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maw539's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This weekend I picked up this instalment in the Isaac Bell series, this one my favourite so far. Packed with exciting characters and non-stop adventure, once I was engrossed in it, it was hard to put down. Occasionally, I had to remind myself it's set in the early 1900s, when the social norms were a little different from today. I did enjoy the portrayal of early aviation and the daring pilots navigating uncharted skies. Although some plot points stretched believability, like Bell's ability to pick up flying with barely a lesson, the book's pace and intrigue never falter. Overall, this was a fast-paced, captivating read that kept me hooked from start to finish.
murdrean's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ebokhyllami's review against another edition
2.0
...my advice? Use your money more wisely. I was at least very disappointed - again! As mentioned, I used to find Cussler a very competent action/adventure storyteller, and his Dirk Pitt books are among the best in this genre. They are up to speed, are very exciting although easy to read, but creative and highly infectuous. Cussler mixes past "history" with present activities and has always a couple of parallell stories and subplots which always blend perfectly together in the end. There are always exciting twist & turns when you least expect it, and this fantastic mix has made Cussler to one of my favourite action/adventure writers. In the past, that is....
Cussler HAS written some good novels with another co-author, but he is the exception. This is the NUMA files with Paul Kemprecos. The first 8 books in this series holds in my opinion Cussler standard. However, I see that the 9th book "Devils Gate" he has swapped Kemprecos with the new Graham Brown for some reason, so here we go again...
Cussler HAS written some good novels with another co-author, but he is the exception. This is the NUMA files with Paul Kemprecos. The first 8 books in this series holds in my opinion Cussler standard. However, I see that the 9th book "Devils Gate" he has swapped Kemprecos with the new Graham Brown for some reason, so here we go again...
jef_1f's review against another edition
4.0
Good book. Appeals to aviation enthusiasts and crime mystery.
wendyh65's review against another edition
4.0
This was my review for Kaiwaka Library...
It's 1910, only a handful of years since the Wright Brothers made their historic first flight in a powered aircraft. In a bid to promote and extend flight to the people of the United States of America, newspaper tycoon Preston Whiteway puts up $50,000 for the first airplane to cross the country in under 50 days. He's even sponsoring a plane himself - the daring and beautiful aviatrix Josephine Frost.
There's only one snag in that idea - Josephine witnessed her husband shooting her lover - and builder of her aircraft - and her very-rich-but-still-a-thug husband has vowed to kill her. No-one has managed to catch him yet, and the Van Dorn Detective Agency has been trying since he first started bashing his way into the newspaper business some years ago.
Isaac Bell is brought in to protect Josephine and catch Frost, and brings in Van Dorn men from all over the country to help - and ends up flying the entire race course himself as her escort. Not that he has ever flown before, but since when has that ever stopped anyone?! He drives an automobile and can drive a steam locomotive - how hard can it be?
This is a rollicking good yarn, exactly what I expected from these authors as I've read a few books in this series before. This is the fourth one written, but it's not necessary to read them in order, I've found.
It's 1910, only a handful of years since the Wright Brothers made their historic first flight in a powered aircraft. In a bid to promote and extend flight to the people of the United States of America, newspaper tycoon Preston Whiteway puts up $50,000 for the first airplane to cross the country in under 50 days. He's even sponsoring a plane himself - the daring and beautiful aviatrix Josephine Frost.
There's only one snag in that idea - Josephine witnessed her husband shooting her lover - and builder of her aircraft - and her very-rich-but-still-a-thug husband has vowed to kill her. No-one has managed to catch him yet, and the Van Dorn Detective Agency has been trying since he first started bashing his way into the newspaper business some years ago.
Isaac Bell is brought in to protect Josephine and catch Frost, and brings in Van Dorn men from all over the country to help - and ends up flying the entire race course himself as her escort. Not that he has ever flown before, but since when has that ever stopped anyone?! He drives an automobile and can drive a steam locomotive - how hard can it be?
This is a rollicking good yarn, exactly what I expected from these authors as I've read a few books in this series before. This is the fourth one written, but it's not necessary to read them in order, I've found.
jbayer's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
jaxboiler's review against another edition
3.0
I am not sure why but I didnt enjoy this one quite as much as the other 2 of this series. The action moved along okay but I guess it has become a little too predictable, even for me.
srchief's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy the Issac Bell series. It is set in the early 1900's and provides a little history with adventure.
This book revolves around a airplane race from NY to San Francisco. The race is headlined by a beautiful woman who has a psychotic husband who is trying to kill her. The Van Dorn detective agency is hired to protect her. Issac plunges headlong into the mystery, learning to fly along the way. It is a fun story that is not real heavy reading - just a good read.
This book revolves around a airplane race from NY to San Francisco. The race is headlined by a beautiful woman who has a psychotic husband who is trying to kill her. The Van Dorn detective agency is hired to protect her. Issac plunges headlong into the mystery, learning to fly along the way. It is a fun story that is not real heavy reading - just a good read.
libraryofrick180107's review against another edition
5.0
Book Review - Isaac Bell #4 The Race by Clive Cussler
Another book in the Isaac Bell series, this was the 6th book I finished in 2020.
This could be Isaac Bell's most dangerous case yet.
Air travel is still in its infancy. Aircraft are a new concept. Yet one man is sponsoring a race from one side of the united states to another in 50 days or less by aircraft.
One of the pilots is being targeted by her husband and put under Isaac Bell's protection. Her husband is on the run across the country.
Sabotage and murder run amok as other competitors are put under threat during the race.
Who will win ?
This is another great story in this set. I am looking forward to finishing the entire set.
5*
*****
Another book in the Isaac Bell series, this was the 6th book I finished in 2020.
This could be Isaac Bell's most dangerous case yet.
Air travel is still in its infancy. Aircraft are a new concept. Yet one man is sponsoring a race from one side of the united states to another in 50 days or less by aircraft.
One of the pilots is being targeted by her husband and put under Isaac Bell's protection. Her husband is on the run across the country.
Sabotage and murder run amok as other competitors are put under threat during the race.
Who will win ?
This is another great story in this set. I am looking forward to finishing the entire set.
5*
*****