Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Henry Holt (2008)
Description
The spellbinding story of an American lawyer who takes on a nearly impossible case--the defense of an African freedom fighter against his corrupt government's charge of murdering three PetroGlobal workers.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jeremytaylor
Richard North Patterson’s compelling look at the corruption caused by the oil industry in a fictional African country is thoughtful, timely, and full of the rich characterizations that readers have come to expect from this author. Difficult to read in places, the book presents a frankly realistic
When American lawyer Damon Pierce’s midlife crisis is interrupted by a frantic e-mail from Marissa Okari, an old college flame, he responds, traveling to the volatile and dangerous West African nation of Luandia. Marissa and her husband, Bobbie Okari, are witnesses to the brutal slaughter of an entire village during a human-rights protest. Now Bobbie has been arrested for the murder of three employees of PetroGlobal, the American oil company whose money has made Luadia’s corrupt dictator a billionaire. Pierce, still in love with Marissa, agrees to represent Bobbie against the trumped-up charges. Okari’s eventual trial by tribunal is at once a masterpiece of legal fiction and an in-depth look at the injustice all too often born from the dirty womb of oil money in an otherwise impoverished nation.
While Luandia is clearly modeled on Nigeria (the author admits as much in an afterword), Patterson does a good job of creating a distinct setting that adds veracity to the story while managing to avoid being a mere photocopy of an actual nation. A thoughtful mix of actual and fictional cultural details brings Luandia to life and places the reader firmly in the characters’ world. The writing is excellent, and the story, while at times infuriating to Western sensibilities, carries the reader through to the thrilling if inevitable conclusion. Unfortunately included is an adulterous sexual encounter between Pierce and Marissa Okari that adds nothing to the story. The book also includes accounts of rape, murder, kidnapping, and other atrocities that are, sadly, realities of life in parts of Africa.
While not for squeamish readers, Eclipse is a worthwhile book for those able to endure some rather horrible depictions of violence and corruption (along with some leftist political leanings). It’s not exactly beach reading, but the message is important for Western readers ready to take a closer look at how our voracious appetite for oil affects the people who live in the nations it comes from.
Show More
depiction of government brutality and international indifference that mirrors real life in too many places in Africa today.When American lawyer Damon Pierce’s midlife crisis is interrupted by a frantic e-mail from Marissa Okari, an old college flame, he responds, traveling to the volatile and dangerous West African nation of Luandia. Marissa and her husband, Bobbie Okari, are witnesses to the brutal slaughter of an entire village during a human-rights protest. Now Bobbie has been arrested for the murder of three employees of PetroGlobal, the American oil company whose money has made Luadia’s corrupt dictator a billionaire. Pierce, still in love with Marissa, agrees to represent Bobbie against the trumped-up charges. Okari’s eventual trial by tribunal is at once a masterpiece of legal fiction and an in-depth look at the injustice all too often born from the dirty womb of oil money in an otherwise impoverished nation.
While Luandia is clearly modeled on Nigeria (the author admits as much in an afterword), Patterson does a good job of creating a distinct setting that adds veracity to the story while managing to avoid being a mere photocopy of an actual nation. A thoughtful mix of actual and fictional cultural details brings Luandia to life and places the reader firmly in the characters’ world. The writing is excellent, and the story, while at times infuriating to Western sensibilities, carries the reader through to the thrilling if inevitable conclusion. Unfortunately included is an adulterous sexual encounter between Pierce and Marissa Okari that adds nothing to the story. The book also includes accounts of rape, murder, kidnapping, and other atrocities that are, sadly, realities of life in parts of Africa.
While not for squeamish readers, Eclipse is a worthwhile book for those able to endure some rather horrible depictions of violence and corruption (along with some leftist political leanings). It’s not exactly beach reading, but the message is important for Western readers ready to take a closer look at how our voracious appetite for oil affects the people who live in the nations it comes from.
Show Less
LibraryThing member adpaton
Luandia, a fictitious African country with a Muslim north and an oil rich south, environmental despoliation, ethnic unrest, corruption and post colonial collapse, is the setting of Richard North Patterson’s new book – am I the only one who thinks ‘Luanda’ and ‘Nigeria’?
RNP is generally
Pacifist writer Bobby Okari is facing unjust execution: America won’t help because it needs Luandia’s oil and dare not offend the country’s dictator: however South Africa, even Okari’s personal hero international idol Nelson Mandela, is also silent.
Will South Africa go all the way and excuse unspeakable evil simply because the heinous deeds are perpetrated by black Africans? The very thought is enough to cause indigestion.
RNP is generally
Show More
a boring writer – especially his so-called thrillers about American politics – but Eclipse is a surprising good read and poses several valid questions.Pacifist writer Bobby Okari is facing unjust execution: America won’t help because it needs Luandia’s oil and dare not offend the country’s dictator: however South Africa, even Okari’s personal hero international idol Nelson Mandela, is also silent.
Will South Africa go all the way and excuse unspeakable evil simply because the heinous deeds are perpetrated by black Africans? The very thought is enough to cause indigestion.
Show Less
LibraryThing member MarkMeg
Very good book. The middle got repetitious, but I enjoyed.
LibraryThing member Bumpersmom
I received this book as an early reviewer's copy. The author is a lawyer and writes what he knows best, legal mystery/thriller. In this book, his main character is a lawyer with a personal interest in what happens to his friends and it is based on real events that happened in Africa a number of
Show More
years ago. It was an interesting read, and I would like to read more of this author. Show Less
LibraryThing member seldombites
The first part of this novel was riveting, but after that I simply lost interest. However, I don't think the fault lies with the book which is well-written and suspenseful and deals with important issues. I guess I just wasn't in the mood for this style of heavy-handed activism. A different reader
Show More
will probably enjoy it. Show Less
LibraryThing member lsh63
I had a bit of trouble getting through this book. Eclipse is set in West Africa and is the story of Bobby Okari, who is charged with murder by a corrupt government official. Bobby;s wife Marissa, contact Damon Pierce , an old college friend, to defend her husband. Damon is about to be divorced and
A good read overall, but too much detail about politics, government, Bush, oil, etc which I think detracted from the book just a bit.
Show More
also happens to stil be in love with Marissa.A good read overall, but too much detail about politics, government, Bush, oil, etc which I think detracted from the book just a bit.
Show Less
LibraryThing member KayeBarley
Richard North Patterson is one of my very favorite authors. I often find myself nodding my head in agreement with so much he says - and place him in the role of one of today's voices doubling as our conscience.
Readers who hold conservative political viewpoints may find this novel "preachy."
I
There are issues needing to be openly addressed in this country, and no one does this better than Mr. Patterson, while using a fictional backdrop in this novel that, once I was into it, was spellbinding.
Readers who hold conservative political viewpoints may find this novel "preachy."
I
Show More
thought this started off a bit slow, but am happy I stuck with it. There are issues needing to be openly addressed in this country, and no one does this better than Mr. Patterson, while using a fictional backdrop in this novel that, once I was into it, was spellbinding.
Show Less
LibraryThing member miyurose
What Patterson has done here is create a really great story in an interesting landscape with a few really interesting characters. The story is set in Luandia, which is loosely based on the country of Nigeria. Bobby Okari fashions himself a modern-day Nelson Mandela, fighting for the good of his
The story here is very captivating, because you can’t ever by sure whether Pierce will succeed in saving Okari’s life, or if they will all lose. Unfortunately, it does fall flat in a few places. The situation in Luandia is explained over and over and over again in the first third of the book, until you just want to shout, “Okay, I get it! It’s a hellhole!” How many times do we have to be shown the same situations? I feel like Patterson is shoving his own personal politics down our throats a bit. Also, Pierce is a very underdeveloped character. You know about his career and his feelings for Marissa, but I never felt like I really knew him. But when it was all said and done, I felt it was a compelling, solid read and I was very glad I had read it.
Show More
people, the Asari. When he is accused (perhaps wrongly, perhaps not) of orchestrating the lynching of three oil workers, his wife, the American Marissa, calls up an old friend for legal help. Damon Pierce is a lawyer who specializes in international war crimes cases. He has struggled his whole life to feel like he is contributing something to society and the greater good, and by helping Marissa and representing Bobby Okari, he hopes to reclaim that feeling. Tied up with these three are a whole host of nefarious Luandian government officials and oil barons, none of them anyone you can believe or trust.The story here is very captivating, because you can’t ever by sure whether Pierce will succeed in saving Okari’s life, or if they will all lose. Unfortunately, it does fall flat in a few places. The situation in Luandia is explained over and over and over again in the first third of the book, until you just want to shout, “Okay, I get it! It’s a hellhole!” How many times do we have to be shown the same situations? I feel like Patterson is shoving his own personal politics down our throats a bit. Also, Pierce is a very underdeveloped character. You know about his career and his feelings for Marissa, but I never felt like I really knew him. But when it was all said and done, I felt it was a compelling, solid read and I was very glad I had read it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member colmena
This was my first Patterson. It was a good read but difficult subject. This could happen in several countries in Africa and South America where oil is king and American companies are involved in maintaining the supply of oil not taking into account the human loss.
It is too close to reality, but
It is too close to reality, but
Show More
suspenseful. Show Less
LibraryThing member MaryC22
Eclipse starts out strong and continues with a compelling storyline. The novel is set in West Africa and centers around a freedom fighter, Bobby Okari, who is charged with murder by a corrupt general. Bobby's wife Marissa contacts an old friend and attorney, Damon Pierce, in California to help them
Show More
out. Involved in this corrupt mix is an oil company, PetroGlobal. Patterson presents a culture that has few redeeming features and makes me glad I was born in America. Based on events that occurred in Nigeria it reflects the violence and lack of justice that exists in many parts of the world. Those who enjoy reading about world affairs will find this a satisfying experience. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carl_Alves
In Eclipse, Damon Pierce is an Irish lawyer, who despite success that he has experienced in his career, seems to be drifting listlessly. That changes when he gets a frantic message from Marissa Okari, an old friend of his who he had a romantic interest in that never materialized. Marissa is living
For me this novel was a mixed bag. I didn’t appreciate the heavy-handed approach the author used to tell his story. If I wanted to be inundated with political opinion I would watch a cable news show and watch the talking heads. This isn’t what I want in my fiction. Furthermore, the facts that Patterson extols don’t hold up over time. He’s dead wrong on many of his suppositions, which really hurts his credibility. For those reasons, I couldn’t really get into this novel. On the plus side, I thought the characters were fairly well-developed. I also thought there was sufficient tension in the novel and a reasonable ending. In the end, this is just an okay novel. I didn’t hate it, but I certainly didn’t love it.
Carl Alves – author of Reconquest: Mother Earth
Show More
in a fictional African country with her husband Bobby, who is protesting against his country’s government as well as Petro Global, a large oil conglomerate. Bobby has been arrested and is scheduled to be executed unless Damon can perform some heroics and save the day. This leads Damon to Africa where he uncovers layers of conspiracies.For me this novel was a mixed bag. I didn’t appreciate the heavy-handed approach the author used to tell his story. If I wanted to be inundated with political opinion I would watch a cable news show and watch the talking heads. This isn’t what I want in my fiction. Furthermore, the facts that Patterson extols don’t hold up over time. He’s dead wrong on many of his suppositions, which really hurts his credibility. For those reasons, I couldn’t really get into this novel. On the plus side, I thought the characters were fairly well-developed. I also thought there was sufficient tension in the novel and a reasonable ending. In the end, this is just an okay novel. I didn’t hate it, but I certainly didn’t love it.
Carl Alves – author of Reconquest: Mother Earth
Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
Complex description of a movement in a small country in Africa. Much sadness, human rights atrocities, corruption. I struggled with this book, trying to get into it - but much of it was confusing. Hard to keep some of the characters straight. Eventually, over halfway through the book, it became
Show More
easier. Not one of my favorite books by Richard North Patterson. Show Less
ISBN
160751480X / 9781607514800