I liked the idea of great intrigue taking place in Panama but found The Expansion lacking. The pace is slow, it feels as if nothing actually happens until halfway through the book. We bounce from one group of characters to another for a quick peek and dialog exchange without feeling invested in any of the events unfolding. Things happen in the background but the tension and urgency just doesn't seem to be there. The characters were shallow and ventured no where beyond being one dimensional. They are practically cardboard cut outs. Sorry, I hate being overly critical but this book just left me cold.

This book appears to be about updates to the Panama Canal and old friends/enemies getting together to make it happen. Doing a Google search however revealed that an update to the canal occurred just a few years ago. The writing is not done in a way to make the topic or the characters stand out. I couldn't get past the 5th or 6th chapter

This is a difficult book to categorise, not a thriller, not a mystery, not a political story, not espionage, not a murder. What is it? It has all of these but all take equal share. I was quickly taken in by the easy reading style of writing and although there is no particular outstanding element is does grab you and is a exceptionally good read. The main character Max Burns childhood and background is dealt with at the beginning, in order you can get on with the main story line of the Panama Canal expansion project. The author expertly compresses several years of bidding and construction and concentrates on Max's interaction with the father and son relationship of the Rocos who are leading the project. This may not be to everyone's taste but I enjoyed it.

This is one of those books that hooks you straight away with an explosion of fast paced details as you get to travel through the beautiful setting of Panama on an adventure full of intrigue, good old fashioned espionage, secrets and of course murder.

Our darling Brit is everything you could want in a main character and is backed by some equally wonderful help in his friends and family that add a colorful layer to the author’s character work.

After that opening that rocks your seat be prepared to move into a slower pace since this is the first in a new series; he has to lay the foundation for a long drawn out story. Along the way you are going to meet the characters that will be accompanying you on this multi-book journey as they face a variety of trials and he is taking this time to provide some decent complexity to them so you’ll want to keep with their stories. One of the things I loved in his book was that his female characters weren’t here just to prop up their male counterparts, the author really did a good job in making them compelling, strong women. They definitely didn’t come off as the stereotypical ‘Bond’ girls who often feel more like eye candy than substance.

Hopefully you’ll stick through the slow parts as the pace and tension pick up leading you up to a dramatic ending with a strong cliff hanger.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Karis and Max and I loved Fredo and Sophia. A very interesting thriller and I am desperately wanting to see the Abbey!

Thank for Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review this book..

3.5/5 Stars

I enjoyed this book, although it felt a bit rushed at the end. There were quite a few characters to keep track of, and some could have been developed a little better. I could see it as a fun movie to watch.

This story had so much potential. I was disappointed by the shallow character and plot development. Though the ending was abrupt, I am optimistic that the sequel will dig in deeper.

By now, most of you know that I'm a sucker for a good political thriller. So when I read the description for THE EXPANSION by Christoph Martin, I had to read it! "In politics and big business, truth is a matter of opinion."

We are thrown into the high stakes world of global trade and diplomacy - it's a ruthless one. Max Burns, a geomatic engineer, has been hired for the enormous task of expanding the Panama Canal - a highly competitive position involving other countries - he is thrust into a world of big business construction that throws him out of his element. He soon finds himself being framed for sabotage and murder after an official of the Panama Canal Administration is found dead. He is in the center of an intertwining web of political intrigue, betrayal, and murder that has ties well beyond the shores of Panama.

The only person that he can trust is Karis Deen, a scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Little does he know, Karis holds a dark and dangerous secret that could destroy him - but one that could also change the balance of world power altogether.

Being someone that enjoys anything mildly political when it comes to a thriller, or even other book genres, I loved this story. The intrigue, the deals made under the table, sabotage, and even murder - sounds like politics, right? ;) I think that Martin did an incredible job setting the scene. Now, I've never been to Panama, but I certainly feel like I have now! It was a page turner and I flew through it - definitely the right amount of suspense and mystery to keep you wanting more.

If you aren't a fan of politics in your reading, then I'd say you're probably better passing on this one. However, if you're a fan of a good political thriller, then you should definitely pick this one up!

I give this 4/5 stars!

A big thanks to the author, Christoph Martin, for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

A James Bondish thriller complete with the usual heroes and villains,though they may take a bit of untangling.

The Expansion is a tale of the expansion of the Panama Canal and all the politics and espionage and skullduggery that went into it. It is fast paced and complexly written and will grab the reader's interest from the on set. All in all a very good thriller filled with multi-dimensional characters. Thanks to Net Galley and Clink Street for an ARC for an honest review.

I was glad to read this book through NetGalley and I thought it was going to be set in the time the Panama Canal was built but was wrong. I did like how the story put in the important characters in first rather than have the murder start it off in the start of the book and then point the finger at the unsuspected. I did feel that Max and Carice's relationship was a little pushed but who knows what will happen to them in the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Panama Canal is undergoing an expansion, which is big business. And with big business comes politics, greed and deception. Max Burns is the geomatic engineer on the winning team, and the likely pawn to be used by all the big players.

The characters are well-developed, although I didn’t see how Max’s extremely wealthy family and his engagement added to the story. I suppose it was to be able to put Max at a boarding school with the wealthy, thereby giving him connections, but the same could have been true if he had been given a scholarship. So much time was spent on his past that I thought it would figure into the book later. The story is paced well, dialog is believable, there just wasn’t enough intrigue. It was predictable. As well, I hoped for more historical background on the building of the canal, beyond a cursory information I might find on Wikipedia. The ending was very abrupt and unsatisfying.

This was a good book, especially for a first-time author. I understand the author is working on a second novel about Russia and the Cold War, and I'll probably read it to see if he progresses from good to great!

Interesting thriller starts in Switzerland,moves through England and ends in Panama with occasional pit stops in the U.S. Based on dodgy dealings in a planned Panama Canal expansion this is a quite complex little yarn that doesn't quite reach for me but nevertheless is a diverting read that has enough to make one see how it turns out. Intrigued to learn it's the first of three so maybe it will improve!

The Expansion was a very interesting and entertaining read and well written. Panama is taking bids for the expansion of the Panama Canal. Different countries are preparing their bids for the expansion. Political corruption and monetary gain help make this book even more intriguing. I am looking forward to reading The Expansion sequel. (ARC)I

Max Burns, a geomatic engineer, has the career chance of a lifetime working on a new project for expanding the Panama Canal. He gives up the promise of a sound job with his then fiancee's father, and drops everything to go.
The description of the work, the history of the beginnings of the Panama Canal are riveting, and one realises how little one knew of this part of history.
There is much intrigue in the story. Karis, who is apparently a scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical research Centre, becomes involved. Is she what she appears to be, or is there something else in her background?
Politics, lies, promises and backstabbing make this book race along.
It's a super story.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully crafted, clever. Starts off simmerimg, ends with a bang. My review is up on Amazon.a well crafted book!

I liked the idea and thought the characters were fine but I would have liked to know more about the peripheral players. My biggest problem was it took so long to get to the pivotal moment ( a death) that I was beginning to get bored with yachts, heat, beautiful people etc. The book took so long to arrive at the crime that and the solving seemed almost incidental and therefore rushed. Not even sure that "crime" is the best category for it. Having said all that - if this book were a recipe it just needs "a little more seasoning" to be just right. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

This book covers the intrigue and machinations associated with a project to expand the Panama Canal. The premise allows for a diverse group of interesting characters as proposals are developed, a contract is awarded, and construction begins. The main characters ae described in depth, with a second tier of more stereotypical personas. The style of writing is straightforward, with little added detail. A romance between Max Burns, the main character, and a CIA agent, covered as an environmental activist, adds spice to the mix. The plot is engrossing, and includes a number of personal relationships between the players. The story arc could be described as a long, slow buildup with a quick hook at the end. The many interesting characters makes this a great read.

The Expansion is a page turning thriller that captures your interest from the start. Max a geomatics engineer has been asked to draw up plans for the Panama Canal expansion, previous to this chance of a lifetime we have some background to Max and other main characters. There is intrigue and tension aplenty, romance for Max with Karis supposedly an environmental scientist. Diplomats,CIA agents, the Chinese,British and Americans all make for an engrossing read.
There is quite some build up before everything 'kicks off' but when it does it drags you along at breakneck speed. I would have liked a little more depth from the ending a few 'what's going to happen next' questions, but I'm presuming there is going to be a follow up and hopefully not before long.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly

Very clumsy first 1/3, then it picks up. Not actually a bad book, but slow and without tension or drama. Dull.

Not for me, sorry.