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The Greenland Breach
Experience the eco-thriller at a whole new level in this cli-fi spy novel. What is the real impact of global warming? This stylish thriller about climate change and its consequences couldn’t be more topical. Espionage, intrigue, and behind-the-scenes struggles for natural resources combine with French freelance spies and Bond-like action for a convincing, beautifully orchestrated tale, “like a sophisticated manga.”
The Arctic ice caps are breaking up. Europe and the East Coast of the Unites States brace for a tidal wave. Meanwhile, former French intelligence officer John Spencer Larivière, his karate-trained, steamy Eurasian partner, Victoire, and their bisexual computer-genius sidekick, Luc, pick up an ordinary freelance assignment that quickly leads them into the glacial silence of the great north, where a merciless war is being waged for control of discoveries that will change the future of humanity.
"Masterfully paced and wondrously prescient a cautionary tale ...Equal parts Clive Cussler and Michael Crichton, this is a terrific tale that charges out of the gate and speeds in relentless fashion to a wholly satisfying finish."--Jon Land, bestselling author of Strong Rain Falling
The Arctic ice caps are breaking up. Europe and the East Coast of the Unites States brace for a tidal wave. Meanwhile, former French intelligence officer John Spencer Larivière, his karate-trained, steamy Eurasian partner, Victoire, and their bisexual computer-genius sidekick, Luc, pick up an ordinary freelance assignment that quickly leads them into the glacial silence of the great north, where a merciless war is being waged for control of discoveries that will change the future of humanity.
"Masterfully paced and wondrously prescient a cautionary tale ...Equal parts Clive Cussler and Michael Crichton, this is a terrific tale that charges out of the gate and speeds in relentless fashion to a wholly satisfying finish."--Jon Land, bestselling author of Strong Rain Falling
285 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 11, 2021
Rating: 3.75* of five
#ReadingIsResistance to climate change denial and to bisexual invisibility. My review of this 3+ star French cli-fic thriller apparently disappeared, thanks Henry Avila for liking the blank page to bring it to my attention!
It's an exciting book, and it will keep your attention riveted. Besson makes the rare and welcome decision to include a bisexual man as the sexpot of the projected series. Luc is a major player and I couldn't be more amazed that this fact alone hasn't garnered the books more attention. It deserves yours.
#ReadingIsResistance to climate change denial and to bisexual invisibility. My review of this 3+ star French cli-fic thriller apparently disappeared, thanks Henry Avila for liking the blank page to bring it to my attention!
It's an exciting book, and it will keep your attention riveted. Besson makes the rare and welcome decision to include a bisexual man as the sexpot of the projected series. Luc is a major player and I couldn't be more amazed that this fact alone hasn't garnered the books more attention. It deserves yours.
May 5, 2014
This is the type of book that’s hard for me to put down. Right from the start there’s action. Lots of characters, plot twists, subplots, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Then I sat down to write this review and I started to think, wow so much happened I don’t know what to say about the novel since I would hate to give something away. I’m not a fan of spoilers.
It was hard for me to determine the good guys from the bad ones. Sometimes that can be irritating. However, in this case, it was perfect. Spy thrillers should be thrilling. If you know what’s going to happen and who to trust, why read it? The anticipation and dread are half the fun.
I liked the pacing of this novel and the multiple points of view. Before reading this novel I hadn’t heard of the author. I’m hoping more of his works are available in English. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced spy thriller, I recommend giving this a go.
It was hard for me to determine the good guys from the bad ones. Sometimes that can be irritating. However, in this case, it was perfect. Spy thrillers should be thrilling. If you know what’s going to happen and who to trust, why read it? The anticipation and dread are half the fun.
I liked the pacing of this novel and the multiple points of view. Before reading this novel I hadn’t heard of the author. I’m hoping more of his works are available in English. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced spy thriller, I recommend giving this a go.
January 2, 2014
I have a confession to make. When I was first asked to read this book, I was certain I was going to hate it. Why? Because I absolutely hate preachy, greenie books that tell us we're destroying the planet. I'll even admit to being a bit of a climate change sceptic. But before you all stone me as some petrol-guzzling, meat eating heathen, I will say that it's not that I don't believe we need to look after our planet, and to protect it for future generations. It's just that I'm a realist (or is that cynic). All that doom and gloom about the sky is falling I tend to view as climate change scientists desperate to keep their funding. After all, if they told us things weren't as bad as they first expected, why would we continue to give them millions to study climate change? I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle (as it usually does in most things). I'm all for researching new energy efficient technologies, and for reducing our impact on the earth. I just don't like being preached at.
So anyway, that was the state-of-mind I went into this book with. In fact, if truth be told, there were really only a handful of reasons I agreed to read it in the first place: 1 - part of the action took place in France, and I'm a total francophile. 2 - I was intrigued that Bernard Besson was a real life French spy. 3 - I was intrigued that the translator was both Australian, and had translated Victor Hugo's classic masterpiece Les Miserables. 4 - It's not everyday you get to read a book set in Greenland. If nothing else, I'd get to learn a bit more about a country I'd love to visit.
Why am I pointing out all the negatives I felt before reading it? Because I think knowing my pre-reading state-of-mind is important in judging how epic my end-of-reading state-of-mind is.
Simply put, I loved the book. I could not put it down, which is a welcome change for me these days.
The book opens with a massive bang. Greenland is dying right before the world's eyes; a massive mile and a half deep chasm splitting the island continent in two. And in the midst of Greenland's death throes, an assassin waiting in the ice with a sniper rifle.
By the time Besson introduced me to Loïc Le Guévenec, the captain of the Bouc-Bel-Air, a ship that has just been crippled by a massive tidal wave of ice and water, and then had the assassin not only shoot his targets but the team of sled dogs as well, I was well and truly gripped by the tale.
So here's what I loved, and the few things I didn't love as much.
The Good:
The action was superb. I love multi-character books so really appreciated having the action unfold through multiple viewpoints. It carried you along, switching scenes and characters with flawless pace. For those who might struggle with rapid change, Besson did delineate each change with a location and time, so you knew you were getting a scene change (and therefore, a character change). Had the book just been told through John's eyes, I don't think I would have liked it anywhere near as much. Had Besson just chosen two or three characters, it still wouldn't have the impact that his finished product does. Another thing I loved about the multi-character format: people I'd met earlier on who I thought weren't important became vital players by the end. Not only are their multiple characters, there are also multiple plots and subplots, which in the end means more things to keep my interest piqued (I get bored so easily these days). The sex scene on the third and fourth page was a keen reminder this was a French novel translated into English. We've spent a fair bit of time in France, and one thing we learned early on - French TV is very sexual. We'd be watching family shows in the middle of the afternoon, only to see full frontal nudity or vivid sex scenes...
The science was simple and understated, which is kind of weird coming from me about a book that describes an entire continent dying! What I liked about Besson's take on the science: he didn't try to overwhelm the reader with facts to prove his theories beyond a shadow of a doubt. The scientists and the science were just part of the storyline and at times I even forgot it was about climate change because I got caught up in the rest of the action. If anything, Besson left me with more questions than answers - which for a sceptic is actually a good thing. :) I never really felt like he presented greenies as good, and everyone else as bad. In fact, some of the greenies did stuff just as questionable in their pursuit for change.
When I first read about Luc being bisexual, I rolled my eyes a little and wondered if he'd be the token gay thrown in just to be politically correct. I also thought he'd be more of the third wheel/sidekick type character to John and Victoire's tight partnership. But Luc really did turn out to be one of the most interesting characters. He was such a naughty boy. He fell in and out of bed so much, they should have changed his label to trisexual - as in he'd try anything once. Of the Fermatown trio, I liked Luc the best. He was deeply ingrained in much of the action of the book and used his sexuality as a tool to get what he wanted. It actually made a refreshing change that the sidekick, rather than the super spy, got all the action between the sheets (It was also refreshing to read a story where the Americans weren't the heroes that saved the world - but that's probably only something a non-American understands). By the end of the book, I could completely understand why both men and women threw themselves at Luc. Heck, if he was real and I wasn't married, I'd be tempted to throw myself at him!
The Greenland Breach is chock-a-block full of intrigue. You never knew who to trust or who had 'pure' motivations. The bad guys weren't completely bad and the good guys weren't completely good. Rather they all had their reasons for doing what they did. I love books like that - where the author doesn't tell you how you should feel about the characters but allows you to come to your own conclusions. I also love characters that are multi-faceted rather than one dimensional. There was also a healthy dose of sexual politics going on, particularly Isabelle Le Guévenec, Connie Rasmussen, and Luc. Mind you, at no time did I feel the sexuality dominated the book. It was more a subtle undertone that, in true French fashion, didn't even try to differentiate between good and bad. There were no judgements made or scarlet letters issued.
While being a spy novel with some completely over the top action scenes, Besson still maintained some realism to his heroes. Take John for instance. When he first goes to Greenland, the locals give him a very heavy-handed welcome that includes a full internal inspection! Now I don't think James Bond was ever subjected to one of those!
Despite the fact that Besson describes a Greenland in its dying throes, he still managed to describe it with enough love and passion to make me want to go and visit. I like books that inspire me to travel and visit new places.
The Bad:
One of my biggest complaints, at least early on in the book, was finding a character I could connect to. The action was big and bold, the pacing brilliant, the descriptions flawless. But I just didn't feel there was a character I could really champion. By the end, I had found plenty to connect with, including my favourites: Luc, Le Guévenec, Connie Rasmussen (though I flipped between hating her and loving her), and John.
Early in the first chapter, the author described John Spencer Larivière as a five foot eleven gentle giant. Hmm, don't know about France, but in Australia, that's a very average height. My 16 year old son is almost 6 foot, my husband 6 foot 3, my daughter's partner 6 foot 4, his father 6 foot 5, and my best friend's son almost 7 foot! In fact, my daughter is 5 foot 9 - only 2 inches off John's giant status!
Throughout the book, I really struggled to like Victoire. There was just something in her character that irked me, and I can't even put a finger on it. It wasn't until she extricated herself from a very tricky situation (yes, I'm being deliberately vague) that I gained an appreciation for her. I'm not a fan of damsels in distress, so the fact that she saved herself earned her some big brownie points (and a few shocked expletives from me). She did get marginally better after that, but I still didn't find her the most likeable character.
There were a couple of eye-rolling coincidences, common to all spy novels, that were just too convenient and plot driven. Like the phone John was given by his employer that allowed him to listen in on conversations the employer's daughter was having. How is it that every time John remembered to listen in, he overheard an important detail? In real life, I'm sure he would have overheard her order a pizza, make an appointment with her doctor, maybe arrange to meet up with friends for a coffee... But in spy-town, John had the good luck to only hear the juicy stuff. Then there was John dreaming about a guy trying to kill him in the exact way the guy was trying to kill him...
The big family secret reveal at the end of the book was a little too Days of Our Lives meets Bold and the Beautiful for my liking but it was such a small part that I can forgive Besson for going there.
Besson managed brilliant pace throughout the novel. If I had even the slightest complaint about pace, it was actually in the translation. Don't get me wrong - there was nothing wrong with it. I didn't pick up any obvious flaws in the translation itself. It's just that language - whether French or English or otherwise - has a natural rhythm and flow. I'm sure Besson had that rhythm when he wrote this in French, but there were moments where the natural rhythm was lost in English; where the sentences (while perfectly translated) had lost some of their poetic prose. This was only in the beginning, when I was still getting a feel for the characters and storyline. In fact, by the end, the translation had all but receded into the background.
Another thing I noticed more early on was the effect on flow the French words had. For example, where John, Luc, and Victoire walked back to Fermatown via the Rue Deparcieux, which was parallel to the Rue Fermat. I know rue is the French word for street. In fact, I speak a little French myself. I just have to wonder whether it wouldn't have made a more cohesive translation (for those who speak absolutely no French at all) to just call it Fermat Street. Or to take it a step further, to call Luc and Victoire Luke and Victoria. There were lots of instances of French words that could have been put in English. However that is just me being incredibly picky.
The Ugly:
There was nothing ugly for me to comment on. Even the things I didn't like did not stop me loving the book overall.
At the end of the day, this was a very good book and one I hope gets picked up by Hollywood and made into a movie. While I still remain a sceptic of the doom and gloom predictions, there is no taking away from the breakneck drama and intensity of The Greenland Breach. All in all, it is a book I highly recommend to anyone looking for a book they won't be able to put down.
So anyway, that was the state-of-mind I went into this book with. In fact, if truth be told, there were really only a handful of reasons I agreed to read it in the first place: 1 - part of the action took place in France, and I'm a total francophile. 2 - I was intrigued that Bernard Besson was a real life French spy. 3 - I was intrigued that the translator was both Australian, and had translated Victor Hugo's classic masterpiece Les Miserables. 4 - It's not everyday you get to read a book set in Greenland. If nothing else, I'd get to learn a bit more about a country I'd love to visit.
Why am I pointing out all the negatives I felt before reading it? Because I think knowing my pre-reading state-of-mind is important in judging how epic my end-of-reading state-of-mind is.
Simply put, I loved the book. I could not put it down, which is a welcome change for me these days.
The book opens with a massive bang. Greenland is dying right before the world's eyes; a massive mile and a half deep chasm splitting the island continent in two. And in the midst of Greenland's death throes, an assassin waiting in the ice with a sniper rifle.
By the time Besson introduced me to Loïc Le Guévenec, the captain of the Bouc-Bel-Air, a ship that has just been crippled by a massive tidal wave of ice and water, and then had the assassin not only shoot his targets but the team of sled dogs as well, I was well and truly gripped by the tale.
So here's what I loved, and the few things I didn't love as much.
The Good:
The action was superb. I love multi-character books so really appreciated having the action unfold through multiple viewpoints. It carried you along, switching scenes and characters with flawless pace. For those who might struggle with rapid change, Besson did delineate each change with a location and time, so you knew you were getting a scene change (and therefore, a character change). Had the book just been told through John's eyes, I don't think I would have liked it anywhere near as much. Had Besson just chosen two or three characters, it still wouldn't have the impact that his finished product does. Another thing I loved about the multi-character format: people I'd met earlier on who I thought weren't important became vital players by the end. Not only are their multiple characters, there are also multiple plots and subplots, which in the end means more things to keep my interest piqued (I get bored so easily these days). The sex scene on the third and fourth page was a keen reminder this was a French novel translated into English. We've spent a fair bit of time in France, and one thing we learned early on - French TV is very sexual. We'd be watching family shows in the middle of the afternoon, only to see full frontal nudity or vivid sex scenes...
The science was simple and understated, which is kind of weird coming from me about a book that describes an entire continent dying! What I liked about Besson's take on the science: he didn't try to overwhelm the reader with facts to prove his theories beyond a shadow of a doubt. The scientists and the science were just part of the storyline and at times I even forgot it was about climate change because I got caught up in the rest of the action. If anything, Besson left me with more questions than answers - which for a sceptic is actually a good thing. :) I never really felt like he presented greenies as good, and everyone else as bad. In fact, some of the greenies did stuff just as questionable in their pursuit for change.
When I first read about Luc being bisexual, I rolled my eyes a little and wondered if he'd be the token gay thrown in just to be politically correct. I also thought he'd be more of the third wheel/sidekick type character to John and Victoire's tight partnership. But Luc really did turn out to be one of the most interesting characters. He was such a naughty boy. He fell in and out of bed so much, they should have changed his label to trisexual - as in he'd try anything once. Of the Fermatown trio, I liked Luc the best. He was deeply ingrained in much of the action of the book and used his sexuality as a tool to get what he wanted. It actually made a refreshing change that the sidekick, rather than the super spy, got all the action between the sheets (It was also refreshing to read a story where the Americans weren't the heroes that saved the world - but that's probably only something a non-American understands). By the end of the book, I could completely understand why both men and women threw themselves at Luc. Heck, if he was real and I wasn't married, I'd be tempted to throw myself at him!
The Greenland Breach is chock-a-block full of intrigue. You never knew who to trust or who had 'pure' motivations. The bad guys weren't completely bad and the good guys weren't completely good. Rather they all had their reasons for doing what they did. I love books like that - where the author doesn't tell you how you should feel about the characters but allows you to come to your own conclusions. I also love characters that are multi-faceted rather than one dimensional. There was also a healthy dose of sexual politics going on, particularly Isabelle Le Guévenec, Connie Rasmussen, and Luc. Mind you, at no time did I feel the sexuality dominated the book. It was more a subtle undertone that, in true French fashion, didn't even try to differentiate between good and bad. There were no judgements made or scarlet letters issued.
While being a spy novel with some completely over the top action scenes, Besson still maintained some realism to his heroes. Take John for instance. When he first goes to Greenland, the locals give him a very heavy-handed welcome that includes a full internal inspection! Now I don't think James Bond was ever subjected to one of those!
Despite the fact that Besson describes a Greenland in its dying throes, he still managed to describe it with enough love and passion to make me want to go and visit. I like books that inspire me to travel and visit new places.
The Bad:
One of my biggest complaints, at least early on in the book, was finding a character I could connect to. The action was big and bold, the pacing brilliant, the descriptions flawless. But I just didn't feel there was a character I could really champion. By the end, I had found plenty to connect with, including my favourites: Luc, Le Guévenec, Connie Rasmussen (though I flipped between hating her and loving her), and John.
Early in the first chapter, the author described John Spencer Larivière as a five foot eleven gentle giant. Hmm, don't know about France, but in Australia, that's a very average height. My 16 year old son is almost 6 foot, my husband 6 foot 3, my daughter's partner 6 foot 4, his father 6 foot 5, and my best friend's son almost 7 foot! In fact, my daughter is 5 foot 9 - only 2 inches off John's giant status!
Throughout the book, I really struggled to like Victoire. There was just something in her character that irked me, and I can't even put a finger on it. It wasn't until she extricated herself from a very tricky situation (yes, I'm being deliberately vague) that I gained an appreciation for her. I'm not a fan of damsels in distress, so the fact that she saved herself earned her some big brownie points (and a few shocked expletives from me). She did get marginally better after that, but I still didn't find her the most likeable character.
There were a couple of eye-rolling coincidences, common to all spy novels, that were just too convenient and plot driven. Like the phone John was given by his employer that allowed him to listen in on conversations the employer's daughter was having. How is it that every time John remembered to listen in, he overheard an important detail? In real life, I'm sure he would have overheard her order a pizza, make an appointment with her doctor, maybe arrange to meet up with friends for a coffee... But in spy-town, John had the good luck to only hear the juicy stuff. Then there was John dreaming about a guy trying to kill him in the exact way the guy was trying to kill him...
The big family secret reveal at the end of the book was a little too Days of Our Lives meets Bold and the Beautiful for my liking but it was such a small part that I can forgive Besson for going there.
Besson managed brilliant pace throughout the novel. If I had even the slightest complaint about pace, it was actually in the translation. Don't get me wrong - there was nothing wrong with it. I didn't pick up any obvious flaws in the translation itself. It's just that language - whether French or English or otherwise - has a natural rhythm and flow. I'm sure Besson had that rhythm when he wrote this in French, but there were moments where the natural rhythm was lost in English; where the sentences (while perfectly translated) had lost some of their poetic prose. This was only in the beginning, when I was still getting a feel for the characters and storyline. In fact, by the end, the translation had all but receded into the background.
Another thing I noticed more early on was the effect on flow the French words had. For example, where John, Luc, and Victoire walked back to Fermatown via the Rue Deparcieux, which was parallel to the Rue Fermat. I know rue is the French word for street. In fact, I speak a little French myself. I just have to wonder whether it wouldn't have made a more cohesive translation (for those who speak absolutely no French at all) to just call it Fermat Street. Or to take it a step further, to call Luc and Victoire Luke and Victoria. There were lots of instances of French words that could have been put in English. However that is just me being incredibly picky.
The Ugly:
There was nothing ugly for me to comment on. Even the things I didn't like did not stop me loving the book overall.
At the end of the day, this was a very good book and one I hope gets picked up by Hollywood and made into a movie. While I still remain a sceptic of the doom and gloom predictions, there is no taking away from the breakneck drama and intensity of The Greenland Breach. All in all, it is a book I highly recommend to anyone looking for a book they won't be able to put down.
August 22, 2013
The description of this book says it is a thriller. Other than the last 10% or so, I didn't find this to be the case. I was expecting a book that starts with a giant breach splitting Greenland in half to have the thrills and suspense of a disaster movie. Instead, this is a book about corporate espionage. There is no description of the physical or financial consequences of the environmental disaster, no recognition that a giant wave hitting Manhattan would have an enormous impact on lives and disrupt financial markets all over the world. After the breach, life in Paris seems to go on as normal.
What we are left with is a very convoluted, confusing and unbelievable story about private spies who get involved in corporate espionage between 2 competing exploration companies, both studying Greenland and global warming. Even for the espionage story, it is never clear what is at stake. I found it nearly impossible to keep straight who was doing what to whom even though there are frequent recaps. There are numerous red herrings. The three protagonists don't seem very bright and consistently miss clues. They talk too much to people who shouldn't be trusted and reveal way more than you would expect trained spies to reveal. If it were not for their cell phones (which seem to work under the most unlikely circumstances) and their touch-screen wall they would have no abilities at all. For example, at one point near the end of the book the chief protagonist and his 2 Inuit guides are facing both human and environmental threats and instead of dealing with the situation immediately they drink three bottles of champagne and take a nap. Really? Predictably, things get worse for them after they wake up.
Maybe it was a translation problem, but I found the dialogue to be stilted and unnatural. Everyone spoke with the same voice.
In the end, when the spies have solved their mysteries, nothing that matters has changed. Greenland is still breaking apart and everyone can go to a buffet.
I received a free digital ARC of this book from the publisher.
What we are left with is a very convoluted, confusing and unbelievable story about private spies who get involved in corporate espionage between 2 competing exploration companies, both studying Greenland and global warming. Even for the espionage story, it is never clear what is at stake. I found it nearly impossible to keep straight who was doing what to whom even though there are frequent recaps. There are numerous red herrings. The three protagonists don't seem very bright and consistently miss clues. They talk too much to people who shouldn't be trusted and reveal way more than you would expect trained spies to reveal. If it were not for their cell phones (which seem to work under the most unlikely circumstances) and their touch-screen wall they would have no abilities at all. For example, at one point near the end of the book the chief protagonist and his 2 Inuit guides are facing both human and environmental threats and instead of dealing with the situation immediately they drink three bottles of champagne and take a nap. Really? Predictably, things get worse for them after they wake up.
Maybe it was a translation problem, but I found the dialogue to be stilted and unnatural. Everyone spoke with the same voice.
In the end, when the spies have solved their mysteries, nothing that matters has changed. Greenland is still breaking apart and everyone can go to a buffet.
I received a free digital ARC of this book from the publisher.
October 14, 2013
Oh my.
(Or maybe I should say ‘Ooh, la la’, since this is a book by a Frenchman? No. Too cliche, I think.)
THE GREENLAND BREACH is the latest thriller out from digital-first publisher Le French Book, and it’s a doozy. The world is gripped in dramatic climate change as the Arctic ice caps are breaking up, threatening Europe and the East coast of the United States and Canada with a tidal wave that will drown their cities. Greenland is splitting apart, the ice is melting, and an environmental catastrophe is the catalyst for international rivalries and espionage as geological research firms and scientists barter and bicker with governments and economic development corporations.
We start in on the action immediately with a gruesome murder, and a ship, the French vessel belonging to Terre Noire desperately trying to escape destruction during a massive tsunami. The damaged ship is a linchpin in the narrative, and its claustrophobic and dangerous atmosphere kept me holding my breath with each plot twist.
When we meet John Spencer Larivière, the head of a small spy organization called Fermatown and a former French intelligence officer, we’re already wondering what he’ll be thrown into, given the state of the world. He accepts a contract to look after the headstrong daughter of a Canadian-based corporation, North Land, and ends up in Greenland, his organization embroiled in a double-crossing game of espionage where nothing is certain.
By halfway through the book, I was utterly enthralled, and I read as fast as I was able, anxious to follow the twists and turns of the plot, and figure out just who was behind the chaos and destruction. The ending did not disappoint (and that’s all I’m going to say about that, because I would hate to inadvertently spoil the book for someone!)
I wasn’t familiar with Bernard Besson prior to reading THE GREENLAND BREACH, but now that I have, I’m going to be crossing my fingers and looking for translations of his other work. And if there aren’t any, then I know I’ll be writing to Le French Book to beg them to translate another!
(Or maybe I should say ‘Ooh, la la’, since this is a book by a Frenchman? No. Too cliche, I think.)
THE GREENLAND BREACH is the latest thriller out from digital-first publisher Le French Book, and it’s a doozy. The world is gripped in dramatic climate change as the Arctic ice caps are breaking up, threatening Europe and the East coast of the United States and Canada with a tidal wave that will drown their cities. Greenland is splitting apart, the ice is melting, and an environmental catastrophe is the catalyst for international rivalries and espionage as geological research firms and scientists barter and bicker with governments and economic development corporations.
We start in on the action immediately with a gruesome murder, and a ship, the French vessel belonging to Terre Noire desperately trying to escape destruction during a massive tsunami. The damaged ship is a linchpin in the narrative, and its claustrophobic and dangerous atmosphere kept me holding my breath with each plot twist.
When we meet John Spencer Larivière, the head of a small spy organization called Fermatown and a former French intelligence officer, we’re already wondering what he’ll be thrown into, given the state of the world. He accepts a contract to look after the headstrong daughter of a Canadian-based corporation, North Land, and ends up in Greenland, his organization embroiled in a double-crossing game of espionage where nothing is certain.
By halfway through the book, I was utterly enthralled, and I read as fast as I was able, anxious to follow the twists and turns of the plot, and figure out just who was behind the chaos and destruction. The ending did not disappoint (and that’s all I’m going to say about that, because I would hate to inadvertently spoil the book for someone!)
I wasn’t familiar with Bernard Besson prior to reading THE GREENLAND BREACH, but now that I have, I’m going to be crossing my fingers and looking for translations of his other work. And if there aren’t any, then I know I’ll be writing to Le French Book to beg them to translate another!
August 13, 2013
I loved this book from the first scene, when a huge crevasse opens up on the Greenland ice sheet, scaring even the nasty hit man. Then, I liked that as the US and Canada braced for a tidal wave, the story focuses on something else entirely: the very real battles for information and resources. I also enjoyed the characters, the gadgets and the action. These are all reasons why I chose this book to be translated and published by Le French Book. We were lucky to have Julie Rose take on the translation. She did a great job.
November 27, 2013
Eco-terrorism, murder, corporate espionage, and politics all blend together in "Greenland Breach". Private investigators, John, Victorie, and Luc of Fermatown are contracted to do an investigation that is multi-layered and unclear.
While the story does get off to a slow start, the characters are entertaining and engaging. The concept has potential realistic scare to it. Once the narrative takes off, particularly in the second half, the mystery and action are quite gripping.
Overall, an interesting read.
While the story does get off to a slow start, the characters are entertaining and engaging. The concept has potential realistic scare to it. Once the narrative takes off, particularly in the second half, the mystery and action are quite gripping.
Overall, an interesting read.
April 29, 2014
A melodramatic tale of confusion, incompetence, and loose threads revolving around an environmental catastrophe with a wanna-be-James-Bond vibe.
I did receive an advanced reading copy from the publisher. And probably won't get another...!
My Take
Bloody hell! This story has no focus and so many “primary” subplots going on with the “wrong” one taking precedence. Actually, I suspect this is meant to be the first in a series, so it would have behooved Besson to focus there. To have all the minor plots revolve back to the main one, the main characters whom I believe are John, Victoire, and Luc (JVL). Instead, it’s so all over the place thatJVL are NOT getting their due. Instead, they’re battling for primacy with Loïc and Connie.
It’s also JVL’s new company versus the ice core samples and here is where JVL wins hands down. In spite of the core samples being so incredibly important, Besson ignores them, just as he ignores the plight of the Bouch-Bel-Air.
While an uneven play of drama and tension exists, I spent more time rolling my eyes and noting way too many “oh, please”s to make this a fun read. It’s incredibly confusing, partly because of the lack of focus and too many main players who don’t come across as competent.
I gotta wonder why John or Victoire are even in the business; I’m not impressed with either of them. Sure they’re nice enough people, and Besson has set up an interesting background for them, but John spends way too much time being humiliated while Victoire is such a weasely chicken heart that I want them to find new jobs. As for Luc…yeah, he’s colorful, but more in the sense of a curious child then a competent operative.
Besson does have a way with words---with a nod to Julie Rose’s translation---“…muffle the howling of Greenland as it begins to die”. However, Besson over- or underplays everything. He contradicts his characters, and throws in disconnected sentences that don’t appear to be related to what the character is saying with info dumps galore.
Could someone explain how Luc is flourishing at Fermatown when they’re just doing boring background checks and tedious surveillance?
Geez, the “evil villain” speech at the end was so lame….and consistent to the end as well as it jumped all over the place.
Loose threads include Navaran, a minor point I grant, but I do worry about her; why is anyone anxious to buy up Greenland if it’s falling apart; who Jensen works for; why the Congress is so nasty; Isabelle’s purpose in this other than for salacious value; the meaning behind “the South is heading north”; why Luc, in his freelance reporter role, wouldn’t find Connie’s name familiar; why Isabelle spills so much to this reporter; the point of preventing the chopper and its cargo from taking off; the point of the sister ship; Terre-Noire’s massive incompetence; why John went up to Josephine when the truth is already known; and, why French interest is a problem; and, the significance of Qaalasoq nodding to Moller.
Then there are the stupid moves which include handing over the ship’s plans to the enemy. In what world is this considered a smart decision? Why does Connie wait so long to kill the jerks? WHAT was the point of allowing things to go so far? The box that would cause the police to sink the ship…and here I’m expecting something earth shattering, something so incredibly horrible…*ow, ow, ow, that eye roll hurt!*… Why would Laura believe a North Land employee would have information about a Terre-Noire ship? What was the point of keeping Mary out of the loop about the hotel? Why is John reeling from the knowledge that Qaalasoq learned French at an art gallery? Actually, why would someone learn French at an art gallery? How is John planning to pilot two Zodiacs all by himself? What was the point of Luc sleeping with these women?
Intellectually, I get that I’m supposed to be sad, outraged, and tense, but Besson had me so annoyed and confused that I simply couldn’t wait to finish.
It’s incestuous with all the overlap and excess, and if this is how real world intelligence operatives maneuver through the world, I’m not surprised the world is so effed up.
Please, Besson, get a developmental editor!!
The Story
Caught in the tumultuous wave caused by the Lauge Koch Kyst, a part of Greenland, falling into the ocean, the Bouch-Bel-Air faces her fate and prays in the face of a “gigantic whirlpool of icy black mud”.
Her mission? To uncover the secrets of the ages before the earth is destroyed. If she can survive.
The Characters
The former Major John Spencer Larivière and his wife, Victoire Augagneue, have both retired from French Intelligence to form their own strategic-and criminal-analysis firm, Fermatown. And why they did, I’ll never understand as they seem to be clueless in the field. Their former agency, that claims to value them, gives them grunt work and rarely pays them. Each has a horrible past which Besson either over- or underplays. Hey, at least Besson is consistent. Caresse is Victoire’s cat. Luc Masseron is the third partner in Fermantown; he’s bisexual and supposedly a tech geek with unconventional ideas. As part of their intelligence-gathering, they have a left-wing blog, future-probe.com. I really liked this idea. Very fresh and original. John is also Florent de la Salle, the editorial director while Luc “Martinent” is a freelance reporter for it. Marc Racine is the fake name Luc uses to impersonate a doctor. Alicia Spenser is the artist aunt who died and left John this amazing house.
French Intelligence
Hubert de Méricourt is the director at Les Invalides. Deputy Director François Guerot is in charge of security clearance investigations as well as John’s handler. Thomas Curvien is the driver who picks up Victoire. Sébastien Le Gall is a former colleague of Victoire’s as well as an experienced analyst and energy expert.
Terre-Noire
Terre-Noire is a Franco-Danish oil-and-gas company, one of a few of the major companies left. Nicolas Lanier is the executive chairman who is hiding out. Christophe Maunay is the Human Resources manager caught up in scandal; Claudine Després answers the phones. Paul Gessar/Gressin is the scientific director for the Arctic and one of Brissac’s former students.
Gaia is a geological assets software program that knows where all the oil, gas, and minerals are located. How and why would Isabelle know so much about it? What’s the reason for the relationships she has?
The Bouc-Bel-Air, a scientific research vessel
Loïc Le Guévenec is the captain of the ship, a man who lives for the sea and not his over-sexed wife, Isabelle, who seems to be sleeping with everyone but her husband. Rox Oa is the traitorous Spanish boatswain, who comes aboard as a last-minute replacement. Sylvain Velot replaces Hu Yuanyuan. Romain Brissac, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist and renowned climatologist, is Isabelle’s primary lover. A mission biologist doubles as a doctor.
North Land
North Land, a Canadian-American company, is Terre-Noire’s chief competition. Abraham and Geraldine Harper run the company and hire John to bodyguard their daughter, Mary. She’s a right handful, and John doesn’t actually do much to guard her. Harold is their never-seen son. Arvid Moller is their scientific director in Greenland. Qaalasoq is a trusted Inuit of the Wild Dog clan. Sakaeunngueq, aka Saké, is a friend of Qaalasoq’s and has a couple of sled dog teams. Navaran is his wife.
The Northern Peoples Congress
A Valkyrie and lawyer for the Congress, Connie Rasmussen is great friends with Laura and strident in defense of the killer polar bears. Laura Al-lee-Ah is a world renowned artist of bears and president of the Congress.
Thor Johannsen is director of Arctoil, a Norwegian North Sea oil company.
Dr. Patrick has been treating John for his grafts. Aimé Toussaint is a lifeguard at the Club Interrallié where Gabriel is a bartender. Omar Al Selim is the rich Qatar businessman who bailed Maunay out. Per Sorenson is a Danish assassin while Lars Jensen is another assassin-for-hire, willing to perform the most heinous acts. Hanne Jorth is head of Danish Defense Intelligence Security.
The tupliaq is a charm made of dead human and animal parts.
The Cover
The cover is a collage reflecting important concepts in the story: the Eiffel Tower, of course, represents French interests while the iceberg calving off the cliff face represents Greenland, and the lines for longitude and latitude at the top of a flattened global map represents the North Pole, the source of the waters that will flood the world.
The title is much too accurate, for it is The Greenland Breach that starts this disaster.
I did receive an advanced reading copy from the publisher. And probably won't get another...!
My Take
Bloody hell! This story has no focus and so many “primary” subplots going on with the “wrong” one taking precedence. Actually, I suspect this is meant to be the first in a series, so it would have behooved Besson to focus there. To have all the minor plots revolve back to the main one, the main characters whom I believe are John, Victoire, and Luc (JVL). Instead, it’s so all over the place thatJVL are NOT getting their due. Instead, they’re battling for primacy with Loïc and Connie.
It’s also JVL’s new company versus the ice core samples and here is where JVL wins hands down. In spite of the core samples being so incredibly important, Besson ignores them, just as he ignores the plight of the Bouch-Bel-Air.
While an uneven play of drama and tension exists, I spent more time rolling my eyes and noting way too many “oh, please”s to make this a fun read. It’s incredibly confusing, partly because of the lack of focus and too many main players who don’t come across as competent.
I gotta wonder why John or Victoire are even in the business; I’m not impressed with either of them. Sure they’re nice enough people, and Besson has set up an interesting background for them, but John spends way too much time being humiliated while Victoire is such a weasely chicken heart that I want them to find new jobs. As for Luc…yeah, he’s colorful, but more in the sense of a curious child then a competent operative.
Besson does have a way with words---with a nod to Julie Rose’s translation---“…muffle the howling of Greenland as it begins to die”. However, Besson over- or underplays everything. He contradicts his characters, and throws in disconnected sentences that don’t appear to be related to what the character is saying with info dumps galore.
Could someone explain how Luc is flourishing at Fermatown when they’re just doing boring background checks and tedious surveillance?
”Things don’t change. Change your way of seeing them. That is all you need to do.”
Geez, the “evil villain” speech at the end was so lame….and consistent to the end as well as it jumped all over the place.
Loose threads include Navaran, a minor point I grant, but I do worry about her; why is anyone anxious to buy up Greenland if it’s falling apart; who Jensen works for; why the Congress is so nasty; Isabelle’s purpose in this other than for salacious value; the meaning behind “the South is heading north”; why Luc, in his freelance reporter role, wouldn’t find Connie’s name familiar; why Isabelle spills so much to this reporter; the point of preventing the chopper and its cargo from taking off; the point of the sister ship; Terre-Noire’s massive incompetence; why John went up to Josephine when the truth is already known; and, why French interest is a problem; and, the significance of Qaalasoq nodding to Moller.
Then there are the stupid moves which include handing over the ship’s plans to the enemy. In what world is this considered a smart decision? Why does Connie wait so long to kill the jerks? WHAT was the point of allowing things to go so far? The box that would cause the police to sink the ship…and here I’m expecting something earth shattering, something so incredibly horrible…*ow, ow, ow, that eye roll hurt!*… Why would Laura believe a North Land employee would have information about a Terre-Noire ship? What was the point of keeping Mary out of the loop about the hotel? Why is John reeling from the knowledge that Qaalasoq learned French at an art gallery? Actually, why would someone learn French at an art gallery? How is John planning to pilot two Zodiacs all by himself? What was the point of Luc sleeping with these women?
Oh, puh-lease…
“It was now his turn to keep secrets. The two Inuits looked at the Frenchman with respect.”
Why??
Intellectually, I get that I’m supposed to be sad, outraged, and tense, but Besson had me so annoyed and confused that I simply couldn’t wait to finish.
It’s incestuous with all the overlap and excess, and if this is how real world intelligence operatives maneuver through the world, I’m not surprised the world is so effed up.
Please, Besson, get a developmental editor!!
The Story
Caught in the tumultuous wave caused by the Lauge Koch Kyst, a part of Greenland, falling into the ocean, the Bouch-Bel-Air faces her fate and prays in the face of a “gigantic whirlpool of icy black mud”.
Her mission? To uncover the secrets of the ages before the earth is destroyed. If she can survive.
The Characters
The former Major John Spencer Larivière and his wife, Victoire Augagneue, have both retired from French Intelligence to form their own strategic-and criminal-analysis firm, Fermatown. And why they did, I’ll never understand as they seem to be clueless in the field. Their former agency, that claims to value them, gives them grunt work and rarely pays them. Each has a horrible past which Besson either over- or underplays. Hey, at least Besson is consistent. Caresse is Victoire’s cat. Luc Masseron is the third partner in Fermantown; he’s bisexual and supposedly a tech geek with unconventional ideas. As part of their intelligence-gathering, they have a left-wing blog, future-probe.com. I really liked this idea. Very fresh and original. John is also Florent de la Salle, the editorial director while Luc “Martinent” is a freelance reporter for it. Marc Racine is the fake name Luc uses to impersonate a doctor. Alicia Spenser is the artist aunt who died and left John this amazing house.
French Intelligence
Hubert de Méricourt is the director at Les Invalides. Deputy Director François Guerot is in charge of security clearance investigations as well as John’s handler. Thomas Curvien is the driver who picks up Victoire. Sébastien Le Gall is a former colleague of Victoire’s as well as an experienced analyst and energy expert.
Terre-Noire
Terre-Noire is a Franco-Danish oil-and-gas company, one of a few of the major companies left. Nicolas Lanier is the executive chairman who is hiding out. Christophe Maunay is the Human Resources manager caught up in scandal; Claudine Després answers the phones. Paul Gessar/Gressin is the scientific director for the Arctic and one of Brissac’s former students.
Gaia is a geological assets software program that knows where all the oil, gas, and minerals are located. How and why would Isabelle know so much about it? What’s the reason for the relationships she has?
The Bouc-Bel-Air, a scientific research vessel
Loïc Le Guévenec is the captain of the ship, a man who lives for the sea and not his over-sexed wife, Isabelle, who seems to be sleeping with everyone but her husband. Rox Oa is the traitorous Spanish boatswain, who comes aboard as a last-minute replacement. Sylvain Velot replaces Hu Yuanyuan. Romain Brissac, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist and renowned climatologist, is Isabelle’s primary lover. A mission biologist doubles as a doctor.
North Land
North Land, a Canadian-American company, is Terre-Noire’s chief competition. Abraham and Geraldine Harper run the company and hire John to bodyguard their daughter, Mary. She’s a right handful, and John doesn’t actually do much to guard her. Harold is their never-seen son. Arvid Moller is their scientific director in Greenland. Qaalasoq is a trusted Inuit of the Wild Dog clan. Sakaeunngueq, aka Saké, is a friend of Qaalasoq’s and has a couple of sled dog teams. Navaran is his wife.
The Northern Peoples Congress
A Valkyrie and lawyer for the Congress, Connie Rasmussen is great friends with Laura and strident in defense of the killer polar bears. Laura Al-lee-Ah is a world renowned artist of bears and president of the Congress.
Thor Johannsen is director of Arctoil, a Norwegian North Sea oil company.
Dr. Patrick has been treating John for his grafts. Aimé Toussaint is a lifeguard at the Club Interrallié where Gabriel is a bartender. Omar Al Selim is the rich Qatar businessman who bailed Maunay out. Per Sorenson is a Danish assassin while Lars Jensen is another assassin-for-hire, willing to perform the most heinous acts. Hanne Jorth is head of Danish Defense Intelligence Security.
The tupliaq is a charm made of dead human and animal parts.
The Cover
The cover is a collage reflecting important concepts in the story: the Eiffel Tower, of course, represents French interests while the iceberg calving off the cliff face represents Greenland, and the lines for longitude and latitude at the top of a flattened global map represents the North Pole, the source of the waters that will flood the world.
The title is much too accurate, for it is The Greenland Breach that starts this disaster.
June 19, 2017
Quite fun to read a book set in the Anthropocene. What is the year? It doesn't say. It could be a few short years from now. Exciting to me were the descriptions of what will (?) happen in Greenland due to Global Warming. Interesting that the author describes some deniers. However, it was hard for me to follow all the threads of intrigue. In my opinion, it is also not well written. That said, I enjoyed it.
September 23, 2017
*I received this book for free from a Goodreads giveaway*
Being someone who is not typically a fan of crime/thriller novels, I enjoyed this book quite a bit more than I thought I would. Positives: good length for the story told, multiple view points,beautiful settings, and flawed and unique characters. Negatives: somewhat difficult to understand (it is a French translated book), and maybe too maybe things going on at one time.
Being someone who is not typically a fan of crime/thriller novels, I enjoyed this book quite a bit more than I thought I would. Positives: good length for the story told, multiple view points,beautiful settings, and flawed and unique characters. Negatives: somewhat difficult to understand (it is a French translated book), and maybe too maybe things going on at one time.
October 30, 2013
The Greenland Breach by Bernard Besson paints a vivid picture of a world in the grips of a global warming catastrophe, including Arctic ice caps breaking up and falling into the ocean, and a tidal wave hitting the East Coast of the United States. Throw in some international corporate espionage, a sinking research ship, and what you have is a well-paced spy thriller.
Lovers and business partners John Spencer Larivière and Victoire Augagneur own Fermatown, a strategic consulting company. Fermatown is hired for a freelance assignment protecting the daughter of the head of North Land, an oil and gas company. What at first appears to be an easy, well-paying assignment turns out to be anything but easy. John, Victoire, and Luc, Fermatown’s computer specialist, find themselves in the midst of an international conspiracy, and in great danger.
What I liked most about this book was the description of the physical changes to Greenland as the book progressed. Greenland was quite literally breaking apart and falling into the ocean. Regardless of one’s views on global warming, Besson’s description of one possible scenario, Greenland coming apart at an ever-increasing rate and the subsequent impact on other parts of the planet, was both thought-provoking and frightening.
I also liked the pace of the novel. The story was told from multiple character viewpoints, with ever-changing settings, both of which kept the story moving along. While the story did not move at a breakneck pace until the very end, there was sufficient action and intrigue throughout the novel to keep me interested and engaged.
The one thing that I found lacking in this book was character development. John, the book’s main protagonist, could have been taken from just about any spy book. He was troubled and conflicted, and had a hard time trusting others. Victoire, John’s lover and business partner, showed concern for John, but beyond that, she had a very mechanical persona.
The character that Beeson best developed and that I found most interesting was the cuckolded captain of the Bouc-Bel-Air, Loïc Le Guévenec. A decent man, he spends his time worrying about his crippled ship, the safety of his men, the company he works for, and his unfaithful wife.
Bottom line: The Greenland Breach is an exciting, well-written spy thriller. Though it lacks character development, the story will keep the reader guessing until the very end.
Reviewer’s note: This novel, newly translated into English, was provided to me by the publisher for an honest review.
Lovers and business partners John Spencer Larivière and Victoire Augagneur own Fermatown, a strategic consulting company. Fermatown is hired for a freelance assignment protecting the daughter of the head of North Land, an oil and gas company. What at first appears to be an easy, well-paying assignment turns out to be anything but easy. John, Victoire, and Luc, Fermatown’s computer specialist, find themselves in the midst of an international conspiracy, and in great danger.
What I liked most about this book was the description of the physical changes to Greenland as the book progressed. Greenland was quite literally breaking apart and falling into the ocean. Regardless of one’s views on global warming, Besson’s description of one possible scenario, Greenland coming apart at an ever-increasing rate and the subsequent impact on other parts of the planet, was both thought-provoking and frightening.
I also liked the pace of the novel. The story was told from multiple character viewpoints, with ever-changing settings, both of which kept the story moving along. While the story did not move at a breakneck pace until the very end, there was sufficient action and intrigue throughout the novel to keep me interested and engaged.
The one thing that I found lacking in this book was character development. John, the book’s main protagonist, could have been taken from just about any spy book. He was troubled and conflicted, and had a hard time trusting others. Victoire, John’s lover and business partner, showed concern for John, but beyond that, she had a very mechanical persona.
The character that Beeson best developed and that I found most interesting was the cuckolded captain of the Bouc-Bel-Air, Loïc Le Guévenec. A decent man, he spends his time worrying about his crippled ship, the safety of his men, the company he works for, and his unfaithful wife.
Bottom line: The Greenland Breach is an exciting, well-written spy thriller. Though it lacks character development, the story will keep the reader guessing until the very end.
Reviewer’s note: This novel, newly translated into English, was provided to me by the publisher for an honest review.
November 5, 2013
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 4 out of 5.
Focusing on events leading to the end of the world as we know it, Bernard Besson’s The Greenland Breach is a well written corporate/political espionage thriller. Told from multiple points of view, and taking place in multiple settings, Mr. Besson’s characters are well developed and engaging. Good dialogue and an interesting mystery kept me turning the pages to discover what was going to happen next.
When partners and lovers, John Spencer Larivière and Victoire Augagneur, are offered a large sum of money for a “freelance job” by the CEO of Northland, an oil and gas company, they can’t agree on whether or not they should take the job. While John stresses the need their small consulting firm, Fermatown, has for both cash and clients, Victoire suspects their job may involve more than just “babysitting” the CEO’s daughter. After accepting the job, they are then asked to “obtain” information on what Northland’s rival, French company Terre Noire, has aboard their ship, the Bouc-Bel-Air. Soon John, Victoire and Luc, Fermatown’s computer specialist, find themselves in the middle of a global conspiracy while the world’s shifting climate begins to tear everything apart.
While slowly paced through the opening chapters, Mr. Besson’s story picks up the pace as the events taking place in both Greenland and the rest of the world heat up. John, Victoire and Luc soon find themselves neck deep in danger, with John facing the most danger when he heads to Greenland to try to get to the truth. While a silent villain, it’s clear that corporate greed, man’s lack of concern over the environment, and progress itself have brought everything to a cataclysmic point.
Will John be able to outsmart and outmaneuver the agents hired by their competition? Will Victoire and Luc be able to provide John with backup when he needs it? And what will happen to us all when two rival companies are determined to decide the world’s fate based on what they discover in the deepest ice from Greenland? You’ll have to read The Greenland Breach to find out. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Mr. Besson’s work.
Focusing on events leading to the end of the world as we know it, Bernard Besson’s The Greenland Breach is a well written corporate/political espionage thriller. Told from multiple points of view, and taking place in multiple settings, Mr. Besson’s characters are well developed and engaging. Good dialogue and an interesting mystery kept me turning the pages to discover what was going to happen next.
When partners and lovers, John Spencer Larivière and Victoire Augagneur, are offered a large sum of money for a “freelance job” by the CEO of Northland, an oil and gas company, they can’t agree on whether or not they should take the job. While John stresses the need their small consulting firm, Fermatown, has for both cash and clients, Victoire suspects their job may involve more than just “babysitting” the CEO’s daughter. After accepting the job, they are then asked to “obtain” information on what Northland’s rival, French company Terre Noire, has aboard their ship, the Bouc-Bel-Air. Soon John, Victoire and Luc, Fermatown’s computer specialist, find themselves in the middle of a global conspiracy while the world’s shifting climate begins to tear everything apart.
While slowly paced through the opening chapters, Mr. Besson’s story picks up the pace as the events taking place in both Greenland and the rest of the world heat up. John, Victoire and Luc soon find themselves neck deep in danger, with John facing the most danger when he heads to Greenland to try to get to the truth. While a silent villain, it’s clear that corporate greed, man’s lack of concern over the environment, and progress itself have brought everything to a cataclysmic point.
Will John be able to outsmart and outmaneuver the agents hired by their competition? Will Victoire and Luc be able to provide John with backup when he needs it? And what will happen to us all when two rival companies are determined to decide the world’s fate based on what they discover in the deepest ice from Greenland? You’ll have to read The Greenland Breach to find out. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Mr. Besson’s work.
November 3, 2013
I know I seem to review a lot of romance on the blog but back in the day when I was like 14-17 I was a huge action adventure/thriller fan so when I saw the summary for this book included a blurb from an author saying the story telling was reminiscent of Clive Cussler (one of my favourite authors) and Michael Crichton (another author I enjoy). I knew that this book was one I had to read.
The Greenland Breach was a heart pounding adrenaline filled thriller that I hated having to put down to you know eat and sleep. Right away, I felt myself being sucked into the story line. There was so much going on in the story that at first I was worried about the author being able to tie everything together, but those worries were proved unfounded because by the time I reached the end of the book I though things wrapped up just nicely. I loved how even the smaller plot twists added to the overall flow of the story in a grand way.
I thought the characters were all unique and I just loved all their little quirks and how they added flare to the novel and I enjoyed that they all had a sense of humour because I hate when a book doesn't have any laughs and in a thriller like The Greenland Breach it is really needed. I also enjoyed the way that the author told the story. It was detailed when it needed to be without being mind numbingly so and I appreciated that the author knew when to reign that aspect in. I also enjoyed the pacing of the novel because it damn near took my breath away with all the action but like the seriousness of it was balanced out by humour the action was also followed by some nice lulls where the plot was explained more.
Overall, I loved the Greenland Breach. It really did remind me of a Clive Cussler novel but it didn't come across as being a rip-off of his works either. Bernard Besson is definitely a writer that has his own unique voice and I can't wait to read another of his books.
I would recommend this book to fans of Clive Cussler, Michael Crichton and overall fans of thrillers that have a lot of action, adventure and laughs to balance of the seriousness of the story.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.
The Greenland Breach was a heart pounding adrenaline filled thriller that I hated having to put down to you know eat and sleep. Right away, I felt myself being sucked into the story line. There was so much going on in the story that at first I was worried about the author being able to tie everything together, but those worries were proved unfounded because by the time I reached the end of the book I though things wrapped up just nicely. I loved how even the smaller plot twists added to the overall flow of the story in a grand way.
I thought the characters were all unique and I just loved all their little quirks and how they added flare to the novel and I enjoyed that they all had a sense of humour because I hate when a book doesn't have any laughs and in a thriller like The Greenland Breach it is really needed. I also enjoyed the way that the author told the story. It was detailed when it needed to be without being mind numbingly so and I appreciated that the author knew when to reign that aspect in. I also enjoyed the pacing of the novel because it damn near took my breath away with all the action but like the seriousness of it was balanced out by humour the action was also followed by some nice lulls where the plot was explained more.
Overall, I loved the Greenland Breach. It really did remind me of a Clive Cussler novel but it didn't come across as being a rip-off of his works either. Bernard Besson is definitely a writer that has his own unique voice and I can't wait to read another of his books.
I would recommend this book to fans of Clive Cussler, Michael Crichton and overall fans of thrillers that have a lot of action, adventure and laughs to balance of the seriousness of the story.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.
April 3, 2015
Bernard Besson was a high-ranked intelligence chief in France. There's industrial espionage and hired killers in this thriller, but first of all, there's the spectacle of the ice sheet covering one of the world's largest islands splitting apart and sliding into the Baffin Bay waters.
A ship laden with deep ice cores has just left, while an assassin crouches in snow to murder researchers and the world holds its breath. Tsunamis and icebergs smash down the coast of Canada, heading for New York. The focal characters however live in Paris, where a lot of the action occurs. A small private investigation agency is hired to find out about gas reserves in Greenland which two competing firms would like to exploit. Victoire monitors a Franco-Danish oil company from the office and Luc heads off to a protest rally at Le Havre. John, a former soldier, is asked to protect a student daughter of the oil firm's owners. Her mother calmly hands him a phone which will spy on the girl's conversations. Then there is just the small matter of the student's missing father, last seen in Greenland....
As various agencies and surveillance teams counter one another, the private investigators realise that they are themselves in danger. Global interests crowd in and everyone is lying. The inhabitants of Greenland have been nouveau riches, but what will this new disaster mean, with methane rising from permafrost and seabed sediment?
Predictably many of the women sleep with anything in trousers, despite the fact that their husband is injured on board a ship, say. There's also an entirely gratuitous and not very good sex scene at the start. It's a French James Bond, what do you expect? Some of the details emerging, like a person suddenly being connected to neo-fascists, seem unnecessary and over-complicated. However there are lots of little touches to aid a feeling of authenticity. Point of view jumps rapidly making the narrative complex to follow, and causing repetition, while it feels forced that everyone including the French intelligence service wants to pay the same investigators. Gruesome deaths, polar bears, sliding glaciers and the stench of escaping methane make THE GREENLAND BREACH by Bernard Besson and translated by Julie Rose, a thriller you won't easily forget.
A ship laden with deep ice cores has just left, while an assassin crouches in snow to murder researchers and the world holds its breath. Tsunamis and icebergs smash down the coast of Canada, heading for New York. The focal characters however live in Paris, where a lot of the action occurs. A small private investigation agency is hired to find out about gas reserves in Greenland which two competing firms would like to exploit. Victoire monitors a Franco-Danish oil company from the office and Luc heads off to a protest rally at Le Havre. John, a former soldier, is asked to protect a student daughter of the oil firm's owners. Her mother calmly hands him a phone which will spy on the girl's conversations. Then there is just the small matter of the student's missing father, last seen in Greenland....
As various agencies and surveillance teams counter one another, the private investigators realise that they are themselves in danger. Global interests crowd in and everyone is lying. The inhabitants of Greenland have been nouveau riches, but what will this new disaster mean, with methane rising from permafrost and seabed sediment?
Predictably many of the women sleep with anything in trousers, despite the fact that their husband is injured on board a ship, say. There's also an entirely gratuitous and not very good sex scene at the start. It's a French James Bond, what do you expect? Some of the details emerging, like a person suddenly being connected to neo-fascists, seem unnecessary and over-complicated. However there are lots of little touches to aid a feeling of authenticity. Point of view jumps rapidly making the narrative complex to follow, and causing repetition, while it feels forced that everyone including the French intelligence service wants to pay the same investigators. Gruesome deaths, polar bears, sliding glaciers and the stench of escaping methane make THE GREENLAND BREACH by Bernard Besson and translated by Julie Rose, a thriller you won't easily forget.
October 20, 2014
The Greenland Breach by Bernard Besson
Translated by Julie Rose
Rating ***** 5/5
A powerful, fast paced superbly written eco-thriller which will thoroughly entertain.
A powerful, fast actioned thriller, The Greenland Breach just pulled me in. I couldn't put it down. Although written in French and partly based in France the novel translated superbly into English.
This is a political eco-thriller incorporating the greed of conglomerates and those abusing their power. The ice caps of Greenland are breaking up and will cause havoc in Northern Europe, Canada and the USA. However, the despair and destruction of many peoples' lives and livelihoods not to mention the ongoing damage to the Earth is of little consequence to those who are only interested in money.
Enter the Fermatown Team, consisting of John Spencer Larivière; an ex French lntelligence Officer, Victoire his wife and Luc, the whiz kid on Computers and Technology. John had received injuries whilst in active service but remains a very strong athletic force. Victoire has a past which threatens to overtake her and Luc, the bisexual with such an adorable character. They are pitted against all sides but who is telling the truth.
Besson has incorporated a wide variety of characters into a well thought out plot or should I say plots. The Greenland Breach never lets up, it is just a page turner of a high standard. I won't give any spoilers but the distress of Captain Loïc Le Guévenec of the Bouc-Bel-Air and the resourcefulness of his wife Isabelle add to intrigue. Although Luc gave a completely different aspect to the plot, especially when he went undercover; a super-fit sexual athlete, my favourite characters were John, who can forget his trials and tribulations going through customs, and the all knowing Qualasoq.
The scenes when John was fighting for his life in the cold wilderness of Greenland will stay with me as will the depicted ecological disaster that awaits us. Monsieur Besson looks to have led an extremely interesting life and this is reflected in The Greenland Breach. An author to look out for.
I was given a copy of The Greenland Breach for an honest review, which I have done. Thanks.
Translated by Julie Rose
Rating ***** 5/5
A powerful, fast paced superbly written eco-thriller which will thoroughly entertain.
A powerful, fast actioned thriller, The Greenland Breach just pulled me in. I couldn't put it down. Although written in French and partly based in France the novel translated superbly into English.
This is a political eco-thriller incorporating the greed of conglomerates and those abusing their power. The ice caps of Greenland are breaking up and will cause havoc in Northern Europe, Canada and the USA. However, the despair and destruction of many peoples' lives and livelihoods not to mention the ongoing damage to the Earth is of little consequence to those who are only interested in money.
Enter the Fermatown Team, consisting of John Spencer Larivière; an ex French lntelligence Officer, Victoire his wife and Luc, the whiz kid on Computers and Technology. John had received injuries whilst in active service but remains a very strong athletic force. Victoire has a past which threatens to overtake her and Luc, the bisexual with such an adorable character. They are pitted against all sides but who is telling the truth.
Besson has incorporated a wide variety of characters into a well thought out plot or should I say plots. The Greenland Breach never lets up, it is just a page turner of a high standard. I won't give any spoilers but the distress of Captain Loïc Le Guévenec of the Bouc-Bel-Air and the resourcefulness of his wife Isabelle add to intrigue. Although Luc gave a completely different aspect to the plot, especially when he went undercover; a super-fit sexual athlete, my favourite characters were John, who can forget his trials and tribulations going through customs, and the all knowing Qualasoq.
The scenes when John was fighting for his life in the cold wilderness of Greenland will stay with me as will the depicted ecological disaster that awaits us. Monsieur Besson looks to have led an extremely interesting life and this is reflected in The Greenland Breach. An author to look out for.
I was given a copy of The Greenland Breach for an honest review, which I have done. Thanks.
August 7, 2016
I have to admit that the main reason why I chose to read this book is that I'm quite the armchair traveler, and I had yet to read a book set in Greenland. I also like to read thrillers with environmental elements to them. Unfortunately, once I'd finished reading The Greenland Breach, I felt the synopsis was the best part of the book.
The two strong elements in the book were its depiction of Greenland and two of the main characters. With the melting of the ice caps, Greenland is seen as a land that's literally coming apart at the seams, and this definitely ratchets up the adrenaline and the suspense. Besson has also created some fascinating characters-- especially Victoire, who has a scene in which she has to escape a killer that's one of the very best in the entire book. The second character that really caught my imagination was Le Guévenec, the ship's captain in Greenland responsible for those all-important ice samples that were to prove so much.
Where the book fell apart for me was in the plot itself. The samples taken from deep within the earth in Greenland that were so important that everyone was willing to kill for them were like carrots to lure the readers into turning the pages. I never did learn what sort of information they held. The story was very slow-moving at first, and when it began to pick up steam, it unraveled into so many confusing fragments that I had a difficult time keeping them straight.
The three partners in Fermatown placed so much confidence in their high tech gadgets that I had to laugh. I'm no computer whiz, but even I could tell they were using too many things that were easily traceable. Larivière was the focus for the majority of the violence in the book, including a truly horrible scene where he is detained in an airport in Greenland. The third member of the Fermatown team, Luc, was supposed to be a computer genius, but he spent much of his time adding unnecessary sex scenes to the book.
Even though I liked the book's setting and two of its characters, it was just not enough. The Greenland Breach was most definitely not my cup of tea.
The two strong elements in the book were its depiction of Greenland and two of the main characters. With the melting of the ice caps, Greenland is seen as a land that's literally coming apart at the seams, and this definitely ratchets up the adrenaline and the suspense. Besson has also created some fascinating characters-- especially Victoire, who has a scene in which she has to escape a killer that's one of the very best in the entire book. The second character that really caught my imagination was Le Guévenec, the ship's captain in Greenland responsible for those all-important ice samples that were to prove so much.
Where the book fell apart for me was in the plot itself. The samples taken from deep within the earth in Greenland that were so important that everyone was willing to kill for them were like carrots to lure the readers into turning the pages. I never did learn what sort of information they held. The story was very slow-moving at first, and when it began to pick up steam, it unraveled into so many confusing fragments that I had a difficult time keeping them straight.
The three partners in Fermatown placed so much confidence in their high tech gadgets that I had to laugh. I'm no computer whiz, but even I could tell they were using too many things that were easily traceable. Larivière was the focus for the majority of the violence in the book, including a truly horrible scene where he is detained in an airport in Greenland. The third member of the Fermatown team, Luc, was supposed to be a computer genius, but he spent much of his time adding unnecessary sex scenes to the book.
Even though I liked the book's setting and two of its characters, it was just not enough. The Greenland Breach was most definitely not my cup of tea.
September 18, 2013
I’ve finished this title and I’m still trying to determine whether it really is a well-crafted espionage-like thriller, a carefully researched warning, or a mix of the two. What I have no questions about is the thrill ride that often felt too real to be fiction that is contained in the pages.
Putting the world on notice, Mother Nature has started to react, often violently with tsunamis, earthquakes and ice shifts. A result of the damage that is caused by ‘progress’, and those who have been warning of the possibilities and potentials are silenced or discounted by those with deeper pockets and a stake in the massive potential profits to come.
Two corporations involved in “climate research” are actually at the core of this story: their jostling for primacy in the industry, the corporate espionage and rush for profits is not unlike that shown in the gold rush or even the oil boom. Money, not doing good or finding a remedy to halt further damage, or repair damage done is at the root of the story, much like real life.
It was an interesting read from the standpoint of the ins and outs of corporate grabs for technology, power and money. With several twists and turns with multiple dead ends, it really is a book that requires concentration and patience. The author does recap events after the worst of the twists, and while ordinarily this would be an inclusion I wouldn’t want, it did help keep the confusion to a minimum. Told in multiple small stories that all prove connected in the end, the story has a nice variation in pacing to keep the pages turning. While I wasn’t overly fond of the conversations, as many felt far more formal than needed, the story did keep me interested and questioning. And I shall never look at a ‘formal study’ on climate change without researching to discover the primary financier.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review during the France Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Putting the world on notice, Mother Nature has started to react, often violently with tsunamis, earthquakes and ice shifts. A result of the damage that is caused by ‘progress’, and those who have been warning of the possibilities and potentials are silenced or discounted by those with deeper pockets and a stake in the massive potential profits to come.
Two corporations involved in “climate research” are actually at the core of this story: their jostling for primacy in the industry, the corporate espionage and rush for profits is not unlike that shown in the gold rush or even the oil boom. Money, not doing good or finding a remedy to halt further damage, or repair damage done is at the root of the story, much like real life.
It was an interesting read from the standpoint of the ins and outs of corporate grabs for technology, power and money. With several twists and turns with multiple dead ends, it really is a book that requires concentration and patience. The author does recap events after the worst of the twists, and while ordinarily this would be an inclusion I wouldn’t want, it did help keep the confusion to a minimum. Told in multiple small stories that all prove connected in the end, the story has a nice variation in pacing to keep the pages turning. While I wasn’t overly fond of the conversations, as many felt far more formal than needed, the story did keep me interested and questioning. And I shall never look at a ‘formal study’ on climate change without researching to discover the primary financier.
I received an eBook copy from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review during the France Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
November 4, 2013
When I was a teen in France, it was fairly common to hear about Bernard Besson, a top-level chief of staff of the French intelligence services. I was totally thrilled when I discovered he was also a writer, and that his spy thriller The Greenland Breach had just been translated in English! With that type of career background, I could imagine how good his thriller would be.
And indeed it is! I believe actually only someone with that sort of stature could have written such a complex and intricate thriller.
I treat spy thrillers as historical novels, in the sense that I start reading with a pen and a paper to write down all the names, trying to put them in different camps, the good, the bad, who is friend/enemy with, etc. You definitely need to do this with this thriller, as you meet many characters, in different milieus. And when you think you know who is with whom, well, something happens and you need to reconsider; actually it may take you the whole book to figure it all out, and that’s the beauty of spy stories. If it’s too easy to guess, what fun is that!
The book starts with a mysterious Lars Jensen in a very disturbing scene in Greenland: the global warming has gradually so much hurt the planet that it seems to be going through its last pangs, as the Arctic ice caps are breaking up.
Then you are quickly sent to Paris, where you meet John Spencer Larivière: he just received an unknown mission, but sure to bring him a very nice amount of money.
And finally you find yourself in the company of Le Guévenec on his boat the Bouc-Bel-Air, between Le Havre, France, and Greenland, surrounded by icebergs.
Little by little, you discover big...
my full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/11/04/b...
And indeed it is! I believe actually only someone with that sort of stature could have written such a complex and intricate thriller.
I treat spy thrillers as historical novels, in the sense that I start reading with a pen and a paper to write down all the names, trying to put them in different camps, the good, the bad, who is friend/enemy with, etc. You definitely need to do this with this thriller, as you meet many characters, in different milieus. And when you think you know who is with whom, well, something happens and you need to reconsider; actually it may take you the whole book to figure it all out, and that’s the beauty of spy stories. If it’s too easy to guess, what fun is that!
The book starts with a mysterious Lars Jensen in a very disturbing scene in Greenland: the global warming has gradually so much hurt the planet that it seems to be going through its last pangs, as the Arctic ice caps are breaking up.
Then you are quickly sent to Paris, where you meet John Spencer Larivière: he just received an unknown mission, but sure to bring him a very nice amount of money.
And finally you find yourself in the company of Le Guévenec on his boat the Bouc-Bel-Air, between Le Havre, France, and Greenland, surrounded by icebergs.
Little by little, you discover big...
my full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/11/04/b...
October 8, 2013
Original review found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/
It is quite difficult to discuss my thoughts on this read as it is a very complex novel with several twists and turns. Based on the synopsis for this book one would think this is a novel about global warming however it is not. While it is a factor in the storyline it is more the plot surrounding the players in the global warming industry that is the focal point of the story.
I am not going to lie, I found this a difficult read. There are numerous characters introduced throughout this book that made it difficult to keep track of them all. The plot was also very complex, perhaps too complex, that it was difficult to discern exactly what direction the story was taking. It was sort of a "who done it" with a twist of who did what? It was hard to believe that all of the events that unfolded were a result of an investigation that the main characters did not even know what or why they were investigating.
That being said I do give kudos to Besson for having the ability and imagination to develop something so complex. I can't even begin to comprehend the process that could develop all of the twists and turns that this novel. I find it truly amazing.
This novel was originally written in French and then translated in to English. As someone who has some knowledge of both languages I do believe that this would have been a better read in its original language. Although there was nothing wrong with the actual translation, in fact it was quite good, I do believe that the story lost some of the "flow" in the translation. As someone whose day to day environment is working with both languages I know that this is something that tends to happen in translation regardless of how well it is done.
It is quite difficult to discuss my thoughts on this read as it is a very complex novel with several twists and turns. Based on the synopsis for this book one would think this is a novel about global warming however it is not. While it is a factor in the storyline it is more the plot surrounding the players in the global warming industry that is the focal point of the story.
I am not going to lie, I found this a difficult read. There are numerous characters introduced throughout this book that made it difficult to keep track of them all. The plot was also very complex, perhaps too complex, that it was difficult to discern exactly what direction the story was taking. It was sort of a "who done it" with a twist of who did what? It was hard to believe that all of the events that unfolded were a result of an investigation that the main characters did not even know what or why they were investigating.
That being said I do give kudos to Besson for having the ability and imagination to develop something so complex. I can't even begin to comprehend the process that could develop all of the twists and turns that this novel. I find it truly amazing.
This novel was originally written in French and then translated in to English. As someone who has some knowledge of both languages I do believe that this would have been a better read in its original language. Although there was nothing wrong with the actual translation, in fact it was quite good, I do believe that the story lost some of the "flow" in the translation. As someone whose day to day environment is working with both languages I know that this is something that tends to happen in translation regardless of how well it is done.
August 31, 2014
Fast-Paced Near Future Ecological Thriller That Reads Like a Cross Between Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton
Known in France for his espionage thrillers drawn from his real-life duties as a senior official of the French intelligence services, Bernard Besson's "The Greenland Breach" is a fast-paced near future ecological speculative fiction thriller that draws extensively upon credible scientific extrapolation of what the Northern Hemisphere may look like if global warming becomes more acute. Besson draws us in from the opening page, showing how two former intelligence operatives, former French intelligence officer John Spencer Lariviere, and his martial arts-trained partner and lover, Victoire, are drawn relentlessly into a seemingly routine freelance assignment in Greenland that isn't at all routine. Besson grabs the reader's attention with an almost relentless plot that is a compelling mashup of Tom Clancy with Michael Crichton. Translator Julie Rose does a fine job rendering Besson's original French prose into English, keeping up the high octane suspense which Besson maintains throughout this novel.
Known in France for his espionage thrillers drawn from his real-life duties as a senior official of the French intelligence services, Bernard Besson's "The Greenland Breach" is a fast-paced near future ecological speculative fiction thriller that draws extensively upon credible scientific extrapolation of what the Northern Hemisphere may look like if global warming becomes more acute. Besson draws us in from the opening page, showing how two former intelligence operatives, former French intelligence officer John Spencer Lariviere, and his martial arts-trained partner and lover, Victoire, are drawn relentlessly into a seemingly routine freelance assignment in Greenland that isn't at all routine. Besson grabs the reader's attention with an almost relentless plot that is a compelling mashup of Tom Clancy with Michael Crichton. Translator Julie Rose does a fine job rendering Besson's original French prose into English, keeping up the high octane suspense which Besson maintains throughout this novel.
April 27, 2014
A suspense thriller that capture your attention from the first page and keeps you aroused through the entire book. Set in the not-too-distant future, the story includes a rich variety of characters as the protagonist and the reader must try too understand the purpose behind the apparently simply assignment of a former soldier to provide protection for the daughter of a rich businessman. Competing nations and companies, along with environmentalists and national groups create a backdrop for a fast-moving story where everyone is in danger and no one is what they seem to be. The story is imaginative and the action is so compelling that you have to keep reading. The story has the unique ability to keep the reader somewhat in the dark, but still provide a powerful incentive to keep reading and discover the unknown elements. The descriptions of the natural disasters playing out in Greenland are so vivid they are chilling. The rapidly-changing environment creates more danger and tension in the story. It is definitely worth reading again.
November 4, 2013
Greenland Breach is a fast paced thriller about murder, the melting ice caps and former French intelligence officer turned spy,John Spencer Larivière . The writing is excellent. There is also plenty of action for those into action/ adventure and sci fi thriller! More than once, I thought I figured something out, but instead there was a major plot twist. This novel is not for the faint of heart!I love the mix of characters and the geopolitics at the heart of this novel. I give this novel 4 1/2 stars. I really want to read more Bernand Besson!
Read more and enter the giveway for a e-book at my blog! http://ashleighgfg.blogspot.com/2013/...
I reviewed this book for France Booktours.
Read more and enter the giveway for a e-book at my blog! http://ashleighgfg.blogspot.com/2013/...
I reviewed this book for France Booktours.
January 31, 2014
This book is as original as a genuine authentic fake. Evil eco-terrorists have caused all kinds of havoc in Greenland. There has been found in the newly Independent Nation that large amounts of oil and methane gas are available under the huge ice cap. Getting it out could cause an event that would have world-wide environmental impact.
Enter, more people involved in what’s happening than you can shake a stick at. All of whom are two dimensional good or bad guys. Too many to list and you shouldn’t care cause I didn’t. Worst of all, the evil genius who’s been pulling the strings during all the time turns out to be someone we’ve hardly met.
For my taste I prefer Claude Izner, Fred Vargas and Jean-Claude Izzi when it comes to French thrillers. But that’s just me.
Zeb Kantrowitz
Enter, more people involved in what’s happening than you can shake a stick at. All of whom are two dimensional good or bad guys. Too many to list and you shouldn’t care cause I didn’t. Worst of all, the evil genius who’s been pulling the strings during all the time turns out to be someone we’ve hardly met.
For my taste I prefer Claude Izner, Fred Vargas and Jean-Claude Izzi when it comes to French thrillers. But that’s just me.
Zeb Kantrowitz
April 29, 2014
*COPY received from France Book Tours for an honest review.
Smart! That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of "The Greenland Breach" by Bernard Besson. I loved it from page one! The first pages are interesting and the story does not take long before I became interested in what was happening and what could happen. I also love the theme! I can't think of a more hot topic right now than global warming. The writing was engaging, fast-paced, informative and entertaining!
I think this book is a must-read for anyone that likes smart books that are also entertaining. The characters were interesting and the storyline well thought out and well-paced! Great read! I definitely recommend and it and I enjoyed it!
Smart! That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of "The Greenland Breach" by Bernard Besson. I loved it from page one! The first pages are interesting and the story does not take long before I became interested in what was happening and what could happen. I also love the theme! I can't think of a more hot topic right now than global warming. The writing was engaging, fast-paced, informative and entertaining!
I think this book is a must-read for anyone that likes smart books that are also entertaining. The characters were interesting and the storyline well thought out and well-paced! Great read! I definitely recommend and it and I enjoyed it!
December 7, 2014
The story rattles along but...
An eco-thriller should have some discernible connection with the real world of climate science as global warming is an existential threat to us all; however the science here is quite unbelievable and there are glaring technical errors in the plot. A huge chunk of the Greenland ice cap breaks away creating an enormous tsunami that eventually causes some flooding in New York - yet all the coastal settlements on the west coast of Greenland and the local fishing fleets remain untouched by this catastrophe. The problem for the author is that once one serious mistake has occurred the whole novel becomes a hunting ground for the next blunder, rather than a thriller.
An eco-thriller should have some discernible connection with the real world of climate science as global warming is an existential threat to us all; however the science here is quite unbelievable and there are glaring technical errors in the plot. A huge chunk of the Greenland ice cap breaks away creating an enormous tsunami that eventually causes some flooding in New York - yet all the coastal settlements on the west coast of Greenland and the local fishing fleets remain untouched by this catastrophe. The problem for the author is that once one serious mistake has occurred the whole novel becomes a hunting ground for the next blunder, rather than a thriller.
December 28, 2016
I liked the book, I think the premise (eco terrorism) more than the reality. It kind of dragged for me in places, which I understand because it's the 1st book in a new series, so there is a lot of backstory ground to cover.
For me, there were too many characters introduced and "in play", and it took too long to discover their intertwined relationships, and the conclusion was just "meh".
I really didn't like one of the main recurring characters, Victoire. Maybe it's the translation, but she was just kind of flat on the page. On the other hand, the male protagonist, John, and business partner & friend Luc, were much more fully realized & likeable.
Reading book #2, Shadow Ritual, now & hoping the characters are more fleshed out on the page.
For me, there were too many characters introduced and "in play", and it took too long to discover their intertwined relationships, and the conclusion was just "meh".
I really didn't like one of the main recurring characters, Victoire. Maybe it's the translation, but she was just kind of flat on the page. On the other hand, the male protagonist, John, and business partner & friend Luc, were much more fully realized & likeable.
Reading book #2, Shadow Ritual, now & hoping the characters are more fleshed out on the page.
July 18, 2014
This novel draws you in at page one. As the amount of characters increase the pace of the book picks up, it is at times a little hard to follow , but once the pieces start to fall into place the story starts to come together. The plot is well written and the characters could be a little more realistic. I am sure this author's previous job as a high ranked chief of intelligence in France helped him with some of the industrial espionage and politics.
*** I received this book in return for an honest review***
*** I received this book in return for an honest review***
January 11, 2017
A Francophile's book, the plots are broad, the characters are intriguing and well drawn. Albeit set primarily in Greenland and Paris, it deals with climate change, corporate competition, and is painted with a broad brush of technology. Sympathetic protagonists, some nice plot twists, it begs to be read in a tight time period - the multiple venues and characters need some concentration to maintain the full story line.
It was good to read a book where the good guys and the bad guys aren't from the USA - a nice change.
It was good to read a book where the good guys and the bad guys aren't from the USA - a nice change.
August 9, 2013
This is a brilliant thriller that could be the news you hear or read tonight – Greenland’s icecap’s melting; huge ice sheets are cracking off into the sea creating devastating tidal waves along the East coast, and amidst this chaotic seemingly end of the world scenario, companies and countries clash in a struggle for data that will help us survive this new climatic age. Here is a thriller by a former intelligence chief that will make you wonder just how much of this is fiction – a must read!
August 26, 2013
Essentially this is two books for the price of one. There's catastrophic climate change starting to make itself felt and resultant espionage manoeuvrings in the hope of gaining economic and political advantage. It's good as far as it goes but fails to get the next star because it doesn't really look at the immediate physical consequences of the titular breach.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/0...
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/0...
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