Burnett Books

I had this story in audio cassette form before and used to listen to it over and over when my old car only had a cassette slot. I was very happy after asking Amazon if they carried it in cd form - and found that they did. I am listening to another of the stories that I got from Amazon and will be playing From the Corner of his Eye again as soon as this one is done. I depend on Amazon to find the things I really want.

I loved this book and often found myself shutting myself away just to get peace to read some more. There are several different stories that you know will somehow connect in the end. The story of the childhoods of Bart and Angel and their families, the story of Enoch Cain and the story of the Policeman who investigates Cain for killing his wife. The way Cain (a murderer and rapist) casually and calmly commits acts of violence and the easy way he manages to justify his acts to himself was chilling. The book build slowly (maybe a little too slowly) but it draws you in. There is a feeling of menace to the story (when Cain is around) generally countered at times by a feeling of happiness and always overcoming the odds (when the children are around). It was the classic story of good and evil and I couldn't wait until the different threads were brought together.

Unfortunately when they do it all feels rather rushed and poorly thought out. Cain's character though brilliant could have been so much more. We find out almost nothing about Cain's past, although it is hinted that his mother did bad things to him. When Cain and the children finally meet its all over way too quickly and in a very unsatisfactory way. The book spends hundreds of pages on just a few years of the children's lives and then jumps many years (it feels like a record where the needle skips by a lot of the song right to the end). This book I thought was going to be one of my favourites that I would annoy friends to read but ultimately I feel I was done. I feel like I read half a story. Honestly it feels like Koontz has had an idea and spent a long time carefully developing it only to get near the end and give up. I can't say too much without giving away what happens but despite how much I enjoyed the first 3/4s of this book I wish I had not bothered. The book is over 800 pages long and it may have taken another 800 to fully and properly conclude the story but I would rather have had that than have it end the way it did. Many people here are saying how brilliant this book is and I agreed until about 3/4 way through the book. Surely there are others out there who thought "where did the ending go". I am left unsure as to whether to try other Koontz books. I enjoyed some of this so much (which is why there are 3 stars) but was left with almost nothing at the end!

I've read many Dean Koontz novels, and this one is, so far, my favorite. Not typical Koontz "horror" but still infused with elements of science and spirituality. Lots of the quirky Koontz humor I love, and also a very heartwarming story. I couldn't put it down.

Of all the Dean Koontz books, and I've read them all, this is my all time favorite! No, it's not that scary, but that's not why I read him, anyway. The moral of this story is rarely told this well!

One of my favorite stories. It has such rich story lines, endearing characters and a wonderful childlike fantasy about it. One of my favorites by Koontz. Don't miss it!

A friend had recommended Clive Cussler to me. I like to read popular authors and see why the reading public finds their novels so interesting. I picked up "Atlantis Found" to read on a long flight abroad. I assumed that his writing was like Ludlum, Grisham or Follett. I call this genre "airplane books", nothing too heavy, just an interesting plot that keeps my attention during the flight.

From the beginning, I was amazed how utterly ridiculous this story was. I realize this is fiction; but I felt like I was reading a "comic book" staring a very flimsy superhero called Dirk Pitt. The story is populated with Nazi clones and ancient sophisticated civilizations that had traveled all over the globe leaving etchings predicting Armaqgeddon.

Although, I was ready to put this book down soon after starting, I gave all those individuals who highly rated this book a chance-I was also on a long flight- and trudged on. It only became more implausible and painful. The incredibly successful and sophisticated Nazis that are introduced half way through the story had "secretly" built a number of giant ships to serve as "arks" for a select few thousand to populate the earth after the soon to be created "man-made" flood inundated the planet-those diabolical devils. Despite the Nazi clones-from Hitler's DNA no less- sophisticated weapons, security, and man-power our boy Dirk and his wise cracking side-kick Giordino save the day.

By the way ,what is the deal with naming and describing all the vehicles and apparatus that Dirk uses? Like descibing the Bell-Boeing 609, or the 36' Ford Cabriolet or the U.S Diver's Aquarius air regulator and Mark II face mask. Is this some type of product placement or is it supposed to make the story more plausible. I hope that it is product placement because it only makes the story seem more ridiculous.

There are many great fiction writers available in this genre. Save your self the time and money and pass on this book by Clive Cussler. If you want a comic to read pick up something from Marvel.

A Dirk Pitt novel. Intriguing premise ruined by amateurish writing. Barely comic book level plotting, dialogue, grammer, and story telling.

For example, compare the level of writing to a much better entry in the action-adventure genre such as A Skeleton In God's Closet.

I am about half way through this book and I just can't finish it. Its not usual I do that but it is just sucking my will to live.
The dialogue is a joke. I can't stand the main character. I'm mostly just hoping that between dodging 'killers' and bombs, he gets wacked in the process.
It seems every paragraph is just filled with the make and model of every piece of gear he has on. Do I care that he looked down at his x3-500 Supermega watch with intel microprogramming digitalizers? No. And no one else does either.
Sorry but I just dont think I can finish it.

I think for me, one of the allures of the Dirk Pitt series is the nomadic nature of the characters. We start in this book in Colorado and end up someplace quite cold. In between we visit a board room or two and an airplane hangar except there are no planes here. There is a core group that does um research for NUMA. Inevitably Dirk is right in the middle of whatever is going down. Sharp, experience-honed instincts has kept him alive on countless occasions. The group may split up and have two story lines followed until they collide again. The mystery is intriguing and trying to figure it out is half the fun. There is no graphic sex for the sake of it...although Dirk is one lucky son-of-a-gun. The various locales make this another great read from Cussler. One of the most anxious moments is a boat race including small and not-so-small arms fire. Dirk distracts you with one scene only to bring in an element long forgotten from another scene that saves the day...I hope that didn't ruin the ending, but let's face it, if you've looked around, DDD(Dirk Doesn't Die).

Rapid fire action, and has the reader unable to put the book down! I love this writer!

My husband and I both read this book and neither of us could put it down. My husband actually started reading it late at night when I finished and then he read for the entire night not stopping until it was time to leave for work in the morning. I have recommended this book to so many people and all of them have been just as impressed with it. Definitely one of the best books I have ever read.

DeMille's novel delivers equal parts action and conspiracy theory in a taut plot that involves the possible connection between terrorism and the deaths of 230 people aboard TWA Flight 800, which exploded mid-flight near Long Island on July 17, 1996.

Detective John Corey (from DeMille's "Plum Island" and "The Lion's Game" novels) returns with his FBI agent wife, Kate Mayfield, who's asked him to help look into some questions that have come up five years post-crash. Five years post 1996 brings us to mid-summer 2001, and everyone knows what event is yet to come. The final chapters alone are worth the cost of the book as a lot of loose ends are inconviently tied up permanently.

DeMille slipped with his domestic violence novel "Spencerville" but here he's at the top of his game. I'm not much for conspiracy theories, but DeMille presents information gleaned from official reports, witness interviews and other sources and makes it not only plausible but probable.

John Corey's first adventure, Plum Island, was interesting, and thrilling enough to make me want to try the big Lion's Game which was outstandingly scarey. But, the second book since then has lost it's fire and interest. The ending was trite, unfulfilling and left me ready to say goodbye to John and Kate.

I will try to make this review as helpful as possible without wasting much more of my time thinking about this book. I do, however, feel the need to steer people clear of this one.

I wonder if DeMille had to meet a certain word count for his publisher. It is slow and VERY repetitive, taking its time to (very) slowly deliver the plot. It takes him a good 600 pages to build up to the climax and by the time I got there I was very curious to see how this was going to unfold.

Instead, the author takes such a cheap way out -- none of the loose ends are tied up. Well, maybe one...but barely. It's almost as if he wrote himself into a corner that he couldn't get out of. I am tempted to explain DeMille's incredibly cheap way out but I won't in case you choose to form your own opinion.

DeMille's writing style is decent. Sometimes funny, sometimes juvenile. His narrative is pretty good, but his dialogue can be pretty cringe-worthy (but not nearly as bad as Baldacci's).

The book is a long way to go with virtually no payoff. This is the first book of DeMille's that I have read, so perhaps fans of his will like it.

Nelson DeMille has for years been one of my favorite authors, gotta love that bad-boy Corey...but if this had been my first DeMille read I probably would not bother again. The ending is disappointing and flat, and seemed like a cop-out on unraveling the controversy. This novel just doesn't hold your interest as most of his work does, plus terrorism is not a plotline I find interesting. Something is missing here, and it could be due to the fact-based plot. I will continue to read DeMille. When he gets it right it's great.

This book is excellent, it keeps you interested page after page. I couldn't put it down. I love John Corey and Kate! What an awesome read.

This is far from the best Nelson DeMille book I have read. The protagonists are unlike-able, the villain is straight out of James Bond. It's like a spoof of James Bond flicks -- think Austin Powers. Despite having ample opportunities to simply kill the good guys outright, the villain has to (for umpteen pages) try to impress the good guys with his cleverness, before killing them. This happens twice -- once after the capture of Harry Muller, and again after the capture of Corey and Kate.

The dialog between John Corey and everybody else is getting old. It isn't fresh and funny, it's just tired. Maybe I've read too much DeMille. If this your first book of his, it might be surprising and rapier-witted.

The best part of the book comes during the quick post-mortem on Harry -- clever trick there, but then... the rest is just predictable. There is some nice humor at the expense of Wilma, innkeeper at their last B-and-B -- but honestly, not much else memorable about the book, and I finished it only yesterday. Having said that, it does move right along and I read it in one night. Still, Gold Coast, Charm School, and Up Country are much the better books.

This is the third Corey book I have read, and they seem to be going downhill fast. Why, like a James Bond movie, do the bad guys never just kill Corey when they have the chance. The conclusion was so predictably unbelievable with the "race against the clock" ending. However, the worst part of the book is Kate, Corey's wife. These two could never exist together, and her character seems to change back and forth from weak to strong character. Take a pass on this one.

I was very excited when this book was offered as a prize in my library's summer reading program. I had often seen this author in the bookstores and had never read him, so I thought it was a great opportunity. I selected this book and eagerly began reading.

After finishing this book, my primary reaction is that I will never read another. The only thing that saved this from receiving a one star rating was the premise. The general story was great and I thought I was in for a wonderful read, only to be greatly disappointed. The writing is very, very bad. The dialogue is stilted and the main characters "solve" the problem in a way that has no plausabiliy.

I was a bit concerned close to the beginning where a federal agent has been caught trespassing and is brought into a meeting of the "bad guys" where the entire plot is explained to him. This is supposed to be a meeting of the major players who have been involved since the beginning, but the leader of the ring explains things like one would do a group of elementary school children. They also immediately begin feeling uncomfortable about what they are going to do even though this has been in the works for years. What a contrived situation.

The hero of the book (John Corey) also is totally unrealistic and very irritating the farther along you read in the book. While some wisecracks make sense and help develop his character, there is NOTHING said in the dialogue that doesn't result in a wisercack. At some point, facing proabable death (and the death of his wife), I think he would have SOME serious thoughts or ideas. It just doesn't ring true. He also manages to "solve" the mystery/problem without much data and magically figures the whole thing out.

If this is representative of his work, I'll not be reading another. There are too many good books in the world to waste time on this !

Traditionally, DeMille has written excellent thrillers with unexpected plot twists & generally witty dialogue between Corey and the antagonists. This book has absolutely none of those characteristics.

Plot:

Fiction writers are generally afforded a lenient artistic license allowing them to stitch otherwise ludicrous plots together. This book takes those liberties and abuses them to the fullest. Under no circumstances is the plot of this novel made believable to the reader. Proper writing along with effective plot development can make nearly any scenario appear realistic, DeMille fails miserably at this task.

Characters:

Corey is not up to his usual self in the book. The other characters offer no intrigue. Unlike the villains in his other books, Bain offers us no insight as to why he is such a lunatic. His cache of supporters are all merely "present", there is no effort on DeMille's part to explain to the readers why they have all gone mad.

Dialogue:

This is the worst part of the book. I will not elaborate, however it should be obvious to most readers that this book was rushed into publication. The dialogue is awful. In fact, nothing significant happens between the 1st two chapters and the last 2 chapters. Everything in-between is filler material (consisting primarily of weak dialogue).

Scarpetta has a killer with a deep-seated hostility that is directed at her. He has used a rare virsus to kill his victim. Has Scarpetta been infected? This is one of her fastest moving novels that Cornwell his written. At first you think it is a serial killer. Then Scarpetta with her expertise uncovers the efforts of the killer to mislead. This is one of Cornwell's "I can't put it down." By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"

Cornwell again proves why she's the one to beat in this genre. As always, a fantastic book, filled with twists and turns and characters you'd love to meet. Don't miss this one-I always forget that Cornwell started the CSI /forensic science craze and then I rediscover an early work like this and remember.

Do not start reading these books unless you have the money to buy all of them.

Patricia Cornwell is a master at weaving stories around her central character Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Her writing draws you right into the characters and they become almost family like. You can hardly wait to find out what happens next.

I've been reading the Kay Scarpetta series in order from book one, and if you are reading the series, by all means don't skip this one. That said, I got lost in some of the forensic details, I'm just not as up on my saw blades as I should be I suppose. As you can tell from the book jacket, there are murders where the bodies are dismembered, arms, legs and heads sawed off. There have been previous cases in Dublin, and in Virginia. The latest doesn't seem to match that killer though. (we never know who that killer is) The book goes on to a pox like virus and a national health emergency. The killer was introduced early on, but I didn't see the clues leading up to the revelation. But by then, I was just trying to keep up with the different scenarios and lost somewhere in the microbiology and saw blade details.

In a long running series such as this, there is bound to be a book that everyone doesn't connect with. It will not deter me from reading the next one.

I have read every Clive Cussler book. (I feel we're on a first-name basis!) Whether he's written it alone or with another author, they are always entertaining and of the can't-put-down-til-I-find-out-what-happens variety. My biggest praise is that he writes as someone from today, with a heart for the bygone era. He doesn't need to use blatant sex and vulgar swearing to get his message across. Just like the good, old movies, some things should be left to the imagination ... and Cussler does just that ... tastefully. With so much trash being published today, I'd love to meet him and shake his hand in thanks!

While I understand the appeal of formula novels, I was amazed at how bad this one actually is. I am all for suspension of disbelief - I love the ability to delve into unreality on occasion - but here the plot manipulation is pretty silly (though sometimes its fun) while the writing is downright pedantic. Writing oneself into a story is the supreme ego-trip, and to do so in such a strange and useless way just pushes into the absurd. Connecting the mythical/fiction (Jules Verne & Captain Nemo) with the historical (Viking exploration) is fine, but the writing simply doesn't support such an odd pairing. I was so glad to finish the book, just to be done with it.

This is the last Dirk Pitt book that I really liked. Every other book of his I've read after this one has just seemed to go downhill. This book is fun. It's the standard Dirk Pitt formula: something in the past happens for prolog, Dirk gets in way over his head, Dirk comes and saves the day, tons of action, and lots of fun. Good book for those looking for some good action and good story telling.

If you haven't read any of Cussler's work, this light read is a great starting place. There are elements in every Cussler text that every fan knows to look for. Dirk's autos, his ladies and that elusive appearance by Clive himself. I never miss a word. I am almost disappointed at the making of Sahara into a movie, that is not at all how I pictured Dirk.

At first I thought Vahalla Rising was going to be a great story, but then it went downhill from there. In the story Mr. Cussler creates the evil corporate CEO who is trying to get a monopoly on the oil industry by sinking or sabotaging rival imports. Then there is the account of how Vikings colonized New York. I could not find any connection between the plot and the Vikings. I plotted through the story looking for a connection that just wasn't there and the "magic" briefcase had me wondering if this was going to be a sci-fi story. If you haven't read any of Cussler's books I wouldn't recommend starting with this book. Overall, I was disappointed in the story, but I'll keep on reading others works by this creative writer.

This book should be used to teach an American reader the Japanese perspective before and during WWII. Bradley delves deep into historical Japanese views of America (many critics often confuse these views with the views of the author). Bradley cites specific American events the Japanese used and taught to justify their American hate, their militiary dedication, and their own manifest destiny. If you like to read history rarely taught in your everyday classroom, don't miss this one.

A book that goes into great detail about the Japanese-Korean_Chinese relationship before and during the war as well as the American_Japanese Relationship is the book 'Flyboys: A True Story of Courage ' . Yes the description says its about American Pilots, and yes it is. BUT the first 1/3 to half of the book intimately describes the Japanese-Korean_Chinese relationship and how the Japanese went from *stone age to massive war machine in only a few decades, It also explains the Japanese mentality back then and how they became like that and WHY. This is not just a book about some American Pilots. It is a (sometimes gruesome)detailed look into the origins of the pacific war and more important the Why's ...
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A book that goes into great detail about the Japanese-Korean_Chinese relationship before and during the war as well as the American_Japanese Relationship is the book 'Flyboys: A True Story of Courage ' . Yes the description says its about American Pilots, and yes it is. BUT the first 1/3 to half of the book intimately describes the Japanese-Korean_Chinese relationship and how the Japanese went from *stone age to massive war machine in only a few decades, It also explains the Japanese mentality back then and how they became like that and WHY. This is not just a book about some American Pilots. It is a (sometimes gruesome)detailed look into the origins of the pacific war and more important the Why's ...
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This book really surprised me. It was the first one I read by this author (and I will now certainly read Flags of Our Fathers), and I thought it would be a super-patriotic book about how brave the American airmen were and how awful the Japanese were to them. What really surprised me is that Bradley gives such a balanced view of the two sides in the war, and, while not favoring the Japanese in any way, helped me as a reader to understand the war from their perspective. It also pointed out how horrific and dehumanizing war is to soldiers on both sides who are fighting each other, and how they come to cease to view the enemy as human beings. I certainly came away from the book heartbroken over what happened to the American flyboys and how much their families suffered their loss. I also came away from the book convinced that one should be very wary when a government demonizes people on the other side of a conflict, and how important it is never to forget that all people are human beings with the same needs for love, family, security.

The author begins the book trashing America for its Indian policies in the 19th Century, but ignores how Indians brutalized each other when their Asian ancestors migrated to the Americas, and later. The issue is tangential to Japanese atrocities to American prisoners of war. Its an excuse to kick America.

Leave this bilge at the college where you teach.

This book had promise of telling a story that needed to be told of Japanese atrocities during WW2. However, the author was not focused in his efforts electing instead to tell the story of airpower in the military and trying to justif the actions of the Japanese by telling of what the Japanese held as US atrocities. In fact he himself indicates thet he might have crossed the line when he stopped just short of calling one naval aviator he interviewed a babykiller as a result of a mission he had flown. Interspersed within these pages was an effort to tell in very graphic detail the story of the death of several US Naval Aviators. Overall a poor experience and would cause me to stop and think before I read another one of his books

My first (and last) Cussler book. Appallingly awful. Purple prose, outlandish plot.

The story was very good but I was dissapointed that I was sent a library book & the cover wasn't in very good shape. The story itself was very exciting as is all of Clive Cussler's books.

I enjoyed the story and found it hard to put down. There is always an element of surprise to his stories. I especially enjoy the underwater element of exploration and discovery. Since being underwater is not in my element I find it interesting what others can and do find with the proper training. I hope they make this into a movie someday. I have read other Clive Cussler novels and find them all very informative and entertaining. Joan Sutton jvsutton@volcano.net

Well, actually Austin did not disappoint me, it is more on Mr. Cussler's side. Do not get me wrong, I am an avid Cussler fan. This is my third Austin novel and Nth for Pitt. It is a disaster finding, for reading this novel is not finding what you are actually finding for. Later Austin novels were much more refined.

A 2.5-3 star only for it is one of worst Cussler novels.

Although not a Dirk Pitt novel, this Kurt Austin book was action packed and had the general feel of most Clive Cussler books. I am a devoted Pitt fan, yet I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Cussler's writing. The archaeological expedition was intriguing.

Rufus Harms has been in a military prison for 25 years of a life sentence for killing a young girl. But he's been having flashbacks, and remembers now what really happened. So he sends an appeal to the Supreme Court.

Michael Fiske, a Supreme Court clerk, finds the appeal, which doesn't follow the proper procedures and should be turned down, but something about it interests him, so he takes it with him to check it out. One of the calls he makes is to his semi-estranged brother John, who's an ex-cop turned defense lawyer.

Before John returns the call, though, Michael is killed, and Sarah Evans, the Supreme Court clerk Michael had proposed to shortly before his death, contacts him, and they begin an investigation that brings them closer together and deeper in danger.

I really enjoyed the conspiracy plot, but the backstory and the Supreme Court tutorial went on too long and interrupted the story too much. It was interesting, but it really wasn't part of the story.

The romance plot, too, bugged me in spots. I had a very hard time understanding why Michael would propose to Sarah, when they'd only dated casually and hadn't even slept together. I also had trouble believing that Sarah fell in love with John at first glance.

But overall, the complex conspiracy and John's complex character saved the story for me.

My first Baldacci book and I enjoyed it. It is a fast paced and easy read. Good for the beach, airplane or bedtime. The truncated chapters and simple sentences are appropriate for the impatient attention span of the Internet generation! I hope his marriage is better than the cold, calculating interaction between the sexes, though! I will try other Baldacci "brainbusters".

Book arrived in excellent condition. I have not had the time to read it but it is next.

thank you

David Baldacci attended law school at the University of Virginia, and went on to work as a trial lawyer, and later as a corporate lawyer, in Washington, D.C. He is now a full-time writer whose best selling novels include Absolute Power, Total Control, The Winner and Saving Faith. He lives in Virginia with his wife and two children.

First published in 1998 this is yet another winner for the author, whose books are consistently good and have well thought out plots and believable and well-rounded characters. Baldacci has established himself as one of the best suspense thriller writers around at the moment.

Rufus Harms is an old hand at prison, he should be, he has been rotting there for the last 25 years for the brutal killing of a young girl. The he receives a letter smuggled into the jail by his brother. It reveals that a possible massive miscarriage of justice has occurred, something that threatens to blow the justice of the Supreme Court wide open . . .

Quite a good story with interesting characters and a well-paced plot.

I did have a few nits with it, though. (Mainly because I've made the same mistakes in my own writing. ^_^) The main one was the constant subject-verb, subject-verb, subject-verb sentences. Quite a few times I noticed over half the sentences in any one paragraph beginning with "he," "she," and the like. And, of course, once I saw that, I couldn't un-see it, so it bothered me for the remainder of the book. In general, the writing is good, but a little more variety in sentence structure would have been wonderful.

And I felt bad for John for losing his brother before being able to become friends with him again. There's quite a gulf between me and my own brother that I doubt will ever be bridged, but seeing it from an outsider's perspective is sad.

I would definitely read this author again.

I thought this was better than the Camel Club - & the plot was top notch. It took a while to get into it & though he tidied the 2 separate plot lines, it was still a bit disjointed. Sure - it was a bit 'fantastical' in places but then again it didn't make a difference to the overall story. Good effort - i look forward to the next installment.

This is the first Baldacci novel I've read, and I have to say I was surprised by the ham-handed narrative and dialogue. Every plot twist had to be immediately (and sometimes repeatedly) summarized and explained as if readers are incapable of making intelligent inferences. It was more like having someone retell a novel than reading it yourself. The plot was not as tight as I would expect from a NYT best selling author, but good execution can compensate for a pedestrian plot. This book lacked in both areas.

I bought this book for my husband many months ago, and just picked it up from his shelf to look at as a summer read. After two chapters, I couldn't put it down! Very well written, interesting, entertaining, and I love the cliff-hanger end. My next read will be The Camel Club.

I enjoy the book and really enjoy the crazy characters. It wasn't as good as "Simple Truth" or "The Winner", but still a fun read.

Besides THE COLLECTORS, I have read the following works of David Baldacci: THE WINNER, THE SIMPLE TRUTH, and THE CAMEL CLUB. I found most of these unmemorable. However because of the difficulty in following the storyline, I forced myself to read THE CAMEL CLUB twice. It took a long time to assess my problem with Baldacci's writing. Actually, it is the same problem that Americans have with watching a soccer game - slow scoring.

Baldacci includes simultaneous multiple major storylines. Each is seemingly unconnected and could easily become an independent novel. He takes these unconnected storylines and slowly weaves them together. A reader can become distracted and frustrated with the movement from one storyline to another. If one gets distracted, one will miss the connection when the diverse storylines emerge into a single coherent novel. It takes an extraordinary amount of writing talent to be successful with this approach.

As soon as I became adjusted to his writing style, the book was hard to put down. In the end, I have to say, THE COLLECTORS is the best novel I read this summer.

Based on the last page, it is clear that there will be a 3rd novel in this series.