The Satan Bug, by Alistair Maclean

April 27, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Alistair MacLean, book review, Thriller 

The Satan Bug, by Alistair MacLeanThis thriller was written in 1962 by Alistair MacLean under the pen name Ian Stuart. The Satan Bug is an intelligent and very interesting thriller dealing with biological weapons – a theme which unfortunately is no less of a threat today than it was at the time when the book was written.

The story revolves around the theft of two germ warfare agents, botulinum toxin and the indestructible Satan Bug (a laboratory-conceived derivative of poliovirus), from the Mordon Microbiological Research Establishment. Pierre Cavell, private detective and retired head of security for Britain’s Mordon Bio-weapon laboratory, is called back to public service to investigate the murder of the chief of the laboratory. Cavell quickly discovers that an incredibly virulent virus code-named the Satan Bug has been stolen.

Cavell’s investigation determines that the theft was an inside job by a ruthless criminal ready to run insane risks to achieve his goals. Cavell and the police must quickly find this man and the hostages he takes before he can escape or use the deadly virus. The chase takes Cavell and his police allies to London for a final showdown with the master criminal and his gang, where the stakes may include the destruction of the City of London.

The Satan Bug is well written, with fast paced action, and features a very twisting plot, excellent and sometimes ironic dialogue, along with the nail-biting finale that MacLean was so famous for. Highly recommended for fans of Alistair MacLean!

Links to the books by Alistair MacLean at Amazon US, Amazon UK, and Amazon CAN.

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The Last Frontier, by Alistair MacLean

June 18, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Alistair MacLean, book review, Thriller 

(a k a The Secret Ways) This The Last Frontier, by Alistair MacLean suspenseful thriller is a spy story from the era of the Cold War, by master thriller writer Alistair MacLean. It takes place behind the Iron Curtain, in Hungary, a few years after the revolution. Michael Reynolds, a British agent, has been sent to Hungary by his superiors. His mission, assigned to him by colonel Peter Mackintosh, is to reach a certain Jennings in Budapest before the forthcoming International Scientific Conference.

Michael Reynolds is a capable agent but not a superman. He doesn’t even have any fancy technology. He is well trained and resourceful. His skills are immediately put to the test when something goes wrong and he falls into the hands of the ruthless Hungarian Secret Police. In an attempt to continue his mission, he seeks the help of the leader of an underground movement that is set up to smuggle Hungarians over the border into the West.

The Last Frontier was published in 1959, just three years after the crushing of the October Revolution by the Russian troops. It is a tough book to read, and an excellent spy thriller. If you don’t know or have forgotten just how hard-fought the Cold War was for the United States and its Western Allies, and how desperate many people in the Eastern European countries were under Soviet rule, this may be a good book to read. It is, I think, very realistic on some levels, and besides: it is great entertainment, and very exciting. The Last Frontier is recommended to fans of Cold War spy fiction and to fans of Alistair MacLean.

Praise for The Last Frontier:

‘Breathless, bloody and detailed.’ Daily Telegraph

‘Swift-moving, with a tremendous climactic scene on the snow-swept roof of a trans-Hungarian express.’ Glasgow Herald

Links to the books by Alistair MacLean at Amazon US, Amazon UK, and Amazon CAN. See also Bokkilden.no and Tanum.

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