What do you think?
Rate this book
Tibetan Cross
An American climber in the Himalayas stumbles on a shipment of backpack nuclear weapons headed into Tibet for use against China. Pursued by spy agencies and other killers across Asia, North Africa, Europe and the United States, he is captured then rescued by a beautiful young woman with whom he forms a deadly liaison. They escape, are captured and escape again, death always at their heels. A terrifying international manhunt and stunning love story, Tibetan Cross is a European best-seller.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2014
638 people are currently reading
2545 people want to read
About the author
Mike Bond
39 books442 followersMIKE BOND has been called the “master of the existential thriller” by the BBC and “one of the 21st century’s most exciting authors” by the Washington Times. He is a bestselling novelist, environmental activist, international energy expert, war and human rights correspondent and award-winning poet who has lived and worked in many remote and dangerous parts of the world. His critically acclaimed novels depict the innate hunger of the human heart for what is good, the intense joys of love, the terror and fury of battle, the sinister vagaries of international politics and multinational corporations, and the beauty of the vanishing natural world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
June 2, 2020
The opening chapter of Tibetan Cross begins by describing the main character's crossing of a bridge across a swollen river. During the crossing Sam Cohen is pummeled by the tumultuous water, battering him and nearly beating him to death.
In reading Mike Bond's work, I felt the same. The reader is constantly battered by words. Way too many words. Way too many unnecessary words. The tumult includes Sam's rambling, nearly incoherent inner dialog. This adds nothing to the story, merely confuses.
In the initial chapters we are introduced to numerous characters that lack any depth, six in the first few passages of the book. Even the protagonist lacks any kind of depth. He is chased (barefoot!?) through the mountains, first pursued by CIA operatives, then a jaguar. This adds action, but little substance.
In all fairness, I only completed 75 pages of the book, it is possible that it improved. If you like thick description, you may very well love this book. I prefer writing that is a bit more succinct.
I received Tibetan Cross as Goodreads giveaway and thank the author.
In reading Mike Bond's work, I felt the same. The reader is constantly battered by words. Way too many words. Way too many unnecessary words. The tumult includes Sam's rambling, nearly incoherent inner dialog. This adds nothing to the story, merely confuses.
In the initial chapters we are introduced to numerous characters that lack any depth, six in the first few passages of the book. Even the protagonist lacks any kind of depth. He is chased (barefoot!?) through the mountains, first pursued by CIA operatives, then a jaguar. This adds action, but little substance.
In all fairness, I only completed 75 pages of the book, it is possible that it improved. If you like thick description, you may very well love this book. I prefer writing that is a bit more succinct.
I received Tibetan Cross as Goodreads giveaway and thank the author.
October 9, 2014
**WARNING - CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Really struggled with this one and couldn’t finish it.
Sam Cohen and his friends Paul and Alex are hired as guides to take two Americans across the Himalayas to do something, I am not sure what. When they meet up with a group of traders the Americans insist of travelling along with them. They soon learn they are smuggling arms and are already known to the two Americans. When they discover that not only guns but parts that make a nuclear bomb is also amongst the load, Alex is shot and killed, Sam and Paul split and run. Cohen needs to tell someone because guns are one thing but a nuclear bomb is quite another, but on reaching Katmandu it appears that one of the Americans has made it there first and is in the US Embassy.
Cohen is the most stupidest guy who ever had the misfortune to be in charge of his own destiny. He somehow fails to think knowing that he is being chased, that he will not be followed to the family of his friends, and sure enough they are killed and he curses himself for leading them there. This does not happen once but time again. Cohen appears to be in some sort of drug induced psychotic episode for much of this book with drugs and graphic sex, there was a total lack of sensibility for me. The story is being told as it is in Cohen’s head, monosyllabic and stilted which did not work for me. In fact I have no real idea what was going on in the book as I found it too difficult to follow.
Come on, where is the plausibility in a man managing to run miles (30!) with a knee cut through to the bone, a deep cut down his neck and along his shoulder; he also climbs rock faces and swims with a dislocated shoulder, having put it back his self several times. Is beaten up more than once, tortured with electrodes and still manages to keep running.
For someone who is about to be killed he fails to take it seriously enough not to fall in love and have graphic sex with every woman he meets which feels somewhat self indulgent as it adds nothing to the story. The worst part of this book is that it includes a young girl in his sexual exploits in a way that is thoroughly distasteful. It would be one thing to describe pedophilia in way that shows disgust, but quite another to describe it as ‘yet another’ sexual exploit.
I could not like any of the characters very much apart from the elderly guy in the mountains. Cohen appears to be an idiot, the bad guys out of some cartoon, and the women, well, they are pure fantasy of men, not a real character amongst them.
I could not follow the plot very well and realised that this was partly down to the fact that the kindle edition that was sent me was not formatted as such. This meant that paragraphs were not distinct running all parts of the plot into one making no sense at all. I am surprised that such little care has been taken with this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review
Really struggled with this one and couldn’t finish it.
Sam Cohen and his friends Paul and Alex are hired as guides to take two Americans across the Himalayas to do something, I am not sure what. When they meet up with a group of traders the Americans insist of travelling along with them. They soon learn they are smuggling arms and are already known to the two Americans. When they discover that not only guns but parts that make a nuclear bomb is also amongst the load, Alex is shot and killed, Sam and Paul split and run. Cohen needs to tell someone because guns are one thing but a nuclear bomb is quite another, but on reaching Katmandu it appears that one of the Americans has made it there first and is in the US Embassy.
Cohen is the most stupidest guy who ever had the misfortune to be in charge of his own destiny. He somehow fails to think knowing that he is being chased, that he will not be followed to the family of his friends, and sure enough they are killed and he curses himself for leading them there. This does not happen once but time again. Cohen appears to be in some sort of drug induced psychotic episode for much of this book with drugs and graphic sex, there was a total lack of sensibility for me. The story is being told as it is in Cohen’s head, monosyllabic and stilted which did not work for me. In fact I have no real idea what was going on in the book as I found it too difficult to follow.
Come on, where is the plausibility in a man managing to run miles (30!) with a knee cut through to the bone, a deep cut down his neck and along his shoulder; he also climbs rock faces and swims with a dislocated shoulder, having put it back his self several times. Is beaten up more than once, tortured with electrodes and still manages to keep running.
For someone who is about to be killed he fails to take it seriously enough not to fall in love and have graphic sex with every woman he meets which feels somewhat self indulgent as it adds nothing to the story. The worst part of this book is that it includes a young girl in his sexual exploits in a way that is thoroughly distasteful. It would be one thing to describe pedophilia in way that shows disgust, but quite another to describe it as ‘yet another’ sexual exploit.
I could not like any of the characters very much apart from the elderly guy in the mountains. Cohen appears to be an idiot, the bad guys out of some cartoon, and the women, well, they are pure fantasy of men, not a real character amongst them.
I could not follow the plot very well and realised that this was partly down to the fact that the kindle edition that was sent me was not formatted as such. This meant that paragraphs were not distinct running all parts of the plot into one making no sense at all. I am surprised that such little care has been taken with this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review
April 26, 2020
I tried reading this book 3 times and the abundance of details made the book boring. This was like reading a dull , descriptive text book. The front cover is very beautiful and the description of the book peeked my interest, but after reading 36%, I finally am returning this book due to lack of adventure. This book might be useful for creative writing instruction but not casual adventure reading.
See above because I prefer not to say anymore about this book. You might like it but I did not!
See above because I prefer not to say anymore about this book. You might like it but I did not!
November 25, 2017
Very different writing style. Very hard to get into.
August 22, 2023
Readers, please note that according to the copyright page, "Tibetan Cross" was "initially published in a different form as “Fire Like the Sun” by St. Martin's/Marek, New York" in 2014.
REVIEW
I’ve read several books by Mike Bond and enjoyed them. I did not enjoy “Tibetan Cross” and stopped roughly 200 pages in or about halfway through.
Sam Cohen is a mountain climber/adventurer hired (along with several friends) to guide a supposed photographic expedition through the Himalayas sometime during the 1970s (before the Shah of Iran was deposed). Along the way, Sam discovers that the expedition is actually a CIA arms smuggling operation and that he’s about to be murdered. Escaping, he goes on the run—and runs, and runs, and runs, from Tibet to Nepal to Iran to Greece to Crete to Algeria, along the way dodging magically appearing assassins, enduring some of the most disgusting locales and conditions, having graphic sex, and getting high, all the while suffering various serious injuries.
Yes, it’s an action-packed adventure, a "man-on-the-run" novel; and action junkies may well love it. But I found it so unrelentingly intense as to be both exhausting and not believable. For example, suffering a days-old knee wound that goes down to the bone, in order to escape pursuers (including dogs), Sam swims through freezing ocean waters out to a dilapidated freighter to shinny up its rusty, slimy anchor chain and slip over the stern completely undetected; and that’s after having been on the run for hours. Superman couldn't have done better.
It doesn’t help that there are no likable characters here. Sam seems to be the ultimate hedonist, having bedded hundreds of women and agreeing to go on this ill-fated expedition in order to have the money to bed more in Thailand. The rest, except for one female character, are shallowly drawn; and most are villains, or at least disreputable.
The style of prose Mr. Bond has chosen to employ in places also doesn’t help. There’s no question that he’s a fine writer. But here, he seems to be experimenting with the rhythm and tempo of his sentences, delivering long passages of short, choppy phrases apparently meant to excite readers' senses. Unfortunately, he often sacrifices clarity. Many times, I found myself not fully understanding what was going on. Mr. Bond also uses ten-dollar words (where simpler ones would have sufficed) as well as dialogue in foreign languages, which sometimes added to the lack of clarity.
Finally, there’s a decidedly anti-American flavor to the novel.
Halfway through, not caring about the characters or what was at stake, not believing much of what was going on, and out of patience with the prose, the unrelenting intensity, and the anti-Americanism, I finally gave up.
I received a free ARC through NetGalley. My thanks to it, the author, and the publisher. The foregoing is my independent opinion.
REVIEW
I’ve read several books by Mike Bond and enjoyed them. I did not enjoy “Tibetan Cross” and stopped roughly 200 pages in or about halfway through.
Sam Cohen is a mountain climber/adventurer hired (along with several friends) to guide a supposed photographic expedition through the Himalayas sometime during the 1970s (before the Shah of Iran was deposed). Along the way, Sam discovers that the expedition is actually a CIA arms smuggling operation and that he’s about to be murdered. Escaping, he goes on the run—and runs, and runs, and runs, from Tibet to Nepal to Iran to Greece to Crete to Algeria, along the way dodging magically appearing assassins, enduring some of the most disgusting locales and conditions, having graphic sex, and getting high, all the while suffering various serious injuries.
Yes, it’s an action-packed adventure, a "man-on-the-run" novel; and action junkies may well love it. But I found it so unrelentingly intense as to be both exhausting and not believable. For example, suffering a days-old knee wound that goes down to the bone, in order to escape pursuers (including dogs), Sam swims through freezing ocean waters out to a dilapidated freighter to shinny up its rusty, slimy anchor chain and slip over the stern completely undetected; and that’s after having been on the run for hours. Superman couldn't have done better.
It doesn’t help that there are no likable characters here. Sam seems to be the ultimate hedonist, having bedded hundreds of women and agreeing to go on this ill-fated expedition in order to have the money to bed more in Thailand. The rest, except for one female character, are shallowly drawn; and most are villains, or at least disreputable.
The style of prose Mr. Bond has chosen to employ in places also doesn’t help. There’s no question that he’s a fine writer. But here, he seems to be experimenting with the rhythm and tempo of his sentences, delivering long passages of short, choppy phrases apparently meant to excite readers' senses. Unfortunately, he often sacrifices clarity. Many times, I found myself not fully understanding what was going on. Mr. Bond also uses ten-dollar words (where simpler ones would have sufficed) as well as dialogue in foreign languages, which sometimes added to the lack of clarity.
Finally, there’s a decidedly anti-American flavor to the novel.
Halfway through, not caring about the characters or what was at stake, not believing much of what was going on, and out of patience with the prose, the unrelenting intensity, and the anti-Americanism, I finally gave up.
I received a free ARC through NetGalley. My thanks to it, the author, and the publisher. The foregoing is my independent opinion.
November 5, 2017
Tibetan Cross by author Mike Bond is a non-stop action thriller! The timeline is in the mid 1970's and Sam, Alex, and Paul previously were soldiers who fought side-by-side during the Viet Nam war. They are on a hiking adventure together in the Himalayas and are offered $12,000 to help guide a group who claim to be traveling across Nepal with a destination of Mustang to write travel stories and for photography opportunities.
Sam begins to feel suspicious and is very watchful of the men and the porters. He senses a fear among some of the men and the pushing to meet a schedule has been relentless. When crossing a treacherous ravine one of the pack animals stumbles and part of the cargo and equipment falls into the water with the pony. The crate breaks open and Sam sees rifles there in the water. Alex calls for Sam and tells him he has seen a detonator for a nuclear bomb in one of the broken crates. As Sam and Alex are warning some of the Tibetan porters to flee, a shot rings out and Alex is hit, murdered! Paul and Sam split up to escape and are on the run for their lives. Now starts the story of the hunted and the hunters across the mountain wilderness, to Europe, and back to Montana. Was the CIA responsible for allowing artillery to be packed across Nepal in order to hit the Chinese? Sam learns he can trust no one and Paul is late for the meeting at the rendezvous point. Has Paul been captured, is he dead?
This story did make me feel exhausted as I read it due to the fast pace, the violence, and the physical injuries Sam and the other cast of characters endured. No one can be trusted, so you are never able to let your guard down while catching a breath.
The reader should be aware the writing style will reflect the thoughts and actions of the characters. As I've experienced, when hiking in high altitudes you do not talk in complete sentences in order to conserve energy and breath. So, you may want to realize this writing style is adding another layer of dimension to the story. If these guys who are tired, hungry, and cold were to speak in proper grammatical English, that would be absurd. Also, be aware this is a story of treachery and brutality among men who have a primal need to survive and also primal habits, urges, and they act accordingly. *Strong Language and Mature Themes*
Sam begins to feel suspicious and is very watchful of the men and the porters. He senses a fear among some of the men and the pushing to meet a schedule has been relentless. When crossing a treacherous ravine one of the pack animals stumbles and part of the cargo and equipment falls into the water with the pony. The crate breaks open and Sam sees rifles there in the water. Alex calls for Sam and tells him he has seen a detonator for a nuclear bomb in one of the broken crates. As Sam and Alex are warning some of the Tibetan porters to flee, a shot rings out and Alex is hit, murdered! Paul and Sam split up to escape and are on the run for their lives. Now starts the story of the hunted and the hunters across the mountain wilderness, to Europe, and back to Montana. Was the CIA responsible for allowing artillery to be packed across Nepal in order to hit the Chinese? Sam learns he can trust no one and Paul is late for the meeting at the rendezvous point. Has Paul been captured, is he dead?
This story did make me feel exhausted as I read it due to the fast pace, the violence, and the physical injuries Sam and the other cast of characters endured. No one can be trusted, so you are never able to let your guard down while catching a breath.
The reader should be aware the writing style will reflect the thoughts and actions of the characters. As I've experienced, when hiking in high altitudes you do not talk in complete sentences in order to conserve energy and breath. So, you may want to realize this writing style is adding another layer of dimension to the story. If these guys who are tired, hungry, and cold were to speak in proper grammatical English, that would be absurd. Also, be aware this is a story of treachery and brutality among men who have a primal need to survive and also primal habits, urges, and they act accordingly. *Strong Language and Mature Themes*
December 4, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
Another intense, action- packed book by Mike Bond. When three friends are hired by two men and offered $12,000 to guide a caravan of Sherpas and horses to Nepal they think it is their ticket to an easy life. But when Sam Cohen and his friends accidently sees what is loaded on the horses, they are threatened, shot at, and one is killed, their race to survive begins. Sam and his friend Paul, decide to separate, meet in Paris on an arranged date, and try to survive. Sam’s journey takes him through adventures he never dreamed of while being pursued by men intent on killing him.
Sam’s vision of revenge carries him through many countries as he heads for Paris, where he hopes to find Paul alive. The characters are well developed and real. The scenery is vivid and alive with people, buildings and country side views. Mr. Bond brings you right into the story as an observer immediately and doesn’t let go until the end.
Another intense, action- packed book by Mike Bond. When three friends are hired by two men and offered $12,000 to guide a caravan of Sherpas and horses to Nepal they think it is their ticket to an easy life. But when Sam Cohen and his friends accidently sees what is loaded on the horses, they are threatened, shot at, and one is killed, their race to survive begins. Sam and his friend Paul, decide to separate, meet in Paris on an arranged date, and try to survive. Sam’s journey takes him through adventures he never dreamed of while being pursued by men intent on killing him.
Sam’s vision of revenge carries him through many countries as he heads for Paris, where he hopes to find Paul alive. The characters are well developed and real. The scenery is vivid and alive with people, buildings and country side views. Mr. Bond brings you right into the story as an observer immediately and doesn’t let go until the end.
October 19, 2017
Mandevilla Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Tibetan Cross. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
After seeing so many positive reviews of this book, I was excited to read Tibetan Cross by author Mike Bond. Tibetan Cross should have been compelling, if the book summary is to be believed, but it just did not come together. With a thin plot and little character development, the novel was all action with no substance.
Main character Sam Cohen is on the run and trying to avenge the death of his friend. He gets himself into situations along the way, narrowly escaping his foes in his dogged pursuit for the truth. As Sam travels from place to place, the names change but the story never does. The author drops Sam Cohen into the action, but never really gives him an anchor to the setting or the plot. I had to struggle to finish Tibetan Cross and, for the reasons listed above, I would not be able to recommend it to other readers.
After seeing so many positive reviews of this book, I was excited to read Tibetan Cross by author Mike Bond. Tibetan Cross should have been compelling, if the book summary is to be believed, but it just did not come together. With a thin plot and little character development, the novel was all action with no substance.
Main character Sam Cohen is on the run and trying to avenge the death of his friend. He gets himself into situations along the way, narrowly escaping his foes in his dogged pursuit for the truth. As Sam travels from place to place, the names change but the story never does. The author drops Sam Cohen into the action, but never really gives him an anchor to the setting or the plot. I had to struggle to finish Tibetan Cross and, for the reasons listed above, I would not be able to recommend it to other readers.
January 31, 2024
This book has vivid descriptions of exotic settings and the thrilling scenes of danger The author takes from his own experiences of war and human rights journalist, and creates a realistic and compelling vision of the political and environmental issues facing the world today. Along with a glimpse into a world of espionage and nuclear politics
If you’re a fan of thrillers with an adventurous story that is fast paced and exciting read check this book out.
Overall it’s a exciting and interesting book
Thank you netgalley
If you’re a fan of thrillers with an adventurous story that is fast paced and exciting read check this book out.
Overall it’s a exciting and interesting book
Thank you netgalley
June 10, 2020
It took me a bit to get used to the writing style, but overall it was an awesome adventure! Such amazing world building and great thrills and action. Loved it!
February 7, 2015
Wasted potential, which is a crying shame "Big business, war. The biggest. You know, one of the poorest kept secrets about Nam was we got into it to protect the CIA–their drug smuggling rings out of the Golden Triangle.”
“No, I don't believe that.”
"You ask any guy who worked in Air America, the CIA freight line, in the sixties, and he'll tell you about the tons of heroin they shipped out every month, out of Laos and Cambodia and South Vietnam–Hell, on river patrols we'd sometimes bring a boatful (spl) of the shit right down the Mekong. The CIA put it on planes and sent it Stateside, kept the locals high and mellow and made the CIA billions of bucks they spent on actions Congress or the generals wouldn't go for.” Alex kicked a stone from the trail. "When we split Nam, the CIA lost its major source of funding, baby.” – Conversation between Alex and Cohen, Tibetan Cross – Mike Bond
"For me that was the final turnoff, about the States ...”
"What?”
"That we're a society based on war, that we can't exist economically or psychologically without someone to hate.”
"That's why we invented the good old Commies. Those folks I was fighting in Nam had never even heard of Communism. They were defending their homeland from aggression, same as any American would.” – Alex, Tibetan Cross – Mike Bond
It seems like I would learn. I really don’t like Mike Bond’s writing style. It is too choppy, too terse, for my tastes. And then there is the “comic book” brutality – the hero takes damage that is, literally, too much to be survived – and then jumps up and runs away like nothing has happened. Clive Cussler, James Rollins and others write ‘kick-ass’ heroes – but even they wouldn’t find this amount of brutality against their heroes survivable. Bond is one of the most testosterone driven thriller writers out there, which is fine in and of itself, but come on, Mike. Can we have a little realism at some point?
This is the third Mike Bond book I have reviewed and, again, it seems like I would learn. I am never happy with them, but I get sucked in, because his overall story concepts are exceptional, and his research on the actual political and military history and up-to-date happenings is beyond reproach. It is terribly frustrating! I want to enjoy the intrigue, but the bad case of testosterone poisoning means that I wind up skimming the story instead of enjoying it.
Beginning in Nepal, this book resurrects the war between China and Tibet just after the Vietnam War. Our heroes are leading a photographer/journalist and several Sherpa to Mustang - the former Kingdom of Lo, hidden in the rain shadow of the Himalaya in one of the most remote corners of Nepal. Only, things are not really what they seem, of course, in this shattered land, where starvation, murder, and incredible brutality is carried out by the Chinese against the poor and defenseless lands of Nepal and Tibet. And the Tibetans and Nepalese fight back in any way they can - with a little help from the "friendly" CIA. . .
"It is difficult to fight tanks and planes with stones.”
When Cohen escapes from the slaughter of his friends and traveling companions, including his best friend Alex, he treks alone cross-country in a desperate attempt to reach Katmandu (also Kathmandu) before he is captured and killed by the same weapons runners who killed his friends. The trip is brutal and harsh, but his arrival brings yet more death to those he knows and loves.
I am become death, the destroyer of worlds. - J. Robert Oppenheimer
Drugs, guns, human trafficking, and rivers of blood all wend their way through Bond’s work. As I stated previously, l am always left disappointed in Bond’s books, and still I come back for more, skimming for the realities of the story and trying to dismiss the ridiculous “heroes”. Be that as it may, it calls for a strong stomach as well as an ability to retain an open mind about just how twisted and sick the US, and their CIA lapdogs, really are – the misery they have wrought across the world. Would that Bond could see his way to dropping the testosterone levels – it would certainly make his books more approachable by a larger reading audience.
I received this book from the publisher in return for a realistic review. Five stars for the military and political research. Minus a star for bad writing. Minus another star for sheer testosterone poisoning and unrealistic character development.
“No, I don't believe that.”
"You ask any guy who worked in Air America, the CIA freight line, in the sixties, and he'll tell you about the tons of heroin they shipped out every month, out of Laos and Cambodia and South Vietnam–Hell, on river patrols we'd sometimes bring a boatful (spl) of the shit right down the Mekong. The CIA put it on planes and sent it Stateside, kept the locals high and mellow and made the CIA billions of bucks they spent on actions Congress or the generals wouldn't go for.” Alex kicked a stone from the trail. "When we split Nam, the CIA lost its major source of funding, baby.” – Conversation between Alex and Cohen, Tibetan Cross – Mike Bond
"For me that was the final turnoff, about the States ...”
"What?”
"That we're a society based on war, that we can't exist economically or psychologically without someone to hate.”
"That's why we invented the good old Commies. Those folks I was fighting in Nam had never even heard of Communism. They were defending their homeland from aggression, same as any American would.” – Alex, Tibetan Cross – Mike Bond
It seems like I would learn. I really don’t like Mike Bond’s writing style. It is too choppy, too terse, for my tastes. And then there is the “comic book” brutality – the hero takes damage that is, literally, too much to be survived – and then jumps up and runs away like nothing has happened. Clive Cussler, James Rollins and others write ‘kick-ass’ heroes – but even they wouldn’t find this amount of brutality against their heroes survivable. Bond is one of the most testosterone driven thriller writers out there, which is fine in and of itself, but come on, Mike. Can we have a little realism at some point?
This is the third Mike Bond book I have reviewed and, again, it seems like I would learn. I am never happy with them, but I get sucked in, because his overall story concepts are exceptional, and his research on the actual political and military history and up-to-date happenings is beyond reproach. It is terribly frustrating! I want to enjoy the intrigue, but the bad case of testosterone poisoning means that I wind up skimming the story instead of enjoying it.
Beginning in Nepal, this book resurrects the war between China and Tibet just after the Vietnam War. Our heroes are leading a photographer/journalist and several Sherpa to Mustang - the former Kingdom of Lo, hidden in the rain shadow of the Himalaya in one of the most remote corners of Nepal. Only, things are not really what they seem, of course, in this shattered land, where starvation, murder, and incredible brutality is carried out by the Chinese against the poor and defenseless lands of Nepal and Tibet. And the Tibetans and Nepalese fight back in any way they can - with a little help from the "friendly" CIA. . .
"It is difficult to fight tanks and planes with stones.”
When Cohen escapes from the slaughter of his friends and traveling companions, including his best friend Alex, he treks alone cross-country in a desperate attempt to reach Katmandu (also Kathmandu) before he is captured and killed by the same weapons runners who killed his friends. The trip is brutal and harsh, but his arrival brings yet more death to those he knows and loves.
I am become death, the destroyer of worlds. - J. Robert Oppenheimer
Drugs, guns, human trafficking, and rivers of blood all wend their way through Bond’s work. As I stated previously, l am always left disappointed in Bond’s books, and still I come back for more, skimming for the realities of the story and trying to dismiss the ridiculous “heroes”. Be that as it may, it calls for a strong stomach as well as an ability to retain an open mind about just how twisted and sick the US, and their CIA lapdogs, really are – the misery they have wrought across the world. Would that Bond could see his way to dropping the testosterone levels – it would certainly make his books more approachable by a larger reading audience.
I received this book from the publisher in return for a realistic review. Five stars for the military and political research. Minus a star for bad writing. Minus another star for sheer testosterone poisoning and unrealistic character development.
July 19, 2015
An American climber in the Himalayas stumbles on a shipment of backpack nuclear weapons headed into Tibet for use against China. Pursued by spy agencies and other killers across Asia, North Africa, Europe and the United States, he is captured then rescued by a beautiful young woman with whom he forms a deadly liaison. They escape, are captured and escape again, death always at their heels. A terrifying international manhunt and stunning love story, Tibetan Cross is a European best-seller. CRITICAL PRAISE for TIBETAN CROSS: . “Intense and unforgettable.” FORT LAUDERDALE SUN-SENTINEL “Grips the reader from the very first chapter until the climactic ending.” UPI “Almost impossible to put down.” I LOVE A MYSTERY “A tautly written study of one man’s descent into living hell.” SPOKANE CHRONICLE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH “Murderous intensity.” “A chilling story of escape and pursuit.” TACOMA NEWS-TRIBUNE “An astonishing thriller.” SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER “Grips the reader from the opening chapter and never lets go.” MIAMI HERALD MORE PRAISE FOR MIKE BOND “One of America’s best thriller writers” CULTURE BUZZ “One of the 21st Century’s most exciting authors.” WASHINGTON TIMES “One of the best books of 2014.” NETGALLEY REVIEWS “Bond’s latest book is a must-read.” YAHOO REVIEWS “Bond touches on the vast and eerie depths that lie under the thin crust of civilization and the base instinct within man to survive.” NOTTINGHAM OBSERVER “A highly distinctive writer.” LIVERPOOL DAILY POST “Bond is the master of the existential thriller.” BBC AUTHOR BIO: Bestselling novelist, war and human rights correspondent and environmental activist, Mike Bond has lived and worked in many dangerous, remote and war-torn regions of the world. His critically acclaimed novels depict the innate hunger of the human heart for good, the intense joys of love, the terror and fury of battle, the sinister conspiracies of dictators, corporations and politicians, and the beauty of the vanishing natural world. www.MikeBondBooks.com Mandevilla Press “ONE OF THE 21 ST CENTURY’S MOST EXCITING AUTHORS.” —Washington Times
**
February 7, 2015
I am always totally exhausted after reading a Mike Bond novel. “Tibetan Cross” is no exception. The frenetic action, convoluted character interactions, deep meanderings of the mind, and heavily flavored scenic descriptions are almost too much to handle.
Bond’s encyclopedic knowledge of the exotic places to which he takes us is overwhelming. Throw in his familiarity with local politics, governmental peculiarities, attitudes towards hostilities and the use of weapons, and the makings of fine fiction are in place. All Bond has to do is assemble the information that churns in his brain and another book is born. His biography sums it all up. His novels “depict the terror and fury of battle and the intense joy of love, the beauty of the natural world, and the nature of the universe and its many meanings for human life.”
Bond has never met an adjective he doesn’t love. Scratch a few from his novels and his stories would be much shorter and easier to read. But, setting that foible aside, the reader is treated to intricate plots, splendid settings, characters that resonate, and nonstop action.
In “Tibetan Cross” a Himalayan climber gets involved in backpack nuclear weapons and is chased all over Asia, North Africa, Europe and the United States, along with a beautiful woman he happens to pick up (and who can apparently suffer through his never ending unkempt and smelly semblance), by the CIA and other assorted nefarious agencies. Extermination is, of course, the intent. Bond, as always, pulls the fragmented story together into a sort of resolution at the end.
IF you like action, exotic places, and tough guys always on the run, Mike Bond can provide great entertainment. Be prepared, however, for an out of breath and sometimes-quizzical adventure.
January 7, 2016
I received a free kindle copy of Tibetan Cross by Mike Bond, published by AuthorBuzz from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
I just reviewed Saving Paradise also by Mike Bond & mentioned I wanted to read more of his work. I didn't know I would have the opportunity so quickly. Thank you AuthorBuzz & NetGalley.
Possible spoilers. This is a continent-jumping, intense story about an initiallized government agency & it's misguided agents in an attempt to suppress the information that a bomb was transported into Tibet. All people who inadvertently gained knowledge of this incident were eliminated one by one. Their friends & loved ones were also brutally killed.
The protagonist Samuel Cohen, a French speaking Irish-Jew was one of them. He doesn't know where to turn, or who to trust. It seem that death follows him step by step through this beautifully-lyrical political suspense thriller, chock full of intrigue & mystery. Bond's command of the English language is rich, varied & seamless. I read it in one long sitting. It was unputdownable.
For that reason alone I gave it five stars.
Much of what transpired is brutal & demonstrates man's inhumanity to man. I was horrified, but needed to reach the conclusion. It is a must read.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/TIBETAN-CROSS-M...
I just reviewed Saving Paradise also by Mike Bond & mentioned I wanted to read more of his work. I didn't know I would have the opportunity so quickly. Thank you AuthorBuzz & NetGalley.
Possible spoilers. This is a continent-jumping, intense story about an initiallized government agency & it's misguided agents in an attempt to suppress the information that a bomb was transported into Tibet. All people who inadvertently gained knowledge of this incident were eliminated one by one. Their friends & loved ones were also brutally killed.
The protagonist Samuel Cohen, a French speaking Irish-Jew was one of them. He doesn't know where to turn, or who to trust. It seem that death follows him step by step through this beautifully-lyrical political suspense thriller, chock full of intrigue & mystery. Bond's command of the English language is rich, varied & seamless. I read it in one long sitting. It was unputdownable.
For that reason alone I gave it five stars.
Much of what transpired is brutal & demonstrates man's inhumanity to man. I was horrified, but needed to reach the conclusion. It is a must read.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/TIBETAN-CROSS-M...
March 23, 2015
This book should be made into a movie...like now. The entire time I read this book I was picturing the stunts, emotions, political intrigue, etc. played out on the big screen. It would be phenomenal.
From start to finish this book was action packed and did not slow down. It was a page turner that kept me vested in the outcome of the primary character. I did struggle at the beginning to figure out who that character was, but once I figured that out the rest of the book was easy to follow, thrilling to experience and unexpected at times.
The story follows a grueling experience that one climber goes through in his effort to live after he gets trapped in an out of control situation. The author does not sugar coat the experience, but rather makes it gritty and shows the thoughts of this character regardless if it was about love, revenge, food, disillusion, cunning, hate, forgiveness, regret, etc.. I do not like the ending, but I feel the ending is perfect at the same time. I am an emotional reader though so when you get to the ending of this book I believe that sentence will make perfect sense! After completing this book, I put it down, took a deep breathe and just continued to think I would love to watch this on a big screen, this story really captures emotion in a realistic manner and captivated me the entire time.
full review at www.meghanvarner.blogspot.com
From start to finish this book was action packed and did not slow down. It was a page turner that kept me vested in the outcome of the primary character. I did struggle at the beginning to figure out who that character was, but once I figured that out the rest of the book was easy to follow, thrilling to experience and unexpected at times.
The story follows a grueling experience that one climber goes through in his effort to live after he gets trapped in an out of control situation. The author does not sugar coat the experience, but rather makes it gritty and shows the thoughts of this character regardless if it was about love, revenge, food, disillusion, cunning, hate, forgiveness, regret, etc.. I do not like the ending, but I feel the ending is perfect at the same time. I am an emotional reader though so when you get to the ending of this book I believe that sentence will make perfect sense! After completing this book, I put it down, took a deep breathe and just continued to think I would love to watch this on a big screen, this story really captures emotion in a realistic manner and captivated me the entire time.
full review at www.meghanvarner.blogspot.com
April 26, 2015
Jane Hunt Writer First Steps
Jane Hunt Writer Book Reviews Facebook
Jane Hunt Writer Book Reviews Google+
This is a fast paced, graphic, international thriller. Cohen, the hero of this conspiracy, sees life at its lowest ebb. The plot is simple. The story's often sordid and violent imagery sometimes overrides the storyline.
Cohen meets a multitude of interesting characters, as he tries to discover the truth, whilst avoiding almost certain death. The reader shares every experience and thought with Cohen. The amount of detail makes the story read rather like a screenplay, every person's actions are choreographed, translated to a visual medium it would have more impact.
This story gets full marks for imagery and characters.
I received a copy of this book from Mandevilla Press via NetGalley in return for an honest review
Mike Bond
March 6, 2015
Tibetan Cross by Mike Bond
This was a strange book. It melded philosophic musing, action adventure, political commentary with a leavening of satire into a somewhat unwieldy book.
The main protagonist is Sam Cohen who undergoes a personality transition and eventual restoration. The preface of the book is pages of whoopee from a wide variety of reviewers. I'm not quite sure why. The book had it's moments but sometimes I really had to put my head down and plough through a lot of conspiracy theory with the ubiquitous "everyone" is after me paranoia. The counter culture, weed smoking '70s drop outs were plagued by paranoia. The characters in this book were victims of not enough paranoia.
Being reasonably conversant with history, there is likely a foundation for governmental misbehavior particularly during the Vietnam War. I, like millions of others, have to wonder about the collusion of the members of the military industrial complex in international relations. Bond has carried this premise into a theme for a novel.
I found the book interesting enough to finish.
site: http://mikebondbooks.com/mikes-books/...
This was a strange book. It melded philosophic musing, action adventure, political commentary with a leavening of satire into a somewhat unwieldy book.
The main protagonist is Sam Cohen who undergoes a personality transition and eventual restoration. The preface of the book is pages of whoopee from a wide variety of reviewers. I'm not quite sure why. The book had it's moments but sometimes I really had to put my head down and plough through a lot of conspiracy theory with the ubiquitous "everyone" is after me paranoia. The counter culture, weed smoking '70s drop outs were plagued by paranoia. The characters in this book were victims of not enough paranoia.
Being reasonably conversant with history, there is likely a foundation for governmental misbehavior particularly during the Vietnam War. I, like millions of others, have to wonder about the collusion of the members of the military industrial complex in international relations. Bond has carried this premise into a theme for a novel.
I found the book interesting enough to finish.
site: http://mikebondbooks.com/mikes-books/...
November 3, 2014
Well-written engaging action/adventure novel
This novel certainly zooms around the world: starting in Nepal, by the time you get halfway through, you’ve been to New Delhi, Athens, Crete, Algiers, Oran, Marseille, Paris, London, New York and Colorado.
The first quarter of the digital edition is relentless action – and bodies pile up! Then there’s a calm interlude before it all takes off again.
Without giving too much away, this novel is about Sam Cohen, his brother, Alex, a fellow mountain guide, Paul – all Americans working in Nepal. A sexy journalist, Claire, enters the action to add some glamour to the story which starts with arms dealing to Tibetans fighting against the Chinese occupiers of Tibet and the consequences of events resulting from this.
The transposition to the digital format has not been successful in my Kindle version: it makes the story harder to read.
I enjoyed the writing style with its occasional philosophical musings but some of it is just too far-fetched to believe.
Recommended to lovers of action stories.
This novel certainly zooms around the world: starting in Nepal, by the time you get halfway through, you’ve been to New Delhi, Athens, Crete, Algiers, Oran, Marseille, Paris, London, New York and Colorado.
The first quarter of the digital edition is relentless action – and bodies pile up! Then there’s a calm interlude before it all takes off again.
Without giving too much away, this novel is about Sam Cohen, his brother, Alex, a fellow mountain guide, Paul – all Americans working in Nepal. A sexy journalist, Claire, enters the action to add some glamour to the story which starts with arms dealing to Tibetans fighting against the Chinese occupiers of Tibet and the consequences of events resulting from this.
The transposition to the digital format has not been successful in my Kindle version: it makes the story harder to read.
I enjoyed the writing style with its occasional philosophical musings but some of it is just too far-fetched to believe.
Recommended to lovers of action stories.
September 9, 2014
Given To Me For an Honest Review
If you are looking for a page turner, edge of your seat, holding your breath and cheering on the good guy you have found it with Tibetan Cross.
This is about an American who finds a backpack that is filled with nuclear weapons that are being sent to Tibet. He is chased by many spy agencies (from around the world) and is finally caught. He is then rescued by a young woman. They are both caught but escape together again. A huge manhunt ensues..
This book is one that once you begin you will not want to put it down until it is finished. It is a must read and I recommend it to all.
If you are looking for a page turner, edge of your seat, holding your breath and cheering on the good guy you have found it with Tibetan Cross.
This is about an American who finds a backpack that is filled with nuclear weapons that are being sent to Tibet. He is chased by many spy agencies (from around the world) and is finally caught. He is then rescued by a young woman. They are both caught but escape together again. A huge manhunt ensues..
This book is one that once you begin you will not want to put it down until it is finished. It is a must read and I recommend it to all.
October 3, 2014
Another fantastic thriller from Mike Bond. He is a lyric writer whose prose is beautiful and provocative. His descriptions strike to the heart and evoke strong emotions. I could not put the book down once I started reading. Each of his books seems to be better than the last. In Tibetan Cross the characters are very real and he keeps your heart in your throat from page to page. From Nepal to Greece to North Africa, Spain, France, Germany and the US, his words keep the reader framed in the environment. I heartily recommend this book. It is not for the faint of heart, but includes a great love story.
September 23, 2014
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry whilst reading this thriller. The hapless hero Cohen, with a couple of friends, agree to guide an American party into the mountains of Nepal. During this trek they see something they shouldn't and from there on in it is a non stop chase across continents, with Cohen being injured, captured, tortured, shot but continually escaping and regardless of injuries continues his search to find the person orchestrating the death of his friends and associates and himself. The ending is unbelievable but great fun!!!
March 16, 2015
This is an action packed book that starts with a bang on the first page and never stops. Fans of the Bourne series by Robert Ludlum will like this thriller. At times the author will have you questioning whether the protagonist has slipped from survival mode to full blown paranoia. Captivating read.
October 19, 2017
For Sam, Paul and Alex, three expatriate Americans living and climbing in Nepal, jobs don’t grow on trees. So, when the chance to make a lot of money quickly comes to them, they can’t pass up the opportunity. They know the job is sketchy and doesn’t add up, but $12,000 is a lot of money in 1973. Supposedly they are to guide two photographers into the hinterlands bordering Chinese occupied Tibet, but, when an accident on the trail reveals the dark secret nature of the mission their lives take a chaotic turn. Alex is murdered, and Sam and Paul have to run for their lives. The covert agency running the mission and their Tibetan allies pursue them, killing anyone with whom they may have spoken. But blood begets blood and Sam will have vengeance for the innocent lives the agency has taken.
As thrillers go, "Tibetan Cross" is overclocked, turbocharged, and fuel injected with nitro methane. The descriptions are vivid, the violence graphic and the sex shamelessly incandescent. The hero, Sam Cohen, personifies violence, and endurance. The language the author uses is both beautiful and pitiless. All the major characters are fully rounded and well imagined. There is not one page that does not jar the reader with the beauty of nature, the mayhem of the moment, the gritty poverty of the human condition, or all three at once. I heartily recommend this adrenaline-soaked story to lovers of such prose. If you are not one of us, well, you were warned, weren‘t you?
A digital copy of this novel was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for this review.
As thrillers go, "Tibetan Cross" is overclocked, turbocharged, and fuel injected with nitro methane. The descriptions are vivid, the violence graphic and the sex shamelessly incandescent. The hero, Sam Cohen, personifies violence, and endurance. The language the author uses is both beautiful and pitiless. All the major characters are fully rounded and well imagined. There is not one page that does not jar the reader with the beauty of nature, the mayhem of the moment, the gritty poverty of the human condition, or all three at once. I heartily recommend this adrenaline-soaked story to lovers of such prose. If you are not one of us, well, you were warned, weren‘t you?
A digital copy of this novel was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for this review.
August 6, 2024
Warning: this book contains a lot of violence some thoroughly depicted.
VENGEANCE IS MINE!
What starts as a peaceful climb to escort a camera crew up the Himalayan mountains quickly devolves to be a fight for life Alex, Samuel Cohen and Paul?? A team of three mountain guides starts out and unspoken lies are revealed causing much danger and death.
Fleeing from potential terrorists and maybe the CIA. They flee for their lives. Cohen’s attitude turns to revenge. Revenge for Alex, revenge for those lost in numerous previous wars, for every victim since time began. The chase scenes are beautifully written, your heart is in your throat as the chase is on. This book reminds me of so many action stories, but in a good way. Narrow escapes dangerous territory and improbable situations.
One item I find personally annoying is when an author uses a foreign language without any translation or interpretation to follow. I feel as if I’m missing dialogue and a potentially important concept. I can absolutely envision this as an action-adventure movie, in the vein of a diehard type of drama. Fast paced and edge of the seat scenes.
If this type of book is your type, enjoy, it will be a wonderful read for you! However, after about half of the book, I could no longer continue reading the book. The situations became too much, the plausibility long gone, and I tried to go back to reading it. I have tried multiple times to go back and each time I couldn't open the book. Just to note, I am an avid reader and read over 200 books a year!
VENGEANCE IS MINE!
What starts as a peaceful climb to escort a camera crew up the Himalayan mountains quickly devolves to be a fight for life Alex, Samuel Cohen and Paul?? A team of three mountain guides starts out and unspoken lies are revealed causing much danger and death.
Fleeing from potential terrorists and maybe the CIA. They flee for their lives. Cohen’s attitude turns to revenge. Revenge for Alex, revenge for those lost in numerous previous wars, for every victim since time began. The chase scenes are beautifully written, your heart is in your throat as the chase is on. This book reminds me of so many action stories, but in a good way. Narrow escapes dangerous territory and improbable situations.
One item I find personally annoying is when an author uses a foreign language without any translation or interpretation to follow. I feel as if I’m missing dialogue and a potentially important concept. I can absolutely envision this as an action-adventure movie, in the vein of a diehard type of drama. Fast paced and edge of the seat scenes.
If this type of book is your type, enjoy, it will be a wonderful read for you! However, after about half of the book, I could no longer continue reading the book. The situations became too much, the plausibility long gone, and I tried to go back to reading it. I have tried multiple times to go back and each time I couldn't open the book. Just to note, I am an avid reader and read over 200 books a year!
April 20, 2023
Review of eBook
Sam Cohen, Paul Stinson, and Alex Vlasic work as guides in the Himalayas, leading an American photographic expedition into Tibet. When they meet up with a caravan of Sherpas, the Americans insist on traveling with them after their report of robbers in the direction they are traveling.
It isn’t long before the guides discover that the caravan is actually a hidden CIA weapons venture, smuggling weapons into Tibet to use against China.
And then the killing begins.
=========
Populated with unlikable characters who make what seem like phenomenally irresponsible decisions, the gritty tale begins on a low note with the main character’s repeated use of drugs. Violence and far-too-graphic scenes of torture are difficult to read; many readers may find the crude language offensive.
The sense of place is first-rate here as the story travels to many places around the globe. But brutality is the watchword for much of the action where drugs and human trafficking also play a part in the telling of this often life-threatening tale.
Recommended for readers who enjoy intense narratives that are both action-packed and adrenalin-fueled.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Mandevilla Press and NetGalley
#TibetanCross #NetGalley
Sam Cohen, Paul Stinson, and Alex Vlasic work as guides in the Himalayas, leading an American photographic expedition into Tibet. When they meet up with a caravan of Sherpas, the Americans insist on traveling with them after their report of robbers in the direction they are traveling.
It isn’t long before the guides discover that the caravan is actually a hidden CIA weapons venture, smuggling weapons into Tibet to use against China.
And then the killing begins.
=========
Populated with unlikable characters who make what seem like phenomenally irresponsible decisions, the gritty tale begins on a low note with the main character’s repeated use of drugs. Violence and far-too-graphic scenes of torture are difficult to read; many readers may find the crude language offensive.
The sense of place is first-rate here as the story travels to many places around the globe. But brutality is the watchword for much of the action where drugs and human trafficking also play a part in the telling of this often life-threatening tale.
Recommended for readers who enjoy intense narratives that are both action-packed and adrenalin-fueled.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Mandevilla Press and NetGalley
#TibetanCross #NetGalley
July 1, 2022
Tibetan Cross by Mike Bond
9781627040129
410 Pages
Publisher: Mandevilla Press
Release Date: September 20, 2014
Fiction, Action, Adventure, Conspiracy, Drugs, Violence
Sam, Paul, Alex, and Elliott are in the Himalayas working as Sherpas. When they are asked to lead an expedition for a photo shoot. They should have known the money was too good. They meet up with a group of Nepalese men with ponies who warn them of robbers up ahead. The group decides to team up with the men and travel together for safety. When one of the ponies loses its footing and its pack opens, Alex recognizes the components of nuclear weapon. Things get nasty after that, and the killings begin.
I have read many books by this author and my favorites are the ones with Pono Hawkins. This book is completely different. I did not like any of the characters, the heavy drug use, profanity using the “c” word. I could not tell if Sam was a conspiracy theorist or if he was just high all the time. Everyone everywhere was after him and that might have been the case, but it was hard to distinguish. This book was a miss for me and to be honest, one of the only books that I did not finish.
9781627040129
410 Pages
Publisher: Mandevilla Press
Release Date: September 20, 2014
Fiction, Action, Adventure, Conspiracy, Drugs, Violence
Sam, Paul, Alex, and Elliott are in the Himalayas working as Sherpas. When they are asked to lead an expedition for a photo shoot. They should have known the money was too good. They meet up with a group of Nepalese men with ponies who warn them of robbers up ahead. The group decides to team up with the men and travel together for safety. When one of the ponies loses its footing and its pack opens, Alex recognizes the components of nuclear weapon. Things get nasty after that, and the killings begin.
I have read many books by this author and my favorites are the ones with Pono Hawkins. This book is completely different. I did not like any of the characters, the heavy drug use, profanity using the “c” word. I could not tell if Sam was a conspiracy theorist or if he was just high all the time. Everyone everywhere was after him and that might have been the case, but it was hard to distinguish. This book was a miss for me and to be honest, one of the only books that I did not finish.
January 13, 2018
This was a first read by Mike Bond for me and I have to say I am shocked and surprised that I have not read anything by him before. I am definitely a fan now because of the action packed, suspense that he delivers.
We start out with a Himalayan climber in earlier years that happens upon a backpack with nuclear weapons in it. It is on its way to Tibet and the weapons are going to be used against China. Now there are secret spies on his case and are determined to capture him so that they can make sure he doesn't ruin their plan.
The climber gets captured, but meets a lady that ends up rescuing him. The book takes us across Asia, North Africa, Europe and the United States. I loved that it spanned several countries and kept you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't read fast enough to find out what was going to happen. I could not put this book down once I started it. I am going to have to go back and read more of Mike Bond's books now.
We start out with a Himalayan climber in earlier years that happens upon a backpack with nuclear weapons in it. It is on its way to Tibet and the weapons are going to be used against China. Now there are secret spies on his case and are determined to capture him so that they can make sure he doesn't ruin their plan.
The climber gets captured, but meets a lady that ends up rescuing him. The book takes us across Asia, North Africa, Europe and the United States. I loved that it spanned several countries and kept you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't read fast enough to find out what was going to happen. I could not put this book down once I started it. I am going to have to go back and read more of Mike Bond's books now.
February 4, 2018
I have had mixed luck with Mike Bond’s novels. Some I really enjoy, but others not so much. Tibetan Cross unfortunately falls into the latter category. Especially early in the book, the main character, Cohen, spends a lot of time under the influence of Tibetan ganja. He is often paranoid (sometimes for good reason) and there is a lot of stream of consciousness thoughts that the reader has to wade through. At times it is hard not to wonder if the author was under the influence when writing parts of the book.
If I had not received a copy of the book in exchange for posting a review on NetGalley, I probably would not have finished the book. However, I am glad I did, because it is the last third of the book where the plot really comes together and it becomes an enjoyable read.
If you are new to Mike Bond’s work, this is not the book to start with. However, if you generally like his work, give this one a try — you may be one of the many readers who was more impressed than I was.
If I had not received a copy of the book in exchange for posting a review on NetGalley, I probably would not have finished the book. However, I am glad I did, because it is the last third of the book where the plot really comes together and it becomes an enjoyable read.
If you are new to Mike Bond’s work, this is not the book to start with. However, if you generally like his work, give this one a try — you may be one of the many readers who was more impressed than I was.
August 31, 2018
What a great and exciting storyline. Absolutely loved this book and how the Mike Bond the Author told the story of Sam Cohen and his American friends. How by absolute chance he and his friends ran into a Criminal Dealings between American agents and the Tibetan agents after accepting an assignment for lots of money for what they thought was a site seeing exhibiton. Only to find out then it was a secret and he would be chased around the world as he seeked revenge on the people that killed his friends as he also was chased to find out exactly what he knew. Mike made you feel every emotion of every Character in his book both Sam's love for his friends and the hate and vengeance he had for the characters who hurt his beloved. Also the visualizations of the scenery in each country made you feel as i you were right there with the characters. Great suspense and Adventure loved it.
November 19, 2022
This is the first of Mike Bond’s novels I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. It was never clear to me why the main character was being hunted or by whom, even when a few things were made clear at the end. What was the reason the CIA, supposedly killed so many people he cared about? Never explained. It was a jumble of hard to believe escapes for no apparent reason. Too much time was spent rhapsodizing about natural beauty and not enough building of plot, rising conflict, climax and resolution, although there was some attempt at that but quite unsatisfying. Some of the escapes were far too improbable, especially for the same character evading certain death repeatedly. The other characters were killed off in such short order, the reader never gets to know them. The ending is like an afterthought - nothing meaningful about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews