Overall this is an excellent resource for writers, whether you are drafting a novel or trying to fine-tune one. There’s a wide range of information that covers topics I’ve never seen mentioned in other writing craft resources (such as how a character's status changes based on which other characters are in the scene and a story’s texture). When I picked up this book, I had some specific issues I was looking for clarity on but I also found many new things to think about as they relate to my writing.

While I did enjoy this book, there are a couple reasons why I can’t rate this a 5-star read. First, it alternates between broad topics that can be applied to all genres and hyper-specific sections clearly written with thrillers in mind. Since the author is primarily a thriller writer, I guess this can be expected. But, since this book is clearly intended to be a general resource for all writers (not just for other thriller writers, look at the title and the blurb), perhaps it would be best to leave genre-specific advice out (or try to broaden it).

Second - and my main issue with this book - there’s an inability to see beyond a Christian worldview in some sections. Since this book isn’t marketed as being Christian theology-based, it was disappointing to see such a narrow focus in those areas. To be clear, theology-based writing craft books are not an issue; however after the length this book went to be inclusive and all-encompassing (and encouraging you to think about your audience), limiting to one hyper-specific worldview only when it’s convenient is a problem. For instance, Chapter 41: Beliefs is only viewed through a Christian lens. 

As another example, in the “Fine-Tuning Your Manuscript” section of Chapter 54: Themes we are encouraged to ask ourselves: “Would the Devil pay to have this book published? Why do I say that? Would God? Why or why not?” This particularly example, for me, was jarringly out of place and perhaps could have benefited from reading the chapters on Continuity (#74) and/or Unobtrusiveness (#75). It seems weird to me that these specific incidents of clear personal bias made it through edits on what was otherwise an excellent book.