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Isaac Bell #3
The Spy
It's 1908 and international tensions are mounting as the world plunges toward the First World War. When a brilliant American battleship gun designer dies in a sensational apparent suicide the man's grief-stricken daughter turns to the legendary Van Dorn Detective Agency to clear her father's name. Van Dorn puts his chief investigator on the case and Isaac Bell soon realizes that the clues point not to suicide - but to murder.
Detective Isaac Bell, hero of The Chase and The Wrecker, returns in a mission that pits him against German, Japanese and British spies with the fate of the world at stake.
Detective Isaac Bell, hero of The Chase and The Wrecker, returns in a mission that pits him against German, Japanese and British spies with the fate of the world at stake.
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2010
About the author
Clive Cussler
508 books8,120 followersCussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 567 reviews
February 4, 2019
Isaac Bell of the Van Dorn Detective Agency was put on the case of an apparent suicide by the daughter of a gun designer. She was positive her father wouldn’t have committed suicide and when more highly important people died, Isaac could see there was a conspiracy to rid America of its top people in the American battleship project; a secret mission called Hull 44. But which country was behind the sabotage? Because that was surely what it was with war on the horizon.
The race was on to find the spy and his minions before a catastrophic situation which would put the country behind by decades – and the world to its knees. But were Isaac Bell and the Van Dorn Detectives up to the challenge? The danger was intense; more lives would be lost…
The Spy is the 3rd in the Isaac Bell series by Clive Cussler and once again the pace is frantic, the action full-on and the adventure high. I used to read Cussler all the time; now I remember why. (I've owned this one since 2010 when it was originally published!!) Great fun and very entertaining. Highly recommended.
The race was on to find the spy and his minions before a catastrophic situation which would put the country behind by decades – and the world to its knees. But were Isaac Bell and the Van Dorn Detectives up to the challenge? The danger was intense; more lives would be lost…
The Spy is the 3rd in the Isaac Bell series by Clive Cussler and once again the pace is frantic, the action full-on and the adventure high. I used to read Cussler all the time; now I remember why. (I've owned this one since 2010 when it was originally published!!) Great fun and very entertaining. Highly recommended.
July 12, 2021
A typical Isaac Bell book. I found they are all the same style so you have no different expectations. Sure, fun to listen to and looking forward to the next one.
August 11, 2023
This is my favorite entry in the series yet. What's cooler than an American detective going toe to toe with international spies? Isaac Bell can hang with the best of them, even on a global stage. Plot revolved around military tech with a lot of World War precursors, which also added to the excitement. There are plenty of fights and chases as expected, with pretty dames thrown in. It's definitely a macho affair. Much less trains in this one, which was my complaint from book 2. Bravo!
March 23, 2019
Definitely not the best from Mr. Cussler.
April 5, 2011
The Isaac Bell series is sort fun, but the author gets bogged down running this early 20th century private detective back and forth across the country on trains. While I love trains, at times the description of the first class dining car menus and the gambling entertainment becomes monotonous and tedious to me.
I had several other problems with this one:
1) A Private detective agency would not spend all the time and resources to investigate a matter that they are not going to get paid for. One lone private eye may do so.. but not a Pinkerton type agency. Absurd.
2) The detective hero of this series always meets his prey along the way, whether in a high society social gathering or some other method. This gets silly after awhile.
3) The Private detective agency circa 1908 would not have had detailed files on the notable individuals mentioned in a manner such as the modern day F.B.I. might have.
However, there were some things I liked about it:
1) A clever and evil villain.. one whose chief cruel fetish is gouging out the eyes of his opponents with a special thumb gouge weapon he wears whenever he goes into hand-to-hand combat.
2) The distrust of all of the nations involved in this one-- Japan, Germany, Britain and the U.S.
3) The realistic portrayal of racial values in regards to Asians in the day and age
4) The private detective who smoke opium in order to mantain his cover-- kind of cool-- as most people were completely unaware of its real danger during that period.
This book is written in a very pulpy style, much like the pulp magazine heroes of days gone by, like Doc Savage, the Avenger, etc. Campy in places, but with a nostalgic feel. Some of the illustrations look like they could have been published along with the Holmes' stories in the original "Strand" magazine. This adds to a level of coolness, but isn't enough to elevate this series (or any other Cussler works) to a must-read level.
I had several other problems with this one:
1) A Private detective agency would not spend all the time and resources to investigate a matter that they are not going to get paid for. One lone private eye may do so.. but not a Pinkerton type agency. Absurd.
2) The detective hero of this series always meets his prey along the way, whether in a high society social gathering or some other method. This gets silly after awhile.
3) The Private detective agency circa 1908 would not have had detailed files on the notable individuals mentioned in a manner such as the modern day F.B.I. might have.
However, there were some things I liked about it:
1) A clever and evil villain.. one whose chief cruel fetish is gouging out the eyes of his opponents with a special thumb gouge weapon he wears whenever he goes into hand-to-hand combat.
2) The distrust of all of the nations involved in this one-- Japan, Germany, Britain and the U.S.
3) The realistic portrayal of racial values in regards to Asians in the day and age
4) The private detective who smoke opium in order to mantain his cover-- kind of cool-- as most people were completely unaware of its real danger during that period.
This book is written in a very pulpy style, much like the pulp magazine heroes of days gone by, like Doc Savage, the Avenger, etc. Campy in places, but with a nostalgic feel. Some of the illustrations look like they could have been published along with the Holmes' stories in the original "Strand" magazine. This adds to a level of coolness, but isn't enough to elevate this series (or any other Cussler works) to a must-read level.
August 18, 2010
Espionage in Old New York
In the late 1800s a New York gangster nicknamed Eyes O’Shay, running from trouble, jumps on board a ship and is rescued by an old wealthy jeweler and brought to Germany as a son and apprentice to learn the gem trade. Years later in 1908, he arrives back to the Gangs of New York in disguise as Herr Riker the diamond jeweler, but in secret he is a German Spy out to confiscate the U.S. Navy's latest plans for a new and improved dreadnought battleship to aid his adopted country in the upcoming first world war.
In this the third Isaac Bell detective adventure co-written by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott, Isaac Bell comes back stronger than ever with his latest and most difficult case to solve for the Van Dorn Detective agency. The Spy engages a diabolic espionage plot, mobsters of the Dick Tracy era, murders, explosions, secret identities and a volatile cocktail of non-stop action with a well penned adventure and suspense thriller plot. Tossing in Cussler’s love of antique cars, military weapons, ships on the high seas and steam trains rolling along the tracks at high speed, this was a fabulous Isaac Bell installment that I easily give 5 stars. Dolls and dames, hoodlums and heroes, it doesn’t get any better than this for a fictional portrayal of 19th century New York with a debonair hero who never fails to get his man and save the day!
In the late 1800s a New York gangster nicknamed Eyes O’Shay, running from trouble, jumps on board a ship and is rescued by an old wealthy jeweler and brought to Germany as a son and apprentice to learn the gem trade. Years later in 1908, he arrives back to the Gangs of New York in disguise as Herr Riker the diamond jeweler, but in secret he is a German Spy out to confiscate the U.S. Navy's latest plans for a new and improved dreadnought battleship to aid his adopted country in the upcoming first world war.
In this the third Isaac Bell detective adventure co-written by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott, Isaac Bell comes back stronger than ever with his latest and most difficult case to solve for the Van Dorn Detective agency. The Spy engages a diabolic espionage plot, mobsters of the Dick Tracy era, murders, explosions, secret identities and a volatile cocktail of non-stop action with a well penned adventure and suspense thriller plot. Tossing in Cussler’s love of antique cars, military weapons, ships on the high seas and steam trains rolling along the tracks at high speed, this was a fabulous Isaac Bell installment that I easily give 5 stars. Dolls and dames, hoodlums and heroes, it doesn’t get any better than this for a fictional portrayal of 19th century New York with a debonair hero who never fails to get his man and save the day!
February 22, 2016
While I liked the story, I was not crazy about the narration of this book. Mr. Brick just sounds like he is so bored with it all. This one is an Isaac Bell book. Bell is a private detective for the "Van Dorn" agency, he is also the only son of a major banker, so he never has to worry about money - at least he is generous with said money and helps those who cannot help themselves. The story centers around a spy who is trying to put a stop to the US Navy's ship building plans before WWI. Turns out the spy is a nasty one, who is really evil. Story was good, though often just a bit much. As stated above, everything would be fine if it was a different narrator. <><
June 21, 2019
I really liked this one, probably because there wasn't nearly as much train stuff as in the previous two books.
May 7, 2018
I used to read Clive Cussler years ago. I really enjoyed the Dirk Pitt series. This one, not so much. In fact, I struggled to finish it. The last chapter was entirely unnecessary. I got very tired of Isaac Bell being referred to as "the tall detective" over and over again. cannot recommend this one.
September 24, 2018
I really enjoyed the first two books in the Isaac Bell series, but this one was lacking for me. The only reason I finished it is because it was an audiobook and the narration from Scott Brick.
May 29, 2018
Lots of twists & turns in this story! Though I'd listened to it before, I'd forgotten many of the details, so it was as if I was listening to this for the first time.
June 12, 2010
Gotta love Saturdays for many reasons. One of them is the opportunity to read a novel like this at the beach or by the pool. The Spy is the third installment in the Isaac Bell saga. Clive Cussler has another winning series here. The period piece is an excellent summer read. The other titles in the series, in case you have missed them are The Chase & The Wrecker. I think there is a pattern in the titles here, The followed by one more word. I enjoy the simplicity.
The novel is set around 1908 as many nations of the world are making alliances and ramping up for war. Everybody wants to know what everybody else has for weapons and how far along they are. Bell being the James Bond of his day, must track down the Spy and stop the newest plot. Cussler & Scott seem to have a good grip on the history and details of the time. I find that type of info amusing and fun, the ability to place us back in time and help us to understand the foibles of the day as Bell chases the spy from locale to locale, trying to cut him off at the pass. Communication, travel, national pride, and world alliances are first and foremost in this novel.
Cussler is an excellent storyteller. I have read all his work and thoroughly enjoy his different franchises. He knows how to pace a novel and hold our interest. The world he has created around Isaac Bell is a fun one, steeped in history with a bit of editorial license thrown in. Isaac Bell is an excellent character and I enjoy following his growth and antics. Cussler/Scott takes us on another jaunt through history, having us hold on to the edge of the book as the action ramps up, topping itself, time and time again. If you haven’t already placed this novel in your Goodreads –to read- list, please do so , it is just the type of novel summer is made for.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter and visit us on Book Blogs. Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
The novel is set around 1908 as many nations of the world are making alliances and ramping up for war. Everybody wants to know what everybody else has for weapons and how far along they are. Bell being the James Bond of his day, must track down the Spy and stop the newest plot. Cussler & Scott seem to have a good grip on the history and details of the time. I find that type of info amusing and fun, the ability to place us back in time and help us to understand the foibles of the day as Bell chases the spy from locale to locale, trying to cut him off at the pass. Communication, travel, national pride, and world alliances are first and foremost in this novel.
Cussler is an excellent storyteller. I have read all his work and thoroughly enjoy his different franchises. He knows how to pace a novel and hold our interest. The world he has created around Isaac Bell is a fun one, steeped in history with a bit of editorial license thrown in. Isaac Bell is an excellent character and I enjoy following his growth and antics. Cussler/Scott takes us on another jaunt through history, having us hold on to the edge of the book as the action ramps up, topping itself, time and time again. If you haven’t already placed this novel in your Goodreads –to read- list, please do so , it is just the type of novel summer is made for.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter and visit us on Book Blogs. Thanks for stopping by today; we will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
September 16, 2016
Cussler or whoever he's renting his name out to, ala James Patterson, has several series going. One is about Isaac Bell, a private detective in very early 20th century America. In this novel, Bell faces down a spy who is working on sabotaging America's Navy, as the world comes closer and closer to what will eventually be known as World War I.
I will say the series is rich in setting. There are a lot of details about what life was like back then, both good and bad. They at least avoid retroactive political correctness, and show a lot of the racism of the time. At times, though, there are a few too many details that slow down the plot.
The villain is good, complete with his own signature ugly move and weapon. The tensions among the different nations are played well. But Bell seems more freelance crusader than agent of a large company. This works for a character like Robert B Parker's Spenser, or even the old Travis McGee books, because they work for themselves. I'm a bit surprised Bell manages to go off on his own so much and keep his job, no matter how rich and well-connected he is.
It's an interesting historical series which occasionally goes a bit light on plot. Decent mindless action fare.
I will say the series is rich in setting. There are a lot of details about what life was like back then, both good and bad. They at least avoid retroactive political correctness, and show a lot of the racism of the time. At times, though, there are a few too many details that slow down the plot.
The villain is good, complete with his own signature ugly move and weapon. The tensions among the different nations are played well. But Bell seems more freelance crusader than agent of a large company. This works for a character like Robert B Parker's Spenser, or even the old Travis McGee books, because they work for themselves. I'm a bit surprised Bell manages to go off on his own so much and keep his job, no matter how rich and well-connected he is.
It's an interesting historical series which occasionally goes a bit light on plot. Decent mindless action fare.
September 22, 2010
Another fun and exciting book by Clive Cussler. The third in the series, it continues the story of Isaac Bell, the detective. It takes place in 1909, and he is trying to solve the murder of a man who designed guns for the Navy's newest dreadnaught ships. The further into the case he gets, the more he realizes that it is not just a murder he is trying to solve, but that there is a spy at the root of all the chaos.
I enjoyed the book, and I love how Cussler writes his books - exciting and suspensefull, but clean. I also really enjoy the Isaac Bell character, but I just wish he would get the ball rolling and finally marry his fiance Marion :).
I enjoyed the book, and I love how Cussler writes his books - exciting and suspensefull, but clean. I also really enjoy the Isaac Bell character, but I just wish he would get the ball rolling and finally marry his fiance Marion :).
June 29, 2010
This is the third installment of the Isaac Bell series. Set in 1908, this time, Isaac Bell is looking for a spy, who's killing people and targeting people, when someone murdered Arthur Langner. It sets him off to find out who's who and who's telling the truth, coast to coast on a variety of naval ships. There's a lot of drama and action sequences to the very end, when it's up to Bell to apprehend the bad guys, and save the day. Another great action adventure/historical fiction mix for a enjoyable read.
September 7, 2016
Clive Cussler's dime novel detective is on the trail of a German spy, who is killing the scientists involved with improving the American Naval fleet in the days before World War I.
Not bad, but it wasn't as good as the first two.
Not bad, but it wasn't as good as the first two.
September 30, 2018
Ambientado en los años previos a la I GM, en plena carrera armamentística para construir los mejores acorazados, nos encontramos con una novela de espías de todas las nacionalidades (norteamericanos, ingleses, franceses, japoneses, alemanes...), intentado robar los proyectos más innovadores.
Como es habitual en el autor, ritmo trepidante, trama rebuscada y personajes poco definidos, al ser un libro de acción y aventuras.
Como es habitual en el autor, ritmo trepidante, trama rebuscada y personajes poco definidos, al ser un libro de acción y aventuras.
June 15, 2023
Definitely a little different book than I usually read but really enjoyable. Isaac Bell works for a prestigious private detective firm looking into a possible sabotage of multiple US Navy technological facilities. Lots of turn of the century nautical jargon that I am not used to but nonetheless it was interesting. Very enjoyable, but did not really fall in love with anything. The detective was likable but a little rigid and robot-like. Still, a good read I'd be up for another.
June 25, 2019
Fun, entertaining read.
November 5, 2021
Much better than the first two books in the series. A fun read.
October 2, 2023
An Isaac Bell novel. Good story of espionage in the early 1900's
February 12, 2024
Just got to say this was a bit better than the last Cussler Isaac Bell I read.
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May 29, 2024Hotel book #1: I am definitely not the target audience for this book - HOWEVER, points given for the scene where the main guy fights a deadly assassin venomous snake in his hotel room that was fun and also really weird
February 7, 2020
This abridged audiobook edition of the story is filled with intrigue and treachery, death and breathless escapes.
At times the story feels too compressed, and I would have preferred the unabridged edition, but I still enjoyed listening to it.
At times the story feels too compressed, and I would have preferred the unabridged edition, but I still enjoyed listening to it.
December 16, 2021
Ambientato prima dello scoppio della Prima guerra mondiale, quando i paesi europei e l'America erano impegnati in una corsa agli armamenti sempre più sfrenata e pericolosa. Una lotta fra spie, per rubare i piani e le innovazioni militari, si trasforma in un vortice che uccide tutti coloro che vi finiscono dentro. L'agenzia investigativa Van Dorn e il straordinario detective Isaac Bell dovranno far luce su un mistero le cui radici affondano nella New York dei gangster e delle bande rivali di15 anni prima.
May 16, 2022
The book The Spy, by Clive Cussler, is the third book of the Issac Bell series and starts off by introducing one of the antagonists and foreshadows what is to come further in the book. Throughout the book you gain knowledge about each side and how they are trying to play their part. The reason I gave this book five stars is because it kept me intrigued throughout, even during the slower parts of the book which I really liked! While spectating the title, people should realize that the book does show two different perspectives throughout the whole story line showing what the protagonist sees and feels and how the antagonist sees and feels. Before someone decides to read this book they have to realize there will be some violence due to the fact it is an action book and that because it is also an investigation type book there are twists and turns but it does slow down at some points. Overall, it keeps you engaged in the story line.
Hope you would choose to read this book and enjoy it as much as I did!
Hope you would choose to read this book and enjoy it as much as I did!
September 1, 2016
Another good entry in the Isaac Bell series from Cussler & Scott. I really enjoyed the previous two books in this series: The Chase and The Wrecker. This one is just as good with Bell on the track of a spy who is trying to destroy the United State's pursuit of developing a huge warship or dreadnought. The action takes place in 1908 mainly in and around New York City and involves some New York gang members who are paid to help "the spy." The identity of the spy was somewhat of a surprise to me - Cussler kept me guessing in this one. Overall, I would recommend "The Spy."
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July 18, 2016This was a part of my summer reading program...(Read an audio book. Actually you just listen to an audio book.)The story itself was good but I absolutely hate audio books. To me they are so boring.... And I can't understand how people enjoy them. But everyone has different tastes. Although I may sometime read the actual book. Because as I said the story itself was good but audio books are just not for me.
July 4, 2022
Sometimes you read something and you are like “a man wrote this.” This book, I just knew was written by a male cishet white boomer, and that’s a headspace I don’t ever want to visit.
I skipped a bunch of the middle because I was having a bad time and managed to understand everything in my bookclub. This was because the rest of the club also had a bad time and decided to skip to the end. I’m so sorry Clive we couldn’t stick it out
I skipped a bunch of the middle because I was having a bad time and managed to understand everything in my bookclub. This was because the rest of the club also had a bad time and decided to skip to the end. I’m so sorry Clive we couldn’t stick it out
Displaying 1 - 30 of 567 reviews