Black Wind

“Black Wind,” by Clive Cussler is a novel about a World War II chemical warfare experiment, that was lost to sea by the end of the war. This warfare they were testing was a modified form of arsenic gas, that had they released on the US, would have had terrifying results. This novel is set in present day, and begins when Dirk Pitt, the hero in Clive Cussler’s series, is in the far North tracking seals, when they all die within five minutes. After testing the seals, they found trace amounts of arsenic leading Dirk and his team on a wild goose chase for the killer.

This is a very light read, as most of Clive Cussler novels are and is very enjoyable. There are a few plot twists and suspenseful parts that keep the reader glued to the novel. This is an fictional action novel and is written in a way that everyone can understand it and keep up with it. I quite enjoy reading his novels because of the dry humor, the car chases, and the saves-the-world hero Dirk Pitt.

Action novels must be exciting and thrilling otherwise the reader is turned off from the book, and will not read it. This novel is not one of the best action novels I have read, but certainly not the worst, it provides a joyful read for anyone who wants to relax for a couple of hours.

The Cry of the Halidon

“The Cry of the Halidon,” by Robert Ludlum is a decent thriller novel. This novel does not provide the usual Ludlum material, and at times was dull. This novel is about a man named Alexander Tarquin McCauliff, he is a geologist who leads a team, hired by a company called Dunstone to the Jamaican jungles. He finds out from the British Intelligence who approach him early in the book that Dunstone, is a dishonest company, and had sent a previous team who have not been found. A man named Hammond, with the British Intelligence agency guides Alexander on a adventure that would change anyone’s life.

I have read a few other Ludlum novels, such as the "Bourne Ultimatum," but this one is far below the usual quality of Ludlum’s novels. This novel did not have many unexpected plot twists so the reader became bored of the plot. There were no mysterious figures or benefactors contributing to the plot. The plot was laid out from square one and did not deviate from the original plan.

Thriller novels are meant to be gripping, suspenseful and exciting. This book did not meet any of those standards. Robert Ludlum fell very short on this novel, and it is most definitely not one of his better works.

I would not recommend this book, but I would recommend the author, because Robert Ludlum has some excellent novels. He is consistently a good writer except for this hiccup in his writing career.

The Bourne Ultimatum

“The Bourne Ultimatum,” by Robert Ludlum is an excellent fiction spy thriller. The novel is about a man named David Webb, field name “Jason Bourne,” who is being stalked by a terrorist code-named the Jackal. David Webb worked for the C.I.A. and was their top agent; however, sick of their games he retired to become an oriental studies professor. However, his arch-rival, Jackal had other ideas and is hunting him and his family down in order to finish his job.

This is the last in the Bourne trilogy and by far the best novel of the three. The novel captivated me right until the very last word and kept me guessing as to what was going to happen. The suspense in this novel was almost unbearable which led me to finish the novel in a single week-end.

A spy thriller is supposed to be suspenseful, have plot-twists and be full of action. Robert Ludlum fills this role completely and it shows because this was a #1 New York Times Bestseller. This novel is a great example of what a spy thriller is supposed to be. As well, the other Bourne trilogy novels were also excellent spy thrillers and would recommend them to reader’s interested in apprehensive spy thrillers.

Robert Ludlum is an excellent author who has created a very good trilogy about a spy. I have read a number of his books and there is a common theme amongst them, there are always one or two main characters that is up against an unstoppable enemy with vast resources. He uses many exclamation marks throughout his novel because much of his novel consists of action, so they are necessary.

Last Man Standing

“Last Man Standing,” by David Baldacci is a mystery fiction about a man, Web London who was part of a Hostage Rescue team that was ambushed and slaughtered. The team was fed invalid information that a drug operation was going on in the building they were storming. Upon entering the courtyard the team was ambushed and cut down by multiple remote-controlled machine guns. However, Web London froze just before entering the courtyard and dropped just as bullets started passing over his head.

Being on the Hostage Rescue Team, part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation leads for a secluded life. Web had been on the team for a record of five years, which is unheard of because of the stress and danger comes with the job. The Hostage Rescue Team does exactly what its name states, rescues hostages. This team makes up most of life; his friends are from the team. After being called a traitor and a coward by his team’s family members and most of the country, he tries to unravel the mystery that surrounds the ambush. He is led on a wild-goose chase to try to find the culprits for the murder of his team.

David Baldacci is a good writer, and his novels are very interesting. “Last Man Standing,” is a good mystery fiction. Mystery fiction should be written in a way that the reader is kept guessing throughout the novel, and with many possible outcomes. This is exactly what David Baldacci does, which makes the book a very enjoyable, light read.

However, I do have one criticism; there are too many characters in the novel. I constantly had to flip to an earlier passage in the book to figure out who this character was. This was irritating, but I would still recommend the novel.

A Question of Blood

A “Question of Blood” by Ian Rankin is a crime fiction novel including two very intelligent detectives; DS Clarke and DI Rebus. They both live north of Edinburgh and operate out of a police station called St. Leonard’s. Rebus, likes to bend the rules and has to in order to solve this murder. The murder took place in a school in their jurisdiction called Port Edgar. An ex-Army loner killed two seventeen-year olds in the school, who turned the gun on himself after the murders.

Ian Rankin writes in a certain way to lead the reader as if there is no other possible killer other than the man from the military. Then, at the last possible second a clue presents itself leading the detectives on a wild goose chase to find the killer. His style is very light; there are many jokes even though it is a whodunit novel. I believe that because of the lightness of his writing the reader becomes more enveloped in the story.

A crime fiction novel is supposed to be logical, the author should weave a puzzle leaving the reader confused but not at a total loss. The reader should be guessing who the killer is, and wanting to know. The clues should lead the reader to a certain point and then show the killer. Ian Rankin wrote “A Question of Blood” in this manner which allowed the reader to be trapped into the story.

This novel was quite good, and I look forward to reading more of the same genre and author.

The Power of One

The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay is an uplifting novel about racism, boxing and independence. The story is about a young boy maturing in South Africa, his name is Peekay. His name was given to him by a shoe salesman, because he didn’t have a proper name. Early on in his life, Peekay met a man named Hoppie Groenewald. A boxing champion taught Peekay the words “First with your head and then with your heart,” early on in his life. He carried these words for the rest of his life, all the way to winning the boxing championships and defeating his childhood enemy.

This novel is a historical fiction; it includes non-fiction parts of the past such as World War II. This novel also includes parts of the past such as the Boer war and the hate it spawned. However, the rest of the novel is not true. However, Courtenay interlocks the non-fiction and fictional aspects of this book so well that sometimes the reader is confused into believing it is a true story.

Bryce Courtenay wrote in a way that made the reader believe that they were taking part in the story or longing to anyway. The diction used by Courtenay is appropriate for the time and place of the novel; using words like “Pisskop,” etc…These words although sometimes hard to understand contribute to the novel because without them the reader wouldn’t be ensnared in the stories setting.

I really enjoyed this novel because it motivated me to do my best and never give up. Also that being independent is very important and many things can be accomplished on your own. This I believe is the “Power of One.”

The Ambler Warning

The “The Ambler Warning” written by Robert Ludlum is a crime fiction novel, about an ex-federal agent named Ambler. Ambler was involuntarily shipped off to an asylum where the Government holds high security risks, people who know too much. The only problem is, there is nothing wrong with him, and he is aided in his escape by a young nurse. He realizes he knows nothing about himself, even his real name; he has been erased from the world. He is being set up by higher powers, to assassinate a Chinese political leader, in hopes that it will start a world war. However, Ambler who can infallibly read people, he knows what they are thinking by their body movements. At the last moment, Ambler realizes he is being set-up and avoids the trap.

Robert Ludlum wrote this story as a crime fiction novel. This genre is meant to lead the reader into a suspenseful journey, in this books Ambler’s journey. Ludlum used the proper diction relating to the Army because Ambler was an ex-federal agent. This diction really allows the reader to be captivated by the novel and fall into the story. Ludlum also uses sensible hints that the reader tries to find in an attempt to solve the puzzle before Ambler does, leading the reader on a wild goose chase.

Robert Ludlum writes in a serious tone, but occasionally drops in a joke, to ease the mood. Ludlum portrays Ambler as a very intelligent, but lost man. Because of Ambler’s intelligence Ludlum is allowed to put in some wit, and quick comebacks. This use of comic relief is quite satisfying because 500 pages of seriousness are not what I am looking for.

Grave Secrets By: Kathy Reichs

I recently read a crime novel involving a forensic anthropologist named Temperance Brennan; she works with the police force, homicide squad, in Montreal. She also works in North Carolina; she shares her time equally between both police forces. The book starts with Tempe, as she likes to be called working in Chupan Ya, a small town just out of Guatemala City. She is working with a small group of anthropologists and they are trying to piece together a tragedy from the civil war within the region. On their way back to Guatemala City, two of her colleagues are knocked off the road by another car, and shot. This leads Tempe into a goose chase after the killers and a long road to uncovering the violent past.

A crime novel is supposed to be intelligent and sensible, a puzzle that leaves the reader trying to solve. The book leads the reader to the killer or the one who had committed the crime. This novel is excellent I was led to believe that the killer was the owner of the hotel but, just at the last moment the man was killed and the murderer was revealed.

Kathy Reich’s style is quite humorous and enjoyable, it is an easy read and but not too light at the same time. Her style is much like the author of Seduction Catherine Gildner. She had many jokes to lighten the heavy mood of a murder novel, like comic relief.

I really enjoyed this book, and have bought a couple more of Kathy Reich’s novel because they are very thrilling. This book is a pleasant mix between CSI and Antique Hunter. Kathy Reich’s plot changes into multiple exciting plots that eventually all come together and tie off into a nice neat little package. I would suggest this book to anyone as it is quite amazing, and is now one of my favorite books.