The Cutthroat

Set in 1911, Van Dorn lead detective Isaac Bell is hired to find Anna Pape, a young woman who’s ran away to become an actress. Disturbed when Anna turns up murdered, Isaac now must find Anna’s killer. But that won’t be an easy job, for other young women besides Anna are being murdered. Not only do the women resemble one another, the killer has left distinct marks in each victim. As Isaac and the rest of the Van Dorn detectives begin working on the case, a disturbing fact is uncovered; these murders are remarkably similar to the Jack The Ripper killings in London.

Now, Isaac travels to London to pursue his hunch, while in America, a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde play travels across the country. It’s possible that the killings of the young actresses might lie with this play troupe. To make matters even more difficult for Isaac, his wife, Marion Morgan Bell, has proposed making the Jekyll and Hyde play into a movie, thus putting herself in danger. “The Cutthroat” promises to be Isaac Bell’s greatest case yet.

I’ve read all of the Isaac Bell series, and have enjoyed each one. I especially like the time period setting for each novel. As with the previous books in this series, this story is very exciting and builds in intensity throughout while leaving the reader to guess who the “bad guy” is until the very end. The characters have become old friends, many of whom have appeared in each of the previous books in the series. I’m a big fan of Isaac Bell as well as Cussler’s other characters and I’m anticipating the next Isaac Bell adventure. Highly recommended.

Not the usual Issac Bell read. I grab the Issac Bell books as soon as they are published and usually finish the first read before I go to sleep. This book was not the ‘page turner’ or the ‘can’t put the book down’ I have come to expect of the Issac Bell series. I did enjoy the humor and suspense in this novel but it did take me three days to get through it.
I know Mr Cussler is expected to turn out new books in each of his series quickly. I would love to see new Issac Bell and Oregon books at least every three months, but even I know that is impossible. I am willing to wait extra time for the exceptionally good reads I have come to expect from the Cussler series.
I give this four stars because this is the first of the Issac Bell books that I found not up to par. If there is another sub par book in this series, I would likely give it two or three stars.

I have read all of Justin Scott’s Isaac Bell books. I find the time period they are set in to be fascinating. Past topics have had some historical significance. Thoroughly enjoyed all of them – until this last one While the “Cutthroat” was OK , it was not captivating. I believe the “Jack the Ripper” subject turned me off. A good read. Not a great read. I am hoping for a better, more creative read next year. Yes, I will buy one more.

This Isaac Bell adventure centered on Jack the Ripper continuing his murders in the United States. While I have read all of the prior Isaac Bell character books and enjoyed some more than others, this one seemed to have too many ancillary characters to keep track of throughout the book. Bell visits England and encounters a British spy which was an enjoyable section of the book with some surprises. I missed the usual interaction with all the Van Dorn detectives, as it seemed very limited in this novel. The Bell books are terrific for visiting the turn of the century time period and usually there is more excitement that portrayed in this specific book. I am looking forward to a better next issue.

I have read almost all of Cussler’s books (68 to date) and enjoyed all but one, this one. The story drags and drags and drags and etc. you get the idea. If I had include 25 of so more “drags” you would be approaching how painful it has been reading this book. It progresses at the speed of a day time soap opera. I wouldn’t think that an author that is as renowned as Cussler is get paid by the word but this book reads like he is. Of the 68 Cussler books I have read this is the only one I couldn’t finish. I have picked it up and put it down as least 20 times and I am 80% of my way through the book, every time I think that I will try to finish it i literally get an upset stomach, it is bad for your health

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