The Driver Book I - Decision

I enjoyed reading Driver Book 1, although it's the literary equivalent of watching a Jason Statham action film. Specifically, The Transporter. The novel comes cloaked in the trappings of high performance cars, weapons, fine wines and dining, watches and clothing, somewhat reminiscent of leafing through an issue of the Robb Report at the doctor's office. Our heroes ooze machismo, the bad guys are disposable cardboard villains, racer Marc's fiancée is more an accessory than a big part of his life. All that matters not, as we buckle on the 6-point harness for some engaging action.The narrative blends two story lines, the GT3 racing career of Marc Lange and special transport driver Rene Dufour. The racing part is quite convincing. Despite an occasional bobble such as the Ferrari 458 equipped in this book with a manual transmission, the author knows his track stuff. And realistically, it's not always about winning as more often than not Team Technic doesn't earn a podium spot but consistent results can still please the sponsors. You also get a flavor here for the business side of racing and the stress of keeping a team going on limited funding. Track and highway maps at the beginning of each chapter are a great touch.The Driver sections of the book, while adding plenty of excitement, don't hold up so well to more than passing scrutiny. Just what is the actual demand for these shadowy Transporter figures ? And as running drugs and guns are ruled out in the interest of keeping things at least on a quasi-legal status, how would the Driver actually know they aren't the cargo since examining the contents of the package is forbidden by the contract ? You really have to wonder how the many European police agencies remain so clueless and passive about the high speed chases, as often as not resulting in an accumulation of wrecked bad guy sedans, not to mention bodies strewn by the wayside in the interest of fulfilling the contract.Better not to think too deeply on the plausibility of it all and just enjoy Driver for what it is, an enjoyable diversion for car guys. I look forward to further installments. And by the way, with the driving sequences done right, this would make a great movie.

If you are into cars, then these books are for you. The author is extremely well versed in not only cars but European locations and food. The conversations seem a little forced at times but the story flow was good and kept you moving into the next chapter.

Good story, character development was good too, the author knows his way around a track too. (Proof reading and editing was a bit suspect.)I really enjoyed the book, but I went into it understanding that it was a first effort, and given that, it was really good.The next couple of books should see a significant boost in plot depth if this isn't a one off.Get after it Robert Turner, your track buddies want to see you become the next Tom Clancy.

I really enjoyed this and the sequel, as I am a passionate Porsche guy and former club racer. However there were a number of typographical, spelling and grammatical errors that showed the book had not been proof-read adequately.I'm happy to submit proof-reading copy for all 3 books in the series

What makes any story jump off the page is what you will find in The Driver Book-I Decision. Each character can stand on its own but together you become wrapped in the embrace of each turn they take-winding through your imagination as each detail unfolds. On to Book II and hoping there is much more to come.

Usually, when my interests cross paths with fiction, the results can be embarrassing to read. Fortunately, there is some writing that transcends the topic - think: James Salter's The Hunters, Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain, and Nicholas Monsarrat's The Cruel Sea. While The Driver, the first novel by Robert L. Turner isn't in quite in the pantheon of these, it's much more fun than I had a right to expect.The Driver is a hugely entertaining adventure of sports car racing and criminal intrigue. It's a bit derivative (half of the plot recalls The Transporter, with Jason Statham) and saddled with a few typos. But the story? It moves!I, for one, am waiting for the next installment.

This is an exciting, fast-paced adventure novel that combines professional auto racing with criminal and espionage elements. Think James Bond meets The Art of Racing in the Rain. The paces builds throughout the book, with sufficient mystery in the background to keep you reading. If the action elements are not your thing, the racing segments are excellent.It's a great first effort, and I'll definitely keep my eye out for the next offering.

The Driver...Decision is an intriguing story that combines accounts of the skills and strategy of high-end sports car racing along with the action of James Bond-like car chases (well, if James Bond were driving a Maserati instead of an Aston Martin).I am not into the fighting/shoot-'em-up stuff, but the dual story of racing skills and strategy and The Driver's resolute commitment to deliver his valuable "cargo" while being chased through the highways and city streets of Europe makes for an engrossing read and kept me engaged throughout. Being a Porschephile I especially liked the racing scenes. Looking forward to the next installment as the story continues...