Review: The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer
by Jenners • 01/14/2011 • 3 Stars, I Titles, M Authors, Mystery/Thriller • 48 Comments
The Inner Circle by Brad MeltzerPublisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2011
Pages: 464
Genre: Fiction, Thriller
Where I Got It: NetGalley, courtesy of Hachette Book Group
My Rating:3 stars
Like most Brad Meltzer books, The Inner Circle concerns a bright young man who works in Washington, DC. This time, instead of working on Capitol Hill (The Zero Game) or at the Supreme Court (The Tenth Justice), our “hero” works in the National Archives. (I can’t help but wonder if Meltzer is running out of high-powered DC settings for his characters. Yet, sadly, the setting of the National Archives was the most exciting aspect of the book for me.) Beecher White is a serious young man who is struggling to recover from a recent split with his fiancee. His path to recovery is helped when his childhood crush, Clementine Kaye, shows up and asks for his help in tracking down her long-lost father.
Although Beecher and Clementine haven’t seen each other since high school, Beecher has never really gotten over his crush. During a tour of the archives, Beecher tries to impress Clementine by showing her the secret vault where the president reviews classified documents. However, while inside the vault, they stumble across a hidden document—a dictionary that belonged to George Washington. Although their find seems innocuous at first, within moments a man turns up dead. Beecher and Clementine seem to have stumbled into a high-level conspiracy linked to the President … but who is involved and what do they want? And what does an old dictionary that once belonged to George Washington have to do with it? As Beecher and Clementine struggle to find out what is going on, things get more convoluted and confusing (for Beecher as well as the reader). As events unfold, Beecher begins to question the motives of everyone around him, including Clementine.
As with previous Meltzer books, this is meant to be a fast-paced thriller involving innocents stumbling into conspiracies at the highest echelons of power. However, I think Meltzer is off his game as I found the plot confusing (by the end, I still wasn’t 100% sure what was going on) and the characters dull and uninspiring. I really enjoyed Meltzer’s first few books; they were fun, exciting and drew me in. However, I thought his recent books got progressively weaker. The last one I read, The Book of Fate, seemed like a bad Dan Brown book—and that is saying something as I’m not a huge Dan Brown fan. (Note: For fans of The Book of Fate, I should mention that a character who appeared in that book shows up in this book as well.) I’d written off Meltzer as having “jumped the shark,” but when I saw The Inner Circle offered for review on NetGalley, I decided to give him another shot. Sadly, I regret that decision.
Although The Inner Circle isn’t outright bad, I found the plot confusing and overly convoluted. By the end, I wasn’t even sure who was on whose side and what the purpose of the book was. Then I read Swapna’s review at S. Krishna’s Books and discovered that The Inner Circle is the first book of a planned series, which probably explained why I was left with such a sense of confusion and “unfinishedness.” Yet, at the same time, I wasn’t compelled enough by this book to continue reading the series. Honestly, I didn’t feel all that invested in Beecher and don’t feel the need to find out what befalls him next. Not a good sign for the series, I think. However, there is always the possibility that I’m just being a crank.
As far as my recommendation, I can’t really recommend this book unless you are a hard-core Meltzer fan or really love thrillers. I would recommend Meltzer’s earlier books though; I remember being very fond of them, and I was a devoted Meltzer reader until I thought his books started to decrease in quality. If you’re looking for a good thriller, you’d be better off reading The Zero Game or The Tenth Justice and giving this one a pass.
I felt similarly about this one. I love some of Brad Meltzer’s previous books, but this one was just “meh.”
I felt better after reading your review and seeing that you were “meh” about it. I used to love his stuff but I think he has been going downhill for the past few books.
I love the National Archives! Too bad that was the best part. I read Zero Game and enjoyed it, but wouldn’t call myself a Meltzer fan so I’ll skip this one.
Oooohhh…you’ve been to the Archives? Cool. This book did make me want to visit.
I know I’ve read one or two Meltzer books in the past. I can’t say I remember the names of them. I always think of him as an author that I might pick up at the airport if I want a quick and not too challenging read. That being said, I’ve always been entertained by his stuff.
You said it perfectly … he is an “airport” author. Sadly, this time it wasn’t even entertaining.
I read Meltzer’s first two books and haven’t read anything else. I find that authors of mystery/thrillers like this one seem to….well, screw up after a few books and disappoint me. So with Meltzer I gave up first! lol
I don’t think I’ll read this one and thank you for saving me from even trying!
~ Amy
You called that right! I do think thriller authors have just a few good books in them but keep on writing well beyond their talent level/ideas. There are so many that fit the pattern.
Thanks for the honest review! I recently read Dan Brown’s ‘The Lost Symbol’ and was impressed by all the amazing places in DC! I had no idea…
I didn’t read that one … but I think that one of Meltzer’s books was modeled on that book (or they seem to share a similar landscape/plot).
Oh, I hate it when an author I love really starts to go downhill in his work. It sounds like you had pretty much decided about Meltzer, and then gave him another chance. It’s too bad that he ended up disappointing again. This is not my usual fare, and after reading your thoughts, I think I will be staying away. Thanks for the excellent analysis. I like the fact that you took such pains to explain why it didn’t work for you.
He was one of my “guilty pleasure, I need a candy bar book” authors but he had been going downhill. This was another chance … and sadly, I think he is out of chances!
Who was on whose side – well you can count me out then. I love that you can do a review without giving away all the plot, wish I could figure that out. Instead I just say I love it or don’t and leave it at that, lol.
I sometimes give away more than I think I do. I wrote a review for a Nelson DeMille book and Mr. Jenners said “You gave away all the best stuff” and I didn’t think I had! It can be tricky!
too bad it fell flat, thanks for the honest review!
I always feel I must be honest … but I try to be fair-minded as well.
Not an author I’ve ever read – this being an overly convoluted (how I love this word) read does not endear me to either.
Isn’t convoluted a great word? I think I managed to use it two or three times in my post.
I am a thriller fan, but this one does not really grab my attention.
Did you read any of his earlier books? They are pretty good as far as thrillers go.
This sounds like a great read!
Actually, I am serious. I like reading books like this usually, if I don’t like it than I don’t feel guilty about putting it down and not finishing it. The big difference for me is that this isn’t a book that I would buy until after I have read it. I would check it out of the library and try reading it first. Hopefully, I would like it, but if not, it did not cost me anything except a little time to find that out. I do appreciate your review as it makes a difference between buying and just reading for me.
So true … borrowing from the library is the way to go with books like this. And if this is your type of book, you may really enjoy it.
i prefer these types of books on audio–they are more engaging when someone (preferably scott brick) is reading them to me. sorry this was a touch muddled–you were generous with 3 stars! i’ve listened to meltzer before and would give another of his books a go, but maybe not this one…
I could see these type of books being good on audio. And apparently I need to get to “know” Scott Brick!
Well it’s too bad that you didn’t like it. I’m not normally drawn to this type of book, but I do love reading about DC. Maybe someday if I’m in the mood then I might try one of his other books (but probably not).
The biggest thing I took away from this book was that I should someday try to visit the National Archives.
It certainly is o.k. to just not like a book.
Thanks for your support! I always feel bad when I don’t like a book … especially one I got for review.
My mind is already confused most of the time. Thanks for keeping me away from this one!! Love your honest approach to book reviewing.
It could be that I had a hard time following it because of my own scattered brain!
I love mysteries and thrillers, but a little bit of political intrigue goes a long way for me. The “National Archives” part of this sounds like the best part.
The National Archives part was the best part. Some of the stuff they have there seems really neat. I should visit there someday.
I tried Meltzer once and it just wasn’t for me, so I think I’ll pass on this one. Mysteries just aren’t my thing, especially when they are too convoluted.
He was a decent (though not spectacular) thriller writer whose books I enjoyed when I just wanted a “candy” book; I think I’ll have to look elsewhere for my candy fix now.
Sorry this one was such a disappointment. It’s perfectly okay to not like a book because guaranteed there is someone out there who loves it. TBG and I really liked Zero Game and I would have picked this one up at some point but now I don’t think I’ll bother. You and I felt the same way about Jeffrey Archer so this book would probably strike me the same way it did you. Have a good weekend and happier reading!
I think his earlier stuff was pretty good (like Zero Game) but he’s gotten weaker along the way, as if he is running out of juice.
Hope you had a great weekend.
I think it sounds like the character needs to get a grip, if he is still not over some chick from high school. I read Swapna’s review as well, and it doesn’t sound like this is the author’s best effort. Usually the first book in a series is one of the best. I hope that is not the case here!
Yeah …. this isn’t Meltzer’s best work. I hope he gets it together at one point; he was one of my favorite thriller writers.
“However, there is always the possibility that I’m just being a crank.”
That line made me laugh. I feel that way sometimes when I don’t love a book–like I’m being overly critical. But I’ve realized that life is to short for me to waste time on books that I don’t really like. You’re not being a crank. You’re just being smart.
Thanks! I always feel “guilty” when I don’t like a book … like perhaps I’m missing something somewhere. Slowly I’m realizing that sometimes I just don’t like a book and that is OK!
I always appreciate an honest review.
Thanks. I always feel guilty when I get a book for review and I don’t like it but I feel I must be honest.
And so Beecher was ENGAGED while still in love with Clementine?!!! Scum bucket! Very nice amusing review.
Well engaged but harboring a never quite dimmed crush. Don’t you have some of those?
Hah! As if I would admit it!
Well, if this confused you, imagine how it’d leave me feeling.
I can be notoriously dimwitted when it comes to mysteries/thrillers … I almost never figure things out ahead of time and I need things spelled out for me. But this book was just all over the place!