Customer Reviews

Leviathan (Event Group Adventure, Bk 4)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Let me say I absolutely LOVED 'Event'...what a great first novel. I've introduced countless friends and radio listeners to this book and so far, each one of them have let me know that I made a great recommendation. When I heard a sequel was coming, well, you can imagine my interest and excitement. Unfortunately, 'Legend' wasn't quite as all-out entertaining, but still fun. 'Ancients' was slightly less so than 'Legend' and I was beginning to worry that the vast majority of creative steam of this author was already spent.

I was wrong. 'Leviathan' is at first, the most full-bore exciting novel I've read so far in the last couple months. Sure, its unbelievable--but guess what? I simply don't care. The story begins way back in the early 1800's and lays the groundwork for a fun and let me say, VERY action oriented tale. I must say that another reviewer got it absolutely correct by saying 'Leviathan' was written a bit differently than the first 3 books...and by that, let me explain: It kind of reminded me what an adventure tale would be like had it been written by Tom Clancy. I hope that makes sense.

A chunk of the story is spent inside the hull of a submarine, and if nothing else, I am a HUGE fan of sub stories--especially the well-told really fun ones. Oh yeah, I can't say for certain, but the storyline in part seems to pay tribute to Jules Verne, and I must say, all done very well, too. I believe Mr. Verne would be proud.

The inclusion of a traitor was a nice touch--and certainly ratcheted up the tension quite a bit (where it was already at to begin with). While I wouldn't say that 'Leviathan' breaks new ground by any stretch, what really counts as far as I am concerned, is quite simply this: did I feel that my money was well spent by purchasing the book? The answer is an absolute YES. For those 'Event' fans who are on the fence regarding giving this one a try...? Go ahead and take the plunge. I still feel the original 'Event' is the best in this series, but 'Leviathan' makes it a close second.

David Golemon comes back stronger than ever in this fourth fabulous installment of The Event Group stories. When you open Leviathan, you will find yourself in the immediate spot where the author left us off in The Ancients. The time is just a few weeks later after that roller coaster ride in Atlantis that left us minus one key player and our favorite action hero. Leviathan starts off with an intriguing prologue of a past story in the year 1802, that gives us the flavor of The Count of Monte Cristo and offers the reader something a bit different in style to Golemons' norm. This Event Group novel is written a bit differently than the previous three books in that although we maintain the high tech military black ops action scenes, with all Golemon's favorite big boy toys, the action is more realistic and the writing a bit more polished and literary to create one hell of a darn good novel. Books one and two had us diving for cover with some pretty scary monsters that had us all terrified yet craving for more. This episode gives us creatures as well, sentient and magical one moment, mischievous and murderous the next as they plot revenge against mankind.

Leviathan's main theme is a mysterious anomaly found in the ocean's depths. Golemon turns this story into a clever and creative twist on Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. A Swedish family of genius level scientists have been creating monstrous submarines with technology far advanced than our current world has the capacity to create. The current Captain of the Leviathan is a female descendant of the original inventor and is now cruising the worlds' seas hell-bent on warning the nations of earth that if they do not clean up their act, and stop global oil spillage and polluting the oceans, she will wreak havoc detonating multiple missiles in many world sea ports. Guilty parties are to immediately cease their ships from leaving their harbors with dangerous toxic wastes currently harming and killing many species of sea life, including her own. The reader is kept on pins and needles throughout this fantastical nautical yarn and is left right up to the finale still questioning who and what this beautiful yet volatile Captain Nemo-like mistress of the sea is.

The wonders of the mechanics and technology of this super sub are very cool entertainment ingredients, and the story packs in the usual humor, adventure, and action that the Event Group series usually provides. A bit of Tom Clancy, a dash of James Rollins, sprinkled with Alexander Dumas and my beloved Jules Verne, and a mysterious organism akin to what made all Stargate fans cringe, all stir up a rip-roaring page turning thriller that I believe is one of the best of the series yet. Golemon has not let us down and continues to show us that his talent is here for the long haul as each book gets better and better. Even a little tender sweet romance graces Leviathan showing us the author has a soft spot along with his love of high tech weaponry, military vehicles and futuristic sci-fi gadgetry. Two thumbs up, this was fantastic from start to finish.

What a WILD RIDE! I'm a HUGE fan of thrillers and this one hits the spot dead on. I hated this book to end. I looked forward every day to reading a couple of chapters trying to make it last longer. I liked the way Goleman starts the beginning of the book, rewriting history a little bit as a "What If" twist to it. I'm not into writing reviews much, but he deserves some press. I liked his other 3 books also, Event, Legends, Ancients. I also read james Rollins, Vince Flynn, Daniel Silva, etc. The author Goleman reminds me of is another upstart, Jeremy Robinson. Great imaginations. LOVE IT!


P.S. I'll be waiting for the return of "Matchstick" Mr. Goleman!

After reading Ancients i've been waiting for this book i was sure would follow. If you've read Ancients, Leviathan is a must read and you will not be able to put this one down either. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next. Simply Amazing.

The Event Group returns in another pulse-pounding adventure! An undersea vessel, The Leviathan, is wreaking havoc on the seas, and the Event Group is called in. Golemon begins by paying homage to the works of Alexandre Dumas and Jules Verne. The opening of the prologue is very much like the Count of Monte Cristo, which is a bit jarring, but also intriguing,and lays the foundation for a novel which gives a new treatment to elements of a classic story.

As with Golemon's previous novels, the story progresses at a rapid pace, blending historical mystery with elements of adventure and military thriller. What makes this book stand out are the twists. The crew of The Leviathan, though perpetrating evil acts, do have an understandable motivation- defense of the seas, which the world has been abusing for years. Also ratcheting up the tension is a traitor in the midst of the Event Group. Other strengths include a memorable villain, and a marked improvement in Golemon's writing.

Leviathan is Golemon's finest work to-date, and is one of the top thrillers of the year. Don't miss it!

David Golemon's 4th EVENT novel is our 2nd best of the series thus far, with the 2nd - LEGEND - still being our top novel thus far.

But we liked his last novel - Ancients - unlike alot of other fan reviewers, but Leviathan does manage to rise above his last book because Golemon returns with multiple mythical concepts here and manages to do what he does best - mesh them all together with a super-charged, suspenseful, action-packed novel chock-full of interesting up-to-date resurrections of such classics from Jules Verne's Captain Nemo to Dumont's Count of Monte Cristo.

And of course another reason for us liking this latest novel more than the last is the return of the colorful and cool French spymaster, Farbeaux, the Event group's nemesis.

Golemon deftly weaves another wonderful and exciting tale here, starting out as he always does, in the distant past, then bringing the reader to the present, showing how the events of the past changes the future - for a rollercoaster ride on land, air, and the deepest seas, replete with spices of sci-fi that make the reader turn the pages until the late hours of the night.

If you haven't discovered this solid writer yet, do yourself a favor and do so.

I loved the first two books in the series...and while the third, Ancients, was also excellent, I thought something was missing from it, and I finally figured it out...we didn't have any strange "creatures" in that one. I must not have been the only with this thought, because he did not dissapoint in his fourth novel - our creepy creatures are back, and more captivating than ever. I hope that those who were dissapointed in Ancients have not given up on the series...the author has redeemed himself 150% here. Somehow, these "creatures" were far more creepy that the previous ones. I felt more "chills" from this one than from any of the previous books.


I, too, noticed the two or the typos; but, really, it does not take away from the overall effect. And I really love the characters, most especially our noble villian, the french Colonel (who was also missing from the last book). And it's possible that I missed it, as I have a tendancy to skim/speed read, but I don't think we've ever gotten a physical description of any of our main characters, other that the fact that Ryan and Sarah are short, Mendenhall African American, and Everett a large blond man. But maybe that's ok...it lets us picture them any way we want :)

It is also somewhat fitting that this deals with the destruction of the earth's seas/sea life through industrial waste and the petroleum industry. Make us wonder what the author knows about oil drilling in the gulf that we don't, as this was written before the BP oil disaster.

I really need to reread this...I was so concerned with making sure that Collins made it through his ordeal from the last book that I skimmed through a great deal of the beginning, probably missing some important details.

All in all, Mr. Goleman has created a series that should appeal to a broad spectrum of readers...military, archaeology/mythology, and action/adventure types should all find something to love. There's even a little bit of romance. And, unlike some other books in the action/adventure genre, he doesn't through around the f-word. And no sex, either, though I wouldn't mind having a little bit more info about the collins/sarah romance. And whatever happened to Mr. Ryan's romance with that woman from the first novel?

Eagerly awaiting the next installment, and I would love to see a movie made from the first novel!

I have now read and passed on to my son and grandson all the Event Group books, which this one is the last of the group so far!! We all loved this one because we have all seen 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea!!!

I'd reccomend it

This was another excellent addition to the Event series. A page turning, twisting, thoughtful book in an undersea setting. Environmental concerns wrapped in a riveting storyline with sci fi overtones. I absolutely loved it!

If you love Clive Cussler's adventures or James Rollins' Sigma Force books, you should give David Golemon a try. The Event Group is a lot like Sigma Force and Jack Collins is a tough action hero. They investigate historical 'events' that affect the present day and go into action whenever and wherever needed. Leviathan is my favorite in the series, with lots of action and a touch of Jules Verne.