Wyatt's Hurricane [Paperback]

Desmond Bagley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2008

A U.S. Naval aircraft on a routine weather patrol in the Caribbean encounters 'Mabel', a ferocious hurricane that should, nevertheless, pass harmlessly among the islands. But David Wyatt, civilian weather expert, has developed a sixth sense about hurricanes and is convinced that Mabel will change course and strike the island of San Fernandez and its capital, St Pierre. Scientific evidence is against him, the Commander of the U.S. Base refuses to evacuate, and Wyatt's lone voice is finally overwhelmed when a rebellion against the tyrannical dictator who rules San Fernandez sweeps down on St Pierre. Wyatt is forced to pit himself against insuperable odds, aided only by a small and diverse group of English and American civilians - and by Hurricane Mabel herself.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Desmond Bagley was born in 1923, in Kendal, a rural town in England's scenic Lake District. He left school aged fourteen and worked for a number of years in the aircraft industry before embarking on an adventure - travelling to South Africa by road and supporting himself along the way by working in gold and asbestos mines. Bagley spent the Fifties in South Africa, working as a freelance journalist and critic, before moving to Italy with his wife, Margaret, and then to Guernsey. His first novel, The Golden Keel, was based on a true story overheard by Bagley in a bar in Johannesburg, about Mussolini's vast personal riches and the men who went looking for it. It was published in 1963 to great acclaim and followed by a further fifteen popular adventure ovels. Bgley's career spanned two decades and his influence can be seen in the work of several highly respected thriller writers. When he died, in 1983, his final novel, Juggernaut, was completed by his wife.

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: House of Stratus (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842320211
• ISBN-13: 978-1842320211
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,194,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wyatt's Hurricane will blow you away!!!, May 28, 2004

By 

scott roberts (Glens Falls, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wyatt's Hurricane (Paperback)

I've read this bagley thriller a number of times. It seems to get better every time I read it, this truly is a sign of a great writer. For anyone who enjoys a picturesqe dialog of characters and geography this is the book to read.Bagley depicts the characters in a way you can envision them and the geography of the plot as it unfolds. You feel as if you are going through the experience with the participants in the book. The Hurricane depiction is vivid, even if you have never been in a hurricane, you feel as though you are in one here. the plot lays out nicely, and moves along at a delicious, brisk pace. The characters are intriguing and very believable, you find yourself taking sides and empathizing with certain characters as the plot unfolds and thickens. Right to the end this is a page turner. Pick it up, but you won't be able to put it down. Good reading. Scott Roberts Glens Falls, NY USA

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Always a page turner, March 9, 2011

By 

Peter (Melbourne Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wyatt's Hurricane (Paperback)

Desmond Bagley was a very solid adventure genre writer. His skill was to deal with the common man in extraordinary situations and to discuss the heroism of the ordinary man.

In Wyatt's Hurricane, we meet Wyatt, a man who studies hurricanes and happens to live on a small island called San Fernandez. Hurricane Mabel is in the area but according to historical data, the island will be spared from the wrath of Mabel.

Which is fortunate as the island's dictator is fighting of a coup from a rebel army.

Wyatt senses that the hurricane is going to change course and decimate the island. Can he and his small team of people caught up in the coup survive? Can Wyatt convince the armies to stop fighting and go to high ground thereby saving their lives and the island's population?

The book is an easy read, Bagley being a master storyteller can weave his magic and keep you reading. I might nit-pick over his dialogue which always comes off as a bit wooden but in the end, the story is the thing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another adventure classic in the mould of 'High Citadel', December 27, 2009

By 

H. Jin (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wyatt's Hurricane (Paperback)

Hurricane Mabel lies hundreds of miles off the coast of San Fernandez (a thinly-disguised Haiti), and all computer models predict she will pass harmlessly by. But Dr David Wyatt has developed a sixth-sense about hurricanes, and believes she will change course and hit the poverty-stricken country head on, causing thousands of deaths. The US Navy is not convinced, and San Fernandez's brutal dictator Serrurier only cares about crushing the rebels challenging his rule. As the hurricane approaches, the country explodes in civil war as the rebels launch their assault. Cut off from help, Wyatt and his small group of companions now face a nightmare dilemma: stay put and get smashed by the hurricane, or flee and risk getting killed in the fighting....

In many ways, `Wyatt's Hurricane' repeats the formula of Bagley's previous classic `High Citadel': small group of protagonists drawn into an outside conflict, and torn between being caught up in the fighting or risking death due to the harsh environment. And it works just as well as his previous book. The diverse bunch of protagonists (Wyatt, a journalist, a writer, an airline hostess, a middle-aged woman, and a British diplomat) are all well drawn and quite realistic characters. And there are a number of subplots, with several characters becoming separated from the group and being forced to fend for themselves. There is a care and depth to the story and characters which is not always seen in adventure writing.

Fans of Bagley's writing (in particular his early works like `High Citadel' and `The Vivero Letter') will definitely enjoy this. It's also a very good place to start for readers who are new to Bagley. A great adventure book.