Member Reviews
This book continues the Clive Cussler tradition. It's action packed with non stop adventure. There is a nice dose of history to pull the reader into the plot.
I'm not ashamed of my love of Clive Cussler books. I mean, you get action/adventure and a dose of history as well. This was a fun addition to the Isaac Bell series, and I finished it in a night because it was so fast paced and fun.
The latest Isaac Bell adventure is one of my favorites in the long running series, as the Van Dorn detective races to unravel a daring heist that threatens to derail the launch of the new Federal Reserve system and destroy public confidence in the nascent national banking system. An easy enjoyable read with all of the familiar characters, with plenty of action and daring do, and an immersive plot that kept my interest from start to finish.
It is 1913 and Issac Bell, lead Investigator of the Van Dorn Detective Agency, is attending a meeting between President Woodrow Wilson and 12 prestigious bankers from around the nation, on the presidential yacht. His father being the banker from Boston. Woodrow Wilson wants to launch a federal bank backed by the newly set up federal reserve. These bankers are here, selected to head the new bank in their region.
There is a reason Isaac did not follow in his father's footsteps and become a banker. He quickly becomes bored and steps out of the meeting. On deck he sees an airplane approach from a distance. Having piloted a few he watches in interest. Then it flies overhead and drops an object. Bell is no longer bored! It is an insindiary and the plane recircles for a second attempt. Through quick action Bell neutralizes the threat. Who wants to kill the President?
This incident begins a chain of events that have Bell allowing himself to be believed dead as he follows a criminal as bad as any he has matched wits with in the past. It is imperative he stops his adversary. What would happen if the newly formed federal reserve was victim the of the biggest heist in history while still in its infancy?
Thank you to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the opportunity to enjoy thisbaction packed e-ARC
** “I guess if you’re going after the biggest score of greenbacks in history, it has to be the most meticulously planned heist.” **
Author Jack Du Brul continues the legacy of Clive Cussler’s Isaac Bell series with its 14th installment, “The Heist.”
Van Dorn Detective Agency’s lead detective Isaac Bell is on the presidential yacht for a special meeting to discuss the creation of the Federal Reserve Bank. But when an aerial attack hits, he finds himself drawn into a case deeper than the attempt on the yacht and its important members of the banking industry.
As he digs into the case, as well as into a mysterious death of an influential Rhode Island woman, he finds himself pulled into one of history’s greatest heists. Can Isaac solve the mystery, and possibly save America’s economy?
After the passing of Cussler, Du Brul does a seamless job of continuing Bell’s incredible story in “The Heist.” It features all our favorite characters, like Bell and his wife Marion, fellow detective Archie Abbott, and agency owner Joseph Van Dorn, as well as new characters, including a creepy Irishman, and historical characters like Woodrow Wilson and author Eliot Ness. He keeps the readers on the edge of their seats, all while creating a high-paced story with many stressful moments, yet also some comedic times too.
Fans of action-filled stories and historical novels will love “The Heist.”
Five stars out of five.
G.P. Putnam’s Sons provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
Clive Cussler The Heist - I did not know the CC had other writers doing a "Ludlum", writing books under the CC name. I found this book, my first non-CC read, just as entertaining, interesting and intriguing as if CC himself had written the story. The story lines, the variety of characters, the clean vocabulary, and the time period made for a well written tapestry of immersion that made it hard to put the book down. I laughed at what happened to the Irishman. A serendipitous find and not my last book of this series or a newly discovered author. Source: Netgalley. 5*
A big thank you to the publisher for letting me read the newest book in one of my all time favorite series by Clive Cussler, and for reminding me why this series is on that list, and here's why :
The character : Isaac Bell
Seen the different years come to life , as well as the characters themselves. The nonstop action that happens from the very start to the last page.
trains, boats, aeroplanes, historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, firearms, 1914, suspense, action-adventure, theft, thriller, gangs, mystery, riveting, explosive-devices, red-herrings*****
Not an unbiased review as I prefer the Isaac Bell (historical) series even over the Dirk Cussler series.
This seems to be Jack Du Brul's fourth in this series after beginning with 7 of the Oregon Files novels, but as he has co-written very well in the more modern-day series, it's all to the good. The thing of basic importance is the research, and he has done that as expertly as expected. Lots of familiar Van Dorn agents and friends as well as new people historically based in the new Treasury Department and Bureau of engraving. But don't forget a new assassin and more gangs! Greenbacks are the newest thing in US dollars and the banks need to do the in-person work. Before the funds can even get to the banks there is a well organized and creative bunch of crooks who steal the money and TRY to Take out Agent Bell. Nice try, fellas! Great hair-raising read.
I requested and received a temporary EARC from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley. Thank you also to copyright holder Sandecker RLLLP for continuing to back this Series and all the others. Yes, I do plan to add this to my audio collection.
Pub Date 07 May 2024 #IsaacBell14 #CliveCussler #BureauOfEngraving
Disappointed Clive Cussler is no longer writing the novels using his characters. This one read very close to his style, which was nice. It had the interesting characters and background and was an enjoyable read largely. It had both the strengths of his spirit and the weaknesses of a few drawn out “battle” and chase scenes. Some editing and cutting would have made the novel a a good read throughout. I found myself groaning when those scenes when on and on, Wanted more story and mystery that is what I read Cussler for. Not sure I will pick up another one, but then I seem to see anew one and pick it up.
This book features Isaac Bell. He is called to investigate a possible murder. An attack on the Presidents yacht, a daring robbery at the Federal Reserve. Could they be connected? Bell is chasing violent ruthless criminals who will stop at nothing. The action in this book starts from the first and takes you from the East coast to the Louisiana swamps. The story is fast paced and will definitely keep you turning the pages. A great addition to the series. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
Thanks to Jack Du Brul, Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for access to the advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the latest in the Jack Du Brul series and it does not disappoint. Set in the timeframe of the First World War, the action commences with an attack on the presidential yacht, and it doesn’t let down until the end. Fast paced and exciting, the book is entertaining and will be hard to put down. Recommended.
Due to a technical issue, review posted manually to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6140039772
The Van Dorn Agency has a motto of they always get their man. The book starts with Issac Bell taxed with a dilemma, who murdered the wife? He then goes on to solve other cases and finding soon that there is a link. This takes you from the Eastern Seaboard to the swamps of Louisiana. Highly recommend!
This is a great fast-paced action packed novel by Jack Du Brul! The Heist is definitely worth reading if you are looking for an exciting plot including a billion dollar bank heist and an heiress that is found dead, check this one out! I look forward to the next book!
Thank you tk Netgalley for this eArc for my honest review.
My first Issac Bell adventure by Clive Cussler and I am now a follower of this series. Taking place during the Woodrow Wilson administration while the Federal Reserve banking system is implemented, it’s a fast-paced murder mystery with a huge bank heist thrown in. Fascinating time and characters. I received an ARC from NetGalley, and the opinions expressed are my own.
Clive Cussler’s The Heist is a new Issac Bell adventure penned by Jack du Brul. Though Bell, star detective of the Van Dorn Detective Agency, in the early 1900’s, is my favorite Cussler series, this novel left me feeling that the character is losing just a bit of steam.
The story has all of the elements of a Cussler adventure, an airplane strafing bullets onto a ship board meeting of bank heads, I found the plot a bit slower than usual.
The opening mystery carefully solved by the detective had the feel of a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, and seemed misplaced and unrelated to the tale that followed it. Later the reader is shown that there is a connection, however that style made The Heist less of a page turner than it could have been.
Still, I am glad I read it, and no doubt will read the next one. My hope is that the next novel returns to form, to which this one is close.
Jack Du Brul did an excellent job with this action/suspense story about Detective Isaac Bell and finding the correlation between a death, an attack, and a suspicious heist. Between betrayals and plot twists, I couldn’t stop flipping the pages!
The Heist is a wild roller coaster of who done it! This is the first of the Isaac Bell series by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul that I have read. I will definitely be reading more! Just when you think you have figured out what is happening a new twist occurs throwing off Bell. The characters are well-written with just enough humor and sarcasm to keep the story entertaining. I highly recommend this book.
A group of twelve bankers meet on the President's yacht to discuss the particulars of setting up the Federal Reserve System. The president is called away due to his wife's illness and leaves the yacht. The yacht proceeds down the river and is attacked by an airplane dropping incendiary bombs. Isaac Bell is on board with his father, one of the bankers. He jumps into action and gets the water hoses going to put out the fire. Then he sees the plane coming around again so he breaks into the Arms cabinet and pulls out a Hotchkiss machine gun and fires on the plane. He hits the plane and its pilot and watches it go down in the Maryland countryside.
This is the beginning of a case for the Treasury department but Bell can't keep himself from thinking about it. Meanwhile he is called out to investigate a suspicious death in Rhode Island. This is the beginning that will touch these two cases in to a wild ride of a case. Dangers and near death experiences occur in rapid succession and the reader won't be able to put the story down.
This is a fabulous read. The author has expertly written a true sequel in this wonderful series.