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Bargained for Exchange
James Macomber Book Review

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Plot Summary of Bargained for Exchange
"A multi-faceted plot in which a former military/spy type hero finds himself in a situation where the innocent are being harmed and it might have something to do with him. And it's related to the infiltration of a middle eastern terrorist network into an American campus for the purpose of establishing a support network for operations.
(Sound familiar? But this book was written in 1996! It's almost eerie the way current events parallel this book.)
A refreshingly politically Incorrect novel with an intelligent articulate hero who cares deeply and acts forcefully when its called for and doesn't fear sinking to the bad guy's level - or beyond. He's tough and compassionate at the same time. The character development is superb and the story lines bring out the reader's emotions far more strongly than they do in the usual thriller. Add to this subplots that include political intrigue in Washington and Israel, sleuthing through Germany and Switzerland, and characters both realistic and, in some cases, recognizable, and you have a thrilling read that leaves you breathless. The style and substance of have been compared favorably - and rightly so - with Clancy, Ludlum, Coonts, and others. Super book."

Sandra Simmons, Resident Scholar

""Bargained for Exchange " by James Macomber is an "edge of your seat", "can't put down" legal suspense thriller. John Cann, an attorney on leave, is teaching a law course at a small college campus when he, quite unwittingly , witnesses an injustice done to one of the young students, Janie Reston. In the course of defending her, the action takes him from this college campus to deadly events on the other side of the world and the infiltration of a Middle Eastern terrorist group into this same college campus. Its strong parallels to today's terrorist situation is frightening. Macomber's fast-paced story line is in a class with Clancy and Coonts. I found his character development particularly memorable. His rough and tough exterior in one set of circumstances becomes compassionate and caring in another bringing the reader to tears. This book is a "must read", set apart by its intelligent and articulate hero who is not your average tough guy and characters so real you feel them-for good or ill."
Joan Tavernier, Resident Scholar




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Review Analysis of Bargained for Exchange
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999 - present (2000-2010)
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets: - main char. spying/sabotage - kidnap/rescue
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Who's the terrorist enemy here? - generic terrorists

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Profession/status: - killer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount - an average amount
Motive of antagonist - power
The antagonists are: - Arab terrorists
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Southeast
Europe Yes
European country: - Germany - Switzerland

Style
Part of a series? Yes
Person - mostly 3rd - rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths - very gorey references to torture
How many deaths? - 3-4 - 5-7
Sex Yes
What kind of sex: - touching of anatomy - actual description of sex - rape (yeech!)
A lot of techno jargon? Yes
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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