The Bootlegger

By: Clive Cussler, Justin Scott

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

Detective Isaac Bell returns in the extraordinary new adventure in The New York Times' best-selling series.

It is 1920, and both Prohibition and bootlegging are in full swing. When Isaac Bell’s boss and lifelong friend Joseph Van Dorn is shot and nearly killed leading the high-speed chase of a rum-running vessel, Bell swears to him that he will hunt down the lawbreakers, but he doesn’t know what he is getting into. When a witness to Van Dorn’s shooting is executed in a ruthlessly efficient manner invented by the Russian secret police, it becomes clear that these are no ordinary criminals. Bell is up against a team of Bolshevik assassins and saboteurs - and they are intent on overthrowing the government of the United States.

©2014 Clive Cussler (P)2014 Penguin Audio

You will not be disappointed in this one!

I found this a fun fast listen, the look inside what it must have been like during prohibition was fun. (If you are a fan of Clive Cussler books you will enjoy this,)
Me and my husband listened to this book together and you can not get a more entertaining snow day adventure than this.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Another solid offering in the Isaac Bell series

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

I like Scott Brick's narration better than some folks. I think some find him a little too melodramatic. I find if I listen to him at a faster speed it makes it a much more enjoyable listen.

Any additional comments?

Takes place during Prohibition and examines the complete disregard many had for that particular law, and how *gangsters* got rich because of it.

A typical Cussler yarn, but from me that's a compliment. The historical setting is interesting as well.

An easy listen, but worth it.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Communist radicals bootlegging liquor!

This book is set in thee early 1920's which is almost a decade later than any other novel in the Isaac Bell series. The book brings together two seemingly unrelated events: the 1919 passage of Amendment 16 in the US Constitution outlawing the sale and consumption of alcohol and the communist revolution in Russia a year earlier. Much of the bootlegging in the US was by Russian and domestic communist radicals to finance the overthrow of the US government.

A reminder that Book 9 in the series, The Gangster, will be released tomorrow.

I highly recommend all of the novels in the wonderful Isaac Bell series. Also, Scott Brick narrates all of them.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Cussler does it again!

action-adventure, Isaac Bell, thriller/suspense

Nobody does action, adventure, suspense, and a solid historical background in a novel like Clive Cussler! During the time of the Volstead Act and the rise of communism, Isaac Bell takes on the bootleggers who nearly killed Joe Van Dorn. Gripping tale despite my nerdy tendency to check the historicity of the background as the spirit strikes.
Scott Brick does Cussler proud as usual.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Another good Cussler adventure

well worth the time to listen. plausible story line and good action. keeps the Isaaccount Bell story line going.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

If you like Cussler and Isaac Bell....

Another great tale about Isaac Bell. As a huge Cussler fan I was not disappointed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

9 out of 10

Great story perfectly narated . please keep up the good work. Standing by in anticipation or the next adventure!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great story - Fun reading - Cussler is the champ

This is another great story set in the early 1900's. Back when booze was not. a fun story by cussler, back in the day

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Normally I love Isaac Bell books

This was the most long-winded and boring book that I’ve ever read featuring Isaac Bell or any other of Clive’s characters. Skip it please. Hours of my time I will never get back.

Second Time Around

This is my second listening of this book and it was even better this time.

Disappointing.

Very hard to get into but got better toward the end. Not up to Cussler's usual high standards. A little disappointing.

Boring.

What would have made The Bootlegger better?

add a little excitement in both the reading and the story. Not the usual Dirk Pitt hero. In fact who is the hero. Got through about 2 hours and still not sure. Was it really Bell?

What could Clive Cussler and Justin Scott have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Give me a character to hook on to.

How could the performance have been better?

Was just a bit flat.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment.

Any additional comments?

Just disappointed. I really like the usual Clive Cussler and this did not fit that bill.

Entertaining period drama from a master novelist

Would you listen to The Bootlegger again? Why?

Yes, I was entertained by the style of story telling, the attention to detail for the period and the scenes of action and adventure.

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

Detailed descriptions of the period styles and behaviors i n New York, Chicago, Detroit and Miami

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

Isaac Bell - The Lead Detective

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The detailed portrayal of life in the prohibition era.