James McGregor is hired to dive down to the wreck of the Grave Descend, a yacht sunk off the coast of Jamaica in an area infested by sharks. McGregor knows from the beginning that something isn't right about the entire setup, so he dives in with his eyes wide open.
Grave Descend by John Lange writing as Michael Crichton
eISBN: 9781480400610
Open Road Integrated Media © 2013
Originally published in 1970.
eBook, 203 pages
Thriller, Standalone
Rating: B
Source: Purchased from Amazon.
A collection of nine short stories from the inimitable Andrea Camilleri which covers some of the early cases of beloved Inspector Salvo Montalbano.
Death at Sea: Montalbano's Early Cases
by Andrea Camilleri
by Andrea Camilleri
Translated from the Italian by Stephen Sartarelli.
eISBN: 9781101992111
Penguin Books © 2018
eBook, 288 pages
Short Story Collection, Inspector Montalbano
Rating: B
Source: Purchased from Amazon.
Why did I combine these two book reviews? (1) Because I'm trying to get ready to go on holiday, and I'm running out of time, and (2) because I had the same reaction to each. Simple, eh?
Both books are by marvelous writers who really know how to tell a tale. Grave Descend was written under a pseudonym while Crichton was in medical school. (He must not have needed any sleep.) Both books are fast-paced and pull the reader in, but... (You knew there was a but) ...there really wasn't much substance to either. However, that did not bother me. Both books are very pleasant ways to spend an afternoon in settings and with characters you enjoy. I consider both to be time well spent.
Glad you enjoyed both of these, Cathy. Of course, I think Camilleri is excellent, so I'm not surprised you liked that one ('though I've not read his short stories). And I've read a few things by Crichton before he 'became' Michael Crichton. He knew how to keep the reader engaged, and I'm happy you enjoyed that one.
ReplyDeleteBoth men are masters.
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