Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have read Robert Ludlum's books about Covert One previously and the author, James H. Cobb has taken the characters that Ludlum created and wrote a very good story containing those characters. Lieutenant Colonel Jon Smith is a member of Covert One, a secret spy agency made up of top spooks from various agencies. They work together as teams when and where needed.

A random photo taken in the wilds of the Canadian Arctic contained the image of an airplane, vintage WW II and apparently Russian. This image started a hastily arranged covert operation to seek out this airplane that had disappeared with its crew some fifty-years ago. The Russians and the United States government joined forces to find this wreckage and seek out what had happened to cause this crash and what cargo was aboard. Smith, a medical doctor with the US army is teamed with an old acquaintance, Randi Russell, a CIA operative, and Valentina (Val) Metrace, Professor of History, to become the Covert One team to go and investigate the wreckage.

Major Gregori Smyslov was assigned by the Russian government to join with Jon Smith and his team. The cargo in the plane was sealed containers of Anthrax that no one knew the stability of it or what condition the plane was in after fifty-years. Also there was something very secret and urgent that the Russians had to find first and destroy. Major Smyslov was sworn to secrecy to the point of having orders to kill anyone that found this "secret" also, even if it was the Americans. The level of trust between the Covert One team and the Russian major was non-existent, at least to begin with. Unknown to any of this investigative team was that a group of rogue armament dealers were in search of the anthrax and would kill anyone that got in their way.

The above circumstances of trust or lack of it between the United States and Russian governments was always there as this mission got underway. The brutal weather conditions in that area of the world was not people friendly. They never knew when a storm would come up and stop any progress while trapping the groups where they were until the storm subsided. The only way to reach the area was by helicopter, airplane, or ice-cutting ships that sometimes could cut through to reach Wednesday Island, where all the activity occurred.

There were many mental and physical battles occurring making the reader eager to keep reading this fast paced story with lots of action. The struggle became a mental game for those involved. As you read you may think that some of the action is a bit predictable but the way it played out made your predictions waver and change as you read. The breakdown of communications becomes a huge part of the story. Knowing there was a support ship with helicopter crews and soldiers off the coast was comforting but not having communications at many times with them made things terrible. The land communications also were a struggle partly because of weather and partly because of sabotage.

That level of trust still wavered between the Russian and Covert One but at times that trust had to be strong, with the circumstances and the weather, continually presenting such a fierce enemy. Lots of strategic planning sometimes worked out but many times it backfired requiring the return to another plan, and that new plan had to be followed through at once.
This is a very good read. As I finished "The Arctic Event" I couldn't help but think that the author had a great platform for a series containing some of the same characters in the book. I hope this team of writers continues to give us more interesting and exciting reading.

Though I agree with the reviewer who thinks the title is missing a beat--how about "Arctic Jackpot?"--I don't agree with the reviewer for Publish Weekly. The premise of the plot is most credible, especially with the mentality of the Russians during the Cold War and Soviet experiments in biochemical weapons (the West was equally guilty), and those who close their eyes to the threat today's Putin poses to the world is living with their heads in the sand. James Cobb carries on Robert Ludlum's story plots with great entertainment, and it would seem the Covert One team is adding new members for future bone-chilling missions. An excellent read.

If you like "24" and action novels, and nothing too high brow then this is for you. Most of the other reviewers have detailed the story so I will not repeat it. Non stop action, good characters, good plot and a very quick read. Would make for a good episode of "24" set in the Artic. Makes for good reading on a long plane ride.

One of the most enjoyable and exciting of the "Covert One" series to date. An enthusiastic welcome to Valentina Matrice and to the likelehood of meeting Randi Russell once again in future adventures. Along with Jon Smith, they make one hell of a fine, and when necessary, deadly team! The story was exceptionally well told of fictional events that, regrettably, are not beyond the realm of possibility. Also, expect that possibly we might meet Major Gregori Smyslov in future adventures. That too would add to the diversity of a superb team of professionals committed to "protect and defend."

There is only one thing that prevents ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE ARCTIC EVENT from being perfect: the title. I'm not referring to the "Robert Ludlum's" portion, either; it's "The Arctic Event" part that is as exciting as one hand clapping. It conjures up the vision of a penguin giving birth. However, this latest installment of the Covert-One series, written by James H. Cobb, is otherwise a flawless locomotive ride from front to back --- a true thriller from beginning to end.

Once you get past the title, the book kicks off in grand fashion, with a team of researchers in the Arctic wilderness discovering the wreckage of an aircraft. With some embarrassment, the Russian government admits that the plane is one of theirs and that it disappeared with its crew more than a half-century ago carrying a deadly two-ton payload of anthrax. This is precisely the type of mission for which Covert-One was designed --- one requiring swiftness, effectiveness and, above all, secrecy --- so that the President of the United States dispatches a Covert-One team led by Colonel Jon Smith to the site.

Two other entities are at play, however. One is a ruthless international arms dealer who is ready for retirement and for whom the anthrax will provide the means for a comfortable pension. The other is a group of Russians bent on keeping the even deadlier secret involving the downed plane from being discovered. What is worse for Covert-One is that there is a traitor among them, making an already dangerous situation even deadlier as Covert-One is caught between two teams of highly trained adversaries and the weather, which proves to be the deadliest enemy of all.

Cobb is a marvel. He sets several clocks ticking along within his storyline so that just as one problem is resolved --- or not --- another two or three rear their dangerous, ugly heads. And while the plot would drive the story along quite nicely, the author also introduces a new player to the series: Valentina Metrace, an historian whose knowledge of weaponry is matched and even exceeded by her ability to use same. Intelligent, deadly and extremely attractive, who can possibly resist her? Not this reader, that's for sure. Hopefully she will appear in future volumes, as well as Cobb, who brings new life to an already lively series.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

i really enjoyed this book; and i am really glad that mr.cobb "is back" with his action writing. i bought the book because mr. cobb was listed as the writer.. and certainly was not disappointed. lets have more of mr. cobb..either in the Ludlum series or as his own books.

Just finished this yesterday. Almost couldn't put it down. It's like Robert Ludlum is still with us. Another "Covert One" adventure that is darn near perfect.

I listened to the audio version of this book on my MP3 player. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It had great sound effects to enhance a very fast-paced and captivating performance.

Good book, entertaining and a fast read. Almost as good as the original Robert Ludlum books.

Ok. New author, same result. A wonderfully entertaining romp in the Arctic.

The old characters make it easy to get into the book, and the new ones provide the extra ingredients in a great recipe of intrigue, excitement, and action.

Newcomers to the Covert-One series won't be disappointed, and won't feel like they've missed too much to follow along.

This is a great book for a long flight, or your vacation to someplace quiet. You really won't want to put it down.

Jon Smith more than measures up to the Ludlum hero tradition -- without some of the usual tragic weaknesses they were burdened with.

As for the hero riding off into the sunset with the girl... well, let's just say I'm sure there will be several more Covert-One books to come.

Cheers!