The Wrecker

Isaac Bell, Book 2

By: Clive Cussler, Justin Scott

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 14 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of The Wrecker, Clive Cussler and Justin Scott's suspenseful second installment of the fantastic Isaac Bell tales. Read by the award-winning narrator Scott Brick.

It is 1907. Train wrecks, fires and explosions sabotage the Southern Pacific Railroad's Cascades express line. Desperate, the railroad hires the fabled Van Dorn Detective Agency. Van Dorn sends in its top investigator, Isaac Bell.Bell quickly discovers that a mysterious saboteur haunts the hobo jungles of the West. Known as The Wrecker, he recruits accomplices from among the down-and-outs to attack the railroad, killing them afterwards. The Wrecker travels 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 and what does he want? Is he a striker? An anarchist? A criminal mastermind engineering some as-yet unexplained scheme?Whoever he is, whatever his motives, The Wrecker knows how to create maximum havoc. Bell senses that he is far from done - indeed, it would seem that The Wrecker is building up to a grand act unlike anything committed before. If Bell doesn't stop him in time, the entire future of the country could be at risk.

©2009 Clive Cussler and Justin Scott (P)2011 Penguin Books Limited

Critic Reviews

"Clive Cussler is hard to beat." ( Daily Mail)

Loved it!

What did you like most about The Wrecker?

Another cracking story from Clive Cussler.
Scott Brick delivers a brilliant performance once again. He's a perfect fit for Cussler's books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, you can't fail to like Isaac Bell.

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

They're all very well portrayed by Brick. He makes listening to the narration a joy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Had my commitments allowed, I'd have sat and listened to The Wrecker in one go :)

Any additional comments?

Cussler is a genius when it comes to early 20th Century action and adventure. As previously mentioned, Scott Brick fits perfectly.

Another supurb listen.

Yes, it may seem that I like Clive Cussler, in fact i had never READ a Clive Cussler book but since getting my ipad and iphone and whenever I get the time to listen you can guarantee if I have a Cussler in my library i'll stick it on because you can always be assured of a great listen and this book is no exception.

A little bit samey - but good nonetheless!

It is a typical Isaac Bell novel - they do not hugely differ! I did enjoy it but would not be clamouring my friends to read it. Isaac is not a patch on Dirk!

Another classic.

I have always like Clive Cussler books and this Bell series are great.
My issue is chapter 1 had a bit of mix up as the story seems to.jump ahead then go back again.
I would say two sessions have been swapped over.

Apart from that Scott Brick has an excellent audio book voice.

Missing sections

Would you try another book written by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott or narrated by Scott Brick?

I would buy these books again

Any additional comments?

A massive part of the first chapter is missing the part I'm talking about is where the wrecker kills both Kevin and the rail cop

So Convincing it could be history

Would you listen to The Wrecker again? Why?

This is one of those atmospheric stories, where all the description and narrative make you think you are in a time machine.

What did you like best about this story?

The atmospherics were superb Scott does a great job reading the book

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The scene where they were stood on the cow catcher. They had both been expanding on how they were better qualified to observe for land mines than the other, and as a consequence were desperate to be first to spot something amiss. They are so engrossed and so likely to scream stop that when they do ask the loco to stop it doesnt. Sorting out the stop signal means that later when they do spot the mine the do stop in time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I eat this book in six sittings, I think any less and you are likely to rewriting the ending to follow the plot. There is a point in the story when they reveal (spoiler) all the preparations years ago. This would only have been needed if the protagonist had failed all his previous attempts. How can the character have been so uncertain that all his subsequent attempts would fail to know years before he needed the backup plan (it felt like an oops i think i need to pad this out a bit)

Any additional comments?

I had quite a few of those "oh come on that's unbelievable" to those Cussler inevitable impossible rescues. But whats new? this is how Cussler writes and if we don't know that by now!

Super Hero?

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Good story and well read, a little far fetched with the continued escapes. My first Clive Cussler book and will try another one based on this book.