Customer Reviews

Operation Red Jericho: The Guild Specialists Book 1

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is possibly the best read I have had this year! Not only has Joshua Mowll created an amazing story (which harkens back to the old-time radio programs such as Jack Armstrong, Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police or The Air Adventures of Jimmy Allen), the design of the book, the fold-out illustrations, the internal illustrations are nothing short of beautiful, fascinating and inspiring, to say the very least. The story, a tale of a sister and brother who begin their adventure in the 1920s Far East, is fast-paced, action-oriented, wonderfully structured, and just 'plain fun' to read, and follows their journey with an uncle (a mysterious ship's captain) they have been shunted to while their parents have gone missing in Sinkiang region of China. The uncle, apparently the member of a secret society, leads them from one cliffhanging situation to another, and leaves the reader wanting and needing more. This is, apparently, the first of a trilogy. I've already read the story three times, and cannot get enough. And while you may find this novel in the Young Adult section of most bookstores, any adult would enjoy this fictional ride. Cheers to Mr. Mowll for this inventive book, creative style, and originally mysterious plot!

This book is a great read! It is fast paced and full of excitement! The book also contains great illustrations and foldouts full of diagrams and maps that greatly enhance the book. While it is true that it is a book for children, anyone who enjoys a great adventure story in the style on a Indiana Jones movie will love this book!

This book is an exellent read for all ages 10 and up.The story is a little hard to follow toward the beginning,I thought.The outline of this book is this:A 15 year old girl and her 13 year old brother are caught up in a sea battle with their captain's enemy,Sheng-fat.There are some cuss words in the story.The four fold-out maps are extremely detailed.They show the insides of ships,the fighting techniques of the Sujing Quantou,and a map of Wenzi Island.Also,I'd say that 10%-15% of the book has other artifact photos,maps,plans,and pictures from the 13 year old's sketch book.There are also journal entries from the 15 year old's journal.This book is definently worth the money.The hard cover version is awesome.The extra foldouts are very helpful in understanding the story.This book is written in third person and has 271 pages.An exeptional book!

Marketed as a Young Adult novel, this might not be read my many adults, and that is too bad. It is an excellent book, and one that made me realize just how much I still enjoy reading adventure novels. Very few "novels for adults" contain this much pure fun. I'd rank this up there with Kenneth Opell's AIRBORN.

I am a fan of the indiana jones character so I naturally have been looking for adventure novels for a while. I've read Clive Cussler along with countless other adventure novelists and I have to say that Joshua Mowll is just as good. He makese the book exciting with all of the action that takes place and add's in a good amount of science.The mysterious Honorable Guild of Specialists adds a touch of intrigue to the story. The characters all have great, realistic personalities and the fight between Captian Fitzroy McKenzie and Sheng Fat keeps the spirit of good versus evil alive. I'd recommed this great novel to anyone.

Let me tell you: I just finished this book [...] I would love to see an interactive site. It's just the sort of thing to tide me over until the next installment is out.

This work may be listed as a children's book, but it's fabulous for any young boy or girl whose looking to experience adventure! Heck! I'm thirty, and I loved it! I will relish the day that I get to read books like these to my children. This is the sort of book that will get children interested in reading. It's fun, fast paced, and intriguing.

A real joy to read.

Note: This book is written for kids but I'm an adult. Sorry.

I really wanted to like this book more. I came across it in the book store several months ago and it seemed really cool. The design, layout and entire package are top notch.

Now I've read it and I'm not such a fan. The story itself is good, as are the settings, and the illustrations are great. But the two young heroes really put me off. I just plain didn't like them. They were whiny, dishonest brats. There was nothing endearing about them at all to me and it was a chore to stick with the book until it got going. Believe me, I fully understand what the author was trying to do, and it's not like the hero always needs to be a great person, but I don't think he pulled off the balance that's necessary (for me anyway) for characters like this. Time and time again, Doug and Becca, the young heroes, break rules (and laws) and go against the direct orders of people who are trying to help them, then they have the audacity to be angry over the consequences. And then they turn right around and do it again... and again... and again. Do they ever learn their lesson? No. In fact, at the end of the book they make a pact to CONTINUE DOING IT. To be sure, there are times when this leads them into a positive outcome, but just as often it causes that problem to begin with. And it's not like following the rules and direct orders would have resulted in defeat, so the attitude of "you're lucky we disobeyed our orders, because the bad guys would have won if we didn't" is wrong.

You might be thinking, "the Potter kids disobey and break rules too," and you're right. But, and this is important, they tend to only do it after exhausting other avenues. For example, Harry almost always tries to get help from Dumbledore or the proper authorities first. He's a little mischievous at heart, but he's honest and tries to do the right thing. And he surely hasn't made a pact amongst his freinds to deliberately disobey the people who are trying to help him.

I got the feeling that the author expects the reader to proud of Doug and Becca's rebellious nature, but it thoroughly annoyed me. They weren't "thinking for themselves," they were "thinking only about themselves," which is a very different and less noble thing. And their back-story, I won't spoil it but it has to do with their parents, doesn't excuse or give me any sympathy for their actions. They are, quite simply, a bad example for kids to follow.

Judging from the other reviews here I have a feeling I'm in the minority, but I figured a differing view might be helpful to some prospective readers.

This book is one of the best reads to come along in quite some time. From concept design to execution the book is a delight to the eye and to the soul. A gripping original story line, setting, characters, illustrations, fold-out maps and diagrams make this book a MUST READ for both children and adults. Mowll's writing is some of the best writing to be found in this genre. Why this book has not gotten more media attention is the greatest mystery. I write and illustrate children's books and this is one that holds a place of honor in my library. I'm counting the days until the second book is released!

This is a Childs book, but written in a curiously adult way. Consequently the characters are to say a little one dimensional (Good guys are good, bad guys are bad, and plenty of cannon fodder in between!), but the historical/geographical context in which the book is set is extremely captivating. The presentation of the book is superb, with excellent facsimile documents and photographs, made to look like a real journal, beautiful fold out maps and schematics of Ships, and submarines, captivate me now, never mind as a child. The story is fast paced and has an authenticity to it. A real Indiana Jones meets the league of extraordinary gentlemen. Enough to stimulate the imagination of any reader.

It make be called a children's book but it is a teenager-young adult book because not everthing happens how you expect it to like in the Harry Potter. I loved reading it! I always moaned when class was over because i had to stop reading it. But it is about a brother and sister who have just been sent to live with there uncle on the ship the "Expediant". Well on the ship they find out about a secret organzation called the Hourable Guild of Specialists (which there parents and uncle are voluntered in). And this starts an adventure to find an ancient tecnolgy.