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456th out of 1,263 books
—
2,764 voters
The Chase (Isaac Bell #1)
For decades, Clive Cussler has been delighting readers with novels filled with suspense, action, and sheer audacity. Now he does it again, in one of the wildest, most entertaining historical thrillers in years.
April 1950: The rusting hulk of a steam locomotive rises from the deep waters of a Montana lake. Inside is all that remains of three men who died forty-four years...more
April 1950: The rusting hulk of a steam locomotive rises from the deep waters of a Montana lake. Inside is all that remains of three men who died forty-four years...more
Hardcover, 404 pages
Published
November 6th 2007
by G.P. Putnam's Sons
(first published 2007)
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Clive Cussler is a man who has an obvious love for cars, trains, and the possibilities of history. I say the possibilities becasue he always mixes fact and unknow to come up with new possibilities for history. In most books he has characters that live in the present but are effected by historical events. This book however does not follow his standard format. This book takes place before, during and a little after the great San Francisco earthquake back at the turn of the century. It is a race be...more
First time reader of the Cussler books, of which there are many. While I did finish the book, and wasn't completely turned off by this book, his writing is really pretty horrid. Excerpt, "Little did they know that one of them would not be alive tomorrow". I could go on, and on....on.
For an airport book it did do the trick.
For an airport book it did do the trick.
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Many years ago I was a Dirk Pitt fan, but I've fallen away from Cussler a bit as he seems to have evolved into someone who runs a stable of writers, and they're just generally not as good as the old ones. (Plus, I have to admit I get a little tired of seeing Cussler's political leanings highlighted.)
My son suggested The Chase to me, and I have to say that I think Cussler has a good one here with this author. (Again, I have no idea how much of this Cussler actually writes, so I just assume it's a...more
My son suggested The Chase to me, and I have to say that I think Cussler has a good one here with this author. (Again, I have no idea how much of this Cussler actually writes, so I just assume it's a...more
Quando você curte literatura policial (e aqui inclua romances de espionagem também) e de repente se depara com um autor do gênero que ainda não conhecia é uma ocasião muito feliz. Quando ele tem mais de 50 livros publicados e um estilo narrativo cativante isso não poderia ficar melhor. Foi assim que acabei descobrindo Clive Cussler, seu detetive Isaac Bell e sua história com uma mistura de faroeste, espionagem, elementos tecnológicos (condizentes com a época da história é claro), um bandido para...more
In the adventure novel series Isaac Bell Adventures by Clive Cussler, the handsome detective Isaac Bell solves crimes at the beginning of the 20th century. Isaac is a banker’s son with great wealth, but prefers the thrill of detective work. His family’s wealth does help, though. Together with his sharp mind, he has become the top agent of the Van Dorn private investigation agency.
Adventure novels. A strikingly smart, handsome, good and friendly protagonist. A smart, corrupt, evil and cruel antag...more
Adventure novels. A strikingly smart, handsome, good and friendly protagonist. A smart, corrupt, evil and cruel antag...more
It has been a very long time since I picked up a book by Mr Cussler, nearly ten years I believe. However, having just completed The Chase, I understand why I took a hiatus from reading his books sometime ago.
The Chase features Isaac Bell, as the main protagonist and a detective for the Van Dorn Detective Agency in turn of the century United States. From what I have read on other forums, the Van Dorn Agency may be Cussler's vision of what the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, later Pinkerton G...more
The Chase features Isaac Bell, as the main protagonist and a detective for the Van Dorn Detective Agency in turn of the century United States. From what I have read on other forums, the Van Dorn Agency may be Cussler's vision of what the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, later Pinkerton G...more
The first of the Isaac Bell novels, the reader is introduced to a new era for Cussler - the end of the Wild, Wild West, when railroads brought civilization to the frontier.
The Butcher Bandit has been declared a ghost by local police across multiple states. He comes in, robs banks, shoots all witnesses, and disappears before anyone realizes he's been there. No one knows what he looks like, no one knows how he gets in and out of town, and no one knows where he will strike next. Can Van Dorn Detec...more
The Butcher Bandit has been declared a ghost by local police across multiple states. He comes in, robs banks, shoots all witnesses, and disappears before anyone realizes he's been there. No one knows what he looks like, no one knows how he gets in and out of town, and no one knows where he will strike next. Can Van Dorn Detec...more
I'd actually like to give it 2.5 stars. I listened to it as an audiobook. This is the first book in a new (to me) series by Mr. Cussler.I like Clive Cussler work. I like the Numa books (both the ones featuring Dirk Pitt & Al Giordino and those featuring Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala) and The Oregon files books (love Juan Cabrillo!). I guess it says something when, by the end of the book, I still can't figure out whether I actually like this new main character, Isaac Bell. The story does have an...more
On our travels through the American West, we began listening to this unabridged audiobook as we drove south from Provo, Utah, and finished listening as we drove east from Albuquerque to Tucumcari. We found this appropriate for a thriller that ranges all over the West. (We enjoyed the book, and my special thanks go out to our friend Anita who works with us at the casino for lending this audiobook to us.)
In 1950 a locomotive is raised from the deep, dark depths of a Northern Montana lake, where it...more
In 1950 a locomotive is raised from the deep, dark depths of a Northern Montana lake, where it...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This book was unlike his others in that it didn't involve the typical characters he uses and is considered historical fiction rather than adventure. I liked it.
The story is set in the early 1900's, 1906 to be precise. Isaac Bell, the legendary detective with the Van Dorn agency (think Pinkerton) has been assigned to capture the "Butcher Bandit," a bank robber who kills all the witnesses to his crimes. Bell tracks and follows the bandit across Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. When...more
The story is set in the early 1900's, 1906 to be precise. Isaac Bell, the legendary detective with the Van Dorn agency (think Pinkerton) has been assigned to capture the "Butcher Bandit," a bank robber who kills all the witnesses to his crimes. Bell tracks and follows the bandit across Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. When...more
Ho appena finito di leggere questo libro e devo dire che mi è piaciuto molto.
Tralasciando il fatto che di solito i personaggi dei romanzi di Cussler sono testosteronici ad un livello esagerato, (Donne che cadono ai loro piedi con un solo sguardo, inseguimenti in automobili e varie scazzottate) devo dire che in questo romanzo ambientato nell'america dell'ovest nel 1906, rende particolarmente bene. Isaac Bell, il protagonista, fa parte di una agenzia investigativa chiamata a indagare sul caso de "...more
Tralasciando il fatto che di solito i personaggi dei romanzi di Cussler sono testosteronici ad un livello esagerato, (Donne che cadono ai loro piedi con un solo sguardo, inseguimenti in automobili e varie scazzottate) devo dire che in questo romanzo ambientato nell'america dell'ovest nel 1906, rende particolarmente bene. Isaac Bell, il protagonista, fa parte di una agenzia investigativa chiamata a indagare sul caso de "...more
The Chase
By Clive Cussler
The chase certainly lives up to its name, in 1906 Isaac Bell sets off to capture and stop a man who is robbing banks and brutally murdering everyone who is present, the last body count is in the thirties. From the very beginning this novel is action packed until the very end leaving you waiting desperately for the next book.
This was my first Clive Cussler novel; I had seen them at almost every book store I have ever been to so I, of course, recognized his name. I had not...more
By Clive Cussler
The chase certainly lives up to its name, in 1906 Isaac Bell sets off to capture and stop a man who is robbing banks and brutally murdering everyone who is present, the last body count is in the thirties. From the very beginning this novel is action packed until the very end leaving you waiting desperately for the next book.
This was my first Clive Cussler novel; I had seen them at almost every book store I have ever been to so I, of course, recognized his name. I had not...more
If I’d not been assigned to read this for my "Master Class" workshop for professional fiction writers, it is unlikely that I would have picked it up, because it is not my favorite genre. However, of all the genres in the reading assignment thus far, it has been my favorite.
Cussler’s writing is refreshingly clean from vulgarity, which makes the reading much more enjoyable.
It is fairly well-written. His voice is very utilitarian – not overly flowery – just tells the facts in almost a “down-home” m...more
Cussler’s writing is refreshingly clean from vulgarity, which makes the reading much more enjoyable.
It is fairly well-written. His voice is very utilitarian – not overly flowery – just tells the facts in almost a “down-home” m...more
I have been a lover of Clive Cussler's books for a long time. I have gotten used to his characters from Dirk Pitt to Kurt Austin to the members of the Oregon. When I heard this book was coming out and it didn't have any of his usual characters that I am used to I was kind of skeptical about whether or not it would be as good or great as his others.I have to say I was wrong. This book was, as tony the tiger would say, gggggggggggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttt...more
As a disclaimer, I'd like to note that I love my husband and he recommended this book, as he's read all of Cussler's books and loves them.
However...
Clive - dude - you have enough money to hire a really good editor, then do what he or she says. It's not a threat to your omnipotence. Really, it isn't. Do you fix your toilet yourself, or do you hire a plumber? Yes, you probably COULD fix your own toilet, but you WILL hire a plumber, because all he does is toilets. This is why you should hire an ed...more
However...
Clive - dude - you have enough money to hire a really good editor, then do what he or she says. It's not a threat to your omnipotence. Really, it isn't. Do you fix your toilet yourself, or do you hire a plumber? Yes, you probably COULD fix your own toilet, but you WILL hire a plumber, because all he does is toilets. This is why you should hire an ed...more
This stand-alone novel was a disappointment after having read some of the Dirk Pitt novels. Some of the writing feels like it was written by an amateur - some descriptive passages are crude, dialogue is awkward, and the characters a little stilted. The book begins in 1950 with the raising of a steam locomotive and freight car from Flathead Lake near the Canadian border. Inside are bags filled with four million dollars and the corpses of five people. Then the story flashes back to 1906 and the hi...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Cussler's hero is just too perfect to be believable. An incredibly handsome man who lights the flams of lust in all women he meets yet only actually sleeps with the one he ends up marrying. Incredibly rich son of a powerful banking family who instead chose to become a detective with incredible card-playing and shooting abilities as well as a great collection of cars and motorcycles. The hero never swears, gets drunk, offends a lady or becomes believable for a single second.
In response to commen...more
In response to commen...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is another book where the half-star ratings would be better - I'm going with 3, but it's really about 3.5.
I've read many Cussler books, usually starring his hero Dirk Pitt, who is a pretty good copy of James Bond who loves fast cars and pretty girls. This book is set in 1906, and stars Isaac Bell instead of Pitt, but the basic idea is the same. Yes, there are cars in 1906! And Bell has a couple of loyal sidekicks who remind us of Pitt's sidekicks from later in the 20th century. In other wo...more
I've read many Cussler books, usually starring his hero Dirk Pitt, who is a pretty good copy of James Bond who loves fast cars and pretty girls. This book is set in 1906, and stars Isaac Bell instead of Pitt, but the basic idea is the same. Yes, there are cars in 1906! And Bell has a couple of loyal sidekicks who remind us of Pitt's sidekicks from later in the 20th century. In other wo...more
This was my first Clive Cussler book. Read it in two weeks. It's about a crafty investigator who is trying to solve the cases of a notorious thief and serial murderer known as the Butcher Bandit.
We later learn that the bandit is actually an extremely affluent influential banker but an obstinate, greedy, brutal, and highly ambitious man. Why does he do what he does? He wants to be the owner of the largest bank in his region so he robs minor banks in remote areas. And then large, better protected...more
We later learn that the bandit is actually an extremely affluent influential banker but an obstinate, greedy, brutal, and highly ambitious man. Why does he do what he does? He wants to be the owner of the largest bank in his region so he robs minor banks in remote areas. And then large, better protected...more
It's been awhile since I read Clive Cussler, but I got exactly what I expected with this one: an adventure novel full of cars, trains and good vs evil. I think if I had been reading it I would have been annoyed with the perfectly smart, handsome and rich detective, Issac Bell, but I always find I'm more forgiving when I'm listening to a book on the way to work.
Issac Bell is okay as a main character. He is too much to take sometimes. He gets the girl after like 3 dates, he catches the bad guy wh...more
Issac Bell is okay as a main character. He is too much to take sometimes. He gets the girl after like 3 dates, he catches the bad guy wh...more
I was encouraged by over a dozen customers to read this book and was disappointed half way through. It started out just like any other book you would pick up at an airport gift shop in order to distract yourself from waiting. In that respect the book delivers a story with distinct (however trope driven) characters, and colorful descriptions of places and historical context. The only problem with me reading the books was that I am not waiting hours on end for a plane or stuck in jury duty all day...more
My first Clive Cussler, but I have to say I was interested in reading a Cussler book after having watched the movie Sahara--and eventually, I'd like to read that book just to see all the differences between movie and book.
From the get go, I was hooked since this was historical fiction. I tried not to read much description about the book so I could be surprised. I really enjoyed it all the way through. I read through some reviews after finishing, and one point that I could see that was made was...more
From the get go, I was hooked since this was historical fiction. I tried not to read much description about the book so I could be surprised. I really enjoyed it all the way through. I read through some reviews after finishing, and one point that I could see that was made was...more
Overall a very entertaining read. This book isn’t great literature, but then again it doesn’t have to be. The characters are the stuff of matinee serials, nothing to deep, just good guys and bad guys. This is really nothing more than the simple story of a bank robber and the agent that is chasing him down. There is plenty of fun-filled action as the chase continues across the American west in the in early part of the 20th century. Unfortunately, this story is harmed irreparably by its own prolog...more
Leave it to Clive Cussler to give us another action packed thriller. I got this story in audiobook form. I must say that this one was different from his famous Oregon Files or Dirk Pitt series. This story took you back to 1906 where a bank robber, given the name of "The Butcher Bandit" has been raising havoc and killing men, woman and children in his wake. It is up to Isaac Bell, of the Van Dorn Detective Agency, to bring him in. But "The Butcher" is not your typical bank robber and is quite cle...more
The byword for any Cussler novel is wish-fulfillment - his heroes are Heroes, women want them, men want to be them, blah blah bla blabbety blah. The Chase, Cussler's first solo novel in ages, takes that to a whole new level with his new protagonist, Isaac Bell, a man who (toward the end of the novel) admits to having run away from home as a child to join the circus. I'm not making that up. The plot, such as it is, exists only to support Cussler's historical name-dropping and to create situation...more
A departure from Cussler's usual adventure novels, Isaac Bell is sort of a cross between James Bond and Sherlock Holmes. I liked it. I really like Isaac Bell and the other Van Dorn detectives he worked with. For those of you who thought this book was far fetched and cheesy, you are right. But if you don't like that, you need to be reading Stephen Ambrose, or a newspaper. I read Cussler's books because I like the farfetched hero story with the unlikely action scenes and accomplishments. If I want...more
This book started out in 1950 with the salvage operation of a locomotive from a lake in Montana. The story goes back to 1906 as it follows as Isaac Bell, a detective for the VanDorn agency, tries to find and stop the notorious "Butcher Bandit" who has been robbing banks all over the West. The bandit is very careful to leave no clues because he murders anyone who happens to be in the banks that he robs. He also leaves no tracks. The mystery is how he gets out of town.
From early in the book we kn...more
From early in the book we kn...more
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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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