without feeling there were any lulls in the action. I loved all the elements of both governments' inner workings.
• The relationships between the characters were well defined. The author truly shows us the characters' inner feelings, thoughts and motivations.

5. Stars or less for your rating: Since I could put it down but with some difficulty and was somewhat anxious to get back to it I rate it 4****. The Big Guy, aka hubby, read it just about non stop and he rated it a 5!

Eric Van Lustbader is also the author of First Daughter, the first book introducing Jack McClure. You can be sure The Big Guy and I will be reading that one very soon. Not a dedicated thriller fan? Try it, you'll like it! For thriller fans, this is one you don't want to miss! For a small taste see my Tuesday Teaser.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Anne Staszalek, Marketing Associate @The Book Report Network and was published by Tor Forge Publishing.