Crackdown: A Novel of Suspense [Paperback]

Bernard Cornwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2008

Paradise is the perfect escape for ex-Marine Nick Breakspear, captain of a charter yacht operation in the Bahamas, until he agrees to pilot a "detox cruise" for the drug-addled grown son and daughter of a powerful U.S. senator. Ambushed far from port, he is helpless to prevent the murder of a crew member by modern-day pirates who sink Nick's yacht before vanishing with the senator's kids. Having barely eluded death, Nick must immediately set sail for disaster once again. For there's a death to be avenged on the dark side of Eden, the senator is demanding that his lost children be found . . . and the woman Nick loves is being held prisoner by killers somewhere on Murder Cay.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cornwell has written effectively of modern ocean sailing ( Wildtrack ; Killer's Wake ) and military maritime adventure (the Sharpe series), but the combination doesn't succeed here. British ex-marine Nick Breakspear, who skippers charter boats out of the Bahamas, dreams of refurbishing a classic boat and sailing off with beautiful Ellen, ship cook and practicing celibate. On the verge of realizing his fantasy, he agrees to take the cokehead son and daughter of a U.S. senator on a cruise to kick their habits. The son forces a rendezvous at sea with vicious traficantes who sink the boat, kill a crew member and almost kill Nick and Ellen. Back on land Nick is persuaded by the senator, a presidential contender, to join a three-man raid against the heavily guarded island stronghold of the drug lords. Except for some strong passages on cocaine addiction, most of the book is unpersuasive, the characters almost cartoonish. 35,000 first printing; $60,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

8 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (May 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061438375
• ISBN-13: 978-0061438370
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #672,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Short of the Mark, July 15, 2008

By 

D. Farnham (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crackdown: A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)

Mr. Cornwell's historical novels are always spot on. Crackdown, like his other modern sailing novels, seems a bit of a pot boiler. The characters here are either stereotypical or too large for life. The plot is unlikely and contrived. Even so, as a sailing enthusiast who loves the Bahamas, I found the book enjoyable enough. Bring back Sharpie.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Predictable like "Scary Movie", September 27, 2006

By 

Jas B (Bellevue, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crackdown (The Thrillers #3) (Hardcover)

My wife and I both read this book and have the same view of it. It was very predictable, the characters were proclaimed to be one thing (Ellen: sceptical, cynical; Nick: ex-marine and tough) and then not act in that character. All the characters were fundamentally stupid and had to be scrunched into contrived situations from which dumb luck would extract them. The book was saved only by the portrayal of the cocaine/crack background and the settings. The characters weren't really necessary. BTW, I've read all the Sharpe, Saxon Chronicles, Aurthur, Grail Quest series as well as Copperhead and really enjoyed them. In other words, I'm a Cornwall fanboy.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Get it..read it...you'll like it at the very least!, August 10, 2011

By 

T. Mccormack "Telmac" (Fareham England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crackdown (Kindle Edition)

I like Bernard Cornwell, especially his forays into the world of Sharpe and the American Revolution and Civil War. Historically accurate novels with an adventure/thriller story intertwined in between the history lesson....always excellent. Wasn't too sure what I'd make of this one. In fact, I actually really enjoyed it, honestly. It's an adventure novel, a travelogue, a diversion from his usual stream but...I enjoyed it, It's a really great 'cruising book' while you are waiting for the cocktails to be mixed or lounging in the backyard, or on the train wishing you were sailing around the locales that Bernard bases this story around. It's an escape, an easy read and I loved it...end of chat.