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psyckers's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent and intriguing book that has a plot that twists and turns throughout.
It may be a bit dated but the quality of the story transports you back to the early sixties, yet feels fresh enough to imagine the plot setting being in more modern times.
Certainly a riveting read that will captivate your imagination.
It may be a bit dated but the quality of the story transports you back to the early sixties, yet feels fresh enough to imagine the plot setting being in more modern times.
Certainly a riveting read that will captivate your imagination.
barts_books's review against another edition
4.0
Got this for an absolute bargain along with Where Eagles Dare and Ice Station Zebra.
My first taste of Maclean and I must say I was very impressed particularly with the way he structured the plot and kept the key twist from becoming too obvious until the last thirty pages. I was also surprised by the dialogue which contained more than a few Chandler-esque similes that actually came off. A solid & fun 4/5 read.
My first taste of Maclean and I must say I was very impressed particularly with the way he structured the plot and kept the key twist from becoming too obvious until the last thirty pages. I was also surprised by the dialogue which contained more than a few Chandler-esque similes that actually came off. A solid & fun 4/5 read.
stella_starstruck's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favourites. I was glad to find a copy of it again when I was back in my home city in October. It took me longer to read it now than when I was young, probably because I don't have the same amount of free time.
Well worth re-reading!
Well worth re-reading!
daveeth71's review against another edition
4.0
read this in 1973 and the phrase, part of the title has remaind with me always 'Fear is the key to all the answers'
owen_spanner's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
grahamsoper's review against another edition
4.0
Fear is the Key - Alistair MacLean
This classic novel of merciless revenge is one of MacLean’s best. It has an incredible opening, followed by a real mystery, non-stop suspense, and a tale of sweet revenge very satisfactorily carried out using the weapon of fear.
Set in the steel jungle of an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico – and on the sea bed below it, it’s all about a sunken cargo plane lying on the ocean’s floor. Its cargo: a small fortune of gold ingots, emeralds and uncut diamonds guarded by the remains of two men, one woman and a very small boy.
A ruthless gang aim to recover the treasure but standing between them and their target is the one man they didn’t want to come up against. His name is Talbot and the skeletons in the plane were his people. And he’s out for retribution against those responsible for their deaths.
Whether or not you’re familiar with MacLean, you will love this book from the moment you pick it up until you reach the last page. It creates all the mystery in the beginning so that you are compelled to think about what will happen next when you are not reading the book. The author also gives space for his readers to open their minds to consider what might happen or who is the culprit and who is not.
It’s a relatively short book, easily read in two or three days, but it’s damn good read!
This classic novel of merciless revenge is one of MacLean’s best. It has an incredible opening, followed by a real mystery, non-stop suspense, and a tale of sweet revenge very satisfactorily carried out using the weapon of fear.
Set in the steel jungle of an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico – and on the sea bed below it, it’s all about a sunken cargo plane lying on the ocean’s floor. Its cargo: a small fortune of gold ingots, emeralds and uncut diamonds guarded by the remains of two men, one woman and a very small boy.
A ruthless gang aim to recover the treasure but standing between them and their target is the one man they didn’t want to come up against. His name is Talbot and the skeletons in the plane were his people. And he’s out for retribution against those responsible for their deaths.
Whether or not you’re familiar with MacLean, you will love this book from the moment you pick it up until you reach the last page. It creates all the mystery in the beginning so that you are compelled to think about what will happen next when you are not reading the book. The author also gives space for his readers to open their minds to consider what might happen or who is the culprit and who is not.
It’s a relatively short book, easily read in two or three days, but it’s damn good read!
rousah's review against another edition
2.0
Enoni, joka ei omien sanojensa mukaan juuri kirjoja lue, suositteli tätä minulle (ja lainasi suomenkielisen painoksenkin). Vaikkei jännityskirjallisuus ole ihan minun heiniä, luin kuitenkin. Alun suoraviivainen toiminta oli tylsää, mutta loppuvaiheessa, kun tarinan monikerroksellisuus alkoi paljastua ja eri ihmisten syyllisyyttä alettiin punnita, kiinnostuin enemmän. Ja sitten kirja jo loppuikin.
Ei minun kirjani, mutta jos tykkää jännityksestä, niin olihan tämä ihan hauska.
Ei minun kirjani, mutta jos tykkää jännityksestä, niin olihan tämä ihan hauska.
veronian's review against another edition
5.0
Fear is the Key features Alistair MacLean near his peak, with another of his best archetypes: the scientist/engineer-commando, alone against evil, Die Hard-style. At his best, MacLean pares his books down to the minimum - nonstop action at a breakneck pace. This is a short, compelling read that's difficult to put down. Though the prologue seems disconnected from the first few chapters, it sets the context for everything else and prepares you for the twists and double crosses that come up (not all of them very believable).
This is pretty typical, solid MacLean. Why five star greatness?
Because Fear is the Key features the biggest, most intense, satisfying revenge payoff I've encountered in a long time. If you seek ocean scavenging/oil rig-themed justice boners, look no further.
This is pretty typical, solid MacLean. Why five star greatness?
Because Fear is the Key features the biggest, most intense, satisfying revenge payoff I've encountered in a long time. If you seek ocean scavenging/oil rig-themed justice boners, look no further.
linluvsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Gripping and well written. Sympathetic (anti?)hero. Don’t read Goodread’s blurb because it gives away too much!