Goodbye Paris
by Mike Bond
Pub Date: 18 Jun 2019

In the book Goodbye Paris, author Mike Bond writes about Pono Hawkins, who has been in the Special Forces and is now working for the CIA.

This was a very choppy read and confusing at times. There was lots of drug use and language as well as it was very anti-Islamic. This is not something I would purchase for myself.

I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Goodbye Paris is the first book I've read by Mike Bond. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about it. It looked like it would be a fantastic book. An international spy thriller set in Paris, the capital city of the country I used to live in, where American and French intelligence agencies work together to stop a terrorist plot, what's not to love?

But as I read it... well... let's just say that it comes across as extremely Islamaphobic.

That aside, I really enjoyed the basic premise of the story. An ex-special forces guy who was convicted of two felonies (though conveniently released each time - a story that was recounted 2-3 different times within the book). He received a call from his best friend, another Special Forces veteran who asked him to fly to Paris to help with an investigation.

I feel like the thriller portion of the book missed its mark. Where there could have been a ton of buildup in areas was delivered by way of Top 10 lists by the Main Character, Pono, listing out what was going on. At the end when he finds his friend, it took a chapter to recount what happen to said friend. So much was provided in retrospect and some of the action sequences were rushed and then told about later.

Side notes:

* There were many parts of the book that were repetitive, but that could have been caught prior to publication.
* In many scenes, Pono, who had been educated in Paris, kept answering "I KNOW WHERE THAT IS" like a petulant child whenever someone mentioned a location in Paris.
* The romance between Pono and Anne was not convincing. There was no chemistry between the two and then we only know he loved her because it came out in narration. Nothing else hinted that there was emotion there, as if it were added as an afterthought during rewrites. i think she had the potential to be a great character, but was instead reduced to a secondary love interest who could drive fast.
* That's great that three beautiful women made it a point to move to Hawaii and move in with Pono, but how often does it need to be mentioned and how does it contribute to this story?

I love mysteries and thrillers, but while this was OK, it wasn't great.

Thanks to NetGalley and Big City Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mike Bond's "Goodbye Paris" is a gripping thriller that takes readers on a thrilling ride through the streets of Paris. The novel follows the story of American journalist Pono Hawkins, who is on a mission to uncover the truth behind a deadly terrorist attack in Paris. The plot is full of twists and turns, with unexpected revelations that keep the reader hooked until the very end.

Bond's writing is strong, and he does an excellent job of creating a sense of urgency and tension throughout the novel. The characters are well-drawn, with their flaws and strengths realistically portrayed. Pono Hawkins is a likable protagonist, and his determination to uncover the truth is admirable. The supporting characters are also well-developed, with their own backstories and motivations that add depth to the narrative.

One of the novel's strengths is its portrayal of Paris. Bond's descriptions of the city are vivid and immersive, and he captures the essence of the city's beauty and charm, as well as its darker side. The novel's pacing is excellent, with a perfect balance of action and suspense.

However, the novel does have some weaknesses. The plot is somewhat predictable in places, and some of the characters' actions feel contrived. Additionally, the ending feels rushed, and some loose ends are left untied.

Overall, "Goodbye Paris" is a well-written thriller that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. While it has its flaws, it is an enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First time reading Mike Bond, and really enjoyed this book. Pono Hawkins is a great character, and will need to read previous novels now. The book had a great plot, pacing, and lots of action. Can't wait to continue to read more from Mike Bond.

Pono Hawkins is in Tahiti for a surfing competition. He is retired Special Forces, but no one ever really retires from SF. He receives a call from a former buddy and flies to Paris only to discover Mike, and then his wife, Giselle, has been kidnapped by Mustafa, a terrorist who captured Pono and Mike and held them captive in Afghanistan. Pono is going to kill Mustafa if it is the last thing he ever does. The final quarter of the book was quite an adrenaline rush, but the first three-quarters were tedious, at best. Pono spends way too much time pondering his sexual activities. There is a lot of internal dialogue and not enough action. Maybe if I had read the first two books and knew the character better, I would have liked this one more.

This story was full of suspense. There are dual timelines and it set in Paris. I had a hard time with this book but would still recommend it in case someone else would like it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

NetGalley should have an option to not rate a book—whether it’s because we change our mind or because the book doesn’t work for us readers and we won’t finish it—because it’s not fair to rate a book on a few pages. I found out early on that this one wasn’t for me, and I tried to persevere (because again, unfair), but I just can’t. So I’m giving it a 3-star that’s totally not a reflection of my reading experience.

Goodbye Paris relates the story of former special forces men in Paris involved in several kidnappings and a search for a middle eastern terrorist (thought to be dead) threatening an event at the Eiffel Tower more devastating than the 9/11 disaster.. The novel depicts the degree of loyalty the men in combat together or involved in other clandestine operations have to each other.. France’s population is estimated as 15% Muslim and is considered “the poster child of Islamic expansion “ to quote from the book.

This is an exciting and compelling novel and I thank NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to its publication.

I enjoyed this fast pace suspense novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. Because I just had to know what happened. Was the hero going to caught the terroritst.

A fun and different book that really makes you think. I loved the setting a Paris and the twists and turns.

This sounded like it could be an enjoyable book; however, I found it to be highly inflammatory towards one group of people in France. It showed a lot of prejudice toward Muslims. The book seems to go to great length to point out that this attitude that I have of not wanting to be Islamophobic that is the root cause of the various issues that the "spy" culture is having. I suppose it might be true and perhaps I have a somewhat Pollyanna attitude about it.

While I might be interested in hearing a more nuanced/researched view, I found it jarring to have it presented in a novel. It could be perceived as a sort of propaganda piece for Western nationalism, which in my view, we have far too much of these days. The book also seemed to address my feelings on this issue. I have no sympathy for terrorist or terrorism regardless of the reasoning behind it. The black and white distinctions of US/THEM were too stark.

There was lots of excitement due to various interactions with a terrorist plot and the terrorist gang but there was even a love story and dedication woven into the plot. So the book was not all bad, by any means...it was just not what I expected when I requested the book.

I am not the target reader for this book so I'm not sure how relevant this review is. The opening is slow and felt cliche (Tahiti and Tahitians indistinguishable from Hawaii/Hawaiians, a guy accidentally acquires three simultaneous lovers, much less inexplicably attracting all three women each of whom is more interesting than the POV characteretc.), and the POV character is always explaining things to the reader.

The dual timelines keep stopping the forward momentum.

The action set in Paris and surroundings felt entirely realistic (the southern suburbs are as ugly as Pono notes), and it was refreshing to read a book where weed is something that can be helpful to those suffering from chronic pain and PTSD, but most of the other tropes could have been fresher.

This is the first book I've read by this author.

Goodbye Paris was suspenseful and full of mystery.

Here we find special forces veteran, Pono racing from one country to another to hunt down a terrorist. There's enough twists and turns and action to keep you reading until the very end.

I received a free copy from NetGalley along with two others by the same author and this was in the middle of the pack of the three. Pono reads as very juvenile in his behavior and thought process in this one. Islamophobia, even though it was a Muslim terrorist plot, was extreme and since I've been reading through older books made me think this was written long before it actually was.

i hardly ever DNF but i've found that i just can't anymore with the juvenile, wish-fulfillment, male protagonist. it is just not credible that 3 intelligent, independent women would cohabitate just to eke out some time with this mythical man.

typically, i wouldn't review a DNF but i feel like it's required when it's a giveaway from netgalley.

This installment of the Pono Hawkins series was better than Saving Paradise, but still not up there with Mike Bonds' best. There was a little too much travelogue and too little plot and action. I got this one at a bargain price and did not feel cheated. I probably would have if I had paid full price.

An entertaining thriller about a intrigue in Paris. Pono Hawkins, an ex-Special Forces operative is called in to assist the French intelligence service in finding two kidnapped Americans - Hawkins' close friends. In the course of his hair raising investigation, Hawkins uncovers dirty diplomats, a terrorist plot to destroy parts of the city and falls in love.

Although this was a good read it did not, for me, flow as well as I would have liked and so seemed to plod a little in moving forward and I was left with a feeling that it should have been about 10% shorter - but not enough for me to not want to read it, just that I was not compelled to read just this book at the same time so another tended to get in the way of me completing it without interruption.

As above a good read but could have been a little better!

Goodbye Paris by Mike Bond
Book Review by Dawn Thomas

343 Pages
Publisher: Big City Press
Release Date: June 11, 2019

Mystery & Thriller, Terrorism, Violence, Strong Language, Sexual Situations

Pono is in Tahiti with three women but it’s not what you think. The women can barely stand each other and tensions are high. When Mack, an old associate from his military days, contacts him from France and begs Pono to come to Paris to help apprehend Mustafa al-Boudiene he jumps on a plane. It’s rumored he has a nuclear bomb and wants to blow up Paris. When Pono arrives, Mack is missing and soon his wife Gisele cannot be found. Pono teams up with US and French intelligence officers to work the case but is there someone on the inside trying to stop his investigation.

This is another installment in the Pono Hawkins book series. It I written in the third person point of view and in the present tense with flashbacks of the past. I enjoy this author’s writing style. The story flows well and is full of action. I read the book in one sitting. If you like action adventure or spy thrillers, you will probably enjoy this book.

This a 3.5 rounded up to a 4. This is the first Mike Bond novel I have read, and the first in this series that I have read. On principle this has all the makings of a bombshell storyline, murder, mayhem, and international terror plots. The hero Pono Hawkins is back in the game after he is invited to Paris by one of his old buddies who says that their old nemesis Mustafa has surfaced in Paris, and they believe he is up to his old tricks. Since Pono is one of the few people alive who can identify Mustafa, French Intelligence wants his help in identifying and rounding up Mustafa before he causes any more trouble. However, before Pono can really dig into the case, his good friend and his wife mysteriously disappear. There are a lot of moving parts to this story and it was somewhat reminiscent of Olen Steinhauer novels, but the story is not as strong and put together. The last third of the novel is the strongest part of this story. The tone is definitely anti Islamic, and while the outlook is a little disturbing, I can see where it fits in to make the storyline work. I am intrigued enough with the series to look into the other books in the series. Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy. Review posted to Goodreads, LibraryThing, and Amazon.