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James Acton Thrillers #35

The Antarctica Incident

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THE WORLD’S GREATEST PIRATE WAS ALSO ITS MOST BRUTAL.
ESPECIALLY WHEN BETRAYED BY HER FAMILY.

At the height of her powers, Zheng Yi Sao commanded 50,000 men and 400 ships, terrorizing the waters surrounding present day Hong Kong for years.

But her greatest adventure took her south, far south, to the icy waters of Antarctica where she would face a challenge so great, it would change her forever.

Two centuries later, a stunning discovery buried in the ice near McMurdo Station on the frozen continent leads to a race between America and China, both laying claim to the find.

Archaeology Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer are brought in to investigate the find and are caught in the middle when an unknown force, determined to restore a family’s honor lost centuries ago, assaults the base camp.

Triggering a struggle for survival on the frozen wasteland of Antarctica.

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2022

236 people are currently reading
96 people want to read

About the author

J. Robert Kennedy

102 books299 followers
With over one million books sold, award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has been ranked by Amazon as the #1 Bestselling Action Adventure novelist based upon combined sales. He is the author of over fifty international bestsellers including the smash hit James Acton Thrillers. He lives with his wife and daughter and writes full-time.

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5 stars
176 (56%)
4 stars
84 (26%)
3 stars
45 (14%)
2 stars
6 (1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
86 reviews
July 6, 2023
Enjoyable book; follows the usual Acton/Palmer formula - Professors start doing something, get into trouble, somehow a message gets to Dylan the spy who contacts 'The Powers That Be' who send in Delta Force Bravo to rescue them. Simple and entertaining, a page turner!
Profile Image for Meagan The Book Witch.
121 reviews10 followers
April 18, 2024
I don't even know how this book ended up in my collection, and frankly, I kinda wish it hadn't.

When two students discover the wreck of a 200 year old chinese ship frozen in ice (because they're fuckin', outdoors in -130c) , it's a race to claim the archaeological find first.




Main story aside, this is honestly some of the worst writing for women that I've ever encountered.
Some of the phrases used to describe women in this book include: "pile of lust" , a "nice Chinese number", and in one case, a "horny as ever" woman who'd "use and abuse him for hours on end"

The only competent woman here is what I'd call feminist bait, and rhetoric surrounding her is constantly "yes she is a good strong, woman who doesn't need help"

In one scene, we get a

"his wife was in charge, and she didn't need a man to help her do her job"

followed immediately by a

"that's a hell of a woman you've got there"
when she does her damn job.

As if her worth is tied to this random man's approval, and his appreciation of the woman that he's "got there"

With the copious amount of action here, this book is definitely some idea of a male fantasy.

The story leaves much to be desired, with otherwise flat characters, poor pacing, and a waste of an interesting premise. Honestly I was so damn annoyed by all the giggling women that I couldn't even concentrate on the plot.

If I'd read one of the other 35 (!!!!) books in this series, maybe some of the character work would already have been laid out, but as a standalone, this sucks, sorry

Profile Image for Robynne Lozier.
289 reviews30 followers
August 14, 2023
Dr James Acton and his wife Laura Palmer get into a battle with the Chinese Special Services over an 19th century british ship found buried in the Antarctica ICe field. The ship had been stolen from the East India Company and by the Chinese and was renamed the Black Dragon. It was then used by a well known pirate named Zheng.

A Zupu is a Genealogy book handed down from father to son and recording all the male descendents - female descendents were very seldome mentioned.

This particular zupu was onboard the Black Dragon in the year 1810, and was later lost under the Antarctica. Now the Zheng Family are breaking the Antarctica Treaty to look for the Zupu to recover their illustrious family history.

95 chapters - but they were mostly 1 or 2 pages each.

I give this 3/5 stars. The action (timeline) was way too fast for reality to be believable. I would also have liked to have read more details about the Antarctica Treaty and its History. Because the treaty was a major plotpoint, and the Chinese simply sailed into the Antarctica and started shooting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
355 reviews5 followers
May 9, 2025
A chinese pirate ship is accidently discovered in a crevase in Antartica.Professor Laura Palmer is invited to be the lead on this potentially historic archeology expedition. Her husband Dr. James Acton accompanies her to provide support among his other skill sets.
The expedition is threatened by the Chinese government who claims they have sole rights to the ancient vessel qand sends armed forces. Dr. Palmer negotiates a truce with the Chinese archeologists joining her team.
Immediately thereafter the expedition is engulfed in a brutal storm, further dropping sub zero temperatures and creating a white out.
Finally the expedition is attacked by the living members of the most infamous pirate leader, now members of the murderous Triad.
Action abounds as the expedition strives to survive the elements and the obstacles.


56 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2022
A Frigid Action Tale

Love the tie back to actual history from ancient times and how archeologists could find such exciting events in the here and now. The characters are so tied together is very helpful to the usual reader so the familiar characters really add to the interest. The action is non stop and bloody in the inhospitable surrounds!
A great tale as usual.
55 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2022
a very chilling thriller.

A expedition to Antarctica to salvage a shipwreck. What could go wrong. throw in the Professors Acton and Palmer with a smattering of frigid weather, and a lost piece of Chinese family legacy, no less a criminal one and you have adventure and heart pounding excitement.
1,124 reviews8 followers
November 19, 2023
35th book in this series and first one I have read in awhile. This series is always entertaining and this book was no exception. James and Laura are in Antarctica to investigate the discovery of an old Chinese ship found under the ice. This mission won’t be easy when the Chinese complicate it by trying to retrieve an invaluable artifact. Action packed from start to finish!
49 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2023
Once again Mr Kennedy takes us into the world of history. The little known bits are fascinating. James and Laura seem to find intrigue along the way. Another winner, maybe a good TV series, I'm just saying.
Profile Image for Jake Blume.
44 reviews3 followers
August 8, 2022
another great read !!

As always never disappointed the whole list of characters never fails in the excitement!!
The review says I need six more word’s lol
229 reviews
October 19, 2022
Great book

Great book
It's of action great story line kept you interested could not put the book down author is one of the best
95 reviews
November 17, 2023
another on bites the dust

No complaints from reading this book. Good story line, full of action & suspense. Made me feel cold just reading it.
Profile Image for Stuart.
177 reviews2 followers
April 24, 2024
Been a while since I read any of JRK's books but the fomula is there and it didn't disappoint. Chewed it through during a long 13 hr flight!
324 reviews2 followers
September 23, 2024
It is simply pure entertainment to read these stories, as improbable as some of the scenes may be.
855 reviews3 followers
June 23, 2025
Book 35

Book 35 was a fun read and had a few errors throughout. The plot and characters are well developed and had a few twists. The overall was interesting and a fun read
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews