What do you think?
Rate this book
Philip Mercer #2
Charon's Landing
Years ago, a secret Soviet plan was created to destroy the Alaskan oil pipeline. Now, those plans have been stolen by the brilliant and treacherous ex-KGB agent Ivan Kerikov. Joining forces with a powerful Arab oil minister, Charon's Landing is about to be unleashed at last. But they didn't count on the one man who possesses the determination and daring to stop them cold. They didn't count on Philip Mercer.
496 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
About the author
Jack Du Brul
63 books429 followersJack DuBrul is a New York Times Best-Selling Author from Vermont who writes techno thrillers. Recently, he has been co-authoring "The Oregon Files" novels with Clive Cussler, taking over from Craig Dirgo with the third novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 17, 2015
Another cheap potboiler du Brul has apparently written to a formula. There are so many action scenes in this one, it makes the reader weary. How a geologist can survive that many attempts on his life, with bullets, blows and every other type of assault du Brul could imagine, is way beyond reality. The premise itself is so implausible it is almost laughable. And a SEAL team that would let him join them in an operation???
du Brul, who has written for Cussler, uses the same old formula again: constant action and violence, lots of weapons, exotic machinery, and many types of vehicles and locations. Back and forth between the locations. But I had to force myself to try to finish the book, and even then I only skimmed the last pages. Ug...
Although the book is very well proofed for typos, apparently du Brul did not feel a need for a technical consultant to review it. There are so many technical errors, exaggerations, fantasies and stretches that it is obvious that the author thinks his readers are technically ignorant action junkies who will be satisfied by reading one action scene after the next, regardless of imaginary physics or reality.
Examples are the explosive ANFO being called AMFO, a tunnel boring machine employing a cutting head with a matrix of buckminsterfullerine because it is so hard (!), and the rotating grinding head spinning at 15,000 rpm!
Du Brul, your lack of attention to detail and accuracy is an affront to the intelligence of your readers, and I cannot take any more of these.
du Brul, who has written for Cussler, uses the same old formula again: constant action and violence, lots of weapons, exotic machinery, and many types of vehicles and locations. Back and forth between the locations. But I had to force myself to try to finish the book, and even then I only skimmed the last pages. Ug...
Although the book is very well proofed for typos, apparently du Brul did not feel a need for a technical consultant to review it. There are so many technical errors, exaggerations, fantasies and stretches that it is obvious that the author thinks his readers are technically ignorant action junkies who will be satisfied by reading one action scene after the next, regardless of imaginary physics or reality.
Examples are the explosive ANFO being called AMFO, a tunnel boring machine employing a cutting head with a matrix of buckminsterfullerine because it is so hard (!), and the rotating grinding head spinning at 15,000 rpm!
Du Brul, your lack of attention to detail and accuracy is an affront to the intelligence of your readers, and I cannot take any more of these.
September 6, 2016
I probably should have stopped at the first Mercer story. But the second was right at my finger tips, and so I went ahead.
But early on we get animal torture.
We get Mercer, who drinks to excess all the time, yet is completely in control of his drinking.
Then Du Brul sets up a straw man arguments and through Mercer goes on a "more righteous than thou" anti-environmental rant that would have been questionable in 1999 when the book was written and most certainly sound foolish with 17 years of further data.
I don't mind a good, rigorous exchange of ideas about how to balance environmental needs and business needs, but at the moment I started having flashbacks to the ranting, one dimensional professor of God's Not Dead, I had to stop reading.
But early on we get animal torture.
We get Mercer, who drinks to excess all the time, yet is completely in control of his drinking.
Then Du Brul sets up a straw man arguments and through Mercer goes on a "more righteous than thou" anti-environmental rant that would have been questionable in 1999 when the book was written and most certainly sound foolish with 17 years of further data.
I don't mind a good, rigorous exchange of ideas about how to balance environmental needs and business needs, but at the moment I started having flashbacks to the ranting, one dimensional professor of God's Not Dead, I had to stop reading.
January 24, 2023
I don't know what Jack Du Brul's evolution as an author is. But I honestly believe he experience some kind of evolution between the writing of Vulcan's Forge and this book.
Honestly, about halfway into the story I began thinking it was really just kind of a rehash of Vulcan's Forge. And then the story got interesting.
Mr. Du Brul managed to pull together a multi-theatre conspiracy that literally spanned the globe and had no shortage of intrigue and action. Further, Mr. Du Brul certainly took an opportunity to develop his characters fully. I did enjoy the reintroduction of several characters from Vulcan's Forge; albeit, at least one of them was a little too coincidental. But no matter, it was enjoyable.
Philip Mercer becomes more developed and starts evolving into a pretty bad ass civilian operative. More than capable of going up against some pretty calculating terrorists - including his archnemesis.
Mr. Du Brul mixes in a fair amount of adventure, action, humor, and romance. Oh, about the romance part. I'm not sure where Mr. Du Brul's mind was when he came up with the character of Aggie Johnstone but my gracious I felt like I needed a cold shower after a few of her scenes.
All in all I find the Mercer series to be developing quite well.
Honestly, about halfway into the story I began thinking it was really just kind of a rehash of Vulcan's Forge. And then the story got interesting.
Mr. Du Brul managed to pull together a multi-theatre conspiracy that literally spanned the globe and had no shortage of intrigue and action. Further, Mr. Du Brul certainly took an opportunity to develop his characters fully. I did enjoy the reintroduction of several characters from Vulcan's Forge; albeit, at least one of them was a little too coincidental. But no matter, it was enjoyable.
Philip Mercer becomes more developed and starts evolving into a pretty bad ass civilian operative. More than capable of going up against some pretty calculating terrorists - including his archnemesis.
Mr. Du Brul mixes in a fair amount of adventure, action, humor, and romance. Oh, about the romance part. I'm not sure where Mr. Du Brul's mind was when he came up with the character of Aggie Johnstone but my gracious I felt like I needed a cold shower after a few of her scenes.
All in all I find the Mercer series to be developing quite well.
May 3, 2023
The book was a gift - a quick read. It maybe ranks 3 stars because of the fast pace and suspense. None of the constructs in the plot made any sense to me - even the geography seemed off. BUT the big thing was the premise of the bad guys (there were a bunch of these with different motives, some of which did not wash). The US announces it will stop importing oil in ten years. Not sure why. But this story was written in the 90s - hardly anyone had a cell phone! This is well before Tesla, major advances in renewables and really, the dawn of the fracking revolution. It was hard for me to get by these things that just did not fit. 2 stars.
August 17, 2017
This was a follow up to Du Brul's Vulcan's Forge. I enjoy Mercer's character and his relationship with Harry White. For someone that loves and gobbles up FBI, CIA, espionage, USA saving the day kind of books, this is right up my alley. I downloaded and started book #3 after turning the last page, so I apparently enjoy them!
September 18, 2021
Mercer surpasses Cusler
This is the second Mercer book that I've read and although book 1 was a great story but the writing was just awkward enough for a first book.
Book 2 was gigantic leap forward! It kept me pinned to my seat. Book 1 was the intro to Mercer but book 2 brought him alive! A definite must read!
This is the second Mercer book that I've read and although book 1 was a great story but the writing was just awkward enough for a first book.
Book 2 was gigantic leap forward! It kept me pinned to my seat. Book 1 was the intro to Mercer but book 2 brought him alive! A definite must read!
March 13, 2023
Exceptional!
A really great read with a fast pace that manages to keep the tension high. A remarkable degree of plots within plots all driven by greed. Mercer just knows there is trouble, but like the blind man and the elephant, the scope of the amount of trouble was not easily discerned. Excellent writing and story!
A really great read with a fast pace that manages to keep the tension high. A remarkable degree of plots within plots all driven by greed. Mercer just knows there is trouble, but like the blind man and the elephant, the scope of the amount of trouble was not easily discerned. Excellent writing and story!
November 12, 2019
Good adventures
Mercer must have more scars than any other human ever! He's Superman but not indestructible. Bullets fly around him, other people die but he just keeps going like the bunny. What a a hero. And he always gets the girl!
Mercer must have more scars than any other human ever! He's Superman but not indestructible. Bullets fly around him, other people die but he just keeps going like the bunny. What a a hero. And he always gets the girl!
August 8, 2023
An intriguing tale
This story was told with such attention to detail that it makes the feasibility of such a thing happening scary to contemplate. The imagination required to put all of the various scenarios together is incredible and Jack Du Brul does it masterfully.
This story was told with such attention to detail that it makes the feasibility of such a thing happening scary to contemplate. The imagination required to put all of the various scenarios together is incredible and Jack Du Brul does it masterfully.
March 11, 2024
OK I’m hooked
Decided to delve into Du Brul b/c of Clive Cussler (RIP)… and all I can say is in the Subject line. This Mercer series is off the hook. I’m a binge reader so still have few to go; can’t wait.
Decided to delve into Du Brul b/c of Clive Cussler (RIP)… and all I can say is in the Subject line. This Mercer series is off the hook. I’m a binge reader so still have few to go; can’t wait.
January 9, 2018
found this series because he ghost wrote fro another series i liked and have started following this series too. great writing and just enough twists and turns to keep you coming back for more!
February 5, 2018
A good fictional story with many plots and twists. Suggest this for those who enjoy espionage.
March 26, 2018
Really enjoying this Philip Mercer guy and Jack does a good job making the adventure his own!
August 31, 2018
Great storytelling
Makes you feel like you are part of the action, Jack Du Brul really knows how to paint a picture.
Makes you feel like you are part of the action, Jack Du Brul really knows how to paint a picture.
May 10, 2019
I enjoyed this book and love the Mercer character. Sometimes long winded and maybe dated a little. Enjoyable all the same.
January 25, 2020
Good, action-packed thriller. Can Mercer stop a plot to change the world as we know by stopping a three pronged attack on the world's oil supply?
September 4, 2020
Predictable,but enjoyable
Typical techno thriller but we'll written. Third solo authored one of his I've read. Love his co-authored Oregon Files. Enjoyable reading.
Typical techno thriller but we'll written. Third solo authored one of his I've read. Love his co-authored Oregon Files. Enjoyable reading.
September 25, 2020
This was hard to put down, exciting from beginning to end. I am loosing sleep!
September 6, 2021
My favorite of the series.
April 24, 2023
Bit of a “rocky” start but explosive action from the halfway point until the end
May 29, 2023
Entertaining adventure hero.
June 20, 2024
I just could NOT get into this books. The plot and characters were so formulaic that it did not hold my interest no matter how much I tried.
March 2, 2017
Warning: there are a couple of very disturbing scenes in this book that are not for the faint of heart. Especially if you’re an animal lover.
For a geologist, Mercer is very knowledgeable in a lot of subject. Plus he’s a bit of a MacGyver.
While this is a very exciting and complex story I wish there weren’t so many innocent people dying and other gruesome things. In detracts from my being able to dig in and enjoy the story.
I’m falling in love with Mercer especially his house. Though he needs to settle down and stop drinking so much. But the interaction between Mercer and Aggie is wonderful.
BTW: you don’t have to cross the Atigun Pass to get to pump station 5 so don’t know why it was a problem. There are a couple of small towns beyond station 5 that would be blocked if closed off.
Footnote: 1) I think part of ‘Guardian’s Mate’ by Jennifer Ashley also takes place in Homer, Alaska. Not sure since it’s been several months since I read it, but I usually follow the routes and locations in books on Google maps and the saloon location sounds familiar.
2) Interesting that Google maps show the Richardson Highway going a long ways east (instead of north) from Valdez before looping back around north to Highway 1 and heading way back west (the really long haul) to Anchorage. You’d think they’d be an easier way to get there.
Fave scenes: Mercer’s lecture confrontation, Mercer shooting Harry, Khalid’s escape from London and the oil rig escape pod.
For a geologist, Mercer is very knowledgeable in a lot of subject. Plus he’s a bit of a MacGyver.
While this is a very exciting and complex story I wish there weren’t so many innocent people dying and other gruesome things. In detracts from my being able to dig in and enjoy the story.
I’m falling in love with Mercer especially his house. Though he needs to settle down and stop drinking so much. But the interaction between Mercer and Aggie is wonderful.
BTW: you don’t have to cross the Atigun Pass to get to pump station 5 so don’t know why it was a problem. There are a couple of small towns beyond station 5 that would be blocked if closed off.
Footnote: 1) I think part of ‘Guardian’s Mate’ by Jennifer Ashley also takes place in Homer, Alaska. Not sure since it’s been several months since I read it, but I usually follow the routes and locations in books on Google maps and the saloon location sounds familiar.
2) Interesting that Google maps show the Richardson Highway going a long ways east (instead of north) from Valdez before looping back around north to Highway 1 and heading way back west (the really long haul) to Anchorage. You’d think they’d be an easier way to get there.
Fave scenes: Mercer’s lecture confrontation, Mercer shooting Harry, Khalid’s escape from London and the oil rig escape pod.
May 27, 2012
i have really enjoyed other books in the Mercer series by Du Brul, but it really felt like the author mailed this one in. "Charon's Landing" is set up as a sequel to "Vulcan's Forge" (which was pretty good), with the return of the bad Russian and everything. however, the nature of the plot against America and humanity was so convoluted, i found it hard to get into the story. the addition of the gratuitous most-beautiful-woman-in-the-world, who happens to be an evil billionaire's daughter and immediately falls in love with Mercer is Bondesque in the extreme. in any case, lots of things go boom, which is good, but the book is about 100 pages too long as it tries to tie up the loose ends of the globe spanning plot. not one of Du Brul's good ones...skip it.
August 28, 2012
Philip Mercer, DuBrul's hero, returns to fight KGB assassin Ivan Kerilkov in this densely written but action-packed thriller. People double- and triple-cross each other in the convoluted plot. Mercer works with the US government, who want to open the Arctic Wildlife Refuge for offshore drilling, much to the consternation of eco-terrorist group PEAL.
The book suffers from overkill (in some cases, literally). There are too many characters to realistically keep track of. The science is sound, to the author's credit. However, on page 420 he uses the absolute worst simile I've ever read: a person is "screaming like a rape victim in a deserted parking lot." How unbelievably tasteless of you, Mr. DuBrul. Hopefully, your writing gets better from here on out.
The book suffers from overkill (in some cases, literally). There are too many characters to realistically keep track of. The science is sound, to the author's credit. However, on page 420 he uses the absolute worst simile I've ever read: a person is "screaming like a rape victim in a deserted parking lot." How unbelievably tasteless of you, Mr. DuBrul. Hopefully, your writing gets better from here on out.
September 7, 2013
An older book, we find a Russia with a vendetta against Mercer and a thirst to sabotage the US even though the cold war is over. Charon's Landing is a cold war era plan to destroy the Alaska Pipeline with modern elements added by the evil mind of Ivan Kerkikov. Mercer stumbles onto the plot after finding a fishing boat adrift in the seas around Alaska that had been burned. Enter pretty environmentalist Aggie Johnson and there is enough tension to cut with a knife. Big fight scenes, adventure and the forever bachelor Mercer and we have an adventure on our hands.
I found parts tedious as the same information was repeated often with the same metaphors. However, a good action book without much need for thought is good for the beach!
Adult language and themes.
I found parts tedious as the same information was repeated often with the same metaphors. However, a good action book without much need for thought is good for the beach!
Adult language and themes.
Read
June 24, 2009No matter how much money you have it can not buy you complete happiness. This is a story about how an geologist and an old adversary, a former KGB agent, whom he thought was out of his life for ever came back to haunt him in this latest adventure. The scene starts out with Mercer on a fishing trip with friends, who were showing him their new invention,the mini-mole, where it would dig its way through a mountain by programming the GPS.After the demonstration they went on a fishing trip where they happened upon a boat that had been sabotaged. The adventure starts at that point. Then he meets a lovely environmentalist and things get really exciting. Even the ending is a surprise.
November 3, 2009
I read this on the recommendation that if I liked Clive Cussler I would like this series. Well, Mercer is definitely a clone of Pitt (simply substitute Geology for Oceanography), though not as likable or well-written. The story was standard adventure novel fare, but the self-indulgent writing style kept pulling me out of the story. I may read other books in this series, but they won’t be at the top of my list.
Borrowed from a friend.
Borrowed from a friend.
October 28, 2016
This is the second Jack Du Brul book I've read and I'm feeling like Philip Mercer is a budget version of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt.
That's not to say this book is bad, it's certainly not. It's just not particularly original in anyway - so if you're thinking it's going to be a ground breaking action novel you may just be disappointed but if you're after something that fills in the time in an entertaining way it's not a bad book to chose.
That's not to say this book is bad, it's certainly not. It's just not particularly original in anyway - so if you're thinking it's going to be a ground breaking action novel you may just be disappointed but if you're after something that fills in the time in an entertaining way it's not a bad book to chose.
April 19, 2010
It is definitly early Mercer (there were a fair number of typo's in the copy I read), he gets beat up alot but somehow manages to still win his battles, travel far and wide through Alaska to thwart a plot to distroy the pipeline, while assisting the derailing of a plot to overthrow one of the OPEC royal families. Good action and premis, just a bit thin in believability . . .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews