The bootlegger by Clive Cussler

"The bootlegger" by Clive Cussler & Justin Scott. This book is published by Berkeley books in 2015 and has 435 pages. This is 7th book of Isaac Bell series.

It's 1920s America. Alcohol prohibition is in effect. Black market of alcohol is striving. Bootleggers are minting money. Joe Van Dorn is shot while chasing one of the bootleggers at sea. Isaac Bell takes charge of the Van Dorn detective agency temporarily to find out that Bootleggers have bribed and compromised some of the agency staff.

Who are the bootleggers? Why is Van Dorn after them? What will Isaac Bell find? Is there more to it than what meets the eyes?

The smuggling of alcohol from international waters using high speed small crafts, it's dilution and sale in black market, corruption & violence that comes with it are depicted in great detail. It was a thriving business in America in 1920s. People made millions in this business while spinning off other illegal businesses.

I was curious to know why a Clive Cussler thriller is based on prohibition and bootleggers. Certainly it doesn't have enough spice for a thriller. After reading it becomes clear that bootlegging is only tip of the iceberg and there is a more sinister plot. Here the Comintern, Russian communist propaganda arm for international operations, has stepped into bootlegging in order to mask the real agenda and finance it.

The story is fast paced. It involves daredevil adventures of Isaac Bell. In this book he pilots flying boat, high speed water craft and flying yacht. There is a beautiful lady on the wrong side who likes Isaac. There is a battle of wits, daredevilry, skills and agenda between Bell and the Bootlegger.

The story is fast. The book keeps you interested till the end. It's a high tech thriller of that period. Finally Isaac saves the day.

For a change locomotives and railroads do not play an important role in this Isaac Bell thriller.

If you like Cussler and Bell adventures, read it.

The Wrecker by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott

"The Wrecker" by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. This is the second book of Isaac Bell series.

Issac Bell works for Van Dorn detective agency. He is tall, handsome and comes from a wealthy family. Unlike other Cussler thrillers which revolve around the theme of water, Issac Bell series revolve around automobiles. The story takes place in 1906-07.

Southern Pacific rail road company engages Van Dorn detective agency to investigate the series of sabotages, to their rail roads, resulting in accidents caused by a person known only as 'The Wrecker'. Isaac Bell is in charge of the investigation.

The wrecker is an expert and master of disguise. He has left no eye witness alive to reveal his identity. Isaac Bell is working with very little to no information. Osgood Henessey, the president of railroad, is a demanding man with a very beautiful daughter, Lilian. Bell is already engaged.

It appears that the wrecker is targeting the cascade cutoff and does not want the railroad to reach the cascade canyon bridge.

Why is the wrecker targeting Southern Pacific rail road company? Who is the wrecker? Is he anarchist, union leader, a bitter person? Is there a bigger transcontinental conspiracy?

Identity of The Wrecker is revealed to the readers when the story is at 25%. The cat and mouse game between wrecker and Bell is played out very well. Wrecker knows that Bell is hunting him but Bell does not know who the wrecker is. This wrecker is always a few steps ahead. Bell's approach to the case, his dedication to the job and his deduction is supplemented by vast resources of his agency and  authorization to travel on any train or charter any train for this case. In absence of phones all matters are handled by wires (telegrams).

There are high speed travels and locomotive chases. Trains run at 110 kmph speed. Train connections are obtained by reversing travel direction, by chartering an engine or a train, by chasing train with car and so on.  The book also has a down hill, down river dash in a dug out canoe In the climax. The book is full of speed thrills.

Van Dorn detective agency has offices and agents in every American city. This sounds improbable more than 100 years ago. It's said that Cussler has based the agency on a real outfit of that time.

Although the story is of old times, it's still a thriller and is full of action. It includes sabotage, spy, accidents, murders, investigation, high stakes poker, knives, swords, gun fight, love, lust and betrayal. Although the book is 576 pages long, you don't get bored.

It's a period thriller. Recommend reading.