THE CHASE

Cussler fans will discover a change of pace in this thriller, set in 1906. The Butcher Bandit is on the loose across the West, emptying bank vaults and ruthlessly killing scores of innocent people, including women and children. Isaac Bell, lead agent of the top-notch Van Dorn Detective Agency, crisscrosses the colorful territory to crack the case. Reader Scott Brick breathes life into the clichéd characters and stilted dialogue. Through Brick's capable voice, Bell is a savvy and quick-shooting man's man, who is capable of showing sensitive interest in a woman. Brick's excellent phrasing and skilled pacing enhance Cussler's heavy-handed but loving descriptions of the era's locomotives. The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake kicks off the fast-paced conclusion, including one of Cussler's trademark chase scenes. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 08]