Customer Reviews

Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Arctic Event (Covert-One)

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

 

 

An academic institution discovers a crashed bomber in the ice on Wednesday Island in the arctic. An investigation uncovers some startling revelations. The plane belongs to the Russians and carries a payload of 2000 lbs. of a biological agent that has the potential to wipe out the equivalent of the east coast of the United States. A team is assembled from the "club." There is Jon Smith MD, Randi Russell, a pilot and younger sister of Dr. Sophia Russell-Dr. Smith's deceased fiancee, Professor Valentina Metrace,an attractive weapons expert with a hidden past and Major Gregori Smyslov.
This team as well as teams of hostiles converge on the remote arctic island in competition for the powerful payload. The Russians have a secret to hide on the plane, and this secret adds to the dangers and suspense.
The book is well written and in a style suitable to a military thriller. There is plenty of action to carry the plot along and the interpersonal relationships of the team provide extra intrigue and interest. The author has a good command of military technology such as guns and planes, and this adds to the feeling of authenticity.
The one drawback concerns a lack of plausibility in one area. For such a powerful payload on this downed plane in the Arctic, it seems very unlikely to me that the government would limit itself to just the four people mentioned to secure it. The government has vastly greater resources. If the greater response were given, however, much of the plot and suspense would crumble. As long as one goes along with this premise of just four people then the book delivers suspense, intrigue and the interplay of some interesting personalities.The Griffon Trilogy

When a group of scientists working in the Canadian Arctic discover a crashed Russian aircraft, they little realize what an important cargo that airplane was transporting. The Russians contact the American government to arrange a joint investigative team, but they have agendas beyond what they are saying. Worse, there are other players in this little drama, players whose gain is the world's loss. It's up to Lt. Colonel John Smith (yeah, no kidding) and his team to find out what all is going on and secure the safety of the United States...that is, if they can stay alive!

Robert Ludlum (1927-2001) was the dean of the thriller book, and this book certainly shows why. The book was chockfull of action and adventure. The characters are a little larger than life as it were, but I suppose that that is all part and parcel of the thriller genre. I loved the setting, and I loved the action, which was very exciting. If you want a great thriller, then pick up The Arctic Event - you won't be disappointed!

I'm only 150 pages into the book, but I already find it a great fast paced story. As good as Ludlum and von Lustbader. Main character not as exiciting as Bourne , but a good change of pace.

Though ludlum didn't write the book the authors of the covert one novels have done a very good job of sticking to and expanding on the covert one novels. they always say the books a good stand alone novel but it really should be read in order. The recap in the begining of each book does grate a bit but thats what helps make each book a stand alone.

I thougt the story was OK, it had a lot of technicial errors that I had a problem with and thought the author should have known about. The Coast Guard does not have USS Ships, they have USCGC (United States Coast Guard Cutters) that the ice breaker is. A 420-foot Icebreaker is designated a WAGB. This technicial error just didn't do it for me. This is a big mistake for information that is on the web and could be found easily. Only three stars on this one.

Thanks!

The Covert-One novels are a rather poor series branded under the name of Robert Ludlum. To date they have been surprisingly poor with nothing to remind us of the best elements of Ludlum's writing. But this one is different, James Cobb (a good writer in his own right) has delivered an exciting thriller that actually...works.

An elderly Soviet bomber is discovered on a desolate lump of ice in the Canadian Arctic. It's cargo is known to a select few and contains a real threat to future world peace. As the Covert-One team head out to the Arctic, the Russians also send a secret Spetsnaz team and a rather nasty bunch of arms dealers also sense an opportunity....

This reminded me of both Ice Station Zebra and Matthew Reilly's excellent Ice Station (written before Reilly's writing went downhill) and it is a tight and well written thriller. The limited environment works and means there is more focus on plot and characters then the previous books which seemed to default to random and tedious car chases and shoot outs. Yep, it has one or two minor flaws but generally this is far better than I expected and the first Covert One novel I have enjoyed.

The is my first Covert One book and it delivers what you expect. It has a team of experts from an organization that is too secret for the CIA that gets all the really tough clandestine jobs. The plot keeps moving right along and has the required number of hot babes who can keep up with the male operators. Think it is above average for the genre. I enjoyed it. I read it on a cruise but would consider buying more of the series for my boring third world business trips. It won't disappoint.

Hard to put down from the first page onward. James Cobb is an excellent writer!

it was my first Covert One book and i have a nice time reading it.... specially if you like espionage and thriller....a fast read

Overall the book was entertaining, but not up to past Covert One reads. Can't put my finger on it, but it just seemed to lack something. Too many sophomoric sexual situations. Not a bad read if you are trying to keep up w/ the Covert One series, but don't expect too much.