Fault Line

Ben Treven, Book 1

By: Barry Eisler

Narrated by: Barry Eisler

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

In Silicon Valley, the eccentric inventor of a new encryption application is murdered in an apparent drug deal.

In Istanbul, a cynical undercover operator receives a frantic call from his estranged brother, a patent lawyer who believes he is the next victim.

And on the sun-drenched slopes of Sand Hill Road, Silicon Valley's nerve center of money and technology, old family hurts sting anew as two brothers who share nothing but blood and bitterness wage a desperate battle against a faceless enemy.

Alex Treven has sacrificed everything to achieve his sole ambition: making partner in his high-tech law firm. But then the inventor of a technology Alex is banking on is murdered...and the patent examiner who reviewed it dies...and Alex himself narrowly escapes an attack in his own home. Off balance, out of ideas, and running out of time, he knows the one person who can help him is the last person he'd ever ask: his brother.

Ben Treven is a Military Liaison Element, an elite undercover soldier paid to "find, fix, and finish" high-value targets in America's Global War on Terror. Disenchanted with what he sees as America's culture of denial and decadence, Ben lives his detached life in the shadows because the black ops world is all he really knows - and because other than Alex, who he hasn't spoken to since their mother died, his family is long gone.

But blood is thicker than water, and when he receives Alex's frantic call, Ben hurries to San Francisco to help him. Only then does Alex reveal that there's another player who knows of the technology: Sarah Hosseini, a young Iranian American lawyer who Alex has long secretly desired...and who Ben immediately distrusts. As these three radically different people struggle to identify the forces attempting to silence them, Ben and Alex are forced to examine the events that drove them apart - even as Sarah's presence, and her own secret wants, deepens the fault line between them.

Fault Line centers on a conspiracy that has spun out of the shadows and into the streets of America, a conspiracy that can be stopped only by three people - three people with different worldviews, different grievances, different motives. To survive the forces arrayed against them, they'll first have to survive each other.

©2009 Barry Eisler (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

A stand-alone novel; back-story to the Rain Series

This is a stand-alone novel that is also backstory for the John Rain series, which is among the best I've read or listened to. Notice how inexpensive they are.

I wrote an enthusiastically positive and extended review for Book 1: "Clean Kill in Tokyo."

Eisler is a smart and accomplished guy. Checkout his website and his Wikipedia bio.

Warrior Tactics in the Suburbs

Alex and Ben, brothers, have been estranged for 8 years. Alex is a lawyer and Ben is in the military but cannot reveal where he is located.

Alex is able to get in contact through the army base and Ben returns home to evaluate Alex's plea for Ben's help.

The novel is exciting and I wanted to keep listening until I reached the end. Fault Line kept me on the edge of my seat. There was a lot of action that kept me wanting more.

The narrator was the author, Barry Eisler, who did a good job. There was one word, " to", when used at the end of a sentence made me cringe. Don't ask we why because I actually don't know but my ears were offended.

I've read many of the John Rain series written by the same author and I've enjoyed them. There are two books in the Ben Treven series. I don't if there are more books but I'm sure that I would read them, too.

The book is enjoyable and worth your money or credit. I think this book was quite inexpensive. I'll purchase and listen to the second book, too.

***reader

this was a fast pace thriller. i am looking forward to next book. The Narrator knew the book and this helped to make the book interesting.

Different Type of Story (In a Good Way)

I think this was a different type of story than I am used to Barry Eisler writing, namely his famous John Rain series. This story took a little time to rev up, but once it did, all the chess pieces that Mr. Eisler put in place made sense. I recommend this book to followers of Barry Eisler’s writings. Even though I am hooked on John Rain, this was an outstanding book.

Always exciting!

I always enjoy Barry Eisler’s books, and his narration. I love the way he lays out the fight scenes in the way we can be a part of it. Mr. Eisler, please never stop writing!

A little too made-for-TV

“Sometimes you kill the bear and sometimes the bear kills you”
The downsides:
-Both brothers were stubborn mules who never got past their juvenile family dysfunctions and spend way too much time sniping at each other. Eisler’s great with flawed MCs, but I didn’t like either of these two until the end.
-There’s a lot of debating about necessary evils, terrorism, and government conspiracies. Yes, we get it from both sides through snowflake attorney Alex and his “you have no idea what it takes to protect this country” boogeyman brother Ben. But, in today’s current environment, I swear I got PTSD just listening to them go at it.

“You think you can pick up a turd from the clean end?”
The upsides:
+The author’s go-to plot device of women victims is mercifully absent. Nuff said.
+This was like The Firm meets Bourne, with a slightly cheesier vibe than his Rain or Livia Lone series. While part of me rolled my eyes at the contrivances and coincidences, the rest of me recognizes that’s what made this a fun listen. The next books gets past the made for TV vibe and gets to the dark, lethal side of espionage.
+This book and the next lead into the Rain series before book 7 (The Detachment) and make the crossover series Killer Collective play better when you’ve got all the characters’ backstories. For those who haven’t heard any of the author’s books, this series is a good starting point, then Rain 1-7 (where this series merges). Want even more colliding series? Listen to God’s Eye and the Livia Lone series (books 1&2), then the Killer Collective.

Oh Brothers

Would you consider the audio edition of Fault Line to be better than the print version?

Audible listen, this does not apply

What other book might you compare Fault Line to and why?

I will listen to the follow up book. This series does not compare to the John Rain series...

What three words best describe Barry Eisler’s performance?

Acceptable, decent, not outstanding

Any additional comments?

Barry Eisler does a nice job with narrating. I think a duo of narrators would kick the story up a bit.

Not this author's best, fersure

While I am a BIG fan of Barry Eisler, this Book 1 of the back story of Ben Treven isn't worth it, IMO. I had plans to go further in this back story with Book 2, but after listening to Book 1, decided to pass. Your mileage may vary.

Good, but typical

Would you consider the audio edition of Fault Line to be better than the print version?

Yes, I love it when Barry reads his own material

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Need more twists and turns, it was a very predictable plot. More drama.

Which character – as performed by Barry Eisler – was your favorite?

My favorite is Ben - the flawed hero(aren't they all)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The plot was not "one sitting worthy", but as always, Barry's performance was.

Pretty Decent Rain "Side-story"

I'm a huge fan of the John Rain series; it's fantastic.

Fault Line is #1 of 3 "side-stories" in the Rain series. It's written in identical prose, and follows similar plot lines. Note: this trilogy occurs during the 10 year gap when Rain has fled Tokyo and is working as a 'freelance mercenary'.

Fault Line introduces us to several new characters; however, not nearly enough time was put into their development, therefore, they're not nearly as interesting as Rain. This book also includes the backstory for a character who ultimately becomes one of Rain's primary "future" enemies (hint, he's a tough ex-spec ops leader).

The writing is excellent, the narration is excellent, and the plot is pretty good (that is, until the last three chapters; it's the worst ending Eisler ever wrote). That being said, if you're a fan of Rain, you'll enjoy this. It's about 50% as good as any novel in the Rain series, which is still quite good, nonetheless.