violetfloof's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jbayer's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
furicle's review against another edition
3.0
The historical detail is the appeal of the story, and the reason it manages not to be a cardboard cutout action tale. It would be nicer if all the then current tech wasn't presented as 'the next great thing that just came out'
There were spots the whole thing didn't hang together for me, it gets quite disjointed at times when the focus shifts around the couple of main characters.
Nonetheless, a very fast read and a fun romp.
ethan_bridgesgarcia's review against another edition
4.0
I am that person that judges books by their cover (which is why I have a plethora of books in my collection). I picked up an Isaac Bell novel and realized that it was part of a series. I googled the Bell series and found that Cussler claimed this was the beginning of Bell's mysteries.
The Striker started slow, but most books do. I pushed through and could not put it down. I had to know the ending. Cussler gives so many plot twists that made me want to continue reading.
I'm going to start them in chronological order instead of the actual publication order. This was a fast and great summer read to start my summer off great.
The Striker started slow, but most books do. I pushed through and could not put it down. I had to know the ending. Cussler gives so many plot twists that made me want to continue reading.
I'm going to start them in chronological order instead of the actual publication order. This was a fast and great summer read to start my summer off great.
pjc1268's review against another edition
4.0
The more I read of this character, the more I am really liking him. In this fast paced and fast flowing book that that was written in typical Cussler style and just the way I like them. I highly recommend this book.
jaxboiler's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed his novel I the series. A nice change of pace from heroes wit all the gadgets etc.
srchief's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a big fan of this series. In the Striker, Issac Bell is just starting his Detective career and is faced with a foe setting labor against owners. There's also a behind the scenes power. This series provides a continual look at the early 1900s. In this case, it is a look into the beginnings of organized labor and the environment it was formed in. Highly recommend this series to others.
taisie22's review against another edition
4.0
I don't believe I've read Clive Cussler before, but I intend to look for more books from this series. Isaac Bell is an apprentice detective at the Van Dorn agency around the early 1900's. Van Dorn is like the Pinkertons and Bell is a blueblood who wants to work for a living.
He becomes involved in a case in the West Virginia coal mines where the miners are trying to form unions and management will do anything to keep that from happening. Bell brings in a team of detectives from the agency, a colorful cast of characters, to help him discover the provocateur who is at the bottom of a series of disasters.
The history here was interesting, not a period I know much about but now I want to find out more. The style of writing is easy flowing with a lot of detail that adds to the story. I really enjoyed it.
He becomes involved in a case in the West Virginia coal mines where the miners are trying to form unions and management will do anything to keep that from happening. Bell brings in a team of detectives from the agency, a colorful cast of characters, to help him discover the provocateur who is at the bottom of a series of disasters.
The history here was interesting, not a period I know much about but now I want to find out more. The style of writing is easy flowing with a lot of detail that adds to the story. I really enjoyed it.
jurassicreader's review against another edition
3.0
Another good book from Clive Cussler, although I do think that the co-author Justin Scott wrote most of it. Still, the book was pretty decent and I think it was better than the last two Bell novels. The book was a little light on the action till the end. It was nice going back into Bell's early years as a detective also. All in all a welcome addition to the Isaac Bell series, but not as good as Cussler's earlier novels.
deep220's review against another edition
4.0
The Striker by Clive Cussler
4 of 5 stars
Clive Cussler is one of my go to authors when I am in a mood for a good adventure mystery. Haven't read many in the Bell series. Really like that it is a historical mystery.
From Amazon:
It is 1902, and a bright, inexperienced young man named Isaac Bell, only two years out of his apprenticeship at the Van Dorn Detective Agency, has an urgent message for his boss. Hired to hunt for radical unionist saboteurs in the coal mines, he is witness to a terrible accident that makes him think something else is going on…that provocateurs are at work and bigger stakes are in play.
Little does he know just how big they are.
Given exactly one week to prove his case, Bell quickly finds himself pitted against two of the most ruthless opponents he has ever known—men of staggering ambition and cold-bloodedness who are not about to let some wet-behind-the-ears detective stand in their way.
4 of 5 stars
Clive Cussler is one of my go to authors when I am in a mood for a good adventure mystery. Haven't read many in the Bell series. Really like that it is a historical mystery.
From Amazon:
It is 1902, and a bright, inexperienced young man named Isaac Bell, only two years out of his apprenticeship at the Van Dorn Detective Agency, has an urgent message for his boss. Hired to hunt for radical unionist saboteurs in the coal mines, he is witness to a terrible accident that makes him think something else is going on…that provocateurs are at work and bigger stakes are in play.
Little does he know just how big they are.
Given exactly one week to prove his case, Bell quickly finds himself pitted against two of the most ruthless opponents he has ever known—men of staggering ambition and cold-bloodedness who are not about to let some wet-behind-the-ears detective stand in their way.