The Wrecker

By: Clive Cussler

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 14 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

In The Chase, Clive Cussler introduced an electrifying new hero: the tall, lean, no-nonsense detective Isaac Bell, who, driven by his sense of justice, travels early-20th-century America pursuing thieves and killers - and sometimes criminals much worse.

It is 1907, a year of financial panic and labor unrest. Train wrecks, fires, and explosions sabotage the Southern Pacific Railroad's Cascades express line and, desperate, the railroad hires the fabled Van Dorn Detective Agency. Van Dorn sends in his best man, and Bell quickly discovers that a mysterious saboteur haunts the hobo jungles of the West, a man known as the Wrecker, who recruits accomplices from the down-and-out to attack the railroad, and then kills them afterward. The Wrecker traverses the vast spaces of the American West as if he had wings, striking wherever he pleases, causing untold damage and loss of human life. Who is he? What does he want? Is he a striker? An anarchist? A revolutionary determined to displace the "privileged few"? A criminal mastermind engineering some as yet unexplained scheme?

Whoever he is, whatever his motives, the Wrecker knows how to create maximum havoc, and Bell senses that he is far from done - that, in fact, the Wrecker is building up to a grand act unlike anything he has committed before. If Bell doesn't stop him in time, more than a railroad could be at risk - it could be the future of the entire country.

Filled with intricate plotting and dazzling set pieces, The Wrecker is one of the most entertaining thrillers in years.

©2009 Clive Cussler (P)2009 Penguin

Review

Where does The Wrecker rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

On a scale of 1 to 10 I would say it's about a 9

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Wrecker?

When The Wrecker walked several miles with a cross tie with dynamite on his back to put in the track to blow up the train

Which character – as performed by Scott Brick – was your favorite?

Isaac Bell

Any additional comments?

I enjoy listening to Scott Brick

Another Great Cussler Series

I am a long-time fan of Cussler's work, but had put off starting this series just because there are so many already. But I really liked this book, and the new characters were immediately comfortable. I especially liked the writing better than in some of 'his' other series, more laid back or something,

I am a tough rate, and rarely give 5 stars to anything. Only things that stopped me from giving this book 5 stars was a certain sense that time was hard to follow. Characters seemed to travel from coast to coast almost instantly without any consideration of the time that was actually needed. As much as they traveled, the adventure must have taken weeks, but it read like it all happened very quickly. Also, the numbers of people in the detective agency staff seemed a lot higher than I would have expected. They would turn up everywhere even though travel at that time was not easy or fast.

I'm nitpicking. It was a fun read.

And what can you say about Scott Brick? He is, as always, such a pleasure.

suspenful

Love it!! It was action packed throughout the whole book! The Wrecker keeps us on our toes.

Wonderful book!!!

Great characters and story lines!!!! Great narration. Keeps you guessing until the end. I highly recommend.

Wonderful historical action thriller!

Audible currently has all eight books in the Isaac Bell serieson sale for $4.95 each. Isaac Bell is the lead investigator for the Van Dorn Detective Agency, a national private detective firm. The series is set in the early 20th century and this book is set in 1907. Isaac Bell is the son of a fabulously wealthy Boston banker, but decides to become a detective rather than go into the family business.

The Wrecker, book 2 in the series, is about a man determined to keep the Southern Pacific Railroad from completing a railroad through the Cascade Mountains. His method is use of explosives and fire. He kills many people. The Van Dorn Agency is hired by the railroad to find the Wrecker and stop him.

This is a wonderful action thriller with lots of suspense. There is a poker game in the book that is worth the price of the novel.

Scott Brick narrates. That alone is reason enough to listen to The Wrecker.

Nice

I enjoy Clive Cussler's books a lot. Well done in my honest and humble opinion.

excellent story well read. i will continue to read

great story by Cussler as always. I look forward to hearing or reading other Bell adventures.

Wonderful action packed novel

Isaac Bell is a wonderful character in the early nineteen hundreds fake Brave and intelligent Detective with morals. very nice do the novel like this that is set in the early nineteen hundreds a little history. I'm a history buff so it's fun to read/ listen to books like these

Nice story

I used to live in the area so I could see in my head where it took place great story

Great Story

Scott Brick makes characters come to life, and this story is another example of his talent.
The Wrecker is also another good blending of history and fiction, making for a believable tale.