Top critical review
2.0 out of 5 starsA Gross Disappointment
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2012
I generally like Andrew Gross's books, but 15 Seconds, which I bought when it came out but just got around to reading was very disappointing. The plot was silly, and doesn't show that the author had the expert input that he acknowledges. I could poke numerous holes in the plot and I'm not law enforcement or medicine. Start with the protagonist. A plastic surgeon who specializes in breasts doing charity work on facial reconstruction (Smiletrain?) AND operating pain clinics back at home? Really? (spoiler) I figured for sure the latter was going to be a plot twist with Henry being a pawn of a miscreant partner, etc., which would have added depth, but no. It was serious! For an educated guy, he comes off as unlikeable and just plain dumb.Then there's the writing. Did this book miss the editing stage? We don't need to read the same information three different times told to three different people. This is called redundancy. And typos? Things like "site" for "sight?" No line edits either? To date I've read all of Andrew Gross's books, hoping I was watching another great thriller writer develop, but I'm going to hold off for a while until the editor's back from vacation.
