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84th out of 133 books
—
123 voters
The Thief (Isaac Bell #5)
by
Clive Cussler,
Justin Scott, Justin Scott (Goodreads Author)
On the ocean liner Mauretania, two European scientists with a dramatic new invention are barely rescued from abduction by the Van Dorn Detective Agency's intrepid chief investigator, Isaac Bell. Unfortunately, they are not so lucky the second time. The thugs attack again-and this time one of the scientists dies. What are they holding that is so precious? Only something tha...more
Hardcover, 408 pages
Published
March 6th 2012
by Putnam Adult
(first published January 1st 2012)
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Review:
I have to admit from the start that of all the Cussler characters Bell is my least Fav, I read cussler to get away from reality with an over the top action novel. All of this leads me to finally get that i need to stop looking at Issac Bell in the same way as other Cussler books, you do need to put some thought into this book, its not a brain off thrill ride.
When i read the book with this in mind i found that i really enjoyed it and i think i will go back and reread the other Issac Bell b...more
I have to admit from the start that of all the Cussler characters Bell is my least Fav, I read cussler to get away from reality with an over the top action novel. All of this leads me to finally get that i need to stop looking at Issac Bell in the same way as other Cussler books, you do need to put some thought into this book, its not a brain off thrill ride.
When i read the book with this in mind i found that i really enjoyed it and i think i will go back and reread the other Issac Bell b...more
I always have a prejudicial concern when I find a book credited to two authors, one of whom is very well known and the other is (to me, at least) completely unknown. Despite that, I was happy to find a new book by Clive Cussler on the library’s “new book” shelf, because Clive Cussler is always good for a rollicking story. In this case, however, that concern was completely justified. I finished reading it for the simple reason that I have a compulsive to see how a story turns out. In this case, I...more
Isaac Bell is actually one of my favorite Clive Cussler characters. I think that is why I am so disappointed in this latest installment.
Storyline: 5 stars. This was an interesting read with lots of historical insight into early movie making.
Characters: 3 stars Bell felt like the same old Bell, and I'd really like for him to at least pretend to mature through all of his experiences. I loved the ancillary character Pauline, but she's left to wither in the background.
Editing: 1 star. This book was...more
Storyline: 5 stars. This was an interesting read with lots of historical insight into early movie making.
Characters: 3 stars Bell felt like the same old Bell, and I'd really like for him to at least pretend to mature through all of his experiences. I loved the ancillary character Pauline, but she's left to wither in the background.
Editing: 1 star. This book was...more
Clyde Lynds, the European inventor of a revolutionary new talking pictures machine, in this very early 1900's action novel, finds out he has not evaded his German pursuers after all as he heads to America aboard a very fast passenger ship. His attempted kidnapping at sea is thwarted by Isaac Bell, the well-known Chief Investigator for the Van Dorn Detective Agency who just happens to be returning on the same ship. The pursuers are both resourceful and relentless in chasing Mr. Lynds across Ameri...more
The Thief is an exceptionally excellent novel. The novel is about two European scientists with a dramatic new secret invention are barely rescued from abduction by the Van Dorn Detective Agency's intrepid chief investigator, Isaac Bell on the ocean liner Mauretania. Unfortunately, they are not so lucky the second time. The thugs attack again and this time one of the scientists dies. The thugs worked for Krieg Rustungswerk who operates with the Imperial German Army. The story goes on to the thril...more
Another fast-paced Isaac Bell adventure...these books are the punk steam equivalent of the Dirk Pitt books; they are full of adventure, conspiracies, and highly improbable events.
While the motivation and drive for this book is, in the final analysis, fairly lame, I greatly enjoyed it and read it in two sittings. I especially enjoy how the authors use the nascent technologies in the early 20th century to advance the plot. From early cars, to movie projectors, to telegrams, this series uses them v...more
While the motivation and drive for this book is, in the final analysis, fairly lame, I greatly enjoyed it and read it in two sittings. I especially enjoy how the authors use the nascent technologies in the early 20th century to advance the plot. From early cars, to movie projectors, to telegrams, this series uses them v...more
I have been a faithful reader of Cussler for years. Truthfully, I was dismayed that Cussler started other series and Dirk Pitt seemed to be retired and no further adventures with Giordano and Sannecker would be forthcoming.
I needn't have feared. I have since read several of the Oregon Files novels and found this book in the Isaac Bell series.
I should have known, Cussler always delivers and always satisfies.
The Bell series is especially satisfying as it pits Bell, an intrepid private detective...more
I needn't have feared. I have since read several of the Oregon Files novels and found this book in the Isaac Bell series.
I should have known, Cussler always delivers and always satisfies.
The Bell series is especially satisfying as it pits Bell, an intrepid private detective...more
I'm growing tired of this series. I've read all five of them. I thought The Chase was brilliant. Loved it. But now it's become kind of a cookie-cutter series. All the books are the same. You get the feeling you're reading something that's been done before. How much of these books are even written by Cliver Cussler. He's an older guy, and he's cranking out a lot of books. I don't know for sure, but I think it's the other guy -- Justin Scott -- who's doing the brunt of the work, with Cussler maybe...more
We started listening to this audiobook back in November or thereabouts, and finished it this Mardi Gras evening. This is the fifth in the Isaac Bell series of books, and we thought it a very good one, full of explosions and gunfire and chases across land and sea.
It is 1910, and Isaac Bell, the lead detective for the Van Dorn agency, is sailing back to the United States aboard the liner Mauretania, escorting a prisoner being sent to New York. Bell’s fiancé, the beautiful actress Marian Morgan, is...more
It is 1910, and Isaac Bell, the lead detective for the Van Dorn agency, is sailing back to the United States aboard the liner Mauretania, escorting a prisoner being sent to New York. Bell’s fiancé, the beautiful actress Marian Morgan, is...more
Well, it took just over a month, but I made it through the latest Isaac Bell Adventure by Clive Cussler. In The Thief, Bell and the Van Dorn Detective Agency are pitted against the Acrobat and his quest to steal a technological marvel in hopes of propelling the German Kaiser's propaganda machine toward war.
From ocean liners, to speeding locomotives, to Edison's labs, to movie sets, the novel traces across the Atlantic and then the United States, as the race is on to create the first "talkie" mo...more
From ocean liners, to speeding locomotives, to Edison's labs, to movie sets, the novel traces across the Atlantic and then the United States, as the race is on to create the first "talkie" mo...more
The continuing adventures of Isaac Bell, a private dectective in the early 1900's. This book finds him on a steamer ship crossing the ocean from England to New York, and planning a last minute wedding to his fiance, Marion. Things are interupted a bit when he happens upon an attempted kidnapping. The kidnapping turns out to be much bigger than anyone expected, when it turns out the men almost kidnapped have developed the first working machine to make talking pictures. As Isaac and the rest of th...more
Van Dorn detective Isaac Bell returns for his fifth adventure in "The Thief."
The author combines a trip on the steamship Mauritania from London to New York adding some excitement in between. In midst of the action the author has decided to marry Isaac to Marion. The main theme is the production of sound movie pictures. Two scientist aboard the Mauritania are escaping from the Keiser who has been sold on the idea that if Germany has the sound movies first they would be able to thru propaganda ma...more
The author combines a trip on the steamship Mauritania from London to New York adding some excitement in between. In midst of the action the author has decided to marry Isaac to Marion. The main theme is the production of sound movie pictures. Two scientist aboard the Mauritania are escaping from the Keiser who has been sold on the idea that if Germany has the sound movies first they would be able to thru propaganda ma...more
Isaac Bell of the Van Dorn Detective agency while sailing back from Europe saves a pair of inventers from attack by several ruffians. It later turns out that they have been working on a means to create talking movies and the Kaiser’s top agent is trying to steal the invention to make propaganda movies in preparation for WWI. Mad dashes back and forth the country by rail, perils of Pauline escapes, the dash across Germany to France by a young German girl working with a Van Dorn detective to deliv...more
Long time Cussler fan of all his books. This one did not disappoint. The characters, setting, plot and pace are overall well done. Yes, he does have a formulaic method of writing his books, but it works. The antagonist in this one is quite distinct and crafty, a worthy foe of Issac Bell who normally rolls through the bad guys like ten pins.
I appreciate Cussler's willingness to kill off appealing secondary characters to increase tension and really get the reader's blood pressure up during climac...more
I appreciate Cussler's willingness to kill off appealing secondary characters to increase tension and really get the reader's blood pressure up during climac...more
In this book, Clyde invents machines. He planned to conquer things at sea but his attempt failed. The Agency has been researching about him and wants to capture him. Isaac helps Clyde through his problems. The Agency tries to capture him, but he goes across America and passes through the obstacles.
This book interests me a lot because it has lots of actions in this book. This book also goes through a bunch of adventures, which captures my attention. I have never read a book so interesting before...more
This book interests me a lot because it has lots of actions in this book. This book also goes through a bunch of adventures, which captures my attention. I have never read a book so interesting before...more
It was 3 stars, not for any great writing but rather for the historical insight. Isaac Bell is a detective for the Van Dorn Agency (a takeoff on Pinkerton) operating world wide in the time of ocean liners and railroads before WW I. Included in the mystery is the German's attempt to steal an invention to synchronize sound with the Talkie motion pictures. The inventor escapes from Germany, tries without success to get Edison's help but the latter is too protective of his own patents. The Germans k...more
In all honesty, when I originally started reading the Issac Bell Adventures I wasn't into this new series of Mr. Cusslers. I loved the historical aspect, yes, but the nautical basis that drew me into Clive Cussler's work was seriously lacking... I now realize that all my fears were a waste of time... All these new book series have, each in their own way made me rekindle my love for reading. The Issac Bell Adventures are amazing in how the lace fantasy and real history and I find my self savoring...more
It’s the beginning of the 19th century and two European scientists have developed a new method of combining sound with pictures. In the early days of film, sound and image were recorded separately and usually were out of sync. This revolutionary invention could be worth a fortune and someone wants to get their hands on it through any means possible.
While traveling to America on the ocean liner Mauretania, the scientists are the victims of an attempted kidnapping. Only the intervention of another...more
While traveling to America on the ocean liner Mauretania, the scientists are the victims of an attempted kidnapping. Only the intervention of another...more
This is another one of his detective stories set in pre WW ll times and the hero is an independently wealthy person that works for a detective agency. Lots of double dealings, a very wily and evil bad guy spying for Germany as they are preparing for war, the hero of the book gets into all sorts of troubles but always manages to come out the winner. A fast read and a good book to read to let one's mind have a chance vegg, what with the plot line being pretty repetitious for books on Isaac Bell's...more
Stopped on pg.101, but I can see that this book might appeal as adventure to a teen reader. There certainly is a wealth of historical detail packed in. A kid reading this would get a rich visual of the development of - say - the movies. It was a effort to move from silent films to talkies, one I had not quite appreciated before reading this well researched adventure. Unfortunately, I just could not get into the adventure part, which is rather crucial.
I will continue my search for compelling YA...more
I will continue my search for compelling YA...more
I've decided that Clive Cussler's Isaac Bell series is my least favorite of his series. I kind of like the sort of steampunk flavor to the books. But I'm not fond of the main characters and the stories are flatter than his norm. I've now read four books in the series waiting for it to get better, I don't think I'll read a fifth. That said, there was a quite compelling sub-character in this book, Pauline Grandzau. Mr. Cussler if you want to write a (good) series based on her, I'll read that!
Another adventure for CC's new hero, detective Isaac Bell. The plot this times involves a new invention to coordinate sound and video on film to produce realistic "talking movies". A German consortium is trying to steal the new machine, eliminating anyone who tries to stop them. There is some interesting historical data in the story (as always with CC) but the story drags a bit and too often seems over-contrived in order to fill out a complete novel. Readable, but a bit of a chore to finish.
Every good book has 3 ingredients to it's success. First is a good story. Second is having characters that you enjoy following. Lastly, the most important is a well written book. Unfortunately, the sub author is not a very good writer and this detracts heavily from what should have been a very good book. I noticed this in the last Isaac Bell adventure and again with the latest installment. Clive Cussler should do a better job of screening the writing that is so good when he is the author.
The Thief is the latest Isaac Bell contribution to the Cussler empire of stories. Cussler is such a pro at writing even though he has a secondary author. The research and knowledge of the time period is second to none. His use of old words such as dandified and deigns, phrases such as “On the Jump!” shows the research on using period communication. It has the feel of reading one of those dime store novels that were available back in the day. But……………..I was bored. Usually I cannot put down a Cus...more
Outstanding book! I've loved all the Isaac Bell adventures, but the is definitely the best of the series, and one of the best Cussler's ever done. (That's saying a lot! Cussler is one of my favorite authors. I've probably read every fiction book he's ever written. But this one really stand out.)
"The Thief" grabbed me from the first chapter and held my attention the whole way through. I stayed up WAY too late at night reading several nights in a row. I highly recommend this book!
"The Thief" grabbed me from the first chapter and held my attention the whole way through. I stayed up WAY too late at night reading several nights in a row. I highly recommend this book!
The latest installment of the Isaac Bell series by Cussler brings back the Germans as the main adversary. This installment opens with Bell stopping several men from being abducted by German agents aboard a liner bound for NYC. Bell seeks to protect these two men who have perfected the way to create “talkie” movies. Bell manages to find them investors and protects them from German agents who are seeking to bring the invention home to the Kaiser. I like the first 2 Bell novels but in the last 3 th...more
Isaac Bell decides to marry on the ship crossing the ocean when he saves two men from being killed. He helps the two men, but one is killed. It seems there is a German soldier, called Monkey man, who wants their talking movie invention for propaganda to influence Americans to be on the German side in the upcoming war. The Monkey Man kills with no regret. Isaac saves the day after many deaths in his Detective Agency while bringing talking movies to the world.
I just don't know it all seems so easy and formula driven..... But what the heck as usual Clive and friends cannot write anything that I do not like. I think this one got a little short, but it still was well driven and moving towards that moment that inflamed Europe and set the stages for World War II... Issac Bell is a tough and resourceful detective and his wife is smoking hot!! I like the books and really look forward to when they come out...
Another chapter in the Isaac Bell series, this book was enjoyable as usual, though I enjoy the Dirk Pitt stories best. On the ship, the Mauritania, Bell rescues two scientists from the hands of the Akrobat and his henchmen. As we inevitably march toward the First World War in the Bell chronicles, there is no surprise who the villains are, but the real surprise is the technology they are pursuing.
A quick read, but I found at least five typos (which I despise in a published work!)without even try...more
A quick read, but I found at least five typos (which I despise in a published work!)without even try...more
I like several aspects of the book. I like the newness, of all those thing we take for granted like telephones (not invented), cars and electric lights. I like the plot and the way the “why” is hidden until your deep into the story. Until I was told I just could not figure out why the bad guy wanted what the good guys had so terribly badly. There are some problems though, the art work while interesting to look at is just wrong as reference to the scene it depicts.
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Cussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time...more
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