Product Description
Ten years ago, the American spy satellite Medusa malfunctioned and crashed--but not before its sensors revealed a secret buried deep in the Earth, hidden for thousands of years from the eyes of man. A priceless discovery that some would die to find--and kill to possess....

Praise for Jack Du Brul's novels:
"Cliffhangers more wonderfully outrageous than you'll find in Clive Cussler or Ian Fleming...strong, fresh writing."--Kirkus Reviews

"Will have Clive Cussler fans taking note of the new kid on the block."--William Heffernan, author of The Dinosaur Club

"Bond-like, bloody, and action-packed."--Publishers Weekly

"An intricate tale filled with action and intrigue...an upcoming new talent in the spy thriller genre."--The Cape Coral Breeze

"High-tempo action."--The Mystery Review
"Romance, violence, and technology are superbly blended by a master storyteller. Du Brul creates a fast-moving odyssey that is second to none."--Clive Cussler

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 35 reviews)

excellent book

I very much enjoyed this book - my first DuBrul. The character development was good. Intricate woven plot line keep the interest going. My only complaint about the book was that the ending was rather feeble and anti-climactic. I was expecting more from the lead up.

But I recommend this to anyone who wants to read an entertaining thriller.
November 21, 2008

Geology and mythology woven together

I've always wondered how much of themselves the author happens to put into a particular character?

Is their favourite character nothing more than a literary extension of themselves, a fantasy that allows them to live out dreams and wishes that would be all but impossible in real life?

I know in my case, even though the character I wrote wasn't created by me, I was able to put into words feelings I had towards my father, using a character created by a friend of mine, in the novel I co-wrote with him.

So, I guess the answer would have to be yes.

I've recently finished the third Jack Du Brul novel Medusa Stone.

Overall, it was quite an enjoyable tale. But that's something I've come to expect from that author.

In 1989, on its maiden voyage the Medusa Satellite suffers catastrophic damage and begins to fall back to Earth, but not before utilizing it's camera to take several shots of a region of Northern Africa near the Sudan border.

These photos remained classified and top secret for many years until the information they gleaned fell into the wrong hands.

An inept congressman and a beautiful African woman both attempt to hire Philip Mercer to help them interpret the data - as it could lead to a find of uncountable wealth and prosperity for a small African nation.

But, as is the case so many times, there are other factors at work. The Italians, the Israelis, the Sudanese, just to name a few.

At first, Mercer is hesitant to even consider helping, after having had time to review the data. It's a long shot, and he's still trying to get over his recent break-up, and the amount of times his life had been put on the line over the past couple of years.

Oddly enough, it's these reasons that prompt him to join the quest.

But, when an unknown group take his best friend Harry White hostage and use him as leverage to force Mercer to help, it becomes personal.

Du Brul continues to write amazing adventures. Unlike the first two books of this particular author which involved quite a bit of globe trotting and exotic locals, this novel was mainly set in a small African nation that borders on the Sudan.

And surprisingly enough, the novel does involve the kind of skills that would require an expert geologist.

Also, as was the case with the previous novels, the cast of supporting characters was well written, albeit clichéd. The evil, greedy industrialist, the dragon lady spy who's loyalties are completely unknown, the fanatic, the politician with everything to lose, and another with nothing but power to gain - all played important roles in this novel.

One thing that really set the novel apart from its predecessors as well was the inclusion of not one, but two ancient myths, both with heavy ties to religion, and their importance to not one, but two nations, and what worldly repercussions would occur if one of the myths was discovered and recovered.

No, I won't say what either of these myths was, as it would be far too great a spoiler.

The only thing I have against the novel is the fact that the hero Philip Mercer has got to be an alcoholic and a bit of a womanizer (even though he only has one new woman per book).

That's where I get the bit about projecting part of one into the characters that were created.

Am I wrong in my assumption? More than likely, but it is just a personal observation.

Will this fact keep me from continuing to read the series? No way. I'm hooked on Jack Du Brul's work, and I will continue to read the books as I can find them.

Right now, I have Pandora's Curse and Deep Fire sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read, but I still have one last novel to find.

Give them a shot if you've never read these books, they're worth it!

5 out of 5

June 15, 2008

A new author for me...

As an inveterate reader of a variety of books, I found this one by DrBrul when I realized I had read all of James Rollins' books and was waiting for my "to be sent when published in paperback" copy of Rollins' The Judas Strain. As it turns out, I liked this book very much. I found the protagonist interesting and likable and the story line kept my interest without it being too totally unbelievable. I will read more DeBrul --after I catch up with the eight or so other books I now have on my shelf ahead of him.
Happy summer reading to all! You could do worse than this.
May 29, 2008

Move Over, TE Lawrence!

Philip Mercer has got to be the only action hero who finds courage deep within himself by envisioning an evening spent on a stool at a seedy DC bar with a rheumy octogenarian souse. In yet another of DuBrul's aseptic action tales--The Medusa Stone--geologist Mercer is trapped in a cave that features dripping mercury, savage Sudanese, renegade Israelis, greedy Europeans and an Eritrean hottie. There are also diamonds in the cave, located on the border of Sudan and Eritrea, as well as assorted corpses in varying degrees of putrification and decay. Once again caught between a rock and a hard place, Mercer uses his superhuman strength--leg wound? no problem--keep on running; broken ribs? not a biggie--keep on firing that AK47; concussion--what me worry?--to locate the hidden treasure, kill the bad guys and chastely kiss the girl. When all is said and done, he hurries home to Harry, the aforementioned barfly.

DuBrul's Mercer books are an odd mix of endlessly tedious meditations on Mercer's sense of responsibility for all creatures great and small and enthralling grisly descriptions of blood and guts. The Medusa Stone features a meticulous description of a man pulled apart by forklifts to which he is lashed moving in opposite directions. Another tale entrances readers with a passage in which a live cat is stuffed down a garbage disposal. When DuBrul's writing like this, he gives Clive Cussler a run for his royalities. But when The Medusa Stone turns to yet another interior monologue in which Mercer castigates himself for not saving this one, or letting that one get away, and assuming (reverently) responsibility for any and all malfeasance in the world, it's move over Harry and let the reader belly up to the bar.

October 29, 2007

On your mark, get set, GO!

To say this book is action packed is an understatement. DuBrul gets things moving and doesn't slow down. If there is a fault about this book, it's that some of the scenes are too over the top. DuBrul's work with Cussler obviously shows, but if you like action, adventure novels, give this book a try.
August 18, 2006

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Pandora's Curse (Philip Mercer)
by Jack Du Brul

River of Ruin (Philip Mercer)
by Jack Du Brul

Charon's Landing
by Jack Du Brul

Vulcan's Forge (Onyx Novel)
by Jack Du Brul

Deep Fire Rising
by Jack Du Brul