Status
Available
Series
Collection
Publication
G.P. Putnam's Sons (2008), Edition: Reprint, 480 pages
Description
In 1906 detective Isaac Bell goes after the Butcher Bandit who has committed a string of bank robberies and murders in the western states of America and becomes the hunted.
User reviews
LibraryThing member brendajanefrank
Don't look for Dirk Pitt in this book, although Cussler makes a cameo appearance. Like all Cussler books, it includes a salvage involving "treasure" and is very, very loosely based on history. Of course, there is a love interest : a beautiful, tough, brilliant woman with a handsome, fearless, kind,
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intelligent, wonderful man. It's exciting, fun, imaginative, and totally unrealistic. I loved it! Show Less
LibraryThing member NovelBookworm
Clive Cussler’s The Chase is a rousing yarn, filled with heroic, dashing heroes, and dastardly sneaky villains. The book opens in 1950. A locomotive is being lifted out of the murky cold depths of Flathead Lake in western Montana. Inside the locomotive are the remains of three men who died in it
The Butcher Bandit is terrorizing banks throughout the west. An evil sociopath, the Bandit robs banks, taking only the easy to carry cash, and leaves no living witness behind. He kills indiscriminately; men, women and even children, so no one can identify him. The US government wants bring his reign of terror to an end, so they bring in the best man they can find for the job, Isaac Bell. Bell is the James Bond of the early 20th century. Handsome, debonair, clever and independently wealthy, he won’t rest until the Butcher is brought to justice.
The mystery of the identity of the Butcher is solved quite early in the book. A cat and mouse game ensues in this very enjoyable tale. The book is often written in a way reminiscent of old time pulp novels; some passages are almost courtly with old-fashioned flowery language. The hero is beyond reproach in all ways, the love interest is a beautiful, graceful and intelligent woman, and the villain is simply a cold-hearted snake.
The concluding chapters include a wonderful chase between two trains, which would translate so well to the big screen, I’m surprised a producer hasn’t snapped it up already. Sometimes I finish a book, and think, “This would be a great movie.” The Chase would be a great movie.
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44 years earlier. The real mystery is still in the bottom of the lake and as the divers attach cables to the remaining freight car to bring it up, the story opens in 1906.The Butcher Bandit is terrorizing banks throughout the west. An evil sociopath, the Bandit robs banks, taking only the easy to carry cash, and leaves no living witness behind. He kills indiscriminately; men, women and even children, so no one can identify him. The US government wants bring his reign of terror to an end, so they bring in the best man they can find for the job, Isaac Bell. Bell is the James Bond of the early 20th century. Handsome, debonair, clever and independently wealthy, he won’t rest until the Butcher is brought to justice.
The mystery of the identity of the Butcher is solved quite early in the book. A cat and mouse game ensues in this very enjoyable tale. The book is often written in a way reminiscent of old time pulp novels; some passages are almost courtly with old-fashioned flowery language. The hero is beyond reproach in all ways, the love interest is a beautiful, graceful and intelligent woman, and the villain is simply a cold-hearted snake.
The concluding chapters include a wonderful chase between two trains, which would translate so well to the big screen, I’m surprised a producer hasn’t snapped it up already. Sometimes I finish a book, and think, “This would be a great movie.” The Chase would be a great movie.
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LibraryThing member cataryna
Clive Cussler does it yet again with the creation of this new character series. He brings to life a realistic hero that emanates the mentality of the turn of the century with Isaac Bell and a villain who is evil through and through.
The Chase takes place in the early 1900's when the West Coast is
The Chase takes place in the early 1900's when the West Coast is
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rising out of the dust, to the thriving metropolis of San Francisco before, during, and after the great earthquake that does its best to wipe the city off the map and culminates in a 400 mile train chase. Isaac Bell, detective with the Van Dorn Detective Agency is hunting a brutal killer who enjoys robbing banks. Beautiful women and a love story round out this enjoyable adventure novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member Minne2
Entertainng read but a little far fetched in my opinion, especially the Locomobile ride.
LibraryThing member readafew
The Chase is the first book in the Isaac Bell series and my wife borrowed it from the library for us to listen to on one of our trips. I enjoyed the book and the reader does an excellent job.
Isaac Bell works for the famous Van Dorn Detective Agency (a hat tip to the Pinkerton's I believe) and he
Overall, a pretty good book. I enjoyed the story, plenty of action to keep your attention. Better written than someone like Dan Brown. Cussler had fun bringing to life all the nitty gritty details in driving cars and locomotive engines in 1906 and how much WORK it really was. Fairly predicable story line but still good.
Isaac Bell works for the famous Van Dorn Detective Agency (a hat tip to the Pinkerton's I believe) and he
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is known for being the best of the bunch. There has been a bank robber who's been very successful throughout the West and part of his success is because he leaves no witnesses. The fervor has increased to the point the federal government is asking the Van Dorn Agency to bring the case to a close and Bell is placed as the agent in charge. This is the smartest criminal Bell has had to find and it takes all his abilities and a little luck just to survive.Overall, a pretty good book. I enjoyed the story, plenty of action to keep your attention. Better written than someone like Dan Brown. Cussler had fun bringing to life all the nitty gritty details in driving cars and locomotive engines in 1906 and how much WORK it really was. Fairly predicable story line but still good.
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LibraryThing member nursewidener
Another solid start for a new character series. This series has good potential for a wide range of storylines. I thought the characters were well developed and the hero/villian theme played true and concise until then end. If you like Cussler you'll enjoy this book.
LibraryThing member DLester
My Synopsis:
The Chase (Isaac Bell series - Book 1) by Clive Cussler
(Audio book from the Library)
In 1950 a rusty locomotive is raised from the depths of a Montana Lake. But how did it get there?
In 1906, Isaac Bell, a detective with the Van Dorn detective agency, was charged with finding the elusive,
Bell and his cronies find clues that others have left behind. He soon finds out that the bandit is missing a finger and probably has red hair. He meets a mysterious woman, who appears to be a spy and is eventually led to San Francisco in search of the bandit. Meanwhile the bandit continues to rob and murder as if he is oblivious to the attention of the agents. How is the bandit escaping so easily? Who is the mysterious woman? Where will he strike next? Bell must figure out this and a lot more if he intends to catch the Butcher Bandit.
My Thoughts:
This was my first experience with Clive Cussler, though I had often heard of him. Being a history buff a book set around the great San Francisco earthquake and fire, was very interesting to me. This book was fast paced and really kept me on my toes trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It was definitely what I would call an historical thriller adventure with fast cars and fast trains, beautiful women, a little romance and whole lot of crime solving. I was enthralled from the first chapter.
Cussler's attention to detail was phenomenal. He was able to set the scene so perfectly you almost felt like you were there when the trains were racing across the country, or inside the ornate ballroom where Bell danced with Margret Cromwell. I found the main character, Isaac Bell a really interesting sort. He was a man of means, and did not need a job to support himself, but he loved to solve crimes and put criminals behind bars. A gentleman, with a touch of rogue in him. The villain was interesting as well. Even though he eventually got all the money he needed, he continued to rob and kill because of the thrill it gave him to outwit those trying to capture him.
The Chase is available now from your favorite bookseller!
I really enjoyed this audio book and I will give it 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
The Chase (Isaac Bell series - Book 1) by Clive Cussler
(Audio book from the Library)
In 1950 a rusty locomotive is raised from the depths of a Montana Lake. But how did it get there?
In 1906, Isaac Bell, a detective with the Van Dorn detective agency, was charged with finding the elusive,
Show More
Butcher Bandit. The Bandit had been robbing banks and killing any witnesses to the crimes for over two years. Though, Bell is one of Van Dorn's best agents he is up against his worst foe. The Bandit is cunning and ruthless. He plans each robbery with precision and cold calculation. Blending in with the townspeople and then disappearing as if he was never there. Leaving no witnesses to identify himself, he feels invincible.Bell and his cronies find clues that others have left behind. He soon finds out that the bandit is missing a finger and probably has red hair. He meets a mysterious woman, who appears to be a spy and is eventually led to San Francisco in search of the bandit. Meanwhile the bandit continues to rob and murder as if he is oblivious to the attention of the agents. How is the bandit escaping so easily? Who is the mysterious woman? Where will he strike next? Bell must figure out this and a lot more if he intends to catch the Butcher Bandit.
My Thoughts:
This was my first experience with Clive Cussler, though I had often heard of him. Being a history buff a book set around the great San Francisco earthquake and fire, was very interesting to me. This book was fast paced and really kept me on my toes trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It was definitely what I would call an historical thriller adventure with fast cars and fast trains, beautiful women, a little romance and whole lot of crime solving. I was enthralled from the first chapter.
Cussler's attention to detail was phenomenal. He was able to set the scene so perfectly you almost felt like you were there when the trains were racing across the country, or inside the ornate ballroom where Bell danced with Margret Cromwell. I found the main character, Isaac Bell a really interesting sort. He was a man of means, and did not need a job to support himself, but he loved to solve crimes and put criminals behind bars. A gentleman, with a touch of rogue in him. The villain was interesting as well. Even though he eventually got all the money he needed, he continued to rob and kill because of the thrill it gave him to outwit those trying to capture him.
The Chase is available now from your favorite bookseller!
I really enjoyed this audio book and I will give it 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
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LibraryThing member cathymoore
Not being a fan of Cussler I was prepared for the worst, but ended up pleasantly suprised. The story is set in early 20th century USA. Our hero, the dashing detective Isaac Bell, is employed to catch the Butcher Bandit - a prolific and murderous bank robber. The story builds to an exciting climax
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set against the background of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Cussler's attention to detail is fantastic and his description of thepeople and places really brings the story to life. Half a star has to be deducted for some pretty abysmal editing though. In places the structure of some of the sentences is dreadful, and Cussler would certainly benefit from a better quality thesaurus! Show Less
LibraryThing member geordicalrissian
I read through a few Cussler books in the past. When I saw The Chase in the store and flipped through the jacket cover, I decided to give it another go. Overall words: OK. It was a nice story, set in an era I've read little of before. Cussler is great at detail and he really knows his stuff. But,
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some of the characters were flat, predictable, and "hokey". I felt like I was watching a Clarke Gable or Humphrey Bogart movie. And the "car chase scene". Ummm, okay. Don't think I'll be picking up any of the follow-ons. Show Less
LibraryThing member Unkletom
I generally consider Clive Cussler's books as mindless entertainment, something to listen to while walking the dog or commuting. The Chase, though, was a big disappointment. It lacked any originality, plausibility or even a semblance of an interesting plot. If you want to read something by Cussler,
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stick with the early Dirk Pitt books and leave this one on the shelf. Show Less
LibraryThing member arstaff
one of his better books-not dirk pitt or Kurt Austen
LibraryThing member scarpettajunkie
This book is about a chase, but it takes you on a ride and Whee! what fun! It leaves you wanting more Issac Bell. This book is about the joy of detail experienced in reliving a different era. It is about mystery with a dash of early James Bond romance thrown in. This book is masquerading as a guy
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thriller but women can find a lot to love in this book as well. I could not put it down! Show Less
LibraryThing member DonnaB317
It was a good story - not as predictable as I had feared. An enjoyable day.
LibraryThing member devenish
It is America in 1906 and the chase in question is the pursuit of the bank robber and killer,known as 'The Butcher Bandit'. Isaac Bell is the detective who is determined to identify and arrest this ruthless murderer and bring him to the gallows.
There are three fantastic set-pieces in the book, The
This is a stand-alone book and by far the best one that I have read by this author. Escapism at it's best.
There are three fantastic set-pieces in the book, The
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first being a race between a high-speed car and a train,the second is the San Francisco earthquake and the final one is a chase between two great locomotives.This is a stand-alone book and by far the best one that I have read by this author. Escapism at it's best.
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LibraryThing member beadlady
Cussler's relationships and interactions with women are neauseating.
LibraryThing member John5918
Generally I find Clive Cussler to be a poor writer, despite his best-seller status. His characters and dialogue are very wooden.
However the attraction of this book is its railway theme, and it's a good detective story to boot. It starts with a railroad engine being raised from the bed of a lake in
It would have benefited from some proof reading. In one chapter the assistant to our hero detective has a name change for a couple of pages from Curtis to Carter, and there's a discontinuity in the dates of the main detective story, which begins in September 1906 and then somehow ends in April 1906. The author has gone to some trouble to include railroad terms and practices and doesn't do a bad job, although there are small things which just don't quite feel right.
But all in all, a good relaxing read.
However the attraction of this book is its railway theme, and it's a good detective story to boot. It starts with a railroad engine being raised from the bed of a lake in
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1950, and immediately jumps back to 1906, to a thrilling tale of murder and robbery.It would have benefited from some proof reading. In one chapter the assistant to our hero detective has a name change for a couple of pages from Curtis to Carter, and there's a discontinuity in the dates of the main detective story, which begins in September 1906 and then somehow ends in April 1906. The author has gone to some trouble to include railroad terms and practices and doesn't do a bad job, although there are small things which just don't quite feel right.
But all in all, a good relaxing read.
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LibraryThing member princesserin
In his first adventure, Isaac Bell is charged with providing security for a well known railroad system. After a string of bank robberies, he develops a suspect. He needs all his wit and courage to apprehend the villain and get the girl.
LibraryThing member MikeLloyd
Very nice and exciting book
LibraryThing member DavidLErickson
Arresting opening chapter and great tie-in at the end. This was an entertaining, faced paced, exciting story blended with enough period data and events to make for a thrilling read. I enjoyed the characters Clive created, though the bad guy did come across a tad sterotypical with his beautiful, but
They only place where I disagreed with Clive's treatment of the characters was at the end when the protagonist, Isaac Bell, shows suddenly strong emotional desire to save the evil sister. To take a fun novel and toss in a speed bump at the very last was disconcerting. But other than that, I'd recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a great action/adeventure story.
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evil sister.They only place where I disagreed with Clive's treatment of the characters was at the end when the protagonist, Isaac Bell, shows suddenly strong emotional desire to save the evil sister. To take a fun novel and toss in a speed bump at the very last was disconcerting. But other than that, I'd recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a great action/adeventure story.
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LibraryThing member bxwretlind
Much, much better than Cussler's later work. Of course having trains involved really helps.
LibraryThing member sjh4255
great book in a different era, a different book from Cussler's regulars....
LibraryThing member btfoss
Excellent read!
LibraryThing member Carol420
The hero is one Isaac Bell, an independently wealthy private detective. The villain is a bank robber-murderer known as "the Butcher Bandit." Bell, through hot detective work and breathtaking good luck, gets on the trail of the Bandit by page 168 (of 404). The rest of the book -- the better half --
I've always been a fan of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt and NUMA Files adventures as well as Steve Austin and his newer endeavours. I really wanted to like this book, after all it's by Clive Cussler but... The Chase had a good story line but the dialogue is awful. I'm not quoting the book here but imagine something along the lines of; Good guy: "I'll get you if it's the last thing I do, you scoundrel!" Bad guy: "You'll never catch me, detective!". Very generic and predictable. I also felt the prologue ruined the rest of the book because it gave away the ending.
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involves a lot of fast driving, a locomotive race, some shooting and robbing, and the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.I've always been a fan of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt and NUMA Files adventures as well as Steve Austin and his newer endeavours. I really wanted to like this book, after all it's by Clive Cussler but... The Chase had a good story line but the dialogue is awful. I'm not quoting the book here but imagine something along the lines of; Good guy: "I'll get you if it's the last thing I do, you scoundrel!" Bad guy: "You'll never catch me, detective!". Very generic and predictable. I also felt the prologue ruined the rest of the book because it gave away the ending.
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LibraryThing member deldevries
another engaging story - well told!
LibraryThing member bicyclewriter
Many years ago I was a Dirk Pitt fan, but I've fallen away from Cussler a bit as he seems to have evolved into someone who runs a stable of writers, and they're just generally not as good as the old ones. (Plus, I have to admit I get a little tired of seeing Cussler's political leanings
My son suggested The Chase to me, and I have to say that I think Cussler has a good one here with this author. (Again, I have no idea how much of this Cussler actually writes, so I just assume it's all the co-author.) Isaac Bell is a great character, and the storytelling is very good. For anyone who drifted away from Cussler for some of the reasons I did, give this new series a try - you might like it.
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highlighted.)My son suggested The Chase to me, and I have to say that I think Cussler has a good one here with this author. (Again, I have no idea how much of this Cussler actually writes, so I just assume it's all the co-author.) Isaac Bell is a great character, and the storytelling is very good. For anyone who drifted away from Cussler for some of the reasons I did, give this new series a try - you might like it.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2007
Physical description
480 p.; 4.2 inches
ISBN
0425224422 / 9780425224427