The Last Climb: A Novel of Suspense

Rating:
Summary: Cosgrove attains a high peak with this political thriller
Review:

In 1965 Peru, internationally acclaimed mountain climber Jim Bridgman knows that his major climbing days are almost over now that he is forty. He leads a party trying to scale the impenetrable Nevada Viracocha, the highest point in the Andes. However, their attempt fails, leaving three men dead. A grieving Jim struggles with guilt, wondering if it might be time to go his Colorado home.

Before Jim can decide what to do next, Father Bartolome d'Annunzio hires him to escort the priest to an obscure legendary mountain village in the middle of the Indigene's sacred grounds. On his way back, Jim rescues an Indigene clan under vicious attack by the military. Though captured, Jim now knows his last climb is to aid the natives, who are being brutally destroyed.

THE LAST CLIMB is an individual's parabola that brings to life the peasant unrest in 1960's Peru. The story line is extremely colorful as the Peruvian geography, people, and cultures are vividly described within an exciting adventure. Jim is a wonderful character whose struggle for being brings humanity to the plot. The support cast from the different sides of the conflict (including the Norteamericanios) add depth as they propel the fast-paced story line forward. Thomas H. Cosgrove reaches the highest peaks with his debut blending of a South American political thriller wrapped inside a non-stop action novel.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Only the book title sounds suspenseful.
Review: I tried and tried to read along, but just failed to get any thrill. I would think that my daily climbing up a staircase to the bedroom on the second floor might be more exciting and dangerous since I got bad knees. Compare to a worse book--Lawrence Block's "Hit List," I could not but give this one a 2-stars rate.

Rating:
Summary: For the forth grader within you.
Review: I'm a climber who loves suspense novels, but if you read above a forth grade level, forget this one. Cosgrove's book is predictable and poorly written.