The Harker File

The Harker File #1

by Marc Olden

Book by Olden, Marc

Genres: Thriller

Mass Market Paperback

First published April 6, 1976

About the author

Marc Olden (1933–2003) was the author of forty mystery and suspense novels. Born in Baltimore, he began writing while working in New York as a Broadway publicist. His first book, Angela Davis (1973), was a nonfiction study of the controversial Black Panther. In 1973 he also published Narc, under the name Robert Hawke, beginning a hard-boiled nine-book series about a federal narcotics agent.

A year later, Black Samurai introduced Robert Sand, a martial arts expert who becomes the first non-Japanese student of a samurai master. Based on Olden’s own interest in martial arts, which led him to the advanced ranks of karate and aikido, the novel spawned a successful eight-book series. Olden continued writing for the next three decades, often drawing on his fascination with Japanese culture and history.

Reviews

[Riches · Rating 4 out of 5]

FINALLY FINISHED SOMETHING THIS FUCKING YEAR I THINK I'M GOING CRAZY. good book, very well written, funny and punchy with it's action and twists. i still remember the first time i read an old copy I saw in my uncle's [just as] old room. better times. reading this and Animal Farm during one "summer holiday" did something to me. my brain patterns were forever rewritten. good book. need to finish the next faster if i'm going to meet my target. 😅😅

[Marc · Rating 1 out of 5]

While traveling, I finished up a book and with no bookstores in town, had to trade it in for another at a hostel and the one I was at had the worst selection ever. This was actually the best book and it was not good, but passed the time while I was on a multi-day hike. Really bad. I feel I could have written something like this in 8th grade. Had I known there was a market, I would have pursued this career.

[Wayne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry to say that this was a terrible book from one of my favorite authors. It seemed more like someone trying to copy Marc Oldens style and doing a very bad job at it. Filled with bad film noir type one liners just about on every page. It was confusing and tiresome. I have to admit after the first few chapters I sort of skipped paragraphs and skimmed others. Could barely finish this. Don't think I'll go on to book two. I'll just remember his better books and be done with it.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting in places, and unbelievable in others. First of all there were a number of times that the word 'mark' was written 'Marc.' This newspaperman was married for a while to a prostitute! He gets information which could have him killed, and takes lots of risks. I don't know that I would read any further adventures.

[Melvin Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read, recommended!