Grave Descend

By: Michael Crichton, John Lange

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Diver James McGregor is used to exploring sunken ships. But there's something strange about the wreck of the Grave Descend. No one aboard tells quite the same story about what happened. Then there's the mysterious cargo they were carrying....

In one of the most beautiful places on Earth, a sinister plot is about to unfold. And if McGregor's not careful, he may find himself in over his head.

©1970 Constant c Productions, Inc.; Copyright renewed 2005 by CrichtonSun LLC. “John Lange” and “Grave Descend” are trademarks of CrichtonSun LLC, used under license. (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Island Intrigue

I love Michael Crichton books, we lost a gifted author much too soon. Having read some of his later novels, I was interested in reading his early books. This is my first of the "John Lange" books. A fast paced thrilling crime story that includes some of the extensive research that would later become a hallmark. Here it is a bit of medical and literary information. I enjoyed this book and the hero and his friend. Both were resourceful and more than a match for the equally smart villain. Many twists and turns abound with plot devices I didn't see coming. I also loved how the villain got his comeuppance. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audio book. Narrator Christopher Lane has the perfect storytelling voice and is great with accents. I highly enjoyed this early book.

Decent short thriller

I enjoyed the story and the characters were believable. It's definitely told in a way that worked when it was released but wouldn't be done today (the objectification of women for example wouldn't fly in 2019). I liked the lead character and for me that's critical in a story like this.

Classic Caribbean Mystery and Adventure

Chrichton shows his talent for weaving a compelling story. This story reminded me of those old Bold Adventure radio programs starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. A short read - I finished it in one afternoon.

Great escape!

You feel like you're there in Jamaica. Great story about intrigue and mystery set in a Caribbean setting. Near raider did an excellent job of Jamaican voices. Loved it!

Another good early Crichton novel

I've been getting caught up with Michael Crichton's early works. While I've found a few duds, these books are worth the listen. This one didn't have the scientific background but was an enjoyable read.

rain man

I like all the underwater books and some are good and some are not so good I think this one probably took the middle of the scale.

Early Michael Crichton writing as John Lange

Solid adventure mystery set in sunny Jamaica. We are following deep sea diver Mac Gregor who is hired to retrieve some items lost at high sea. From the beginning Mac Gregor doubts his employers motives and honesty, but follows along. This book is a good read but a far cry from Crichton's best sellers like Jurassic Park.

Narrator's performance is superb.

Good Short Story

Expected short story book

Simple characters, simple story, simple plot, but good enough; performance is really good though

More like "Grave Mistake"

I'd give it zero stars if I could. Dated, horrible, story. Listening was a waste of time. Narration of Caribbean characters sounded like cartoonish racial stereotypes.

This Has Everything

A tough, lone wolf hero
A tougher, trusted sidekick
A suave, wealthy villain
An assortment of disposable heavies
Lots of guns
Lots of sharks
An elaborate scheme
An exotic location
More than one pretty girl
The inevitable final showdown

Yeah, this is escapist entertainment. But it’s well-constructed, well written escapist entertainment. Even the sex scene—as inevitable as the final showdown—is handled with decorum. No more than what you’d expect from a potboiler that features epigraphs from Dr. Johnson.

There are two snags. Italian partisans couldn't ambush German detachments on Sicily in 1944; the Allies had conquered it the year before. And, while it makes for a neater, happier ending, the Jamaican police could hardly be ignorant of the currents surrounding their island. Of course, neither detail spoils the fun. And Christopher Lane’s performance rivals Simon Vance’s impeccable Bond recordings.

its okay quick read

not the best but for a 3 hour quick read it's not too bad don't expect a lot of depth for the volume wasn't really brilliant but okay