Customer Reviews

Scoundrel (The Thrillers #5)

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

 

 

I bought this because I have enjoyed Cornwell's Sharpe series. However, seeing that it had been published in the early 90's, I didn't have great hopes for it. I assumed it was one of Cornwell's lesser efforts that hadn't gotten wide distribution.

The story takes place during the Gulf War and concerns an American born (sometime) IRA member who is asked to transport gold to the US by boat so that the IRA can buy Stinger missles. However, there are some inconsistencies and seeming Arab connections that don't seem to fit into this story. The protagonist tries to figure out the true motives of all involved, plus he would like to double cross his employers and keep the gold.

This story reminded me of one of Jack Higgins' better stories. The characters are fairly well drawn and the story is an exciting one. Sure, there are a couple of parts in the story that one may question, but this is not meant to be great art. It is a darn good yarn, however.

This is a reprint of a 1992 novel by the author, and was a change of pace for the author, dealing with contemporary issues rather than historical. It is the type plot that one might expect from an author like Jack Higgins, but it is better written than the recent Higgins novels.

The plot goes through many surprising twists and turns. Phil Shanahan, an American living in Europe, has a business as a yacht surveyor and sometimes delivers boats to various locations for the owners. He has been asked to deliver a sailboat to Miami from somewhere in the Med. The catch is that the boat will have a special cargo of $5 million in gold coins that are to be smuggled into the country.

Nobody trusts anyone else, and Shanahan is suspicious of the assignment. Also, $5 million is a big temptation, and Shanahan has ways of creating new identities for people and boats, either of which can disappear.

There are Arab terrorists involved, Provisional IRA members, and a lot of assorted bystanders, all of whom are not what they seem to be. And there is the question of long-term deep undercover agents.

Shanahan gets in over his head, and plans do not work out as envisioned. There are some surprising final twists at the end.

The anti-American theme does raise a question in my mind. How, exactly, do you define American? It is like saying Asian, Black, Muslim, etc. All of those are very broad terms. The United States is a very complex country that has many parts and pieces that people from outside the country do not understand. The country has always been a large melting pot of people from diverse origins having diverse religious and political viewpoints, much more so than any other part of the world.

I enjoyed the Sharpe series, the Warlord Chronicles and other of Cornwell's work very much. I found this to be the weakest of the books he's written. I'm uncomfortable criticizing this author because I do love his work...however...I have come to expect more from him than I found in Scoundrel. I liked the premis of the plot, but it didn't ring true at all and maybe that is my most profound criticism.

Do I recommend the book? While not quite what I have come to expect from this author, I will tell you that if you are inclined to buy the book, follow that inclination. It's not a five-star work, but even flawed, it is entertaining.

This is a change of pace for Cornwell. He offers us a spy thriller this time, and he delivers! Set in the world of international terrorism, this was written more than 10 years ago and it is sadly relevant today due to events in recent memory for everybody.
It is a short book by thriller standards, but is packed with action, deception and interesting characters. Nothing is what it looks like. The book has a few "preachy" passages but overall it is good read.

Cornwell is best known for his historical fictions, which he excels at (I highly recommend the Holy Grail series). This first attempt at a contemporary thriller is quite admirable. The main character, Paul Shanahan, is quite the rogue and, therefore, enjoyable. Cornwell's writing experience is well demonstrated here. A nice little vacation or airport read.

Come on, for crying out loud! Is there anything this guy can't write?! I'm waiting for his cookbook... "I tore into the beast, hacking away with the thick, broad foot soldier's sword and then roasted marinated strips over the still burning heap that had once been my hovel and I sat on the rump of the rest of the gutted poached boar,chopping and adding two cloves of fresh garlic,a half cup of wild mushrooms,a sweet onion finely minced, and a dash of Port...'
Seriously, I wasn't sure what to expect with his thriller novels and really enjoyed this book. Cornwell is a talented writer, not a gifted one. And by that I mean that there are no gifts in this business. He has earned the recognition and respect of readers out there based on many long hours over the proverbial pen. This guy's very good because he works at it.
As for Scoundrel the first chapter will draw you in and that's the value of a good thriller- to pull us in and make you want to turn the page. Good plot, good character development, and really, really, good bad guys. Paul Shanahan is a good scoundrel and I'm sure we'll be seeing more of him.
Five stars easily.

This is Cornwell at his best a good yarn a good plot what more can you ask for

Bostonian Paul Shanahan is many things: part-time marine surveyor, smuggler, gunrunner, suspected CIA agent. A full-time scoundrel with ties to nothing and no one -- except to an ex-lover who died years before in a hail of bullets -- he has agreed to transport five million dollars in gold across the ocean by sailboat, money earmarked by the Irish Republican Army for the purchase of fifty-three Stinger missiles. Shanahan's instincts are telling him there's more to this deal below the surface and that he's not meant to survive after delivery. But, if he can elude British Intelligence and several terrorist organizations' most efficient killers -- and with only his life left to lose -- $5 million might just be enough to get a desperate rogue out of the game for good.

I was hoping for something on the same line as Dan Brown or Vince Flynn. This however was the rambling journal of a non-interesting man who I couldn't work up enough concern over whether he made it through or not.