The Spy (An Isaac Bell Adventure) [Hardcover]

Clive Cussler (Author), Justin Scott (Author)

Book Description

Series: An Isaac Bell Adventure | Publication Date: June 1, 2010

Detective Isaac Bell, hero of The Chase and The Wrecker, returns in the remarkable new adventure from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author.

It is 1908, and international tensions are mounting as the world plunges toward war. When a brilliant American battleship gun designer dies in a sensational apparent suicide, the man's grief-stricken daughter turns to the legendary Van Dorn Detective Agency to clear her father's name. Van Dorn puts his chief investigator on the case, and Isaac Bell soon realizes that the clues point not to suicide but to murder. And when more suspicious deaths follow, it becomes clear that someone-an elusive spy-is orchestrating the destruction of America's brightest technological minds... and the murders all connect to a top- secret project called Hull 44.

But that is just the beginning. As the intrigue deepens, Bell will find himself pitted against German, Japanese, and British spies, in a mission that encompasses dreadnought battleships, Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet, Chinatown, Hell's Kitchen, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Isaac Bell has certainly faced perilous situations before, but this time it is more than the future of his country that's at stake- it's the fate of the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set in 1908, bestseller Cussler and Scott's action-packed third adventure featuring Isaac Bell, head operative of the Van Dorn Detective Agency, leaves behind the railroad theme of the first two books (The Chase and The Wrecker), focusing instead on the espionage-riddled world of warship and armament manufacturing in the buildup to WWI. Someone is murdering the leading lights of America's naval research and development. When the indefatigable Bell looks into the supposed suicide of chief gun designer Arthur Langner, he uncovers a succession of possible international suspects, all of whom are attempting to disrupt America's development of a fleet of dreadnought battleships. Bell clashes with old enemies and new until the climactic battle, where he must stop a massive submarine attempting to sink the navy's newest battleship. The expanded area of interest will attract new readers to this exciting series in the Cussler franchise. (June)
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From Booklist

Cussler, who made a name for himself more than 30 years ago with his Dirk Pitt thrillers, has lately been working with a variety of coauthors. With Scott, he wrote the second Isaac Bell thriller, The Wrecker (2009), which followed The Chase (2007). The Bell series has constituted a definite comeback for Cussler, whose previous novels were starting to feel a bit lethargic. This latest Bell adventure, set in 1908, continues the hot streak. Bell, the private investigator who bears more than a passing similarity to Sherlock Holmes (he's a master of disguise with a keen intellect and a knack for seeing the truth behind the misdirection), is called in to consult on a case involving the apparent suicide of a top designer of military weapons. The dead man's daughter suspects foul play, and soon Bell is convinced she's right, but can he unmask the villains and keep himself alive? Well, of course he can, but the fun is in seeing how he does it—and Cussler and Scott provide us with a ton of fun. This is a fine thriller, rich in character, period detail, and suspense. --David Pitt

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1st edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399156437
• ISBN-13: 978-0399156434
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Clive Cussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt(R), in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler is an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers have discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In September, 1998, NUMA - which turns over all artifacts to state and Federal authorities, or donates them to museums and universities - launched its own web site for those wishing more information about maritime history or wishing to make donations to the organization.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler is also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He has been honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey, Black Wind, Treasure of Kahn and Arctic Drift (the last three with his son, Dirk Cussler) as well as The Chase; the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt (R) Revealed; the NUMA(R) Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death, Lost City, Polar Shift, The Navigator and Medusa (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch, Skeleton Coast, Plague Ship and Corsair (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler lives in Arizona.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

115 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Isaac Bell is the NEW Dirk Pitt--er, well, from a hundred years ago maybe..., June 2, 2010

By 

Jeff Edwards "RadioJeff" (Twin Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Spy (An Isaac Bell Adventure) (Hardcover)

Like many, I see the name 'Clive Cussler' and think immediately: Great action, storytelling and adventure all rolled into one...however, as all of Cusslers adventures take place either in the here & now or very near future, with the Isaac Bell series, he has taken us on a trip back to the turn of the previous century--for a large portion of Cussler fans, this is an arena we are quite unfamiliar with--at least through Clive's perspective anyway. I am very much a person focused on the present and/or near future. I LOVE new and technical gadgets (much to my wife's disappointment...) and when I realized that 'The Chase' was a stand-alone adventure novel by Cussler that takes place a hundred years ago--from beginning to end--I HAVE to admit, I wasn't all that excited to read it...

...THAT was a mistake. I should've known. Clive rarely lets me down--and even when he does, in general its still better than most other stuff from so-called action/adventure authors (the first 2 Oregon Files novels comes to mind...), but with the character of Isaac Bell, we get an entirely different kind of character...a detective who is every bit as cool in the early 1900's as Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin or Juan Cabrillo is in Post Y2K.

The Spy centers around the military in the years before America's entry into World War I. One of the premiere Battleship designers kills himself--or so it would seem. His daughter is absolutely convinced her Father did not commit suicide--and at this point, its no stretch to connect the dots that in fact he was murdered instead--but the question here is WHY? This is where the Van Dorn Detective Agency comes in. As Isaac begins the case, more deaths follow and evidence begins to mount that some inside 'Spy' is orchestrating everything...but to what end? Remember in 1908 we were quite a few years away from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 which sparked the origin of World War I, and wasn't until 1917 before America entered the War...so what is happening and why? More than one 'Spy' is featured here, too--which COULD'VE become rather convoluted quickly, but never fear, the course of 'The Spy' is charted and nobody goes off track. We see Germany involved, Britain and even the Japanese, and it ALL seems to be connected to some secret project involving American Dreadnought battleships.

For those who have turned away from the Isaac Bell novels of Cussler for one reason or another, I encourage you to re-think your reasoning. These are really FUN novels that provided me with hours of absolute entertainment. Some can argue that as Clive slowly enters retirement and has turned over the vast majority of his writing to Paul Kemprecos, Jack DuBrul, Dirk Cussler and here with Justin Scott (among others) that the 'Magic' has died and is nothing more than a shell of his former glory...well, I won't try to change your opinion, all I can say is this: I am VERY glad I got to know Isaac Bell and look forward to reading his next adventure, too. Hopefully you'll give these books a shot, I honestly think you'll like 'em.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cussler rings a different Bell., June 2, 2010

By 

Marcus A. Lewis (South El Monte, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spy (An Isaac Bell Adventure) (Hardcover)

I had been anticipating the release of this new Isaac Bell adventure even before I finished "The Wrecker" last year. Bell is a different kind of hero for Cussler fans to enjoy. A bit of Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin, and Juan Cabrillo rolled into one. Cussler and Smith have dispensed with the frame story format choosing instead to tell this story in real time. Don't expect locomotives either (Well, not entirely. A good portion of the story does take place in railway cars) because the plot of "The Spy" is about bigger guns.

The year is 1908 and the Van Dorn Detective Agency (think Pinkertons) has been hired to investigate what appears to be a suicide, but in fact turns out to be a murder. One of several deaths associated with the project to build Hull 44. The plot is quickly set in motion when agent Isaac Bell is assigned to the case. Bell is a lot like Sherlock Holmes, except in one crucial area: He has no Watson.

The novel is meant to be a period piece: some of the language is archaic; the graphics and chapter headings all have an antique-like look to them. You can tell considerable thought went into creating the feel of this book. I hope you will enjoy "The Spy" as much as I did.

If you have an eye for proofreading, you will also enjoy the many editing errors. What is the proper spelling of dreadnought? And what about Suisun City? Have fun!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not bad, June 21, 2010

By 

C. Peck (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Spy (An Isaac Bell Adventure) (Kindle Edition)

I'll keep this review short. If you're reading this, then you're likely familiar with Cussler novels and, hopefully, have already read "The Wrecker". I wont spoil anything, either.

I absolutely LOVED The Wrecker. This novel picks right up where Wrecker left off. Unfortunately, the characters are somewhat less interesting at first, but that changes later on. I also found the use of the mystery-identity criminal mastermind a bit TOO familiar... seeing as how THEY JUST DID THAT IN THE LAST BOOK (right down to the internal narrative of the bad guy thinking while he's in the room with Bell, but it could be one of 5 characters). Nevertheless, it kept things interesting.

All in all, as the story started to unfold my reading enthusiasm increased, and the climax seemed to happen all-too-early, but there was too much plot to be wrapped up. I felt like I was reading the finale-events forever. By the time it ended, I thought, "finally!".

Look, if you take my review as true, please understand that it definitely worth the read - do not skip it. I'm hoping they get back on track for the next in the series.