Four Days to Veracruz

by Owen West

With style and nonstop action, Owen West, winner of the Boyd literary award for best military novel of 2001, returns with Four Days to Veracruz -- an adventure-thriller that sizzles with international... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743229827
• ISBN13: 9780743229821
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 371 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Relentless Thriller

Owen West deserves recognition and praise for this thoroughly effective thriller. Four Days to Veracruz follows the flight of a couple of endurance athletes who stumble onto the activities of a major drug cartel while honeymooning in Acapulco. They unwittingly pocket a spread-spectrum, GPS-equipped satellite phone which prompts a multilateral manhunt as the cartel, Federales, DEA, CIA, and FBI pursue the couple across Mexico to the Gulf. A background theme of the book is that intelligence agencies may have valid reasons for resisting cooperation. Owen West's writing and dialog are transparent and carefully crafted. The plot is just complex enough, with multiple threads that provide dramatic relief as needed. The characterization does not reach the level of fine literature, but most of the characters are interesting and original. The overall effect is very cinematic, not unlike (but superior to) my previously favorite thriller, The Bourne Identity. I was particularly pleased that Four Days to Veracruz is not encumbered by the PC constraints that make so many recent "thrillers" read like Five Year Plans. My only criticism of the book is that it contains an uncomfortable level of physical suffering and violence described from the victims' perspective. But if you have a taste for high-octane adventure, you will swallow this book whole.

A Vacation from Hell

The author is a Marine, as are most of the "good" characters. So am I, so forgive a bit of prejudice. The main characters are husband and wife: a Marine and an eco-challenge racer (tough couple!) The book is one huge chase of the Marine/eco-runner couple through Mexico by Mexican drug lords, with minor bit parts by their Marine friends. Actually pretty stimulating. This is an excellent, if bloody, adventure on the order of Richard Hannay in 39 Steps. Lots of suspense, clever manuevering by the characters.

Fantastic!

See storyline above.When I started this book I had no idea what I was getting into. The pacing was relentless. The shear action and drama throughout made you want to marathon read to the end. Sure the protagonists seemed to be able to take a lot of pain and punishment, that which would kill the normal man, but the writing was so vivid it made for great escapist fiction.Highly recommended.

Thriller of the Year

This book is impossible to put down. I started reading and it was different than I expected...not quite literary but VERY well written considering it is stuffed (maybe even overly so) with action scenes. There is a waterfall/river scene that is the best since Deliverance. I mean, yes, this is a fast-paced commercial book. But it is filled with really good-and smart--writing. Highly recommended! I am going to buy his other...

Fantastic Adventure Book...Wow!

I read West's first book, Sharkman Six, and have been waiting for his second. Wow. I have to say this is the best book I have read this year and one of the fastest-paced thrillers I have ever read. I read it in two sittings overnight. The plotline is just superb...and the chapters just keep rolling and rolling. If you don't like violence, that's one thing I'd caution you on. But if you want a terrific summer read that isn't dumbed down, read Veracruz. This should be a movie. I sent it to my son, who is in the Marines and currently in Iraq. Top recommendation from someone who reads two books per month.