Vicious Circle (Hector Cross Book 2)

I was expecting to dislike the book after reading the negative review and knowing it was ghost written. After a rough start with some clumsy/corny dialogue with Hector and Hazel it settled down to be a good read, although the dialogue with Jo later in the book was equally off. Its actually a sequel of a book I didn't actually care for despite the fact it was written by Wilbur Smith. That said, it was interesting enough that I finished it in 2 days despite the World Series and a large earthquake to distract me.The graphic violence and sex, including child sex and incest may disturb some, but I thought it stopped short of crossing the line and being too much.One other small complaint, Hector does not pass protect his iphone, despite going to great lengths to sanitize it? Really??? I mean, even if it can be sanitized at a moment in time, a subsequent email, text or voice mail might contain sensitive information and it can be used in other ways to cause trouble.*****************Spoiler Alert********************Didn't care for the ending battle scene at the castle. Unbelievable to put those under your command at risk by passing up a kill shot at the intended target (Carl) simply to satisfy a personal desire to look into his eyes, and tying up resources during a battle to carry the 300+ lb wounded Johnny Congo to the plane simply to have the satisfaction of throwing him out of the plane later. Destroying the evidence of Carl's death by feeding him alive and wounded to the crocs, knowing the body was needed to land your daughter 50 billion from the trust and then handing over Johnny Congo to the FBI at Jo's insistence, only to have him escape a 2nd time without Carl around to finance and plan the escape is unbelievable as well. Entertaining though.I still will buy the next ghost written book despite the nitpicking. Too much to expect Wilbur Smith to turn out books like he used to at his age without help. Definitely in the top 5 of my favorite authors over the past 50 years, and this is a good start for ghost written series of books.

This book was obviously the middle book in what was to be Wilbur Smith's trilogy about Hector Cross. Sadly, he died before he could finish the third book unless there are notes enough to finish it with the help of his writing partner.I take offense at the timid people who were offended by the content of this book. Who did they think Hector Cross was dealing with?If they saw the movie "Captain Phillips" they got only a timid glimpse of these animals who prey on people when human life has no meaning. Of course, the central character has to fight back with everything at his disposal and more after what they did to him and his loved ones. What did you expect? Then to end the book the way it does, it begs for the third book so Hector can finally get even withthis monster who escaped from prison and protect those whom he loves and end it all for good. That would be great and would be typical of the great Wilbur Smith.

Good, ( not great) fast paced action adventure story. The main problem with the story is that everything in the plot falls into place to easily and at times seems really far fetched. The story continues on from Wilbur Smith's last book - Those in Peril -These last two books are not in any way as good as the authors earlier books on Africa. His character Henry Cross is not in the same league as the Courtneys or the Ballantyne's, nor is the plot even remotely as good and as adventurous as the Wilbur Smith's African adventure novels of his earlier days.It is difficult to write a review of the actual story as it all hinges around the results that occur very early in the book and to reveal this will ruin the story for other readers. Suffice it to say the story hinges around a locate a terminate with extreme prejudice, an unknown killer.The sad thing about the end is that Wilbur Smith allows himself an out, in that he ends with a reason to continue the series with at least one more book. So in the near future he does not plan to write (one assumes) more historical African Adventure stories. Vicious Circle

The general outline of the story is good but the ghost writer who filled in the details must be a female. She wastes a lot of time with Hector slobbering over Baby Cathy, feeding her, changing her nappy, and carrying her around in a sling. This doesn't fit very well into an action adventure story. I suppose the purpose of this is to show to female readers that Hector has a 'sensitive' side when he is not slaughtering the bad guys. Female readers might say, "Oh Sweet"! I say, "Oh Crap, excuse me while I puke!"As if to compensate for this puke the ghost writer overdoes and wallows in the sadistic violence and sex side. This is definitely a female trait. Even the gay community is not forgotten with lots of anal sex. Women's lib is pandered to be having the women hijack fly giant Russian planes and go into the thick of the battle.As far as I am concerned it is fraudulent to sell this crap under Wilbur Smith's name. He should be ashamed of himself but with all, his multi-millions made from writing real adventure books I guess he doesn't give a stuff about his reading public any more.

There are comments in the reviews for this that perhaps WS was not the main writer. It’s hard to detect. Clearly there is more hatred and explicit violence than in most WS novels, but perhaps that was a deliberate change for Cross, a new character for me. And that really comes to the heart of it. I quickly realised I do not like Hector Cross. I can’t think of one thing about him I like. So even though I was gripped and had raced through to 23% complete, I’ve stopped. Why continue reading about such a loathsome man? End of.

The good part - the story is typical Wilbur Smith: superhero overcomes all. Sure, Cross is larger than life, and beyond belief, but it's only a story. Basic escapism, and quite enjoyable.The bad part - the middle section of the book, in which we read about with the villain's background (no names mentioned - I'm trying not to provide a spoiler for any who are going to read it) is disgusting. I have very rarely, if ever, read something so horrible. The phrase 'the pornography of violence' can be used for that part of the book. There was no need for any of it - it was as though the author was revelling in writing so graphically. Was it Wilbur Smith or a co-author who wrote that? It was the work of a sadist.There was no need to take - what? 100+ pages - so much of the book with a back story: a few pages of summary would have sufficed, and would not have detracted from the story.Two stars for the plot; minus several million for the sadistic pornography.

I have, with little exception read all the WS books over a period of decades and with little exception have thoroughly enjoyed and eventually reread many of them.This is the worst book ever. Disjointed, vulgar, disgusting even.Grammar is poor, descriptions lack accuracy.A very hard read.I have learnt that Smith is not even writing and his name is being destroyed by the use of ghost writers.I will never buy another Smith book or audio CD and I would advise all book readers to avoid any of these new style books.

This book is a complete load of nonsense. It reads like the gratuitous fantasies of a deranged and unpleasant older person. I don’t mind explicit and s*xual content in the books I read, but the amount and type moves quickly from the absurd to the ridiculous.In Mittigation – I would have loved this when I was a boy of 12 years, but it would have been wholey inappropriate for me to have read this at that tender age.AVOID!

Having read all his novels several times over, except for 'those in peril', I was a big admirer of Wilbur Smith. This book is completely different. There is violence in them which is in context but the violence and description of it in this novel is disturbing, at one time I actually felt sick (those who have read it will know the chapters I refer to). It is difficult to believe that the author of the Courtney and Ballantyne novels actually penned this. I read that Mr Smith will only be providing outlines and putting his name to any future novels and letting others finish them. If this book is the result, Don't bother. Write no more books and keep your reputation intact. Any more like this can only tarnish your reputation as a storyteller. This book is beneath your high standards Mr Smith.What a cop out at the end leaving the door open for a sequel (God no). I think I'll go and revisit 'Monsoon' again. A proper novel with believable characters and an exciting story.