The Black Silent

In the deepest depths of the ocean, in the black silent, Ben Anderson has discovered something. The Fountain of Youth or the Seeds of the Destruction, depending on your point of view. Needless to say there are those who would want to control such a discovery. Something of this magnitude is too important to rest in the hands of the simple scientest who discovered it, too important for the common man, as well. This is the kind of discovery that can make a mere mortal a king. Just imagine the lengths some would go to to get their hands on such a discovery. The book opens with just about the most harrowing scene I have ever read in a thriller. Anderson is underwater when someone comes up behind, binds hima and cuts off his air. Anderson has only two minutes to get himself free and to overpower his attacker. He does, and let me tell you Mr. Dun grips his readers her with just plain astonishing writing. However, though he gets free, he is attacked and taken prisoner once he is back in his lab. Halay Walters, raised by Ben and his wife, since she'd been adopted at age nine, goes to Sam Walthers, who is on the island getting over the death of his wife, and tells him Anderson is missing. She wants his help. Sam had been sort of an undercover, black opps kind of person, so even though he is going through a bad patch, he is the man for the job. However, events get out of control, Haley goes on the run and she and Sam wind up in a desperate chase with the fate of the world in the balance. Now there, if that doesn't sound like the kind of thriller that will get your blood pumping, you ain't a got blood in your veins. There is pure stand out thriller writing here, characters you care for and a plot that begs to be made into a big budget blockbuster. I just can't rave about this book enough. Reviewed by Vesta Irene

I read a very good novel, an excellent story that had me in its grip for a couple of days when vacationing in Greece. The author painted a vivid image of a setting, his characters were really credible, even though the character of Sam was slightly overdone. The plot was really well constructed and it was breath taking. In addition the novel was well researched, indeed the author did a very thorough research and he was able to avoid being a teacher. Great novel, great story telling. I am sure I want to read more novels by him. I would give the book 7 stars, but there are only five available.

Make sure you have time to finish this book, because you won't be able to put it down. Everything happens at an incredible pace, I felt like I had run a marathon when I was finished. Dr. Ben Anderson is working for the Sanker Corporation as a scientist. His adopted daughter Haley Walthers worked with him, but was fired from Sanker after being accused of stealing other scientist's work. Sanker Corp is located in the beautiful Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in Puget Sound. During a routine dive to check on Glaucus, a very special octopus, Ben is attacked and nearly killed. The pace is set. Ben tries to send Haley a warning as he attempts to flee his attackers, and save his research data from the wrong hands. Sanker Corp, owned by Henry Gardner Sanker, has its own security force headed by the psychopathic Officer Frick. Ben has never trusted Frick and knows him to be behind his attack. All he needs to know now is why, and how to stay alive. Ben's nephew Sam Wintripp is used to shady dealings, recuperating from almost fatal wounds in the San Juan's that he received in the line of duty. Sam bumps into Haley at the same time he notices strangers on the island. Haley receives Ben's garbled call and heads off to Sanker to check on him. What she finds at Sanker is an irate Officer Frick who locks her in a closet. Sam worries when Haley doesn't return his call, and sets out for Sanker himself, to check on her. Hang onto your seats, ladies and gentlemen, you are barely into the second chapter, and all h*ll has broken loose. The action-filled story takes place in a twenty-four hour time span, and will leave you utterly breathless. Ben is running for his life and trying to save the information he has uncovered; secrets that not only unlock the possibility of harvesting the deep methane layer under the ocean for fuel, but of a project he calls ARCS that could lengthen man's lifespan by decades. One of the people who desperately want Ben's secrets is Frick. Dun has painted the perfect antagonist with Frick, ruthless, deadly, cold and emotionless; Frick will let nothing stand between him and his prize. With Ben having slipped through his fingers, Frick relentlessly pursues Haley and Sam in a tension loaded chase from island to island, by land and sea and air. There isn't a word wasted or a moment to spare in this intense action thriller. 'Black Silent' is my first David Dun book, but you can rest assured that I'll be picking up more of his novels. I'm looking forward to seeing Sam Wintripp in Dun's other works. I like Dun's style and pace setting, and was able to relate to his fully fleshed-out characters. In 'Black Silent', I enjoyed his knowledge of boating and of scuba, and having lived near the San Juans, my reading enjoyment was tremendously increased by his familiarity with the area. 'Black Silent' is a book I definitely recommend; just make sure you have time for it as a meal and not a snack. Enjoy!

Ben Anderson is a brilliant marine scientist working for the Sanker corporation headquartered in Washington State. He's discovered a secret at the bottom of the ocean floor that holds great promise for humankind, but also poses the most grave threats. Unfortunately, not everyone is as well-intentioned as Dr. Anderson, especially Security Officer Frick and his agents, who have been promised enormous profits to kill Ben and steal his secrets. Haley Walthers, who was raised by Dr. Anderson, knows he's in trouble, and calls upon retired private investigator Sam Wintripp for help. Together, they learn Dr. Anderson' secrets and embark on his rescue. These are the main characters and the central plot structure in a brilliantly crafted scientific thriller. I dare not say too much more because you deserve to read it yourself. The thriller genre is swarming with luke warm efforts from formulaic writers who have been "mailing it in" for years. Dun is different. Each of his efforts are painstakingly researched and carefully plotted, and he never takes the intelligence of his readers for granted. His characters are unique, and he has a certain gift for creating villans that can invade your nightmares for years. The Black Silent is no exception, but it's even better than his other impressive works. Mr. Dun's first book, Necessary Evil, had a simple straigt-line plot that strapped you in, took off, and dropped you off -- exhausted -- on the last page. The Black Silent is similar to his first effort in that grabs you at the start, whether you're ready or not, and forces frantic page turning until the very end. But it's better than Necessary Evil because the scientific premises are truly fascinating, better researched, and more believable. In fact, it is the science in this book, and its promise, that distinguishes this book from his others. Also, the San Juan Islands provide an interesting location for all of the action in The Black Silent, and Dun is clearly at home in his descriptions of the area. If you're looking for a great summer read, you can't go wrong with The Black Silent, an original, enthralling scientific thriller. This is the best thriller I've read in a long time, and it's Dun's best book yet.

In Washington State marine biologist Dr. Ben Anderson conducts research into organic molecules at the Sanker Foundation though this is his last weekend there. He did not like the brass accusing his adopted daughter Haley Walthers of stealing the ideas of other scientists and he does not trust the security chief Frick from stealing his work on organic molecular structure impacting on youth retention. Thugs accost Ben in his facility. Haley, who was fired and currently owns a bike shop on one of the Puget Sound islands, is worried about her mentor since she has not heard from him recently and he has been very secretive. She and Ben's assistant Sarah visit his nephew retired private espionage guru Sam Wintripp on San Juan Island to see what he knows. Sam knows as much as the two ladies: nothing. However, Ben's anxious message on Haley's cell phone puts the retired operative back into the field to try to rescue his uncle. Neither he nor Haley is prepared for a nasty corporation that will do anything to own the fountain of youth. THE BLACK SILENT is an exciting suspense thriller that grips the audience from the moment that Ben barely escapes an undersea attack and never blinks until the final confrontation with an avaricious corporation headed by immoral individuals. Though the enemy seems so depraved that they seem more suited for a fantasy tale than a chilling thriller, readers will enjoy the action that never decelerates. While Ben's caring efforts to prolong the quality of life is about to be abused, fans will root for Sam and Haley to rescue him and save the world. Harriet Klausner