Reviews

Grave Descend by Michael Crichton, John Lange

wickedlyethan's review against another edition

4.0

"Grave Descend" evokes the Roger Moore-Era James Bond films : fun, thrilling, and a dose of silliness. However those movies came out in a time when most action movies could be described the same; Michael Crichton's adventure novel instead is a welcome throwback, an anachronism of storytelling that makes me long for a time when books and movies took it all a little less seriously. (And we're considerably shorter; at 166 pages the novel can be read in a long day or spread lazily or a couple evenings.) Written in 1970 while Crichton was a med student, one can see the shaping of his voice and style, but can also revel in the sincerity of an intellectual such Crichton pre- "Jurassic Park" letting himself tell the kind of pulp adventure he probably grew up with. Perhaps such tales made him want to be a writer. Perhaps such tales will make new readers go down the same road.

moonbat's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

3.75

waybackwhen's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

chaz21's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

ferrisscottr's review against another edition

4.0

Let me start by saying - this book is what it is and doesn't try to be anything else - it's a mystery/thriller/action book from 1970 when Michael Crichton was in Med School. He's not trying to change the world. The book has no greater meaning. There is nothing about the human condition.
(you get my point)
What it is - fast read, interesting read, great characters, crooks, Mafia, double crosses and just really really hard to put down.

I actually bought it because I really enjoy the Hard Case Crime publisher. I have to be in the right mood to read their books but when I am in that mood then nobody does hard case pulp noir better than them.

If that is your thing then this book is for you.

mike_word's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

patrgarcia2's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.5

gwimo's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

psolo101's review against another edition

2.0

I so wanted to like this book because it was written by Michael Crichton. While I had seen some positive reviews, they also mentioned it was a quick read so I was up for that.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into the book at all. I didn't really care for the MC (he wasn't horrible, just not extremely likable) and the whole plot was just thrown together.

Sadly, I can't recommend this book.

joeypal's review against another edition

3.0

I have to say I miss Michael Crichton. I had no idea that early in his writing career he penned works under the name of John Lange. This is a great find. Michael definitely has a way with words and knows how to tell an exciting story. This is a short read but I found it to be very entertaining. As always, his stories grab you and pull you in as though you are part of the story itself. I'm looking forward to my next John Lange book and the ones to be published in the near future. So happy to find material that I haven't read before from one of my favorite authors. You are missed, but will never be forgotten.