The Spy

April 19, 2010
Set in 1908, bestseller Cussler and Scott's action-packed third adventure featuring Isaac Bell, head operative of the Van Dorn Detective Agency, leaves behind the railroad theme of the first two books (The Chase
and The Wrecker
), focusing instead on the espionage-riddled world of warship and armament manufacturing in the buildup to WWI. Someone is murdering the leading lights of America's naval research and development. When the indefatigable Bell looks into the supposed suicide of chief gun designer Arthur Langner, he uncovers a succession of possible international suspects, all of whom are attempting to disrupt America's development of a fleet of dreadnought battleships. Bell clashes with old enemies and new until the climactic battle, where he must stop a massive submarine attempting to sink the navy's newest battleship. The expanded area of interest will attract new readers to this exciting series in the Cussler franchise.

Starred review from May 1, 2010
It is 1908, and the dark clouds of World War I are beginning to gather. A naval arms race of epic proportions is under way, and the world's powers will stop at nothing to develop the best warships and, simultaneously, use deadly force to halt the development of other nations' navies. When several of America's leaders in naval technology are murdered, Isaac Bell ("The Chase; The Wrecker") and the Van Dorn Detective Agency are brought in to both solve the crimes and stop the killers. A consummate assassin simply named the Spy is behind it all, but whom does he serve and why? VERDICT As with the previous two Isaac Bell novels, this title is rich in period detail, features exciting chases and nasty villains, and is a great fun read. Since Cussler and Scott are dealing with history, the series cannot go over the top like so many of Cussler's futuristic novels. Better, Isaac Bell is a superb action hero who moves elegantly and lethally through the period. Highly recommended. [See "LJ" 2/1/10; for more summer thrillers, see Andrew Smith's "Short Takes: Summer Men's Fiction," p. 68.Ed.]Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2010
Cussler, who made a name for himself more than 30 years ago with his Dirk Pitt thrillers, has lately been working with a variety of coauthors. With Scott, he wrote the second Isaac Bell thriller, The Wrecker (2009), which followed The Chase (2007). The Bell series has constituted a definite comeback for Cussler, whose previous novels were starting to feel a bit lethargic. This latest Bell adventure, set in 1908, continues the hot streak. Bell, the private investigator who bears more than a passing similarity to Sherlock Holmes (hes a master of disguise with a keen intellect and a knack for seeing the truth behind the misdirection), is called in to consult on a case involving the apparent suicide of a top designer of military weapons. The dead mans daughter suspects foul play, and soon Bell is convinced shes right, but can he unmask the villains and keep himself alive? Well, of course he can, but the fun is in seeing how he does itand Cussler and Scott provide us with a ton of fun. This is a fine thriller, rich in character, period detail, and suspense.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)