Aeschylus by David Barclay

The Aeschylus by David Barclay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We have had a few oil platform disasters over the years but this is something totally different. This offshore platform workforce disappears without trace and the Valley Oil Corporation sends an investigation team to the south Atlantic to find out more. You obviously think about the Bermuda Triangle but when they find a tentacle like fungus enveloping the platform questions need to be answered. The author slowly builds up the tension by releasing more and more details of the history that has been hidden for years. Good story with good action, excitement and twists.

View all my reviews

Tom Clancy's Oath of Office by Marc Cameron

Tom Clancy's Oath of Office by Marc Cameron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I like Tom Clancy but this did not quite hit the same mark. Yes using Clancy characters it had great potential however the compulsive page turning was not there. A good story but the writing did not have the same pull, but if turned into a screenplay for a movie I think it would do a lot better. In the end, excitement was very limited and not throughout. As ever this is my opinion and real fans of Clancy may go for it, but only deserving three stars.

View all my reviews

Our Friends in Berlin by Anthony Quinn

Our Friends in Berlin by Anthony Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

World War II spy story which I have enjoyed due to the combination of a good story and the atmospheric style of writing. Jack Hoste is a MI5 agent in a counterintelligence team working to nullify the Gestapo's efforts in the UK. The blitz is in full swing and he visits a marriage bureau trying to track down a target enemy agent. As the story unfolds, life during the war in London is illustrated very clearly through the clever use of the right words like " frightful, chummy and old boy". The story is very good with some twists but follows a well known formula which ensures a good read.

View all my reviews

Half Way Home by Hugh Howey

Half Way Home by Hugh Howey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think you always have to be a bit of a Trekkie if you are going to appreciate a good sci fi novel. This one for me a Trekkie is great, totally new concept/idea for space colonisation. My only fault is like a lot of sci fi some things get left behind and are not updated e.g. mechanical engines, high tech seems to bypass them. Nonetheless I really enjoyed the story of how 15 year olds start an off world colony, give it a try.

View all my reviews

River Run by J.S. James

River Run by J.S. James
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Great book for first novel although I was not a total fan of the style. The story line was excellent but was in my view overdone with local content related to river life, using many strange colloquialisms and slang to describe events and places. This aside plot is very good and executed with a good amount of thrilling action. You may have to be a hunter appreciate this fully as in this part of Oregon it appears to be all that matters to some. The author also clearly shows the flaws in the local policing system system in the US with little or no oversight on their operations. All in all I think this is a great book for your first attempt, if only I had that talent.

View all my reviews