1812 A Novel

 

1812

A Novel

By David Niven

A Forge Paperback

442 pg

 

First published in 1996, David Niven’s historical novel set against the tumultuous years of the War of 1812 is absolutely magnificent in capturing a crucial era in American history. This reviewer truly believes most students are naturally enraptured by the story of the American Revolution and it relates to the story of the birth our nation. Whereas, while continuing on through following decades, we faced the first actual challenge to that republic. A period that gets little attention in most classes. Except for a few paragraphs on the reasons behind the conflict, the mention of the Capital being burned and Andrew Jackson winning the Battle of New Orleans, little else is ever recalled or given any significant weight.

As a lifelong student of history, we were aware of our own lack of knowledge and eagerly picked up this tome. Though written as a novel for obvious dramatic purposes, Niven doesn’t stary from factual events and within these pages we learned lots more about soldier Winfield Scott and the battles fought in Canada against the British. All of which were totally a surprise to us. Then there is the political pitfalls President James Madison faced as most of the New England states were against the war and threatened to secede if it continued. That he managed to persevere is a testimony to his uncanny foresight in understanding the potential future for this new untested nation.

Finally, there’s Andrew Jackson, the backwoods fighter who dreamed of glory never realizing its true cost and the sacrifices it would demand of him and all Americans. 1812 is a captivating, exciting adventure with vivid battle sequences and insightful glimpses into the hearts of the men and women unwilling to abandon the goals of our Founding Fathers. It’s worth your time, dear reader. You’ll be the better for having read it.

CLIVE CUSSLER - THE SEA WOLVES

 

CLIVE CUSSLER – THE SEA WOLVES

By Jack Du Brul

Putnam Books

385 pgs

 

Of all the adventure pulp series the late Clive Cussler created, our favorite remains the Isaac Bell stories. Oh, we totally appreciated the Dirk Pitt tales. It’s always been our believe that they were the first in a resurgence of American pulp fiction. Still, the turn of the century setting established for professional Van Dorn Detective Bell appeals to our love of history. Cussler only ever penned the first Isaac Bell book, “The Chase.” The next eight were written by Justin Scott and he did a magnificent job with them. Now the baton has been handed off to Jack Du Brul, another “Cussler” writer. “The Sea Wolves” is his third Isaac Bell outing; making it the twelfth in the series.

As the drama begins, World War One is ravaging Europe, but President Woodrow Wilson is determined to keep the United States neutral. Still, he’s willing to aid our cousins, the British, with much needed war armament. Learning this, the German set about targeting these ships with their U-Boats patrolling the North Atlantic. Their retaliation is cautionary in that they only hunt British ships avoiding those flying the US Flag. Whereas their success rate of discovering and sinking those specific ships is uncanny. Enough so that a young Navy Officer, Joe Marchetti, suspects a German spy ring to be operating on the docks of New York harbor and responsible for identifying those ships to the German submarines.

Marchetti seeks out Bell’s help in not only finding the spies but determining exactly how they are getting their messages to the submarines. Once again, Du Brul narrates a suspenseful, fact moving thriller; at the same time capturing the feel of the period and the events that tragically led to America’s entry into the war. It’s a terrific read and highly recommended.

QUARRY'S RETURN

 

QUARRY’S RETURN

By Max Allan Collins

Hard Case Crime

213 pgs

 

One has to wonder at the twists and turns of fate when a writer of the baby-boomer generation (post World War II for you youngsters) is still writing about a hired gun well into his seventies. That’s Quarry, one of three series Collins whipped up a long…long…long time ago. That it is still around, never mind getting better like aged bourbon, is no small literary feat. Our best guess as to why; two things. One, Collins is such a damn good writer and two, his loyal readers know it and aren’t going anywhere.

In his last novel featuring his Quarry tale, Collins introduced his Vietnam veteran protagonist to the adult daughter he’d never known. After an awkward start, filial emotions rose to the surface when they were forced to save each other’s lives from some very bad people. In this follow up tale, Quarry learns Susan, his crime-writer daughter, has disappeared while doing research on a serial killer. This he learns from an old lover-colleague, a beautiful Japanese gal named Lu; his equal in death-dealing. The two of them make Bonnie and Clyde look like Hansel and Gretel.

It becomes obvious that Susan has run afoul of the very fiend behind the so-called Cheerleader Murders she is investigating. Unless Quarry and Lu can find her quickly, Susan will become the killer’s fourth victim. Collins weaves a fast-paced tale as his wonderfully mature couple question and shoot their way through a twisted puzzle, each well aware that the stamina and zeal of their youth exist only in melancholy backward glances.  

“Quarry’s Return” continues the quality of this series offering up both the drama and action we’ve come to expect from a master storyteller now at the height of his craft. Oh, if only more writers weren’t afraid of growing old.