China Lake

by Anthony Hyde

Sidewinder…the deadly rattlesnake of the American Southwest gave its name to the first heat-seeking missile in the world, the greatest achievement of the top-secret US Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, California.

But in the early Sixties, Sidewinder had been betrayed to the Russians and David Harper, a brilliant young British scientist, was suspected of the leak — suspicions that destroyed his career and his marriage.

More than twenty years later, Jack Tannis, the man who led the original enquiry, receives a mysterious telephone call that revives the ghosts of the past.

Then the discovery of a dead body on the perimeter of the base leads Tannis reluctantly into a new investigation. And for David it seems that all that he loves may be in danger again.

Now in the burning emptiness of the Mojave desert, both men desperately try to solve a mystery that threatens once more a mystery whose terrible truths lie coiled and hidden in the vast wastes of China Lake.

A novel of military secrets, personal betrayals and mystical solutions, ‘China Lake’ is an electrifying story, a thriller of the very first order.



“One of the brightest, freshest new voices to appear in the international thriller business in a long time.” — USA TODAY

Anthony Hyde was born in Ottawa, Canada, in 1946, to a book-loving family, and spent a number of years as a political science student and activist before turning his hand to writing. His first novel, The Red Fox , became an instant bestseller worldwide.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Espionage, Mystery

434 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 1992

Reviews

[Arnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viens zvans vēlā vakara stundā izmaina Jack Tannis atlikušo dzīvi uz neatgriešanos. Viens zvans no pagātnes izvelk jau šķietami nevienam vairs nesvarīgu atgadījumu, kad jauna veida raķešu tehnoloģija pēkšņi nonāca Padomju Savienības rokās. Džeks būtu pasūtījis pēc balss nepazīstamo personu pāris mājas tālāk, ja ne anonīmā zvanītāja pieminētais David Harper vārds, kuru iniciāli toreiz gribēja apsūdzēt kā spiegu.

https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

couldn't bear not to finish; yet could hardly wait to finish! this story went off into some very obscure tangents and was drawn out at times. is it possible that I still find the author a very capable writer??!!

[David Highton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced thriller set in the early 1980s but picking up threads from the War and from the 1950s arms race in what becomes a conspiracy story with a twist at the end. Keeps the attention all the way through - read in two sittings.

[Frank Consalvo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Although the story gets a tad confusing. The 2 main characters are really what draws you in. Other reviews don't like the complicated denouement and I agree it was confusing. But so is life lol.

[Esteban Stipnieks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent start but collapses..... BAD PREMISE...... since the Sidewinder an early firiing in combat well the missile did not explode and was brought back in tact and copied! Perhaps having an operation Paperclip neighbor .... the whole premise is bad.... while the depictions of landscapre and caves are interesting this one that well was a thankfully I bought at thrift store.

[Fred Klein · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the most roundabout mystery I have ever read. It was like going to the moon via Jupiter and Saturn.

[bobg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow to develop. A certain amount of Hyde’s tangential writing makes for interesting reading, but I think it was over used here - made it feel drawn out.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't really like this one, but I did learn some history.

[Gerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A complicated tale of the people involved in the development of the Sidewinder air-to-air missile with allegations of treason for giving the technology to the Russians against an English scientist working at the Naval base at China Lake, California. The allegations didn't stick when they first came up but still all but destroyed his career, his marriage, his life. When these same issues arise many years later, he is determined to clear his name and reputation.

I enjoyed this read somewhat, but it got a little convoluted and a bit hard to follow at times. I can only give it a lukewarm recommendation.

[Book 12 of 2015 Target 50 (Jan-3; Feb-2; Mar-1; April-3; May-0; Jun-2; Jul-1)]

[Michael Alan Grapin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cracker Jack Tannis and David Harper share a history that goes back to the creation of sidewinder missiles in the California desert at a place called China Lake. There are threats that hint of charges of espionage that were never quite expunged from the record. Lives were destroyed by murder and greed that all harkens back to the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. I found China Lake to be a confusing narrative full of intrigue, a thriller with plot twists aplenty and even at the very end I wasn't quite sure who were the good guys and who the bad.

[Jerald Hoskelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plot that moved along at a easy to follow pace. Appears a lot of research went into this story..

[Ron · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book went off on way too many tangents, random ramblings for pages on end that added little to nothing to the story and many philosophical issues. Did not like this one at all.

[Charlene Gordon]

I hated this book. The only reason I finished it was I kept thinking there had to be a point to it. I probably read 10 other books during the time I was slogging through this one.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

8

[Michael Kott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring