Customer Reviews

The Tiger Cruise

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Truly an exciting, spellbinding book. This author's style of writing is imaginative and unique. I loved the way he explains the "technotalk" to the reader within his characters. For example, when the professor at the seismo lab explains to his students what a deep focus earthquake is or how GPS is used to track earthquakes, he is, at the same time, explaining it to the reader.

The book takes off right from the start and keeps your undivided attention to the very last page. This is difficult for any author to do, much less a new one, and I commend Mr. Thompson for captivating his audience and not letting go. Just when I thought I had something figured out, a new twist or turn would pop up and I was again trying to figure out where the story would wind up. Believe me, it kept my attention where I did not want to put the book down. There are some very famous authors out there who tend to bog down the reader with too many intrinsic, technical details that can "break a story apart." Not true for Thompson. While there are plenty of technical details to go around in The Tiger Cruise, they are handled in such a way to just give you enough - and keep the story moving.

This is not a great novel, but it's damn close. I'll be looking for Thompson's next book, which is sure to come. Great job by a new, and yet unknown author, but not for long. Like the DJ in Tupelo said about Elvis after his first record, "this boy's going nation wide." So too is The Tiger Cruise, and Thompson.

The "tiger cruise" is a navy tradition where family and friends are invited aboard a naval vessel to gain first-hand experience at sea. The USS Woodbridge is a Los Angeles Class nuclear attack submarine out of Norfolk, Virginia on a routine two-day Tiger Cruise with 14 civilians aboard when there is a massive earthquake in the mid-Atlantic causing large title waves called "tsunamis" to strike the Eastern coastal regions of the United States. Iraq immediately deploys a mini-nuclear-submarine loaded with lethal Anthrax toward America. The U.S. Navy is crippled by the tidal waves and only the USS Woodbridge, itself a damaged submarine manned by a reduced crew and 14 family members, can stop the Iraqi invaders from unleashing their lethal attack on the stricken American landscape. The Tiger Cruise is an original, totally engaging, and uncomfortably plausible action/adventure yarn.

I don't usually leave reviews, but this book is the exception. I have never read a book that kept my interest like this one, down to the very last page. Talk about a page-turner, this is it. I look forward to Thompson's next book. I hope it's as half as good as this one was. I highly recommend The Tiger Cruise for an exciting read.

If they don't make a movie about this book, they're crazy. This book has movie written all over it. Exciting to the very last page and captivated by everyday Americans, who turn out to be the heroes of the story. Sound familiar? But, this book was written two years ago long before we all saw how brave and courageous Americans are. Just a great book and dynamite story. I agree with an earlier review, GENE HACKMAN is perfect for the lead - Knox Jones.

It is hard to believe that the author ever set foot on a submarine. His details are inaccurate. His acronyms are incorrect "COMSUBLAN and CINCLAN" stick in the craw of anyone who has ever been associated with these commands. General Quarters is a surface craft term that was never used on any submarine I was ever associated with, we used the term Battle Stations. When at Battle Stations all hands are at their stations so standing section watchs while at "general quarters" is not something that would take place. Since when did radio silence ever entail securing the receiver, it only refers to transmitting. The story theme is a good one, but the details are so inaccurate as to leave any submarine sailor wondering what planet this is taking place on.

Well, I had heard the phrase "tiger cruise" before but wasn't really sure what it was. I am now. Although I'm sure most tiger cruise's are not as exciting as the one depicted in this book (perhaps with the exception of the Greeneville incident), I wish I could place myself in the fictional story so brilliantly detailed in the book.

Tiger Cruise is one of the most exciting books I have ever read. I have to admit, the first 30 pages or so were somewhat of a struggle - most books take time to get moving - and I almost put it down. Well, I'm glad I didn't. I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! It was absolutely wonderful. The plot is outstanding, original and the characterization (although somewhat lacking for the antagonist, but understandable for a new author) was well done - especially for one Knox Jones. We'll see him again, I'm certain.

A truly wonderful reading experience; I anxiously await the next one.

The book took off on page 31 and didn't land until the last page. At that point I realized it was 4 a.m. The last author able to get my undivided attention was Clancy and that was too many years ago. Thompson is on his way. Don't let the inertia slow! On a lark, I purchased one of two of the Publishers Proofs. My son will love me for that some day! Moving quickly along, knowing I had the entire book and plot analyzed and figured out, BANG... had to go back and re-read... whats this? A twist I didn't catch?? Hasn't been an author in 20 years that has been able to do that to me until Mr. Thompson came along. Amazingly, I didn't have to suffer through 100 pages of detailed data that would put Poindexter to sleep. No "bogging points" in this reading. My hats off and I look forward with anticipation, to his next book. I'm willing to bet I will not be able to afford the next Publishers Proof! The bottom line.... Its the start of a long-term relationship with 100's of thousands of readers that love adventure and don't have the time to read 1000 pages. --This text refers to the Hard Cover edition.

Where has this book been for almost five years? Why haven't I heard about it before? Without a doubt this is one of the best thrillers I have ever read, maybe THE best. I bought it used because the cover got my attention and almost didn't read it had it not been for a long flight. That turned out to be one of the shortest flights I had ever taken. The time passed quickly because I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! Short chapters, great lead-ins, dynamite story, captivating characters and a surprising ending all add up to a very ejoyable reading experience.

This was an exciting novel. I could not put it down. I recommend this book for anyone interested in high-seas adventure.

Poor Written - Poorly Researched - Extremely naïve

In a nutshell - don't bother. But if you wanted to (an I did) it will be disappointing. The author has not researched any aspect of this. There are so many flaws that its surprising that any of the editorial / review staff even allowed it to be published in this form. I would not know where to start. The characters are described very poorly, the author keeps using the same words to describe the main protagonist. The key "drama" points are so poorly researched that is laughable. One example the super high tech, best technology sonar that being tested on the sub stops working due to a wave from the Tsunami and the error was a comment in a line of code. This is just not possible. Why did they not just restart (cold boot) the system. One more before I end, the mini sub they are chasing has only one torpedo and was fired at the US sub. The US sub fires 10 and misses all the time thinking they will be fired upon. Prior to this the US sub was in constant contact with HQ and they know the enemy sub only had one torpedo (the author mentioned thus fact several times in the book). In any normal scenario HQ would have given their sub all the information about the enemy sub as soon as it had the information.

Anyhow, I got this as part of a free download on my Kindle - and yes I spent the time reading it - what a disappointment.