Deep Storm

Child, Lincoln. (2007). Deep Storm. New York, NY: Random House Inc.

ISBN: 9780385515504

pages: 370

genre: suspense/thriller

annotation: Medical issues are only the beginning in an undersea station.

summary: Peter Crane is amazed to be approached to find the cause of medical problems occurring in an undersea station. He has naval experience, but wonders why he was approached. He doesn’t have much time to wonder when, soon after he arrives, the problems worsen. Add into this that the cover story  of the station excavating Atlantis is false. If he does not figure out the cause of the problems not only the people on the station, but everyone on the planet, might die.

evaluation: good read
The reason for the station is unique. It might seem over the top, but the matter of fact way it is handled made it seem plausible enough for fiction. The assortment of characters was intriguing: the quick thinking Peter Crane, Admiral Spartan who lives up to his name, etc. I liked the thought processes of the characters as they tried to figure out what was going on: their perspectives and the details about military life and science were fascinating. Two areas, though, unsettled me. One was the ending. The situation at the end is tenuous: I found myself wondering just how people were going to deal with the end result. I would have liked an ending which was more settled. It did get me thinking and wondering what would come next. I also felt ambivalent about sabotage being used. Figuring out who the saboteur did add suspense because cases could be made throughout the book for it being several people. On the other hand, I think not having the sabotage would have added to uniqueness of the premise. It would have kept the story focused on whether what was being dug up was benevolent or not, and whether it should be dug up. This book is a good read for those who like suspense on (or in this case under) the ocean, military drama and finding the truth with humanity’s future on the line.

What else to read:

Other books by Lincoln Child. He frequently co-writes with Douglas Preston.

James Rollin’s Subterranean for another tale of secrets beneath the Earth.

Andy McDermott’s The Hunt for Atlantis for a story involving Atlantis and humanity’s future.

Clive Cussler’s books usually involve the ocean, lots of suspense and the heroes having to protect humanity from threats such as viruses, bioengineered fish, etc.

The Thief

Cussler, Clive. (2012). The Thief. (Isaac Bell #5) New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

ISBN: 9780399158612

pages: 408

genre: suspense/thriller, historical fiction

annotation: Detective Bell becomes involved with a potentially world changing invention.

Summary: Isaac Bell is happy to be returning home to America after a successful case. He becomes embroiled in another one when he saves two fellow travelers from being kidnapped. His good deed causes the travelers to reveal they are two inventors who are close to perfecting aligning pictures with sound. Bell can see the importance of this to entertainment, but the kidnapping attempt makes him wonder if someone else has a more sinister use for “talking pictures”. He comes up against an intelligent foe who wants to use “talking pictures” to change the course of history.

Evaluation: very good read

I liked the ‘feel’ of the early 1900s I got from the book. We take long distance calling and movies for granted. With this book I felt what it could have been like to see both of those as innovations people saw the possibilities of and heatedly worked, and fought, to attain. For instance, the portrayal of Edison’s attempts to control the emerging movie industry brought home how ‘talking pictures’ were a to be fought over marvel. I wish the authors mentioned where they got their information from, so I take this as more speculative than factual. Still, it makes me curious about the history of movies, the transfer from telegraphs to phone for long distance calls, Edison and the early 1900s in general (the year most of the action is set in is not mentioned). The book also alludes to tensions leading up to the ‘Great War’ (WWI) which causes curiosity about that as well. I also liked the characters. Isaac Bell expects a lot from his employees, but he is also fair and has a strong sense of justice. The villain is a good villain: unusual, intelligent and crosses metaphorical swords well with Bell. What annoys me is that Bell wonders if some decisions he makes could be dangerous, but he makes them anyhow and the reader has to wait for the fallout. He has reasons why he makes them, but it still seemed like maybe alternatives should have been explored more. I did find the plot, and the book, enjoyable except for that. Otherwise, it is a good read for those interested in U.S. history 1910-1920 (or just the elements mentioned earlier) and suspense/thrillers.

What else to read:

Other books by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott.

Randall E. Stross The Wizard of Menlo Park for more about Thomas Edison.

Wheeler Winston Dixon and Gwendolyn Audrey’s A Short History of Film for more about films.

Time Life Books The End of Innocence for more about U.S. history 1910-1920.

Wickham's Diary

Grange, Amanda. (2011) Wickham’s Diary. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Landmark.

ISBN: 9781402251863

pages: 198

genre: historical fiction

annotation: Wickham’s story from childhood to Meryton.

Summary: Wickham has loving parents, a blessing in the patronage of his father’s boss Mr. Darcy and charm. Being the son of a servant isn’t enough: he wants the good life his friend Darcy has. Encouraged by his mother, he sets out to charm his way into marrying a heiress rather than gain money through unfair hard work. He records his experiences at Pemberley, Cambridge, London and Ramsgate as he tries to meet his goal. His efforts lead him towards the events seen in a certain book called Pride and Prejudice.

Evaluation: good read

This was an entertaining look at Wickham’s life. I could see why he felt Darcy cheated him without feeling sorry for him (as the book says he is a character Austen fans like to dislike). It was fascinating seeing more about this take on his character: his relationship with Darcy, how his mother molded him, more about Cambridge and the near elopement with Georgiana Darcy.  What keeps me from liking this book more is that it felt like it could have gone deeper. For instance, we see glimpses of his love for his mother and grief after she dies but more about his relationship with her would have added more to his character. There is also a brief time when Darcy helps him and it seems like Wickham might be on a different path, but when he decides otherwise. I would have liked to have seen more on why. (A benefit of the touching on things approach is that the book flows very quickly. This would make it a great choice to woo someone to read Pride and Prejudice and/or other works about it such as the author’s Mr. Darcy’s Diary.) More on the details of locales, society, etc. would have been intriguing. (Then again, knowing how Wickham is self-centered, this might not have been true to his character.) As it is, I rate this book a good read and have added Grange’s other Pride and Prejudice related titles to my reading list. This is a good read for Pride and Prejudice fans and especially for those who want to know more about Wickham’s character.

What else to read:

Other books by Amanda Grange that explore thoughts of Pride and Prejudice characters.

Sharon Lathan, who has a popular series of books continuing the Pride and Prejudice saga, focuses on Georgiana Darcy in Miss Darcy Falls in Love.

Anna Elliot’s Georgiana's Diary gives readers a story focused on Georgiana Darcy after Pride and Prejudice. As of 6/4, this book can be found for free on Amazon.

Other Pride and Prejudice related suggestions can be found in the post for Pride and Prescience.

The Sherlockian

Moore, Graham. (2010). The Sherlockian. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.

ISBN: 9780446572590

Pages: 350

Genre: mystery, historical fiction

Annotation: An amateur detective searches a Doyle’s diary and a murderer.

Summary: Harold White goes to the convention of the Baker Street Irregulars in hopes of joining their elite ranks. He also wants to hear about a lost Doyle diary which has finally been found by Alex Cale, a prominent member of the Irregulars. He is shocked when Cale is found murdered, but his knowledge of Holmes lore shows him clues about what happened. Determined, he sets out to find the truth.  Meanwhile, in the past, Conan Doyle has a case of his own searching for the murderer of several women. Both amateur detectives will have to use everything they learned from Holmes, aid from others and their own intelligence to solve their mysteries.

Evaluation: good read

The plot was interesting: watching Harold go from clue to clue while trying to figure out who his enemy, or enemies, were was intriguing. Harold’s character had some engaging elements: he put his Holmes knowledge to good use and he panicked when I would have in his shoes.  The character of Sarah kept my attention: I wanted to find out which side she was on. I also liked seeing the Irregulars and figuring out why Doyle would resurrect Holmes. The dynamic between Doyle and Stoker made the story a good read as well. The portrayal of London in flux with conflict over women getting the vote (and their role in English society) and gas to electricity (with the corresponding end of a romantic age) was fascinating. What primarily leaves me unsatisfied is the resolution of both mysteries. When reading a mystery I want to feel like the world is better for the mystery being solved. The resolution of both mysteries left me wondering if such was the case for them. Another aspect of the book which bothered me, but I could look over by stretching belief, was Harold being a detective. First he spoils a crime scene by looking at it before the police were done with it. Then, he leaves not only the state, but also the country, after the police asked him not to. It seemed unrealistic that he would not have been arrested for one or both of those things. (He did get lectured for the crime scene search.) (One feature of the book that did not bother me, but might bother others, is that the two stories are told through alternating chapters.) This book is a good read for those interested in Doyle, England in the early 1900s or a look into Sherlock Holmes societies.

What else to read:

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes tales are worth reading (or re-reading as the case may be).

Daniel Stashower’s Teller of Tales  and Jon L. Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower, Charles Foley’s Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters for more about Doyle’s life.

Julian Barnes Arthur and George is another tale involving Doyle solving crime.  

The Sherlockian was loosely inspired by the murder of a prominent Holmes scholar in 2004. Moore recommends the December 13, 2004 New Yorker article “Mysterious Circumstances” by David Grann and Click here for a link to the New Yorker’s abstract for the article. He also recommends the May 19, 2004 New York Times article "The Curious Incident of the Boxes" by Sarah Lyall. 

This book could be similar to Jedidiah Berry's The Manual of Detection. (Click here for my entry on this book.) Both feature heroes who are not established detectives, but whose eye for detail and reading help them in solving mysteries. Both also have the foundations of what they believe in shaken in the pursuit of the truth. The Manual of Detection is more surreal, but I wonder what would happen if White and Unwin were to have a talk somehow...