The Bootlegger

By: Clive Cussler, Justin Scott

Narrated by: Scott Brick

When Detective Isaac Bell’s mentor is shot, the turn-of-the-century investigator traces the attack from a booze-smuggling operation back to a team of international saboteurs in this #1 New York Times–bestselling series.

It is 1920, and both Prohibition and bootlegging are in full swing. When Isaac Bell’s boss and lifelong friend Joseph Van Dorn is shot and nearly killed while leading the high-speed chase of a rum-running vessel, Bell swears to him that he will hunt down the men responsible. But Bell doesn’t know what he is getting into. When a witness to Van Dorn’s shooting is executed in a ruthlessly efficient manner invented by the Russian secret police, it becomes clear that these are no ordinary criminals.

Critic reviews

Praise for The Bootlegger

“Cussler and Scott have written another wonderful page-turner . . . This is historical action-adventure fiction at its rip-roaring best!”—Library Journal (starred review)

“The Isaac Bell series continues to tell compelling stories. Tidbits of history are sprinkled throughout the narrative, and it’s fun to filter out fictional characters and events from historical facts.”—Associated Press

“As always in this series, the novel is very exciting, with excellent pacing and some very well drawn characters. With his combination of mental and physical prowess, Isaac Bell could easily become a sort of superhero (imagine a blending of Sherlock Holmes and Doc Savage), but the authors do a nice job of keeping him from crossing that line. Another fine entry in a strong series. Cussler is a perennial A-lister, popularity-wise, and his Isaac Bell novels are the pick of his prodigious litter.”—Booklist

“[A] laudable historical action novel.”—Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Striker

“This adventure might be the best yet in the series. The history is fascinating reading. Add a James Bond style flair with sabotage and villainy, and the end result is a great action thriller.”--Associated Press

“Interesting historical scene-setting facts; action that shifts from the dangerous depths of a coal mine to Wall Street, to a confrontation in a tunnel being dug for the New York subway and to a riverboat battle between two paddle-wheelers; deft characterizations; and hard-boiled dialogue. Classic Cussler."--Kirkus Reviews

“The Isaac Bell series is by far the most interesting and enjoyable of Cussler’s novels. They continue to show him at his best, commercially and literarily."--Booklist

“Exciting…The action flows swiftly, and the authors do a good job depicting the work conditions and the class warfare of the time.”--Publishers Weekly

Issac Bell is as Good as Dirk Pit

If you could sum up The Bootlegger in three words, what would they be?

I didn't think I would like any character besides Dirk Pit but Issac Bell did it. I especially like the turn of the century (1900) history.

What other book might you compare The Bootlegger to and why?

Any Clive Cussler Book

Have you listened to any of Scott Brick’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He made me believe I was listening to different characters buy changing his voice and inflections

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I took a chance. The book was on sale. Got a winner

Favorite Issac Bell Adventure

Issac locks horns with bootleggers and the action is fast and furious, enjoy and share with a friend!

Bell's wild ride

Another wild story of the Van Dorn Agency and Isaac Bell. Excitement and mystery throughout.

An Interesting Story of an Interesting Time

Prohibition was a unique time in American history, and it's pluses and minuses, but especially it's minuses are well captured in The Bootlegger. Isaac Bell was his usual "cool as a cucumber" self. And Pauline Grazo is developed into an amazing detective in her own right.

9 out of 10

Great story perfectly narated . please keep up the good work. Standing by in anticipation or the next adventure!