The Chase

September 3, 2007
Cussler takes a breather from his several ongoing series with this historical thriller set in the western states, circa 1906. The U.S. government hires the renowned Van Dorn Detective Agency and its equally renowned lead agent, Isaac Bell, to capture the bank robber known as the Butcher Bandit. The Butcher has gunned down 38 men and women and two children, leaving behind neither witnesses nor clues. Bell heads the manhunt and finally figures out the Butcher's true identity, which is when the real chase begins. Unfortunately, Cussler's style is patterned on the clunky dialogue (“I pray you catch the murdering scum”) and improbable characters of the period's dime novels, and his in-depth research makes his descriptions sound like advertising. Once San Francisco gets hit by the 1906 earthquake and the principals climb aboard a pair of fire-breathing locomotives, the novel cranks up a head of steam and some high-speed thrills.

Starred review from September 1, 2007
Cussler takes a break from his various adventure series ("Dirk Pitt," "NUMA Files") to conjure up a historical standalone that will please longtime fans and thrill new ones. In 1906, the American West is still expanding. With the cities still distant from one another, a ruthless criminal nicknamed "The Butcher Bandit" takes advantage, robbing banks, killing all witnesses, and seemingly disappearing into thin air. Recruited to end the crime spree is Isaac Bell, one of the best outlaw hunters in the country. His adversary proves to be exceptionally cunning, and Bell will have a tough time not only proving the identity of the killer but also staying alive long enough to catch him. Cussler clearly had a lot of fun writing this. The details of early 20th-century America and the novel's thrill-a-minute pace will add another best seller to his résumé. Highly recommended for all popular fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 7/07.]Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2007
Cussler is the author or coauthor of 33 books, including 19 Dirk Pitt novels and 7 NUMA Files books. This latest adventure involves the hulk of a steam locomotive that comes to the surface of a lake in Montana in 1950. It contains the bodies of three men who died 44 years before. Flash back to 1906 and a two-year crime spree out west. Theres a series of bank robberies by an evil person who murders any witnesses. The government brings in a detective to solve the case, but soon the hunter becomes the hunted. As always, Cussler ties everything together in the end. The authors many fans probably know that at the start, but they will want to read the novel anyway.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)