Dire Means Paperback – October 12, 2009

It's been a long time since a book hooked me like Dire Means did. I read it over a weekend, with no urge to skim any part. A friend recommended it, we're having lunch tomorrow and I will thank her. It's a rare and wonderful thing for me to find a gem written by a new author and this book is that.Dire Means is a fantastic story woven with strong social implications and high-tech suspense that even non-techies can enjoy. No matter your view on the homeless, this book will affect you. Its vivid imagery and the feelings it evoked have stayed with me long after finishing it. The plot was poignant, current and completely engrossing.After Mark Denny, a computer support guy, has a run in with some street thugs, he is forced to experience public disdain (with body and ego bruised) while temporarily stranded on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, an outdoor shopping center located in the affluent southern California beach city. While working toward financial and physical recovery, he performs a heroic act caught by local news television cameras. This attracts not only national attention, but the attention of a crazed vigilante who has been terrorizing the city of Santa Monica, CA and finds Mark to be a perfect addition to his bizarre mission. Lured into the vigilante's secret confines, Mark pretends to buy into the mission as a matter of survival. Soon he is trapped with some tough decisions to make over the best way to thwart the villain who is terrorizing Santa Monica.The ending came a bit too quickly for me. It seemed the author wanted to wrap up the story and I wish events could have tapered a bit more. In any case, Geoffrey Neil can spin that small criticism into a compliment because it probably means that I wanted more -I wanted the story to continue. Get Dire Means; it's a safe bet. And I can't wait for Neil's next book.

Usually I have the stories figured out pretty quickly, this one armored me and held me captive, pun intended. It is an interesting take on homelessness and curing it, I will agree with Mark, it was doomed to fail. The story was gripping and kept me reading to the end. Thank you for an education in dire means for the benefit of all who could learn valuable morals and ethics from this story.

Yet another book I could not stop until I had finished. To be honest, I debated getting this book but something, and I am not sure what, told me to get it. I am not sorry I did either. In reading the "From The Author" I see this is a "First" novel. Way to go Mr. Neil! You've hit the ball right out of the field!This book is about the plight of the homeless across the USA and why there are still homeless. The book starts with us learning about one good man and how he feels about the homeless and his thoughts and actions on helping them. Then comes "Poppa". Poppa is a misguided control freak (totally my own opinion here) who has his visions as to how to eliminate homelessness by punishing those who have not helped the homeless, or even been compassionate to them. What Poppa does to 'punish' these unkind people will knock your socks off folks. Nothing really full of gore or anything, just so against our base civil liberties it is amazing he can not see he is an evil man.Also in From The Author, he mentions brotherly love is spoken of weekly from the pulpit. I stand to say, not from all pulpits Mr. Neil. Sad, but true. In the northeast, where I am from, 'Fire and Brimstone' sermons are few and far between. This few and far between is why we still have homeless. But, I digress.If you like mysteries, tech thrillers, altruistic reads, you will love this book. If you like a work of fiction which uses a real world existence of some people here in this country, you will like this book.Well worth the read.

The main character of this book is just a nice guy trying to do nice things for others. However, when he attempts to stop someone from jumping off a building, he life changes drastically. All of a sudden is a superstar of Santa Monica, a hero during a time of disappearances. He gets an invitation to see something that "he will like" and takes the bait. Unfortunately it turns his life around even more and he is now in deep trouble.I really enjoyed the premise of this book and was actually was quite surprised where the book went. The author definitely knows how to set a book up, by having the main character personally deal with the attitude most people have with the homeless. I also really liked how the very beginning told how some of the victims were captured--had a Criminal Minds or Without A Trace feel to it.I definitely recommend this book and there is a high chance that I will read the other book by this author that has a character from this book. It certainly takes a twist on the normal mystery/thriller.

I entered the elevator willingly, and couldn't get off until the ride was over. Geoff Neil's writing style flows easily from one chapter to the next and I found it easy to keep sliding my finger across the ipad screen, craving more.I got a bit emotional as I wended my way through this story. I groaned at Mark's stupidity with the gas station guys, and thought, "Well, duh! How did you think that was going to turn out?" I also worried far too often for Mark's safety (I may have to charge the author for my next hair color job...I'm sure I have a few more gray's). So many characters came to life for me, they were painted so vividly. Some you adore, some you think are quirky, and some are so easy to loathe. I think I know just who should play Pop in the movie - can't you just see Morgan Freeman? I liked that we had a really strong female character to root for as well.On a more serious tone, I appreciate that Mr. Neil is using his writing gift for the benefit of othes. I like that a portion of the sales of his book, a bit of my money, is going to support organizations that do outreach with the homeless.Definately looking forward to Mr. Neil's next piece of writing.

Moves along briskly enough but requires a large dollop of suspended disbelief. The overall scenario and establishment response it a shade too much to swallow although the writing style is readable but needs sharpening.The characters are a trifle thin and a few could be dismissed entirely, or their actions limited, which might tighten up the whole tale. For instance, Uncle Leon takes a hunk of text and yet adds very little to the story overall. (Favors {UK favours} explanation takes up several Kindle pages and goes nowhere relevant). Neva has a drawn out prayer session that could be reduced from several pages to a paragraph and not lose anything.There is also a lot of minor detail that reduces the chance of letting the reader's imagination give its own colour. The sort of thing like, 'Despite the crisp coastal evening air, the sidewalks bustled with shoppers.' This is fine and sets the scene. The reader can fill in the detail unconsciously. The next sentence does the opposite of its intention and curtails rather than allows the picture to develop in the reader's head. 'Some carried shopping bags while others sipped steaming drinks cupped with both hands...etc.'Occasionally adverbs detract from the crispness: 'absolutely delicious', 'absolutely amazing', 'absolutely fine', absolutely adorable', 'absolutely exquisite' to name but a few.Despite the cavils, the observation is good and the flow is maintained, the plot is merely a little ambitious and the editing too light.

I have no idea what this book was supposed to be about because I simply gave up reading it when I was about a fifth of the way through it. Up to that point, all that had happened was a series of unlikely abductions and the protagonist acting as if he had some kind of mental problem. By that stage I had got to the point where I didn't care about him or anyone else in the novel and so I abandoned it.

To say wow!! Is an understatement. Loved this book well written different and suggest you stick with it to the end well worthwhile.Well done Geoffrey Neil and thank you.I got this free on my kindle when it was on for free.Would have willingly paid for this one.

Really enjoyed all three books. Hope the author writes many more. Deep characters, interesting different storyline. Cannot agree with other reviews about the lack of credibility of the plot. Real page turner, buy it if you like Lee Child.

I'm sorry but this was rather unbelievable for my taste. I have to say it was well written and I did finish it as there were some good parts in it and it did have a twist near the ending.