Charon's Landing

By: Jack Du Brul

Narrated by: J. Charles

Length: 16 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Russian mastermind Ivan Kerikov plans to use an ecological terrorist group to sabotage the Alaska pipeline and pollute the western coast of North America with oil, all to turn the United States from domestic to foreign sources of oil. He's being paid millions by a rogue Arab oil minister who is plotting a coup in his own country and is in desperate need of foreign income to solidify his position.

But Kerikov hasn't allowed for geologist Philip Mercer, who has a talent for being in the right place at the right time. When Mercer discovers that an apparent accident was actually murder, he investigates and soon begins to untangle Kerikov's web. At his side is Aggie Johnston, right hand woman to the eco-terrorist, who has begun to question her leader's motives.

©2006 Jack Du Brul (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

A great story with lots of action!

The lead character of this story, Philip Mercer, has more endurance than any person I can imagine. The story takes Mercer across the North American continent to the Alaskan frontier and bordering ocean and then on to the Middle East. This story never lacks for suspense because the author entwined three simultaneous events in a global plot to disrupt environmental and energy programs. A MUST READ for 'action enthusiasts '.

Watch out Dirk Pitt, here comes Philip Mercer!

I am thoroughly enchanted with both of the Philip Mercer books. His cavalier manner, quick sense of humor and prodigious knowledge is captivating. If you are a fan of Clive Cussler, Steve Berry, Lincoln Child or other adventure novelists, you will be in heaven.

Really good book

Mercer is a great character in this book and the plot and action were great. I will definitely look for more books in the Mercer series. Very well worth my time listening to

rjkaral

fantastic. The second book as good as the first book.A thriller, mystery, suspence, and romance.

Mercer Evolves

I don't know what Jack Du Brul's evolution as an author is. But I honestly believe he experienced some kind of evolution between the writing of Vulcan's Forge and this book.

Honestly, about halfway into the story I began thinking it was really just kind of a rehash of Vulcan's Forge. And then the story got interesting.

Mr. Du Brul managed to pull together a multi-theatre conspiracy that literally spanned the globe and had no shortage of intrigue and action. Further, Mr. Du Brul certainly took an opportunity to develop his characters fully. I did enjoy the reintroduction of several characters from Vulcan's Forge; albeit, at least one of them was a little too coincidental. But no matter, it was enjoyable.

Philip Mercer becomes more developed and starts evolving into a pretty bad ass civilian operative. More than capable of going up against some pretty calculating terrorists - including his archnemesis.

Mr. Du Brul mixes in a fair amount of adventure, action, humor, and romance. Oh, about the romance part. I'm not sure where Mr. Du Brul's mind was when he came up with the character of Aggie Johnstone but my gracious I felt like I needed a cold shower after a few of her scenes.

All in all I find the Mercer series to be developing quite well.

Terrible Narrator

What I would expect if I narrated it. Absolutely terrible and amateur narration. The book itself isn't terrible.

Too Much

Would you try another book from Jack Du Brul and/or J. Charles?

Yes.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was well written with enough closure regarding all the main characters.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The author(s) did not need to include so much adult sexually explicit material. It did nothing to cause me to want to recommend this book. Many great authors use implied concepts to express what this book stated in a blatant if not annoying way.

I kept waiting to like this book, never happened

The dialog is devoid of anything interesting. All the law enforcement people are dumb as a bag full of hair. The main character, whom you are supposed to like is a weird alcoholic that sees a woman at a formal dinner and comments on how he is becoming sexually aroused in public, and that is about it for his personality. The villein is able to kill large numbers of people associated with each other at will in public with an entourage and is impossible to spot. The president is a heroic meathead that decides, not only to ban all foreign oil imports but to also limit domestic production and cripple the entire United States and for that is treated as an heroic figure. If you have a brain, and blood is moving through enough of it so that you are not on life support you will hate this book.

Why did I listen to this book

Part over the top action, part soft porn, all filled with more “F” bombs and”G.D.’s” than I want to count. This leads me back to why DID I listen to this book. I had listened to later books in the series and I didn’t remember them being this in your face vulgar. Other than that reason, just to see how this train wreck would end is the only reason I can think of.

A narrator to avoid

The storyline was, at best, shaky. The characters lacked believability. The narrator was terrible. Had I read comments about this narrator's other readings beforehand I could have avoided wasting my time and money. He does a truly dreadful job.