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Book reviews for "Land,_Jon" sorted by average review score:

Day of the Delphi
Published in Paperback by Tor Books (1993)
Author: Jon Land
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Day of the Delphi-Good start for the McCracken series.
If this is the first book in the McCracken series you read, then good for you. The Day of the Delphi has elements of the good McCracken novels: action, last-minute saves, shootouts, chases and the requisite mano-a-mano fight between a brutal villian and Johnny Wareagle. Sal Belamo has his moments too.

Excellent spy/action book!
Jon Land throws you into a hidden world of international politics and a desire to take over the world. The veteran hero, Blaine McCraken, ends up in the middle of all this by mistake and now is the only chance we have. If you are looking for a classic spy/action book, this is it! Sit down and don't expect to get up until you finish this one.

One of Lands best
Well, Land has done it again, using his larger than life hero Blaine Mccraken, Land mixes his usual in-your-face action, must-turn-the-page suspense and wry humor into a brilliant concoction of international intrigue. Highly Reccommende


Labyrinth
Published in Paperback by Gold Medal (1986)
Author: Jon Land
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Early Land is not bad.
When I first read Jon Land, it was this book that I read. Not exactly as good as one of the McCracken novels, but good in it's own over the top way.

Another great thriller from Jon Land
I've quickly become a fan of Jon Land's espionage thrillers. As another reviewer stated, Land is like Ludlum without the fluff. However, Ludlum's better novels also have a much more in-depth plot/storyline. Land's novels tend to be non-stop action.

"Labyrinth" is like his other thrillers in that a hero fights against unbelievable odds to save the world. In this novel, a college professor is enlisted to get to the bottom of the plans of an organization known as The Committee. A friend of the professor's is killed observing actions on the part of The Committee and due to a past debt, he agrees to avenge his friend's murder.

A town is Columbia is burned to the ground to hide the plans of The Committee. The hero, Christopher Locke, visits various exotic locales including Lichtenstein, Geneva, and London in his trek to determine the scheme of The Committee. Friends are killed or turn on him, and enemies try to kill him or become his friends. Before he knows it, Locke is in too deep to get out and must stop The Committee to not only save his family, but also to prevent the downfall of the world's economies.

If you like non-stop action thrillers, Jon Land thrillers would be your cup of tea. If you want more in-depth, longer thrillers, try Robert Ludlum or Tom Clancy. All of Land's titles are quick, fun reads that make you wonder why he has never achieved the success or notariety of the major players in the realm of espionage fiction.

Robert Ludlum without the Excess.
This book is non stop action. The book is pure fun. You get hooked on page one and you can't stop reading until the book is over. Land takes you all around the world in this thriller. If you are looking for a chance to escape the real world, sit back, relax and enjoy this book as you jet set around the globe and help Chris Locke try to save the world.


Keepers of the Gate
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Forge (2002)
Author: Jon Land
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Painful to read
I don't expect great literature when I read a detective story, but it would be nice if the plot was at least remotely believable and the author had some facility with the English language. Unfortunately, neither is true here. I actually winced when reading portions of this book and finally found it too painful to continue. I am impressed with one thing: that an author of such mediocrity could get his work published.

A more serious Jon Land
For years, I associated Jon Land with cheesy yet fun adventure stories that featured bigger than life heroes (in particular, Blaine McCracken) battling James Bond-style villains bent on world conquest, usually aided by some superhuman henchmen. Yes, they were often silly, but they were also good entertainment.

Recently, however, Land has gotten more realistic and serious with his series of novels featuring Ben Kamal and Danielle Barea, a pair of detectives and star-crossed lovers (he's Palestinean, she's Israeli) who take on mysteries and conspiracies that often extend beyond the borders of their homes.

As is the case in most of this series, the two usually deal with separate mysteries that turn out to be linked. In this case, they must deal with the murders of several teenagers who attended the same school as well as the attempted murder of a philanthropic billionaire with a secret past. There are traces of Land's love of secret organizations and conspiracies, and it all comes together nicely.

Just because Land has become more serious does not mean he has gotten worse; in fact, there is a maturity in his writing that is an improvement. Nonetheless, I kind of miss the sillier Land and hope that some day McCracken returns.

A keeper
Once again some top of the line entertainment from Jon Land. Palestinian American detective Ben Kamal and Israeli detective Danielle Barnea meet up again in this outstanding adventure. Holocaust survivors are being murdered. A labor camp escapee and New York billionaire loses a son to an assassin. High school students start mysteriously dying. This novel covers a lot of territory as most of it begins in the Middle East slowly spreading to Europe and ending in New York. Biological research as well as secrets of the holocaust are just a couple of the things involved in this top of the line adventure. Jon Land has created a vivid novel with colorful characters and locales, with surprises in store at every turn. Keep it up Jon, you're on my 'A' list.

Highly recommended.


The Walls of Jericho
Published in Hardcover by Forge (1997)
Author: Jon Land
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good airplane book
You can't spend too much time at Book Sales & Bookstores without stumbling upon the many books of Jon Land. But I'd managed to avoid reading one because of their generic Ludlumesque titles--Omega Deception, Doomsday Spiral, Gamma Option, etc. But this book grabbed my attention. With the end of the Cold War, the Middle East seems to offer the most fertile ground for thriller writers. Land has savvily set his 19th novel in the newly independent Palestinian West Bank. The story follows Ben Kamal, an American Arab policeman who has returned to his homeland to help train the Palestinian Police Forces, and Danielle Barnea, a female Shin Bet agent, as they join forces to track down a serial killer, Al-Dib "The Wolf".

This book is a marvel. It contains all that is best and worst in current writing. Land's story is exciting and the plot rockets forward. The characters are extremely likable. The opposition that Kamal and Barnea face from their own bosses & from a hostile populace add a terrific layer of tension. However, the book also has about three endings & just keeps going on & on; it would be much better less 75 pages. And it contains one of the most annoying creatures in modern detective fiction, the rogue hero, in this case ex-Colonel Frank Brickland, who will do the dirty work that our central heroes can not do--think of Hawk in the Spenser series.

With all that, I think if you're about to get on an airplane & you're looking for a good, quick, big-print read, you won't do much better than this one.

GRADE: C+

A Suspenseful Book!
I bought this book to try out a new author. I was not dissapointed. A Palestenian detective is paired with a female Shin-Bet investigator to solve a series of serial killings. The Palestenian detective was formerly a detective in Detroit.After the murder of his family he returned home. He and the Shin-Bet agent form a good working relationship that eventually leads to a romantic laison. This book does a good job of describing the worlds of both Palestine and Israel. The team have to deal with some dangerous and seedy characters with their investigation. When they finally reach the guilty parties the killers are very shocking to say the least. A plot to destabilize the peace process is under way. This is definitely a well written book. It also impressed me with Jon Land. Read this. You will not be dissapointed.

But yet another great "chomping at the bit" Jon Land novel
Jon Land has done it again ! Step aside Mr. Clancy, Mr. Cussler and Mr. Hunter, Jon Land is numero uno when it comes to the action/adventure genre ! The Walls of Jericho is a political thriller that's a "I can't put it down" book (like all of Land's novels). He's created rich, new characters that will hopefully return in a sequel. When is the NY Times going to wake up and review this guy ? They'd be pleasantly surprised ! (Check out web site : www.geocties.com/Athens/Acropolis/7015


The Alpha Deception
Published in Paperback by Fawcett Books (1988)
Author: Jon Land
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Another good one from Land
"The Alpha Deception" is the second novel featuring Jon Land's recurring hero Blaine McCracken. While still a good read, it was not as entertaining as Land's previous novels, including "The Omega Command" -- McCracken's first adventure.

This one involves the discovery of a rare crystal that has unique powers. When it falls into the hands of the enemy, a death ray is created which destroys all carbon-based entities. A small town in Oregon is used as a test basis for the weapon and to show the world what power is harnessed by the weapon.

McCracken, a rogue agent who is no longer on the payroll for the U.S. Government, is called into action again. However, after becoming involved, his reasoning for stopping the weapon becomes personal in addition to saving the world. He eventually teams with a female Russian agent who is similar in nature to McCracken.

Unlike previous Land novels, the ending seems abrupt and should have been fleshed out a bit more. One of the two factions' efforts basically becomes meaningless. The mole is revealed, but simply surrenders which seemed to be the easy way out. Also, one of those that oppose McCracken's efforts seems to disappear at the end. If the ending had been better presented, this one would have been another five star effort from Jon Land.

McCracken and Wareagle enter the Hellfire once again!
The Earth is in peril of destruction, and it's up to Blaine,Wareagle and a beautiful Russian assassin to thwart the forces responsible. The people of a small Colorado town must endure the visciousness of a sadistic Nicaraguan major. The town is small but plays a big role to save Earth!


The Ninth Dominion
Published in Paperback by Fawcett Books (1992)
Author: Jon Land
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A change of pace from earlier Land novels
"The Ninth Dominion" is somewhat of a sequel to an earlier novel by Jon Land entitled "The Eighth Trumpet". "Trumpet" is one of the best of Land's novels and is a non-stop action, espionage thriller. The same can't be said for "The Ninth Dominion". Unlike his earlier works, this one is more of a "hunt the serial killer" novel instead of an espionage thriller.

The novel begins with the escape of eighty four inmates from a maximum security installation. Their leader, Leeds, a man nicknamed "The Candy Man", is a mastermind who planned his escape before being captured by Jared Kimberlain, the lead character also known as "The Ferryman". Leeds plans to essentially reverse society and have those who have been shunned and locked away from society to take control. Essentially, the "inmates would run the asylum".

New characters are introduced, including a female character who is a member of the new version of the Caretakers, the group to which Kimberlain was a former member. The female character has a mysterious past that is linked to Kimberlain, although neither knows it. The giant Winston Peet also returns from his original appearance in "The Eighth Trumpet", but is underutilized in this one.

While Leeds is trying to overtake the world, a serial killer is stalking small towns (or so it appears) and killing all the inhabitants. Kimberlain also must track down the killer and bring him to justice. This is where the novel seems to lose its direction. Had the book concentrated solely on Leeds and his world domination scheme, the novel probably would have been better. However, the substory of the serial killer, while tied into the main storyline at the end, seemed out of place throughout most of the novel.

If you're a fan of Jon Land's novels, you'll want to read this one as well. If you enjoy serial killer novels, you might want to give this one a shot. If you are expecting a novels up to the standards set by "The Eighth Trumpet", you might be disappointed. While it was great to see the main characters return, this one seemed to concentrate too much on Kimberlain and not on the minor/smaller role characters such as Winston Peet.

Suspenseful, The 'Ferryman' rules.
This book by Jon Land is a sequal to "The Eighth Trumpet". This book features the Ferryman, a govenment clean-up man, who is trailing a serial killer called "The Candy Man". Will the Ferryman be able to stop this killer in time? The story was well written and kept me on the edge of my seat. The suspenceful and shodowy plot was so well written, I had to check the locks on my own doors as I read it. If you like suspence, read "The Ninth Dominion" and its prequel "The Eigth Trumpet."


The Valhalla Testament
Published in Paperback by Gold Medal (1990)
Author: Jon Land
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Another good one by Jon Land
"The Valhalla Testament", the 10th printed novel by Jon Land, continues his tradition of non-fluff, action-packed espionage novels. This one is similar in nature to his others (madman wants to control the world, unlikely hero rises to the occasion, a double-agent appears to stop the hero, etc.), but it is still a worthwhile read. It's not Land's best, but still better than many similar novels available.

This one involves a suspended NFL player whose sister contacts him on urgent business. Soon after arriving, the sister and several others are slaughtered. The player then tries to avenge his sister's death. Little does he know that her murder was a part of a much bigger plot.

He soon meets with a female agent named Chimera whose initial responsibility was to kill him. However, they soon join forces to try and topple the madman. The male hero in this story isn't as well-developed nor as inspiring as Land's other male heroes. The female hero is a perfect blend of brains and brawn and works well. Overall, the storyline is very good, but not Land's best. Still, if you are a fan of Land, it's another "can't miss" novel.


A Walk in the Darkness
Published in Hardcover by Forge (1900)
Author: Jon Land
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garbage and antisemitism all in one
This book is the last book I ever read by this author. The writing ability is poor, the characters caricatures stemming from a mean spirit. It is vapid and insipid and moronic. This novel has got to be the best example of what pulp fiction is at its worst. The plot is inadequate for cartoon network( this in response to other reviewers calling it cartoonish- please don't insult cartoons by comparing this to a cartoon. Cartoons can be enjoyable.)An utter waste of time.

4 1/2 Stars
A great adventure lies ahead.

Danielle Barnea is an Israeli police officer. Ben Kamal is a Palestinian detective. A group of Archeologists are executed while at a site in the Judean desert. This starts the adventure that brings Danielle and Ben back together again.

If you like Indiana Jones adventures, you'll like this book. It's fast paced action all the way. It has a tendency to go a little overboard on some of the action as far as believability goes, but its still hyperdrive reading. As you read through the twists and turns, from places like Boston to the North Sea, you'll enjoy the ride, and at the same time see how relations between a Palestinian and an Israelis can be a problem. One humorous note; Colonel Al-Asi and his gambling 'inspections'.

Highly recommended..

A PERFECT AND INTELLIGENT THRILLER!
In the world beyond the boundaries of these United States, there are more things that happen than we are ever aware of. In Jon Land's novel, "A Walk In The Darkness", we discover exactly what some of those things might be.

On the ever-present verge of war, Turkey is shocked by the murder of a group of American archeologists on the brink of making an earth-shattering find: scrolls that may just throw Christianity into a frenzy. If true, the information contained in these ancient Aramaic scripts will destroy organized religion as it is currently known. They just may contain information saying that Jesus Christ was never resurrected, because he never actually died on the Cross. Called into action are Chief Inspector Danielle Barnea of Isreal's National Police, and Palestinian detective Ben Kamal...joining together amidst the heat of the Judean desert to get to the bottom of this mystery. But the scrolls in question, though missing, may not be the reason the Americans were murdered after all. Taking all of their combined ingenuity and skill, Kamal and Bernea are pursued from continent to continent once they begin to unravel the true mystery.

Divided into nearly 90 bite-sized chapters, Land's novel is a humdinger of a read...drawing the readers attention on with each well-written word. Packed with action and intelligent characters, this is one book that will be difficult to put down until it is finished. Buy it today!


Cycle of the Werewolf
Published in Paperback by New American Library Trade (1985)
Authors: Stephen King and Jon Land
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Fun horror from King without a trace of self-importance
Divided up into basically twelve short stories all dealing with a werewolf in a small Maine town, Cycle of the Werewolf is more of a mood piece that a novel but its still an entertaining read. Because of the structure -- each month giving us a new victim to meet and quickly bid a fond farewell -- this book doesn't contain the in-depth characterization that most King fans expect from the writer and, as a result, the supernatural threat never becomes personalized for the reader. Its a book that manages to cast a gloomy pall without actually achieving any real horror. That said, Cycle of the Werewolf is still a quick and fun read, especially if you're a fan of the whole werewolf legend. King's prose is quite strong here and, if you're like me and a part of the minority of readers who actually think King's book have gotten a bit excessive and self-important as of late, this book serves as a good reminder that before he became STEPHEN KING, GREAT WRITER AND SELF-STYLED LITERARY ICON, he was just a goofy guy who wanted to scare people. In this book, King comes across as an overly earnest summer camp counselor trying to tell a creepy story in front of a campfire. Its a lot of fun and there's something to be said for that.

The Legend of the Werewolf, Stephen King's style!
If you're a fan of werewolf stories you're gonna love this one!

I bought this book after seeing Wolf, with Jack Nicholson. Not that this paperback has any relation with that movie, but it's just that after I saw the flick I really wanted to find other werewolf-themed books and videos and this was an excellent choice.

In this book King tells the story of Tarker Mills, a town in Maine where death looms every time there's a full moon in the sky. The master of suspense shows you how a typical January night becomes the start of a terrifying cycle...the Cycle of the Werewolf.

This is a very short but exciting story (just 12 chapters of about 500 words each) so you don't have time to get bored, you will simply find it difficult to lay the book down.

This isn't a King classic but it sure is entertaining and easy to read. Overall, I think this is a great Stephen King book that will keep you reading however, if you're a fan of the long, more complex and gore-filled King stories make another choice.

Perfect King Primer
This novel, or novella is an excellent introduction to Stephen King. It stays pretty true to Silver Bullet the movie based on it, or it was based on I forget which came first in this case. The book is quite short, so those that criticize King of having a propensity of being a ilttle verboise at times have no ammo in this case. Yet every word is vintage King, his language and style shines through clearly in this tale abaout a werewolve terrorizing the typical small town. I recommend this book as an introduction to King because its short and I find it has everything that has become his trademark over his literary career, just in little less quantity than some of his other works. Cycle Of The Werewolf I would say is the appetizer to whet the readers' appetite for Mr. King's literary smorgasboard of fiction. As an added bonus there are beautiful black and white and colour illustrations throughout story by Berni Wrightson.


Hope Mountain
Published in Paperback by Forge (1998)
Author: Jon Land
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Hope Mountain is a great gift book !
While this is not a traditional Jon Land novel, it's a great inspirational piece and provides insight on ski schools for the physically challenged. I bought several copies of this and gave them out as Xmas gifts. I tip my hat to Mr. Land for going out on a limb and digressing from his traditional "McCracken" style.

Great gift book
A nice change for Mr. Land, this holiday season novel is a great gift for any loved ones. It provides that "makes you feel good" when you finish the book and made me pick up skiing for the first time...Thanks Mr. Land !

and if you've never read Jon Land before...
then you'll realize that whether or not it is not his usual style the book is very well written, not because it is inspirational, but because the language is tight and effective. Allow the man to expand his writing to new horizons! I think in this book he has done a beautiful job.

.


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