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Isaac Bell #2
The Wrecker
It is 1907, a year of financial panic and labor unrest. Train wrecks, fires, and explosions sabotage the Southern Pacific Railroad's Cascades express line and, desperate, the railroad hires the fabled Van Dorn Detective Agency. Van Dorn sends in his best man, and Bell quickly discovers that a mysterious saboteur haunts the hobo jungles of the West, a man known as the Wrecker, who recruits accomplices from the down-and-out to attack the railroad, and then kills them afterward. The Wrecker traverses the vast spaces of the American West as if he had wings, striking wherever he pleases, causing untold damage and loss of human life. Who is he? What does he want? Is he a striker? An anarchist? A revolutionary determined to displace the 'privileged few'? A criminal mastermind engineering some as yet unexplained scheme?
Whoever he is, whatever his motives, the Wrecker knows how to create maximum havoc, and Bell senses that he is far from done; that, in fact, the Wrecker is building up to a grand act unlike anything he has committed before. If Bell doesn't stop him in time, more than a railroad could be at risk; it could be the future of the entire country.
Filled with intricate plotting and dazzling set pieces, The Wrecker is one of the most entertaining thrillers in years.
470 pages, Hardcover
First published November 17, 2009
678 people are currently reading
3588 people want to read
About the author
Clive Cussler
651 books8,554 followersCussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 704 reviews
June 2, 2022
There's literary licence and there's total lack of credibility!
See what YOU think of this excerpt on a car chasing a freight train:
"The second the caboose passed by, Bell gunned the Wolf's motor and drove it out of the thicket, up the gravel embankment, and onto the tracks. He fought his right-side tires over the nearest rail and opened the throttle. The Wolf tore after the train, bouncing hard on its ties. At nearly forty miles an hour, it bucked violently and swayed from side to side. Rubber squealed against steel, as the tires slammed against the rails. Bell halved the distanced between him and the train. Halved it again, until he was only ten feet behind the train. Now he saw that he could not jump onto the caboose without pulling alongside the train. He slewed the car back oer the rail and steered on the edge of the embankment, which was steep and narrow and studded with telegraph poles.
He had to pull alongside the caboose, grab one of its side ladders, and jump before the race car lost speed and fell back. He overtook the train, steered alongside it. A car length ahead, he saw a telegraph pole that was set closer than the others to the rail. There was no room to squeeze between it and the train.
Bell gunned the engine, seized the caboose's ladder in his right hand, and jumped.
His fingers slipped on the cold steel rung. He heard the Packard Wolf crash into the telegraph pole behind him. Swinging wildly from one arm, he glimpsed the Wolf tumbling down the embankment and fought with all his strength to avoid the same fate. But his arm felt as if it had been ripped out ofhis shoulder. The pain tore down his arm like fre. Hard as he tried to hold on, he could not stop his fingers from splaying open.
He fell. As his boots hit the ballast, he caught the bottom rung of the ladder with his left hand. His boots dragged on the stones, threatening his precarious grip. Then he got both hands on the ladder, tucked his legs up in a tight ball, and hauled himself up, climbing hand over hand, until he could plant a boot on the rung and swing onto the rear platform of the caboose."
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
Do I really look that stupid to you, Mr Cussler? Sad to say, I was enjoying the story up until that point but when you insult my intelligence and credibility to THAT extent, all bets are off. This book is relegated to my DNF list and is headed for the local Little Free Library box. Maybe somebody else is more willing to accept that kind of nonsense than I am!
Paul Weiss
See what YOU think of this excerpt on a car chasing a freight train:
"The second the caboose passed by, Bell gunned the Wolf's motor and drove it out of the thicket, up the gravel embankment, and onto the tracks. He fought his right-side tires over the nearest rail and opened the throttle. The Wolf tore after the train, bouncing hard on its ties. At nearly forty miles an hour, it bucked violently and swayed from side to side. Rubber squealed against steel, as the tires slammed against the rails. Bell halved the distanced between him and the train. Halved it again, until he was only ten feet behind the train. Now he saw that he could not jump onto the caboose without pulling alongside the train. He slewed the car back oer the rail and steered on the edge of the embankment, which was steep and narrow and studded with telegraph poles.
He had to pull alongside the caboose, grab one of its side ladders, and jump before the race car lost speed and fell back. He overtook the train, steered alongside it. A car length ahead, he saw a telegraph pole that was set closer than the others to the rail. There was no room to squeeze between it and the train.
Bell gunned the engine, seized the caboose's ladder in his right hand, and jumped.
His fingers slipped on the cold steel rung. He heard the Packard Wolf crash into the telegraph pole behind him. Swinging wildly from one arm, he glimpsed the Wolf tumbling down the embankment and fought with all his strength to avoid the same fate. But his arm felt as if it had been ripped out ofhis shoulder. The pain tore down his arm like fre. Hard as he tried to hold on, he could not stop his fingers from splaying open.
He fell. As his boots hit the ballast, he caught the bottom rung of the ladder with his left hand. His boots dragged on the stones, threatening his precarious grip. Then he got both hands on the ladder, tucked his legs up in a tight ball, and hauled himself up, climbing hand over hand, until he could plant a boot on the rung and swing onto the rear platform of the caboose."
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
Do I really look that stupid to you, Mr Cussler? Sad to say, I was enjoying the story up until that point but when you insult my intelligence and credibility to THAT extent, all bets are off. This book is relegated to my DNF list and is headed for the local Little Free Library box. Maybe somebody else is more willing to accept that kind of nonsense than I am!
Paul Weiss
January 19, 2019
Each time I read a Cussler, I’m reminded why I’ve always loved his stories! The fast pace, the action, the unpredictability – the sheer entertainment! The Wrecker was all of that and more.
Set in 1907 as the new rail line continued to be built across the US while they struggled to stop the sabotage which was putting them further and further behind. When a tunnel was dynamited and many died, the Van Dorn Detective agency was brought in to find the culprit – Isaac Bell was a determined and thorough investigator. Bell soon knew he was up against a mastermind; a person who didn’t care who or how many he killed – but he would find him if it was the last thing he did…
The Wrecker is the 2nd in the Isaac Bell series by Clive Cussler and one I’ve owned since publication back in 2009. A thoroughly enjoyable, rollicking ride which I highly recommend. Must read another soon 😊
Set in 1907 as the new rail line continued to be built across the US while they struggled to stop the sabotage which was putting them further and further behind. When a tunnel was dynamited and many died, the Van Dorn Detective agency was brought in to find the culprit – Isaac Bell was a determined and thorough investigator. Bell soon knew he was up against a mastermind; a person who didn’t care who or how many he killed – but he would find him if it was the last thing he did…
The Wrecker is the 2nd in the Isaac Bell series by Clive Cussler and one I’ve owned since publication back in 2009. A thoroughly enjoyable, rollicking ride which I highly recommend. Must read another soon 😊
June 28, 2022
What a great sequel! Not only was it as exciting as the original, but we also got a better look at the world of Isaac Bell. The Van Dorn Detective Agency had a much larger cast of characters this time around. The romance between Bell and Maryanne is explored further. Even Bell's father finally makes an appearance.
The Wrecker is worthy rival. He is intelligent, deadly, and fearless. Watching him go head to head with Bell was a pleasure. If I had to have a complaint it would be that the first and second book both deal heavily with trains. Looking ahead to book 3 I think it's safe to say the next entry will finally be something different.
Definitely check out this action-packed series! I quickly fell in love with it. Make sure to read it in order.
The Wrecker is worthy rival. He is intelligent, deadly, and fearless. Watching him go head to head with Bell was a pleasure. If I had to have a complaint it would be that the first and second book both deal heavily with trains. Looking ahead to book 3 I think it's safe to say the next entry will finally be something different.
Definitely check out this action-packed series! I quickly fell in love with it. Make sure to read it in order.
June 23, 2021
In this book, I would recommend you read the first one before tackling this one.There are a few incidents in the 2nd book that highlight the occurrences of the first and steal the drama. I love Cussler's writing and find the book intriguing. Worth the read-or as I did, audio listen.
July 12, 2021
Another rousing cat and mouse adventure with the usual heroes and villains taking part.
August 12, 2023
4,5 sterren - Nederlandse hardcover
Quote: Ik heb het spoorboekje bekeken," zei Abbott. " Doe juffrouw Marion de groeten. Je kunt nog net de nachtexpress naar San Francisco halen." " Dat was ik ook van plan", zei Bell, waarop hij in de duisternis in stapte en rechtstreeks naar het station liep.
Quote: Bell verzekerde haar dat de spoorwegpolitie haar zoon niet meer lastig viel. " Ik ben een rechercheur van van Dorn, mevrouw. Ze staan onder mijn commando. Ik zal ze zeggen dat ze u met rust laten." Tenslotte haalde hij haar over hem in de hut toe te laten.
Quote: wie zei dat een van Dorn detective niet kon vliegen?
Deze detective die speelt in het eerste deel van de vorige eeuw is weer een mengeling van historische feiten en een inventieve detective Isaac Bell van detective bureau van Dorn. Van genoten.
Quote: Ik heb het spoorboekje bekeken," zei Abbott. " Doe juffrouw Marion de groeten. Je kunt nog net de nachtexpress naar San Francisco halen." " Dat was ik ook van plan", zei Bell, waarop hij in de duisternis in stapte en rechtstreeks naar het station liep.
Quote: Bell verzekerde haar dat de spoorwegpolitie haar zoon niet meer lastig viel. " Ik ben een rechercheur van van Dorn, mevrouw. Ze staan onder mijn commando. Ik zal ze zeggen dat ze u met rust laten." Tenslotte haalde hij haar over hem in de hut toe te laten.
Quote: wie zei dat een van Dorn detective niet kon vliegen?
Deze detective die speelt in het eerste deel van de vorige eeuw is weer een mengeling van historische feiten en een inventieve detective Isaac Bell van detective bureau van Dorn. Van genoten.
June 3, 2024
Great characters: good guys and bad. If you like trains, an adventure and plot twists.
August 8, 2016
It took me a whole month to finish this book and I usually finish about a book on average in a week so I was frustrated reading this book but I tried not to let that influence my rating. My first impression was, "Wow, these guys know a lot about 1907 America." I always have more respect for the historical fiction writers because of how much work they have to put into research to be historically correct. I knew about the San Francisco earthquake and some about the railroad but these guys went all out on their research and it definitely showed.
Their knowledge of the time period is what impressed me most but it also is what made the book longer than necessary. There were some parts were I thought they really could have skipped some details. I'd say they could have taken out maybe a quarter of the book, or 50 pages at least. I mean seriously, I really don't need to know what every other person wore at each particular event going on; they could have just wrote that they were finely dressed and get on with it. And I don't need to know what caliber each pistol had. Details helped with finding hints and clues but these weren't necessary.
I really like the detective Bell, he is smart (of course), tough (naturally), chivalrous, and handsome (which wasn't greatly focused on thank goodness). The beauty of Bell's fiancé as well as another young lady was mentioned more then to my liking but I got over it. The other characters were given enough depth and they are very helpful to Bell. He may be the best detective in the US but he isn’t a one man show. The narrative switches between various characters; it’s mostly between Bell and the Wrecker but there were a few other people put into the mix as well. If changing points of view bother you then steer clear of this book. Since you get the Wrecker’s point of view you know who he is and most of what he plans ahead of time. It was fun to see how intricate his whole plan was and how Bell is quick thinking. I could completely understand Bells frustration sometimes because I was frustrated too. But the ending was completely satisfactory, no frustration whatsoever.
I read mostly young adult and if I were to compare Clive Cussler (I assume he is the money maker of the pair seeing that his name is bigger on the cover) to a young adult author it would be it would be Tamora Pierce. She writes fantasy but I’m comparing the smart-tough characters as well and the feel of the quest. It's like Pierce except for non-fantasy men instead of fantasy young adult girls. I’ll admit that there was a few -very few- over the top lines that I thought were kind of funny. You know the things you hear in older action shows and movies like, “Did I mention that I’m trained in Martial Arts?” and then comes the blow that knocks the guy out. But like I mentioned there were only a few. I’m happy to say that the book is not only for adult men. And the two are good writers; I couldn't even tell there were two writers.
I read this book to broaden my spectrum of reading, get some more adult books and male guys on my list, and I'm glad it didn't end in disaster.
Their knowledge of the time period is what impressed me most but it also is what made the book longer than necessary. There were some parts were I thought they really could have skipped some details. I'd say they could have taken out maybe a quarter of the book, or 50 pages at least. I mean seriously, I really don't need to know what every other person wore at each particular event going on; they could have just wrote that they were finely dressed and get on with it. And I don't need to know what caliber each pistol had. Details helped with finding hints and clues but these weren't necessary.
I really like the detective Bell, he is smart (of course), tough (naturally), chivalrous, and handsome (which wasn't greatly focused on thank goodness). The beauty of Bell's fiancé as well as another young lady was mentioned more then to my liking but I got over it. The other characters were given enough depth and they are very helpful to Bell. He may be the best detective in the US but he isn’t a one man show. The narrative switches between various characters; it’s mostly between Bell and the Wrecker but there were a few other people put into the mix as well. If changing points of view bother you then steer clear of this book. Since you get the Wrecker’s point of view you know who he is and most of what he plans ahead of time. It was fun to see how intricate his whole plan was and how Bell is quick thinking. I could completely understand Bells frustration sometimes because I was frustrated too. But the ending was completely satisfactory, no frustration whatsoever.
I read mostly young adult and if I were to compare Clive Cussler (I assume he is the money maker of the pair seeing that his name is bigger on the cover) to a young adult author it would be it would be Tamora Pierce. She writes fantasy but I’m comparing the smart-tough characters as well and the feel of the quest. It's like Pierce except for non-fantasy men instead of fantasy young adult girls. I’ll admit that there was a few -very few- over the top lines that I thought were kind of funny. You know the things you hear in older action shows and movies like, “Did I mention that I’m trained in Martial Arts?” and then comes the blow that knocks the guy out. But like I mentioned there were only a few. I’m happy to say that the book is not only for adult men. And the two are good writers; I couldn't even tell there were two writers.
I read this book to broaden my spectrum of reading, get some more adult books and male guys on my list, and I'm glad it didn't end in disaster.
January 3, 2011
The second of the Isaac Bell novels, and the first where Cussler has a co-author for this series. Isaac Bell and the Van Dorn Detective Agency are back, this time chasing after someone who is deliberating sabotaging the Southern Pacific Railroad's expansion efforts into Oregon. Yes, this book is set in 1906, in the age of railroads and when the West was still a bit wild, and it's an ideal period for Cussler's imaginative storytelling. There's a lot more lawlessness to play with, and a lot more history to easily embed in the novel; there's no need to start off with a historical figure losing some treasure, as has been standard in the Dirk Pitt/NUMA novels.
I don't know if Scott brought the subtle differences to this book, or if Cussler just grew into Isaac Bell in this sequel, but the book is a much more enjoyable story than The Chase. Part of this comes from the genuine shock in the reveal of the Wrecker, which is compounded with an additional twist 2/3rds of the way through the novel that I simply did not see coming. Bell is more accessible and human in this novel, and while you know he's never in any real danger, the writing is such that you still wonder how in the world he'll survive the Wrecker.
I don't know if Scott brought the subtle differences to this book, or if Cussler just grew into Isaac Bell in this sequel, but the book is a much more enjoyable story than The Chase. Part of this comes from the genuine shock in the reveal of the Wrecker, which is compounded with an additional twist 2/3rds of the way through the novel that I simply did not see coming. Bell is more accessible and human in this novel, and while you know he's never in any real danger, the writing is such that you still wonder how in the world he'll survive the Wrecker.
July 6, 2011
What can I say? I love my Cussler's. They are one of my secret pleasures in life. As much as loved NUMA, Dirk Pitt, and friends, I now find my self attached to his new train series and Van Dorn detective, Issac Bell. The Wrecker is an excellent follow-up to The Chase. We follow Issac and fellow detectives as they try to locate and twart "the Wrecker" who was causing train wrecks. What did the Wrecker have to gain, and why was he so intent on destroying one particular train company following the Great San Francisco Earthquake? Excellent piece on mannerisms and culture of the time era.
February 26, 2019
Very enjoyable, I’m still a fan of Cussler and can’t wait to read more!
November 8, 2021
Изключителният Айзък Бел от детективска агенция Ван Дорн, от която се страхува целият подземен свят на Щатите, е по следите на изключително ефективен саботьор на железопътна линия в началото на 19 век. :) Разтоварващо и приятно със своите динамика и развръзки четиво.
November 15, 2011
This was such a bad book that half of the time I didn't quite get what was going on and the other half I didn't care. The characters are not bidimensional... they are unidimensional. Enough to say that by the end of the book the Wrecker's motivation is at the very best "fuzzy." Accomplices are thrown in with even less rhyme and reason, and sometimes we are told about them at the very end in this fashion: this is an accomplice, no questions asked, just deal with it.
I think the main fault of this story (and I'm not even going into the writing technique) is being too rushed: it is so hurried that there seems to be no developing of events (instead we are being given tons of details about the railroad system). Moreover, half of the book falls under the mystery genre, while the other half falls under the action-and-adventure category, and none of the halves is substantial enough to allow for any tension building or reader's personal involvement.
The Wrecker is discovered half way through the story and with very little effort. Unfortunately he is revealed to the reader even quicker and with almost no effort of trying to conceal him. The second half of the story is 100 percent action-packed and it would have been fairly good it it wasn't for the reader's utter lack of enthrallment. The ending presumably attempted to tie some loose ends, but it succeeds only to bring more where-did-that-come-from moments. Throw in a wedding, some new characters, and the stew is done.
As about the writing style, I'm just going to mention one example: the account of an accident (a locomotive explodes and the train derails) is narrated from the point of view of the machinery (if that's even possible, i.e., breaks squeaked, engine screamed, and so on), not from that of the people aboard. Why would anyone choose to describe a boiler instead of the human panic is beyond my hope of understanding...
I think the main fault of this story (and I'm not even going into the writing technique) is being too rushed: it is so hurried that there seems to be no developing of events (instead we are being given tons of details about the railroad system). Moreover, half of the book falls under the mystery genre, while the other half falls under the action-and-adventure category, and none of the halves is substantial enough to allow for any tension building or reader's personal involvement.
The Wrecker is discovered half way through the story and with very little effort. Unfortunately he is revealed to the reader even quicker and with almost no effort of trying to conceal him. The second half of the story is 100 percent action-packed and it would have been fairly good it it wasn't for the reader's utter lack of enthrallment. The ending presumably attempted to tie some loose ends, but it succeeds only to bring more where-did-that-come-from moments. Throw in a wedding, some new characters, and the stew is done.
As about the writing style, I'm just going to mention one example: the account of an accident (a locomotive explodes and the train derails) is narrated from the point of view of the machinery (if that's even possible, i.e., breaks squeaked, engine screamed, and so on), not from that of the people aboard. Why would anyone choose to describe a boiler instead of the human panic is beyond my hope of understanding...
June 24, 2012
Clive Cussler is writing books with collaborators these days, but it hasn't affected the quality of the stories. As much as I like the Dirk Pitt books, this series is in some ways even better. Cussler and his writing partners really bring the early 1900's to life on the page in a way that is totally convincing. Isaac Bell is a millionaire's son who has decided that he would rather be a private detective with the Van Dorn agency than take over the family business. This agency takes on cases that the U.S. government is not (yet) equipped to handle, and their agents go all over the country to catch their criminals.
The villain in this one is a doozy. He wrecks trains all over the country, and he is what a James Bond villain would be in the early 1900's. Cussler and company did a lot of research for this one. You'll learn a lot about railroads when you read this one.
Hollywood has not done a good job translating the Dirk Pitt books for the screen. They can't seem to accept the idea of a hero that works for a government agency staffed by extremely competent people. I would say that Hollywood would do much better adapting the Isaac Bell books, and I hope they do. Most of this book is like an action packed Western. Good stuff!
The villain in this one is a doozy. He wrecks trains all over the country, and he is what a James Bond villain would be in the early 1900's. Cussler and company did a lot of research for this one. You'll learn a lot about railroads when you read this one.
Hollywood has not done a good job translating the Dirk Pitt books for the screen. They can't seem to accept the idea of a hero that works for a government agency staffed by extremely competent people. I would say that Hollywood would do much better adapting the Isaac Bell books, and I hope they do. Most of this book is like an action packed Western. Good stuff!
October 1, 2014
This is truly an awesome story, never boring, and although it's long it holds the reader's attention to the very last sentence. The writintg is extremely vivid, which is Cussler's typical style. I never once thought that Cussler was going in to too much detail. I never had to ponder what the connection was between substories, all connections to the main story were clear. This so far is definitely my favorite Cussler novel.
In regards to the main character, Isaac Bell, Dirk Pitt is a hard act to follow and is beloved to all Cussler fans. Isaac Bell, in my opinion, is just as epic of a character. I was leary about reading a non-Pitt book, but I am so happy I did. After one book I am just as attached to Isaac and the other Vandorn detectives, as I am to Dirk and Al. Cussler's ability to create such amazing and relatable characters that become instantly dear to the reader's heart is mind blowing and leaves me awestruck and ready for more.
In regards to the main character, Isaac Bell, Dirk Pitt is a hard act to follow and is beloved to all Cussler fans. Isaac Bell, in my opinion, is just as epic of a character. I was leary about reading a non-Pitt book, but I am so happy I did. After one book I am just as attached to Isaac and the other Vandorn detectives, as I am to Dirk and Al. Cussler's ability to create such amazing and relatable characters that become instantly dear to the reader's heart is mind blowing and leaves me awestruck and ready for more.
November 23, 2015
The story had an intense plot that keeps the reader interested at all times. The only thing that was slightly negative was that the author does not always explain the thought process of the main character which leads to a little confusion in events. I would recommend this book because it shows the action packed and interesting life of a 20th century detective.
November 3, 2018
Crashing the Railroad Barons
2 November 2018
A part of me feels a little sorry for Clive Cussler. I remember that a while back they released a movie based on one of his novels, [Book: Sahara] and it flopped so badly that I don’t think they have ever considered doing a similar thing with any of his other books (though the lawsuit he brought against the producers probably had something to do with it as well). That is a bit of a shame because I actually quite liked Sahara, and the only reason that I decided to read this book was simply because I wanted to see what his other works were like. Well, that and I remember way back when I was studying German at university that one of the ladies in the class made some comment that Clive Cussler was a really popular author, and his name has stuck in my head ever since.
So, now that I have read one of his books, what is my take on this whole phenomenon. Well, I feel that the word phenomenon is probably a little bit too strong to describe a book written by Clive Cussler, namely because this book was pretty bad. I’m sure you have heard of that character trope known as a Mary Sue? Well, I’m sort of wondering whether it is possible to actually have a male Mary Sue? Some people say that you can’t, namely because Mary Sues are basically an invention of a patriacal society to destroy strong female characters, because female characters aren’t supposed to be strong. However, when it comes to male characters, well, all bets are off because, well, we have a male character and we cannot criticise them.
Well, except that I can, especially that stereotypical hero is dashingly handsome, has a father who is exceedingly wealthy, but instead of becoming a banker he decides to become, well, a cop. Not only that he has an ivy league education, and is pretty competant not only with a sword, but also with a gun. Yeah, that pretty much sounds like the male version of a Mary Sue to me, and as you can probably guess, this is basically the protagonist of the story. Oh, and he also happens to be a Pinkerton, though they don’t actually use the name Pinkerton, but rather a fictional detective agency, but they are still Pinkertons.
Yeah, I’m not a big fan of the Pinkertons, but then again that probably had a lot to do with my English teacher and a discussion we had after watching a film called Matewan. The thing is that it was all about workers rights and miners going on strike for better working conditions. Well, the Pinkertons didn’t particularly care about working conditions, not when we are dealing with unskilled labour, and were generally hired as strike breakers, or what I would rather refer to as thugs, to deal with the union bosses. Sure, I could go on about supply and demand and its effect on wages and such, but this is a review about a rather ordinary book.
Well, the story is about railroads, so I guess there is a thing there because I do happen to like trains. Then again, that was probably the only redeeming feature of the book. The story was set in 1905, so it was sort of at that time just before the car really took off, and pretty much you couldn’t go anywhere in the United States without tripping over a railway line. However, this was also in the days before high speed rail, and electrification of the lines, so it would take you something like four days to cross the continent (which, if you are going by train probably still takes as long, if not longer – apparently there is no high speed rail in the US).
So, we have this magnate who is trying to blast his way through the Rocky Mountains to make the travel time between the east and the west coast even shorter, but a mysterious man is running around blowing up trains and basically doing anything and everything to disrupt the venture. Why, well, it isn’t all that clear, even when they do give us the grand reveal all at the end. Apparently this wrecker, who by the way is revealed halfway through the book, which I also found to be incredibly annoying, wants to drive the share price down so that he can then buy up stock at a fire sale price – yeah, stock manipulation and all that.
I would say that if you want some mindless adventure, then this would be a good book, but considering that it appears that none of my friends here on Goodreads have actually read (or reviewed, though I note some have rated it) this book suggests that maybe this isn’t the type of book that is of interest. However, going back to my English teacher, I suspect that there are two words that pretty much describes this book, and that is ‘airport trash’ - namely the type of mindless book you purchase to read on a long haul flight, except these days the entertainment systems on these long all flights are so extensive that you don’t actually need to read a book anymore.
2 November 2018
A part of me feels a little sorry for Clive Cussler. I remember that a while back they released a movie based on one of his novels, [Book: Sahara] and it flopped so badly that I don’t think they have ever considered doing a similar thing with any of his other books (though the lawsuit he brought against the producers probably had something to do with it as well). That is a bit of a shame because I actually quite liked Sahara, and the only reason that I decided to read this book was simply because I wanted to see what his other works were like. Well, that and I remember way back when I was studying German at university that one of the ladies in the class made some comment that Clive Cussler was a really popular author, and his name has stuck in my head ever since.
So, now that I have read one of his books, what is my take on this whole phenomenon. Well, I feel that the word phenomenon is probably a little bit too strong to describe a book written by Clive Cussler, namely because this book was pretty bad. I’m sure you have heard of that character trope known as a Mary Sue? Well, I’m sort of wondering whether it is possible to actually have a male Mary Sue? Some people say that you can’t, namely because Mary Sues are basically an invention of a patriacal society to destroy strong female characters, because female characters aren’t supposed to be strong. However, when it comes to male characters, well, all bets are off because, well, we have a male character and we cannot criticise them.
Well, except that I can, especially that stereotypical hero is dashingly handsome, has a father who is exceedingly wealthy, but instead of becoming a banker he decides to become, well, a cop. Not only that he has an ivy league education, and is pretty competant not only with a sword, but also with a gun. Yeah, that pretty much sounds like the male version of a Mary Sue to me, and as you can probably guess, this is basically the protagonist of the story. Oh, and he also happens to be a Pinkerton, though they don’t actually use the name Pinkerton, but rather a fictional detective agency, but they are still Pinkertons.
Yeah, I’m not a big fan of the Pinkertons, but then again that probably had a lot to do with my English teacher and a discussion we had after watching a film called Matewan. The thing is that it was all about workers rights and miners going on strike for better working conditions. Well, the Pinkertons didn’t particularly care about working conditions, not when we are dealing with unskilled labour, and were generally hired as strike breakers, or what I would rather refer to as thugs, to deal with the union bosses. Sure, I could go on about supply and demand and its effect on wages and such, but this is a review about a rather ordinary book.
Well, the story is about railroads, so I guess there is a thing there because I do happen to like trains. Then again, that was probably the only redeeming feature of the book. The story was set in 1905, so it was sort of at that time just before the car really took off, and pretty much you couldn’t go anywhere in the United States without tripping over a railway line. However, this was also in the days before high speed rail, and electrification of the lines, so it would take you something like four days to cross the continent (which, if you are going by train probably still takes as long, if not longer – apparently there is no high speed rail in the US).
So, we have this magnate who is trying to blast his way through the Rocky Mountains to make the travel time between the east and the west coast even shorter, but a mysterious man is running around blowing up trains and basically doing anything and everything to disrupt the venture. Why, well, it isn’t all that clear, even when they do give us the grand reveal all at the end. Apparently this wrecker, who by the way is revealed halfway through the book, which I also found to be incredibly annoying, wants to drive the share price down so that he can then buy up stock at a fire sale price – yeah, stock manipulation and all that.
I would say that if you want some mindless adventure, then this would be a good book, but considering that it appears that none of my friends here on Goodreads have actually read (or reviewed, though I note some have rated it) this book suggests that maybe this isn’t the type of book that is of interest. However, going back to my English teacher, I suspect that there are two words that pretty much describes this book, and that is ‘airport trash’ - namely the type of mindless book you purchase to read on a long haul flight, except these days the entertainment systems on these long all flights are so extensive that you don’t actually need to read a book anymore.
June 3, 2024
I enjoy the history, the characters, and the mystery of this series. This one was very exciting and I certainly enjoyed learning more about the era of trains that made travel more possible. Isaac Bell is a fascinating main character. Lots of action, a devious foe, and an extravagant personal train lived in by the owner made this a lot of fun. I also appreciate that he is enamored with his smart, beautiful fiancé. Nice to see a tough man with principles and monogamy (rather in opposition to Lucas Davenport and Stone Barrington).
January 12, 2013
The famed Van Dorn agent, Isaac Bell, is up against a new rival, the Wrecker. In the thrilling second book of the series, Bell is back with more excitement and adventure, traveling across the United States to hunt down the Wrecker. In The Wrecker, just like the other Isaac Bell books, the point of view switches between the criminal and the detective throughout the novel.
There has been a chain of sabotages on the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Winter is approaching fast and Osgood Hennessy, the railroad’s president, needs to complete the Cascades Cutoff before the end of the work season. If he does not, he will not have the money to start back up in the spring and his company will collapse. It is up to Isaac Bell and the Van Dorn Detective Agency to stop the violence and protect the railroad.
Clive Cussler does a great job with his historical fiction novels, mixing the events of the time deeply with the story’s plot. Anyone who enjoys mysteries, history, and action will enjoy this series. Just make sure to pull out your old history notes so you understand the behind the scenes motives and events. I highly recommend this book.
There has been a chain of sabotages on the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Winter is approaching fast and Osgood Hennessy, the railroad’s president, needs to complete the Cascades Cutoff before the end of the work season. If he does not, he will not have the money to start back up in the spring and his company will collapse. It is up to Isaac Bell and the Van Dorn Detective Agency to stop the violence and protect the railroad.
Clive Cussler does a great job with his historical fiction novels, mixing the events of the time deeply with the story’s plot. Anyone who enjoys mysteries, history, and action will enjoy this series. Just make sure to pull out your old history notes so you understand the behind the scenes motives and events. I highly recommend this book.
May 13, 2016
In this second book of the series, Isaac Bell finds himself up against a wiley saboteur nicknamed the Wrecker, who has both railroad workers and passengers terrified.
Is he really a disgruntled striker? Or is there something deeper at work? Can Isaac discern his true agenda before it's too late?
Again, the bulk of the action takes place in the railyards of Northern California and the west, I think I like the Wrecker slightly better than the Chase but they're both great examples of the series at its best.
Is he really a disgruntled striker? Or is there something deeper at work? Can Isaac discern his true agenda before it's too late?
Again, the bulk of the action takes place in the railyards of Northern California and the west, I think I like the Wrecker slightly better than the Chase but they're both great examples of the series at its best.
January 3, 2010
Clive Cussler delivered an exciting new addition to his series about the detective, Isaac Bell. In this story, he is searching for the "Wrecker," a man who has not only caused untold damage on the railroad, but has killed many innocent people along the way. Once again, Bell is a fantastic and smart character, and I loved taking the journey along with him as he discovers who "the Wrecker" really is.
April 22, 2015
Has all the elements of a well done mystery coupled with an epic 80s action film which, in my book, makes this a good story. This was the very first Clive Cussler book I've ever read and it was good enough to make him one of my favorite authors.
March 12, 2015
Great book
I love Pitt novels but I'm becoming more and more fond of these Bell novels. Can't wait to start book 3 in the Bell series
I love Pitt novels but I'm becoming more and more fond of these Bell novels. Can't wait to start book 3 in the Bell series
February 26, 2020
RIP Clive Cussler. The fantastic author of these escapist action, adventure and mystery books. I am glad I still have plenty of his books to discover.
As you can see by the dates I have read this book, it has taken me a while. That’s not to say this is a bad book in anyway, quite the opposite. The reason it has taken me so long is that it was the book I kept in the car to read whenever I needed.
If you have read a Cussler book before you know what you are going to get. If not, you are in for a few hundred page thrilling action adventure. These are great page turners with a decent attention to detail. Another great aspect to these novels is they don’t seem to need to be read in a certain order. They are easy to pick up and read. There may be the occasional reference to a prior adventure but these are self contained stories.
This book deals with the action hero detective Isaac Bell that is on the trail of a railroad saboteur in 1907 going by the book title of The Wrecker. Isaac is very much your James Bond, Indiana Jones type character. Easy to like, saves the day, heart of gold but rough around the edges. His supporting detectives are rounded out in their own unique way, but they are very much secondary characters.
We swap perspectives from Isaac to The Wrecker. At first neither us as the audience, or Isaac know the identity of the Wrecker. It is great to see things play out from both sides and trying to piece together who it could be. The attacks on the railroad gradually get more intense and the plot thunders down the line.
The only downside to this book for me, hence 4 stars. Is we as the audience find out the identity of the Wrecker a while before Isaac. Which for me removed some of the intrigue. It would have been great to have the penny drop moment the same time as Isaac. However the reveal is done well and leads to an epic chase to the end.
I highly recommend these books if you need an action packed, fun and enjoyable read. A lot of time and effort seems to have gone into the research of the era. To me it at least feels authentic and believable.
It’s sad that Clive Cussler has passed, but he has left a legacy of enjoyable and entertaining novels that I will still be discovering and enjoying for years to come. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of his characters live on and have stories told by his son.
As you can see by the dates I have read this book, it has taken me a while. That’s not to say this is a bad book in anyway, quite the opposite. The reason it has taken me so long is that it was the book I kept in the car to read whenever I needed.
If you have read a Cussler book before you know what you are going to get. If not, you are in for a few hundred page thrilling action adventure. These are great page turners with a decent attention to detail. Another great aspect to these novels is they don’t seem to need to be read in a certain order. They are easy to pick up and read. There may be the occasional reference to a prior adventure but these are self contained stories.
This book deals with the action hero detective Isaac Bell that is on the trail of a railroad saboteur in 1907 going by the book title of The Wrecker. Isaac is very much your James Bond, Indiana Jones type character. Easy to like, saves the day, heart of gold but rough around the edges. His supporting detectives are rounded out in their own unique way, but they are very much secondary characters.
We swap perspectives from Isaac to The Wrecker. At first neither us as the audience, or Isaac know the identity of the Wrecker. It is great to see things play out from both sides and trying to piece together who it could be. The attacks on the railroad gradually get more intense and the plot thunders down the line.
The only downside to this book for me, hence 4 stars. Is we as the audience find out the identity of the Wrecker a while before Isaac. Which for me removed some of the intrigue. It would have been great to have the penny drop moment the same time as Isaac. However the reveal is done well and leads to an epic chase to the end.
I highly recommend these books if you need an action packed, fun and enjoyable read. A lot of time and effort seems to have gone into the research of the era. To me it at least feels authentic and believable.
It’s sad that Clive Cussler has passed, but he has left a legacy of enjoyable and entertaining novels that I will still be discovering and enjoying for years to come. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of his characters live on and have stories told by his son.
February 5, 2024
Most of the book was OK but the other wasn’t. I think this probably is the least likable of any Cussler books I’ve read. And I’ve read plenty. Could be because he is not sole author. I don’t think I will read any more of his books with co-author. That’s your choice not mine.
I think I will just turn to James Rollins. Much superior to the fallen Clive Cussler in what he’s produced lately. That’s just my opinion.
I think I will just turn to James Rollins. Much superior to the fallen Clive Cussler in what he’s produced lately. That’s just my opinion.
April 21, 2013
If you like Clive Cussler you will enjoy this book. While he may not be the greatest author in the world, he is one of the best story tellers. His books are always lively, fun, full of history, and action packed. He creates main characters like Issac Bell that we all can look up to and yet relate to. A main character with passion and strength, balanced by humility and honor. In this book he is chasing a man who seeks power through control of America's railroads back when the railroads were just completing their span of America. Already a man of power this character is ruthless, smart, and as so many of his kind seeks more power. What starts as a simple investigation and hunt for a criminal becomes eventually a personal game of cat and mouse between two fairly equal men.
December 26, 2017
Clive Cussler’s books are easy reading, and this one was a quick read. Though there was little suspense (by design) it was neat to see a mystery take place more than a hundred years ago. As usual, the protagonist was incredibly handsome and wealthy, but at least Cussler didn’t manage write himself into this one.
October 17, 2021
Put me off this book was the politics I'm not interested in reading anything to do with politics it puts me right off. This is not an adventure book more the political book in my opinion put me right off reading it. I wouldn't class this book is an adventure book more of a political book. Very disappointing.
February 22, 2016
Really enjoying this series and Isaac Bell our hero. I'm totally not being unfaithful to Dirk Pitt here but Mr Bell is quite the clever chap and his adventures and cunning wit coupled with fabulously researched storylines and great writing Make for a very entertaining read
June 18, 2017
I liked it. Very slow start building to an exciting end. Good period piece about the early 1900's and building the early railroads out West.
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