Legion Paperback – April 10, 2014

I struggled some with this book but the characters were more opaque. However I enjoyed all the mystery and suspense in this book. Look forward to next book so I can begin to understand the characters better. Thanks

I haven't read the trilogy that this book prequels. Based on what I read here and the title of the trilogy, I'm wondering if Jack Smith is being set up to be a "Pretender" (TV series) like hero. Or perhaps it is more like the TV series "Dark Angel" with the genetic manipulations.The book starts slowly for me and it took me a while to care about any of the characters. Jack seems to start out as a bit of an uncaring jerk. He doesn't want to talk to his sister. He doesn't want to go to his father's funeral. When he does go, he talks to only one of his siblings, and even that not for too long. At some point we also learn that Jack's parents gave each child $40,000 to use toward college. Jack was the only one who didn't use it for a formal education--he apparently went to Europe, spent it all, then got mad when his dad refused to give him more money. We learn the reason behind some of it throughout the rest of the book.Shortly after their father's funeral, Jack is pushed off a subway platform--but the video shows no one there to push him, and his bike, which had had its wheels stolen, is found intact by a coworker. Then, shortly after that, Jack's sister Melissa apparently murders her husband and children and then jumps to her own death--and again, the videos show she was alone as she made her way to the roof. Melissa's friend Ashley refuses to believe her friend would do such a thing. She tracks down Jack and the adventure begins.I do agree with another reviewer that some scenes were a bit beyond believability. The car crashing into the coffee shop is one. Yes, it is possible that Jack's reaction (to put on his seatbelt) is a result of the genetic manipulation to destroy fear, and yes, the author does say that the car's momentum is changed at the last minute--but it is highly unlikely he could hold onto Ashley during the crash.I may at some point read the Man of Wax trilogy if I come across it.

Brought home for the funeral of a father he detested, John Smith finds himself dumped into a storm of insanity. His sister, an Assistant District Attorney starting a high-profile case, murders her family and then jumps from the roof of her apartment building. And then men start trying to kill Smith. Obviously the three things are connected, but Smith can’t figure out how. What he does know is that the men trying to kill him are highly influential people and they don’t appear to care how many other innocents die in their quest. This is a fast moving, highly exciting novel of ruthless killers and the man trying not to become their next victim.

This book starts off with a bang and keeps delivering fast paced unbelievable action. It is a story of several people linked together by who they are and where they came from. John Smith is a courier for a major package and letter delivery company when weird things start to happen that cause him to be suspended from his job and question his mind. Meanwhile his sister, a district attorney trying a mob boss case, inexplicably murders her family and commits suicide but her best friend Ashley doesn't believe it. Ashley hunts down her brother John Smith to help her figure out what really happened. They are attacked and almost killed but are saved by John's father who is not what he seems. Eventually you find out that there is a vast network of extremely wealthy people running an enterprise called the Legion. It started out as a noble enterprise to cure autism and down syndrome through genetic engineering but has turned into training young children into an army with no fear in which the Legion has been readying the US for an overthrow of the existing government as it is known and understood. John and Ashley both find out they, and John's siblings are one of those children. The story really doesn't have a happy ending but explains what happened to John's and Ashley's whole family. Well written story about noble ideas gone awry because of money and greed. I highly recommend this author.

"Legion" is my first book by Robert Swartwood - the title and descriptions of the book intrigued me so much, I bought it on Kindle, read it on Kindle, and then ordered a paper copy from Amazon - - - THAT is how much I enjoyed "Legion"."Very creepy how an organized group of "like thinkers" somewhat similar to "the Borg" of "Star Trek" got under my skin - talk about paranoia . . . now I want to go off the grid so the Legion cannot find me (lol).The characters lured me into their psychs (good and bad) in such a manner that I became a part of the character(s) themselves ! I felt sooo awful for the ones that suffered, died . . . cheered the "hero(es)" on, and wanted the "bad guys" to "get theirs", so to speak.Not only did reading "Legion" speak to my inner paranoia concerning "someone is out to get me", Swartwood's writing ran together very smoothly, the story line was both intriguing, frightening and took time for me to put the puzzle pieces together - which I find to be a wonderful bonus in books - - - this is one of the reasons I go back to find more books written by the same author.Books that do not peak my curiosities may be fun to read; however, not one that I shall re-read.I am in such admiration of Mr. Swartwood's writing that I will be purchasing some of his earlier works very soon.

Overall, a fairly entertaining book, decently plotted and paced, with a couple of twists, and a nicely identifiable flawed hero... It's the sort of thing that might get adapted into a film, albeit a movie-of-the-week, or a 'straight to DVD' one... Sort of thing you would only watch if you were stuck in an hotel room in a foreign country overnight,and this was the only thing in English on the TV...Don't misunderstand, I didn't hate this book, it was an easy read, junk food for the mind, you might say... Not great, but not inedible either, but really the whole genetically engineered super soldiers / secret army / conspiracy of the mega-rich has been done before, and better than this.And of course it 'ends' with a perfect set-up for a Book 2, and no doubt a book 3 etc. Predictable.

This is a fast moving, well written story that unfortunately lacks any credibility.A shadowy organisation is breeding genetically modified humans (to what end it is not made clear) They are chasing the two lead characters who are both on the periphery of the conspiracy without realising why or how. The book consists of a breath takingly fast chase against all odds with bodies pilling up by the dozen, cars ramming crowded coffee shops, buildings burning down and/or exploding all with no law agencies seeming to notice. By the end, the girl/boy lead characters, innocents at the beginning, are now able to fight super trained agents bare handed, shoot people with hand guns and rifles, use an RPG launcher all to devastating effect. Escapist nonsense

John Smith isn't exactly close to his family; he has been estranged from his father for years and rarely sees his brothers or sisters. When he travels home to attend his father's funeral, he doesn't know that his life is about to be turned upside down forever and his father's death is only the start of the upheaval. This is a very good conspiracy thriller, full of plot surprises, action and drama and with a plotline that grabs you right from the start. John soon discovers that his father had been keeping a very deep and dark secret, one that people will kill to protect and that he can't trust anyone to help him.I really enjoyed the read, it kept me on the edge of my seat as the story unravelled. I particularly liked John, just an ordinary guy, doing an ordinary job, who finds himself in circumstances spiralling completely out of his control. I only had one complaint, and that is that I wasn't exactly convinced about the ages of John and his siblings, and how that could have played out - when you get to that part of the book you will understand what I mean.The story itself is a prequel to the author's Man of Wax series, which I haven't read but I am really tempted to download now.

Having read the first 2 books in the Man of Wax trilogy some time ago I have been waiting for the third book,and I was delighted if somewhat suprised to discover this one.This is certainly an author who thinks outside the box and comes up with suprises both in the books and it seems out of them too.Who would have thought he would have written a prequel? I didn't see that one coming but I'm very glad he did as I really enjoyed it.I don't want to give too much away because part of the excitment for me anyway with these books is the unexpected twists.I think you could read this as the first book in the series or if you are like me and you have already read the other two don't be put off its fine to read this one in any order I think.The best thing is this book is an unexpected bonus, and there is still another one to come,can't wait.

This book was a little slow at first not knowing what to expect I kept on reading, The more I read the more I got into it now getting too the end I feel I have to read the next book by Robert Smartwood.Definitely worth a look.