| | Hawke |  | Author: Ted Bell
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $5.99
You Save: $23.96 (80%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  91 reviews
Sales Rank: 1850310
Format: Large Print
Media: Board book
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 673
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 9 x 5.5 x 1.5
ISBN: 0786257970
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780786257973
ASIN: 0786257970
Publication Date: October 2, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New Copy - May have a small publishers mark
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Amazon.com Review
A James Bond for the 21st century, Alex Hawke is suave, sexy, smart, wealthy, and deadly. And he's got the bloodlines to prove it--the direct descendant of a famous English pirate, the British secret agent is back in the Caribbean where his ancestor once amassed a legendary fortune and where, decades ago, his own parents were brutally tortured and murdered for a secret Alex, to this day, doesn't know he has in his possession. What brings Alex back to the scene of a crime he only vaguely remembers witnessing as a child is a mission to find and recover a stealth submarine that's gone missing less than a hundred miles from the American mainland, complete with 40 nuclear warheads and a rogue terrorist's finger on the countdown button. It's a hoary premise, but Bell makes it work with skillful plotting, quick characterizations, and a lively hero who deserves a sequel, not to mention the big screen treatment. --Jane Adams
Product Description
Lord Alexander Hawke is a direct descendant of the English pirate Blackhawke and highly skilled in the deadly ways himself. While still a boy, on a voyage to the Carribbean, Alex witnessed his parents' brutal murder by modern-day pirates. Now, one of England's most decorated naval heroes, Hawke is back in the same waters.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 86 more reviews...
 Poorly constructed "adventure" novel February 27, 2004
15 out of 33 found this review helpful
This debut novel was displayed in the front of both Borders, as well as, Barnes and Noble, with both stores pushing it as a superior and fun summer read. It should be a swashbuckling adventure novel but it has to rank as one of the most poorly constructed books I have read in quite some time.
Alex Hawke witnesses the death of his parents aboard their yacht by pirates when he was a child. He has since grown to adulthood and works for both the CIA and British secret service. He is assigned to look into the disappearance of a Soviet sub that could launch strikes against the US mainland. Of course, his assignment eventually takes him into the direct path of his parent's killers.
Don't waste your time on this downright idiotic almost unreadable work.
Life is too short, time is too valuable... August 2, 2004
13 out of 19 found this review helpful
I paid $7.99 for this book and read all of three chapters. The author did not earn the right for me to read more. I heard a talk-show host recommend his new book "Assassin" and I thought I'd read the first novel always looking for a good new author.
"Hawke" failed miserably. I don't have the technical background many of the other reviewers have, but I know bad writing when I see it and this is it. Oh my gosh. The dialogue is VERY BAD, as if Bell didn't even read it himself before submitting it for publication. It doesn't flow like real people talk.
Also, the first three chapters are about the main character, Alex Hawke. No problem normally. But Bell treats us in each chapter as though we've never met the character.
The first, prologue, sums up the tragic murder of Hawke's parents when he was a boy. Fine there, except that no one would notice the hold where he's hidden? Even before his father is murdered and left in a way to conceal it? They rip the ship apart, but miss a little used, but non-hidden part of the ship? Also, a key and map are going to remain in a pajama pocket with a boy curled up for four days, it wouldn't fall out? Finally, when the boy was taken to the hospital, the map wouldn't have been studied by countless personnel or even the people who rescued him?
The first chapter introduces us to someone called "The Englishman", in uppercase mind you, hinting that it's a different character. Nope, it's Hawke who is just called and "hired" by the president of the US to find a super-de-duper submarine that's gone missing. Ugh. And then when all that's done, super-cool Hawke has the woman calling offer phone-sex (since they are former lovers, but he's dumped her for another, he's so cool).
Finally, the second chapter has Hawke and his well-connected Scotland Yard buddy waiting in the Bahamas or somewhere to meet some former KGB goons. Here the dialogue is REALLY BAD. Also, when Hawke is introduced in this chapter, it's like we've never read the previous part of the book. Like Bell expects someone to pick up a book and start in the middle.
Listen seriously to the one-star reviewers here. This book IS that bad. Not sure I'll give "Assassin" a chance now. Sad, I really wanted a good new author.
 AN ACTION FILLED READING July 7, 2003
12 out of 19 found this review helpful
Actor/voice performer John Shea has said, "When I read a role, I try to find something I can bring to the role and something that the role can bring to me. Something that I don't know anything about and that the character can teach me." Such in depth study and exploration of a character is obvious in his commanding reading of Ted Bell's debut action/adventure "Hawke."Directly descended from the notorious English pirate Blackhawke, Lord Alexander Hawke knows a lot about seafaring, and a bit about skullduggery himself. As a child he witnessed a horrific scene - the brutal murder of his parents aboard their yacht. Hidden in a compartment the boy was privy to the brutality of the crime and the identity of the killers. As an adult and one of the most decorated heroes in England, Hawke returns to the Caribbean waters where his parents were slain. He's on a secret mission for the U.S. government - find a Soviet built experimental sub carrying 40 nuclear warheads before there is mass destruction. Is there any connection between the criminals controlling the sub and the murderers of Blackhawke's parents? Those with a taste for seagoing adventure and international intrigue will find "Hawke" much to their liking. - Gail Cooke
"Wow! All I Can Say Is WOW!!" July 10, 2003
12 out of 17 found this review helpful
Steve Martin's line from "Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels" is right on for this first work from Ted Bell. I could NOT put this one down until I finished it. Plotting, characterization and pace are outstanding, and the quality of the prose is remarkable for a book of this genre. There has been a real dearth in swashbuckling adventure fiction of late, due, in my opinion, to the current fascination with courtroom drama (which, being an attorney, I CANNOT understand!). "Hawke", one hopes, will bring similar books to the fore, again. I cannot say enough in praise of this one, folks; I only hope that Mr Bell is working hard at the next Alex Hawke book. This book is guaranteed to please any lover of adventure fiction.
Poorly researched drivel March 12, 2004
12 out of 20 found this review helpful
The book moves along ok for its genre but I found it horrible because it was so poorly researched. The author tries to put a military background on the hero but has no clue what he is talking about--the examples are many. The hero is a Brit that served in British special forces (SBS) but somehow also managed to learn to fly F-14s, an American fighter jet--it makes no sense. Yes, there are exchange programs but they are for pilots. There is a part in the story where the hero lands his private plane on a US aircraft carrier. The US Navy does not just let anyone land on a carrier--there are qualifications for this--why didn't the Navy just send a helicopter to pick up the hero. US Navy F-14s shoot Sidewinder missiles at ground targets--the Sidewinder missile is an air to air missile with a small warhead designed to shoot down other airplanes. If the F-14s were going to attack ground targets, they would carry bombs. These are just the tip of the iceberg but you can get the drift. If you know anything aboout the military--this book is not for you.He made the hero too perfect--he had looks, money that Bill Gates would envy, special forces training, jet pilot--heck anyone can be a hero if they have it all. Try making him human with some limitations to make it believable and challenging. James Bond wants to be Hawke!
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