Charlie Stone is a CIA analyst who is asked by his boss to find more information on a document reference called "the Lenin testament". Charlie is reluctant to pursue this, even though he is aware that both his father and another old family friend might be able to help him, because of old scandals within his family.

However, against his better judgement, he does follow up this information, which leads him deeper and deeper into a conspiracy involving people in high places in both the USA and Russia - where people's motives are not what they seem.

Finder has crafted a well written, well paced and enjoyable post cold war novel with this book. It's a what-if situation that could have happened in Russia - but if it did we would probably never know about it. His use of terrorists as scare-mongers to initiate official action is almost eerie in the light of events over the last few years, yet this book was written in 1991, when terrorists did not have the cachet they have now.

With a great story and characters you care about this book is worth picking up to read if you enjoy a good thriller.

It's a shame that such a book is out of print. When I read The Moscow Club, I was litteraly flipping the pages one after another. It keeps you alert all the time because you never know what is going to happen. An excellent way to kill time while you're on a boring trip.

Hey, a new story. In this category of books, it is getting a tough to find something new but this was. I think this has been one of the author's best books, if not the best. The story is very believable and tight. It had it all, a great story, good characters, wonderful action and a quick pace. This is just a good old exciting book. The author peppers the book with plot twists that keep the reader on his toes. This author writes in a way that is tight and slick that keep you interested through out. Great detail of the way the Russian government works (or doesn't). Sit back and enjoy this book.

If you are interested in signal sleuthing and radio direction finding this book is a MUST READ.

If you'd like to get involved in foxhunting, get this book. These experienced operators describe multiple techniques and strategies for discovering hidden amateur radio transmitters. They describe how to build and modify equipment to make hunts more successful. These same techniques can be used to track down repeater jammers or stolen equipment. Material here for the rankest novice as well as advanced tips to help the most experienced. Well worth the price.

John Elder, KO6X

This is a great book by a radio amateur. It covers many aspects of direction finding and has details for hands-on projects. Many hams I know have a well worn copy of this book. If you're into direction finding or foxhunts, this is the reference/project/design/instruction book for you.

Since I have not read this book ,I can not draw a conclusion.If this book can help me to solve some design problem ,then I'll regard it usefull.

Extraordinary Powers is an amazing book that tells a plausible story with likable main characters. And it makes your palms sweat, the clarity with which he describes frantic chases, gun fights and emotions.

The greatest triumph of the novel is its unpredictability. Admittedly, the beginning gave me what I had anticipated but from then onwards, every thing that goes is never what you expect. Just when you settle down for a respite from the intense action, Finder slaps you in the face and keeps you turning pages at ten pages a minute with another chase, more mind-reading and more uncovering of the conspiracy. A very well-crafted work.

That is where the story succeeds, in capturing your attention and keeping you reading on. The novel is utterly well crafted, the conspiracy completely probable and the action searingly hot. Most notable is the ending which is satisfying and better then at least half of the other books availible. Just when you least expect it, the dazzling suspense starts boiling again.

Like every other book, this one has its flaws, namely the fact that the dialogue is unconvincing. Every one talks in exactly the same way! Finder also tends to occassionaly drift away and end up overwhelming the reader with TOO much detail.

All this aside, Extraordinary Powers is one HELL OF A READ.

Two things caught my attention when I first picked up this book: First that it seemed to be a standard espionage thriller, treading a well-worn path; Second that it obviously isn't.

The difference is the sci-fi slant that the novel takes, whereby the hero (Ben Ellison) acquires the ability to read minds. It introduces a welcome break from the standard fare and gives the book an interesting twist, without which it might not have been quite the entertaining read it turned out to be.

If I have one critisism of Finder, it's the annoyingly explicit detail he goes to in describing a scene or event. You are bombarded with line after line of irrelevant detail that seems to do little to build characters or locations.

This aside, 'Extraordinary Powers' is an exciting read, with the pace and plot building up steam as the story progresses. As you near the end of the book you'll find it becomes irresistable, demanding that you finish it to iron out all of the plot's wrinkles.

An enthralling, captivating read with a clever plot and engaging characters. Highly recommended

High Crimes is the latest (last?) in Finder's collection of four (to date) outstanding novels which, upon investigation, reveal some of the most enlightening political info and predictions of our time. His first book, Moscow Club, accurately predicted the Soviet coup just before its occurrence. His second, Extraordinary Powers, accurately predicted the exposure of a high ranking CIA mole. His third, Zero Hour, explains the pitiful security of the world's finance system (and thank God it hasnt come true yet!), and his latest High Crimes pre-dates by three years a remarkably similar tale as the one recently uncovered concerning former Senator Bob Kerrey's command in Vietnam. A truly informative and knowledgeable man with a knack for fantastic presentation, Finder's books are some of the finest around. Pick them up, and you won't ever want to put them down.

Things are perfect in Claire Chapman's world, so you know an enormous fly is about to land in the ointment of her life: her perfect husband Tom is arrested for a 13 year-old massacre of 87 civilians in Latin America - a crime he says he didn't commit. It's a real comedown after a magazine has asked Claire and her husband to feature in their article on Power Couples. Good thing she's a hotshot lawyer and teaches at Harvard Law School. Despite her talents, Claire has her work cut out: Tom was in the military when he was supposed to have killed the innocents, and in civilian life, as in war, the military don't take prisoners. Despite a few flaws this is an excellent legal thriller. Claire is a bit too perfect to be believable (although she can't cook) - and one wonders how Tom kept his former life and identity secret from his wife of three years, as well as the rest of the world. Nevertheless, the courtroom exchanges, the web of deceit spun by Government agencies and a stand-out, unexpected ending make this a dark and exciting read.

As in The Moscow Club and Extraordinary Powers, Joseph Finder has written a very entertaining,fast-paced book that once you start , you won't want to put down.

The story has lots of surprises, the dialogue is crisp and, for the most part, realistic. The main characters are mostly likable but could have been more fully developed. Nonetheless, High Crimes is well worth reading! Further, if this is your first book by Finder, you might also want to read The Moscow Club and Extraordinary Powers. His third book, The Zero Hour, was not as good.

I started to read this book during a boring day at work. I could not put it down! This is one of the best thrillers i've read in a very long time, probably since i finished the majority of robin cook's books years ago. High Crimes is truely a riveting page turner. The only thing that saddens me is that apparently the movie version is going to be completely different! Tom's assumed name is Tom Kubic and his real identity is Ronald Chapman and the story doesn't take place in Cambridge as Finder writes but in Marin County, CA. There's no Annie either...well you know what they always say..."the book is better than the movie".

Having read this novel sometime ago, I made myself go back and re-read it before attempting to critique it. Now, after going through it a second time my impressions of "The Zero Hour" have not changed. Joseph Finder captures the reader's attention with a daring jail brake from a South African Prison. If this novel was a chess game I would say this opening was to the point. I was hooked. Add a rather inventive plot concerning the revenge of an incredibly wealthy man by the destruction of a clandestine computer system which practically runs our planet, and this story picked up steam in a hurry. Where it did run into a snag was in the character of Sarah Cahill, the FBI agent that ultimately saves the day. Her character seems too weak and hardly at all a match for "The Prince of Darkness". It would be nice if a female characters in Sarah's position could be portrayed as strong and confident. The fact that she is able to foil, perhaps the greatest professional terrorist of all time is a fluke at best. The ending of this novel ruined all the good work that had gone before. This one looks like it was made for television. The truth of the matter is that professional operatives are rarely stopped, and when they are, it is by law enforcement individuals that are equally as brilliant. Two evenly matched oponents in a real life game of chess, that is what makes novels in this genre work

This book is a lot of fun. I was reading along and thinking it may not be bad to have this happen to my place of work. This fast-paced book and the speed of the story helps to increase the tension and suspense. I hate to sound like a dust jacket, but this book really is an action-packed thriller. You have prison breaks, terrorists, low down scummy business tycoons, the CIA, and a good smattering of Joe everyday cops. An interesting and exciting mix that keeps the book fast paced. I have read other books by this author and he is getting better by the book. More of his books will make there way to the big screen if he keeps up his history of quality writing.

I read J.F. book, HIGH CRIMES, and it was very good. So I took another chance that his previous books would be the same. This story is fresh and quick paced. Finder is the best for drama and suspense. There ae surprises at every turn. The main charcater is Sarah Cahill, whose investigation turns into a desparate pursuit of a highly sophisticated and charismatic terrorist, known only by the code name Zero. Zero's identity is unknown. And get this, the Zero character knows Cahill intimately...very intimately.I could tell you how this happen but it would spoil the smile you woukld get when you find out how it happen in your reading of this book.

This is a fasten-your-seat-belt suspense and a guaranteed page-turner. You will kick your later if you don't read this. If you want to wait for a better review of this book to make up your mind, it is your choice...but I would not !!! Happy reading.

I recommend High Crimes and Extraordianry Powerrs; also as well as all my other reviews I have done. They are still worth a look.

TRIPP

I should have noticed the 1990 publication date, but I didn't. It was only after I used the great system for identifying the right spa for me, that I realized how badly outdated this book is. At least three of the recommended spas are nowhere to be found, apparetnly out of business. And of course the pricing and program information is way, way out of date.Some prices are now double those in the book and I found four spas who have radically revised their programs. To top it all off, the cover touts "Thousands of dollars in free coupons for your next spa visit!" The "coupons" look really questionable, and you'd have to spend many thousands at many different resorts in at least six different states to use them all.