Pirate: A Thriller (Alexander Hawke Book 3)

Other than Phantom I've read all the Ted Bell "Hawke" series books and have enjoyed them. I didn't care much for Pirate and if it was my first Hawke book I wouldn't be reading any more.The paperback book is 605 pages long and to me it didn't get exciting until in the low 500s. Far too much time was spent on Ambrose and his love affair and other fluff. There really wasn't much story with our hero Hawke until the end. Pirate did nothing to advance or give more insight to the Hawke character. Also, far to much time on Stokely with his comical remarks in life threatening situations. The main villains came to their end far too easily with little drama.There were interesting moments in the book that kept me reading but not enough to overcome my overall disappointment with Pirate.

I first read this amazing work of fiction probably four years ago. Since then I have purchased three copies. I literally read them to pieces. Worth every penny. The characters are inspiring, the story line is believable and exciting with a brisk pace. Ted Bell was setting up a wonderful tale with the first books in the Hawke line but this novel absolutely takes the cake. With Bells new book "Warriors" on its way, now would be a good time to pick this one up. No need to start at the beginning of the series. If time is of the essence, Pirate is the answer.

Alex Hawke is James Bond with an attitude (and a title) He seems to be turning up at trouble spots around the world either on a jet fighter plane, his own super yacht or other various and sundry means of transportation and when he does so he is forever putting monkey wrenches to the plans of the enemies of freedom. In this case that would be the Chinese and the French.The French? Mais Oui! Always an easy country to concour in the last two centuries, they are taken over from within by a direct decendant of Napolean, one Lucas Bonaparte who has schemed his way to the presidency that he considers his birthright (except he wants to be Emporer) by crushing all who stand in his way.The Chinese are simply the last really bad guys on the planet with the wherewithal to make things dicey for the forces of good and they have convinced Bonaparte to join their cabal.Add some delicious characters such as Stokely Jones, Jet and her twin sister along with a few others and enfold them in several ongoing crises and you have the receipe for a barn burner of a thriller novel which is written with a touch of elegance and a whole lot of imagination that will keep you turning pages and burning electricity into the wee hours until truth and justice prevail. You never doubt that will happen, although the path to that outcome will look very problematic from time to time. Ted Bell has done it again!

This installment is filled with complex political relationships. Alex is evolving, as are his colleagues and enemies. Another strong story with Hawke at the center!

Where to even start with this one. You need to be involved. A certain Chinese faction wants to take down America involving a French Emperor wannabe using a German built ship.Oh, and don't forget to add Oman to the mix. It must have taken an incredible amount of research to provide so much detail. It is awesome how everything comes together in the end. Great read!

Bell has created an uber James Bond. He's rich, he's powerful, he's able to do absolutely anything. Everything he owns is the biggest, fastest and most technically advanced. All his friends are the biggest, smartest, strongest, and most connected. Therein lies the problem. He's just too everything. Bell's books are decent for casual reading when you don't want much of a challenge. There are two things that bother me about Bell's writing: 1) notwithstanding Hawke's amazing abilities, he still abysmally stupid at times, and 2) the little technical errors scattered throughout the book. Examples: Speed at sea is measured in knots, not knots per hour. A sniper does NOT put his eye against a scope. 9mm cartridges don't come in belts. A 327 is NOT a big block Chevy. Tomcat F/A 18 Super Hornets? What is it, F-14 Tomcats or F/A-18 Super Hornets? Aircraft carriers and navy bases are not commanded by admirals - that's a captain's billet. The propellers on the Lincoln turning 2,000 RPM? That's about 1,570 MPH at the tip. Ridiculous!Unfortunately, these small errors are distracting, rather like walking into a closed door when you're preoccupied. I read Bell when I'm up for mindless entertainment, not when I want a real story.

An epic story of war and daring on the world scale. Alex Hawke is an inspiring fictional character, a mix of Batman and James Bond. His entourage is perfectly balanced and impeccably qualified. I will read these tales over and over until my eyes betray me.

Hawke is a different type of hero cross between, James Bond and part Dirk Pitt. Hawke is wealthy, intellegent, and a true hero to what ever cause that in the best interest of his fellow men, Couldn't stop turning the page till it was completely done. Great theme that makes you hang on to every word. Another home run for Bell.