Death Benefit (Published in 2011) - Authored by Robin Cook - Promise vs. greed

Afrodita Pia Grazdani has had the nightmare innumerable times. And it always has the requisite affect on her - leaving her in cold sweat, afraid and insecure. A fourth year medical student at the Columbia University, Pia has been offered an enviable assignment - assistant to the living legend, Nobel Laureate, molecular geneticist Dr. Tobias Rothman himself. He is conducting two researches simultaneously about virulent strains of salmonella and the other, more challenging task of finding out whether healthy human organs can be created from stem cells - organogenesis.
Pia is from Albania, and has undergone immense suffering as a child at the hands of her uncle and authorities in foster care, this hurt was entrenched further when her own father refused to come to her rescue at the foster care center; she is now twenty six and although beautiful, with a stream of admirers, suffers from what could only be some sort of a ‘detachment syndrome’. Her most loyal friend George Wilson, an ardent admirer with whom she has had intimate (according to her, plain sex) relations on four occasions to be precise, is at the receiving end of her lack of emotions; she would rather he leaves and goes home than spend the night in her bed! This is a serious flaw that mars the otherwise pristine beauty.




Dr. Rothman becomes the father figure in Pia’s life; she is deeply attached to him, making up for the loss of emotional contact from her own parent in her growing years. The doctor admires her tenacity and dedication, they become kindred spirits, he even confesses to her that he suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. The success of his research means that Tobias will put a lot of drug companies out in the cold, as organs such as the pancreas will be ‘created’ in labs, bringing down the usage of diabetic drugs, a major source of revenue for drug firms. When Pia breaks the news that after she completes her research and Ph.D, she plans to look after the financial needs of the Convent of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Rothman is livid, he wonders how she can throw away an opportunity to work with him over a god forsaken charity in Africa! When she tells Tobias the reason why, he offers to loan her fifty thousand dollars for the Convent, the Mother Superior refuses to be repaid, using the word ‘betrayal’, even as Rothman urges Pia to move on instead of being bulldozed with ‘Catholic guilt’.
On the other hand, unknown to the scientists cocooned in their laboratories, the world of medicine, life and death is manipulated by avarice and money. Two former employees of Wall Street, set about to earn a quick buck by buying life insurance policies with death benefits, from people who are in dire straits. They pay premiums on the policies, collecting benefits when the people die. They have researched well and are aware that people in need of organ transplants are especially prone to financial crunches, weigh the odds of finding a donor, and the body rejecting the donated organ. The machinery they’ve created is well oiled and earning them enough cash, when things get a little shaky.
One of their own, a protégée of theirs, decides to pull a fast one on them - she is short selling their stock. Apparently the woman had wanted to be a part of their team, but was rejected, this mad her see red and she decided that they would pay for this decision. This brilliant yet twisted creature has gotten onto the trail of Dr. Rothman, and his cutting edge theory of organogenesis. Maybe these banking brains could make money out of it! Robin Cook has authored thirty odd books, Death Benefit  is another brilliant work from his amazing storehouse of storytelling and imagination!

The Carpetbaggers (published in 1961) - Written by Harold Robbins

Harold Robins was one of the prolific writers of the 21st century. Born Harold Rubin, his parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. After dabbling in sugar futures he took up a job in Universal pictures which propelled his interest towards writing. Thus came out “Never love a Stranger” which courted controversy for its graphic sexual content. Soon Robbins would become a prolific writer churning out innumerable best sellers. He had this knack of mixing up a thriller with sex and historical anecdotes to create a taut mystery. The worlds favorite author, Harold Robins would publish over 20 books which were translated into 32 languages and are estimated to be selling over 750 million copies. Many of his books were made in to successful movies, the very first being “A stone For Danny Fisher” which was adapted as “King Creole” starring Elvis Presley. The stories were also made in to mini series and were part of documentaries. Robbins also lived a jet setting life style with cars, wine and women at his disposal. His decadent life style along with those of the high and mighty of Hollywood is often mirrored in his books. Robbins was one of the authors honored with a star on the Hollywood walk of frame. This prolific writer died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 81 in Palm Springs, California.



Carpetbaggers is an homage to the roaring twenties and the terrifying thirties. The characters of Jonas Cord, Rina Marlow, Jeannie Denton, Charles Sandhurst etc depict that fearlessness of the twenties where possibilities abound at your every step and is soon turned to dust by the next decade by war and depression. Carpetbaggers is a roman a clef which chronicles the life of Howard Hughes through the protagonist Jonas Cord. Jonas Cord is the son of a wealthy industrialist who accumulates wealth with his interests branching in to aviation and Hollywood. The entire novel is divided in to chapters bearing the character's names where in Jonas Cord gets 3 chapters followed by chapters chronicling Rina's and others bumping on to him.
Cord lives by his own definitions, builds and pilots airplanes, makes costly movies and has umpteen orgies with Hollywood starlets. Carpetbaggers is a teenage boys fantasy come true and has graphic sexual details. Apart from oral and homosexual encounters, the novel describes rape, abuse and other sexual encounters in detail which almost put you off. But the saga of Cord and others is spell binding as Robins describes their rise and fall. Rina Marlow, said to be based on Jean Harlow is described as a bisexual having encounters with Jonas, his father, brother and even a girl friend. This book may not be raising an eyebrow today, but was said to be a bold attempt in the 60's. The most disturbing characterization is that of Jennie Denton who has every possible horror perpetrated on her, that it makes one sick. But then one has to remember that the book is Robbins at his best. If one can forget the graphic sex, then the saga of a rich man and his cronies and mistresses hold your breath. A splendid book and its no wonder that this book is still one of the best sought after paperbacks. Best of Robbins and worth a read.

Dead Cert (published in 1962) - a horse racing story by Dick Francis

Richard Stanley Francis or Dick Francis was born in Pembrokshire, Wales, England on October 20th 1920. His father was a renowned jockey and Francis was catapulted in to the world of Horses, Jockeys and racing. He dropped out of school to train as a Jockey and was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air-force during World War II. After the war Francis became a celebrity Champion Jockey winning over 350 races. He was the lead Jockey for the Queen Mother. But he had to drop out of Horse racing after a serious fall and became a racing correspondent for Sunday Express. Dick Francis churned out numerous best sellers and most of his books deal with the mysteries in the realm of Horse racing and Jockeys. He wrote more than 40 international best sellers and is the recipient of numerous awards. Being a three time recipient of Mystery writer of America's Edgar Award he was made the Grand master of MWA. He is also the recipient of Britain's Crime Writers Association's Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979 and the Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award. He also has the Gumshoe award to his credit. He was accorded in CBE in 2000. Dick Francis died in his Caribbean home on February 10, 2010 bringing down the curtains to an illustrious life.
The Dead Cert Hero, Alan York is an Amateur Jockey in the steeplechase races. During one of the races, he witnesses his friend Bill Davidson falling down from his horse and getting injured. Alan pulls up to help his friend to the hospital where he is declared dead. On his return his suspicions of foul play are confirmed when he finds the wires coiled near the fences and grooves on the posts. When he tries to bring it to the notice of the law enforcers, the wires disappear. Alan forms one of the credible witnesses for the police and soon is asking questions to the officers.



Soon he is kidnapped and beaten up severely with a warning to let go of the case. But the beatings harden his determination to find the truth about his friends death. He also meets the women of his heart, Kate and soon indulges in a cat and mouse game with the wily antagonist to protect Kate. As he digs deeper he finds a ring of power crazy aristocrats who rig races and are even willing to murder jockeys who do not agree to their demands to fix races. Bill Davidson's children secretly listening to their fathers telephonic conversation provide the vital clue to crack this mystery.
This mystery describes us the world of British race tracks before the advent of high tech. If you are interested how crime was solved without the aid of cell phones, DNA and the host of other innovations, you have come to the right place. Alan York is the upright British Gentleman, who keeps his English uptight demeanor in-spite of beatings and injuries and doggedly pursues his much connected adversary to pay for his friends death.
Francis weaves a great tale effortlessly and the amount of suspense is really high. The language is clear cut and crisp like a refreshing summer day. A great book to unwind.

The Guest of Honor (published in 1989) - Written by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book "Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
Matt Underwood is the President of the United States of America who has a beautiful wife, a former Miss America, and everything a man can ask for. He has money, power and can do anything, so it seems because the world revolves around him. His wife, a charming young lady, albeit a shrew is not enough for him even though she seems to satisfy his urges initially.
In a far far south east Asian country, its president, Prem Lapang is assassinated by communists or some shifty elements and his beauteous wife Noy Sang ascends the throne, well the chair. Noy, if it helps, is an American Educated sophisticated young thing with a precocious genius of a son. About two thirds of her country is occupied by communist rebels and her Army chief who is ably assisted by the CIA favors military action to throw them out, but alas good Noy prefers to talk. This creates lot of friction which makes the defense establishment see red.



Noy Sang comes to America on a state visit, also holding begging bowl for a large loan. Now the handsome former TV anchor President is very much smitten by her and falls desperately in love. He gives a larger than anticipated loan from the American coffers. As far as I know, the American President needs congressional support to give loan to other countries. Noy also reciprocates his feelings and soon they make love everywhere. President ditches the secret service to cavort in Noy's island paradise and other places. Nobody has a clue even the CIA except for an investigative journalist who tries to make it front page news.
Soon Noy is kidnapped by her own defense chief and good old Matt Underwood does a James Bondish rescue by shooting down her assailants. He had asked the secret service earlier not to cover him but to give him a gun which is put to good use to save his lady love. Anyways he saves her and soon the scandal concerning the heads of state tends to erupt so badly that even world peace is unhinged. Matt even tries to abdicate and does not want to run for the second term, but to retire with Noy to a tropical paradise. But soon things are solved magically with help of trusted lieutenants and Underwood remains president. And Good heavens he even has Noy on the sides along with wife and the world peace.
An inane plot and premise has this book doomed from page one. If you are a starter with Wallace's books, please do not get discouraged for he has written superb books which are page turners. Start with “The man”. This one is a page turner for sure, only think you would want to turn the page so fast to reach the end and bury the book.

Floodgate (1983) - Authored by Alistair Maclean - Irish terrorists threatening the Netherlands with water

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. MacLean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Floodgate is the second book of Alistair MacLean to be set in Holland. The first was puppet on the chain which dealt with the Netherlands underground drug mafia. He brings in the familiar detective Peter van Effen who continues his sleuthing in this book.
Schipol airport in Amsterdam is flooded and the planes are floating around aimlessly. The dykes which kept the north sea out has been breached and the sea has devoured Schipol completely and the authorities are completely baffled. Peter Van Effen, the detective par excellence is brought in by the authorities. Soon FFF, an Irish Liberation force calls in claiming responsibility and threatens to carry on more strikes against the dykes. This pours in the panic as a breach through the dykes would submerge Holland completely under water.



Van Effen goes in to action and checks in all the employees of the airport. He suspects informants among the staff would have helped the terrorist. In the mean time the terrorist have acquired nuclear weapons and threaten to detonate them in the sea triggering a tsunami to submerge Holland.
He is ably assisted by beautiful assistant Annemarie Meijer, an heiress to a large fortune and other beautiful women. Van Effen is very close with to the dreaded underground gang the Krakers and enlist their help to combat the terrorist. Soon the game starts to outwit the terrorists. The FFF has to be stopped for the interest of Holland.
Soon the action hottens up with Agnelli the head of the Krakers gang along with his brothers infiltrate the gang and pass on information to Van Effen. Soon many operatives like Anne Marie and Marie are captured and held for ransom. The leader of the terrorist Samuelson is supposedly an earl who is motivated by revenge for the killing of his sons. Sometimes you feel that MacLean just awakens sympathies for his character even when he planning in human ways to kill.
But the ultimate action is ingenious, although a little tame for such a grand operation. Van Effen successfully gases all the terrorist unconscious and arrest all of them and rescue the hostages. Anne Marie and he predictably fall in love with each other and walk in to the sunset.
This may not be MacLean's best books of the time but the plot is the winner. A very cleverly thought out action plan with with a tame ending is Floodgate. Still I would recommend it for its sheer clever storyline from MacLean.

Partisans (published in 1982) - written by Alistair Maclean - the fight against the Germans in Yugoslavia

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. MacLean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Another book about the battles in world war two from the MacLean Stable. Here the author takes the reader to Yugoslavia where the war rages on with its convoluted politics. On one hand the Germans and the Italians are fighting the war with the native Yugoslav's called Partisans ably aided aadn supported by the communist led by general Tito. They are thwarted by one of their own I.e the Chetniks who side with the germans. The allies try to hitch their horse to the Partisans to defeat the Nazi's.



The main lead is Pete Peterson, an Yugoslav royalist who is the typical macLean man with his dour and cynical ways receives coded orders from his German commanders to deliver it to the German resistance deep in Yugoslavia. Just as the Germans even the readers are confused about the name Pete Peterson for an Yugoslav. But MacLean has an humorist explanation for that. It seems that Pete is the son of an Englishman who never went back to england after coming to Yugoslavia. MacLean provided another funny anecdote about a village in Italy populated by Scots who had landed there decades ago for a battle. It seems those villagers had ruddy Scottish faces and a name starting with “Mac” .
Well the fun ends there for this novel. The plot meanders through the boring fist fights and Nazi vs Allies dialogues. Pete is accompanied by two operatives, gEorge the fat and Alex the dour. He gets two radio operatives, part of the Yugoslav Royalist gang, Sarina and Micheal, the pretty fraternal twins. And so they set pace to Yugolavia and meet many characters on the way, the drinking Giacomo, pretty Lorraine, Marija, Major Harrison and of course the villains.
No prizes for guessing that Pete is really a Partisan. But the loyalties of the other participants is always circumspect. They fight the Nazi's and are captured many time. But each time they are released as a group in tact to reach the other side. Contrary to MacLean's earlier books the fighting is pretty tame and easy passage for the heroes. In the end the villains are captured, the traitors are unmasked and the hero loves his pretty operative. As usual the women whine a lot and cry over his shoulder. One gets her husband and the pther falls for Pete. The villains are captured and delivered to the Britishers.
MacLean is said to have reached a low point in his career during the 80's and many books witness his decline and this book is one of those. There is nothing much to offer the reader and I do not recommend it during a holiday. Just pick it up when you just need to fill your gaps in your day with some light reading.

Goodbye California (published in 1977) - By Author Alistair Maclean - the story of attempts to exploit a earthquake fault

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Published in 1971, this book deals with the current flavor of terror, Islamic terrorism. MacLean describes the future terrorist and their methodologies, like nuclear destruction of the Earth. This shows that his thinking was much ahead of his time and today after 4 decades the world is fighting the same war.
MacLean has taken the theme from the Earthquake which shook California in 1906 resulting in wide spread damage to the tune of sixty million dollars and large number of deaths. The citizens of California still live under the threat of another earthquake because of the San Andreas fault line passing through the city. This ring of fire in the Pacific has been the cause of earthquakes in Japan and South America in the later decades. What if some man made activity result in the destabilization of the San Andreas fault line? This novel is taken from this premise.



Sergeant Ryder is the honest police detective who has little regard for his superiors as most of them are corrupt and not talented. He undertakes an investigation in to the corruption in the higher offices of the police department. Some Islamic terrorist steal nuclear weapons and take multiple hostages which include Ryder's wife.
So Ryder has to battle corruption, bureaucracy and pig headed superiors who try to stone wall his investigations. Ryder after a wild goose chase conclude that the Russian connection is not for real and the origin of terrorists are different. Then the game begins.
After a few twists and turns Ryder gets to turn the table on the terrorist with help of unlikely allies and manages to save the world. This book is not considered the good books of MacLean. There are so many plots and subplots which are weak and will not stand the scrutiny of the reader.
The only redeeming feature of this book is the nuggets of information that MacLean throws our way about he earth quakes and its aftermath. Maybe in the 1970's it may have seemed very far fetched, but somehow it seems all too plausible. For action buffs this too results in disappointment as there is lot of sermonizing about governments and corruption. This book is about the angst of one man in this case Ryder against the nepotism prevalent around the world. For the first time reader the advice is not to be disheartened by this book because the story teller has given us great pieces earlier.

The Golden Gate (published in 1976) - Authored by Alistair Maclean - a threat to the Golden Gate Bridge

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
The egomaniac criminal Branson and his henchmen kidnap the president and threaten to blow up the golden gate bridge if their ransom demand is not met with. The criminal master min Peter Branson along with his comrades kidnap the president, his army chief, a oil sheikh and A Prince of a Middle eastern country. The spectacular action unfolds in the middle of the Golden gate Bridge in San Francisco. He also capture Mount Tamalpious which hosts the radar station to control the aircraft activity over the bridge.
So the investigating agencies are crippled by air and land and sea. Branson demands one billion dollars in ransom and a pardon for all criminal activities. He professes to be non violent criminal and executes the action with a smooth hand. His main henchmen are, Van Effen, Chrysler, Bradley and Giscard. Branson is portrayed to be a very able leader and a good friend who takes care all of them.



But Branson had a major flaw, he is fame crazy. When he cripples the law enforcers, he allows news media to cover this event. He invites everybody to witness the kidnappings provided if they have a camera and pen with them, only fire arms not allowed.
So the FBI exploits this major loop hole. Its devious head Haggenbach picks up his finest agent, Paul Revson to check mate Branson. So enter Revson who is a cool cynical MacLean hero armed with a camera and a pen. He flatters Branson and gains entry in to the inner circle close to the kidnappers. Here he meets Dr. O'Hare, a medic and April Wednesday, a journalist who prove to be his unlikely allies.
Revson's ingenious plans start to take shape. He with the help of Dr. O'Hare bring in small guns, cyanide revolvers, smoke bombs and medicines. The villains start disappearing with Revson catching and drugging them to smuggle them out aboard a submarine under the bridge. In this mission he is ably assisted by April Wednesday and Revson soon falls in love with her. The game of cat and mouse continue with the FBI playing with the emotions of the henchmen.
After emotionally wrecking the kidnappers, Revson in the final bout of action with the help of Cartland, the army chief, rescues the President and his guests outwitting the villains. He also wins the lady whom MacLean has not given much of a thought. A simple thriller worth a read.

Circus (published in 1975) - Authored by Alistair Maclean - a tale of intrigue behind the iron curtain

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Circus is an espionage thriller set in the cold war era. The hero is a a trapeze artist with intense hatred for the communist regime's. Bruno Wilderman is a highly skilled trapeze artist who has got superhuman and clairvoyant skills. The east German regime has tortured and killed his family members. So he is a sworn enemy of the Stassi who has killed his wife..
The CIA needs such a person to raid the impregnable Lublyan Fortress for get the secret formula for a device which would annihilate the earth called the anti matter. Anti matter exists in the universe as an opposite of matter. Just like another universe can exists, for other matter we would be the antimatter. So the presence of either one of them would flatten the universe. I find this explanation pretty fascinating and this is one reason that I would pick up this book.



Only a trained and skillful personal could get in. CIA bosses visit the circus to recruit Bruno where they witness his phenomenal skills of mind reading. He is a magician who guesses the right numbers and right words on papers and can work the trapeze blind folded. But for a superman Alistair MacLean says that he is not very handsome, but with a pleasant face. Thank god for small mercies, otherwise he would have been the ultimate man himself.
Apart from Bruno the mission is assisted by his boss, Tesco Wrinfield and a female CIA operative, Maria Hopkins. The circus is supposed to travel to Crau, where Lublyan fortress is located and the provide the alibi and cover for Bruno to fulfill his mission. But before the Circus leaves town the people who recruited Bruno are both killed in a brutal fashion.
Bruno is in the hands and guidance of Dr. Harper and the Admiral. Maria provided the beautiful female companion who falls hopelessly in love with Bruno after seeing his first performance. Well with such sensibilities, I wonder how she became a CIA operative. She is a typical MacLean heroine, very pretty airhead who does not have anything to do but to fall in love with the hero and if MacLean provides, marry the victorious protagonist.
So after several deaths and twists Bruno gets in to Lublyan and gets the formula of anti matter and proposes to Maria. The most loyal and trust worthy character gets the boot to die as he is proven to be the traitor. Then MacLean's villain, the communists are obviously the the mean fiends who are ultimately vanquished. Bruno also avenges the death of his wife and his family. This is not one of MacLean's well known books. I would suggest a one time reading just to honor the pace of narrative. Otherwise this thriller meanders the familiar path with nothing great to set it apart.

Puppet on a Chain (published in 1969) - authored by Alistair Maclean - the narcotics world and Netherland

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Puppet on a Chain is Alistair MacLean's detective thriller set in the Netherlands. This book describes the underbelly of the city where drugs and devastation rule. The protagonist is Paul Sharman who is an ex army officer now head of the interpol Narcotics bureau and is based in London. He comes to the Netherlands to investigate a series of disappearances and drug offenses. The drug king pin rules the narcotic ring covering the entire continent. They use a wide range of torturous tactics to keep their hold on the empire. The title of the story gives away the method of torture applied by these drug lords to shut off dissidence.



As soon as he lands in Amsterdams Schipol Airport, he is ambushed and knocked down injuring his solar plexus. His only contact in Netherlands is shot down before his own eyes. The police seem very reluctant to pursue the assailants, but try to fix charges against him. Paul Sharman with him dry and sarcastic humor however decides to go ahead with the investigations. He is aided by two female operatives. One of them is an experienced agent and the other is a rookie. MacLean describes them as breathtakingly beautiful and I find this very uncharacteristic of him. His careless banter with these female operatives add zing to the proceedings.
Soon Sharman realizes that his presence is not desired in Holland and many times he is followed and ambushed. He is beaten and left to die and it is a wonder for many a reader how he escapes. Sometimes it almost borders on absurd, but he is the hero and the story must go on. So the nine lives that Sharman seems to leads saves him time and time again, and he follows his follower who lead him to a ware house which is filled with rubber toys and neatly stacked books. The books are called the Gabriel Bible and are scooped up from inside. Thee inscription outside the book reads "With the Compliments of the First Reformed Church of the American Huguenot Society". This sets his thinking process along the methodology adopted by the smugglers to smuggle drugs across the border.
The high adrenaline chase is full of boat chases and murders across Amsterdam. Sharman is a no nonsense thug who does not feel any qualms of bumping anybody. Soon he is fighting the war in the Netherlands and must save him and his associate. So who wins this cat and mouse game? No answerer's for guessing that! but there are many surprises while on the way. A great book for thrill seekers.

Seawitch (published in 1977) - Author - Alistair Maclean - action related to a massive oil platform

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Seawitch is the story of a rich ruthless oil magnate who can pull all stops to make profit. Lord Worth is a very rich businessman whose main interests are in oil. This tycoon builds the largest oil rig off the waters of Houston and has invented some special type of equipments to enable his company to drill maximum quantity of oil at his will and fancies.
So the other oil tycoons get the jitters as the price of oil starts to slide. So what do they do? Well the easy way out, hire a killer to stop Lord Worth in his path. The competitors are an inhuman bunch as they don't care how the mission is accomplished and are ready to pay the highest price to stop Worth.



The hired killer, John Cronkite has a major ax to grind against Lord Worth as he has been the root cause of many of his miseries. So Cronkite talks to the Russian, Cuban and another communist renegades top source for the weapons to destroy Seawitch. But Lord Worth gets the whiff of his plans as one of the conspirators is a spy. He hires detectives to defend Seawitch at any cost.
In the mean time, Lord Worth's two daughters are kidnapped from his villa and are held prisoner on the Seawitch. To make matters worth the Russian and some Cuban submarines are making their way to destroy the oil platform. Lord Worth approaches the Ministry of Defense to scare the submarines and succeeds. But Cronkite has managed to steal some nuclear weapons and reached the Seawitch.
Does Lord Worth succumb to pressure? No way, he has got aces up his sleeve in detectives Mitchell and Roomer who are in love with his two daughters, Marina and Melinda. These are ex-policemen who are the typical cynical, rough and tough MacLean heroes. They are brutally honest and totally in love and will go to any lengths to rescue their damsels in distress. So the match is set and the fight is to begin.
Lord Worth who reaches the rig is also imprisoned and Cronkite and his men booby traps the entire oil platform. Mitchell and roomer arrive with a doctor as a scientist. They try to take over when Cronkite's back is turned and Roomer gets hurt. He leaves to get more relief as Mitchell mans the platform. But Cronkite will not go so easily. He takes over Seawitch again and this time places the nuclear weapons. Soon high adrenaline shooting game commences where Mitchell kills four of Cronkite's men. Lord Worth, his daughters and the good men leave stealthily and watches the oil rig explode with Cronkite and his men on board.
Seawitch was written during the fag end of MacLean's writing career and you can feel him loosing touch. I feel you can buy it as a one time read and forget it.

Bear Island (published in 1971) - Written by Alistair Maclean - story of murders on a lone cold island

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Bear island is a detective thriller which is set up in the Norwegian seas. This is one of the later Alistair MacLean books where the who done it plot kept the action going. Typical of all MacLean Books the elements play an important part. In fact MacLean describes the cold Arctic so well that the reader gets the goose bumps.
A film crew sets sail to the Bear island, across the Barents sea ostensibly to shoot a feature film on a trawler which is renovated as a luxury sail boat called the Morning Rose. Most of the crew who are part of the film hardly know the script except for the director and the scriptwriter. Aboard the ship there is a medic Dr. Marlowe and couple of Mary's.



Soon the mystery starts as the crew members are killed one by one by a murderer. Marlowe is puzzled by this and starts his investigation. The murders continue even as the crew is deposited on the Bear Island and are beyond the help of any law enforcing agencies. Marlowe is not what he professes to be. He is an agent with the US treasury and is shadowing the boat along with the police. The mysterious director Otto jergan is after the gold ingots and securities which was buried by a Nazi Admiral under the sea after the world war two. There are several sub plots which involves a Romanian count, hit mans, Admirals daughter etc which ultimately converges to the main plot. So after a lot of twist in the plot Marlowe uncovers their sinister designs and foils the murders.
Some times the book is a drag because of the multiple designs and activities. The past and the present collide rapidly that the reader keeps getting confused. As for ever MacLean does not give the women any credit or scenes for the women. Only thing which stands out in the book is the description of Bear Island. It is presented so very beautifully by MacLean that it can be copied by any tourist operator.
Bear Island was adapted to film in the 1980 movie directed by Don Sharp and starring Donald Sutherland, Richard Widmark, Vanessa Redgrave, and Christopher Lee. The film was shot in Canada and Alaska. The film bears little resemblance to the book and even the hero's name is Lansing instead of Marlowe. The scenery described by Alistair Maclean is also absent from the movie. So go ahead pick up the book. Its worth a first time look.

The Last Frontier (by Alistair MacLean) - Published in 1959 - Set with the backdrop of the Hungarian revolution and the struggle against Communism

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Because of his war experiences, his novels are also high on the action content. The emotional and the romantic angle is not very much touched upon by Maclean. His characters are highly cynical men who are always part of the high octane action and push themselves against all odds with out any thought for their safety. The elements also play a very important in MacLean's writings. Most of the time his men are pitted against harsh unforgiving surroundings which brings out the innate nature hidden inside, be it a devil or a hero.
This book is inspired by the Hungarian revolution and its aftermath. This marks MacLean's foray in to the genre of Espionage thrillers.



Micheal Reynolds, the hero is a British under cover agent who is cool and calculative. He unlike James Bond does not have any fancy gadgets to defend himself but relies mainly upon the power of his gray matter. He is sent to communist Hungary to rescue British ballistic expert Professor Jenkins. He meets a wide array of people and secure unlikely allies, like Jansci, alias erstwhile major General Alexis Illyurin who is a revolutionary leader, a master of disguise “the Count” and the strong and loyal Sandor.
Each of these characters are wanted by the Russians and hunted by the secret police of Hungary, AVO. Jansci is disillusioned with communism but has not lost his feelings of empathy with the fellow Russians. He has a sad past in which his wife was arrested and sent to a concentration camp which makes it impossible for her to be traced. His daughter Julia would not escape without him and his wife. The Count acts as a double agent but is working for the revolution and has only one love in his life, his child.
One thing about this book is the high dose of philosophical dialogues between the principal characters, Jansci and Reynolds. For Reynolds all the ills plaguing the world is because of communism , but Jansci is a non violent apostle talks about communism as - “remains only as a myth, an empty lip-service catchword in the name of which the cynical, ruthless realists of the Kremlin find sufficient excuse and justification for whatever barbarities their policies demands.”He feels that the fear of the traitors for their downfall is the cause of all pogroms.
Apart from these highly thoughtful dialogues, the book is just another MacLean adventure. Reynolds is captured, tortured and is helped by others to escape with the Professor with Julia in his arms. All the ingredients of brutality, torture, chemical warfare, nuclear arsenals and a feeble love story make up this story.
Now that communism has faded you can find the echoes of these dialogues in other “isms” like terrorism and fanaticism. A good book which makes you wonder at the world.

South by Java head (published in 1957) - Author: Alistair Maclean - story of the fight against the Japanese in the Second World War (to get some papers)

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Because of his war experiences, his novels are also high on the action content. The emotional and the romantic angle is not very much touched upon by Maclean. His characters are highly cynical men who are always part of the high octane action and push themselves against all odds with out any thought for their safety. The elements also play a very important in MacLean's writings. Most of the time his men are pitted against harsh unforgiving surroundings which brings out the innate nature hidden inside, be it a devil or a hero.
South By Java head, a innate Alistair Maclean novel is about the war in the pacific, more specifically about the war of Singapore. Singapore, British colony is over run by the Japanese and the assurances about its defense by the British authorities proves to be hollow. So a large scale exodus of British and other foreign nationals take place to escape from the cruel clutches of the Japanese.



The survivors try to flee aboard the Kerry Dancer which is crippled by the Japanese. A group of survivors slip into the south china Sea by boat. This disparate groups of people include, an Englishman, Farnholme, A dutch planter Van Effen, a beautiful Eurasian Girl Gudrun Drachman, a slave trader Siran and a mysterious Johnny Nicholson. Soon this small flotilla of theirs is bombarded and dogged by the Japanese who are hell bent in getting some secret papers.
There is a large dose of adventure in the story with spies, secret papers, battle plans and real war. But all this pale in presence of the crews fight for survival. As all men in a MacLean adventure, they are pitted against the unsympathetic elements. If in HMS Ulysses the cold was the overriding element, here the heroes are up against the extreme heat and humidity. They weather tropical storms, insects coupled with the ferocious and cruel Japanese.
Johnny Nicholson is a typical MacLean lead character who is cynical, cool and well versed in the technique of war fare. There is an underlying factor of masochism in all this brave men. But a surprise element for all women is the presence of Gudrun Drachman, a nurse who ultimately is the love interest of Nicholson. MacLean attempts of portraying the the romance is almost laughable.
Another problem with this novel is the under current of racism or the political correctness. The Japanese are the villains, but is it necessary to attribute inhuman cruelty to all of them. All Japanese soldiers, especially officers are presented as blood thirsty fiends and rapist. Alistair MacLean attributes the Japanese as inherently cruel and all the Englishmen as upright citizens. Well, Maclean would be forgiven by a public in the 50's but in this era such unbridled violence and masochism may be discouraged. Apart from these sore points this book gives you an adrenaline rush and a feeling of triumph.

Fear is the key (published in 1961) - by Alistair Maclean - a gripping tale of a man driven by revenge

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
If you read Fear is the Key, be sure to find enough free time because this is one book you cannot afford to put down. This is an intense revenge saga by a wronged man. Talbot, the owner of "Trans Carib Air Charter Co" listens helplessly on the radio, the death wails of his wife, son and his best friend. His plane en-route to Florida is shot down by American Military plane. All he can do is to wait to serve revenge to the perpetrator.
Then the novel cuts to the present with Talbot, standing trial in the court and being sentenced. It seems that in his grief he has turned to a life to crime. But at the moment of sentencing, Talbot escapes, taking a beautiful heiress hostage. The hostage, Mary is the daughter of oil tycoon, General Ruthven. After an intense car race and drama, Talbot manages to escape with the hostage. Soon a reward is announced for his capture and he has many unsavory elements hot on his trail.



A thug, Jablonsky capture Talbot and rescues Mary. Instead of handing Talbot to the police he is released to General Ruthven. Ruthven, who is a millionaire many times over, has a shady past and underhand dealings. Most of his money is ill-gotten and he gives two choices to Talbot, help him recover something precious or die.
Talbot agrees to salvage the precious cargo for Ruthven and Jablonsky is also recruited. Soon the picture becomes clear that the precious cargo involves gold and diamonds with ten million locked in the fuselage of a DC-3 plane which has crashed at the bottom of an oil rig. This is the same plane in which Talbot's wife and son was traveling. This loss of Talbot's is so great that all the gold and the diamonds in the world cannot replace it.
Talbot, like all MacLean leading men is a skilled diver, knowledgeable about the oil rig exploration, an out standing diver and an engineer. He is also a skilled martial arts practitioner and completely a macho man. So Talbot gets his revenge in this intense story of greed, murder and money with out any doubt.
This tale sounds very familiar to many revenge drama's of a wronged man on and off screen, but only Alistair MacLean can pull out an intense thriller through his fast paced narrations. The words whiz past telling us about the car chases, under water explorations, gun battle and murders. Maybe you won't meet a MacLean Hero in real life, so its all the more reason to read about him in this book. And get this book, it's an incredible thriller.

The Golden Rendezvous (published in 1962) - by Alistair Maclean - an action packed ocean thriller on a cruise ship

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Because of his war experiences, his novels are also high on the action content. The emotional and the romantic angle is not very much touched upon by Maclean. His characters are highly cynical men who are always part of the high octane action and push themselves against all odds with out any thought for their safety. The elements also play a very important in MacLean's writings.
The golden rendezvous is an action packed ocean thriller. It takes place aboard SS Campari which is a ex-freight ship which has been turned in to a luxury cruise ship. It is weighing anchor in the exotic Caribbean. The ship is fitted with all the luxury accessories that a man can think off and is patronized by the who's who of the society. It is captained by the mercurial and moody Captain Bullen.



A series of events sabotage the voyage of the Campari. The island where the Campari is weighing anchor is enveloped in a coup. Soon certain passengers are recalled back because of family emergencies and their place is taken by sinister new ones. Apart from this a rumor floats around that a nuclear bomb has been stolen from a nearby naval base.
All this bothers the hero, chief officer John Carter. He has to contend with the temper of Captain Bullen and is distracted by the attentions of the millionaire heiress Susan Beresford. During the shooting he is severely injured and embarks on a mission to find out the truth. He finds to his dismay that the criminal mastermind, Carreras has smuggled in a Nuclear device. Soon the action unfolds with all the passengers being held as hostages with a ransom call of million dollars gold in bullion.
Now carter with his injured leg has to foil the kidnappers and disarm the device. He does in-spite of the death defying activities in which he is ably assisted by Beresford and the doctor. They with the help of a scientist neutralize the nuclear bomb and prevent the escape of the culprits. Carter also finds time to melt into the green eyes of Susan Beresford.
Alistair MacLean has cleverly put in his navy experiences within the book. His knowledge of the navy, the ships, nautical terminology and the ocean is impeccable. You just fall in love with the brave soldier whose death defying stunts are described so vividly.
This book was made in to a movie staring Richard Harris and the lovely Ann Turkel. A good read for action buff's.

The Dark Crusader (published in 1961) - by Alistair Maclean - the story of a spy thriller involving missiles

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Because of his war experiences, his novels are also high on the action content. The emotional and the romantic angle is not very much touched upon by Maclean. His characters are highly cynical men who are always part of the high octane action and push themselves against all odds with out any thought for their safety.
The Dark Crusader is one of MacLean's spy thrillers. He wrote this book under the pseudonym Ian Stuart ostensibly to counter Ian Flemming and James Bond. But I think there is nothing much to this rumor because there is nothing James Bondish about Bentall the hero of Dark Crusader. Bentall is a bumbling, physically less strong, lovesick man who does not have any fancy gadgets with him.



Bentall is called from a mission in Turkey to investigate the disappearance of eight British scientist. Each of the Scientist were recruited following an ad in the paper asking for people with certain qualifications promising much higher pay. The only condition was that these scientist have to be married with no children. These ads are placed over a period of time and are linked with the disappearances.
Now in response to another ad requiring a rocket fuel scientist, Bentall is asked to be recruited. He is paired with Marie Hopeman, another agent posing as his wife. They both proceed to Sydney where the job is said to be. En route they are kidnapped and placed on the island of Vardu in Fiji. Vardu is the home of a British Archaeological team headed by Dr. Witherspoon. Coincidentally a British naval base is situated close by this island. There is something which is very sinister about Witherspoon, that Bentall intuitively is suspicious. He is concerned about the singing coming from the adjacent caves to the sinister Chinese henchman of Witherspoon.
There is a romantic angle to the story with Bentall falling in love with Marie. But she falls sick and he has to choose between saving her and foiling the activities of the murderers. As he unravels the mystery he understands that Witherspoon is working for an communist Asian regime and is tunneling through the island in to the naval base to steal the Dark Crusader missiles. After a tough adrenalin pumping action he manages to do it. But the ending is pretty poignant as he has to choose between his love and his mission and he chooses the later.
A good novel which sometimes tent to meander a bit. Still I would say there is negative comments about Asians and communism which may tend towards racism. But you can overlook it just for the suspenseful story.

Ice Station Zebra (published in 1963) - By Alistair Maclean - Intrigue and murder on an Artic station, a spy station against the Soviets

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Ice Station Zebra is a British Meteorological Institute built on an ice floe in the Arctic sea. The authorities get the information that a catastrophic oil fire has swept through the ice station killing many of the crew and depleting supplies. The survivors holed up in the Arctic send an SOS to be rescued at the earliest because of the dwindling food supplies and injuries. Above all the vicious cold keeps the very survival at bay.
USS Dolphin an American Nuclear powered submarine is assigned to bring the survivors back. It is commanded by Captain Swanson a tough but capable officer. He is asked to take in Dr. Carpenter, a cold injury expert and is asked to follow his commands. Swanson hates to be kept in the dark and refuses to accept the order forcing Carpenter to reveal that he is a spy and Zebra to be a listening post against the Soviets.



So Dolphin sets sail and reaches the Arctic where thick ice cover prevents the submarine from surfacing. So they surface far away from the ice station and Carpenter and some crew trek through perilous Arctic landscape. Carpenter and his companions find the fire had indeed created havoc, with the dead burnt to crisp and the survivors at the door step of death. Further investigation reveal that the fire was a case of arson to camouflage murder and enemy spies.
Well so Carpenter treks back to the Dolphin and directs the submarine to a thin strip to surface near the ice station. But sabotage forces the shutting down of the nuclear reactor and the submarine is in danger of going down in the Arctic. Soon accidents happen with chilling regularity and fire engulfs the sub rendering it useless. But the ingenuity and dedication of the crew and Captain Swanson saves the submarine and it sets off to safer climes.
Carpenter unmasks the killers who are Russian Agents and avenges the death of his brother who was the commander of Ice station Zebra. The overwhelming factor in Ice Station Zebra is the bone chilling cold. The men fight mind numbing Arctic storms, frost bite and starvation to rescue others. The cold seeps through the pages,but blazes through the brain to give you an adrenaline rush. If you want a book which is a lean mean thriller minus sex, emotions and jargons you can go for Ice Station Zebra. The warning on the book will be “you will be cold to everything till you finish the book”.

The Satan Bug (published in 1970) - By Alistair Maclean - A thriller about a deathly toxin stolen and used for murder

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
The Satan Bug is written under the pseudonym Ian Stuart. Alistair Maclean is said to have opted for another name to prove that his books are best sellers on account of their content rather than on his popularity. Some say that he took upon the name to counter Ian Flemming and his James Bond.
The Satan Bug deals with the perils off biological warfare. The chief detective Pierre Cavell is called upon to investigate the gruesome murders in Mordon Microbiological Research Institute. He reaches there to find two deathly toxins, a Botulinium extract and the Satan bug missing. The Satan Bug is a lab derivative of the deadly polio virus which can bring mankind to extinction, in a matter of minutes and to top it all no vaccine has been discovered for it.
Cavell finds all the scientists and the research assistants could be viewed under an umbrella of suspicion. Everybody was involved in one way or the other to force the entry in to the lab. The chief security officer who was murdered was fed a candy with the virus by an insider. Cavell chips away the layers of deceptions and alibi's and concludes that most of the scientists who had colluded with the murderer had been coerced by blackmail.



As the net closes on the villain, he kidnaps Mary, Cavell's wife forcing him to launch a search on his own. The murderer manages to kidnap the entire police party along with Cavell and kills a constable with Botulinium Toxin. But Cavell's chase does not prove futile. He unmasks the killer whose real motive was to evacuate London to undertake a massive bank robbery. So the ultimate fight aboard a helicopter, has Cavell revealing the identity of the killer. The villain thus foiled plunges to his death leaving the other phials of the toxins unopened.
If you want an edge of the seat thriller on a bleak day you need to pick up this book. MacLean does not give you a lecture on the pro's and con's of biological warfare. He just lets you in to the details of the method and its effects. Like all MacLean's hero's Cavell is a cynical, anti-establishment tough nut. He saves the very establishment which scorned him and earns his redemption at last. So pick up the Satan Bug and be sure to wash your hands to kill the germs.

Night Without End (published in 1959) - by Alistair Maclean - a team isolated in a remote location

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was the third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during World War Two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
Night Without End was published in 1959 and is considered to be one of the best books by Alistair MacLean. A BOAC plane crash lands 400 miles north of the Arctic in Greenland veritably on the polar ice cap. The plane has crashed near a scientific research station which is headed by Dr. Mason. Jackstraw is Mason's trusted aide along with other members of the research station. They live in sub zero temperature and their only contact with the outside world is through the radio which has broken down.
The research team tries to rescue the passengers of the ill fated jet. But only few survivors are found including the stewardess. The pilots are found to have been killed with bullet wounds and the plane catches fire. Dr. Mason feels that the crash was intentional and the pilots were murdered in cold blood. He suspects the stewardess and tries to get help.



Since the research station does not have adequate stock pile of food to feed the survivors, Mason decides to leave in search of help. He asks the radio operator to repair the radio. Soon unexpected things happen. Deliberate attempts to sabotage help is being done. A field expedition contacts them, and informs that a massive military mission is being undertaken to rescue the passengers. But still Mason leaves to find help along with Jackstraw leaving the injured passengers with the other scientists.
Captain Hillcrest, head of the field expedition try to contact them but his journey is sabotaged with his fuel mixed with sugar. But the ingenious research team find a way out to filter out the sugar and resume the journey. Hillcrest informs Mason that the plane was on a top secret mission and was carrying a missile guidance system which certain agencies were trying to get their hands on. Mason remembers a certain gadget looking like a tape recorder picked up by the passengers. They rush to reclaim it but alas are prevented by the murderers who take the entire group as hostage.
The captors abandon the research team to die in the Arctic blizzard and take only the stewardess and another passenger who is a boxer as hostage. But the research team fight the mind numbing cold and the storm to find an abandoned sleigh with rockets. They fire one to help Hillcrest to locate them. They rush to intercept the murderers and find them trying to sail away from the Arctic. Hillcrest alerts the navy which cut off the intruders flushing them to land. Soon in an high adrenaline finish the murderer's are brought down with hand to hand combat which the boxer plays a key role.
Yet again the environment and man's fight to master the challenging elements come to the fore in this novel. Read this only under a blanket because the cold, fatigue and suspense seeps to your bones giving you the goosebumps.