Crux

by Richard Aellen

Certain that he had been set up by his fellow platoon members, ex-POW Keith Johnson plots the deaths of the three men but complicates the scheme by falling in love with the daughter of his ex-wife--one of his intended victims

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 1989

Reviews

[Frank Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crux was not a bad book. The plot follows a reasonably entertaining adventure and yet it was rather obvious throughout. Lacking subtlety, the story relies on the intense emotions generated as our main man Keith Johnson is pummeled into a ball of revenge-laden rage and then slowly metes out his own sense of justice. Emphasis on "slowly" because after the events set in the Vietnam war the pace dies off significantly and it doesn't really pick back up until the finale.

There were a few passages in which the prose was quite fine, but otherwise it was generally a touch bland. The French professor, Henri, provided a sprinkling of elegance to an otherwise very 'murican meathead vibe. The characters were strikingly one dimensional, there was no mistaking the good guys for the bad guys or vice versa. This makes it easy to align your team flag but limits the possibility of being taken by surprise. In my view the story had one genuine surprise revelation near the end, but I didn't find it very significant.

Crux isn't a typical read for me at all, so perhaps I'm not the most apt reader to review it. I did enjoy reading it, but I was hoping for a more twisted and shocking revengefest.

[Edson V. Barrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at a Good Will in Albuquerque it was $3.00, I couldn't find any reviews on the web or any information about the author, I have to say that I wasn't expecting much but I got surprised as I was reading it that it was filled with action. although it had a very 80's vibe for me (not a very big fan of this decade) the story was very absorbing. I liked it :)

[Steve822 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good time passer, bit far fetched but who cares, enjoyed reading it. Found it in my local phonebox free library and it'll be going back there. I did laugh at the outraged "blatant rip off of The Count of Monte Cristo" reviews - what no author should use the plot of person locked up for long time and seeks revenge on getting out?

[Russell Tidemann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read and most importantly, a satisfying ending. Worth the time.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keith Johnson is happily married and pursuing a career as a helicopter pilot when he’s sent to Vietnam. When evidence suggests his sergeant has killed one of his own men, Keith is unable to keep silent. Unfortunately, one of his friends is willing to betray him for a chance at a safer posting and his sergeant is desperate to get rid of him. Sent on a mission meaning almost certain death, Keith is reported as missing in action but actually survives only to be thrown into a prison camp for 20 years. When he eventually escapes, his only thought is of revenge.

I loved Crux, in large part because it felt to me like almost exactly what Dumas would have written had he set his novel during the Vietnam war. The author included all of the things I loved about the first book, including the sense of adventure; the mystery surrounding Keith when he reappears a wealthy man; and the mentoring relationship he has with a fellow prisoner. He also keeps the focus on revenge and the question of what betrayal can do to an otherwise good person. Although some of the things he changed might bother other people, I loved the Keith was less arrogant than the original hero and also less willing to sacrifice innocent lives.

At first, I didn’t find Crux that suspenseful as it followed the path marked out by the original story. Fortunately, while the premise and the feel of the original were preserved, the details of the ending were all new. By the last hundred pages I was desperately wanting to stay up much later than I should just to find out what happened next. Lately I’ve read a number of thrillers that just read like every other action-packed thriller to me and this book was different. Although it did enjoyably amp up the action at the end, there was also the deeper focus of the original on Keith/Edmond’s character development and the themes of betrayal and revenge. That added depth made this both an exceptional thriller and a great homage to the original Count of Monte Cristo.

This review first published on Doing Dewey.

[Keith · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a huge rip-off of the Count of Monte Cristo. It has been a while since I've read that book, but I remember enough to know where the author got his ideas from. As I read this, I remember thinking in the beginning, "huh, that is kind of like Count of Monte Cristo." Then something else would happen, and then again and again until about half-way through I am very angry because now I can predict exactly what is going to happen next because the author stole the story and just put the events in a different time period. The book itself is fine if you can get over the fact that the author is a hack.

[Nicole Starner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great action thriller that will keep you guessing and holding your breath! Keith Johnson is called up to serve in the Vietnam War, leaving behind a beautiful wife and a promising life. But, his so-called military "friend" is jealous of Keith, and arranges a set-up that will get Keith kicked off of the base. The helicopter ride to another base is shot down, seemingly killing all on board - but Keith wasn't on board. A POW for the next twenty years, Keith is determined to get revenge on those who betrayed him, whatever the cost.

[Brian Allinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in print many years ago and seem to recall really enjoying it. So since I have recently taken to listening to audiobooks during my commute, I decided to relive this one in audio. Although I wasn't in love with the voice of the narrator, the story was every bit as good as I remembered. Gripping.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily described as a re-imagining (or rip-off, as some would say) of The Count of Monte Cristo, but an enjoyable read. Revenge stories, for me, tend to be well worth the read.

[Ben Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it for what it was - A modern retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo.

[Jonnynsb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blatant rip-off of The Count of Monte Cristo. Such a disappointment.