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rebelbelle13's review against another edition
3.0
This was both my first Michael Crichton, and my first Hard Crime classic. It was serviceable but ultimately forgettable. The prose was written in YA or J fashion- straight forward, easy language, large text and wide margins. There was hardly any description or exposition at all- which kept the story moving, but also removed me from it. I wasn't invested in any of the characters, there were no motivations to speak of, there was no explanation as to why some of them did what they did or how they had that certain skill set. Connections were breezed through, and before the reader understands what just happened, it's quick, onto the next thing. It almost felt like Crichton was racing through the story to either have it be over with, or to try and keep the reader's (obviously 10 second) attention.
The story itself is fine, but I feel like I would have gotten so much more out of it had the book been about 100 pages longer and the author treated his readers like adults. Flesh the story out. Add detail. Make me care about what's happening. As it is, the sunken ship and the tie-in with the diamonds and the mob were ok.
This was an interesting, quick diversion, but I don't think I'll be back to this series.
The story itself is fine, but I feel like I would have gotten so much more out of it had the book been about 100 pages longer and the author treated his readers like adults. Flesh the story out. Add detail. Make me care about what's happening. As it is, the sunken ship and the tie-in with the diamonds and the mob were ok.
This was an interesting, quick diversion, but I don't think I'll be back to this series.
scottclyerly's review against another edition
3.0
A short, blitz of a thriller. There’s nothing particularly new or unique about this book, and I suspect that was true when it was published back in 1970. But no one picks up a pulp thriller—which is essentially what this is—for the innovation. When you do find innovation in a pulp novel, it’s a welcome surprise, and often a game-changer for the genre (looking at you, Jim Thompson). When there’s nothing that’s genre-shifting, the best you can hope for is to be entertained by some pure escapist fiction. And that’s exactly what what the book is, and I enjoyed it because of that.
jayyduhh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
parkergirl_5705's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Very fast read. Not as fully developed as some of Michael Crighton's later books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Medical trauma, Violence, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
sharksfan32's review against another edition
4.0
Early work by Michael Crichton that is a quick enjoyable read.
EARLY Work by Michael Crichton that is a quick, enjoyable read. I would recommend to anyone who has enjoyed Crichton ' s other work
EARLY Work by Michael Crichton that is a quick, enjoyable read. I would recommend to anyone who has enjoyed Crichton ' s other work
raptorimperator's review against another edition
3.0
Not much on mystery, but a fun adventure by John Lange (a.k.a. Michael Crichton). Him being the author is probably the only reason I picked it up in the first place, seeing as he is my favorite author. Despite it's dime novel-like appearance, it was a fun and enjoyable read. And honestly, the twist at the very end... I did not see that coming.
wickedlyethan's review against another edition
4.0
"Grave Descend" evokes the Roger Moore-Era James Bond films : fun, thrilling, and a dose of silliness. However those movies came out in a time when most action movies could be described the same; Michael Crichton's adventure novel instead is a welcome throwback, an anachronism of storytelling that makes me long for a time when books and movies took it all a little less seriously. (And we're considerably shorter; at 166 pages the novel can be read in a long day or spread lazily or a couple evenings.) Written in 1970 while Crichton was a med student, one can see the shaping of his voice and style, but can also revel in the sincerity of an intellectual such Crichton pre- "Jurassic Park" letting himself tell the kind of pulp adventure he probably grew up with. Perhaps such tales made him want to be a writer. Perhaps such tales will make new readers go down the same road.
waybackwhen's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0