Customer Reviews

The Second Thirteen

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

 

 

If you like heart stopping, what-can-possibly-happen-next thrillers, you'll love this one. Move over Ludlum, Clancy and the other guys...Jim Turner's book is one of the best international thrillers I've read in a long time. Clever plot twists you haven't read elsewhere, a cast of intriguing and colorful characters, including those you'll love to love and those you'll love to hate, and an ending that will leave you hungry for more of James Houston Turner's writing, makes this book a great read! My suggestion: Don't start reading this book at 9:00 pm...you'll not be able to get up for work the next morning.

[The author's....] The Second Thirteen is an action-packed book that you can't put down! The characters draw you in and you feel as though you are one with them experiencing all the drama through which they go! I look forward to reading more of Jim's books. This book is well done and well written. END

This book is right up there with it's ability to keep you turning the page wanting to know what happens next. With this genre books start to get a little predictable. This one keeps delivering the surprises - the plot is full of twists and turns. I loved it and look forward to reading more Houston Turner books!

First, full disclosure: James Houston Turner was in my graduating class at Baldwin (Kansas) High School "back in the day." But this review has nothing to do with that ancient history.

"The Second Thirteen" is a truly international thriller, crossing nearly every continent and ocean on the globe. Though containing elements of espionage, this is no ordinary spy novel. A well-crafted story defying categorization, it is a literary roller-coaster ride of plot twists and turns, surprises and suspense. With the close of nearly every chapter I found myself having to recalibrate my expectations of where the story and the characters were going.

Turner draws not only on his first-hand knowledge of the old Soviet Union and his adopted homeland of Australia but also on an uncanny grasp of international finance, 20th Century world history and political chicanery. Be it geography, weaponry, international shipping, or a host of other potential pitfalls, James Houston Turner accurately and artfully weaves extraordinary detail into a challenging and scintillating tale of love, loyalty, betrayal, greed and courage.

The trans-Atlantic flight on which I read the book in its entirety was over before I realized it, so addicting was the novel. I'm looking forward to reading other volumes from this talented old friend.

James H. Turner has done it! He is up there with Ludlum and the others! I enjoyed turning each page to see what Turner would do next with his characters! This book is a must read for those who enjoy this genre! Kudos! to Jim!

Like Ludlum's books? Well, you might just LOVE James Houston's Turner's sequence of thrillers. This talented author breathes life into characters and masterfully creates a sense of place and a captivating plot in a very cinematic style. It's like the written word jumps out - GRABS the reader, and pulls him or her right through the pages of the book to experience all of the twists and turns with our hero, Talanov! Turner is a true gem of a writer, and he does what all great thriller writers do- he delivers a lot of adventure within a well framed story. I seriously hope someone has the sense to realize how well this would translate to the silver screen.