"Bear Island" is a mystery novel set on a boat heding for the remote Bear Island (Bjørnøya) in the Barents Sea. The ship is carrying a film crew and actors who plan to make a movie on the island. The novel is narrated in first person by the ship's doctor. A number of people die from apparent food poisoning, but Dr. Marlow suspects murder. The story tends to drag a bit before they get to the island, but not too much. Once...
0Report
After reviewing this item, the title is now not available. I am reviewing "Bear Island" by Allistair MacLean. I am going to do my best to review this in a way that does not spoil any surprises, because there are plenty in this book, which should not be a surprise for those who read much of MacLean. This book is unique among those I've read by MacLean. The first half of the book has a unique feel. This is added by the...
1Report
"Bear Island" may be long on atmosphere and short on plot, but that is a far from fatal situation with author Alistair MacLean employing some of his crispiest dialogue and most descriptive prose. If you like mysteries that use humor and suspense in near-equal amounts, this 1971 novel will entertain you most of the way through. Dr. Marlowe is the ship's doctor aboard the Morning Rose, a converted trawler presently being used...
1Report
"Bear Island" is a solid thriller by master story-teller Alistair Maclean. A converted fishing trawler carries a movie-making crew across the Barents Sea to isolated Bear Island, well above the Arctic Circle, for some on-location filming. En route, members of the movie crew and ship's company begin to die under mysterious circumstances. The ship's medical officer, one Doctor Marlowe, finds himself enmeshed in a violent,...
1Report
Hm, I'm a little disappointed in the reviews, here. I suppose everyone expects a classic thriller par MacLean. Bear Island is less a thriller than it is a mystery, which explains the somewhat slower-than-usual pacing. MacLean brings back Captain Imrie (from When Eight Bells Toll) who is a good guy this time. Rather, he's a sub-character, piloting the Morning Rose to Bear Island. Aboard is a film crew and the producers/directors...
1Report