The Eighth Trumpet

Jared Kimberlain #1

by Jon Land

THE MURDER
It spite of the tightest high-tech security ever conceived, billionaire Jordan Lime is savagely killed by a weapon that tears him apart limb by limb with grim, laserlike efficiency.
THE CONSPIRACY
An army unlike any other has fired its first shot. In its ranks are the world's most vicious killers, fortified by a super-advanced arsenal against which there is no defense.
THE THREAT
It is a madman's plan to conquer the earth by destroying it. He will unleash the devastating powers of the atom and let the cataclysmic wrath of nature do the rest.
THE STRUGGLE
Battle lines are drawn. Against the ultimate tyranny stands freedom's forces -- led by Jared Kimberlain, the one the world turns to when it's in trouble -- prepared to match evil shock for shock, blow for blow.
THE EIGHTH TRUMPET
From New York to Washington, D.C., from London to the Mediterranean island of Malta, and on to the frozen wastes of Antarctica, the demented plot unfolds. It will reach its terrifying climax on a day set aside for celebration -- a day that may mark the end of humankind . . . .

Genres: Thriller, Military Fiction, Fiction, Adventure

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 30, 1989

About the author

Jon Land is an American author of thriller novels and a screenwriter. He graduated from Brown University in 1979 Phi Beta Kappa and Magna cum Laude. He often bases his novels and scripts on extensive travel and research as well as a twenty-five year career in martial arts. He is an associate member of the US Special Forces and is an emeritus board member the International Thriller Writers. John currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still one of my favorite thrillers! I'd turn off my computer and read it again right now if I had it

[Jeffrey Powanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This totally bonkers 1989 techno-thriller is short on realism but packed with wonderfully intricate action scenes in international settings, including Washington, D.C., London, Malta, Atlanta, New York, and Antarctica. Here's the hook that grabbed me:

"Three of the nation’s most powerful businessmen have died in seemingly impossible ways: one electrocuted, one blown up in his sleep, and the third hacked to death in an impenetrable room."

Ha! Someone is killing the country's billionaires. What a prophetic notion! When I noticed the ebook on sale for only $1.99, I bit immediately.

Land has written more than 70 books, and most are part of a series. His two most popular series are the Blaine McCracken books (1986-2013) and the Caitlin Strong books (2009-2020). This novel is the first book in a series, but the series spawned only one sequel (The Ninth Dominion). Land abandoned the series after that.

The characters, including super-agent Jared Kimberlain, are unusual but paper-thin, which I’m frankly used to seeing in modern action thrillers. After all, James Bond and Jason Bourne aren’t fascinating either. Modern thrillers—although this book is more than three decades old—are like comic books without illustrations.

The book is big in so many ways: page count, number of characters, body count, the height of its heroes and antagonists, and ultimately the stakes (global apocalypse). Not only are billionaires being murdered, but terrorists have stolen 500 pounds of C-12 explosives and plan to detonate it during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But wait, the insane industrialist sponsoring this havoc plans something even bigger: his minions have commandeered the prototype of a new U.S. super-Trident submarine armed with 76 nuclear missiles, which they intend to use to destroy the Antarctic ice shelf. The story takes places over 11 days, which highlights how fast-paced it is; the protagonists barely have time for sleep.

Land serves up some gloriously gonzo action scenes: a shootout in Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London, an attack by altar boys with semi-automatic weapons in an abbey in Malta, an assault on a secret military installation in Antarctica, and a fight by two giants on the 86th floor observatory of the Empire State Building. Land ratchets up suspense significantly during the climax by cross-cutting between three different action scenes.

As thrillers go, Land outgunned Robert Ludlum and Clive Cussler in terms of action, matched Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton in terms of science and technical writing, but somehow avoided the major pitfall of the genre: a tendency to embrace right-wing ideology. I generally only like thrillers that are plausible. This book is completely implausible, but it's also a lot of fun.

[Wenzel Roessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things to expect when you read a Jon Land novel. Let's see how many fit this book;
1. A tremendous amount of action on a global scale. (Yes)
2. At least one character that is incredibly tall.(Yes)
3. Somebody who was missing a hand. (No)
4. Somebody who has a physical deformity.(Yes)
5. Characters who are "supposed to be dead." (Yes)
6. Somebody who's being chased on a worldwide level and everybody is the enemy. (No).

This book had a pretty exciting ending to it and fifth well into the Jon Land writing universe.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly entertaining.

[David Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years I have read 28 Jon Land novels. Ten thrillers featuring Blaine McCracken, two with Jared Kimberlain, all seven featuring Ben/Danielle, seven stand-alone novels, and the first two Catlin Strong thrillers. But this one was my very first Jon Land title, from way back in the fall of 1990. I was overseas with the 101st for Desert Shield. As luck would it my tent was right next to the Divarty Chalpin's, and the Chaplin had the library with hundreds of paperbacks. Remember this was over 22 years ago: no cell phones, no IPads, no Kindles, no internet, just paperbacks/hardbacks. I picked up The Eighth Trumpet and was hooked right off the bat. I immediately went back and pick up another Jon Land thriller (with Blaine I am sure). When the 101st made their push up north to kick off Desert Storm, I knew my radar would be isolated and I would be out of touch with the library. So I gathered up as many Jon Land books as I could.

But this review is for the Kindle version. I picked up about 8 Jon Land thrillers around Thanksgiving time for only $2.02 each, and the new Blaine McCracken thriller Pandora's Temple for only $2.99. What a bargain! I had read all these older titles years before, but now I could go back in time and re-read them on my Kindle. My first choice up was of course to revisit The Eighth Trumpet. Yup, I still love it! After 22+ years I remembered the gist of the thriller, but not all the details. As I was reading The Eighth Trumpet it all started coming back to me. This is why I got I got hooked on the action thriller genre in the first place! Robert Ludlum had a lot to do with this, and Tom Clancy as well. But characters like Jared (the Ferryman) in outlandish James Bond type end-of-the-world thrillers became my favorites very quickly.

In this thriller and The Ninth Dominion (Jared Kimberlain), Jon Land teams up two totally different characters. Jared teams up with the serial killer that he helped capture years earlier: Winston Peet. Winston Peet, imagine a 7 foot tall Hannibal Lector. An odd combination, but one that works very well. They team up to face an even greater threat than Peet could ever hope to be. Reading all these great Jon Land thrillers led me to action writers like James Rollins, Matt Reilly, Greig Beck, Jonathan Maberry, and Jeremy Robinson (and several others).

I probably had more run reading this book again after all these years than I did the first time. Maybe because I was savoring the flavor of the novel and visiting old friends again (Jared and Winston). Jon only wrote two Jared Kimberlain thrillers, but ten featuring Blaine McCracken. I think it is high time for a third Jared thriller!

[Mary]

HE MURDER It spite of the tightest high-tech security ever conceived, billionaire Jordan Lime is savagely killed by a weapon that tears him apart limb by limb with grim, laserlike efficiency. THE CONSPIRACY An army unlike any other has fired its first shot. In its ranks are the world's most vicious killers, fortified by a super-advanced arsenal against which there is no defense. THE THREAT It is a madman's plan to conquer the earth by destroying it. He will unleash the devastating powers of the atom and let the cataclysmic wrath of nature do the rest. THE STRUGGLE Battle lines are drawn. Against the ultimate tyranny stands freedom's forces -- led by Jared Kimberlain, the one the world turns to when it's in trouble -- prepared to match evil shock for shock, blow for blow. THE EIGHTH TRUMPET From New York to Washington, D.C., from London to the Mediterranean islan

d of Malta, and on to the frozen wastes of Antarctica, the demented plot unfolds. It will reach its terrifying climax on a day set aside for celebration -- a day that may mark the end of humankind . . . .

[M. Wehm · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a hard book to review. In many ways, it is the absolute worst thriller I've ever read. However, like some cult films, it' so bad that it's good. I laughed out loud at several parts - there's nothing like a serial killer fighting another serial killer on top of the Empire State building for a visual thrill.

[Thomas DeKooning · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Jon Land's The Omicone Legion which was pretty fair. The Eight Trumpet is going to be an UTF (Unable to Finish). No willing suspension of disbelief at all. It had a few bits of excitement, but disappointing.

[Antigo Martin-Delaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learning Kimerlain complexities

This was my first Kimberlain novel and his character has some complexities I look forward to exploring. I have enjoyed the Land novels for the escapism they provide. The main character is away well developed over time.

[Jesse Stansberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Action screens are looooooong and unbelievable. Basis of book, however, is scattered, fast, and all crashes together. Fun, short read.

[Dshock99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic book by Land, I wish he would write more books based on this character!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very hard to follow and just a bit too much, I did finish it but it was hard going.