Charon's Landing

Rating:
Summary: Mercer Is back strong as ever
Review: I just finished the unabridged audio book "Charon's Landing" I found the book a good read exciting, Hard to turn off. Jack B Du Brul takes you to many places in the world from Alaska to the deserts of the Middle East and the streets of England to name few. Character development is well done. The technical Aspect is explained well. The story is fast moving so much that I can't wait for his next book to see ware Philip Mercer takes us. Will it be deep into the bowels of the earth or the mysterious Orient? Maybe to the wondrous land down under. I think Jack B Du Brul is in a class that can stand between Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy at any BAR in the world

PAPA JIM

Rating:
Summary: A Great Sequel to continue a Great Series
Review: I thought that Vulcan's Forge was spectacular, but Charon's Landing is so ingenious, it beats the first book in all categories. Charon's Landing quite simply puts the formula seen in Vulcan's Forge to a new level. The result is a high-caliber adventure. If you're looking for some fun involving eco-terrorists and Arab conspirators, dazzling settings and high-octane action, an unforgettable protagonist and a gorgeous femme fatale, then you've found your book!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Sequel to continue a Great Series
Review: I thought that Vulcan's Forge was spectacular, but Charon's Landing is so ingenious, it beats the first book in all categories. Charon's Landing quite simply puts the formula seen in Vulcan's Forge to a new level. The result is a high-caliber adventure. If you're looking for some fun involving eco-terrorists and Arab conspirators, dazzling settings and high-octane action, an unforgettable protagonist and a gorgeous femme fatale, then you've found your book!

Rating:
Summary: Probably Worth Reading
Review: I was impressed with Du Brul's first novel and recommended it highly. This novel does not quite come up to the same standard as Vulcan's Forge. While the plot is good, the story moves much slower than Du Brul's previous outing. I was disappointed in the apparent glorification of alcohol in this story. It seems like every turn requires a drink! I still recommend the novel if for no reason other than to follow up on the hero of this series. I do like the writing style and will more than likely read other titles by this author just to see where it takes me. I'm just hoping that the next Du Brul novel I read will bring me the same excitement that Vulcan's Forge provided.

Rating:
Summary: Probably Worth Reading
Review: I was impressed with Du Brul's first novel and recommended it highly. This novel does not quite come up to the same standard as Vulcan's Forge. While the plot is good, the story moves much slower than Du Brul's previous outing. I was disappointed in the apparent glorification of alcohol in this story. It seems like every turn requires a drink! I still recommend the novel if for no reason other than to follow up on the hero of this series. I do like the writing style and will more than likely read other titles by this author just to see where it takes me. I'm just hoping that the next Du Brul novel I read will bring me the same excitement that Vulcan's Forge provided.

Rating:
Summary: Gratuitous graphic violence
Review: In Philip Mercer's second adventure he comes face-to-face with his Russian nemesis, Ivan Kerikov. The Russian is angry with Mercer for foiling his plan in VULCAN'S FORGE. He was forced to flee from Russia but not before stealing several Top Secret documents pertaining to Cold War plans. CHARON'S LANDING is one of the plans.

This latest scheme involves creating the biggest man made disaster in recorded history making the Exxon Valdez spill seem like spilt milk. Kerikov enlists and bankrolls a radical environmentalist group without telling them of his hidden agenda. The Russian is also teaming up with a group of Middle Eastern mercenaries for reasons that will be made clear later in the novel.

Mercer gets involved in this debacle through unforeseen circumstances. Together with a group of friends he witnesses a shipwreck that was not meant to be found. Kerikov in his haste orders everyone killed in order to prevent them to ruin his plans. Had he left them alone Mercer would have not been involved and therefore there would not have been any novel.

This book was a major disappointment compared to his previous novel. There is a lot of action, humor and suspense but the author went a bit overboard. There were several scenes of graphic violence in this book that seemed to be a bit gratuitous. The author can accomplish this better if he lets the reader's imagination take flight. We do not need a play by play action. Anyone who reads CHARON'S LANDING as their first Du Brul novel might be leery of trying his other novels. Only time will tell.

Rating:
Summary: Ugh...Boring and predictable
Review: Is there anything more boring and predictable than a hero who happens to be a mine engineer, and also happens to be a crack shot, a gutsy, two-fisted hard-drinking man of the world, a wizard at oratory, the owner of a stylish and sleek Jaguar, and the object of every woman's desire? James Bond has been done before and been done better. And the bad guys are Russians and Arabs. Yawn. Predictable from the word "Go". Of minor interest is the hero's (and presumably the author's) views on ecology. Apparently, attempts to reduce pollution and ecological hazards are direct subversions of the process of evolution. I told a friend of mine this once as a joke; I was startled to see it argued in all seriousness in print. Final point: This is a pale imitation of Clive Cussler, and I'm not saying that Clive Cussler's a genius or anything, but he can at least tell an entertaining story.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read!
Review: Jack B. Du Brul's second book, Charons Landing, is the first book I have read by this author. The Mercer series shows a lot of promise. Du Brul was very imaginative and weaves a good tale on par with Cussler's Pitt and Clancy's Ryan. No question I will go back an pick up the first Mercer book. I look forward to more from Mr. Du Brul.

Rating:
Summary: Jack is back, better than ¿Vulcan¿s Forge¿
Review: Jack Du Brul hit the ground running with last year's "Vulcan's Forge," and this newest entry in the Philip Mercer franchise builds upon the solid footings of Du Brul's first effort.

Oil is the source of all wealth and evil in Mercer's newest outing, where the geologist and mining expert is plunged into thwarting a trident of assaults on the environment and the economy of the entire globe. The action runs from the wilds of Alaska through suburban Washington D.C., with lightning strikes into the heart of London and the arid expanses of the Middle East. Du Brul weaves painstakingly researched details of mining, ecology, politics and technology through a well developed and fast-moving plot filled with believable characters with human traits and emotions. The talent he showed in "Vulcan's Forge" for writing action sequences has been honed to near perfection in this effort, and Mercer emerges as a fuller, more complex hero. With his cadre of supporting characters firmly in place and getting stronger with each appearance, Du Brul has built a foundation that should support many yarns for years to come.

Jack Du Brul has raised the bar for new thriller writers with "Charon's Landing." To be able to produce this level of entertainment after only two novels is amazing. If you missed "Vulcan's Forge," find it now and read it. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: WARNING: ACTION WITH DETAILS
Review: Jack DuBrul has produce a good one in this thriller. You might say it has romance, violence, and technology. But the story has too many subpolts for the average reader to follow through until the end. A good reader or a constant reader would probably enjoy this type of writing. I found this story somewhat difficult to follow with all its characters. Each chapter jumps back and forth among the story line. It make a good story a slow story in my opinion. In J.D. first book, Vulcan's Forge, the villian was Ivan Kerikov.

I am here to tell ya, Kerikov is back in this installment in Alaska. Kerikov joins forces with a renegade Arab oil minister to control the supply of oil. The Main character as we know, Phillip Mercer, saves the day and again get the girl, Aggie Johnson. Kerikov's fate was......well I can't tell ya here. I recommend this book, even if I say its a difficult read, you must read it for yourself. This is pure adventure like the famous Dirk Pitt character in Cussler's novels.

Overall with its difficult writing style flaws, I give it a 4 1/2 to 5 stars. I do plan to get his next book "THE MEDUSA STONE". I understand the Stone has better reviews.