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African Ice
Geologist Samantha Carlson, hired by the president of Gem-Star, leads a team into the Democratic Republic of Congo to find a diamond formation worth millions, but their trek takes a dangerous turn when another team has a mission of their own--to kill Samantha. Original.
372 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Buick
15 books269 followersWant some authentic crime fiction novels – look no further.
Jeff Buick writes fast paced fiction filled with twists you won’t see coming. Lethal people (the bad guys of course) lurk in Jeff’s Boston crime series, but Curtis Westcott and his team of detectives are ready for any murder mystery that comes at them. The Westcott series is action packed suspense, perfect for readers who love Michael Connelly books, especially the Bosch series. 'A Killing Game', the first in the series, won the 2021 International Thriller Writers “Best original ebook”, and is a can’t-put-it-down suspense thriller. 'The Vulture Fund', the 3rd book in the Westcott series, was an ITW finalist.
The Bobby Greco series features a disgraced Orlando Homicide cop who tackles a very twisted bad guy in the series opener, 'One is Evil'. More to come on this series soon, with Bobby matching wits with some devious criminal minds.
Jeff's stand-alone novel, 'The Krubera Conspiracy', was released in 2023 and is a globe-trotting mix of thriller and suspense.
Keep an eye out for 'The Reluctant Truth', a multi-generational novel that touches on the close ties between fathers and sons. Set in current day with flashbacks to WWII, this one might make you laugh on one page and cry on the next.
Jeff Buick writes fast paced fiction filled with twists you won’t see coming. Lethal people (the bad guys of course) lurk in Jeff’s Boston crime series, but Curtis Westcott and his team of detectives are ready for any murder mystery that comes at them. The Westcott series is action packed suspense, perfect for readers who love Michael Connelly books, especially the Bosch series. 'A Killing Game', the first in the series, won the 2021 International Thriller Writers “Best original ebook”, and is a can’t-put-it-down suspense thriller. 'The Vulture Fund', the 3rd book in the Westcott series, was an ITW finalist.
The Bobby Greco series features a disgraced Orlando Homicide cop who tackles a very twisted bad guy in the series opener, 'One is Evil'. More to come on this series soon, with Bobby matching wits with some devious criminal minds.
Jeff's stand-alone novel, 'The Krubera Conspiracy', was released in 2023 and is a globe-trotting mix of thriller and suspense.
Keep an eye out for 'The Reluctant Truth', a multi-generational novel that touches on the close ties between fathers and sons. Set in current day with flashbacks to WWII, this one might make you laugh on one page and cry on the next.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 6, 2018
The ending is pretty cool, and there are parts that demand your attention. But not enough. This is a dime-bin thriller, with a dime-bin plot, executed by dime-bin characters. Actually, they're not even characters. They're just names slotted into roles to facilitate progress in the story. Cliches abound. Villains are particularly over the top, though I managed to muster a smidgen of genuine contempt for them. And the "characters'" reactions to death are muted at best, even for the "good guys." Who goes skinny dipping in the middle of a jungle after watching someone fall off a cliff?
Speaking of which, there just HAS to be a contrived romance, of course. It made me want to chuck this thing into the fireplace.
Speaking of which, there just HAS to be a contrived romance, of course. It made me want to chuck this thing into the fireplace.
July 13, 2024
As an action-thriller, this was pretty good. There was intrigue, guns, and romance. Well, the romance was nowhere as hot or sexy as the author probably thought it'd be, but it was there.
Samantha Carlson was a little too perfect and somewhat cliché - this is most certainly not the first action-thriller I've read with a tall, athletic, hot blonde who is a genius at the top of her field. But whatever, it was a fun read.
I don't know much about the diamond industry or geology, so I can't comment on the details of the plot, but if it's anything like the authors writing about Africa, it was relatively superficially researched. But again, it was still a fun read, so I didn't worry too much about the realism of the details.
Fast-paced and action-packed, if you like stories of betrayals, murder and gunfights with pretty straightforward narration and writing style, then this will make for an entertaining quick read. Just don't expect to be blown away or anything.
Samantha Carlson was a little too perfect and somewhat cliché - this is most certainly not the first action-thriller I've read with a tall, athletic, hot blonde who is a genius at the top of her field. But whatever, it was a fun read.
I don't know much about the diamond industry or geology, so I can't comment on the details of the plot, but if it's anything like the authors writing about Africa, it was relatively superficially researched. But again, it was still a fun read, so I didn't worry too much about the realism of the details.
Fast-paced and action-packed, if you like stories of betrayals, murder and gunfights with pretty straightforward narration and writing style, then this will make for an entertaining quick read. Just don't expect to be blown away or anything.
August 1, 2022
This thriller was written before cells phones, the ability to breach firewalls, and cameras on every corner yet the story is remarkable, realistic, and a page turner.
If you are looking for a long, enjoyable, old-school read, this is the book for you. There is romance, intrigue and upset yet the good guy does win.
If you are looking for a long, enjoyable, old-school read, this is the book for you. There is romance, intrigue and upset yet the good guy does win.
August 20, 2023
Good book. Mystery and adventure and lots of fight and escaping. About geology, diamonds, murder and redemption.
April 9, 2010
Despite the 350+ pages, this international thriller is a pretty quick read. Ranging from New York City to the Congo, with side trips to London, Cairo and Amsterdam the cast of characters seems to be constantly on the move. While I can’t vouch for the authenticity of the writer’s description of each place, he certainly makes them seem real. Whether through personal experience or careful research, Buick’s Congo is as easy to imagine as the streets of Manhattan. Also, through the thoughts and dialogue of his main characters he presents a sympathetic view of a continent riddled with violence and corruption, yet filled with people doing the best they can for themselves and their loved ones.
Hired by the Gem-Star company, to locate a diamond rich location in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noted geologist Samantha Carlson is at first hesitant. While she enjoys working in the field, rather than a laboratory, her past experiences in Africa have made her a bit uneasy. She is also still grieving the loss of both her parents in an accident several years before. Eventually she meets Travis McNeil, who will command the security team that will accompany her, and considering her other options she decides to take the job. Little does she know that it is not Gem-Star seeking the diamonds, but the unethical president of that firm, Patrick Kerrigan.
When Samantha, Travis and his team of ex-SEALs arrive in Africa they quickly discover that they might not be able to trust neither Kerrigan nor those he has hired to get the team in and out of the remote jungle. Eventually, they discover that they are not the first team that Kerrigan has sent in and then betrayed, leaving no survivors to tell the tale. Even escaping from the initial ambush, the group finds that Kerrigan is willing to remove anyone who stands between him and the diamonds. His wealth gives him access to resources that Samantha & Travis may not be able to overcome.
Buick brings his characters a dimension not always found in books of this type. Even the bad guys, in some cases, have reasons they feel justify their deeds. While some of the author’s detailed description of diamond mining and other minutia will glaze your eyes, overall I enjoyed the story and would be more than willing to pick up another book by him.
Hired by the Gem-Star company, to locate a diamond rich location in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noted geologist Samantha Carlson is at first hesitant. While she enjoys working in the field, rather than a laboratory, her past experiences in Africa have made her a bit uneasy. She is also still grieving the loss of both her parents in an accident several years before. Eventually she meets Travis McNeil, who will command the security team that will accompany her, and considering her other options she decides to take the job. Little does she know that it is not Gem-Star seeking the diamonds, but the unethical president of that firm, Patrick Kerrigan.
When Samantha, Travis and his team of ex-SEALs arrive in Africa they quickly discover that they might not be able to trust neither Kerrigan nor those he has hired to get the team in and out of the remote jungle. Eventually, they discover that they are not the first team that Kerrigan has sent in and then betrayed, leaving no survivors to tell the tale. Even escaping from the initial ambush, the group finds that Kerrigan is willing to remove anyone who stands between him and the diamonds. His wealth gives him access to resources that Samantha & Travis may not be able to overcome.
Buick brings his characters a dimension not always found in books of this type. Even the bad guys, in some cases, have reasons they feel justify their deeds. While some of the author’s detailed description of diamond mining and other minutia will glaze your eyes, overall I enjoyed the story and would be more than willing to pick up another book by him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2010
Samantha Carlson, PhD, is a highly respected geologist, very rich and very attractive. The dangerous and cunning Patrick Kerrigan, president of Gem-Star, hires her to find an elusive diamond lode deep in the Congo. Kerrigan also hires a team of four ex-Navy SEALS, led by Travis McNeil, to protect her.
And so the adventure begins. Neither Sam nor Travis totally trusts Kerrigan. When they're met by their military escort at the Congo border, they find all their weapons and equipment have been tampered with. When this `escort' service tries to kill everyone in the expedition, there's no question that Kerrigan has set them up. Trying to get out of Cairo is no picnic either since Kerrigan has another attack force of killers ready to do what the Congolese force couldn't do. And that's just the first half of the story; problems and surprises continue as they try to take Kerrigan down.
This is a fast-paced book filled with non-stop action and tension. The descriptions of the poverty in the Congo and overcrowded conditions in Cairo are disheartening. Of course, there's a bit of a love story woven into the mayhem as well.
And so the adventure begins. Neither Sam nor Travis totally trusts Kerrigan. When they're met by their military escort at the Congo border, they find all their weapons and equipment have been tampered with. When this `escort' service tries to kill everyone in the expedition, there's no question that Kerrigan has set them up. Trying to get out of Cairo is no picnic either since Kerrigan has another attack force of killers ready to do what the Congolese force couldn't do. And that's just the first half of the story; problems and surprises continue as they try to take Kerrigan down.
This is a fast-paced book filled with non-stop action and tension. The descriptions of the poverty in the Congo and overcrowded conditions in Cairo are disheartening. Of course, there's a bit of a love story woven into the mayhem as well.
September 18, 2010
Read this while suffering an attack of gastroenteritis, and the only thing that kept me from throwing it across the room was I was too far away from the bookshelf to get another book. (had to save my strength for abrupt trips to the bathroom...)
While the author may have done some research on the diamond industry- I wouldn't know, it's not my area- he didn't do enough on Africa- His lack of knowledge and the one-dimensionality of his Africa characters was pretty offensive, and the things he got wrong were easy to look up, like the languages spoken in rwanda and the climate of the places he described.
While the author may have done some research on the diamond industry- I wouldn't know, it's not my area- he didn't do enough on Africa- His lack of knowledge and the one-dimensionality of his Africa characters was pretty offensive, and the things he got wrong were easy to look up, like the languages spoken in rwanda and the climate of the places he described.
January 1, 2016
Adventure thriller about an American geologist who is recruited by a diamond company to locate an undiscovered mine deep in the African jungle. A team is assigned to protect her, but they then discover that other teams have been sent after them to make sure they don't survive the find. It's quite good and the story takes them all over the world, even if it is all a bit far-fetched. The bad guy is ridiculously evil and the ending satisfying enough, so it's enjoyable as an easy read.
August 8, 2014
A pretty fair thriller that ranks with the best of them. Definitely one of the top thriller writers in Canada. Travis McNeill makes a good protagonist as a trained merc and Samantha Carlson a strong woman geologist. The only problem I had with Travis is he should have got a bit more emotional about this woman. From the Congo to NY to Egypt and cyprus and Belgium the action rarely stops. I tore through this one.
January 28, 2012
Calgarian!
December 12, 2012
Yes, I rated it 4 stars. (Happy Tonya?) This is my kind of book. Lots of action, cool weapons, exotic locations. I needed a shoot-em-up to read on my lunch breaks, and "African Ice" was perfect.
August 15, 2015
Very fast paced. The love scenes were pretty cheesy, but weren't the focus of the book anyway, so who cares. Recommended reading.
July 2, 2015
This is a fun easy read with a fast paced plot and a strong female protagonist. And the good wins over evil!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews