The Accident Man
 | |
| Author | Tom Cain |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Samuel Carverseries |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Publisher | Bantam Press/Corgi |
Publication date | 2 July 2007 |
| Publication place | England |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 414 |
| ISBN | 978-0-593-05805-3 |
| OCLC | 85829307 |
| 823.92 | |
| Followed by | The Survivor (2008) |
The Accident Manis the first novel of theSamuel Carverseries byEnglishthrillerwriter,Tom Cain,released on 2 July 2007 throughBantam Press.[1][2]
Plot
[edit]The novel proposes a fictional account for the events surrounding thedeath of Diana, Princess of Wales,based on some of theconspiracy theoriesin subsequent circulation. The central character, Samuel Carver, is an ex-marine, now assassin, who is tricked into committing the act. The story focuses on Carver's efforts to avoid his ex-employers' attempts on his life, whilst he tries to discover the origins of the "kill order", and bring those involved to justice.
Movie
[edit]The novel wasoptionedbyParamount Picturesin 2007,[3][4][5][6]however this was during the2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strikeand no further details have been released since.[7]
Reception
[edit]The novel was relatively well received, with critics mainly praising the novels fast-paced action and creative storyline.[8][9]Some critics have, however, criticised the novels "not entirely believable" romance between Carver and his Russian would-be killer Alix.[8][10]
Carol Memmott ofUSA Todaypraised the novel, calling it is a "thrill-a-minute debut" and commenting on Cain's "stunning imagining of the lives and minds of paid assassins and Russian gang members".[9]In a review byThe Calgary HeraldforCanada.com,Dan Healing praises the novels "attention to detail", Cain's ability to both build and relax the tension at the right times; overall Healing calls the novel a "tour de force, especially for afirst-time novelist".[3]The Daily TelegraphsSusanna Yager stated, in a positive review, that "it's all splendidly implausible and ideal reading for the beach".[11]
Oline H. Cogdill, forPittsburgh Live,was more critical of the novel. She stated that "a predictable, and not entirely believable, romance mars" The Accident Man's "originality, as does thede rigueurvillain who can't be killed but talks your ear off ", however also states that" Cain keeps the scenery breathtaking and the action heart-stopping ".[8]These sentiments were mirrored byPublishers Weeklywho opined that "hopefully, Cain will keep the mayhem and soft-pedal the love interest in his next Samuel Carver thriller".[10]theNew Statesmanwas particularly critical, with reviewer Hannah Davies finding the protagonist Carver to be "remarkably stupid", the premise to be "ludicrous"; stating, of the novel, "any originality is soon sacrificed to flashy set pieces".[12]
References
[edit]- ^"GVK – Gemeinsamer Verbundkatalog – 2.1".GSO.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^The Accident Man (Book, 2007).WorldCat.OCLC85829307.
- ^abHealing, Dan (13 April 2008)."Di's death at centre of tense thriller".The Calgary Herald.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^Petit, Chris (14 July 2007)."Review by Eoin McNamee; Accident Man by Tom Cain".The Guardian.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^Dowell, Ben (14 July 2007)."Arts Diary".New Statesman.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^Levins, Harry (24 February 2008)."Browsing/Thrillers".Stltoday.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^Cain, Tom (6 August 2008)."The Accident Man Is Back".Accident Man.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^abcCogdill, Oline H. (30 March 2008)."'Accident Man' an action-packed thriller ".Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^abMemmott, Carol (21 February 2008)."Book roundup: Delve into these new mysteries".USA Today.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^ab"Fiction Review: The Accident Man by Tom Cain / Author. Viking".Publishers Weekly. 12 November 2007.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^Yager, Susanna (7 August 2007)."Princess Diana conspiracy theory".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved14 November2011.
- ^Davies, Hannah (30 August 2007)."Accidental hero".New Statesman.Retrieved14 November2011.
