Iron Butterfly [Paperback]

Robert Brace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 2006

He can make women swoon and terrorists cry. An ex-special ops Marine, Lysander Dalton has been hired by a shadowy D.C. power player to find the purchasers of black market plutonium before they make an A-bomb out of it.

Dalton's got to follow the money. And it takes him from the British Virgin Islands to the Nevada compound of wealthy recluse Xerxes Antullis, who just may be the first individual citizen in history to go nuclear.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the second page-turning action thriller to feature former Marine special operations captain Lysander Dalton, Brace (Black Tiger) keeps up the bracing pace and the hero's winning, ironic voice from the first page. After escaping abduction and interrogation by unknown assailants, Dalton accepts an off-the-books job from a government bigwig to track down the would-be purchaser of a black market plutonium supply. Lysander follows the money from the British Virgin Islands to the Nevada stronghold of reclusive billionaire software tycoon Xerxes Antullis, leaving a trail of lusty women and foiled opponents behind him. A spiritual descendent of James Bond, though with considerably rougher edges, Lysander assembles the plot's puzzles while dodging bullets and seducing the ladies in this stylish blend of techno-thriller and action-adventure. Former Australian naval officer Brace, now a New York resident, writes with authority about weaponry, race cars and overseas money transfers, and gives his characters enough humanity to engage the reader's sympathies. With plenty of surprises in the layered story, Lysander's adventures deserve a wide readership. (Apr.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Jove (March 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515141186
• ISBN-13: 978-0515141184
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,569,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely satisfying thriller, June 14, 2006

By 

JB (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iron Butterfly (Paperback)

If you've ever read a paperback thriller at the beach or on a plane or on a rainy Sunday, enjoying the action and the fast pace, but wishing that the writing was of a higher standard, or the facts better researched, or the plot a little more believable, then this is the book for you.

The narrative is in the first person, and Lysander Dalton is an easy guy to listen to: he's smart and sophisticated and has a sense of humor - when he's explaining something, you nod your head in understanding. He likes fast cars and good booze and fine women, and has excellent taste in all three.

The story is multi-layered, and when these are revealed, one after the other, toward the end of the story, it's like a magician pulling rabbit after rabbit out of a hat. Never is a sleight of hand revealed - rare in paperback thrillers.

Pretty much anyone will enjoy this novel, but it will particularly please readers looking for something more stylish, more intelligent, and more artfully constructed than the usual book of this type.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an ex USMC spy thriller ala James Bond, April 29, 2006

By 

Marilyn Fisken (Brier, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Iron Butterfly (Paperback)

Both of Brace's books open with a bang and get better and more in depth as one reads further. However, in this book, I find it very hard to swallow the premise that our hero, Lysander, ex marine captain, court martialed, etc., would be presented - free - an exotic, antique automobile, presumably worth $15 mil., publicly, with TV cameras rolling, etc. and there is no questioning from any of the media as to just who is this person and why is he getting this very expensive auto? Where are the paparozzi?

Also, why is it that every stunning woman just falls over into his arms and his bed, or wants to end up there. He doesn't seem to be an Adonnis, so just what is his secret? This book kind of takes off on a James Bond type plot line. Why is this reclusive billionaire welcoming Mr. Dalton into his home, not just for an evening and to see the antique car, but for days. Not realistic and very hard to believe.

However, still a very fun read and well worth your time for a few hours good entertainment. I am looking forward to his next book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, well written thriller, May 11, 2006

By 

PDD (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iron Butterfly (Paperback)

The main character is an ex-Marin special forces officer. He is recruited by a Washington big shot (who is literally big: 300 lbs) to find some black market plutonium. Kind of James Bond, but without the fancy gadgets. He follows a long and entertaining path with eventually leads to the compound of Xerxes Antullis, a software billionaire living in the middle of the Nevada desert.

The main female character is a very stylish and capable gal.

Great story, and I don't want to give things away, but safe to say you never guess what is happening or what people's motives really are. When the twists are revealed, they don't seem forced: they just fit right in with what came before, you you wonder how you didn't get them yourself.

Very detailed technical descriptions, but these never get in the way of the fast pace and great interaction between characters. Highly recommended; I would love to see a movie made of this book.