Library Journal
It is 1908, and the dark clouds of World War I are beginning to gather. A naval arms race of epic proportions is under way, and the world's powers will stop at nothing to develop the best warships and, simultaneously, use deadly force to halt the development of other nations' navies. When several of America's leaders in naval technology are murdered, Isaac Bell (The Chase; The Wrecker) and the Van Dorn Detective Agency are brought in to both solve the crimes and stop the killers. A consummate assassin simply named the Spy is behind it all, but whom does he serve and why? VERDICT As with the previous two Isaac Bell novels, this title is rich in period detail, features exciting chases and nasty villains, and is a great fun read. Since Cussler and Scott are dealing with history, the series cannot go over the top like so many of Cussler's futuristic novels. Better, Isaac Bell is a superb action hero who moves elegantly and lethally through the period. Highly recommended. [See LJ 2/1/10; for more summer thrillers, see Andrew Smith's "Short Takes: Summer Men's Fiction," p. 68.?Ed.]?Robert Conroy, Warren, MI |